8611.indd 2
MAYFAIR STORE davidmarshalllondon.com
43 Davies Street Mayfair London W1K 4LU
020 7495 6378
12/03/2014 14:44
Circus Collection +44 (0)20 7235 0111 boodles.com
14743 Steinway Mayfair Magazine DPS_Layout 1 18/02/2014 16:28 Page 1
For information on Steinway & Sons pianos or to arrange a private appointment to visit our London showrooms, please call 0207 487 3391 or email info@steinway.co.uk
WWW.STEINWAYHALL.CO.UK
Contents | The mayfair Magazine
Contents April 2014 060
regulars
Collection
012 | Contributors
027 | A new era A stunning new creation from Baume & Mercier
014 | Editor’s letter 017 | My life in Mayfair: Stephen Jones 018 | Couture culture Our latest dispatch on the top books, film and plays of the month 117 | Remembering Mayfair: The Only Running Footman
Features 050 | Enfant terrible Stephen Doig traces Jean Paul Gaultier’s eccentric designs as a new exhibition arrives in London 060 | A British classic Motoring photographer René Staud’s latest tome on Aston Martin 062 | Take no prisoners Richard Yarrow test drives the new Land Rover Defender 067 | Spring into action Live long and strong with our guide to changing your life for the better 068 | Work it out Two fitness experts reveal the latest workout trends to have you fit for spring 8
070 | A new start We go behind the scenes at the stunning PHI clinic on Harley Street 072 | Mind over matter Amber Allinson experiences the Landmark Forum 074 | Health management How one medical entrepreneur is transforming health care 076 | Tech support State-of-the-art technology for your house and home – prepare to covet 078 | Private eye How to protect your identity with iris recognition and biometric passwords
028 | The grand finale Steinway & Sons celebrates 160 years of fine pianos 029 | Jewellery news 031 | Works of art Jewellery takes an artistic form
Art
032 | Bright young thing Parmigiani Fleurier’s rise to fame
021 | Art news
036 | Watch news
022 | Prize lots 024 | Exhibition focus: ‘Under the Influence: John Deakin and the Lure of Soho’ at The Photographers’ Gallery
024
032
Contents | The mayfair Magazine
Contents April 2014 039
Travel
156
097 | Suite dreams: The London Edition 099 | Travel news 100 | City break: Strasbourg Visit the city where German and French culture meet
152
102 | The adventurer’s bucket list Take travel inspiration from daredevil Dave Cornthwaite
038
Interiors 054 | Culinary masterpiece Electrolux gives cooking a chic makeover
Fashion 030 | Substance of style How to insure one of your most valuable assets: your wardrobe 038 | An elegant affair Haute couture and ready-to-wear from Gyunel
111 | Food & drink news 056 | The family stone Interior designer Janine Stone invites us to her showroom
Beauty
040 | Style spy 041 | Well groomed Hard-working grooming products for him
086 | Mirror mirror The glamour of the Forties returns
042 | All aboard We revisit the era of glamorous travel in this month’s fashion shoot
089 | Beauty news
10
Food & Drink
055 | Interiors news
082 | Telling stories Meet Danielle Ryan: actress, philanthropist, heiress, media mogul and now, perfumer
039 | Style update
106 | Soul mate Take a break from life in the fast lane and escape to Ibiza
093 | Spa review: Caudalíe
112 | The legend of Krug James Lawrence explores the iconic Champagne house 115 | Dining out: Marani
111
Property 152 | Spotlight on: Harvey Cyzer We meet the head of Knight Frank’s Mayfair and St James’s office on Mount Street 156 | Property news 158 | California dreaming Fendi Casa design a stunning apartment in Los Angeles
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
Contributors | The mayfair Magazine
APRIL 2014 s issue 031
Editor Elle Blakeman
The
contributors
Deputy Editor Kate Racovolis Art Editor Carol Cordrey Food & Drink Editor Neil Ridley Collection Editor Annabel Harrison Editorial Assistant Bethan Rees Brand Consistency Laddawan Juhong Senior Designer Lisa Wade Production Hugo Wheatley Alex Powell Oscar Viney Editor-in-Chief Kate Harrison Client Relationship Director Kate Oxbrow General Manager Fiona Fenwick Communications Director Loren Penney Head of Finance Elton Hopkins Associate Publisher Sophie Roberts Managing Director Eren Ellwood
Proudly published by
6th Floor, One Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5AB 020 7987 4320 www.rwmg.co.uk
Dominic Nicholls Hailing from the same town as Margaret Thatcher and Sir Isaac Newton, Dominic lives and works in London shooting a mix of fashion and celebrity images. He has been lucky enough to work numerous A-listers, in including Sir Anthony Hopkins and Rod Stewart CBE.
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.
Mike Peake
Mike has written extensively for The Sunday Times and The Daily Telegraph. This month he delves into the world of identity theft and the surprising solutions to keep yours safe. From iris irisrecognition to biometric passwords, he discovers the latest technology.
Stephen Doig
Award-winning fashion writer Stephen has worked for Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar among many more. This month, he celebrates the original enfant terrible, Jean Paul Gaultier, as a new exhibition arrives in London, tracing the fashion designer’s illustrious career.
Carol Cordrey
Carol is an art critic and editor. She organises the annual London Ice Sculpting Festival and is permanently on the art scene bringing us the latest happenings. This month, she tours Mayfair’s galleries with Brown’s Hotel and finds two inspirational exhibitions for spring.
Also published by fulham Resident s Journal ’
DISTRIBUTION: The Mayfair Magazine is distributed in Mayfair, St James’s and Belgravia as well as selected parts of Knightsbridge, Chelsea and Marylebone.
Written for the residents of sW6 MARCH 2014 • Issue 19
Members of the Professional Publishers Association
12
cover
On the
image courtesy of jetclass (see page 55)
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)
Editor’s Letter | The mayfair Magazine
editorI
From the
EDITOR’S PICKs
#1 Jumper Dries Van Noten, £590 (brownsfashion.com)
#2 Yellow and white gold, diamond and pink pinel Poppy Tryst ring £10,000, Theo Fennell (theofennell.com)
1 2 3
#3 Giles scarf, £340, available from Joseph (joseph-fashion.com)
have a lot of time for cleaning. Not the thankless drudgery of trying to keep things in order (for this, I always refer back to that great quote: ‘Excuse the mess, but we live here,’), no, I mean the ‘throw everything out and start again’ brand of cleaning, the kind that always looks worse before it looks better – a spring clean, where everything must once again justify its place in your life. It’s immensely satisfying and never fails to improve my quality of life. Why then, do we so often settle for cleaning outside – our houses, cupboards and cars – as opposed to ourselves; re-evaluating what ideas, regimes and habits remain useful, and which are the emotional equivalent of holding onto a pair of ripped, 1980s Balmain jeans. This month, we have searched London to find the very best experts – from world-class doctors and fitness gurus to life coaches (page 67) – all with excellent advice to help with your new start. Want to lose weight, improve your relationships or even live until you’re 100? These people have the answers. We also meet one man who threw it all in and decided to turn life into an adventure – trekking the globe and trying new things – a great read and an inspirational story (page 102). If however, your family aren’t too keen on the idea of leaving the comforts of London behind for good, then perhaps an afternoon at the Camélia restaurant at the Mandarin Oriental in Paris will suffice? We are offering you the chance to fly there for the day, via private jet, with three friends, and experience a gastronomic feast in the heart of the City of Lights – details on page 94 (rwmg.co.uk/competition). Actually, forget about the cleaning – let’s all just go to Paris.
Elle Blakeman Editor Follow us on Twitter @MayfairMagazine
14
top: ibiza (page 106); karl lagerfeld (page 39)
w w w. g y u n e l . c o m | 0 2 0 7 5 8 1 5 5 6 0 | i n f o @ g y u n e l . c o m
Drive it, Wear it, Live it. Live the Ginetta lifestyle with our Ginetta Racing Drivers Club and quintessentially British menswear collection.
CALL 0113 385 3850 EMAIL sales@ginetta.com ginetta.com/GRDC | ginettalifestyle.co.uk ginettacars | ginettalstyle
Photography by Chris Wallbank
The mayfair Magazine | Regulars
My life in MAYFAIR STEPHEN JONES Milliner
‘D ‘I love the shops in South Molton Street, and sandwiches in the garden of the Farm Street Church’ – Stephen Jones
from top: stephen jones; rhythm hat by stephen jones, photo by, Peter Ashworth; coworth park; wisteria hysteria, by stephen jones for Comme des Garçons, £95, available from dover street market; dover street market
on’t look before you leap,’ says Stephen Jones. The world-renowned milliner says it is the best advice he has ever heard, and we need only look to the spontaneity of his designs to see why his hats are more like conversation pieces than merely ornamental headpieces for horserace-goers, or wedding guests. Each is a piece of art; coveted, collected and celebrated around the world (both the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the Louvre in Paris collect his designs). ‘[Millinery] is a continuous invention and it is the most visible and transformative of any accessory,’ says Jones. This month, among his repertoire of projects is a new collaboration with Dorchester Collection’s Coworth Park hotel, with the launch of a hat competition for Royal Ascot, giving the fashion forward the chance to design a hat, which will be judged by Jones. The winning design will be made in his couture atelier, and the winner will receive two hospitality tickets to attend Royal Ascot. ‘I was approached to bring the worlds of luxury hotels, even before Coworth Park opened, and the worlds of racing together,’ says Jones. He will be in attendance to the big day as well, in a morning suit from Gieves & Hawkes and his signature black top hat that he wears every year. And, he has joined creative forces with Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garçons to create a stunning, mouth-blown bottle of eau de toilette, whimsically named Wisteria Hysteria. Jones’s designs have shaped catwalks and red carpets since the early 1980s, including his work with Christian Dior for 20 years, Vivienne Westwood and Claude Montana. The Central Saint Martins graduate remembers one of his mentors when he was starting his career, ‘A lady called Shirley Hex, who was the head of La Chasse Haute Couture Workroom in Farm Street in Mayfair, where I trained,’ he recalls. ‘I very much fell into [millinery]. I never knew I wanted to be a milliner, it just grew on me.’ You might also wonder, exactly how some of his more abstract pieces have come to be. ‘There is always an initial inspiration, being art, travel, music, a glass of Champagne… and then it’s a long hard slog to bring it to life,’ he says. It is his ability to see things that others do not, to create pieces that are both surprising and glamorous – so it is easy to understand why a piece of art to you or I, is a wholly different matter to Jones. Since his early mentorship on Farm Street, Mayfair is an area he knows and loves. ‘[Mayfair] is grand, traditional and in a way discreet,’ says Jones. ‘I love the understated, old-world quality, the shops in South Molton Street, and sandwiches at lunch in the garden of the Farm Street Church. Of course, I love going to Dover Street Market, and I’m very excited about the new Christian Dior flagship that will open on Bond Street next year.’ A man after our hearts. 17
agenda
books
From Paris with love Need a new after-dark haunt? No. 41 will bring an added touch of glamour to your evening escapades. After descending the private staircase, you will discover a hidden gem, with its decadent Parisian-style interiors accented with ruby red and gold. You can’t go wrong with one of its vintage sharing punches and a nibble of fois gras on brioche, in case you’re feeling peckish, which is served from 9pm to 2am. Stay for a drink or indulge in a glamorous night out – either way, great times are ready to be had by all as the nu-disco music sets a vibrant scene. No. 41, 41 Conduit Street, W1S (0207 629 4496)
Couture culture
THE food read J’aime London by Alain Ducasse, £35, Hardie Grant Discover Alain Ducasse’s take on London’s vibrant foodie scene with his comprehensive guide on where to dine.
Coffee-table tomes, the most indulgent Easter treats and a new film starring Ralph Fiennes arrives in cinemas. Plus, the latest stationery accessories from Alessi
THE photography read Astonish Me! by Sam Stourdzé and Anne Lacoste, £14.95, Prestel
theatre
Celebrate the photographs of Philippe Halsman, including his iconic images of Einstein, Monroe and
La Boheme
Churchill.
W
ith the powerful backing of promoter extraordinaire, Raymond Gubbay, Francesca Zambello’s ‘in the round’ production of La
‘Boheme features hit after operatic hit and for novices and aficionados, is usually a winner’ Boheme at the magisterial Royal Albert Hall was never going to be dull. But what a spectacle it is. Staged as a Parisian wartime drama, opening night is a riot of colour, sound, stage and design. The tale of impoverished fun-lovers scraping a living in The Latin Quarter is still a powerful and moving piece of work in the 119th in Turin. Four artistic bachelors share a garret and live for the moment, celebrating every morsel of bread and drop of wine they can lay their hands on. Male lead Rodolfo, a writer, finds his muse in Mimi, a frail local flower girl. Their whirlwind 18
the hollywood read Once Upon a Time in Hollywood by Juliette Michaud, £42, Flammarion Hollywood’s most memorable moments in film and in pictures are immortalised in this elegant hardback book.
romance is stalked constantly throughout by her poor health. Boheme features hit after operatic hit and for novices and aficionados alike, is usually a winner. Tenor Sean Pannikar is a mesmeric and instantly likeable Rodolfo, with a powerful yet tender voice which easily fills the auditorium. There is immediate chemistry with his Mimi, sung with clarity and emotion by Jessica Rose Cambio. Indeed, the strong cast throughout elevates this production to a higher level; Michael Chioldi is a large stage presence as Marcello and Anna Leese threatens to steal the show as the outrageously flirtacious society girl. An absolutely must-see. words: nick hammond
THE interiors read London Interiors: Bold, Elegant, Refined by Barbara Stoeltie, £32.50, Flammarion Take an insider’s tour of London’s most glamorous homes, from Notting Hill to Piccadilly. THE TRAVEL read 100 Getaways Around the World, by Margit J. Mayer, £34.99, Taschen Trust Taschen to produce a stunning two-part tome featuring its top hotel picks – all the travel tips you need.
