Knit Merino Wool Hats from Rustic Threads

Super-soft, dip-dyed beanies made by hand in Joshua Tree

Inside a small boutique called The End, in the arid desert of Old Town Yucca Valley, CA, we stumbled upon some hats that beckoned to be touched and held. The hats are knitted by Taylor Elyse Compton, a Joshua Tree resident, who has a small studio called Rustic Threads. Compton sources 100% merino wool—softer and lighter than other wools, and without the itchiness—from Ohio, which …

Andaz Tokyo Toranomon Hills

The design-minded hotel offers a sophisticated, luxurious stay that brings forth the best of Japanese culture

On the 47th to 52nd floors of the new Toranomon Hills skyscraper is one of Tokyo’s newest hotels. Andaz Tokyo Toranomon Hills—the Hyatt-owned brand’s second property in Asia—is aiming for a sophisticated yet simple approach to a luxurious stay, removing much of the over-formality and international approach commonly found among its fellow five-star compatriots in Tokyo. As we saw with Andaz Peninsula Papagayo in Costa …

Affordable Frames from Seneca Eyewear

Unisex styles, including sunglasses with Carl Zeiss lens, starting at $100

While Warby Parker has been the indisputable leader of the affordable designer eyewear movement, a new wave of like-minded brands (David Kind, for example) have quickly caught on—resulting in even more choices for the discerning but economical customer. Seneca Eyewear, which launched this past summer, is one that’s offering quality unisex frames, including sunglasses with Carl Zeiss Vision lens—which can normally retail for $300 to …