MINE Magazine Issue3 WINTER 2015

WINTER 2015

M I N E

Twinkle, Twinkle Movie Star

TUPPENCE MIDDLETON LUXURY:

It's a gift

HOLIDAY ISSUE

BY GEORGE!

Meet the Bamford heir

EDITORS LETTER Another year passes full of events, parties, and special moments. The holiday season is one to spend

P ORT R A I T B Y N ATO W E LTON

with family and friends – eating, drinking and, above all, having fun.

That’s why we’ve dedicated our Holiday Issue to those things. From the best wines, chosen by Chiltern Firehouse’s Sommelier Romain Audrerie, to the cosiest places to hunker down, handpicked by Condé Nast Traveller’s Thea Darricotte.

For many, what makes the festive season so special is giving: luxury publisher Martine Assouline shares her most treasured gifts for her nearest and dearest, exclusively with MINE, on page 82. Not finished your own holiday shopping? Check out our expert buys – from Sophie Goodwin’s stunning jewels to Francesca White’s homescenting ideas, as well as Anastasios Moiras’s men’s gifts.

This issue, we have gone to town with fashion. Helen Seamon’s Portrait of a Gentleman story (page 58), and our cover shoot with actress Tuppence Middleton – shot at Alan Yau's Park Chinois (page 50) – ooze glamour and luxury, and evoke all the warmth and textures of Christmas.

And finally: our best present came early this year, as fashion journalist Astrid Joss agreed to join the MINE team. You’ll get to ‘meet’ Astrid in our Spring Issue (March 30th, 2016), which will be her first official issue as Editor, but in the meantime, turn to page 18 to see her gorgeous handbag edit, as well as her interview with racing royalty Jemima Hannon on page 30.

We hope you enjoy our Holiday Issue.

We wish you a happy rest of the year full of presents and, above all, happiness.

Anthony Marklew and Javier Salvador, By Appointment Only Design

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MINE ISSUE 3 WINTER / 2015

CONTENTS COV ER TU PPEN C E M I D D L ETON W EA R S: TU L L E EM B EL L I SH ED TOP, £1, 275 A N D SATI N SK I RT, £1, 455 B OTH J EN N Y PAC K H A M ; V I N TAG E D I A M ON D A N D W H I TE G OL D PEN DA N T EA R R I N G S , £7, 500 A N D V I N TAG E D I A M ON D A N D YEL LOW G OL D PA N EL R I N G , £5, 850 B OTH W I L L I A M & S O N PH OTOG R A PH Y A L EX B R A M A L L ; STYL I N G SOPHI E G OOD W I N ; M A K E-U P CA R OLYN G A L LYER ; H A IR STEPH EN LOW

8 THE BEST BAUBLES IN TOWN

58 THE PORTRAIT OF A GENTLEMAN

Dress yourself in enough sparkle to rival the Christmas tree? Hell, yes

Luxe fabrics, luxe looks. Time to ditch the denim, guys

18 MARKET VALUE 68 BOYS OWN

Seasonal handbags – the freshest fashion ingredient in your wardrobe

Buy him something he really wants

25 STOLE THE SHOW THE BRILLIANT

Fur: fun, fabulous and festive!

MR BAMFORD 76 30 HANGING WITH

George Bamford is a style entrepreneur on a mission

THE HANNONS

MINE drops in on racing royalty Jemima Hannon

THE GIFT OF LUXURY 82

Publisher Martine Assouline shares her festive gift list with MINE

38 (DEFINITELY NOT FOR) WALL FLOWERS

YOUR SCENTING 360º 88

Get dressed up and party in full-on patterns and petals

Francesca White reveals how to make everything in your home smell divine (the dog included!)

50 TUPPENCE FOR YOUR THOUGHTS

LET'S KEEP IT PERSONAL 92

Cover star Tuppence Middleton talks costume dramas, and spending Christmas in her pyjamas

The most beautiful way to gift is to go bespoke, says Jessica Diner

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MINE ISSUE 3 WINTER / 2015

CONTENTS CONTINUED

120 DUVET DAZE

MORE TEA, SAN TA? 99

Baby, it's cold outside… so make for the great indoors with MINE's guide to gorgeous getaways

One turkey does not Christmas make!

MINE indulges in the best festive afternoon teas in the capital FOOD FIGHTERS! 104

126 TOME RAIDERS

Meet London's hottest cake-baking duo, Cutter & Squidge

The best coffee table books to wrap and pop under the tree

110 A FINE BALANCE

Inside the world of architect and arbiter of style Chakib Richani

130 ON FIRE!

Did someone say party?

MINE gets an exclusive invite to the British Fashion Awards after-party at Chiltern Firehouse

118 WINE'S ROMAIN MAN

Romain Audrerie, sommelier at Chiltern Firehouse, on what to sip this Christmas

CONTRIBUTORS ZAHRA AL-NAJJAR

CARMEN FERNANDEZ

ANASTASIOS MOIRAS

MARTINE ASSOULINE

SANTA CRUZ

CHAKIB RICHANI

LUCIANA BELLINI

CHARLOTTE-ANNE FIDLER

SCARLETT RUSSELL

ALEX BRAMALL

SOPHIE GOODWIN

HELEN SEAMONS

GEORGE BAMFORD

JEMIMA HANNON

GEOFF WARING

TESSA CLAYTON

ASTRID JOSS

NATO WE LTON

THEA DARRICOTTE

ZOYA KALEEVA

FRANCESCA WHITE

JESSICA DINER

ANNABEL & EMILY LUI

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PLATINUM, BLACK OPAL, SAPPHIRE, EMERALD, PARAIBA TOURMALINE AND DIAMOND BRACELET, POA, CARTIER

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We're all for jewels that look like they could hang off your Christmas tree, says Sophie Goodwin

EMERALD AND DIAMOND EARRINGS, POA, HARRY WINSTON

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DIAMOND, SAPPHIRE AND EMERALD RING IN 18CT WHITE GOLD, £7,775, WEMPE

TANZANITE DROP PENDANT IN PLATINUM WITH DIAMONDS, POA, BOODLES

BLUE TOPAZ AND PINK SAPPHIRE EARRINGS IN ROSE GOLD, £7,900, POMELLATO

PLATINUM PERIDOT AND DIAMOND RING, £8,960, WILLIAM AND SON

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RUBIES, EMERALDS, SAPPHIRES, DIAMONDS – THINK OVERSIZED GOBSTOPPERS TO MAKE PEOPLE STOP AND STARE

WHITE GOLD, DIAMOND, SAPPHIRE AND AQUAMARINE NECKLACE, POA, VAN CLEEF & ARPELS

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EMERALD AND DIAMOND NECKLACE, POA, HARRY WINSTON

2.96CT SAPPHIRE AND DIAMOND RING IN PLATINUM, POA, CHAUMET

1.37CT PINK SAPPHIRE AND DIAMOND RING IN PLATINUM, POA, CHAUMET

15.62 TOURMALINE, GREEN TOURMALINES AND BRILLIANT-CUT DIAMONDS IN 18CT ROSE GOLD, POA, WEMPE

18CT WHITE GOLD, TANZANITE, SAPPHIRE AND DIAMOND HAUTE JOAILLERIE BRACELET, POA, WEMPE

WHITE GOLD AND DIAMOND RING, £11, 300, DE BEERS

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ROSE GOLD RING WITH BLUE TOPAZ AND PINK SAPPHIRES, £7,800, POMELLATO DIAMOND AND AMETHYST EARRINGS, £30,000 BY JESSICA McCORMACK

RUBY, DIAMOND AND PINK DIAMOND RING IN ROSE GOLD, POA, BOODLES

RUBELLITE PENDANT AND DIAMOND NECKLACE, £15,970, WILLIAM AND SON

3CT YELLOW DIAMOND AND 7CT BURMESE SAPPHIRE RING IN PLATINUM AND YELLOW GOLD, POA, BOODLES

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So fresh, so fabulous... so make this season’s musthave handbags part of your fashion five-a-day PHOTOGRAPHY NATO WELTON STYLING ASTRID JOSS

SET DESIGN ANTHONY MARKLEW

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FR O M LE FT:

Chevron leather tote, £1,350, Anya Hindmarch at Net-a-Porter Leather bag, £3,450, Louis Vuitton Leather tote, £1,470, Bamford Leather tote, £590, Givenchy at Browns Fashion

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CLO C K W ISE FRO M L E F T:

Leather bag, £895, William & Son

Leather tote, £1,100, Victoria Beckham at Net-a-Porter Leather bag, £3,450, Louis Vuitton

CLO C K W ISE FRO M L E F T:

Calf leather bag, £2,250, Ralph Lauren Calf leather bag, £2,580, Fendi Leather tote, £850, Aspinal of London

CLOCK W ISE FROM L E F T:

Leather bag, £2,400, Louis Vuitton Snake patchwork bag, £7,500, Dior Leather bag, £1,420, Ralph Lauren

FR OM T OP :

Grainy leather and nappa leather, £1,495, Jimmy Choo Patent leather embroidered bag, £3,100, Dior

CLOCK W ISE FRO M L E F T:

Leather bag, £1,290, Louis Vuitton Perforated tote, £950, Anya Hindmarch at Net-a-Porter Leather bag, £1,440, William & Son

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2 7 B R U TO N S T R E E T W 1 TEMPERLEYLONDON.COM

Fur is having a frivolous, fun and, frankly, fabulous, moment. Hang up safe neutrals and go rainbow yourself

ÂŁ995, ANYA HINDMARCH

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£3,620, MARNI AT MYTHERESA.COM

£7,640, MIU MIU AT MYTHERESA.COM

£3,759, BLANCHA

Fur is super high octane this festive season.

Go for a little cropped coat or scarf in a BRIGHT colour (far less granny chic than brown or black).

These will work with high-waisted jeans, a cocktail dress, jazzy metallic skirt or trousers. In fact, pretty much anything. Every designer is at it, from Anya Hindmarch to Givenchy, so you'd be bonkers to miss out. It's

the perfect party topper.

