Maybourne AW24

SIR PAUL SMITH on London Z O

DE GIVENCHY in Beverly Hills LA M Ô ME lands at The Berkeley

YOUR YACHT Your World.

MAKE MOMENTS COUNT

Nothing compares to the freedom and luxury that a holiday on water presents. Surrounded by breathtaking views in complete seclusion and with endless entertainment onboard, enjoy precious time in the moment with the people who matter most.

Perseus, 50m, Perini Navi, 10 guests

FROM THE DESK OF

Heritage is a curious thing. At Maybourne, we are extraordinarily proud of our traditions stretching back over 200 years, from humble beginnings – literally born out of Mayfair – from a solitary townhouse on Brook Street to becoming a global leader in the world of luxury hospitality. Yet we never lose sight of the need to keep innovating, moving forward and inspiring a new generation of travellers to visit our great cities.

With that in mind, we’re excited to announce the opening of La Môme at The Berkeley. Those familiar with the French Riviera will recognise the name: the Cannes restaurant is known for drawing an A-list crowd to the Boulevard de la Croisette with its dazzling service and infectious bonhomie. Môme brothers Antoine and Ugo, welcome to the heart of Belgravia.

Just next door, our newest hotel – The Emory – continues to go from strength to strength during its opening year, having rapidly established itself as a frm staple on London’s busy social scene. The capital’s inaugural allsuite hotel has unveiled another frst: guests can enjoy private helicopter transfers to the city, providing a seamless experience from the moment you touch down in London.

Meanwhile, Claridge’s has launched the inspired Kitchen Supper Series. This collaboration with The Good Food Guide brings some of the brightest stars of Britain’s gastronomic landscape – from Cumbria to Cambridge – to Mayfair. It’s a perfect opportunity to expand your culinary horizons without having to leave the city.

We also welcome renowned British actor David Harewood OBE to our elegant Mayfair destination The Connaught. The new RADA president shares inspiring tales from his personal and professional lives.

In Los Angeles, we celebrate friends old and new. Diane von Furstenberg, whose work at Claridge’s stretches back almost twenty years, is the subject of a retrospective exhibition. Meanwhile, designer and homeware connoisseur Zoë de Givenchy creates a spectacular tablescape for residences at The Maybourne Beverly Hills and talks us through life in the charmed surrounds of Los Angeles.

We also shine a light on some of the dedicated individuals who make Maybourne stays such remarkable experiences; from general managers, wellness experts and interior design stars to loyal staf who have been with us for decades (and counting).

Wherever you are in the world, we look forward to welcoming you.

Maybourne CEO Maybourne CEO

Contributor s

Alice B-B

is editor-at-large for Air Mail and Country & Town House and spa editor for Times LUXX. This issue she explores tips and tricks for sleeping well. To Alice, winter means romance, rosy cheeks, cashmere sweaters, icy blue skies, steamywindow pubs and hot chocolate (with extra cream). Her go-to winter treat is a baked potato with caviar.

Sophia Money-Coutts

is a journalist and author who has been featured in Elle Tatler and The New York Times. She writes about the quintessential joy of afternoon tea. For her, winter means lighting the wood stove in the sitting room and settling down to write every morning, fantasising that she is George Orwell scribbling in the Hebrides. This season, Sophia plans to wear waterproof Sorel boots. Her winter comfort food is red wine.

P. 34

Sebastian Nevols

Jimi Famurewa

is a writer, broadcaster and podcast host who has been published in GQ, Time Out and the Evening Standard He interviews cover star David Harewood OBE at The Connaught. During winter, Jimi loves pub fires, Guinness and his annual, one-off eggnog latte… as well as buying more overshirts than is strictly necessary.

Sir Paul Smith is a British fashion designer and London design scene icon. He writes about a longheld love of his adopted home city. Sir Paul admits that he is no chef, but will be whipping up beans on toast as his winter comfort food. He plans to wear Paul Smith socks (of course) and looks forward to weekends working in his London shops.

Lady Emma Thynn

The Marchioness of Bath wears many hats, including aristocrat, conservationist and model. In this issue, we capture her sitting for artist-in-residence David Downton at Claridge’s. This winter, Emma will be wrapping up warm for long, vigorous walks, followed by scones and jam as a treat. Her favourite seasonal dish is apple crumble.

P. 34 Sabina Emrit Harper

is a photographer who has worked with The New York Times Magazine, the Royal Opera House and Netflix. He photographs David Harewood OBE for this issue’s cover shoot at The Connaught. This winter, he will be wearing his wetsuit for cold swims in the sea. Sebastian’s cold-weather comfort food is ossobuco with a large glass of claret, followed by tarte citron. He also plans to enjoy dining at St. John’s as a winter treat.

is a stylist and producer who dresses many a famous name. She styles actor David Harewood OBE at The Connaught for our cover shoot. For her, winter means lots of layering, early dog walks and watching TV by the fire. Sabina’s winter treat is dinner at Claridge’s Restaurant, including black truffle crumpets and a glass or two of champagne.

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Zoë More O’Ferrall is an illustrator who has created artwork for Vogue, The Wall Street Journal and YSL Beauty. She conjures original map illustrations for our shopping guide. To her, winter means early nights reading stacks of books. Zoë will be wearing her worn leather jacket and cosy Prada shearling mules and spending evenings in The Cow in Notting Hill.

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HILLS THE MAYBOURNE RIVIERA

P. 68

P. 117 PAUL SMITH BY WILL ALDERSLEY; LADY EMMA THYNN BY JACOBUS SNYMAN

Contributor s

Bethan

Ryder

is the author of several books on design and interiors and writes for Elle Decoration, Wallpaper* and The Telegraph. She meets interior designer Alexandra Champalimaud at The Emory. This season, Bethan will be wearing shearling Chloé boots. She loves sloe gin, hot chocolate, hot cocktails, candlelit suppers and roaring fires. Her go-to winter dish is vegetarian lasagne.

Julia Zaltzman

is writer at SuperYacht Life and lead marine contributor at Robb Report US. Her words have been featured in Boat International and The Telegraph. Julia charts the enduring legacy of the Yacht Club de Monaco. For her, winter means open fires, settling into a great read and lazy walks along Hove beach.

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Zoë de Givenchy

is the founder of Z.d.G., a Los Angelesbased design brand specialising in artisanal objects for the home. In this issue, we go behind the scenes as she creates an original tablescape for The Maybourne Beverly Hills. Zoë sees winter as a time of reflection and slow living, complete with long, muddy walks, time by the fire and piano, or reading and drawing.

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Lateef Okunnu

Bill Prince

is a journalist and editor-in-chief of Wallpaper and The Blend. He is also the author of a tome on Audemars Piguet. He picks out the season’s must-have luxury timepieces. This winter, Bill will be wearing lots of layers, as well as Dainite soles and a hat. To him, the season means that a new year is in the offing. He looks forward to tucking into shepherd’s pie, his favourite wintertime warmer.

is a photographer and founder of Peppercorn Media, known for its images of food, drink, interiors and people. He photographs the goings-on at Claridge’s restaurant over the course of a day. He loves the rich, hearty food and cosy layers for winter. His favourite comfort food is anything slow-cooked, as he has a lot more patience in the winter. He plans to tuck into a shoulder of lamb with all the trimmings.

Ming Liu

is jewellery editor of Robb Report Monaco & Côte d’Azur and a contributor to Vanity Fair and The New York Times

She highlights her sparkling standouts from this season’s jewellery. A skiing obsessive, Ming loves the crisp air of the Alps and the serene calm of the mountains. She plans to wear as much ski gear and kit as she can possibly pile on, as well as cashmere.

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62

Fiona McCarthy

is a contributor to The Times and Christie’s and has been published everywhere from Galerie to Grazia. She travels to Cannes to experience the original La Môme ahead of its new restaurant opening at The Berkeley.

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Max Montgomery is a photographer and director best known for portraiture. His work has been featured in Marie Claire and Vogue Italia. He photographs Zoë de Givenchy at The Maybourne Beverly Hills. This season, Max is looking forward to wearing oversized knitwear and indulging in films.

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BEVERLY HILLS THE MAYBOURNE RIVIERA

A/W 2024

18 WITH LOVE

Postcards from our local experts

20 WHAT TO PACK

From LA folk to London art fairs

24 TALKING HEADS

Seasonal plans from our friends

30 STYLE ICON

Diane von Furstenberg’s legacy

34 DAVID HAREWOOD OBE AT THE CONNAUGHT

The British actor and RADA president comes to Mayfair

42 FLEXJET AT THE EMORY

A high-flying collaboration

45 SUITE SPOTS

Small-screen travel inspiration

50 DESIGN FOR LIVING

Alexandra Champalimaud brings quiet luxury to The Emory

52 TABLE SETTING

Zoë de Givenchy at The Maybourne

Beverly Hills 56

62 LA MÔME LONDON

The restaurant to know this season

66 CHEF’S TABLE

L’Epicerie’s new supper series

68 TIME FOR TEA

The etiquette of afternoon tea

72 CREATIVE PURSUITS

Art experiences on the Riviera

74 HOST WITH THE MOST

Expert events tips

78 BEHIND THE SCENES

In Claridge’s Restaurant 84 RETAIL THERAPY

Insider guides to top shopping 88 BEAUTY SLEEP

Wellness secrets revealed

93 WATCHES

Bill Prince talks timepieces

95 JEWELLERY

Ming Liu’s sparkling edit

97 MENSWEAR

Stephen Doig’s sartorial standouts

99 WOMENSWEAR

Seasonal picks by Jane McFarland

101 BEAUTY NEWS

Billie Bhatia’s must-haves

104 CHECK OUT

The latest news from Maybourne

111 PARTY PAGES

The social events of the season

117 WHEN DAVID MET EMMA

Aristocratic glamour, captured

120 DAVID DOWNTON DRAWS

The newest portrait at Claridge’s

THE BERKELEY Wilton Place, London SW1X 7RL +44 (0)20 7235 6000 the-berkeley.co.uk

CLARIDGE’S Brook Street, London W1K 4HR +44 (0)20 7629 8860 claridges.co.uk THE CONNAUGHT Carlos Place, London W1K 2AL +44 (0)20 7499 7070 the-connaught.co.uk THE MAYBOURNE BEVERLY HILLS 225 N Canon Dr, Beverly Hills CA 90210 +1 310 860 7800 maybournebeverlyhills.com THE MAYBOURNE RIVIERA 1551 Rte de la Turbie 06190, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin +33 4 93 37 50 00 maybourneriviera.com

THE EMORY Old Barrack Yard, London SW1X 7NP +44 (0)20 7862 5200 the-emory.co.uk

Follow on Instagram: @claridgeshotel, @theconnaught, @the_berkeley, @theemorylondon, @themaybournebh, @themaybourneriviera For reservations please call +44 (0) 20 7107 8830, email reservations@maybourne.com or visit maybourne.com

With Love

POSTCARDS FROM A FEW OF OUR FAVOURITE LOCALS

Sir Paul Smith

LONDON

The fêted fashion designer on the ‘creative melting pot’ that is home to his flagship store

t was music that first attracted me to London from Nottingham. I would come down, go to gigs every night and crash on a mate’s floor. The 1960s were an incredible time to be in London: I was there for the first Notting Hill Carnival in 1966; I met legends like Jimmy Page; I saw Jimi Hendrix, Otis Redding and The Rolling Stones. In, I think, 1971, the Stones played a secret club show. To this day, I have no clue how I managed to get in.

To finance my trips, I printed T-shirts in Nottingham and brought them to London to sell to people in the audiences. Any money I made, I spent on petrol for the next trip. I was hooked!

London has remained an exceptionally creative and energetic metropolis. It is a melting pot of different cultures: incredibly, more than 300 languages are spoken here. It’s impossible not to be inspired by everything the city has to offer.

The whole idea of Paul Smith is taking something classic and twisting it with the unconventional – this is the impact of London.

Even though my sleeping-on-the-floor days are behind me, there is still much to experience in this city. My favourite place to dine with my wife Pauline is The River Café. I recommend visiting Sadler’s Wells Theatre to see some of the world’s

Above: a performance at Sadler’s Wells. Right: an exhibition at The Royal Academy of Arts

best dance performances. I am currently working on a ‘mod ballet’ project with a great friend, Pete Townshend.

We are also very lucky to have so many galleries and museums on our doorstep.

The National Gallery, Tate Modern and British Museum are incredible sources of inspiration, and the Sir John Soane’s Museum is a hidden gem.

I suggest visiting The Royal Academy, where you can often discover the work of young artists. A bonus is that it is only a stone’s throw from the Paul Smith Albemarle Street shop, where we have a dedicated gallery within the store and hold lots of exhibitions. You might even catch me working the Saturday shift!

Clockwise from right: a River Café dish; the Paul Smith shop in Albemarle Street; Sir Paul Smith

Isabelle de La Bruyère

THE FRENCH RIVIERA

Isabelle de La Bruyère, CEO of Opera Gallery Monaco, explains why now is the perfect time to visit the Côte d’Azur

The French Riviera is steeped in art history. Its ability to stir a visceral response has spanned many years and artistic movements – which is why, at Opera Gallery Monaco, we hosted an exhibition titled La Côte d’Azur, Terre d’Inspiration. The Riviera’s culture and unique clarity of light has beckoned many artists, including Marc Chagall, Pablo Picasso, Fernand Léger and Niki de Saint Phalle.

of Henri Matisse, who lived in nearby Nice and considered it his masterpiece. Completed in 1951, when Matisse was eighty-one, the chapel provides extraordinary insight into the ideas with which the twentieth-century master was grappling towards the end of his life.

Five minutes’ drive away is the studio of Jean-Charles Blais. His paintings incorporate elements of collage and design, with torn posters and advertising ephemera that are often left outdoors to acquire a patina in the sun: imperfect surfaces that he then paints. I love how Blais incorporates his surroundings and the climate into his work.

Another must is Saint-Paul de Vence, a village where Chagall lived. While you’re there, don’t miss the Fondation Maeght modern art museum, which celebrated its sixtieth anniversary in 2024.

Most people visit in the summer, but autumn – when the weather is cooler and the streets less crowded – is highly

underrated. It’s a beautiful season on the Côte d’Azur, and the ideal time to explore places that contribute to the region’s reputation as a thriving creative hub.

Start with the Chapelle du Rosaire de Vence, known colloquially as the ‘Matisse Chapel’. This small place of worship was built and decorated under the direction

Finally, I never skip a trip to Monaco’s Marché de La Condamine, where one finds the best of the region’s culinary specialties. This fresh food market, where locals shop and gather for lunch, has retained its Provençal spirit throughout the years and represents the authentic heart of the principality. Monaco’s national dish, the Barbagiuan pastry, is a must!

Andrew Barker

BEVERLY HILLS

Our LA editor explores the newest way to get around

Picture the scene: you clear customs at LAX and climb into your taxi. Instead of fighting rush hour traffic on the 405, you fly over it, past The Getty, and land at The Maybourne Beverly Hills in time for a sunset martini. Next year, if all goes to plan, Los

‘PST ART unites more than 70 exhibitions across Southern California’

Angeles will welcome its first ‘flying cars’. Joby Aviation – leading the race to be the Uber of the skies – has tinkered for more than ten years on a sleek, five-seater eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle) with six tilting rotors. It has reached speeds of 200 miles per hour, while the quiet whirr of its blades potentially makes possible landings in the ritziest neighbourhoods – a privilege denied to the city’s flock of clattering helicopters. (Conveniently, The Maybourne is a mere eight miles from Burbank’s private airport.)

Hot on Joby’s tail are Archer Aviation, a United Airlines-backed startup, and Boeing’s bet, the self-flying Wisk Aero. All three hope, by the 2028 Olympics, to be winging gold medalists from venues to the athletes’ village at UCLA.

Meanwhile, this season, Getty has launched PST ART, which unites more than seventy exhibitions across Southern California with the theme ‘Art and science collide’. Olafur Eliason will present optical works for The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA and The Getty Center hosts Sculpting with Light: Contemporary Artists and Holography. PST ART occurs only every six or seven years, and what could be more fitting for the next one than for painters and curators to arrive at the opening night gala by flying car?

