A Glimpse of Peter Som
FROM A GLIMPSE OF PETER SOM FEATURED ON GLIMPSE GUIDES
Now, voyager! I recently got to talk with Glimpse Guides about all things travel. From favorite hotels and amazing restaurants around the world, to the journey getting there, I give all my tips and tricks for traveling with ease across the seas and further. Glimpse Guides is the the first stop for jet-setters of all ages. With city guides, trip-planning services, artisan-made travel goods, tips and interviews, glimpse is your go-to destination for all things travel. What’s even better, 100% of their profits go to their charity Give A Glimpse, which gives underserved students the educational gift of travel.
Follow glimpse @glimpseguides
Follow Give a Glimpse @giveaglimpse
Glimpse: Peter, I see you believe in the Magic of Everyday and to have things that uplift and fit effortlessly into your Life! It is just magical, thinking about this way of living! Can you explain to our readers how you achieve this mind set and what it looks like?
Peter: It’s truly about taking a moment to appreciate special moments—be they big or small—and learning to enjoy not only the destination, but the journey. The act of getting into bed with a good book or movie, buying some flowers from the corner deli for your home—all these things are special. We don’t have to wait for special occasions like birthdays or the Holidays to celebrate—host an impromptu dinner party on a Wednesday! The reason? There doesn’t have to be a reason at all!
G: You are definitely a sunshine optimist and it is so refreshing! Tell us about your morning rituals, step by step if you will. (Are you a French press or coffee maker gadget guy and what coffee are you loving right now?)
P: I usually am up by 7am and the first thing I do is make coffee. In the fall and winter, it’s French Press with oat milk and in the warmer months I love cold brew with pistachio milk, which naturally has a touch of sweetness in it. I’ll have my usual breakfast—two seven minute eggs with a sprinkle of fleur de sel. The rest of my mornings are usually reserved for recipe testing and photography—the morning light in my apartment is perfect for taking photos.
G: Also so we can get into your lovely frame of mind, what is the difference between a routine and a ritual?
P: For me, the difference between a routine and a ritual is that a ritual helps center me and it’s something I look forward to and that might allow me to slow down for a moment. A routine is about checking things off a list—listen, both have their own rightful place—cause sometimes you’re in a hurry and you gotta get things done!
G: I love how important family is to you. You say your mother taught you strength, kindness and the value of hard work. That’s a lovely combination of magnificent traits. Can you share a bit about your mother and the influence she had in your fabulous eye and lovely mindset?
P: Growing up and still now, my Mom’s style was crisp, clean and thoughtful while still being effortless. She wore DVF dresses backwards for a low v-back, she had fabulous shearling coats with massive furry collars, and when I started my line, she of course started collecting her favorite pieces from each of my collections. She’s always been about kindness and humor and also hard work—and I have done my best to take those traits to heart for my own journey through life.
G: Your collaborations from Anthropologie to Rent the Runway, carry your signature effortlessness mantra. Can you tell us about your vision boards when you were creating these looks?
P: For me, the mood, vibe and attitude inform the design—I am at heart somewhat of a lover of summer and beach so for me I’m always interested in carrying those warm happy feelings through to the clothes I design, be it Spring or Fall clothes. Even though I’m a longtime New Yorker, the Cali native in me still is always present!
“Cooking has always been my other passion, besides fashion, so for me it’s always been there. When I had my runway shows, there was nothing more satisfying and restorative than coming home and making something simple and delicious—it kept my feet on the ground.”
G: Your cooking photos have us drooling and your written descriptions of them has us running so fast to the kitchen to recreate these gastronomic delights! Please tell us about your cooking journey, what cooking genius do you most admire, what is your heart and soul bible cookbook and what trending cookbook has your attention right now?
P: Cooking has always been my other passion, besides fashion, so for me it’s always been there. When I had my runway shows, there was nothing more satisfying and restorative than coming home and making something simple and delicious—it kept my feet on the ground. Now, my culinary adventures are finally coming to the forefront and it’s been truly an exciting adventure. Some of my culinary heroes are Julia Child and Jacques Pepin, but truly my Mom and my late Grandmother’s love of food and their cooking have must influenced me. For cookbooks, my true go-to (believe it or not) is the Fannie Farmer Cookbook—my Mom had it in our kitchen growing up and I still have that copy—dog-eared and notes scribbled in the margins—it’s where I turn to for all my classics. Currently I’m loving Hetty McKinnon’s newest book ‘To Asia, with Love’ and Julia Turshen’s ‘Simply Julia’—both feature simple, delicious, and soulful recipes that are big on flavor.
Favorite Places
City? Paris
Country? Italy
Hotel? The Place, Firenze (formerly JK Place)
Resort? Guana Island, BVI
Destination with significant other? Holbox, Mexico
Solo destination? Troutbeck, NY
Restaurant with significant other? Ellsworth, Paris
Restaurant with friends? Sa Foradada in Mallorca or Sal’s in Provincetown, MA
Do you prefer the city or country? City, unless its Tuscany
The mountains or beach? Beach
Beach club? Le Sereno, St Barths
Bakery? Arsicault, San Francisco
Spa? The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, NY
Bar or nightlife spot? Le Ti, St Barths
Boutique for yourself? Officine Generale, Paris
Home decor store? E-E Home, Amagansett
Jewelry store? Codognato, Venice
Skincare store? Pretty much any Pharmacie in Paris so I can get my Lancaster products
Travel Style
Uniform? Black Lacoste shirt, black cotton trousers, Acne black merino sweaters and t-shirts, Officine Generale Blazer, a few Sebline shirts (a few white, one striped).
Accessories? My TVR Optics Glasses, Vintage Rolex
Skincare on board? Evian Mist
Travel carry-on? Prada Nylon Tote
Luggage? Rimowa
Handbag for sightseeing? Usually my blazer pockets—I hate lugging stuff around all day.
Packing tips? Keep it to one color palette —I always go for black or navy—so outfits instantly feel pulled together. I’ll usually throw in a striped sweater for a little graphic pop.
En Route
Favorite airline? Emirates
Must-haves for your carry-on? Kiehls Lip Balm, SK-II Face Mask, Pierre Hardy pouch for all my smaller items and cords, a black Pilot Precise Rolling Ball Pen
Favorite travel gadget? Bose Headphones
Wellness tips? Drink lots of water! Oh, and alternate happy and sad movies on the plane.
On your playlist? My Broadway mix on Spotify
Recommended reading? Bon Appétit
Tips for combating jet lag? Try to get on schedule as quickly as possible—go to bed at your normal time.
Looking back and ahead
Best travel memory? Travelling to China with my family as a child—and being awed by the sheer size of Great Wall of China and The Forbidden City
Most memorable meal? The signature massively fluffy omelettes at La Mere Poulard at Mont Saint Michel
On your bucket list? A Safari!
Travel mantra? Eat everything!