£1,170, MARC JACOBS AT MYTHERESA.COM

£3,192, SAINT LAURENT AT MYTHERESA.COM

S T Y L E D BY S O PHI E G O O DW I N

£2,020, FENDI

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£1,800, GIVENCHY AT MYTHERESA.COM

carolinaherrera.com

HANGING WITH THE

HANNONS

Cotton top

by Club Monaco and fur jacket by Gerard Darel

"WE OPEN OUR HOME TO FRIENDS, FAMILY AND CLIENTS ALIKE... IT’S IMPORTANT IT FEELS RELAXED AS WELL AS STYLISH"

The Hannons are as famed for their success on the international horse racing scene as they are for entertaining. MINE Editor Astrid Joss takes an exclusive peak at their fabulous home, and chats fashion, follies and parties with the lady of the house, JEMIMA HANNON

Beaded dress by Nicholas Oakwell Couture and mirrored shoes by Jimmy Choo

J

p h o t o g r a p h y N AT O W E LT O N

emima Hannon is standing in her kitchen, busily organising tea and coffee for the MINE crew who have arrived for today's shoot – and, not surprisingly, she doesn’t break a step. Because entertaining is what she does best. “Racing is a hugely social sport,” Jemima explains. “We open our home to friends, family and clients alike, so it’s important that there’s an atmosphere of being both relaxed as well as stylish.” Jemima designed Lantern House, their Georgian-style home from scratch, just two years ago: “I wanted an open plan space that would lend itself to the easy flow of people coming and going, and that would suit anything from a cosy family Sunday lunch to a big cocktail party.” Indeed the elegant house welcomes both racing celebrities and royalty on a regular basis, including jockeys Frankie Dettori and AP McCoy, 31

"RICHARD AND I HAVE THE SAME TASTE YET LOVE DIFFERENT THINGS"

The interior of the Hannon's west country home is a beautiful yet elegant mix of traditional furniture and fabrics with eclectic highlights, such as the vibrant sketch (below right) by fashion designer Zandra Rhodes

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TV racing host Emma Spencer, and most notably (drum roll, please), Her Majesty The Queen.

Jemima and racehorse-trainer husband Richard married in 2010, having met through mutual friends, and bonded over a shared passion for horses. “Horses have always been my first love, since I was very little,” says Jemima. “I wanted a career in the industry and by 17 was on Team GB’s junior eventing team.”

She still rides out as much as she can, often with the jockeys, but her focus has shifted to supporting the Hannon racing business and Richard's glittering career. In 2014, he was made Champion Trainer in his first season of training – a huge achievement at just 39 years old. He trains horses for Her Majesty The Queen, Sheikh bin Hamad Khalifa al-Thani, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, and Daylesford first lady, Lady Carole Bamford, to name a few. With this growing prestigious list and 250 racehorses in training, life is busy.

Lantern House, in Wiltshire, was named after Richard’s first win at the 1000 Guineas Stake, the most prestigious of Britain’s five Classic flat races. The horse – named Sky Lantern – is immortalised in a stunning portrait, in pride of place, above the family’s drawing room fire place. Works of art feature majorly throughout the property, and Jemima has effortlessly perfected the balance of old and new features. Beautiful antique horse books and classic finishes contrast with modern sketches and paintings, such as Jemima’s favourite

Cotton top by Club Monaco

piece, a bright sketch by the fashion designer Zandra Rhodes.“Richard and I have the same taste yet love different things. He cherishes the Tyson lamps and bronzed chestnuts, whereas I love my nude sketches by Bianca Smith – he keeps asking me when they’re going to be finished!” she laughs. “Though one thing we both can’t get enough of are candles.

I always make sure they’re dotted throughout the house. I can’t think of anything more welcoming than a scented home.”

There’s no doubt, Christmas in such a beautiful home must be idyllic: “I really look forward to decorating the house, and all the festive

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"I CAN’T THINK OF ANYTHING MORE WELCOMING THAN A SCENTED HOME"

"HORSES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN MY FIRST LOVE, SINCE I WAS VERY LITTLE"

Jemima (pictured at the stables on the grounds of Lantern House) with her son, Jack, who she says already has a passion for riding Jemima wears: Jacket by Moncler, jeans by Goldsign and velvet trainers by Tom Ford

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entertaining – there really is no better time for this than Christmas,” Jemima confirms. “Richard doesn’t get much downtime, so this is when we tend to hibernate and relax – it feels extra special to have the space all singing and dancing, and of course the children get so excited at Christmas, which creates a wonderful atmosphere.” And what will Jemima be putting on her Christmas list this year? “Well, as clichéd as it sounds, I enjoy giving and really enjoy shopping for other people, so I don’t always think about what I want. When you’re a mother that’s just the way it goes,” she smiles. “But… if you really pushed me, I love anything fashion and beauty related. Dressing up goes hand in hand with entertaining and never more so than in racing. When we’re entertaining at Ascot, or even at home, I always make an effort.

It’s like adding that finishing touch to the event.”

A portrait of Richard's winning horse, Sky Lantern, sits proudly above the mantelpiece in the drawing room

JEMIMA'S CHRISTMAS WISH-LIST

(Santa, if you’re reading this…)

A GOLD BALLON BLEU WATCH, FROM £28,900, CARTIER. “IF SANTA HAPPENED TO BE FEELING REALLY GENEROUS!”

SKIN CAVIAR LUXE CREAM SHEER, £292, LA PRAIRIE

GOLD SCENTED CANDLE, £70, CIRE TRUDON

GOLD PENDANT, FROM £140, CATHERINE ZORAIDA. “I JUST GIFTED ONE TO MY BEAUTIFUL GODDAUGHTER, VALENTINA"

AIR MAX TRAINERS, FROM £90, NIKE JASMIN ROUGE EAU DE PARFUM, £145 FOR 50ML, TOM FORD

BLACK LADDER HIGH-NECK SLEEVELESS DRESS, £1,535, ALEXANDER MCQUEEN

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WOOL HAT, £125, CLUB MONACO

bamford

new mayfair store at 62 south audley street london w1k 2qn www.bamford.co.uk

(definitely not for)

WALL FLOWERS Whether you’re looking to make a statement or stand out from the festive crowd, bring the party to you with clashing patterns, pretty petal-inspired prints and, of course, a touch of shimmer

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PHOTOGRAPHY Alex Bramall STYLING Sophie Goodwin MAKE UP Attracta Courtney at Silk dress, £380,

attractacourtney.com using Guerlain

Philosophy di Lorenzo

HAIR Stephen Low & ELSL for

Serafini 

Neville's using Unite MODEL Liandra at IMG Models FLORAL STYLING

By Appointment Only Design WALLPAPER barnebygates.com

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Satin coat, ÂŁ535, CH by Carolina Herrera

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RALPH & RUSSO Organza and tulle gown with crystal, silk thread and metallic feather hand embroidery, POA îƒ˘

GET THE LOOK Use shimmery make-up, sparingly, with lots of gloss. Burnished tones give the best (and most natural) look

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îƒ˘

Sequinned blouse with leather belt, £2,300 and sequinned skirt, £1,230, both Louis Vuitton

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Silk dress, £575, Cédric Charlier at Matches 

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Embroidered playsuit, ÂŁ2,890, and leather belt, ÂŁ175, both Alessandra Rich at Browns Fashion

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ASHI STUDIO Gazar kaftan featuring full embroidery and semiprecious stones, POA 

Embroidered dress, £1,785, Holly Fulton 

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Embroidered jacket, ÂŁ7,095 and embroidered shorts, ÂŁ2,130, both Louis Vuitton

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GEORGES CHAKRA Midi trapeze dress featuring rose beige tulle, sequins and fine silver thread embroidery, POA 

Viscose jacket, £795 and viscose trousers, £485, both Matthew Williamson

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189 Sloane Street, London SW1 020 7235 2932

119 Mount Street, London W1 020 7499 7539

TU PPE NC E FOR YO UR T H OU G H T S

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With her doe eyes and gamine bob, Tuppence Middleton is the new Brit actress to watch. We talk to her about her extraordinary name, her latest role and, of course, her plans for Christmas

OPPOSITE Cotton jacket, £2,050, Dior; herringbone beaded column gown, POA, Nicholas Oakwell Couture; leather heels, £525, Jimmy Choo; 54 baguette and round diamond platinum ring, POA, Harry Winston; white gold ring, full-paved with diamonds, set with a pear diamond, £10,030 Chaumet THIS PAGE Beaded evening dress, £8,850, Ralph Lauren; vintage diamond and white gold pendant earrings, £7,500 and vintage sapphire, diamond and white gold ring, £14,630, both William & Son

PHOTOGRAPHY Alex Bramall STYLING Sophie Goodwin HAIR Stephen Low MAKE-UP Carolyn Gallyer @ CLM Hair & Make-up using M.A.C Cosmetics INTERVIEW Charlotte-Anne Fidler

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Wool crepe jacket, £1,950 and wool crepe trousers, £890, both Ralph Lauren Collection; vintage diamond and white gold pendant earrings, £7,500, William & Son

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Emerald silk velvet backless gown with asymmetric pleating, POA, by Ralph & Russo Vintage diamond and white gold pendant earrings, £7,500 by William & Son Vintage Sapphire, diamond and white gold ring, £14,630, by William & Son Fabric and fox fur heels, £695, by Jimmy Choo

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uppence Middleton sounds like a character from an Enid Blyton book! What’s the story behind your name?

"My grandma used to call my mother ‘my little tuppence’ and my parents like endearment names, so they gave it to me. Ironically, I get asked more now about my ‘royal’ surname than I do about Tuppence!"

Having a name like Tuppence must have its advantages in the acting business, where being memorable is everything?

"True, people don’t forget my name. But the downside is that I’ve heard every money joke in the book."