Above: The Fondation Maeght. Left: Jean Charles Blais in his studio

Above: a Joby Aviation plane. Left: the Getty Center, Los Angeles

Joni Mitchell at the Hollywood Bowl

Joni Mitchell performs at the legendary Hollywood Bowl this October. Best known as an icon in the music world, she is also well recognised, and much loved, in fashion spheres for her style credentials. Those credentials were established in the late 1960s and early 1970s – both excellent eras when it comes to wardrobe choices. When it comes to making your choices, go for pieces with bohemian flair; a little bit Woodstock. But don’t go over the top: Mitchell was known, too, for wearing a beret, which is more of a neat beatnik vibe. hollywoodbowl.com

Bag, J&M Davidson

Ring, NVW

Dress, Malina

Gilet, Whistles

Boots, Essen the Label

Sunglasses, Chloé

Bag, Prada at Mytheresa

Necklace, By Pariah

Ring, Elhanati Vest, Vince

Ring, Material Good

Bracelet, Ananya

Blouse, E.L.V. Denim

Necklace, Lito

Necklace, L’Atelier Nawbar

Skirt, Mary Katrantzou

Sweater, Vince

Beret, Maison Michel

Ear cuf, Sonia Petrof

Hat, Maison Michel

Earrings, 886 by The Royal Mint

Bracelet, Jessica McCormack

Cape, Ada Dakin

Jacket & Skirt, Calvin Klein

Blouse, Zimmermann

Dress, Maje

Belt, J&M Davidson Boots, Dior

Jeans, Calvin Klein Boots, Malina

WHAT TO PACK FOR

London

Art Fair

The London Art Fair in January continues the season’s creative calendar which started in October with Frieze London (pictured above). Featuring over 120 modern and contemporary galleries, this fve-day showcase draws both the art and fashion crowd to North London, which has given rise to an eclectic style. Think flashes of colour alongside great and classic pieces, plus eye-catching accessories. And that’s how you can have the most fun while perusing the artwork. londonartfair.co.uk

Knitted jacket, Ahluwalia

Trainers, Tasaki x Asics

Clutch, Dries Van Noten

Ear cuf & pendant, Jessica McCormack

Bag, Jacquemus

Ring, Goossens

Shoes, Alaïa Bomber jacket, Applied Art Forms

Pumps, Le Monde Beryl

Shorts, Haikure

Necklace, Jacquie Aiche

Trousers, Eres

Jeans, Haikure

Blazer & skirt, Dior

Bag, Aspinal of London

Ring, Ti f any & Co. Elsa Peretti

Pendant, Fernando Jorge

Jacket, Maje

Bag, Jil Sander

Bag, Maeden

Skirt, Erdem

Dress, Soeur

Jumper, Loewe

Loafers, Jimmy Choo Bag, Soeur FodayDumbuya andZeziIfre

Shirt, Eres

WHAT TO PACK FOR

Daniel Lismore

The Rose Ball

Established in 1954, the Rose Ball – or Le Bal de la Rose – is one of the most glamorous nights of Monaco’s year. The charity event benefts the Princess Grace Foundation, created in memory of the late Grace Kelly. Expect a spectacular in March: each year, the ball has a diferent theme and designers help bring the resplendent celebrations to life. The dress code is evening gowns for women and black tie for men, so lean into the formality with looks usually reserved for the red carpet. montecarlosbm.com

Gown, Carolina Herrera

Bracelet, Tifany & Co

Dress, Costarellos

Bag, Ami Paris

Dress, Rabanne at Harvey Nichols

Earrings, David Morris

Loafers, Dunhill

Dress, Zimmermann

Bow tie, Favourbrook

Ring, Jessie Thomas

Shoes, Magda Butrym

Jacket, Favourbrook

Dress, Erdem

Bag, L’Alingi

Shoes, Dolce & Gabbana

Choker, David Morris Ring, Boucheron

Dress,

Dior

Bag, Judith Leiber Earrings, Boodles

Ring, Mouawad

Shoes, Christian Louboutin

Brooch, Nada Ghazal

Gown, Elie Saab

WHAT TO PACK FOR

Charlotte Casiraghi

FLORA VESTERBERG

The Curator

‘We’d begin with our brilliant exhibition Fragile Beauty: Photographs from the Sir Elton John and David Furnish Collection (until 5 January) at the V&A Museum. I’d then take them into our luminous Photography Centre to see my favourite piece by Hiroshi Sugimoto. Our next stop would be Monet and London. Views of the Thames at The Courtauld Gallery (until 19 January). It’s an enchanting exhibition.’

David LaChapelle, Elton John, Egg On His Face, New York, 1999

DYLAN JONES

The

Editor

‘The first place I’d take them is The Emory, which after my first visit immediately became one of my favourite haunts in the city. The hotel (and bar, and restaurant!) is that most magical of creations: a brand spanking new proposition that quite rightly feels as though it’s been there forever. Go on, treat yourself and pay a visit as soon as you can.’

Dylan Jones, Editor-In-Chief of The London Standard and the author of new memoir, ‘These Foolish Things’

WHERE ARE YOU TAKING YOUR

F riends Winter?

THIS

OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY SHARE THEIR SEASONAL HOSTING

PLANS

ALICE TEMPERLEY

The Fashion Designer

‘We would start off with early morning walks – fresh, bright winter walks around the Serpentine in Hyde Park are just wonderful. For lunch, it always has to be Scott’s in Mayfair. In the evenings, I’d take them to watch a performance at the Royal Opera House – I love the ballet – followed by a buzzy dinner at Balthazar, served with the best bottle of red.’

DR MARYAM ZAMANI

The Beauty Saviour

‘Being such a fabulous international hub for the arts, culture and fashion means it is always the perfect time for friends to pop into London. This season, I am particularly excited to visit the Moco museum to see Marina Abramovi ć’s solo show, Healing Frequency and for the Turner Prize 2024 to return to Tate Modern after six years. Catching up with friends in the evening, we try new restaurants, and return to our familiar favourites like River Café, Nobu, La Loma and China Tang.’

JESSE CHRISTOPHER BURGESS

The Foodie Cofounder of Top Jaw

‘I’m feverishly looking for the next opportunity to eat at Oma, Borough’s new Mediterranean restaurant, wanna go...? Any friend visiting London is being taken there. They’ll leave raving about it, I guarantee. The space is achingly cool, while the hummus, taramasalata, babaghanoush and salt-cod labneh served with warm breads are enough to make your impressed self melt into your seat. Book ahead and over-order.’

ELIZABETH SALTZMAN

‘Since I seem to be more on the go now than ever, my first port of call is always The River Café to eat the best Italian food and see my gorgeous friend, Ruthie. Julie’s for a local lunch… abc kitchens for the yummiest food, which is in my new favourite London hotel The Emory. If I am lucky and [mindful movement studio] Sanctum are in town, I surprise my friends and book a class as a unique, happening, uplifting, brilliant night out.’

CAMILLA ELPHICK

‘On Friday night we’d start at The Tommy Tucker or Brook House in Fulham and then move on to The Surprise in Chelsea. On Saturday we’ll go to Duke of York Square and peruse the food market. In the evening we’ll go to see a show or to the Royal Opera House. On Sunday, we’ll go to Richmond Park for a long walk and then head to Petersham Nurseries.’

‘When friends come to stay, it’s straight to Claridge’s Bar (obviously) for one of the best martinis in town. Then off to Bentley’s for a dozen oysters, exquisitely shucked, and a chilled glass (or two) of Chablis, before dinner at Mary’s. And maybe a night cap at The Roof Gardens on the way back home.’

MARIUS CALUSER

The Dancer Choreographer-in-residence at Claridge’s

‘As the evenings grow longer, London becomes a wonderland of cosy corners. A decadent afternoon tea at Claridge’s is an absolute must, no matter the weather. This winter I’m also super-excited about the new Soho Mews House by Soho House: the décor is so elegant and it’s always a thrill to dance the night away in such a glamorous atmosphere. No winter in London is complete without a visit to the Somerset House Ice Rink. Afterwards, we’ll head to The Berkeley for a cosy special evening.’

GEORGE BAMFORD

‘I would absolutely take them to abc kitchens at The Emory. The Berkeley Blue Bar is awesome and I always love the breakfast at The Connaught. Away from hotels, I think Dover Street Market and Selfridges for shopping. You can always discover new, exciting designers. I also love the Brompton Oratory – a hidden gem. And, of course, Daylesford Organic in Notting Hill.’

R.J. WILLIAMS

‘With our beautiful-year-round LA weather, I would start off by taking them to Little Beach House for their Sunday Feast. Then to the new Kith Malibu store for some dessert (the off-menu ‘Nobu’ is my go-to). I’d then drive down the coast and stop by Novikov for dinner before walking next door to The Maybourne Beverly Hills for a nightcap on the terrace.’

TOM PARKER BOWLES

The Media Futurist

The Shoe Queen

The Style Icon

The Watch Expert

The Author and Food Critic

A RT&CULTURE

LONDON / CÔTE D’AZUR / BEVERLY HILLS

As London’s home of horology, The Emory plays host to The After Hours Show in the rooftop Cigar Merchants, with watch experts Nicholas Foulkes and George Bamford holding court on all the latest timepiece trends. @the_afterhoursshow, the-emory.co.uk

Wonder Woman

AS AN EXHIBITION FOCUSING ON FASHION DESIGNER AND MAYBOURNE FRIEND DIANE VON FURSTENBERG OPENS IN LA, ANDREW BARKER TRACES

HER EXTRAORDINARY LIFE AND CAREER

I‘’ve had a full life,’ says Diane von Furstenberg. ‘I’m seventy-six. I should be 300.’ The quote comes from Hulu’s Diane von Furstenberg: Woman in Charge, marking the fiftieth anniversary of the formidable Belgian designer’s paradigm-shifting wrap dress.

In the documentary, Oprah Winfrey remembers saving up for one of the signature garments as a young reporter in the 1970s. Hillary Clinton recalls the cultural impact it had on women entering the workplace at a time when they had to dress like men to be taken seriously. And Marc Jacobs cites DvF – as she is known – as a formative influence.

This starry roll call is matched by a rollicking personal story, from von Furstenberg’s first marriage with a playboy prince to lounging at Studio 54 with future husband and Fox Broadcasting Company cofounder Barry Diller. No wonder there’s now an exhibition that stitches it all together: the dresses, yes, but also an examination of the impossibly high society yet humble woman who created them for working women like her.

The wrap dress was a starting point for Woman Before Fashion, which launched at Brussels’ Fashion & Lace Museum last year and explores von Furstenberg’s fashionable life and her take on the American Dream. ‘She never really followed or tried to follow

At the unveiling of the Claridge’s Christmas tree, ‘The Tree of Love’, in 2018

‘Newsweek called von Furstenberg “the most marketable woman since Coco Chanel’’’

trends,’ says curator Nicolas Lor. Her approach to the wrap dress, he says, was that of a product designer, creating something ‘useful and practical, produced on an industrial scale and inexpensive, thus accessible to a large audience’.

By 1976, having accompanied her husband Prince Egon to New York, von Furstenberg had sold more than a million of the dress, cast herself in campaigns and travelled across America to meet customers and listen to their feedback. Newsweek called her ‘the most marketable woman since Coco Chanel’ and her brand went on to be sold in more than seventy countries. Not bad for an émigrée with no formal fashion education.

More than fifty DvF dresses from the designer’s personal archive feature in the exhibition, now hosted by Los Angeles’ Skirball Cultural Center, just 15 minutes from The Maybourne Beverly Hills. Standouts are the kimono that inspired the closure of the first wrap dress and the Statue of Liberty dress that von Furstenberg wore to the Met Gala in 2019 (she is a patron of the Statue of Liberty Museum, which opened that year). There

are also two garments inspired by her friend Andy Warhol.

Von Furstenberg is no stranger to Maybourne; she and Claridge’s go way back. Her portrait, by artist-in-residence David Downton, hangs in the Talking Heads Gallery, just off the black-andwhite-floored lobby. She once designed a suite: a turquoise-hued symphony of silk and velvet furnishings complemented by artworks inspired by her own collection. And in 2018, she designed the Claridge’s Christmas Tree. Decorated with 8,000 hand-painted silver leaves and Murano glass ornaments, ‘The Tree of Love’ illuminated the lobby for the festive season. For its unveiling, she and thenVogue editor-in-chief Edward Enninful attracted 250 of London’s fashionable folk, who gazed at the menagerie she’d placed on its branches, including an owl for wisdom, a dove for peace and a deer for gentleness. Thoughtful, precise, vibrant and impactful, the tree served as an allegory for the woman herself.

New for the LA iteration of Woman Before Fashion are garments by fellow US-based designers who, like von

Clockwise from below: with David Downton in the Talking Heads Gallery at Claridge’s; a model wears von Furstenberg’s wrap dress in the designer’s apartment; DvF at the 2019 Met Gala

Furstenberg, sought to combine style with ease and utility: namely, Claire McCardell, inventor of 1942’s popover dress, and Vera Maxwell, creator of 1975’s over-the-head ‘speed suit’. These were garments that fit the busy lives of the women who wore them.

And this was a generation of women doing jobs traditionally performed by men. ‘Doctors, lawyers, CEOs,’ says Cate Thurston, curator of the Skirball chapter of the exhibition. ‘The outfits for women were really based on that of a man [until] Diane comes out with this wrap dress, which would allow her to serve all these roles – a worker, a mother, a person with a nightlife and interests – and be very chic and comfortable. And feel beautiful. It’s a garment that you feel good in: it hugs the curves, and it was really meant to celebrate a woman working.’

‘Diane is a sort of UFO: Unidentified Fashion Object,’ declares Nicolas Lor. ‘More than a fashion designer, she is a designer in the field of fashion. Her designs never deeply changed: they evolved and were moving accordingly with the events of her life from the seventies until today, as a woman

becoming a mother, a businesswoman, travelling, experiencing love.’ Her ‘openmindedness, incredible humane-ness and her strength’ left a lasting impression on the French curator.

In the documentary, von Furstenberg attributes her strength and resilience –her business has had downs as well as ups – to her mother Lilly, a survivor of the Holocaust and member of the Greek resistance who endured two concentration camps. Lilly also features in the new exhibition via interviews, photographs and what Thurston hails as a ‘powerful letter’, written before she was captured by the Germans.

The exhibition is another crowning moment for von Furstenberg in her adopted home of the United States, where

‘Thanks to the wrap dress, I lived the American Dream’

she has lived for nearly fifty-five years. For thirteen of those she chaired the Council of Fashion Designers of America, until Tom Ford succeeded her in 2020. And in 2010 the Diller-von Furstenberg Family Foundation launched the DVF Awards, which each year grants five honorees $100,000 to further the work of their nonprofit organisations.

‘I came to American with a suitcase full of dresses and hope,’ von Furstenberg says. ‘Thanks to the wrap dress, I lived the American Dream.’

Diane von Furstenberg: Woman Before Fashion is at the Skirball Cultural Center until 31 August 2025. For tickets, contact concierge@maybournebeverlyhills.com

Above: winning the Fashion Icon award at the Harper’s Bazaar Women of the Year ceremony at Claridge’s in 2014, with Victoria Beckham

With Gwyneth Paltrow and Madonna at the launch of her Claridge’s suite in 2010

Spring 2008

Right: with Andy Warhol and Bianca Jagger at a party in New York City in 1977

High Of ice

FROM HOMELAND TO HARD - HITTING DOCUMENTARIES, DAVID HAREWOOD OBE HAS LONG BEEN A FIXTURE ON OUR SCREENS. NOW PLAYING HIS MOST SIGNIFICANT ROLE –PRESIDENT OF RADA – THE ACTOR AND ACTIVIST JOINS JIMI FAMUREWA AT THE CONNAUGHT TO TALK MENTAL HEALTH, MBES AND MAGIC SOUL

Photographs by SEBASTIAN NEVOLS Styled by SABINA EMRIT HARPER

Ever grinning, the teenage David Harewood was an inveterate class clown who would do anything for a laugh – including disrobing beyond the eyeline of an unsuspecting teacher. ‘There’d be a whole row of us that would try to get through a whole lesson with our trousers down,’ he laughs, shaking his head ruefully. ‘Just stupid things. I got thrown out of the class one time and had to try to get my trousers up as I left.’

Few images better illustrate the actor, author and presenter’s wholly unlikely trajectory. Perhaps best known for Homeland –the drama in which he played suave, calculating CIA chief David Estes – Harewood has worn a number of professional hats. He has been awarded an MBE and OBE, and spearheaded campaigns for reparative justice. His unflinching 2021 memoir, Maybe I Don’t Belong Here? was a critically lauded Observer book of the year.

As a presenter and documentarian, he has fronted shows on UK cultural history, Covid’s disproportionate impact on people of colour and – in the BAFTA-nominated David Harewood: Psychosis and Me – the breakdown that caused him to be sectioned as a twenty-three-year-old RADA graduate.

Then there are acclaimed turns in blockbuster James Graham productions: on stage in 2021’s The Best of Enemies and on screen in the second season of Sherwood. Almost a half-century after those unruly years, this Birmingham-raised son of working-class Barbadian immigrants is nudging towards national treasure

Blazer and trousers, Richard Anderson; jumper, Anderson & Sheppard

Blazer and trousers, Richard James; shirt, Eton; shoes, Manolo Blahnik

‘Today’s acting landscape is a different business. Back then, we called it “shouting in the evenings”. Now you can come out of RADA and get a six-season series on Netflix’

status as an actor, activist and spokesperson.

