HOTEL AMORE Feature: Nadine Choe, founder of The Stanza, based in Milan
Also: A very fashionable art walk with Vestiaire Collective during Art Gallery Weekend, a series on stylish New Yorkers and a fashion wishlist from the Noughties focused on surfing, and local intel
.Hello my dear Internet Friends,
I hope you are doing well.
I am good. Art Gallery Weekend in Berlin was great, even though I had to focus on only a few things. I really enjoyed the annual Vestiaire Collective art walk hosted by the PR agency CS PR with always the best and most fashionable crowd - I got to wear a really beautiful Miu Miu denim jacket and a great Chanel bag which I very much fell in love and really didn’t want to part ways with anymore.
I went to see the exhibition of Parisian artist Pol Taburet at Schinkel Pavillion - I worked with him for a fashion brand collaboration in 2017 and unfortunately didn’t buy a painting back then, too bad!
Articles and books I read:
Power Houses by The New Yorker
A beautiful photography series by photographer Gillian Laub for The New Yorker, showing the living rooms of notable New Yorkers. The idea was taken from a brief for the same magazine from 1995, back then photographed by Dominique Nabokov. These notable New Yorkers for the most recent series include characters such as Diane von Furstenberg, Emily Bode and Aaron Aujla, Francesca and Martin Scorsese, Gloria Steinem, Anna Delvey (her title is “con artist”! Love it!), Laila Gohar and Ignacio Mattos - and many more.
Books
I already mentioned that I am on a mission to use the remaining month which I have on my own to read as much as I can. I am a fast reader, so I will borrow some titles from a friend (thank you Anna, thank you Isabel!) with similar book taste: I will report back!
Calla Henkel, Scrap
Daniel Speck, Jaffa Road
Emma Cline, The Guest
Ann Napoletano, Hello Beautiful
Dani Shapiro, Signal Fires
Fashion I saw, loved and occasionally bought:
I am buying very few things at the moment for myself, current focus is mostly vintage baby clothes as I have a clear fashion vision for baby KD (have to say: sourcing baby clothes is great fun, definitely unlocked a new passion). What I did buy for myself were these Massimo Dutti fur mules which I saw recently on a friend, and ordered them on the spot - they are really comfortable and chic, can recommend.
I bought the below shoes last summer, but still want to recommend you the Vibram Five Finger shoes, I love the V-Soul model. They are very comfortable and can create a stylistic break with your outfit if that’s your thing (it is mine). Might not be for everyone, and that’s the best thing about them
I bought a turquoise nylon bag from the Dior Malice collection on Vestiare last week - the Malice collection was introduced in the 90s by Galliano. I never see anyone wear bags from this collection, so I am pretty happy with this one! Mine is quite simple, but you can get really beautiful ones in lots of different materials, a bit like the Fendi Baguette but less seen. The below one is really fun too. She goes on the wish list!
For a year or two already, I have been eyeing the Dior Surf collection, which was also introduced by John Galliano in 2004. I did score a jacket last year, but it was too tiny for me and I had to sell it on. Items from this collection are on my watch list for 2025, especially a jacket that actually fits me or a bag, either the Saddle or another model.
An alternative to the Dior Surf collection which I also like is the capsule Spring Summer 2002 Surf line from Chanel, which was then designed by Karl Lagerfeld: 1st Dibs has a good collection from that time, but pretty pricey - I mean we all know, 1st Dibs rarely gives a good deal haha. I don’t know what it is about the surf vibes for me - maybe summer feelings? Anyways - sometimes I love wanting something which is really hard to find, so it will take time, patience and research skills to find - digging out special things and sourcing is my home territory. Will keep you posted on my process.
Events to visit:
One of the favorite Berlin concept stores, Andreas Murkudis, is hosting their annual charity market at the end of May. Not sure if I will then still be able to walk but if so, I will definitively go. It’s always great!
There is also a cosy, local fleemarket hosted by Original Feelings, the most beautiful yoga studio in Berlin. Come on the 18th of May from 1pm - 4pm at Straßburgerstraße 18 in Prenzlauer Berg.
On to today’s feature in which I would like to introduce you to Nadine: HOTEL AMORE INC feature on Nadine Choe, founder of The Stanza.
I don’t actually remember how I came across The Stanza: I believe it was through another Substack which recommended her newsletterThe Stanza, which then consequently led me to her podcast and Instagram. The brand Nadine is building up is about an investor's perspective on hospitality & fashion - a lens which I haven’t seen anywhere else and find very interesting and exciting. I love listening to different perspectives onto the industry I work in to expand my view. Nadine interviews captivating profiles such as Gaetano Guarducci from the Sant Ambroeus hospitality group, Jenny Pham, Co-Founder of Objects are By and former Chief Brand Officer at Versace, or Walter d’Aprile, co-founder of nssmagazine.
Hi dear Nadine! So happy we met online and to now have you for a feature on my newsletter: I love the sharp niche you carved for your business. Could you introduce yourself and talk a bit about your journey to get to where you are now?