And with your cut-glass accent and good looks, it would be all too easy to get type cast as a period drama girl…

"My name sounds very plum-in-the-mouth but I’m the opposite of that. Period dramas are a valid route – and the British make great period dramas! – but I’ve made a conscious decision not to do too many."

Embellished gown £3,080, Jenny Packham; leather heels, £525, Jimmy Choo; vintage diamond and white gold earrings, £12,350, William & Son; matte and polished rose gold ring, £4,900, Pomellato; My Dior bracelet in yellow gold, £6,200, My Dior necklace in yellow gold and diamonds, £11,000 and My Dior ring in yellow gold with diamonds (just seen), £3,300, all Dior Joaillerie

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Silk blouse, £1,450, wool waistcoat, £950, wool jacket, £2,150 and wool trousers, £890, all Ralph Lauren Collection; 42 round diamond and platinum earrings (just seen), POA and 54 baguette and round diamond and platinum ring, POA, both Harry Winston; white gold ring, fullpaved with diamonds, set with a pear diamond, £10,030, Chaumet

were stuck out in the heavy snow, fighting the cold – and each other!"

You play bad girl Hélène Kuragin. Is it more interesting to act naughty or nice?

"It’s always fun to play a more villainous part.

And, strangely, I find it easier! Hélène is definitely badly behaved but she’s a woman who is very liberated for the time. And while she’s climbing up the social ladder, she’s having a lot of fun."

And looking very beautiful while she does it…

"The costume designer, Edward K. Gibbon, Still, Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without Dickens. And

is a genius. He made the most stunning

you’re joining an ensemble cast in BBC1's Dickensian, a

costumes for Hélène and really pushed the limits of fashion

reworking of his best-loved novels and characters...

and modesty for the period. And there is nothing that helps

"Yes, I play the young Miss Havisham. I liked that everyone sees

you to feel more like a wealthy aristocrat than dripping in

her as this embittered woman. But she had to start somewhere.

silk and jewels!"

She had so much promise and potential when she was younger

Talking of silk and jewels… these pictures were shot

and then she was humiliated and scandalised beyond belief.’"

at Alan Yau’s impossibly lavish Park Chinois dinner and

Next year, we'll see you star alongside Gillian Anderson in War

dance club in Mayfair. Are you always this glamorous

And Peace. The location must have seemed a long way away

at Christmas?

from the west country seaside town you grew up in?

"No! I barely leave the house! I sit in my pyjamas for a week

"It was all very magical. We filmed in St Petersburg and in

and eat and drink surrounded by grandparents and cousins.

Lithuania and the atmosphere and the decadence and the

It’s not glamorous at all! It’s a big family occasion and quite

beauty of those landscapes helped so much in terms of getting

chaotic, but I wouldn’t have it any other way."

into character. My storyline was mostly in ‘peace’, so I spent a lot of my time inside beautiful palatial buildings, while the men

See the first episode of Dickensian on BBC1 this Boxing Day

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Rose gold Chantilly lace gown with crystal and glass embellishment, POA, ostrich feather and fox fur cape, POA and shoes, all Ralph & Russo; 42 round diamond and platinum earrings (just seen), POA, 238 baguette and round diamond and platinum bracelet, POA and 54 baguette and round diamond and platinum ring, POA, all Harry Winston; white gold ring, full-paved with diamonds, set with a pear diamond, ÂŁ10,030, Chaumet

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THE

P OO R T R A I T F A GENTLEMAN Banish the boring suit, ditch the denim, throw out the oh-so-not-chic Christmas jumper – instead, write your own sartorial rules this winter. He who wears, wins…

FROM LEFT SAHIN wears: Blazer, from a selection, shirt, £545, trousers, £695, and shoes, £520, all Alexander McQueen HERBIE wears: Blazer, from a selection, trousers, £695, shirt, £435, and shoes, £520, all Alexander McQueen

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The trick is to look immaculately groomed and knowingly expensive, but not like you’re living in the Renaissance or think you’re Dorian Gray.

Despite the overall effect, it’s actually subtle stuff, and all in the detail. A gold-edged bow tie, lattice leather gloves, stingray cuffs, a cord blazer – think texture, finish and pattern. Tassels, fur, velvet are all allowed… but not all at once, please chaps. Not all at once.

PHOTOGRAPHY Alex Bramall STYLING Helen Seamons SET DESIGN By Appointment Only Design

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Coat and velvet sweatshirt, both price on request, and trousers, ÂŁ675, all Dolce & Gabbana; roll-neck, ÂŁ435, Lanvin at Matches

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RALPH & RUSSO Organza and tulle gown with crystal, silk thread and metallic feather hand embroidery, POA 

Jacket with button-on sequinned lapel, £860, and trousers, £430, both Dries Van Noten at Selfridges; shirt, £485, Yohji Yamamoto from Selfridges 

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Coat, jacket, shirt, and pom-pom necktie all price on request, Caruso Menswear

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Bee-embellished suit, price on request, shirt, £215, and shoes from a selection, all Dolce & Gabbana; necktie, stylist’s own 

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Blazer, £1,598, waistcoat, £610, and shirt, £250, all Giorgio Armani; trousers, £380, Fendi; shoes, £575, Giuseppe Zanotti; brooch, stylist’s own

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ASHI STUDIO Gazar kaftan featuring full embroidery and semiprecious stones, POA 

Coat, £1,290, Dries Van Noten at Selfridges; shirt, £435, trousers, price on request, and shoes, £520, all Alexander McQueen

 65

Coat, £1,245, and trousers, £430, both Haider Ackermann at Matches; shirt, £308, Lanvin at Matches; roll-neck, £395, Lemaire at Matches; shearling scarf, £480, Paul Smith

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GEORGES CHAKRA Midi trapeze dress featuring rose beige tulle, sequins and fine silver thread embroidery, POA 

Coat, price on request, Gieves & Hawkes; button-embellished shirt, £550, Junya Watanabe at Selfridges; embroidered trousers, £620, Dries Van Noten at Selfridges; necktie, stylist’s own

HAIR Mike Harding using Kevin Murphy products MODELS Herbie at Models 1 and Sahin at Wilhemina STYLIST’S ASSISTANT Fay Brown PHOTOGRAPHER’S ASSISTANTS Michael Furlonger and Tean Roberts

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Spoil the man in your life with the gift he's really been dreaming of S TYL E D BY ANAS TAS IO S M O IRAS

CASHMERE LEATHER GLOVES, £305, BOTTEGA VENETA AT MRPORTER.COM

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CANDLE SCENTED WITH ‘OTTO’, £115, FORNASETTI

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GOLD SKULL HANDLE UMBRELLA, £365, ALEXANDER MCQUEEN AT SELFRIDGES

BLACK SKULL HANDLE UMBRELLA, £385, ALEXANDER MCQUEEN AT MRPORTER.COM

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LARGE LEATHER POUCH, £335, BALENCIAGA

GOLD AND STINGRAY CUFFLINKS, £1,020, TRIANON AT MRPORTER.COM

RACCOON DETACHABLE COLLAR, £370, BOGNER

BEE FORMAL SHIRT, £1,850, DOLCE & GABBANA

VALENTINO UOMO EAU DE TOILETTE, £47 FOR 50ML, SELFRIDGES

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SLIM-FIT CORDUROY BLAZER, £1,350, GUCCI

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ALZER 70 MONOGRAM SUITCASE, £4,650, LOUIS VUITTON

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ROLL-NECK WOOL SWEATER, £390, JIL SANDER AT MATCHES

PATTERNED WOOL BLEND COAT, £1,205, DRIES VAN NOTEN AT SELFRIDGES

'PARRIS' IN BLACK SHINY CALF, £550, JIMMY CHOO

STUDDED 'SLOANE' IN SILVER AND BRONZE, £795, JIMMY CHOO

BOW TIE WITH 24CT GOLD STRIPE, £175, TITLE OF WORK AT JUSTWILLIAM.COM 'FOXLEY' IN BLACK VELVET WITH GLITTER DOTS, £525, JIMMY CHOO

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THE WRITER’S PENTHOUSE

A WRITER’S WORDS CAN TAKE YOU ANYWHERE. BUT THIS ISN’T JUST ANYWHERE. Welcome to Corinthia. London’s 21st Century Grand Hotel.

CORINTHIA.COM/LONDON

BRILLIANT

BAMFORD Rolex Explorer 'Polar Edition', Pink highlights Graphite Particle Coating, ÂŁ11,000

It's clear that George Bamford comes from entrepreneurial stock. His latest ventures are luxury grooming and men’s fashion, with a brilliant twist,

George wears: suit, bespoke; shirt by Charvet; tie by Uniform Experiment x Fragment Design; glasses by Persol Rolex Skydweller with Paul Newman Cuff strap with Colette Blue dial and Bamford Aqua accents Matte Black Military Grade Titanium Coating POA

says Luciana Bellini

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Escorial wool sweater, ÂŁ395, Bamford 78

I

From left: Candle, Hand and Bodywash, Shampoo, Exfoliating Facewash, Shave Oil, Moisturiser, all Bamford Grooming Department

t’s the age-old question: what do you buy for

my mother’s know-how with my design aesthetic to create

the man who has everything? Well, we’ve finally found the

what I wanted. The starting scent was vetiver and agarwood:

solution – just ask George Bamford. The son of billionaire

vetiver is the oldest smell I have a memory of, because my

JCB chairman Anthony and Daylesford founder Carole, he

father always used to spray it and I’d think I was a cool dude

has a savvy knack for figuring out what’s missing in the luxury

when I wore vetiver! The first product we made was a candle,

market and creating something unique and madly desirable.

which we created last year and only gave to friends and family.

Like customising your old Rolex with a Popeye watch face,

After that, everyone started asking for the candle and then

say, or tailoring your bicycle to match the exact shade of your

we launched the shampoo, shave oil and bath and body range.

favourite Chanel lipstick. His latest venture is the Bamford

And then we made the grab-and-go travel kit.