‘It’s all been a long time coming,’ he says, clean-cut and dapper in top-to-toe cream, as we chat over coffee and plump patisserie at The Connaught.

Harewood’s latest role may be his most prestigious yet. In February 2024, he succeeded Sir Kenneth Branagh as president of RADA. This ascension marks the first time that a person of colour has been non-executive figurehead of perhaps the world’s most famous acting school. He has embraced the job with a healthy dose of playfulness – ‘I’ve been calling myself El Presidente and I have this vision of a personal helipad and an outfit with epaulettes and medals across the chest’ – but it’s a distinguished position he’s seeking to both respect and re-energise.

‘I’m massively proud of it [but] I’m very determined to carve my own path. I know that presidents have tended to be, shall we say, rather absent. So I’m trying to go the other way and attend as much as I can: to be visible to the students and be accessible.’

Part of this is imparting wisdom from a varied and at times tumultuous career that includes being the first black actor to play Othello in a National Theatre production (in 1997) and six post-Homeland years on the hit comic-book series Supergirl. But it’s also adapting his advice for today’s acting landscape: ‘It’s a different business to the one I trained for. Back then, we called it “shouting in the evenings” and [the work] was mainly theatrebased. Now you can come out of RADA and get a six-season series on Netflix. There are so many more global opportunities.’

He enthuses about RADA’s drive to improve diversity and inclusion (‘Forty per cent of the intake now comes from the global majority and a lot of the time they’re doing online auditions, which helps with financial realities’) and its increased mental health support for students. There’s also the fundraising challenge of getting ‘wealthy people to part with some of their cash’ for an institution that, for all its esteem, is a registered charity. ‘I was slightly daunted,’ he notes, ‘but I’m actually finding that bit quite exciting.’

His zeal for the new role is palpable, yet his first instinct was to decline it: ‘Initially, it was a “no” because [I was] very aware that I’m a busy working actor who had just written a book. There are a lot of demands on my time and I’m very conscious of overreaching and overstressing myself. Lots of people are like, “Oh, he’d be a great ambassador…” I’ve got to be careful of that because I can’t be all things to all men. And I found that I was spreading myself too thin.’

In a way, this is the result of the transformative power of Psychosis and Me. Harewood talks vividly about its first airing and the restless terror that gripped him, before ‘literally every single device I had started beeping and buzzing’ with positive, heartfelt messages. For days he could barely leave the house without someone engaging him about psychosis and his family’s multigenerational struggle with it.

This page: jacket, Richard Anderson; trousers, Paul Smith; shoes, Manolo Blahnik; watch, Girard-Perregaux.

Opposite page: top: cardigan, Brunello Cucinelli; shirt, Anderson & Sheppard; watch, as before. Bottom: shirt and trousers, Paul Smith; watch, Girard-Perregaux

‘When I got Homeland, I hadn’t worked in a year and I was down to my last eighty quid’

‘The filter between David Harewood the actor and David Harewood the person had gone,’ he says. ‘So what I had to learn to do was get to a place where I could manage that. I think it’s benefited my acting, because it’s made me more vulnerable. I always used to be about playing the tough guy, playing the hard man, and not letting people in. Being real, being honest and allowing people to see my faults has been really helpful to me.’

That shedding of the archetypal, closed-off alpha is evident in his Sherwood role as the nerdy Denis Bottomley: ‘one of life’s innocents’ swept up in a tense world of blood feuds and leftbehind communities. And it was this shift that, ultimately, made him take the RADA presidency: ‘Once you’ve sort of run naked through the village, you’ve got nothing to be scared of. It’s been so freeing. And it’s given me the strength to be more of a leader.’

This keenness to be at the forefront is at the heart of why Harewood and his business partner Sabina Emrit Harper have launched Section 52 Films: a film and TV production company, poignantly named after the (5)2 code that denotes detention under the Medical Health Act. Harewood – not unlike Idris Elba – had to go to America to win the roles and esteem his talent warranted. Section 52 – which has created two Harewoodfronted documentaries for Sky Arts – is a means to claw back control and agency in a notoriously feast-or-famine world.

‘When I got Homeland, I hadn’t worked in a year and I was down to my last eighty quid,’ he says. ‘So the American industry has been incredibly welcoming to me. I’ve got American managers and agents and I get great roles come through; they fly you out first class… and then over here you get two lines.’ He pauses before gleefully turning the air blue. ‘I’m just not doing it anymore. I got to a point a couple of years ago where I was just like, “No, I’m not going to bring what I have to these two or three lines.”’

That determination has paid off. In 2025, he’ll star in the truecrime-inspired US drama Happy Face and In the Black, a biopic of Jamaican-Canadian radio pioneer Denham Jolly.

As he braces for his sixtieth birthday at the end of 2025, he feels that he has made his peace with getting older: ‘For years, I’ve thought, “I’m twenty-one.” But now I’m embracing it: listening to Magic Soul radio and just enjoying leaning into my years.’

This appreciation of his experience is something Harewood has taken into the role at RADA. But it is also something he feels when he is out in the world. ‘I can’t tell you the amount of times when I’d be standing at a bar in Hollywood and a young black guy would sidle up to me and go, “Excuse me, are you David Harewood? I used to watch you when I was at school.’’ And then they’d say, “Yeah, I’m just here doing this thing for CBS.” And I’d think, “Wow, here’s some young kid who probably watched me on The Bill or something, out here doing these amazing things.” Actors like me may have opened the door but they kicked it down.’

Not bad for a working class Brummie boy once sent out of class with his trousers round his ankles.

Blazer and trousers, Richard Anderson; jumper, Anderson & Sheppard.

Styling: Sabina Emrit Harper via The Harper Edit. Styling assistant: Zoe Pickle.

Grooming: Nina Fay Robinson

F lying Start

WANT A SEAMLESS, SKY- HIGH TRANSFER EXPERIENCE? THE EMORY HAS JOINED FORCES

WITH FLEXJET TO OFFER A FIRST- OF- ITS - KIND SERVICE IN THE CAPITAL

London’s first all-suite hotel is used to turning heads. Now another exciting first adds to The Emory’s cachet: guests arriving by private jet will be whisked directly to the capital in a complimentary helicopter transfer.

In this exclusive collaboration with Flexjet, guests landing at the private jet terminals of Luton, Stansted, Farnborough or Biggin Hill airports will be ushered straight to a Sikorsky S-76. This midsize model – a private aircraft with pedigree – has clocked up more than 7.5 million hours during forty-five years of flight. Sleek interiors offer spacious seating for up to eight passengers, while the advanced design can reach 155 knots (287 kilometres per hour), ensuring a smooth yet speedy ride to the London Heliport in Battersea.

Rising above the traffic affords an opportunity to enjoy extraordinary views over the city skyline.

‘Enjoy extraordinary views over the city skyline’

Back on the ground, new arrivals are met by a private car from the Maybourne fleet. They’ll draw up outside The Emory in as little as twenty minutes, ready to commence a stay in the same luxurious vein.

From the moment travellers touch down, every detail is taken care of in this seamless, personalised service. And those who take to the skies will save more than an hour on the roads; time surely far better spent at the hotel, sipping a smoky Mango Mezcalita on the rooftop bar or unwinding with a post-transit treatment at Surrenne.

Flexjet helicopter transfers to The Emory are subject to availability and require booking with a minimum of 72 hours’ notice. For more information, please contact The Emory at +44 (0)20 7862 5200 or info@the-emory.co.uk

Setting the

Scene

FROM PARK VIEWS TO BATHTUBS OVERLOOKING THE MEDITERRANEAN, TAKE YOUR MAYBOURNE SUITE INSPIRATION FROM THE SMALL SCREEN

Bringing the glamour of all our favourite productions to life, here are the six Maybourne suites that let us live out our film and television fantasies. The perfect way to experience the magic without the drama…

SUCCESSION

THE PENTHOUSE AT THE EMORY

Succession devotees will delight in the discreetly luxurious and highly contemporary surrounds of The Emory, London’s frst allsuite hotel. Arrive in true jet-set style with a scenic jaunt over the capital in a Flexjet helicopter – included in your stay – before a private vehicle whisks you to the hotel’s chic entrance.

The Roy family would accept nothing less than The Emory Penthouse, where quiet luxury meets capacious proportions, courtesy of architects Rigby & Rigby. This two-bedroom suite occupies the entire top floor of the hotel and overlooks Hyde Park, which never fails to impress. It sleeps up to four, but a dedicated dining area can accommodate eight. Like all suites at The Emory, the Penthouse comes with its own assistant.

After a long day, enjoy some much-needed downtime at Surrenne, the hotel’s wellbeing club. Perhaps take in a treatment, followed by a spell in the hyperbaric oxygen chamber. the-emory.co.uk

Top and below: The Penthouse at The Emory. Above: Kieran Culkin as Roman Roy in Succession. Below left: Matthew Macfadyen as Tom Wambsgans

BRIDGERTON

THE ROYAL SUITE AT CLARIDGE’S

Dearest gentle reader, if you’re swept away by the sparkling society scandals and swoon-worthy settings of Bridgerton, consider a stay at the Royal Suite. As its name suggests – and Claridge’s regal heritage confrms – this is a sumptuous, stately suite ft for royalty.

Created by Maybourne’s global head of design Michelle Wu, The Royal Suite has two bedrooms and space for up to fve guests. Classical details evoke the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, an occasional Claridge’s guest, while European grandeur prevails with gilt accents, elegant de Gournay wallpaper and a piano by John Broadwood & Sons, the world’s oldest makers of the instrument.

Rise in your emperor bed, don a deliciously cosy bathrobe and take in splendid views of Mayfair and beyond before enjoying breakfast in your private dining room. Whether you require fresh writing paper or an appointment with a preferred modiste, your Claridge’s butler is on hand around the clock. One imagines that Queen Charlotte would approve. claridges.co.uk

THE GENTLEMEN

THE LIBRARY SUITE AT THE CONNAUGHT

Guy Ritchie’s swaggering crime comedy The Gentlemen follows the rambunctious escapades of an aristocratic family. If you’re a fan, consider a stay in The Connaught’s split-level, two-bedroom Library Suite, designed by architect Michael Blair. Like the show, it’s polished, smart and irresistibly stylish: details include marble flooring, kingsize beds, a radiant skylight and a coal-ef ect f replace that’s just the thing on chilly winter nights. A curated collection of modern artwork, photography and sculpture adds Ritchie-esque creative flair throughout.

Behind the well-stocked bookcase is a secret door leading to the master bedroom, with scenic vistas taking in Adams Row and the rooftops of Mayfair. Just like The Gentlemen, The Library Suite is best paired with a beautifully tailored suit and a good whisky. the-connaught.co.uk

Left and below: The Royal Suite at Claridge’s.

Below left: Phoebe Dynevor and Regé-Jean Page in Bridgerton

Above and left: The Library Suite at The Connaught. Right: Kaya Scodelario in The Gentlemen

THE DIPLOMAT

KNIGHTSBRIDGE PAVILION PENTHOUSE AT THE BERKELEY

The political intrigue and high-stake thrills of The Diplomat are told through a decidedly glossy lens, chiming perfectly with the elevated elegance of The Berkeley. Designed by André Fu, the hotel’s Knightsbridge Pavilion Penthouse is a superbly stylish two-bedroom suite and an ideal retreat for newly appointed ambassadors.

A private BMW transfers high-flying guests straight to the hotel. Inside, handcrafted oak and ref ned green tones o f er a calming respite from the world outside – perfect for hosting in the manner of an ambassador. Admire spectacular views of Hyde Park from the wraparound terrace or enjoy cocktails in the light-flled glasshouse bar. Come the morning, make time for a dip in The Berkeley’s heated rooftop pool, then savour a sumptuous English breakfast in the comfort of your suite. the-berkeley.co.uk

BIG LITTLE LIES

THE HOLLYWOOD SUITE AT THE MAYBOURNE BEVERLY HILLS

With covetable wardrobes and dreamy Californian landscapes, it’s no wonder viewers are excited for a third series of Big Little Lies. And for fans of the well-heeled west coast lifestyle, the onebedroom Hollywood Suite ofers an idyllic place to recharge, thanks to designer Bryan O’Sullivan’s understated take on LA luxury. Wraparound windows show of the Hollywood hills to their best advantage, while a furnished terrace o f ers ample space to contemplate the horizon. It’s ideal for hosting a killer party that will get everyone talking.

A spacious walk-in dressing room provides space sufcient for Renata Klein herself, while the open-plan living space comes complete with a freplace for added glamour. maybournebeverlyhills.com

Top and right: The Knightsbridge Pavilion Penthouse suite at The Berkeley. Above: Keri Russell in The Diplomat

Left and bottom: The Hollywood Suite at The Maybourne Beverly Hills. Far left: Laura Dern; below: Reese Witherspoon, both in Big Little Lies

Soak up endless blue sea and sky from your private infnity pool, and enjoy sundowners on the terrace

THE WHITE LOTUS

The White Lotus’s starry cast, lavish cinematography and spiralling drama have transfxed viewers the world over. The most glamorous scenes of its second season unfold against the stunning Mediterranean coastline, which also happens to take something of a starring role for guests of The Maybourne Riviera.

Those in search of sun and seclusion will delight in the Grand Infnity Pool Duplex Suite, a generous split-level space that can sleep three. Soak up endless blue sea and sky from your private infnity pool, and enjoy sundowners on the elegantly furnished terrace.

By day, unwind at the award-winning spa, sauna and hammam, or simply sink into your suite’s luxuriant freestanding marble bathtub. Ready to venture out? Don a glamorous hat and your largest shades in the manner of the peerless Jennifer Coolidge, and head to Monaco to savour the frst-class shopping. maybourneriviera.com

GRAND INFINITY POOL DUPLEX SUITE AT THE MAYBOURNE RIVIERA

Clockwise from top: Adam DiMarco in The White Lotus; the Grand Infinity Pool Duplex Suite’s terrace; the bedroom; Tom Hollander and Jennifer Coolidge in the show

QuietBeauty

BETHAN RYDER MEETS INTERIOR DESIGN LEGEND ALEXANDRA CHAMPALIMAUD AT HER SUITE AT THE EMORY

SCHEEPERS

Photography by BILLIE

Alush, quiet luxury speaks volumes about the co-creator of the f fth-floor Hyde Park Balcony Suite at The Emory in London’s Belgravia. A serene interior of blonde wood and Carrara marble is warmed by softly curved furnishings, cream upholstery and brushed metallic accents. Floor-to-ceiling windows ofer a leafy green vista of Hyde Park treetops, elevating the sense of all-pervading calm. The unfussy room invites you in with flattering lighting and gentle comfort; it’s a place where you suspect the living is efortlessly easy.

‘It is not about me,’ says Portuguese designer Alexandra Champalimaud, of the work created by the New York-based f rm that bears her name. ‘It’s about what I can do that is di ferent.’ Holding court in a crisp, white, high-collar shirt – paired with a voluminous Dries Van Noten skirt – she’s all patrician elegance, minus the hauteur. ‘The more the world evolves for those living a fortunate existence, the less efective is very luscious or over-the-top design.

‘The characteristics that make something beautiful are often simple. It’s not pretentious. It’s not trying to impress but it has all the accoutrements of lowkey extraordinary luxury with low-key technology.’ (The suite’s tech is indeed refreshingly intuitive.)

It’s ftting that Dries Van Noten is her favourite designer. ‘One can be very expressive with his clothes. A thousand people might have the same clothes that I am wearing today, but everyone wears them di ferently. He’s extraordinarily up-to-date and in demand, but it’s comfort at the same time.’ You could say the same of Champalimaud’s interiors: ref ned, liveable spaces that guests can make their own.

What takes precedence in a hotel room? ‘I am crazy about a very, very good bed,’ she enthuses. ‘And very good sheets.’

This penchant for top-quality linen (by Frette) Champalimaud attributes to her heritage. The designer is the f rst to admit she was born lucky into extreme wealth; a love of sports cars earned her mother the nickname ‘Maria Maserati’.

Champalimaud was raised in Cascais – a humble f shing village turned chic holiday destination, beloved of European royalty – but was educated at English and Swiss boarding schools. ‘It wasn’t easy,’ she says, ‘to get through those years.’ Champalimaud returned to Portugal to

‘The unfussy room invites you in with flattering lighting and gentle comfort’

study classic architecture and design under a foundation established by banker and collector Ricardo do Espírito Santo Silva.

Resilience instilled by the boarding school years served her well when she fled Portugal, with her husband and young son, in the wake of 1974’s military coup, known as the Carnation Revolution. She began afresh in Montreal and faced tough years, but within a decade was designing furniture for the law ofce of former Canadian president Pierre Trudeau.

