Fashionable Fairmont with Blair Eadie
A change of scenery often inspires creativity – just ask Blair Eadie. Drawing on an instructive San Francisco past while getting an ever-productive charge from her current hometown of New York, her inimitable fashion sense is inspired by special places and the one-of-a-kind experiences they provide. The relaxed simplicity, refined street style and undeniable beauty of her widely influential Atlantic-Pacific blog can all be attributed to living incredible moments.
Together with Atlantic-Pacific photographer beau and fellow fashion merchandiser Andrew Powell, Blair partnered with Fairmont Hotels & Resorts who helped the pair capture more of her signature colorful looks in a dazzling trio of unforgettable locations. The Fairmont staff expertly tailored three customized itineraries as Blair and Andrew explored the stirring beauty and distinctive local flavors of Chicago, Bermuda and Vancouver.
In Midwest Mode
After jetting in from NYC and enjoying a sumptuous breakfast from the 15th-floor Fairmont Gold Lounge of the Fairmont Chicago, Millennium Park, the concierge suggested a visit to the Art Institute of Chicago. The museum's astoundingly massive collection of landmark works and stately gardens tempted the couple with its Instagram-ready backdrops. Blair and Andrew spent hours shooting amongst the stunning Beaux-Arts architecture of the country’s second largest art museum.
Later in the afternoon, a jaunt through the hipster ‘hood of Wicker Park led them straight to its sweet spot: the irresistible cozy cuteness of Stan’s Donuts, where the pair enjoyed a quick snack. Back at Fairmont Chicago, the fairytale sights of the amusements at the Navy Pier below—an illuminated wonderland sent charmingly into Lake Michigan—elicited childlike joy from Blair.
At dawn the following morning, Blair, an emphatically early riser, took to new heights once again thanks to the concierge's preparations. Smartly accessorized in her trademark Illesteva sunglasses, a speedy elevator trip up the Willis Tower Skydeck offered a point of view for brave souls only. Making herself at home on “The Ledge,” the concierge rightly guessed the glass box would make for a fashionista's ready-made stage: Jutting out four feet from its 103-storey-high perch above South Wacker Drive, the tops of neighboring skyscrapers and far-reaching sights of Indiana, Wisconsin and Michigan raised the morning's shoot to astronomical levels.
A short walk from Fairmont Chicago took the couple to touristic touchstone Millennium Park, a beloved vantage point to snatch some future uploads by the skyline. Later, strolling along the Chicago Riverwalk’s attractive walkways at sundown, Blair's blonde braids glowed as she struck some poses near the water.
Island Escape
Impossibly clear azure waters, porcelain-smooth beaches, hidden coves and culinary treasures: This is the Bermuda that palm tree dreams are made of, and the very same that served as a postcard-perfect backdrop for Atlantic-Pacific shoots.
Welcomed by the playful pink façade of Hamilton Princess & Beach Club, A Fairmont Managed Hotel, Blair and Andrew were impressed by its picturesque harbor and bountiful gardens. Wandering off the manicured grounds and through the streets of the capital, they stopped to sample some local tastes, saving room for lunch at the hotel’s harbor side restaurant, 1609. Yacht-spotting over well-made rum drinks and catch-of-the-day tacos were simple joys worth savoring.
A short shuttle to the hotel’s private beach revealed sun-soaked expanses of surf lazily unrolling on the warm Bermuda sand, which, of course, Blair couldn't resist. Even after a full morning rollicking under the sun, she was lured into the Princess’s infinity-edged pool to float away the remainder of the day in blissful leisure.
Another sunny morning provides the perfect backdrop for an unlimited champagne brunch at Marcus’, where its expansive gazebo-like design and uninterrupted views of the marina made for a memorable Sunday start. After the Hamilton Princess's concierge staff scheduled a fruitful peek around the historic, centuries-old military and church sites of St. George’s for the smartly dressed pair, Blair changed into a striped nautical look for what was to be a trip highlight: an enchanting sunset cruise of the island. Watch all the highlights here; warning this may inspire your next vacation!
Canadian Escape
The final adventure brought Blair and Andrew more than 3,000 miles away from their previous jaunt to the resplendent Canadian northwest city of Vancouver.
After checking in, Blair reemerged in a bell-sleeved JOUR/NE plaid dress, and the two caught a ferry across False Creek to Granville Island. The staff of Fairmont Pacific Rim expertly surmised that she would be highly interested in scoping out the Canuck clothing designers found at Little Dream Apparel in The Net Loft, as well as the scores of artists and jewelers creating and selling their wares in the island's Railspur District.
Just west of Gastown, the concierge arranged a gourmet picnic at 1,000-acre Stanley Park, where they bicycled through the impossibly gorgeous paths winding between fir and cedar trees on one side and the majestic Pacific Ocean on the other. Later on, the couple traded wheels for wings, viewing Vancouver from above aboard a scenic Harbour Air seaplane tour. For dinner, Fairmont Pacific Rim’s concierge had prepared reservations at the hotel's RawBar, where Blair and Andrew were delighted by its famed omakase – a spontaneous choice of surprise creations direct from the sushi chef that did not disappoint.
The next morning, Blair was hard pressed to say goodbye. Grateful to the staff for all of the remarkable experiences, she insisted she would return soon.
After living for five years in Brazil, where he wrote restaurant, nightlife and hotel city guides for Time Out São Paulo and other publications, CM Gorey returned to his native New York City. With experience creating and revising content for corporate PR and social media campaigns for the art market, he also continues to translate Brazilian Portuguese works for film, television and theater.