Kensington & Chelsea September 2013

EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING LONDON: +44 (0)20 7495 5151 MONTE CARLO: +377 93 30 54 44 NEW YORK: +1 212 792 5370 www.edmiston.com

PALM BEACH: MEXICO CITY: ST PETERSBURG:

+1 561 578 8888 +52 55 52 80 95 74 +7 812 702 4770

SUPER YACHT SALES I CHARTER I MANAGEMENT I NEW CONSTRUCTION

NO HOLIDAY ON EARTH COMPARES TO ONE ON WATER LADY BRITT I Feadship I 2011 I 63m/206’ I 12 guests I from € 445,000 per week Contact Edmiston today to begin your yachting experience

CONTENTS 12

90

The Real Faces of Fashion

Interesting, Inspiring & Witty

Robin Muir explores the remarkable relationship between Vogue and the most iconic models of the last century

Harriet Anstruther tells us about her quirky interior style, exciting projects and what she loves about her local area

24

112

Field Day

Paradise Found

Olivia Sharpe meets illustrious stylist and fashion designer Patricia Field to discuss her stellar sartorial career

Escapes to the Maldives for a double dose of desert island luxury, Jumeirah-style

53 Ones To Watch Enjoy browsing the industry’s most exciting new releases, as well as Audemars Piguet’s news, as shared by its CEO

74 Away with the Fairies Embrace the end of summer in full-length evening dresses while nodding to A/W13 with the chicest neutral coats

10

Editor’s Letter

34

Spotlight On...

38

Local Profile

41

Art & Antiques

51

Collection

65

Fashion

83

Interiors

102

Motoring

106

Travel

121

Drinking & Dining

124

London Living

131

Property

August / September Cover: Karl Lagerfeld with Gio Ponti’s 699 chair from the Cassina I Contemporanei Collection Cassina Showroom 238-242 Brompton Rd, SW3 2BB, cassina.com/kl Visit the exhibition during the London Design Festival (14 September until 13 October) in situ at the Cassina showroom

Open now until summer 2015 Fashion Rules at Kensington Palace hrp.org.uk/ kensingtonpalace

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 3 s i ss u e 0 1 9 Editor Annabel Harrison Assistant Editor Olivia Sharpe Contributing Editors Richard Brown, Josephine O’Donoghue Editorial Assistants Saskia Rumbelow, Rachel Mulrenan Senior Designer Sophie Blain Production Alex Powell, Hugo Wheatley, Oscar Viney Brand Consistency Laddawan Juhong

-27 September 45 Years: A Celebration thackeraygallery.com

Editor-in-Chief Lesley Ellwood Editorial Director Kate Harrison

Right/ Garratt, Light Study, Bournemouth

Head of Finance Elton Hopkins

September - 19 January Pearls, V&A Museum vam.ac.uk/pearls

Associate Publisher Sophie Roberts Client Relationship Director Felicity Morgan-Harvey General Manager Fiona Fenwick Managing Director Eren Ellwood Proudly published by

RUNWILD

September - 31 October Robert Indiana Walton Fine Arts Gallery waltonfinearts.com

M

E

D

I

A

G

R

O

U

P

Members of the Professional Publishers Association / ppa.co.uk

September - 24 November My Kennedy Years Proud Galleries proud.co.uk

7 Heron Quay, Canary Wharf London, E14 4JB © Estate of Jacques Lowe

020 7987 4320

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 Kensington & Chelsea Magazine is distributed in Kensington, Chelsea, Knightsbridge, Notting Hill and Holland Park, as well as selected streets in Belgravia, Mayfair and Fulham.

PR ENQUIRIES: please contact Communications Director Loren Penney (+44 (0)20 7987 4320 / l.penney@runwildgroup.co.uk)

it’s more than a sign. it’s a commitment. the official rolex sign establishes the authenticity of an offi cial role x retailer. with unmatched e xpertise, only an official rolex retailer offers a diverse selection of rolex watches and provides the service needed to maintain your timepiece. every watch includes a retailer warranty, granting access to the renowned rolex service network.

oyster perpetual d ay-d ate ii in pl atinum

ol d b ond s tree t lond on w 1 s 4 qg

29

watch featured subject to stock availability

K&

C

ind tes omi tabilis duo fratres curren

From the EDITOR “She is a cipher for her times, an inscrutable sphinx of a woman, who never explains and never apologises, and if she possesses a riddle, has not yet made the mistake of letting us know what it is.”

These words describe British supermodel Kate Moss, featured in The Faces of Fashion: Vogue Model, alongside the most beautiful and memorable faces from the past nine decades of Vogue archives.

In our biannual fashion issue we take a trip down top model memory lane, speaking to one of Vogue Model’s co-editors Robin Muir (p. 12) about the publication. Kate fans should also turn to page 29 to find out more about Christie’s upcoming auction of Moss memorabilia, collected

by Gert Elfering. Olivia Sharpe enjoyed a sartorial sundae of interviewees this month, speaking to top stylist and costume designer Patricia Field (p. 24), red carpet favourite Marios Schwab (p. 18) and the industry’s ‘king of glamour’ Julien Macdonald (p. 66).

In the Royal Borough we’re fortunate to have one of the world’s most famous (and luxurious) shopping destinations in the shape of Sloane Street; we take a closer look at its existing tenants and exciting new additions (p. 34). Amy Williams speaks to local resident and founder of MiH jeans Chloe Lonsdale about her denim empire (p. 38) and Rebecca Wallersteiner delights in a preview of Kensington Palace’s Fashion Rules exhibition (p. 48). For those of you who appreciate clean lines and skilled craftsmanship, the London Design Festival will appeal; I’m particularly looking forward to seeing Karl Lagerfeld’s photographic collaboration with Cassina, having last month visited Monaco to admire his handiwork at the Hôtel Metropole (p. 108).

I also recommend Pearls at the V&A (p. 44) for anyone who has an interest in these beautiful treasures. I wear my grandmother Elizabeth’s exquisite pearls and it is to her, one of the most elegant and stylish women I have ever known, that I dedicate this issue.

K&

C

Editor

Annabel Harrison Follow us on Twitter @KandCMagazine or email KCeditor@runwildgroup.co.uk with any comments

ind tes omi tabilis duo fratres curren 010

the KENSINGTON & CHELSEA magazine

TO BREAK THE RULES, YOU MUST FIRST MASTER THEM.

THE GRANDE COMPLICATION IS THE ULTIMATE EXPRESSION OF THE WATCHMAKER’S ART. NOW AUDEMARS PIGUET PLACES THIS SUPREME HOROLOGICAL COMPLICATION IN THE SCULPTURAL ROYAL OAK OFFSHORE. ONE WATCHMAKER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR EACH WATCH IN ITS ENTIRETY - THE 648 INDIVIDUAL PARTS, THE DETAILED ASSEMBLY, THE FINE DECORATION. TO ACHIEVE THIS, THEY HAVE MASTERED THE UNIVERSE OF THEIR CRAFT. FINALLY, THEY MUST TUNE THE CONCENTRIC CHIMES OF THE MINUTE REPEATER TO AN INTERVAL OF A PERFECT MINOR THIRD. TECHNICAL MASTERY AND THE EAR OF SOLO SO LOIST. THE VIR TUOSO HERITAGE H E RITAGE OF F A CONCER T SOLOIST. S. LE BRASSUS.

ROYAL OAK OFFSHORE OFFSH OF FSHORE ORE MPLICA MPL ICATIO T N GRANDE COMPLICATION IN TITANIUM AND D CERAMIC. C CERA MIC.

RO_26571IO_210x297_m.indd 1

Audemars Piguet UK Ltd Tel: + 44 207 659 7300 www.audemarspiguet.com

06.03.13 14:47

The Real

Faces of Fashion Josephine O’Donoghue talks to Robin Muir about the exotic breed of Vogue models, their unique status in the world of fashion and the remarkable relationship between Vogue and the most iconic models of the last century

FEATURE

can’t speak for Vogue’s readers but the fact you call them ‘real women’ says much about public perceptions of models as a breed apart” says Robin Muir, co-editor of the latest offering from Vogue’s book collection, The Faces of Fashion: Vogue Model.

Robin, with 25 years experience as a picture editor at Vogue, is undoubtedly an expert when it comes to supermodel standards, and I’m trying to understand exactly why we (as women, and more generally, as a nation) are so fascinated by the lives and loves of these beautiful beings. “Historically, the world Vogue conjures up is necessarily removed from our quotidian lives,” Robin furthers. “It’s about aspiring to something more exciting. Great fashion design looks incredible on good-looking people. It would be invidious and pointless to show it on those who were not.”

It appears then, that it’s potential – human potential – by which we’re fascinated. Robin uses the word aspiration and there’s certainly something bewitching about the image of a ‘perfect’ woman, whether you’re copying her smile, coveting the clothes she wears, dreaming of her luxurious surroundings – or

“Historically, the world Vogue conjures up is necessarily removed from our quotidian lives” studying the inner poise and confidence that makes a person so attractive. Consciously and sub-consciously, we measure ourselves against other people on a daily basis; after all, humans are a social species and it’s natural to look for cues in the ‘alpha’. Even before the world of glossy magazines and mesmerising cover girls it might have been the local nobility or royal family upon which we modelled ourselves; the white wedding dress is one such example, ever popular after Queen Victoria wore one in 1840.

It’s a process of “learning what high-status individuals do so you might more effectively become one”, said Daniel Kruger (an evolutionary psychologist at the University of Michigan, talking to LiveScience).

“Knowing what is going on with high-status individuals, you’d be better able to navigate the social scene”. But alongside valuable social and style direction, there is another side to the obsession we have with Vogue models. “[We found] some fascinating stories,” Robin says, revealing the additional pull of the Vogue Model title. “Models are the kind of exotic creatures about whom anything might be possible and frequently was.

“It’s those with stories to tell who end up being the most interesting. And heartbreaking” he says, explaining to me that his target reader has an interest in social

Above/ Coco Rocha in Curiouser and Curiouser February 2007, by Tim Walker Fashion by Alexander McQueen All images courtesy of Condé the KENSINGTON & CHELSEA mag a z i nNast e Publications Ltd

013

history and life, as well as beauty and fashion.

“Once you scratch the surface some of the models have tremendous stories. Who would have thought that one of the greatest models of the 30s – Toto Koopman, almost never named – was a wartime spy? Her life reads like a thriller. Or that Lud, discovered as a courier, was fought over

by Chanel and Schiaparelli?”

He continues: “Gia Carangi’s life was a cautionary tale. A glittering career; photographers, fashion people and readers could not take their eyes off her, but her complicated issues – drug use especially – made it a brief career. And who could not warm to the imperious Barbara Goalen, who was funnier and warmer than the hauteur in her pictures suggests? She was much in demand for the Paris catwalks but drew the line, however, at Saudi Arabian fashion shows. In 1954, the year she retired, she was invited to model lingerie for the King’s 300 wives. She demurred: ‘It simply isn’t done, you know’, although adding wistfully, ‘but the underwear really is divine’. She had a rigid selfdiscipline and was chic in well-cut suits and eveningwear at work and after hours: ‘I only wear trousers’, she told one interviewer, ‘if I’m cold. Or in the garden’.”

More recently, readers have been captivated by images of Russian model Natalia Vodianova, partly for her beauty but also due to her incredible rags to riches story – and that notion of exceptional human potential, possible from even unfortunate beginnings. “Natalia’s trajectory is extraordinary,” says Robin.“From selling fruit on the side of a motorway to the fashion capitals of Europe. You couldn’t make it up.”

Each with myriad breathtaking photographs and a story of their own, Robin carefully paints a picture of some of Vogue’s most iconic models, although he’s at a loss to choose a favourite, whether for himself or the readers. “I’m never sure what ‘iconic’ means,” he smiles. “Like a small religious painting?!

“Well, certainly the models in the book have inspired devotion over the century – sometimes bordering on the religious. It’s difficult to pick one model out. We chose the ones that summed up their eras, so all are reflective of the trends and tastes in fashion and beauty.” For Britain at least, there is surely one model face which, if not a favourite, has to be marked out as

Daria Werbowy in Spring Forward February 2008, by Mario Testino Fashion by Chanel

FEATURE

“We chose models who summed up their eras... All are reflective of trends and tastes in fashion and beauty”

Lauren Hutton in The Million-Dollar Girls Next Door, December 1974 (unpublished)

by Eva Sereny

the KENSINGTON & CHELSEA magazine

015

Celia Hammond in Your Next Great Looks, October 1968,

by David Montgomery Fashion by Jean Allen

FEATURE

Dovima in The Organdie Touch, April 1956, by Henry Clarke Fashion by Jacques Fath

our most famous. “In the end, when the history books are written, one British name will stand out and that is clearly Kate Moss,” states Robin, with respect. “She has had an astonishing and long-lasting career which shows few signs of dimming. She’s 39 now and has been modelling for magazines since she was 16.

“She has an allure that rivals the great names of the 50s and has maintained it by keeping her own counsel through good times and bad. She is sphinx-like.

No self-justification, no self-revelation. No lacklustre film acting. And no diet and work-out book.”

Looking at Robin’s collection of ‘the real faces of fashion’ it’s obvious that Vogue is unique as a platform for displaying ‘perfection’ in its various forms. Whilst an abundance of glossy magazines adorn the shelves, at 97 and 121 years old (British and American Vogue respectively), the title has established itself, and its careful selection of models, as the crème de la crème. “[Vogue] is all about quality and perception,” says

“Vogue brings top models and the best photographers together: Mario, Nick, Patrick...”

Robin, considering the distinctive collection of models before him. “Models of a certain standing will flit effortlessly between the high-end magazines because there are guarantees of taste and quality.

“Vogue also brings them together with the best fashion photographers of the moment: Mario [Testino], Nick Knight, Patrick Demarchelier. Lesser magazines do not have that kind of access to the star photographers, let alone the budgets, so correspondingly the models tend not to be top flight. Of course, the results are perfectly OK, but just not the rarefied world that Vogue can provide. With Vogue you see, to coin a phrase, the money on the page.”

And the most valued photographer to Vogue?

“One word will suffice” says Robin, “Mario. He’s the successor to the Romantic photographers of the British past and his predecessors at Vogue include Cecil Beaton and Norman Parkinson. He revels in the artifice and the pretence of fashion, which is refreshing.

Though he can also betray a streak of hard-edged glamour, his joie-de-vivre is barely containable. He is adored by those he works with, now at the top of his profession for well over a decade.”

The Faces of Fashion: Vogue Model, published by Little Brown, is available in paperback from 3 October 2013 (£20)

Jill Kennington in Newest Beauty Asset, September 1966

by Bob Richardson Fashion by Julian Robinson

the KENSINGTON & CHELSEA magazine

017

FEATURE

A Stitch

in Time With an exclusive evening gown collection launching this September in Belgravia, Olivia Sharpe pays a visit to the newly-crowned king of the red carpet, Marios Schwab

In Dalston: standing inside a studio housed in one of many industriallooking buildings, I take in my surroundings and wonder if I’m in the right place. The sparselyfurnished room complete with cardboard boxes bears closer resemblance to a student’s digs than a high fashion atelier.

But then to my right I spot a clothing rail heaving with exquisite evening gowns and I realise there’s no mistake.

I’m in Marios Schwab’s studio, meeting the designer whose name has been associated with countless red carpet events over the past two years.

After launching his eponymous label, he was instantly singled out as one to watch, scooping the coveted prize for Best New Designer at the British Fashion Awards in 2006 and the Swiss Textiles Awards in 2007. Six years and multiple collections later, Marios is one of the biggest names on the up-and-coming fashion scene today and, while his East London studio might appear an unlikely setting for a luxury fashion designer, Marios joins the likes of Peter Jensen whose workshop is nearby in this famously creative hub.

Despite toying with the idea of becoming a ballet dancer as a child, Marios was always very much a part of the fashion world. His father was an underwear engineer, and manager of Triumph International in Greece, and both his mother and aunt would bring home fabrics from

the KENSINGTON & CHELSEA magazine

abroad and make their own clothes; his grandmother taught him to sew and introduced him to French Vogue.

By the age of 15, he knew that he wanted to pursue a career in this field so his parents sent him to Salzburg’s Annahof School, which specialises in dressmaking and tailoring. Until the arrival of Marios, it had been an all girls’ institution but because these skills were “becoming less important to the public”, Marios tells me, the school decided to introduce boys.

As the lone male surrounded by so many girls, it was during this time that the teenage boy became “very much drawn to the psyche of each woman there.” This experience may have scarred many men for life but for the designer it proved invaluable. Marios discovered early on that you cannot stereotype women but must recognise their many facets: “Whenever I’m asked today who my muse is I always say it’s a woman who is empowered by her femininity; this is always the starting point for a collection.”

After four years in Salzburg, he moved to Berlin to study at Esmod University. In contrast to Annahof – “extremely conservative” in its rigid education programme – Esmod was comparatively liberal and free-thinking. The designer often refers to this as his “rebellious period” because he was allowed the chance to discover modern technologies which he later on would combine with the traditions he’d already learnt. Despite “rebelling”, this didn’t stop him from winning the Best Student Award when he graduated.

He moved to London in 2003 and got a job working for Clements Ribeiro before being persuaded to apply for Louise Wilson’s prestigious Central Saint Martins course. He completed his MA in womenswear

019

and soon afterwards set up his own label.

It could be said that Marios has somewhat of an obsession with the female form. Since his debut S/S07 collection at London Fashion Week in 2006, the designer has become renowned for his signature silhouette and garments created to caress the contours of the body: “The idea is to frame the wearer so that the garment is always paying homage to femininity and the woman who is wearing it,” he states. In this way, they possess an innate sensuality and sexuality which is why, no doubt, the dresses have become such a hit on the red carpet.

While some would argue that the body consciousness restricts his collections to more petite women, the designer insists this isn’t the case, reminding me how his is one of the few fashion houses to offer sizes 14 and 16. All you need in order to wear his clothes, according to Marios, is confidence: “Sizing isn’t so much of an issue anymore because iconic women like Beth Ditto and Adele inspire confidence in a younger generation of women.” While this may be true, I point out that the catwalk is still inundated with size zero models. Agreeing, Marios confides how he too is frustrated with the current system but, like British Vogue editor

Alexandra Shulman, feels he must work from within it in order to promote change. “There needs to be a change of direction because the shows in general have quite a classic and conservative way of presenting fashion and it needs to be more universal.”

Rather than creating trends, Marios is interested in embodying a universal type of womanhood, one which is ladylike but also has attitude. “I like bad girls as much as I like good girls and I think the composition of the two is quite interesting.” It’s hardly surprising, then, that among the list of Marios Schwab followers is good-girl-gone-bad Kristen Stewart and former Gossip Girl star Blake Lively.

Both women have received praise for their individual style and fearlessness when it comes to showing off their sexuality. For Marios, these women are the perfect brand ambassadors as they possess a “strong eye for fashion that comes from a deep passion within”.

The A/W13 collection continues the designer’s exploration of the feminine form through the interplay of long-over-short proportions and body-conscious cuts. It also reveals the designer’s conceptual approach to design.

After watching the episode of Girls (“my guilty pleasure”,

“Sizing isn’t so much of an issue anymore; iconic women like Adele inspire confidence in a younger generation of women” he smiles) in which Lena Dunham’s character discusses how writing has become lost in modern day society due to technology, the designer felt it was time to reawaken this art form. He called upon Tunisian artist Nja Mahdaou who created Arabic calligrams which were then imprinted onto several of the garments. The designer found “it interesting to see how the graphic-ness of letterings and letters, the romanticism of writing could be adapted to the body.”

Marios also cited 15th century Flemish artist Petrus Christus’s Portrait of a French Lady as inspiration.

Admiring the woman’s “almost avant-garde appearance”, he decided to “merge the renaissance together with something more futuristic”. This was achieved by combining medieval dresses and capes in debossed velvet and ornate lacquered lace with modern cuts and embellishments. By rematerialising this concept of “vanishing romanticism”, Marios’ collection has a dimension which seeks to shine a light on contemporary society through the marriage of old and new.

The designer regularly uses crystallised ornamentation in order to make his sculptured

FEATURE

the KENSINGTON & CHELSEA magazine

021

FEATURE

silhouettes, partnering Swarovski ever since the Runway Rocks Show in 2008. The embellishments are employed to create “a hide and reveal effect” which manipulates the concept of nudity and fashion’s ability to trick the eye.

A perfect example of this was September’s controversial front cover of Esquire featuring Kate Moss in a Marios Schwab ensemble. At first sight, it looks as though the supermodel might have paid a trip to Essex for one of its famed beauty treatments but, as you look again, you see that she is in fact dressed in a sheer body decorated with crystals to conceal her feminine area.

“I want to be remembered as someone who really challenges the idea of craftsmanship” Through this design, the designer not only captures Moss’ daring nature and sexual allure but also “puts a different angle onto the garment to create window displays into the body”.

When I meet Marios, he is frantically gearing up for London Fashion Week to present his S/S14 collection. While he doesn’t give too much away, he does hint that the collection will once again be conceptual, this time looking at how tribal clothing can be brought back into modern day dress. Once this is completed, the designer will continue work on his collaboration with ASOS. Following in his father’s footsteps, the designer debuted his lingerie line Kallisti last year and this by all accounts is flourishing, to be distributed worldwide from next year.

The designer will also focus more on his madeto-measure service, which will potentially incorporate social media (this is still very much at the drawing board stage). As well as the new collection, this September shall also see an exclusive Marios Schwab occasionwear

022

and evening gown collection launching in newly-opened multi-brand boutique On Motcomb in Belgravia.

This will sit alongside collections from other international fashion houses such as Balmain, Marchesa and Carolina Herrera.

Despite his many projects, like any artist, Marios’ biggest goal in life is to achieve something significant during his lifetime: “I want to be remembered as someone who really challenges the idea of craftsmanship.”

Considering what the designer has already accomplished in such a short space of time, I predict he won’t be forgotten any time soon. mariosschwab.com

the KENSINGTON & CHELSEA magazine

A WOLF IS JUST AN OVEN, LIKE A DIAMOND IS JUST A STONE Iconic design. Enduring quality. Superior performance

www.subzero-wolf.co.uk

251 Brompton Road, Knightsbridge, London SW3 2EP 0845 250 0010

Field Day Olivia Sharpe meets illustrious stylist and fashion designer Patricia Field to discuss her sartorial career, Sex and the City, John Galliano and how 70 is in fact the new 50

FEATURE

f I had to choose one female character’s wardrobe from a television show, it would without a doubt be Carrie Bradshaw’s from Sex and the City. Ever since I saw the episode in which she wears a John Galliano newspaper print dress, I immediately fell in love with her style.

And I’m not alone. Women across the world tuned in to the American sitcom not just to share in the relationship woes of the four central characters – Miranda, Carrie, Charlotte and Samantha – but to see what they were wearing. Many have since followed in the characters’ wake, from the likes of Serena van der Woodsen and Blair Waldorf in teen drama Gossip Girl, and yet Carrie Bradshaw will always be my style heroine.

So you can imagine my apprehension when I learnt I would be meeting the woman responsible for the show’s award-winning wardrobe, Patricia Field. After all, not only was she part of one of the most iconic television shows of late but the legendary stylist has also had a foothold on the NYC fashion scene since 1966 when she opened her first boutique. She made her TV debut as the costume designer for NBC’s Crime Story in 1986 and won her first

Costume is a vital component in storytelling for costume designer Patricia Field Emmy Award four years later for her work on the musical television film Mother Goose Rock ‘n’ Rhyme. In 1995, on the set of the film Miami Rhapsody Patricia and Sarah Jessica Parker first met, thrown together as if by fate.

Parker admired Patricia’s designs and suggested her for Sex and the City. The rest, as you know, is history.

Meeting Patricia on one of her weroine Carrie, Patricia maintains that this was very much a collaborative effort between her and Sarah Jessica Parker. Referring lovingly to Carrie as their “child”, the two women worked intimately to shape her into “this Carrie persona”. Costume is, for Patricia, a vital component in storytelling and she admits that her best work comes from when the actor becomes involved in the process. “It’s going to be stronger and more meaningful if there’s a joint effort. Of course, I could just dress a character but if there’s that interest coming from the actor who’s, after all, in front of that camera being that character… that makes it better.” While they occasionally had creative differences because “Sarah had an entirely different taste level” to her own, the mutual “trust and respect” they shared meant they never fell out and together they transformed Carrie Bradshaw into a cultural touchstone.

Photography: Saskia Rumbelow

the KENSINGTON & CHELSEA magazine

025

Due to the pair’s strong bond, it has often been reported that Patricia liked styling Sarah Jessica Parker the most. However, she informs me that this wasn’t the case, having enjoyed dressing each woman for different reasons. For instance, she had a lot of fun coming up with Samantha’s (Kim Cattrall) outfits, whose bold, outspoken and sexually confident character was reflected in her daring ensembles. While Cattrall was not as “invested in fashion” as her co-star, Patricia found the actress to be “very inspiring” creatively. It was also important that each woman be treated as an individual: “Everyone is different; you can’t really put people in the same box.”

Sex and the City is arguably the most influential television show of my generation. When asked why she thinks it became such a phenomenon, Patricia appears flummoxed for the first time: “I was always amazed, and continue to be amazed, at the impact of the show around the world.” Although unable to pinpoint exactly what made it so iconic, she believes much of its popularity was rooted in the fashion: “I think that at the time it started, change was happening with regards to the way urban women were dressing at work. The show made women feel they could be more individual and experimental and show off their assets at work. Your assets are your power point; you don’t have to put on some masculine suit if you’re a lawyer. After all, if you’re not a man, you’re a woman.”

Clockwise from top/ The Sex & The City cast (vipflash / Shutterstock.com); Roberto Faraone Mennella and Amedeo Scognamiglio with Patricia Field; Sarah Jessica Parker wearing Christian Dior Haute Couture at the 81st Academy Awards (Featureflash / Shutterstock.com)

FEATURE

Hoop earrings Faraone Mennella

Before Sex and the City, there hadn’t been a TV show which had a single female voice speaking solely to women.

Despite appearing to have feminist traits, several critics have argued that the show is essentially anti-feminist, portraying women on a desperate quest for romance and the approval of men.

I’m interested to learn where Patricia, openly gay, stands on the feminist debate. Comparing feminists to Obama and America, the politically-minded stylist believes them to be working against female progression; “rather than going into the philosophy of women and being proactive”, they instead are “reactive” to male criticism.

So, choosing “not to listen to the feminists who come from the wrong side of town”, Patricia instead upholds the philosophy that every woman should be strong and independent. Having worked as a woman in what was once, and still is in many ways, a male-dominated industry, I think we should take note.

Patricia is responsible for having launched many fashion designers’ careers, including Manolo Blahnik As well as influencing how a generation of women dressed, Patricia Field is responsible for having launched countless fashion designers’ careers, including Manolo Blahnik and Oscar de la Renta, both of whom she made household names. Furthermore, Patricia’s presence in London was far from coincidental; the stylist was here to celebrate the 12th anniversary of jeweller Faraone Mennella, yet another brand which owes its success to her.

After meeting Patricia in early 2000, the Italian duo began loaning her jewellery to use on the show. Having invested almost all their savings in their brand, the designers would make the samples in their apartment and send them to Patricia who first featured a pair of earrings on Samantha in the episode Anchors Away.

As if it had been named after them, Faraone Mennella was launched. The three remain firm friends to this day and the designers acknowledge that it was ‘Pat’ who taught them “everything they know about jewellery for movies”. Faraone Mennella featured in both Sex and the City films.

Patricia is well-known for her close friendship with John Galliano, which came into the spotlight and sparked controversy in 2011. Patricia defended the designer

the KENSINGTON & CHELSEA magazine

following his anti-Semitic outburst and subsequent dismissal from Dior, saying that it was all just a bit of ‘theatre’: “It’s farce but people in fashion don’t recognise the farce in it. All of a sudden they don’t know him. But it’s okay when it’s Mel Brooks’ The Producers singing Springtime for Hitler.” Two years on, I ask Patricia what she thinks about his recent comeback. “I wish him the best; he should come back because he saved Dior. He deserves a little better treatment than he’s gotten in the past.” While many wouldn’t agree, you have to admire her honesty.

Since Sex and the City, Patricia has worked on television series such as Ugly Betty and Hope & Faith; plus feature films Confessions of a Shopaholic and The Devil Wears Prada. On this occasion, Patricia worked with Oscar-winning actresses Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep, a collaboration which earned her both an Academy Award and a BAFTA Award nomination for the first time.

In her 70s (although you’d never know it to look at her), the vivacious septuagenarian shows no signs of stopping. While the stylist tells me she did tire of the film industry for a short period following The Devil Wears Prada and chose to work on other projects, she has now returned to what she knows best, working on the set of a new film by Nick Cassavetes starring Cameron Diaz, The Other Woman. Patricia is also helping with the world tour wardrobe of Sex and the City, which includes a total of 20 outfits from the series and films (this figure may go up).

With so many projects under her belt, and as one of the industry’s greatest visionaries, Patricia has already achieved more than most people could ever hope to. And yet I can’t help but wonder; whatever next? patriciafield.com

on Meryl Streep and Patricia Field the set of The Devil Wears Prada © Movie Store Collection

027

spotlight

at FACE VALUE The upcoming auction at Christie’s in September will see a diverse mix of photographs, paintings, collages and sculptures of the world-famous British supermodel Kate Moss go up for auction. Including her first Vogue cover at the tender age of 19, shot by renowned photographer Corinne Day, the pieces on sale will take buyers on a whirlwind journey through Moss’s career from the very beginning up to the present day. For Gert Elfering, the esteemed art collector who collated the selection, there is always something to learn from the model, in particular “how you should always remain true to yourself, develop your own style, and emphasise your individuality”. Well said.

Kate Moss from the Collection of Gert Elfering Auction on 25 September; christies.com

SANTE D’ORAZIO, Kate Moss on lounge chair I, Glen Cove, NY, 1995 Estimate: £20,000-30,000 Image courtesy of Christie’s Images Ltd. 2013

the KENSINGTON & CHELSEA magazine

029

Illustration: Mai Osawa

THE Royal

Borough Shot in the Dark Dark, dramatic and perfectly cut are the words that come to mind when considering the ground-breaking work of fashion designer Rick Owens. When Owens launched his eponymous label in 1994, he went against the grain of expectations for a California-born designer, producing gothic and edgy collections which were completely out of sync with the sunny world from which he originated. His signature style has continued to grow over the years, now resulting in a large photographic portfolio put together by Terry Jones, founder and creative director of i-D magazine and former art director at Vogue. This book offers an exclusive insight into the dramatic world of one of the most talent designers of our generation; a must-have for your coffee table.

Rick Owens by Terry Jones, ÂŁ24.99, TASCHEN Available at taschen.com

Clockwise from top/ Photography Takay, styling Jo Barker, model Shannan Click i-D, The Age Issue, No. 254, May 2005 Photography Hans Feurer, styling Marie Chaix, model Tanya Dziahileva i-D, The Pain & Pleasure Issue, No. 298, April 2009 Photography Josh Olins, styling Alastair McKimm, models Aymeline Valade and Alla Kostromicheva i-D, The Exhibitionist Issue, No. 312, Spring 2011 Photography Paul Wetherell, styling Erika Kurihara, model Abbey Lee i-D, The Flesh And Blood Issue, No. 304, Winter 2009 Photography Daniele + Iango, styling Patti Wilson, model Shalom Harlow i-D, The Royalty Issue, No. 318, Spring 2012

spotlight on... the royal borough of Kensington & Chelsea: news, events, reviews & local interest stories

SPOTLIGHT

Support in the Borough Drug and alcohol rehabilitation charity Blenheim has been established for almost 50 years and has helped many people dealing with dependency issues.

On 24 July, crowds gathered at KC North Hub, one of Blenheim’s service sites, to raise awareness about dependency on drugs and alcohol. A range of services such as community detoxification and counselling are now offered all in one place, making it that much easier for people to seek advice.

The event was a great success, with the Mayor of Kensington and Chelsea delivering a compelling speech. It was also a special sight to see so many people acting as a support unit within the borough. blenheimcdp.org.uk

Royal Tribute While talks have lately been fixated on the royal baby, this doesn’t mean to say that the rest of the Royal Family has been forgotten. Indeed, in a recent and stylish tribute to HM The Queen, Vivienne Westwood has redesigned the cover of the newly-released tome, Her Majesty The Queen. The special Royal Edition by the British fashion designer has been designed to reference both The Queen’s reign and Westwood’s Gold Label collection. The book itself celebrates both the public and private life of Her Majesty, telling her extraordinary story through a series of photographs

by Harry Benson. Limited to just 500 copies and complete with a mother-ofpearl clamshell box, make sure to get your hands on this collector’s item before Hardcover Her Majesty Royal Edition, it sells out.

by Vivienne Westwood and Harry Benson in clamshell box with print in portfolio

Her Majesty Royal Edition, £550, taschen.com

Copyright: Bettmann/Corbis The 20 year old Princess at Buckingham Palace, 1950 Photography: Lisa Sheridan

Behind the Camera

Graduating in Style Oscar Wilde, Claes Oldenburg and the Indian Holi colour festival were the main inspirations for the fashion graduates at this year’s Royal College of Art fashion show, who set the stage alight in May with their final shows. Oversized knits took a strong lead, followed closely by metallic midcalf and geometric dresses. In terms of colours, red and acid yellow were key players but pastel shades such as lilac, lemon yellow and peach were also incorporated into several collections.

Proving that talent is never dependent on age, we have certainly taken note of these young, up-and-coming designers and look forward to watching their growth within the industry.

They say a picture can tell a thousand words and when describing the work of photographer Jacques Lowe, this phrase could not be more apt. Lowe’s collection of photographs, entitled My Kennedy Years, is coming soon to Proud Galleries and portrays special moments in the life of John F. Kennedy. As his official © Estate of Jacques Lowe Campaign Photographer during the elections and, after this, the personal photographer of the President, Lowe was able to capture JFK’s political career as well as aspects of his personal life including intimate moments with wife Jackie and his children. While not all of the 40,000 photographs taken by Lowe will be on display, visitors will still be able to get a good look into the world of one of the most significant political figures of our time. In the words of Lowe, JFK was a president who “empowered each one of us to believe we could make a difference”.

Through this powerful body of work, the artist gives us an honest reflection of one of the world’s most talked-about families.

My Kennedy Years, 26 September – 24 November Proud Galleries, 161 King’s Road, SW3 5XP proud.co.uk

rca.ac.uk

© Estate of Jacques Lowe

covering kensington, chelsea, knightsbridge, holland park & notting hill

the KENSINGTON & CHELSEA magazine

031

Take to Heart

Dr Barbir and guests

On 11 July, 250 guests enjoyed the sun in the Chelsea Physic Garden to support the Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals Charity and its plans to raise £4.5 million for a new operating theatre. The charity is an independent organisation raising money to fund new equipment, patient care and vital research. Since the 19th century, when it was founded, the Royal Brompton Hospital has been committed to research, innovation and education, and its achievements in the world of medicine are made visible not just by its success rates but by the number of high-profile people who have frequented it, from Sir Winston Churchill to members Gill Raikes Charity CEO with guests of the Royal Family. As such, it is both a historic monument and a pillar of support to the whole community. Guests in attendance learnt about future plans for the hospital and how the new theatre would mean more options for less invasive surgery. rbhcharity.org

Vintage Revival London’s first vintage fashion fair is returning to the Chelsea Town Hall this September where you’re sure to pick up oneof-a-kind pieces and bargain buys. When you’re exhausted from shopping, Blackbird Tea Rooms have a pop-up vintage tea room serving the finest selection of teas and cakes. If your wardrobe is calling out for that perfect tweed jacket or vintage Louis Vuitton luggage then Frock Me! is the perfect event to kick-start your A/W style update.