The mayfair Magazine | Regulars
5 top picks
Easter gifts
Will you opt for chocolate from Nobu, Claridge’s classic Easter egg or even a Fabergé egg pendant? Whichever you decide, this is the time to indulge your sweet tooth a little (or a lot) #1 Je t’aime yellow gold pendant, £2,814 Fabergé (faberge.com)
film
The Invisible Woman
A
bi Morgan is seriously hot property right now. With her name in lights at The Royal Court (above her new play The Mistress Contract), and clocking up success after success (The Iron Lady, Shame, Brick Lane) at the cinema – Morgan has a unique way of digging right to the gritty, oft-uncomfortable core. In The Invisible Woman, she turns her skills to bringing Claire Tomalin’s book on the private life of Dickens to the big screen. Ralph Fiennes, probably one of the few actors with enough gravitas to play the great writer, both directs and stars in this film, and is truly wonderful in the part – bringing out the many contradictions in Dickens’ personality – mixing greatness with deep-set insecurity. However it is the beautiful, anxious Nelly Ternan (Felicity
Jones – Chalet Girl, Hysteria) that really makes the film. It is through her eyes that the story is told, and we see it play out from the now-married Jones as she looks back on her passionate, yet tortured affair with Dickens, when she was plucked from her acting family and pushed into the limelight as the relationship progressed. Uncomfortable in the ‘mistress’ role, she finds her new life of scandal sits uneasily with her. The film serves as a stark reminder of the limited options available for women at the time, and the scenes with Nelly and Dickens’ plump, forgiving but long-suffering wife (the excellent Joanna Scanlan – The Thick Of It, The Other Boleyn Girl), are awkwardly touching. Definitely one to watch. The Invisible Woman is at cinemas now.
A desk full of Alessi’s stationery accessories is a happy and productive working space indeed
Left to right: Minou purse hook by Frederic Gooris, £15.50, Dozi magnetic paper clip holder by LPWK, Mika H.J. Kim, £14, Trina pencil holder by Hani Rashid, £42, Kastor pencil sharpener by Rodrigo Torres, £38, all Alessi (alessi.com)
#2 Easter Egg, from £15, Available from Nobu London and Nobu Berkeley Street
#3 The Champagne and Eggs Box, £60, Fortnum & Mason (fortnumandmason.com)
#4 Claridge’s Easter Egg, £55, Available from Claridge’s
#5 Lapin de Pâques, £23 Pierre Hermé (pierreherme.com)
19
ANNA CASA MAYFAIR SHOWROOM 2 HAY HILL LONDON W1J 6AS | 020 7629 0045 | INFO@ANNACASA.NET ANNAWWW.ANNACASA.NET CASA MAYFAIR SHOWROOM 2 HAY HILL LONDON W1J 6AS | 020 7629 0045 | INFO@ANNACASA.NET WWW.ANNACASA.NET Anna Casa.indd 1
19/11/2013 15:30
Anna Casa.indd 1
19/11/2013 15:30
The mayfair Magazine | Art
Q&A with… with Sophie Darley of Brown’s Hotel about its Saturday Art Tours
Art news
Art can be both an inspiration and an investment. This month, Carol Cordrey searches the length of the Mayfair art world to find pieces that do just that Revelling in the Riviera
Q: What is the aim of the Art Tours and what galleries are participating in them? A: They are a relaxed and fun way of introducing art buyers and enthusiasts to Mayfair’s leading art galleries. Led by the directors of the participating 35 galleries surrounding Brown’s Hotel, they open the eyes of the visitor to a range of artworks, from classical to contemporary. Q: Can you explain the format and timing of each event? A: Each tour begins at 10.30am with tea or coffee and a chat at Brown’s. Afterwards, guests will be taken to four different Mayfair galleries where they will meet the curators of each, before returning to the hotel for a sumptuous, set lunch in HIX Mayfair.
Art that captures the joys of life on the French Riviera is always exciting and precisely what the doctor ordered for this time of year. This month, Getty Images Gallery will be supplying just the right dose of medicine for us with its fabulous photographs by the legendary, American artist, ‘Slim’ Aarons (19162006). Aarons served as a combat photographer in WWII after which he decided, ‘The only beaches I wanted to see had girls on them’. The result is a vast photographic oeuvre – with lots of girls – that depicts celebrities and wealthy individuals at play, principally in America and France. He captured a luxurious life that remains as alluring now as it was when the finest publications competed for his work. ‘Slim’s Riviera’, 20 March – 10 May (gettyimagesgallery.com)
Glorious gardens As the spring season finally takes root after the wettest of winters, our spirits soar at the prospect of getting out into our gardens to enjoy their overall therapeutic effects. The late, great writer Rudyard Kipling clearly shared that feeling as he penned the lines invoking us to pray ‘For the Glory of the Garden that it may not pass away!’. Ensuring that gardens remain firmly with us is the annual show of the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours. It is devoting a section of the very urban though elegant Mall Galleries space to paintings on the theme of An Artist in the Garden. The subjects range from cottage gardens, across stately lawns and on to beautiful flowers and earthy, home-grown vegetables. All are highly accomplished and many are by award-winning artists. ‘An Artist in the Garden’, 2-19 April (mallgalleries.org.uk)
Q: Has the project proved popular and will you extend it? A: It has been extremely positive. This is a splendid way to spend a Saturday and it is very exciting to have this exclusive access to galleries and to their talented curators. The Brown’s Saturday Art Tours will be running indefinitely. Brown’s Art Tours (roccofortehotels.com) cost £60 per person. To book a place, please call Reservations at Brown’s Hotel on 020 7518 4172 or email reservations.browns@ roccofortehotels.com.
21
PRIZE LOTs #1 Emerald and diamond earrings from Harry Winston Diamonds are a girl’s best friend, according to the 1953 film Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. So adding emeralds to that mix must create an aesthetic dream team. Legendary American jeweller Harry Winston, who receives a mention in the aforementioned film, has draped exquisite jewels over the most illustrious of hands, necks and ears; from Marylin Monroe to Elizabeth Taylor; Madonna to Angelina Jolie. Now, Bonhams are offering the opportunity to sparkle like the stars, with this pair of emerald and diamond earrings in their Fine Jewellery Sale. The octagonal step-cut emeralds come in at an impressive 12.02 carats and 11.72 carats respectively, with a border of pear-shaped, marquise-cut diamonds, measuring in at 2.5cm and signed, Winston. Expected value £150,000-200,000. ‘The Fine Jewellery Sale’ at Bonhams. 30 April 2014 (bonhams.com)
#2 The Young Hercules Christie’s holds the world auction record for the highest price ever achieved for an ancient classical marble sculpture for the sale of a Roman statue of Jenkins Venus in 2002, which reached £7,926,650. Although this sale is set to reach slightly lower figures, we are still very excited. Hercules was famed in classical mythology for his notorious strength and far-reaching adventures. Yet, leading the bi-annual Antiquities sale at Christie’s, we see a rare depiction of the son of Zeus as a cherubically plump child, adorning a Neamean lion skin, rather than a strong, strapping hero. The collection spans the ancient world from the Third Millennium B.C. to the Eleventh Century A.D., which formerly resided in
clockwise from top: image courtesy of bonhams; christie’s images ltd; Image: © sotheby’s;
22
the collection of French diplomat and noted novelist, Roger Peyrefitte until he died in November 2000. Ancient gold and silver statuettes also come from Derek Content, who initially started a collection in the 1970s due to the lack of classical sculptures in precious metals, including a rare figure of Cerberus, the mythological threeheaded dog who guarded the gates of Hades. Expected value £100,000-£150,000. The Antiquities Sale at Christie’s, King Street. 2 April 2014 (christies.com)
#3 ‘The Procession of Mahmal Through the Streets of Cairo’ by Ludwig Deutsch The majority of Orientalist art was created by Western 19th and early 20th-century artists, who travelled to give their own glimpse of a new and unexplored world of the Middle-East and East-Asian cultures, to enlighten their audiences at home. The works are said to not have depicted a colonialist agenda, but rather visual embodiments of their first-hand experiences. As part of Sotheby’s Orientalist and Islamic Week, the auction house is presenting various masterpieces, both paintings and sculptures, as part of The Orientalist Sale. The works, which have are becoming increasingly coveted, comprise a collection from leading European and American artists such as Ludwig Deutsch, David Roberts and Etienne Dinet. The Procession of Mahmal Through the Streets of Cairo by Austrian artists Deutsch, is an archetypal example of this genre, which captures the essence of the Egyptian city on canvas, encapsulating the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. Expected value £1,000,000- 1,500,000. The Orientalist Sale at Sotheby’s London, 8 April 2014 (sothebys.com)
The mayfair Magazine | Art
1
2
3 23
Exhibition Focus:
Soho 195s Photography Exhibition
Under The Influence:
John Deakin and the Lure of Soho This month, The Photographer’s Gallery remembers the great photographer John Deakin, whose pictures captured the streets of Soho and Mayfair like no other WORDS: REBECCA WALLERSTEINER
T
from left: John Deakin Partygoer, 1940s (© The John Deakin Archive 2013); John Deakin Girl in Café, late 1950s (© The John Deakin Archive 2013); John Deakin Jeffrey Bernard, Cambridge Circus, London, 1950s (Courtesy Robin Muir)
24
he photographer John Deakin (1912 – 1972) may have been ‘vicious’ and ‘thoroughly unreliable’, with ‘enormous ears that made him look like Mickey Mouse,’ but he was also undeniably talented. Deakin spent much of the 1950s chronicling the twilight world within the quarter mile of Soho and Mayfair, around the Photographer’s Gallery. It is therefore fitting that from April 11th this venue will be showing a major exhibition of seventy of his photographs and paintings, many of them never-seen-before. ‘Our show aims to capture not only Deakin’s imagery of everyday life of 1950s Soho and Mayfair, its back streets, bars, shops and nightclubs, but also his glamorous work as a fashion photographer for Vogue,’ says Brett Rogers, the gallery’s Director. ‘As its most famous chronicler with a camera Deakin is inextricably linked to Soho’s hedonistic bohemian heyday in the two decades following the war,’ adds Rogers. His colourful circle of friends included the iconic artists Francis Bacon, Lucian Freud and Frank Auerbach and
the poet Dylan Thomas. ‘The first section of the exhibition explores Deakin’s images of Soho landscapes – West End lights, street-signs, urban nightscapes, graffiti and portraits of artisans and tradesmen,’ says Rogers. He is now widely considered to be the best post-war photographer of Soho’s street life, pubs and clubs. In the 1940s and 1950s Soho was possibly the most cosmopolitan, vibrant place in England – London’s equivalent of Paris’s Left Bank – where artists and their models, poets, soldiers refugees, layabouts and aristocrats gathered to carouse in its drinking holes such as the French, Coach and Horse and the Colony Room. The stars of 1950s literary and artistic London concentrated within a few streets to exchange ideas, poach each other’s lovers and scrounge a drink or two. In the Colony Room Club presided over by Muriel Belcher you were likely to come across the ebullient Francis Bacon buying a round of champagne for his friends; Lucian Freud on the look-out for a new lover and Deakin and the three Bernard brothers scrounging drinks. All
The mayfair Magazine | Art
flocked to the area’s watering holes where the air was blue with tobacco smoke. People gathered to chat on the pavements outside Parmigiani’s on the corner of Frith Street and the Bar Italia – which still exists today and there were yellow-drawn Carlo and Gatti ice carts, traces of straw, nosebags and horse-dung. Immensely talented, in his heyday Deakin had worked for Vogue, but it was Soho’s assorted crowd of artists, writers, poets, oddballs and misfits that inspired him most. What was it like to sit for Deakin? I once asked my friend, the late poet Oliver Bernard. ‘Deakin was like Mickey Mouse on acid. He told me not to shave and to meet him at the Vogue studio next morning so that he could photograph me unshaven. He wanted me to look like rough stuff and he succeeded. He took a good likeness – although it makes me look like an escaped convict,’ recounted Bernard. You can see Deakin’s striking portraits of all three talented Bernard brothers, Oliver, Bruce and Jeffrey in the show. Other exhibition highlights are portraits of Deakin’s hedonistic circle of friends, including Francis Bacon, Lucian Freud, photographer Daniel Farson and the beautiful artist’s model Henrietta Moraes. Deakin perfectly captures Freud at the height of his predatory, hawkish allure when his hypnotic eyes proved irresistible. Bacon always held Deakin’s work in high esteem and when his South Kensington studio was dismantled, after his death and transferred piece by piece to Dublin in 1998, nearly 300 Deakin prints came to light. His work was championed by Bacon’s close friend, the influential art critic Bernard (Bruce), and his reputation has grown during recent years. Amongst the highlights of the exhibition are a
number of Deakin’s stunning magazine layouts for Vogue, where he worked as staff photographer between 1948 to 1949 and again from 1951 to 1954, achieving the dubious distinction of being hired and fired by the same long-suffering editor, Aubrey Withers, twice. His dismissal letter from Vogue is part of the interesting ephemera on display. Deakin was first sacked for mislaying cameras, but was re-hired as no one took photographic portraits as well as he did. After three years of outstanding work he was sacked again after the lure of Soho’s afternoon drinking dens led to cancelled sittings and irate clients.