Champalimaud established her f rm in 1981, moving it from Montreal to New York, where her husband was based, in 1993. Renovating Manhattan’s Algonquin Hotel put her f rmly on the map.

For such a celebrated and seasoned creator of high-end international hotels and residences, Champalimaud takes remarkably little personal credit. ‘No one creates alone,’ she says, citing the contributions of the developers, her studio team and her tech experts, not to mention the clients. ‘You never know where a good idea might come from.’

Is diplomacy the real art of her success? ‘One hundred per cent. We don’t create problems. We design by listening.’

To book a suite at The Emory, visit the-emory.co.uk

Alexandra Champalimaud photographed in the Hyde Park Balcony Suite at The Emory

LAMY TIMES

HAVING

LIVED ALL OVER

THE WORLD, ZOË DE GIVENCHY IS NOW FIRMLY AT HOME IN ‘OPTIMISTIC LA’. HERE SHE TELLS US WHY BEVERLY HILLS IS THE PLACE FOR HER

Words by KARI COLMANS

Photography by MAX MONTGOMERY

Shot at THE MAYBOURNE BEVERLY HILLS

French aristocrat and couturier Hubert de Givenchy said, ‘Life is like a book: you have to know when to turn the page’. Designer Zoë de Givenchy, who married Hubert’s nephew Olivier in 2011, knows the feeling.

Born in Melbourne, schooled in London, she’s now loving life in California, after falling for the outdoor lifestyle, year-round sunshine and gung-ho mindset. Her family lives in the Beverly Hills neighbourhood Trousdale Estates, known for low, lateral houses with uninterrupted canyon views.

We meet at The Maybourne Beverly Hills, just 10 minutes from her studio where she designs gallery-worthy artisanal objects for the home and table, and where she has been assembling a glamorous new tablescaping project for the hotel’s spacious new residences. Today, in Suite 8H, the sun is shining and the table is starting to take on an effortless yet pulled-together glamour.

‘There is a sense of optimism and excitement here in this new world,’ she muses. ‘LA has always been the place where trends are born, and the crucible of popular culture and contemporary art. I find the energy and sense of possibility in LA hugely invigorating.’

Amid drop-offs and extracurricular commitments for her two children, weekdays involve calls to Europe and consulting suppliers for her Z.d.G. brand, which specialises in bringing the finest tableware artisans to market.

Evenings are for social and philanthropic engagements, of which

there are many. Olivier is on the Getty Museum Director’s Council and Chairman of the Board for the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, while Zoë is active with LACMA and on the Board of Trustees for Allies for Every Child.

‘There’s a lot of triangulations involved,’ Zoë laughs. But come Friday, the family decamps to Malibu to eat, play and soul-soothe.

‘Malibu has its own culture: a surfy cowboy vibe,’ she enthuses. ‘But the thing I love most is my garden.’ She recounts a memory of her daughter bringing home a seedling from school. After a summer in France, they returned to find a fully-fledged vine with a plump pumpkin attached. ‘There is something so magical about cultivating something with purpose,’ she concludes.

A scroll through Zoë’s Instagram shows French antiques and

I find the energy and sense of possibility in LA hugely invigorating’

sun-bleached surfboards. But there are things she misses about London, namely the museums, the countryside and Marks & Spencer. ‘London will always be my home,’ she declares. ‘Your identity and culture are framed in early adulthood, during your formative years. I have so many roots in London.’

Her own home-from-homes include a retreat in the Bahamas where she and Olivier wed, which has its own crystal-waterfilled Insta tab. But mostly she loves being enveloped in a multigenerational milieu of friends and family: ‘The people bring the place alive.’

‘Luxury must be authentic, whether it’s a designer dress, handbag, hotel or dinner plate’

At Hubert de Givenchy’s French manor Le Jonchet, Zoë enjoys exploring the library, where you will find ‘every book on art history, decorative arts and gardens you could ever possibly want to read’. She loves decorating there, gathering foliage and fauna from the gardens.

A passion for making things pretty began in childhood. ‘My dad used to joke that my mother would redecorate every room in the house, until she got to the last room, and then she’d start again.’ Zoë arranged flowers and set tables for parties. ‘I remember that feeling of excitement and anticipation. That’s what creates the magic.’

On the key elements of entertaining: ‘The lighting, the music and great drinks. The comfort of your guests is most important.’

Seasonality is vital too. Her Camaïeu chocolate faience collection is on the table in Suite 8H today, paired with handembroidered custom Italian linens. One of her signatures is

ZOË'S DE GIVENCHY'S BESTSELLERS

Looking to elevate your dinner-party style? Z.d.G. by Zoë de Givenchy has you covered...

pairing classical decoration with a contemporary setting: ‘I like to create a sense of occasion and harmony.’

Paying attention to details is everything. ‘For example, there’s something special about serving smoked salmon on a silver plate. It keeps the fish chilled.’

When dressing tables, she favours tumblers over stemmed glasses and has a passion for antique platters.

‘Canapés should never be served on sticks. And smelly foods, from fish to garlic, can be antisocial at a drinks party. Everything should be alluring and sexy.’

Oversize flower displays are out; potted plants are in. ‘There’s nothing worse than not being able to see your guests over the decorations. I hate it when there’s too much on the table.’

Coming up are podcasts, pop-ups and collaborations, including with Maybourne. But while her social media appears expertly stage-managed, such curation doesn’t come naturally. ‘I just love to inspire beauty in life generally, and if I can do that while supporting the artisanal then that’s wonderful,’ she says.

With the world’s wonders at her fingertips, what is true luxury for her? ‘Luxury must be authentic, whether it’s a dress, hotel or dinner plate. I want to know its story, how it was made and by whom – and that they were compensated adequately. Whether it’s an object or a place, it needs to carry a story. There’s an emotion in experiencing a luxury product that cannot be manufactured.’

To book one of the residences, visit maybournebeverlyhills.com

Brique à vin with panier, £222

Camaïeu ivoire embroidered dinner napkin, £31

Hand-painted notecards, set of 12, £39

Picardie grande dinner plate, £222

Trompe l’oeil décorative plate, £375

Les bleuets salad plate, £207

Osier tea cup and saucer, £88

Romilly olivewood hand-forged and carved cutlery set, £437

Monégasque Magic

MOVIE STARS AND ROYALTY ARE AMONG THE PLAYERS IN THE HISTORY OF THE YACHT CLUB DE MONACO

Words by JULIA ZALTZMAN

Abastion of both tradition and innovation, the Yacht Club de Monaco was founded in 1953 by Prince Rainier III. On Port Hercules, with views of the palace on the Rock of Monaco, the private yachts of its 2,500plus members fly the club’s flag. Its reputation for exclusiveness, bolstered by the forty-year presidency of Rainier’s son Albert II, is intrinsically linked to the glamour and prestige of the principality.

Though Monaco is the world’s second-smallest country, it is awash with destination venues. In the inner sanctum of the Casino de Monte-Carlo, the patter of chips on felt reverberates of gilded bas-reliefs. At the majestic Oceanographic Museum, grandeur and science go hand in hand. Serving the world’s elite, the yacht club is no exception.

Keen sailor Prince Rainier predicted at the onset of the 1950s that postwar prosperity would bring a yachting boom. Monaco, already a centre of regattas, was a natural site. ‘It was indeed my desire that we could welcome and bring together the yachtsmen who come here, with an organisation worthy of the tourist facilities ofered by the principality,’ Rainier declared. ‘The future of Monaco lies with the sea.’ Today, thirty-seven club members own yachts that are among the hundred largest in the world.

Prince Albert – head of the 800-year-old Grimaldi dynasty, and son of Rainier and the movie star Grace Kelly – has upheld his father’s vision, as has every yachtsman who has secured exclusive membership. And membership is no easy feat, requiring an

‘The future of Monaco lies with the sea’ – HSH Prince Rainier III

its

introduction by two members, and a commitment to ‘preserve a certain ethic, both on land and on the water, and to foster a respect for naval etiquette and preservation of the environment’.

‘It is a unique institution that genuinely transcends the role of a traditional yacht club,’ says Jill Bobrow, membre adherent and author of Yacht Club de Monaco (published by Assouline, 2024). ‘I see it as a place where the sea, good people and ideas converge, and from which important global initiatives emerge.’

No yacht club is complete without a port, though Monte Carlo’s – Port Hercules – is the only one with a station by boatbuilding genius Carlo Riva. Its opening coincided with the arrival of Riva’s racy runabout, the Aquarama. Hailed as the Ferrari of the boat world, its must-have status was helped by the clamour of royalty and movie stars, from Brigitte Bardot to Sophia Loren. By 1965, the Aquarama was the world’s most desirable motorboat, and Monaco the place to be seen aboard one.

Today, superyachts such as the 116-metre Atlantis II, 90-metre Dar and 89-metre Olivia O berth frequently in Port Hercules. The best views of these majestic vessels are from the club’s Aquarama Riva Bar or the panoramic terraces. Inspired by a superyacht deck and shaded by retractable fabric supported by a mast and booms, the terraces crown a clubhouse originally designed by Lord Norman Foster.

From top: archive images of Monaco and

yachts. Right: Port Hercules

‘A successful sports club with world-class sailors doing toplevel racing,’ enthuses Norwegian-born member and yacht designer Espen Øino. ‘It’s also successfully taken the lead in many areas of sustainability.’

For Prince Albert, an environmental protection advocate, Monaco is ‘the capital of sustainable yachting’. In the foreword of Assouline’s new tome, celebrating his forty-year presidency, he writes: ‘Every action has an impact on the future of our planet… I greatly appreciate the involvement and commitment of not only our members but also the players in the luxury yacht sector, who together are building the foundations of a responsible future.’

Monaco’s sustainability drive is exemplified by the club’s annual electric boat race, its founding role in the Superyacht Eco Association Index, and its ocean conservation initiatives.

‘While the club caters meticulously to its members, it is very much a part of the everyday fabric of Monaco,’ says Bobrow. ‘I smile when I see the sailing dinghies in the harbour with young boys and girls at their tillers. Prince Albert II has cemented his philosophy of respect for sailing, the sea, ocean conservation and leaving a legacy of mindful thinking for future generations.’

yacht-club-monaco.mc

Yacht Club de Monaco, written by Jill Bobrow and published by Assouline, is available now

Above: The Maybourne Riviera

F OOD&DRINK

LONDON / CÔTE D’AZUR / BEVERLY HILLS

Delicious news for guests of The Berkeley, as Cedric Grolet – he of the apple trompe l’œil and the reason for queues outside the hotel each morning – is now at the helm of the hotel’s entire patisserie. Room service just got even more tempting… the-berkeley.co.uk

Môme LIKE NO PLACE

THE

UNBEATABLE ATMOSPHERE OF A CANNES CLASSIC IS COMING TO THE BERKELEY, IN THE HEART OF LONDON.

FIONA McCARTHY MEETS THE BROTHERS BEHIND THE FAMOUS LA MÔME

Photography by EMILIE MALCORPS

Anticipation fills the air every evening at Antoine and Ugo Lecorché’s restaurant La Môme in Cannes. Oversized rattan lamps in the restaurant’s outdoor seating area sway gently. A chanteur serenades the crowd with DJ-backed cool classics. Diners know there is excitement to come.

The clock strikes eleven. Waiters and diners wave napkins and sparklers as French-Italian singer Dalida’s 1974 hit ‘Gigi l’amoroso’ (‘Gigi the lover’) rings out across the restaurant. Everyone claps and sings along. Passers-by stop to watch; sometimes up to seventy cramming around the entrance to see what is going on. ‘People come from all over the world to La Môme,’ says Ugo. ‘Often the first thing a guest asks is, “Will you make Gigi tonight?” Even when they might not have been with us for a few years, they never forget the atmosphere.’

The Lecorché brothers arrived in Cannes in 2004, from Lyon – one of France’s gourmet capitals and home to ‘the pope of gastronomy’, Paul Bocuse. They ran clubs in their twenties, ‘more interested in girls and bars than immersing ourselves in the city’s food culture,’ admits Ugo. With a backpack and fifty Euros between them, they intended to stay in Cannes for the summer only. Instead, they never left.

Left: Antoine and Ugo Lecorché outside La Môme in Cannes. Right: the restaurant during evening service

The pair opened their first restaurant in 2015. ‘We wanted to be in business in a place where we would be able to open seven days a week, all year long,’ Antoine explains. Unlike in other towns dotting the Côte d’Azur, the Cannes low season is filled with people coming and going, especially in May, when A-listers descend for the film festival.

La Môme’s name derives from ‘la môme Moineau’ (‘the little sparrow’), nickname of a celebrated Cannes hostess in the Riviera’s golden era of the fifties and sixties. The restaurant itself was born of the brothers’ desire to create a venue ‘without having to become a crazy party place where people are dancing on the tables and chairs’, says Ugo. ‘We wanted to do something with elegancy and consistency; a restaurant where you can speak all night, even when it gets a little noisier around 11pm.’

On the pedestrianised Rue Florian, the restaurant had just eighty-six seats, plus twenty outside. ‘We didn’t like turning people away because the restaurant was always fully booked,’ says Antoine, ‘so we started looking for a way to add more tables.’ They snapped up other restaurants and shops on what was then a rather shabby stretch, despite being a stone’s throw from the

‘We are trying to create an experience that is not only about the food’

Promenade de la Croisette, an oasis of palm trees, designer stores and luxury hotels. Soon La Môme spanned the entire street. ‘Like a village,’ Antoine laughs.

The empire has since added La Môme Plage, a restaurant and bar off the Croisette, overlooking one of the best patches of the Mediterranean, and Mido Cannes, a Japanese-inspired restaurant in a former sushi joint on Rue Florian. A corner spot was revamped into the Môka Cannes café, with interiors by hip Parisian designer Laura Gonzalez. La Môme Monte-Carlo opened in 2022 on the rooftop of the Port Palace Hôtel, and a Parisian outpost of Mido launched in the summer of 2024.

More than restaurateurs, the Lecorché brothers are creators of atmosphere. ‘You need to come and feel the experience,’

Clockwise from top: cocktails are served at the table. The restaurant in full swing. A waiter serves the 1kg wild fish of the day to share. Cocktails including La Môme Moineau. A table inside the restaurant

Antoine enthuses of the ‘fun, stylish, relaxed’ mood. Like a DJ manipulating the momentum in a club, they are well versed in lulling clientele into a state of bliss before revving them up.

The result is a ‘very sophisticated and very personal’ good time. Diners parade along the street as if on a catwalk. Waiters deliver cocktails shrouded in dry ice until released from glass cloches, snip fragrant thyme into olive oil to be used for dipping just-baked bread, and debone flame-grilled wild fish in front of guests. When diners finish, one waiter removes the entire tabletop and another brings a freshly laid one to replace it.

‘We are trying to create an experience that is not only about the food,’ says Ugo. ‘It comes from the service, the welcome, the music. Something different is happening every day.’

La Môme’s new London outpost at The Berkeley will be equally glorious. ‘What you hear, what you smell, what you taste, and how people treat you and how you treat them in return is the energy we want to bring,’ confirms Ugo.

The menu will feature many of La Môme’s signature classics, from truffle arancini to an artichoke salad laced with niçoise olives, tomato confit and anchovies. There’ll be egg yolk ravioli,

a Neapolitan-style braised octopus served in a tomato sauce, and a rack of lamb encrusted with pine nuts, hazelnuts and walnuts.

The sweet soufflé, infused with seasonal fruits, is not to be missed, nor the waffles laden with salted caramel, tonka bean whipped cream and Nutella. ‘We like doing big dishes for sharing,’ says Ugo. ‘It creates a sense of opulence, of generosity. And the way we prepare things in front of the guests is like we would do it at home.’

La Môme London will be brought to life by architect and interior designer Samy Chams, whose creative eye has def ned many Riviera restaurants and clubs. Colours will be rich and seductive; materials warm and luxurious; walls and ceilings adorned with lemons and collages. Photographs by Slim Aarons of the sixties Riviera will reinforce the brothers’ nostalgia for the glamour and elegance of the era. Ultimately, they want people ‘to eat well, be treated well, and have a good time’. ‘We don’t want anyone to go home disappointed,’ declares Antoine. ‘In Cannes or Monte Carlo, when we leave the restaurant at night, we don’t look at how much money we made that day. We judge our success by how happy people were when they left.’

La Môme London will open at The Berkeley in early 2025. For details, visit the-berkeley.co.uk

Above: Crudo fish dishes to share. Right: La Môme’s red berry tart. Far right: a table under a photograph by Slim Aarons

Above: diners enjoying champagne.