Frock Me!, 8 September Chelsea Town Hall, King’s Road, Chelsea, SW3 5EE frockmevintagefashion.com

Sutherland, Forest and River

Exultant Strangeness One of the most influential British landscape painters is arriving on our doorstep next month at the Crane Calman gallery. The William Blakeinspired pieces of renowned 40s and 50s artist Graham Sutherland will be showcased in a unique show entitled Exultant Strangeness. The display will not only reveal how the artist changed the public and industry’s perceptions of landscape painting through his abstract collections but it also in turn pays homage to Sutherland’s most classic and memorable works.

Exultant Strangeness 26 September – 16 November Crane Kalman Gallery, 178 Brompton Road SW3 1HQ; cranekalman.com

Sutherland Study for an Entrance to a Lane

spotlight on... the royal borough of Kensington & Chelsea: news, events, reviews & local interest stories

SPOTLIGHT

Dressed for Success In July, the V&A hosted a Fashion in Motion event honouring British designer Jenny Packham, with four free live catwalk shows. Celebrating 25 years in the industry, Packham chose 45 of her favourite dresses from her archived collections, as well as creating a full-length white gown with squaredoff shoulders and exquisite sparkling bodice especially for the occasion. A tribe of ethereal models sashayed down the runway past an audience enthralled by the swishing, sequinned, diaphonous gowns glittering under the lights.

Since, though, Packham has been thrust into a more global spotlight; when the Duchess of Cambridge gave us our first view of HRH Prince George, she wore a blue and white polka dot Packham creation. jennypackham.com

Raiders of the Lost Art Walton Fine Arts Gallery is hosting an exhibition of American artist Robert Indiana (1928-present) from 19 September until the end of October.

Indiana was a prominent figure during the 1960s Pop Art movement, alongside Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein. In his work Indiana explores the concept of American identity, using the power of language and abstract techniques. His most well-known work is the iconic LOVE series, sculptures of which can be found in cities across the world including Tokyo and Israel. The exhibition at the gallery will run alongside the world’s first retrospective of Indiana’s work at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York and will offer London art lovers and collectors the chance to view and purchase a selection of his works.

Images courtesy of Walton Fine Arts

Walton Fine Arts Gallery 152-154 Walton Street, SW3 2JJ waltonfinearts.com

Fair Play London’s art scene will once again be descending on the Royal College of Art this September for the annual 20/21 British Art Fair. With Hattie Morahan opening the show and more than 56 artists showcasing their work, the event is already set to be as inspirational as ever. This year sees a particular emphasis on Modern and Post War art, as well as Contemporary Art from 1970.

The Royal College of Art has often been labelled the ‘spiritual home of British art’, so that alone sets the standard of the quality which can be expected by visitors. For the first time, a stand is being dedicated solely to photography so we’re eager to see contemporary flair being brought to this year’s fair.

20/21 British Art Fair, 11-15 September Royal College of Art Kensington Gore, SW7 2EU britishartfair.co.uk

From left/ HOYLAND, (19) 29.7.75 Still Life with Roses and Fruit

covering kensington, chelsea, knightsbridge, holland park & notting hill

the KENSINGTON & CHELSEA magazine

033

Suits You, Sir

British Heritage Hackett 137-138 Sloane Street, SW1X 9AY 020 7730 3331 hackett.com

Gentleman’s Club

five-Star Luxury The Cadogan Hotel 75 Sloane Street, SW1X 9SG 020 7235 7141 cadogan.com

Photography: Saskia Rumbelow

SPOTLIGHT

Spotlight on...

Sloane Street

Forget Bond Street; Sloane Street is the heart and soul of London’s fashion capital, reports Olivia Sharpe In Los Angeles you have Rodeo Drive; in Paris there’s the ChampsElysées, and in London it is, of course, Sloane Street. Every fashion capital in the world has its very own luxury shopping hotspot and I’m proud to say that ours exists in the Royal Borough. While Bond Street has traditionally held this exclusive position, Sloane Street has risen through the ranks and now stands on a par with the Mayfair destination in terms of cultural heritage, fashion boutiques and bank-account-stretching price tags.

If you were in any doubt of its elite status, all you’d have to do is list the designer boutiques lined up along both sides of the long stretch ascending from Sloane Square up to Knightsbridge, like giant dominoes on a life-sized catwalk. From the likes of Dolce & Gabbana and Chanel to Shanghai Tang and Hackett, the street is a melting pot of international brands which, whilst possessing their own national identities, all share one thing in common: each and every one is an established fashion power house. Indeed, this isn’t where you’ll find the industry’s rising stars but rather the resting ground of its aristocracy. Just consider how one of the world’s largest fashion brands, Louis Vuitton – next year celebrating its 160th anniversary – has stood firm on the street for almost three decades, or how Italian fashion royalty Gucci has been here for the past 23 years.

And it’s not hard to see why these brands settled on Sloane Street for the home of their flagship boutiques, it being a heritage site in its own right.

It takes its name from Sir Hans Sloane who bought the area in 1712, although many of the surrounding streets are also named after descendants of Earl Cadogan. This is due to the two families’ estates having united in blood ties when one of Sir Sloane’s daughters married a Cadogan.

Today, this family legacy survives but in the form of Cadogan Estates, the second largest of the existing freehold estates in central London and Chelsea and Knightsbridge’s principal landlord. The street owes its historic Dutch-style red brick buildings, situated on nearby Pont Street, to Lord

the KENSINGTON & CHELSEA magazine

035

Cadogan, as well as the Holy Trinity Anglican Church. The five-star Cadogan Hotel is also part of the family’s birthright, having been returned to the company in 2011 following a £15.4 million deal (a year before it celebrated its 125th anniversary). This was famously once where wellknown actress and friend of King Edward VII Lillie Langtry lived and where the playwright Oscar Wilde was infamously arrested for gross indecency in room 118.

Right at the other end of the street, department store Harvey Nichols was established just seven years after Charles Henry Harrod founded the nearby iconic Knightsbridge store, in 1831, making it one of the oldest department stores in London. The impressive five-floor building is recognised for its fashion retailers as well as its luxury food market and restaurants.

While steeped in tradition, this doesn’t mean to say that Sloane Street hasn’t evolved over the years. Billionaire Couture arrived five years ago in October 2008. Just two years prior to this was the opening of Cartier’s second store in the capital (the other is on Bond Street). This marked a special moment for the royal jewellers as within the new boutique was London’s first ever dedicated Bridal Salon. Last month saw the arrival of man-of-the-moment Tom Ford’s first UK store.

One of Frida Giannini’s (Creative Director of Gucci) first triumphs as Tom Ford’s successor was to revamp the Sloane Street boutique. Featuring bronze metal and a special LED lighting effect, the innovative design concept brought both the brand and the store firmly into the 21st century.

Other Knightsbridge stores to have had recent interior facelifts include Christian Dior and, like its A/W13 collection, the new Dior store provides a visual history lesson into the French fashion house’s ongoing interest in the relationship between fashion and art.

Across the channel, British heritage brand Hackett decided to listen to increased demands for timeless quality and craftsmanship when it refurbished its flagship store, incorporating in-store bespoke services such as a tailor’s atelier and in-store barber. Gucci, Prada and Giorgio Armani similarly followed suit with made-to-measure services. Finally, we wait with anticipation for the re-launch of the Saint Laurent boutique, set to re-open before the end of the year.

With its wealth of luxury shops, restaurants and impressive sports cars (always parked nearby), Sloane Street has, and will always be, one of the most fashionable destinations in London and the Royal Borough’s emphatic answer to Bond Street.

SPOTLIGHT

Under One Roof

Cutting Edge Harvey Nichols 109-125 Knightsbridge 020 7235 5000 harveynichols.com

United Nations

Raising the Flag Danish Embassy 55 Sloane Street, SW1X 9SR 020 7333 0200 storebritannien.um.dk

Royal Jewellers

Bridal Salon Cartier 143-144 Sloane Street, SW1X 9AY 020 7312 6930 cartier.com

the KENSINGTON & CHELSEA magazine

037

Heaven Sent Amy Williams delves into the past and present of businesswoman Chloe Lonsdale, local resident and one of the borough’s brightest fashion stars

CHloe Lonsdale, the founder

What’s your favourite spot for a bite to eat?

of MiH jeans, started her career at Nicole Farhi before setting about re-inventing her godfather’s old denim business at the age of 25.

Eight years on and the brand is stocked in 300 stores in 40 countries, with vast studios and HQ in Brook Green. Chloe lives in North Kensington with her husband and three young children. I caught up with Chloe to find out what she loves so much about this part of town and her stellar career to date.

We’re not short of places in West London! I like Lowry & Baker on Portobello Road and I probably eat at Pizza East at least twice a week.

Where do you live and why?

I never know quite what to say when I’m asked that question… I tend to say Ladbroke Grove. It’s officially North Kensington, on a lovely, quiet, residential street in a peaceful, almost forgotten part of West London. We’re a ten-minute walk from the hustle and bustle of real Notting Hill so I have Portobello and all the best bits of W11 on my doorstep. We live here because we have a young family and it’s perfect for that; there’s a school at the end of our road and a park behind the house. We’re very lucky to have our own garden – rare in London.

How long have you lived in the Royal Borough?

I’ve lived in and around Notting Hill for 15 years. When I first moved to London, it was to a flat on Chepstow Place, so ever since I moved here this has been my home.

What’s the best thing about your neck of the woods?

The mix. Take Golborne Road as an example – you have stylish shops like Ally Capellino located right next to fantastic second hand stores and there’s Pizza East next to great street food stalls. Plus there are florists, bakers, little spas… everything.

Your favourite hidden gem?

The Cloth Shop on Portobello Road. I buy curtain fabrics and old Hungarian runners for stairs. I could find myself driving halfway across the country to find that sort of stuff but sometimes when it is on your doorstep you overlook it. Supporting local businesses is a really nice thing to do.

Which is the shopping street on which you could spend the most money?

Ledbury Road – it’s turning into kid clothing central.

There’s Caramel, Petit Bateau and the brilliant second hand children’s shop Fara. It’s a one-stop destination for your children’s wardrobe, especially the sales. I can just pop up there and get everything I need for the next season and for fashionable kids on the block!

Do you have plans to open an MiH store and would it be in here in the borough?

Yes and yes. If you’d asked me 18 months ago I would have said no. But the seed is planted now and I think within two years we’ll have something here. I’m really confident we can find the right place and that somewhere local is where we should be.

Is there a head-to-toe look that sums up MiH? Yes, definitely. The Paris Jean and the white oversized shirt; it’s what I personally wear everyday and it’s uncomplicated, flattering, great everyday style. It’s not challenging. It’s nothing else but comfortable. You can wear Paris jeans with flats or heels, a cotton shirt or a fitted black silk shirt and there you have your outfit that covers all eventualities. Done. And it works. And I think it looks good on everyone.

SPOTLIGHT

Where else do you shop for fashion?

I love Couveture & The Garbstore on Kensington Park Road. I don’t think anyone else ever goes in there! But it’s the most gorgeous, wonderfully curated store and it’s the one place that is pioneering new designers that no-one else is stocking which is so refreshing. You always discover something lovely and new there. MiH are not in there but only because we’re in every other store in Notting Hill!

What is your top tip for balancing a business and a family and a life of your own?

Marry a patient man! It all depends on circumstance but I have been very lucky to marry someone who agreed to come and run the business with me and it is a juggling act. I think it’s important that a woman shouldn’t feel guilty for giving a business everything she’s got.

Obviously if you’ve got kids then they take your time and attention and they are my priority, but you can be a good mum without being with your children the whole time. The business is my first baby.

Brazil. We go there quite a lot, to a place called Jericoacoara. But the problem with Brazil now is that it’s so much more expensive than it used to be. My advice would be to go soon.

What’s your dream address in London?

I’m not sure, because I love where I live right now. If I wasn’t living here then I’d chose to get out of London altogether and live by the sea. I don’t really mind which sea but preferably a warmer one than the North. Just to see the sea every day would make me wholly happy.

Bonn Sponge jeans

mih-jeans.com

How do you switch off?

I’m good at putting my phone down when I get home from the office and not looking at it again all evening.

I then get to give all my time to my family. I also take time out on holidays when the business is quieter so that I can properly relax; luckily for us the rhythms of the fashion industry are similar to those of school term times, so going away in the summer, at Christmas and at Easter makes sense.

School sweater Birdseye knit

Where is your favourite place to escape city life?

I have a love affair with Brazil, in particular Northern

the KENSINGTON & CHELSEA magazine

039

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)

&

ART ANTIQUES

BY CAROL CORDREY

25 Years of Success

From top/ Study after AB (prayer) by Craig Wylie (pencil on paper)

Jonathan Cooper has become a byword for quality – which is particularly impressive when we consider that the gallery has maintained that reputation for no less than a quarter of a century, during which time it has seen recessions come and go. Not surprisingly, the gallery is celebrating in style with a 25th anniversary exhibition which will bring us the opportunity to revel in the broad range of genres, media and styles that flow from all of the successful artists the gallery represents.

There will be 28 such artists contributing to this especially happy birthday but I only have space to mention a few of my favourites. Flower painting is executed in very different styles by Nicolas Granger-Taylor and Rosie Sanders, the former presenting great realism in the traditional style and handling light effects to a level of perfection that is rare today. Rosie Sanders adopts a more modern approach which takes us up-close-andpersonal with each flower so that we don’t just see; we almost feel the veins picked out on each finely painted petal. Craig Wylie was a 2008 BP Portrait Award winner and we can see why in this exquisite handling of pencil on paper entitled, Study after AB (Prayer). There is humour to be found in the work of Rebecca Campbell but it is all the more fascinating because of its subtlety within her wonderfully detailed paintings of wildlife. On the subject of landscapes, Tim Allen produces work where you can almost pick out every leaf on his trees but equally impressive is the looser handling of paint by Ben Henriqes.

A view from Ardoran, Early Spring by Ben Henriques (oil on canvas)

25th Anniversary Mixed Exhibition 11 September – 5 October; jonathancooper.co.uk

with Bonhams specialist, Charlie Thomas, about the Period Design Sale

Q: Why does the name Anthony Redmile feature so prominently in this auction?

A: Period Design is a sale of 18th, 19th and early 20th century furniture, sculpture, works of art, clocks, carpets and rugs but on 24 September, the auction will include a section devoted to the remarkable Anthony Redmile collection

Q: Which two prize lots are expected to attract great buyer interest and why?

A: The antler chandeliers are expected to cause a lot of interest. The resin Classical busts are also very popular for people who want a Grand Tour look without the cost of buying an 18th century marble bust.

Q: What style of work or commissions was he famed for?

A: Anthony Redmile was famous for mixing Neo-Classicism with Exoticism and he had many famous clients, selling all over the world.

After his death, Kenneth Harvey took over the business, based in Chelsea’s Furniture Cave. and he is now selling due to retirement.

Q: Will there be signature items across a range of prices?

A: Prices vary from £100 for an extraordinary collection of ostrich eggs to £3,000 to £5,000 for a magnificent antler lantern

the KENSINGTON & CHELSEA magazine

Large antler lantern

Period Design Auction: 24 September bonhams.com

041

&

ART ANTIQUES Style Statements at London Design Festival During the past 11 years, the London Design Festival has changed from a trade event to one that recognises how much the public wants to enjoy design innovations too. Consequently, it has expanded to embrace six Design Destinations across London, which have become hubs for attracting store buyers, new and established designers, manufacturers, interior designers and, on selected days, the general public. These will offer not only a cornucopia of products from famous and emerging talent but also inspirational talks by leading designers and refreshments to fuel visitors’ energy. The Royal Borough will be well served by 100% Design at Earls Court, Decorex International (see p. 88), and Chelsea Design Quarter which connects many showrooms along the King’s Road, Lots Road and Imperial Wharf, plus Focus 13 at the Design Centre in Chelsea Harbour. Check the website for full details of the Festival’s special public days.

We’re particularly excited to see the fruits of the collaboration between creative dynamo Karl Lagerfeld and pioneering furniture brand Cassina, established in 1927. Visit the company showroom to admire Karl Lagerfeld Photographie: his striking, original prints interpret unique Cassina creations and it’s a perfect pairing; Lagerfeld’s inimitable style is matched by Cassina’s iconic designs, fusing expert craftmanship and precision with authenticity.

London Design Festival, 14 September – 13 October; londondesignfestival.com Cassina Showroom exhibition, 238-242 Brompton Road, SW3 2BB (free event)

Karl Lagerfeld with Gio Ponti’s 699 chair from the Cassina I Contemporanei Collection cassina.com/kl

Shane McAdams, Firework

Art Inspires Fashion

A new kind of “special relationship” has been formed by a collaboration between one of our finest fashion designers, Caroline Jane Harris, Matthew Williamson, Open Network and two artists whose work inspired his acclaimed 2012 catwalk creations, London’s own Caroline Jane Harris, and America’s Shane McAdams. The relationship developed when Williamson found great inspiration for his own designs in the intricate patterns and dazzling colours of Harris’ and McAdams’ work, so it seems utterly appropriate that the fruits of their labours will fall under the spotlight during September’s London Fashion Week.

Haunting landscapes based on the shifting, sculpted landscapes of the American desert that were the backdrop to his childhood are created by McAdams using multi-coloured ball-point pen ink. The ink is poured onto paper then blown – simulating gusts of wind – to make captivating representations of layered rocks, sand and dramatic light effects. Harris, on the other hand, simulates the wonderful patterns found in nature in her beautiful paper-cuts which are layered to create 3D, fascinatingly intricate effects.

Hand to Earth 5 September – 19 October screamlondon.com

AUCTIONS: MOST WANTED The Finest Designer Jewellery Item: 18-karat white gold gem-set Allegra ring by Bulgari. Composed of three articulated half-hoops, set with brilliant-cut diamond tapered sections and vari-shaped blue topaz, garnet, citrine and peridot accents, European Convention mark, finger size L½. Signed Bvlgari.

Estimate: £2,000 – 3,000 Date: 4 September Location: Christie’s, 85 Old Brompton Road, South Kensington, SW7 3LD christies.com

042

the KENSINGTON & CHELSEA magazine

77-79 W estbourne G rove W2 4uL L ondon fLorence

- bucharest - hamburG - istanbuL - London - miLan - nice - paris - rome - teL aviv - turin - vienna - WarsaW

www.devon-devon.com

Pearly Queens A journey through time at the V&A leaves Carol Cordrey mesmerised by the significant role pearls have played across the centuries in displaying wealth, status, style and beauty, both in art and in life

Most of us only think of women wearing these elegant jewels in simple forms and in a single colour. However, this exhibition employs around 200 pieces of jewellery and works of art to explode that myth and, furthermore, to give us an amazing overview of the way pearls were sourced then cultivated, shaped and used to satisfy disparate tastes and perceptions that developed from ancient times to the present day.

This rich and beautiful story begins with pearl fishers working from the Arabian Gulf across Asia and Europe, though the source of the most desirable and valuable of these jewels has always been the Gulf. Pearl divers took great risks to extend the depth and range of their work in order to find the biggest and the best.

Natural pearls are generally spherical but of varied size and created from collections of minute crystals within

shelled molluscs; they are considered to be such beautiful gifts from nature that the word ‘pearl’ has become a metaphor for anything rare or desirable. Cultured or farmed pearls, on the other hand, usually emerge from oysters or mussels and it will surprise many visitors to see within the exhibition that attempts at creating such pearls began as long ago as the 18th century by one Carl Linnaeus.

Today, the Japanese name Kokichi Mikimoto has become famously identified with pearls because he developed ways of making them on an industrial scale and at prices that made them accessible to most women.

They proved so popular that they are now produced in an array of colours throughout East Asia and the South Seas.

Visitors with a more scientific mind will be fascinated by the examples of those historic, cultured pearl experiments,

Closckwise from top/ Necklace of pearls set in coloured gold (probably England ca.1850); Gold earrings with pearls and diamonds (France 1795-1810); Cross pendant gold with rubies and pearls (Germany 1500-25) All images Š Victoria and Albert Museum

ART

alongside others from the early 20th century that were used to distinguish between natural and cultured pearls.

Legends abound about pearls and one that has lasted for centuries involves the luminosity they convey to a woman’s face resulting in her skin looking years younger. I like to believe that one in particular, along with the entertaining Cleopatra legend which claims that the Queen of Egypt stunned those in attendance at a banquet with her wealth and power by dropping a large pearl into her wine glass of vinegar and drinking it as a pleasant cocktail; it has been proven, since, that vinegar dissolves pearls and, in so doing, lightens the acidity of the vinegar itself, rendering it more palatable than we might suspect. Pearls were worn as jewellery, also, in Roman times but in the medieval period their role changed from symbolising luxury to purity and chastity, probably as a consequence of their white colouring.

A display of paintings depicting nobles, courtiers and important merchants wearing pearls in the 1600s will show how these jewels were worn as jewellery and on clothing to promote their owners’ status and financial success.

In the 18th century ‘celebrities’ such as Marie-Antoinette, her mother the Empress Maria Theresa, Empress Catherine the Great of Russia and Queen Charlotte are all portrayed wearing an abundance of gorgeous pearls in multiple strands or chokers. However, pearls were not confined to women; men of high status also wore them, a good example being the exhibition’s set of buttons that include pearls and which were worn by George III. The Victorian era saw pearls employed as sentimental jewellery or as naturalistic motifs with allegorical meaning. This is demonstrated in the exhibition by the Dagmar Necklace which was a gift to Princess Alexandra upon her marriage to the Prince of Wales who became King Edward VII, and a pendant locket with black pearl which commemorated Prince Albert (1862). With the dawn of the Art Nouveau period jewellery was sometimes lightly decorated

with pearls or made more opulent by them, such as the three-stranded Cartier necklace with Gulf pearls. From the Art Deco phase the exhibition reveals an innovative brooch with pearls by Jean Fouquet, contrasted with 1972 luxurious pearl-drop pendant earrings created by Bulgari for Elizabeth Taylor who was world famous for her fabulous jewels. In 2011, Geoffrey Rowlandson made complex use of pearls in the striking Sam Tho Duong necklace.

Among the many dazzling stars of this show are a pearl-embroidered maharaja’s coat and a Chinese Imperial robe, and from Europe and Britain, examples of jewels made for royalty and nobility that include the exquisite Rosebery Tiara of 1878. These and numerous other pieces of jewellery, clothing and artwork demonstrate the remarkable versatility and popularity of pearls across the ages, and the lengths to whivh people have gone in sourcing, creating, designing and, just occasionally, even consuming them as means of promoting their own images.

Pearls, V&A and Qatar Museums Authority Exhibition, runs from 21 September 2013 until 19 January 2014 as part of Qatar UK 2013 Year of Culture; vam.ac.uk/pearls

Clockwise from top/ Brown pearl brooch set in platinum and diamonds (France 1900) © Albion Art; Bodice ornament, George Fouquet Paris (c.1900); The Rosebery Tiara (top right) and pearl necklace (right) with platinum and diamond clasps (Cartier 1930s), both The QMA Collection © Sothebys

the KENSINGTON & CHELSEA magazine

045

BOROUGH SPOTLIGHT

Thackeray Gallery As the successful gallery celebrates nearly half a century in business, Carol Cordrey is delighted to wish Thackeray Gallery a very happy birthday

It was 45 years ago – the era of the Swinging Sixties – when, metaphorically speaking, women took over the driving seat of various aspects of the arts and moved them into new eras. One of that distinctive, daring group set up Thackeray Gallery and women have been running it successfully ever since. When originally launched, its principal aim was “to promote living British artists and their estates” and Sarah Macdonald-Brown, the current owner, ensures that the Thackeray stays true to those ambitions. “Thackeray Gallery has always been owned and run by women (three in total, including me) and I have now been here for 15 years”, revealed Sarah. “It has always been a gallery that specialises in working with British artists, building their careers and profiles.”

Her steadfast determination to “work long-term with both our artists and our clients” has earned the Thackeray loyalty and success on all sides. Testament to this is the roll call of this month’s special celebratory exhibition which spans all 28 artists represented by the Thackeray across the decades, including famous names of the past such as Joanna Carrington (1931-2003), Sir Kyffin Williams OBE RA (1918-2006) and Alberto Morroco RSA RSW OBE (1917-1998). In addition, there will be current work, notably by the acclaimed Ethel Walker, Gordon Bryce RSA RSW and Jenifer McRae RSA. This small but perfectly formed gallery has a long list of loyal clients too, one of whom expressed his admiration by describing the Thackeray as “a Mini Cooper with a Rolls-Royce engine”. It has been fine tuning that image recently with a display of work by sculptor David Klein, who has had sell-out shows at the Thackeray, where his simple but sensuous and irresistibly tactile versions of the human figure are in huge demand.

Sarah burnished that image by bringing Anthony Garratt to the gallery, an artist who gained global attention last year through a particularly important commission.

“He was one of the 12 artists chosen by the BBC to paint H M The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Pageant,” Sarah announced excitedly. Garratt’s Light Study, Bournemouth will be included in the exhibition, demonstrating his confident touch with few brushstrokes and an almost monochrome palette that manage to achieve powerful light This page/ Garratt, Light Study, Bournemouth Opposite, clockwise from top/ Walker, Estuary - River Add Bryce, Bluebells & Geums Morrocco, Fishermen & Boat 1990 Mills, Voyage VII (Mordaith VII)

and atmospheric effects at this seaside location.

From Gordon Bryce we have Bluebells and Geums which shows a spontaneous, loose style of painting that, nonetheless, captures the variety of contrasting forms and textures within this composition. The artist Darren Hughes gives us Light over Dolbadarn with its earthy colours and moody atmosphere that combine in a richly detailed landscape. The painting Celebration by Joe Fan RSA consists of an unusual scene which juxtaposes distant morsels of landscape, close-ups of architectural elements, an idealised tree and a praying male figure to achieve a gentle but very thought-provoking picture.

Ceramics are represented in this show by Phil Rogers whose Moulded Bottles are surely inspired by the Oriental style of work, whereas Kate Schuricht presents us with jugs entitled Flow, Sea Green, their elegant and distinctively simple form suggesting that these items should be purely enjoyed for their glorious aesthetic qualities rather than their practical ones.

Sarah Macdonald-Brown has ensured that, as always, there is something of quality for everybody at the Thackeray Gallery so let’s celebrate that with a rousing “Happy birthday dear Thackeray” as this great little British institution pops the balloons, blows out the candles on the cake and drives onwards and upwards into its next 45 years of wonderful art.

45 Years – A Celebration 10 – 27 September thackeraygallery.com

ART

the KENSINGTON & CHELSEA magazine

047

Local Profile

The Sartorial Rules for Royalty Rebecca Wallersteiner meets Cassie Davies-Stodder, curator of Fashion Rules at Kensington Palace, to discuss the splendour of changing regal fashions “A nipped-in waist in the 1950s, short skirts and diaphanous fabrics in the 60s and 70s, sparkles and shoulder pads in the 80s – these were fashion rules we all dressed by, even members of the Royal family,” says Cassie Davies-Stodder, the curator of Kensington Palace’s Fashion Rules exhibition, sponsored

by Estée Lauder. We meet for tea at the Palace museum’s outdoor café, enclosed by a garden of climbing vines – with sunshine glistening on the surface of the distant lake.

Does Cassie enjoy being based at royal residence Kensington Palace? “Although it has been for just nine months so far, I love working here because it offers such a long and colourful royal history.” Apart from being the childhood home of Queen Victoria and Princess Diana’s London base, Kensington Palace was also Princess Margaret’s home for many years. The Princess’ children, Lord Linley and Sarah Chatto, who grew up at the palace, have generously lent several of their mother’s stunning garments for the show.

It has taken Cassie months to organise Fashion Rules. “Many of these carefully chosen gowns have never been shown before and have been painstakingly prepared by a team of skilled conservators.” With this exhibition she aims to show how royal fashion has evolved from the 1950s to the 90s through five rooms of couture worn by HM The Queen, Princess Margaret and Diana in their fashion heyday, accompanied by period film footage. “All three women had very different royal

roles, styles and personalities and the dresses on display explore how couture worn by each reflected the style and trends of their day, negotiating the rules of dressing fashionably within the ‘rules’ of a royal wardrobe.

“One of the highlights, and my favourite, must be the Queen’s stunning 1950s apricot silk gown, probably

by Norman Hartnell, which is being shown for the first time in 15 years,” says Cassie. With a tiny waist and delicate trimmings, its pale colour allowed it to stand out in a crowd and on black and white film. The end of clothes rationing in 1949 freed fashion designers from austerity measures and saw British fashion fall under the spell of the luxurious full skirts of Christian Dior’s New Look, a style popularised by the young Queen and her sister. “Queen Elizabeth’s patronage of London couturiers Norman Hartnell and Hardy Amies helped to build London’s reputation as the design centre for evening gowns and impeccable tailoring.”

Princess Margaret had greater freedom to wear changing fashions and was under less pressure to patronise British designers than The Queen.

Although both sisters adopted the trend for fuller skirts, Princess Margaret was the first to wear this style. For her 21st birthday, in 1951, she stunned the world by sporting a glamorous slinky cream satin evening gown with a plunging neckline and halterneck straps. Her risqué look was more Hollywood glamour than royal wardrobe and the press became very excited when

“One of my highlights is The Queen’s 1950s apricot silk gown by Norman Hartnell”

Princess Margaret’s evening gown in cream silk satin, 1951 © Lord Linley and Lady Sarah Chatto Historic Royal Palaces / Robin Forster

SPOTLIGHT

they snapped the Princess daringly smoking a cigarette.

“One hip chick” was how Louis Armstrong described her.

With her marriage to dashing photographer Anthony Armstrong-Jones in 1960, Princess Margaret became part of the chic swinging London set and she was often snapped with musicians and film stars of the time. As newly-marrieds, the fashionable couple first lived in a small apartment at Kensington Palace, which had been bomb damaged, and a year later they moved into the nearby re-furbished Apartment 1A and brought up their two children at this property. It has recently been renovated once again to provide a comfortable home for another glamorous young royal couple, Prince William, Catherine and their baby, Prince George.

As a young mother in the 60s, the beautiful Princess Margaret experimented with ethnic, Easterninspired clothes, which were sweeping into London boutiques, and she liked to wear comfortable kaftans and turbans for lounging around her Mustique home. She took an interest in counter-culture and visited upper class friends who were trying out commune living. Prepare to be dazzled by Princess Margaret’s glamorous full-length kaftan and glittering turban, made by costume designer Carl Toms in 1976 for a fancy dress party on the island of Mustique. Lent by Lord Linley and Sarah Chatto and never before displayed in public, it is definitely one of the stars of the show. The rich hippy trend had been embraced by exciting younger designers such as Ossie Clark, Zandra Rhodes and Marc Bohan at Christian Dior – who became one of her favourite designers.

“Bohan was the elegant choice for film stars and royalty alike in these exciting years and his stunning creations were sported by fashion icons Brigitte Bardot, Elizabeth Taylor and Princess Grace of Monaco, as well as Princess Margaret,” explains Cassie. Shorter and more practical than typical 50s fashion, his garments were suitable for cosy nights in playing with the children at Kensington Palace, as well as glamorous nights out, dancing with rock stars at nightclubs.

“Not bound by the same rules as her sister, funloving Princess Margaret daringly experimented with short Mary Quant inspired dresses, bold, bright colours and the new ‘slim-line’ look, as seen in the purple Dior evening gown she wore for The Queen’s Silver Jubilee celebration,” adds Cassie. However, even the hardworking Queen’s working wardrobe became visibly more relaxed in the 60s and 70s, with softer fabrics and slightly shorter hemlines.

The last room displays gorgeous gowns belonging to Diana, Princess of Wales, who lived at Kensington Palace from 1981 until her death in 1997. Embodying the fizzy, energetic spirit of the 80s, Diana chose to be dressed by younger designers like Jacques Azagury,

Bruce Oldfield and Catherine Walker, who created dazzling dresses whilst keeping within the rules of royal dress.

It will be interesting to observe the clothing choices made by the new generation of royals to move into Kensington Palace with their growing family.

The dresses worn by Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, will surely become soughtafter treasures requested for future exhibitions – if she decides to lend them.

Fashion Rules at Kensington Palace Open now until summer 2015 hrp.org.uk/kensingtonpalace

Princess Margaret’s kaftan and turban by Carl Toms, 1976

From top/ HM The Queen’s evening gown by Hardy Amies, 1958 (Historic Royal Palaces © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2013) Lent by kind permission of Her Majesty The Queen

the KENSINGTON & CHELSEA magazine

049

P L E A S E E N J OY O U R C H A M PA G N E R E S P O N S I B LY DRINKAWARE .CO.UK

collection

the Empire strikes Back Carrera y Carrera returns to a golden age of fashion with its new collection, Treasures of the Empire, inspired by styles of the nobility during the Spanish Golden Age. Housed in the Palace of the Marquis of Villafranca, it comprises four different lines and each one references different aspects of the Renaissance period’s style. For example, Cervantes (named after the eminent 16th century Spanish novelist) interprets a popular accessory of the era, the ruff collar, through a selection of jewellery pieces. The Velazquez line, on the other hand, draws upon a portrait of Queen Isabel of Bourbon, painted in 1634. Fronted by the empress of style Olivia Palermo, this campaign succeeds in merging Carrera y Carrera’s historic past with its prosperous future. carreraycarrera.com

the KENSINGTON & CHELSEA magazine

051

We prefer not to be measured by dimensions.

Unless it’s a new dimension of accuracy.

No fewer than four exceptional mechanisms enhance the precision of the RICHARD LANGE TOURBILLON “Pour le Mérite”: the tiny fusée-and-chain transmission, the delicate tourbillon, the ultra-thin Lange balance spring, and – not least – the patented stop-seconds device for the tourbillon which makes it possible to

set the watch with one-second accuracy in the first place. Never before has an A. Lange & Söhne watch been endowed with so many complications that simultaneously enhance its rate accuracy, settability, and readability. And so, this remarkable timepiece truly deserves the honorary attribute “Pour le Mérite”.

Arije 165, Sloane Street London • George Pragnell 5 and 6, Wood Street, Stratford-upon-Avon Hamilton & Inches 87, George Street, Edinburgh • Harrods 87–135 Brompton Road, Knightsbridge, London Watches of Switzerland 16, New Bond Street, London • Wempe 43-44, New Bond Street, London Lange Uhren GmbH • Tel. +34 91 454 89 82 • www.lange-soehne.com

Final_JT_UK_N_KensingtonAndChelsea_RLT_PLM_PG_210x297_ATMO-026-12.indd 1

08.02.2012 15:52:48 Uhr

WORLD

of WATCHES

BY RICHARD BROWN

Ten of a Kind Delivering ten beats per second, it’s the most famous movement in watchmaking.

Now, in collaboration with the brand that bequeathed the El Primero to the world, The Watch Gallery gives us the Zenith El Primero Chronomaster Power Reserve. The watch has been designed with the features of the original in mind, revealing the legendary beating heart within a 42mm steel case, but nodding to The Watch Gallery’s signature blue with splashes of the colour on its dial, second hand and power reserve indicator.