Grooming Department, where he identifies the grooming and fashion items missing in every quintessential gentleman’s

What’s so special about the travel kit?

life. Here he talks to MINE about his latest products and his

For me, it is such a good buy – it’s one of our most successful

insatiable quest for the ultimate in luxury.

products. I travel a lot for work, I’m normally on a flight every week, and I enjoy travelling but now the glamour has gone.

How did the Bamford Grooming Department

I wanted to have a travel kit because every time I turned up

come about?

at a hotel I had to use these single-serving sachet type things.

This is my brand new baby! About a year and a half ago I

I just wanted something that reminded me of home.

spent some time thinking about what I would do for the next progression of my business, something that would serve

But you didn’t stop at the grooming range…

my life. And I thought about bath and body – I didn’t have

No, next I wanted to think about what I hated about clothing

anything that was a masculine-only bath and body range.

– I’m telling you my hates but they’re not hates, they’re just

I looked at everything in my shower and it was all unisex or

things that made me think, ‘Well actually, why doesn’t this

female orientated; the only thing I could think of that was

happen?’ So I was looking at clothing, and I came up with the

specifically masculine was Lynx! There was nothing luxury

tailored sweater idea. The product has just launched and it’s

that I could buy, nothing unique that made me feel special.

made with Escorial wool. I’ve never been a fan of wool but I

And I thought, ‘Why am I not being satisfied?’ So I decided

am a fan of Escorial wool – it’s like cashmere, very, very thin,

to look at bath and body for myself as a business, and that

from the sheep of a rare Moroccan tribe. It’s like the Kobe

was when I started the Bamford Grooming Department. It’s a

beef of wool! For me, I’m between sizes – halfway between

collaboration between my mother and myself – we combined

a one and a two – so I came up with the idea of creating half

79

Rolex Daytona 'Spirit of Kumamoto' Green Dial Military Grade Titanium Coating ÂŁ17,000

80

sizes, so I could get a 1.5. It only comes in black, because I love black, and it comes in sizes all the way up to four.

How do you wear it?

I wear it with a blazer mainly for travelling, because it’s easy and it looks good – it doesn’t crease. With cotton T-shirts you look a bit screwed up after you come off a

G ST YO PL M

flight, with this you don’t. It looks good on everyone – it’s not normally the sort of thing my father would wear, as he’s usually suited and booted, but I’m going to get one for him because it would be nice to see him in one and I think my mother would think he looked stylish in it. For me, it has all the style of a Louboutin with the comfort of a trainer.

Personalisation and customisation are central to your products…

I feel that a lot of people have become blind about buying – they just buy for the sake of it and then get rid of it. We’re a disposable nation, constantly going through products and not falling in love with them. And I thought personalisation was the key to that, because if you spend time designing something you put a soul into it.

That’s what I do with the watches in my Bamford Watch Department – I’m making them into a unique product.

For example, I’ve had a few clients who have added a heart onto the date wheel for the date of their wedding; that’s about uniqueness. It’s about making people fall back in love with buying products.

What drives you to keep creating more and more innovative products?

Whenever I think of something missing in the market I think, ‘If it’s missing, why the hell am I not making it?’

The Bamford family motto is ‘Jamais Contente’. Never Content. That’s a devil on my back in many ways, but it’s what makes me move forward. It’s what makes me strive to find what excites me, what’s going to make me think, ‘I need this in my life.’

81

THE G I F T OF LUXURY To celebrate the MINE Holiday Issue, luxury publisher Martine Assouline describes the gifts she’d most like to give her loved ones

N

BY S C A R LETT RU S S EL L

o self-respecting coffee table is without an Assouline book. The

CART IE R GO L D B ANGL E S F O R M Y

luxury publishing house, founded

M O T HE R, CHRIS T IANE BU C H E T

by Martine and Prosper Assouline in 1994, produces beautiful tomes

on architecture, art and design, fashion, gastronomy, lifestyle, photograph and travel, while their growing homeware accessories line includes scented candles and stationery. So, it’s fair to say that Martine knows a thing or two about style. Exclusively for MINE, the former lawyer and model creates her dream gift-list…

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“A set of three thin gold bangles will be perfect for my mother, who has wanted them for a while. Like me, she loves simple, chic jewellery. I like how the bangles move as you do, almost like they are alive. Very present, very feminine, very Cartier!” ca r t i e r.c o.u k

83

PAN TH ER G LO VES FROM MAI S O N FAB RE F O R M Y SISTER- IN-L AW, YAFFA AS S O U LINE

“Maison Fabre is renowned for the best gloves in Paris. I own two pairs and like to give presents that I love to loved ones – it is so much more personal.

Yaffa – who created luxuryculture.com – would love these. She’s very trendy and impeccably dressed.

She loves accessories, too.” mais onfab re. com

J EAN PATOU JOY EAU DE PARFU M F O R LEE R A D ZI WI L

“I met Lee around 15 years ago when she was interested in buying Assouline books and we became dear friends. As the younger sister of Jackie Kennedy,

HO B B S CAS HM E RE S WE AT E R F O R

and muse of Andy Warhol, she is one

B ARB ARA B IS M ARCK

of the most stylish people I know. But

“I have shopped at Hobbs in Paris for years.

I wouldn’t get her clothes – I’d go for

They specialise in gorgeous furs and luxurious

something more timeless and classic.

cashmere. I met my lovely friend Barbara at

Joy is my favourite perfume and I’m

school in Lima. We have been friends almost all

sure Lee would love it, too.”

our lives. She loves warm, cosy clothes and the

h ar r o d s. c o m

rock-chic look of this jumper will fit perfectly in her garderobe.” h ob b s cas h m ere. co m

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D E BON N AIRE VO N B I S MARCK VELVE T JACKE T F O R G IAN CAR LO GI AMMETTI

“Debonnaire has a concept store in London with a splendid choice of clothes and home accessories.

One can only go by appointment. I recently saw the most beautiful Indian-style men’s velvet jacket there.

Giancarlo has flawless taste – he loves elegance and modern refinement. I know he’d love to wear this

M E M O IR S O F

jacket around his London apartment. I’d buy it in

HADRIA N BY

orange and brown, warm tones that suit him so well.” d e bo nna i r e. c om

M ARGU E R I T E YO URCE N A R FOR OUR SON, AL E XAN D R E

“This is my favourite book and I would invite Alexandre, 23, to spend a moment in the life of that clever, strong Emperor. I would like Alexandre to read it in a 1930s boat, taking a tour of Manhattan, drinking Veuve S I X BOTTLES OF KRU G FO R CARLOS SO UZA

Clicquot Rich.

“Carlos is the life and soul of the party and loves nothing

His iPhone would

more than sharing, celebrating and enjoying life with his

be banned and I

friends… of which he has many! He also has exquisite taste.

would urge him

I met him in South America, where I lived for a long time,

just to learn and

and the spirit there is fun and lively. Krug is one of the best

be influenced.”

champagnes in the world.” krug.com

am az on.c o.u k 85

JE AN O DDE S ART WO RK F O R S E BA S T I E N AND M AC AS S O UL INE

“My son, Sebastien, and his wife, Mac, recently moved to Paris to develop Assouline in Europe, so they need a piece for art for their new home. Jean Oddes is a very talented artist who works on thick, large, artisanal paper. There is a raw but beautiful feel to his work.”

E x. L ib ris on d is p l ay at M ais o n A s s o u li n e , 1 9 6 A Piccad il l y, Lon d on PHO NE : +4 4 ( 0 ) 2 0 3 3 2 7 9 3 7 0

A ND FOR P R OS PER…

“The new Bentley Bentayga, the first SUV de luxe in the world!” b e n t l eym o t o r s. com

87

F OR T HE F IR E Jardins d'Ecrivains Shaman White California Sage Fumigation Herb, £60 – a box of crunchy, aromatic sage leaves, with cleansing and purifying properties. Chuck them in a crackling fireplace for a herby hit with a scent that lingers. They also make for an excellent talking point.

FO R T HE C HAM PAGN E Diptyque Feu de Bois indoor/outdoor Candle, £180 – get this warm, firewoodscented candle burning from January and by the time next Christmas rolls around, that earthenware tumbler will have been transformed into a stylish champagne bucket.

YOUR SC F OR S M A L L S PA CES Perfumer H Candles in Ivy, Smoke and Frankincense, £95 – the most simple, understated candles, with cosy, fireside scents that sing of Christmas. And those beautiful glass votives will make lovely vases once they’ve burnt out.

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T H E A C C E S SORY Cire Trudon Scented Matches, £15 – trust Cire Trudon to do something clever. Not only do these long, emerald-tipped matches look smart (check out that jaunty parrot on the front of the box!), but wait 'til you strike them: a plume of smoke, a theatrical crack, and the best bit? A waft of saffron and nutmeg. Nicer than some candles, in fact.

CENTING

36 0º

We’ve got all bases covered… and smelling divine!

This is your guide to scenting everything in your home (yep, even the dog!). By Francesca White

89

F OR T HE T REE Byredo Bibliothèque Room Spray, £60 – yes, the label on this collector’s edition room spray means ‘Library’ – but there’s nothing to say that you can’t mist that sad-looking and slightly dehydrated pine tree with the blend of vanilla, patchouli and plum.

T H E C E N TR E P I ECE Acqua di Parma Murano Glass Candle in Benzoin, £90 – this Acqua di Parma candle is a thing of beauty. Note the unusual Benzoin scent (smelling of resin, incense and tree sap) and a burning time of 30 hours – so it’ll blaze brightly throughout the longest and most raucous of parties.

WHEN YO U’R E GO NE Annick Goutal Noël Diffuser, £60 – it’s the seasonal scent for Le Bristol in December, and that’s good enough for us. For those that hotfoot it to sunnier climes at Christmas, leave it by the door – the spicy, citrusy fragrance guarantees a joyful return.

