Cheshire Magazine issue 4 by Runwild Media Group

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Regulars | The cheshire Magazine

From the

Editor H

urrah! February is over and now there’s a promise of spring in the hedgerows it almost seems possible that it might stop raining. Almost. This latest issue of The Cheshire Magazine is absolutely packed with the usual fabulous mix of news, fashion, insight, stories and ideas we know you love. While I’ve been working on this issue I’ve developed an urgent need for a gold hosepipe, desperately want to drive a Tesla and am wondering when I can get myself to Edinburgh to experience Hotel Missoni for myself. It’s not all been work, however. Maserati threw a fun Italian themed party at The Mere, to celebrate their arrival in Cheshire, courtesy of Sytner. There are definitely worse ways to spend an evening than sipping Prosecco and admiring beautiful cars. I also had the opportunity to meet some fascinating people. Tony Hughes is a larger than life character and his energy and enthusiasm for living life to the full is inspirational (see p125). Very different, but equally inspiring, is the beautiful garden designer Alexandra Froggatt (see p60). Both are ambitious, dedicated and driven by being the best they can be, but in two fields that couldn’t be more different. I hope you enjoy this issue of The Cheshire Magazine as much as I’ve enjoyed working on it.

Kate

Kate Houghton Editor Follow us on Twitter @TheCheshireMag

Finally, a navigation system without that annoying voice.

Portuguese Yacht Club Chronograph. Ref. 3902: “Please make a U-turn if possible.” The instruments used by sailors in the tradition of Vasco da Gama are less intrusive. One of the legends of navigation is the Portuguese Yacht Club Chronograph. Its IWC-manufactured movement with flyback function and automatic double-pawl winding guarantees precise landings. And even if you happen to head off in the wrong direction, no one’s going to start nagging you. Mechanical IWC-manufactured movement | Flyback function | Automatic IWC double-pawl winding system | Date display | Antireflective sapphire glass | Sapphire-glass back cover | Water-resistant 6 bar | Stainless steel | IWC. Engineered for men.

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The mayfair Magazine | Regulars

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Contents

April 2014

Features

094 128

100

026 | Romance of commerce Ever wondered about the real story behind the man who invented Selfridges? 033 | Summer season Make sure you have all the highlights of the English social season in your diary 040 | Stylish slumber Love fashion? Travel in style with these designer hotels 044 | Building on a legend After 170 years, Riva yachts are still as iconic as ever 048 | The family stone We meet Janine Stone, Cheshire resident and pioneering interior designer 056 | Something fishy Why the world’s super-rich are going mad for aquariums 060 | Creativity will find a way The world of garden design according to Miss Froggatt 066 | Lowry: the A.J.Thompson collection Sotheby’s auction the work of Salford’s finest son 094 | What women want Roland Mouret explains how clothes can set you free 114 | Fountain of youth From fat freezing to placenta facials, we brave the latest extreme beauty treatments

016 | Couture culture Events and hidden gems from near and far 021 | Local scene Who attended what this month - we bring you the glamour and the gossip

108 | Made in Cheshire The stunning silk buttons of 16th century Macclesfield 110 | Beauty news 112 | Backstage beauty We bring you the top beauty trends this season

interiors

motoring

046 | Interiors news 054 | Crockery trends Beautiful plates, jugs and mugs you’re sure to love

116 | Motoring news 118 | She’s electric Car manufacturer Tesla’s newest electric offering 122 | Model creation Immortalising your treasured vehicle like never before 125 | A matter of control Cheshire businessman Tony Hughes talks motor racing 128 | Boy’s toys From mini subs to powerboats, get ready to covet these gadgets

art 064 | Art news 070 | A natural talent Discover the vibrant work of noted artist Joe Tilson 072 | For just a moment in time We talk to cutting-edge snow artist Simon Beck 075 | Prize lots

collection 076 | Watch news 078 | Alpine essentials All you’ll need if you’re planning to make the most of the spring ski season 080 | Jewellery news Bold stones and statement earrings are all the rage 082 | Outside the box David M Robinson’s latest Yellow Box Collection

regulars

fashion & beauty

008 | Editors letter 012 | Contributors 015 | My life in Cheshire Fashion designer Sally Ellis tells us why Tarporley is her little slice of heaven

086 | Fashion news London Fashion Week leaves beauty in its wake 088 | Trend report All the very latest, direct from the S/S 14 catwalks

travel 132 | Travel news 134 | Sun, rum and luxury living We reveal the very best the Caribbean has to offer 138 | Explore...Abu Dhabi For the perfect blend of opulence and culture, this Arabian wonderland has it all 140 | Weekend away Our new favourite Alpine ski resort; the beautiful Arc 1950

family 144 | Kids news 147 | The classroom Cheshire’s young people are aiming for the top

property 149 | Property directory 11

Regulars | The CHESHIRE Magazine

The contributors APRIL 2014 s issue 004 s

Editor Kate Houghton Editorial Director Kate Harrison Art Editor Carol Cordrey Collection Editor Annabel Harrison Assistant Editor Gemma Knight Senior Designer Lisa Wade Brand Consistency Laddawan Juhong Production Hugo Wheatley Alex Powell Oscar Viney Client Relationship Director Kate Oxbrow General Manager Fiona Fenwick Communications Director Loren Penney Head of Finance Elton Hopkins Publisher Giles Ellwood Associate Publisher Sophie Roberts Managing Director Eren Ellwood

Proudly published by

www.rwmg.co.uk Runwild Media Ltd. cannot accept responsibility for unsolicited submissions, manuscripts and photographs. While every care is taken, prices and details are subject to change and Runwild Media Ltd. takes no responsibility for omissions or errors. We reserve the right to publish and edit any letters. All rights reserved. DISTRIBUTION: The Cheshire Magazine is the largest circulated luxury publication in Cheshire, delivered to selected homes in over 20 postcodes, over 300 businesses, as well as newsagents and retail outlets.

Members of the Professional Publishers Association

ELLE BLAKEMAN Elle is a journalist and editor based in London. She has previously worked at Harper’s Bazaar, Marie Claire and InStyle and specialises in luxury travel and fashion writing. She has a weakness for brownies and red lipstick.

RICHARD BROWN Richard is deputy editor of Collection, our dedicated watch and fine jewellery section. He specialises in men’s style, culture and finance. This month he brings us diamond watches and makes sure we’re slope ready.

kate racovolis Kate is an alumnus of Columbia University’s Journalism School and has written widely on luxury interiors, fashion and lifestyle. This month she meets the Cheshirebased interior designer Janine Stone.

carol cordrey Carol is an art critic and editor. She organises the annual London Ice Sculpting Festival and is permanently on the art scene, bringing us her take on the latest happenings from the constantly evolving world of art.

TIM BRADLEY Tim is an award-winning photographer based in the North West. Discovering a passion for photography from his grandfather he is a regular on the media scene and works regularly with TV chef Andrew Nutter.

louisa castle Louisa is a journalist and copywriter based in Hale. She loves meeting and interviewing new and exciting people. Her other passions include drawing, Vivienne Westwood and trying out new recipes on her family.

EDITOR’S PICKs

#1 Tabitha Simmons Hayden leather pumps, £505 (matchesfashion.com)

cover On the

Image courtesy of Riva (riva-yacht.com)

Also published by

2 3

#2 Charlotte Olympia First Mate embroidered suede clutch, £925 (net-a-porter.com)

#3 Goat Redgrave Wool Crepe Coat, £540 (harveynichols.com)

the english rose, the diamond ring

an enduring romance since 1775

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The cheshire Magazine | Regulars

My life in CHESHIRE S a l ly E l l i s Fashion Designer & Owner of Sve Fashion in Tarporley

‘I ‘My designs were picked up by city boutiques and items were used for fashion shoots with celebrities’ – Sally Ellis

from top: sally ellis; models wearing clothes by sve fashion; the sve shop and tarporley sign (photos by Joanne Humphreys at LittlePicturesTarporley.com); piste restaurant

t was my childhood dream, and I’ve accomplished it,’ says Sally Ellis, of her store in Tarporley. ‘I grew up in Christleton, near Chester and when I was small, my mother would bring me to Tarporley after school on a Friday, as a weekly treat. We’d visit Caran D’ache, a fashion store that then carried children’s clothes and for me the epitome of sophistication. I always knew I’d be a fashion designer, and always said that as soon as I was able to make it happen, it would be in Tarporley that I’d establish myself.’ Sally’s designs are elegant, intelligent and misleadingly simplistic. She celebrates the strength and power of women in her sleek lines and flattering cut, and while she says that no one single designer inspires her, she does relate most closely to the simple elegance of Chanel and Valentino. ‘After graduating I worked incredibly hard for four years,’ says Sally, ‘chasing my dream across Europe and the Far East. Following a frustrating stint with a high street retailer I decided to head back to Manchester and created my own label – Sve. I was immediately successful - my designs were picked up by city boutiques and items were used for fashion shoots with celebrities, and an entire collection was flown out to Paris for a major model agency fashion event.’ ‘I didn’t lose sight of my Tarporley dream though and was in the process of making this happen when I was head-hunted by a major designer in London, a very famous name who I can’t even mention. It wasn’t what I’d hoped for though, so once again I came home, where in a stroke of serendipity premises became available on Tarporley High Street.’ ‘I’ve never once regretted my decision. It really is a dream come true and while I was warned of building castles in the clouds, it’s all been marvellous.’ Today Sally not only works but also lives in Tarporley and loves the life this allows her. ‘It’s beautiful here. Tarporley itself is a great place to be; I love to spend Thursdays with friends at Piste, where we listen to live music and chill out. Working here you soon become part of the community. There are so many independent retailers here and we all complement one another.’ ‘But – with Manchester only a short drive away, I really have the best of both worlds. Selfridges is like my second home, I spend hours and hours in there. While whenever I go out in the evenings I always wear my own designs – I am my best advert – I’m also a fan of the rapid change you can find on the high street. A frenetic day shopping in Manchester, then a return to the quiet relaxation of Tarporley – you can’t beat that.’ Sve Fashion by Sally Ellis, 48b High Street, Tarporley, Cheshire CW6 0DX (svefashion.com) 15

Good golfing On Thursday 15 May, 2014, Mottram Hall plays host to a charitable golf tournament in aid of St Ann’s Hospice. This prestigious centre cares and helps around 3,000 patients and their families and carers every year who are affected by cancer and non-cancer life limiting illnesses. The fundraisers at the Hospice have joined with the newly refurbished Mottram Hall to deliver a fun four-ball tournament on this Championship golf course, host to last year’s European Seniors PGA Championship. If you would like to test your prowess against the rolling meadowland and lush woodland, the cost to register is £400 per team of four and includes lunch, pre-dinner drinks and three-course meal, including prizes and presentations. All proceeds will go to St Ann’s Hospice. To register a team please call 0161 498 3631

Couture culture As spring starts to make its presence felt, The Cheshire Magazine brings you the best of what’s happening and what’s hot right now

event

The Grand National

f “all the world’s a stage”, then for three days in April Aintree and The Crabbie’s Grand National are at the centre of it. For the third to the fifth of April moments of high drama on the famous Aintree turf will be matched by displays of great showmanship and entertainment from the opposite side of the running rail. The curtain rises on Grand Opening Day with

a full card of racing, live music and entertainment, but all this is but a prelude to what can fairly be described as one of the most glamorous days in the North West’s calendar – Ladies Day. The bold and the beautiful from across the region will gather in all their finery for this unique blend of sport and fashion. As if any encouragement were needed, Style Spotters will be mingling with the crowds in the hunt for this

‘The bold and the beautiful from across the region will gather in all their finery’ year’s Most Stylish Racegoer and the winner will receive a £10,000 holiday to the Dominican Republic, plus a £250 Liverpool ONE Gift Card every month for a year. Lay your bets ladies and gentlemen. The Grand National at Aintree 3-5 April. (thecrabbiesgrandnational.co.uk) 16

books

THE literary read The News by Alain de Botton, £18.99, Hamish Hamilton In his latest book, de Botton explores the effect of the news – both good and bad – on our daily lives. the environment read White Beech by Germaine Greer, £25, Bloomsbury Greer has brought 60 hectares of abandoned dairy farmland to life with her elegant prose and riveting story of how delicate the environment can be. THE FICTION READ & Sons by David Gilbert, £16.99, 4th Estate This ambitious novel explores the importance of family and mortality in this future classic novel. THE culture read Eat, Drink, Nap: Bringing the House Home by Soho House £30, Preface Publishing What better advice to take than that of Soho House. The chic members’ club reveals the secrets to its popularity, from how to cook its food to how to make a bed. THE fame read I Used to be in Pictures: An Untold Story of Hollywood by Austin Mutti-Mewse and Howard Mutti-Mewse, £35, ACC Editions Be transported to the Golden Age in this coffee-table tome that reads like an A-Z of Hollywood’s most iconic stars.

The cheshire Magazine | Regulars

Image: Entertainment One

5 top picks

Mother’s Day Join us in celebrating our mothers with a little something to say ‘thank you’. When in doubt, say it with flowers; what mother could fail to be delighted when you choose from these elegant gifts?

film

Yves Saint Laurent

e was youthful, he was bashful; his smile and creative prowess awed the fashion world and catapulted him to unnatural fame. This was Yves Saint Laurent, the Algerian-born French designer whose knack for imaginative invention precipitated his ascension to the post of artistic director of the House of Dior at the age of just 21. In this eponymous film, young actor Pierre Niney portrays the Byronic savant while his lover and business partner Pierre Bergé is played by Guillaume Gallienne. The film chronicles Laurent’s career and his complex relationships with his friends, family and country, which are shaped by his experiences and struggles with drugs and acceptance of his sexuality.

Niney is remarkably tender, and his ability to reproduce Laurent’s passion and severity is uncanny. His soulful performance marks him out as the undoubted star of the piece. The accompanying music to the film is also rather brilliant and Ibrahim Maalouf’s rollercoaster score stirs and lifts throughout the film. Director Jalil Lespert is clearly on a mission to enamour viewers to the late, great designer, and to expose a glimpse of very human triumph and genius as well as his long-lasting melancholia and alienation – he does not disappoint. Yves Saint Laurent arrives at cinemas on 21 March (cineuropa.org)

#1 Jo Malone Blackberry & Bay and Orange Blossom Bath Soap collection, £26 (johnlewis.com) #2 Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb Eau de Parfum 50ml, £68 (selfridges.com)

#3 Oscar de la Renta Painted Enamel Carnation ring, £150 (matchesfashion.com)

Words: Andrew Manns

For more than 50 years David Bailey has created iconic photographs of actors, musicians, models and many more. Now, working in collaboration with East London’s The Bleach Room, Bailey has created a set of six artworks based on some of his most famous portraits.

#4 Matthew Williamson Blossom DNA printed silk scarf, £210

‘It’s not fashion, it’s just a T-shirt,’ Bailey says. We say: ‘We want.’ ©DAVID BAILEY T-shirts £70 Selfridges Exchange Square & Trafford. (selfridges.com)

#5 Mixed Pink Hatbox Arrangement, £90 (realflowers.co.uk) 17

HIDDEN GEM… The Cheese Yard, Knutsford

icture the perfect cheese shop and you won’t be far off the standard set by The Cheese Yard in Knutsford. A turophile’s heaven, the space is simply filled with fabulous fromage of all types and anything you might want to serve with them. Owner Sarah Peak had a very clear idea of what she wanted to achieve when she opened her shop and, judging by the crowds you’ll find there every lunchtime and weekend, she’s done it. ‘I wanted to achieve the perfect balance of great products and excellent customer service. All our cheeses go through a rigorous selection process; we only stock products made by small, passionate producers. Everybody who works here is a true cheese fanatic, so you can be sure to enjoy your selection process, as you learn a little about and taste the cheeses you’re interested in.’ The Cheese Yard ethos is

TRENDY TIPPLES

clearly based upon epicurean values. ‘We start early serving fantastic coffee for local workers and then offer delicious homemade soup and bread at lunchtime. Once a month we throw a tasting party, where we invite a local artisan producer to come and talk about their work – and taste the results.’ The Cheese Yard, 69 King Street, Knutsford (01565 751 697)

PURCHASE OF THE MONTH Deborah Moses is one of the UK’s leading contemporary glass artists, specialising in kiln formed glass. We think you’ll agree that this is an extraordinarily beautiful way to utilise a cast off stag antler. The cast glass bowl is formed around the antler, which is embellished with silver leaf and cast glass dew drops. When Deer Lay Down Their Bones No1. £1,700 (thesilverzebra.com)

Crystal Head Vodka Smooth Canadian vodka in an Aztec-inspired bottle – a striking addition to the drinks cabinet. £62.99

G.H. Mumm Rosé Ideal for Mothers’ Day (for obvious reasons), not to mention exquisitely pink and heavenly effervescent. £40.99

Thunder Toffee Vodka One sip of this creamy, buttery après-ski staple and you can almost smell the alpine air. Delish. £25

The cheshire Magazine | Regulars

Art à la mode The latest art addition to adorn the Harvey Nichols Manchester Personal Shopping suite is certainly à la mode. Marc McGreevy is one of Britain’s most celebrated fashion artists. He began his career designing fashion layouts and creating unique jewellery collections for high fashion magazines such as Vogue and Elle. Winning international acclaim with his timeless fashion illustrations, McGreevy has gained a host of celebrity fans from Joan Collins to Kim Cattrall – even Jerry Hall owns one of his exquisite portraits. His bespoke hand crafted prints from The Mode Collection are now on display in the Personal Shopping Suite at Harvey Nichols Manchester, each one signed by the artist and available to purchase. Harvey Nichols, 21 New Cathedral Street M1 1AD

‘Once, during prohibition, I was forced to live for days on nothing but food and water’ – WC Fields

SPOTLIGHT ON… Gaucho, Manchester

oothing opulent surrounds, exceptional service, quirky, decadent décor and arguably the finest selection of Argentinian cuisine around – there’s really just never an excuse not to visit this fabulous gastronomic empire. With restaurants across London, not to mention in Dubai, Leeds and Manchester are lucky to lay claim to the only two other outlets in the world. We go back time and again for the mouthwateringly perfect steak (with every piece of meat sourced directly from Argentina and cooked lovingly and exclusively by experts), vibrant and fresh South American ceviche (try the shrimp aguachilli with green jalapeño, coriander and lime, you won’t be disappointed) and wickedly delicious sides such as the sweet potato chips and chorizo. The salted dulce de leche and macadamia cheesecake is truly as good as it sounds (and looks), while the selection of fine Argentinian wines merit a visit all on their own – to which the 28-page wine menu is surely testament. 2A St Mary’s St, Manchester M3 2LB (0161 833 4333) 19

BECOME A RACING DRIVER WITH GINETTA

From £27,250+VAT Take the race out of the City, show your competitive edge by joining the Ginetta Racing Drivers Club. Once a Ginetta Racing Drivers Club member, you will be supported through getting your race licence before you embark on an action packed year of track days, four race weekends and Ginetta lifestyle events, including a road trip to the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans. Think you have what it takes? Test drive Ginetta’s race car for the road at one of the UK’s most prestigious circuits. Contact us on 0113 385 4171 or email GRDC@ginetta.com to book.

CALL 0113 385 4171 | EMAIL GRDC@ginetta.com | WEB ginetta.com/runwild ginettacars

ginettacars

Photography by Chris Wallbank

In association with

The cheshire Magazine | Regulars

Local scene paul robinson and john cannon

kate houghton with jo brown

Alison Rockliffe, Alison Lawson, Kazalla Choudry, Stella Zannetou Kriticos

We all love a night out, and February certainly provided us with plenty of opportunities to get out and enjoy life

Maserati Parti! The Mere Golf Resort & Spa The Sytner Group has a long established reputation for quality in this area with a network of specialist dealerships including Rolls-Royce Manchester, Bentley Manchester and McLaren Manchester. In 2014 they also added Maserati to their impressive line-up and to celebrate the occasion held an Italian themed launch event at The Mere Golf Resort & Spa. Around 150 of Cheshire’s finest from the world of business, sport and motoring attended the event and enjoyed an Italian themed drinks reception, courtesy of Robinsons Fine Wines & Champagnes, who introduced guests to their quite delicious Montelvini DOCG Asolo Prosecco Superiore Brut. Jo Brown, Marketing Manager for Maserati Manchester, said: ‘The atmosphere was electric. The moment of the grand reveal of the brand new Quattroporte and the much anticipated Ghibli was thrilling; the perfect culmination to a very exciting time.’

‘The cars received a lot of attention. The Ghibli is a real departure for Maserati; it’s smaller, lighter and less expensive than the legendary Quattroporte, but no less dynamic and delivers an incredible ride; it’s already creating a real stir in the luxury car marketplace.’ (Test drives can be booked at Maserati Manchester, call 01565 220 390)

Photographs by Craig Barker

THE DETAILS

The cheshire Magazine | Regulars

HELEN BUNCH, DEBORAH CARR, PORTIA HUGHES, OLIVER WEBB and RICHARD PRICE

Andy Lilley and Oliver Chesher

Dr. Choudry and Marios Kriticos

‘The Ghibli is a real departure for Maserati; it’s smaller, lighter and less expensive than the legendary Quattroporte, but no less dynamic and delivers an incredible ride’ BRYAN JARMAN and ROB GILMORE

Mike Connett, Sue Connett, Sharon Bates, Terence Paul

SIMON EDWARDS AND MArIOS KRITICOS

Harriet Packford of Freshfords of Bath with art work

Luxury Antique Fair in association with Bentley Manchester The Mere Golf Resort & Spa, Knutsford Guests braved the blustery February weather as the Luxury Antiques Weekend came to The Mere, bringing with it an exemplary range of modern and fine art, along with raising funds for The Christie. (merefair.com)

Ingrid Nilson, event director, with Margaret Melody of Melody Antiques, Cheshire

Photographs by Tim Bradley (timbradleyphotography.com) Tony Haynes

Nick Stanley (centre) of Church Street Antiques, Altrincham with customers Diane and Andrew Dugdale Mike Emeny of Art of the Imagination with first editions of Narnia stories

Contemporary sculptor, Carl Payne with some of his work

The cheshire Magazine | Regulars

Angela from Viridian with Milli Taylor from Milli’s Kitchen

‘Mr Hendrix & the Heroic Rescue, was launched at a VIP party in exclusive Chelsea members’ club Beaufort House’

Helen Lewis, Director at Literally PR, with Mr Hendrix

Journalists from various national newspapers

Mr Hendrix book launch Beaufort House, King’s Road, Chelsea Written by Cheshire-based mother and daughter duo (Hendrix’s owners) Jennifer and Anji Foxx, Mr Hendrix is a Pomeranian puppy and the inspiration behind the Mr Hendrix range of children’s picture books. The third book in the popular series, Mr Hendrix & the Heroic Rescue, was launched at a VIP party in exclusive Chelsea members’ club Beaufort House, attended by more than 50 journalists, musicians, actors, literary agents and children’s book publishers – not to mention Hendrix himself – who were treated to music provided by none other than jazz musician Joe Stilgoe. Photographs by David Erchi AUTHOR Jennifer Foxx WITH Ruth Wyatt, editor of PR Week and Angela from Viridian)

The cheshire Magazine | Feature

Romance of commerce

Selfridges is an international phenomenon, grown from the ideas and innovation of one man, Harry Gordon Selfridge. As the nation spends its Sunday evenings ensconced in the glamour of his life, we look a little closer at the man who invented retail therapy W o r d s : L o u i sa C as t l e

ased on former-fashion PR Lindy Woodhead’s book Shopping, Seduction and Mr. Selfridge, the ITV television series based on the life of Mr. Harry Gordon Selfridge (the American founder of Selfridge’s department store on London’s Oxford Street) makes for an interesting series – which is gaining top-viewer ratings – as he romps his way through relationships with actresses and chorus girls to found ‘the Best Department Store in the World’. Hidden away in North London is a beautiful set and a stunning replica of the real Selfridges store on Oxford Street, home to a Golden Globe-winning Hollywood actor and former Coronation Street actress; Jeremy Piven as Harry Selfridge and Katherine Kelly as Lady Mae Loxley. Selfridges is doing well and the shop looks magical, the only thing missing from Selfridge’s life is his wife, Rose...

reported as saying: ‘Harry had a huge heart. But he was a slave to his vices. He was a massive risk junkie. He felt most alive when the stakes were highest. He found that thrilling.’ In the end this led to his downfall as his latter years were spent in genteel poverty, reportedly roaming London by bus and queuing for the cheap seats at the cinema. Without him and without his addiction to risk, the British retail industry would not be what it is today. We 

left: Harry Gordon Selfridge with his wife Rosalie Amelia Buckingham; below: One of a series of advertisements to launch Selfridge’s

‘Develop imagination, throw away routine, The customer is always right’ – Harry Selfridge The directors and actors don’t deny that there’s a lot of creative license in Mr Selfridge but the paths and choices he took in his life remain. When asked about his character, Jeremy Piven is

IMAGES: copyright ITV, Photographer John Rogers; RIGHT: THE SELFRIDGES & CO. SIGN

The cheshire Magazine | Feature

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;People will sit up and take notice of you if you will sit up and take notice of what makes them sit up and take noticeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

would not have ‘retail therapy’, such a powerful advertising industry and we would not have the ethos that the ‘customer is always right’. In one fell swoop he revolutionised the industry with his trademark imagination and innovation. London was already awash with large department stores (Harvey Nichols, Harrods) but with vision, hard work and pure determination he turned an unsavoury part of Oxford Street into the shopping centre of the nation. Born in Ripon, Wisconsin, on January 11, 1858, Selfridge began delivering newspapers to supplement the family income. At the age of 12 he created a boy’s monthly magazine with a school friend, making money from the advertising carried within. Before he turned 21 Selfridge started work as a stock boy at Chicago department store Field, Leiter & Company (which became Marshall Field and Company, later bought by Macy’s). Over the next 25 years he worked his way up until he was a partner in the business. It is thought that it was here where Selfridge

coined two of the most iconic phrases attributed to him today: the promotion ‘Only ___ Shopping Days Until Christmas’, a catchphrase that quickly was picked up by retailers in other markets and we still hear today; and ‘The customer is always right’. To the disdain of his sales team, with the latter, he was attempting to make the customer feel special by embedding into staff the disposition to behave as if the customer was right, even when they weren’t. From the very start Selfridge believed that the power of communication was the answer – the media was his friend and advertising drove the wheels of commerce. It is rumoured he quadrupled the advertising budget at Marshall Field, booking the first full-page advertisements in Chicago. His advertising was persuasive but honest (the advertising trick of the day was to create false offers to lure customers in), he wanted customers to be his guests (whether they bought anything or not) and service always had to be with a smile. In 1906, Selfridge travelled to England on holiday with his wife and, unimpressed with the quality of existing retailers he invested £400,000 in building his own department store. Ever the canny marketeer, he issued press releases from the very beginning announcing what the store would bring; it would have lifts, large windows, window displays – he called it a shopping centre, where people could sightsee as well as purchase. When the store opened to the public on

The cheshire Magazine | Feature

15 March 1909, the art of ‘window shopping’ began – the notion of shopping for pleasure rather than necessity. Several years later Selfridge penned a book, Mr Selfridge’s Romance of Commerce - a classic text on business and life, full of nuggets as relevant today as they were in 1918 when it was first published. In it he states ‘the art of merchandising consists of appealing to the imagination.’ As such, it was Selfridge who prioritised fantastical window displays, positioned perfume counters at the front of the store and who started the trend to have restaurants and coffee lounges in store. He even instigated the concept of cookery classes to demonstrate the wares. All with the aim of guiding the senses and imagination to what was possible and ‘realise customers’ dreams’. Indeed, Selfridges windows have become synonymous with the brand and are still regularly photographed and published in the likes of Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar. His position as the leader of customer service and entertainment was only enforced further, when in 1909, after the first cross-Channel flight, Louis Blériot’s monoplane was exhibited in the basement of Selfridges, attracting over 12,000 visitors, behind only Buckingham Palace and The Tower of London in the visitor stakes on that day. Throughout the years he innovated, led and amazed; he obtained the privilege of having ‘1’ as the store’s phone number; he introduced a terrace roof garden for shows and mini-golf; he showcased the first public demonstration of television by John Logie Baird; the list goes on...