Left: the restaurant ready for service

GUESTS Dinner

YOU DON’T HAVE TO LEAVE LONDON TO EXPERIENCE THE NATION’S FINEST FOOD, THANKS TO THE GOOD FOOD GUIDE AND CLARIDGE’S. CHARLOTTE MCMANUS PLATES UP

Simon Attridge and Adam Hyman

For a unique, inspired gastronomic experience, the intimacy and creativity of a chef’s table are hard to beat. That’s why L’Epicerie – the fourteen-seat space in the heart of the legendary Claridge’s kitchen – is hosting a Kitchen Supper Series: one-off evenings with top guest chefs.

The initiative is a collaboration with diningout bible The Good Food Guid e. ‘We realised there are many amazing British restaurants that a lot of people might not have the time or opportunity to visit,’ says publisher Adam Hyman, ‘especially if they’re only visiting London – or staying at Claridge’s – for a few days. So we hatched a plan to bring these restaurants to Mayfair for one night only.’

With fêted chefs showcasing their skills, Claridge’s diners can feast on standout cuisine from across the country, from Cumbria all the way to Cambridge.

‘We wanted to make sure the lineup of chefs really represents what dining in Britain is like these days,’ says Hyman.

‘ The Good Food Guide has always been about celebrating the best places to eat, so we have chefs with restaurants across the country –including ones that aren’t always the easiest to get to.’

The visiting culinarian can interpret the occasion in any way, shape or form they see fit, meaning no two suppers are the same. Guests can look forward to evenings full of creativity and surprise, witnessing the gourmet theatre as it unfolds.

London the opportunity to have these experiences a little closer to home.’

In November, the first guest supper will be hosted by Gareth Ward, chef patron of the two Michelin-starred Ynyshir in Wales. ‘I’m looking forward to introducing a taste of Ynyshir to London’s food scene,’ he enthuses. ‘We are two very different businesses; I’m interested to see what we can create together.’

Ward is staying schtum on the details, though rumour has it that his restaurant’s disco ball may make an appearance, along with a rocking DJ set and faux fur throws to wear during the night. ‘Expect a menu of Ynyshir staples, a setlist of some of my favourite music, and for guests to have a load of fun!’

In March, chef Roberta Hall-McCarron will journey to Mayfair from her own Edinburgh restaurant, The Little Chartroom. Her menu details, too, are under wraps, though ‘some of my favourite dishes’ will be making an appearance, possibly including haggis and Arbroath smokies.

Diners can feast on standout cuisine from across the country, from Cumbria to Cambridge’ ‘

‘L’Epicerie experience is a real treat in its own right: getting to see into the Claridge’s kitchens and behind the scenes at an iconic hotel,’ says Hyman. ‘The added highlight of having dinner made by chefs for one night only makes it super-special. These are oncein-a-lifetime suppers.’

The Kitchen Supper Series kicked off in September with a debut dinner by the hotel’s Culinary Director Simon Attridge, who is overseeing the series. ‘It’s fantastic to share the Claridge’s kitchens with amazing talents and for them to bring their food – and very different styles – to Mayfair,’ he says. ‘It also gives

‘Getting to cook in Claridge’s is so exciting and a huge honour – I can’t wait to share that experience with my team,’ she says. ‘I hope to give diners an insight into my Edinburgh restaurants – albeit in much more luxurious surroundings! We like our guests to feel relaxed and have fun while eating delicious food, and it will be no di ferent on this occasion.’

Other confirmed names include Sam Carter of Restaurant Twenty Two in Cambridge, Elly Wentworth of The Angel in Dartmouth, and Hrishikesh Desai of Farlam Hall in Cumbria.

‘The Kitchen Supper Series is the first time that The Good Food Guide and Claridge’s have worked together,’ says Hyman. ‘But I hope it’s something that we can continue to do in the future. It’s a lot of fun to put together and, naturally, celebrates the best food and restaurants in Britain.’

To make a reservation for one of Claridge’s Kitchen Supper Series, visit claridges.co.uk

11th November 202 4

Restaurant Twenty Two 20th January 2025

WENTWORTH

The Angel 12th May 2025

Farlam Hall 21st July 2025

Ynyshir

HRISHIKESH DESAI

GARETH WARD

SAM CARTER

The Little Chartroom 10th March 2025

ROBERTA HALLMCCARRON

ELLY

Prêt-à-Portea: The Red Carpet Collection, served at The Maybourne Beverly Hills

Tea Party

MILK OR TEA FIRST? CAKE OR CUCUMBER?

AS THE MAYBOURNE BEVERLY HILLS LAUNCHES

PRÊT-À- PORTEA: THE RED CARPET COLLECTION, TEA CONNOISSEUR SOPHIA MONEY- COUTTS

GRAPPLES WITH THE RULES

Illustrations by SUSANNAH GARROD

The sixth Duchess of Bedford was my kind of woman. Around 1840, she noticed a ‘sinking feeling’ at the same time every afternoon. Baffled by this sensation, she tried to solve it by ordering to her room a fortifying tray of bread and butter, cake and tea.

As I know all too well, sinking feelings are often buoyed by a delicious crumb of cake. Unsurprisingly, the Duchess was cured. She began ordering the same tray at four every afternoon and inviting friends to cure their own sinking feelings (or ‘hunger’, as we might refer to it today). Afternoon tea was born.

There is, the duchess and I agree, a long stretch between lunch and dinner. And what could be lovelier than boosting one’s spirits – and stomach – with morsels of carbohydrate and a hot cup of tea?

Some say afternoon tea is Britain’s great culinary offering, although its elements vary and some may not even be British. There are sandwiches, but their shape and stuffing can differ. Cucumber, probably. Egg and cress. But there might be slivers of smoked salmon, or perfectly pink roast beef pepped up with horseradish. Crumpets dripping with proper butter and honey are also always welcome.

There may be tartlets or éclairs, and Florentines or shortbread. Victoria sponge or ginger cake. The late Queen Elizabeth II liked chocolate fridge cake. There are sardines on toast and soft-boiled eggs in The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe Mary Poppins was delighted by two plates of whelks. There’s seed cake in Jane Eyre and cold tongue (yuk) in Little Women, while Crawley cousin Matthew helps himself to a tray of madeleines in Downton Abbey. Afternoon tea can be a wonderfully childish treat of whatever you most fancy.

‘Scone rhymes with “gone” not “cone”’

But the Duchess of Bedford was a posh lady, and the custom spread quickly among other posh ladies, including her friend Queen Victoria. And there are –technically – a few rules.

I say ‘technically’ because some people stick too rigidly to certain rules. Who cares whether you pour your milk before or after your tea? Yet this is a topic that causes British people to not speak to one another for years. Back in the day, it was considered grander to pour the tea into your cup – or have your footman do it

– then add a splash of milk. The working classes, however, had cheaper mugs, so needed to put milk in before the hot tea, to cool the vessel and prevent it breaking or staining. Milk after tea, therefore, was deemed posh; milk before tea not posh. Astonishingly, this idea persists and you’ll still find snobs who gasp if you reach for the milk jug before the tea pot.

My mother insists on pouring the milk first because she says the hot tea ‘cooks’ it and gives it a different flavour. Try both. See what you prefer. Don’t be cowed

by stuffy preconceptions. Sticklers say you’re supposed to stir your tea by moving the teaspoon clockwise, from the six o’clock position to twelve o’clock. But I promise the sky won’t fall if you stir it anticlockwise. No tapping the teaspoon on the side of the cup afterwards, though. That is a bit vulgar. Sorry.

Sandwiches before sweet stuff is another rule, on the grounds that they’re savoury. If you’re in Devon, you dollop cream on your scones before the jam. If you’re in Cornwall, it’s vice versa. They feel very strongly about that in the West Country. Don’t slap the halves together; eat them separately. Oh, and scone rhymes with ‘gone’, not ‘cone’.

Rules, rules, rules. Afternoon tea is supposed to be fun. The Duchess of Bedford presumably had a laugh, gathering pals to gossip over cake about who was flirting with who at court. So don’t get too hung up on making a teatime faux pas. Get stuck in. Reach for an egg sandwich with one hand and a strawberry tart with the other. Have a glass of champagne, if you fancy. Why not? Dinner’s ages away, after all.

Prêt-à-Portea: The Red Carpet Collection is available to book at The Maybourne Beverly Hills. maybournebeverlyhills.com

TIME FOR TEA

Afternoon tea across Maybourne

For the fashionable...

The Maybourne Beverly Hills

The fashionable Prêt-à-Portea has crossed the Atlantic to Beverly Hills. It takes inspiration from red-carpet moments over the years: think J-Lo in green Versace at the Grammys, Michelle Williams nominated for her first Oscar in saffron-hued Vera Wang and Margot Robbie sparkling in gold at the Academy Awards. All are magically reimagined as delicious treats, hand-finished by pastry chef Brooke Martin. maybournebeverlyhills.com

For the purists...

Claridge’s

Taken in the foyer, under the Chihuly sculpture and amid pictures of former guests such as Jackie Onassis and Audrey Hepburn, afternoon tea at Claridge’s is like stepping into an altogether more civilised world. A piano provides an elegant soundtrack while impeccably dressed waiters glide to your table with plates of smoked salmon sandwiches, freshly made pastries and the all-important scones. claridges.co.uk

For the adventurous...

The Berkeley

The Berkeley Café sets the scene for Cedric Grolet's inspired fusion of tradition and technique, as quintessentially English ritual meets sweet goûter snacking. At the ‘Goûtea’ experience, savoury confections include artisanal tarts, croissants and trompe l'œil surprises, while fruit delicacies are sculpted with French flair. the-berkeley.co.uk

For the art lovers...

The Connaught

Ideal for those who like to try something a little different, JeanGeorges at The Connaught serves a novel take on afternoon tea with playful twists on the classics. Echoing the creative ambience created by the restaurant’s striking artwork, perfectly balanced SouthEast Asian flavours add vibrancy to the curated array of finger sandwiches and hand-made pastries. the-connaught.co.uk

Master

Class

DISCOVER A WEALTH OF ARTISTIC INSPIRATION ON THE FRENCH RIVIERA THIS SEASON

Words by CHARLOTTE M cMANUS

Ahaven of creativity on the shores of the Mediterranean, the Côte d’Azur has long been a destination for art lovers. Seduced by its coastal charms, Picasso, Matisse, Renoir, Miro and Cocteau painted here, blazing a trail for local artists. And Riviera towns are famed for artisanal crafts, from pottery to perfumery.

Want to immerse yourself in the rich heritage of the region? The Maybourne Riviera offers a programme of artistic experiences –some educational, some interactive – that allow us to experience that creative legacy firsthand.

Fascinating jaunts and day trips to places of interest are guided by local experts. A pleasant afternoon might be spent taking in the colourful street art that lines the walkways of Antibes, or witnessing delicate creations being blown at La Verrerie de Biot glassworks. Private tours can be arranged to cultural landmarks, including Musée Picasso in Antibes, the modern art museum MAMAC in Nice and the Cap Moderne architectural ensemble in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin.

‘We follow the footsteps of different artists, such as Matisse’s route between Nice and Saint-Paul de Vence,’ says guide Fatou Froissard. ‘We also offer a journey into the Riviera’s golden age through the architecture and history of Monte Carlo.

‘It is not possible to get tired of the views here. As Matisse put it, “When I realised that I would see that light every morning, I could not believe my good fortune.”’

For those who prefer to roll up their sleeves, there are practical masterclasses, including fragrance-making at Grasse perfumier Fragonard, and watercolour painting in the comfort of the hotel. Each class is taught by an experienced local artist.

A relaxed ceramics workshop takes place at Galerie Agnès

Above: Winston Churchill painting a beach scene in 1946. Right: Agnès Sandahl in her ceramics studio

‘When I realised that I would see that light every morning, I could not believe my good fortune’

– Henri Matisse

AUTUMN EXHIBITIONS ON THE RIVIERA

l Bonnard and the Poetry of an Ordinary Object – until 3 November 2024, Le Musée Bonnard

Seemingly unremarkable items inspired the paintings of Pierre Bonnard, which play with colour and transparency. See how everyday objects captured his imagination. museebonnard.fr

l Léger and the New Realists – until 18 November 2024, Musée National Fernand Léger Biot The avant-garde creations of painter and sculptor Fernand Léger are showcased in this collaboration with Nice’s MAMAC gallery museesnationaux-alpesmaritimes.fr

l Surreal Legacies – until 21 December 2024, Hauser & Wirth, Monaco Celebrating a centenary of surrealism, Hauser & Wirth explore its enduring impact and spotlight often underappreciated female artists such as Ida Applebroog and Allison Katz. hauserwirth.com

Sandahl in the seaside town Vallauris, known as the ‘cité des potiers’. ‘Guests discover the fascinating world of ceramics in a friendly and inspiring setting,’ says Sandahl. ‘Everyone gets carried away by the creative atmosphere while exploring Vallauris craftsmanship in a playful way.

‘Afterwards, guests leave with their creations: personal souvenirs of their creative immersion.’

As a working artist – one of many upholding the region’s creative legacy – Sandahl is proud to call the Riviera home: ‘The Côte d’Azur continues to attract artists from all over the world, inspired by the unique light of the Mediterranean and the vibrant artistic history. It’s a place where art is alive and kicking – an inexhaustible source of inspiration for every creator.’

To make a booking or request more information about artistic experiences at The Maybourne Riviera, visit maybourneriviera.com

Above: painting on the terrace of The Maybourne Riviera. Right: Untitled by Luchita Hurtado (1976), from Surreal Legacies at Hauser & Wirth, Monaco

Guest Be

WHAT MAKES A TRULY MEMORABLE PARTY? AS HOST TO SOME OF THE WORLD’S MOST GLAMOROUS EVENTS, MAYBOURNE KNOWS THE ANSWER...

Words

by KARI COLMANS

Illustrations by CLYM EVERNDEN

W

hat makes a party memorable? Is it the flowers, the food or the f nishing touches? Perhaps it’s the music, the perfect playlist that guests can’t resist dancing to? Or maybe it’s simply a relaxed and happy host? Having hosted everything from weddings, bar mitzvahs and milestone birthdays to whimsical tooth fairy parties and LA pool parties –complete with synchronised swimmers – Maybourne knows the answer: all of this. And more.

One woman who is certainly well placed to answer such a question is Mathilde Maitre, the new Global Director of Events at Maybourne. She has organised everything from a life-size white horse on wheels for David Walliams to ride through a star-studded crowd for his Studio 54-themed party, Bianca Jagger-style, to a party where HM Queen Elizabeth II was in attendance.

Presiding over six luxury properties from London to Los Angeles gives Maitre an

This page, from top: Mathilde Maitre at Claridge’s; a wedding at The Maybourne Riviera. Opposite: the French Salon at Claridge’s

enviable canvas to work with; from 200-strong weddings overlooking the Côte d’Azur to intimate showers in London’s most iconic ballrooms. ‘Each of our hotels is unique,’ she notes. ‘We’re lucky all have something di ferent to ofer. We set ourselves apart from our competition with distinctive designs and locations.’

At Maybourne, expectations are, rightfully, high. Here, the philosophy is centred around celebrating the art of entertaining.

‘It’s all about the detailing and bespoke tailoring; understanding the client on a personal level, and striving to find a way to go beyond their expectations. It’s creating an experience out of every occasion; making every stage of the planning an enjoyable part of the journey.’

that an additional room needed to be added. How to make guests sit in this ballroom-adjacent room without feeling slighted? ‘Diane said, “Well if I sit in there then suddenly that’s the VIP room.” Of course, she was right – people were desperate to be in that room.’

‘We had doubledecker buses with Claridge’s waiters serving martinis’

Maitre loves a milestone birthday. Party-planner-to-the-stars Michelle Rago held a threeday sixtieth birthday party at Claridge’s. ‘We had rickshaws to take guests to Annabel’s on one night and on another, a double-decker bus taking guests to the River Café, complete with Claridge’s waiters onboard serving copious espresso martinis accompanied by ALR’s The Juke Joints.’ There was also a life-size zebra cake. ‘We had to hide it in the table store cupboard!’ she recalls.

What are her most memorable soirées?

‘The Diane von Furstenberg Christmas Tree Party was epic,’ she declares. The plan was to host a supperclub in the ballroom but there were so many RSVP’s

Maitre really loves to surprise clients with hidden details or unique gifts. For Rago, who had expressed a passion for artist-in-residence David Downton’s work, she commissioned a portrait she knew would be treasured. ‘It’s not always about the cost. Sometimes the simplest

Above: a wedding at The Connaught

A children’s party in The Berkeley’s ballroom

An intimate wedding in The Connaught’s ballroom

A winter party at The Berkeley

Midnight snacks at Claridge’s

MATHILDE MAITRE’S PERFECT PARTY:

FOOD?

Côte de boeuf, cooked rare of course, with the perfect selection of sides. Served family style.

DRINKS?