THE GIFT Earl of East London candle subscription service, £22 per month – who wouldn't want a year’s worth of candles, hand-wrapped,

F OR T HE DOG Aesop Animal

beautifully packaged, thoughtfully chosen and delivered to their door?

Wash, £25 – they say a dog is for

Scents range from the remedial

life… so make sure he smells suitably

Peppermint & Eucalyptus to the deeply

fragrant with this gentle cleanser,

sexy Smoke & Musk, and Greenhouse,

infused with lemon peel.

which is as bright as a spring day.

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bamford haybarn spa

sECOnD FLOOr bEaUTy DEsTInaTIOn

L e t 's ke e p i t

PERSONAL

When gifting, offering something bespoke really is the gift that keeps on giving. After all, truly cherished presents are the ones that leave a lasting impression – so make it personal, says Jessica Diner

There is something terribly chic about monogramming.

attention to detail – and for the festive season, they are

Personalised Olivia Von Halle silk pyjamas, a Burberry

allowing you to engrave a message or name on the bottles

initialled cape, stamped leather goods from Smythson,

or bottle caps. The best part? They can all be done while

Anya Hindmarch letter stickers, an Edie Parker clutch

you wait.

with your name on, or any engraved jewellery. The list

If you have a bit more time, look to esteemed

is endless – and each item equally alluring and forever

perfumer Lyn Harris, who has long been in the bespoke

beloved. Because, quite frankly, when giving a gift,

fragrance business. The founder of much-loved candle

nothing says “I care about you” more than something

and fragrance brand Miller Harris, she has now gone

that is made that little bit more personal. And now the

out on her own to create a new brand, Perfumer H,

beauty industry is getting in on the action. Sure, bespoke

that is all about a bespoke and niche fragrance

fragrances have been around since the beginning of

experience (and if you meet Lyn herself, her chicness

time, and to this day they are the ultimate indulgence.

makes you want to see just a little piece of her magic in

But walk into beauty halls across the country, and you

action). Working out of her atelier in Marylebone, you

will find personalisation and engraving artisans nestled

can work with her on creating something really special.

amongst make-up artists and counter staff, making your

From the juice to the bottle, to the name engraved on the

Christmas gift purchases extra special.

front – it’s a complete collaboration. Of course, erring

Take, for example, Guerlain’s new Mon Exclusif

on the more luxurious end of the gifting spectrum, her

fragrance. Specifically given a generic title, the idea

bespoke services will cost you upwards of £15,000 and

is that you name the fragrance yourself and then have

in return you detail the person you want to gift (lucky

the name etched into the glass bottle, so that it’s unique

them!), and she will conjure up a fragrance based on

for its recipient. Created by in-house genius perfumer,

your description, creating something utterly exceptional.

Thierry Wasser, the scent itself is soft and beautiful.

Whether you lean more towards the extravagant or

But the name? That’s totally up to you. Similarly, go to

the meaningful, the idea for gifting beauty this season is

Diptyque, Jo Malone and Aqua di Parma counters

to make the experience a totally curated and individual

– known in the luxury market for paying particular

one. Anything less just simply won’t do.

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T HE B E S T O F THE REST

Don’t have time to make things personal? Then choose from the best money can buy with these show-stopping offerings…

ROJA PARFUMS, £2,500, exclusively at Harrods Complete with gold-leaf foil in the formula, this is a scent that perfumer Roja Dove himself wears and makes available to buy in small quantities at this time of year.

A heady mix of Jasmine, Ylang Ylang and Patchouli, get this before it’s gone.

93

PERSONAL Shopping CHANEL NO.5, £7,500 This is no ordinary bottle of Chanel No.5, arguably one of the world’s most iconic fragrances. Should you get your hands on one of these bottles, it will be one of just 50 in the world, cut from crystal and 900ml of pure olfactory heaven.

94

TOM FORD LIPS & BOYS 50-PIECE SET, £1,350 When these lip colours first launched individually, they flew off the counters. Named after leading men who have inspired Mr Ford, gift the whole collection with this Limited Edition set. A must for any Tom Ford fan.

GUERLAIN SHALIMAR LIMITED EDITION BOTTLE BY THE

HOUSE OF WALTERSPERGER & DESRUES, POA

A 90th-anniversary special edition of the classic fragrance by the House of Guerlain, this is an heirloom piece that will be sure to be passed down for generations to come.

FORNASETTI ASTRONOMICI CANDLE, £125, exclusive to Selfridges (right) Tell someone you love them to the moon and back with this divine Christmas edition Fornasetti candle.

95

PERSONAL Shopping

ESTﾃ右 LAUDER

CAROUSEL from the 2015 Solid Perfume Compact Collection, ﾂ｣680, at Harrods The lucky recipient of this bejewelled beauty will be the envy of all their girlfriends in the powder room.

Containing a solid fragrance of Estﾃｩe Lauder Pleasures, this is the decadent way to do perfume on-the-go.

JO MALONE

LUXURY GIANT CRACKER, £205

Come Christmas Day, let the talking point of the meal be before the food has even arrived with this goodie-filled cracker (above)

SISLEY X

GLOBE-TROTTER LIMITED

EDITION VANITY CASE, £950, Sisley at Selfridges Sisley plus GlobeTrotter? What more could anyone want from a gift? (The answer is: nothing).

97 39

MORE TEA,

S A N T A? Who needs Christmas dinner when you have the choice of these fabulous festive afternoon teas at some of London’s most luxurious hotels, says MINE’s Zahraa Al-Najjar

G

ood eating at Christmas doesn’t just mean an all-the-trimmings roast

dinner – celebrating the festive season in culinary style just got glamorous! So put your shopping bags down and your weary feet up, here’s where to go to indulge in some naughty but delicious mid-afternoon delights.

99

CHRISTMAS UNWRAPPED AFTERNOON TEA AT THE INTERCONTINENTAL HOTEL WE LOVE IT BECAUSE… It features

trad food with a twist. Who wouldn't want to devour the smoked salmon, crayfish and prawns in Marie Rose sauce? (A modern-day take on the infamous prawn cocktail.)

THE XMAS FACTOR: The dessert

comes in a red gift box, under a miniChristmas tree. Lift the lid and you’re met with bite-sized plum pudding mousse, Christmas cake, yule log, and spiced apple pie. Ho, ho, oh, go on then.

B O O K I T: i n t e r c o n t i n e n t a l . com; £42 per person

FESTIVI-TEA AT THE CORINTHIA WE LOVE IT BECAUSE… Every weekend from now until

Christmas, between 6pm and 7.30pm, a live choir will serenade your tea.

THE XMAS FACTOR: Finger sandwiches featuring

all-important roast turkey and stuffing, with fresh cranberry compote. Afternoon tea traditionalists will be relieved to see warm scones are on the menu, followed by a selection of festive-themed fancies.

B O O K I T: c o r i n t h i a . c o m ; £ 6 0 p e r p e r s o n

FESTIVE AFTERNOON TEA AT CLARIDGE'S WE LOVE IT BECAUSE… You can choose from a selection

of around 40 teas. Our favourite is the White Christmas Speciality tea.

THE XMAS FACTOR: Christmas-y finger sandwiches,

including a gourmet turkey selection. Leave room for the raisin and apple cones served with Noël Jams and clotted cream, as well as Christmas-themed pastries. Includes a glass of Laurent-Perrier champagne.

B O O K I T: c l a r i d g e s . c o . u k ; £ 8 0 p e r p e r s o n 100

FESTIVE AFTERNOON TEA AT THE DORCHESTER WE LOVE IT BECAUSE… Hello, it’s The Dorchester! Tea is served in the

hotel’s stunning Promenade restaurant.

THE XMAS FACTOR: The Christmas emphasis is on the selection of festive

pastries on offer. Think mince pies with a twist. Intriguing! And to get you in the festive mood, a glass of Laurent-Perrier NV Champagne is included.

B O O K I T: d o r c h e s t e r c o l l e c t i o n . c o m ; £ 5 9 p e r p e r s o n

BENEDICT THE BEAR CHRISTMAS AFTERNOON TEA AT THE MANDARIN ORIENTAL WE LOVE IT BECAUSE… This experience is in partnership

with Harrods and, you guessed it, it features Harrods teddy bears. Perfect for the mini folk in your life.

THE XMAS FACTOR: Highlights of this seasonal spread

include slow-roasted Norfolk bronze turkey with sage and cranberry sandwiches, as well as cranberry, orange and yoghurt yule log and figgy pudding baubles.

B O O K I T: m a n d a r i n o r i e n t a l . c o m ; £ 5 3 p e r person. Kids tea available for £28.

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LIPOCILS EXPERT速

FOOD FI Experimental baking duo CUTTER & SQUIDGE have carved out a whole new, utterly delicious, cake-y genre. If you’ve not tried one of their famed Biskies, frankly, you’ve not lived, says Luciana Bellini

104

E H G T

S R ! phot

105

ogra

phy N AT O WEL TON

From top: Chocolate Peppermint Showstopper, from £53, Key Lime Pie, from £42.50, and Eton Mess, from £32.50, cutterandsquidge.com 106

"EMILY JUST L OOKS L IKE A SQUI D G E –

THE

EVERYON E AGREES!"

first thing you need

ANNABEL

using red cabbage and green using spinach.

to get straight about baking dynamo sisters

It’s why Chelsea mums love us; they don’t

Annabel and Emily Lui is which one is Cutter

want their kids eating E numbers."

and which one is Squidge. "When we started

They’ve only been in their bakery on

out, we would take a process each – I would do

Brewer Street since August, and Emily still

the cutting and Emily would do the squidging,

manages to work full time as a lawyer – "we

so that’s how we got the nicknames," explains

take off one or two days a month, that’s it"

Annabel. "Plus, Emily just looks like a Squidge

– but business is booming. So much so that

– everyone agrees." All that cutting and

they’ve opened a new area downstairs called

squidging led to the creation of their signature

The Secret Garden, filled with climbing vine

bake, the Biskie: a dangerously delicious

leaves and scatter cushions – it’s a tranquil

cross between a biscuit and a cake (think

hideaway from the hustle and bustle of Soho,

a soft biscuit sandwich with the lightest,

and provides much-needed extra seating for

fluffiest buttercream filling). Their forte is

the bakery, which is constantly heaving. "It is

their flavours, which they dream up in their

hard work, but we wanted to create something

kitchen at home in Belsize Park and sell out

that we believe in, something we can be really

of their buzzing Soho bakery. Green tea, white

proud of," says Annabel. Mission accomplished.

chocolate and raspberry is one of their best sellers and their earl grey and lemon truffle Biskies fly off the shelves. But they have had

Turn the page to see how to make

the odd flavour disaster – like the time they

Cutter & Squidge's Show-stopping

tried to combine salted caramel and apple. "It

Gingerbread Town Dreamcake

just tasted like sick," Annabel admits.