I founded The Stanza in July 2023 after nearly a decade in real estate private equity and development. The last three years of my employee life were spent working for Cain International on One Beverly Hills, a 10-acre $5B project that will include the Aman Hotel & Residences.
Cain has financed other lifestyle hospitality projects such as members clubs, and I was lucky to have had exposure to underwriting these types of deals. The Stanza began off the back of a viral TikTok in which I talked about why Aime Leon Dore should open a members club.
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At the time, no one was talking about the business of members clubs, and I immediately knew there was a white space to share the insights I’ve gained from my investing career in a way that is easily digestible online. From there, I’ve expanded into a media platform that includes a podcast and newsletter.
I’ve always loved hospitality, fashion, design - essentially all things that combine tactility and emotion. Being able to apply an analytical perspective on these things is natural to me and luckily, people enjoy consuming my content!
As you beautifully explained in one of the first podcast episodes, finding your path sometimes includes going the wrong way in the beginning. I linked the episode below, but in a nutshell - what would be your advice for people who are looking to do exactly that, finding their vocation?
More people need to do more and think less. I get this question a lot from people who are in their “soul searching” phase, and I understand where they are coming from as I went through that as well. But, I just threw everything at the wall to see what resonated with me the most. Too many people overthink their decisions and never end up following through, and the truth is that success requires following through until the end. Doing something is better than being perfect, because nothing will ever be perfect.
I’ve always known I was meant to live an unusual and big life and fortunately that self-image was reinforced by my teachers and my parents during elementary school. I grew up in LA, went to boarding school in Massachusetts then moved to London for University, then to NYC, back to LA, and back to London and now am mostly based in Milan. I’ve never been afraid of the unknown - I actively seek to get out of my comfort zone. My biggest fear isn’t failure, it’s mediocrity. Failure is inevitable in life, but what matters most is that you pick yourself up and try again.
If you want to listen to the mentioned first episode - this is the one:
Thank you! I love that - 100% agree that it is better to start and shape an idea along the way rather than waiting for it to be perfect. I know do know too many people who are doing that, and it’s been years. I want to pick your brain and point of view a bit on hotels: What do you think is the magic formula to make a hotel successful?
Think of the most iconic hotels in the world that have stood the test of time - Hotel du Cap Eden Roc in Antibes, Claridge’s in London, The Ritz Paris, Sunset Tower and Chateau Marmont in LA, Hotel Costes in Paris, Kulm Hotel in St. Moritz etc…they all have a story to tell.
It’s much more than great design and service - those are the bare minimum to be a competitive luxury hotel these days. There is an unseen emotional component that goes into the creation of the hotel that drives longevity and desire, IMHO.
Are you actually a member of any clubs in Milan or have been in LDN, LA or NYC?
I’m a member at Casa Cipriani simply because they operate with institutional quality. I know the service and food will be consistently good, and I like being able to rely on the club for important meetings. The club is also managed by the 4th generation Cipriani family who take great care in the member experience. Joining Casa Cipriani has made my experience in Milan noticeably better and I can’t recommend it enough.
On this topic - I loved the episode on members clubs in conversation with Gary Vaynerchuk, Chairman and CEO and David Rodolitz, Founder & CEO at VCR, a hospitality group which owns different members clubs and restaurants in NYC.
As you are an expert on hospitality and also live in Milan, I would love to know which places in Milan you would recommend:
Hotels:
Casa Cipriani
and Portrait Hotel
Bars:
Bar Paradiso is a great spot for natural wine aperitivo. It’s also a fun people watching scene.
Restaurants:
Pasticceria Gattullo for their sandwiches
Dal Bolognese for their veal Milanese
Trattoria Madonina for traditional Lombardian food
Yapa and
Bentoteca for Japanese fusion
Sant Ambroeus for any occasion
Sogni for date night
Osteria Francescana by Massimo Bottura in Modena if you have time to take a day trip from Milan.
Thanks for sharing your Milan favorites! There are definitely some which I haven’t been to and which will go on my list <3 Let’s get to Paris - which places in Paris are your favorites?
Restaurants
Chanceux in the 11th
I’m a huge ALAÏA fan and loved visiting the new store on Rue Saint Honore in Paris - the Sant Ambroeus cafe on the mezzanine level is nice for a quick matcha break.
This might sound painfully stereotypically American, but walking around all the shops, cafes, and galleries in the Marais on a sunny weekend day is my favorite way to spend time in Paris.
Where do you look for inspiration for hotels and travel in general when you decide where to go and where to stay?
I actually enjoy going back to some of the same places - building an in-depth knowledge of a place and experiencing it throughout several life phases is special to me. I’ve been going to Ibiza since university, and I always discover something new every year.
Thank you Nadine for sharing some of your journey and your inspiration - I am excited to follow along and hope to meet you for a coffee next time in Milan!
LKD
Loving the Dior surfer gal look! 💕
You look so chic! Thank you so much for including me louisa 🤍