Not too long ago, Paul Andrew, the British shoe designer who now lives in New York City, found himself sitting in a large Gothic palace in Florence, Italy, almost entirely filled with shoes. “There were over 15,000 pairs,” he recalls, still bemused. Frescos—faded from time but no less transcendent—sprawled ... More

With a 71-year history and 11 stores sprinkled throughout Chicago and the suburbs, Walter E. Smithe is a local furniture icon. Since 1945, the company has established itself as a reliable family-run retailer, with the second- and third-generation Smithe men at the helm. But now a new ... More

London Jewelers was founded in 1926 by Charles London, a European watchmaker who settled in Glen Cove, Long Island. London became the Gold Coast’s go-to watchmaker, visiting the estates of the affluent (think: the Vanderbilts, Whitneys, Pratts and Morgans) in the area to fix and rewind their ... More

The tattooed man in front of me is explaining the cultural significance of watches to his native country, Switzerland, while wearing a watch on each wrist. “Even if you’re not passionate about watches or interested from an artistic point of view, you know people who work in the little workshops ... More

If Aurae’s goal to become “The World’s Most Innovative Credit Card” wasn’t enough, the company has just announced its latest endeavor: the chance for card users to gain access to the lifestyle of famed DJ and entertainer Steve Aoki. “I was amazed and impressed at the detail in the ... More

"The Swiss watchmaking industry is very traditional, which is very good in one way,” Julien Tornare, CEO of Zenith Watches explains. “But on the other hand, tradition can live only if there is something new going on—only if we build on it through the future.” For a brand ... More

Jane Hertzmark Hudis, group president of Estée Lauder, is fascinated by storytelling. As she describes her business strategies for the eight brands she oversees globally—that’s Estée Lauder, La Mer, Bobbi Brown, Aerin, Origins, Aveda, Darphin and Bumble and bumble—she talks about each as if they’re a person with an individual ... More

Once a beloved Access Hollywood anchor, Shaun Robinson left her hosting gig of 16 years to pursue her passion for giving back. By founding S.H.A.U.N. Foundation for Girls in 2015, Robinson has built a company that focuses on five critical aspects of a young girl’s life—STEM education, ... More

Down a private drive in the Hamptons, past a sign that reads “Warren on the Cobb,” sits a sprawling clapboard house, complete with a sparkling baby-blue pool, monogrammed deck furniture and the pièce de résistance floating expectantly in the center of the pool: a giant inflatable swan. It’s raining today, the second weekend of the summer, and ... More