Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week

The Czar of New York: Cesar Galindo and AMC create a fashion extravaganza that's for the birds

NEW YORK — You can forgive Cesar Galindo if he slept in most of the weekend. The Houston native kicked off Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week with a bang as he showcased two collections in less than 18 hours and celebrated afterwards with a big party at the trendy Hotel Gansevoort.

Galindo's big adventure started Thursday night when AMC hosted a pop-up party called "Immortal Love" to herald two new unscripted series,Freakshow and Immortalized, thatpremiere on Valentine's Day.

Galindo hooked up with AMC officials after they learned that the theme for his collection, "Suspended Life," dovetailed with the subjects of the cable channel's reality shows.

Several gowns from the Cesar Galindo Collection were showcased on mannequins amid taxidermy displays (Immortalized details a competition between leading taxidermists) and performances by a sword-swallower, a man who towers 7-feet, 8-inches tall and Amazing Ali, "The Littlest Lady in L.A.," who all appear in Freakshow.

Galindo hooked up with AMC officials after they learned that the theme for his collection, "Suspended Life," dovetailed with the subjects of the AMC reality shows. For example, he had already created a sequined gown that looks like tattoos on bare skin from far away.

"It was good karma and he's such a talented artist," said AMC president and general manager Charlie Collier. "It just worked beautifully together from the start."

Collier and AMC head of original programming Joel Stillerman admit the new reality shows are a little bit "out there," but so were such scripted shows as Mad Men, Breaking Bad and The Walking Dead.

"It's a little bit of a departure for us, but all in the AMC sensibility of being unexpected and unconventional," Stillerman said. "We love to take chances and we love to embrace things that are artistic and exciting. And I think that's what this is all about."

On Friday morning, the cast of Freakshow sat on the front row at Lincoln Center as Galindo presented his contemporary line, Czar by Cesar Galindo. The collection is certainly more conventional than the show it represents, but it showcases Galindo's expertise in design and construction.

"It's time for the world to pull back a bit and take in the moment," Galindo explained. "Stop, breath and live your life."

In putting together both collections, Galindo said he was influenced by the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy. "It's time for the world to pull back a bit and take in the moment," he explained. "Stop, breath and live your life."

For Czar, he created a "convertible wardrobe" that can transition from day to night. "Everyone in the world has to go work in the day but they want to have a life besides work, too," he said. "You can wear these dresses to work and go out after that."

The collection includes practical yet fashionable items — it opened with a pastel blue hoodie coat and featured a variety of day dresses and knit shifts — as well as some styles with a bit more flash. A glittery chain link shift is meant for dancing the night away.

Houston friends Page Parkes, Tabitha Garcia, Bambi Lynn and Michael Anthony Ramsey were on hand to cheer Galindo on. "I bought his first dress so he could pay the rent," Parkes recalled of the long-ago time when Galindo got started in the fashion business. "He's a construction genius. Anything he makes, you can turn inside out and wear it."

Royal blue stretch jacquard weave cap sleeve dress from Czar by Cesar Galindo. The hat is designed by Beth Beverly.

Cesar Galindo, Czar, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, February 2013

Photo by Tom Concordia

Royal blue stretch jacquard weave cap sleeve dress from Czar by Cesar Galindo. The hat is designed by Beth Beverly.

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Spa getaways

2 Texas destination spas named among world's best by Condé Nast readers

Photo courtesy of Lake Austin Spa Resort

Lake Austin Spa Resort has reached the top of the list for U.S. properties.

Readers of Condé Nast Traveler have voted for their favorite spas in the world, and two favorite Texas retreats are on the list.

Lake Austin Spa Resorthas been named No. 3 among the "Best Destination Spas in the US & Around the World," which was also No. 1 out of the American contenders. In the 2023 awards, it was second in the country, and it could continue moving up the ranks worldwide if it beats the Ikbal Thermal Hotel & SPA in Turkey, or BodyHoliday in St. Lucia — two very tall orders.

It is joined byMiraval Austin Resort & Spa at No. 20, the only other Texas resort on the list. There were 30 spas and resorts on the list overall.

Contributing writers from the magazine acted as reviewers to make sure the selections were covered in firsthand detail.

"Everything is centered on wellness," wroteLake Austin Spa Resort's reviewer, Texas contributor Allison Bagley, "from the exceptional spa treatments to the healthy cuisine and the stunning natural setting."

The 40-room resort has a garden-chic feel, with lots of mixed stone and timber construction, plants indoors and out, and elegant bird-themed artwork in several rooms. As Bagley points out, this isn't a place to pop over between errands, but a retreat from the city about 30 miles away.

Lake Austin Spa Resort's garden-chic interior.Photo courtesy of Lake Austin Spa Resort via Condé Nast Traveler

The review also cites the resort's "cottage feel," soft bed, the spa's own products in the bathroom, a room service menu featuring ingredients grown on site, guided stargazing sessions, and the approachability of classes by Paul, the yoga teacher.

"One of the pools is housed inside a barn — it's a striking setting," wrote Bagley of highlights that didn't fit neatly into the pre-determined review categories. "And I loved that the spa treatments use products grown on the grounds (wildflower and organic honey are used in the facial scrubs) and that some treatments take place in semi-open settings."

In a release, Lake Austin Spa Resort expressed gratitude and shared more tips about the property.

“Moving up from the #2 position to #1 is a true testament to the passion and dedication of our entire staff, who work tirelessly to create transformative experiences that have a lasting impact," said general manager JoAnn Lenhardt in the release. "We are sincerely grateful to Condé Nast Traveler readers for their trust and ongoing enthusiasm for our Texas Hill Country retreat."

In addition to Bagley's favorite things, the property also calls attention to its stand-up paddle boarding, cooking demonstrations, fitness classes, and a special treatment tool that's the only one of its kind in North America: a Comfort Zone Zone Skin Analysis Scan. It also shares four awards from 2024 alone, coming from Travel + Leisure, USA Today 10, Elle Magazine, and the Hotel O-Awards.

At Miraval, Austin-based contributing writer Stirling Kelso took note of similar highlights like a natural setting removed from the actual city of Austin, a focus on wellness, and Texas stone architecture. One big standout, although it might just be Kelso's clever turn of phrase that emphasized it, is the clientele.

Miraval Austin interior Miraval's minimalist, modern looks.Photo by James Baigrie, courtesy Miraval Austin via Condé Nast Traveler

Answering, "Who stays here?" Kelso writes, "The wellness one percent. This is where high-powered professionals come to detox, restructure, and take a break. You'll see men and women ambling around in robes and yoga gear. Note that cell phones technically aren't permitted except in dedicated zones, although we saw more than one person breaking the rules."

In contrast to Lake Austin Spa Resorts, lake-house aesthetic, Miraval is a more modern look and feel. The art is not of nearby flora and fauna, but abstract shapes and references to Eastern design. Kelso also points out that wine, beer, and cocktails are available, despite being rare at wellness retreats.

With both falling in the world's top 30, Texan spa-goers surely can't go wrong choosing either destination. More information about the selected properties, broken up into similar elements for easy comparison, is available at cntraveler.com.

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