Even in more modern history and corporate ownership the store retains its innovative spirit. In 1998 Selfridges was one of the first luxury London stores to open a provincial arm, opening Manchester Trafford Centre, closely followed by Manchester Exchange Square and the architecturally stunning Birmingham Bull Ring. To honour the imagination this year, Selfridges launched the Festival of Imagination, the thinking behind it based on the most cherished mantras of Harry Gordon Selfridge: ‘Develop imagination, throw away routine’. The campaign aimed to encourage people to make the most of their own imaginations and celebrated the imagineers of today. Speakers included James Dyson and Jeanette Winterson; the world famous windows explored the inner workings of the imagination; and the Imagine Shop offered a one-of-a-kind retail experience showcasing future-facing products – the highlight of which is a 3D virtual tour of the most expensive yacht in the world (£300m). The story of an impeccably dressed, silvertongued, ever-imagining and extravagant American may well be coming to a close on our screens later this month but the legacy of the man who founded one of the greatest department stores in the world remains all around us, every day. Mr Selfridge, ITV, Sundays 9pm Shopping, Seduction and Mr. Selfridge by Lindy Woodhead and Mr Selfridge’s Romance of Commerce – a classic text on business and life are available at all good bookstores.

TOP RIGHT: SELFRIDGES, BIRMINGHAM; BELOW: THE FESTIVAL OF IMAGINATION

The cheshire Magazine | Feature

You are cordially invited to a Cheshire

Summer season From arts and culture to international sport, we outline the hottest social dates of the summer diary 2014 WORDS: GEMMA KNIGHT & LOUISA CASTLE

17 – 21 June 2014

Royal Ascot  The pinnacle of Ascot’s year and one of England’s most talked-about social occasions, Royal Ascot perfectly encapsulates all the decadence and custom which the summer social season has come to epitomise. Founded by Queen Anne in 1711 (making it a rather impressive 303 years-old this summer), the event takes place over five days, regularly attended by more than 300,000 people and including sixteen group races which generate a total of more than £10 million in prize money. Each year the event is attended by HM Queen Elizabeth II and several other members of the Royal Family, often seen hobnobbing in the most prestigious of the three spectating areas, the Royal Enclosure. Membership to the Royal Enclosure is hard to come by, as prospective new members can only be endorsed by those who have attended for at least four years – though, with members treated to a veritable banquet of fine dining, bars and hospitality services, it’s certainly well worth the effort. W h a t t o w e a r : The Royal Enclosure dress code is famously strict, dictating that ladies’ straps must be thicker than one inch, trouser suits full-length, skirts no shorter than just above knee-length and that hats (not fascinators) should be worn, with a base measuring at least four inches. Men should wear black or grey morning dress with a waistcoat, tie, top hat and black shoes, tipping their hat when greeting and removing it when speaking to a lady. The stringent rules of hat etiquette also decree that it’s rude to wear a large-brimmed hat after sundown, to obscure another’s view with your hat, to show its inside lining or to point out the hat etiquette mistakes of others.

2 3 J u n e – 6 J u ly

 Wimbledon That most British of summer pursuits, this annual tennis tournament is as famed for its strawberries and cream and fabulous fashion as the sporting dramas which unfold on its courts. Taking place over a two-week period beginning in late June, Wimbledon is the oldest tennis tournament in the world and routinely attended by close to 500,000 people. It’s also the largest single annual sporting catering operation in Europe, with around 300,000 cups of tea and coffee, 200,000 glasses of Pimm’s, 28,000 kg of strawberries and 25,000 bottles of champagne consumed each year. Equally famous for its play-stopping downpours, a retractable roof was installed on Centre Court in 2009 to avoid the halting of matches. W h a t t o w e a r : There is no official dress code but the general consensus is for spectators to embrace the opportunity to don their sartorial best and avoid bare midriffs, jeans, flip-flops, trainers, strapless tops, shorts and hoodies. The All England Club issued the first dress code for its Members’ Enclosure in 2012, dictating that gentlemen should wear a lounge suit or tailored jacket, shirt, tie, trousers and dress shoes, while ladies are expected to dress to a similar standard and are discouraged from wearing view-obscuring hats. 34

The cheshire Magazine | Feature

1 3 – 1 5 J une 2 0 1 4

Pageant of Power  Set in the stunning grounds of Cheshire’s Cholmondeley Castle, this ever-popular annual three-day event is in its incredible seventh year and, as ever, is set to retain its crown as the nation’s most dynamic motorsport event. Over the course of the weekend spectators are treated to a wealth of excitement, with over 140 of the world’s most valuable contemporary and historic cars and bikes competing around the famous Cholmondeley track, as well as watersport action on the site’s lake and fabulous air displays, all complemented by hospitality which includes artisan food, bars, kids’ activities and, of course, shopping. And as if that wasn’t enough, legendary rockers Status Quo will be taking to the stage on this year’s opening eve to kick off proceedings with a much-anticipated bang (and, we suspect, a few iconic riffs for good measure).

23 – 27 J uly

RHS Tatton Flower Show  Known as the North’s greatest garden party, this fabulously colourful, vibrant event has always been a perfect mixture of practicality and glamour. Over the course of one week, more than 500 novice and noted gardeners and landscape designers come together to compete, with visitors treated to flowers galore in the floral marquees, innovatively designed gardens and inspiring ideas for growing your own fruit and vegetables. The highlight for most is Ladies Day, a fantastic excuse to dress to the nines, show your own creativity and win prizes and indulge in the special programme of events.

2 – 6 J uly

Henley Royal Regatta  Founded in 1839 and now one of the world’s most renowned rowing events, the five-day Regatta takes place along an approximately mile and a quarter-long section of the River Thames each year, with thousands of spectators flocking to watch top international rowers and crews go head-to-head in a series of knockout races. Spectators line the banks on both the Berkshire and Buckinghamshire sides of the river, or watch from one of several more exclusive areas including the Leander Club, Phyllis Court Club and Stewards’ Enclosure, which are entered by invitation only. W h a t t o w e a r : Men attending the Regatta in the Stewards’ Enclosure should wear lounge suits, jackets or blazers with flannels, as well as a tie or cravat, while trousers are out of the question for ladies, who should wear skirts which fall below the knee as well as a hat – which is customary, though not mandatory. 35

2 3 & 2 4 M ay

Coutts International Polo  The Coutts International Polo Weekend, now in its 9th year marks the start of the Chester Racecourse Polo Club season. Firmly established on the British Polo circuit, the two-day tournament regularly attracts high profile riders from the polo-playing elite as far afield as Argentina and New Zealand. A certain new Royal dad has also been known to take to his pony. Enjoy the food, wine and glamour of a polo tournament from the exclusive Sponsors’ or Players’ Enclosure – either way you are guaranteed a memorable day whether you are an avid polo watcher or just fancy something new. W h at t o w e a r :

There are no strict guidelines, however most people will dress up to enjoy their day. If you are planning on taking to the turf for the traditional divot stomping at half-time you may wish to think carefully about your footwear. (chesterraces.com)

1 7 – 1 8 J une

Cheshire County Show  A Cheshire stalwart to say the least, this familyoriented event combines all that we love about our rural surrounds in an assortment of live agricultural demonstrations, livestock competitions (including the coveted title of Supreme Champion and the prestigious Cheshire Dog Show, which attracts more than 2,000 entries each year), plus an incredible array of local produce showcased in the Roberts Specialty Food Hall, exciting flowerarranging competitions, and – of course – live music at the Bandstand, traditional crafts, and fine food and drink available on the Village Green. 36

The cheshire Magazine | Feature

3 – 6 J uly

British Grand Prix, Silverstone  Since the very first Silverstone Grand Prix in 1950, this fantastic display of speed, technology and determination has been an absolute must for racing aficionados and amateurs alike. Featuring some of the world’s finest racing drivers, spectators see competitors take on a gruelling 52 laps of a 5.8km track (making the race a mind-boggling 306.1km in total), with the weekend also offering champagne, fine cuisine and unbeatable views of the action through its VIP hospitality packages, not to mention a live concert from British band the Kaiser Chiefs on the Thursday, a first in the Grand Prix’ history.

1 8 , 1 9 & 2 0 J uly

image: Graham Bloomfield / Shutterstock.com

Foodies Festival  The Foodies Festival at Tatton Park offers a rare treat for food and drink lovers everywhere and proves, again and again, a versatile social event for the family as well as friends to celebrate the finer things in life. New for this year is a Chocolate, Cake, Bake and Preserves Theatre, a brand new outdoor BBQ Arena and a Drinks Theatre with a new emphasis on cocktail and food matching. Don’t forget the Children’s Cookery Theatre where children can find their taste buds and learn how to cook food from around the world. Ambassador of Malaysian food and teacher, Norman Musa, Great British Menu judge, Glynn Purnell and the original TV chef, David Mooney are already confirmed for the Chef’s Theatre. Book VIP tickets for access to the VIP tent with private champagne bar and entertainment, plus priority seating in the Theatre and Master class sessions. W h a t t o w e a r : Whilst there are no guidelines, comfortable footwear is advised and a strategically placed pair of wellies in the boot of your car is always a good idea given the nuances of the British weather. (foodiesfestival.com)

1 3 – 2 0 J uly

The oldest of the four major championships in professional golf, the Open is held in July each year at one of nine historic courses located across England and Scotland. In 2014 the event will take place at the Royal Liverpool Golf Club (otherwise known as Hoylake) where miles of perfectly manicured links and a tented hospitality village filled with exclusive bars, clubs and restaurants will play host to tens of thousands of eager spectators. This year, more than 150 players will compete for the Golf Champion Trophy (the Claret Jug), with the lucky winner also set to be awarded roughly £1 million in prize money.

image: Samot / Shutterstock.com

The Open 

W h a t t o w e a r : While there is no official dress code for The Open, male spectators are advised to wear a jacket and tie while a good pair of shoes is always recommended in case of rain. 37

Feature | The cheshire Magazine

2 – 9 A ugust

1 7 – 2 1 J une

Cowes Week 

Boodles Tennis, Stoke Park

Set on the stunning northern-most tip of the Isle of Wight, Cowes’ annual August regatta is one of the longest-running in the world and a seminal part of any summer social season. With up to forty races taking place every day (weather dependent), the promenade is lined with a myriad of marquees selling merchandise, food and drink, while live music fills the air and the yachting hub’s several historic clubs throw an assortment of glamorous events. Each year the week attracts around 100,000 visitors, with close to 8,000 competitors taking part and up to a thousand boats taking to the water, filling the Solent with vibrant spinnakers and fierce rivalry.

Summer sunshine, champagne, gourmet dining and world-class grass-court tennis – what more could you ask? The Boodles tennis tournament, held in beautiful Buckinghamshire’s Stoke Park, sees the world’s best players compete at the peak of their physical fitness and in tandem with their final preparations for Wimbledon. The twelve year-old tournament has gained a reputation for intimacy thanks to the 1,700-seat stadium which allows no spectator to be seated more than eight metres from the court, meaning that the event is the perfect chance to see your sporting idols in action. And if you tire of tennis, there’s always the Boodles gallery, a glistening array of the sponsor’s jewellery displaying some of the finest craftsmanship you’re ever likely to see.

W h a t t o w e a r : Members

of the public visiting Cowes Week can dress as they like, unless they’re attending the Royal Yacht Squadron, Royal London Yacht Club or Royal Corinthian Yacht Club, in which case men should wear smart sailing gear during the day, a lounge suit for cocktail parties and black tie for balls (or mess dress for members).

2 0 – 2 4 M ay

RHS Chelsea Flower Show  Attracting approximately 157,000 visitors from around the world each year, this internationally renowned horticultural event has been held in the grounds of the Chelsea Hospital since 1913. The five-day show takes twenty-five days to put together and features 550 exhibitors, each of them displaying an artistic and innovative miniature garden and hoping to win a coveted gold, silver-gilt, silver or bronze medal in one of five contentious categories. The exhibits are complemented by a range of hand-picked catering facilities, providing peckish or parched visitors with everything from three-course meals with champagne to light snacks and cups of tea. W h a t t o w e a r : There are no formal guidelines but visitors tend to dress smartly, with men opting for blazers and light trousers and women favouring summery dresses or skirts and jackets (although hats are rare).

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The cheshire Magazine | Feature

With the eyes of the world firmly focused on fashion this month, Olivia Platt-Hepworth explores why some of the world’s most established fashion houses are expanding into the hotel industry

LEFT: DRESS LAMPS BY MOSCHINO; ABOVE, FROM LEFT: THE LOBBY AT MOSCHINO; RECEPTION BY MISSONI; ‘THE FOREST’ ROOM BY MOSCHINO

t all started with The Ferragamo Group, the first fashion house to take the leap of opening a hotel with the unveiling of the Lungarno Collection in Italy in 1995 (it opened to the public in 1999). The Versace Group followed in boldly coloured suit with the Palazzo Versace on Australia’s Gold Coast in 2000, and the success of this six-star high glamour ‘palace’ – as dramatic as any piece in their catwalk collections – was then followed by several other fashion brands, including Bulgari, Moschino and Missoni. True to the fashion houses’ style that can be seen in their clothing and products, they have all ensured that their brands are successfully reflected in their respective hotels. The Missoni Hotel in Edinburgh has drawn on its fashion design heritage, employing its signature colourful patterns and contemporary design within the hotel, while the Lungarno Collection

draws on the understated elegance of the Ferragamo brand. Within its Hotel Lungarno, situated on the edge of the River Arno in Florence, muted colours and tones such as cool blues reflect its stunning location by the water. One hotel that certainly fulfils the quirky expectations of a fashion designer’s hotel is the Maison Moschino in Milan. A chic, boutique hotel where you will find four-poster beds made of trees, huge red velvet dresses covering bedroom walls, and light installations as striking as you would find in any art gallery. And lots of sheep. Naturally. The hotel was designed with Rossella Jardini, Moschino’s creative director, who describes the hotel as ‘a place of enchanted fairytales.’ Indeed there is a slightly magical, whimsical feeling throughout, as 16 of the 65 rooms have taken unique ‘dream design’ concepts, ranging from Little Red Riding Hood to The Sweet Room 

‘[Salvatore Ferragamo] hosted visits from Hollywood stars, including Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn’ ABOVE: A ROOM BY MISSONI; RIGHT: A ROOM AT THE LUNGARNO HOTEL

(where you will find chandeliers of popcoloured candy and biscuits). Clearly all of the brands are keen to offer a luxurious and unique experience, extending their fashionable lifestyle offering, but what is the crossover between hotels and labels? ‘When you leave a luxury boutique, you go away with a shopping bag that contains a unique piece that will last and accompany you through a distinct period of your life,’ says Leonardo Ferragamo, president of the Ferragamo Group. ‘When clients leave our hotels, we hope they leave with a “bag” of great moments and wonderful experiences spent within our structures with the help of our services and staff.’

The Ferragamo Group’s Lungarno Collection went on to win several travel awards, and at present, the group has several luxury hotels, retreats, a villa and a yacht to its name in Tuscany (largely Florence) and Rome. It was in Florence that Salvatore Ferragamo founded his business in 1927. As the brand became more prominent in the following years, he hosted visits from Hollywood stars, including Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn, as well as aristocrats and diplomats, at the historic Palazzo Spini Feroni overlooking the River Arno during the 1950s. His charismatic hospitality became renowned and was the inspiration for the creation of the hotels, which are run by his son, Leonardo Ferragamo. The Hotel Lungarno is the restoration of a

The cheshire Magazine | Feature

16th century grand residence that displays over 400 works of art, including some by Picasso and Cocteau, using ivory-toned fabrics, antique furniture and deep, blue carpets to create the feel of an aristocratic Italian residence. Across the river is Hotel Continentale, which aims to imitate the 1950s and 1960s fashion and cinema period in Italy with quirky details. Within the foyer is a black and white show-reel of the Ponte Vecchio. Its rooftop lounge bar is reputed to serve one of the city’s best cocktails and is the trendiest place to be seen in summer. Further afield in Florence, a magnificent 16th-century villa that has antique rose bushes and potted lemon trees in Chianti is available to rent from the Lungarno Collection. Leonardo Ferragamo says that the idea behind the diversity of the hotels is so that there is accommodation that caters to the various stages of one’s life. ‘I believe that an individual, throughout the journey of his life, no matter what his age or mindset, can enjoy the diverse structures of our hotel collection,’ says Ferragamo. ‘This is why we have established hotels that are different in style and atmosphere and target of clients, whilst sharing magical locations in Tuscany.’ The locations actually range from the waterside views of Tuscany to the traditional cobbled streets of Edinburgh, where Italian brand Missoni somewhat surprisingly decided to set up camp in 2009. ‘Edinburgh was chosen as it’s a stunning city, so full of culture and art, which fits well with the Missoni brand,’ says Carina Svensen, general manager at Hotel Missoni Edinburgh. ‘Launching a very different and unique hotel to the city has been great for the market and has offered something really special to both visitors and locals.’ The hotel itself, a tribute to the vibrant signature patterns and colours of the brand, is ideally located in the heart of Edinburgh’s old town at the top of the Royal Mile, just a few minutes’ walk away from Edinburgh Castle. Bulgari is the latest desinger hotel in the

spotlight with the opening of its luxurious hotel and residences in the prestigious Knightsbridge in 2012. The hotel is noteworthy in itself as it is the first, luxury purpose-built hotel build in London in over forty years. According to Sylvain Ercoli, general manager of the Bulgari Hotel and Residences, the company spent several years determining the location for the company’s third hotel after Milan and Bali. ‘London has a rich history and culture and is of course, one of the most famous and prestigious business and tourist destinations in the world,’ says Ercoli. ‘We saw the UK as an important location to strengthen our brand visibility in this market, particularly from the perspective of a company that wants to grow.’ In a tribute to the company’s silversmith origins, the interior design, furnishings and textiles used throughout the hotel and residences have been made exclusively for Bulgari, crafted by Italian manufacturers. This silver theme continues throughout the hotel from the bedside lamps used in the suites to the bar that has been entirely finished in stainless steel. Additionally, the dramatic focal point of the ballroom is two, 2.4 metre, solid silver chandeliers, which were designed and handcrafted specifically for the space by a British silversmith. And so now it seems that the eyes of the fashion world are on our isle once again. Let the A-list flock.

n 1842, an idyllic spring afternoon on the shores of Italy’s Lake Como saw the beginning of the Riva story. A fisherman visiting from Sarnico, a village on the shores of Lake Iseo, is left in awe after seeing a young Pietro Riva working on a badly damaged boat. The visitor proposes that Pietro returns with him to Sarnico to work on two of his own boats both damaged by flooding. It was this journey that saw the birth of Riva with their first workshop established on the shore of Lake Iseo. The early pedigree of Riva was that of championship-winning race boats, and from their early days amongst Italian lakes to the harbours of Monaco and the Cote d’Azur, Riva remain one of the utmost iconic and luxurious yacht makers. The late 1800s saw the creation of their first motorboat and by the early 1960s international high society had adopted Riva’s legendary Aquarama as their personal icon. Referred to by Riva as the “La dolce vita” era the 50s and 60s saw some of the world’s most glamorous actors and socialites sporting the Aquarama, including the likes of Sophia Loren, Sean Connery and Prince Rainier of Monaco, bringing Riva to the forefront of luxury as a remarkable craft and fashion icon. The company stayed with the Riva family until 1990 when it was acquired by luxury giants Rolls Royce. Today the company has returned to Italy and is owned by one of the biggest names in luxury yachts, the Ferretti Group. Despite the company changing ownership several times in its history the original ethos has never changed - craftsmanship, quality and innovative but always functional design – and has kept Riva at the leading edge of boating design. From the 90s onwards, cementing their position in the luxury yacht market, Riva embarked on a number of high profile collaborations, the most recent of which with design powerhouses Marc Newson and Gucci. The collaborations created two individually distinct and classically beautiful versions of the popular Aquariva, intended to perpetuate the iconic Aquarama. In summer 2012 Riva celebrated their 170th anniversary with a series of events and the launch of their biggest open top yacht, the 63’ Virtus, while the simultaneous 50th anniversary of the Aquarama was marked by the Aquarama Parade in front of the Monaco Yacht Club, culminating in the awarding of the Riva Trophy to owners who best interpret the slogan ‘Be beautiful such as your Aquarama.’ (riva-yacht.com)

The cheshire Magazine | Feature

Building on a

legend Riva has become synonymous with style, elegance and luxury, Nick Birss recounts the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s story from past to present

Interiors news We have a true feast for the eyes this month, with a stunning selection of timeless touches guaranteed to get you feeling creative this spring

Merchant Archive Beginning seven years ago with a small collection of vintage clothing, Merchant Archive has now grown into an all-round lifestyle boutique. The Spring/ Summer 14 collection is bursting with quirky additions for the home, from crystal glasses to copper potted candles. We love the pineapple collection, available in brass, copper and zinc, and still made in the Indian factory that produced them in the 1970s. Retro. Large £285, small £145 (merchantarchive.com)

