Photo Credit: Bill Bensley 

 

Bill Bensley On Tour

Creative conservationist Bill Bensley’s Bangkok home’s an amazing art gallery. Visit by appointment. He’s personally leading a one-off 24-person tour of hotels he’s designed. InterContinental Khao Yai Resort, Rosewood Luang Prabang Shinta Mani Angkor and Bensley Collection Pool Villas in Siem Reap, Shinta Mani Wild (A Bensley Collection tented camp) and The Siam Hotel Bangkok. Every booking includes a US$10,000 donation to Shinta Mani Foundation hospitality student scholarships.

 

What’s The Scoop?

Pistachio gelato signifies Summer, says Orvieto-born specialist Patrizia Pasqualetti – her specialties, at New York’s Eataly Flatiron, include Sicilian pistachio gelato made with rice milk. In Europe, Alain Ducasse’s top gelatière Matteo Casone suggests creamy pistachio and olive oil gelato.

 

Causing A Racquet

Padel and pickleball are fastest-growing racquet games. Padel pairs tennis balls with perforated bats, perhaps MacGregor’s. Pickleball, the noisier and self-assertive sibling, requires flat bats, say Onix, and tennis ball-sized perforated plastic balls. Brands J. Crew and Norma Kamali head fashion’s wacky Beverly Hills-type pickle tops and matching miniskirts.

 

Frocking It

Leading ladies have long loved the Little Black Dress that’s de rigueur for so many, so often. When Coco Chanel designed the first LBD in 1926, Vogue USA said this was ‘the frock all the world will wear’. Ahead of its centenary, Edinburgh’s National Gallery of Scotland honours LBDs, including feather and plastic versions, through October. It’s six minutes’ walk to The Balmoral Hotel: its 1,050sq ft second floor Glamis Suite includes a £5,000 ShinolaDTT turntable and eclectic vinyls. Herb-infused Baile Mhoireil gin at bedtime.

 

Clothes And Calypso

Anguilla celebrates clothes and calypso, 12th August, as part of the island’s annual carnival and regatta. Global celebs join calypso royalty from all the Leeward Islands. George Vlachopoulus, boss of newly re-named Malliouhana, formerly Auberge, plans a simultaneous and complementary event at Leon’s Beach Club at Meads Bay.

 

Slippery Business

London’s The Dorchester re-invents boring bedroom slippers. Suites come with (loan only) Edhèn Milano loafers or polka-style pale blue satin heeled slippers with front bows. They’re designed by Milanese trendies Filippo Cirulli and Filippo Fiora. They’re absolutely suitably stylish to wear down to the Lalique-filled Promenade Bar for flutes of Krug Clos d’Ambonnay 1998, and irresistible Maris Piper truffled fries.

 

All-inclusive Training

South East Asia’s legendary Eastern & Oriental train rises anew next year. Now 100% owned by LVMH’s Belmond, E&O adds Wild Malaysia trips, Singapore-Singapore via Taman Negara National Park safaris – leopard, rhino, tiger.15 restyled carriages (eight for ensuite sleeping, three for eating-drinking, one’s an open-sided observatory). All-inclusive, Moët through to Peranakan food.