Chilled Champagne served on trays, preferably poured from magnums.

DÉCOR?

A room full of candlelight and peonies – white, not pink.

SEASON?

Winter – Christmas time, specifically.

DRESS CODE?

Cocktail dresses, always.

MUSIC?

For me, Coldplay.

LIGHTING?

Absolutely never any overhead lighting.

GUEST LIST?

Closest friends, including my industry ones!

things go the longest way. I am always thinking, “How do I wow them?” We go beyond the walls of the hotel to create the magic.’

Bigger once meant better, but Covid changed the perception of a luxury event. ‘We are finding a lot of clients are prioritising intimacy,’ Maitre notes. ‘It’s simplicity, but elevated. It’s spending more on the food you choose, and the wine you drink, but for fewer people. It’s much more important to have excellent wine than a third outfit change.’

What are the biggest mistakes people make when throwing a party?

‘Not hiring a photographer,’ she says without any hesitation. ‘There are so many moments to capture at an event, from the food being plated to the waiters standing tall in a line. Phones just aren’t the same.’

After more than a decade planning events at Claridge’s, Maitre is

ready to cast her sights beyond Mayfair: ‘We share a lot of the guests across the group, which is such a joy as we can get to know them very well and ofer unique experiences just for them.

‘Our guests love our hotels and they have come to really trust Maybourne. All the hotels have their individual identity and charm, and, as you visit them, you see there is a magical thread that runs throughout them all.’

‘We are experts in creating memories that last a lifetime and thinking outside the box.

‘A lot of clients are prioritising intimacy. It’s simplicity, but elevated’

Luxury hospitality has always been def ned by understated elegance, with discreet and genuine service at the forefront.’

So, aside from the guestlist, the flowers, the ballrooms and the views, what event stands out in Maitre’s long career? ‘I was once asked to be a last-minute witness for a royal wedding – that was rather special.’

To book an event, visit maybourne.com

Centre: a dinner party at The Garden at The Maybourne Beverly Hills. Left: A dinner hosted at Claridge’s; A private dinner hosted at The Berkeley

The Emory courtyard

A wedding on the terrace of The Maybourne Beverly Hills

All in a

Day’s

Work

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO RUN CLARIDGE’S RESTAURANT? WE GO BEHIND THE SCENES

Photography by LATEEF OKUNNU

The day begins at 7am sharp. Head waiter turned restaurant supervisor Hugh Graham arrives to switch on the coffee machines, arrange the newspapers and ensure the mise en place is immaculate before the chefs descend.

Reopened one year ago, Claridge’s Restaurant is again a firm favourite on Mayfair’s dining scene. The doors open at 8am and, within minutes, the restaurant is full of breakfasting guests and power meetings, brokering deals over morning juices. Waffles and butter pats are shaped into Claridge’s crests and the smell of fresh coffee is simultaneously soothing and intoxicating. This is a place where breakfast is taken properly.

A wealth of fresh produce arrives each day from top suppliers such as Le Marché. Shoals of just-caught fish are sourced locally from Billingsgate Market. Striking seasonal floral arrangements, courtesy of Claridge’s Flowers, change often to give the space a new feel.

Afternoons begin with a briefing. The team takes notes on VIP guests, menu changes and special requests. Lunch rapidly rolls into evening; the occasional dedicated guest staying for both.

Five o’clock brings another briefing before dinner service commences. New energy seizes the kitchens, the day’s steady concentration giving way to a fragrant hive of activity. Bursts of steam and fire can be seen from the elegant tables outside. Showstopping mains include Cornish sea bass, grilled native lobster and dry-aged prime beef rib.

Long after midnight – when the last profiterole has been eaten, the remaining wine glasses have been cleared away and stars shine through the skylights – it’s time to switch the lights off and call it a day… for a few hours.

An early start

Clockwise from top: the team bring in the day’s delivery of fresh seasonal produce from Le Marché; the Claridge’s plaque is polished to a high shine; pastry chef Barbara Pinto hand-rolls croissants, ready to bake; a happy gardener is treated to a fresh croissant by head chef Edward Dutton; The Terrace at Claridge’s restaurant

Uniquely Claridge’s

Clockwise from top left: the front-ofhouse team gather for a briefing; maple syrup poured over a waffle adds to a sumptuous Claridge’s breakfast; the kitchens are left sparkling each night, ready for morning service; Edward Dutton and his team tuck into lunch at the staff restaurant; maître d’ Lorraine Abrahams welcomes diners; one of the team from Claridge’s Flowers adds the finishing touches to a sunflower-filled floral display

Modern twists on British flavours

Clockwise from above: Edward Dutton leads a kitchen briefing ahead of dinner service; chef Susan Pun salts a tomahawk steak; finishing touches are added to a decadent platter of profiteroles; Hertfordshire beef is flame-grilled to perfection; Dutton plates a serving of Cornish lamb; pastry sous chef Nii-Ayi Evans moulds the signature crested butter pats

‘Lunch rolls into evening, the occasional dedicated guest staying for both’

Classic yet contemporary

Clockwise from above

left: Edward Dutton and restaurant general manager Will Rogers discuss the day’s menu, VIPs and special requests; the team sample a new millefeuille; sommelier Camila Strapasson reveals the wine special; Brice Dias mixes a martini at the bar; the table is laid in the private dining room, a beautifully lit space that seats up to sixteen

Stay Local

VISITORS TO LONDON, BEVERLY HILLS AND THE CÔTE D’AZUR ARE SPOILED FOR CHOICE WHEN IT COMES TO SHOPPING. BUT WHERE DO THE MOST FASHIONABLE LOCALS GO?

by ZOË MORE O’FERRALL

Illustrations

SKYE MCALPINE on Pavilion Road, Chelsea

London-born cookery writer Skye knows a thing or two about style. Dividing her time between London and Venice, she has a weakness for ‘British chintz’ and a taste for the Italian dolce vita. Here, she shares her favourite local spots…

Most weekends when I’m in London, I like to pay a pilgrimage to Pavilion Road Just a hop, skip and a jump from The Berkeley and The Emory, it’s that rare gem of a street in a busy bustling city like London: a pedestrianised road with a village-y feel and all the best shops, cafés and spots lining it on either side. My favourites include the The Conran Shop just around the corner, for an excellent edit of the latest in furniture and homeware design, and the sort of luxurious small bits and bobs you didn’t know you needed but then find yourself unable to live without. In a similar vein is David Mellor with an exquisite collection of elegant, classic tableware.

For coffee, I love the Roasting Party, where not only do they sell bags of their own freshly roasted coffee beans, but also make an excellent iced coffee.

Another favourite spot is Bread Ahead, a bakery that offers a sensational selection of doughnuts – think sea-salted caramel and honeycomb cream, velvety chocolate custard and coconut cream filling – as well as other glorious baked goods, from sticky gingerbread and cinnamon buns to salty, oily focaccia. They also sell freshly baked pizza by the slice and to-go, which you can eat on one of the benches along Pavilion Road or take for an impromptu picnic to a nearby park.

Next door is London Cheesemongers. They do one of the best grilled

sandwiches you could wish for and offer an exceptional selection of cheeses.

For stationery and a lovely, highly curated selection of lifestyle books, I love Papersmiths. I could happily while away an afternoon trying out the beautiful pens, leafing through the cards and lusting after the colour-coordinated notebooks.

Last but not least, no trip to Pavilion Road is complete without a treat from Ice Cream Union . They make unbelievably good gelato in an array of highly seductive flavours, of which coffee and cornflake have to be my absolute favourites.

‘I love Papersmiths on Pavilion Road. I could happily while away an afternoon trying out beautiful pens and leafing through the cards’

Fragola cake stand, £94

Serata candlestick (set of 2), £48

Edera butter dish, £42, all Tavola by Skye McAlpine

JENNIFER SMITH

on Rodeo Drive

The founder, editorial director and CEO of C Magazine on why Rodeo Drive still lives up to its iconic legacy

Being in California can feel like a dream. And if dreamy shopping days are on your itinerary, head to Rodeo Drive, just a short walk from The Maybourne Beverly Hills. You might remember the Pretty Woman moment when Julia Roberts upbraids a Rodeo Drive store assistant: ‘You work on commission, right? Big mistake. Big. Huge.’ Thankfully, that attitude seems a thing of the past and I’ve found only lovely, welcoming sales associates at the legacy brands dotting the famed street. With flagships aplenty, the boutiques are at the top of their game in terms of service, curation and architecture.

The first place on your list – certainly on mine! – is Chanel . Designed by Peter Marino, this incredible store has amazing artworks throughout, alongside some of the chicest fashion outside of Paris. Other personal favourites include Dior, which even mid-renovation is not to be missed; Louis Vuitton, a light-filled haven of lustworthy trunks; Loewe, which feels like a very chic LA home (think soaring ceilings

‘Designed by Peter Marino, the incredible Chanel store has amazing artworks’

and modern art peppered throughout); and Hermès, whose creations I’m guilty of collecting. Next door is American classic Ralph Lauren : a beautiful oasis that feels more like a grand home than a boutique.

For those interested in a spot of vintage shopping, I highly recommend What Goes Around Comes Around, which you’ll find just around the corner from Rodeo. Stocking a great selection of oneoff finds and collector pieces, this store is always worth a visit.

Celine is another personal obsession; I always find pieces here that are perfect for that LA look. And for those seeking jewellery – or whose partners are heavily hinting – Rodeo Drive has you covered with Harry Winston and Tiffany, the latter of which is where you find a VIP level with a private bar. And just off Rodeo Drive, on North Canon Drive, I'm coveting Jennifer Fisher ’s new gold City Link Necklace.

Dining is another thing this celebrated neighbourhood gets just right. On North Canon Drive is the sun-drenched Terrace at The Maybourne Beverly Hills, which has a chic European courtyard feel and some of the best food in the area.

For a local vibe, head to La Scala for their legendary chopped salad and likely a celebrity spot or two, or e. baldi for amazing Italian food with power players aplenty at the intimate tables. I’m also a big fan of Erewhon , especially Hailey Bieber’s Strawberry Glaze Skin Smoothie.

EMMA REEVE

on Boulevard des Moulins

Now based in Monaco, London-born Emma is a luxury brand consultant and style icon with an eye for serious fashion. Here, she explains why Boulevard des Moulins should be on your must-visit list

When people think of Monte Carlo, Casino Square comes to mind. But for me, the real treasures lie in a quieter, more refined part of town: Boulevard des Moulins – still central and just a leisurely five-minute stroll north from Casino Square, yet blissfully removed from the bustling crowds. There you’ll find everything from well-stocked pharmacies to wine bars for aperitivo. My family and I relocated here and it quickly became my favourite street in Monaco. The atmosphere is effortlessly chic: picture Italian residents enjoying espressos in their Venetian slippers, rather than the flashier tourist hubs.

With a new home to furnish, Sabrina is first on my list of must-visits. This fêted interiors destination has everything from Lalique crystal to artisanal backgammon sets, and is a perfect place to discover unique pieces for your home or yacht.

Just steps away is Eres, my go-to swimwear and lingerie boutique. Bold prints and vivid colours line the racks: ideal for keeping you effortlessly put-together by the sea or poolside.

‘Here, you will find everything from well-stocked pharmacies to wine bars for aperitivo’

Next up is the ever-adorable Bonpoint . I love to find special pieces for my babies; think collars, velvet shoes and bloomers. Perfect for gifts or for my London-at-heart babies setting the sartorial tone in the playground!

To make a morning of it, I head to Cova for a coffee. This prime people-watching café exudes luxury, and has top-notch pastries and a bustling Italian vibe. Regulars such as Formula 1 supervisor Flavio Briatore can be spotted ordering their usuals, while locals leaf through the morning papers.

For lunch, you’re spoiled for choice – the French take their meals very seriously. My husband and I love a crêpe at Anoïa, or a panini from Panino Club, a Milano institution.

For an English breakfast, Il Calcio is Monaco’s best-kept secret. It might not quite rival Claridge’s – who does? – but it tries its best!

NightGood

WITH BUSY SCHEDULES AND DEMANDING LIVES, THE PERFECT

NIGHT’S SLEEP HAS BECOME THE HOLY GRAIL FOR WEARY MODERN TRAVELLERS. HERE, ALICE B- B MEETS THE MEDICAL EXPERTS FROM SURRENNE ON A MISSION TO HELP

What happened? Hotels used to be about sex. Or at least the promise of sex. Enormous beds ready to be mussed up, slinky bathrooms with soft lighting, mini bars to plunge into and best of all… post-coital room service. While that still holds true of course, today’s postpandemic, longevity-savvy, biometric-obsessed and quite possibly just knackered traveller is probably more concerned with less prurient and more puritanical matters.

Once upon a time I was the sleep queen. I could curl up like a cat in any old bed, on a floor, in a dentist’s chair, and drift into deep slumber. I’ve snatched forty winks during an MRI scan. As a young rascal, when nights were wild – often starting with a cocktail at Claridge’s – I’d say, ‘I’ll sleep when I’m dead,’ if anyone suggested it was time for bed. Annoyingly, it turns out that, without good sleep, the dead bit can show up sooner. Harvard Medical School tracked 170,000 people in the US and established that poor sleep could shave up to fve years of your life. Five whole years. Not to be snored at.

After a scuba diving-induced panic attack, I began waking in the night; heart pounding, eyes wide, ready to wrestle a bear. With

these cortisol-fuelled, witching-hour wake-ups came a deep empathy with the estimated thirty per cent of the world’s adult population deemed chronic insomniacs.

For the f rst time, I experienced the efects of sleep deprivation: emotions awry, brain sluggish, feelings of depression, sugar cravings. And when I researched the potential for long-term efects – weight gain, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and dementia – I knew I could no longer take sleep for granted.

‘Improving sleep takes time and discipline,’ explains Dr Mark Mikhail, medical expert at Surrenne, the wellness member’s club nestled beneath The Emory. ‘Think of it as a muscle. Different training protocols work better for some than others. And if you stop training, you lose your progress. In the same way, we need to continually work on our sleep. But the great news is, if something doesn’t work, you can try again sixteen hours later.’

Sleep is complex. There’s no one size fits all. So it’s not surprising that the global sleep economy is estimated to be worth 585 billion dollars. And to get to the bottom of the issues, it helps having sleuths on your side. ‘I like to first explore the foundations – diet, exercise and stress management,’ says Dr Mark. ‘Then I use sleep lab diagnostic tools for other areas: pain, restless leg syndrome, sleep apnea, temperature control.’

Lately, I’ve been figuring out my own sleep protocol. As advised by functional medicine doctor Mark Hyman, I try to get sunlight on my face as soon as I wake, to reset my circadian rhythm. So if I’m staying at The Maybourne Riviera, I’ll begin my day with a hike in the hills of Provence. If I’m at The Emory, I’ll book a PT session in Hyde Park or take a swim in the Serpentine.

ALICE’S SLEEP MUST-HAVES

‘I sometimes imagine how glorious it would be to sleep in a cool, dark cave with no electricity – albeit with 500 thread count, Egyptian-cotton sheets’

During the day, I make time for NSDR: non sleep deep rest; maybe breathwork or hypnotherapy with the award-winning Malminder Gill at Surrenne. ‘Through hypnotherapy sessions,’ she explains, ‘I work with patients on their subconscious blocks that are preventing a good night's sleep.’ Gill uses these consultations to write a personalised script for her patients: targeting those blocks, taking them on a journey through alertness to deep rest and delivering intense therapy at multiple levels of consciousness.

For my own NSDR, I encourage my body to rest deeply in a parasympathetic state during the day. Even if it’s just ten minutes, it promotes better sleep at night.

Alas, modern life isn’t conducive to shut-eye. I sometimes

Chanel Sublimage

L’Extrait de Nuit, £620

Apollo Neuro Rose, £339.99

Bamford B Silent NightTime Pillow Mist, £23

LYMA Supplements, £199

ainslie + ainslie Night Powder, £89

Slip sleep mask, £50

NEOM Perfect Night’s Sleep Magnesium Body Butter, £38

Leapfrog Snooze pills, £35

Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair, £65

imagine how glorious it would be to sleep in a cool, dark cave with no electricity – albeit with 500 thread count, Egyptiancotton sheets – instead of a city with light and noise pollution, tech-stress and jet lag. So I try to set myself up for success by creating an environment as close to that cave as possible. I imagine the hours up to lights-out as an airport runway with a magical fluffy cloud at the end, ready and waiting so I can float into a dreamy slumber.

That runway includes eating at least three hours before I go to sleep. And soaking with my favourite Neom magnesium bath milk relaxes my muscles. A sauna or steam at The Connaught also works well by raising the body’s temperature, which is proven to help falling asleep.