Bardi bowl chair brought to life In 1951, Italian-Brazilian architect Lina Bo Bardi designed a chair that would echo her love for simple, functional, organic forms whilst reinventing the way its occupants sat. Never having gone into production, (and with only one prototype in existence), Arper has brought Bardi’s designs to life in a limited number of 500 semi-spherical seats that can be swivelled into any stance. In addition to the original black leather, Arper’s fabric model is available in seven different colours, with a choice of matching patterned cushions, inspired by Bardi’s original sketches. An eye-catching and cool design statement, Arper has proven that good things do indeed come to those who wait. (arper.com)

Step into spring The White Company has announced its latest exclusive collaboration with British artist and designer Huw Griffith, who has created two bespoke slogan-posters for the brand. Famous for his reworking of 19th century mirrors and antique furniture, the bulk of Griffith’s inspiration springs from sourcing unusual pieces that many dealers overlook, and his posters stick to this restoration ethic. Created using original fruitwood printing blocks and hand-mixed, vegetable-based inks, each poster has been individually hand-cranked through salvaged Wharfedale letter-press machinery for an individual and authentic finish. 19 Northgate Street, Chester CH1 2HA (thewhitecompany.com)

The cheshire Magazine | Interiors

Take a seat With origins dating back to 1780, Fleming & Howland has built its reputation on crafting beautiful handmade sofas, produced entirely in the UK. All leather pieces are hand-coloured using centuries-old techniques; a six-step process where the dye is massaged onto the leather before it undergoes a wax finish, making each piece completely unique. Presenting its first ‘sectional’ piece within the Monochrome collection, this classic sofa will breathe elegance and class into the most modern living room with its antique studded design. From a selection, Fleming & Howland (chesterfields1780.com)

Light news? Bring Africa to your living room and prepare for summer with the ‘Kumasi’ lampshade collection from Arhinarmah. Blending exotic textiles with luxury fabrics, the brand specialises in furnishings with an ethnic twist. Taking its inspiration from Kumasi, known as ‘The Garden City’ in South Ghana, creative director Catherine Arhin encourages you to feel connected with nature through mauve, green and tangerine hues. A range of lively cushions will follow the initial collection. (arhinarmah.co.uk)

The

family stone Cheshire resident and interior designer, Janine Stone, invites us to her studio to talk family, furniture and why interiors are a lot like fashion W o r d s : K at e R a c o v o l i s

‘I

’m going to be absolutely honest about interior design,’ says Janine Stone, the petite, Cheshire-based interior designer. ‘It’s all been done.’ [But] it’s about how you put it together - that’s the talent. It’s how you place furniture, the colour combinations, the quirkiness and the creativity.’ Quite the globetrotter, over the past 27 years the Lebanon-born Stone has adorned homes with her elegant designs in many corners of the globe, including New York, Moscow, southern

‘[Interiors] follows fashion as well, it follows it a lot in terms of colour and styling’ – Janine Stone France and London among many more. Her career has seen a diverse range of projects; she has designed commissions up to £30 million, as well as smaller jobs, which she has seen a particularly high demand for in the past few years. This has led to the recently launched Studio, a design service for projects from £250,000 to £1 million. Stone looks like the sort of woman you’d trust with your home – groomed immaculately, with her dark-brown hair perfectly coiffed, and a black knitted jumper that completes her chic look on a chilly Friday afternoon in her studio in London. ‘My personal style is very understated and very natural,’ she tells me with her megawatt

smile. ‘But I’m not one of those designers whose house has to reflect who they are or what they do. I’m happy to live in any place.’ Although Stone doesn’t intend for her personal style to be reflected in her interiors – it’s clear that something carries through; an innate elegance, which is both understated and glamorous, is distinct in many of her projects, and her own home in Bowdon, Cheshire. Although seasonal trends don’t tend to appear in her sophisticated designs (wallpaperclad rooms are having a ‘moment’ in the interiors media), she notes that fashion does play a part. ‘[Interiors] follows fashion as well, it follows it a lot in terms of colour and styling, because its people that are going to be living in these environments, so it moves in the same way,’ she says. ‘When clothes are more tailored, you see interiors are more tailored. And now for instance, I’m wearing looser things, coats are very minimal, so we too have that sort of feel and atmosphere in our interiors. Not to the letter, but there is a flavour, something in the air you pick up.’ Despite the varied cultural backgrounds of her clients, who come from all around the world including Egypt, Israel, America and Russia, there is no doubt that the dexterity of her and her team is faultless in adapting to whatever request comes their way. Having grown up with the influence of her mother as a 

The cheshire Magazine | Interiors

 fashion designer and her father as an interior designer (as well as two aunts in the same profession), it comes as no surprise that Stone found her niche in this creative field. ‘When I was very young it was always fabrics everywhere and plans on the floor,’ she says of her time in Lebanon. ‘They were all arguing with each other, we were a very competitive family - they’re still really competitive. Who’s doing the better design? Luckily for me they’re all in their seventies and nineties now. I’m the youngest; I’ve still got the drive and ambition, whereas they’re settling down.’ Stone dabbled in fashion, helping her mother from time to time and also – before settling into interiors – designed stage make-up – bullet wounds and the like. ‘I was rebelling a little bit. I didn’t want to do interior design because everybody was doing it,’ she says. ‘I was naturally good at it, so it wasn’t difficult. It wasn’t like I was doing anything in particular. I knew from a fairly young age, eight or nine, that if I was to put a vase there it was the right place. It came as a normal, natural thing, and I didn’t enjoy it because it was normal for me.’ It was her mother (‘She’s a very, very strong woman,’ says Stone) who convinced her to leave her make-up brushes behind to go into the business in the end. It’s easy to see why her penchant for interiors comes so easily to her. ‘When you are in the business for so long, you see the [client], their age, the way they dress, their background, and combine all these things and how they communicate,’ she says. ‘Then you start forming an idea: what sort of environment would this person be living in. It’s almost like guesswork. Then you narrow it down, start picking up on

certain things they like, an image, a piece of furniture, the type of colours they go for.’ Then comes a deeper understanding of what her individual clients are looking for. She has designed an incredible range of spaces, whether renovating, redecorating and furnishing or maintaining, her experience is impressive. One client needed a place to keep all of his cars, so Stone’s team went below ground to design a hidden garage underneath a tennis court. Another asked for a library in which to store an immense collection of books – the brief being to ‘design a room in which

‘She has designed an incredible range of spaces, whether renovating, redecorating and furnishing or maintaining Karl Marx and Jeffrey Archer can live happily together.’ And that they did. Many of her clients also like to have an in-house beauty salon too, so whether it is a hairdressing salon or treatment room, it keeps up with their modern day demands. The result? Ironically, the well-travelled designer’s clients may have an aversion to travel. ‘I have clients who again and again tell me that they don’t like going away on holiday because they miss their home, because it’s so beautiful,’ she says. ‘That for me is the best compliment that they love coming back to their house.’ Janine Stone, 4 Oakfield Trading Estate, Oakfield Road, Altrincham WA15 8EJ (0161 929 5566; janinestone.com)

All images courtesy of Janine Stone

www.vgnewtrend.it

ph. Andrea Pancino C

VG Studio at

inspirations vision

style

design

www.idesign-int.com info@inspirationsoftickhill.co.uk Tel: 01302 760040

The cheshire Magazine | Interiors

f you thought your garden was forever destined to remain a glitz-free zone, think again. Thanks to Swedish company Garden Glory, designer hoses inspired by iconic brands such as Hermés, Chanel and Mulberry are now the ultimate garden wall accessory. The hoses come in a range of beautiful colours with fabulous names like ‘Candy Crush’, ‘Black Swan’, ‘Graceful Rock’ and ‘Gold Digger’ – although don’t be fooled by their playful appearance, these hoses are made of the finest materials and to the very highest standard, ensuring they’re as durable and long-lasting as can be (not to mention easy to use, thanks to kinkpreventing and dirt-repellent technology). Watering the flowerbeds has never been so glamorous. (95percent.co.uk)

Garden glamour 53

Crockery TRENDS BLUE & WHITE

FLORAL MOTIFS

ANIMAL INSPIRED Top row, from left: Blue Calico medium tankard jug, £28, Burleigh (liberty.co.uk); Bleus d’Ailleurs dinner plate, £91, Hermès (uk.hermes.com); Universe teapot, £50, Pantone (selfridges.com); Blue Calico dinner plate, £19, Burleigh (liberty.co.uk); Navy round creamer, £9.95, Fishs Eddy (liberty.co.uk); Willow Love Story side plate, £34 (set of 4), Loveramics (occa-home.co.uk); Farmhouse Touch Bluefowers milk jug, £37.95, Villeroy & Boch (selfridges.com); The Traditional Chippy plate, £29.95, Kitchen and Dining collection (liberty.co.uk); The Triumph of Delft Vases mug, £20, Halcyon Days (halcyondays.co.uk); Sardine Run dinner plate, £19.95, Jersey Pottery (liberty.co.uk). Middle row, from left: New Country Roses pink vintage plate, £18, Royal Albert (occa-home.co.uk); Archive collection Spring Blossom mug, £24, Wedgwood (selfridges.com); Flower Market enamel dinner plate, £39.95, MacKenzie Childs (harrods.com); 1950 Festival mug, £20, Royal Albert 54

The cheshire Magazine | Interiors

Dinner parties to family feasts, here are our favourite table settings for every occasion

(selfridges.com); Small plate June White, £8.50, GreenGate (occa-home.co.uk); Flower Market enamel mug, £37.95, MacKenzie Childs (harrods.com); Wallflower plate, £21.95, Emma Bridgewater (liberty.co.uk); Daffodil mug, £19.95, Emma Bridgewater (liberty.co.uk); Tiny Blue Forget Me Not plate, £14.95, Nicholas Mosse (liberty.co.uk); Wallflower half pint jug, £21.95, Emma Bridgewater (liberty.co.uk). Bottom row, from left: Eos by Edwin Landseer mug, £25, Halcyon Days (halcyondays.co.uk); Cheshire Cat perfect plate, £46, Rory Dobner (liberty.co.uk); Dachshund mug in red, £10, Graduate Collection (occa-home.co.uk); Cheval d’Orient dessert plate, £156, Hermès (uk.hermes.com); Labrador earthenware table jug, £39.95, Fenella Smith (liberty.co.uk); Flutter salad plates, £25.50 (set of 4), Loveramics (occa-home.co.uk); Tiger mug, £25, Halcyon Days (halcyondays.co.uk); Red Cardinal Bird dinner plate, £29.95, Fishs Eddy (liberty.co.uk); Mugtail Squirrel, £15.75, Kinto (occa-home.co.uk); Mackerel porcelain dinner plate, £19.95 (liberty.co.uk). 55

SOMETHING FISHY

The era of two goldfish and some multi-coloured gravel is over. Welcome to the serene, aquatic world of the super-tank, the enormous, watery wonderlands which are the new must-have addition to any luxury abode WORDS: GEMMA KNIGHT

The cheshire Magazine | Interiors

here’s no two ways about it, megaaquaria are big business. These colossal tanks, often many feet in diameter, holding hundreds of valuable exotic fish and requiring costly constant maintenance, can be found in the homes of a diverse range of high-profile figures that includes Wayne Rooney, Joe Hart, Gillian Anderson and the UAE Royal Family, not to mention a myriad of anonymous international billionaires and the luxury offices of such high-flying companies as Facebook, Estée Lauder, Finchatton and Toyota. In fact, footballer Thierry Henry even wanted to re-build his trendy London home to incorporate an incredible 40ft-high tank flanking the central staircase and spanning the four-storey house from top to bottom. The project is currently on hold – perhaps unsurprisingly considering the logistics of slotting a £250,000 aquarium holding 300 fish and 5,500 gallons of water into the middle of your home – but you certainly couldn’t accuse him of a lack of ambition. So what is it about enormous aquariums that has the world’s wealthiest racing to install them in their walls, coffee tables, king-size beds and even toilets? Aquarium Architecture, a British company with offices in the UK and America who count megastars the world over amongst their clientele, believe that ‘the bespoke aquarium is a 21st century expression of ultimate luxury’, which might have something to do with it. But it seems it’s not all just about showing off. ‘For many, a bespoke aquarium is much more than just an illustration of wealth,’ explains co-founder and creative director Roland Horne. ‘Over the past few years we’ve noticed that they can be quite personal things and people are reluctant to show them off as they would, say, a sports car or private yacht. Aquariums offer a small but perfectly formed world that can be surveyed from the comfort of one’s own home, and allow time-poor individuals to indulge in a hobby of the maintenance and cultivation of an abundant ecosystem.’ 

IMAGE: AQUARIUM IN A LUXURY TOWNHOUSE (PHOTO: AQUARIUM ARCHITECTURE)

And he should know. Amongst Aquarium Architecture’s high-end creations are those at Home House members’ club in Mayfair and the Exotic Thai restaurant in Dubai, as well as the incredible Fijian reef aquarium recently installed at the Melanesian-themed Urban Bar in Manchester (a stunning tank which holds over 1,500 litres of water and 150 kilos of live Fijian rock, all cleverly camouflaged to complement the interior of the bar). Typically, however, they remain tight-lipped when it comes to name-dropping any of their individual clients, but we do know that they include ‘a prominent Premiership footballer’ and the owners of a string of penthouses, villas, townhouses and apartments from Hong Kong and Monte Carlo to Manhattan and Paris.

‘The bespoke aquarium is a 21st century expression of ultimate luxury’

FROM TOP: AQUARIUM AT HENLEY HOUSE; AQUARIUM IN A LUXURY TOWNHOUSE; AQUARIUM AT QUEEN’S GATE; A NEW PROJECT BY AQUARIUM ARCHITECTURE; FAR RIGHT: Villa Riviera (ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF AQUARIUM ARCHITECTURE)

These moguls and megastars have requested such features as specific themes, fish species and designs evocative of personal hobbies or previous travels, a very definite sign of a sentimental link between owner and aquarium – a link that would rarely exist with the sort of luxury toys which are designed as much to impress others as personally please. It’s also surely no coincidence that those with some of the most stressful and high-power jobs in the world are opting for items renowned for their calming influence. According to property experts these epic statements of interior design certainly won’t add value to your home, but if you happen to have a demanding job and long for a quiet oasis, it seems it’s a case of the bigger the better. We can think of worse ways to unwind after a busy day than quietly surveying your aquatic empire with a glass of something chilled – though we’d avoid anything involving piranhas or baby sharks because, let’s face it, nobody likes a Bond villain. (aquariumarchitecture.com) (

The cheshire Magazine | Interiors

Creativity will find a way Choosing your university degree can be a tricky task, especially for those trying to choose between something they consider sensible and something they love W o r d s : K at e H o u g h t o n

The cheshire Magazine | Interiors

heshire garden designer Alexandra Froggatt, when faced with this dilemma, opted for the sensible and took herself off to Sheffield University to study Biology, reasoning that while she loved art, it was something she could always maintain as a hobby. But, the creative impulse has a way of making its way felt and as soon as Alexandra completed her degree she threw away the books and decided to re-focus her energies on something she could get passionate about. Alex is young, only 28, beautiful and filled with a happy energy. She is modest about her achievements but recognises that only hard work can bring reward and most certainly isn’t afraid of this. ‘During my degree I’d always focussed on botany and environmental courses, so I decided to investigate opportunities in conservation. I signed up with Sheffield Wildlife Trust as a volunteer and found myself working in garden maintenance at various locations. I loved it and as my then boyfriend was already doing the same, we set up a garden maintenance business together. ‘We started to be asked by our clients if we could help with planting designs and even re-landscaping projects. I loved the idea and hit the books every night to learn as much as possible as fast as possible. It felt like studying for my degree again.

Youth can have its drawbacks however, and Alexandra and her boyfriend parted ways, leading to a decision to return to her family in Cheshire and start over. ‘I came home in 2010 and immediately landed my first brief; admittedly it was a friend of the family, but from this came more work and I started to establish myself. I went to the RHS Tatton Flower Show that year and got chatting to Hugo Bugg, who had won their first ever Young Designer of the Year award, and he encouraged me to enter in 2011. I did, and I came second, winning an RHS Silver Gilt medal.’ The publicity led to more commissions and an increasingly high profile in Cheshire, helped by further wins in 2012, when she won the first ever Gold Medal awarded at the RHS London Plant & Design Show, and another Silver Gilt at Tatton. On first glance, Alex seems to have done very well for herself in a very short time. As well as commissions from across the North West, she’s also been asked to create a garden design to be used to test semi-finalists in the international WorldSkills Competition, which seeks to promote the talents of young people and the benefits of apprenticeships. ‘I was referred by a consultancy I work with; they wanted the Landscaping competitors to be challenged with something very realistic.’ It was also, I suspect, because of Alex herself – hardworking, extremely focussed, young 

Interiors | The cheshire Magazine

‘Every garden is unique and planned to meet my clients’ functional needs as well as aesthetic desires’ – Alexandra Froggatt and talented. In a competitive marketplace, only those who demonstrate all the right skills, and personality, will succeed. Alex unwittingly supports this when she tells me about her approach to new briefs. ‘I believe it is crucial to listen to what the client wants and take the time to check your understanding. Often a brief can be very vague; they know how they want to use the garden, rather than how they want it to look. I don’t divide garden designs into “traditional” or “contemporary”. Every garden is unique and planned to meet my clients’ functional needs as well as aesthetic desires; I always create something that wholly reflects their style and individuality.’ Alex’s creativity isn’t limited to her garden designs. She has created a series of botanical drawings, featuring some of her favourite plants, ‘the ones that make an appearance in a great many of my gardens’, and has plans to try her hand at sculpture too later this year. ‘I get very fidgety if I’m not focussing my mind on creating something beautiful,’ she laughs. ‘I’ve become rather obsessed with cooking recently and my boyfriend is being presented with increasingly inventive dishes. We’re buying a home together, so I’ve been poring over interiors magazines and trawling local architectural salvage yards too. It’s rather a case of more and more hobbies and less and less time!’ (alexandrafroggatt.com)

Breaking News Alexandra has just learned that she will be creating a garden at RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, in July this year. She has been chosen from hundreds of entrants to the Association of Professional Landscapers (APL) ‘Your Budget, Your Garden’ Competition to recreate her design at Hampton Court, with a garden built to her design by top contractors Landform Consultants. ‘I’m so thrilled. It’s such an honour to have my design recognised by the APL, and to have the opportunity to show at such a prestigious event is almost overwhelming. My entry is a sunken garden for relaxation and contemplation. Working to a budget of £15,000, it includes a sheltered seating area, reflective pool and a waterfall. The area is made private without creating too much shade by the use of sculpture, raised borders and trees. I’ve chosen a soothing palette of white and pastel colours and soft, ambient lighting comes through recycled glass panels on the wall. Through the use of upcycled materials such as concrete and wood and the incorporation of nectar rich planting, this garden not only provides a beautiful space in which to relax but is also kind to the environment.’

Celebrating

25 years with

25% oFF* *A different stone every month from February 2014.

Stone & more

If you thought Mandarin Stone only sourced stone, then think again. Our new 2014 brochure contains our unparalleled natural stone range together with on-trend collections of Decorative & Porcelain tiles. A wide selection of stone for the home and garden Limestone, Slate, Granite, Marble, Travertine, Sandstone, Terracotta, Schist, Outdoor Stone, Mosaics, Pebbles & Mouldings, Splitface, Porcelain , Stone Bathware, Decorative & Glazed Local showroom, Wilmslow 67-69 water Lane, wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5BQ 01625 531 343 Visit our showrooms throughout the UK Bath, Bristol, Cambridge, Cardiff, Cheltenham, exeter, Marlow, Monmouth, weybridge & wilmslow For a free copy of our NEW 2014 brochure 01600 715 444 info@mandarinstone.com Buy online mandarinstone.com Classic Ranges from ÂŁ15 m2

14:13

MS_BD2364_TheCheshireMag_297x210_Anniversary.indd 2

CELEBRATING 25 YEARS

26/02/2014 14:14

Art news Kate Moss shot by Tom Ford - art doesn’t get more fashionable than that

w o r d s : G e mm a K n i g h t

Dynamic duo

Primary focus One of the most important contributors to the development of abstract art in the early 20th century, Dutch painter Piet Mondrian created an enormous amount of hugely iconic artwork during his life and has influenced countless artists since. Now, on the 70th anniversary of his death, Tate Liverpool are presenting a brand new exhibition looking at the painter’s fascinating relationship with architecture and urbanism, as well as the rationale behind the straight lines and primary colours which dominate his work. Truly a special exhibition and well worth noting down in your diary well in advance, as it’s sure to be popular. 6 June – 5 October, Tate Liverpool, Albert Dock, Liverpool Waterfront L3 4BB (0151 702 7400)

Some would argue that Kate Moss always looks great in photos, but here, Tom Ford gives us yet another perspective on our iconic fashion model through just three shots that provide insight into the creation of the star that Ms Moss has become. During his tenure as Gucci’s creative director, Ford transformed the brand by injecting it with his distinctive form of contemporary style and glamour. Moss was a key element in achieving that via his shows and campaigns, and in 1996, Ford took these previously unpublished photos himself, now up for auction, during a fitting in Milan for Gucci’s SS/97 collection – chic provenance indeed. ‘Auction: Photo Opportunities’, 28 February (bloomsburyauctions.com)

We’re buzzing with excitement over the current Ossie Clark retrospective exhibition taking place at the stunning Manchester Art Gallery, nestled within the stylish Spinningfields enclave in Central Manchester. Perhaps we haven’t yet recovered our faculties following fashion season, but nevertheless it’s easy to go gaga for this collection of 25 achingly beautiful outfits from the height of this influential British fashion designer’s incredible career, a time when he was renowned for his fluid lines and innovative cut, as well as using the cutting-edge prints of his wife, Celia Birtwell. Until 29 June, Manchester Art Gallery, Quay Street, Spinningfields, Manchester M3 3JE (0161 827 1717) 64

image © cat walker

Renegade retrospective

The cheshire Magazine | Art

Q&A with… Manchester-based artist Iain Andrews Q: Tell us about your newest solo exhibition, Re-view. What can we expect? A: My upcoming show will have paintings, drawings and sculptures that I have produced over the last three years, as well as several large pieces that have been produced especially for this exhibition. Much of my work is based around the themes of Faery Tales – where the shape and size of creatures and people are transformed and altered and I wanted to make a piece that captured something of that feeling of smallness, where the viewer feels dwarfed in the face of a towering menace. Q: Why don’t you typically like to associate yourself with current trends in art? A: I don’t consciously associate myself with current trends, but neither do I consciously disassociate myself from them. I guess I’m unusual in that I also work as an Art Psychotherapist with teenagers, and this is something that I feel adds to and informs my practice since it can often be a very grounding experience. I dislike work that relies heavily on theories and concepts, since I’m far more interested in the sensuous, lusciousness of materials. Q: What would you like those who attend your latest exhibition to take away from it? A: I have slowly learnt over time to trust the freedom of the audience to find the applicability in what they encounter through my work. I would hope that my work has something of the presence of a handwritten letter about it, in an age of Skype, email and texting. Once something becomes outdated, it becomes free of expectations somewhat, since it is no longer striving to be original. The beauty of Faery Tales is not that they are original, but they chime with something deep within us that we knew once and yet needed to be reminded of, like the importance of taking the time to form words with a pen on paper, or to be still and present. I guess that I hope my work causes people to pause. 7 March – 13 April, Castlefield Gallery, 2 Hewitt Street M15 4GB (0161 832 8034) left: The Impressario, 2013 by Iain Andrews

LOWRY: THE A.J.THOMPSON COLLECTION

One of the greatest collections of works by L.S. Lowry goes under the hammer at Sotheby’s later this month; we speak with Simon Hucker, Sotheby’s Deputy Director of Modern and Post War British Art, to discover more about what makes this artist so special W o r ds b y : L o u i sa C as t l e

.S. Lowry is arguably the most recognisable artist to hail from Salford and has become synonymous with the popular industrial scenes of mills and terraced houses populated by characterful men and women, each with their own story to tell. His work can be ‘...split into three genres; cityscapes; seascapes; and portraits. This collection of 15 paintings includes so many of Lowry’s finest cityscapes that it could form one of the finest mini-retrospectives. That is why it is so special,’ explains Simon. Indeed, several of the paintings for sale featured in the Tate’s acclaimed retrospective in 2013, among many other museum shows. Viewed by some as simplistic in his ‘matchstick’ men and women, spare another look and you will see far more. Take the beautifully painted After the Fire for example, upon first glance it’s a scene of smouldering embers and busy people. Take another look and the smoke is actually from the working factories and the ‘matchstick’ people

The cheshire Magazine | Art

each have their own tale. ‘A River Bank is a perfect example; simplistic yet evocative. Using only a limited palette of five colours (ivory black; vermillion, Prussian blue, yellow ochre and flake white) as was Lowry’s style, he created a painting with structure and emotion. Like Mondrian, like a poem. A small part of social history,’ describes Simon. ‘Lowry’s paintings tended to be composite scenes capturing an experience or a memory; the row of terraces from one street, the view of the city buildings from another. He painted what he saw in his lifetime with nostalgia and a rare connection to the true life and people he shared these visions with.’ Simplistic Lowry was not, but he never let the truth get in the way of a good story. In his private life he loved theatre and music and was generous and funny with the people he knew, often only selling his works to his friends and family. In public he was little more tricky and often misinterpreted in his dry sense of humour which didn’t help his simple label.

