Walpole: In a world where we’re always available, how do you separate your personal time from your work time?
Jodi Feder: The honest answer is that I always keep an eye on work. Old habits die hard, and, in the communications business, one cannot switch off entirely. However, the weekends are absolutely golden, as is time with family and friends. Whether it be discovering new areas of London, looking for treasures in antique markets, or walking in Richmond Park or Eccleston Square Garden, every weekend commences with a visit to the Pimlico Road farmers' market with my husband for a coffee, flowers and fresh produce.
What’s one thing you do after the work day to help you unwind?
Listening to music on my drive home. The work day always ends with a daily call to my mother to check in, even at my age! Reading and absorbing anything and everything in connection to retail, fashion, art and design. Bamford, Malin+Goetz and Byredo are also essential relaxation products!
What activity do you do in your time away from the office that helps you relax and recentre after a stressful week?
I always listen to music, from classical to jazz to pop. Rachmaninov, London Grammar, Jacques Loussier, Michel Legrand, and Oscar Peterson are some of my favourites. I also like to go to new restaurants and bars, new retail pop-ups and collaborations, furniture stores, art exhibitions, opera, and dance performances. I love film, too.
What’s something you’ve read, listened to or seen in your spare time that’s helped you at work?
I like the interviews by Alain Elkann, especially when he speaks with creatives (the most recent one was an interview with François-Joseph Graf, designer of recently opened ...At Sloane hotel). I loved watching Lessons In Chemistry and The Bear – both touching tales of dreams which are fuelled by utter tenacity.
> Read our interview with François-Joseph Graph on the design of Walpole member hotel, ...At Sloane
After home and the office, where’s your favourite third space?
It is meant to be the spin studio, KXU. In reality it is Bamford Spa, Brompton Cross. And I do adore a moment spent having a really decent coffee.
On Sunday night, how do you prepare yourself for the week ahead?
Time with my husband consoling him as I do not work on a Monday, fortunately! Such consolation is always accompanied by decent vodka cocktail.
Best reason you've had to turn your out of office on recently?
A two-day trip to Paris, filled with all my favourite spots for shopping and relaxing. Special mentions go to the Azzedine Alaia Foundation, Le Grand Mazarin hotel, Dries Van Noten stores on Quai Malaquais, Gripoix, and Galerie Goossens.
Your go-to out of office outfit: Lululemon, FRAME jeans, cashmere jumpers from Eric Bompard and trainers from my favourite designer, Pierre Hardy.
Your happy place anywhere in the world: Positano on the Amalfi Coast and Eze in the South of France. On Safari in South Africa, too.
Your favourite bar or restaurant: At Maison François in St James's, London, I must have Paris-Brest aux noisettes from the most beautifully designed dessert trolley. Whenever I got to Canton Blue at The Peninsula London, I must have the Peking duck, and at Paper Moon at The OWO I love the tartare of tuna, red prawns and amberjack, and tiramisu.
Something cultural or sporting you recently booked that you'd recommend: Handel’s Jephta at the Royal Opera House – my husband and have been to all the Handel operas over the past 20 years. I am a big fan of Es Devlin and I recently saw The Crucible (I must buy her recently published book, An Atlas of Es Devlin!). I loved Gucci Cosmos – I have been fascinated by Gucci since I was a child – and UVA – Synchronicity at 180 Studios. I'm a huge fan of United Visual Artists' work, and I was delighted that Max Recio, one of the organisation's artists, was involved in the opening party for SKP Chengdu (which Sybarite designed) with Kennedy Productions. In general, I am interested in light art; I saw Thin Air last year. I am probably the only person yet to see the Chanel show at the V&A, though I will be going (finally!) in February. I am looking forward to the ballet season next year at the Royal Opera House, namely Swan Lake.
> Read our interview with Oriole Cullen on curating Gabrielle Chanel: Fashion Manifesto at the V&A
Something you've listened to or read recently that you'd recommend: Any of the books by Triglyph Books, founded by a very talented photographer friend, Dylan Thomas. Its books always cover subjects such as architecture, art, landscapes and interior design that I am interested in. In terms of magazines, I particularly like Cabana and Perfect. And, of course, I simply could not live without Financial Times HTSI.
A hobby you'd like to cultivate: Gardening. My love for the seasons, nature, plants and flowers knows no bounds. I am interested in the work of garden designers Piet Oudolf, Wirtz, Robert Myers and Jinny Blom. In October, I visited SKP Chengdu which Sybarite architects designed in collaboration with Field Operations (of the High Line in New York City), and the garden there was breathtaking. It was a such a privilege to be given the guided tour by Torquil McIntosh and Jayyun Jung from Field Operations. I am also keen to get into outdoor cycling and to understand more about the world of nutrition.
A luxury that’s actually a necessity: Quality bed linens from Frette; an Agnona cashmere blanket for watching TV; tech that improves your life (anything from Apple); my Smythson diary, which is terribly old fashioned, but without which I couldn't live; and a great scented candle (I love Cire Trudon and I am debating one from Carrière Frères).
Best luxury under £25: Birley Bakery - anything and everything; The Connaught Patisserie, exquisite loose leaf tea, and bath salts.
> View Sybarite's Walpole member profile here
Photo credit: Mel Yates, courtesy of Sybarite