But it’s their experimental nature that makes their bakes so exciting – more like chemists than bakers, they concoct their weird and wonderful creations through hours of trials and taste tests. And what makes them even more impressive is the fact that all their ingredients are 100% natural – which means no food colouring. That’s pretty tough when one of your top sellers is a red velvet cake, famous for its deep, blood red.

"We went through hundreds of brown cakes before figuring out how to get the colour from beetroot," says Annabel. "It’s all about the pH levels – so now we know how to make blue

107

SH O W-S H O P PI N G G I N G E R B R E A D TOW N D R E A MCA K E

108

FOR THE SPONGE 350g softened unsalted butter

FOR T HE COOKIE DOUGH

550g self-raising flour

350g plain flour

2tsp bicarbonate of soda

150g unsalted butter

100g sour cream

2tsp ginger powder

50g milk

1tsp cinnamon

8 eggs

250g soft brown sugar

350g caster sugar

1 egg

2tsp vanilla extract

4tbsp golden syrup

2tsp mixed spice

Combine the flour, ginger and cinnamon.

Add the butter and blend until the mix looks like breadcrumbs. Stir in the sugar. Lightly beat the egg and golden syrup together, add to the mixture. Tip the dough out, knead until smooth, wrap in clingfilm and leave to chill in the fridge for 15 minutes.

4tsp ginger powder 2tsp cinnamon

Whip together the butter and sugar until light, pale and fluffy. Mix together the egg, sour cream and milk.

Add the egg mixture to the butter and sugar until the batter has the consistency of whipped double cream.

Sieve together the spices, self-raising flour and bicarbonate of soda. Slowly incorporate the flour mixture into the batter. Equally separate the mixture into three, greased and lined 8-inch tins. Bake for 30 minutes at 170º until springy to the touch.

FOR THE BUTTERCREAM 400g icing sugar 600g unsalted butter Vanilla paste Optional – 50g sour cream 2/3tsp of ginger powder

Beat the icing sugar and butter for 5-10 minutes until fluffy. Once the buttercream is fluffy, add the sour cream and beat for 1-2 minutes. Then add the spices and vanilla.

FOR THE SALTED CARAMEL 100g sugar 100ml double cream 50g butter 2tsp fine sea salt, preferably Maldon Sea salt

Combine all the ingredients in a saucepan, over a low heat. Stir until the sugar has dissolved. Turn the heat up and bubble the sauce for 2-3 mins until golden. Leave to cool.

FOR T HE ICING 200g icing sugar 2tsp egg white powder 2tbsp of water

Mix together to make a thick but sticky paste. Add to a piping bag.

TO DECORATE YOUR CAKE 1) Trim the tops of your sponge with a bread knife so nice and flat.

2) Smear a little buttercream on a cake board to stop it from moving.

3) Place one sponge flat side down and evenly spread 200g of buttercream on top; drizzle over some of the lovely salted caramel.

4) Repeat with the next sponge. Add on the final cake sponge, this time with the flat side faced up.

5) Now the crumb coat: use 100-200g of the buttercream and spread all over. With a cake scrapper, remove the excess buttercream so you can see the sponge and all holes are filled in.

6) Pop in the fridge for 1 hour.

7) Add remainder of the buttercream 109

to the cake, as evenly as possible.

8) Now to make it smooth! With a clean palette knife, use the edge to gently scrape away small amounts of excess buttercream, turning the cake as you scrape. Make sure to keep cleaning you palette knife after each scrape. Once the cake is smooth, pop it back in the fridge for 30 minutes until cold to touch.

9) Roll the cookie dough to 5mm. Cut out different sized rectangles and triangles for buildings; cut out stars and gingerbread people. Bake at 180º for 15-20 minutes.

10) Use the icing to pipe snow, windows and faces!

11) Place the buildings around the bottom of the cake, stand up Mr and Mrs Gingerbread and place stars and other shapes in an adhoc way. Dust part of your town in icing sugar before serving. Keep in a cool dry place.

A private pool house, Dubai: “The landscape and pool follow the rectilinear geometry of the villa itself,” says Chakib.

“I made use of louvre wooden panels to create an interplay of light and shade.”

Architect, furniture designer, and all-round ambassador of great taste – MINE meets the man whose signature style is pared-back luxury

AFINE BALANCE

110

N

ot many of us know for certain as children what we’ll be when we grow up.

Chakib Richani, on the other hand, always had a clear vision.

“I think that I’ve always been an architect,” he says with a smile.

“As a boy, I used to collect matches and matchboxes and transform them into houses and palaces with doors and windows.”

From those modest beginnings, Beirut-based Chakib has established an architectural practice with a truly international reach. He’s worked on high-end projects – both commercial and residential – in the Lebanon, UAE, Jordan, Oman and Dubai, as well as further afield, in Paris, London and Italy. But whether he’s designing a luxury pool house in the Middle East or remodelling a penthouse in the City of Light, his signature sophisticated, minimalist style is unmistakable.

As the exclusive photographs on these pages show, Chakib eschews bold colours and fussy details, and relies instead on the interplay between different forms and textures, and contrasting proportions, to let a space speak for itself.

“You could say my work is closest in style to minimalism, in that it focuses

PORTRAIT N ATO WELTON INTERVIEW TESSA CL AYTON

111

on scale, and on intricate detailing,” Chakib explains. “Yet it’s important that I maintain the luxury and comfort that my clients want. What I’m always seeking to achieve is timelessness and drama.”

It’s a look that works equally well in both the East and West – although, of course, trying to achieve the same aesthetic in two very different regions can be a challenge.

“When it comes to building projects, the restrictions and requirements in the Middle East are very different to those in Europe,” admits Chakib. “There are also climatic, legal and social issues to take into account, as well as building rules and regulations. Added to that, in residential projects, you have to take note of the character and temperament of your users or owners. Having said that, I try to apply the same design philosophy to all my projects, and it’s still possible to achieve that serene ambiance that I’m after.”

Chakib is clearly at home straddling both worlds. But then he himself is the very definition of a globetrotter. Born in Venezuela, he attended the American University of Beirut, “but the place I feel most at home, apart from my home city, is London. It’s so cosmopolitan and welcoming.” It’s fitting, then, that he has formed a strong working partnership with Elie Saab, another Lebanese creative, who has made himself a home on the international fashion circuit.

Chakib has designed Saab’s Paris apartment, his penthouse in Rabieh, two more of his properties, as well as his flagship stores in Beirut, London and Paris and Geneva.

Architecture and fashion: not always an easy marriage. But for Chakib, “the collaboration has always been interactive and stimulating. The design process has been relatively smooth since we share a design vision and approach.

The main living area of the Dubai pool house is separated from the double-height passage by a series of circular columns. The opposite glazed wall opens onto the pool itself and the garden

"I’M SEEKING TO ACHIEVE TIMELESSNESS AND DRAMA"

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The dining room of the pool house in Dubai features Chakib’s signature bold geometric shapes and strong lines. The marble light fitting and sideboards are the architect’s own designs.

Photograph: Nikolas Koenig

"'LESS IS MORE' IS MY MOTTO" BELOW A view of the main living room. The mirrored tables and the large floor lamp were both designed by Chakib especially for the project, and now feature in his eponymous collection

RIGHT Hale House, a private residence in London: the house was completely remodelled for the owners by Chakib.

The staircase was added to connect the two floors, and the columns were covered with mirror-effect stainless steel

Photograph: Tim Beddow

Photograph: Tim Beddow

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That we’ve become friends, too – well, that was another welcome outcome.”

It’s interesting that Saab – a designer known for his use of vivid, flamboyant colour and his love of Hollywood glamour, has found a natural design partner in Chakib, whose style has often been described as masculine.

“It’s not a conscious decision, but pure geometry with exceptional proportions, rich materials with an earth-colour palette… these things are often termed masculine,” explains Chakib. His love of modernist architecture also has a bearing on his pared-down aesthetic. “Mies van der Rohe, particularly the fluid flow of space in his Barcelona Pavilion, has influenced my sense of space and approach to design. 'Less is more' is my motto.”

The result is elegant, streamlined spaces, with a real sense of poise and glamour. Chakib admits that he seeks out projects for which he can design the furnishings and accessories as well as the space itself, to produce a “harmonious entity”. Often, he’ll design bespoke pieces of furniture for a project, based on their interaction with the space that surrounds them. These key pieces eventually find their way into the Chakib Richani Collection, his signature furniture range. Key elements are stainless steel, marble, brass and wood, sculpted into simple forms that somehow manage to be grand and imposing at the same time.

So where does Chakib see himself in five years’ time?

Is global domination on the cards?

Possibly. “I hope that I’ll still be designing houses and interiors, and nurturing them to life,” he smiles. “The projects will be scattered around the world, but each one will tell a different story.”

"THE OTHER PLACE I FEEL AT HOME, OTHER THAN HOME, IS LONDON!"