‘People often underestimate Lowry as a technical painter but it is his technical skill which allows him to evoke the emotion which you see in his paintings. Lowry was able to guide you through a scene and create an emotive character with just two or three strokes of the brush,’ clarifies Simon. ‘From a flat cap, hunched back and hands in the pockets the man in the crowd has a mood and a story which is yours to interpret. ’ Lowry’s passion was the interaction of the city and the people. Much of his life was spent observing the daily comings and goings and his goal was to capture the experience and memory of those observations. Simon continues; ‘His paintings are full of honesty, realism and integrity. He was able to capture the potential loneliness of being surrounded by people but still being an individual, something I think people who live in cities, being an insider but on the outside, can truly understand and to be fair tend to be those who love and collect his work.’ Not only has Lowry proved one of the most heavily traded Modern British artists, he has also proved one of the safest investments for collectors. ‘There’s only one Lowry,’ declares Simon. ‘He’s instantly 

‘Lowry was able to guide you through a scene and create an emotive character with just two or three strokes of the brush’

FROM LEFT: simon hucker, sotheby’s; LS LOWRY SKETCHING STOCKPORT, COURTESY OF THE LS LOWRY ARCHIVE; PICCADILLY CIRCUS, LONDON, 1960

‘You don’t need brains to be a painter, just feelings’ – L S Lowry above, from left: AFTER THE FIRE,1933; THE TOWN SQUARE, 1928; election time, 1929; right: a river bank, 1947

recognisable and that makes a great investment. Plus his works have risen consistently when they have come up for sale.’ The paintings for auction have been collected by self-made man, A.J. (Tony) Thompson, over a period of three decades. The success of his waste-paper recycling business, set up in 1967, allowed Tony to pursue two great passions in his adult life; horse racing and the paintings of L.S. Lowry – the only artist he collected. These would later intersect in the naming of the David Elsworth-trained horses; Salford Express, Salford City and Salford Mill, all named for Lowry’s home-town and favourite subject. Tony enjoyed the sense that others could share in his own enthusiasm and would visit The Lowry regularly, spending much of his time watching the film presentations of the artist at work. The collection also includes the only two paintings of Piccadilly Circus that the artist produced – one of which stands at the highest priced work by the artist at auction. Lowry: the A.J. Thompson Collection is being sold in a stand-alone evening event at 6pm Tuesday, 25 March, Sotheby’s London. Pre-sale exhibition: 20, 21, 23, 24, 25 March. (sothebys.com/lowry)

The cheshire Magazine | Art

The man behind the paintings • L.S. Lowry was born Laurence Stephen Lowry in Old Trafford on 1 November, 1887 • At the age of 21 he moved to Pendlebury, an industrial community near Salford. His house, 117 Station Road still stands and this move helped Lowry to focus his ideas about his subject matter • After failing to get a place at art school Lowry went to work as a clerk in a firm of accountants and then moved to an assurance company where he took up the position of rent collector for Manchester based Pall Mall Property Company until he retired in 1952. Throughout his working life he kept this job a secret fearing it would harm his career as an artist • His favoured football team was Manchester City • Dogs often appear in Lowry’s work, roaming the streets he paints. The most famous example is the five-legged dog in Old Church and Steps, 1960. The artist was pleased with the result, ‘Well all I can say is it must have had five legs. I only paint what I see, you know.’ [From the book: Lowry: A Visionary Artist, by Michael Howard] • Perhaps the best known British football painting is L.S. Lowry’s Going to the Match (1953), which was the first of the artist’s paintings to break the £1million barrier when it was bought by the Professional Football Association for £1.9m • In 1953 he was appointed an official artist at the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II • 1967 saw a general Post Office issued stamp showing Lowry’s work • L S Lowry died aged 88, on the 23rd February, 1976 • The first exhibition of L. S. Lowry’s work at The Lowry on 28 April, 2000 Lowry Favourites is a permanent display of works from the Lowry Collection, The Lowry, Salford Quays. (thelowry.com)

ABOVE: PORTRAIT OF LS LOWRY (PHOTO: ALLAB CHOPPELOW)

A natural talent With their joyful colours, Joe Tilson RA’s paintings on wood hint at his lifelong love of nature and Italy w o r d s : c ar o l c o r d r e y

I from left: ziggurat, 2003; finestra veneziaNa ca’ d’oro, 2011; secret, 2003; look 2002; key, 2003; kore; right: San Giovanni in Bragora, Venessia; all images by joe tilson ra

n my first feature for this magazine I promised I would bring to your attention the particularly interesting exhibitions at the art gallery, Atelier Rose & Gray. True to my word, I am about to shine the spotlight on the spring exhibition by the celebrated artist, Joe Tilson RA, whose work has been exhibited extensively in galleries in Mayfair and around the globe but now, to my great delight, it can be seen in this local gallery. Tilson is a sprightly octogenarian who remains as enthusiastic and experimental about his art as he was in his teens when he first studied woodwork at Brixton School of Building. Carpentry became his first occupation then National Service took him into the RAF before he pursued his long-held desire to be an artist and enrolled at St. Martin’s School of Art,

the acclaimed institution where he subsequently took up a teaching post. Tilson progressed to the Royal College of Art where he studied alongside and developed friendships with fellow students, Peter Blake, Frank Auerbach and David Hockney, and found himself awarded the coveted Rome Prize which took him on the road to explore Italy; he has maintained a passion for the country and its rich culture ever since. In fact, he met his wife, Jos (Joslyn) in Rome and for decades they spent long periods living in Venice or Tuscany where Tilson found that all things Italian had a strong influence on his art. Equally influential was the Pop Art movement which Peter Blake was instrumental in promoting in Britain. It grew out of the desire to banish the dullness of 1950s post-war austerity in favour of the colourful, glossy mass-media

The cheshire Magazine | Art

that had emerged in America through comics, magazines, advertising boards, pin-ups and packaging as well as Hollywood films. The use of such images was important, also, to the current mood of young, post-war artists like Tilson who were determined to reject traditional subject matter in favour of popular imagery, and to employ new artistic techniques in preference to painterly ones. Warhol’s soup tin silkscreens and Lichtenstein’s paintings of comic strips are key examples of that Pop Art period. A London art dealer spotted Tilson’s work and included it in a 1962 group show of young artists he identified as rising, innovative stars; it was a great success and Tilson found himself propelled to early fame. A year or two later he turned his hands and rebellious inclinations to making prints which he made original artworks because of their hand painted elements and finishes. By the late 60s the effect of the Vietnam War was to change the mood of the nation and of Tilson so his artworks became characterised by politics. Suddenly, a decade later he changed direction again, moving with his family from London to the Wiltshire countryside which presented him with fresh, artistic inspiration and a new way of life that he has described as ‘hippie… but with a rather intellectual take on everything.’

Around ten years ago he and his wife decided to move back to London where life and artistic success first began for Tilson. His output has been prolific and spanned prints, multiples, paintings, constructions and reliefs that have been infused with the changes of environment and topical subjects experienced throughout his long career; his passion for wood, a sense of order and vibrant colour is regularly apparent in his oeuvre. Tilson’s eclectic range of distinctive artworks has been collected on an international scale and in 2002 London’s Royal Academy recognised his artistic achievements with a retrospective of his work. Joe Tilson RA: Pop on Silk (atelierrosegray.co.uk)

For just a

moment in time

If necessity is the mother of invention, could boredom be the mother of inspiration?

imon Beck describes himself as a Snow Artist. He creates ornate and intricate patterns in crisp expanses of snow, using ‘raquettes’, or snowshoes, and the whole thing came about through a moment of ennui. Somerset born Simon spends every winter in the French Alps, where he works as an orienteering map-maker. One evening, when he’d usually be strapping on his ski boots and heading into the mountains for some serious orienteering, he had one of those moments we all do from time to time and decided to have a little light-hearted fun instead. ‘I went onto the little snow covered lake outside the building I live in, plotted five points in a pentangle and joined them up to make a star. I then filled in the 15 triangles that resulted and later added some circles and the result was impressive - especially as there is a nearby chair lift that gives a bird’s eye view of the lake. When fresh snowfall covered the design I did another more complicated design.’ One thing led to another and today Simon is creating astonishing, yet ephemeral, pieces of snow art across the Alps. (facebook.com/snowart8848)

The cheshire Magazine | Art

Ivor Abrahams RA, Royal Sands, (detail) Chalk & Watercolour on Giclee

IVOR ABRAHAMS RA 2 DIMENSIONS Sculptures Collages Cut-Outs Silkscreens Lithographs

18th February â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 31st March 2014

Tue - Sat 10.00 - 5.30pm, or privately by appointment

Atelier Rose & Gray Gallery, Beech House, 1 Cambridge Road, Hale, WA15 9SY Tel: 0161 928 4021 Email: chris@atelierrosegray.co.uk

www.atelierrosegray.co.uk

The cheshire Magazine | Art

PRIZE LOTs

1 2

3 #1 ‘Painting No. 3’ by Vasudeo S. Gaitonde Being exhibited and sold as part of Sotheby’s Modern & Contemporary South Asian Art sale in New York, Painting No. 3 is emblematic of the Goan artist’s departure from his earlier geometric works and the beginning of his experiments with a paint roller and palette knife. Its sale follows the setting of a new record price for his work at an auction in India last December. Exhibition and auction at Sotheby’s, 1334 York Ave, New York, 19 March 2014; Estimated range more than $2 million (sothebys.com)

#2 Monumental Neo-Assyrian black basalt royal stele of Adad-nirari III of Assyria Appearing as part of Bonham London’s Antiquities sale and dated circa 805-797 B.C.,

this incredible and rare piece represents the young Assyrian king, Adad-nirari III, said to have been exceptionally young at the time of his accession and aided in his rule by mother, Shammuramat. Exhibition and auction at Bonham’s, New Bond Street, 3 April 2014; Estimated range £600,000 - £800,000 (bonhams.com)

#3 Alicante Vase Designed in 1927, this stunning green vase stands 25.5cm high and is double-cased and engraved by R. Lalique France. It will appear as part of the ‘Lalique: An Important Private Collection’ sale, which will incorporate 84 lots in total. Exhibition and auction at Christie’s, King Street, London, 30 April 2014; Estimated range £30,000 - £40,000 (christies.com)

clockwise from top left: Image: © sotheby’s christie’s images ltd; courtesy of bonhams

Watch news Treasured timepieces, horological heirlooms and modern masterpieces W ORDS : RI C H ARD B RO W N

New moon New Year means new beginnings and, with that, new adventures. To herald the start of 2014, Piaget launched a fine watch and jewellery collection inspired by travel, drawing on two of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most historic trade routes: the Silk Route of China and the Spice Route of India. A Mythical Journey comprises 32 watches which incorporate micromosaic, embroidery, bullino engraving and enamelling, and 16 pieces of jewellery created from exceptional stones including emerald, facetted sapphires and emeralds. Demonstrating the inextricable link between time and travel, the Swiss manufacturer will also present two Emperador Coussin models with each dial illustrating one of the routes and featuring a hand-engraved enamel miniature map. (piaget.com)

Emperador Coussin XL Large Moon enamel timepiece, from a selection

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A shot of adrenaline

King of Diamonds Hosted in Monaco since 2010, the European edition of WPHH (World Presentation of Haute Horology) showcases the wares of the brands that fall under the parentage of The Franck Muller Group. Stealing the show this January was Backes & Strauss with its Royal Jester. The perfectly round, 40mm watch features a dial obscured by two rows of baguette diamonds and a single brilliant diamond weighing 1.01 carats in its centre. Crimson hour markers, mounted on crystal disks, sit underneath, in a mechanical timepiece that has a 36-hour power reserve and comes with 202 diamonds, apparently. (backesandstrauss.com)

ONE TO WATCH Each month, we select our timepiece of the moment from the watch world’s most exciting creations

The Tank MC features Cartier’s calibre 1904 MC. This exceptional movement is the first automatic movement entirely developed, manufactured and assembled by Cartier. It is a stunning watch to behold

If you can find a more masculine, testosteroneinfused timepiece than this, we’d like to see it. As manly as Maximus Aurelius and Wolverine rolled into one, Hublot’s new Big Bang Unico All Black is the sort of watch you’d expect the SAS to sport. Totally black, and totally matt, the watch features a skeleton dial, 45.5mm case and automatic flyback chronograph movement. For the first time since the creation of the Big Bang in 2005, the push-buttons are round, each one protected by a push-button guard. The Unico All Black is limited to 500 pieces. Get one, if you think you’re ‘ard enough. Marcus Watches (marcuswatches.co.uk)

See-through seduction Some of the pluckiest creations showcased at Baselworld each year come not from mega-brands but from a roster of under-the-radar watchmakers exhibiting away from the main halls. There you’ll find brands like Arnold & Son, a watchmaker that stands out from the crowd in creating a new in-house movement for every model it produces. Its latest calibre, the A&S1615, is an extremely thin (4.4mm), pyramid-shaped movement that ‘floats’ between two sapphire crystals in the skeletonised Time Pyramid. The exceptional piece puts Arnold & Son on a par with even the most celebrated of watchmakers. It’s yours for £25,500. (arnoldandson.com)

Tank MC, £4,590, Cartier, David M Robinson, 28 Anns Square, Manchester M2 7JB (davidmrobinson.co.uk) 77

Collection | The cheshire Magazine

#1 #2 #3

Alpine

essentials

If you’re planning on catching the last of the ski season this spring, we’ll help make sure you do so in style

#1 Grenoble Orohena coat, £1,180, Moncler (store.moncler.com) #2 Chunky bobble knit scarf, £355, Lanvin (harrods.com) #3 Lunar Compact System camera, £5,300, Hasselblad (johnlewis.com) #4 Aviator coyote-trimmed trapper hat, £250, Canada Goose (canada-goose.com) #5 The Hublot sledge, from a selection, Hublot (hublot.com) #6 Leather hiking boots, £395, Car Shoe (mrporter.com) #7 Lunettes Moinier sunglasses, £170, Moncler, as before #8 Emergency II, £12,040, Breitling (breitling.com) #9 Zai for Bentley skis, £6,645, Zai for Bentley (zaiforbentley.com) 78

Jewellery news With spring comes the arrival of pretty, bold coloured stones and statement earrings

w o r d s : O l i v i a S h a r p e & K at e H o u g h t o n

Statement jewels Last year, Christie’s achieved the highest annual result ever for jewellery in the auction house’s history, raising US$678.3 million. Clearly keen to sustain this, the house has announced Statement Jewels – an online-only sale of pieces from their Hong Kong outpost. With estimates starting at HK$2,000 and comprising over 80 lots, including a set of ruby and diamond jewellery from Van Cleef & Arpels, a ruby and diamond watch from Chopard and a stunning suite of jadeite and diamond jewellery, we will be hovering eagerly over our keyboards this month… (christies.com)

CUTTING EDGE For its new fine watch and jewellery collection, Emprise, fashion house Louis Vuitton revisited its heritage and took inspiration from its luxury line of trunks, first created in 1854.

‘The trunk’s material elements have been metamorphosed into precious creations: octagonal pendants, rings, bracelets, earrings, a seductive lady’s watch... In the place of beech wood, brass nails or canvas, we find gold, amethysts, lemon or smoky quartz, diamonds and, for certain unique pieces, exceptionally large and vivid stones’ (louisvuitton.com) 80

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Q&A with… Cheshire goldsmith and designer Christopher Evans talks about what inspires him Q: You’ve been established as a goldsmith and jewellery retailer for some time now, do you still get excited about your work? A: Always. We make a lot of engagement rings and wedding bands; more and more couples want to have something bespoke that reflects something of their unique love. Engaged couples are always bubbling with joy and the moment when we start to look at diamonds – the different cuts, colours and sizes – is always very exciting. Q: Do you have a favourite gemstone? A: There are too many to mention. I love to work with stones in colours that people are less familiar with. Orange sapphires, green tourmalines, blue tanzanite… you can find precious and semi-precious stones in every colour of the rainbow. I do have a bit of a passion for opals and have rather a magnificent collection of these. Stones can be cut in many different ways too, which really affects the way they perform in a design. A cabochon cut ruby will inspire a very different design to a brilliant cut, even though they are both circular and have the same carat weight. Q: Have you had any really challenging briefs? A: They’re all challenging, as we want to achieve perfection for our customers. We created a West Highland Terrier in gold, from a photograph, which was fun. We’re also often handed bequeathed pieces that the customer wants re-making into something more contemporary. Where there are emotional attachments to pieces it’s so important we listen, consult and create something perfect in response.

Toughen up Camélia Galbé – Chanel’s most eagerly anticipated fine jewellery collection to date – has at last been released and has already caused quite a stir. The range sees the house’s iconic flower motif reimagined in edgy, oversized black and white ceramic petals, featured on rings, pendants, earrings and an exquisite head jewel in 18-carat white gold with diamonds. The accompanying campaign, entitled WANTED, shows a playful side to the maison as it presents the 12 monochrome pieces in a series of vintage-style mug shots; one image shows the Camélia rings in a Reservoir Dogs spoof line-up, while another has them placed on clenched fists resembling a knuckle duster – warning: this collection is not for the faint-hearted. (chanel.com)

Q: If you could offer one piece of advice to someone considering commissioning a piece, what would it be? A: I’d always say choose what you love and wear it every day. When choosing a gemstone, think about the colour you want, then decide your budget. Why have a small emerald when you can have a showstopper tourmaline? Ask lots of questions and think laterally; your designer should also take the time to understand what you want and work with you to the perfect end result. Christopher Evans Goldsmiths. Poynton & Stockton Heath. (christopherevansgoldsmiths.com) 81

Outside the box S

imilar to the famous Tiffany blue box, David M Robinson’s Yellow Box is the emblematic name of the company’s signature jewellery collection, first launched in 2004. Over the last five years, however, a tight lid has been kept on the collection as the company has been focused on developing its coveted range of timepieces. To its credit, this has been an extremely worthwhile venture; today, the calibre of luxury designer watches available at DMR is second to none, ranging from classic Patek Philippes to the most sought-after Rolexes. And yet all this is about to change this month

David M Robinson opens up a whole new prospect in the world of fine jewellery with its latest Yellow Box Collection w o rd s : O l i v i a S h a r p e

as DMR reopens Yellow Box with a brand new campaign and updated collections. So why now? ‘Because the time is right,’ answers David Robinson, the eponymous founder and chief designer. ‘Admittedly, we have been hibernating over the last few years but not anymore. After the recent economic period, clients are once again becoming aware of the need to celebrate life’s special events and moments.’ David names the recession as having somewhat delayed the company’s progress, affecting customers’ attitudes when it came to investing in luxury items such as jewellery. On the other hand, the jeweller believes that change is on the horizon

The cheshire Magazine | Collection

and he, like the rest of the industry, must move with the times. ‘Brands need to be sensitive but they also need to push forward. You cannot afford to rest. My customers have told me that they feel more positive about the value of their jewellery and watches following the recession.’ For the latest jewellery collection, David has built on previous creations including Cloud Nine, one of DMR’s most recognisable collections; Hopscotch, a line of timeless diamond pieces based around the concept of

‘Someone told me once a man shouldn’t try to understand a woman; he should just love her’ – David M Robinson ‘people falling in love at school or university’; and finally Colore, a continuation of the popular coloured gemstone cocktail rings. The jeweller has also created new statement pieces: the Cuff Love bangle, the award-winning jeweller’s favourite piece, is one of his boldest creations to date and features an Art Decoinspired bar design, while the My Love Letter pendant is an abstract take on the customary envelope symbol. David looks to the world outside for inspiration; his most recent collection draws upon his ‘travels, galleries visited and fascinating landscapes’. Love, too, is a recurring theme. For the campaign, shot by worldrenowned photographer Chris Craymer, the brand used a real-life couple to model the pieces. While some would argue that romance is a dying tradition, David insists that men are still keen to show their partner how much they love them. ‘I think men actually want to be romantic,’ he explains, candidly. ‘Someone told me once a man shouldn’t try to understand a woman; he should just love her. It’s true to say that women never forget the man who buys them a piece of jewellery, ever!’ And one piece of jewellery she’ll never forget

is her engagement ring. As well as developing new pieces, DMR has also revised its bridal collection. Among the many engagement ring styles available are classic DMR designs including Speechless and Whirlwind which have been reinterpreted in innovative new designs. The new Yellow Box collection is available to buy in the David M Robinson stores in Altrincham and Manchester, where it shall no doubt prove a hit amongst the male professionals in the area. However, speaking to Liz Allister, the brand’s communications manager, she notes that there has been a subtle shift away from men buying gifts for women and a dramatic increase in women buying jewellery for themselves. ‘The business world is no longer male-dominated; there is now a large number of highpowered, independent women working here who know what they want,’ she remarks. As a result, Yellow Box features contemporary designs such as the coloured cocktail rings which are easily transferrable from day to nighttime, and wearable diamond strand necklaces from the Luna collection (which have already sold out in store). Liz also remarks on a growing trend; ‘We are increasingly seeing women purchasing timepieces for their partners to celebrate their proposal.’ Craftsmanship remains at the heart of David M Robinson. Of a team of five in-house goldsmiths, some have been with the company for 30 years and are subsequently among the most skilled in the UK. When it comes to sourcing stones, the company only buys from long-established suppliers. Over the next few years, David and his team plan on continuing to expand Yellow Box with the aim that it will one day ‘become one of the UK’s foremost jewellery collections.’ And from what I’ve seen so far, I have every confidence they will succeed. (davidmrobinson.co.uk)

ABOVE: My Love Letter pendant (large), £3,250; BELOW: 18-karat rose or white gold and pavé set diamond Cuff Love bangle, £14,500; left:18-karat white gold Hopscotch ring (large) with princess cut diamonds, £6,450

C E L E B R AT I N G 3 0 Y E A R S

Aurora Inspire romance with this 0.86ct Fancy Intense Australian Argyle Pink Diamond Ring, reflecting the warm, vibrant and fiery hues of its extraordinary and ancient origins. A highly prized, rare and collectable jewel.