It went on sale last month for £6,750.

Considering that only ten will be produced worldwide, that’s not a bad price.

Saxon Splendour If you’re a regular reader of this magazine, you’ll already be aware of the fondness we have for A. Lange & Söhne. Makers, in our eyes, of some of the planet’s most beautiful timepieces, it’s oft we find ourselves poring over the brand’s website, making ‘when-I-win-the-lottery’-type wish-lists with the watches. Last month, eagle-eyed ladies will have noticed they were given a new watch to add to their list.

Unveiled earlier this year but only arriving in boutiques now, Lange’s Saxonia Automatic in pink gold, £16,600, features 76 brilliant-cut diamonds on its bezel and comes equipped with the thinnest automatic watch movement the German manufacturer has ever created (3.7mm, if you were wondering).

Available at thewatchgallery.com, Selfridges and The Watch Gallery in Chelsea

alange-soehne.com

50 Years of Carrera Celebrating the 50th birthday milestone of the much-loved Carrera timepiece, Goodwood’s Festival of Speed presented a display of historic models amid a range of eye-catching new designs.

TAG also used the festival to unveil to the public the Carrera Calibre 1887 Jack Heuer Chronograph, a follow up to last year’s Carrera Jack Heuer 80. The ‘bullhead’-style watch features crown and chronograph pushers at the top of its case and a more-easy-to-read angled dial. The piece’s retro-appeal is likely to sit well with a classic car-loving crowd.

One to Watch Each month we select our timepiece of the moment from the watch world’s most exciting creations

Reaffirming its reputation as a materials pioneer, IWC’s Ingenieur Perpetual Calendar sports a case made of titanium aluminide, an alloy harder and lighter than pure titanium. Automatically taking 29 February into account every four years, the watch will remain accurate until 2100

Carrera Calibre 1887 Jack Heuer Chronograph, £5,295, tagheuer.com

Ingenieur Perpetual Calendar Digital Date-Month, £34,900, IWC, iwc.com

the KENSINGTON & CHELSEA magazine

053

Fewer,

Bigger ,

Better

Annabel Harrison speaks to Chief Executive of Audemars Piguet, Franรงois-Henry Bennahmias, about his first year in the role and what changes we can expect to see in the near future

COLLECTION

IT’S ALL CHANGE at Audemars Piguet and I for one am rather excited about what’s to come. In April last year, it was the former CEO to whom I spoke about the company’s history, present and future.

This year, Frenchman François-Henry Bennahmias, almost a decade younger than his predecessor, is at the helm and he is brimming over with enthusiasm and a determined, comprehensive plan of action; the next two years are about “cleansing” and adhering to the principle of “fewer, bigger, better”.

This translates as: “Fewer partners worldwide, fewer references and a lot more choice. We spread ourselves a bit too thin over the last ten years and we missed some opportunities; now it is time to respect the basics of our business.”

The 138-year-old family-owned company currently has ten of its own stores and a further 13 owned in partnership with the group’s retailers, out of 400 selling points worldwide.

However, fans of Audemars Piguet in its present state need not fear. Although Bennahmias earned his luxury stripes at international brands such as Giorgio Armani and Gianfranco Ferré, he arrived at Audemars Piguet in 1994 with the requisite “passion for artistry and [admiration for] people who can do amazing things with their hands”. Two decades after joining the company, in January this year he became CEO, after giving up his role as President & CEO of North America and taking the reins on an interim basis in May 2012. He was able to hit the ground running; “I obviously know people well because I’ve been working in the company for a long time, so there was no time wasted as far as assessing what could be done. I want to bring my own feel to the brand as well. An understanding of the family behind the company is important... it was a long process, to reassess what the future was and where the family wanted to take the brand. In the end, they are the owners and they know exactly what they want to do.”

Bennahmias is a breath of fresh air as an interviewee when discussing the biggest changes that occurred since taking over officially. His enthusiastic attitude is infectious, and at the heart of it, entirely serious; “It’s actually the same now as when I took over the job because I didn’t take it thinking, I’m going to do it for three months, six months or a year and then it’s going to be over. I looked at it as if I would stay at it for the next ten years. Any decision that I have to make will have an impact, not for six months, but for years to come.” Fashion on the one hand is a fast-paced industry where things change all the time but “in the watch world the pace is much slower. When you plan, you plan for six, seven, eight, nine years; that’s how long it takes to develop a mechanism sometimes.”

As such, Bennahmias has undoubtedly inherited many of these developments, as well as 2012’s significant ‘To break the rules you must first master them’ campaign and company rebranding. “Nothing will change about this because it was the right thing to do for the company.”

How have the campaign and rebranding been received?

“Pretty well. We are making our mark. What we now want to launch is our women’s version, which will include an evolution of the tagline and is coming out in September”.

To my mind, it makes perfect sense to embark upon a path of attracting more female customers, especially as the typical Audemars Piguet customer is described by Bennahmias as male, in a typically light-hearted fashion: “He is between 15 and 77 years old. He is black, yellow, white, blue, red, pink!”

However, this is just to illustrate how difficult the question is to answer: “I’ve seen such a range of customers over the last 18 years. We have sold watches for graduation gifts and at the same time, a Perpetual Calendar to a man at a very senior level within the church in Germany. There are so many profiles – I cannot put them in boxes – but funnily enough, when the customers meet each other, and interact with each other, it’s as if they have known each other for years. It’s very special.”

Bennahmias himself wears a Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar that was made in 1995 for the 120th anniversary of the company. “We only made 120 of them. At the time, I had only been at Audemars Piguet for a year and I was nowhere near being

Fashion is a fast-paced industry but the watch world is slower, planning six or seven years ahead

Opposite page / Audemars Piguet manufacture This page/ Francois-Henry Bennahmias, Selfwinding Royal Oak 37mm

the KENSINGTON & CHELSEA magazine

055

able to afford to buy the watch. But I loved it so much that I hoped one day I’d be able to buy it. For a good 16 years, the watch never showed up but, suddenly, one did.

And so I said that watch is going to be mine no matter what. For a watch which is 18 years old it doesn’t age at all.” Amusingly, for a man who sells some of the world’s most expensive watches, his favourite brand as a youngster was Swatch: “I had 1,200, one of the biggest collections in the world and I sold it to Swatch in 1996.”

Design is of course important to every watch brand but unique models are even more so and for Audemars Piguet, this is the Royal Oak, which celebrated its 40th anniversary last year. “The Royal Oak,” Bennahmias declares, “is going to remain one of the most iconic designs ever. Gérald Genta was a great artist and creative genius. I met his wife Evelyne a few times and she showed me the entire collection of his paintings and ideas on paper. It was unbelievable. I hope we’re going to be able to give him, at some point, what he truly deserves as a person because, when you think about what this person did for the watch world, not only us, it’s really special.”

Bennahmias is undoubtedly a people person, telling me about a 35-year-old employee who recently celebrated his 20th year at Audemars Piguet. Although the record is 44 years with the company, if this employee stays until his retirement, he will go past the 50 year

mark.“It’s always about people. Even though we are one of the smaller companies, there’s about 1,200 of us; every single part of the business is about the way you interact with people and the way they interact with you. There is no ‘I’ in team. I am a firm believer in that; from the cleaning person to the watchmaker, the sales guy on the road and the guy who’s going to fix your watch, everybody matters and I love that.”

A glance at the roster of Audemars Piguet ambassadors – LeBron James, Lionel Messi, Michael Schumacher – shows wide-ranging relationships with the world of sport and this aspect of the brand is surely benefitted by Bennahmias’ own background; an avid golfer, he was at one point ranked 25th in France.

Nick Faldo was the guinea pig, so to speak, for the ambassadorship notion in the late 80s, followed by chess player Garry Kasparov, skier Alberto Tomba and Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bennahmias stresses that “there was a big charity component attached to these people from the start.

We didn’t want to have an ambassador just for the sake of saying ‘yes, he’s wearing our watches’, but because he already knew about Audemars Piguet, loved the brand and because we could raise money and do good things, for kids in particular.” Do you pay your ambassadors now? “Sure we do. Do we always keep a charity component in everything we do with all of these ambassadors? Yes.” Lionel Messi’s platinum No.10 Royal Oak Chronograph, for example, was auctioned in May, raising £53,400 for the Leo Messi Foundation.

From the sound of it, Mr Bennahmias is going to be kept rather busy; although the next two years will be “stable”, as far as products are concerned, “we’ll be preparing for 2015; that’s going to be an important year for us.” Art Basel remains very important and in the world of sport, golf is coming into the spotlight. Charity work doesn’t stop: “Jasmine Audemars started the Foundation 20 years ago when environment wasn’t really on peoples’ radar. She was a visionary for saying ‘for every single watch we sell, we are going to give some money to help projects to do with the environment’ and 20 years later, everybody’s talking about it. We’ve have been doing it for 20 years and we will keep doing it. It’s an important part of who we are, family and company, and those are our goals for the years to come.”

CEO Bennahmias wears a Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar made in 1995 for the brand’s 120th anniversary

audemarspiguet.com

From left/ Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph 44mm Royal Oak Offshore Diver 42mm

COLLECTION Sachin Tendulkar

Ian Poulter

Royal Oak Offshore Grande Complication

Leo Messi

LeBron James

the KENSINGTON & CHELSEA magazine

057

COLLECTION

& Blues Rhythm

From the high seas to high fashion, stay ship-shape in navy blue hues

1 Leather weekend bag, £1,575, Saint Laurent, matchesfashion.com 2 Linen double stripe jacket, £450, Hackett, 137-138 Sloane Street 3 Downing Street cufflinks, £9,950 Theo Fennell, 169 Fulham Road 4 Tiago cotton-blend socks, £12, Falke, mrporter.com 5 Woven-suede belt, £70, Anderson’s, mrporter.com 6 Large Ballon Bleu de Cartier in steel, £4,200, Cartier, 143-144 Sloane Street 7 Islington Monk shoe, £199, Loake, loake.co.uk 8 Silk pocket square, £50, Turnbull and Asser, turnbullandasser.co.uk 9 Slim knitted silk tie, £105, Charvet, giftlab.com 10 Seventies Panorama Date, £7,400, Glashütte Original, glashuette-original.com 11 D-Frame Acetate sunglasses, £310, Cutler and Gross, cutlerandgross.com

058

the KENSINGTON & CHELSEA magazine

Swiss movement, English heart

C8 REGULATOR

Made in Switzerland / Modified, hand-wound, Unitas 6498 mechanical regulator movement visible through full diameter crystal case-back / Côte de Genève movement finish / Central continuous minute hand with 12 hour and 60 second bi-compax sub-dials / 44mm, satin-brushed, 316L stainless steel case / Anti-reflective sapphire crystal / SuperLuminovaTM “Old Radium” indexes and hands / Vintage leather strap with Bader deployment / Also available with PVD black case E X C L U S I V E LY AVAILABLE AT

christopherward.co.uk

Showroom at No.1 Park Street, Maidenhead. To arrange a personal appointment, call +44 (0)1628 763040

240_ChristopherWard_KensingtonChelsea.indd 1

02/08/2013 09:16

THE SIENNA COLLECTION Inspired by the Renaissance Masters, The Sienna Collection reincarnates the artist’s love of colour and creativity. The Sienna Cuff and The Sienna Chandelier drop earrings both feature a superb array of mandarin garnets, pink spinels and diamonds set in yellow gold.

The Sienna Collection is truly inspired by a timeless period in European history which celebrated beauty through the adornment of majestic gems.

UNITED KINGDOM

AUSTRALIA

The Royal Arcade, Old Bond St, Mayfair London W1S 4SW

Sydney Gold Coast

calleija.com

box

JEWELLERY

BY OLIVIA SHARPE

Chasing Rainbows

The Nation’s Princess

Solange Azagury-Partridge has taken up residence on Carlos Place, following in the footsteps of fellow jewellery designer Jessica McCormack.

The impressive 5,000 square foot flagship store, close to Roland Mouret HQ, includes boutique spaces on the ground and first floors, a workshop and production facilities. The eye-catching interior design, which features the brand’s trademark rainbow use of colour, provides an interesting contrast to the traditional Victorian setting and will no doubt show off the designer’s quirky, unique collections favoured by celebrities the world over.

Tiffany & Co. was in the spotlight a few months ago as the official jeweller of The Great Gatsby. Now it’s Chopard’s turn; the jeweller was chosen by Ecosse Films to bejewel actress Naomi Watts in Diana, set to be a box office hit this September.

People tend to recall the Princess of Wales’ iconic outfits but she also possessed a stunning collection of jewellery, including her worldfamous engagement ring now worn by the Duchess of Cambridge. This ring has been echoed in a pair of sapphire earrings in the film which complement Watts’ appropriately short hair. Also featured in Diana are pieces from Chopard’s Happy Diamonds collections.

While we predict the new film won’t be as ostentatious as Luhrmann’s recent production, we’re certain the diamonds will be just as spectacular if Chopard has anything to do with it.

5 Carlos Place, W1 solange.co.uk

Cutting Edge As details of Oscar de la Renta’s rumoured fine jewellery collection remain under wraps, we instead focus our attention on the designer’s A/W13 collection of fashion jewellery, first previewed at New York Fashion Week:

For A/W13, jewellery harkens back to a glamorous age. Art Deco style resin and cabochon earrings, rings and necklaces are paired with cascading, floor-length gowns in rich fabrics of satin and lace to give added drama

oscardelarenta.com

the KENSINGTON & CHELSEA magazine

chopard.com

Striking Out As one of the proud founders of jewellery brand Erickson Beamon and having previously worked with the likes of Givenchy and Dries Van Noten, it was about time jewellery designer Vicki Sarge branched out on her own. And this she has done with the launch of her own label. The VICKISARGE flagship boutique is descending upon Belgravia this September (not far from the Erickson Beamon store) and in it will be housed the designer’s new collection. These tribal-effect earrings are just a sneak preview of what’s in store.

38 Elizabeth Street, SW1W 9NZ vickisarge.com

061

COLLECTION

Paris

Couture Week It wasn’t just fashion designers who made their debut at this year’s Paris Couture Week; Dior, Bulgari and Louis Vuitton showcased their new fine jewellery collections

1 Phenomena Crest bracelet, POA, De Beers, debeers.com 2 Phenomena Frost necklace, POA, De Beers, as before 3-5 Red spinel and diamond ring, grey spinel and diamond ring, and violet spinel and diamond earrings, all from the Voyage dans le Temps Collection, POA, Louis Vuitton, louisvuitton.co.uk 6 Oriental Princess necklace, POA, Van Cleef & Arpels, vancleefarpels.com 7-9 Perles d’Eclat ring, Fleur du Jour necklace and Cascade de Diamants ring, all POA, Boucheron, boucheron.com 10 Cher Dior Exquise ruby ring, POA, Dior, By Dior Joaillerie, dior.com 11 Liens ring in white gold set with brilliant-cut diamonds and cushion-cut sapphire, POA, Chaumet chaumet.com 12 Liens ring in white gold set with brilliant-cut and baguette-cut diamonds, POA, Chaumet, as before 13 Diva white gold necklace with diamonds, £57,000, Bulgari, bulgari.com 14 Riflesso Azzurro ring, POA, Van Cleef & Arpels, as before

062

the KENSINGTON & CHELSEA magazine

fashion

Love Story Head to Somerset House to catch the final month of I Only Want You to Love Me, the largest retrospective of Miles Aldridge’s work to date. Containing previously unpublished material including study boards, drawings, Polaroids and magazines, the exhibition spans the fashion photographer’s working life from the mid-90s to the present day. Londonborn Aldridge is best known for his large-scale photographs of glamorous and beautiful women, in which he uses bold colour to highlight the inner neuroses of his subjects. He has previously worked with high-end publications such as Numero, The Face and Harper’s Bazaar and this exhibition coincides with the launch of a retrospective book of the same name as the exhibition, published by Rizzoli in May. Until September 29, somersethouse.org.uk

The Rooms #2 © Miles Aldridge 2011

the KENSINGTON & CHELSEA magazine

065

About a

Boy

Known in the industry as the ‘king of glamour’, Olivia Sharpe finds out what lies beneath the glitzy and glamorous persona of British fashion designer Julien Macdonald “It was a bit Billy Elliot,” muses Julien Macdonald.

As I sit in the designer’s Notting Hill atelier, I’m transported back to his life growing up in the Welsh valleys. Comparing himself to the fictional ballet dancer, he always knew he was different, choosing tap dancing classes over rugby and dreaming of becoming a singer while watching Top of the Pops. His voice broke and the dream ended but this didn’t stop the aspiring performer, who was accepted into the Central School of Speech and Drama. However, there was a catch: after three years of training, his accent would be gone. “They were going to take everything that was Welsh away and I was very Welsh, so this scared me.” Realising he would be losing a part of himself, Julien discovered fashion, going on to study Fashion Textiles in Brighton, followed by a Master’s Degree at the Royal College of Art. His fate as a fashion designer was now sealed.

FASHION

Since his first catwalk show in 2001, Julien has been heralded as the ‘king of glamour’, loved by pop divas around the globe. Despite having been absent for two seasons at London Fashion Week, he made a triumphant comeback this year with his A/W13 show.

Like a scene out of a Baz Luhrmann film, models burst onto the catwalk in a shower of glitter, sparkles and feathers. Whether shiny, shimmery, short or sexy, it was gown-centric. With Viva Las Vegas having half-jokingly been the designer’s inspiration, racer-back dresses, body-conscious fits and nude gauze inserts revealed

Julien made a triumphant comeback to London Fashion Week with his A/W13 show a 21st century woman ready to paint the town red.

For the designer, it has always been about putting on a show: “The fun, the glamour, the end when people are screaming and clapping and the glitter cannons are going; if you go to a show, it should be a show.” While knowing he could tone it down and emulate brands such as MaxMara, this would be going against who he is, something Julien has never been willing to do.

During his time studying, Julien fast became known as “the boy from Wales who does knitting” (a skill he learnt from his mother) and he entered a competition for first-year students to showcase their designs, similar to reality TV show Project Runway except it wasn’t Heidi Klum judging but Chanel’s Creative Director Karl Lagerfeld.

Julien had to play to his individual strengths so created two long, bias-cut knitted dresses which couldn’t have differed

the KENSINGTON & CHELSEA magazine

more from the “crazy, bonkers things” he was up against. He made the decision to wear a flamboyant suit given to him by fellow Brit designer Alexander McQueen (both he and fashion editor Isabella Blow had already spotted potential in Julien). It was this outfit, he tells me, that captured Lagerfeld’s attention: “I’ll always remember Karl shouting at me and then hitting me with his fan and saying ‘young man, this is not Karl Lagerfeld; this is Chanel haute couture!’ Evidently admiring his individual style, Lagerfeld not only chose him as one of two winners but also gave him a personal cheque and asked him to work with him as an intern.

A newfound mentor, the French designer instructed the young, inexperienced Julien in the ways of the world, from “modern etiquette” to “how to present oneself in public.” Julien, in turn, was given a rare insight into the man “behind the glasses and the hair” and discovered “an extremely generous and funny person”. Then, at the tender age of 25, Julien was appointed Head

067

Designer of Knitwear at Chanel and for the designer’s eponymous label. While Lagerfeld loved how the London-based designer added a “different spice to his Parisian atelier”, Julien confesses that not everyone appreciated his exoticism. “They didn’t really like me at Chanel; I was the only boy and at that time Chanel was full of girls from very aristocratic families who’d managed to gain a place working in the salon.” Despite this, the self-assured Welshman didn’t let it faze him and attitudes soon changed when they saw his modern knitted tweed designs, now staples of the French fashion house. To this day, Julien prides himself on having created “a little bit of Chanel heritage.”

After two years at Chanel, Julien decided to go it alone. His eponymous label was a hit and, shortly afterwards, he was named British Fashion Designer of the Year in 2001. Givenchy called on him to take over from Alexander McQueen as Creative Director and, as “one of the chicest houses where Audrey Hepburn was the muse”, Julien felt himself to be its exact antithesis, epitomising “sex and glamour and rock ‘n’ roll”. Hesitantly accepting the position, he realised almost immediately that he was out of his depth. Smiling, the designer reminisces about when he was

first asked to design a pre-collection. Like many of us when confronted with a dilemma, he rang a friend to ask “what on earth” a pre-collection was. Despite selfdeprecatingly acknowledging that he was “the wrong person for the job”, commercial figures shot up during his stint and, after three years, they were begging him to stay. However, Julien had had enough, having designed six collections a year, ranging from Haute Couture to Prêt-à-Porter, and, never being one to hold back, he said: “You can pay me as much money as you want but I am leaving. I’m done and I’m not coming back.”

Julien returned to work on his own label and just two years later, in 2004, he was awarded an OBE for services to the fashion industry. At this point, his career took yet another turn with the opportunity to become a judge on Britain’s Next Top Model, joining supermodel Elle Macpherson on the panel. At home in front of the camera, Julien loved the experience. Although often

To this day, Julien prides himself on having created “a little bit of Chanel heritage” praised for his outspokenness on the show, this is something that has got him into trouble in the past. Does Julien ever wish he could be anonymous? “Things just get blown up because people like to create news and I always think; there’s no such thing as bad press.” Aware that we’re living in a social media-driven age, Julien refuses to shy away from the limelight. He comments: “If people are talking about you, you become interesting, and if they’re not, then it’s easy to melt away and become like everyone else.”

While he announced his departure from Britain’s Next Top Model last year, Julien has since appeared on Strictly Come Dancing as a fashion commentator. He is also the official designer for the British Airways staff uniforms and has his own highly successful diffusion line at Debenhams. Upholding the philosophy that “clothes shouldn’t be taken too seriously”, Julien makes it his goal to create pieces which are universally accessible.

However, this doesn’t mean to say that the designer isn’t aware of the most luxurious side of the industry. This year saw the launch of Julien Macdonald Bespoke, a private made-to-measure service. With so many designers branching out into this field, I ask Julien why it’s become so popular: “I think there’s a percentage of the population with a lifestyle that allows them to pay the price in order to have something completely unique.”

FASHION

The British OBE holder was recently asked to create bespoke costumes for the English National Ballet to wear at the Coronation Festival; unmistakably Julien Macdonald, each of the ten garments was covered with more than 20,000 Swarovski crystals, adding just the right amount of sparkle. Humble as ever, he found the experience surreal: “I was born in a valley town in Merthyr Tydfil and all of a sudden I’m sitting in Buckingham Palace’s gardens, making things for the English National Ballet and The Queen for her Jubilee.”

For Julien, the next honour would surely be to design an outfit for the Duchess of Cambridge. Never one to discount the impossible, the designer shrewdly observes that it took Princess Diana a few years to break out of her conservative shell.

Always daring to be different, it’s no wonder Julien has had such staying power in the industry. Following his S/S14 show, which he hints will have a few surprises but will essentially be “chic, glamorous and a lot of fun”, not to mention the launch of his latest swimwear collaboration with Melissa Odabash, I probe Julien to find out what else he has planned in the coming months.

Smiling enigmatically, he states: “The next few months are going to be a fun rollercoaster and I’m going to do something that I’ve never done before in my life in front of approximately 34 million viewers.”

This is all I could get out of him. Who can say what he’s got up his bejewelled sleeve? All I know is that I can’t wait to find out. julienmacdonald.com

the KENSINGTON & CHELSEA magazine

069

www.bachet.fr

FASHION

Matthew Williamson A/W13 Oscar de la Renta A/W13

Clements Ribeiro A/W13 Dior A/W13

Burberry A/W13

Rag & Bone A/W13

The Guide: A/W13 TRENDS Rochas A/W13

From sleeveless coats and demure skirts to animal print and punk rock, designers pulled out all the stops for the A/W13 collections

Dior A/W13

Erdem A/W13

Chanel A/W13

Roberto Cavalli A/W13 Rochas A/W13

the KENSINGTON & CHELSEA magazine

071

Haute Couture There has never been a more sartorially dynamic time for Sloane Street. Not only has the one and only Mr Tom Ford arrived, to our great excitement, but there are also a number of other exciting tenants taking up residence.

One of these is couture house Ralph & Russo, whose owners chose Sloane Street for their recently opened showroom and atelier. The space showcases new, archived and never-before-released designs, each and every one a hand-crafted haute couture creation.

The talented Tamara Ralph and Michael Russo only launched their brand in 2007 but it has been extremely well received by the fashion industry. Visits to the showroom are by appointment only so, if you wish to see the skilled and intricate processes behind each couture piece up close, ensure you call ahead of your visit.

Ralph & Russo, 39 Sloane Street (by apppointment only) 020 8878 5399; ralphandrusso.com

HER STYLE By olivia sharpe

And The Winner Is...

The Bees Knees Over-the-knee boots have come and gone in designers’ collections over the past five decades as their popularity has ebbed and flowed. Fashionable in the 1960s and early 70s, they disappeared in the second half of that decade until suddenly reappearing in the 1980s (this resurgence no doubt in part thanks to Julia Roberts’ star turn in Pretty Woman). While their popularity might have wavered over the years, there is one designer whose reputation for this particular style statement has never faltered and that is Stuart Weitzman. This year sees Weitzman celebrate the 20th anniversary of his iconic 5050 boot, named so for its half micro stretch and half nappa leather design.

In tribute, the legendary flat boot will be available in suede, hair calf and croco calfskin, with stud ornamentation, and in a variety of colours. £495, stuartweitzman.com

Barbara Casasola, Emilia Wickstead, Fyodor Golan and Huishan Zhang will do battle this month for the chance to win the coveted Dorchester Collection Fashion Prize 2013.

While the overall winner isn’t announced until 29 October, the nominees will be showcasing some of their collections at the Dorchester Hotel during London Fashion Week so guests and visitors will have a chance to see them. The award carries a £25,000 endowment for the designer’s brand, a two-night stay at the five star hotel and one-toone mentoring from a selection of the judges. This year’s panel includes industry figureheads Caroline Issa, Stephen Jones, Daniella Helayel and Rupert Sanderson, to name but a few. dorchestercollection.com

FASHION

Playing Ball Knightsbridge-based couture designer Caroline Castigliano was given the huge task of dressing 30 debutantes for the upcoming Queen Charlotte’s Ball in the Royal Courts of Justice. With 300 guests from all over the world in attendance, the designer has been under pressure to produce the most beautiful gowns for the debutantes’ coming out ball. However, judging from the behind-the-scenes footage of the young ladies being fitted at the studio, it appears Castigliano has done them proud. carolinecastigliano.co.uk

Fashion Scoop British leather goods company Smythson is making its debut at London Fashion Week with a special event on Sunday 15 September. While we know little about what this will entail, we do know that it is being held to celebrate the brand’s key season item: the Panama bag. In the Union Jack-inspired colours of red and blue, the tote is part of the new A/W13 collection and is available to buy from September. smythson.com

Brides the Show 2013

From Sketch to Store French Connection has really pushed the boundaries for its A/W13 advertising campaign after teaming up with Rankin’s The Full house creative agency. From Sketch to Store was a three stage initiative which began with the photographer shooting the French Connection models naked; the images were then printed and the clothing designs sketched and overlaid onto the models so that they appeared clothed, to complete the final stages. This marks not only the brand’s first collaboration with Rankin but also its first black-and-white campaign.

The annual Brides the Show, brought to you by the team behind the UK’s leading bridal magazine, is returning to Battersea Park and will once again see experts coming together to guide visitors on every aspect of the wedding planning process, from flowers to honeymoons.

The Iconic Wedding Dress Exhibition will feature gowns worn by Zara Phillips, Darcey Bussell, Coco Rocha and Joan Collins, among others. As an official partner of Brides The Show, The Kensington & Chelsea Magazine is delighted to offer readers 2-for-1 tickets to attend this autumn’s event. Enter the code RWMG when booking tickets via the website.

frenchconnection.com

Renaissance Woman

Brides the Show, 11-13 October, Battersea Park bridestheshow.co.uk

Having last year celebrated 50 years in the business with a special tome detailing her impressive career, designer Caroline Charles continues to look back on fashion history with her A/W13 collection which has been inspired by the Renaissance and its rich fabrics and colours. However, the brand’s quintessentially British style, which won the designer her OBE in 2002, is also apparent within the collection which features tweed, abstract tartan and houndstooth on georgette and fine wool.

56-57 Beauchamp Place, SW3 1NY carolinecharles.co.uk

the KENSINGTON & CHELSEA magazine

073

Away with the

Fairies With the global fashion week season just approaching, embrace the end of summer in full-length evening dresses while nodding to A/W13 with the chicest neutral coats

Photography:

Matilda Temperley

Stylist:

Katy Kingston

Silk print dress, ÂŁ1,650, Loewe, Mount Street Boutique, 020 7499 0266; wool swing coat, ÂŁ1,100, Temperley, temperleylondon.com

Black and yellow lace chiffon dress, ÂŁ3,256, Roberto Cavalli, robertocavalli.com 18-karat yellow gold rutilated quartz and diamond ring, ÂŁ5,640, Noor at Talisman Gallery 020 7201 8582

Silk playsuit, £375, Thakoon at Harvey Nichols, 020 7235 5000; Suzanne Black leather ankle boots, £500, Jerome Dreyfuss at Matches, matchesfashion.com Drakaina necklace, £305, Bea Valdes at giftlab.com

Hermine sheepskin and leather coat, £2,500, Temperley, as before; Blue trousers, £320, Kenzo at Harvey Nichols, 020 7235 5000 Nyx Necklace, £355, Bea Valdes at giftlab.com

Blue lace 'Rain' dress, ÂŁ1,316, Catherine Deane, catherinedeane.com 18-karat yellow gold blue topaz, sapphire and diamond ring, ÂŁ5,975, Noor at Talisman Gallery, as before

Blue chiffon dress, ÂŁ4,200 The Elie Saab Boutique at Harrods, 020 7173 6424 Ring, ÂŁ5,975, Noor at Talisman Gallery, as before PHOTOGRAPHER matildatemperley.com STYLIST: katykingston.co.uk hair & MAKE UP: Jessica Mejia using Bumble and bumble and Jurlique jessicamejia.com Model: Beth Edwards at Storm Location: With many thanks to the Flete Estate, Devon flete.co.uk

Black crystal cotton jacket, £787, black cotton trousers, £215 animal print silk blouse, £252, all DVF, 020 7499 0886 / dvf.com

Revise Your Classics He may have retired from football but those who thought this would mean the end of David Beckham were foolishly mistaken. As his wife’s career catapults into the fashion stratosphere, this leaves the former sportsman time to pursue his own projects. Last month saw the release of his new fragrance for men, Classic. As a global fashion icon, both the fragrance and the accompanying campaign were designed to reflect his innate style. Shot in the traditional, masculine setting of Savile Row tailor Spencer Hart on Brook Street, the new TV advert shows Beckham stripping off his casual attire and changing into a sharp grey suit with the help of a butler. The finishing touch is a spritz of the new scent and the three words: Revive your Classics.

What more needs to be said?

Classic, £33.95 (90ml) davidbeckham.com

HIS STYLE By olivia sharpe

For the Peoples Designer eyewear brand Oliver Peoples celebrates its silver anniversary with the release of special edition optical and sunglass frames. Founder and Creative Director Larry Leight dug out company archives dating back to 1989 because he wanted the frames to refer to the brand’s heritage. Vintage elements such as the bold substantial acetate frames and a custom case inspired by those first used in the 1987 collection have therefore been incorporated. Modelling the frames for the S/S13 campaign is Goodfellas star Ray Liotta and up-and-coming actress Bar Paly.

XXV-RX Anniversary Optical frame, from £216 XXV-S Anniversary Sunglass frame, from £229 Available at Adam Simmonds adamsimmonds.co.uk

Lap it Up Even though the full collection isn’t available until the end of the month, we can now reveal what’s in store for Lapo Elkmann’s Gucci collaboration. The capsule collection includes 23 outfits, each of which has been given molecules of Elkmann DNA from bold coloured accessories to flamboyant wide lapels on suits. However, you’ll still be able to inject your own personal style into the collection; each piece can be tailor made to specific requirements. With more than 80 fabrics and 178 colours, the choices are almost endless.

Available from end of September Gucci, Sloane Street, SW1 gucci.com

FASHION

Withnail and Grant

Red Never Follows The Saatchi Gallery was the setting for the HUGO 20th anniversary pop-up exhibition, which took place from 31 July to 1 September. The Red Never Follows project saw 20 urban creatives from around the world descend on the Chelsea gallery to showcase their exclusive works as well as existing pieces. Surprisingly, there wasn’t an aftershave bottle or suit in sight as the artists decided to honour the German fashion brand and what it stands for through a series of innovative displays which included video installations, light projections and sound design. redneverfollows.com; hugoboss.com

That ‘70s Show

Those of you who’ve seen Withnail and I would have been reminded of this cult classic at the E. Tautz A/W13 fashion show.

Designer Patrick Grant was quoted as saying he’d been inspired by “The Scottish ‘Wee Free’ Church, Sunday best, kitsch religious icons and Hebridean teenagers bored stupid drinking voddy in rusty old cars in peat bogs.” While not the first things you’d immediately think of for a high fashion collection, don’t be fooled. The British fashion designer may have included stereotypical Scottish elements in his designs (such as tartan, estate tweed and argyle) but the overall effect was clean, sharp and sophisticated.

Johnstons of Elgin gave Grant access to its archive of woollen fabrics which were then masterfully woven by the company. etautz.com

Gucci’s Creative Director Frida Giannini has once again called upon heartthrob Hollywood actor James Franco to front the Italian house’s latest campaign. Shot by photography team Mert and Marcus, the eyewear campaign gives a new look to both Franco and Gucci as the company markets its new 70s-inspired Bamboo aviators.

The actor is pictured in a dress-down mode leaning out of a sleek red convertible with palm trees in the background and, of course, wearing the aforementioned sunglasses. gucci.com

Out of the Ordinary If you were told there had been an outbreak of acne in Kensington, your reaction would naturally be one of disgust. Fortunately, we’re not referencing the skin disorder but the Swedish fashion brand Acne which just recently opened its newest store on Pelham Street. Having deliberately named his company after a difficult word, global director Jonny Johansson is clearly not one to do things by the book. Therefore, while the fashion label’s new home may appear conventional, there’s nothing run-of-the-mill about the new store. In the same area as Chanel, yummy mummies and the cast of Made in Chelsea, the Swedish fashion house may be slightly at odds with its fellow inhabitants on the outside but, once you walk in, you are transported to anarchic East London through an interior which features industrial railings, aluminum walls and strip lighting. Find the new A/W13 collection inside.

93 Pelham Street, SW7 acnestudios.com

the KENSINGTON & CHELSEA magazine

083

New Zinc showroom now open 1 Chelsea Wharf, 15 Lots Road, London SW10 0QJ

0679_Zinc Kensington & Chelsea Ad_Apr12_AW.indd 1

09/03/2012 16:51

lifestyle

In the HOUSE The much-anticipated Tom Ford flagship store has opened in the fashion heart of the Royal Borough on Sloane Street, joining Ermano Scervino, Zagliani, Missoni and Louis Vuitton. The futuristic interior was the work of renowned architect William Sofield who has collaborated with Ford ever since he took the helm as creative director for Gucci in the 90s. The ground floor houses accessories for both men and women while, up the jaw-dropping spiral staircase, is where you’ll find womenswear collections, a VIP salon and dedicated men’s rooms. The multifaceted store also features a Cosmetics Room which includes the brand’s newest fragrance, Private Blend London, launched in conjunction with the store opening.

