Båstad: Summer Playground in Southern Sweden

2016 SkiStar Swedish Open

Båstad on the southwestern tip of Sweden has long been a popular getaway and party capital to many Swedes and visitors from around the world.  Over a two-week period, with it's (actual) sandy beaches, hotels and b&b's, beautiful countryside and the SkiStar Swedish Open (Men's 7/10-7/17) and the Ericsson Open (Women's 7/17-7/24), it's a relaxed atmosphere where top tennis professionals come after the gravity of Wimbledon, where one can kick back and enjoy themselves.

Accommodations

There are many attractive options for lodging in and around the area, from the many quaint and cozy b&b's to small inns to larger more luxurious  hotels, most notably Hotel Skansen, which is located in the middle of the tournament grounds in Båstad.

Båstad Resort and Sports Complex

What's on this week

The SkiStar Swedish Open is one of those unique venues that affords an intimate experience viewing top players close up in competition.  Hotels, shops, the marina and scenic beaches are a 'no-brainer' when it comes to a destination that thinks outside the tourism 'box'.

Floating Piers (Project for Lake Iseo) by Christo

Installation art icon and interventionist Christo has touched down in northern Italy to create the "Floating Piers" project on Lake Iseo.  Over 200,000 fabricated floating polyethylene cubes wrapped in his now signature golden ochre fabric allow visitors to walk across the lake to various shorefronts and a remote island called Monte Isola.  This project has been a long-time vision devised by Christo and his late wife and collaborator, Jeanne-Claude, who passed away in 2009.  This latest installation rivals his Central Park based "Gates" project from 2005 in size and scale, but is not without controversy; an Italian consumer group has accused the Bulgarian artist and his supporters of wasting public money to execute the project.

The Floating Piers project is on now until July 3rd.

Aynhoe Park

whimsy |ˈ(h)wimzē | (also whimsey) noun (pl. whimsies or whimseys) playfully quaint or fanciful behavior or humor: the film is an awkward blend of whimsy and moralizing.• a whim.• a thing that is fanciful or odd: the stone carvings and whimsies.

Whimsy is the theme to this Grade I-listed, 17th century Sir John Soane-designed stately home in Oxfordshire near the Cotswolds in the countryside of England.  Purchased by entrepreneur and collector James Perkins in 2008, Aynhoe Park is now a venerable destination for parties, weddings and receptions for those who require "something completely different". Celebs such as Jade Jagger (daughter of Bianca and Mick) have had celebrated nuptials there.  While Perkins' eclectic collection of taxidermy, natural history artifacts and contemporary art are found throughout the estate; it seems to be almost too much at first blush, but he somehow pulls it off.

Photos: ©Corbis / Aynhoe Park / Architexture

Monocle Quality of Life Conference 2016

©Monocle

Friday 15 April to Sunday 17 April 2016, Vienna, Austria

After the success of their 2015 Lisbon symposium, Monocle has announced their 2016 conference, more details will be forthcoming.  Here is the rundown on what to expect in April. 

"Our intimate gathering returns in 2016 and this time it will take place in the Austrian capital, a city that provides the perfect backdrop with its humming ateliers, fresh new hotels and mixture of modernity and tradition.

Monocle invites you to a weekend of great debates, good conversations, peerless hospitality and some fun nights too. It’s a weekend where contacts can be made, ideas nurtured and horizons expanded. Join our editors, correspondents and key thinkers in discussing topics ranging from architecture to independent retail, transport to healthy living." - Monocle

1. You’ll be hosted by the Monocle team (and there will be no lanyards).
2. We’ll bring powerful voices shaping our cities, from Australia to Brazil.
3. Our editor in chief Tyler Brûlé will help reveal the future direction for hotels, retail, travel, design and more.
4. There will be a series of receptions and dinners where you’ll get to meet with people who could change your career, your business or your outlook forever.
5. We’ll organise access to the studios and ateliers of architects, designers and makers who are delivering a contemporary take on luxury.
6. There will be morning runs for those who want to stretch limbs as well as minds.
7. Enjoy live music interludes with a pop vibe.
8. See special Monocle films that set the tone and dive into the key themes.
9. Be part of the Monocle 24 radio experience.
10. Take to the dance floor at least once.