To receive the beautiful Calleija brochure, please contact us The Royal Arcade Old Bond Street London london@calleija.com +44 (0)20 7499 8490

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Marina Mirage Main Beach Gold Coast mirage@calleija.com.au +61 (0)7 5528 3666

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#2 #3 #4 #1

The colour

purple

#17

#8 #7

As Emerald Green gives way to Radiant Orchid as Pantone’s Colour of the Year 2014, we pick the top pieces in this most regal of shades

#10 #9

#16

#14

#15 #11

#13

#12

#1 Murano 18-karat yellow gold necklace, from a selection, Marco Bicego (marcobicego.com) #2 Emilia ring, £6,000, Emily H London (emilyhlondon.co.uk) #3 Silver and amethyst swallows brooch, £4,000, Jordan Askill for Gemfields (giftlab.com) #4 Loris necklace, £85, Violet Darkling (violetdarkling.com) #5 Amethyst Opera pendant, £1,950, Astley Clarke (astleyclarke.com) #6 Amethyst Guardian ring, £28,500, Jessica McCormack (jessicamccormack.com) #7 1850s 9-karat gold amethyst rivière necklace, £12,000, Olivia Collings (net-a-porter.com) #8 Diamond and amethyst fringed earrings, £48,000, Jessica McCormack, as before #9 18-karat rose gold and amethyst ring, from a selection, Faraone Mennella (faraonemennella.com) #10 Never Too Light ring, £1,250, Delfina Delettrez (delfinadelettrez.com) #11 Amethyst Bubble ring, £3,795, Heming Jewels (hemingjewels.com) #12 Morganite large Fao drop earrings, £5,250, Astley Clarke (as before) #13 Eternal purple amethyst and peridot bangle, £1,400, Kiki McDonough (kiki.co.uk) #14 Sea Flower 18-karat gold, amethyst and tsavorite ring, £4,620, Ileana Makri (net-a-porter.com) #15 Riva amethyst stick ring, £130, Monica Vinader (monicavinader.com) #16 Emilia short pendant earrings, £7,900, Emily H London (as before) #17 Amethyst pendant, from a selection, Heming Jewels (as before) 85

Fashion news Sartorial devotees of Cheshire rejoice – with London Fashion Week recently gracing our shores and new collections springing up all over, prepare to be spoiled for choice words: olivia sharpe

Thelma & Louise Traipsing around in the hot weather with a heavy bag is never ideal so why not go compact and opt for one of Louis Vuiton’s new crossbody bags? The Louise bag comes in the house’s signature Epi leather and a choice of sunset shades including lilac, yellow, pink and coral. Finally, the detachable strap means it can either be slung across the body in the daytime or worn as a chic clutch in the evening. Paired with strappy flats or wedges, this accessory epitomises casual elegance. (louisvuitton.co.uk)

The house that rocked Rock ‘n’ roll stars have always had a fascination with the fashion industry – simply consider Mick Jagger, Deborah Harry and David Bowie as a starter for ten – and now, it seems, they’re even taking precedence over models as highlighted by Daks’ new S/S14 campaign. The fashion house called upon the ‘modfather’ Paul Weller and his daughter Leah to front this year’s campaign, celebrating the British brand’s 120th anniversary. In true rock ‘n’ roll style, the campaign features an accompanying video which sees Weller in a beautiful Georgian house in Brighton playing a duet of his 1995 hit song You Do Something To Me with his daughter. Looking suitably dapper, Mr Weller is dressed in a sharp suit while his daughter is sporting the house’s signature checked print. We say, rock on, Daks. (daks.com)

Head to Toe Mary Katrantzou chose to base her S/S14 collection around shoes and she therefore called upon Italian footwear designer Gianvito Rossi for assistance to create an accompanying range of shoes for the new line. Each pair has been created using silk-satin and features the designer’s trademark trompe l’oeil on either a round toe cut-out boot or a classic court shoe. Mary Katrantzou x Gianvito Rossi S/S14 (marykatrantzou.com)

The cheshire Magazine | Fashion

Sweeney Thom Bespoke tailor Thom Sweeney’s first ready-towear collection for S/S14 has arrived exclusively on MR PORTER. In line with the bespoke collection, the range is based around two key tailoring silhouettes: one formal with a structured shoulder while the other is more casual with a sophisticated silhouette. Both styles are available in either a single or double-breasted cut. Thom Sweeney S/S14 ready-to-wear Exclusive to mrporter.com

Get rhythm To coincide with the launch of its latest women’s fragrance Brit Rhythm for Her (a follow up from Brit Rhythm Men’s, launched in September 2013), Burberry has unveiled a capsule collection that mirrors the spirit of the scent. Studded leather jackets in black and silver, denim jeans and leather clutch bags mirror the youthful and edgy characteristics of the Brit Rhythm woman who, according to Burberry’s Chief Creative Officer Christopher Bailey, is ‘irreverent and free-spirited’ and ‘combines powerful femininity with a rock ‘n’ roll edge’. (burberry.com)

Surreal, but nice This season, Hugo Boss is pushing boundaries with the new S/S 14 collection. Playing on the concept of surrealism, the collection is a surprisingly wearable collection of subdued hues of blues and greys. We love the midnight blue suit which will take you from meeting to evening event and the double-breasted wool blazer with casual, trench-coat style collar – a modern way to experience art. (hugoboss.com)

Flying high While womenswear designers are only just beginning to see the merit of trainers as a genuine fashion statement (Karl Lagerfeld recently wowed the industry with a Chanel couture pair), menswear designers have long appreciated this fashion trend. As evidence of this Givenchy’s creative director Riccardo Tisci has teamed up with sportswear brand Nike to create his own trainer collection. The designer has reinterpreted the brand’s cult basketball shoe, Air Force 1, in four new styles ranging from low-cut to kneehigh and featuring a unique, colourful design; well, considering this marks the designer’s first ever collaboration with a high street label, he was hardly going to design just any old trainer now was he? The Nike + R.T. Air Force 1 Collection launches in white on 1 March and in black on 1 April. (nike.com)

image: Dolce & Gabbana

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Fashion

Trend

REPORT From Dolce & Gabbanaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s embellished details to the Pop-Art prints from Christian Dior and Chanel, we bring you the best of the best from the S/S 14 catwalks w o r ds : k a t e r a c o v o l i s

Dior

Helmut Lang

Victoria Beckham

Antonio Marras (Image by Max Botticelli)

Chanel

Dolce & Gabbana

Missoni

Christopher Kane

Giorgio Armani

art prints

t is no longer enough to have a piece of art hanging on your wall. This season, fashion designers took their paintbrush to the catwalks, turning dresses into gallery-worthy designs. Giorgio Armani and Helmut Lang found inspiration in the soft hues of pastel watercolours, while Céline, Chanel and Victoria Beckham experimented with bold brush strokes in solid, bright colours, from hot pink to yellows and blue. A riot of colour also came from Missoni’s iconic zigzag knitwear and bright leather skirts, which paired unlikely colours in a surprisingly elegant manner. Like Piet Mondrian’s geometric compositions of colour, the collections that stood out were those that balanced shades of a variety of colours.

Matthew WilliamsoN Miu Miu

Dolce & Gabbana

Ralph & Russo Haute Couture

Versace

Marni

Mary Katrantzou

Monique Lhuillier

Preen By Thornton Bregazzi

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Fashion

t is spring; therefore, floral motifs are never more welcome than they are on the S/S 14 catwalks. What other time of the year can you wear a pastel-coloured dress, abundant in artful floral patterns, than when the streets of Cheshire become green again? This year, there were two distinct styles: floral prints and threedimensional flowers. In Mary Katrantzouâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s signature style, digital images of magenta florals with emerald green were printed on to chic structured T-shirts, trousers and dresses, however it was Italian duo Dolce & Gabbana who captured the heady warmth of summer with knee-length, long-sleeved dresses that not only were printed with imagery of blossom, but featured individual flowers as an embellishment â&#x20AC;&#x201C; both soft and romantic in one.

floraL MOTIFS 91

THE NEW TAILORING 92

Sportmax

Diane Von Furstenberg

MaxMara

Jean Paul Gaultier (Image: Patrice Stable p/o Jean Paul Gaultier)

Oscar de la Renta

Jason Wu

Roland Mouret

Giorgio Armani

Donna Karan New York

ollared shirts and pencil skirts have been given a makeover. Although weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d never say no the sleek, chic minimalist lines of a collared shirt, buttoned all the way up, there is something undeniably feminine about breaking the rules of tailoring every now and then. This season saw collars slouch slightly, trousers loosen and skirts become just a little bit more flowing (and so much nicer to twirl in); Donna Karan, the master of draping and relaxed glamour, turned a simple white shirt into a show-stopping piece, with loose man-sized sleeves and a plunging neckline, tucked into a feminine A-line skirt. Meanwhile, Diane Von Furstenberg reminded us why she is the go-to designer for day-to-night looks, showing gorgeous silk shirts with boyish knee-length shorts for a look that was surprisingly ladylike.

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Fashion

Antonio Marras (Image by Max Botticelli)

Valentino Haute Couture

Alexander McQueen

Miu Miu

Roberto Cavalli

Burberry Prorsum

Erdem

Jenny Packham

Lanvin (Copyright Lanvin 2014)

EMBELLISHMENTS

mbellished dresses usually come in the form of heavy metals, a scattering of Swarovski crystals or sequins. Indeed, these did appear on some of the catwalks, such as Burberryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stunning bejewelled skirts, but some more subtle takes on this look dominated this season. Cleverly, Erdem used individual white feathers to add texture to black lacy dresses, with just the right amount of plume so as not to make its pieces look too bird-like, meanwhile, Valentino created butterflies out of feathers on statement capes â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a soft, whimsical way to enjoy the look.

What

women want Roland Mouret shows no sign of slowing down. With a new project on the horizon, we meet the suave French designer to talk about life as a butcher’s son, why he loves women and that dress w o r d s : k at e r a c o v o l i s

oland Mouret knows what women want. Impossibly charming, the trendsetting 53-year-old designer was one of the first to open on Carlos Place – in 2011 – a street now lined with some of fashion’s top names, including Jenny Packham, Nicholas Kirkwood and Solange Azagury-Partridge, picking a prime spot for his six-storey flagship maison. Mouret and his team will soon unveil his plans for a brand new project – but for now he remains tight-lipped. ‘I understand that attitude women have,’ he says in his thick French accent, brushing back his groomed hair. ‘That love-hate relationship that women tend to have with themselves. A woman has a sense of being unique from an early age and undergoes that transformation from little girl to woman.’ Sitting with Mouret on an elegant, handpainted couch (that he also designed), I realise that this is a man who genuinely loves women, and all the curves that come with them (a rare thing indeed in the perpetually slim world of fashion). Mouret is a man who is very in tune with women and how they can dress to enhance their identity. ‘My research was more people wearing clothes than clothes [themselves]. I was more attracted by how you can transform yourself with clothing,’ he says. ‘I think I try to give the ideal dream, that’s my reality. I’m sharing in the life of the woman with my clothes. It’s

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Fashion

something really personal, there’s an intimacy.’ Take his 2005 design – the Galaxy Dress – for example. This figure-hugging capped-sleeved piece, reaching just over the knee, became one of the most famous silhouettes in contemporary fashion history. Worn to death by celebrities of all shapes, including Victoria Beckham, Dita von Teese and Halle Berry, it became the very definition of power dressing – an armor against the world and never out of place. Thankfully, Mouret did not need to fall in a bathtub with a hairdryer (à la Mel Gibson), to get to know women so well, it’s a talent that he has never been without. The son of a butcher, Mouret grew up in Lourdes, France, where he found beauty in an unlikely place. ‘I hated the position; hated the fact that I was the son of the butcher,’ he says. ‘[But] I had a unique life with texture and material.’ This struck a creative chord from an early age. ‘The butcher apron is one of the most elegant pieces – I had never seen it as a uniform,’ he says. ‘And the knives, the metal, and the sharpness – it is such aesthetic work to be a butcher. And the colours too. It was a way to really fill myself with emotion without realising it.’ ‘I realised a bit later the power of clothing in our society and, as a child, I realised what I was wearing was driving me in certain situations – outfits can make you someone else. I realised really early that clothes… how much

freedom they can give you. And because I like to draw, the two of them were merged. You draw people the way they were naked. The attraction was not straightaway clothing – it was more people and the way they were clothed.’ Although Mouret says he does not look to muses for his inspiration, choosing to focus on glamorous eras gone by, as well as the traditional female form, he does admit there are some women who have had an impact on his life and collections. He recalls a picture of his mother when she was married, and wondered, ‘Why did she wear a skirt suit?’ and ‘Why wasn’t it a white dress?’ (It was pale blue). He then started thinking about a woman’s figure, and how he wanted to wrap clothes around it. And thus the Galaxy Dress was born, catapulting Mouret into the spotlight, even more than he already was.

‘I realised really early that clothes... how much freedom they can give you’ – Roland Mouret But typically French, Mouret is not one to cling to celebrity status, nor one to measure success by it. ‘Sometimes designers want to be more famous than their clothes. I have to realise that my job is not to look like a super s**t-hot male designer. But for me, my clothes are more famous than me.’ ‘When the Galaxy came out, it 

Fashion | The cheshire Magazine

was a relationship of working in three dimensions around the female form,’ he says. ‘That picture of my mum was from the 1950s – that kind of iconic attitude of women. The Galaxy was the first dress I started without knowing how to sew. That dress was always in my mind as a child, that female form, and the Italian movies of the 1950s with Sophia Loren – you have all these icons and by the way they move, they remind me of that dress.’ From this inspiration emerged Mouret’s unusual style of designing, draping fabric directly onto a mannequin, as opposed to drawing sketches. All he needs is calico fabric, pins and his hands. But fashion being fashion, this career has not come without drama. In 2005, he became caught up, rather publicly, in a dispute about the rights to the name of his eponymous company, which saw him depart the brand. While he continued to design, it wasn’t until 2010

‘That dress was always in my mind as a child, that female form’ – Roland Mouret when he reacquired the rights to his brand, and a year later, he opened his first and only store in Mayfair. ‘For me the best luxury is privacy, and this was the

destination,’ he says. ‘You’re not going to have two hundred people passing by here. You will have the kind of people who will love the quietness of the street, who can sit in a park, or go to a café or deli. It’s more like a village. Mouret is a master of his métier in luxury fashion. He is the king of collaborations, having designed a body serum with Aromatherapy Associates and a Sky Box. He also took the role of creative director of Parisian shoe brand, Robert Clergerie, in addition to his seasonal collections which now includes a stunning array of accessories (shoes, sunglasses and handbags). Mouret also was quick to enter the world of e-commerce, and was one of the first designers to be sold on Net-a-Porter, beginning with the Cruise S/S04 collection – a smart move ahead of the opening of his beautiful maison on Carlos Place. So how does he manage to do it all? ‘For me the home is so important – that separation between work,’ he says. ‘I need to have that personality where I am not a designer all the time, I’m Roland again.’ Every day (when he is in the UK), he retreats to his home in Suffolk, with his husband, his Jack Russell and a peacock called Mario. ‘That’s the great thing, I have the designer life and the man life.’ Roland Mouret (rolandmouret.com; 020 7518 0700)

all images courtesy of roland mouret

www.bachet.fr

The cheshire Magazine | Fashion

art

Where the

rt and fashion often come together but this month Christian Louboutin is celebrating its spring collection by collaborating with famed photographer Peter Lippmann, who draws on the floral works of impressionist painters, including Monet, Cézanne and Van Gogh. Aptly named Flowers, the campaign showcases a series of beautiful floral arrangements, with handbags and shoes that look just as much a part of the bouquet as the flowers themselves. Delicate hues of pastels, bright colours and floral prints decorate Louboutin’s classic styles as well as updated features, such as the Apostrophe and the Bat Pump. And of course, a subtle flash of red soles gives away that these could belong to only one brand – Mr Louboutin’s, of course. The S/S14 collection is available now. (christianlouboutin.com)

Sands of time This spring is all about smart, chic pieces with a soft, feminine edge, an easily adaptable look to take you effortlessly from beach to boardwalk this season P H O T O G R A P H E R : J O N AT T E N B O R O U G H S T Y L I S T: R A C H E L G O L D

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The cheshire Magazine | Fashion

left Fitriani sequined jumpsuit with corseted waist, ÂŁ15,000 (harveynichols.com). Aurelie Bidermann caftan moon ivory Bakelite gold hoop earrings, ÂŁ300 GiftLab. Stuart Weitzman leather multicolour open toe wedge, from a selection (stuartweitzman.com)

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Fashion | The cheshire Magazine

ABOVE J brand Zephyr blue with white bleach mark skinny jeans, £260 (trilogystores.co.uk). Vivienne Westwood Gold Label Frida Blouse, £502, Vivienne Westwood Gold Label, Bridal and Couture, 6 Davies Street London. (020 7629 3757). Dodo Assorted necklaces 31 Sloane Square London SW1W 8AQ (020 7259 1414)

RIGHT J Brand Rainshadow White jeans with black brown paint brush stripes, £245 (harrods.com). Dsquared2 White t shirt, from a selection (dsquared2.com). Escada Sport Blue and white silk printed fabric beads, £95 (escada.com). Simone Camille Navy Shelley woven suede bag, £785 (giftlab.com). Bea Valdes at Gift lab Taurus necklace, £1,025 (giftlab.com). Chi Mihara Red sandal with cork wedge, £221 (chiemihara.com)

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ABOVE Antonio Berardi £400 Cotton Leaf Print Shorts (antonioberardi.com). Ann Demeulemeester Siren collar fringed black and off white £195, Gift Lab. Aurelie Bidermann caftan moon ivory Bakelite gold hoop earrings, £300, GiftLab. Vivienne Westwood Gold label white clogs, £646. Fitriani shirt with pleated sleeves £995 (harveynichols.com)

LEFT J Brand Dusty boatneck Tee draped jersey white long sleeved t shirt, £92 (selfridges.com). Camilla Manta embellished silk maxi skirt at £545 (matchesfashion.com). Sylvia Toledano Manchester large Byzance cuff £290 at GiftLab. Sylvia Toledano green agate and black onyx golden brass neck piece £310 at GiftLab (giftlab.com)

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ABOVE Teatum Jones The Jaqueline dress £1,092 (liberty.co.uk). Links of London effervescence Star watch, £250 (linksoflondon). Links of London effervescence bangle, £595 (linksoflondon.com). Dodo red bracelet, 31 Sloane Square London SW1W 8AQ (020 7259 1414)

RIGHT Missoni Mare Orange printed trousers, £400 (www.missoni.com). 193 Sloane Street London SW1X 9QX (020 7823 1910). Vivienne Westwood Anglomania Melita fuchsia top, £180, Vivienne Westwood Flagship, 44 Conduit Street. (020 7439 1109). Aurelie Bidermann Caftan moon Ivory Bakelite necklace, £680 at GiftLab. Sylvia Toledano Multi hoop beaten gold earrings £110 at GiftLab

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Photography: Jon Attenborough, LHA Represents Stylist: Rachel Gold, LHA Represents Make up & Hair: Bobbie Ross, LHA Represents using Shu Umura, Kiehls and Bumble and Bumble Model: Annie Christine, Milk management Stylists assistant: Lauren Godwin Photographers assistant: Ben Parks Special thanks to Monnington Equestrian Stables, Sidlesham Common Chichester, West Sussex. (monningtonequestrian.co.uk)

Made in

Cheshire Macclesfield planted itself firmly at the heart of the silk industry in the sixteenth century and remains a key player even today

he Industrial Revolution brought the first water powered mill in 1744 and by 1830 more than 70 silk mills were in operation. Adamley Silk Mill, located in the village of Langley, just outside Macclesfield, has a history stretching back to 1722 and an archive of designs that are as sought after today as when they were first laid down. Macclesfield was chosen as a centre of silk printing because of its geology. The water feeding down from the limestone hills surrounding the town, and used to wash and dye the raw silk, ensures a degree of lustre and feel that is unachievable anywhere else without the use of chemicals. Adamley has its own Mill Pond, used today as it was in times past to wash the silk and create the shine and texture the world’s silk cognoscenti so desire. It’s not only traditional washing and dyeing methods that are employed by Adamley; the silk is still printed using traditional methods too. While printing by hand might be very time consuming and labour intensive, it is guaranteed to produce exactly the degree of quality demanded by Adamley’s discerning customers. ‘Our customers do not want automation,’ says Tro Manoukian, Managing Director. ‘Our fabrics are wholly bespoke and we supply to the very top end design houses and retailers only across the world. We count Harrods, Victoria Beckham, Agent Provocateur, Mulberry and E. Marinella Napoli amongst our customers. Interestingly, 60% of Adamley’s production is exported to Italy. Our Italian clients prefer a product manufactured in Macclesfield rather than Milan.’ Adorning the world’s most stylish. Made in Cheshire. (adamley.com)

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Beauty news Want a fresh start without the lengthy time investment? Then read on... words: Elle Blakeman

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Elie saab’s scent of success

Youth culture

Following on from the popularity of Le Parfum, the first fragrance from Elie Saab, the designer’s second scent will arrive on counters on 3 March. Named L’Eau Couture and created by renowned perfumer Francis Kurkdjian, it blends orange blossom, vanilla and green almond notes with the unusual aim of making a fresh fragrance that is sensual. The pale turquoise theme was chosen to reflect the delicate, ethereal nature of Saab’s gowns. From £47, available at Selfridges (selfridges.com)

For those lucky enough to fall into the 25+ age category (and smart enough to know that they won’t stay that way), Sisley has launched its first product for the ‘early signs of aging’ market. Containing active ingredients to improve the skin’s cellular metabolism and nourish the skin, SisleYouth promises to rid you of all signs of fatigue, leaving you with radiant skin. SisleYouth, £117 (sisley-paris.co.uk)

Treatment of the month Skin dehydration is a key cause of fine lines and dull skin, but when age and genetics are against you, what do you do? Intraceuticals – favoured skincare treatment of Madonna, she of the eerily ageless skin – may have the answer. Hyaluronic acid is a natural element in our skin, and helps retain the hydration levels of the epidermis. It’s a big fat molecule however, and topical application isn’t really as useful as you’d hope. Intraceuticals have come up with a way to push hyaluronic acid through the epidermis, so that it draws moisture up from within to the dermis layer, plumping it out. The treatment comes in three parts: ‘Revive’, where a serum is ‘pushed’ into the dermis, using a hyperbaric bubble of oxygen. Secondly, ‘Replenish’, where a hydration gel is massaged gently into the skin and finally ‘Protect’, where a moisture binding cream is applied to act as a barrier to moisture loss. After a very relaxing treatment my skin felt plumped and luscious for days and days. Madonna has her own Intraceuticals machine and skin care specialist who travels with her, for a daily treatment. As a woman who is clearly aging to her own timescales I think this speaks volumes for its effectiveness. Me and Madonna, we know. Intraceuticals Ultimate Rejuvenation Infusion @ Mozhgan Taheri Private Clinic, Wilmslow (01625 532311; mozhgantaheribeutyspecialist.co.uk)

English rose The right cream blush can completely change your look, taking you from ‘woman on the edge’ to ‘youthful summer beauty’ in a flash. This new version from Clarins is hydrating, easy to apply and hits just the right note of subtle colour and light, natural-looking finish. Multi-Blush Cream Blush, £18, Clarins, available at Harrods (harrods.com)

Nightcap You’d like great skin, but you’re busy. I understand. And so does Crème de la Mer, hence its new Lifting and Firming Mask, which with its concentrated lifting ferment, works with the skin’s own renewal process to give you fuller, firmer skin in just ten short minutes. Do it at night when your skin is already in repair mode and if you’re really serious, follow with the brand’s new Lifting Contour Serum to transform the definition of your face, without the drastic measures. The Lifting and Firming Mask, £150, Crème de la Mer, available at Selfridges (selfridges.com)

Lighten up I make no secret of my love for Tom Ford – seriously, I would marry this man in a heartbeat. This season, Ford’s ever covetable make-up has managed to carve yet another space in my heart, with chic nudes, delicious corals and delicate feminine pinks, all with names like ‘Firecracker’ and ‘In the Buff’ – the love story continues… Nail Lacquer, £26, Tom Ford, available at Harrods (harrods.com)

REVIEW: KATE HOUGHTON

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Helmut Lang

Backstage Beauty Neon lips or pastel eyes? Our guide to the top beauty trends for the season… w o r d s : k a te r a c o v o l i s

pretty in pastel

S/S catwalks inevitably bring a fresh burst of colour to our wardrobes, something that is often mirrored in make-up trends. This season, the focus is on the eyes, brightening the face with chic pastel hues, seen best at Oscar de la Renta, who encapsulated this soft look perfectly with a light layer of a beige-tinged mauve on the upper and lower eyelids of its models. Meanwhile, Burberry Prorsum also used pastel hues to their full potential, to match a collection full of baby blues, bright pinks and cool greens. To get the look, try the Kaleidoscope Eye Kit from Le Métier de Beauté. It comes with four shades; a shimmery pink, taupe, matte mauve and dark navy for after dark and the colours work beautifully together or on their own. However you wear them, make sure you finish with a brush of Bobbi Brown’s Smokey Eye Mascara – our favourite new mascara. Kaleidoscope Eye Kit in ‘Carnaby Street’, £90, Le Métier de Beauté (net-a-porter.com). Smokey Eye Mascara, £22, Bobbi Brown (bobbibrown.co.uk)

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Oscar de la Renta

straight up Yes, there were intricate up-dos, voluminous curls, and (gasp) even uber-frizzy hair that graced the runways, but it was the chic, unfussy straight style from Donna Karan that caught our eye; after all, a sleek straight mane will never fail you. To recreate this without the stylist, there are two trusty products you need in your armour – the ghd eclipse® straightener, which allows you to style your hair more quickly with less heat, and Rahua’s Elixir, which repairs damaged hair. For those who demand poker-straight hair, why not add a slick of its Hair Wax which will guarantee a neat, glossy look. Of course, Ms Karan wasn’t the only one to go straight: Balenciaga, Chloé and Monique Lhuillier also reminded us that sometimes less is more. Straightener, £145, ghd eclipse® (ghdhair.com). Hair Elixir, £140 and Hair Wax, £27, both Rahua (urbanretreat.co.uk)

Donna Karan

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Beauty

natural woman How do we love a natural complexion? Let us count the ways. We loved it at Victoria Beckham, at Alberta Ferretti and at Alexander McQueen for a start. To compete with the best, you need to begin with an even, blank canvas, one that looks as though you are not wearing any make-up (we won’t tell). Begin with SkinCeuticals Retexturing Activator serum which works to repair and replenish vital nutrients to your skin, followed by the latest fail-safe product from By Terry, a serum-meets-foundation that works like a dream, perfecting skin tone while protecting your skin and leaving you with a beautiful glow – the ideal no-make-up make-up. If you can bare it (pun intended) leave your eyes alone (if you can’t, just add a very fine coat of brown mascara) and finish with a swipe of Tom Ford’s beautifully subtle ‘Pink Dune’ lip colour. Et voilà. Now practice saying ‘Oh no, I’m just lucky with my skin…’ Cellularose Brightening CC Lumi Serum in ‘Apricot Glow’, £59, By Terry (spacenk.com). Lipstick in ‘Pink Dune’, £36, Tom Ford (harrods.com). Retexturing Activator, £75, SkinCeuticals (skinceuticals. co.uk)

A touch of highlighter can turn a nice complexion into a beautiful one. They help your cheekbones and eyes to catch just the right amount of light, giving your skin that supermodel glow, just as on the catwalks. Valentino made the most of it during its S/S14 collection – the perfect go-to look for any time of the day. Meanwhile Erdem offered a more ethereal take, using a silvery colour just above the cheekbones, below the outer corners of the eye and up around to the eyebrow. To copy this most angelic of looks, try Charlotte Tilbury’s Filmstar Bronze & Glow, or for a touch of pink, the new Ambient Lighting Blush by Hourglass combines just the right amount of glow with pigments of rosy pinks. Filmstar Bronze & Glow, £49, Charlotte Tilbury (charlottetilbury.com). Ambient Lighting Blush in ‘Ethereal Glow’, £28, Hourglass (liberty.co.uk)

NEON jungle

DSQUARED2

There is no time like spring to try a new lipstick and its so much easier to experiment with than with clothes. Taking advantage of this fact, Dsquared2 boldly opted for a neon orange lip colour to match its equally luminous collection, as did Prabal Gurung and Rag & Bone. It’s not for everyone, but this youthful look has a real element of fun. Peachy colours are the most universally wearable and will stop you looking as though your lips have been lit with an actual neon light. Or, if you’re feeling brave, go for Ilia’s magenta ‘Neon Angel’ lipstick. Satin Lip Pencil in ‘Timanfaya’, £18, Nars (narscosmetics.co.uk). Lipstick in ‘Neon Angel’, £22, Ilia (beingcontent.com)

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Alberta Ferretti

light up the night

With an ever-more bizarre range of extreme beauty treatments on offer, Gemma Knight delves into the world of placenta facials and fat freezing to pose the billion dollar question; does any of it really work?