‘Being fatally drawn to the human race, what I want to do when I take a photograph is make a revelation about it’ – John Deakin The last section highlights Deakin’s fashion work, paintings and his little known early portraits of drag artists. He had always dreamt of being an artist, rather than a photographer, and experimented with a naïve painting style. A chronic alcoholic, Deakin died in obscurity and poverty, but since the 1980s his work has grown in popularity through the backing of collectors, exhibitions and catalogues. He is now regarded as the best post-war photographer of Soho’s post-war generation and gritty, bomb-scarred street life. Under the Influence: John Deakin and the Lure of Soho’ is at The Photographers’ Gallery from 11 April to 13 July (www.tpg.org.uk). The book Under the Influence: John Deakin, Photography and the Lure of Soho is published on 7 April by Art/Books (www.artbookspublishing.co.uk)
left: John Deakin Deakin Drinking, 1960s (Courtesy Robin Muir; John Deakin Chefs in a Soho Café, 1957 (Courtesy Robin Muir); John Deakin; Tony Abbro, Abbro and Varriano, newsagents, Dean Street, Soho, 1961 (© The John Deakin Archive 2013)
25
The mayfair Magazine | Collection
A new era
L
ong admired as a purveyor of accessible luxury, Baume & Mercier has upped its game and stepped into the sphere of serious watchmaking. Featuring a 45.5mm 18-karat red-gold case and sapphire crystal case back, the Clifton 1892 Flying Tourbillon boasts, as you’d expect, a flying tourbillon. Launched alongside other extensions of its hallowed Clifton collection – including a Chronograph version and the stunning Retrograde Date Automatic – the watch propels the brand into a position amongst the industry’s most distinguished of players. Keeping things ticking is a Val Fleurier calibre, produced exclusively for Baume & Mercier, while red gold and blued-steel hands tell the time. Only 30 of the handsome pieces will be made. (baume-et-mercier.com)
27
The
grand finale
T
he preferred piano of musicians across the globe, Steinway & Sons has long been the only name to know in the industry. When world-class pianists come to London, the beautiful store in the heart of Mayfair is where they go to play, while the elegant, striking design make each piece a stunning addition to a beautiful home. Now, in honour of the company’s 160th anniversary last year, Steinway & Sons has collaborated with furniture designer Dakota Jackson to develop the Arabesque Limited Edition grand piano. Only 50 will be produced, in either ebony high polish or Macassar ebony, making the Arabesque a collector’s item, as well as a beautiful feature within a home. Taking its name from a graceful ballet position, the Arabesque piano conveys fluidity and movement thanks to spiralling pentagonal legs, a curved lid and sleek silver plate. ‘To me, Steinway is synonymous with the word “piano”,’ Jackson says. ‘I wouldn’t consider designing a piano for any other company.’ (steinway.com)
28
The mayfair Magazine | Collection
Jewellery news With the arrival of spring comes foliage-inspired motifs from Bulgari and statement stones by Kara Ross WORDS: OLIVIA SHARPE
A woman for all seasons Having just witnessed one of the worst winters on record, sadly we Britons have not quite experienced each of the four seasons. However, fear not as Bulgari has remedied this with a new mini couture collection of necklaces, dedicated to celebrating the changing of the year. Each piece features a foliage-inspired motif, which draws inspiration from the carved stones typical of the Mughal tradition, and bold colour combinations, a signature style of the jewellery house. The first blossoms of spring have been captured in pink gold with mint tourmalines, peridots, amethyst, round brilliant cut diamonds and pavé-set diamonds. In order to convey the subtle nuances and fluidity of nature, each stone has been crafted slightly differently so no two look the same and the supple pendant elements follow the movements of the body. (bulgari.com)
CUTTING EDGE New York jewellery designer Kara Ross has several claims to fame. As well as having recently been awarded the GEM Award for Design, one of the most sought-after accolades in the industry, Ross’ client roster includes President Obama and the First Lady. This year sees the launch of her first comprehensive fine jewellery collection:
‘This collection represents my passion for raw and polished stones in their purest forms. Showcasing the most spectacular precious and semi-precious stones, it is illustrative of my love for merging unique materials, in an unexpected way, with a harmonious,yet striking result’ – Kara Ross From top: Contour drop earrings with black onyx and white diamonds in 18-karat gold; Ring with pyrite and diamonds in yellow gold; Split ring with raw and smooth amethysts and diamonds in yellow gold. All from the Petra collection(kararossny.com)
Forever Thine Two years after designing his first bridal collection in partnership with Forevermark, jeweller Stephen Webster has finally announced the launch of his second with the ethically-sourced diamond company (part of the De Beers Group). For the new line, Webster has once again incorporated contemporary and traditional elements to create a collection which remains in keeping with his trademark style. The romantic, elegant rings intertwine seamlessly with the traditional wedding band to symbolise eternal love while referencing the designer’s recognisable fine jewellery collections, such as Thorn and Deco. The collection is available at the Mount Street flagship store and in Harrods. (stephenwebster.com)
Four Squared Boucheron has released two new editions of its highly sought-after Quatre collection. The latest development since the release of Black Edition in 2012, Radiant Edition has been created to commemorate the 120th anniversary of the French maison’s boutique at 26 Place Vendôme; now the resting place of fine jewellery, Boucheron was the first jeweller to lay claim to this historic Parisian square. The monochrome rings come in white or yellow gold and have been designed like a sculpture with the staple four Quatre bands. Quatre Radiant Edition, available from Spring 2014 (boucheron.com )
29
The substance of style The majority of people’s wardrobes in Mayfair are undervalued. But as you count up our Jimmy Choo collection, think about how much your most prized possessions are really worth and how you could replace them if they were ever lost
T
hink about every piece of clothing and every accessory in your wardrobe. The McQueen gown, the Hermès Birkin, a lifetime’s worth of designer shoes and even the simple wardrobe essentials – how much would it be worth if you added it all up? Let us not forget the items that you may have acquired on sale – the value of which may still cost the full price to replace. If you invest in fashion, having to replace one-off pieces is a daunting thought, not to mention bespoke suits, should anything happen to them. Insuring your sartorial assets is just as important as protecting your timepieces and jewellery. But if you look at your belongings as a library of pieces, rather than individually, you may be surprised at how quickly it adds up. Investing in the right insurance is just as important as investing in your clothes and accessories – but many companies will eventually end up discounting clothes and undervaluing your precious collection. Berkeley Square-based company, Quantum Underwriting Solutions offers something rather unique to solve this predicament; a bespoke service for high-net worth individuals. ‘As a specialist in Mayfair, it is not unusual to have a customer’s wardrobe valued at over £150,000’ says Quantum’s founder James Wasdell. ‘There is almost a perfect correlation between ladies undervaluing their handbag and shoe
30
collections and gentlemen undervaluing their watches and suits. There is definitely some human psychology at work here, where women will generally have purchased a few extra pairs of designer shoes or handbags than they have declared to their
‘As a specialist in Mayfair, it is not unusual to have a customer’s wardrobe valued at over £150,000’ partner.’ The company are Europe’s number one broker for Chubb, the leading insurer-of-the-wealthy. Quantum’s service ensures your entire wardrobe is correctly valued, and once this is done it is also index linked, as iconic pieces will often appreciate in value. ‘We have seen examples where they have been as much as 75 per cent under-insured, meaning that in the event of a claim, they would only receive a fraction of the true value of any lost or damaged pieces,’ says Wasdell. Quite simply, ‘off the peg’ insurance will not fully recover your belongings in the event of a fire, burglary or total loss of your purchases. ‘Insurance is essentially a promise and the only time that it is tested is in the event of a claim. Arranging that cover with a specialist provider such as Quantum provides total peace of mind.’ Quantum Underwriting Solutions Plc Berkeley Square, W1J (bsq@quantumplc.com; 020 3384 1725)
Dress, £1,175, alexander mcqueen and shoes, £415, gianvito rossi, both available from net-aporter.com
The mayfair Magazine | Collection
works of art #1 Ilya and Emilia Kabakov, The Fly, 2012; 18-karat yellow gold, peridot, diamonds and fire enamel necklace
#4 Giorgio Vigna, Segmenti, 2012 18- karat yellow gold rocca crystal ring
#2 Giorgio Vigna, Segmenti, 2008, oxidised silver, welding in yellow gold and diamonds brooch
Following its Selected Jewels from Paris exhibition, this month sees the Mayfairbased Elisabetta Cipriani Gallery present Sospeso by Giorgio Vigna. Vigna is well known for blurring the boundaries between the various fields of art and design and the new exhibition comprises five unique pieces by the jewellery artist, in the form of either pendants or rings, which have been designed to evoke both day and night. Materials such as oxidised silver and diamonds are used to convey the dark sky lit up by stars, while the gold segments featured in a yellow gold and crystal rock ring, for example, represents the daily passage of time. Following Sospeso, on 7 April, guests will be invited to view a selection of jewellery made by visual artists in collaboration with the eponymous gallery owner.