Tom Ford, 201-202 Sloane Street, SW1X 9QX; tomford.com

the KENSINGTON & CHELSEA magazine

085

www.vgnewtrend.it

ph. Andrea Pancino C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

MY

K

VG Studio at

inspirations vision

style

design

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

& GARDEN

HOME

BY saskia rumbelow

Fall into Autumn

Fashion Forward The Oriental feel of the natural materials and patterns inspired by flora and fauna are what caught our attention in Rubelli’s designs for Armani/Casa. In the textile company’s latest collection, large-scale orchids and dahlias take centre stage and silk satin adds the luxurious edge you would expect from the world of Giorgio Armani.

A diverse range of fabrics has been used in the new collection; the Garda theme showcases classic silk jacquard complete with floral design, perfect for drapery and small decorative pillows. Grumello brings lizard skin patterns into the collection, creating a three-dimensional illusion and leather-style look. This is doing what Armani does best, keeping it modern yet still remaining true to its classic interior style of understated tones and decadant textures.

Autumnal hues of plum, orange and gold take centre stage in the new Zambelli colletion from Designers Guild. In keeping with its trademark patterned wallpaper, the painting-like print has an artistic feel that brings softness to a well-situated accent wall. Matching upholstery is also available and the correlated blooms of flowers add pattern, without too much order.

The same notion is applied in the Kashgar collection, slate greys and silvers for a more understated and modern approach to strong pattern. Silky textures and ombré shading give a clean and contemporary feel that will set off a minimalist room perfectly. designersguild.com

Rubelli / Donghia, Ground floor Design Centre East, 020 7349 1590 armanicasa.com

A Frozen Fairytale Incorporating cultural heritage into feminine designs, Lalique introduces the Paysage D’Hiver collection, an array of decorative objects with the roots of their inspiration in nature. The collection is adapted from a jewellery design by René Lalique, the Paysage d’Hiver (winter landscape). The design is reminiscent of a frozen fairytale, with intricately carved leaves and vines twisting through the pieces. Icy blues give vases a cool, modern feel and rich winter tones take precedence in crystal bowls. The collection strikes a perfect balance between keeping within the frozen theme yet bringing that warm glow every home would want from such an integral centrepiece. lalique.com

the KENSINGTON & CHELSEA magazine

087

Silk Routes

On the

Iconic design and expert craftsmanship are best appreciated in an environment which reflects those skills, which is exactly what we expect from Decorex this year. Saskia Rumbelow reports decorex, the UK’s premier luxury design and interiors show, is the most established in the industry and, with more than 300 designers showcasing their collections this year, it is sure to be even bigger and better than last year’s event. As the show fast approaches, we’re keen to see how its move to Perks Field &The Orangery at Kensington Palace will affect the event. Last year it was held at the Royal Hospital Chelsea, so it will be refreshing to see how the designers get to work within the new prestigious and visually appealing location; it’s sure to be just as luxurious.

Designers have taken inspiration and great pleasure in the new surroundings, and the palace is the driving force behind the theme of this year’s show: the Silk Route. This was also inspired by the historical network of interlinking trade routes across the land that connected East, South and Western Asia; extending more than 4,000 miles, the Silk Route was so named after the lucrative Chinese silk trade carried out along this path. Last year’s theme, Iconic Moments, was taken in so many different directions that we are eager to see how designers will interpret this year’s theme and filter it through their designs.

With this in mind, Kit Kemp has been invited to design Decorex’s main entrance. The essence of the theme is well and truly behind her work and she paints a visually exciting picture when speaking of her design: “Our trader of spices and glittering silks arrives back to his hideaway on a rainy autumn London day… The spice colours of the East and the dappled light of an early

autumn day create a glowing scene.” We saw Vivienne Westwood create an outstanding entrance at last year’s show so the stakes are high.

A collection of previous exhibitors and new designers will attend the 2013 show, with a diverse range of styles and methods. Devon & Devon is among our favourites to watch out for; with its classic European aesthetics and clean lines, the company’s contribution to the show is highly anticipated. We are also excited to see Tatiana Tafur showcase her collection; based on the King’s Road we have become familiar with Tatiana’s designs and feel her diverse range of products will lend themselves well to the product showcase. Next up on our list of ones to watch is Graham and Green; the kings of colour and stylish heirloom-worthy pieces, there is no doubt that they will stand out from the crowd and make use of the grandeur of Kensington Palace.

We’re especially excited about the Champagne Bar, being created by the Martin Brudnizki Design Studio to ensure the sparkling drinks are enjoyed in suitable surroundings. Martin wants to encapsulate the Studio’s love for the process of design and craftsmanship by showing the excitement a designer feels when in those first stages of an idea. The bar will aim to encompass the main ethos behind Decorex, a pure celebration of design and innovative ideas and how a thought in its rawest state can be the start of something truly inspirational.

The expectations are always high for Decorex. An outstanding opportunity for designers to showcase their collections in a setting that can only be a great source of inspiration, we can’t wait to see how the Silk Route theme is interpreted: rest assured that every designer is going to make it their own.

Decorex International 2013 Sunday 22 September – Wednesday 25 September 2013 Perks Field & The Orangery, Kensington Palace (through Orme Square Gate, off Bayswater Road. Nearest tube stations: Queensway & Notting Hill Gate); decorex.com

This page/ Cox London Coral Lamp Opposite, clockwise from top/ Nicholas Haslam Lea Chair with Castello Standing Lamp; Luc Druez 20 PU 08 Petrole Gold; Isis Standard Lamp by Cox London; Galerie Smith Circus Ball Table; Ceramic Art Regina Heinz; Rebecca Scott Kirkham Console; Tom Faulkner Vienna table; Habibi Interiors Lala; Lapicida Herringbone Dining Table; Stuart Scott Isabella Chaise

INTERIORS

the KENSINGTON & CHELSEA magazine

089

Interesting,

Inspiring Witty

Harriet Anstruther tells josephine o’donoghue about her quirky interior style, exciting client projects and what she loves about her local area

All images courtesy of: Harriet Anstruther Studio Ltd

INTERIORS

My Background I studied fine art in London before going into fashion and textiles, selling my collection of printed silk scarves worldwide through nearly 300 stores including Barneys in New York, Joyce in Hong Kong and Harvey Nichols, Harrods, Fortnum & Mason and Browns in London. I’ve worked in property refurbishment and design since 1999 but I retrained at the Inchbald School of Design prior to launching my current architectural Interior Studio in 2011.

My Style I like to mix old and new and to keep things interesting, inspiring and witty. My favourite is a Queen Anne or Georgian house; these have perfect proportions, lots of light, fantastic material and are all built to last with immense integrity and glamour.

The style of my own home reflects those who live in it, namely my husband Henry Bourne (a photographer), my daughter Celestia (a student) and my two dogs Pearl and Elvis. It’s very light and contemporary in feel, although the house dates from the 1840s. Everything in it tells a story and has personal significance. I wanted the architecture to speak for itself so I have mostly left windows without pelmets and curtains and have used shutters and blinds where possible. My personal highlight is the cloakroom loo which has a fire-bucket inscribed with George VI coat of arms, which I turned into a handbasin. The red against the black and white Fornasetti wallpaper amuses and delights me every time I see it.

My Motivation

considered. By the time a client comes to me they have seen my work and know my style. I like clients with a sense of humour and a love of expert craft and detail.

One always hopes to surprise a client by giving them more than they thought they’d get – surpassing their expectations – but that doesn’t necessarily mean reinventing the wheel. The design of an interior or landscape naturally evolves as you get to know the client, whether it’s a commercial or residential job. Crucially it’s important to own up to an idea you may have had initially that just doesn’t work. If you’re not happy, they certainly won’t be.

My Local Area I’ve pretty much always lived in South Kensington. I’ve noticed it getting fancier but I also enjoy the French and Polish community life. The area certainly makes a difference in how I feel in the house; it is an area steeped in creativity. I sit on the Development Advisory Board at the V&A and it is a terrific source of inspiration, as are the people that frequent the area; we are surrounded by students from the Royal College of Music, Imperial College and the RCA. I’m also a director of Thurloe Square Gardens, one of the only private squares to allow ballgames, bikes and dogs, and my favourite spot for lunch is Tombo nearby. I also work in an advisory capacity for the Brompton Design District, which pulls together all the design threads in the neighbourhood and I consult for the Design Museum, which is due to move into what was the Commonwealth Institute in Kensington High Street.

Harriet’s new book on interior design is due for release in October 2014 (Clearview Books Ltd); harrietanstruther.com

Ab Rogers defines how I feel very well when he says that “interior design occupies a unique position, combining the functional and the inspirational, the spatial and the object, the abstract and the concrete – all at a human scale. It has the potential to alter and radically improve the way we work, shop, relax, learn, live and die; it is a powerful commercial, political and social tool. At its best, it respects function and imagination, innovation, the latest technology and an appreciation and respect for poetry and craft.” Ab is head of the Interior Design MA at the RCA where I’m a visiting tutor.

My Commissions Clients often need to see the whole picture before they realise the potential of an idea they hadn’t previously

the KENSINGTON & CHELSEA magazine

091

At Home with Ralph Lauren Olivia Sharpe looks back at three decades of iconic design as Ralph Lauren prepares to celebrate its Home Collection’s 30th anniversary this September In 1983, Ralph Lauren debuted its home collection.

Including bedding, towels, rugs, tabletop and table and wall coverings in the company’s signature looks (Thoroughbred, New England, Jamaica and Log Cabin), this marked not only the first time the company had created an all-encompassing range focusing entirely on homeware but also signalled the first from any fashion designer. Asked why he had chosen to branch out into such unchartered territory, Ralph Lauren answered simply: “The reason I decided to enter home furnishings was because I had something to say. I knew I wanted to make as complete a statement for the home as I do in apparel.” And with that he silenced the industry.

Thirty years on, a torrent of fashion designers have followed in his wake. From Missoni and Armani/ Casa to Christian Lacroix and Matthew Williamson, the list is endless; Ralph Lauren is therefore considered one of the key players responsible for setting a new precedent for fashion designers as not simply purveyors of fashion but of all things relating to lifestyle (much to the dismay, we can only imagine, of interior designers).

This year marks the company’s 30th anniversary in the homeware business and, to honour this impressive milestone, it has launched two collections for A/W13. Like the company’s celebrated fashion label, all of the home collections capture a particular way of life, whether that be of a glamorous A-lister, an English gent or a modern day traveller.

As such, the first of the two collections has been inspired by the Duke of Windsor and named after the residence in Kensington Palace where the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge shall soon be making their home, Apartment 1A. Following the philosophy that an Englishman’s home is his castle, the collection features quintessentially British touches such as a mahogany Duke Wardrobe. These have been effortlessly combined with elements of Art Deco style. Jewel-toned satins sit comfortably next to Prince of Wales glen plaid as the

room strikes a perfect balance between male and female tastes. Finally, the Bond Mixologist Box, named after archetypal Englishman James Bond, features all the essential tools you’ll need to craft the perfect martini.

In stark contrast, the second collection reinterprets a look that has become synonymous with the American fashion house over the years: the cowboy look and the western frontier. La Hacienda calls out the gauchos of the desert plains and the staple serape prints for which they’re

Two A/W13 collections mark the company’s 30th anniversary in the homeware business renowned. As well as a vivid palette of red, turquoise and black, notable details include toggle buttons on desk accessories, Marbella suede fringe on throw pillows and a Cordoba hand-woven cashmere serape throw, recalling the wild, wild west.

Through its evolution from the fashion industry into the world of interiors, Ralph Lauren has obeyed the proverb that the longest way round is always the shortest way home. And with 30 years already marked onto its bedpost, we can only wonder what the next 30 shall bring.

Ralph Lauren, 105-109 Fulham Road, SW3 6RL ralphlauren.com

INTERIORS

the KENSINGTON & CHELSEA magazine

093

Floris is delighted to announce the opening of a new Bespoke Perfumery Boutique at 147 Ebury Street, Belgravia, 282 years since Mr and Mrs Floris opened the doors to their first Perfumery at 89 Jermyn Street.

&

HEALTH BEAUTY

BY OLIVIA SHARPE

Eye Quartet palette, £31 Clarins, clarins.co.uk

Eye primer, £35, Tom Ford Fall 2013 Colour Collection (all products available from September) tomford.com

Ombre Eye Trio in In the Pink, £50 Tom Ford, as before

Crayon Khol intense black £17, Clarins, clarins.co.uk

3-Dot Liner, £20 Clarins, clarins.co.uk Pure Matte Lipstick in Peloponnese, £18.50 NARS, narscosmetics.co.uk

Fall In

Nail Lacquer, £26, Tom Ford, as before

Lip Colour in Bruised Plum, £36, Tom Ford

This September sees the release of beauty brands’ A/W13 cosmetics collections

Eyebrow Mascara in Ash, £26

By Terry, byterry.com

Ecrin du Soir quartet palette in Harmonie d’Exception, £46, Givenchy givenchybeauty.com Strengthening Nail Colour Collection £7.50 each, Liz Earle uk.lizearle.com

Hyaluronic Sheer Rouge in Fatal Shot, £29

By Terry, byterry.com

the KENSINGTON & CHELSEA magazine

095

&

HEALTH BEAUTY Fragrance Explosion

Omnia Crystalline l’eau de parfum 65ml, £66, Bulgari, bulgari.com (available from 2 September)

Commencing on 22 August, Harrods is dedicating a whole month to the perfume world with a series of workshops, talks, tutorials and interviews being held in store with the industry’s most smell-savvy experts. On 6 September, for example, the nose behind Chloé, Michel Almairac, will be explaining the inspirations and creative process behind the house’s signature fragrance.

This will be followed a few days later by Chanel’s perfumer Joanna Norman, who’ll be joining visitors for champagne and macaroons which have been flavoured with ingredients from Chanel No.5 and Coco. Book tickets and discover your scent at this year’s most exciting olfactory event.

Roses de Chloé 75ml £63, Chloé, chloe.com

Top 5

22 August – 19 September harrods.com

Designer Scents Fashion designers fight it out on the runway and on the perfume stands this month as they launch their latest, lovely fragrances

Si 100ml, £85 Giorgio Armani, armani.com (available from September)

Place Vendôme 100ml, £75 Boucheron, boucheron.com (available in Harrods from 8 September)

Very Irresistible Collector’s Edition £58.50, Givenchy givenchybeauty.com

Scent of a Woman

Olivia Sharpe speaks to former apprentice of Jean-Paul Guerlain, Mathilde Laurent, now in-house perfumer at Cartier, about the French house’s bespoke perfume service and her love of fragrances.

How do you begin to create a bespoke scent?

The process is the same as any other bespoke order; it comes from the desire to have something unique which cannot be found anywhere else on the market. It takes at least one year depending on how the client responds and part of this time is also dedicated to all the necessary tests. It starts with a one-on-one consultation with the client, lasting between one and a half to two hours. This is a conversation whereby I delve into their personality. Nothing is smelt at this stage. I take six months to create two or three ‘sketches’, then meet with the client and we take it from there.

I didn’t even realise that I was doing it until one day my friends told me that there was no other path for me than to become a perfumer!

What lessons did you take from Guerlain when you moved to Cartier?

Above all I learnt to have conviction and never to compromise on my vision.

My knowledge and sense for ingredients were also developed by studying alongside Mr Guerlain. Perfume creation is like a puzzle, and each smell and each ingredient is like a piece in that puzzle.

What are the shared characteristics of women who wear a Cartier fragrance?

Like the Maison Cartier itself, the woman who wears the fragrance has a feeling for exclusivity and real beauty across many areas of her life.

What’s your favourite fragrance you’ve created, and why?

The collection of haute parfumerie, Les Heures, is very special to me. They each embody a specific emotion; for example the Mysterious Hour, the Joyful Hour and finally the Hour of Promise in which anything can happen.

What does the future hold for Cartier Salons des Parfums?

What made you decide to become a perfumer?

Beautiful things. The bespoke creations with their individual, wonderful stories will continue to grow. I’m working on an exciting big project for next year which is linked with the maison’s history. There is so much yet to be explored…

There was no distinct moment but as a child I would forever smell; the beautiful Corsican wild flowers where I grew up, the smell of fabrics, people.

cartier.com

The Mane Event Katie Randall experiences London’s first ‘anti-salon’ and meets the king of colour at its helm, Josh Wood There must be a hairdressing tutor out there who feels rather silly whenever Josh Wood’s name is mentioned. After all, the hair colourist extraordinaire was once told that hairdressing was not the career for him; a laughable statement when you consider the success Barnsley-born Wood enjoys internationally, his client list including the likes of Elle Macpherson, Laura Bailey and Kylie Minogue. “I’m living proof that you shouldn’t listen to what people say,” explains the tall, silver-haired maestro, crouching in front of my salon chair.

Josh Wood’s Atelier aims to bring together creative talent from across the globe in an ‘anti salon’ environment I am sitting in the hot seat at the Atelier Lansdowne, in a quiet cobble-stoned mews off Holland Park and just a hop, skip and a jump through a corridor of mirrors (which transports you from the waiting area into the Atelier’s hub); the Wella Professional Global Creative Director for Colour is now running his hands through my tresses.

The concept behind this Josh Wood’s Atelier (there is a second in luxury department store Liberty) is to bring together creative talent from across the globe to “collaborate and create” in an anti salon

the KENSINGTON & CHELSEA magazine

environment. Alexa Chung’s own hair stylist George Northwood was cherry-picked to join the innovative team. From the wall of living plants regulating oxygen levels to iPad docks, Cire Trudon candles, the in-house chef and Ponystep magazine (of which Josh is Contributing Beauty Editor) littering the stations; this is no ordinary hair salon.

The colourist has agreed to help wean me from my current bleach obsession. Nothing beats the silky white glow of a bottle of tastefully-applied peroxide; just ask Dior Addict perfume model Daphne de Groeneveld, whose hair, incidentally, has also been coloured by Josh. He deftly flicks through my layers, analysing the strength and condition of each strata and we both agree, after a chuckle at the halo of fuzz settling on my crown, now might be the time to ease up on the peroxide bottle.

As he works, Josh cheerfully divulges stories and tales, offering insight into a life where no two days are ever the same. Although he flies all over the world for photo shoots and client appointments, Josh reveals that as long as he fits in his daily yoga class, he’s happy.

The finished result, after an expert blow-dry by hair stylist Philippe Tholimet, looks fresh and vibrant, even though my hue has been toned down. A Josh Wood appointment plays to my inner show-off and does wonders for my confidence. I fear, however, that my workload will take a hit. All I want to do is venture outside to showcase my custom colour.

Appointments with Josh are priced by consultation Wella colour with his team starts at £120 and styling from £35 6 Lansdowne Mews, W11 3AN; 020 3393 0977 / joshwoodcolour.com

097

HEALTH & BEAUTY

A Change of Direction Annabel Harrison embarks on a fascinating journey of self-discovery, testing out Alexander Technique tuition from the experts at the Pimlico Centre I had always been intrigued by the Alexander Technique. I’d read bits and pieces over the years and had vague notions related to posture, tension and mindfulness but had never quite ascertained how it could help me. It turned out to be far more relaxing than I expected and my self-awareness about how I move increased a great deal. The lingo takes a little getting used to but I’d wager that after an initial session, you’ll be intrigued and ready to go back again. The Pimlico Centre’s website tells me that the Alexander Technique can help me to become more mobile, coordinated and aware of my movements; in an age where we spend hours immobile at a desk and lugging weighty handbags around, this sounds like a good outcome to me.

Firstly, the practicalities: come dressed in whatever you’re wearing, you don’t need to be fit and you’re never too old to start; the ages of pupils at the Pimlico Centre range from five to 98. This is a good start; no barriers to entry. The ultimate aim of lessons, however many you choose to have (the ideal is 25 to 30, although I do an introductory six), is to learn how to be as free as possible from habits that limit you, both mentally and physically, by studying everyday activities such as walking, sitting, standing, reaching out, picking things up, talking and typing; in doing so, you can learn how to prevent bad habits and restore coordination and ease of movement.

My first session at the Pimlico Centre is with Susanna who, I discover, worked in media for years until she discovered the Alexander Technique when suffering from neck and shoulder pain; she graduated as a teacher in 2007 and has been practicing the technique ever since. My 45-minute initial assessment is, surprisingly, very relaxing. Much of it is spent lying on a bed (semisupine is the correct term), head on a couple of paperbacks, as Susanna very gently lifts and releases my arms and legs, asking me to let them relax completely. This ‘table work’ is harder than you’d think as your body wants to help, the first of what I sense will be many instances of where your body reacts because of years of habit.

In between lessons, a point that stays with me is one Susanna makes as I step out the door: don’t automatically raise your shoulder which is bearing the weight of your handbag as it will

098

hold the load equally well when relaxed. This proves to be true.

Susanna explains that Alexander himself surmised that his technique wasn’t a case of ‘right positions’; it’s all about the ‘right direction’ and this is of the direction-instruction type you give to your body, not which way to face. For example, in the ‘chair work’ we do, I discover I can settle into the most comfortable, natural position by letting my weight be evenly distributed onto my sitting bones.

Bizarrely, even though I feel like I’m leaning forward, the mirror shows that I’m not, and my shoulders aren’t rounded. I can see how this exercise would have helped a client Susanna mentions; she is working with a teenager with hunched shoulders because of being more than six foot tall by the time he was 12 and he started stooping to be able to converse with his peers.

I have revelations about weight distribution too – thinking about the heel and ball taking the weight of my body shifted me forward into what Susanna praises as giving my body the right ‘direction’ – and how stressful circumstances can have a direct impact on the body; following a car breakdown and terrible journey before a lesson, my neck seized up. Perhaps it was a coincidence but I do believe my body reacted to the tension I was creating.

As with teachers of any skill, each prefers to work in different ways and James focuses on more chair work with me than Susanna did. He reinforces what I learnt with Susanna, although as with any practitioners there is a variation in terminology. James explains to me that Alexander was an orator who developed voice loss during performances and how he observed himself carefully in multiple mirrors to modify his body’s habits.

I feel frustrated and rewarded by my progress at the same time; the latter because I am starting to understand what is being asked of me, and appreciate how it could help, but the former because I consider myself a long way from reaching the level of my teachers. They both seem to have an internal calmness and carry themselves in such an envy-inducingly relaxed state, achieving what appears to be optimum bodily ‘direction’.

However, I believe I can improve further. There is considerable and growing evidence that this technique helps to address the underlying causes of functional problems such as back pain, neck pain and discomfort caused by tension, and I leave every lesson with a sense of lightness of movement, more conscious about my breathing and determined to resist habitual, tension-creating movements. It’s time for our bodies to take a break.

Pimlico Centre, 45 Moreton Street, SW1V 2NY 020 7821 0007; alexandertechniqueinlondon.com

the KENSINGTON & CHELSEA magazine

Put this at the top of your To Do list 1 in 8 women in the UK will be diagnosed with breast cancer. Many cases show no symptoms and have no family history of the disease. With The Wellington Hospital’s digital mammogram technology, abnormalities can be highlighted earlier, allowing for a greater chance of a full recovery.

Our breast care service covers the full spectrum of breast management from the diagnosis and treatment of benign and malignant breast disease to breast reconstruction. We offer breast screening, breast awareness demonstrations for concerned woman and a triple assessment clinic for woman with breast symptoms.

To make an appointment with our breast care team contact us on 020 7483 5000.

www.thewellingtonbreastcareunit.com VAN_Wellington_BreastCare_Ad_May2013_5000.indd 1

15/05/2013 16:12

Kids KINGDOM BY saskia rumbelow

It’s not just your wardrobe which should be updated for the A/W season: fashion designers have pushed the boundaries to kit out stylish kids too

Blushing Rose Bonpoint recently shot a short film to accompany the A/W13 campaign. The carefree nature of childhood is perfectly portrayed in a way that makes us yearn for an autumn country escape.

There’s a strong 70s vibe with bohemian cuts and quintessentially British themes run throughout, with dusty rose and slate grey shades. Finally, tweed and cashmere elements will keep your little darlings warm and stylish on their brisk morning walks and snowy adventures this winter. bonpoint-boutique.com

Child’s Play Playful spirit is the theme of Stella McCartney’s A/W13 kids’ range. The collection embodies the essence of childhood by using bold colours and fun prints, and jewelled appliqué gives a luxurious edge which is, after all, to be expected from McCartney’s sought-after line. Your kids are guaranteed to be noticed in one of the brightly-coloured t-shirts. The Mini Me pieces for girls have been adapted from the women’s mainline collection, with the Petite Fleur and Oriental Blue prints featuring on jackets, jumpers and a stylish all-in-one jumpsuit. All in all, we feel the collection truly encapsulates everything children’s fashion should be: fun, bright, playful and fantastically stylish. stellamccartney.com

Making the Cut With the likes of Hackett, Ralph Lauren and Chloé, Aquascutum has joined the fray of designers who have branched out into childrenswear ranges with the launch of its own junior line.

Announced last month, the collection arrives in time for the new season and has been targeted for those aged between four and ten. Like its adult offering, the collection is rooted in outerwear and features the staple trench coat in neutral colours, complete with the label’s signature tartan lining. However, it’s not all about keeping dry; there are also clean cut pinafores for the girls which can be paired with a crisp white shirt and a pop of tartan.

While Aquascutum may have been slightly slow on the uptake in comparison to its competitors, this has certainly been remedied by this new range.

Celebrate in Style Jigsaw has evidently taken inspiration from the 1920s with its glamorous new childrenswear range. Gatsby-inspired flapper dresses with sparkly sequins come complete with matching sequin cropped cardigans and glitter bow pumps. Alternatively, for a more classic look, the velvet shift dress in burgundy is another of our firm favourites. jigsaw-online.com

aquascutum.co.uk

Charlotte’s Web With the launch of her new children’s collection ‘Incy’, Charlotte Olympia has made sure little girls are tottering around in the finest footwear this season. The British shoe designer has introduced six miniature designs in rich velvet and glittering Swarvoski crystals to create the ultimate miniature fashion statements. The little Kitty flats mimick the adult version so you and your daughter can go matchy-matchy if you so wish, while the Charlotte’s Web shoe has just the right amount of sparkle for a special occasion.

Available from 12 August; charlotteolympia.com

Back to School Back to school style doesn’t have to stop at a shiny new pencil case or a freshly-ironed uniform, as proved by Alex & Alexa. The luxury children’s online clothing retailer has upped the fashion stakes when it comes to returning back to the classroom with a whole Back to School range available on the website.

Country style is chanelled for those rainy autumnal days with a classic waxed Barbour jacket which has been given an extra floral patterned lining. In terms of winter warmers, Marc Jacobs and Stella McCartney have both introduced chic navy pea coats which can be worn over school uniforms on chilly mornings. alexandalexa.com

Pass the Hat Last month Disney teamed up with acclaimed milliner Stephen Jones and the prestigious BFC’s Headonism designers to celebrate the art of hatmaking and its role in film in time for its latest movie The Lone Ranger. Designers including Emma Yeo, Piers Atkinson, Moody & Farrell and William Chambers created their own Lone Ranger-inspired masks and an additional capsule collection, all of which were recently showcased at Proud Galleries in Camden.

See the inspired creations on the website. disney.co.uk/loneranger

Furred Up The teddy bear coat made a strong appearance on the catwalks at London Fashion Week, with designers such as Celine and MaxMara sending models striding down in real teddy bear fur sourced directly from Steiff (if you can believe it). As the creator of the world’s most luxurious teddies, Steiff has been inspired by these runway looks for this collection of bears which come in the signature woven mohair. Now even your cuddly toy can make a style statement. steiff.com

the KENSINGTON & CHELSEA magazine

101

PROMOTION

ofLuxury

Lap

Kate Racovolis explains why Salon Privé is an absolute must on your social calendar; bespoke supercars can be enjoyed while dressed to the nines and enjoying fine dining, Pommery champagne and lobster You know you’ve made it in life when you’re surrounded by exquisite things. From 4-6 September, we will be enjoying just this at Salon Privé, the UK’s top boutique motoring event at Syon Park.

There, a selection of the world’s most beautiful cars – set against the backdrop of the 200-acre park and accompanied by a Luxury Brands Village – will give you a new-found taste for grandeur.

Essentially it’s the automotive society garden party of the year, with discerning guests flocking to the spectacular stately home to admire exquisite cars whilst enjoying lavish hospitality which includes a Pommery champagne reception, lobster luncheon, afternoon tea and glamorous evening cocktail parties. It’s the ultimate event for collectors, buyers, owners and enthusiasts of the crème de la crème of supercars, and the finest luxury brands.

This year, Salon Privé has some rather extraordinary new attractions. There is something for every taste – from rare classic cars to motorcycles – and fabulous events will ensure you want to attend every day.

The first sees the Chubb Insurance Concours d’Elégance – a fashion show for the stunning array of motorcars and bikes – showcasing 100 of the rarest and most valuable vehicles that have ever been on display at once.

Thursday is Boodles Ladies’ Day, a coveted event that always gives great cause to dress up, particularly as the best dressed on the day will receive a piece of Boodles jewellery. Last year, a spectacular ring was awarded to the most stylish lady on the field. Afterwards

102

it’s the annual Salon Privé Ball in aid of the Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity, which is a wonderful way to help support children with life-threatening or terminal illnesses. On Friday it’s the highly-anticipated Audemars Piguet Supercar Friday, the place to be if you love super-charged everything when it comes to motoring.

As well as the world-class motoring that you will experience up close, Salon Privé’s exceptional hospitality is impressive; as well as the luxurious amenities on offer you will be able to experience and access all areas of the show. Three days of glamour, delicious food and fast cars, with tickets starting at just £195 for everything listed below, Salon Privé sounds like the perfect outing to us.

essentials Full Hospitality Tickets include: • Pommery Champagne Reception on arrival • Two course BBQ Luncheon with Lobster • Complimentary Bar (including Pommery Champagne) • Afternoon Tea • Souvenir Event Guide and Complimentary Parking • Access to all areas Tickets range from £195 ex VAT to £225 ex VAT These can be purchased at salonprivelondon.com or by calling the Ticket Hotline on 0808 100 2205 Enter KC134 for 10% discount off all tickets.

the KENSINGTON & CHELSEA magazine

QUINTESSENTIAL BRITISH LEATHER GOODS SINCE 1934

The Bullion Collection www.ettinger.co.uk Tel: +44 (0)20 8877 1616

Ettinger Bullion Ad Mayfair Jan12 297x210.indd 1

14/12/11 1:24 PM

Ett

RUN WILDbracelet london_UK 13/04/12 09.37 Pagina 2

From the Honeycomb Eternelle Ring Collection

33 Albemarle Street - Mayfair, London WIS 4BP - Tel. 020 7629 5616 MILANO, VENEZIA, FIRENZE, CALA DI VOLPE, CAPRI, PARIS, MONTE CARLO, LONDON, MOSCOW, NEW YORK, CHICAGO,ASPEN, BEVERLY HILLS, TOKYO, OSAKA, HONG KONG, SIDNEY WWW.BUCCELLATI.COM

high life

FLORENtine NIGHTS September is synonymous with fashion, so what better way to join in than with a visit to one of Europe’s most stylish cities? J.K. Place Firenze, located in a renovated palazzo in the Piazza Santa Maria Novella in the Italian city, is a beautiful place to stay for a weekend break – previous guests include the Missoni, Gucci and Pucci families. We recommend the penthouse, which features a private terrace and bathtub with panoramic views over the domes of the Cathedral Duomo. The hotel has excellent relationships with top boutiques nearby, so guests can enjoy private access to these stores and exclusive entry to the famous Gucci Museum. The hotel recently hosted parties with GQ and fashion brands over the Pitti Uomo, the largest menswear trade show. jkplace.com

the KENSINGTON & CHELSEA magazine

105

Travel

THE WORLD

By Saskia Rumbelow

Shop Until You Drop Referred to as the shopping capital of the Middle East, Dubai is a great place to jet off to if you’re in need of some retail therapy with more than 70 shopping malls. The recently opened Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort hotel is close enough to the main shopping district for you to reach it easily but is also far enough away for you to reap the benefits of Jumeirah beach.

The hotel’s indulgent spa is also the perfect place to seek out a massage for those stilettoworn feet and handbag-induced shoulder aches.

For a sunny, fashionfuelled city break, Dubai is our number one destination. westinminaseyahi.com

Dream Team While a restaurant doesn’t often rank highly in discussions as to where to go on holiday, if that restaurant is the newly-opened Santoku in Ghana, then priorities should change. The thriving city of Accra recently welcomed its first high-end sushi restaurant and news of its calibre has already spread across the globe. However, when one considers who is behind this dining experience, it’s hardly surprising. First up it’s Mohammed Ayres, founder of Zuma London who worked together with the Nobu team to create the menu; secondly, Japanese Head Chef Daisuke Yoshizaki used to cook for the Japanese ambassador; and finally Hubert de Givenchy (nephew of the deceased fashion designer) was the mastermind behind the decor. Evidently possessing his uncle’s creative eye, the French designer has seamlessly fused African and Japanese influences, incorporating granite from Zimbabwe with stainless steel and glass to create the modern, pared-back look. santoku-restaurant.com

Cannes You Imagine?

Cannes has long been synonymous with fashion, glamour and wealth so Giorgio Armani couldn’t have chosen a better location to open its new venture. Located on the exclusive La Croisette, the café and fashion boutique are housed together in order to deliver the most luxurious and comfortable shopping experience possible. Completed in the signature Giorgio Armani style, the café has a large terrace and the interior has been created by Armani/ Casa. If you’re visiting Cannes this September for the International Boat Show, we suggest you look up the city’s chicest new opening.

Book Out Qatar Airways has officially opened its highstreet ticket office in Harrods. Located on the lower ground floor of the department store, customers can now book flights to more than 128 destinations using the company’s personalised booking service. Luxury travel has never been so easy and hassle-free; exactly what you want when jet-setting off for a well-deserved break. qatarairways.com

armani.com

106

the KENSINGTON & CHELSEA magazine

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

MY

K

In the Lap of the

Gods Annabel Harrison lives the high life in Monte Carlo, travelling by helicopter to the principality before being wined and dined at the Hotel Metropole and finding out how fashion czar Karl Lagerfeld is involved

TRAVEL

I COULD GET USED to this. Our gleaming, cherry red helicopter-taxi whizzes into action and, in just seven minutes, delivers us from Nice Airport’s helipad to Monaco, giving me a view of the Côte d’Azur I’d never before experienced. A summer holiday on this stretch, the magnificent French Riviera, is wonderful; I have many happy memories of driving along the coast, caring very little about traffic congestion or kamikaze drivers because of the spectacular view afforded by the winding, shore-hugging road. However, once you’ve gone down the helicopter route, there’s no going back. As our blissfully cool taxi shuttles us through the streets to the Place du Casino, I remember why I love Monaco and how easy it is, if you ‘do’ Monaco the right way, not to be troubled by the masses, the heat or the cars. For the right price, space, temperate temperature and tranquility can be yours.

