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Time for my favorite part of the week, ICYMI!!!
ICYMI ⋆˚✿˖°
Buongiorno from the Dolomites!!!
To be exact, hello from bed from Forestis in the Dolomites where we slept outside last night until a crazy thunderstorm woke us up 4 hours in and we had to migrate back inside.
Yes, it is worth the hype. Yes, it’s better than the photos. And yes, you’re going to see it all over your Instagram feed if you haven’t already. And you have the Hailey Bieber effect to partly thank for that. Let me explain…
It’s one of the most interesting places I’ve personally been to—partly because you can’t tell whether you’re in Austria or Italy (the locals’ mother tongue is German, but they all speak and identify as Italian), and partly because it doesn’t scream Euro summer like St. Tropez or Ibiza has for the past few years. But based on the types of people we ran into while we were there (famous comedians, billionaire kids, podcasters, famous sports owners, models, and entrepreneurs), it’s become one of the most coveted “Euro summer” destinations—and I’m predicting it’s only getting more desired.
We didn’t leave the property (except to hike), and you wouldn’t want to, based on what’s included (and the price of the room…). We did all of our workouts in the gym. Sound baths, meditation, stretching, sauna rituals (that feel like you just discovered where Othership got their inspiration), and naked cold plunges with your new friends you’re constantly running into during your stay. “Textiles are not allowed” in the majority of the spa.
My personal favorite is the outdoor cold tub with fresh mountain spring water, which I’m renaming the “Hailey Bieber tub,” as legend has it (from the staff) that a guest once snuck a photo of her from behind in the tub—and that was a driving force behind the hotel’s explosion in popularity.
You have the same table reserved for all your meals during your stay, and you can’t help but become friends with the guests who seem to be on the same schedule as you.
I feel like we timed it just right, as three weeks ago they opened an exclusive restaurant called Yera—1,300 euros for two people before tip (we didn’t know before we booked it). Fourteen courses, with a drink pairing that doesn’t always include alcohol (and when it does, it’s low-alcohol or low ABV), and absolutely no phones allowed—or you’re denied entry. The experience rivals The Alchemist in Copenhagen (I haven’t been, but Lucky #3 seems confident in saying so), and while we wait for their official Michelin star, I’m going on record to say it’s worthy of at least two.
And it makes sense—more than ever, people want to get away, but we’re entering the era where we’d rather prioritize wellness over partying. It tracks that tourism in places like Mykonos is down 40% year-over-year, while spots like Milos and Forestis are on the rise.
♡ This Week’s Mood Board ♡


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♡ HSR Podcast Updates♡
I wouldn’t believe it myself unless Spotify sent the receipts, but in just 6 months, we made it into the Top 100 Podcasts in the US—and we’ve stayed on the chart for the past 8 days. Like I said on Instagram, no matter what you’re building, it’s hard. So celebrating these wins really does matter, and I can’t thank you enough. I have a lot more to say, but you’ll see some content this week that shares a bunch of my secrets—in partnership with Spotify ˙ᵕ˙
Last week on Hot Smart Rich, I sat down with Aishwarya Iyer, founder of Brightland, to talk about building a cult-favorite luxury brand out of burnout, how to grow a company that’s bigger than you—without relying on a “female founder personal brand” (that everyone seems exhausted of)—and the truth behind the New York Times olive oil controversy.
♡ Consumer Trends The HSR Angels Gossiped
About Most This Week ♡
♡ I can’t pretend to know anything about Love Island (hate to say it, but I think it’s toxic content!!!) — but I did find it super interesting that Leah Kate was just named Chief Creative Officer and Re-Founder of clean fragrance brand, Skylar. I wasn’t totally sure what “Re-Founder” meant (which is probably the point — so we’d go investigate), but my best guess is: they’re not pretending this is some brand-new launch. It’s more of a wink that this isn’t Skylar’s first rodeo. Whatever it is, I’m into it and I think we’re going to see it a lot more.
♡ ICYMI, Burberry is cool again. I’ve been seeing some of my favorite creators this summer—like Paige Lorenze—rock Burberry bikinis. So it’s interesting to read about how the brand has achieved its comeback. Hint: it involves an American and pulling $500 umbrellas out from the stockroom and putting them front and center. Reminder: details matter.
♡ Speaking of being cool, there’s a new study that identifies the six traits that determine your “it factor”. Where do you rank?
♡ The number of CEOs actively engaging on social media has doubled over the past two years, according to a survey by FTI Consulting. My favorite chocolate brand, Midday Squares, was profiled in the US Chamber of Commerce piece about how to carve a niche for yourself in a market dominated by corporate titans by becoming an “influencer”
♡ But if you watch Jake’s content, it still feels different from the type of female founder content Aishwarya mentioned on my podcast this week—the kind expected of female founders, who now carry the added labor of sharing their skincare routines, morning rituals, or even fashion choices. Which side of the founder influencer side do you want to fall on or related more to?
♡ One of those businesses you wish you came up with first: the Airbnb of childcare. I’m not a parent (yet!!) but I assume I’d be a little more picky about who’s watching my kid vs. who’s staying in my apartment. That said, the team behind Bumo with Joan Nguyen at the helm, just raised a $10M seed round—and they shared their full pitch deck. Love the transparency of a female-founded business. Personally, I loved the affirmation that influence = power by seeing that they included Chriselle Lim’s follower count.
Consumer News
♡ the brands, people, places, things that have captured my attention ♡

♡ Women’s Health & Beauty ♡
Sweet July, founded by Ayesha Curry, is entering beauty with a new lip treatment collection—directly shaped by customer feedback. – Instagram
Ulta Beauty acquires UK-based Space NK, gaining 83 new stores and leveling up its international footprint. – Instagram
WeightWatchers is undergoing strategic changes to stay relevant in the evolving wellness space. – LinkedIn
Skylar Fragrance brings on Leah Kate as “Re-Founder” & CCO to redefine the brand’s future and California-inspired scent identity. – Instagram
♡ Media, Entertainment & Creator ♡
TIME100 Creators honors the most influential digital voices worldwide—cementing the cultural power of creators. – PR Newswire
YouTube plans to crack down on repetitive AI-generated content to preserve quality and originality. – TechCrunch
Ilana Dunn, host of Seeing Other People, breaks down the dating advice divide between Millennials and Gen Z—and why apps feel “impossible” now. – Fortune
Sydney Sweeney launches a lingerie brand with $1B backing from a Jeff Bezos amd Michael Dell-supported fund marking a powerful celebrity x venture play. – Instagram
♡ E-Commerce, Retail & Social ♡
Saks x Neiman Marcus hasn’t lived up to its $2.7B price tag, raising questions about big luxury consolidations. – Bloomberg
♡ Tech, Business & Investing ♡
Joe & The Juice targets a $2.4B IPO with plans to triple its global store count—positioning as a health-driven lifestyle brand. – Instagram
Meta acquires a $3.5B stake in EssilorLuxottica to double down on smart glasses and wearables. – Instagram
Bilt raises $250M at a $10B valuation, reinforcing its dominance in rent-based rewards fintech. – Yahoo Finance


We’ve been waiting over 30 years for Cher Horowitz’s closet from Clueless – and we’re done waiting. It’s here. Fashion tech isn’t just back. It’s having a breakout year. But this time, it’s not riding on hype or moodboards, or "selling online". It’s being built by serious talent with something to prove. Founders with technical depth. Investors with more patience. Real infrastructure replacing aesthetic prototypes.
A New Breed of Founders
Silicon Valley is going all in on fashion again, but the mandate is clear: the founders better have tech chops.
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