Tickets: €1,850. 
Subscribers and founders receive a 10% discount.

The Story of the Yellow Jersey

As the Tour de France begins its second week of competition, there may be those who ask the question; "why the yellow jersey?"

In the very early 20th Century (1903), Henri Desgrange, founder of the French newspaper L'Auto (predecessor to today's L'Equipe) devised the race as publicity to increase newspaper sales, which happened to be published on yellow newsprint.  The press had asked the Tour Director of the time to come up with a way for them to easily spot the race leader, ergo the Yellow Jersey was born. 

But it would not be until 1919 when Eugéne Christophe (right) would become the first ever rider to wear the Maillot Jaune during the grueling race.  He would only finish as high as 8th overall.

Eddy Merckx (1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1974) ©Getty Images

As the race grew more and more popular (and much larger) over the years and now generations, there have been more variations of such jerseys that recognize the best of the best of the Tour with jerseys recognizing the "King of the Mountain" (Polka Dot), Most Sprint Points (Green / Maillot Vert) Best U25 Rider (White / Maillot Blanc) as well as other lesser awards and classifications.

Bernard Hinault (1978, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1985) ©James Andanson/Sygma/Corbis

While this year's Tour is a world away in terms of bicycle technology, athletic capability and commercial attention, the yellow jersey bears no less importance, certainly a lot more now as the famous garment is looked upon globally as its own brand and a crucial vehicle in television and media.

Current Tour leader Chris Froome is fighting hard to keep back the challengers as the second Pyrenean stage goes through Tarbes / La Pierre-St. Martin.

Follow @letour on twitter

Eugéne Christophe, first man to wear 'Maillot Jaune" in the TdF

Greg LeMond (1986, 1989, 1990) ©ESPN Films

Chris Froome (2013) ©Reuters

Pitti Uomo 88 2015

Pitti Uomo kicks off this week with color and texture as the narrative for this summer.  Reintroduced patterns, weights and classic palettes rule the day at the what is arguably the most important platform for men's fashion and accessories. Held twice a year at the Fortezza da Basso in Florence, Italy, new and established design talents exhibit and launch new projects for international buyers to peruse and hopefully select for many of the world's leading retail companies. Pitti is the most widely known segment of the Pitti Immagine collection of fashion industry events.

Pitti Uomo 16-19 June, 2015

Visit: Fortezza da Basso, Viale Filippo Strozzi 1, 50129 Florence

Follow @Pitti_Immagine

Photos ©Enrico Labriola / Vanni Bassetti / AKA Studio Collective

NeedSupply x Soulland: Human Being Journal, Spring 2015

Our friends at NeedSupply and Danish company Soulland have teamed up to produce the latest issue (No.6) of the beautiful Human Being Journal for Spring 2015.  This curated volume, ranging from interviews with Soulland partners Silas Adler and Jacob Kampp Berliner to Fantastic Man Publisher / Editor Gert Jonkers to commentary on design, hybrid food recipes, and amazing photography of New Mexico by Mikael Kennedy that make for an elegant mix of content, subjects and all things currently in their respective worlds.  Head over to NeedSupply and order your copy.

Human Being Journal No.6 - $15.00

About NeedSupply

Need Supply Co. is a clothing and lifestyle store based out of Richmond, VA. We started selling vintage Levi's in 1996 but have since expanded our offerings to include men's and women's clothing and accessories. In 2008 we launched our web store and have been shipping worldwide ever since. Our home office houses our retail store front and everything from design and branding to online sales. We truly believe in the products we carry, carefully curating a mix of well-known brands and up-and-coming independent designers from the US and abroad.

needsupply.com

About Soulland

Soulland was founded in 2002 and is owned by designer Silas Adler and CEO Jacob Kampp Berliner. Its design principles and aesthetics have their origins in Scandinavian artisanship combined with a contemporary feel, encapsulated by the Adler Fedora; a traditional men’s fedora fused with a baseball cap brim, handmade in Copenhagen. Whilst always remembering its legacy, Soulland aims to push menswear forward in new directions.

soulland.com