If you’ve never experienced Monaco, you really should; there’s nowhere else quite like it. It’s home to a coastal hotchpotch of beautiful old residences neighboured

the KENSINGTON & CHELSEA magazine

by brand new buildings; fizzing with energy, it’s glamorous, sunny, expensive and tiny. The unique city-state is hemmed in on three sides by France and the other by the expanse of azure Mediterranean Sea; with an area of just 2.02 km2, its population of 36,370 makes Monaco the second smallest and the most densely populated country in the world. As such, the hotels are havens, particularly for those with money and time to spare; I could while away many days ensconsed in my abode for this trip.

The Hotel Metropole wins me over at once; despite being so close to the Casino (the epicentre of Monaco), when I enter the verdant tree and plant-lined drive, the hustle and bustle melts away and I am welcomed by the cream, pillared facade of the hotel and its classical statues. I can’t quite believe the hotel only opened in 2004; designed by Jacques Garcia, it feels suitably old-school Monaco and it’s well-established. Now, I could describe the lounge area inside in great detail, with its appropriate amounts of gilt and gold, huge vases of

109

colourful flowers and smartly upholstered furniture, but I’d like to take you straight outside to my favourite part of the hotel, and where I spend most of my stay.

Odyssey’s first plus point is the decor, in my preferred colour combination of black and white. There are smart monochrome sun umbrellas, and wicker chairs, place-settings and tables in the same palette; the only exceptions are a clear turquoise pool, electric blue cushions, and pristine white sun-loungers. Offset against bright blue sky, it’s immaculate, elegant, chic and relaxing, and unsurprisingly, this is where Karl Lagerfeld comes in.

Not only did he design the whole area but he also finished, in time for summer, an outdoor Grecian-inspired mural which spans the full length of one side of the pool area – KL friendly, of course, in black, greys and white. A veritable pantheon of doe-eyed models, both male and female, and undoubtedly emulating the gods to whom Homeric hero Odysseus prayed; Zeus, Aphrodite, Apollo, Dionysus.

And so we experience the daytime concept and this brings me to Odyssey’s second USP; it is the third dining venue at Hotel Metropole by Michelin-starred Joël Robuchon, making it the only hotel in the world to have three restaurants attributed to the chef. Don’t look at the prices but my goodness, the food is exceptionally good.

For the light lunch menu, local produce has been used as a tribute to all the Med has to offer, and it’s incredible.

Sharing is, for once, a good idea; seize the opportunity to try six different starters (the burrata, avocado and tomato dish is refreshing and I have never tasted such perfect tomatoes). Don’t share the grilled John Dory main course, with aubergine caviar, mushrooms and tomatoes; you’ll want to eat it again as soon as you’re done.

In fact, there’s no better way to experience this hotel than by allowing your schedule to revolve around mealtimes, the spaces in between punctured by reading by the pool and lazy walks around Monaco. I recommend meandering over the ‘Rock’ to Fontvieille, the smaller, quainter port of the two, and visiting the exquisite Princess Grace rose garden, created in 1984 as a memorial to the beloved royal. The main port is home to the most extravagant and spectacular superyachts though; if you don’t own one, imagine you do as you stroll past Lady Moura from Nassau or Sir Phillip’s Lionheart from London.

Of course, the walk may tire you, as it does me, so I retreat to the Metropole ESPA Monte-Carlo, which joined the Leading Spas of the World soon after its opening in 2006. Its range of treatments use modern techniques and ancient therapies from around the world for the wellbeing of the face and the body. The treatment sections are named after various gods, rather entertainingly for a classicist; I am intrigued by the associations made between god and treatment. In the Eros group, ‘Ritual Titan time’ takes three hours (at €650) and Aphrodite

TRAVEL

takes care of nails and waxes. I opt for the ‘Hercules’ Swedish massage (one hour €150 / 90 minutes €210) and, after choosing my oil and my favourite chromotherapy lighting colour, my wonderful masseuse expertly kneads out knots and eases my muscles.

The hotel’s glamorous, genial director of PR Odile Firmin-Guion shows us the ‘evening concept’ and returning to Odyssey in the evening is quite a surprise.

Sunbeds have been cleared away and the mural illuminates the bar area around the pool, lit up so cleverly that clouds move across it as the sun sets. The area feels as cool as Ibiza or Mykonos (with cocktail prices to match) – resident DJs will be playing until September – and a luminous constellation under the water in the pool mirrors the night’s sky. Settle down with an O’Pulent cocktail (the O’Mojito is deliciously fruity) but don’t ruin your appetite for supper with the ‘light’ bar offering. I could easily fill myself up with beef carpaccio, homemade dips and the onion and anchovy tart on filo pastry.

However, the best is yet to come (I did warn you that this trip revolves around food). Our supper is taken at Restaurant Joël Robuchon Monte-Carlo, which boasts two Michelin stars and is much more formal than the Odyssey and Lounge areas; opt for dresses and heels.

Our group is almost thwarted by the bread basket; the doughy pesto balls are so good that after two rounds of the table, I’d imagine the waiters were betting on how many more times they could approach us (I’m slightly ashamed to say that five is the end result but if you’d tried it you might have done the same). We feast on crab with fresh herbs, avodaco and tomato confit, impeccably

the KENSINGTON & CHELSEA magazine

presented, and melt-in-the-mouth pulled pork, spit roasted and with generous servings of crackling.

Robuchon’s mash is famous and deservedly so; garlicky, buttery and so good I don’t care that it probably has 2,000 calories of cream in it.

The delightful Carmine wheels over the heaving pudding trolley and waits patiently as we spend far too long choosing between chocolate and lemon, cheesecake and coconut concoctions. A trolley also arrives with plants to be plucked for fresh mint or green tea. The attention to detail is as you’d expect from a restaurant of this standard but the portions are refreshingly generous for a fine dining meal. I retire to my room and its large, comfortable bed to sleep off my indulgent evening. The big bathroom is much appreciated, as are the Hermès products.

My final day is a whistle-stop gastronomic adventure through the Metropole’s other offerings.

Breakfast at Odyssey is so relaxed I might as well recline on a lounger as I order croissants, fresh juice and boiled eggs with toast soldiers (indulging my inner child). Even the birds around the pool are a dove-grey Chanel shade.

My notes after lunch at Japanese-themed Yoshi were simply: ‘This hotel’s gastronomic offering is amazing’.

Yoshi’s black cod is exceptional, as is the presentation.

Please Mr Robuchon, may I have some more?

Room rates are from €630 during August and from €450 during September. Helicopter transfers are approximately €220 return per person. Transfers from Nice airport are from €37 for a private Mercedes metropole.com / heliairmonaco.com

111

Welcome to

Paradise Pandora Jones escapes to the Maldives for a double dose of desert island luxury, Jumeirah-style

TRAVEL

I don’t know about you but my idea of the ultimate luxury beach holiday almost entirely revolves around the Maldives (not to mention the fact that several colleagues have arrived back from there bronzed and in a state of utter relaxation). I do my research; the island nation in the Indian Ocean comprises a double daisy chain of 26 atolls (ring-shaped reef, island, or chain of islands formed of coral) oriented north-south; these lie between Minicoy Island (the southernmost part of Lakshadweep, India) and the Chagos Archipelago. The islands gained independence from the British in 1965 and became a republic in 1968.

My first other-worldly stop is Jumeirah Vittaveli, just a 20-minute boat ride from Malé International Airport. What you might imagine is exactly what you’ll see; powdery white sand, crystal clear waters, swaying palm trees, unobtrusive service and blissful near silence. The landscaping is immaculate, as is my overwater lagoon villa (the alternative is beach-side) which

The eco-conscious Low Miles menu aims to further reduce the hotel’s carbon footprint affords me hours of fish-watching, ocean-gazing and star-spotting. I spend many a happy hour splashing around and reading in my private pool and the setting is more heavenly than I could have possibly dreamt up.

Exercising is much more appealing when in the shape of an over-water gym or diving; I have my PADI certificate so indulge in Finding Nemo-esque under-water exploration, something that has to be seen to be believed.

It’s also easier than I expected to eat healthily. Samsara, a high-ceilinged, glass-walled, wood-beamed sanctuary, has panoramic sea views and a tempting mix of Maldivian delicacies and traditional dishes. I take advantage of the Low Miles menu which is based on the concept of responsible luxury, featuring locally sourced culinary creations and set to further reduce the hotel’s carbon footprint; the Maldives aim to be carbon-neutral by 2019.

I adore the Low Miles reef fish pappillote with vegetables, coconut and chilli and have the yellow fish curry with chapati, mango chutney and local herb salad at least twice. If you have space for dessert, indulge in a Maldivian fruit cocktail or fried local banana fritters served with island-made coconut ice cream. A particularly lovely way to spend an evening is by requesting a private stretch of beach for a meal; secluded and as romantic as you’d hope for.

Although I can hardly bear to leave, sister hotel Jumeirah Dhevanafushi, 400 kilometres south of Malé

the KENSINGTON & CHELSEA magazine

113

and taking 55 minutes by Maldivian Airlines, is totally worth it. It’s completely secluded in the southernmost Gaafu Alifu Atoll (and I must presume that complete seclusion is what you’re after if you’re visiting the Maldives). The hotel comprises 35 island villas (beach and water-based) and my sand-fringed haven comes with its own private butler (essential) and private pools. A short boat ride away from the Main Island is a separate water village of Ocean Pearls; 16 over-water villas perched on platforms overlooking the sea, it’s complete with its own fine-dining restaurant and team of butlers.

I’m perfectly happy on the Main Island and enjoy more delicious Low Miles offerings in the beach-side Azara restaurant, the freshest seafood I’ve ever tasted at Mumayaz and fine dining for my birthday evening at Johara. Dhevanafushi encourages me to unwind more than I think I ever have before thanks to its ‘Welcome to Wellness’ package, launched in June. Upon booking, I was contacted by the wellbeing team to highlight any particular concerns I might have and upon arrival and then every morning, I’m delivered a bespoke smoothie.

I then discover my inner yogi with personalised sunrise tutorials with the resort’s specialist yoga master.

The Talise Spa soon becomes my favourite spot in the resort; suspended over gentle waves, there are three private over-water treatment rooms, space for couples’ treatments and a hammam, steam room and sauna. After a complimentary foot massage I’m prescribed a diet of tailor-made and signature rituals by the experts, as well as undergoing personal training (keeping me, I hope, bikini-body-ready) in the enormous 70m2 gym. Snorkelling also helps with this; exploration of the vibrant underwater coral gardens with their rainbow spectrum of fish and turtles is so enthralling that I swim for hours. My personal butler Ahmed accompanies me, expertly guiding me through the reef and naming every fish I excitedly point out (and there are dozens). I also try out water-skiing (at which I am moderately skilled) and kite-surfing (no skill whatsoever). Never mind; I’m in heaven.

more information Jumeirah Vittaveli, Bolifushi Island, South Malé Atoll +960 665 8111 / JVMreservations@jumeirah.com Jumeirah Dhevanafushi, Meradhoo Island, Gaafu Alifu Atoll. +960 682 8800 / JDMreservations@jumeirah.com The Welcome to Wellness package at Jumeirah Dhevanafushi is priced from $1200 per villa per night Dining by Design at Jumeirah Vittaveli on private sandbanks or other secluded locations: POA

TRAVEL

the KENSINGTON & CHELSEA magazine

115

From

Venice

With Love Venice continues to draw millions of visitors every year; if you’re going because of its well-established cultural credentials, ensure you take advantage of guide book author Anwer Bati’s encyclopedic knowledge of the best hotels and restaurants in the city on the water

TRVAEL

sk regular visitors to Venice why they’re so attracted to the city and they will talk of its beauty, its art and its architecture.

Above all, they will tell you that they love the fact that it seems timeless and unchanging. However, behind La Serenissima’s ancient facades, subtle changes are taking place continuously.

The last five or six years alone have seen the openings of several new hotels (the latest is The Aman, which opened in June) and the refurbishment of many others. New restaurants are forever popping up as well as new museums and galleries, including the Palazzo Grassi and the Dogana, both showcasing the contemporary art collection of French billionaire François Pinault. There is even a new bridge across the Grand Canal, designed by celebrated Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava.

Venice’s economy is almost entirely based on tourism – only around 60,000 people live there but up to 14 million people visit every year – and there are many events to keep tourists coming back. The biggest international draws are the Carnival every February; the Art Biennale (running until late November); and the Film Festival (28 August – 7 September). There is also an exhibition of Manet’s work, centred on his Venetian and Italian influences, running until 1 September at the Doge’s Palace. However, culture-seeking is a thirsty, tiring pursuit, so I shall suggest some of the best places to eat and sleep, some practically synonymous with Venice, others less well known.

The two legendary cafés on St. Mark’s Square, Florian and Quadri, with their small orchestras, have always been great draws. Florian, with its wood panelled and mirrored interior, opened in 1720 and its rival Quadri, dating from 1775, was always less fashionable, but it has recently upped its game under new ownership. Run since 2011 by brothers Massimiliano and Raffaele Alajmo, whose establishment in nearby Padua has three Michelin stars, the place has been transformed. The beautifully decorated upstairs restaurant, serving modern Italian cuisine, won a star within months of opening – only the second place in Venice with the distinction.

Downstairs is a new, reasonably priced bistro, and, of course, the café (where only snacks are served thanks to the local regulations banning knives in the Square) continues. With its location and pedigree, Ristorante Quadri is now about the smartest dining spot in town. A meal there – using superbly flavourful ingredients exquisitely combined and presented – is a memorable experience, enhanced by fine service overseen by Maitre d’ Stefano Murnari and sommelier Nico Rebesco. The tableware is exclusively designed for the Alajmo brothers, and you can order it online (via alajmo.it/store) if it appeals to you.

Nearby, at the deluxe Bauer Palazzo hotel, on the Grand Canal, is the stylish De Pisis, almost as fashionable and perfect for lunch, with a fine view of Santa Maria della Salute. Choose from the short but tempting menu, featuring both traditional dishes and those with subtle oriental influences. Next door is

the KENSINGTON & CHELSEA magazine

117

the Bauer hotel, slightly cheaper and less traditionally decorated than the Palazzo. Its B Bar is the city’s premier nightspot, hangout of stars such as Daniel Craig, Al Pacino and Jeremy Irons.

Founded in 1931, Harry’s Bar remains the most iconic venue in Venice, famous for its Bellini cocktail and raw beef carpaccio. Despite griping by some, standards at this long-standing institution have stayed high so that it’s still a favourite with visiting celebrities. Service is both suave and friendly, and the food generally (the pasta and seafood in particular) is simple but delicious, and served in large enough portions for a main course to be enough unless you’re very hungry. It’s expensive, sure (what isn’t in Venice?) but the set menus are actually very good value for this overpriced city, particularly at lunchtime.

It’s thought fashionable to hang out downstairs but it’s brighter upstairs and there is a view of the Grand Canal. It’s frequently packed but go early; and, because there are no outside tables, you’re also more likely to get in for lunch on a sunny day – when other potential diners go for alfresco options. Alternatively try its sister restaurant, Harry’s Dolci, which has a similar menu and service, and where you can avoid the crowds and sit outside in a calm setting next to the Giudecca Canal.

The Danieli was the first grand hotel in Venice, and its Terazza Danieli restaurant, an oasis above the city hubbub, lives up to its heritage as one of the finest in town, serving mainly fish and seafood but also imaginative meat dishes, created by chef Gian Nicola Colucci, who isn’t afraid to bring exotic flavours to his beautifully presented food. The view from the terrace is unmatched in Venice. The hotel itself is one of the key hubs of the Carnival and also hosts one of the Film Festival’s main opening parties.

Now owned by local restaurateur Marco Bolla, Lineadombra is one of the best located restaurants in Venice, with outdoor space on a platform on the Giudecca Canal, very near the Dogana Gallery. The views (unless blocked by superyachts attracted by the film festival or Biennale) of the island of San Giorgio and of Giudecca are

splendid. The wine list, too, is one of the best in Venice, with a large selection of wines by the glass. Add to that elegant service and a menu which changes monthly and concentrates on fish and modern interpretations of traditional Venetian dishes, and there are few better places to eat alfresco. In bad weather, you can always retreat to the comfortable modern interior section.

Founded by a local aristocrat a few years ago, Naranzaria quickly became one of the coolest wine bars in town, specialising in sushi and other fresh raw food from the Rialto market a few yards away. There are hot dishes, too. Enjoy the relaxed atmosphere from the outside tables on the Grand Canal while you have a snack or drink.

Prices are surprisingly reasonable for such a well located place, and the fact that many customers are locals only adds to the charm.

Locanda Cipriani is not actually in Venice but on the small island of Torcello – where there are only a couple of dozen inhabitants – and it’s well worth the hour-long trip to go there on a sunny day. It’s next door to the island’s basilica (the oldest building in the Venetian lagoon) with beautiful Byzantine mosaics.

Expect a highly tempting menu centring on simply presented fish, seafood and Venetian specialities, impeccably served in a lovely garden. It’s been a favourite with the great and good since it was opened by the legendary Giuseppe Cipriani in 1934. Ernest Hemingway completed his novel Across the River and Into the Trees in one of five peaceful, simply decorated guest rooms. Lunch only, unless you’re staying there.

In terms of accommodation, Centurion Palace, opened four years ago in a palazzo on the Grand Canal which had previously been divided into apartments, is undoubtedly the best located luxury hotel in Venice for art lovers. In the Dorsoduro district, it is within very easy reach of the Dogana, Santa Maria della Salute, the Guggenheim Collection and the Accademia Gallery.

Behind its traditional facade its 50 rooms and suites are among the most contemporary in town, the best offering space, light and great views of the canal. There is the additional bonus of a terrace where you can have

Ernest Hemingway completed novel Across the River and Into the Trees at Locanda Cipriani

TRAVEL

drinks and light meals at reasonable prices. And there is Antinoo’s bar and restaurant (with its own terrace) serving dishes with modern flavour combinations and twists on traditional Venetian cuisine. There are plans to inaugurate a complimentary boat service to St. Mark’s Square in high season, though it’s only one stop on the vaporetto.

Reopened earlier this year after extensive modernisation and refurbishment, The Gritti Palace is perhaps the most discreetly grand hotel in Venice with a guest list to match. The number of rooms in this 16th century building has been reduced, and stylish suites increased, keeping the Gritti in the premier hotel league. Now there’s also a small spa. The Club del Doge restaurant, with its terrace opposite the church of Santa Maria della Salute, has become one of the best in town.

Superb service is combined with cleanly presented dishes, with local, Italian and Mediterranean specialities.

The lunch menu is short and the food is delicious (try the cicchetti platter: local, tapas-style snacks); it’s longer in the evening, with a special risotto menu as well.

Simply the swishest hotel in town, with every amenity, on Giudecca, is The Cipriani, with guests

including Steven Spielberg, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt.

The service and best rooms (particularly the finest suites) are equalled in few other hotels, anywhere. To eat, there is the formal Fortuny and the welcoming, more casual Cip’s.

The latter, on a platform over the canal with lovely views towards San Marco, serves simpler food. Many people visit just to have a drink, and perhaps a bite to eat, at the newly refurbished Gabbiano bar by the pool, the city’s largest, where George Clooney recently helped legendary barman Walter Bolzonella to create two new cocktails. The hotel’s launch will take you to San Marco and back.

At the other end of Giudecca, the Hilton Molino Stucky is a competitively priced luxury hotel. The excellent facilities, in what used to be a flour mill, include a rooftop swimming pool and a spa. You can also choose to eat (lunch only) at the Skyline bar, strikingly situated with superb views of the city; or have dinner outside at the very good Aromi, with its grills and platters, as well as more elaborate dishes; or at Bacaromi, serving snacks and simple dishes. A particular attraction is the regular boat service to Zattere and San Marco; you can reach most attractions easily at no extra cost. caffequadri.it; thebauersvenezia.com; cipriani.com luxurycollection.com/danieli; ristorantelineadombra.com hotelcipriani.com; sinahotels.com; naranzaria.it thegrittipalace.com; locandacipriani.com molinostuckyhilton.com EasyJet flies to Venice’s Marco Polo airport from Gatwick and Southend

the KENSINGTON & CHELSEA magazine

119

LET THE SUN SHINE

The new terrace at The Rib Room Bar & Restaurant in Knightsbridge is the ideal destination for summer. A secluded and sophisticated venue for morning coffee or light meals, the terrace becomes a cigarist’s paradise in the evening with an extensive choice of whisky, cocktails and wine complementing a new cigar menu.

For more information visit theribroom.co.uk or call 020 7858 7250 Jumeirah Carlton Tower, Cadogan Place, Knightsbridge, London SW1X 9PY

12-06-15, City magazine - RR bar ad v3.indd 1

18/06/2012 17:04:52

& DINING

DRINKING

BY rachel mulrenan

White Russian September sees the opening of Ruski’s Caviar & Vodka Tavern on Kensington High Street, a Russian-themed bar and restaurant which aims to bring a touch of the Motherland to W8. Inspired by the history of Russia, from Tsarism to Communism “with a nod to the Soviet era”, Ruski’s Tavern will offer Russian fusion cooking (such as caviar club sandwiches), Slavic-inspired cocktails and the most extensive collection of vodkas in London. Larger parties can hire the Tsar’s Table, which includes a private butler, direct bell service to the kitchen and vodka, champagne and caviar on tap. Additionally, there’ll be complimentary overnight valet parking, plus a free taxi home for anyone living within a one-mile radius; handy if you sample one too many vodkas.

Ruski’s Caviar & Vodka Tavern opens 17 September 1A Kensington High Street, W8 5NP; ruskis.com

A Taste of Thailand Dining out for vegetarians can be difficult, so I’m delighted by the choice available to me on the Blue Elephant’s menu; all too often a vegetarian is left with one suitable dish for each course. Stepping into the Blue Elephant my senses fill with the trickling sound of water, exotic flora and fresh spices, and the decor is an authentic mix of dark woods and green walls. My fellow diner and I choose the Vegetarian

My carnivorous guest didn’t miss meat at all

Cocktails with the Rolling Stones One certainty of London Fashion Week is that at one point or another you will be in dire need of a cocktail so, for a stylish respite from the crowds, head to Bar 190 at The Gore, minutes from the Royal Albert Hall. A sultry mix of dark wood, sleek red leather stools and low lighting, Bar 190 has a long-standing history and hosted the launch of the Rolling Stones album Beggars Banquet in 1968.

The bar boasts an extensive cocktail list, including the Gore Martini, a twist on the classic with Hendrick’s gin, apple juice, elderflower and cucumber, alongside a tapas menu of small plates such as spicy chorizo, calamari and smoked aubergine. Bar 190’s Cinderella’s Carriage is a private area which seats six people and can be hired pre and post-theatre, or for an evening if you’re in for the long haul.

Bar 190, The Gore, 190 Queen’s Gate, SW7 5EX; gorehotel.com

the KENSINGTON & CHELSEA magazine

Tasting menu, served by friendly, attentive waiters who spend time with us before each dish comes out (elegantly served in beautiful Thai crockery) to explain what our palates are about to be treated to.

Three dishes comprise the starter but the highlight is Khang Khao Phuak; minced mushrooms and tofu with sweet spices accompanied by its own sauce – I could have eaten a plateful! Next is a soup, from a choice of two, and for the main course we’re served four dishes with Thai Hom Mali rice cooked in coconut milk, all with varying degrees of spiciness. Some people say that a meal isn’t complete without meat but my carnivorous guest said that she did not miss meat at all.

The sodsai and black sticky rice pudding isn’t quite to my taste but the presentation is exquisite. For £38 per person, it’s perfect for a taste of Thailand (and so much nicer than a takeaway). Victoria Shaw Blue Elephant, Imperial Wharf, SW6 2UB 020 7751 3111; blueelephant.com

121

& DINING

DRINKING

Countryside-inspired Cuisine Just as Chelsea diners were no doubt becoming a little tired of the local restaurant scene, along pops a new dining experience to rival the longstanding Tom Aitkens and Gordon Ramsay establishments. And the Five Fields restaurant, situated just off the King’s Road, appears to have sprung right from the earth as it brings the freshest, most organic products to its Partridges-loving dwellers. Led by Chef Patron Taylor Bonnyman and in collaboration with Head Chef Marguerite Keogh and Pastry Chef Chris Underwood, the concept for their latest enterprise is simple: to create a contemporary, seasonally focused and ingredient-based menu, and this they’ve done to perfection.

Organised into three courses with six dishes in each, the choices mightn’t seem vast but you’re still bound to find yourself in serious debate over what to order. While the set menu brings the total to £45 before you’ve even looked at the wine list, the quality of the food makes up for the steep pricing.

For starters, both the quail and the veal sweetbread are winners but if you fancy something lighter, the Kitchen Garden is a delicious medley of fresh fruits, flowers and vegetables of which any discerning rabbit would be proud.

All of the main courses are excellent but I would recommend the veal, which was beautifully cooked and full of flavour. The only disappointment was the pudding; described as garden pea and coconut with chocolate soil, it did indeed look and taste as though it had come straight out of someone’s garden (and not in a good way). However, being a savoury girl through and through, this was no real tragedy; I left the restaurant feeling satisfactorily full and healthier than ever.

Olivia Sharpe The Five Fields, 8-9 Blacklands Terrace, SW3 2SP fivefieldsrestaurant.com

A Very Stylish Brunch A favourite with the Notting Hill set and one of Olivia Palermo’s favourite cafés in London, the one-stop-shop 202 on Westbourne Grove combines fashion, retail and delicious food.

Part concept store, part restaurant, 202 is lovely for a casual brunch or a leisurely catch up with friends. Settle down in the informal open-plan dining area or pounce on one of the outside tables for people-watching in the September sunshine (we can but dream). The kitchen offers a blend of global cuisine, modern bistro essentials and diner classics, with an extensive brunch menu including Eggs Benedict, smoked salmon bagels and a signature dish of French toast with bacon and maple syrup.

In keeping with the ongoing trend for queues, 202 doesn’t take bookings, so we’d recommend visiting during the week when it tends to be quieter.

202 Westbourne Grove, W11 2SB; 202London.com

Gin and Tonic Fever

On Your Marks

Gin has been enjoying something of a renaissance in recent months, so it seems fitting that on 26 September the Chelsea Physic Garden will be hosting an evening dedicated to creating the perfect G&T. Guests will be invited to sample a selection of artisan gins and tonics from around the world in order to create their own personal drink.

Botanical tours, interactive demonstrations and masterclasses with drinks experts Dave Broom and Fiametta Rocco will be on offer, along with tapas and platters provided by Donostia Social Club. Hosted by Fever-Tree, the event will raise money for Malaria No More and half of the ticket proceeds will go directly to the charity.

The V&A is hosting an interactive talk and workshop with Tasha Marks on 16 September as part of an ongoing project to change the way we view food. Artist and food historian Tasha aims to challenge the way food is perceived by presenting it as art; one of her previous ‘experiments’ with food involved using electric daisies as cocktail garnishes, giving the drinker a little electric shock.

Food and Art Through the Ages is being sponsored by the Grey Goose Iconoclasts of Taste project, which champions the work of three pioneers in the world of food and drink, namely flavour expert Dr Rachel EdwardsStuart, Tasha Marks and Ento, the London eatery that offers insects on its menu.

Chelsea Physic Garden 66 Royal Hospital Road, SW3 4HS Tickets available from fever-tree.com

Tickets £10 from greygoosetaste.com/events

A Taste of the Orient This month East meets (South) West as Bõ Làng, a sleek dim sum restaurant and teahouse, opens in Chelsea.

Head chef Kai Wang, formerly of the Grand Imperial at Grosvenor House, will be offering a mix of traditional and contemporary dim sum, including sea bass, prawn and Chinese celery, and lobster with goji berry. There will also be a range of light main dishes available, such as blue swimmer crab salad and a house specialty Bõ Làng crispy duck, which can be washed down with one of the restaurant’s Oriental-inspired cocktails. Afternoon tea will be served between 3pm and 5pm Monday-Saturday, offering a large collection of rare and iced teas as well as macaroons and mochi (a type of Japanese rice cake).

Reservations are now being taken for mid-September onwards.

100 Draycott Avenue, SW3 3AD; bolangrestaurant.com

the KENSINGTON & CHELSEA magazine

123

Photography: Tim Griffiths/Cartier Don Felder and Laurent Feniou

Arnaud M. Bamberger and Yasmin Le Bon

Central display

Tom Dixon Peter Fonda and guest

Dan Bovington and Amber Nuttall

Simon Le Bon

Sergio Perez and Arnaud M. Bamberger

Arnaud M. Bamberger and Laurent Feniou

Sir Jonathan Ive 1958 BMW 507

Judges at the Cartier Style et Luxe 2013 Cartier Overall Winner Cup & Plate

AA Gill, Simon Le Bon and Nick Foulkes

Edwin and Michelle Moses

london living Images courtesy of Max Earey, Stan Papior and Helen Roscoe

Tomorrow Never Dies WHERE: Kensington Gardens WHAT: Aston Martin Centenary event WHY: James Bond’s signature automobile Aston Martin celebrated its centenary with a full week of revelry, culminating in an event at Kensington Gardens with a display of Aston Martin models. 50,000 visitors poured into the Gardens to view the 100-year timeline, taking them on a historic journey from the brand’s beginnings in Chelsea to its current headquarters in Warwickshire.

The showcase included seven cars from Bond movies, including Skyfall, as well as a glimpse into the future of Aston Martin with the CC100 Speedster Concept car.

In total around 550 Aston Martins were on show, the largest ever assembly of models in one place. Earlier that week, 1,200 selected guests visited the Aston Martin headquarters in Gaydon for five days of centenarythemed activities, including afternoon tea in the design studios and a Michelin star-standard pop-up restaurant.

The London set was also treated to a black tie event at the Freemasons’ Hall on the Saturday night, with entertainment from DJ Benji B and the 16-piece band Deviation Strings.

The Fast and the Furious WHAT: Cartier Style et Luxe Concours d’Elegance at the Goodwood Festival of Speed 2013 WHY: Petrol-heads, adrenaline junkies and those simply looking for another occasion to dress up and drink champagne gathered in their masses at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in Chichester this July. For the 20th annual event, the best cars over the course of the festival’s history were presented to a panel of 12 judges which included: Sir Terence Conran, AA Gill and Simon and Yasmin Le Bon. Accolades were awarded to eight cars and among these were Rowan Atkinson’s McLaren F1, 1997 which won the ‘Super Models’ category, and the JD Classics’ Lancia Aurelia B24S Spider, 1955, which was this year’s overall winner. Luxury brands in the Exclusively Pavilion which really stood out for us included Fairline Boats, Sub-Zero & Wolf, Pulse Cinemas, Castle Fine Art, P & A Wood Rolls-Royce, Ultimate Car Control and Specialised Car Covers. We can’t wait for next year.

The High Seas WHAT: Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week 2013 WHERE: The Isle of Wight WHEN: 3-10 August WHY: Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week is one of the longest running events in UK sporting history, having first taken place in 1826. Now, 187 years later, the event is in extremely good health with around 1,000 boats and 8,500 competitors having taken to the water this year. The Artemis Challenge on the Thursday was one of our highlights, with Alex Thomson and Brian Thomson racing their Open 60s, and Dee Caffari on board Oman Air - Musandam MOD 70. The range of experience was nicely balanced; World and Olympic Champions such as Pippa Wilson MBE and Helena Lucas MBE raced against amateur weekend sailors and beginners. The extensive onshore entertainment included Family Day, Ladies Day, a Red Arrows display and a spectacular fireworks finale.

Celebrity attendees included David Seaman, Sir Matthew Pinsent and HRH Princess Anne. aamcowesweek.com

the KENSINGTON & CHELSEA magazine

125

Photography: Dave Bennet Guest

Sketch In

Laura Whitmore

Charlotte de Carle and Millie Mackintosh Ben Hudson Jamie Laing, Zara Martin and Francis Boulle

WHAT: French Connection Campaign Launch Party WHERE: Rankin Photography Studios WHAT: The Chelsea set broke the mould by recently venturing to North London for an exclusive party hosted by French Connection and Rankin, celebrating the launch of new creative agency The Full Service and unveiling the French Connection campaign for A/W2013, From Sketch to Store. Guests were served mini burritos and taco chips by Tortilla, washed down with ice cold Coronas, and were treated to a live performace by The Beaches before being invited to take part in a photo shoot. Before you ask, unlike the partially nude campaign, guests remained fully clothed throughout.

Set Sail

Tom Kilbey and Zara Martin

WHAT: Johnnie Walker Blue Label Event WHO: David Gandy, Harold Tillman, Charlotte Tilbury and Lady Natasha Rufus-Isaacs WHY: It was all aboard the John Walker & Sons Voyager one evening in July for drinks and dancing under the stars. The 1920s-style luxury yacht, fresh from Cannes and part way through its global voyage, docked in London from 15 July to play host to a series of events celebrating the pioneering spirit and vision of the Walker family.

Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ambassador David Gandy arrived in true sartorial style on a speedboat (mirroring David Beckham’s memorable London 2012 Opening Ceremony entrance), joined by singer-songwriter Mr Hudson, Charlotte Tilbury and Jonathan Saunders. From its docked position on the Thames, the yacht offered panoramic views of the iconic London skyline, including Tower Bridge and the Gherkin. Mayfair-based Mr Foggs made a surprise appearance at the event, and created a bespoke selection of Johnnie Walker Blue Label cocktails for the guests, which were served with canapÊs. Live entertainment came in the form of jazz band Two and a Half Men, then was followed by DJ Isaac Ferry.

