It takes a true commitment to tradition (and the climate itself) to cultivate the kind of reputation that St. Moritz, the alpine resort town in southeastern Switzerland, has carried for decades amongst the luxuriously wintering set. As Chris Black writes in his meditation on the place that invented aprés, "The town figured out early that cold could be luxurious if you packaged it correctly: sun, altitude, sport, champagne, repeat. That formula hasn’t changed much, which is the whole point."

This weekend, as we kick off Highsnobiety St. Moritz — a gathering at the storied Kulm Hotel in celebration of a new generation of creatives — we're also highlighting the ski capital's longtime legacy as a haven for artists and innovators. (Basquiat for example, was famously fond of the Engadin region.) And, after all, it's always the locals who give a place its edge. In portraits shot by Lukas Wasserman, here are some of the faces responsible for St. Moritz's cool factor:

© Lukas Wassmann

Susi Wiprachtiger (above) is a local tour guide and longtime St. Moritz resident. Having lived in Engadin for more than 40 years, Susi has become a well-known local personality and trusted cultural guide, connecting visitors and global audiences with the heritage, rhythms, and everyday life of St. Moritz. 

“I used to work as a ski instructor and skied with many different people,” she says. “But here in St. Moritz we don’t really name them — this is the privacy. The good thing is that people, even legends or very famous guests, can simply be themselves. We don’t have paparazzi. Sometimes journalists ask who is here, and we just say: everybody’s here.”

At the center of the art scene is Giorgia Von Albertini, director of Hauser & Wirth St. Moritz, who works to showcase the region beyond its ultra-luxe appeal. 

Patrick Salutt, an artist, ski instructor, and Engadin native, creates large-scale paintings that reflect the dialogue between his alpine upbringing and contemporary art practices beyond the mountains. 

Born into one of the founding families of the valley, Rolf Sachs moves fluidly between art, design, and cultural production. Alongside his artistic work, he continues a generational tradition in St. Moritz as president of the legendary Dracula Club — a space where creativity, character, and community converge. 

Reflecting on the club’s enduring mythology, Sachs explains: “As vampires we never die… there are members for eternity and members in eternity… everybody has a goblet in the Dracula. Once they die, the goblet is turned upside down — because bats hang the other way around.”

Catch all the coverage from Highsnobiety St. Moritz through the weekend at @highsnobiety and on the Highsnobiety app.

—J Lee, Feed Me's restaurant critic
In the Status Economy, Even Groceries are a Flex

© Getty Images

If you want an accurate portrait of someone's life, look behind the mirror in their bathroom. So says our beauty columnist Sable Yong in her latest dispatch on a specific kind of lifestyle voyeurism. When every other aspect of our lives is tightly curated, the most honest place left is the humble medicine cabinet — especially if you're sussing out a man in your life (and maybe your place in it...present and future.) "I’ve made peace with whatever happens to the Dr. Jart Cicapair moisturizer I leave behind," Yong writes. "Whoever uses it next is none of my business." Read more...

© A Kind Of Guise

The Barolo Boat Sandals from A Kind Of Guise: great for ventilation and making a statement come the warmer months...

They're made with suede, gem appliqué, technical mesh, AND soft-grained leather. And somehow, it really works. 

More caps for spring — but good luck trying to nab one of these. They're gorgeously zhuzhed up by the Sashiko Gals and only available via lottery.