Fountain of

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e’re all, however limited our beauty regime, given to the odd bit of wrinkle-prevention and ungracious ageing – whether it be thanks to an independent foray into the world of age-defying eye creams or, as in my case, as a result of your mother’s alarming assertion that ‘you really must start moisturising, darling!’ when she discovers that your routine aged 22 involves soap, water and little else. But the odd tub of night cream is truly small fry in comparison to some of the more radical wrinkle and bulge-battling treatments on the market, the least of which are such stomachchurning delights as the Geisha Facial, which involves bird excrement, and the Bull Semen Facial (both pioneered at world-renowned salon Hari’s), not to mention the Snake Venom Mask which uses the anti-ageing properties of snake poison to preserve skin’s cell structure. But the quest for eternal youth gets even more extreme, with clinics offering such treatments as microdermabrasion, a therapy which grinds microcrystals over the skin to remove the top layer and reveal fresh cells (popular for its ‘plastic surgery without the surgery’ image), and skin peels (both offered by Destinationskin at their Chester and Manchester-based clinics), as well as Cryolipolysis, a non-surgical alternative to liposuction which kills fat cells by exposing them to sub-zero temperatures. This, I’m told, involves an unpleasant process in which a pad is used to suck up fat from the softer areas of your body and freeze it to -8°C for an hour, with fat cells then broken down by the body over subsequent weeks - an idea which developed after scientists noticed children who regularly sucked ice lollies often developed dimples. But perhaps the weirdest of the lot is the Lamb Placenta Facial, first developed at the Rodeo Drive clinic of dermatologist Dr Harold Lancer to cultivate wrinkle-free, glowing skin and apparently enjoyed (or at least endured) by celebrities such as Victoria Beckham and Simon Cowell. Intrigued, I travelled to meet Dr Roberto Viel at his Harley Street clinic, nestled amongst the

fashionable townhouses which contain some of the world’s foremost cosmetic surgery gurus. First my face is cleaned, sandblasted and covered in a cool, soothing moisturising mask (especially welcome after the sandblasting), then a blend of sheep placenta and hyaluronic acid known as Stem Cell Concentrate is (just a little too generously) slathered on my skin – not the gory mass of purple jelly I was expecting, but rather a thin, clear liquid with, most surprisingly of all, not even a hint of farmyard aroma about it. Here the equally bizarre Red Light Therapy (also a stand-alone anti-ageing treatment) is incorporated into the mix, with two metal paddles used to beam bright light onto my face. Frequently used in order to firm-up collagen, improve circulation and reduce blemishes, Red Light Therapy was originally developed by NASA (landing on the moon, reversing the ageing process – is there nothing they can’t do?) to improve wound healing in astronauts through the use of infrared LEDs, a process they soon realised also allowed them to experience anti-ageing effects. When used in conjunction with the placenta, the stem cells (genetic marvels found in the placenta of mammals that have the ability to repair every type of cell in the body) are kick-started into producing increased levels of collagen, protein, and elastin – and, hey presto, youthful skin. I must say, the after-effects do rather put those of my tried and trusted lift-and-firm night cream to shame. My skin feels clean and soft and does really seem to be glowing, making me instantly ashamed that I’d scoffed at the very idea of such an age-defying remedy having any effect. These treatments may be odd and a little unorthodox, but they’re certainly worthwhile if they truly save us from the horror of hiding under inch-thick foundation or, God forbid, a premature run in with the surgeon’s knife. I once laughed at the idea of lamb placenta becoming my new go-to beauty treatment, but now? I take it all baaa-ck. Destinationskin, 9 Mollington Grange, Parkgate Road CH1 6NP (01244 853802) London Centre for Aesthetic Surgery (lcas.com)

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Top Marques Monaco

Motoring news

We look at the lastest trends and inside line on the world of automotive developments and motor show news words: Thomas Miles

The only show in the world that enables visitors to test drive a supercar on a privatised circuit of the Formula 1 Grand Prix, Top Marques Monaco is back for its eleventh year this April. Held in Monaco’s award-winning Grimaldi Forum, Top Marques showcases the best of luxury lifestyle, promising more than 130 supercars to be exhibited alongside the most exclusive watches, jewellery and superboats on the planet. Top manufacturers Pagani, Spania GTA and Mazzanti are among those who are confirmed to appear at the event, along with an unprecedented number of ground-breaking electric supercar vehicles reflecting the Principality’s ambitions to become a model eco-friendly state. Promising no less than four world premieres, including the coveted Jaguarbased David Brown (he of Aston Martin fame) sports car, other highlights of the show include AgustaWestland helicopters, a Ferrari super boat and a world launch Fjord tender boat. Start your engines please. Top Marques Monaco, 17-20 April.Visit www.topmarquesmonaco.com or www.grimaldiforum.com for tickets.

Concept Cars: Our drives of the future

Nissan Blade Glider

Toyota FV2 Concept

One of the highlights of the Tokyo Motor Show 2013, which took place in November, the distinctive triangular shape of this vehicle is reminiscent of a fighter jet. Designed to have quick launches from standstill and a fast and intense acceleration, Nissan’s Blade Glider is ideal for the racetrack. 70% of the car’s weight sits on the posterior wheels allowing a greater traction onto the driving surface and a superior manageability at high speeds. (nissan-global.com)

Toyota take their fun-to-drive philosophy to a new level with the FV2 by implementing the technology of the future. Another star of the Tokyo Motor Show 2013, the vehicle does not have a steering wheel but is operated by the driver shifting his body in a similar way to how the Segway works. Through voice and image recognition, as well as accumulated history, the FV2 can determine the driver’s mood, suggest destinations and much more. (toyota.com)

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‘If GM had kept up with technology like the computer industry has, we would all be driving $25 cars that got 1,000 MPG’ – Bill Gates

LOOK THE PART #1 Bentley for Men Azure fragrance, Eau de toilette £59.50 (100ml). Available from 9 March at Harrods.

#3 Terrain silk tie in orange, £95 Land Rover (shop.landrover.co.uk)

#5 Brown Boston bag €988.10, Maserati (maseratistore.com) #4 Titanium sunglasses (P’8544) €290, Porsche Design (porsche-design.com)

#2 Aston Martin Racing Quilted jacket, £395 Hackett London (hackett.com)

Kia GT4 Stinger

Mercedes Gran Turismo AMG

Revealed at the North America International Auto Show (NAIAS), which took place in Detriot this January, petrol heads are buzzing about Kia Motors’ latest concept vehicle. The turbocharged 2.0-litre engine will pump 315 horsepower to the rear wheels while the front of the car is held firmly to the asphalt by the added downforce of the carbon-fibre splitter below the front bumper. The vehicle features a grille that hovers mere inches over the ground and is framed by vertical LED headlamps. (kia.com)

If its proportions border on the cartoon-ish, it’s because this super sports car was originally developed for the PlayStation®3 racing game Gran Turismo 6. But the virtual has become a reality with the November 2013 unveiling of the Mercedes Gran Turismo AMG. With an aerodynamic water drop shape and front grille exclusively comprised of LEDs the aggressive looking car is astoundingly lightweight and features the exceptional race car motor that is the V8 biturbo. (mercedes-amg.com / gran-turismo.com) 117

sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s electric Once relegated to the edges of the motoring world, electric cars are now both big business and seriously impressive. Richard Yarrow investigates the latest offering from Tesla

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The CHESHIRE Magazine | Motoring

ew car companies have arrived on the scene with such an impact as Tesla. But when your CEO and chief product guru is Elon Musk, the 42-year-old billionaire entrepreneur who developed PayPal, making a splash is a money-no-object occupation. If you thought developing new cars was expensive, don’t forget his other business is called Space Exploration Technologies. New cars cost back-of-the-sofa change compared to rockets. Tesla is all about electric vehicles (EVs) – no surprise when it’s named after the Serbian-born inventor who pioneered the design of the mains power grid. Compact hatchback EVs, such as the Nissan Leaf and Renault Zoe, have been aimed where there is potential for volume sales. Tesla has gone the other way, using the ‘instant maximum torque’ characteristics of the plug-in powertrain to build expensive performanceoriented sports cars. Musk’s thinking is that if you make them desirable enough, people will happily pay the price. The US company’s first effort was the Roadster, an electric two-seater that was based around a Lotus Elise bodyshell. Built from 2008 to 2012, more than 2,000 were sold worldwide. The company’s second car is the Model S and it’s now on sale in the UK, priced from £49,900. While the UK arm is based in Maidenhead, Berkshire, the car is being marketed via Tesla’s only UK showroom in West London. Unconventionally, it’s in the form of a small 

‘Musk’s idea is that if you make them desirable enough, people will happily pay the price’

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retail unit inside Westfield Shopping Centre in Shepherd’s Bush. With people in a buying mood, putting a car dealership next to fashion brands, watch firms and cosmetics companies is an interesting move. And with the Model S parked front and centre, it has a clever trick under its open bonnet to tempt customers over the threshold – there’s no engine. It works, too; visitor data reveals London is the busiest of Tesla’s similar stores across Europe, with average footfall of 11,000 people per month since it opened last October. Instead of the engine, the front end is dominated by a 150-litre storage area, and with a generous hatchback boot behind, the Model S

slowly emerge from the car before you reach them. It’s very slick. But the bodywork is nothing compared to the impact of the interior, dominated by a centre console made entirely from a 17-inch tablet. It controls every function the driver will need, from opening the huge panoramic sunroof and the charging socket hidden in the rear light cluster, to operating the sat-nav, internet, ventilation controls or Bluetooth connectivity. There are actually only two physical buttons on the dashboard, one to open the glovebox and the other to turn on the hazard lights. This is like no other automotive cabin and feels like you’re stepping into the future. The way we’ve adopted iPads and the like means all cars are going to look like this well before Musk is collecting his pension. A high-level fixed arm rest with integrated cup holders fills the area between the front

‘The bodywork is nothing compared to the impact of the interior, dominated by a centre console’

is an exceptionally practical tourer. But what strikes you most from the outside is its contemporary design. My bright red test car featured a bold chrome line round the side glass, repeated below the doors. More evidence of a well-considered product comes with the theatrical way you interact with the Model S. If you have the sculpted Tesla key fob in your pocket, the flush door handles

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seats, while anyone familiar with Mercedes’ recent range will recognise the steering wheel-mounted gear selector and the window controls on the door. Firing up a V8 or V12 sports car is often cited as one of the key reasons for buying – the throaty growl puts a smile on your face – but that’s not going to happen with the Tesla. There isn’t even a starter button; the Model S senses you’re in the driver’s seat and have the key, so is immediately ready to go. But that’s really the only disappointment, because in every other way this car is genuinely impressive. Riding on enormous 21-inch alloys,

The The cheshire mayfair Magazine | Motoring

it’s a proper head-turning presence on the road. Supercar-quick from a standing start, depending on which of the three lithium-ion battery options is chosen, it will hit 62mph (100km/h) in just 4.2 seconds. What’s more, this EV isn’t going to be out of juice after 60 miles like some smaller ones. Bigger car equals bigger batteries and while the official range is 310 miles, Tesla says it’s more like 250 in the real world. The Model S feels solidly planted through the corners, the ride is just the right side of harsh, and when you floor the throttle to overtake, the car surges forward with real verve. There is plenty of room in the rear for passengers, and the fit and finish of the interior seems, on the face of it, to be excellent. I will be completely honest and say the quality of the car, in every possible way, far exceeded my expectations. My Model S was left-hand drive but deliveries of right-hand drive cars for the UK are now coming through from the Californian factory. Tesla won’t say exactly how many have been ordered for Britain, revealing only that it’s several hundred. This isn’t some tin-pot manufacturing operation, either; Musk has taken over an unwanted Toyota factory and plans to turn out 1,000 cars a week. One of the key stumbling blocks to EV ownership so far has been the charging infrastructure. In short, there aren’t enough plug-in points yet and getting a full battery can be an overnight experience. Musk has a solution – build his own network of ‘superchargers’ offering enough power for 200 miles in just 20 minutes. There are already 14 in Europe and the UK’s first is likely to be in Kent, so we can link with the rest of the continent. North America has 74 stretching coast to coast. The day after my test drive, an enterprising Tesla owner and his daughter became the first to travel across the USA using only Tesla’s superchargers. It took less than a week and cost nothing because they’re free for Teslas to use. Another glimpse into the future? I wouldn’t bet against it.

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THE STATS

Marble Ferrari carved from a single block of Italian Arabescato marble, 1.2 metres in length, ÂŁ30,000. Commissions start from ÂŁ25,000 according to the rarity of the stone and the complexity of the model. Lapicida (020 3012 1000; lapicida.com)

Model

creation Car fanatics are being offered the opportunity to immortalise their most treasured of vehicles, whether a vintage beauty or the latest supercar words: Thomas Miles

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The cheshire Magazine | Motoring

enowned for their intricate stone work for interior designers and architects worldwide, luxury stone specialist Lapicida are utilising the latest in 3D technology to produce a unique work of art, a scale replica sculpture of your car carved from a single block of stone. The state-of-the-art process begins with 3D modelling the original vehicle which is then interpreted through a series of advanced software programmes. Lapicida’s North Yorkshire workshops operate one of only three ‘Breton NC1600’ CNC (Computer Numeric Control) machines in the world. This colossal 5-axis machine can accommodate blocks of stone weighing up to 25 tonnes and linked to sophisticated imaging software can be programmed to carve virtually any 3D object

with an eye for the smallest detail. Sculptures can be made in a variety of stones, marbles and semi-precious materials.

‘A typical scaled car in marble takes in the region of 100 hours of machine time to perfect’ A true labour of love, a typical scaled car in marble takes in the region of 100 hours of machine time to perfect, running at a spindle speed of around 7,000rpm. The final stage of the commission involves several days of handfinishing by Lapicida’s craftsmen; joining their traditional skills with the world-leading technology of the giant CNC-machine.

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A Matter of

Control Throwing an expensive and fragile piece of machinery round a racing track at impossible speeds takes supreme control, both mentally and physically, but this is something Cheshire businessman Tony Hughes knows all about and uses to his clear advantage

T image by Chris Wallbank Photography

w o r d s : K AT E H O U G H T O N

ony Hughes had somewhat of a late start in motor racing. Unlike most drivers, who start as mere youths on a Go Kart track, Tony was already well into his 40s when he chose to throw himself in at the deep end, racing the glorious Ginetta G20. Positively buzzing with energy and bubbling over with enthusiasm as he talks about his cars, it doesn’t take long to realise that when Tony Hughes sets out to do something, it gets done – and gets done really, really well. Tony took over his father’s engineering

business in 1978 and set about changing its fortunes. Like many small northern firms Hughes Safety Showers clung precariously to a small client base, even though its products were first to market and consistently innovative. Tony took the small, Stockport-based business and has turned it into a world leading company, with offices in Germany, America and Dubai and partnerships in Australia and Canada. This degree of entrepreneurialism involves significant control: planning, setting targets, stretching to achieve goals and developing a 

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reputation among global players takes nerves of steel and a clear vision of success. When you’re also dealing with a product that will potentially save lives, there is no room for error. It’s not hard therefore to project these same qualities into what’s required to become a successful racing driver, even if that wasn’t the original objective. ‘Actually,’ Tony says. ‘I first climbed into a Ginetta simply to give myself the opportunity to learn to drive a powerful car safely. I had no intention of it becoming a serious commitment.’ In 2006 Tony acquired a Ford GT; however, his first experience of driving it left him feeling more like Johnny English than James Bond shaken, not stirred. ‘I must admit, I was scared stiff the first time I drove it.’ Tony laughs. ‘I realised immediately that to remain safe, and enjoy the car as

‘It’s very tempting to throw your car around, max the speed and take risks in these races’ intended, I needed to learn a new way of driving. A friend was racing a Ginetta G20 at the time, with the Speedworks Motorsport Team. He took me along and Christian Dick, the team owner, offered me a track day in a Ginetta G20. It went quite well, and I decided to do the season.’ ‘Quite well’? ‘Do the season’? It’s rather a leap from having fun on a track to racing competitively against chaps who’ve been doing it since their teens and who really, really want to win. ‘I have a certain way of looking at life,’ Tony says. ‘Since I lost my wife to cancer ten years ago I realise that you have to grab every opportunity to really live it. I push myself to do things that give me a real sense of achievement. I’ve raced speedboats, dived with sharks, I’ve done a tandem parachute jump, and I’ve even done the skeleton run down the Olympic toboggan run at Igls in Austria. I decided that I loved to race, that Ginetta cars

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were the perfect vehicle to help me achieve my goals and that I wasn’t going to play at it, but take it seriously and really go for it.’ Go for it he did. After a season in the G20 Tony moved himself to a Ginetta G50, a seriously beautiful - and fast - racing car.’ ‘I did three seasons in this car and then decided to push myself into the big league. While the British GT race series in the UK might attract audiences of 3,000-4,000, the British Touring Car Championship, for which Ginettas are a support series, attract 30-40,000 per meeting. When I started in Touring Cars I was racing drivers who had started more than thirty years before… but I did well.’ ‘After two seasons though I decided to give it up, and Lawrence Tomlinson, owner of Ginetta, suggested we pull my G50 out of mothballs and give it an overhaul, making it suitable for Endurance Racing. I entered my first race in it this January, the Dubai 24 Hour, with three other drivers, and we won.’ Why am I not surprised? Delving deeper into what the winning strategy was, it again comes down to control. ‘It’s very tempting to throw your car around, max the speed and take risks in these races. We chose not to: we chose to drive carefully, look after the car and ourselves and take no silly chances. It paid off, I watched several cars spin off the track following a risky manoeuvre and many more wore out parts or suffered damage due to over hard usage.’ ‘The next race is at Mugello, in Tuscany. It’s a 12 hour race and done in typically Italian style, starting after lunch and then with a break for dinner and a night’s sleep, then back on at 8am the next day. I’m looking forward to that one.’ Tony has experienced more than sporting success since he took up motor racing; he has doubled the turnover of his company twice in nine years. He puts this success down to a high level of fitness – both physical and mental. ‘I work out three times a week to maintain the fitness levels needed for racing, and without doubt give my brain a tough workout every time I

The cheshire Magazine | Motoring

climb into the car. At those speeds your decision making needs to be absolutely precise and, of course, incredibly fast.’ ‘It’s changed my whole mental attitude. I now always want to be doing… making things happen, driving things forward. I’ll never rest on my laurels, not when there are still things to be achieved.’ Filled with energy, brimming with enthusiasm, you get a sense that nothing can stop this man from achieving any goal he sets himself – and there’s a lot more out there he wants to do. (ginetta.com; 24hseries.com)

Want to test your mettle as a racing driver? You can, in just five easy steps 1. Book onto a Ginetta track day You don’t need any prior racing experience, just a valid driving licence. Call Ginetta on 0113 385 3850 for availability. 2. Choose your weapon The G40 Ginetta Racing Drivers Club Car is a perfect entry-level race car and comes fully road registered with 12 months tax. 3. Get your Race Licence As well as two track days to prepare you, Ginetta will also sort your race licence as part of your Ginetta Racing Drivers Club membership. 4. Enter a championship The Ginetta Racing Drivers Club has four race weekends included, on the UK’s best circuits. After your first season, you are ready to climb the ladder all the way to GT4 & GT3 racing with the support of the Ginetta team. 5. Go racing

from top: on the track; ginetta engine (photo: Chris Wallbank Photography); on the track; ginetta ginetta engine (photo: Chris Wallbank Photography) left: the ginetta

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The cheshire Magazine | Feature

toys

boys’

If chartering a superyacht isn’t quite enough to get the adrenaline pumping then check out some of the cool water toys available to complement your holiday WORDS: NICCI PERIDES

t wasn’t so long ago that the water ‘toys’ onboard superyachts consisted of a pair of flippers, some snorkelling gear and maybe a jet ski. This was thought of as perfectly adequate but, in an age when superyachts are becoming mini islands, the need for more advanced technology to keep guests amused is ever more important. A superyacht, generally considered any yacht over 24 metres in length, needs to keep up with the Joneses, so what happens if the yacht you are particularly fond of doesn’t have the toys you require? No problem. Rent them. Happily today, more and more companies are offering high-tech water toys for charter along with qualified crew if required – so with a wealth of toys to play with – which one will you choose?

The waterjet Think back to the James Bond film Thunderball, when Bond attempted his escape using a jet-propelled backpack. This cool gadget (well, a similar one using water) could be at your disposal should you choose one of the many yachts that have it as part of its toy box, or if not, you can always hire one for the duration of your yacht charter. The Jetlev Flyer – essentially a water-jet powered backpack – enables its user to reach 30 feet in the air and travel at speeds of up to 30 miles per hour. How does it work? The pump system in the floating unit drives water at immense pressure up a pipe to the backpack,

which then expels it through two nozzles to create lift. The effect is spectacular, with high-pressure plumes of water firing downwards like those of an Apollo rocket. The JetLev team provides hands-on training through in-water practice and via a radio headphone that fits into the helmet. Most riders have the moves down within minutes and within a few hours are mastering the more technical manoeuvres. It is one of the coolest gadgets around – and if you want one of your own, it will set you back US$68,500 to buy. (jetlev.com)

The hovercraft Hovering a full 12 inches off the water’s surface, the ultra-sleek Marlin ‘Platinum Black’ Edition from Flying Fish Hovercraft is the coolest tender or fun-ride around. Designed with a slick grey/ black finish, the hovercraft can reach speeds of up to 50mph and is equally at home on sea as it is on land. Its exterior maximises its aesthetic appeal by making use of clever reflective materials and its interior is equipped with a carbon fibre dash complete with LED ‘mood’ lighting for its controls. It’s the perfect ride to go ship-to-shore, to cruise the hard-to-reach places when only a tender will do, or to just zip about on the water. If you are feeling a little sedate, the hovercraft will float peacefully when the engines are turned off, perfect for a spot of deep-sea fishing. To own one will set you back £17,200 plus 

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‘Think back to the James Bond film Thunderball, when Bond attempted his escape using a jet-propelled backpack’ VAT, but the guys over at Flying Fish will be more than happy to talk to you about renting one for a few days. (flyingfishhovercraft.co.uk)

The Helicat This cool new toy has been turning heads at many a yacht show in the past year. The Helicat 22, is to all intents and purposes, a catamaran platform with a helicopter-shaped pod on top, and it is designed to withstand rough water. It is the perfect superyacht companion due to its multifunctional qualities. Being extremely diverse, its uses are almost unlimited on the water, whether you want a cool way to arrive on an island, go fishing, or just ski off the back. The helicopter-design has led many to ask, ‘Does she fly?’ In the air? No. On the water? Yes. She can reach speeds close to 40mph in good conditions. Her basic design is for zipping about on the water, and weighing in at only 730kg she can be stored on your superyacht quite easily. She can fit two people at the moment, but Helicat is looking at adding additional seating later this year. Keep your eyes open for this unusual addition to the superyacht toy box. (helicat.net)

The Triton sub Explore Davy Jones’ Locker without getting wet, even with a glass of champagne in hand. The Triton Submersible range is a series of subs designed specifically with superyachts and their guests in mind. The most powerful in the series is the 36,000/3 sub, which is capable of reaching depths of 3,600 feet, carrying one pilot and two passengers thanks to Rayotek’s proprietary technology and manufacturing

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processes (a high-strength specialty glass to you and me). The others in the series are made using acrylic domes for better visibility during diving (acrylic has the same refractive properties as sea water, meaning the light won’t bend when passing through the two) but using this material limits the possible diving depth to 3,300 feet – still deep enough for most, though. Inside all the subs, the pilot controls the systems using a small touch screen panel while passengers kick back with maybe a picnic, made up by the onboard chef, and a glass of something cold while listening to the sounds of their choice, be that an iPod or via the hydrophone to listen to the sounds of the underwater world. From US$7-10,000 per operational day.

