SAMIRA NASR
EDITOR IN CHIEF

PERSON

Nina inside her Christen boutique in Paris.

(Photo courtesy of Nina Christen)

You may not know Nina Christen by name, but trust me, you know her work. Have you seen, coveted, and dreamt of owning any of the shoes from Jonathan Anderson’s recent Dior collections? If so, then you know Nina Christen, because she is Dior’s shoe mastermind and Jonathan Anderson’s longtime collaborator. She also launched her namesake collection a few years ago and opened her first boutique on Rue de la Paix in Paris last year. Trust me when I say she is the coolest. I am happy she agreed to share some of her favorite addresses—from where she plans to get her favorite vintage car to where she buys her favorite tea in Zurich—with us here.

First row (from left to right): Kronenhalle Bar; F&M Motorsport; Nina’s favorite Christen summer sandals.

Second row (from left to right): Globastone; Nina post-haircut; Peter Doig prints from Heni.

Third row (from left to right): Ristorante Ciro a Mergellina; The Grill; A piece from Charvet.

Fourth row (from left to right): Chinese tea; Pastries from Pasticceria Sissi; Sushi Shunei.

(Photos courtesy of Nina Christen)

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CHINESE TEA:

I love to drink pu-erh tea from China. I have a tea-ceremony master in Zurich from whom I buy all my tea, often vintage from the ’80s. I also always travel with my miniature teapots. The store in Zurich is called Shui Tang.

 

VINTAGE CARS:

I love cars, and I hope to buy a vintage Ferrari one day. When I am in L.A., I always visit that garage F&M Motorsport on Pico Boulevard. I always think of my shoes as small Ferraris ready to be taken out for the right occasion.

 

BESPOKE TAILORING:

I studied tailoring originally and therefore appreciate a crisp white or black shirt properly made at Charvet Place Vendôme in Paris. I’ve worked on several cuts with them for many years and love to have a new one made every spring.

 

TILES AND STONEWORK:

I recently designed my apartment in Paris, and I loved to go stone shopping in Italy, choosing the block of stone I wanted my floor to be made of. The place where I bought the stone is called Globastone in Pietrasanta.

 

PERFECT HAIRCUTS:

In Paris, I like to go for a haircut at the David Mallett salon at the Ritz. I do the cut with David and like to get my blow-dry with Lydia.

 

MOUTHWATERING MOZZARELLA:

I am obsessed with the taste of buffalo mozzarella and love to go to Naples just for that reason—to eat it at the Ristorante Ciro a Mergellina. Caserta, a small town close to Naples, is the birthplace of mozzarella. The cheese is very fragile, and the texture completely changes when it is exported, so you can only have the real thing in Naples. You should eat it without anything, not even oil.

 

DINNER AND DESIGN:

The Grill at the Seagram Building by Mies van der Rohe in New York is one of my top three favorite restaurants because it combines my love for architecture and food.

 

PINTS AND PICASSO:

My favorite bar in the world is the Kronenhalle Bar in Zurich. It’s the most unique place, where you can have a drink next to the owner’s incredible art collection with original works by Rauschenberg, Picasso, and many others.

 

LIMITED-EDITION PRINTS:

I recently bought these prints by Peter Doig from Heni, an online gallery offering limited-edition prints. I like to browse through their selections from time to time.

 

ITALIAN BREAKFAST:

When I’m in Milan, I love to have coffee and pastries at the counter of Pasticceria Sissi.

 

PARIS DINING SPOTS: 

I don’t go to restaurants so much in Paris, as I am more into Italian food, but I can recommend Monsieur Caramel. It’s a tea room with incredible pastries. I love Lao Siam and Sushi Shunei. My favorite coffee shop is KB Coffee Roasters in the 9th.

 

SHOE STORE (OF COURSE!):

I like to spend time at the Christen shop in Paris to meet my clients and to do the visual merchandising myself. Sometimes I just stop by to make sure the shoes are all aligned properly :)

Helix Ankle Strap Sandal

This one is my favorite shoe for a night out.

Hand Crochet Ballerina

And my favorite day shoe! :)

Edge Thong Sandal

This is my new favorite day shoe from this season’s collection.

PLACE

Samira models some of her favorite Maison Mayle pieces and shares snaps from inside the store.

(Photos courtesy of Samira Nasr)

I have known Maison Mayle designer and founder Jane Mayle for decades. She is a dear friend, former creative collaborator, and forever style inspiration of mine. I have worn her designs for as long as I have known her. Everything Jane touches immediately turns to something unexpectedly beautiful. She’s the only person I know who can make a masterpiece floral arrangement from deli flowers and who can take a random piece of plastic and turn it into the most desirable necklace faster than you can say “Where did you get that?” She makes great style look easy, and her clothes are imbued with her magic. I recently popped into her shop on Great Jones Street and was reminded why I love her pieces so much. Maison Mayle skirts worn with vintage tees are my summer go-to wardrobe. I wear this combo on repeat and feel great doing it. Her clothes are mostly made right here in NYC, which is noteworthy because the city’s once-thriving garment district is rapidly shrinking, and businesses like Jane’s keep a lot of good folks employed. I am reminding you that her boutique is worth a visit because not only is there no other place like it, I guarantee you will leave feeling a little foxier than you did when you arrived. Trust me.

Lace Loves Lost Tee

Atalante Skirt

THING

Samira in her assortment of beloved summer hats.

(Photos courtesy of Samira Nasr)

I love a summer hat, which is a little surprising since I don’t usually wear hats any other time of year, except for my favorite red cashmere knit Marc Jacobs beanie that I bought decades ago at the original Marc Jacobs boutique on Mercer Street. When it comes to summer hats, I usually go for my favorite LL Cool J–inspired red terry Kangol, or a version of it. Recently, while visiting the Alaïa boutique in SoHo, I fell in love with a straw bucket hat with leather ties, and it got me thinking that maybe it’s time for me to expand my hat wardrobe for summer. If you are like me and look for something easy to pack and maybe a little different than a classic straw hat, I present these four options for your consideration. Stay sun-safe, friends.

Kangol

’47 Brand

Toteme

Miu Miu

Happy shopping, and tell ’em I sent you. 

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Best

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