Even after taking a really public blow to her private life, Elizabeth Chambers has by no means let go of her optimism and poise. Now, after a troublesome few years, the mannequin, journalist, actress and founding father of Chook Bakery is prepared for a brand new chapter.
“You possibly can select pleasure, or you’ll be able to select the other. However why would you not select pleasure, even in essentially the most making an attempt instances? I absolutely imagine that it’s our selection, and you’ll have one thought at a time, and you must make it an excellent one,” Chambers tells Observer.
Chambers, who spent nearly all of the previous 4 years residing within the Cayman Islands, just lately relocated again to Los Angeles along with her two youngsters; she shares nine-year-old daughter Harper and seven-year-old son Ford along with her ex, actor Armie Hammer. The Texas native is pursuing a number of initiatives, together with the nationwide enlargement of Chook, a brand new docu-series and visitor appearances on the Immediately Present and Meals Community.
Chambers first opened Chook Bakery in San Antonio, the place she was born, then Dallas, the place she grew up, and at last Denver, the place she attended highschool. In 2023, the bakery expanded internationally for the primary time, opening a location (Chook Bakery’s fourth outpost) within the Cayman Islands. (It’s open through the excessive season.) There are plans to develop additional, and Chambers hopes to get a number of the merchandise on grocery retailer cabinets.
Baking has at all times been a ardour for Chambers, handed all the way down to her by her grandmother. “I really like the shortbread my grandmother would make,” Chambers shares. “She was British, and truthfully, our recipes that I [first] served at Chook had been all British recipes. Then I both developed them or bastardized them, relying on who you ask, making them extra American; extra nostalgic. I took her custard and made a banana pudding. Her lemon curd is the lemon sq. now. She was extraordinarily British, and all her recipes had been, as nicely, so I really like the nostalgia of it.”
Chambers can also be engaged on a brand new docu-series for Investigation Discovery. Chambers, who started her profession as a correspondent at Present TV, and went on to work for Leisure Tonight, E! Information and Entry Hollywood, is ready to host and government produce the sequence, which focuses on poisonous relationships on account of generational trauma, as a part of a growth cope with the community. (A premiere date hasn’t been launched but.) As for what drew her to such a darkish topic? It’s one she is kind of acquainted with.
In 2020, her decade-long marriage to Armie Hammer got here to a really public finish; the next yr, a slew of abuse, infidelity and harassment allegations in opposition to the Name Me By Your Identify actor surfaced. (Hammer subsequently denied sexual assault and abuse allegations.)
“I went via a very public divorce,” Chambers tells Observer. “And my greatest factor with my divorce—similar factor with elevating children, similar factor with getting married—is that you’ve one probability to do it proper. I employed each kind of therapist, each useful resource, podcast and guide on tips on how to stop my youngsters from dealing with trauma.” By numerous remedy units and analysis, she discovered that most of the points adults cope with hint again to childhood, and she or he believes that parenting performs an important position in shaping these early experiences. The present explores the affect of previous relationships and patterns, aiming to handle the sources of childhood trauma. The purpose is to know these dynamics and work in the direction of stopping them within the first place.
Whereas the previous few years have been difficult for Chambers and her household, she’s excited for what’s subsequent, with a renewed perspective on life. After 5 relocations in as a few years with two younger youngsters, she’s develop into adept at managing the chaos and searching for inspiration wherever she goes, particularly when she is touring. “I really feel like everybody feels impressed when you’re on a aircraft. It’s a change of surroundings and a shift,” Chambers says.
Chambers shared her present necessities with Observer, from her go-to serums to her favourite British bakeries.
Skincare routine:
I really like merchandise. I really like making an attempt new merchandise, and I’m having such a second with Biologique Recherche proper now. They’ve been round ceaselessly, they usually’ve at all times been tremendous efficient. The serum is plasma; it’s placenta—like, precise sheep placenta. I do the drops of the serum after which I do their cream over, after which this setting serum, which fills every part in. I’ve tremendous dry pores and skin naturally. All of us see what an apple seems to be like after you fly, or an orange, proper? It’s tremendous dehydrated. So I simply assume extra layers and layers. I really like Weleda Pores and skin Meals. It’s so thick and wealthy. I attempt to put that on my palms, after which Aquaphor is the one factor I can’t journey with out.
Favourite trip spot:
L.A. is house for certain, however once I’m touring, I really like London. Claridge’s is there. I feel it’s simply the epitome of hospitality. It’s actually our house Away from house. A few of our greatest household recollections are there; no element goes unnoticed. My mother’s household resides [in London] in the present day, and it looks like an ideal mixture of trip, journey and residential, and also you at all times have your spots. Apart from Claridge’s, I really like La Fromagerie. The Ginger Pig is my favourite butcher there. Marylebone Excessive Avenue is my first cease, at all times. The London meals scene is healthier than wherever proper now. I’d put it up in opposition to Paris, and actually wherever. I really feel like London is having such a meals second proper now. It’s a lot selection. I’m type of fundamental on the subject of bakeries. I do like Hummingbird.
What she’s studying:
It’s referred to as Unreasonable Hospitality. It’s a must-read for anybody, within the hospitality business or not, and I can’t advocate it sufficient. It’s best to learn it.
What she’s binge-watching:
I’m so late to the occasion, however I simply completed Schitt’s Creek. It’s so good!
What she’s packing with:
I really like Away. Away or Monos are my two favorites for baggage. I in all probability ought to have gotten rid of them years in the past, however I’ve these two Kelly inexperienced baggage from Away—and I solely put on black, white and grey—however inexperienced is their shade, they usually’re large. It was a particular version collaboration and I don’t even know who it was with, however they’re so recognizable and the proper measurement. These are my go-to baggage. It’s an ideal shade. Additionally, I couldn’t journey with out Stoney Clover. Now we have all the luggage for the entire electronics. I’ve all of my chargers in a bag. The youngsters have all of their drawing pencils. Stoney Clover is nice and so sturdy. The youngsters have their backpacks with all their stuff in them, they usually’re all organized.
What she will’t journey with out:
I’ve to have my make-up bag. You by no means know who you’re going to see while you land, and I wish to get on the aircraft absolutely lubed up. I do my Pores and skin Meals, and I don’t look cute. However then generally you must go someplace after you land you weren’t anticipating. So I do like to do a full skincare routine that’s not cute for boarding, after which I’ve a bag of methods prepared if there’s a change of plans.
I’ve 4 backup chargers, energy banks and headphones. I at all times journey with a pocket book. I’m a granny on the subject of paper. I suppose it’s the journalist in me, as I at all times have the pocket book only for concepts or podcasts. I’m not a note-section-of-my-phone woman.
Her wellness routine:
It’s not a lot a exercise; I simply like to stroll in no matter metropolis I’m in. I like to stroll as a lot as attainable. I’m not an enormous runner. Typically want I had been, as a result of I might see extra. However strolling simply kinds my thoughts. It’s like remedy for me. I’m by no means going to be this “land from a crimson eye and go to the fitness center” particular person. I don’t know them. Possibly I am going get a croissant [after I land]? Exercises aren’t normally a precedence for me once I’m touring, however strolling is, and experiencing.