Francesca Newman-Young and Cheska Hull

Zara Martin and Laura Whitmore

Lasse Petersen and Max McElligot

Hot Child in the City Lily James

Tom Cullen

Jessica Barden

AlunaGeorge

Oona Chaplin

WHERE: Emporio Armani New Bond Street store WHAT: The Emporio Armani Summer Garden Live in association with Spotify returned to the capital this July, and what an event it was. Guests including Oona Chaplin and Lily James came together on a particularly hot and humid Tuesday evening to see performances from AlunaGeorge, Jamie N Commons and Arlissa, as well as a DJ set from Stuee Bevan, introduced by MTV presenter Laura Whitmore. They were kept suitably hydrated with bespoke Ciroc vodka cocktails and drinks by Peroni Nastro Azzurro. Now in its third year, Summer Live works in partnership with music organisations (this year it was Spotify) to support emerging music talent.

london living Photography: Dominic O’Neill David Gandy and Jonathan Saunders

Lord Dalmeny, Alexandra Bowes-Lyon and Jacobi Anstruther-Gough-Calthorpe

Miles Frost, Wilfred Frost and Drummond Money-Coutts

Natalia Barbieri and David Gandy

Marissa Montgomery

Hum Fleming

Jo Renwick and Harry Beckwith

Duncan and Zoe Stirling Harold Tillman Charlie Gilkes and Anneke Von Trotha Taylor

Kate Sumner

Susan Nilsson, Andrew Neil and Pandora Sykes

David Gandy and Charlotte Tilbury

Dee O’Leary Lady Natasha Rufus-Isaacs and Lavinia Brennan

Astrid Harbord, Tamara Beckwith and Martha Ward

the KENSINGTON & CHELSEA magazine

Tamara Beckwith and Edward Taylor

Wilfred Frost and Miles Frost

127

The Concierge What is it you require, sir? How may I help, madam? The Concierge is here to help with every need, whim or wish, however great or small Apparel

Vintage Watch Sellers

Beauty Salons & Spas

Babylon at Kensington Roof Gardens

Watches of Knightsbridge

Vagheggi Boutique Clinic

64 Knightsbridge SW1X 7JF 020 7590 3034 watchesofknightsbridge.com

205 King’s Road, SW3 5ED 020 7352 1113 vagheggi.co.uk

99 Kensington High Street W8 5SA 020 7368 3993 roofgardens.virgin.com

For the Home

The Chelsea Day Spa

Bibendum 81 Fulham Road, SW3 6RD 020 7581 5817 bibendum.co.uk

Repairs & Cleaning

Jeeves of Belgravia 123 Fulham Road SW3 6RT 020 7589 9229 jeevesofbelgravia.co.uk

Sloane Tailors & Dry Cleaners

FurniturE, SOFT furnishings

69 Lower Sloane Street SW1W 8DA 020 7824 8644 sloanetailorsanddrycleaners.co.uk

& APPLICANCES

69a King’s Road, SW3 4NX 020 7351 0911 thechelseadayspa.co.uk

Katharine Pooley

Urban Retreat at Harrods

Chelsea Brasserie

160 Walton Street, SW3 2JL 020 7584 3223 katharinepooley.co.uk

87-135 Brompton Road SW1X 7XL 020 7893 8333 urbanretreat.co.uk

7-12 Sloane Square SW1W 8EG 020 7881 5999 chelsea-brasserie.co.uk

Shoes Reheeled

Chelsea Green Shoe Repairs

Ligne Roset

31 Elystan Street SW3 3NT 020 7584 0776

23/25 Mortimer Street W1T 3JE 020 7323 1248 ligne-roset.co.uk

Precious Pieces Jewellery Valuation

Nina Campbell

Bourbon Hanby

9 Walton Street, SW3 2JD 020 7225 1011 ninacampbell.com

151 Sydney Street, SW3 6NT 020 7352 2106 bourbonhanby.com

Tiffany & Co. 145 Sloane Street, SW1X 9BL 020 7409 2790 tiffany.co.uk Jewellery Repair

Hawkes and Son

OKA 103 Lancaster Road, W11 1QN 020 7792 1425 okadirect.com

Sub-Zero & Wolf 251 Brompton Rd SW3 2EP 0845 250 0010 subzero-wolf.co.uk

50-52 Walton Street SW3 1RB 020 7589 2523 hawkesandson.com

Pampering & Wellbeing

Watch Repair

Hari’s

Medical & Dental Services

Chelsea Consulting Rooms 2 Lower Sloane Street, SW1W 8BJ 020 7763 9100 chelseaconsultingrooms.com

Gaucho Medicare Français 3 Harrington Gardens, SW7 4JJ 020 7370 4999 medicare-francais.co.uk

Chelsea Bridge Road SW1W 8RH 020 7730 7733 thelisterhospital.com

The Beresford Clinic 2 Lower Grosvenor Place SW1W 0EJ 020 7821 9411 drberesford.co.uk

Cadogan Street Dental Office

The Watch Gallery 129 Fulham Road, SW3 6RT 020 7581 3239 thewatchgallery.co.uk

Knightsbridge Watches 88 Brompton Road, SW3 1ER 08000 337 333 knightsbridgewatcheslondon.com

89 Sloane Avenue, SW3 3DX 020 7584 9901 gauchorestaurants.co.uk

Maroush The Lister Hospital

Hairdressers

305 Brompton Road SW3 2DY 020 7581 5211 harissalon.com

Daphne’s 110-112 Draycott Avenue SW3 3AE 020 7589 4257 daphnes-restaurant.co.uk

47 Cadogan Street, SW3 2QJ 020 7581 0811

Haute Cuisine Dining

Richard Ward

Bar Boulud

82 Duke of York Square SW3 4LY 020 7730 1222 richardward.com

Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park 66 Knightsbridge, SW1X 7LA 020 7201 3899 barboulud.com

38 Beauchamp Place, SW3 1NU 020 7581 5434 maroush.com

Restaurant Gordon Ramsay 68 Royal Hospital Road SW3 4HP 020 7352 4441 gordonramsay.com

Scalini 1-3 Walton Street, SW3 2JD 020 7225 2301 scalinionline.com

Umami 100 Cromwell Road, SW7 4ER 020 7341 2321 umamilondon.co.uk

Zuma 5 Raphael Street, SW7 1DL 020 7584 1010 zumarestaurant.com

CONCIERGE

Delicatessens

La Bottega 14 Gloucester Road, SW7 4RB 020 7581 6980 labottega65.com

Luigi’s Delicatessen 349 Fulham Road, SW10 9TW 020 7352 7739 luigismailorder.com

Chelsea Arts Club

Sunseeker

143 Old Church Street SW3 6EB 020 7376 3311 chelseaartsclub.com

36 Davies Street W1K 4NF 020 7355 0980 sunseekerlondon.com

Royal Thames Yacht Club

Chauffeurs

60 Knightsbridge, SW1X 7LF 020 7235 2121 royalthames.com

Executive Cars 020 3170 5838 executive-cars-london.com

Lower Sloane Street SW1W 8BS 020 7730 9131 sloaneclub.co.uk

Crown Security Chauffeurs

2-5 Duke of York Square, SW3 4LY 020 7730 7102 partridges.co.uk Chocolatiers

air, land & sea

Couriers

0845 901 1471 crown-chauffeurs.co.uk

Business Affairs

Helicopter Charter

L’Artisan Du Chocolat 89 Lower Sloane Street SW1W 8DA 0845 270 6996 artisanduchocolat.com

Avolus Ltd 38 Lombard Road SW11 3RP 020 7978 6506 avolus.com

William Curley 198 Ebury Street, SW1W 8UN 020 7730 5522 williamcurley.co.uk Drinking

Boujis

Luxury Car Services

43 Thurloe Street, SW7 2LQ 020 7584 2000 boujis.com

Belgravia Garage

298 King’s Road, SW3 5UG 020 7352 6500 thecadoganarmschelsea.com

Juju 316-318 King’s Road, SW3 5UH 020 7351 5998 jujulondon.com

M.A. Dog Training and Services 07547 716076 madogtraining@gmail.com madogtrainingandservices.co.uk

Mungo & Maud 79 Elizabeth Street, SW1W 9PJ 020 7022 1207 mungoandmaud.com

Selena Courier Service

Little Luxuries

27 Eardley Crescent SW5 9JS 020 7912 0062 selenacourier.co.uk

Premium Coffee & Cigars

Tomtom Cigars and Coffee

Translators

63 Elizabeth Street, SW1W 9PP 020 7730 1790 tomtom.co.uk

Aplomb Translations

Fine Wine

London Battersea Heliport Bridges Wharf, Battersea SW11 3BE 0844 884 8660 batterseahelicopter.com

The Cadogan Arms

St. Anne’s Housekeeping 19 Bolsover Street, W1W 5NA 020 3397 7495 stanneshousekeeping.com Pets

The Sloane Club Partridges

Housekeeping

74 Chancery Lane WC2A 1AD 020 7831 9444 aplombonline.com

Handford Fine Wines 105 Old Brompton Road, SW7 3LE 020 7589 6113 handford.net

Computer and Technology Help 1 Eaton Mews West Belgravia, SW1W 9ET 020 7235 9900 belgraviagarage.com

VIP Car Hire Queen Elizabeth Street SE1 2JE 0870 200 4949 vipservices.co.uk

Richard Darsa 78 Cadogan Place, SW1X 9RP 07768 200 551 richard@darsa.net

lifestyle services

Gilding the Lily Old Brompton Road, SW7 2NB 020 7584 1950 gildingthelilysw7.co.uk

london lifestyle service

Only Roses White Circle Collection 71 Walton Street, SW3 2HT 020 7989 9890 whitecirclecollection.com

Yacht Charter/ Sale

257 Old Brompton Road, SW5 9HP 020 7373 9595 only-roses.com Leather Goods

Childcare

Members Clubs

Flowers

& Accessories

Princess Yachts Beaufort House 354 Kings Road, SW3 5UZ 020 7352 2828 beauforthousechelsea.co.uk

the KENSINGTON & CHELSEA magazine

64 Grosvenor Street W1K 3JH 020 7499 5050 princess.co.uk

Regency Nannies & Nurses

Pickett

50 Hans Crescent, SW1X 0NA 020 7225 1055 regencynannies.com

149 Sloane Street, SW1X 9BZ 020 7823 5638 pickett.co.uk

129

578 KINGS ROAD LONDON SW6 2DY WWW.GUINEVERE.CO.UK

+44 (0)20 7736 2917

Kensington

& Chelsea P R O P E RT Y

showcasing the

finest HOMES & PROPERTY from the best estate agents

Market Insight

The Royal Borough’s experts on local property trends & hot-spots

Image courtesy of John Taylor

Featured Estate Agents crayson.com 1stasset.co.uk CHELSEA 7-9 Tryon Street SW3 3LG 020 7014 3800

NOTTING HILL 10 Lambton Place W11 2SH 020 7221 1117

NOTTING HILL 301 Westbourne Grove W11 2QA 020 7717 5311

KNIGHTSBRIDGE 60 Sloane Avenue SW3 3DD 020 7591 8600 hogarthestates.co.uk

PADDINGTON 4c Praed Street W2 1JX 020 7717 5313

EARLS COURT 16b Hogarth Place SW5 0QT 020 7373 5222

astonchase.com

domusnova.com

PIMLICO & WESTMINSTER 50 Belgrave Road SW1V 1RQ 020 7717 5315

REGENT’S PARK 69/71 Park Road NW1 6XU 020 7724 4724

NOTTING HILL 17 Kensington Park Road W11 2EU 020 7727 1717

SLOANE SQUARE 7 Lower Sloane Street SW1W 8AH 020 7717 5317

aylesford.com

BAYSWATER 78 Westbourne Grove W2 5RT 020 7221 7817

harrodsestates.com

kayeandcarey.co.uk

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT 37 Alexander Street W2 5NU 020 7727 1717

KNIGHTSBRIDGE 82 Brompton Road SW3 1ER 020 7225 6506

KNIGHTSBRIDGE 4 Yeoman’s Row Brompton Road SW3 2AH 020 7590 0066

NOTTING HILL 298 Westbourne Grove W11 2PS 020 7229 0229 SOUTH KENSINGTON 157 Gloucester Road SW7 4TH 020 7871 4111

john-taylor.com

CHELSEA 440 King’s Rd, SW10 0LH 020 7351 2383

MAYFAIR 48 Berkeley Square W1J 5AX 020 3284 1888

sothebysrealty.co.uk CHELSEA 62-64 Fulham Road SW3 6HH 020 7808 8540 MAYFAIR 26a Conduit Street, W1S 2XY 020 7495 9580

maskells.co.uk beauchamp.co.uk MAYFAIR 24 Curzon Street W1J 7TF 020 7499 7722

hamptons.co.uk

henryandjames.co.uk

CHELSEA 134 Fulham Road SW10 9PY 020 7717 5291

BELGRAVIA 1 Motcomb Street SW1X 8JX 020 7235 8861

HAMPTONS COUNTRY HOUSE

CHELSEA 2 Cale Street SW3 3QU 020 7581 5011

8 Chertsey Street, Surrey GU1 4HD 01483 339740 century21uk.com NOTTING HILL 10 Clarendon Road W11 3AA 020 7229 1414

KENSINGTON 8 Hornton Street W8 4NW 020 7937 9371 hlrlets.com KNIGHTSBRIDGE 168 Brompton Road SW3 1HW 020 7584 2044

CHELSEA 117 Sydney Street SW3 6NR 020 7351 7822

knightfrank.co.uk

CHELSEA 71 Walton Street SW3 2HT 020 7581 2216

BELGRAVIA 82-83 Chester Square SW1W 9JH 020 7881 7722 marshandparsons.co.uk CHELSEA 352a King’s Road SW3 5UU 020 7349 4300 FULHAM 203 New King’s Road SW6 4SR 020 7751 2400 KENSINGTON 54-56 Kensington Church Street W8 4DB 020 7938 4311

Chelsea Rawlings House 2a Milner Street, SW3 2PU 020 7591 5570 Earls Court 246 Old Brompton Road SW5 ODE 020 7835 0620 Holland Park 57 Norland Square W11 4QJ 020 7605 6890

Kensington 9 Kensington Church Street W8 4LF 020 7368 4450

Notting Hill 168 Westbourne Grove W11 2RW 020 7727 5750

waellis.co.uk

North Kensington 136 Lancaster Road W11 1QU 020 7313 8350

SLOANE STREET 139 Sloane Street SW1X 9AY 020 7730 0822

KNIGHTSBRIDGE 174 Brompton Road SW3 1HP 020 7306 1610

South Kensington 29 Harrington Road SW7 3HD 020 7590 0800 Notting Hill 2-6 Kensington Park Road W11 3BU 020 7313 2890

penyards.com LONDON OFFICE Cashel House 15 Thayer Street W1U 3JX 020 7467 5330

winkworth.co.uk

struttandparker.com CHELSEA 43 Cadogan Street SW3 2PR 020 7225 3866 WEST CHELSEA 140 Fulham Road SW10 9PY 020 7373 1010 KENSINGTON 103 Kensington Church Street W8 7LN 020 7938 3666 KNIGHTSBRIDGE 66 Sloane Street SW1X 9SH 020 7235 9959

Kensington 118 Kensington Church Street, W8 4BH 020 7727 1500 Knightsbridge & Chelsea 289 Brompton Road SW3 2DY 020 7589 6616 Notting Hill 178 Westbourne Grove W11 2RH 020 7727 3227 South Kensington 123a Gloucester Road SW7 4TE 020 7373 5052

PROPERTY FINDER

savills.co.uk CHELSEA 196-200 Fulham Road SW10 9PN 020 7578 9000

NOTTING HILL 303 Westbourne Grove W11 2QA 020 7221 1111

PropertyPS.co.uk CENTRAL & GREATER LONDON 020 7351 6914

KENSINGTON 145 Kensington Church Street W8 7LP 020 7535 3300

tatesestates.co.uk

KNIGHTSBRIDGE 188 Brompton Road SW3 1HQ 020 7581 5234

WEST KENSINGTON 135 Hammersmith Road W14 0QL 020 7602 6022

the KENSINGTON & CHELSEA magazine

133

savills.co.uk

1 STUNNING HOUSE IN SECURE DEVELOPMENT WITH PARKING AND LIFT wycombe square, w8 First floor drawing room ø dining room ø sitting room ø playroom ø kitchen/ breakfast room ø 5 bedrooms ø 5 bath/shower rooms ø lift ø garden ø double garage ø 24hr security ø concierge ø 461 sq m (4,958 sq ft) ø EPC=C

Guide £10.5 million Freehold

Savills Kensington Johnny Fuller jlfuller@savills.com

020 7535 3300

savills.co.uk

1 SPECTACULAR HOUSE BACKING ONTO EXCLUSIVE COMMUNAL GARDEN stanley crescent, w11 Grade II listed ø drawing/sitting room ø family room ø dining room ø kitchen/ breakfast room ø master bedroom suite ø 8 further bedrooms ø 3 bathrooms ø staff bedroom suite with kitchen ø wine cellar ø storage vaults ø garden ø direct access to communal garden ø 657 sq m (7,068 sq ft) Price on application Freehold

Savills Notting Hill Johnny Fuller jlfuller@savills.com

020 7727 5750

savills.co.uk

1 APARTMENT WITH PRIVATE ENTRANCE IN THIS RENOWNED DEVELOPMENT lancaster gate, w2 Entrance hall ø reception room ø kitchen ø master bedroom suite ø bedroom 2 ø shower room ø underground parking space ø 24hr concierge ø 127 sq m (1,365 sq ft)

Guide £3.5 million Leasehold, approximately 996 years remaining plus Share of Freehold

Savills Kensington Stephen Holmes sholmes@savills.com

020 7535 3300

savills.co.uk

1 BEAUTIFULLY PRESENTED GARDEN SQUARE HOUSE campden hill square, w8 3 reception rooms ø conservatory ø study ø kitchen ø 6 bedrooms ø 4 bath/ shower rooms ø utility room ø guest cloakroom ø separate street entrance ø front garden ø west-facing rear garden ø access to communal garden square ø 311 sq m (3,357 sq ft) ø EPC=F Guide £6.95 million Freehold

Savills Kensington Sarah Birch sbirch@savills.com

020 7535 3300

savills.co.uk

1 AN IMMACULATE AND BEAUTIFULLY REFURBISHED DUPLEX FLAT the little boltons, sw10 Entrance hall ø reception room ø open plan kitchen with dining area ø master bedroom suite ø 2nd bedroom suite ø guest cloakroom ø 173 sq m (1,857 sq ft) ø EPC=C

Guide £3.5 million Leasehold, approximately 983 years remaining plus Share of Freehold

Savills Chelsea Charlie Bubear cbubear@savills.com

020 7578 9000

1 2

savills.co.uk

CRANLEY GARDENS, sw7

EVELYN GARDENS, sw7

Master bedroom suite ø further bathroom ø reception room ø kitchen ø 108 sq m (1,165 sq ft) ø admin charges apply ø EPC=D ø Council Tax=G

3 bedrooms (2 en suite) ø further bathroom ø reception room ø dining room ø 151 sq m (1,630 sq ft) ø admin charges apply ø EPC=D ø Council Tax=G

£695 per week Unfurnished

£1,595 per week Unfurnished

3 4

Savills Chelsea omellotte@savills.com 020 7578 9020

Savills Chelsea ibreynardson@savills 020 7578 9020

BRECHIN PLACE, sw7

ENSOR MEWS, sw7

2 bedrooms (1 en suite) ø further bathroom ø reception room ø wooden flooring ø 129 sq m (1,392 sq ft) ø admin charges apply ø EPC=E ø Council Tax=H

3 bedrooms (2 en suite) ø further bathroom ø reception room ø roof terrace ø 177 sq m (1,906 sq ft) ø admin charges apply ø EPC=D ø Council Tax=G

£1,595 per week Furnished

£1,650 per week Unfurnished

Savills Chelsea ibreynardson@savills 020 7578 9020

Savills Chelsea omellotte@savills.com 020 7578 9020

1 2

savills.co.uk

ALBERT COURT, sw7

MOORE STREET, sw3

4 double bedrooms (3 en suite) ø reception room ø dining room ø kitchen ø lift ø porter ø 257 sq m (2,766 sq ft) ø admin charges apply ø Council Tax=H ø EPC=F

4 bedrooms ø reception room ø breakfast room ø cinema room ø kitchen ø garden ø 244 sq m (2,625 sq ft) ø admin charges apply ø Council Tax=H ø EPC=E

£3,950 per week Unfurnished

£3,300 per week Furnished

3 4

Savills Knightsbridge cjalexander@savills.com 020 7584 8585

Savills Sloane Street gbradshaw@savills.com 020 7578 5101

PALACE COURT, w2

EVELYN GARDENS, sw7

4 bedrooms ø 3 bathrooms ø 2 reception rooms ø access to Pembridge Square ø 205 sq m (2,207 sq ft) ø admin charges apply ø Council Tax=H ø EPC=E

4 bedrooms ø 4 bathrooms ø 2 reception rooms ø separate kitchen ø direct garden access ø 242 sq m (2,605 sq ft) ø admin charges apply ø Council Tax=G ø EPC=F

£3,000 per week Unfurnished

£2,750 per week Unfurnished

Savills Notting Hill ndennis@savills.com 020 7727 5751

Savills Chelsea ibreynardson@savills 020 7578 9020

1 2

savills.co.uk

CAMBRIDGE PLACE, w8

AIRLIE GARDENS, w8

4 bedrooms ø 2 bathrooms ø 2 reception rooms ø 3 guest cloakrooms ø patio garden ø 227 sq m (2,443 sq ft) ø admin charges apply ø Council Tax=H ø EPC=E

4 bedrooms ø 2 bathrooms ø open plan kitchen ø lift ø access to communal gardens ø 142 sq m (1,533 sq ft) ø admin charges apply ø Council Tax=G ø EPC=D

£2,250 per week Unfurnished

£1,895 per week Unfurnished

3 4

Savills Kensington mkscott@savills.com 020 7535 3333

Savills Kensington alederer@savills.com 020 7535 3333

BRECHIN PLACE, sw7

WATERFORD HOUSE, w11

2 bedrooms ø bathroom ø open plan kitchen ø balcony ø wooden floors ø 129 sq m (1,392 sq ft) ø admin charges apply ø Council Tax=H ø EPC=E

2 bedrooms ø 2 bathrooms ø reception room ø kitchen ø balcony ø underground parking ø 81 sq m (867 sq ft) ø admin charges apply ø Council Tax=F ø EPC=E

£1,595 per week Furnished

£795 per week Unfurnished

Savills Chelsea ibreynardson@savills 020 7578 9020

Savills Notting Hill ndennis@savills.com 020 7727 5751

Beyond your expectations www.hamptons.co.uk

Colbeck Mews, SW7 A fully refurbished and beautifully presented 4 bedroom freehold period house, forming part of this popular exclusive mews in this central SW7 location. This property is set over 4 floors with a 24’3 x 16’2 main reception room on the ground floor next to a smart fully fitted Poggenpohl kitchen with Gaggenau appliances and a separate wine fridge and also offers a 19’ x 12’11 family room, 20’ master bedroom on the second floor with en-suite bathroom, dressing room and private terrace.

Hamptons Chelsea Office Sales. 0207 835 1444 | Lettings. 020 7717 5433

£2,900,000 Freehold • • • • • •

SW7 location Fully refurbished 24’3 main reception room 20’ master bedroom Over 1,800 sq ft Private southerly facing elevated terrace

Aubrey Walk, W8 A beautifully refurbished four bedroom period townhouse (3,060 sq ft approx.) situated in a prime Kensington street ready for immediate occupation. This unique property offers flexible living accommodation which has been finished to the most exacting of standards with modern technology, high quality fixtures and fittings and off street parking. EPC: C

£6,695,000 Freehold • • • • • •

Hamptons Kensington Office Sales. 020 7937 9371 | Lettings. 020 7717 5459

Reception room Kitchen/dining room Master bedroom with en-suite bathroom Three further bedrooms Garden Off street parking

Beyond your expectations www.hamptons.co.uk

Cadogan Square, SW1 Superbly positioned on the west side of Cadogan Square, this very substantial and immaculately presented duplex apartment offers truly magnificent proportions. The property has been meticulously refurbished and interior designed in a sympathetic manner retaining a great deal of period charm. Special features include a private front door and direct access to a designated private car parking space, a live in caretaker and a share of the freehold. JSA: McKee & Co EPC: D

Hamptons Knightsbridge Office Sales. 020 7717 5461 | Lettings. 020 7717 5463

£9,750,000 • • • • • •

Two reception rooms Kitchen Three bedrooms Five bathrooms Study Parking space

Alexander Street , W2 An amazing first floor flat on a no through road in a well kept Victorian period building.

The main reception has wonderful high ceilings, Contemporary fireplace, original cornicing and a smart open plan kitchen. This is a rare opportunity to own a fantastic flat and a blue chip investment. EPC: D

£950,000 Leasehold • • • • • •

Hamptons Notting Hill Office Sales. 0207 034 0404 | Lettings. 020 7717 5341

One bedroom One reception room Period building Upper floor Very good decoration Balcony

Beyond your expectations www.hamptons.co.uk

Coleridge Gardens, SW10 This impressive apartment offers over 2200 square feet of accommodation in this prestigious development. With a fantastic reception room with wood floors, a dining room, a separate kitchen and four bedrooms the apartment is an ideal family home that is finished to a very high and modern standard. EPC: C

£2,500 per week Unfurnished • • • • • •

Hamptons Chelsea Office Lettings. 020 7717 5433 | Sales. 0207 835 1444

Four bedrooms Four bathrooms Superb entertainment space Bright rooms Great location Communal garden

Oakwood Court, W14 A beautiful five bedroom lateral apartment in this popular portered redbrick mansion block. The apartment benefits from three stunning reception rooms, a separate kitchen, three double bedrooms (two en suite), two single bedrooms, family bathroom and guest WC. There is 24 hour security and access to a communal square. Oakwood Court is located close to the green open spaces of Holland Park and the amenities of High Street Kensington. EPC: D

Hamptons Kensington Office Lettings. 020 7717 5459 | Sales. 020 7937 9371

£2,400 per week Furnished/Unfurnished • • • • • •

Three reception rooms Five bedrooms 24 hour security Communal garden Lift 2,390 sq.ft (222 sq.m)

Beyond your expectations www.hamptons.co.uk

Lennox Gardens, SW1X The property boasts high ceilings throughout as well as a decorative fireplace in the reception. The floors throughout the reception, entrance hallway and kitchen have been tiled with bespoke porcelain. Both bedrooms benefit from excellent levels of intelligent built in storage along with bespoke hard wood flooring. EPC: C

£995 per week Furnished • • • • • •

Hamptons Knightsbridge Office Lettings. 020 7717 5463 | Sales. 020 7717 5461

Newly refurbished Finished to exacting detail Boutique hotel style Desirable garden square property Communal garden access Integrated media system

Tite Street, SW3 An elegant and spacious three bedroom flat on the third floor and fourth floor small red brick period building in the heart of Old Chelsea. The apartment offers a beautiful south west facing drawing room and remarkably large eat-in-kitchen and study / third bedroom. There are further two bedrooms including the master bedroom with shower room and terrace and a further family bathroom. The flat has been neutrally decorated throughout and can be offered on a furnished or unfurnished basis. EPC: E

Hamptons Sloane Square Office Lettings. 0207 717 5483 | Sales. 020 7717 5481

£1,500 per week Furnished/ Unfurnished • • • • •

Three bedrooms Roof terrace Eat-in kitchen Lift Porter

Beyond your expectations www.hamptons.co.uk

Anderson Street, SW3 £3,250,000

Lincoln Street, SW3 £2,650,000

Christchurch Street, SW3 £2,650,000

Cadogan Gardens, SW3 £1,850,000

Whiteheads Grove, SW3 £1,695,000

Sloane Avenue, SW3 £4,950,000

Jubilee Place, SW3 £950,000

Draycott Place, SW3 £1,250,000

Cadogan Gardens, SW3 £1,250,000 *Asking prices shown.

Transactions January – July 2013

Hamptons Sloane Square Office Sales. 020 7717 5481 | Lettings. 0207 717 5483

You

Us

Don’t you wish looking serene wasn’t such hard work?

White Circle Collection are here to help by doing the paddling whilst you do the gliding.

From stocking the fridge to managing every aspect of your home, we’ll be there for you and your family.

White Circle Collection — Created for you, to make your life easier.

www.whitecirclecollection.com • hello@whitecirclecollection.com • 0207 989 9890 MOVING HOME Maskells_K&C_Jul13.indd 4

PRIVATE STAFF SOLUTIONS

HOME MANAGEMENT

THE HOMETEL 02/08/2013 16:57

Mas

KnightFrank.co.uk

Scarsdale Villas, Kensington W8 A five bedroom family house with garden

A superb family home arranged over four floors located in this highly desirable area of Kensington. The house has many original period features, good ceiling height, an abundance of natural light and a south facing garden. 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, double reception room, kitchen, dining room, garden. EPC rating D. Approximately 232 sq m ﴾2,500 sq ft﴿ Freehold Asking price: £4,650,000 (Ken130138)

KnightFrank.co.uk/kensington kens@knightfrank.com 020 3551 5156

KnightFrank.co.uk

Pembroke Gardens, Kensington W8 Double house with superb garden in Kensington

A rare double house with exceptional entertaining rooms and one of the largest private gardens in Kensington. It has planning consent to extend the house to approximately (17,000 sq ft). 10 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, double reception room, kitchen/family room dining room, 2 studies, staff flat, balcony, terrace, large garden, EPC rating E. Approximately 862 sq m (9,279 sq ft) Freehold Asking price: ÂŁ18,500,000 (Ken130092)

KnightFrank.co.uk/kensington kens@knightfrank.com 020 3551 5156 Aylesford.com Sales@aylesford.com 0207 351 2383

KnightFrank.co.uk

Sutherland House, Kensington W8

A two bedroom apartment for sale in prime Kensington An elegant and stylish two bedroom and bathroom aprtment located in Sutherland House on Marloes Road, a prime Victorian portered mansion block. 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, reception room, kitchen, dining room, guest cloaktroom. EPC rating D. Approximately 118 sq m (1,272 sq ft) Share of Freehold: 970 years approximately Asking price: ÂŁ1,825,000 (Ken130160)

KnightFrank.co.uk/kensington Kens@knightfrank.com 020 3551 5156

KnightFrank.co.uk

Pembridge Place, Notting Hill W2 Elegant house with garden

A rare opportunity to acquire an elegant house that has not been seen in the marketplace for over 30 years. Arranged over four floors, the house offers fantastic light, space and grand proportions and is the perfect family home. 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, double reception room, kitchen/breakfast room, dining room, study, cellar, utility room, 2 guest cloakrooms, garden. Approximately 341.2 sq m (3,673 sq ft) Freehold Guide price: ÂŁ12,000,000 (NGH120220)

KnightFrank.co.uk/nottinghill nottinghill@knightfrank.com 020 8166 5449

KnightFrank.co.uk

Shawfield Street, Chelsea SW3

Immaculate freehold house with parking and garden A beautifully presented freehold house located just off the King’s Road, with private parking for two cars and a garden. Master bedroom with en suite, 4 further double bedrooms with en suite, reception room, dining room, kitchen, study, integral garage, garden, off street parking, air conditioning. EPC rating D. Approximately 274 sq m ﴾2,958 sq ft﴿ Freehold Offers in excess of £5,000,000 (SLA130141)

KnightFrank.co.uk/knightsbridge knightsbridge@knightfrank.com 020 3641 5913

KnightFrank.co.uk

Brunswick Gardens, Kensington W8 Beautiful family home

A stunning five bedroom Victorian stucco fronted house, situated on one of Kensington’s most desirable streets. Set over four floors, the property boasts beautiful period features and generously sized reception rooms, perfect for entertaining. 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 2 reception rooms, open plan kitchen and dining area, garden. EPC rating D. Approximately 3,198 sq ft (297 sq m) Available unfurnished Guide price: £4,250 per week (KEN110541)

KnightFrank.co.uk/kensington kensingtonlettings@knightfrank.com 020 3641 7308

KnightFrank.co.uk

Egerton Place, Knightsbridge SW3 An immaculately refurbished flat in Knightsbridge

2 double bedrooms, 3rd bedroom/study, en-suite bathroom, shower room, double reception room, kitchen, cloakroom, excellent storage including dressing room, communal gardens, lift and caretaker. Available now furnished for long let. EPC rating D. Approximately 154 sq m (1,660 sq ft) Available furnished Guide price: ÂŁ2,500 per week (knq168612)

knightfrank.co.uk/knightsbridge knightsbridge@knightfrank.com 020 7591 8601

KnightFrank.co.uk

Redcliffe Road, Chelsea SW10

Five bedroom house with private garden and terrace A large family house set over five spacious floors where every room benefits from vast amounts of natural light. 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, reception room, kitchen, family room, dining area, utility area, garden. EPC rating E. Approximately 306 sq m (3,297 sq ft) Available furnished or unfurnished Guide price: ÂŁ3,350 per week (CHQ149892)

KnightFrank.co.uk/chelsea chelsealettings@knightfrank.com 020 3641 6022

KnightFrank.co.uk

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD

Earls Court Square, Earls Court SW5 Guide price: £795,000

Cecil Court, Chelsea SW10 Guide price: £900,000

Elm Park Gardens, Chelsea SW10 Guide price: £795,000

1

No SOLD Harrington Gardens, South Kensington SW7 Guide price: £950,000

SOLD Cornwall Gardens, South Kensington SW7 Guide price: £975,000

most influential agent in the UK*

Knight Frank has been ranked as the leading agent in the Zoopla Property Power 100*, a leaderboard for the most influential Estate Agents in social media.

SOLD

To connect with us follow

@knightFrank

Roland Gardens, South Kensington SW7 Guide price: £1,050,000

SOLD Oakley Street, Chelsea SW3 Guide price: £1,350,000

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD

Elm Park Mansions, Chelsea SW10 Guide price: £1,375,000

Harcourt Terrace, Chelsea SW10 Guide price: £1,450,000

Queens Gate Terrace, South Kensington SW7 Guide price: £1,850,000

352a King’s Road London SW3 5UU 020 3641 5903 chelsea@knightfrank.com KnightFrank.co.uk/chelsea

LHP_302875_KC_Sept13.indd 1

James Pace Office Head Chelsea

John Waters Associate

Victoria Garrett Associate

Lucy Holroyd Associate

12/08/2013 16:54

RH

16:54

KnightFrank.co.uk

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD

Onslow Gardens, South Kensington SW7 Guide price: £1,950,000

Onslow Gardens, South Kensington SW7 Guide price: £2,000,000

Limerston Street, Chelsea SW10 Guide price: £3,250,000

SOLD Roland Way, South Kensington SW7 Guide price: £3,950,000

EXCEPTIONAL RESULTS IN CHELSEA AND SOUTH KENSINGTON

SOLD Drayton Gardens, Chelsea SW10 Guide price: £5,500,000

Let our knowledge, experience and success help generate the best results for you in 2013.

SOLD

SOLD

Elm Park Road, Chelsea SW3 Guide price: £5,850,000

Mallord Street, Chelsea SW3 Guide price: £6,950,000

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD

Sumner Place, South Kensington SW7 Guide price: £7,650,000

Old Brompton Road, South Kensington SW5 Guide price: £7,850,000

Henry Moore Court, Chelsea SW3 Guide price: £8,500,000

Nick Gaunt Negotiator

RHP_302875_KC_Sept13.indd 2

Harriet Taylor Negotiator

Amy Rogers Negotiator

Laurence Lai Office Head South Kensington

157 Gloucester Road London SW7 4TH 020 3641 6122 southkensington@knightfrank.com KnightFrank.co.uk/south-kensington

12/08/2013 16:53

PROPERTY

Always Appreciated David Mumby, Head of Knight Frank Chelsea and South Kensington Lettings, gives us an informed update about the local lettings market in these areas

PCL Sales Price Growth vs. PCL Rental Growth Source: Knight Frank Residential Research

250.0

200.0

150.0

100.0

50.0

Mar-13

May-12

Jul-11

Sep-10

Nov-09

Jan-09

Mar-08

May-07

Jul-06

Sep-05

0.0 Nov-04

investors of all kinds, from single property owners to some of the largest global institutional investors. Over the past decade there has always been one overriding theme of success for these investors: spectacular capital growth.

I recently valued a flat in Chelsea that the owner acquired 11 years ago, paying £220,000; there was a tenant in situ paying £410 per week at the time. The property is now worth in the region of £900,000 and the current rental figure is £475 per week. Investing in Prime Central London residential property has never been about high yields; it’s all about maximising the capital growth. You’ll be hard pushed to find any investment outstripping this kind of appreciation.

Whilst rental prices have been under a little strain over the last 18 months, the volume of tenancies agreed year-to-date is 32 per cent higher than in 2012. Therefore, the advice I’m giving clients at the present time is not to expect rental increases, ensure the asset is well maintained and minimise any vacancy periods by accepting reasonable market rents. The investment should pay all running costs and clients can continue to enjoy the on-going growth of capital value.

The increase in activity reflects a broader shift in favour of the rental sector across the UK, due in part to the on-going lack of mortgage market funding for new entrants in the owner occupier market. The main factor weighing on rents, especially at the top end of the market, continues to be the health of the London economy. Data from financial sector recruitment specialist Morgan McKinley indicated that in the three months to July 2013 there was a gradual rise in job availability month-on-month.