For more information, visit richani.com 115

METROPOLIS II SET OF STAINLESS STEEL VASES

WEDGE TABLE IN STAINLESS STEEL

GET SOME CHAKIB CHIC Create your own 'harmonious entity' with these stunning original designs

by Chakib GUARDIAN FLOOR LAMP WITH MIRRORED STAINLESS STEEL BASE

ILLUSION CUBES COFFEE TABLES IN MIRRORED STAINLESS STEEL

RIBBON CONSOLE IN BRASS BRONZE FINISH

SECTIONAL TABLE LIGHT WITH BRASS BASE

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Wine's Romain Man

All we want for Christmas is a well-stocked cellar. And happily, Romain Audrerie, the Chiltern Firehouse’s charismatic head sommelier, is here to inspire INTERVIEW CHARLOTTE-ANNE FIDLER

You studied Political Science and then did a Master’s degree at the La Sorbonne. So, brains and a beautiful palate – no wonder you’re so in demand!

I spent a lot of time studying in Bordeaux, which is where I discovered wine and developed my palate. I was completely selftaught, but 18 months after I arrived in England, I was head sommelier at Marcus Wareing’s Savoy Grille.

Why is choosing the right wine with your food so important?

I’m there to make sure the chef ’s creativity is being highlighted. Wine should complement food and never take over. But sometimes it’s hard to hold back when you find a really great wine!

Do you have a 'signature' wine list or do you adapt the wines for each of the restaurants you've worked in?

I adapt the wine list for the restaurant. For The Chiltern, the brief was to create something that balances the classics with up-and-coming wines.

But, because half the clientele have wine cellars, I can’t take risks – the wine has to be perfect!

What are the challenges when you’re working with an extraordinary chef like The Chiltern’s

with a glass of Terra di Lavoro 2007 – a red from Campania near Naples. Absolute luxury.

The meat is strong and game-y and the wine is rich, prune-y and leathery.

If you had to create a 'capsule' list of five great wines everyone should get in for Christmas what would they be?

And, why?

D Greek white wines, specifically those made from Santorini’s Assyrtiko grape. They’re the best alternative to popular dry whites, such as Sancerre or Chablis.

D South African Chardonnays. They are less expensive than white Burgundies and taste like figs, pastry cream and croissants.

D Portuguese wines from two fantastic grape varieties: Baga from the region of Bairrada, and Touriga Nacional from the region of Douro. They are rich and opulent and dry, and great for people who love full-bodied reds.

D Grüner Veltliner from the Wachau region of Austria because they are new, very unique whites with lean, minerally and tropical fruit flavours.

D Californian Radio-Coteau Pinot Noir – I love Californians! And this one from a small estate in Sonoma is better than all the red Burgundies on the market.

Nuno Mendes?

You can’t have the perfect wine match with Nuno’s food! It’s so layered, with so many textures and colours. A glass of Sancerre won’t do it! So I play with wines that are a little more ‘textured’; with a little bit of ‘chew’ and more complexity. Reislings, for example, work because they are more giving, more generous.

What is your absolute favourite festive wine and food pairing?

Loin of venison and roasted chestnuts served

And, finally, what are your recommendations for people's wine cellars right now?

D White Burgundies from the 2014 vintage – they are all stunning.

D Clare Valley Riesling – dry Rieslings to be kept for years.

D Barolo (right) and Barbaresco from the 2010 – great Northern Italian wines D USA Cabernet, particularly Diamond Creek 'Volcanic Hill' – this has always been my favourite. It’s my desert island wine.

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"WINE SHOULD COMPLEMENT FOOD AND NEVER TAKE OVER. BUT SOMETIMES IT’S HARD TO HOLD BACK WHEN YOU FIND A GREAT WINE!"

Winter has arrived and with a chill in the air, our thoughts turn instantly to hibernation! Grab your loved one, and check out MINE’s best places to go embrace, escape or celebrate this season. By Thea Darricotte

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SOHO FARMHOUSE, COTSWOLDS Soho Farmhouse is its own little village hunkering down on 100 acres of farmland in Chipping Norton. As well as being a private members’ club it also makes a rather gorgeous place to stay if you want to play at rural living. Choose from one of the 40 wooden cabins or splash out on the 4-bedroom Farm Cottage or the 7-bedroom Farm House. Each one is so stylishly designed that you’ll be torn between Instagramming just about everything, and mentally redesigning your own home.

There is the heavenly Cowshed Spa, buzzy eating areas and last but not least the Cocktail Float – a converted milk float that comes to your door on demand bringing a team of bar staff ready to shake up the drink of your dreams. It’s really no surprise that this west country hideaway is the UK’s hottest destination right now.

B O O K I T: s o h o f a r m h o u s e . c o m

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TRAVEL

THE CARLYLE, NEW YORK This NYC hot spot perfectly embodies Art Deco glamour and sophistication; the black and white marbled floors, the sleek wooden reception area and the impossible shininess of everything, it’s easy to see why every US President since Harry S. Truman has visited here. Step off the bustling streets of the Upper East Side and into a tranquil haven. The rooms are elegant with every modern comfort, the spa is pampering and indulgent, and Bemelmans Bar – with its charming murals created by its namesake Ludwig Bemelmans, who spent over a year as a guest of the hotel whilst he worked on it – serves the best cocktails in town. Check in with friends, family or simply by yourself and be sure to book into the Café Carlyle for a night of cabaret with one of the highly esteemed musicians who choose this as their New York stage.

B O O K I T: r o s e w o o d h o t e l s . c o m

LE CHALET D’ADRIEN HOTEL, VERBIER Why not spend the winter with views of glistening snow, an insanely cool après-ski terrace and roaring fires to snuggle up next to while sipping on a large glass of red wine? Chalet d’adrien in Verbier has all of the above plus a swimming pool with pristine views of the Alps. The Chalet is in a traditional style with chunky wooden beams, thick curtains and antique furniture, which gives it a comfortable feel, while the restaurant offers tasty dishes along with more hearty options to appease any appetite. Had a hard day on the slopes? The Spa and Hammam will make sure that you’re blissfully relaxed in time for the next day’s skiing.

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HÔTEL PLAZA ATHÉNÉE, PARIS Its iconic red canopies shield guests’ bedrooms from inclement winter weather, as well as the glare of the paparazzi. Because Hôtel Athénée is where the A-list come to relax, the hospitality industry goes for inspiration, and where loved-up couples take a room.

Paris has its fair share of romantic experiences but little matches up to a weekend in the Eiffel Suite. As night draws in, curl up and watch the Eiffel Tower twinkle gently in the distance. Then head to Le Bar du Plaza Athénée, where Thierry Hernandez's team will mix up a killer cocktail, as you spy on the famous and fabulous go about their business in five-star style.

B O O K I T: d o r c h e s t e r c o l l e c t i o n . c o m

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HOTEL DU CAP-EDEN-ROC, CAP D’ANTIBES Reopening in April, the legendary hotel has recently undergone a €45million restoration project and has never looked finer with its sweeping lawns down to the sea, impressive white façade and rows of perfect pine trees. Book in ASAP to avoid the A-list, who descend in May for the Cannes Film Festival – after all the French Riviera was once considered a winter escape for the very wealthy, so a few blustery days along with the astonishing view of the sea are clearly something to be sought-after. Its splendour and peace have been long loved by artists and writers – Marc Chagall made sketches here, F. Scott Fitzgerald immortalised it in Tender Is The Night and Ernest Hemingway would retreat here for inspiration. Wrap up warm and head to the open-air Eden-Roc Champagne Lounge, with its panoramic views of the sea, and it will be hard to imagine a more blissful place to be.

B O O K I T: h o t e l - d u - c a p - e d e n - r o c . c o m 124

TRAVEL MANDARIN ORIENTAL HYDE PARK, LONDON For an indulgent girlie weekend of shopping, spa-ing and sipping White Cosmopolitans, the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park London is the place.

Perfectly situated opposite Harvey Nichols, and down the road from Harrods, this luxury hotel has two of the best restaurants in London (Dinner

by Heston Blumenthal has been voted 7th best restaurant in the world and Bar Boulud is buzzy with a menu guaranteed to please). Plus there’s an incredible spa and brand new fitness facilities, so you can work up an appetite in the state-ofthe-art gym or float serenely in the 17-metre swimming pool (right). It’s worth noting that Daniel Hersheson, the hairdresser of choice for the capital’s most stylish women, is on the 4th Floor of Harvey Nichols – ideal for pre-evening blow-dries before skipping back to Bar Boulud for cocktails!

B O O K I T: m a n d a r i n o r i e n t a l . c o m

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TOM E RAID ERS Coffee table books – the bigger the better. These weighty reads will elevate any coffee table, and make a clever Christmas present (they’re universal, you see – just pick one to suit the recipients personality). Well, who wouldn’t want to find one of these under the tree?

E D I T E D BY A N A STA S I OS M OI R A S THE IMPOSSIBLE COLLECTION OF DESIGN (£550, ASSOULINE.COM)

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VALENTINO AT THE EMPEROR’S TABLE (£95, ASSOULINE.COM)

EMILIO PUCCI VINTAGE ART EDITION (£1,000, TASCHEN.COM)

CARTIER PANTHÈRE (£120, ASSOULINE.COM)

WINDOWS AT BERGDORF GOODMAN (£170, ASSOULINE.COM)

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RICHARD HANNON CHAMPION TRAINER 2014

VISIT OUR WEBSITE

WWW.RICHARDHANNONRACING.CO.UK

SIR BY MARIO TESTINO (£650, TASCHEN.COM)

BALS BY NICHOLAS FOULKES (£110, ASSOULINE.COM)

" D I SP L AY ON E O F T H E S E TOM ES AN D Y OU'L L A P P E A R FUL L OF G OOD TA S T E ! " LOUIS VUITTON WINDOWS (£550, ASSOULINE.COM)

THE STYLE, INSPIRATION AND LIFE OF OSCAR DE LA RENTA (£80, ASSOULINE.COM)

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LIFE OF STYLE BY VINCE CAMUTO (£165, ASSOULINE.COM)

FROM CHRISTIAN DIOR TO RAF SIMONS (£165, ASSOULINE.COM)

" B Y AL L MEAN S,

CH OOSE A B OOK

B ASED ON

T H E GL OSS

AN D GL ORY OF IT S

OTTOMAN CHIC BY SERDAR GÜLGÜN (£50, ASSOULINE.COM)

COV ER" 130

THE IMPOSSIBLE COLLECTION OF WATCHES (£550, ASSOULINE.COM)

What: The British Fashion Awards after-party Where: Chiltern Firehouse, London (midnight till late!)