#3 Enrico Castellani, Superficie, 2012 18-karat white gold necklace
#5 Kendell Geers, Stella Maris (Mater Facit), 2011 Silver and red gold plated nipples necklace
Elisabetta Cipriani: Jewellery by Contemporary Artists at Sprovieri, 23 Heddon Street (elisabettacipriani.com ) #6 Jannis Kounellis, Labbra, 2012 18-karat yellow gold ring
Giorgio Vigna: Sospeso, until 5 April 2014
#7 Enrico Castellani, Superficie, 2013 18-karat yellow satin gold bracelet
#8 Rebecca Horn, Neshapour, 2011 22-karat yellow gold, neshapour turquoise ring
#9 Giorgio Vigna, Segmenti, 2012 Silver welding in 18-karat yellow gold bracelet
#10 Kendell Geers, Within Earshot, 2011 18-karat yellow gold earrings 31
Bright
young
thing
Annabel Harrison speaks to CEO Jean-Marc Jacot about the relatively youthful but flourishing watch brand Parmigiani Fleurier
J
ean-Marc Jacot is currently sporting the Tonda Metrographe Steel Black Superluminova, which also happens to be his favourite new model from SIHH 2014 (luxury group Richemont’s annual showcase in Geneva). As you’d expect from a well-informed CEO, Jacot has specific reasons for this preference. He likes the asymmetric case (this ‘slight imbalance gives it its character’); the black dial’s aesthetics (the numbers are outlined with Superluminova material which ‘picks them out in the daytime and renders them luminous at night’); and the steel bracelet, which has been made slimmer and more streamlined. It’s
32
The mayfair Magazine | Collection
a smart and masculine chronograph from Parmigiani Fleurier, although I’d opt for the black calfskin Hermès strap. The Parmigiani story is an interesting, and unusual, one. In an industry where companies can boast of centuries of history, Parmigiani has just 18 years under its belt, taking its name from a man who lit the spark of the brand in the little town of Fleurier in 1976. In 1996, Michel Parmigiani joined forces with the Sandoz Family Foundation (SFF) to launch his brand and he is very much still part of its 21st century face, and development. The early years were marked by the completion of several in-house calibres, including two eight-day mechanical and self-winding movements, as well as the creation of the brand’s iconic Kalpa watch. Independence came from the foundation of LMH [Les Manufactures Horlogères de la Fondation de Famille Sandoz, which includes Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier, Habillage et Quadrance, Affolter, Atokalpa and Elwin] and the fact that each new Parmigiani creation could and would be equipped with an in-house movement. Despite its relative youth, Parmigiani can already lay claim to the fact that it produces every component for its timepieces apart from the sapphire crystals and watch straps, building its reputation as a vertically integrated company. Jacot himself, now steering the 21st century course for Parmigiani, was born in Switzerland and although he had aspirations to work in the film or advertising industries, he went to business school and found himself at a watch company in Japan. A four-year stint at Cartier followed and subsequently a career that saw Jacot working for accessories brand Charles Jourdan, Omega, Ebel, Gerald Genta and Tempus Concept (behind Hugo Boss watches). His name became intertwined with Parmigiani’s in 2000, having been impressed by SFF president Pierre Landolt’s entrepreneurial vision and passion for watchmaking. ‘It was very motivating to have to build a
33
‘People may think of cheese but Vacheron sounds like a cheese and they haven’t changed it’ manufacture from scratch and to find the right people to embark on this incredible adventure.’ When asked the (admittedly rather vanilla) question as to what makes Parmigiani stand out in a saturated market, I don’t receive a particularly unique answer. ‘Parmigiani differentiates itself thanks to the three fundamentals which are crucial to the brand: quality, aesthetic and creativity.’ To be frank, any company worth its salt does adhere to these but while Jacot is serious on the subject of his brand, his personality shines through in his light-hearted comments about its name: ‘When I started at the company a lot of people asked; “Why don’t you change it?” And I said “why? It is the name of the family.” People may think of cheese but Vacheron sounds like a cheese and they haven’t changed it; it is a nice name. So why change it?!’ I am intrigued to learn that Jacot’s interests outside horology include ‘art and architecture, mostly. Curiosity is
34
fundamental to excel in your job because it allows you to think outside the box. I always push the designers to go and explore because it is essential for their artistic inspiration.’ Equally, Jacot has pushed the company to explore sponsorship opportunities and Parmigiani is of course aligned with suitable events and sports (as is standard in the modern watch industry; woe betide if you don’t have a niche, sport, philanthropic foundation or ambassadors to build a brand world around your products). Rowing is a sport of choice because ‘we are both dedicated to a unique goal: reaching our personal objectives and breaking the limits with our partners. Precision, coordination and elegance are similar qualities that are needed both in rowing and in the craftsmanship of unique precision timepieces.’ A new partnership for 2014 is with the Musée de l’Elysée in Lausanne – which aims to preserve the legacy of the past while encouraging learning and development among future generations – and it is also the tenth anniversary of Bugatti and Parmigiani’s relationship; Bugatti wanted to align itself with a young brand ‘with a propensity towards technical excellence, but also artistic flair, a heightened awareness of design and the elegance of forms’. An independent manufacture
The mayfair Magazine | Collection
was essential, too, for ‘limitless creative potential’. Expect also to see the Parmigiani Fleurier name at the World Cup in Brazil; it is the official watchmaking partner of the Confederação Brasileira de Futebol. More exciting arrangements, in my opinion, are the quirky sponsorship of the Château-d’Oex Balloon Festival – ‘We are happy to share the marvels of aerostatics with our guests and customers from around the globe’ – and the Montreux Jazz Festival. This joint project, in existence since 2007, is a ‘real love story’, thanks to a 90 m2 VIP area with a view of the lake in which the manufacture can entertain guests and top customers throughout the festival. These customers are ‘defined by the following characteristics: successful in his, or her, professional life; entrepreneurial; cultivated; discreet; confident; and independent’. Half of customers come from Europe and the remainder in roughly equal proportion from Asia and the Americas. And in London, why Mount Street for the UK’s only atelier? ‘It is one of the most fashionable districts in London, attracting connoisseurs looking for a unique elegance and refinement.’ Elegance and refinement are also hallmarks of the ladies collection, released in 2006, and
this is when Parmigiani Fleurier launched Women of Exception. This recognises women around the world who have devoted their lives to fields as diverse as science, medicine, business, sport, art and culture and who have ‘been the architects of their own success; they have excelled in their field of expertise through selflessness, creativity and independence of spirit.’ The new woman of exception for 2014 is Fernanda Feitosa. ‘She’s a matchmaker, in the rather romantic sense of the word. The founder of São Paulo’s contemporary arts fair and its Executive Director ever since, in ten years Fernanda’s event has become the third biggest of the year, after Art Basel and Frieze London. She has established herself as an essential catalyst in this increasingly globalised market.’ I for one hope that Parmigiani can maintain its independence and craft its own path in the increasingly globalised industry too. L’Atelier Parmigiani 97 Mount Street Mayfair W1K (parmigiani.ch)
35
Collection | The mayfair Magazine
Watch news Treasured timepieces, horological heirlooms and modern masterpieces WORDS: RICHARD BROWN
Night watch Prussian philosopher Immanuel Kant deemed that what was sublime was noble, splendid and terrifying – words you can certainly associate with the Midnight Planétarium by Van Cleef & Arpels. It’s a timepiece we touched on last month but it’s a watch we feel deserves a space of its own. So please behold. Comprising 396 working parts and six semiprecious planets around a pink gold sun, the Midnight Planétarium will position the whereabouts of Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn in real time – the time on earth being readable via a moving comet on the watch’s dial. Mercury and Venus will rotate every 88 and 224 days respectively, while Saturn will return to its start position every 29.5 years. Impractical, irrational and grandiose? You bet. Noble, splendid and terrifying? Absolutely. Midnight Planétarium, from a selection Van Cleef & Arpels (vancleefarpels.com)
ONE TO WATCH Each month, we select our timepiece of the moment from the watch world’s most exciting creations
At 40mm the new Zenith Pilot is beautifully balanced and offers a classic alternative to the larger 46mm watches in the collection. Featuring an automatic movement and ‘vintage’ leather strap, it works perfectly with smart jeans or a suit Pilot 40mm, £4,100, Zenith (zenith-watches.com) 36
Ocean-Bound Following a centuries-old line of watches designed to navigate the seven seas, the RM60-01 Regatta Flyback Chronograph employs a rotating bezel with cardinal point indications and a 24-hour disk allows wearers to locate their position on earth. Direct the watch’s Coordinated Universal Time indicator towards the sun and turn the bezel so that the UTC hand lines up with the local time (engraved on the bezel’s circumference). Once set, the compass headings North, South, East and West will be correctly aligned with the direction on the Earth’s surface. RM 60-01 Regatta Flyback, £111,500 (richardmille.com)
The Feminine Touch Designed as the ultimate male sports chronograph, the Royal Oak Offshore has become the go-to-watch for any boardroom member appreciative of bold dimensions and bolder design. For 2014, Audemars Piguet has shrunk the timepiece and added 32 diamonds. The result is the Royal Oak Offshore 37mm, a slimmer, more sophisticated reinvention of the chronograph for ladies. The octagonal shape remains and the watch is available in either steel (£12,300) or rose gold (£24,400). (audemarspiguet. com)
Swiss movement, English heart
Calibre JJ03 modification (Patent pending) of ETA 2893 self-winding movement / Personally assembled by Master Watchmaker, Johannes Jahnke and team at CW’s Swiss atelier / 2 x 24 hour time-zone display / 24 airport code identification and simultaneous world map indicator / 43mm, marine-grade, 316L polished steel case with sapphire crystal and transparent case-back / Ethically sourced, midnight blue, Louisiana alligator strap with Bader deployment
134_ChristopherWard_Mayfair.indd 1
07/03/2014 11:20
F
ashion is often likened to art when exquisite gowns swish down the catwalks, embellished with intricate details and bold, painting-like prints. But in the case of Gyunel, the London-based label that burst onto the scene in February 2013 to critical acclaim, this concept truly comes to life. Helmed by creative director, Gyunel Rustamova, the label’s collections begin with her paintings, which are then transformed into digital prints and eye-catching pieces, all of which are finished by hand. As well as Gyunel’s ready-to-wear offering, there is a couture collection, which was debuted on the Place Vendôme with models wearing her dresses alongside her paintings – the perfect combination of fashion and art. (gyunel.com)
38
elegant
An
affair
The Themayfair mayfairMagazine Magazine| |Regulars Fashion
Praise for Oscar Step inside the ever-glamorous world of the legendary designer Oscar de la Renta, with an updated edition of the original 2002 art book. The tome features a foreword from Vogue’s iconic editor-in-chief, Anna Wintour, and over 200 pages of fashion editorials, images of extraordinary muses, and rare images from the American designer’s personal archives. Your library table will not be complete without it. The Style, Inspiration and Life of Oscar de la Renta, by Sarah Mower, Assouline, £75 (assouline.com)
style UPDATE rees WORDS: bethan
Karl’s world
STYLE REVAMP Update your wardrobe with these three classic must-have items, with a twist
1
2
This month we welcome the first Karl Lagerfeld store in London, as his largest European store, which houses the ‘World of Karl’ from his ready-to-wear collection, accessories and lifestyle range. Don’t forget to find an iPad, where you can leave messages for the man himself via the guest book. Karl Lagerfeld, 145-147 Regent Street, W1B (karl.com)
#1 The Chanel Bag: Boy Chanel Flap Bag, £2,515, Chanel (chanel.co.uk)
#2 The LBD: Titanium Dress, £1,450, Roland Mouret (rolandmouret.com)
3
#3 The black pumps: Plexi Pump, £426, Gianvito Roissi (gianvitorossi.com)
Liberty welcomes Sweden When two brands with as much of a cool factor as Liberty of London and Acne team up, the result is sure to be brilliant. The collection, curated by Jonny Johansson, co-founder and creative director of Acne, uses the timeless Liberty prints on a range of clothing and accessories, including scarves, tops and leather. Liberty x Acne Studios, from £150 (liberty.co.uk)
Eye spy Perfectly formed Good things come in small packages and this month Aspinal of London have taken this advice, launching a mini version of the sell-out Marylebone Tote. The Marylebone Mini mirrors its bigger sister in style and function and comes in poppy red, soft navy, and pastel pink – the ultimate accessory. £595, Aspinal of London 25 Brook Street, W1K (aspinaloflondon.com)
Burberry has taken inspiration from its iconic Trench coat to create a collection of eyewear for S/S14. The Trench Collection sees the classic Burberry characteristics reflected in eyewear form. The arms are enveloped in leather, and you can choose from a colour palette of honey gold, tortoise shell, and minimal glossy black. Eyewear, from £187, Burberry (burberry.com)
39
Fashion | The mayfair Magazine