As with most investments, a long-term approach yields the most attractive gains.

Jan-04

I spend my days dealing with

PCL sales price growth PCL rental growth

Brechin Place, available to rent through Knight Frank Chelsea

162

the KENSINGTON & CHELSEA magazine

=AG GINNY TIARKS HICKS SOPHIE

SYDNEY STREET,LONDON, LONDON SW3 020 7351 7822 FAX:M: 020 7351 2274 117117 SYDNEY STREET, SW3 6NR 6NR TEL: TEL: 020 7351 7822 07530 689536 e-mail: ginny@hlrlets.com website: e-mail: sophie@hlrlets.com website:www.hlrlets.com www.hlrlets.com

PONT STREET MEWS, SW1X

ANSDELL TERRACE, W8

Situated in what is arguably the best mews in London, this fabulous newly refurbished house offers the finest quality in presentation and finish. The house is equipped with Creston, Lutron lighting, air conditioning, under floor heating, surround sound and is interior designed to an extremely high quality therefore suiting any tenant who seeks only the finest. The property also benefits from two parking spaces.

This exceptional family house is quietly situated in a charming enclave, south of Kensington High Street within minutes of transport, shops and Hyde Park. The living space works extremely well, with an open plan kitchen, dining room and family room on the ground floor and a separate reception on the first floor. The house has been finished to a very high standard with all the bedrooms having well-appointed bathrooms , a beautiful kitchen, good sized utility room and a built in sound system.

THREE DOUBLE BEDROOMS - THREE EN-SUITE BATHROOMS DOUBLE RECEPTION ROOM - KITCHEN/FAMILY ROOM MEDIA ROOM - UTILITY ROOM - TWO PARKING SPACES PRIVATE MEWS - FURNISHED/UNFURNISHED

FIVE BEDROOMS - FOUR BATHROOMs - RECEPTION ROOM - OPEN PLAN KITCHEN/DINING ROOM/ SITTING ROOM MEDIA/FAMILY ROOM - STUDY - UTILITY ROOM - INTERNAL PATIO

£4,750 per week

£3,000 per week

HANS PLACE, SW1X

REDCLIFFE SQUARE, SW10

A fabulously elegant maisonette which has been refurbished and interior designed to the highest of standards incorporating air conditioning, a high specification security system and a built in sound system. This maisonette with its own street entrance is ideally located close to Knightsbridge and has the benefit of two terraces as well as communal gardens.

Recently refurbished two bedroom apartment situated on the first floor of this well maintained period building. This excellent property has a spacious reception room with wooden floors, high ceilings and an amazing bay fronted window with a window seat, ideal for you to sit and peer over the communal garden square. The property is well located for Earls Court and Gloucester Road tube stations and local amenities.

THREE DOUBLE BEDROOMS - THREE BATHROOMS RECEPTION ROOM - DINING HALL - KITCHEN/BREAKFAST ROOM - OWN STREET ENTRANCE - TWO PATIOS - SECURITY SYSTEM - COMMUNAL GARDENS - FURNISHED

£1,900 per week

117 Sydney Street London SW3 6NR Lettings: 0207 351 7822 or info@hlrlets.com

TWO double BEDROOMS - two BATHROOMs COMMUNAL GARDENS

£875 per week

Radnor Walk, SW3 ÂŁ3,250,000 STC Freehold Unmodernised period terraced house, offering great scope for improvement and development. Located in this quiet Chelsea location, moments from the world famous Kings Road, this attractive period house is arranged over three floors and could be further enhanced and extended, subject to the usual consents.

Three Bedrooms | Two Receptions | Two Bathrooms | Garden | Roof Terrace | Residents Parking

Scan this code to download the Winkworth iPhone app

winkworth.co.uk/knightsbridge-chelsea 020 7589 6616 knightsbridge@winkworth.co.uk

See things differently.

Pimlico Road, SW1W ÂŁ800 Per Week Furnished A simply stunning, neutrally presented and recently refurbished one bedroom maisonette in an ideal location for mainline and underground transport links. The flat is situated over the second and third floors above an art gallery and has fabulous Southerly views across to the landmark Battersea power station.

One Bedroom | One Reception | One Bathroom

Scan this code to download the Winkworth iPhone app

winkworth.co.uk/knightsbridge-chelsea 020 7589 6616 knightsbridge@winkworth.co.uk

See things differently.

Rosary Gardens, SW7 ÂŁ2,750,000 Leasehold An exceptionally spacious three/four bedroom family flat with fantastic volume on the fourth floor (with a lift) of this impressive Mansion block situated in the heart of South Kensington. This wonderful triple aspect apartment extends to 1,872 sq/ft (173.9 sq/m) of accommodation on one floor only and whilst presented in good order parts of the flat would benefit from sympathetic refurbishment. Of particular mention are the superb ceilings heights throughout and the exceptional natural light that floods that apartment due to its numerous windows visible in every room of the apartment.

Entrance Hall | Reception Room | Kitchen Dining Room | Three/Four Bedrooms | En-Suite Bathroom | En-Suite Shower Room | Family Bathroom | Study | Lift

Scan this code to download the Winkworth iPhone app

winkworth.co.uk/south-kensington 020 7373 5052 southkensington@winkworth.co.uk

See things differently.

Courtfield Gardens, SW5 ÂŁ1,150 PER WEEK Furnished / Unfurnished A beautifully refurbished lower ground floor flat which offers generous accommodation space, a private entrance and access to two small terraces and communal gardens. The property comprises master bedroom with excellent storage and en-suite bathroom with separate bath and shower, a second double bedroom and family bathroom and a small separate study room. The flat also benefits from a larger than average reception room with wooden floors and dining area and a spacious modern kitchen. Courtfield Gardens is located near the amenities and transport links of Gloucester Road and Cromwell Road.

Private Entrance | Two Double Bedrooms | Large Reception Room | Two Bathrooms | Separate Study | Period Building | Lower Ground Floor | Two Patios | Access to Communal Gardens | Wooden Floors Throughout | Furnished/Unfurnished

Scan Scan this this code to download totodownload Winkworth the iPhone iPhone appapp Scan this code download theWinkworth Winkworth iPhone app Scan this code tocode download thethe Winkworth iPhone app

winkworth.co.uk/knightsbridge-chelsea winkworth.co.uk/knightsbridge-chelsea winkworth.co.uk/knightsbridge-chelsea winkworth.co.uk/south-kensington winkworth.co.uk/south-kensington 020 7589 020 7589 7589 6616 6616 6616 knightsbridge@winkworth.co.uk knightsbridge@winkworth.co.uk knightsbridge@winkworth.co.uk 0205052 7373 5052 southkensington@winkworth.co.uk lettings.southken@winkworth.co.uk 020 7373 southkensington@winkworth.co.uk

See See things things differently. differently.

See things differently.

See things differently.

Hillgate Street, W8 ÂŁ2,999,950 Freehold A beautifully presented and spacious four bedroom Victorian terraced house situated in the heart of Hillgate Village and within the catchment area for Fox Primary School. This superb house also benefits from two separate outdoor decked areas, accessible from three levels and is less than five minutes walk from Notting Hill Gate station.

Double Reception Room | Kitchen/Dining Room | Principal Bedroom with En Suite Shower Room | Three Further Bedrooms | Bathroom | Two Separate WCs | Patio Garden | Roof Terrace | Utility Room | Storage Spaces | EPC Rating: E

Scan this code to download the Winkworth iPhone app

winkworth.co.uk/kensington 020 7727 1500 kensington@winkworth.co.uk

See things differently.

Canning Place, W8 ÂŁ2,450,000 Freehold A beautifully presented three bedroom period house offering excellent entertaining space on two floors with large kitchen/dining room with high ceiling and a first floor double reception room with doors onto a charming roof terrace. The principal bedroom suite occupies the whole second floor with two further bedrooms and a bathroom on the top floor.

Entrance Hall | Kitchen/Dining Room | Drawing Room | Principal Bedroom Suite with Dressing Area and Bathroom | Two Further Double Bedrooms | Further Bathroom | Cloakroom | Roof Terrace | EPC Rating: D

Scan this code to download the Winkworth iPhone app

winkworth.co.uk/kensington 020 7727 1500 kensington@winkworth.co.uk

See things differently.

Westbourne Park Road, W2 £4,750,000 Freehold A truly unique and truly magnificent family house – semi-detached, with almost 3000sqft laid out over just three floors and filled with a wealth or period detailing. Beyond intricate landscaped front gardens an impressive entrance opens to expansive living space over the ground floor opening to large gardens to the rear. A central staircase leads up to spacious landings on both of the upper floors, off which are five bedrooms, all generously proportioned, and two large bathrooms.

Five Bedrooms | Two Bathrooms | Two Reception Rooms | House | Semi Detached | Garden | 2,939 Approx Sq Ft | EPC Rating D

Scan this code to download the Winkworth iPhone app

winkworth.co.uk/notting-hill 020 7727 3227 nottinghill@winkworth.co.uk

See things differently.

Blenheim Crescent, W11 ÂŁ2,750,000 Share of Freehold An exciting investment opportunity to purchase four of five storeys of this impressive building with own front door in an exclusive Notting Hill location.

A buyer might turn them into one fabulous maisonette of over 2,000sqft with own front door, or keep them as they are - three separate, beautifully designed, contemporary apartments.

Three Separate Apartments | 2 x One Bedroom Apartments | 1 x Two Bedroom Apartment | 2,037 Approx Sq ft

Scan this code to download the Winkworth iPhone app

winkworth.co.uk/notting-hill 020 7727 3227 nottinghill@winkworth.co.uk

See things differently.

Excellence & Integrity Annabel Harrison meets Peter Rollings FRICS, Chief Executive of Marsh & Parsons, to find out more about the history of the company and its success under his management

Photography: Sarel Jansen

In 2005, Peter Rollings purchased Marsh & Parsons and the company has since grown into a highly successful network of 19 offices in central, south and south west London with a focus on sales, lettings, property management, new homes and investments. Peter has an extensive knowledge of the London residential market and was recently invited to become a fellow member of RICS, where he is recognised and respected for his excellence and integrity within the industry. Fellows are described as “leaders in their field, people who have undertaken notable projects or made a special contribution to the profession”.

What did you know about Marsh & Parsons’ history before you arrived and what attracted you to the company when you did come on board?

It was an old-fashioned but highly respected central London estate agency brand, which had been around since 1856. Six of the seven offices were in the Royal Borough, so it was unrivalled in that sense.

I’d often wondered why it hadn’t been snapped up already so I jumped at the chance to invest when the opportunity presented itself. It had been owned and loved by David Marshall for 40 years, who was in his early 70s when we bought the company.

What changes did you make immediately?

How about everything?! When I arrived, I was told my phone had more memory than the desk computers. The lettings offices closed earlier than sales, which was just madness, so I improved our opening hours straight away. We spent a lot of money refurbishing and we very quickly re-branded the company. The brand strategy was to be sensitive to the heritage and at the same time inject some energy. In October 2006, we bought Vanstons in south west London – Balham, Battersea, Clapham, Fulham and Barnes – which slotted beautifully into the geography of our existing network. But it’s all about the people; if you focus on getting the right teams on board, you’ve got a real chance of success. So with both Vanstons and Marsh & Parsons, we invested in getting the right people; it takes time but it’s without doubt one of the most important things that I, along with my co-directors, did – and still do.

In the 1989 recession I learnt that building and nurturing another revenue stream is essential. The experience of working through a recession means you know what you need to do to get through it. Lettings was an immediate focus, previously a ‘nothing’ bit of the business but it now represents 50 per cent of the overall income. Turnover of sales property is now at an all time low, so this move into lettings continues to be a key strength of M&P.

PROPERTY

What are the most exciting current Marsh & Parsons developments?

We’ve opened three offices this year. Firstly in South Kensington, where I started my career all those years ago! After we opened in Earls Court last year, this was the final piece of the K&C jigsaw. We are now an even greater force to be reckoned with, as our sellers and landlords in the Royal Borough can enjoy an unrivalled access to plentiful buyers and tenants, via teams which all work together, something unique to Marsh & Parsons. Our clients will also benefit from our four offices in neighbouring Westminster. We opened two offices in nearby Bishops Park and Marylebone, just a week apart, which was an exciting (and busy) time for us. The focus of the business is now growth.

There are so many more precincts of London where I would love to have an office. This is testament to my belief in the London property market which, in my opinion, will just keep going from strength to strength.

What is involved with being a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors?

It’s an honorary position; the Royal Institution wrote to me out of the blue early last year and asked if I’d like to be considered. And, of course, I accepted; it’s a great honour.

What do you like most about working in this industry?

The people, the fun, the excitement, the deals, running and growing a business. I love all of it. marshandparsons.co.uk

What do you think is so special about The Royal Borough?

Where do I start? There are so many things: the architecture is a big one, as well as the schools, the restaurants, theatres, galleries... you name it, K&C has got it. It’s the prime bit of the most prime city in the world.

What can local residents expect if they come into one of the Marsh & Parsons offices in the area?

A number of things. All of our offices are designed to provide a comfortable place to have a friendly chat. We are very careful about who we employ – they have to be great people who can also sell. We’ve turned away some impressive sales people simply because they don’t fit into our culture. Equally, some agents just employ ‘nice guys’ and it’s not good enough. The be-all and end-all of our business is to get clients the result they expect and deserve whilst ensuring they enjoy the experience as well. One thing I am certain of, however, is that when you come into one of our offices, you’ll be greeted with a smile!

Because the Royal Borough is so international now, have you had to change the way your staff do things?

We have an international desk and throughout the company we speak 18 different languages. Recently, I have employed two French people, one in South Kensington and one in Chelsea. I also have an Arabic speaker in South Ken and one in our new Marylebone office. London has become more and more international and businesses need to move with the times.

What has happened so far in the central London property market this year and what’s in store for the reminder of the year?

Our quarterly reports analyse two key markets identified as Prime London (central, west and south west London) and Prime Central London, covering the Royal Borough and Westminster. Property prices continue to be pushed upwards due to demand, which now stands at 18 buyers for every property, an increase of four compared to the previous quarter. As a result, the average price of a Prime Central London property is now more than £2 million for the first time. Investors represented 37 per cent of all purchases in Prime Central London – an increase of 31 per cent compared to the previous quarter and up 11 per cent compared to the same period a year earlier.

Going forward, I think that stimuli initiatives such as the Help to Buy and Funding for Lending, along with low interest rates, are helping to strengthen the market and I suspect that property values will continue to rise, albeit at a healthier, more sustainable rate.

the KENSINGTON & CHELSEA magazine

173

We give the same energy and passion to selling or letting property regardless of value and never forget that houses and flats are homes first and foremost.

KENSINGTON SALES MANAGER

WE KNOW WHO’S BUYING, WHO’S SELLING AND WHO’S MOVING IN YOUR AREA. It is this intimate market knowledge and knowing how to use it that gives our clients the advantage

Local know-how. Better results.

99% OF OUR LANDLORDS WOULD USE US AGAIN TO RE-LET THEIR PROPERTY

99

% WE PROMOTE

of our clients would recommend us...

OUR APPROACH IS UNIQUE:

184 EXPERIENCED AGENTS ACROSS OUR 19 OFFICES all work together to find the perfect buyer or tenant for your property

...28% ALREADY HAD

A CULTURE OF INTEGRITY;

our reputation is of the utmost importance to us and we are committed to delivering an excellent, reliable and proactive service of which we can be proud

Local know-how. Better results.

Our offices:

Battersea

Chelsea

Fulham

Kensington

Mayfair

Pimlico & Westminster

Balham

Bishops Park

Clapham

Hammersmith

Little Venice

North Kensington

South Kensington

Barnes

Brook Green

Earls Court

Holland Park

Marylebone

Notting Hill

Palace Gardens Terrace W8 £5,950,000 A grand and well proportioned garden apartment, arranged over three floors of a striking period building, moments from Kensington Gardens and Notting Hill. This impressive property has been recently refurbished to an exacting standard throughout, boasting a spacious kitchen/dining room leading out to a delightful garden, an elegant reception room, study, three double bedrooms all with luxurious en suite bathrooms, a cinema room and a cloakroom. Share of Freehold. EPC=E. Sole Agents.

PRIME SALES: 020 7313 2891 PrimeSales@marshandparsons.co.uk

Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/marshandparsons

Join us on Facebook: facebook.com/marshandparsons

Visit our YouTube channel: youtube.com/user/marshandparsons

SALES

See all of our properties online: marshandparsons.co.uk

Burnsall Street SW3 ÂŁ4,250,000 This stunning period house boasts over 2,200 sqft of accommodation including a double reception room and a large eat-in kitchen with a plenty of natural light, leading out to a superb west facing patio garden. The renovated basement provides a fabulous guest suite, a well-proportioned reception room, utility room, gym and wine cellar. Further bedroom accommodation includes a grand master suite, three double bedrooms and three bathrooms. Freehold. EPC=F. Sole Agents.

CHELSEA: 020 7591 5570 sales.chs@marshandparsons.co.uk

Queensdale Place W11 £3,650,000 An exquisitely refurbished four-bedroom house with a west facing garden located in a pretty, discreet location in the heart of Holland Park. This exceptional family home is arranged over four oors, comprising a custom built kitchen with Miele appliances, an open plan dining/family room leading out to a west facing landscaped garden, a superb double reception room with a glass terrace overlooking the garden, a stunning master suite, three double bedrooms (one en suite) and a family bathroom. Freehold. EPC=C. Joint Sole Agent.

HOLLAND PARK: 020 7605 6890 sales.hol@marshandparsons.co.uk

Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/marshandparsons

Join us on Facebook: facebook.com/marshandparsons

Visit our YouTube channel: youtube.com/user/marshandparsons

SALES

See all of our properties online: marshandparsons.co.uk

Marloes Road W8 £1,895,000 A beautifully presented and exceptionally spacious two-bedroom split-level apartment, situated over the second and third floors of this well maintained period building. This charming flat is flooded with natural light, benefiting from excellent living and entertaining space throughout. Marloes Road is situated in the heart of Kensington and is ideally located for all of the shops, bars and restaurants of Kensington High Street and Gloucester Road. Share of Freehold. EPC=E. Sole Agents.

KENSINGTON: 020 7368 4450 sales.kns@marshandparsons.co.uk

LEAMINGTON LEAMINGTONROAD ROADVILLAS, VILLAS,W11 W11 ÂŁ4,500,000 ÂŁ4,500,000 Freehold Freehold

Affectionately Affectionately refurbished refurbished byby DeDe Matos Matos Ryan Ryan Architects Architects and and interior-designed interior-designed byby Carden Carden Cunietti, Cunietti, the the property property offers offers incredible incredible living living and and entertaining entertaining space. space.

An An eclectic eclectic mix mix ofof traditional traditional beauty, beauty, bespoke bespoke design design and and contemporary contemporary style style onon a beautiful a beautiful tree-lined tree-lined street. street.epc epc= =e e -

-

Spacious Spaciousdouble doublereception receptionroom room Fully Fullyfitted fittedkitchen/breakfast kitchen/breakfastroom room Family Familyroom room+ +home homeoffice officespace space Five Fivebedrooms bedrooms(one (oneenensuite) suite) South-west South-westfacing facinggarden garden Approx.

Approx.305 305sqsqmm(3,282 (3,282SqSqft)ft)

Domus DomusNova NovaNotting NottingHill Hill 1717Kensington KensingtonPark ParkRoad RoadW11 W11 020 020 7727 7727 1717 1717nottinghill@domusnova.com nottinghill@domusnova.com

DN9.indd DN9.indd 26 26

08/08/2013 08/08/2013 12:49:06 12:49:06

DN9

9:06

THE THERAINBOW RAINBOWHOUSE, HOUSE,W11 W11 ÂŁ4,000,000 ÂŁ4,000,000 Freehold Freehold

An Anawe-inspiring awe-inspiringproperty propertypresenting presentinga a magical magicaland andliberating liberatingspace spacethat thatdefies defiesthe the norms normsofofa domestic a domesticinterior interiorenvironment. environment.

Envisaged Envisagedbybyarchitect architectAbAbRogers Rogersand and featuring featuringtrademark trademarkfloor floordesigns designsfrom from Richard RichardWoods, Woods,this thisoutstanding outstandinghome home is isananincredible incredibleshowcase showcaseofofcool, cool, contemporary contemporarydesign. design.epc epc= =f f -

DN9.indd DN9.indd 27 27

-

Generous Generousreception/cinema reception/cinemaroom room Open-plan Open-plankitchen/dining kitchen/diningspace space Three Threebedrooms bedrooms(two (twoenensuite) suite) Media Mediaroom/fourth room/fourthbedroom bedroom South-west South-westfacing facingroof roofgarden garden Approx.

Approx.315 315sqsqmm(3,396 (3,396sqsqft)ft)

08/08/2013 08/08/2013 12:49:13 12:49:13

LEAMINGTON ROAD VILLAS, LEINSTER GARDENS, W2 W11 ÂŁ4,500,000 ÂŁ9,000,000 Freehold Freehold

Affectionately A truly exquisite refurbished seven bedroom,

by De Matos Grade II listed family home the doorstep of Hyde Ryan Architects and on interior-designed byPark.

Carden Cunietti, the property offers incredible living and entertaining space.

Perfectly proportioned and beautifully presented throughout, this incredible An eclectic mix of traditional beauty, property offersand a stunning mix of classic bespoke design contemporary style on charm andtree-lined contemporary a beautiful street.design. epc = eepc = d -

-

Large double Spacious doublereception receptionroom room Open-plan kitchen + diningroom space Fully fitted kitchen/breakfast Formal dining roomoffice space Family room + home Seven bedrooms suite) Five bedrooms (one(all enen suite) Home office + media room South-west facing garden West-facing gardenSq+ft) courtyard Approx.

305 sqroof m (3,282 Approx. 544 sq m (sq 5,860 sq ft)

Domus Hill DomusNova NovaNotting Bayswater 1778Kensington Park RoadW2 W11 Westbourne Grove 020 7727 1717 020 7221 7817nottinghill@domusnova.com bayswater@domusnova.com

DN9.indd DN9.indd 26 28

08/08/2013 08/08/2013 12:49:06 12:49:25

DN9

9:25

THE RAINBOW HOUSE, CLARENDON ROAD, W11 W11 ÂŁ4,000,000 ÂŁ10,000,000 Freehold Freehold

awe-inspiring property presenting a A An handsome and rarely available family home magical and liberating space that defies the occupying a prime position on Clarendon norms of a domestic interior environment.

Road.

Featuring a beautiful west-facing garden, Envisaged by architect Ab Rogers and offfeaturing street parking, a garage and withinfrom close trademark floor designs proximity of Holland Park and Clarendon Richard Woods, this outstanding home Cross. epc = d is an incredible showcase of cool, contemporary design. epc = f -

DN9.indd DN9.indd 29 27

-

Two reception rooms Contemporary kitchen Generous reception/cinema room Four bedrooms (all en suite)space Open-plan kitchen/dining Study conservatory Three+bedrooms (two en suite) Front + rear gardens bedroom Media room/fourth Off street parking garage South-west facing+roof garden Approx 326 sqsq mm (3,510 sq sq ft).ft) Approx.

315 (3,396

08/08/2013 08/08/2013 12:49:33 12:49:13

LEAMINGTON ROAD BARLBY ROAD, W10VILLAS, W11 ÂŁ4,500,000 ÂŁ1,250 per week Long let Freehold

Affectionately An immaculately refurbished presented byfour De Matos bedroom family home with sense of space and Ryan Architects anda unique interior-designed abundance of light. byan Carden Cunietti, the property offers incredible living and entertaining space.

Finished to the highest standard, this sublime An eclecticoffers mix of traditional beauty, residence contemporary open-plan living bespoke design and style in residential Northcontemporary Kensington. epc = don a beautiful tree-lined street. epc = e -

-

Open-plan reception + dining room Spacious double reception room Large Kitchen/breakfast room Fully fitted kitchen/breakfast room Four bedrooms (one en suite) Family room + home office space Private patio garden Five bedrooms (one en suite) Gated off street parking South-west facing garden Approx. 180 sq m (1,937 sq ft) Approx. 305 sq m (3,282 Sq ft)

Domus DomusNova NovaNotting NottingHill Hill 1717Kensington KensingtonPark ParkRoad RoadW11 W11 020 7727 1717 020 7727 1717nottinghill@domusnova.com nottinghill@domusnova.com

DN9.indd DN9.indd 26 30

08/08/2013 08/08/2013 12:49:06 12:49:42

DN9

9:42

THE RAINBOW HOUSE, CHEPSTOW VILLAS, W11W11 £4,000,000 £1,250 per week Long Freehold let

awe-inspiring property a A An bright and beautifully styledpresenting two bedroom magical and liberating space that defies the apartment offering a welcoming ambience norms of a domestic interior environment. throughout.

Envisaged by architect Rogers and Chepstow Villas is one of Ab Notting Hill’s featuring trademark floor designs from premier streets and is conveniently located Richard Woods, this outstanding home for the boutiques, bars and restaurants of is an incredible Grove. showcase chic Westbourne epcof= cool, f contemporary design. epc = f -

DN9.indd DN9.indd 31 27

-

Period conversion Generous reception/cinema room Large reception room Open-plan kitchen/dining space Contemporary fitted kitchen Three bedrooms (two en suite) Two double bedrooms Media room/fourth bedroom Two bathrooms (one en suite) South-west facing roof garden Approx. 92 sq m (993 Sq ft) Approx. 315 sq m (3,396 sq ft)

08/08/2013 08/08/2013 12:49:49 12:49:13

While others are still looking for the best property for you, we’ve found it.

(Beep! Beep!)

We’re nimble. No head office holds us down.

Or back … when it comes to finding the perfect property.

No passing on messages. You get the same person talking to you every time.

Business-like, approachable and straightforward, snow or sunshine, we get our skates on. It’s why we’re streets ahead.

Drop in for a cup of tea today.

At Crayson, the kettle’s always boiling.

hello@crayson.com T 020 7221 1117 hello@crayson.com T 020 7221 10 Lambton Place London W11 1117 2SH 10 Lambton Place London W11 2SH

Courtnell Street Notting Hill W2 Nestled in the Artesian village just north of Westbourne Grove, this delightful house ticks all the boxes, if you are looking for peace, charm, and a great location

Double reception room Kitchen/dining/family room Master bedroom suite Three further bedrooms & one further bathroom Garden, cloakroom & utility room City of Westminster 1808 sq ft / 168 sq m Guide price ÂŁ3 million Freehold Sole Agent hello@crayson.com T 020 7221 1117 10 Lambton Place London W11 2SH

Holland Park Mews Holland Park W11 Coach House For Sale and on the horns of a dilemma – should it remain part of the servants’ hall or upgrade and become the master’s residence?

Reception room Two double bedrooms Bathroom Three to four car garage Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea 1375 sq ft / 127.7 sq m Energy Performance Rating Band E Guide price £2m Freehold Sole Agent hello@crayson.com T 020 7221 1117 10 Lambton Place London W11 2SH

A Work of Art Annabel Harrison speaks to renowned artist Jack Vettriano about the sale of his apartment in the heart of Knightsbridge Being able to market a property as the “home and artist studio of Jack Vettriano” must surely intrigue more potential customers than most other descriptions. Scottish artist Vettriano began to achieve widespread recognition for his work in the early 1990s and has since become a globally recognised painter. This ‘home and studio’ is in fact a light, bright first floor balcony flat (967 square feet) in a period lateral conversion, just minutes walk from Harrods, Beauchamp Place and Sloane Street. In addition to a double bedroom, bathroom and kitchen, the property boasts a superb, bright reception room, resident caretaker and video entry phone.

When did you move into this property and why did you choose it?

I think it was 1998 when I came down to London for the opening of my exhibition. I stayed here for six weeks, got very familiar with this area and I just really loved it. One day I was walking for miles and I saw the apartment and Hobart Slater’s sign here; I thought ‘That looks amazing’. So I phoned up and Jonny came round. He wouldn’t budge on the price though! It was ex-rental so it was really bland, and it wasn’t in great condition, with two tiny bedrooms. Through a friend I managed to get hold of a small building firm to do the whole lot. I was renting a place in Sloane Square at the time.

What I love about it is that you don’t get direct sunlight – it’s generally north-facing. I don’t like silence; I like to hear the click of high heels on the street. Then I can just go out onto the balcony and see what the weather looks like! So it’s nice and busy, a lovely location. It’s funny because Harrods is actually my nearest shop and in interviews all over the country, I’ll say ‘I’d pop to Harrods to get cigarettes’ and the audience is amazed! You just forget that outside of London, Harrods is pretty institutional. I’m very close to Knightsbridge station too.

Apart from the clicking of high heels, what else is inspiring to you here?

I am pretty close to Hyde Park, which I love, and there’s nightlife that I’m finding too tempting these days. I love temptation; I can resist anything except the temptation of drink! The body can’t cope with it anymore, so I’m happy to move out of the centre of it.

I’m not saying Francis was a genius; clearly he was a genius with ideas but perhaps not with paint. So it was just painted right on the door. It’s a nice feature. I’d love it if some massive Italian fan of mine walked in just for that!

Jonny, how exciting is it for you and the team at Hobart Slater to come full circle with Jack?

Jonny: We’ve stayed in contact over the years, having previously sold another of Jack’s properties.

Jack: There have been a few times where I’ve threatened to move. But this time, we’re going for it.

Are you moving completely out of London?

I’m looking south of the river. I like the area near Battersea Park, not too far.

Can you envisage what type of person is going to live here in this flat?

Jack: I’d like it to be another artist because it’s got lovely light. It wouldn’t surprise me, though, if somebody bought it because their child was studying in central London.

Jonny: For us it’s an amazing flat in itself, together with the kudos of being Jack Vettriano’s studio. It ticks all the boxes: it has high ceilings, a balcony providing outside space and it’s in a fantastic location, with added security from having a caretaker in the building. Also, as Jack appreciates, it has its own private staircase within the building, so no one passes your front door.

What does this flat mean to you, Jack?

Some 80 per cent of my output since I bought this flat has been here. When I moved to London I could’ve got a bigger place and moved further out but I thought, no; I’m going to work in one big, light room.

Guide price to Jack’s property in Pont Street: £2,000,000 (leasehold) Hobart Slater, 6-8 Montpelier Street, SW7 1EZ, 020 7581 8277, hobartslater.co.uk

Do you have favourite restaurants and local shops around here?

Knightsbridge is one of those places which is great if you want a designer shoe but not so great for pots of paint! What’s lovely about this place is that everybody who comes here looks really good. Because of the wealth you see fabulous cars, fabulous-looking women... and the men aren’t too bad either!

There is a painting on a door which is being sold with the flat. What can you tell us about it?

Because we were making one big bedroom, we had to reduce the size of this room, so that ‘door’ is actually a cupboard. If you look at the two lines beneath the painting, that’s what was sticking above that dado rail and I thought; I’ve got a frame that size, so I’ll just do a painting straight over the door. I bought some acrylic paint and tried to do a Francis Bacon, just because I wanted people to think I owned a Bacon! But I couldn’t do it.

Photography: Sarel Jansen

PROMOTION

the KENSINGTON & CHELSEA magazine

191

increase the valu your propeerof ty

You have to decorate to accumulate Call our specialist refurbishment department now on 020 7225 0234.

ÂŁ2,950,000 Share of Freehold Kensington Court W8 A beautifully refurbished two bedroom lateral flat located in the heart of Kensington in this prestigious period mansion block.

Kensington Gate Sales 020 7581 1152 kengatesales@dng.co.uk

2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, Reception room, Kitchen and dining space, Study, Cloakroom, Lift, Porter, EPC: D.

douglasandgordon.com

ÂŁ2,150,000 Leasehold Cadogan Gardens SW3 A bright third floor, with entrance on second, triple aspect flat with a roof terrace, green views, wooden floors and a studio style reception room.

Chelsea Sales 020 7225 1225 chelseasales@dng.co.uk

2 bedrooms, 2 shower rooms, Reception room, Kitchen, Roof terrace, Caretaker, EPC: F.

THESE HOUSES ARE NEAR YOU NOW:

DetailstoMobile Simply type in ‘dng’ to 84840 for details of properties near you now.

£5,750 per week Unfurnished Mulberry Walk SW3 A perfectly laid out family house, which has fantastic entertaining space and is quietly situated in a very attractive and much favoured Chelsea street.

Chelsea Lettings 020 7581 6666 chelsealets@dng.co.uk

6 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 3 reception rooms, Kitchen, Study, Garden, Roof terrace, Cellar, EPC: D.

douglasandgordon.com

ÂŁ950 per week Furnished ÂŁ750 Unfurnished HurlinghamGardens Harrington Peterborough SW7 Estate A beautiful, newly refurbished raised ground floor flat with two double bedrooms extending to approximately 977 sq ft situated in South Kensington.

South Kensington Lettings 020 7584 8888 sthkenlets@dng.co.uk

2 bedrooms, A completely 2renovated bathrooms house, (1 en-suite), conveniently Cloakroom, locatedReception by the river room, in West Putney. ACommunal Kitchen, completelyGardens, renovated EPC: house, D. conveniently located by the river in West Putney.

Brompton Place, Knightsbridge SW3 This very charming three bedroom freehold terraced cottage is arranged over two floors and boasts a small rear patio located between two of the downstairs bedrooms. Upstairs the bright and well-proportioned reception room benefits from built-in cupboards and is adjacent to the fully fitted kitchen.

Located discreetly off the Brompton Road, Brompton Place is ideal for the fabulous amenities Knightsbridge has to offer and is within a moment’s walk of Harrods. The property would make an ideal pied-a-terre and also benefits from a secure underground parking space within the Harrods car park which is located at the end of Brompton Place.

EPC rating: D Freehold Guide Price: £1,975,000 020 7225 6506 henry.browne@harrodsestates.com

KNIGHTSBRIDGE OFFICE: 82 BROMPTON ROAD LONDON SW3 1ER T: +44 020 7225 6506 MAYFAIR OFFICE: 61 PARK LANE LONDON W1K 1QF T: +44 020 7409 9001 CHELSEA OFFICE: 58 FULHAM ROAD LONDON SW3 6HH T: +44 (0) 20 7225 6700 HARRODSESTATES.COM

Park Mansions, Knightsbridge, SW1 A spacious lateral two bedroom apartment (1,053 sq ft / 98 sq m), situated on the fifth floor of this purpose built apartment block in the heart of Knightsbridge. The property has been subject to a major refurbishment programme using the highest quality materials to create a stunning residence.

Park Mansions is fabulously located opposite Hyde Park, Harvey Nichols and moments from Harrods and Sloane Street. The apartment has been fitted with under floor heating throughout and a Creston and Lutron system controlling sound, lighting, video and blinds. It also benefits from 24-hour porterage, security, lift and recently refurnished communal areas.