The One-Man Mini Sub Basically a scooter designed for under the water. The small, compact, lightweight design allows riders to explore the ocean (down to 12m) at a speed of two km/h. The user sits astride the seat, just like on a regular scooter, and feeds their head into the aerated observation bubble. The bubble is fed directly from the oxygen tank located on the front of the scooter. This tank creates an ‘air bubble’ meaning the rider does not need any additional breathing apparatus. All that is needed is a wet suit, a quick orientation lesson and then away you go. The One Man Mini Sub, available from Spycatcher, has successfully passed a ten-year safety test and is highly recognised in the industry as one of the most environmentally friendly diving apparatus on the market. So, tick for the cool factor, tick for doing our bit for the planet and tick for exploring the underworld in your little bubble. And it’s a great one for the ladies too, for diving without even getting your hair wet! One Man Mini Sub, £12,000 (spycatcheronline.co.uk)

The Orcasub – Two Man Submarine Imagine gliding through the water in your own underwater fighter plane – very Tom Cruise.

The cheshire Magazine | Feature

This two-man submarine is capable of reaching depths of up to 6,000 feet. Its design has taken on the concept of ‘underwater flight’ meaning it uses thrust, lift and drag, and then wings and joystick for manoeuvring – much like an aeroplane. Again, the cockpit is similar to that of a fighter plane, with the pilots encased in one of the two pressurised, perspex domes, allowing for 360-degree views. The controls are located in the front dome and consist of a joystick, rudder pedals, compass and altitude indicator. Not quite a fighter plane, but riders can enjoy the thrill of gliding through the water, doing ‘flybys’ and saluting the large fish that they will pass by. Did I mention that the engine is so quiet the underwater world hardly notices you there? Don’t get me wrong though, this is a serious piece of kit and anyone who purchases one will be given thorough training to ensure its impeccable safety record is upheld. Orcasub, from around £1,656,000 (orcasub.com)

The ultimate cool rider A perfect companion to your superyacht is the new 2014 offering from Hunton. The sleek, sexy Hunton XRS43 powerboat, dubbed as the ‘Aston Martin of the seas’, offers the ultimate thrill ride from ship to shore, or for just spending a decadent weekend on the French Riviera. Everything about her elegant lines, fine finishes and sporty appeal screams Hunton. Every powerboat to come out of the Hunton’s Hampshire headquarters is custom-made and handcrafted, assuring the buyer exquisite attention to detail. The company, with over three decades of experience within the high-spec powerboat racing division, stamps its mark of excellence by ensuring each powerboat exudes luxury with an exhilarating performance capacity. Its interior is finished with teak decking, leather upholstery and bespoke design as standard. Reaching speeds of up to 70 knots, the Hunton XRS43 is sure to be the envy of the waters in summer 2014. (hunton.co.uk)

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Arabian wildlife park hideaway

Travel news

From the heart of Abu Dhabi’s spectacular 4,100 hectare wildlife park comes the Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island Al Sahel Villa Resort, combining breathtaking landscapes with stylish living. Immersed in the desert savannah, guests can sign up to days of adventure on safari-style guided walks, or ride Arabian horses along the shoreline, before unwinding in total comfort while watching exotic wildlife outside the window. Boutique villas come complete with king-sized beds and free-standing baths. (anantara.com)

Arabian outbacks and star gazing over The Grand Canyon: choose your adventure this spring

Local luxury For a weekend treat closer to home, The Mere Golf Resort & Spa is the perfect location for a short break. Set in extensive manicured grounds, the historic main building is home to 81 individually designed guest rooms including ten luxurious suites. Sporting fans can enjoy the challenging 18-hole golf course, one of the best in the area, complete with a unique floating ball driving range, while the obligatory club lounge & bar with its stunning views and menu of Mere classics is a great spot for a tipple after your day on the green. For those that favour more relaxing pursuits, the luxurious spa comes with a large indoor pool and fully-equipped gym, not to mention the thermal room offering a sensory treat of hamman, caldarium and salt infusion. The hotel manages to retain classic charm whilst projecting absolute modern luxury. If ever there was an excuse for a stolen weekend away, this is it. (themereresort.co.uk)

‘Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail’ – Ralph Waldo Emerson 132

The cheshire Magazine | Travel

Long haul Vs short haul

Long haul

Escape to Arizona As fringes and tassels re-emerge on the catwalks of Calvin Klein, Anna Sui and Gucci for S/S14, take the inspiration literally and retreat to the birthplace of the cowboy. Home to one of the most famous natural wonders of the world, experience The Grand Canyon first hand and enjoy evenings of star gazing. The rugged desert landscape meets luxury best at The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain, offering a beautiful wilderness view from the comfort of the spa’s serenity pool or golf course.

Going global The latest essential tool for the discerning luxury globetrotter, Globalista is the new members-only online travel portal which features reviews of more than 300 destinations written by and for its members. The site itself is sleek, chic and easy to use, with a fabulous depth of knowledge that feels as professional as it is bespoke, specialising in sniffing out undiscovered little gems for their select clientele the world over. They also provide a concierge service which allows members to plan, build and book their entire trip, as well as personalised PDFs containing the very latest reports on the world’s best hotels and restaurants. (globalista.co.uk)

Is this the best way to spend 21 days, ever? Luxury website veryfirstto.com has announced its most extravagant adventure yet, offering passengers the chance to visit ten of the world’s most beautiful hotel suites in three weeks. From Paris to the Bahamas, London to Las Vegas, Hong Kong to New York, travellers will live the billionaire lifestyle (solid gold iPad concierge and rooftop infinity pool included) on the globe-trotting trip of a lifetime. In even better news, those debating the £359,000 price tag can bid on the holiday at newly-launching auction site auctionwhatidid.co.uk. (veryfirstto.com)

Short haul

Italian glamour in Sicily Inspiring the regal golds, Roman coins and Coliseum prints of the Dolce and Gabbana S/S14 collection, Sicily is the short-haul retreat of the moment. The Mediterranean island is crowded with culture, the narrow alleys leading to prehistoric Greek temples and Norman churches. Embrace the cuisine, eat cannelloni in its hometown and (for the keen shopper), make sure Palermo and the Corso Vittorio Emanuele is top of your list. 133

Sun, rum and

luxury living

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The cheshire Magazine | Travel

OCEAN RETREAT, WESTMORELAND

It’s been a thoroughly horrible winter, and by February even the hardiest of us must have been dreaming of sunshine and soft breezes. Hearing the siren call of the Caribbean, Kate Houghton went to investigate the opportunity presented by Barbados

s you’d expect from someone who’s never visited the Caribbean before, the buzz of excitement manifested itself in the constant refrain of Totally Tropical’s 1975 hit song rattling around my head for the several weeks prior to my departure and indeed most of the flight there. But don’t let this put you off; the reality was all I could have hoped for and far more. The island is a favourite of A-listers from the worlds of sport and entertainment, indeed, Rihanna has just invested an alleged $22m in an apartment at One Sandy Lane and everybody from Andrew Lloyd-Webber to Victoria Beckham has been spotted enjoying the incredible beaches and warm seas. The island is dotted with hotels, but if you really want to live like a celebrity, book a villa at Royal Westmoreland, in St. James. Set in 500 acres of landscaped beauty, the collection of villas, townhouses and apartments available for rent offer a range of choices for every type of holidaymaker, from family to couple to wedding party to golfing buddies. Indeed, you may meet resident Lee Westwood on the golf course, or, as I did, sail past Ian Woosnam in your golf buggy, as he politely waves you across his path. The estate is made up of private homes, many of which are rented out to holidaymakers, indeed, it’s actually possible to hire the villa owned by Wayne and Colleen Rooney. This stunning property has five en-suite bedrooms and a cottage in the grounds. It’s beautifully put together; the 

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FROM TOP LEFT: SUNSET ON THE CLIFF TERRACE; THE FINAL HOLE; THE PAVILION; PATIO AT THE ROYAL VILLA

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interior décor is the epitome of contemporary elegance and the rooms are filled with light from the masses of windows everywhere. Air conditioning in the bedrooms ensures an easy night’s sleep and the kitchen is fully equipped with everything you need, including staff. Make sure you bag the master suite… a completely beautiful, light filled space with a balcony offering dramatic views across the estate. Royal Westmoreland has been established for 20 years now, so comes not only with a wide assortment of ready built apartments, town houses, villas and development plots for sale or rent, but has a warm community feel and lots going on, so whether you go simply for a week in the sun, or wish to spend the entire winter avoiding the British deluge, you can be as involved with or detached from your neighbours as you wish. The golf, I’m reliably informed, is quite brilliant. Personally I’m more of a spa kind of girl, so I headed to the Royal Westmoreland Spa, located down at Mullins Beach, where you can also find soft white sand, a reclining chair, a towel and a lovely man to bring rum punch. The Spa is an oasis of tranquillity, the perfect solution to a long flight. My therapist, Lisa, pummelled my muscles into a state of submission in one of the best massages I’ve ever experienced. Floating on a sea of relaxation (and just the

The cheshire Magazine | Travel

one rum punch) my next stop was The Cliff Restaurant. Dress up; this is fine dining Barbados style. Incredible food, jaw dropping surroundings and a degree of glamour that anywhere else would look horribly forced. Here, in the warm night air and with the sounds of chill-out tunes and crickets mingling to create a sophisticated Caribbean soundtrack, it’s perfectly natural. Barbados isn’t all beaches and rum punch, though for most this is enough. Whilst there I achieved a personal dream – to swim with turtles. A day trip on a catamaran started with snorkels and turtles, progressed through snorkels and shipwrecks (not ours) and into a picnic lunch moored off a white sandy beach. Dozing in the sun while the boat sails on, being plied with banana cake and piña colada has an awful lot to recommend it. A stay at Royal Westmoreland offers absolute choice in how you spend your days. You can be private by your own pool, doze on their beach, mingle at the estate pool and gym, dine at home or hit the Clubhouse, investigate local dining spots or spend an evening at The Rum Shack, a relaxed dress-down haven after a night partying at The Cliff, offering a fabulous BBQ and plenty of rum punch. Ah yes, rum. You can’t visit Barbados and not indulge. Made on the island at Mount Gay Distillery, it has a long history, starting in 1703, when the inappropriately named John Sober brought in his better named friend Sir John Gay to help him manage his recently purchased distillery. A visit to the Visitor Centre is highly recommended, especially the Cocktail Tour. Barbados. I have to go back. There’s no question about it.

THIS PAGE, FROM TOP: Hawksbill sea turtle swims over a tropical coral reef; THE PATIO AT OCEAN DRIVE; SILVERMOON CRUISE

THE ESSENTIALS FLY: Thomas Cook Airlines Manchester to Barbados from £404 return flythomascook.com STAY: Royal Westmoreland royalwestmoreland.com EAT: The Cliff thecliffbarbados.com DO: Silvermoon Cruises silvermoonbarbados.com LEARN: Mount Gay Rum Tour mountgayrum.com 137

What to do Yas Island, near the airport, is a frantic centre of adrenaline-pumping adventure, from F1 to white-knuckle rides. At the popular Ferrari World theme park, thrill-seekers can experience the world’s fastest rollercoaster – at 150mph, it’s so fast that riders have to wear sky diving goggles. As Formula 1 stars battle for supremacy racing around the Yas Marina Circuit, watch the action from the breathtakingly futuristic Yas Viceroy Hotel which straddles the track. Cool down at Yas Waterworld, a firm favourite for a family day out with a huge array of waterslides, rides and pools, including another Abu Dhabi record breaker in the form of the world’s longest suspended rollercoaster. With three championship-standard courses within 20 minutes of the city, Abu Dhabi is replete with world-class golfing options for both seasoned veterans and newcomers to the game. Of course, not all of Abu Dhabi’s attractions are man-made. Despite housing several large hotels, Saadiyat Island’s beaches are teeming with wildlife and dolphins can be seen from the beach most days. The island’s deep sandy beach and natural dune system beyond the high tide line provides the perfect nesting habitat to endangered hawksbill turtles that return each year to lay their eggs. The desert that forms so much of the emirate provides another interesting element to holidays here and is easily accessible on an excursion from the city or you can stay for longer in a luxurious desert resort. A world away from the gleaming skyscrapers along the Corniche, climb aboard the ‘ship of the desert’ and experience an unforgettable camel trek across silent sands. If you’re looking to cover the most ground on your trip to the desert – and get a serious rush of adrenaline – then hop into a 4x4 for a spot of ‘dune bashing’.

With its distinctive blend of ultra-modern opulence, superb stretches of white-sand beach and intriguing Arabian culture, Abu Dhabi is beginning to rival Dubai for its hotels and attractions. Luxury travel expert Annelouise Speakman takes a look at the largest of the United Arab Emirates

explore…

ABU DHABI Saadiyat Hawksbill Turtles In Sprint to the Shore

Ritz-Carlton Grand Canal emirates palace

Where to stay One of the major attractions of an Abu Dhabi holiday is the outstanding quality of the hotels and resorts available.

Anantara QasR Al Sarab

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yas island

The cheshire Magazine | Travel Promotion

al jahili fort

The uniquely opulent Emirates Palace recreates ancient Arabian architecture with its huge domes, arches, gold leaf and mother of pearl and is the epitome of Middle Eastern bling, down to the cashpoint that dispenses gold bars. Contrast this with the futuristic Yas Viceroy, a sweeping expanse of curved glass and steel with thousands of coloured lights reflecting against the surrounding sky, sea and desert landscape. The St Regis Saadiyat Island has everything you’d expect from a 5-star resort: five pools, a spa, a fabulous (yet unobtrusive) kids’ club and seven gourmet restaurants. It also boasts direct access to the excellent Saadiyat Beach Golf Club. However, none of this beats the blissfully unspoilt 9km of white sand beach on which the resort stands. For a true taste of the Middle East, visit Ritz-Carlton Grand Canal’s Arabic restaurant, Mijana, and sip camel milk cocktails prepared by the hotel’s in-house mixologist. The hotel also boasts superb views of the majestic Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. Set in the middle of the aptly-named Empty Quarter, Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara, is a luxurious oasis isolated from the outside world, yet only 2 hours’ drive from Abu Dhabi City. The resort brings the mysticism of its eminent location to life with Middle Eastern inspired décor, an array of facilities and desert experiences. Anantara Qasr Al Sarab

my SUITCASE E S S E N T I A L S #1 Romantic Bouquet Silk Scarf, £250 Valentino (harrods.com)

#2 Earrings, £192 Jenny Packham (jennypackham.com)

#3 Matte Radience Healthy Glow Baked Powder & Mini Face Brush, £24, Laura Mercier (lauramercier.co.uk)

When to go The United Arab Emirates experience warm weather and minimal rainfall all year round. It’s coolest between October and March with temperatures around 25 degrees. During the summer months temperatures rise considerably, whilst hotel rates and promotions are at their most attractive.

#4 Mondrial bag £825, Aevha (aevhalondon.com)

Getting there Etihad Airways offer twice daily flights direct from Manchester Airport to Abu Dhabi. Annelouise Speakman is a luxury travel expert and director at Destinology, 47 – 49 Alderley Road, Wilmslow SK9 1NZ (destinology.co.uk, 0162 588 5588)

#5 Aviator Sunglasses £135, Ray-Ban (harrods.com)

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Travel | The cheshire Magazine

Weekend away … Arc 1950, French Alps Words: gemma knight

he second-highest village in the beautiful ski resort of Les Arcs may be known for its slopes, but there’s much more to this Alpine haven than pistes and powder. Celebrating its tenth birthday this year, Arc 1950 is the youngest – and, without doubt, most chic – of Les Arcs’ four sister resorts. Beloved by ski and snowboard devotees of every age and calibre (thanks to its family friendly vibe and flawless ski in/ski out credentials), it’s nevertheless perfectly possible to pay a visit without ever setting foot on the slopes. My first port of call was the Radisson Blu, a luxurious hotel in perfect harmony with its chocolate box surrounds. Indeed, it’s tempting never to leave its warm, inviting suites (complete with spectacular snow-capped views) and Deep Nature Spa, a peaceful oasis offering treatments, pools, volcanic caves, saunas and even a nail bar. But it would be a crime not to explore the village itself, dotted with tiny shops and cosy restaurants which, in true French style, offer a wide range of hearty regional dishes such as tartiflette (think cheese, meat and more cheese) and delectable local vintages like the sweet and

fruity Grisard Vertige (if you can tear yourself away from the vin chaud). In summer the resort offers everything from fishing to mountain biking, golf and rafting to hiking, swimming, tennis and yoga, plus an annual film festival so good I’m told even the locals can’t resist. The bars are informal, fun and fabulously French, while the hotel rooms are pristine and homely - though if you’re as taken with this little gem as I was, it’s worth investing in one of the village’s 750 apartments. Specialist agent Erna Low (the UK’s oldest ski tour operator) is based in the heart of the village and will happily explain the popular leaseback scheme which allows owners to rent their vacant properties. The resort owes much of its exclusivity to the three-hour drive separating it from the nearest major airport in Geneva, although it’s well worth the effort to escape the more crowded resorts – and Geneva, at least, is an easy two hour hop from Manchester airport. Armed with the new-found knowledge that Easyjet run a handy Friday evening flight, I’m fresh out of reasons not to spend my weekends indulging in fondue, fine wine and fresh, Alpine air. (ernalow.co.uk; arc1950.com)

Piste A ppa r e l

Available from Ellis Brigham Mountain Sports, 5-7 Northgate St, Chester CH1 2HA (01244 318311)

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#1 Salomon Pic Down Jacket £279.99

#2 Barts Black Mitts £35

#3 The North Face Gogo Pants £139.99

Luxury Abu Dhabi from ÂŁ899 Discover an amazing destination where city, desert and islands combine for a captivating experience. Let the travel experts at Destinology tailor-make your next holiday to Abu Dhabi. Choose from luxurious hotels and enjoy truly personalised service every step of the way. Price is per person based on 2 sharing a Deluxe Room at Ritz Carlton Grand Canal for 4 nights, travel 22 May - 15 Jul 14, incl. exclusive discount, free Half Board, direct flights from Manchester & private transfers. Book by 30 April. Price subject to availability. Booking conditions apply.

Destinology - Abu Dhabi - Cheshire Magazine.indd 1

01625 88 55 88

www.destinology.co.uk/wilmslow 47 - 49 Alderley Road, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 1NZ

28/02/2014 11:21:37

Kids’ news

There’s a whole host of tantalising titbits on offer for your little ones this spring - here’s our pick of the very cutest couture

Fairytale collection If there’s one kidswear designer who knows the meaning of fun, it’s Marie Chantal. The new S/S14 range for her much-loved brand was inspired by ballet, fantasy and fairytale with nautical-inspired tee-shirts and jumpers, pastel colours, gingham prints and jacquard skirts (we love the long-sleeved dress with an on-trend Peter Pan collar). The accompanying and suitably playful photo campaign, featuring balloons, lollipops, ice lollies and milkshakes, certainly gets the kids’ party started. (mariechantal.co.uk)

Petit Guerlain The end of February saw Guerlain launch His and Hers fragrances for boys and girls. The delicate scent features green top notes, orange blossom, mimosa and honey, with base notes of white musk and pistachio. The two bottles have been given pink and blue distinctions for each sex and there’s also a refillable white purse spray bottle. What could be cuter? Petit Guerlain eau de toilette, £215 for 250ml (guerlain.com) 142

PETS CORNER

A life less ordinary Thanks to online pet boutique Chi Ki Paws, your pets can snooze in style. The hand made Buckle Berry four poster bed is the ultimate in creature comfort; hand carved and made to order, each comes with a plush soft mattress for those cold winter nights, available in a choice of colours and prints. £399.99 (chikipaws.com)

The cheshire Magazine | Family

The French connection

Family Holiday

In classic Bonpoint style, the unveiling of its spring collection brings a season of classic yellow rain macs, whimsical pastel colours and elegant cuts to see your little ones through till summer. From stripey two-piece suits to floral bows and denim shirts, the stylish new range showcases creative director Christine Innamorato’s unrivalled expertise. The catwalk’s large Bonpoint logo umbrellas added a truly English touch – just watch out for those muddy puddles. (bonpoint.com)

The dismal weather inevitably turns our attention to the annual family summer holiday and to make the task easier this year, luxury boutique hotel guide Mr & Mrs Smith has launched Smith & Family. Working on the same premise as the original site, the team handpicks the best boutique hotels around the globe but this time with a family-friendly focus, taking into account the top crèches, family entertainment and activities, as well as the safest properties. The website promises to offer the best available rates, along with its renowned ‘Smith extras’, which vary from hotel to hotel but could be anything from a bottle of wine on arrival to complimentary tickets to a local museum. So what are you waiting for? Get booking. (smithandfamily.co.uk)

The boys are back in town Finding stylish and age-appropriate clothes for teenage boys can be tricky; children’s ranges tend to be too young and menswear too mature. Enter Paul Smith. The designer has successfully bridged this gap with a capsule collection designed for boys aged between eight and 16. Created with the adolescent in mind, the 15-piece range has graphic print t-shirts and sweaters alongside check board shorts and denim shirts. The collection was inspired by David Bowie, flea markets and the street life of cities like London, New York and Detroit; hip enough for even the fussiest teen. (paulsmith.co.uk)

Crufts is coming Celebrating the British love affair with dogs, Crufts is returning to the NEC Arena in Birmingham (and our television screens, for those who can’t face the shlep) from 6-9 March. The four-day event honours man’s best friend in a series of competitions, from the Friends for Life award to the inaugural Obreedience prize, and finally, the iconic Best in Show. Visitors will meet more than 200 breeds and enjoy the ultimate doggie shopping experience, far from the judging eyes of non pet-obsessives. Tickets are available from the Crufts website. (crufts.org.uk)

Pawsome treats Alpha and Ruby’s dog bakery delivers healthy and delicious treats made from natural ingredients including glutenfree flours, seeds and fresh vegetables. Our favourite product is their celebratory Pupcake, which makes an ideal gift for your pooch’s birthday, or to show them just how special they are. Each comes complete with your choice of coloured icing and boneshaped biscuit topping. (alphaandrubys.co.uk)

3 143

Family | The cheshire Magazine

f there’s one brand that puts the fun into children’s fashion, it’s KENZO Kids. For Spring/ Summer 2014 the junior range echoes signature KENZO themes of travel and the sea, yielding a colourful and modern collection of separates which are designed to be layered. Importantly, the denim and cotton staples wash well – and with their acid brights, animal faces and liberal smattering of zig-zags, shouldn’t prompt too many temper tantrums… (melijoe.com)

Youth and vitality 144

Just a couple of hours from home. And yet a world away.

w w w. a u s t r i a . i n f o

Yo u r p e r s o n a l H o l i d a y I n f o r m a t i o n L i n e : 0845 101 1818 (calls charged at local rates)

The cheshire Magazine | Family

Making the impossible possible Adelaide Sillar, a member of the Terra Nova 1st VIII shooting team, has recently scored the interestingly named ‘possible’ – a perfect score in shooting, something highly challenging, if not impossible, for many more experienced shooters and, according to Master IC Shooting Nigel Curtis, yet another clear indication that Terra Nova will remain the dominant force in national schools’ shooting competitions at this age range. He says: “This is a special performance by Adelaide who shot the card in training, and as far as records show this score has not been achieved before in a prep school with a 10 metre air rifle on the Olympic targets. It is a school record and an unofficial national record, and cannot be beaten.” Terra Nova began shooting at the turn of the twentieth century and has gone from strength to strength, winning prestigious awards recently and building a strong reputation in the sport.