I try to ditch my phone or laptop an hour before bed, dim the lights and order a camomile tea from room service –particularly decadent when sipped from Claridge’s blue china. I’ll spritz my pillow with Bamford spray and slip on a sleep mask from the Surrenne shop, because even the tiniest light can keep me awake. Then it’s time for the fluffy cloud. And if I happen to wake, I’ll take a Snooze pill by Leapfrog: it’s filled with Lactium, a bioactive peptide that induces a delicious doziness, like a baby who has just downed a bottle of milk.

For jet lag, I’ll ask Dr Mark for supplements to help get my circadian rhythm back on track. And I’ll enjoy a relaxing scalp treatment and a session in the hyperbaric oxygen chamber at Surrenne; flooding the body with oxygen is proven to enhance shut-eye.

‘Maybourne knows how important a good night’s sleep is for our guests,’ says the spa’s creative director Inge Theron. ‘At Surrenne we took it a step further and created a destination to upgrade sleep, with lighting to support the circadian rhythm, sleep-enhancing soundscapes, and our clinically proven sleep smell-scape, which is available during treatments or in your room.’

To personalise my slumber protocol, I use an Oura ring sleep tracker. At first I found it annoying that a fun night out with a late meal and too much wine would show up in my metrics the next morning: a faster heart rate, more nightly movement and unwanted wake-ups. But the great thing about the Oura is it’s not bossy or scolding. It’s more like a friend who wants the best for you. So if I scoff, quaff and have a good time, the Oura gently suggests taking it easy the next day. And if my sleep score is high, it’s super-encouraging. Carrots, not sticks!

Maybe, in future, Maybourne guests and Surrenne members will be able to share their sleep tracker metrics before arrival, to optimise the nighttime environment. ‘The ultimate goal is providing perfect sleep for guests,’ says Dr Mark. ‘We’re on the hunt for the seamless integration of in-room and spa technology, food, beverages, treatments and procedures, as well as architecture and interior design choices.’

Imagine arriving in your hotel room to find every detail personalised to your sleep protocol. Or… screw sleep and go back to Plan A.

To explore a bespoke wellness package, visit surrenne.com

LIGHTS OUT

Treatments to help you drift into a perfect slumber

Surrenne

Signature purifying white onyx wet spa experience

A full-body bathing experience: enjoy an all-over cleanse, polish and mask, while laying on a purifying crystal bed.

Claridge’s

Bespoke hammam

After a sense-stirring aromatic steam opens the pores, you’re treated from top to toe with a deep hair cleanse and your choice of nourishing mud mask.

The Maybourne

Riviera

Sensory immersion massage

An aromatherapy massage that grounds, transports and elevates within an evolving scent scape of jasmine and rose.

The Maybourne

Beverly Hills

Uma Ayurveda immersion body treatment

Using a blend of organic botanicals and Ayurvedic wellness techniques, this 90-minute treatment will leave you feeling lighter and calmer.

The

Connaught Grounding face ritual

Lymphatic and muscular massage techniques stimulate circulation and raise vibrational energy. And acupressure – using heated Himalayan salt poultices – leaves skin radiant.

Seeing Red

Twenty years after its debut, Dior has reintroduced the Chiffre Rouge, an asymmetric model now emboldened with the Cannage pattern (a motif of the house).

Christian Dior called red the ‘colour of life’ and, fittingly, it’s still to be found in the watch’s bold hands and – in the case of the chrono – a pusher. dior.com

Saxony has a prestigious horological past. Preeminent among those brands to have forged a new watchmaking tradition in the German region is A. Lange & Söhne. The company celebrates thirty years since its rebirth with a one-of Datograph, whose outsize date window echoes an early calling card of the brand. The chronograph Hampton Court edition will be auctioned in November for the Prince’s Trust. alange-soehne.com

IN THE STARS

Every second counts

COLLECTOR’S PARADISE A PERFECT DATE

As befits watches named for the heavens, Omega’s new Constellation collection radiates brilliance, not least in the range available. Amid the twenty pieces, you’ll find distinctive, electromagnetically etched ‘swirly’ or laser-etched mother-of-pearl dials and a wide choice of metals including the proprietary 18K Moonshine and Sedna Gold. omegawatches.com

Timing IS EVERYTHING

WATCHES TO EXCITE BY BILL PRINCE, EDITOR - IN - CHIEF OF WALLPAPER * AND THE BLEND

Industry legend JeanClaude Biver could have taken a well-earned rest upon retirement. Instead, he set up his own brand, with his son Pierre. And now Biver has debuted an 80,000 CHF ‘entry model’: a three-hand ‘Automatique’ that does away with fripperies to focus on the aesthetics currently driving the independent market. jcbiver.com

Love

From the archives

This year’s stunning example of retro-engineering from the Audemars Piguet archive references a brutalistinspired, asymetric design from the 1960s. The case uses AP’s newest alloy – a blend of copper palladium and solid gold – horizontally and vertically brushed to reveal the striking contours of this modernist masterpiece. audemarspiguet.com

THE PHOEBE RING BY PHILIPPA HERBERT

Good Sport

Only Chanel could make sportif look so chic: its latest high jewellery collection is entirely themed around sport, movement and body awareness. Think zippy chevrons or jewels that evoke sweaters and hoodies (yes, really), complete with bedecked, gem-set drawstrings. Chanel’s wit, irony and irreverence at its best. chanel.com

TREASURES OF THE SEA

The latest Tiffany & Co collection by tastemaker extraordinaire Pharrell Williams pays homage to Poseidon, ruler of the sea, and nods to the Virginia Beach coastal community where he grew up. Tiffany Titan has all the wow and cool you’d expect, from punchy pearls to edgy yellow gold spikes. tiffany.co.uk

FROM LACE - LIKE FILIGREE TO PERSONALISED PIECES, MING LIU ON THE SEASON’S MUST- HAVE JEWELLERY

THE JOY OF MOVEMENT

ICE BABY

Chopard’s coolly geometric Ice Cube collection shimmers with a flexible mesh of individually shaped rose gold cubes. All are set at varying heights, evoking a sparkling urban skyline. A new choker and bracelet are joining the collection, as Bella Hadid becomes the face of this chic line. chopard.com

Gold Standard

Dolce & Gabbana’s latest high jewellery collection celebrates Sardinia’s 400-year-old tradition of gold filigree. The delicate, lace-like craftsmanship adorns sumptuous, head-turning jewels, like these exquisite earrings. They’re set with aquamarines totalling 18.01cts and yellow beryls of 15.82cts. dolcegabbana.com

Sometimes, only a showstopper of a piece will do, which is why we can all be thankful for Annoushka's spectacular – and brilliantly named – Knuckle Dust Collection. Handcrafted, each piece features a central joint - the ‘knuckle’ – which allows it to move with ease. For winter, this tanzanite and diamond bangle in white gold is hard to beat. annoushka.com

Jewellery meets self-expression in Pragnell’s new Loveletters collection: a personalised, retro-chic mix of gold letters, numbers and symbols, including diamond-set geometric shapes. pragnell.co.uk

Loro Piana, the zenith of quiet luxury, celebrates its centenary this year. Founded by Pietro Loro Piana in 1924 and today steered by former L’Oréal and Dior man Damien Bertrand, the brand has taken over Harrods’ windows with its signature softly-softly taupe fibres. There’s also a book by luxury journalist Nick Foulkes and a capsule range of its greatest hits, from sporty jackets to sleek polos. loropiana.com

Refinement

IN ACTION

TIME FOR T

Ask any style sage where he gets his basics, and the answer is usually Sunspel. The house –founded in 1860 as an underwear maker in Nottingham – makes just about the best T-shirts money can buy, all handcrafted in the Midlands. A new store on the gentlemanly Jermyn Street offers a bespoke T-shirt service. sunspel.com

TEXTURED TAILORING

Isabel Ettedgui’s Connolly brand celebrates artisanal craftsmanship. The new Romantic Collection is a whimsical take on dressing for autumn, with nubbly tweeds, cascading paisley scarves and tufted shearling, in deliciously inviting cappuccino and espresso tones. connollyengland.com

HANDSOME TRUNKS AND BESPOKE TEES ARE AMONG THE SEASON’S HIGHLIGHTS, PICKED BY STEPHEN DOIG

THE POWER OF TWO

British style icons Jeremy Hackett and David Gandy have reunited to showcase what each does best. The menswear titans take on the model’s Wellwear athleisure range features soft-fit sweaters and pyjamas with a helping of British refinement in the seams and finishing. davidgandywellwear.com

Historic luggage outfitter Globe-Trotter has taken a cue from the Cotswolds this season. The honeyed stone and undulating land – not to mention the well-heeled inhabitants –inspire a range that evokes the countryside in that most glorious of seasons, autumn. Handsome trunks in russet and tobacco tones feature a basket weave effect in leather. Ideal for weekends away. globe-trotter.com Shire

Homo Faber is an excellent resource. It’s a one-stop shop for the most exceptional craft, by artisans who specialise in the best of their trade, be it cuflinks or walnut valet stands. homofaber.com

HERE COME

THE CHLOÉ GIRLS

Bohemian dressing is back – and not just for summer. With Chloé’s creative director Chemena Kamali leading the charge, the way to dress is with a frill, flounce and spring in your step; see Chloé’s newest muse, Daisy Edgar-Jones. chloe.com

Fashion

It’s officially cashmere season, and few do it better than Brunello Cucinelli. Skirts have taken over from trousers this winter; pair with a masculine, oversized knits in deep charcoal or autumnal brown for balance. Extra sartorial points for statement earrings. shop.brunellocucinelli.com

From claret to oxblood, rich, luxe burgundy is the shade of the season. Opt for a polished leather piece to make your autumn/winter wardrobe sing.

Aspinal’s new Hudson collection delivers the most practical workwear bags – shoulder bags, totes and a perfect pouch – in delicious autumnal hues. aspinaloflondon.com Heroes H

The brand to go to right now? Alaïa. From looped and wrapped skirts and dresses to curved denim and the Le Teckel bag, buy now, wear forever. maison-alaia.com

Winter is just about the best excuse there is for spending the day in PJs. I recommend these stunning print ones by British brand Desmond & Dempsey. desmondanddempsey.com

EAU DE PARFUM

Photographer Will Waterworth

4 CLIFFORD STREET, LONDON

COSMIC GIRL

LoveTECH NECK

Beauty NOTES

Numerology, astrology and divination often served as guides for Coco Chanel. For AW24, dip your toe in the mystic with Les Tarots de Chanel, filled with cosmic purples, mesmerising greens and tempting oranges. Update your look with soft swipes of colour across eyes, lips and cheeks. And want to really commit to the cosmic? Snap up Chanel’s limited edition Noir Allure mascara in améthyste. chanel.com

CHANEL GETS COSMIC WHILE DIPTYQUE DEBUTS A NEW ERA, BILLIE BHATIA ON TOP NEW LAUNCHES

Screens dominate our lives, but we overlook the stress and damage we cause to our neckline. Constant bending and stretching of the skin creates fine lines that are neglected by skincare we apply to our face. Enter Cellcosmet’s CellLift neck and Décolleté cellular cream: the results of more than forty years of expertise, and clinically proven to tighten and moisturise skin. cellcosmetcellmen.co.uk

There’s no more prestigious duo in beauty than Victoria Beckham and Augustinus Bader – and the powerhouses have teamed up once more for The Concealer Pen. Its doubleimpact formula gives secondskin complexion coverage, while Bader’s TFC technology hydrates and soothes. The result? A concealer you need less, the more you use it. victoriabeckhambeauty.com The much-anticipated CELINE Beauté launches this season with a classic red lip, Rouge Triomphe. Creative director Hedi Slimane perfectly encapsulates French femininity. harrods.com

Olfactory Odyssey

Baies, Feu de Bois, Do Son… Diptyque’s scents have a huge fanbase, but an entirely new era is beginning with Les Essences de Diptyque. Its five exquisite fragrances are inspired by precious, natural treasures: coral, mother of pearl, waterlily, bark and desert rose. Housed in new, contemporary bottles, they’re an exciting next chapter in the Diptyque story. diptyqueparis.com

THE INSIDE TRACK

LONDON / CÔTE D’AZUR / BEVERLY HILLS

Bold, beautiful and always dramatic, fresh flowers are an integral part of Claridge’s, a legacy proudly upheld by Richard Eagleton at the helm of Claridge’s Flowers. To recreate the famous florals of the hotel at home, visit @claridgesflowers, claridges.co.uk

Check

Out…

THE LATEST NEWS AND VIEWS

FROM MAYBOURNE

Sweet Treat

With a chill in the London air, there’s no better time to cosy up and treat yourself to something delicious. So head to the patisserie at The Berkeley, where Cedric Grolet has unveiled a new collection of seasonal creations, including coffee and grapefruit flowers and caramel, hazelnut and gianduja cookies. the-berkeley.co.uk

Welcome to the family

We are delighted to annouce the arrival of two new general managers at Maybourne. Kostas Sfaltos has been appointed to The Berkeley and The Emory, while Francisco García takes the reins at The Maybourne Riviera. Both are exceptionally experienced hoteliers, pooling more than forty years of experience at prestigious international luxury properties. We are delighted to have them join us. the-emory.co.uk; maybourneriviera.com

Drink up

Hosting a party? Take a tip from the pros at The Emory Rooftop Bar with a chic update on the classic negroni. Naturally named the Emoroni, this cocktail has become one of the hotel’s most requested signatures.

INGREDIENTS

EYE FOR DESIGN

Michelle Wu, Global Head of Design, is the talent behind many of Maybourne’s most stylish spaces. The Hong Kongborn interior designer joined the group in 2016, when she was appointed as the first Head of Design. In the years since, Wu has scooped an impressive fourteen awards for her designs, each carefully conceived to match the individual personalities of the hotels. She is also responsible for the art on display: selecting pieces from Maybourne’s vast collection and commissioning new works. maybourne.com

● 30ml Sapling Gin

● 20ml Cocchi Americano

● 15ml Amaro Santoni

● 5ml Visciolata del Cardinale

Put all the ingredients in a mixing glass, stirred over ice. Then pour on ice, with an orange coin as garnish. Enjoy!

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Well known in holistic health, Buchinger Wilhelmi is the family behind the world’s largest clinics for modern therapeutic fasting. The clinics and the method were established by Dr Otto Buchinger more than a century ago, and the company is now in its fourth generation. A new coffee-table tome brings the story to life with detailed accounts and family photographs. buchinger-wilhelmi.com

FROM THE ARCHIVES

La Dolce Vita

Bringing a touch of sunshine to winter in London, Claridge’s Restaurant will be hosting a pop-up from the famous Il Pellicano hotel, star of many a Slim Aarons print, from 17 to 22 February. Expect a showcase of the very best Tuscan produce and Italian flair from this secret cove of Monte Argentario, thanks to chef Michelino Gioia and his talented team. claridges.co.uk; hotelilpellicano.com

Claridge’s Archivist Kate Hudson on the joy of an invitation

Who doesn’t love a party? The invitation is a thrill in itself: a precursor to anticipation, dreaming, planning and preparation. And, for memorable occasions, it’s a keepsake of the evening.

The Claridge’s archive is full of such mementos: wonderful invitations to everything from private dinners to extravagant costume balls. Each is a snapshot of a different world, a reminder of a moment in Claridge’s history, be it the fondness of Edwardian England for costume balls, or the sparkling eccentricity and themed parties of the Bright Young Things.

In the hotel’s foyer hangs a glorious, albeit somewhat stern, portrait of guests at a costume gala at Claridge’s in 1910. The host, Lord Winterton, is dressed as a French gendarme. He is flanked by Viscountess Astor and the Pamela Bulwer-Lytton – the first Winston Churchill's nemesis, the second Churchill’s ex-girlfriend –dressed as prima ballerinas.

In the archive are invitations, programmes and press coverage from the Art Deco era, when Claridge’s was the hangout of the glittering ‘it crowd’. Leaf through the photograph albums and you’ll find mischievous fauns running amok in the lobby next to exquisite attendees at an Olympian-themed ball in 1935. The Greek mythology angle inspired lavish costumes by Oliver Messel and Cecil Beaton, and celebrated photographer Madame Yevonde shot the society beauties in their finery. The ball became the inspiration for her extraordinarily successful ‘Goddesses’ series.

