The Pleasure Lists Q&A: Renaissance Renaissance's Cynthia Merhej
Pleasures, Curated by Designer Cynthia Merhej of Renaissance Renaissance
We’re back with another installment of
: Pleasures, Curated.I hope you enjoy reading these as much as I enjoy getting to know members of the Pleasure Lists community and what makes their Pleasures tick.
Pleasures, Curated by Cynthia Merhej of Renaissance Renaissance
Cynthia Merhej is the Lebanese founder and creative director of fashion brand Renaissance Renaissance.
A third-generation couturier, she was immersed in fashion from an early age, growing up in her mother’s Beirut atelier. This intimate environment nurtured her passion for garment-making, where she learned to sketch, style, and photograph.
Cynthia recently designed costumes for the film Bonjour Tristesse, starring Oscar-nominated actress Chloë Sevigny, directed by recent Pleasures, Curated contributor Durga Chew-Bose.
Location: Currently based between Paris and Beirut.
Social: @renaissance_renaissance
Pleasures
Light at golden hour
Walking on the corniche in Beirut
Anything on a good soundsystem
Flicking through pages of books at a bookstore
The shine of a patent leather shoe
Lighting up Astier de Villatte incense
Receiving a funny meme from a friend
The sun setting late
Jumping into a cold pool after sitting in the sun too long
A good meal alone
Good gossip with a friend, cigarette and a glass of wine
A fresh haircut
Fruit season : the first strawberries, the first cherries, the first apricots, the first peaches
Getting to pet a really cute dog
Starched cotton touching your skin
Making a stranger smile, making someone you love laugh
Plans for the future
What does Pleasure mean to you?
Pleasure is temporary joy.
Who do you want to see next? Send me suggestions for who to feature in the next Q&A!
What Is “Pleasures, Curated”?
Each week, a new Pleasure-seeker will document their personal Pleasures and ruminate a bit on what Pleasure means to them. True to
style, I keep the list-maker’s je ne sais quoi in as much as I can — only minor editorial changes are made when necessary. I do this intentionally so that the writer’s inner world really comes through. The style of the list says as much about the writer as the list itself.Read Previous Q&A’s:
The Pleasure Lists Q&A: Haley Mlotek
We’re back with another installment of The Pleasure Lists: Pleasures, Curated.
The Pleasure Lists Q&A: Whitney Mallett
We’re back with another installment of The Pleasure Lists: Pleasures, Curated.
Why submit a list?
Pleasure Lists are a summary of what you need, want, or have, or see at a particular moment in time. They are a survey, an overview, a summary of the crucial facts of the state of one aspect of your life. It’s a kind of blueprint that can be a guide to the future.
Mull it over and if you’re moved to, send me a list.
Questions? Comments? Send any recommendations or suggestions for what you’d like to see in these newsletters my way. I’d love to hear more about what you’re currently finding pleasure in.
Join the chat below to connect with other members of the Pleasure List community:
Please share this newsletter! The Pleasure Lists is meant to be a collaborative project that calls people from all over to write, read, and share their pleasures — a global community of artists, writers, and pondering minds alike.