Absolutely Firehouse: Jennifer Saunders, Stella McCartney and Joanna Lumley

MINE got a VIP pass to the after-party of the British Fashion Awards at the Chiltern Firehouse.

Talk about hot ticket…

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT Rita Ora gives it some lip; Lady Gaga and Karlie Kloss swap style tips (maybe); a very stylish selfie from Stella McCartney, Alexa Chung and Olivier Rousteing

British Fashion Awards host Jake Whitehall saw his joke come full circle (that the Chiltern Firehouse must have thought there was an actual fire due to its fabulous clientele decamping to the awards ceremony), when they all rushed back to Chiltern Street to get their party on. Guests drank Krug and the ever-popular Firehouse champagne cocktail, the Sex & Violet, while fried chicken and crab doughnuts saved the day.

London DJ Rory Phillips kept the crowd – including Poppy Delevingne and girlfriends – on their feet, while Alexa Chung and Pixie Lotte chose a more relaxed way to warm themselves… by the roaring fires.

MINE magazine's Carmen Fernández Santa Cruz with Michael Russo and Tamara Ralph

TOP Rosie HuntingtonWhiteley and David Gandy raise the (gorgeous) stakes LEFT Poppy Delevingne does platinum to perfection

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SNAP! shots

Reflection diamond earrings, POA, Harry Winston

Lace panelled maxi skirt, £2,500, Rime Arodaky

ARIZONA MUSE Pleated metallic maxi skirt, £980, Jenny Packham Glitter clutch, £574, Jimmy Choo

ROSIE HUNTINGTONWHITELEY

Embellished gown, £1,890, Alice + Olivia at net-a-porter.com

Who cares if you’re not on the guest list, you can still look the part…

Stretch wool and silk-blend tapered trousers, £535, Gucci

KARLIE KLOSS Ellen metallic bandage dress, £1,680, Hervé Léger

Wool blazer, £1,750, Victoria Beckham

VICTORIA BECKHAM Suede pumps, £445, Gianvito Rossi 131

Brick pearl clutch, £12,500, Chanel

Make it

M I N E! The property section

Beyond your expectations www.hamptons.co.uk

Pembroke Square, W8 A newly developed five bedroom Grade II Listed town house with two bedroom mews located centrally on the northern side of Pembroke Square. The house provides exceptional and perfectly proportioned family living space and a self contained two bedroom mews with parking for two cars. The house has a fantastic garden with flagstone terrace and exclusive access to communal gardens which benefit from a tennis court.

£8,950,000 • • • • • •

Hamptons Kensington Sales. 020 7717 5457 | Lettings. 020 7717 5459

Grade II listed town house 5 bedrooms 2 bedroom mews Garage Garden Communal gardens with tennis court

savills.co.uk

1 NEWLY REFURBISHED TOWNHOUSE ON RENOWNED GARDEN SQUARE thurloe square, sw7 First floor drawing room ø conservatory ø family room ø dining room ø kitchen/breakfast room ø 6 bedroom suites ø gym ø cloakroom ø garden ø 486 sq m (5,236 sq ft) Guide £10.5 million Freehold

Russell Simpson

Savills Knightsbridge

Bertie Russell brussell@russellsimpson.co.uk

Barbara Allen baallen@savills.com

020 7225 0277

020 7581 5234

savills.co.uk

1 ELEGANT GRADE II LISTED TOWNHOUSE cadogan place, sw1 Drawing room ø dining room ø master bedroom suite ø 4 further bedroom suites ø staff accommodation ø swimming pool, gym and steam room ø 4 terraces ø garaging for 3/4 cars ø 638 sq m (6,867 sq ft) Guide £25 million Freehold

Savills Sloane Street

Savills Knightsbridge

Richard Gutteridge rgutteridge@savills.com

Barbara Allen baallen@savills.com

020 7730 0822

020 7581 5234

Garage optional.

Chimney essential.

No matter what your must-haves are, our experienced team will endeavour to find your perfect fit, whether you’re searching for a buyer or a new home. All with the undivided attention and professionalism that Strutt & Parker has come to be known for.

Merry Christmas from the Chelsea office.

43 Cadogan Street, London SW3 2PR 020 7225 3866 | struttandparker.com

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struttandparker.com

Tite Street, Chelsea SW3

A stunning and generously proportioned six bedroom low built family house extending to 4,247 sq ft with the benefit of a leasehold garage.

Offers in the region of ÂŁ10,000,000 Freehold

4,247 sq ft (394 sq m) Two reception rooms | Kitchen/family room | Master suite with dressing room | Four double bedrooms suites | Study/sixth bedroom | Media room | Gym | Shower room | Terrace | Garage | EPC rating E

Chelsea 020 7225 3866 chelsea@struttandparker.com JSA: Savills 020 7824 9016

Sydney, Australia

Atherfield takes pride of place on one of the most desirable streets on the Darling Point peninsula, just a brief drive from the heart of the Sydney CBD. Positioned within a dress-circle enclave, ‘Atherfield’ is a testament to Victorian Gothic Revival architecture.

Price on application

12,452 sq ft (1,156 sq m) Kitchen/breakfast room | Dining room Two reception rooms | Lobby | 8 Double bedrooms | Private swimming pool

Lulu Egerton 020 7225 3866 lulu.egerton@struttandparker.com

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struttandparker.com

Sydney, Australia

With a fabulous spacious tropical garden, pool and loggia, this wonderful plantation-style house on Bennett Avenue is a highly versatile family address, designed for easy entertaining, both indoors and out.

Price on application

7,211 sq ft (670 sq m) Living room | Dining room | Drawing room Kitchen | Master bedroom with dressing room and en suite | Three further bedrooms Terrace | Swimming pool | Gym | Double garage

Lulu Egerton 020 7225 3866 lulu.egerton@struttandparker.com

ELYSTAN PLACE, CHELSEA SW3 A rare opportunity to acquire a five bedroom, meticulously refurbished, freehold period house in the heart of Chelsea. This unique lateral house, nearly fifteen metres wide and on four floors, features windows on all four sides of the house making it exceptionally light and bright, has front and rear entrances and has the feeling of a detached house. Located just off Chelsea Green, the house features a grand entrance hall, three large reception rooms, a separate kitchen and dining room, five double bedrooms (of which two have en-suite bathrooms), five bathrooms, a utility room, plant room, private East facing patio and direct access onto the West facing communal gardens. The attention to detail within this stunning home is second to none, including a bespoke Mark Wilkinson kitchen with Miele appliances, solid oak floors, limestone tiled bathrooms with underfloor heating, ADT alarm and smoke detector system, a climate controlled wine cellar, and a separate media room. There is further planning permission in place to create a further 1,500 sq. ft. of basement living space if desired. Elystan Place is set on a quiet one way street in the conservation area close to Chelsea Green, and is situated within walking distance of the numerous designer shops and restaurants of the King`s Road, Sloane Street and Knightsbridge, the property is also well located for the numerous transport links of Sloane Square.

Call Rokstone on 020 7580 2030 or visit www.rokstone.com

ÂŁ8,650,000

Glebe Place, Chelsea SW3 Situated on one of the most sought after and beautiful streets in Chelsea, this immaculate Victorian house on Glebe Place encases one of the most spectacular, contemporary interiors ever seen in the area.

Entering a classical London facade you discover modern, state of the art finishes, designs, architecture and art. The light throughout is outstanding and every room is an incredible experience as well as a fantastic living space for a multitude of different buyers. The house benefits from a unique double-height living room leading directly onto the 30ft West facing garden. There is a separate kitchen, dining room, cinema room and study all with their own individual and original style that cannot fail to impress and amaze. The master bedroom suite is situated on the first floor with the bedroom positioned to the rear with lovely views over the garden. The contemporary design is continued throughout the house and the master bathroom exemplifies this fantastic creativity with petrified moss being used as a wonderful texture and colour dividing the bath and shower.

There are a further four bedroom suites.

Call Rokstone on 020 7580 2030 or visit www.rokstone.com

ÂŁ14,000,000

• • •• • ••• ••• • • •• • • Located directly opposite Hyde Park in the heart of Knightsbridge, a magnificent and exceptionally well presented five bedroom freehold house with spectacular features throughout. Including a private spa, swimming pool, front and back gardens, exceptional ceiling heights on every floor, and off street parking (available by separate negotiation) this is a fantastic London house. The house presents a rare opportunity to purchase a freehold asset in one of London`s most exclusive addresses. The property has a wonderful, bright, south-facing aspect with views of Harrods and has exceptional ceiling heights on every floor. The house has been flawlessly designed and redeveloped by Nicholas Haslam, one of London`s premier luxury interior designers. It features a state-of-the-art home management system by Crestron, integrated air conditioning and underfloor heating in every room, integrated high end audio visual / movie system, smart lighting by Lutron, electric blinds and other luxury features. The latest fingerprint security and entry system has also be installed. The kitchen is by Boffi with Gaggenau and Wolf appliances. The property has a spectacular spa floor with gym, Jacuzzi, steam room and rain shower room. In addition, it has a meticulously designed entertainment floor with a retractable cinema that turns into a bar / lounge with epic high ceilings, and a swimming pool, with latest triple jet technology for the exercise enthusiast, and rising floor to turn the room into an impressive entertainment hall.

Call Rokstone on 020 7580 2030 or visit www.rokstone.com

£20,000,000