Considered a visionary in the global luxury hospitality industry, Peter Shaindlin knows a thing or two about refined living. The native New Yorker’s savvy instincts and sophisticated tastes have served him well in his career and in his personal life.
PETER SHAINDLIN
>> Age: 58
>> Residence: Honolulu
>> Occupation: Chief operating officer, Halekulani Corp.
At home in his chic Honolulu loft, he enjoys luxury of the material kind and of a more high-minded variety. Active in the local arts scene, Shaindlin thrives on such intellectual and cultural pursuits as writing, music, poetry, conversation and contemporary photography. (In January he published his novel “Citizen Steele,” about a reclusive attorney thrown into an existential crisis after his arrest for a violent crime.)
“I’m always reading at least 10 to 20 books simultaneously,” Shaindlin said. His current stack includes works by philosophers Duns Scotus and Ludwig Wittgenstein poetry by the likes of Octavio Paz, Marina Tsvetaeva and W.S. Merwin; and “Submission,” by French writer Michel Houellebecq.
Not impressed? Then consider he is participating in a translation of 20th-century Turkish poetry and contributed an original jazz composition to Hawaii singer Maggie Herron’s upcoming album “Between the Music and the Moon.”
“Teaching specialized photography studies at the University of Hawaii also provides me with challenges,” Shaindlin said. “(In) what is left of my time, I enjoy music sessions at my loft which we’ve named ‘Drift,’ since the music seems to drift in and out.”
>> Describe your style: “Classic lines with an occasional twist of streetwear, luxury, vintage-meets-comfort. The quality of materials and craftsmanship is absolutely paramount to me. They remind me to push for excellence in all that I do creatively. On a personal basis, I’m private, intuitive, graceful in the original context of the word, driven, abstract yet tactical.
“Fashion should be effortless. While most people see fashion as a means of self expression, for me it’s much more about mood and energy; I use it to evoke an aura about myself. In the corporate world I love sporting a fine suit or tux, while as an artist I gravitate toward prints, fabrics, colors and styles that allow me to shift my energy from the linear to the ethereal.
“Over time I have collected some amazing jewelry that individually has significant meaning to me. I enjoy certain pieces ‘privately’ in that they represent a particular accomplishment or work of art of my own. That reminds me to keep pushing forward. I enjoy shopping at vintage stores like Hound & Quail in Honolulu and on backstreets in Europe, looking for special, one-off pieces that seem to be waiting for me to discover them.”
>> Travel must-have: “I own a Sandro cashmere sweater that I found in London that I think is great for planes and for the movies as well. But I also can’t travel without hardcover books and Milky Way bars.”
>> What’s on your style radar: “I think that right now Men’s Dior and Zegna have things perfectly right in terms of style, edge and discretion, all supported by exquisite textiles.“
>> Suiting up: “My go-to place for their suits is Berlin, as I find their on-site tailors superb and they turn a fitting around within one day. You can select from fabrics there that are in limited availability and never even make it to the States. I also keep a rotation of Tom Ford suits, as the finishing is fabulous and I like his peaked-lapel look, which I don’t so much prefer with other brands.”
>> Pen and paper or laptop/iPad?: “Writing is very spontaneous and can be done in any form. But I prefer a pen like the P’3100 by Porsche Design.”
By Lacy Matsumoto, special to the Star-Advertiser. Island Lookbook is a weekly feature that spotlights local trendsetters. Contact features@staradvertiser.com.