Sweeney online Thom Sweeney is now making bespoke tailoring available off the peg, with an exclusive ready-to-wear collection for Mr Porter. The brand’s pieces for the online giant are in keeping the usual elements that make their pieces individual, with an emphasis on the construction, the quality and styling. Menswear doyens Thom Widdett and Luke Sweeney, have produced a line of sharp suits, blazers, trousers and formalwear, combining classic tailoring with a contemporary edge. The collection is based around two key silhouettes – one formal with well-defined shoulders, and one with a softer shoulder, both available in single – or double-breasted. And all delivered to your door! From £345, Thom Sweeney for Mr Porter (mrporter.com)
style spy REES WORDS: BETHAN
The explorer
All tied up
The clue’s is in the name: M/S Explorer. The perfect companion for an adventure; this bag will take you from the slopes to the sun, and everything in between. With ample interior space, and adaptable straps, it’s a hold-all that truly lives up to its name. £595.09, Mismo (mismo.dk)
An Hermés tie will forever have a special place in gentlemen’s wardrobes. Although the French fashion house changes its motifs each season, making every piece a limited-edition, hile the quality renders each piece instantly recognisable. The tie, made from 100 per cent silk, is entitled A Cheval sur mon Skate (‘Riding on my Skateboard’), comes in this season’s must-have colour, orange, with a contrasting skater-boy in blue. Although perhaps not suitable for the minimal dresser, it would make a welcome addition to a navy suit. Tie, £140 (hermes.com)
Well groomed Mayfair-based gentlemen’s barbers and perfumers Geo F Trumper has launched a new range of ‘wetpacks’, in a variety of colours to suit all tastes, from military green to telephone-box red. The bag can be used for toiletries and grooming accessories and fits perfectly in hand-luggage, for those weekends away. Presented in hard-wearing canvas, with detailing in colour-matched leather and lined with soft leather, these wetpacks will be a great addition to your carry-on. £135, Geo F Trumper, 9 Curzon Street, W1J (trumpers.com)
40
Westwood goes classic Fashion veteran Vivienne Westwood has paired up with English heritage shoemaker, Grenson, to produce an exclusive handmade collection of men’s shoes, as part of her S/S14 Man collection. Westwood has reworked classic style shoes, such as the English brogues, Oxford shoes and tassel slippers, to feature her signature designs and prints. All the shoes are ‘Goodyear Welted’, a traditional craftsman technique used since mid-1800, which makes the shoe more robust and longer-lasting reflecting Westwood’s ‘buy less, choose well, make it last’ philosophy. She has firmly imprinted her mark on the classic English shoes, using pastel colours, tartan fabrics, and her famous squiggle print. From £375, Vivienne Westwood 44 Conduit Street, W1S (viviennewestwood.com)
The mayfair Magazine | Fashion
WELL Groomed Looking more grouchy than groomed these days? Well fear not, sir, as we bring you the very best products available for the stylish, modern-day chap words : s T E P H E N doig
#1 Singing in the Rain The artisans that labour in Jo Malone’s scent labs must have more finely honed olfactory senses than us, because in creating the rich, masculine scents in their ‘London Rain’ collection they’ve infused peppery, black cedarwood and aromatic juniper as the key components of a damp Mayfair day (as opposed to wet coat and car-fume aromas); suddenly April showers feel that bit more refined. Black Cedarwood & Juniper Cologne, £82 (jomalone.co.uk)
#2 Eye on the prize More and more gentlemen are realising the appeal of looking fresh and full of vigor in the office, but what for those of us who’ve overdone it? If the allure of that swift pint is just too great and you’re lagging the next day, Shiseido’s Men’s Deep Wrinkle Corrector is designed to smooth over crags and shine some light on dark circles. Shiseido Men Deep Wrinkle Corrector, £47 (harrods.com)
1 2 3
#3 Facing up Neville, the new men’s grooming label from cult beauty brand Cowshed, creates handsome green glass packaging that nods to old school barber shop panache and a hint of the apothecary. Their face reviver cream, containing punchy vitamin A & E and aloe vera, will sooth freshly shaven faces and pep up lagging visages. Face Reviver 50ml, £25 (neville.co.uk)
#4 Five a day Parsley’s healing qualities have pushed it into the realms of ‘superfood’ status, which is why Aesop set their sights on incorporating into their invigorating cleaners. The effect? A masculine -cented cleanser that’s bracing and aromatic. You can’t help but feeling as if you’re starting the day healthily. Parsley Seed Facial Cleanser, £25 (aesop.com)
#5 Morning fresh Molton Brown have long been the saviours of the well put together bathroom cabinet, and as of early this year the brand have launched a collection specifically for men. Bracing face washes, scrubs and shaving equipment ensure that you’ll face the day suitably polished, with the added aromatic signature scents that make the label so appealing. Balancing Face Wash, £18, Moisture-rich Shaving Soap, £12, Post-shave Recovery Balm, £22, Molton Brown (moltonbrown.co.uk)
5
4 41
Luxe organza jacket, £1,230, Ralph Lauren Black Label (ralphlauren.com). Bermuda shorts, £1,015, Giorgio Armani (armani.com). Striped shirt, £125, The Kooples (thekooples.co.uk). Sunglasses, £295, The Row at Linda Farrow (lindafarrow.com)
ALL ABOARD We’re bringing back the glamour of travel with tailored shorts, structured blazers and just a touch of gingham S T Y L I S T: p I P E D W A R D S P H O T O G R A P H E R : D ominic N ic h olls
42
The mayfair Magazine | Fashion
43
Jacket, £1,045, Giorgio Armani (armani. com). Shorts, £146, Emma Cook at Net-a-Porter (net-a-porter.com). Wide-brim hat, £315, E. Tautz (e.tautz.com)
The mayfair Magazine | Fashion
Cigarette pants, £210, Pinko (020 7584 6524). Jacket, £445, Paul and Joe at Harrods (harrods.com). Blouse, £275, Equipment at Oxygen Boutique (oxygenboutique.com). Velvet slippers, £245, Penelope Chilvers (penelopechilvers.com)
45
Fashion | The mayfair Magazine
Dress, £1200, Antonio Berardi (antonioberardi.com). Glasses, £395, Prada at David Clulow (davidclulow. com). Snakeskin envelope clutch, £1,395, Smythson (0845 873 2435)
46
Coat, £695, Amanda Wakeley (amandawakeley.com). Trousers, £179, Acne at Bernard Boutique (bernardboutique.com). Blazer, £550, Carven at Matches (matchesfashion. com). Heels, £261, Pedro Garcia (pedrogarcia.com). Sunglasses, £295, The Row at Linda Farrow (lindafarrow.com)
Jumper, £850; Culottes, £660, both Chloe at Bernard Boutique (bernardboutique.com). Broderie anglaise collar shirt, £230, Carven at Matches (matchesfashion.com)
The mayfair Magazine | Fashion
Shorts, £335, Vivienne Westwood Anglomania at Bernard Boutique (bernardboutique.com). Blazer, £1545, Chloe at Bernard Boutique (bernardboutique.com). Blouse, £275, Equipment at Oxygen Boutique (oxygenboutique.com). Mother-of-pearl print heels, £432, Pollini (pollini.com)
Make-up: Cassie Steward at LHA Represents using MAC Cosmetics Hair: Aaron Carlo at Frank Agency using Bumble and Bumble Photographer’s Assistant: Sam Thirgood Model: Aniko at Next Model Management With thanks to: The Evans & Peel Detective Agency (evansandpeel.com). Belmond British Pullman, sister train to the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express (belmond.com) 49
Enfant terrible T
This month, London pays tribute to the long-standing career of one of fashion’s greatest icons, Jean Paul Gaultier W O R D S : st e p h e n do i g
50
here are few fashion visionaries that can look at something as simple, something as functional and rudimentary as a sailor top (rumour has it that the clashing blue and white stripes were to help catch the eye of anyone looking for a sailor who’d been swept to sea), and see it as a high-fashion cult item. But a certain young designer, Jean Paul Gaultier, did. Like Coco Chanel before him, who took the codes of working class dress – jersey fabrics on fishermen, austere black dresses – and adapted them into ultra-luxurious items, Gaultier’s particular knack for filtering the everyday or the mundane and turning it into grand, theatrical fashion has been a hallmark of his 30-plus-year-old career. It’s a sartorial journey that’s celebrated this month with the launch of the Barbican Centre’s The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier from the Sidewalk to the Catwalk. The clue to Gaultier’s success is very much in the title in this instance, given that music subcultures, eroticism, street style, blue collar machismo and the wiles of the bedroom have long informed his most incredible collections. From taking inspiration from the ladies of the night in the Bois de Boulogne to Boy George, Gaultier’s finely tuned fashion antennae are forever roving to create fantastical, theatrical catwalk presentations and otherworldly couture. Such Through The Looking Glass style whim and wonder is a long way from the designer’s beginnings, in an unremarkable Parisian suburb called Arcueil, where as a young boy Gaultier would frantically sketch, taking the gumption as a teenager to send his drawings to a host of Paris couture houses. ‘Doing fashion drawings was the only way I had to express myself when I was a teenager… my eccentricity was my direction’, he says of his former years as a relative outsider who refused to conform.
FROM LEFT: French Cancan collection; Virgins collection, Lumiere Gown; Ditta von Teese; RIGHT: Dita von Teese, Flaunt. Circe ensemble, Buttons collection, ALL BY JEAN PAUL GAULTIER
The mayfair Magazine | Feature
51
‘The designer brought a sense of wit, irreverence and humour to the catwalk’
TOP: Kylie Minogue, Medee gown, The Surrealists collection BY JEAN PAUL GAULTIER; LEFT: The Fashion Worl of Jean Paul Gaultier
52
Luckily, his sketches caught the esteemed eye of none other than Pierre Cardin, who swiftly enlisted an 18-year-old Gaultier to work as his assistant; school work was dropped and exams were failed as Gaultier leapt into his new role. ‘When I started my career, I went to work with Pierre Cardin. At that time, of course, I didn’t have my own line or whatever, so I didn’t have my style at all. I was doing Cardin, so I was sketching, imagining what he would love. A stint at revered couture house Patou followed, before a return to Cardin – who at the time was revolutionising Sixties dress and embracing his own, minimalist and (at the time) futuristic take on the youthquake that was sweeping London. Despite forays into producing his own collections, his first fully formed house began life in 1982, after Japanese investors backed him. Locked and loaded, Gaultier set
his aim on the catwalk and unleashed a veritable riot of sartorial subversion. Carving out a place as fashion’s enfant terrible (a label that remained throughout his career), the designer brought a sense of wit, irreverence and humour to the catwalk alongside a couturequality, artisanal hand. At a time when fashion was swiftly changing – London was embracing cult street style, the cutting-edge designs of Vivienne Westwood and her ilk, and Japanese conceptualism was very much in vogue – Gaultier showed that French fashion could be more than chilly couture salons, polite presentations and gilt chairs; he tore up the rule book. Sending forth sailor tops as high-fashion, taking the codes of lingerie attire and applying them to clothes to propose conical corsets (later, those would get a global audience thanks to Madonna), re-workings of masculine attire for womenswear that saw traditional pinstripe suiting re-worked into cocktail gowns, men in punk kilting, skirts, corsets and gowns; nothing was off limits for Gaultier’s singular vision. This might have seemed like Gaultier focused on shock and awe tactics, as opposed to the realities of how to empower a woman through her attire, but combined with his sense of showmanship was a peerless understanding of the construction of clothes, of cut, fit and execution. As Harriet Quick, former fashion features director of British Vogue and consultant for Lane Crawford, says ‘he really loves ideas and he’s so clever at gelling them altogether. ‘Couture gives him the space to really explore all the details and let his imagination run wild’. In the rarified strata of fashion, Gaultier’s inclusive, all-embracing catwalk shows served to embrace models of different ethnicities ages and body shapes too; older gentlemen, fullerfigured women and people covered with tattoos
The mayfair Magazine | Feature
RIGHT, FROM TOP: Backstage, Odille Gilbert and Eugenia Silva, Cages collection; Kylie Minogue; BELOW: Pin Up Boys Collection, ALL JEAN PAUL GAULTIER
and piercings graced his catwalk. So too did his mixing of gender stereotypes pick up on the social zeitgeist of the time; the new empowered woman of the Eighties shone through in his celebration of the female form, and the gay community of the 1980s, so devastated by AIDS, was celebrated instead of ignored. Of course, global attention swiftly followed, with Madonna becoming the designer’s muse – who can forget images of the Blonde Ambition tour corsetry, or the superstar peeling her coat off on the Gaultier catwalk to reveal a breast-baring corset? It was the design that went on to form the bottle of his debut female fragrance, just as his high-camp, skin-tight sailor top went on to act as the bottle shape for his iconic Le Male fragrance. The sailor top’s beginnings were actually rather humble; ‘when I started in fashion, I had already adopted the sailor-striped sweater as my uniform; that way, I wouldn’t have to drive myself crazy trying to figure out what to wear’. Curious then that it should end up in every Duty Free the world over. With the launch of his debut couture collection in 1997, Gaultier’s craft and technical wizardry took on new heights; with an atelier at his disposal, the more lofty flights of his imagination could get full reign, and collections that have referenced religious iconography, superheroes, Maharaja glamour, safari chic, Paris bordellos and birds of paradise. What perhaps remains the most soulful part of his collections is, as the exhibition celebrates, his ability to infuse such a high fashion sensibility with touches of the street and the reality of pop culture, incorporating rasta fashion, Amy Winehouse iconography and Mohawk-haired punks. As he elegantly sums up: ‘I would like to say to people, open your eyes and find beauty where you normally don’t expect it’. ‘The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk’, 9 April – 25 August Barbican (barbican.org.uk)
53
Culinary masterpiece Boasting touchscreens, intelligent sensors and a host of gastronomic innovation, Gemma Knight investigates the new cutting-edge kitchen
T
Images, clockwise from main: the simplistic design of the modern kitchen, Precision Vacuum Sealer, Blast Chiller and Induction Zone.