The classroom Singing, sports, and shooting for the top; it’s all about being the best in Cheshire’s top schools w o r d s : k at e h o u g h t o n

Singing success Budding superstar and Hulme Hall Grammar School pupil Joe Dillon is celebrating after taking part in the Grand Final of national singing contest, Open Mic UK. The 13-year-old wowed judges with his incredible rendition of Adele’s version of ‘Promises’ in the Under 16 category in the Grand Final at the NEC Birmingham. Joe was one of just 25 out of around 10,000 who made it to the Grand Final, though he did not win. Joe said: “This competition has been an incredible experience and I have loved every minute of it. The final was really tough, but I am just so pleased to have gone so far.” (hulmehallschool.org )

Oxbridge here we come! A dozen pupils from Withington Girls’ School are celebrating offers to study at Oxford and Cambridge Universities later this year, with five aiming for Cambridge and seven for Oxford. Headmistress Mrs Sue Marks said “Competition for places at Oxford and Cambridge has always been intense and has become increasingly international. We’re delighted for the girls’ success.” (withington.manchester.sch.uk)

Will to win Congratulations to Abbey Gate College Head Girl, Evie Brereton, who has been selected as Goal Defence/Goal Keeper, for the Welsh Under 19 Netball Squad. Evie has previously represented the Welsh Under 17 squad and in 2012 and 2013 won silver medals at competitions in Glasgow and in Malta. Evie is currently working hard to complete her A levels in Geography, Biology and Business Studies and hopes to go to university in September to study Sport Management.

The school run Busy parents across Cheshire are to breathe a sigh of relief as their dreams for a stress-free school run have finally come true with the launch of a new online network, kiddidrop.com. The introductory service matches registered parents from the same area who are looking to share the school drop off and pick up, with each profile displaying other parents’ level of background checks, and options such as enhanced DBS Checks, Person Media Checks and even GPS trackers available for added peace of mind. The new service was founded by Dr Imran Rahman and his wife, a Didsbury couple who have two young children and, like many families, struggled with the day-to-day school run. Imran comments: “Every parent knows how stressful the school run can be so developing a service such as this enables children to focus at school and parents to concentrate on their jobs.” (kiddidrop.com)

147

Property | The cheshire Magazine

Local estate agents ON THE MARKET Prestbury, off Castle Hill, Guide £1,295,000 Contact Savills: 01625 417 453

Hibbert Homes

Jackson-Stops & Staff

187 Ashley Road, Hale Altrincham WA15 9SQ 01619 296 922 info@hibberthomes.com hibberthomes.com

Wilmslow 8 Water Lane, Wilmslow SK9 5AA 01625 540 340 wilmslow@jackson-stops.co.uk jackson-stops.co.uk

Sotheby’s

35/37 Princess Street, Knutsford WA16 6BP 01565 632 618 knutsford@mellerbraggins.com mellerbraggins.com

Stratford-upon-Avon 4-5 Union Street Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 6QT 01789 273 113 sothebysrealty.co.uk

Stuart Rushton & Company

Wilmslow 6 Water Lane, Wilmslow SK9 5AA 01625 417 450 wilmslow@savills.com savills.co.uk

Jordan Fishwick 36-38 Alderley Road, Wilmslow SK9 1JX 01625 532 000 wilmslow@jordanfishwick.co.uk jordanfishwick.co.uk

148

Meller Braggins

Savills

Holmes Naden Prestbury, Macclesfield SK10 4DG 01625 828 254 sales@holmesnaden.com holmesnaden.com

Windsor Drive, Bowdon, £1,500,000 Contact Hibbert Homes: 01619 296 922

10 Princess Street, Knutsford WA16 6DD 01565 757 000 enquiries@srushton.co.uk srushton.co.uk

showcasing the

finest HOMES & PROPERTY from the best estate agents

Exclusive PROPERTIES Our guide to sourcing the ultimate home

IMAGE: JANINE STONE (SEE PAGE 48).

Savills Wilmslow 6 Water Lane Wilmslow SK9 5AA

Savills Chester 22 Lower Bridge Street Chester CH1 1RS

01625 417450

01244 32 32 32

wilmslow@savills.com

chester@savills.com

savills.co.uk

PRESTBURY, heybridge lane Spacious, well planned contemporary home ø 4 reception rooms 4 double bedrooms 4 bathrooms ø superb kitchen sitting & dining room ø study, conservatory, lawned gardens to about 1/3 acre ø triple garage and large parking area. EPC = D Guide £1.25 million

Contact: Jean Pilkington jpilkington@savills.com 01625 417453

MACCLESFIELD, byrons lane Stunning & stylish Georgian Grade II listed detached ø 3 receptions 4 bedrooms 2 bathrooms ø fabulous dining kitchen with Aga ø magnificent 38' orangery, gardens & paddocks to about 3 acres ø stables tack & store, stocked ornamental lake Guide £1.085 million

Contact: Mark Holden mholden@savills.com 01625 417454

Savills only concentrates on one type of house. Yours. If it's time to sell, talk to Savills.

Savills Wilmslow 6 Water Lane Wilmslow SK9 5AA

Savills Chester 22 Lower Bridge Street Chester CH1 1RS

01625 417450

01244 32 32 32

wilmslow@savills.com

chester@savills.com

savills.co.uk

PRESTBURY, off castle hill Superb spacious family residence ø 4 receptions 5 bedrooms 3 bathrooms ø stunning living/dining kitchen ø newly refurbished upstairs bathrooms ø potential for dependent suite. det. garage private gardens to front and rear. ø EPC = F Guide £1.295 million

Contact: Jean Pilkington jpilkington@savills.com 01625 417453

MOTTRAM ST ANDREW, off castle hill Grade II listed restored farmhouse ø 4 receptions 3/4 bedrooms 3 baths ø 32'drawing room ø pot. for sep. ground floor annex ø double garage ø grounds to about 1 acre Guide £1.295 million

Savills - winner of the 2013 'UK Sales Agency of the Year' award.

Contact: Mark Holden mholden@savills.com 01625 417454

Savills Wilmslow 6 Water Lane Wilmslow SK9 5AA

Savills Chester 22 Lower Bridge Street Chester CH1 1RS

01625 417450

01244 32 32 32

wilmslow@savills.com

chester@savills.com

savills.co.uk

EXQUISITE SMALL COUNTRY ESTATE WITH FAR REACHING VIEWS whitegate, cheshire Outstanding 15 acre country estate ø main house 4 receptions 6 bedrooms 2 bathrooms ø separate 3 bedroom cottage ø spectacular gardens, outdoor leisure ø separate office, paddocks woodland & tennis court, garaging. ø EPC= E Guide £2.35 million

Contact: Mark Holden mholden@savills.com 01625 417454

Buying or selling this spring? Talk to Savills.

SA7

Savills Wilmslow 6 Water Lane Wilmslow SK9 5AA

Savills Chester 22 Lower Bridge Street Chester CH1 1RS

01625 417450

01244 32 32 32

wilmslow@savills.com

chester@savills.com

Savills only concentrates on one type of house. Yours.

savills.co.uk

sold

Mottram St Andrew, Cheshire Guide £3.5 million

Over Alderley, Cheshire Guide £2.5 million

Alderley Edge, Cheshire Guide £1.5 million

sold

Alderley Edge, Cheshire Guide £1.25 million

Wilmslow, Cheshire Guide £895,000

Poynton, Cheshire Guide £695,000

Whatever type of home you live in, we’ll apply Savills characteristic breadth of EXQUISITE SMALL COUNTRY ESTATE WITH FAR REACHING VIEWS market knowledge and experience to selling it. If it’s time to sell, talk to Savills. whitegate, cheshire Outstanding 15 acre country estate ø main house 4 receptions 6 bedrooms 2 bathrooms ø separate 3 bedroom cottage ø spectacular gardens, outdoor leisure ø separate office, paddocks woodland & tennis court, garaging. ø EPC= E Jean Pilkington Mark Holden Savills GuideWilmslow £2.35 million mholden@savills.com jpilkington@savills.com 6 Water Lane Wilmslow SK9 5AA 01625 417450 wilmslow@savills.com

savills.co.uk

Contact: Mark Holden mholden@savills.com 01625 417454

Buying or selling this spring? Talk to Savills.

SA74135 Cheshire Magazine Sold WPB.indd 1

25/02/2014 11:20

jackson-stops.co.uk

Pickmere A stunning contemporary country house, perched on the edge of its own small lake. ●

in all over 10,000 sq ft ● 2,500 open-plan main reception room ● 2 further reception rooms

●

5 bedrooms (all en suite) ● 1 bedroom integral staff apartment

●

Leisure barn with bar, gym, offices & 1 bedroom apartment ● stabling

●

approximately 16.5 acres ● EPC – D

Guide Price: £3,850,000

People Property Places

FF51354

Wilmslow 01625 540 340 wilmslow@jackson-stops.co.uk Local & National reach through a network of London & Regional offices

Brereton Park A compact Country Estate with a Grade I Listed Elizabethan country house. ●

4 reception rooms ● billiards room ● study & conservatory ● extensive domestic offices

●

12 bedrooms ● 10 bath/shower rooms ● separate offices with potential for self-contained wing

●

planning permission for stabling ● approximately 116.68 acres

Guide Price: £6,500,000

FF16959

Wilmslow 01625 540 340 wilmslow@jackson-stops.co.uk Local & National reach through a network of London & Regional offices

People Property Places

jackson-stops.co.uk

Alderley Edge An exquisite Arts & Crafts family house with one of the most glorious views in Cheshire. ●

2 reception rooms & study ● 6 bedrooms ● 3 bathrooms ● coach house

●

approximately 0.63 of an acre ● EPC – E

Guide Price £2,295,000

FF52197

Brereton Park A country house within Grade II Listed walled gardens surrounded by beautiful parkland. ●

4 reception rooms ● study ● conservatory

●

approximately 1.2 acres ● EPC – E

Guide Price £1,295,000

People Property Places

●

4 bedrooms (all en suite)

FF34030

Wilmslow 01625 540 340 wilmslow@jackson-stops.co.uk Local & National reach through a network of London & Regional offices

Twemlow Green A historic Grade II Listed country house nestled in 21 acres. ●

4 reception rooms ● 5 bedrooms ● 3 bathrooms ● cellarage ● large attic space

●

lakes & woodland ● approximately 21 acres

Offers in excess of £2,000,000

FF52655

Wilmslow 01625 540 340 wilmslow@jackson-stops.co.uk Local & National reach through a network of London & Regional offices

People Property Places

jackson-stops.co.uk

Mottram St Andrew An imposing substantial modern family house with outstanding views. ●

2 reception rooms ● dining hall ● breakfast room ● 4 bedrooms (all en suite)

●

leisure suite ● 1 bedroom apartment ● helipad ● just under 1 acre ● EPC – D

Guide Price £2,500,000

FF50847

Prestbury

Marton

Perfection in architecture & design.

A wonderful modern light house with bespoke interior.

●

4 reception rooms ● study ● gym ● 5 bedrooms suites

●

2 reception rooms ● 3 bedrooms ● 2 bath/shower rooms

●

leisure suite with pool & sauna

●

EPC – D

Guide Price £2,495,000

People Property Places

FF38477

Guide Price £699,000

FF51215

Wilmslow 01625 540 340 wilmslow@jackson-stops.co.uk Local & National reach through a network of London & Regional offices

Mottram St Andrew A magnificent family house occupying an elevated position. ●

5 reception rooms ● office ● study ● 6 bedrooms (all en suite) ● 1 bedroom annexe

●

leisure complex ● just over 2 acres ● further land available by separate negotiation ● EPC – D

Guide Price £2,750,000

FF38729

Pickmere

Eden Park

An exquisite family house nestled alongside Pickmere Lake.

An imposing family house offering exceptional accommodation.

●

3 reception rooms & study ● 4 bedrooms ● 3 bathrooms

●

4 reception rooms ● 6 bedrooms ● 5 bathrooms ● leisure suite

●

EPC – D

●

1 bedroom annexe

Guide Price £899,995

FF54386

Guide Price £3,250,000

Wilmslow 01625 540 340 wilmslow@jackson-stops.co.uk Local & National reach through a network of London & Regional offices

FF45718

People Property Places

jackson-stops.co.uk

Lower Peover An impressive magnificently transformed country house at the end of a no-through road. ●

dining hall ● 2 reception rooms ● study ● 5 bedrooms (all en suite) ● approximately 4 acres

●

EPC – C

Guide Price £1,995,000

FF28928

Prestbury

A charming bungalow encompassed by picturesque gardens.

A contemporary 5,000 sq ft family house with a luxurious interior.

●

3 reception rooms ● 4 bedrooms ● 1 bathroom ● 0.7 of an acre

●

4 reception rooms ● 5 bedrooms (all en suite) ● outdoor pool

●

EPC – E

●

approaching 1/2 an acre ● EPC – B

Guide Price £795,000

People Property Places

FF52907

Guide Price £2,650,000

FF50850

Wilmslow 01625 540 340 wilmslow@jackson-stops.co.uk Local & National reach through a network of London & Regional offices

Macclesfield An historic manor house with secondary accommodation in an elevated position. ●

5 reception rooms ● orangery ● gymnasium ● 6 bedrooms ● 3 bathrooms

●

integral 1 bedroom staff annexe ● approximately 1 acre ● EPC – F

Guide Price £1,100,000

FF54730

North Rode

Arclid

A spectacular barn conversion with glorious views.

A beautifully renovated period house at the end of a private lane.

●

2 reception rooms ● 5 bedrooms ● 4 bathrooms ● EPC – D

Guide Price £775,000

FF52666

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5 reception rooms ● 4 bedrooms ● 2 bathrooms

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approximately 1.4 acres ● EPC – D

Guide Price £875,000

Wilmslow 01625 540 340 wilmslow@jackson-stops.co.uk Local & National reach through a network of London & Regional offices

FF52679

People Property Places

w www.hibberthomes.com w www.hibberthomes.com

Oak Dell, Hale Asking Price: ÂŁ2,795,000

A simply stunning, fully refurbished detached on a 0.38 acre south facing plot on one of the best roads in Hale. 6,500 sq ft Four Receptions, live In Kitchen, gym, office, utility, six beds, four bathrooms, double garage. EPC - D

187 Ashley Road Hale | Altrincham | WA15 9SQ 187 Ashley Road Hale | Altrincham | WA15 9SQ t 0161 929 6922 te0161 929 6922 info@hibberthomes.com e info@hibberthomes.com HH Vebra Press Ad NEW.indd 1 HH Vebra Press Ad NEW.indd 1

w www.hibberthomes.com

.hibberthomes.com

Hilltop, Bowdon Price: ÂŁ1,450,000 87 Ashley RoadAsking Hale | Altrincham | WA15 9SQ

A beautifully extended and remodelled five bed detached family home at the head of this prestigious cul de sac off South Downs Road and standing on an amazing 0.43 acre garden plot adjoining Altrincham Boys Grammar School playing fields. EPC - E

0161 929 6922 info@hibberthomes.com

Vebra Press Ad NEW.indd 1

y Road Hale | Altrincham | WA15 9SQ 9 6922 bberthomes.com

EW.indd 1

10/09/2012 11:07

w www.hibberthomes.com w www.hibberthomes.com

Windsor Drive, Bowdon Asking Price: ÂŁ1,500,000

***Part exchange considered*** A substantial 6 bedroom detached house with potential for a 7th bedroom offering 5110 sq ft of well proportioned and flexible accommodation set over three floors and standing in a much larger than average plot (approx 0.3 acre). The property is situated on a quiet cul-de-sac in Bowdon and is a fantastic family home. EPC - D

w www.hibberthomes.com

.hibberthomes.com

Coruisk, Bowdon Price: ÂŁ1,250,000 87 Ashley RoadAsking Hale | Altrincham | WA15 9SQ

0161 929 6922 info@hibberthomes.com

Vebra Press Ad NEW.indd 1

y Road Hale | Altrincham | WA15 9SQ 9 6922 bberthomes.com

EW.indd 1

A magnificent five bed detached house sitting in a 0.3 acre plot with a large south facing garden. The accommodation comprises, hall, downstairs WC, three reception rooms, breakfast kitchen, utility room and single garage. To the first floor is five bedrooms and three bath/shower rooms.

10/09/2012 11:07

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Yew Tree House, Chester Road, Tabley Providing substantial family size accommodation, this 5/6 bedroom house has been comprehensively restored and remodelled to a high standard throughout. The house is situated in a desirable and convenient location with an extensive outbuilding/garage standing within delightful, formal gardens with an adjoining paddock.

Guide price ÂŁ800,000 (subject to contract)

MELLER BRAGGINS

01565 632618

Goodiers Green farm, Winterbottom lane, Knutsford

A most attractive and spacious detached farmhouse situated in a desirable and convenient location with an extensive outbuildings/ garage standing within delightful formal gardens with an adjoining paddock. The total area extends to 3.34 acres or thereabouts and includes a hall, sitting room, cloakroom, lounge, garden room, dining room, study, dining kitchen, cellar, five bedrooms and two bathrooms, as well as a large garage/workshop, separate garden store and further attached garage.

ÂŁ995,000

MELLER BRAGGINS

01565 632618

Byron’s Wood House, Macclesfield Georgian properties are scarce in this area and Byron’s Wood House boasts a fusion of period character and contemporary comforts with elegant well-proportioned rooms, open plan spaces and a wonderful flow leading into the magnificent orangery. The hall has an original delicate Georgian staircase, opening to the dining area of the bespoke kitchen with its Aga, granite tops & Neff appliances. The sitting room opens off the other side of the hall with a double sided fireplace serving this room and the orangery with French doors opening to the extensive gardens and terraces. A second sitting room/study with French doors to the rear lies off the rear hall with a cloakroom and leads through to the utility room. Internal & external staircases lead to the converted lower ground floor suite of rooms, currently used as home offices/consulting rooms, but equally suited to use as a teenage suite, cinema or games room. Two bedrooms lie off a half landing, one with superb exposed timbers, the other a guest room with a wet room en-suite and a newly appointed house bathroom with classic white suite. The two principal bedrooms are on either side of the main landing. The grounds include established gardens, gated driveway, a parking area for up to six cars, two paddocks, stables, tack and store. There is a carp stocked ornamental lake & woodland lines the River Bollin. Savills£1,085,000 Wilmslow Guide PRICE 6 Water Lane Wilmslow SK9 5AA

Savills Chester 22 Lower Bridge Street Chester CH1 1RS

01625 417450

01244 32 32 32

wilmslow@savills.com

chester@savills.com

SAVILLS savills.co.uk

01625 417450

Heath House, Croft, Warrington Heath House is a lavishly appointed and spectacular late Victorian country house extending to about 7000 sq ft which has been restored and remodelled over recent years to form a stylish family home of character. The detailing throughout is superb and reflects the clientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s determination to settle for nothing but the best; Miele and La Cornue kitchen appliances, specially commissioned marble chimney pieces from the sculptor Roger Pearson, a breath taking bespoke kitchen, ornately detailed plasterwork, bespoke carpets and stunning decor throughout. The property features bay windows to take advantage of the Southerly aspect with a wonderful alfresco dining terrace off the kitchen, perfect for entertaining in the summer months. The accommodation is especially flexible on the second floor with a number of dual purpose rooms, which with 4 rooms, offers up to a total of 8 bedrooms, but are sensibly utilised as seasonal wardrobes, a study or a second lounge, perfect for a dependant relative or staff. This is a fine family home and is equally well suited to entertaining guests with generous, well-proportioned and impressive reception rooms. The spectacular kitchen living area provides informal space with steps up to a snooker room/sitting room and a mezzanine television room above. The Tudor style elevations and tall chimneys redolent of the era of this remarkable residence add to its finesse and complement the grandeur of the interior styling. SavillsÂŁ1,995,000 Wilmslow Guide price 6 Water Lane Wilmslow SK9 5AA

SAVILLS

Chester (stampSavills duty paid) 22 Lower Bridge Street Chester CH1 1RS

01625 417450

01244 32 32 32

wilmslow@savills.com

chester@savills.com

savills.co.uk

01625 417450

Amberley, Collar House Drive, Prestbury Set in one of the most established and mature plots in this exclusive enclave of Prestbury, Amberley sets new standards for luxury living in the area. The plot is unrivalled in both its position and characteristics. Its high beech hedges to all sides offer total privacy and excellent natural security. The front and south facing rear gardens are professionally designed and fully landscaped. Existing mature planting, mixed with new large specimens, creates a truly unique setting. Externally the Portland stone features and the classical white render complement the contemporary black window detailing. The roof is covered in natural slate that projects a rich and beautiful quality. The entire property has been interior designed and space planned and contains a unique blend of contemporary and period features. Materials and finishes have been carefully selected from around the world and have been incorporated with attention to every last details. The finest wall coverings and surface details have been incorporated to present each space in its finest form. The careful blend of quality in all departments culminates in a highly detailed luxury home, ideally suited to the discerning purchaser. The charming and historic village of Prestbury caters for most daily needs, whilst more extensive facilities may be found in Macclesfield, Wilmslow and Alderley Edge, all within short driving distance. Access points to the national motorway network, Inter City rail travel to London and Manchester.

ÂŁ2,650,000

HOLMES NADEN

01625 828254

Firwood, Leycester Road Firwood is an elegant detached period family home of grand proportions in beautiful landscaped gardens, set on one of Knutsfords’ most exclusive and desirable leafy roads within the heart of the Legh Road Conservation area. The property, which has nearly 12,000 square feet of immaculate accommodation enjoys a fine period façade, whilst the interior has been totally transformed by our client to form a truly outstanding property of exceptional quality, using only the finest materials sourced from Europe, installed by craftsmen of the highest calibre. The result is a spectacular house constructed with unrivalled craftsmanship which has to be viewed to be fully appreciated. The care and attention to detail is second to none, and combines the clever fusion of period features with 21st century state of the art technology. Built in a Tudorbethan/Arts and Crafts style boasting four storeys, it is approached via a secure, electrically operated gated entrance on to a sweeping driveway with water feature turning circle and ample parking space. There is much use of natural light with large windows and views on to the beautiful level lawned gardens and a flush level natural stone contemporary central courtyard. Reception rooms are spacious and well suited for entertaining on both a grand scale and family living alike.

Guide Price £5,500,000

STUART RUSHTON

01565 757000

WARFORD HALL, GREAT WARFORD This magnificent large country house was designed by W Roberts and built in 1867 for Mr J C Rowley. This Hall was built to impress, constructed of mellow Cheshire red brick elevations, adorned with an enormous amount of expensive, ornately carved dressed stone, mainly around the large sash windows. This period grandeur was totally refurbished by nationally acclaimed Bilton Ward Developments, seamlessly fusing the classically historic with a state of the art design and specification, totally unparalleled in the North West. Bilton Ward Developments have designed a ground floor and first floor extension linking the main hall with the office accommodation. This will be built to your specification. The present design is for a sublime leisure suite with 12m pool, large Jacuzzi with changing room and steam room. The first floor is for two further double bedrooms suites.

PRICE ON APPLICATION

Jackson-Stops & Staff

01625 540340

WITHINLEE HOUSE, MOTTRAM ST ANDREW Withinlee House is a modern masterpiece, meticulously designed in the Georgian vernacular, creating an elegant blend of contemporary and traditional style. Nestled within approximately 13 1/2 acres of gently rolling parkland with a beautiful private lake to the rear, Withinlee House has been completed and finished to the very highest standards. The house offers an extremely rare combination of a newly constructed manor house with all of the modern technology and construction techniques that one would expect of a house of its size and class, combined with the setting of a small country estate. The house, which is approached along a long gated driveway, nestles in the hillside overlooking its own parkland and magnificent lake. The accommodation is beautifully proportioned, offering a magnificent entrance hall with central stone staircase and access to the terrace beyond, overlooking the lake. The kitchen is very much the centre of the house, with living area and superbly fitted kitchen area. The formal dining room and drawing room are designed to provide a super balance between formality and informal relaxation. The master bedroom suite provides the owner with a wonderful retreat, while four further bedrooms, three of which are en suite, will impress any guest. The leisure area is superbly appointed with pool, cinema and gymnasium. A sizeable self-contained staff apartment/annexe is situated above the large triple garage, accessed from the house.

price on application

Jackson-Stops & Staff

01625 540340

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4 friends 1 exclusive private jet 2 michelin stars As prizes go, they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t come much better than this. Treat yourself and your colleagues to a day in Paris, whisked away by your own private jet. Enjoy a gastronomic feast at CamĂŠlia, the brainchild of Michelin-starred chef Thierry Marx, at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, renowned for its traditional French fare. To enter simply take part in the Runwild Media Group magazine survey by visiting the website below.

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