A charmingly illustrated programme from the evocatively named Silver Rose Ball conjures up the shimmering beauty of the ballroom, the ghosts of parties past, and swaying figures in black tails and bias-cut satin. And a tiny, unused dance card – complete with miniature turquoise pencil – is a romantic reminder of a very different world. As a reflection of social history, these ephemera are unparalleled. claridges.co.uk

Lunch date

A tempting new set lunch menu has debuted at Hélène Darroze at The Connaught. Inspired by a beloved recipe of the chef's great aunt, ‘Le Vol-au-Vent by Hélène Darroze’ reveals creative takes on the traditional dish. The star of the show, a delicate pastry centrepiece, changes each fortnight, filled with market-sourced fare such as lobster, braised beef cheek, or rabbit à la moutarde. Crafted with classic French flavours, the three-course menu also includes an entrée, dessert and a glass of Kir Royale. the-connaught.co.uk

SUITE DREAMS

The newly reimagined Coburg Suites, luxury king suites in the heart of The Connaught, are far too easy to become accustomed to. Created by renowned interior designer Guy Oliver, they are a cocooning haven from the busy world outside; think elegant fireplaces, intricate cornices and polished parquet flooring. Picture windows frame the gentle bustle of Carlos Place below, or you can opt to close the hand-crafted curtains, cosy up on the sofa and order room service. the-connaught.co.uk

THE ART OF MAYFAIR

The esteemed Perrotin Gallery, founded in 1990 by Emmanuel Perrotin, has spaces in some of the most exciting cities in the world: Paris, New York, Tokyo, Seoul, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Los Angeles, with one notable exception – until now. Arriving in London at none other than Claridge’s ArtSpace, the Perrotin Gallery will offer a programme created together with its many formidable artists to coincide with the city’s major cultural events – expect great things. perrotin.com; claridges.co.uk

ROYAL RECIPES

From Queen Camilla’s porridge to the King’s wet martini, George V’s curry to Queen Mary’s birthday cake, food critic and author Tom Parker Bowles plunges the royal archives for this delightful recipe book, offering historical insights into royal tastes along with some rather delicious recipes to try.

@tompbowles

Best of British

As the seasons shift, The Connaught Grill beckons. With a delicious best-ofBritish menu – think grass-fed Hereford beef, Yorkshire grouse with glazed black fig, and fresh Scottish lobster –and sumptuous, bespoke Nakashima wood-panelled décor, it is quite simply the perfect place to while away a cosy Sunday afternoon or long winter evening. However hard it is, do try to leave room for dessert – the crêpes suzette and fig Eton mess are really not to be missed. the-connaught.co.uk

LA style

The most dedicated of pool lovers know that leaving the cabana is sometimes just a stretch too far. So we propose not. Happily, guests at The Maybourne Beverly Hills can now enjoy the famous Dante dishes from the comfort of their cabana. The rooftop restaurant’s new poolside menu features Mediterranean-inspired light bites, including pizzas, salads and freshly shucked oysters. maybournebeverlyhills.com

TAKING THE TIME

After a busy day, there’s no greater pleasure than unwinding with a well-earned drink and a fine cigar. At The Emory Cigar Merchants, Head of Cigars Blue Curran is on hand to dispense expert knowledge, from terroirs and tasting notes to the perfect tipple to pair with your hand-rolled cigar. the-emory.co.uk

WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBOURHOOD

Two of our favourite brands have arrived on Rodeo Drive, introducing new must-visits to the world-famous shopping destination. The iconic Frank Lloyd Wright building has been transformed into a Givenchy boutique, while Michael Kors has opened a landmark concept store. givenchy.com; michaelkors.com

LONG STAY

With 33 years of service – each – meet two of our longest servicing staff, Alessandro Bakirtzidis and Houda Saad

ALESSANDRO BAKIRTZIDIS

Director of private visits and embassy relations at Claridge’s

When did you start?

18 November 1991. I was originally taken on as a receptionist. What was the hotel like then? It was very grand – I was fascinated by the style and clientele. Claridge’s was the hotel of choice for ambassadors and heads of state or business. Every morning the managers had breakfast together in the restaurant.

What have you learned here?

Claridge’s is not just a hotel. When I walked through the doors for the first time, I fell in love. That feeling has never changed. Just like our regular guests, I feel that the hotel is my home away from home. Favourite part of the job? Being in contact with our guests. I am based in the lobby; my desk is where the reception used to be. This is where I have been based since I started in 1991.

Do you have a particularly special memory of the hotel?

The Queen’s Golden Jubilee in 2002. Her Majesty held a dinner in the French Drawing Room in honour of the butlers that worked for her since 1952. When she left, many of my colleagues lined the main staircase to see her out - as did Tom Hanks, who happened to be staying with us at the time.

HOUDA SAAD

Head seamstress at Claridge’s

When did you join the Claridge’s team?

7 October 1991.

How did you get the job? I started as a Pantry assistant. One day, a guest needed a skirt to be altered, which I did for her. It turned out that she was a journalist, and was so happy that she wrote an article about me in the newspaper. The Housekeeping Manager then set up a seamstress room for me to work on repairs.

What was Claridge’s like when you started?

When I started the teams were smaller. We all felt like a small family. With time the hotel and teams have grown but we never lost the feeling of family. What have you learned during your time here?

With my job, you always have to be patient.

Favourite part of the job? I love sewing. That has never changed. Also my colleagues, who are like a family to me. Do you have a particularly special memory of the hotel?

Making Halloween costumes for the housekeeping team, which usually win first prize in the staff competition.

Pushing the boundaries

RISING STAR DARIA BLUM IS MAKING HER MARK IN THE ART WORLD, THANKS TO THE ROYAL ACADEMY AND CLARIDGE’S

Words by MARK WESTALL

Awarded the inaugural Claridge’s Royal Academy Schools Art Prize last year, Daria Blum is a rising star in the art world. Selected by judges including Yinka Shonibare CBE RA and Eva Rothschild RA, she was crowned by honorary Royal Academician Marina Abramović. Her prize: £30,000 and a solo exhibition at Claridge’s ArtSpace gallery.

The partnership between the Royal Academy and Claridge’s reflects their commitment to supporting artists at a time when the costs of education and studio space in London are increasingly prohibitive. Rotating exhibitions at Claridge’s ArtSpace provide a platform for both established and emerging artists.

such as Lynnette Yiadom-Boakye and Michael Armitage RA.

Blum’s work is deeply rooted in a background in dance: her mother ran a ballet school in Switzerland. This, coupled with a love of music, sparked Blum’s desire to create and perform.

‘The partnership reflects their commitment to supporting artists’

The results blur the lines between stage and real life, dramatising autobiographical events and exploring themes of female dissatisfaction and societal expectations. Through live performance, video, photography, music and writing, she creates multifaceted dialogues between her characters, who debate and interact across the different media.

character navigating a deserted 1970s office building. The protagonist discovers and reclaims materials, including portraits of her late grandmother, ballerina Daria Nyzankiwska.

The Royal Academy Schools offer a three-year, fee-free programme to seventeen early-career artists each year. Alumni range from William Blake and JMW Turner to contemporary artists

Winning the Claridge’s RA Schools Art Prize was transformative. ‘When Marina Abramović read out my name, it was an incredible moment,’ she says.

Blum’s solo show at Claridge’s ArtSpace features a video of a fictional

Looking to the future, Blum is excited about upcoming projects, including releasing an EP. She remains grateful for the support of – and inspiration from –Marina Abramović, whose pioneering work paved the way for performance artists. And like Abramović, she hopes to continue pushing the boundaries. claridges.co.uk/claridges-artspace

Left: Daria Blum. Above: Daria with her mother, Genia Blum. Right: Art Prize guests Eliza Bonham Carter and Katy Wickremesinghe. Below: Daria and Harriet Quick

Claridge’s AT HOME

FROM COCKTAIL SHAKERS TO COSY CLOTHING, BRING A TOUCH OF MAYFAIR MAGIC HOME

fluted

As the days get shorter and the nights draw in, winter poses the perfect opportunity to add luxury to one’s abode. Happily for guests wanting to take a piece of Mayfair home, the Claridge’s Shop offers an array of sophisticated designs inspired by the hotel's signature style.

During party season, elevate your hosting with elegant cocktail shakers and glassware, or please the crowd with a classic serve from Claridge’s Bar. Teatime has never looked more appealing than with art deco-themed teapots, cups and saucers, while gold-trimmed mugs are just the thing for comforting hot chocolate.

Talking of comforting, why not hunker down in luxurious loungewear, from bathrobes to Scottish cashmere socks?

Claridge’s Shop is also full of thoughtful gift ideas, from chic baubles and smart stationery to an adorable bell boy bear. And for those of a generous nature, consider a curated hamper packed with fizz, truffles and moreish nibbles. shop.claridges.co.uk

Chocolate

Jess Wheeler oak leaf double candle sconce, £450

Leather luggage tag, £45

Black and white baubles (set of 4), £160

Cocktail shaker, £95

Champagne stopper, £12

Claridge’s x CURIO blue dewdrop vase, £450

Jade deco mugs (set of 2), £55

Claridge’s Bruton Hamper, £350

Claridge’s x Wax Atelier jade candle pair, £16.50

Marmalade, £12

Claridge’s x Richard Brendon teapot, £345

Blend tea, £18

Old Fashioned, £22

Scalloped edge notelet set (jade), £55

Claridge’s x CURIO jade carafe, £240

Bell boy teddy bear, £40

Claridge’s

martini glass, £60

shortbread, £15

Luxury bathrobe, £185

Hot chocolate, £15

Claridge’s x Richard Brendon teacup & saucer, £195

Claridge’s x Summerill & Bishop linen napkin, £25

Jade cashmere socks, £40

the second wine of grand siècle

Guest List

THIS SEASON SAW CELEBRATIONS OF ART, CREATIVITY AND INSPIRATIONAL WOMEN’S ACHIEVEMENTS, ALONGSIDE THE EMORY BEING OFFICIALLY WELCOMED TO LONDON’S SOCIAL SCENE

BAFTA TV Tea Party

At The Maybourne Beverly Hills

The annual BAFTA TV Tea Party made a welcome return to the Los Angeles awards calendar at The Maybourne Beverly Hills. Taking place on the sundappled terrace, the soirée celebrated the past year’s achievements in television while raising funds for BAFTA’s charitable causes. The guestlist featured a starry roster of top talent, including Jodie Foster, Tom Hollander, Jonathan Pryce, Ncuti Gatwa and Richard Gadd. The menu was suitably British: afternoon tea, champagne and cucumber sandwiches; the weather, thankfully, was not.

Gloria Calderón Kellett and Mayan Lopez

Melissa L. Williams and Joivan Wade

Jessica Gunning and Lara Hallett

Ncuti Gatwa

Nikki Glaser

Tracy Ifeachor

Tom Goodman-Hill and Tony Curran

Courtney LaBarge Bell, Richard Gadd and Joyce Pierpoline

Mark Duplass and Nicole Beharie

Jodie Foster and Kali Reis

Tom Hollander

Mychal-Bella Bowman

David Bailey X Mary McCartney at Claridge’s ArtSpace

Double Exposure: David Bailey & Mary McCartney saw works by two standout British photographers displayed together for the first time at Claridge’s ArtSpace. At the exclusive private view, Bailey and McCartney were joined by guests including Naomi Campbell, Tom Dixon, David Remfry and Eric Underwood. Champagne and canapés set the tone as guests explored the works on show: an extraordinary collection of portraits from the 1960s to the present day.

Mary McCartney

Jillian Edelstein and Esther Freud

Katy Wickremesinghe

Daniel Lismore

Marie Helvin

Eric Underwood

David Remfry and Caroline Hansbury

Paloma Bailey, David Bailey, Fenton Bailey and Catherine Bailey

The Summer Solstice Party at The Berkeley

The Berkeley’s rooftop pool and bar opened with a glamorous Summer Solstice party. A troupe of synchronised Aquabatix swimmers splashed in sequence as the sun set over Hyde Park, while the lively acoustic stylings of The Travelling Hands had guests dancing the night away. Mexican-inspired refreshments took the form of freshly made tacos and ‘make your own’ guacamole, while chilled Patrón margaritas flowed freely.

Code Hospitality Women of the Year 2024 at Claridge’s ArtSpace

Claridge’s ArtSpace was the backdrop for the seventh edition of the awards that celebrate women who have made a positive impact on hospitality. Hosted by Grace Dent, the inspirational evening’s winners included Adejoké Bakare, Sally Clarke and Hannah Crosbie.

The Berkeley chefs

Hilary Armstrong, Chloe Hamilton and Roxy Yuen

Sally Clarke and Adam Hyman

Kelly Bishop, Lucy Noone and Camilla Topham

Abbi Simms and guest with Samyukta Nair

A furry guest

Alistair Guy and guest

Gemma Bell and guest

Grace Dent

The Travelling Hands and a member of the Aquabatix

abc kitchens dinner at The Emory

Launch festivities for abc kitchens at The Emory included a celebratory dinner. Guests admired Knightsbridge views and Damien Hirst artwork as they sipped on Emoronis. The guestlist was a suitably fabulous mix of friends of Maybourne, including Martha Freud, Eric Underwood and Josh Wood. Chef-founder Jean-Georges Vongerichten oversaw the culinary proceedings.

HTSI at The Emory

HTSI hosted a cocktail party in The Emory Courtyard to commemorate its Dream Issue, guest-edited by British artist and designer Yinka Ilori MBE. Guests included Priya Khanchandani, Tolu Coker and HTSI editor Jo Ellison. Ginger margaritas were served with snacks of Dorset crab toast and black truffle pizza.

Adam Baidawi

Inge Theron

David Downton

Charlie Casely-Hayford and Sophie Ashby

Virginia Bates and Eric Underwood

Josh Wood, Harriet Quick and Pippa Vosper

Grace Ladoja and Yinka Ilori

Carlo Apostoli, Jo Ellison, Katie Webb, Yinka Ilori, Beatrice Hodgkin and Rasha Kahil

Zezi Ifore

Chefs Ben Boeynaems and Jean-Georges Vongerichten

Thomas “T Styles” Yeboah, Dan O’Brien and Yinka Ilori

Martha Freud

Lady Por trait of a

LADY EMMA THYNN, MARCHIONESS OF BATH, LOOKS BACK ON SITTING FOR CLARIDGE’S ARTIST- INRESIDENCE DAVID DOWNTON

Photography by JACOBUS SNYMAN

Aristocrat, conservationist, model, former Vogue contributor and, most recently, announced as the face of the new Daring Fragrance campaign by Victoria’s Secret, Emma Thynn has many strings to her bow. Not the least of these is her roles as chatelaine of Longleat, a sixteenth-century country pile that is home to a celebrated safari park. As comfortable with cheetahs as she is with couture, Thynn found posing for David Downton a memorable experience: ‘David asked to draw my portrait for the Claridge’s Talking Heads gallery when I bumped into him at Paris Fashion Week. I was honoured to sit for such an amazing friend – especially at a

The

Claridge’s staircase is my signature spot; I

always take pictures there’

place as extraordinary as Claridge’s. I’ve enjoyed many lovely lunches with friends there, and fun nights too. The Claridge’s staircase is my signature spot; I always take pictures there.

‘I arrived for the portrait on a perfect day. Everyone was in high spirits and we set up in the Georgian Suite, where we had champagne and club sandwiches.

‘Posing for an artist, you wonder, “How do I sit? How do I stay still? How do I give them what they need?” You feel a sense of having to perform to suit their style of work. But because we’re such good friends, David and I were chatting and laughing throughout.

‘David had told me to wear something I love. I immediately thought of the

Emma walks the runway at Paris Fashion Week 2022

most beautiful custom-made Alexander McQueen dress that I wore to Edward Enninful’s wedding at Longleat House –which I officiated! It’s embroidered with things that are significant to me, such as Longleat’s lions and tigers, the garden in full bloom and my children’s names. And it was wonderful to bring the dress out of tissue paper.

‘I wore Chopard jewellery, including very Hollywood heart-shaped earrings that I love. I also brought dresses from Dolce & Gabbana, and Christian Louboutin shoes.

‘For the photoshoot, we ran around the entire hotel: the ballroom, the chequered marble floor, the bathroom. It all felt rather daring and cheeky!

‘Becoming part of the Claridge’s art collection feels very significant. The portrait will be there forever. We all had

We ran around the hotel: the ballroom, the chequered floor, the bathroom. It all felt rather daring and cheeky’

a simply fabulous time making this picture and I really hope we captured the joy of it all. I would do it again a million times over.’

To see David Downton's drawing of Lady Emma Thynn, visit the Talking Heads Gallery in Claridge's

DAVID DOWNTON DRAWS

Lady Emma T hynn

The flying marchioness, Emma Thynn, makes landfall at Claridge’s. She has her hair and make-up team with her, and gowns from McQueen and Dolce Gabbana. Jewellery from Chopard will follow. In the lobby she spies her friend Venus Williams, and two cyclones meet.

A sitting with Emma is a fasten-yourseatbelts event. Professional to her fngertips but up for a lark, her energy is irresistible.

Laurent-Perrier and French fries (skinny) keep the afternoon spinning until the skies darken and another adventure beckons… David Downton is artist-in-residence at Claridge’s. See the Talking Heads gallery on the ground floor. claridges.co.uk; daviddownton.com