54
here’s certainly no replacement for pure, unadulterated culinary talent – but even the world’s Michelin-starred chefs would be hard pressed to create the awardwinning delicacies upon which their reputations depend without the right tools. Enter Electrolux Grand Cuisine, the very first professional cooking system ever designed to be used in the home and destined to release your inner gourmand. Just imagine the thrill of sautéing, steaming and stir-frying like the pros with the help of the nine state-of-the-art devices now installed in your kitchen, presenting your next dinner party guests with perfectly-seared scallops, impeccably braised beef and flawlessly chilled martinis thanks to the trade secrets now laid at your fingertips. Indeed, chefs the world over are (when pushed) more than happy to admit that their abilities have been heavily bolstered by such gastronomic innovation as the Blast Chiller (which allows hot dishes to be prepared ahead of time, chilled, then returned to the perfect serving temperature – not to mention taking 10 champagne bottles from room temperature to an ideal 8°C in just thirty minutes), the Induction Zone (a vast cooking surface with specialist power levels) and the
Precision Vacuum Sealer. When coupled with the Combination Oven, this intuitive device allows for the use of a technique known as sous-vide (literally ‘undervacuum’), a method that cooks food in a vacuum-seal at low temperatures for a long period, meaning that it holds on to all its natural flavours, colours and juices. Indeed, even London’s hottest chef Nuno Mendes swears by it. ‘I think that the systems really propose a change in the approach to cooking at home -- it’s really pushing things forward,’ he says. ‘I mean the kit, what it offers, the units themselves open a whole different range of possibilities for the home cook.’ These days there are a lot of cooking aficionados and this is their passion. I think having something like this in their kitchen is amazing because they can really do the things that are happening in a restaurant,’ he says. Praise indeed. So, domestic chefs, the truth is finally out – it is your gadgets that have been letting down your culinary prowess all this time – and, with the tricks of the trade finally available to us mere mortals, dinner parties will never be the same again. (grandcuisine.com)
The Themayfair mayfairMagazine Magazine||Regulars Interiors
Interiors news With new cookware from Alessi and the perfect way to hang your coats from Rose Uniacke, it is a stylish month for interiors words: bethan rees
Attention to detail
Hanging around
If you love the aesthetic of traditional furniture, but prefer for your home to err on the side of a more contemporary style, we’ve found the perfect collection for you. Portugese-based interiors brand, Jetclass, have achieved this delicate balance in its Luxus collection – a series of pieces featuring gold or silver carvings, resembling a fine antique and contrasted with smooth, fluid lines to create a modern look – discreetly elegant. Luxus Counter Bar P.V.P, from £3,180, Jetclass (jetclass.pt)
We love Rose Uniacke’s new collection of brass coat hooks and hangers, based on English designs from the 1870s. The Aesthetic Coat Hook is made from brass and comes in a variety of finishes, including original brass, dark bronze, distressed gilt and nickel. The solid brass Bamboo Coat Hanger is also the perfect addition to your entrance, showing you have just as much style and taste as Uniacke herself. Coat hook, £22 and hanger, £110, Rose Uniacke (roseuniacke.com)
FINISHING TOUCH Alessi have launched a collection uniting the expertise of former MercedesBenz designer Richard Sapper and a group of esteemed chefs, using chic, hard-working materials such as aluminium and copper. Your kitchen will be the envy of everyone. (alessi.com)
Wall to wall Osborne & Little wallpapers have been rolled in to houses since the Swinging Sixties, with each hand-printed design standing out for all the right reasons. The Lintel wallpaper features a horizontal pattern resembling louvred shutters, comes in a cappuccino and silver tone – the perfect example of minimal elegance. £68 per roll, Osborne & Little (osborneandlittle.com)
The high life As buildings grow taller, new ideas in architecture and design are constantly evolving. Vertical Living, is a new book, mapping out some of the most innovative spaces created by the design greats, such as Philippe Starck and Kelly Hoppen. Who knew apartment life could be so chic? Vertical Living, £19.95, Thames and Hudson (thamesandhudson.com)
55
The
family stone Interior designer Janine Stone invites us to her studio to talk family, furniture and why interiors are a lot like fashion W o r d s : K a t e R a c o v o l is
56
The MAYFAIR mAYFAIR Magazine | Interiors
‘I
’m going to be absolutely honest about interior design,’ says Janine Stone, the petite, Cheshire-based interior designer. ‘It’s all been done.’ [But] it’s about how you put it together – that’s the talent. It’s how you place furniture, the colour combinations, the quirkiness and the creativity.’ Quite the globetrotter, over the past 27 years the Lebanon-born Stone has adorned homes with her elegant designs in many corners of the world, including New York, Moscow, southern France and London among many more. Her career has seen a diverse range of projects; she has designed projects up to £30 million, as well as smaller spaces, which she has seen a particularly high demand for in the past few years, which lead to the recently launched Studio, a design service for projects from £250,000 to £1 million. Stone looks like the sort of woman you’d trust with your home – groomed immaculately, with her dark-brown hair perfectly coiffed, and a black knitted jumper completes her chic look on a chilly Friday afternoon in her studio in London. ‘My personal style is very understated and very natural,’ she tells me with her megawatt smile. ‘But I’m not one of those designers whose house has to reflect who they are or what they do. I’m happy to live in any place.’ Although Stone doesn’t intend for her personal style to be reflected in her interiors – it’s clear that something carries through; an innate elegance, which is both understated and glamorous, is distinct in many of her projects, and her own home. Although seasonal trends don’t tend to appear in her sophisticated designs (wallpaperclad rooms are having a ‘moment’ in the interiors media), she notes that fashion does play a part. ‘[Interiors] follows fashion as well, it follows it a lot in terms of colour and styling, because it is people that are going to be living in these environments, so it
57
All images courtesy of Janine Stone
58
moves in the same way,’ she says. ‘When clothes are more tailored, you see interiors are more tailored. And now for instance, I’m wearing looser things, coats are very minimal, so we too have that sort of feel and atmosphere in our interiors. Not to the letter, but there is a flavour, something in the air you pick up.’ Despite the varied cultural backgrounds of her clients, who come from all around the world including Egypt, Israel, America and Russia, there is no doubt that the dexterity of her and her team is faultless in adapting to whatever request comes their way. Having grown up with the influence of her mother as a fashion designer and her father as an interior designer (as well as two aunts in the same profession), it comes as no surprise that Stone found her niche in this creative field. ‘When I was very young it was always fabrics everywhere and plans on the floor,’ she says of her time in Lebanon. ‘They were all arguing with each other, we were a very competitive family – they’re still really competitive. Who’s doing the better design? Luckily for me they’re all in their seventies and nineties now. I’m the youngest; I’ve still got the drive and ambition, whereas they’re settling down.’ Stone dabbled in fashion, helping her mother from time to time and also – before settling into interiors – designed stage make-up – bullet wounds and the like. ‘I was rebelling a little bit. I didn’t want to do interior design because everybody was doing it,’ she says. ‘I was naturally good at it, so it wasn’t difficult. It wasn’t like I was doing anything in
particular. I knew from a fairly young age, eight or nine, that if I was to put a vase there, it was the right place. It came as a normal, natural thing, and I didn’t enjoy it because it was normal for me.’ It was her mother (‘She’s a very, very strong woman,’ says Stone) who convinced her to leave her make-up brushes behind to go into the business in the end. It’s easy to see why her penchant for interiors comes so easily to her. ‘When you are in the business for so long, you see the [client], their age, the way they dress, their background, and add all these things, and how they communicate,’ she says. ‘Then you start forming an idea: what sort of environment would this person be living in. It’s almost like guess work. Then you narrow it down, start picking up on certain things they like, an image, a piece of furniture, the type of colours they go for.’ Then comes a deeper understanding what her individual clients are looking for. She has designed an incredible range of spaces, whether renovating, redecorating and furnishing or maintaining, her experience is impressive. One client needed a place to keep all of his cars, so Stone’s team went below ground to design a hidden garage underneath a tennis court. Another asked for a library in which to store an immense collection of books – the brief being to ‘design a room in where Karl Marx and Jeffrey Archer can live happily together.’ And that they did. Many of her clients also like to have an in-house beauty salon too, so whether it is a hair dressing salon or treatment room, it’s all about keeping up with our modern day demands. The result? Ironically, the well-travelled designer’s clients may have an aversion to travel. ‘I have clients who again and again tell me that they don’t like going away on holiday because they miss their home, because it’s so beautiful,’ she says. ‘That for me is the best compliment that they love coming back to their house.’ Janine Stone, The Old Imperial Laundry, 71/73 Warriner Gardens, SW11 (020 7349 8888; janinestone.com)
The mAYFAIR Magazine | Interiors
‘She has designed an incredible range of spaces, whether renovating, redecorating and furnishing or maintaining’
59
‘Feel transported to a time of Daniel Craig in Skyfall, or Sean Connery in Goldfinger’
60
The mayfair Magazine | Motoring
A British
classic
F
amed photographer, Germany-based René Staud, knows his automobiles – he has, after all, been photographing Mercedes, Porsches, Aston Martins and many more of the most prestigious cars in advertisements and magazine editorials for some 25 years. This month sees the release of the latest coffee-table book we’re coveting; The Aston Martin Book – a tome that features
160 exquisite colour photographs of the classic British cars, each of which are brought to life through these vivid portraits. As you devour the pages one by one, you will feel transported to a time of Daniel Craig in Skyfall, or Sean Connery in Goldfinger in true Aston Martin style. The Aston Martin Book by René Staud, text by Paolo Tumminelli, £100 (teNeues.com)
61
Take no prisoners Richard Yarrow tests drives the new and most expensive Land Rover Defender and finds out why the brand’s most powerful diesel car is well worth the money
I
’m sat in the passenger seat of one of the world’s newest rally cars, strapped in with a race harness and wearing a helmet. The vehicle is fitted with a motorsport-spec roll cage and fire extinguisher system. At the wheel is an experienced professional instructor, and we’re bouncing down a puddle-strewn forest track, drifting through the corners and spraying liquid mud everywhere. It’s brilliant. However, this is no new World Rally Championship contender from one of the sport’s leading manufacturers. Bizarrely, it’s a Land Rover Defender, one of the world’s most recognisable cars, but an agricultural workhorse more used to doing 18mph than 80mph. This one is rather special, though. At £60,000 it’s the most expensive Defender you can buy, and with 170bhp under the bonnet it’s also the most powerful diesel version the British firm has ever sold. The car will hit 60mph in 7.9 seconds and has a top speed of more than 100mph. It’s completely road-legal, but the farmers’ 4x4 has turned from horsebox tow car to racing monster, and is taking part in its own singlemake rally series between now and November. The championship is called the ‘2014 Defender Challenge’ and is the first-ever-staged in the UK in the iconic off-roader’s 56-year history. Sponsored by Land Rover, the seven events will take place within pre-existing race meets.
62
They will be operated by Bowler Motorsport, the long-time Land Rover collaborator best known for the Wildcat rally car. Company founder Drew Bowler explained the events are designed to act as a feeder series to larger global races, such as the infamous Dakar Rally. This type of racing is known as a ‘rally-raid’ – a long-distance cross-country off-road competition that usually takes place over several days and multiple stages. ‘We have customers who want to do the Dakar and can afford it,’ says Bowler. ‘But the first time they’re going to drive in the desert they’re sat on the start line. That’s not ideal.’ The solution is the Challenge, a Bowlerdeveloped programme that puts those drivers through a season of races in the UK, supplemented by testing in North Africa, to build their skills. Competing like this will help build their confidence slowly, so when they get to the Dakar they’re not simply wasting their money. ‘They’re never going to win, but there’s a chance they might finish. This isn’t about out and out speed, but learning the skills to progress,’ says Bowler. The project began early in 2013 when a customer approached Bowler with the idea of building a car for him to learn rally-raid driving. The company thought it was a
The mayfair Magazine | Motoring
63
ď‚°good idea, and that other people might appreciate the same sort of vehicle. The Motor Sport Association (MSA) and ASO, which organises the Dakar, also backed the project, so Drew went to Land Rover with his idea and asked for its support. The rest is history. The Challenge car, built by Bowler, is nothing more than a Defender 90 Hard Top fresh off the production line, but with a few modifications. At the heart of the car is the
64
engine, Land Rover’s standard 2.2-litre diesel unit but boosted from 122bhp to 170bhp. All the suspension components have been upgraded and optional extras include another 15bhp, a limited slip differential and a faster steering system. The six-speed manual gearbox is standard, albeit with a new rally-style gear selecter. The sports steering wheel dominates the instrumentation, with a data-logging device and emergency windscreen hammer attached to
The mayfair Magazine | Motoring
the top of the dashboard. The rear has been stripped of any seating, replaced instead by a full-sized spare wheel bolted to the load floor. Conversion work is done at Bowler’s Derbyshire workshop, taking 120 man-hours over 10 days. Despite the modifications, in motorsport terms the car is actually very cheap. If you want to buy Bowler’s range-topping EXR car – based on the Range Rover Sport – you can spend more than £170,000.
‘It feels like every other Defender but with more power and swifter acceleration’ The idea of the Challenge is to make competing as accessible as possible for enthusiasts. But for those who want the motorsport look for their own Defender, everything from the unique wheels to the bolt-on front bumper and side sections are available as aftermarket accessories through Bowler. The good news is that my time with the car wasn’t just about taking a passenger ride – it was also about getting behind the wheel. First was an opportunity to try it out on the back roads around Land Rover’s UK headquarters in Gaydon, Warwickshire. In short, it feels like every other Defender but with more power and swifter acceleration. It’s still noisy and crude by modern motoring standards. But it comes into its own away from the tarmac. Once I’d been strapped into the driver’s seat, I headed off round a section of the company’s off-road test track, appropriately labelled ‘The Developing World’. After so much
winter rain, the route was very wet and cut up – perfect for rallying – and while this Defender feels antiquated on public roads, it was right at home on the potholed gravel track. It’s very torquey and it was vital to get up quickly through the gears to make the most of the extra power. The trick in such slippery conditions is to get the nose tight to the inside line through the corners – as close to the grass verge as possible – and keep the power on, especially if it starts to drift and the back end comes round. With my windscreen wipers going double-time and powering through the water splashes, driving this car was great fun. Expert instruction meant I quickly felt like I was improving and my lap times were coming down, even if I was at low speeds of 30-50mph. I’m not going to pretend all went to plan – I made some considerable marks on the grass verge on a couple of occasions – but it was grin-inducing stuff. Next stop the Dakar Rally… (landrover.com)
65
The mayfair Magazine | Beauty
Spring i n t o a c ti o n
As the weather gets warmer and everything gets a little brighter, we challenge you to throw off the excuses and make lasting changes for the better. From taking charge of your health to transforming your mind, we bring you the experts who can help by elle blakeman
67
Spring
Work it out into action
Fitness has moved on since the days of treadmills, aggressive music and neon gym clothes. This month, we meet three of London’s finest fitness experts to find out the latest, smartest ways to get in shape
Matt Hodges, Body Transformation Specialist at The MPH Method
‘T
he key to a new fitness regime is to do it properly. If you are willing to put in the hard work you will often get what you want. It’s important to find someone who can guide you through getting a good programme sorted and who can keep an eye on you whilst you do it, whether that’s with personal training or with some form of mentoring method. A good personal trainer will know how to integrate a person into training and eating properly from the start. 99 per cent of us need our mind-sets re-wired to get on the right track. Our two, three and four month programmes are designed to not only get the client into fantastic shape, but to ensure that those who finish the course are left with a greater understanding of training and nutrition and are able to successfully maintain their results for the future. As a general rule for fat loss I’d aim to do at least four weight sessions a week with a further two to three cardio sessions. For muscle gain I’d do five sessions a week and for strength work I’d aim to do at least two to three sessions per week.
