by Alyssa Ramos
The feeling of prestige and exclusivity you get when you walk into any Soho House was perfectly replicated at the pop-up Soho Desert House at a private estate in La Quinta during Coachella last weekend for the second year in a row. Sponsored by Bacardi, the House offered members and invited guests everything they could possibly need to relax and recoup from the desert festivities, from specialty cocktails delivered poolside, to massages in private rooms in the house.
Upon arrival to the secret location, we were given custom made leather bands that bore the iconic Soho House square logo, and required a metal clamp to close around our wrists. “Fancy.” I said to the fabulous Prada-loafer-wearing guy checking us in, “Yeah, we figured paper or plastic bands weren’t appropriate for Soho House.” He replied proudly.
We followed the perfectly manicured pathway through two empty horse pastures, up to the marble stone steps of the house. We passed through the front gates to find the exact scene I would expect to see on a good Sunday in the Hamptons, with the addition of custom made flower headbands and desert mountains as a back drop.
After settling by the pool on Bacardi branded towels, we watched as guests indulged in a myriad of different activities from ping pong, to picnicking on the lawn, to riding in the swan-shaped paddle boat on the lake. Everything was perfect, as it should be at Soho House, and soon any possible care in the world was melted away.
Brunch was served in celebration of Tom Windish’s 10 years of his independent booking agency, and was attended by a mix of his invited guests and artists that he represents such as Katy Perry, Diplo, James Blake, Poolside, Future Islands, Bonobo, Sam Smith, and Aluna George. Sadly we had to head back home to LA, but those still in the desert lucky enough to be wearing their custom made leather wristbands enjoyed a closing party at Soho Desert House with an impromptu DJ set by festival performers Flight Facilities.
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