EPC rating: C Leasehold: 239 years Guide Price: ÂŁ2,950,000 020 7893 8343 leila.dyominova@harrodsestates.com

KNIGHTSBRIDGE OFFICE: 82 BROMPTON ROAD LONDON SW3 1ER T: +44 020 7225 6506 MAYFAIR OFFICE: 61 PARK LANE LONDON W1K 1QF T: +44 020 7409 9001 CHELSEA OFFICE: 58 FULHAM ROAD LONDON SW3 6HH T: +44 (0) 20 7225 6700 HARRODSESTATES.COM

Eaton Place, Belgravia, SW1X A stunning third and fourth floor penthouse apartment of approx. 2574 sq. ft., offering 2 double bedrooms plus a third single bedroom / study. Originally designed by Candy and Candy the apartment is furnished to a very high specification and offers two large reception rooms. Located in central prime Belgravia, the apartment also offers a roof garden with outside dining and seating and far-reaching views. The apartment is available immediately for long let.

EPC rating C.

Price: ÂŁ5,500 per week 020 7225 6602 karen.boland@harrodsestates.com

KNIGHTSBRIDGE OFFICE: 82 BROMPTON ROAD LONDON SW3 1ER T: +44 020 7225 6506 MAYFAIR OFFICE: 61 PARK LANE LONDON W1K 1QF T: +44 020 7409 9001 CHELSEA OFFICE: 58 FULHAM ROAD LONDON SW3 6HH T: +44 (0) 20 7225 6700 HARRODSESTATES.COM

Hans Crescent, Knightsbridge, SW1X Spectacular newly refurbished penthouse apartment on the 6th floor (with lift) in the heart of Knightsbridge. Interior designed to a very high standard the apartment comprises 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms, reception, separate dining room, and kitchen. Hans Crescent is a well-run mansion block with porter, located in sight of Harrods and minutes from the shops and restaurants of Sloane Street and Knightsbridge.

Available furnished, immediately for long let.

EPC rating E.

Price: ÂŁ5,750 per week 020 7225 6602 karen.boland@harrodsestates.com

KNIGHTSBRIDGE OFFICE: 82 BROMPTON ROAD LONDON SW3 1ER T: +44 020 7225 6506 MAYFAIR OFFICE: 61 PARK LANE LONDON W1K 1QF T: +44 020 7409 9001 CHELSEA OFFICE: 58 FULHAM ROAD LONDON SW3 6HH T: +44 (0) 20 7225 6700 HARRODSESTATES.COM

Queen’s Gate, South Kensington SW7 • 5 Bedrooms

• 54’ Terrace

• 5 Bathrooms (en suite) • Porter • Kitchen / dining room

• Direct lift access

• Drawing room

• Approx. 3,648 sq ft (339 sq m)

• Gallery / study

• EPC rating: current (D) potential (B)

Guide price £9,250,000 Share of freehold

“ An outstanding and beautifully appointed first floor lateral flat within two imposing white stucco-fronted buildings”

Holbein Mews, Chelsea SW1 • 4 Bedrooms

• Private garage

• 3 Bathrooms (2 en suite)

• Approx. 2,087 sq ft (193.9 sq m)

• 2 Reception rooms

• EPC rating: current (E) potential (B)

“An attractive and spacious three storey mews house conveniently located 200 metres south of Sloane Square”

Guide price £3,500,000 Freehold

For more information Giles Cook on 020 7306 1620 gcook@waellis.com

W.A.Ellis LLP 174 Brompton Road London SW3 1HP

waellis.com

The Little Boltons, Chelsea SW10 • 3 Double bedrooms

• Kitchen/dining room

• 2 Bathrooms (en suite)

• Balcony

• 1 Shower room

• Approx. 1,967 sq ft (182 sq m)

• Double reception room

• EPC rating: current (D) potential (D)

“ An outstanding maisonette in one of Chelsea’s most sought after streets.”

£2,500 per week Furnished

For more information call Lucy Morton on 020 7306 1630 or email lmorton@waellis.com

W.A.Ellis LLP 174 Brompton Road London SW3 1HP

waellis.com

Potential tenants are advised that administration fees may be payable when renting a property. Please ask for details of our charges.

Wyndham House, Sloane Square SW1 • 4 Double bedrooms

• Fully fitted kitchen

• 2 Bathrooms (1 en suite)

• Porter

• 2 Shower rooms (1 en suite)

• Approx. 2,804 sq ft (260 sq m)

• 2 Reception rooms

• EPC rating: current (D) potential (D)

“ A newly refurbished lateral apartment in this beautifully maintained block on Sloane Square”

£3,500 per week Unfurnished

For more information call David Mills on 020 7306 1630 or email dmills@waellis.com

W.A.Ellis LLP 174 Brompton Road London SW3 1HP

waellis.com

Potential tenants are advised that administration fees may be payable when renting a property. Please ask for details of our charges.

PROPERTY

The Leaders of the Pack Olivia Sharpe meets the sales director of Hogarths, Ronan McKenna, to find out more about the specialist SW5 agents and why Earls Court is currently a fantastic place to invest Hogarths was established nearly 40 years ago and it has built up its reputation as one of the leading estate agents in Earls Court, with a success rate in letting and selling property in the local area which is second to none.

The local house specialist, Hogarths has sold more houses in SW5 than any other agent in the past year, earning its title as the ‘The Earls Court Agent’. If you’re looking to sell or buy property in the area, says Ronan McKenna, who has been with the company for seven years, look no further than Hogarths.

How has Earls Court developed in the last 40 years?

Earls Court used to be a bit of a backpackers’ mecca but that has long changed due to the steady rise in property prices. We’re now selling properties to buyers coming from Cadogan Square and Belgravia, so they clearly do not view it as the poor little brother to SW7 or W8. Instead they understand that Earls Court offers value for money in comparison to these postcodes.

As well as being a great investment, what else attracts people to this area?

There are two main zones for houses in SW5, in addition to the several mews that exist. Firstly, the Kenway Village (Redfield Lane, Kenway Road, Wallgrave Road, Childs Street, Childs Place and Childs Walk) is known locally as Earls Court’s best kept secret, offering a village-like location and atmosphere moments from the hustle and bustle of Earls Court Road.

Earls Court Gardens play host to larger, stucco-fronted period homes with off-street parking and big south-facing gardens. Hogarths recently sold two properties here and prices are now in the region of £3-£4 million, depending on the size, condition and location on the street.

Prices in Earls Court range from about £1,000 per square foot (for unmodernised flats) to £1,500 per square foot (houses), although certain properties can achieve in excess of these levels. It’s difficult to find a zone 1 location, on the District, Circle and Piccadilly lines, that offers a community atmosphere and value for money like SW5, as well as easy access to Heathrow Airport. Someone once described it as the crossroads of West London which I think is very true.

Also, in the long term, continued re-development, both in terms of plans for the Exhibition Centre and individual local buildings, is fantastic for the area and the fact that SW5 is on every best-buy list from here to Timbuktu is proof of that.

Do you recommend solicitors?

Yes. Streathers based in Marylebone and Terence St J Millet based in South Kensington are both excellent solicitors with dedicated conveyancing departments and experience dealing both with local councils and with short leases. We know that if we recommend either of these firms, we can rely on a swift, uncomplicated process.

What are your thoughts on parents buying property for their children?

We have sold several houses recently to buyers wishing to purchase for their offspring. These have proven to be excellent investments and parents can kill two birds with the one stone, especially if their children are attending a local London college or university.

What do you love most about working in the industry?

I think the most rewarding part of my job is when the client is truly appreciative of what you done for them and you know you have done a great job, and delivered. We use our website to display testimonials from our clients and it’s reassuring to know when we get it right. As we have said anyone can sell an easy proposition but it takes an agent worth their salts to sell a challenging proposition and Hogarths are always up for a challenge.

Hogarths, 16b Hogarth Place, Earls Court, SW5 0QT 020 7373 5222; hogarthestates.co.uk

What makes Hogarths different?

Hogarths is a boutique independent and what that means is that we tailor our service to the individual needs of each client. This can be no more apparent than Hogarths’ recent success in selling a local mews house that had been previously marketed by a number of agents. Hogarths assessed the reasons the property had been on the market for such a long period (circa eight months) and offered advice regarding the presentation; the end result was an asking price offer within ten days of instruction and a delighted client.

Anyone can sell a great property but it takes experience, knowledge and tenacity to sell a property that has “issues” and this is our forte. We offer traditional independent advice that sometimes seems lost in today’s market.

204

the KENSINGTON & CHELSEA magazine

We’re two feet ahead of the competition We’ve been in the heart of The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea since 1965 and we’re out walking our patch daily. This means we’re alive to all the subtle nuances of the market in this unique neighbourhood.

If you’re looking to buy, sell or rent and want the benefit of our knowledge and experience all you have to do is call.

MASKELLS Residential Agents in the Royal Borough and SW1 since 1965 M A S K E L L S E S TAT E A G E N T S W W W. M A S K E L L S . C O . U K

16:57

Maskells_K&C_Jul13.indd 1

|

71 WA LT O N S T R E E T, L O N D O N S W 3 2 H T | + 4 4 (0) 2 0 7 5 81 2 216 L E T T I N G S @ M A S K E L L S .CO.U K S A L E S @ M A S K E L L S .CO.U K

02/08/2013 15:34

Letting property shouldn’t be about letting you down...

That’s why we are delighted to welcome Clem Byron Evans to the Maskells family. He brings a wealth of Landlord and Tenant experience and has a comprehensive knowledge of The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.

Whether you’re looking to rent or let — call Maskells today.

MASKELLS Residential Agents in the Royal Borough and SW1 since 1965 M A S K E L L S E S TAT E A G E N T S W W W. M A S K E L L S . C O . U K

Maskells_K&C_Jul13.indd 2

|

71 WA LT O N S T R E E T, L O N D O N S W 3 2 H T | + 4 4 (0) 2 0 7 5 81 2 216 L E T T I N G S @ M A S K E L L S .CO.U K S A L E S @ M A S K E L L S .CO.U K

02/08/2013 15:34

Mas

The Marlborough

61 Walton Street, Chelsea SW3 A charming one double bedroom garden flat situated in this highly sought after development on Walton Street. The property is situated just south of Brompton Road and is ideally located for the local amenities in the area. The property further boasts a patio garden to the rear of the property accessed by French doors in the reception room and has a resident caretaker. Energy Rating F. Bedroom · Reception Room · Separate Kitchen · Bathroom · Patio Garden · Resident Caretaker

£475pw (£2058.33 pcm) Available Now. Fully Furnished.

MASKELLS Residential Agents in the Royal Borough and SW1 since 1965 M A S K E L L S E S TAT E A G E N T S W W W. M A S K E L L S . C O . U K

15:34

Maskells_K&C_Jul13.indd 3

|

71 WA LT O N S T R E E T, L O N D O N S W 3 2 H T | + 4 4 (0) 2 0 7 5 81 2 216 L E T T I N G S @ M A S K E L L S .CO.U K S A L E S @ M A S K E L L S .CO.U K

02/08/2013 15:34

Manresa Road, Chelsea SW3

An exquisite triplex apartment situated in one of London’s premier addresses.

Master suite and three further bedrooms • Double reception room • Dining room • Kitchen • Cinema, spa and gym • Parking • Porter • Lift • Private terrace and communal gardens • Approximately 6,800 sq ft / 632 sq m Energy Rating: D

020 7293 0879

philippa.cockburn@sothebysrealty.co.uk

Price on Application Share of Freehold

Over 650 Offices in 47 Countries

Sothebys_Ken&Che Mag_September_13.indd 1

sothebysrealty.co.uk

02/08/2013 10:24

Soth

Hans Road, SW3

A mixed use building in a prime Central London, opposite Harrods.

Six bedrooms • Set over six floors • Un modernised • Terraced • Blank Canvas Part commercial, part residential • Garden • Approximately 6,153 sq ft Energy Rating: C

020 7293 0879

sophie.panizzo@sothebysrealty.co.uk

£12,500,000 Freehold

Over 650 Offices in 47 Countries

10:24

Sothebys_Ken&Che Mag_September_13.indd 2

sothebysrealty.co.uk

02/08/2013 10:24

Observatory Gardens, Kensington W8

A perfect pied-à-terre apartment situated in a highly sought after location.

One bedroom • Reception room • Eat-in kitchen • Raised ground floor Porter • Approximately 457 sq ft / 42.5 sq m • Energy Rating: D

020 7293 0879

alex.salkeld@sothebysrealty.co.uk

Price on Application Share of Freehold

Over 650 Offices in 47 Countries

Sothebys_Ken&Che Mag_September_13.indd 3

sothebysrealty.co.uk

02/08/2013 10:25

Soth

Sandalwood Mansions, Kensington W8

An ideal rental investment in a highly regarded development.

Two bedrooms (one en-suite) • Reception room • Kitchen/breakfast room Underground parking space • Ground floor 24 hr entry security • Residents’ gym • Landscaped communal gardens • Approximately 978 sq ft / 91 sq m Energy Rating: C

020 7293 0879

alex.salkeld@sothebysrealty.co.uk Joint Sole Agents Kaye & Carey 020 7590 0066

Guide Price: £1,999,995 Share of Freehold

Over 650 Offices in 47 Countries

10:25

Sothebys_Ken&Che Mag_September_13.indd 4

sothebysrealty.co.uk

02/08/2013 10:25

CROWN LODGE, LONDON. SW3 LEASEHOLD ONE BEDROOM GROSS INTERNAL AREA: 450 SQ FT/ 42 SQ M

ÂŁ945,000 stc Bedroom, Bathroom, Reception room, Open plan kitchen, Communal gardens, 24hr porterage, Swimming pool A bright and well presented south facing one bedroom flat on the first floor of this cottage style property with the benefit of its own private front door. The flat has been recently refurbished and has an attractive reception room with a well fitted open plan kitchen. The apartment is to be found in the leafy grounds of the Crown Lodge development.

It consequently benefits from 24 hour porterage, a leisure centre with a large swimming pool and the possibility of an underground parking space to rent. Crown Lodge is set in beautiful communal gardens with its Wisteria draped walkways and Koi stocked pond. The location of this building is excellent, fronting on to quiet Elystan Street. EPC B.

CHELSEA OFFICE 2 Cale Street, London SW3 3QU +44 (0)20 7581 5011 chelseaoffice@henryandjames.co.uk

henryandjames.co.uk

CROWN LODGE, LONDON. SW3 SHARE OF FREEHOLD TWO BEDROOMS GROSS INTERNAL AREA: 759 SQ FT/ 71 SQ M

ÂŁ1,600,000 stc Two double bedrooms, Dining area, Shower & cloakroom, Communal gardens, 24h porterage , K&C permit parking A stunning, two bedroom, third floor, flat in Crown Lodge in immaculate condition with the rare benefit of a separate dining area. Quietly situated on the third floor of this well regarded purpose built, portered block, with views over the communal gardens, this two double bedroom flat is presented in immaculate condition with the unusual and

distinct advantage of a separate dining area. Ideal as a pied a terre, rental investment or for owner occupier alike the property enjoys all of the amenities for which Crown Lodge is justly famous; swimming pool and on-site gym, communal gardens and fabulous porterage, not to mention the independent, local shops on Chelsea Green. EPC B.

CHELSEA OFFICE 2 Cale Street, London SW3 3QU +44 (0)20 7581 5011 chelseaoffice@henryandjames.co.uk

henryandjames.co.uk

SLOANE GARDENS, LONDON. SW3 ONE BEDROOM FURNISHED

ÂŁ850

PER WEEK stc Double bedroom, Bathroom, Open plan kitchen & reception room, Balcony, Housekeeper.

A spectacular, interior designed one bedroom apartment on the first floor of this imposing period redbrick building just of Sloane Square. The accommodation comprises spacious double bedroom with ample of storage and green outlook which is located to the back of the building, reception room which is open plan to kitchen with an access to the balcony and

a modern bathroom. The property is professionally managed and available furnished for a long term let. Potential tenants are advised that administration fees may be payable when renting a property. Please ask for details of our charges. EPC D.

CHELSEA OFFICE 2 Cale Street, London SW3 3QU +44 (0)20 7581 5011 chelseaoffice@henryandjames.co.uk

henryandjames.co.uk

SLOANE GARDENS LONDON. SW3 TWO BEDROOMS FURNISHED

ÂŁ1195

PER WEEK stc Open plan kitchen & reception, Two double bedrooms, Two bathrooms, Dressing room, Communal gardens.

This beautifully presented two double bedroom modern apartment with direct communal gardens access located in this impressive tree lined street. The property comprises a modern open plan kitchen / reception room with impressive ceiling height, bay window and doors out on to the gardens, two double bedrooms, two bathrooms and

a dressing room. The property will be newly redecorated throughout. Available furnished for a long term let from the middle of September. Potential tenants are advised that administration fees may be payable when renting a property. Please ask for details of our charges. EPC D.

CHELSEA OFFICE 2 Cale Street, London SW3 3QU +44 (0)20 7581 5011 chelseaoffice@henryandjames.co.uk

henryandjames.co.uk

faronsutaria.co.uk

SALES & LETTINGS

PHILBEACH GARDENS, EARLS COURT, LONDON, SW5 A beautifully refurbished maisonette with direct views over Philbeach Gardens, an abundance of space, generous ceiling height and access to a flat roof (undemised). Located close to the restaurants, bars and transport links of Earls Court Road.

Energy Rating: E. 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, reception room, communal gardens. £1,850,000 Leasehold 020 7293 0605 earlsct@faronsutaria.co.uk

SaLES • LEttIngS • aUCtIOnS • PROPERtY FInanCE • SURVEYS • COnVEYanCIng

Ken&Chel mag Sep13.indd 1

OUR SERVICE WILL MOVE YOU

02/08/2013 11:02

Ken&

faronsutaria.co.uk

SALES & LETTINGS

QUEENS GATE, SW7 A stylish 3 bedroom lateral apartment comprising modern eat-in kitchen and living space, close to South Kensington Underground station. Energy Rating: C. 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, reception room, lift. £3,100,000 Leasehold 020 7293 0627 southken@faronsutaria.co.uk

SaLES • LEttIngS • aUCtIOnS • PROPERtY FInanCE • SURVEYS • COnVEYanCIng

11:02

Ken&Chel mag Sep13.indd 2

OUR SERVICE WILL MOVE YOU

02/08/2013 11:02

faronsutaria.co.uk

SALES & LETTINGS

WESTBOURNE GARDENS, W2 A superb flat with direct views over Westbourne Gardens Square. Arranged over two floors, the living space is divided with a south facing eat-in kitchen and a separate reception room over looking the gardens. Energy Rating: F. 2 bedrooms, bathroom, reception room, communal garden. £1,200,000 Leasehold 020 7293 0594 nottinghill@faronsutaria.co.uk

SaLES • LEttIngS • aUCtIOnS • PROPERtY FInanCE • SURVEYS • COnVEYanCIng

Ken&Chel mag Sep13.indd 3

OUR SERVICE WILL MOVE YOU

02/08/2013 11:02

Ken&

faronsutaria.co.uk

SALES & LETTINGS

TITE STREET, SW3 A recently refurbished 2nd floor apartment (with lift) in a well maintained, portered purpose-built building in Chelsea, with views over communal gardens. Energy Rating: D. 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, reception room. £1,550,000 Leasehold 020 7293 0638 chelsea@faronsutaria.co.uk

ORMONDE GATE, SW3 An elegant raised ground floor flat with direct access to communal gardens from the reception and views over Burton Court from the bedroom suite. Energy Rating: C. Bedroom, bathroom, guest cloakroom, reception room. £1,450,000 Leasehold 020 7293 0638 chelsea@faronsutaria.co.uk

SaLES • LEttIngS • aUCtIOnS • PROPERtY FInanCE • SURVEYS • COnVEYanCIng

11:02

Ken&Chel mag Sep13.indd 4

OUR SERVICE WILL MOVE YOU

02/08/2013 11:02

DAVID ADAMS, the Managing Director of John Taylor, delves into the world of off-market properties and reveals how the mansion tax for millionaires could end up affecting us all...

I am always quick to report luxury property trends because there is an appetite for hearing about them. Sometimes they amount to nothing. This one is worrying. Increasing numbers of sellers do not want an imprint of their house or apartment on the web. We have always had a small proportion of off-market property. Maybe the couple selling are getting divorced. The children are in boarding school and don’t know. They only want to announce it to the children, and the family, if and when the house sells. They don’t wish to announce their split through a web advert for their house. So the standard was always to carry some 20% of property off-market. John Taylor now has more than 50% of its UK property, off-market. Divorce isn’t the major driver, I am sure it is tax.

If the next government does try to introduce a mansion tax for millionaires, which would be applied to two bedroom flats right across Kensington, many vendors will want to dispute their valuation, especially those that are around the proposed £2 million threshold. Those vendors with houses at £50 million who would prefer to be taxed on £30 million will probably also want to dispute. It will be hard to dispute a government valuation of £2.1 million, or indeed £50 million if there is a floor plan embedded on the web showing the actual property size, an asking price, and photos of a smart interior, dated a year ago.

If there is no imprint of the property however, it will be quite easy

dadams@john-taylor.com

to argue a lower level of value, and the government is unlikely to have the resources to come and check. That is the main reason I think that this proposed tax, now supported by both the Lib-Dems and Labour, is unworkable.

The problem with an off-market sale is that it can take three to four times longer to sell a property, and has a far lower success rate of sale, perhaps a third of the success rate of an on-market property. Buyers also know that they are not in competition and so tend to make low offers, and also take their time negotiating.

The main problem with a mansion tax, as I am sure our liberal democrat politicians know, is that it will have the same negative price implications that it has caused where it has been introduced elsewhere. My main concern is that just as stamp duty was a millionaire’s tax when it was introduced; it is now paid by most people when they purchase very modest houses and flats. The mansion tax can equally be applied to lower value property over time as the government struggles to find new ways of raising money. Eventually I am sure most home owners would end up paying it as they have with stamp duty, and those renting will have it passed on to them. Most 2 bedroom flat owners can’t afford to pay an extra £20,000 a year tax. Which is why I am sure that, on this policy alone, those parties that are advocating a mansion tax won’t be voted in.

In the meantime buyers need to understand that what you see on the market isn’t anything like what is available, especially above £2 million pounds.

www.john-taylor.com

020 3284 1888

SOLD

SOLD

Sydney Street, SW3

Belgrave Square, SW1X

SOLD

SOLD

Wilton Place, SW1X

Holland Park, W11

SOLD

SOLD Fountain House, Mayfair, W1

Lowndes SqUARE, SW1X

UNDER

UNDER

FER OF

FER OF

Stanhope Mews East, SW7

Dormy House, Wentworth Estate

Sacrifice never tasted sweeter.

ZOO1205 PL DPS_Runwild_420x297.indd 1-2

02/07/2013 12:23

020 7373 5222 info@hogarthestates.co.uk www.hogarthestates.co.uk

H

Hogarths Morton Mews SW5

This type of property is a rare find offering four or five bedrooms and several potential layouts.

Spanning nearly 3,000 square feet it benefits from an above average size roof terrace which can be re-designed into a roof terrace and roof garden. Morton Mews is a quiet gated mews located at the end of the popular Earls Court Gardens.

Freehold • 4 Bedrooms • Double reception • Kitchen /diner • Roof terrace

£3,175,000

Barkston Gardens SW5 A splendid second floor two bedroom two bathroom apartment with high ceilings and period features consisting of a separate modern kitchen located overlooking the communal gardens at Barkston Gardens.

Share of freehold

• 2 bedrooms • 2 bathrooms • Second floor • Share of freehold

£1,325,000

020 7373 5222 info@hogarthestates.co.uk www.hogarthestates.co.uk

H

Hogarths Childs Street SW5

A charming two bedroom terraced house set back from the road and located in the quiet Childs Street benefiting from a south facing garden and roof terrace.

Freehold

• 2 bed terraced house • Roof terrace • Great rear garden • Village location

£1,200,000

Earls Court Square SW5 A wonderful raised ground floor one bedroom apartment, benefiting from high ceilings and a grand period bay window overlooking the gardens at Earls Court Square.

Share of Freehold

• 1 bedroom • Raised Ground Floor • SHARE OF FREEHOLD • COMMUNAL gardens

£800,000

PROPERTY

Local Property News Annabel Harrison takes a closer look at the Q2 sales figures released in July from Strutt & Parker’s Chelsea office

National estate agency Strutt & Parker’s Chelsea office has reviewed its Q2 figures and observed some significant changes in the sales being achieved and the level of the market. While activity levels in the core market of £2-5 million are similar to the same period last year, trades under £2 million have rapidly increased to up to 38 per cent from 9 per cent last year and volumes of sales above £5 million are down by 19 per cent on 2012.

“Chelsea falls within our most dynamic prime central London submarket, Chelsea, South Kensington & Fulham, where we see the highest sales volumes” In the last quarter, 70 per cent of trades were to English buyers, 15 per cent to Europeans and 15 per cent to Middle Eastern buyers, while 28 per cent of purchases under £2 million were made by buyers in their 20s or 30s.

Harry Wigram, Partner at Strutt & Parker Chelsea, commented that “the market was much busier in the second quarter of 2013 after a slow start to the year; we believe activity in the lower core market will continue throughout much of the summer when typically the domestic house market slows down in August. We expect the autumn market to return to normality

after the summer holidays as long as London doesn’t experience the terrible weather it did at the beginning of the year, which kept a lot of our reliable international buyers far away!”

Stephanie McMahon, Head of Research for Strutt & Parker, also gave her thoughts on the latest figures: “Chelsea falls within our most dynamic prime central London submarket, Chelsea, South Kensington & Fulham, where we see the highest sales volumes. It is also one of our youngest markets, with both vendor and buyer groups being predominantly from the 30-39 age group, perhaps not unexpected in a strong family market.

“One trend we have witnessed over the past year is the decline of property developers within the market. In the year to December 2012 almost 40 per cent of sellers were developers but in the most recent period to June 2013 that figure had fallen to 19 per cent, with those in finance being the most dominant group. A more domestic market than Mayfair or Belgravia, for example, 70 per cent of vendors and 63 per cent of buyers are from the UK.” According to Stephanie, the young, domestic and dynamic market in the areas of Chelsea, South Kensington and Fulham has resulted in an increase in buyers’ purchasing value aspirations over the past 18 months and more people are buying for secondary and investment purposes.

“The international characteristics are not nearly so apparent here; however, the price increases of the past few years are without a doubt impacting this market and perhaps forcing more buyers up the value chain.” struttandparker.com

Above from left/ The Little Boltons, £3.495 million; Cheyne Court, £2.9 million

226

the KENSINGTON & CHELSEA magazine

Chelsea Fulham & Parsons Green Kensington & Holland Park Knightsbridge, Belgravia & Mayfair Notting Hill & Bayswater West Chelsea & South Kensington

Sales 020 7225 3866 Sales 020 7731 7100 Sales 020 7938 3666 Sales 020 7235 9959 Sales 020 7221 1111 Sales 020 7373 1010

Lettings 020 7589 9966 Lettings 020 7731 7100 Lettings 020 7938 3866 Lettings 020 7235 9959 Lettings 020 7221 1111 Lettings 020 7373 1010

struttandparker.com

Argyll Place | North Kensington | W10 A brand new boutique housing development in the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea Setting new standards for luxury living, be the first to experience Argyll Place’s elegant collection of superbly appointed town and mews houses.

Mews Houses from £1,300,000 | Townhouses from £2,750,000 | Large Townhouse from £3,800,000

Simon Fernandes 020 7225 3866 simon.fernandes@struttandparker.com JSA Bective Leslie Marsh 020 3667 5581

.

Chelsea Fulham & Parsons Green Kensington & Holland Park Knightsbridge, Belgravia & Mayfair Notting Hill & Bayswater West Chelsea & South Kensington

Sales 020 7225 3866 Sales 020 7731 7100 Sales 020 7938 3666 Sales 020 7235 9959 Sales 020 7221 1111 Sales 020 7373 1010

Lettings 020 7589 9966 Lettings 020 7731 7100 Lettings 020 7938 3866 Lettings 020 7235 9959 Lettings 020 7221 1111 Lettings 020 7373 1010

City Office Professional Valuations UK Commercial & Residential Residential Investment Property Management

020 7600 3456 020 7318 5039 020 7629 7282 020 7318 5196 020 7052 9417

struttandparker.com

Earls Court Road | Kensington | W8 2,150 sq ft (199.7 sq m) EPC Rating E

An impressive and beautifully presented four bedroom stucco fronted house with the advantage of having off-street parking.

Entrance hall | Drawing room | Kitchen/family room | Four bedrooms | Two bathrooms | Study | Utility room | Two cloakrooms | Patio | Off-street parking Asking price ÂŁ1,900 per week, Unfurnished

Asking price ÂŁ3,150,000 Freehold

Kensington Lettings 020 7938 3866 Kensington Sales 020 7938 3666 Kensington.lettings@struttandparker.com

Kensington@struttandparker.com

Scan this QR code with your camera phone to read more about this property.

Free QR code readers are available for download from our website at struttandparker.com/qrcode

Drayton Gardens | Chelsea | SW10 3,413 sq ft (317.1 sq m)

Occupying one of the key houses of this sought after address, this wonderful Grade II listed house provides for a comfortable and elegant family home.

Drawing room | Dining room | Family room | Kitchen | Two studies | Conservatory | Five bedrooms | Three bath/shower rooms | WC | West facing rear garden | Front garden Asking price ÂŁ6,250,000 Freehold

West Chelsea 020 7373 1010 westchelsea@struttandparker.com

Scan this QR code with your camera phone to read more about this property.

Free QR code readers are available for download from our website at struttandparker.com/qrcode

Chelsea Fulham & Parsons Green Kensington & Holland Park Knightsbridge, Belgravia & Mayfair Notting Hill & Bayswater West Chelsea & South Kensington

Sales 020 7225 3866 Sales 020 7731 7100 Sales 020 7938 3666 Sales 020 7235 9959 Sales 020 7221 1111 Sales 020 7373 1010

Lettings 020 7589 9966 Lettings 020 7731 7100 Lettings 020 7938 3866 Lettings 020 7235 9959 Lettings 020 7221 1111 Lettings 020 7373 1010

City Office Professional Valuations UK Commercial & Residential Residential Investment Property Management

struttandparker.com

Gloucester Walk | Kensington | W8 1,781 sq ft (165.5 sq m) EPC Rating D

An outstanding five bedroom maisonette with wonderful views and access to the beautifully maintained communal gardens.

Entrance Hall | Drawing room | Kitchen | Master bedroom with en suite bathroom | Four further bedrooms | Three shower rooms | Utility room | Terrace | Access to communal gardens (from the building) Asking price £2,850,000 Share of Freehold

Kensington 020 7938 3666 kensington@struttandparker.com

Smith Terrace | Chelsea | SW3 2,643 sq ft (245 sq m) EPC Rating D

A spectacular four bedroom family house which has been completely rebuilt behind the original façade.

Drawing Room | Kitchen/Breakfast Room | Dining room/Library | Media Room | Study/Office | Four bedrooms | Four bathrooms | Two Further Terraces | Garden Asking price £6,250,000 Freehold

Chelsea 020 7225 3866 chelsea@struttandparker.com

JSA Savills 020 7581 5234

020 7600 3456 020 7318 5039 020 7629 7282 020 7318 5196 020 7052 9417

Cheyne Walk | Chelsea | SW3 3,264 sq ft (303.2 sq m) EPC Rating D

Rare to the market, this stylishly refurbished penthouse maisonette has the feeling of a New York loft apartment with its studio style drawing room and large spacious rooms.

Entrance hall l Drawing room l Dining room l Library l Kitchen l Two en suite bedrooms l Cloakroom l Roof terrace l Direct lift access Asking price ÂŁ6,250,000 Leasehold

Chelsea 020 7225 3866 chelsea@struttandparker.com

JSA Savills 020 7730 0822

Bywater Street | Chelsea | SW3 1,387 sq ft (129 sq m) EPC Rating D

A superb three bedroom house presented in an immaculate condition with an interior design finish.

Two reception rooms | Kitchen | Three bedrooms | Two bathrooms Price: ÂŁ1,950 per week Furnished/Unfurnished

Chelsea Lettings 020 7589 9966 Chelsea.lettings@struttandparker.com

Chelsea Fulham & Parsons Green Kensington & Holland Park Knightsbridge, Belgravia & Mayfair Notting Hill & Bayswater West Chelsea & South Kensington

Sales 020 7225 3866 Sales 020 7731 7100 Sales 020 7938 3666 Sales 020 7235 9959 Sales 020 7221 1111 Sales 020 7373 1010

Lettings 020 7589 9966 Lettings 020 7731 7100 Lettings 020 7938 3866 Lettings 020 7235 9959 Lettings 020 7221 1111 Lettings 020 7373 1010

City Office Professional Valuations UK Commercial & Residential Residential Investment Property Management

020 7600 3456 020 7318 5039 020 7629 7282 020 7318 5196 020 7052 9417

struttandparker.com

Montpelier Place | Knightsbridge | SW7 2,007 sq ft (186.46 sq m) EPC rating D

A charming and well-presented Freehold corner house in the heart of Knightsbridge, arranged over four floors.

Drawing room | Dining room | Sitting room | Kitchen | Master bedroom suite | Three further en suite bedrooms | Cloakroom | Utility room Asking Price ÂŁ4,250,000 Freehold

Knightsbridge 020 7235 9959 knightsbridge@struttandparker.com

Scan this QR code with your camera phone to read more about this property.

Free QR code readers are available to download from our website at struttandparker.com/qrcode

Ensor Mews | South Kensington | SW7 2,723sq ft (253 sq m) EPC rating E

A stunning mews property which has been re-modelled and refurbished to a very high standard throughout.

Reception room | Open-plan kitchen/reception/dining room | Media room | Four bedrooms | Four bath/shower rooms | Two cloakrooms | Utility room | Wine cellar | Garage Asking Price ÂŁ5,950,000 Freehold

West Chelsea 020 7373 1010 westchelsea@struttandparker.com

Scan this QR code with your camera phone to read more about this property.

Free QR code readers are available to download from our website at struttandparker.com/qrcode

Chelsea Fulham & Parsons Green Kensington & Holland Park Knightsbridge, Belgravia & Mayfair Notting Hill & Bayswater West Chelsea & South Kensington

Sales 020 7225 3866 Sales 020 7731 7100 Sales 020 7938 3666 Sales 020 7235 9959 Sales 020 7221 1111 Sales 020 7373 1010

Lettings 020 7589 9966 Lettings 020 7731 7100 Lettings 020 7938 3866 Lettings 020 7235 9959 Lettings 020 7221 1111 Lettings 020 7373 1010

City Office Professional Valuations UK Commercial & Residential Residential Investment Property Management

020 7600 3456 020 7318 5039 020 7629 7282 020 7318 5196 020 7052 9417

struttandparker.com

Jermyn Street | St. James’s | SW1 1603 sq ft (148.9 sq m)

Newly constructed behind a beautifully restored Portland stone façade, these two bedroom apartments have been designed by world renowned Eric Parry Architects to a bespoke specification befitting this prestigious London address.

Entrance hall I Reception room I Open-plan kitchen I Dining room I Master bedroom with en suite bathroom I Second bedroom with en suite shower I Guest cloakroom I Porter I EPC rating B Asking price £3,950,000 - £4,150,000 125 year leasehold

Simon Fernandes 020 7318 4677 simon.fernandes@struttandparker.com

020 7306 1610 W.A.Ellis 174 Brompton Road London SW3 1HP waellis.co.uk

LONDON : 164, NEW BOND STREET | HARRODS | SELFRIDGES 0 20 7514 9170 | www.boucheron.com

Runwild_210x297_4Black_UK.indd 1

07/08/13 10:17