TOP THREE
When you start, learn more about what it is you’re a going to do; if you are embarking on starting Zumba then go to a few classes: You have to choose something that enjoy doing otherwise you’ll get de-motivated pretty quickly. Most people jump onto the treadmill at the gym because it’s the only thing they know, but running for long distance is a very ineffective way of losing fat. Females need to start lifting weights, the general attitude that lifting weights will make you bulky is so far wrong that it should be
‘99 per cent of us need our mind-sets re-wired to get on the right track’ – Matt Hodges illegal. With the right coaching you can go from having a normal body to being strong and powerful – there is nothing more empowering.’ More information on The MPH Method, a five stage health and fitness transformation course designed by renowned personal trainer Matt Hodges, is available online at themphmethod.com or by calling 020 748 0514
#2 Elite running shorts, £47.50, HPE (hpe-shop.com)
TRAINING ACCE S S ORIE S A new regime needs a new wardrobe – here’s a few pieces that will have you running to the gym
68
#3 Supernova Glide Boost, £100, Adidas (adidas.com) #1 Crop top, £45, Pepper and Mayne (pepperandmayne.co.uk)
The mayfair Magazine | Feature
Colin Waggett CEO at Psycle
‘W
ith Psycle we want to create an exercise experience that is as enjoyable as it is effective, from each and every angle. We want to give Londoners the same sort of personal and original experience they can get in the best bars and restaurants. At the start of many group exercise classes in normal gyms there can be tension. Firstly you need to get there early to save your space, and then at the start of the class there is a scramble to get your favourite seat. At Psycle that is all taken care online – guaranteed space, self-selected seat and not only that there is no gym membership or signing fee. From an exercise point of view Tim Weeks, Psycle’s Programme Director, has developed a total body workout on a bike, using both high intensity interval training combined with low impact exercises. As well as hitting all the key energy systems we have incorporated power, strength, conditioning and resistance work in one routine. That means you get a workout that is time-efficient and effective – if you get yourself to the front door we will take care of the rest. The effectiveness and integrity of the workout is wrapped up in a delivery style that has an amazing energy. At Psycle we passionately believe that the most powerful thing about exercise is the way it can make you feel better about yourself and about life. The right music and the right instructors sit at the heart of this. Music has the ability to change your state of mind in an instant. We have worked with Miranda Sawyer from BBC 6 music to make sure each and every playlist is different and special. It is not about beats per minute – it is about emotional lyrics, and intelligent and innovative remixes of great tracks. When people draw comparisons to Ibiza I know we are onto something. Psycle, 76 Mortimer Street, London, W1 psyclelondon.com)
69
Spring
A new start into action
If you’re going to do it, do it right. This month, we meet Dr Tapan Patel as he opens his frankly exquisite cosmetic clinic on Harley Street w o r ds : E l l e B l a k e m a n
I
’m a fan of sales. I once spent nearly seven hours at the Net-a-Porter sample sale and only left because my credit card stopped working. I’m the proud owner of a neonyellow pair of Alaïa heels because they were 50 per cent off and I prefer Boxing Day at Harrods to Christmas at home. But when it comes to beauty, specifically surgery, I seriously object to any kind of ‘deal’. I deplore the ‘group daily deals’ emails that pop uninvited into my inbox every day: the ‘80%-off laser treatments’ and ‘Buy one Dermapen Facials and get four free!’ ones that imply that surgery is a simple as a haircut. Frankly the last place I want to see the word ‘discount’ is before ‘surgeon’. Dr Tapan Patel, one of the country’s top cosmetic dermatologists is throwing down the gauntlet. His new Harley Street clinic – think luxury spa, mixed with a high-end private hospital and a touch of Kelly Hoppen minimalist chic – is designed to set the record straight when it comes to surgery: it’s serious, so for God’s sake do it properly. ‘At a time when cosmetic procedures are so frequently in the media, it is so important to reiterate they are a significant intervention,’ says Dr Tapan. ‘The surgery involves careful planning before, during and after. Invasive procedures cannot be reversed so the decision to proceed must not be taken flippantly.’ A word to the wise for anyone who has ever booked an appointment after watching Britain’s Next Top Model… While the fresh flowers, high-ceilinged rooms, hidden white cupboards (not a needle in sight!) make me want to move in, it’s the collection of experts that Dr Tapan has amassed that really make this place newsworthy. Practitioners here are at the top of their game, something that Dr
70
Tapan is banking on to set the PHI clinic apart, after all, who, outside of the industry, knows which surgeon is fantastic and which one would be better off using his skills at The Ginger Pig? Dr Tapan has put his reputation on the line in insisting that his doctors are the ones to go to. Thinking of a Facelift? Mr Dominic Bray performs exquisite surgery under light sedation allowing patients to go home the same day. You want fillers? These will be done by cosmetic dermatologist Dr Raj Acquilla (a name I have previously had passed to me like a secret handshake from a beauty editor), regularly flies all over the world, training other doctors how to use the latest facial rejuvenation techniques, which in my mind makes him the Yoda of fillers, and as such, one of the only people I would let near my face with anything more lasting than make-up. Of course, Dr Tapan himself is a Pretty Big Deal. You’ll recognise him from TV appearances – he’s appeared on Ten Years Younger and This Morning – among others. He is also the one name that every cosmeceutical brand wants on their books, such is the gravitas of having him on side (he is the spokesperson for SkinCeuticals). He is also exceptionally nice and – shock, horror – honest. If you don’t need something, he won’t do it. As a doctor, he is also very keen to manage expectations – which thanks to Photoshop and Real Housewives, have become even more out of kilter than ever. No one who demands Angelina’s face is going to be told they can have it. And thank God for that – one is quite enough in the world. 102 Harley Street, WIG (020 7034 5931; phiclinic.com)
The mayfair Magazine | Feature
Top three T r e a t m e n t s a t PH I Mira Dry What: Reduces underarm sweat by a 95% in just two treatments. How: While sweating is an essential body function for temperature-control, the underarms house less than two per cent of the body’s sweat glands. MiraDry (PHI is the only clinic in Europe to have it) works by delivering controlled electromagnetic energy to the underarm area, eliminating the underarm sweat glands. Two procedures are typically recommended, three months apart, to maximize the quality and duration of results. Pain factor: Minimal Downtime: One to two days swelling Cost: £3,500 for two treatments Total fx What: Laser Resurfacing to improve the appearance of damaged skin. How: A C02 Laser is used to precisely remove layers of skin resulting in a smoother, tighter complexion Pain Factor: minimal due to local anaesthetic Downtime: Five to 10 days Cost: From £1,850 – £4,500 Enerjet What: For treating scars wrinkles and stretch marks How: Fluid containing hyaluronic acid is introduced through the skin under high pressure without a needle. The mechanism breaks down scar tissue and stimulates new collagen production Pain Factor: Minimal Downtime: Hours Cost: £500 per session
71
Spring into action
Mind over matter The Landmark Forum promises to transform your life in just three days, giving you a future you never even dreamed possible. Amber Allinson finds out whether it delivers
I
’ve never been in a room this full and this quiet. There are 165 of us, sat in neat rows facing a stage in an unassuming building just down the road from Euston. There are signs of nerves everywhere: playing with hair, fiddling with buttons and jackets. All of us are waiting for someone to take charge, to tell us what to do. Landmark has been doing just that since 1991, when it launched with the aim of teaching people how to be successful human beings, an ontological education for the modern world. The website promises to transform the lives of it’s students, giving them access to literally whatever they want in their future – freedom, effectiveness, power, fulfillment, vitality, self-expression, peace of mind. It’s an offer that over 2.2 million people have taken up. Landmark graduates are, almost without exception, full of praise. A very successful friend who works in fashion tells me that it is ‘The thing that saved her,’ while another credits Landmark with her trademark ‘take no prisioners’ attitude that I have always admired. ‘It’s a bit like a secret handshake among successful people,’ says the fashion friend. And so I find myself sitting under harsh strip lighting with a large group of people of various ages and stages, who to my judgemental eye all look like they need answers, which concerns me. What if they make us hug? At exactly 9am, Jerry, our ‘coach’ takes his place in a Director’s chair on the stage, and is at once very confident and ridiculously relaxed. He’s funny – a self-confessed ‘Jew with no eyes and all teeth’, it’s like he’s talking to an old friend, as opposed to a large group of nervous strangers. We can’t take notes and don’t need to worry about anything – just sit there and leave it to him. ‘You’ll get there’ he reassures us with absolute certainty, he gives the analogy of popcorn – some corn pops earlier than others, but they all pop at some stage. I immediately
decide to be one of the first good pieces to ‘pop’ early – probably a revealing sign. The three consecutive days are long and intense – 15 hours each – with just two short breaks and one longer one for dinner. There is homework at each break and when we go home, and time-keeping is essential. After the first break we are reprimanded for our lateness: ‘12.22 is not 12.20’ says Jerry, forcefully. ‘It’s lazy and you waste people’s time – we are training you to be extraordinary, so keep your word – starting with time’. It’s tough, but we are promised it will all be worth it on Monday as Jerry asks for ‘just three crummy days and one lousy night’ to change our lives. It seems a fair enough deal. Although Landmark claims not to have any allegiance with any philosophical schools of thought, I definitely recognise a few concepts pinched from Buddhism, Freud and even the plot of Citizen Kane (which is actually summed up for us in it’s entirety). Jerry is so convinced by the possibility that Landmark creates, that he argues that it can achieve world peace. More incredibly, I start to believe him. However, in order to start afresh, we must face what is in our various pasts that has previously held us back, and over the course of three days we are told that our decisions are based on self-preservation and saving face, that our coping mechanisms were developed early on and have been running our lives ever since, and that we are more concerned with ‘looking good’ and ‘being right’ than the effect that this is having on our lives. Essentially, we learn that our past informs our future, so we have no choice but to keep living out the same situation over and over again. Landmark promises to help you put your past back in your past. This is ‘tough love’ like no other: 45 hours over three days has the effect of creating a hothouse of emotion and normally reserved Londoners are
‘This is ‘tough love’ like no other: 45 hours over three 72
The mayfair Magazine | Feature
openly sharing their most intimate fears and regrets. We are offered the chance to go up on stage and share our lives, and Jerry remains unfazed in the face of tales of abuse, neglect and worse. While not trivialising major life events – some of which are as tragic as losing a child – Jerry helps people to really address these issues, in order to start living their lives fully, as opposed to shrouded in guilt or regret. ‘The problem is, you add a story – something happens and you make it about you. Your dad leaves and you decide that you are unlovable, your boss fires you decide you can’t be trusted – that’s ridiculous. And then you will find ways to prove yourself right – you will play the ‘poor me’ card until you just accept that events are just that – things that happen. There isn’t just one truth.’ Another problem is that we all love to be ‘right’ and therefore we love others to be ‘wrong’. He encourages us to think of any situation that we continually moan about – the mother who is always interfering or the boss who won’t get off your back – don’t you get even a little bit of satisfaction from that? ‘You just love to be right don’t you?! Love it, love it love it LOVE. IT’ Jerry shouts at the terrible people we are. ‘Your dad left you, your mum doesn’t understand you – this is all a story you tell yourself!’ And on the occasions you are right – so what? Jerry tells us to ‘get off it’ in no uncertain terms – if you’ve got a problem, sort it. If you can’t, then accept it – let it be and move on. It’s nothing we haven’t heard before but the intense situation and complete lack of distraction forces us to confront these issues. It’s the most levelling experience I’ve ever had – we are a complete mix of ages and races, men and women – and yet everyone has something holding them back: the woman who hasn’t spoken to her mother in years over a perceived slight, the type-A man who is paralysed by his fear of mistakes, the couple fighting to the point of divorce over changing the toilet roll – you quickly realise that nobody is as sorted as you think they are – a comforting thought. Before each break we are encouraged to
call loved ones that we have long had issues with. ‘WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?’ shouts Jerry after every break when people admitted they didn’t. ‘Make the breakthrough!’ As the weekend progresses, and more and more of us make these calls, people start to look visibly lighter. Lines unfurrow and we collectively start to giggle at all of the problems that had seemed inconceivably huge just two days previously. Post-Landmark, I do notice changes. Work worries, relationship dramas all seem more manageable. I’m more tolerant with my mother, the Pavlovian response to reach for irritation at every supposed dig is gone and suddenly I realise that maybe she was genuinely just telling me about so and so’s wedding, or my sister’s new house. I call my dad and although I don’t actually say it, I realise I have let go of almost three decades of hurt, anger and feelings of betrayal after he left me and my mother. It’s not about me anymore, it just happened and now we have a choice to move forward or not. There are follow-up sessions, helping us to apply the ideas we’ve learned in the forum to our day-to-day lives. The teachers are enthusiastic and inspiring, and I find myself wishing I’d done this sooner rather than wasting years wallowing in an unholy English mixture of self-pity and self-deprecation. ‘Does anyone know Boris Johnson?’ says Rachel, our follow-up tutor. ‘Imagine how London could look if the mayor was a Landmark graduate?’ ‘He’s not going to come here is he,’ says a 30-something student, perfectly summing it the point of all this; of course he won’t if we all decide that it’s ridiculous from the start, but why not? And that’s what I take from Landmark most of all – the attitude of ‘why not’? Why can’t I get a better job or boyfriend or house? Why can’t I change the world? Some people do. And I would hazard a guess that quite a few of those who do, have done this course. (landmarkworldwide.com)
