“You’re not just building a business; you’re contributing to the cultural landscape of the city itself.”
ALEXANDER HANKIN’s Table for Two this week: JULIA MOSHY, the native New Yorker and founder of Social Studies, the luxury hospitality brand consulting agency behind hot spots like Chez Margaux, Crazy Pizza and The Ned.
I love that you picked the restaurant.
Campagnola is my favorite neighborhood institution on the Upper East Side. It’s classic, cozy and honestly feels like home. We’re getting the baked clams, pastas, steak to share and a crème brulé to finish. Full Italian comfort mode. My guilty pleasure is over-ordering, trying a little bit of everything. I went to the 86. It’s spectacular and if you’re able to get a reservation, it’s worth all of the anticipation. The new Faena hotel is spectacular too.
You have such great style.
My style is much more minimalist these days. I aim to look timeless, not trendy. As much as I’m loving quiet luxury, I want my style to be slightly edgier and sexier. Saint Laurent, The Row, Khaite, Phoebe Philo – these designers align with my current aesthetic.
Tell me about starting Social Studies.
My path wasn’t linear. I started in PR, moved into events and that led me to Casa Cipriani where I was curating community as the only born-and-bred New Yorker on the team. When COVID changed our launch plans, it became a blessing in disguise that allowed me to dive deeper into hospitality and discover my true passion. That’s ultimately what led me to build Social Studies. Each project becomes this intricate puzzle where every piece must fit perfectly. When all those elements align, what emerges is a beautiful, fine-tuned piece of New York that becomes something larger than itself. You’re not just building a business; you’re contributing to the cultural landscape of the city itself.
“A great party is all about the mix. You need the right people, the right energy and the right flow.”
You know how to throw an epic opening night.
A great party is all about the mix. You need the right people, the right energy and the right flow to create an atmosphere where strangers feel comfortable talking to each other and everyone feels like they belong. It’s the same principles I apply to hospitality – understanding how people move through a space, how to make them feel welcome and create moments where magic happens.
