Destination Anywhere: Mexico City
We traveled to CDMX to shoot our summer campaign, and ate at some excellent women-founded restaurants. Here, our favorite spots and what we might wear there.
Tory is a longtime fan of Mexico City’s modern architecture, tree-lined streets and quaint cafes — all of which felt like the right backdrop for our summer campaign. It’s not news that CDMX is also a foodie haven and while there, the crew visited a number of excellent restaurants all helmed by immensely talented women chefs. Here, our favorite spots paired with ensembles inspired by their ethos and vibe.
Opened last year by chef Fabiola Escobosa, Cana has a simple yet elegant bistro interior and a menu of clever contemporary twists on classics like steak tartare, oysters and even a burger — all beautifully executed with local and seasonal ingredients. “There was a dish with cherries which was just from a different planet,” said Benjamin Tietge, the crew’s still-life photographer. “And the white anchovies were fantastic.”
What to wear: The Spring ’24 runway featured a forward-looking take on wardrobe essentials, echoing Cana’s vibe. In other words, the familiar ease of a polo, trousers and slip-ons translated into our sporty-chic Poplin Zip Polo, Coated Jersey Pants, and surreal Pierced Mule Wedge worn with the Runway Sunglasses and Esha Soni’s The Orb bag.
An alum of critical darling restaurants around the globe, including Cosme in New York and Contramar in CDMX, Mariana Villegas opened her first restaurant Lina less than a year ago. Villegas’s menu walks a fine line — using the exceptional technique of haute cuisine in dishes that are by turns familiar and comforting, innovative and unexpected. “It was the most magical spot to celebrate a long day of shooting” said our Creative Director, Honor Brodie. “We devoured the tuna sashimi, margaritas and, of course, the tres leches cake.”
What to wear: Lina’s intersection of innovation and familiarity is right in line with our Spring ’24 tunic, a brand signature reinterpreted with a deep u-neckline and slit, layered sleeves. Build the look with more runway favorites: the silk jersey Goddess skirt, Patos Slingback sandals and Elongated Wave earrings. And ICYMI from Fall/Winter 2023, the much-coveted Marshmallow satchel is back.
The outsize azure fish mural above the bar says it all — Contramar is all about seafood. The first of famed chef Gabriela Càmara’s nine restaurants, Contramar is open for lunch only.
The crew visited Contramar both to eat and shoot on location. The vibe is scene-y yet the food — must-have tuna tostadas, a much-photographed whole fish painted with red and green salsa — is far from an afterthought. "Contramar is iconic and on everyone’s ‘must-do" list for a reason,” said Cassie Coane, our Senior Director of Global Brand Imaging.
What to wear: Our shoulder-dusting earrings, made with real shells, hooks into the marine motif. To turn heads in the buzzy, bustling room, tap into the haute athletic trend with a Flore Flore tank and Made Some board shorts (both small, woman-owned brands), elevated by our white Deville handbag, Jessa heels and Runway sunglasses.
The first of several restaurants from chef Elena Reygadas, Rosetta is located in a beautiful Porfirian-era mansion, with greenery all around — a plant-shaded exterior and, inside, frescoed flora by artist Damian Andrade, a friend of Reygadas. The cuisine is a mix of Mexican and Italian with a deep respect for local and seasonal ingredients. “The food is as exquisite as the setting,” said Jaime Perlman, our VP of Global Brand Imaging. The tireless Reygadas is also an advocate for sustainable agriculture and funds a scholarship that supports Mexican women in gastronomy.
What to wear: Our Cotton Twill Dress has a mix of earthy elegance and precision that rises to the occasion of a Rosetta reservation. Add some light with pearl earrings from slow fashion shop Proyecto República and translucence with our Mesh Tote. The Ines Slide is a perfect sightseeing-to-dinner sandal. Lastly, a hand-woven palm-leaf hat from CDMX shop Utilitario Mexicano.
In addition to the Summer Capsule, we also photographed the Ice Cream Shop collection, featuring the Miller sandal and Ella Bio tote in colors inspired by our favorite ice cream flavors. Our location — the original outpost of CDMX ice cream parlor Nevería Roxy, opened in 1946 in the Condesa neighborhood.
Emily sampled single flavors while shooting, but the Roxy special’s are a banana split and a 3-scoop sundae with strawberry, chocolate and coconut. It’s a must-visit for the ice cream, milk shakes and sorbets as well as the cool retro interior, barely changed in the 78 years it’s been in operation.