Wish You Were Here: Postcards Sent to Travel + Leisure

By Travel & Leisure
September 22, 2015
Philip Friedman
Over the past six months, chefs, fashion designers, musicians, and other notable characters have been sending old-school correspondence to the Travel + Leisure offices. Here are our favorites.
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Simon Doonan, Barneys Ambassador & Jonathan Adler, Designer: Capri

Philip Friedman

According to the stylish New York City couple, if heaven exists, it is in Capri, Italy. Each summer, the pair escapes to Hotel La Scalinatella to breakfast on the terrace, hike sun-drenched trails, and swim in the property’s pools. To prove that they’ve found paradise, the duo sent us this postcard, which depicts the vibrant blue waters of the island’s famous sea cave, the Grotta Azzurra.

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AliceWaters, Chef: Rome

Philip Friedman

The culinary pioneer and school-lunch advocate visits the Italian capital at least twice a year to bring back healthy ideas for America’s kids. On her latest trip, she feasted on fresh pasta with black truffles and took the time to send us this postcard, which depicts the site on Janiculum Hill where Galileo demonstrated his telescope.

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Phoebe and Annette Stephens, Designers: Tulum

Philip Friedman

The sisters behind the jewelry line Anndra Neen—which will join the collections at New York City’s Dover Street Market this fall—returned to their native Mexico to soak up some sun and visit friends. They picked up this postcard from an Argentine artist they met on the beach.

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Marcel Dzama, Artist: St. Louis

Philip Friedman

Known for his dark but playful paintings and collages, Dzama recently visited Missouri for his show at the World Chess Hall of Fame (he’s a chess enthusiast). Up next? He’ll design the set and costumes for a Justin Peck work premiering in February at the New York City Ballet.

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Rachel Comey, Designer: Tuscany

Philip Friedman

After a work trip to Milan, Comey took her family to Pietrasanta, a northern coastal town known for its marble-carving studios. While there, the designer—who will open her first L.A. boutique this spring—picked up this postcard of Il Guerriero, a sculpture facing the town hall, and pasted in a portrait of herself on the beach.

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Ashley Judd, Actor: Malibu, California

Philip Friedman

While the charms of this quintessential beach town held only a passing interest for Judd, the trip did serve to remind her of her true favorite place on earth: the Virginia town where she spent five weeks shooting her latest film, Big Stone Gap.

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Daniel Boulud, Chef: Seoul

Philip Friedman

The renowned French restaurateur spent a quick 2½ days in the South Korean capital, where he scoured the fish markets, filled up on traditional barbecue, and joined locals at an unmarked karaoke lounge.

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Phillip Lim, Designer: Bhutan

Philip Friedman

On a trip to the Himalayan country to shoot his fall 2015 advertising campaign, Lim—who’s celebrating the 10th anniversary of his brand this year—found time to hike to Tiger’s Nest Monastery and indulge in bowls of fiery ema datshi.

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Rebecca Minkoff, Designer: Hong Kong

Philip Friedman

On a three-day trip to mark the opening of her first overseas boutique, Minkoff explored the Chinese city—including the boutique- and café-filled PMQ design hub—and sent T+L style director Jane Bishop this postcard of Victoria Harbour.

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René Redzepi, Chef: Kyoto, Japan

Philip Friedman

After wrapping his Noma pop-up at the Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo—a five-week sister location of his Michelin two-starred restaurant in Copenhagen—Redzepi, along with family and a staff of more than 40, took a 10-day tour of one of his favorite Japanese cities.

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Edward Droste, Musician: India

Philip Friedman

Every year the founding singer-songwriter of indie-rock band Grizzly Bear takes a long trip with old friends. This year—in between work on a new album—it was to Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kerala, and Mumbai, where he sent us this colorful card.

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Eddie Borgo, Designer: London

Philip Friedman

On a quick trip across the pond for business, the New York–based jeweler—who will launch his first handbag collection in July—was able to steal away for a little artistic inspiration. He dropped style director Jane Bishop a hand-drawn card.

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