days has the effect of creating a hothouse of emotion’ 73
Spring into action
Health management Virgil Bretz wants us to live longer. We visit One Hundred Years, the global medical service he co-founded, on Harley Street to discover how this medical visionary’s dream has become a reality W o r d s : K a t e R a c ovo l i s
H
ealth, wealth and happiness. These three things are often seen as the keys to living well, but as our increasingly time-starved lives dictate, one in particular is often overlooked; our health. What is interesting about this phrase, is that being in good health can determine your attitude when it comes to doing well at work, at home and being happy. We often know how to manage our wealth, our homes and our work schedule, but when it comes to health, there are often gaps. And yet health and wellbeing have never been more important. As science and technology is continually allowing us to learn more about our bodies and how they work, we have realised there are many new and exciting things that we know are good (or bad) for us. Life expectancy in many countries is becoming longer, and since the invention of penicillin and antibiotics, the medication available has expanded exponentially. There is so much information available, making managing your health an occasionally daunting task; the last time I visited Holland & Barratt, I was convinced I needed almost very supplement in stock (Do I have trouble sleeping? Sometimes. Does my immune system need a boost? Yes. Would I like healthy hair, skin and nails? Definitely!) I have seen countless GPs, dermatologists, physiotherapists and personal trainers over the years, as I have been to-ing and fro-ing between numerous countries, and needed to find new specialists each time. And so the question presses; how can we live the longest, most healthy lives possible? With this question in mind – and an answer to it – a new, innovative global health service, One Hundred Years, has launched on Harley Street. Co-founded by medical entrepreneur Virgil Bretz, the company
74
is the first in the country to professionally manage clients’ health and health care spending. ‘One Hundred Years provides a solution and service, it’s not just a product,’ says Bretz. ‘Therefore we tailor personalised health optimisation programmes for the needs of each client: some need immediate expert advice for themselves or someone they care about to engage a challenging diagnosis; many are healthy and want a proactive team to help achieve a lifetime of great health; and some literally want to climb the highest mountains.’ A visit to its facilities illustrates precisely this: that no matter what your health concern,
‘One Hundred Years provides a solution and service, it’s not just a product’ whether you are recovering from an injury or illness, or are training to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, the service is created just for you. There is state-of-the-art equipment that you would usually only find in the gym of a professional athlete. Dr. Jack Kreindler, chief medical officer at One Hundred Years and founder of the Centre for Health and Human Performance, which is housed in the same building as One Hundred Years, says that the company works in a goaloriented way, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. ‘Before we ask about any problems, we always ask our clients whether they have a goal,’ Kreindler says. ‘If you’ve got a goal, you’re going to be able to run your multi-national organisation until you’re 70. If you want to look great throughout your entire life and have a
The mayfair Magazine | Feature
good ability to manage stress, you’re going to have to sort out your health.’ This positive approach can make addressing your health an inspiring and exciting process, rather than overwhelming. But ultimately, the decisions lie with you. Mike Crossley, a private health advisor at One Hundred Years, points out that ‘the fundamental question firstly is, ‘what does your health mean to you?’ Not, ‘What does medicine say is healthy?’ But, ‘How are you? What do you feel is healthy?’ That then provides you with your baseline from which to work.’ Everyone is different culturally, physiologically and psychologically. Kreindler uses an interesting example of a wine aficionado, who may drink more than what the recommended average. To this he would ask, ‘How much do you enjoy it?’ If the answer was that the person loved it, collected it and had a real passion for it and it is a part of their life, Kreindler would work with the facts, find a sommelier who could find the best bio-dynamic wines with the lowest histamine content and highest anti-oxidant content to help design a cellar to work in line with your health. Of course, he might advise breaks and lowering your consumption, particularly if it compromises the health of your liver. ‘But it’s meeting the person with their goals and passions,’ he says. With global connections to some of the best medical minds in the world, One Hundred Years can also provide you with the right treatment, no matter where you are in the world, whether you had a fall while skiing at your favourite mountain, or if your injure yourself on holiday on the beach. You will be treated by the same people who have worked with Olympic champions, and some of the most distinguished doctors in all fields of medicine. ‘This is the future of health care,’ Kreindler says. ‘This is how everyone will be treated in One Hundred Years.’ So, how are you today? One Hundred Years annual memberships start from £3,000 for select health advisory services to £50,000. Pay-as-you-go is also now available. 76 Harley Street, W1G (0808 189 0391; 100years.com)
75
Tech SUPPORT Prepare to forget about life before these gadgets as we bring you the latest ‘can’t live without’ toys w o r d s : s i a n G ARDIN E R
#1 Modern music This modern take on the classic Magnavox R3 horn speaker of the 1920s combines the vintage appeal of 20th century design with 21st century technology. Billed as the world’s first Bluetooth gramophone, users can pair any Bluetooth-enabled device to the Gramovox, wirelessly streaming songs from up to 10 meters away through the horn, to create an authentic old-school sound. Bluetooth Gramophone, from £212, Gramovox (gramovox.com)
76
#2 Financially stable These days, pickpockets need only a few second standing beside you to relieve you of valuable personal information through RFID hacking. Each piece in the TICON collection from luxury lifestyle accessories brand Tumi comes with their trademarked ‘ID Lock’ – a unique material comprised of metal threads which create a barrier and block signals from potential thieves. We especially love this Double Billfold wallet. TICON Wallet, £155, Tumi (tumi.com)
#3 Golden age It’s difficult to predict how future technology will look, but it’s more than likely to involve far fewer tangled wires. At present, the technology remains in its infancy, but plenty of big-name electronics companies have set their sights on making wireless power the norm for consumers, and new products from phone chargers to the likes of this MR1 speaker are going wire-free. MR1 Wireless Speaker, £300, Ruark Audio, (ruarkaudio.com)
The mayfair Magazine | Feature
#4 Out of space? While hard drives aren’t usually synonymous with style and sophistication (unless you are a particularly dedicated IT geek), the latest offering from LaCie, the Sphere, is certainly a step in that direction. Handcrafted by French silversmith Christofle, the gleaming silver-plated sphere will sit pretty on your desk whilst still storing all of your important files and photos. Who knew technology could be so beautiful? Christofle Sphère, £305, LaCie (lacie.com)
#5 Better together Sometimes there’s simply nothing better than retreating into your own world of music. British sound specialists Bowers & Wilkins have joined forces with Maserati to create a luxury listening experience. Crafted from fine-grain natural leather in Maserati’s iconic deep racing blue, a closed back design and sealed leather ear pads ensure a quality sound to match. P5 Maseratu Edition, £329.99, Bowers & Wilkins (bowers-wilkins.co.uk)
#6 Second sight Developed by Google, Glass is an Android powered, voice-controlled computer, which aims to reduce the amount of time we spend with our hands clamped around a phone. Users can expect to be able to take pictures or get directions and answers to questions right in front of their eyes, simply with the use of voice command. There’s no need for headphones either, with sound transmitted to your ear via Bone Conduction technology. (google.co.uk/glass)
77
78
The mayfair Magazine | Feature
private eye Worried about identity theft? The latest iris-recognition devices will give you peace of mind
I
words: mike peake
f you’re anything like me, you’ll have a document stashed away on your laptop that lists all of your passwords, account numbers and login details and, even though you’ve labelled it ‘holiday plans’ or something similarly innocuous, you might as well have left the keys to your house taped to the lid and left the whole lot in Starbucks. Passwords have become such an annoying part of our lives that according to recent research, millions of us have resorted to ‘123456’ and ‘password’ in order to keep them memorable. Easy to recall, they are, of course, just as easy to guess: in 2012 there were more than 12 million recorded cases of identify theft. But the answer to the problem could be staring us in the face – literally. A small, aesthetically-pleasing device called the Myris (as in ‘my’ + ‘iris’) will soon sit on your desk and look into your eyes to see if you’re who you say you are. Using state-of-the-art iris-recognition technology, it is one of a fast-growing number of consumer products that are bringing biometrics – previously the domain of important-sounding security consultants and government departments – into the mainstream. Within a couple of years, you won’t be logging on with a password, you’ll be doing it with your eyes, your fingerprint, or even your heartbeat. ‘Myris is as easy as looking in a mirror,’ says Anthony Antolino, chief marketing officer of a company called EyeLock which makes the Myris and hopes to have it on sale very soon. ‘Simply look at it, and have your identity confirmed in a matter of seconds. Once logged in, Myris’ password management dashboard allows you to manage as many digital access points that require login credentials as you like.’ From
social media to online banking, he says, this nifty gadget will allow you – and you alone – to access them all. Growing evidence that we are losing patience for – and losing track of – our passwords prompted EyeLock to come up with such a seemingly failsafe device for use in the home. ‘As we see in the news almost every week, passwords are being hacked,’ says Antolino. ‘Myris allows you to make your passwords as complex as you like, but not have to remember them every time you log in.’ Your iris, if you’re wondering, is second only to your DNA in terms of its uniqueness. Antolino claims that Myris will identify more than 240 points of unique characteristics in each of your eyes, and comes with a claimed one-in-2.25-trillion chance of allowing the wrong person to log in. Fingerprint scans, by comparison, offer a not-quite-so-convincing 1 in 50,000 chance of a false positive. Biometrics as defined in the dictionary is ‘the measurement and analysis of unique physical or behavioural characteristics as a means of verifying personal identity.’ As well as the better-known methods such as analysing facial features, voice patterns and the aforementioned fingerprint and iris scanning, experts believe that everything from the way we walk to the way we smell could one day be used to identify us digitally. Progress is being made at a rapid pace, and today’s experts scoff at the memory of the days when, during the technology’s infancy, a laptop with a fingerprint scanner was famously fooled by a Gummy Bear sweet. In Jordan, the Cairo Amman Bank has more than 100 cash machines which use iris scanners to let customers withdraw their money – and
79
Feature | The mayfair Magazine
the bank claims more than 1 million transactions with zero cases of fraud. PayTouch, a Spanish venture, offers a fingerprint-based system of paying for purchases in stores. And an Israeli company called Bio Guard is a leader in the world of palm-vein technology. Their product, the ID-Pod (designed in conjunction with Japanese electronics giant Fujitsu), verifies your identity by analysing the unique pattern of veins in the palm – a process which takes moments when waving the hand over a scanner. In tandem to advances in biometrics, wearable tech has become a much-touted concept during the past few years, thanks in no small part to the success of Nike+ and Sony’s
‘Wearable tech has become a much-touted concept during the past few years’
Images, clockwise from top: recognition device from Eyelock, Tom Cruise in Minority Report © The Moviestore Collection. Nymi devices in various colours. PayTouch fingerprint device from Bio Guard
80
recent SmartWatch. So it’s no surprise, perhaps, that several companies out there are looking to pair up the two markets. ‘Nymi’ is a wearable, watch-like device that is, ‘Uniquely tied to the wearer’s identity.’ Its biometric credentials are especially clever: a sensor in the Nymi measures your ECG – your heartbeat – which the makers of Nymi insists is unique. Their product, they say, will allow you to log in/authenticate just once per day and then communicate with a variety of connected devices – everything from online accounts to door locks – via Bluetooth. ‘It’s not just about security, it’s about making the most of identity,’ says Kurt Bartlett, Nymi’s Marketing and PR Manager. “If people want to have meaningful, personalised experiences across industries from retail, to healthcare, to
social, Nymi offers a secure, privacy-protected opportunity.’ But it’s not yet available. A mere $79, however, is sufficient to pre-order one. While biometrics is clearly a safe bet when it comes to the future management of your personal identity and passwords, critics say that all of the current solutions are not without security issues; complaints include everything from the ease of copying fingerprints to cloning the secret data stored on biometric devices. As issues are ironed out, however, the rise of the machines appears inevitable. But don’t shout too loudly if you bought the new iPhone and like to make a song and dance about using your fingerprint to switch it on: the Techradar website reported in February that Apple’s much-hyped fingerprint recognition system is considered by some experts as little more than ‘security theatre’. (eyelock.com; getnymi.com)
FINANCIAL EDUCATION FOR ALL FINANCIAL EDUCATION FOR ALL FINANCIAL EDUCATION FOR ALL IN-DEPTH, UNBIASED & AFFORDABLE
REGISTER REGISTER TODAY REGISTER TODAY EXCLUSIVE READER OFFERS TODAY
IN-DEPTH, UNBIASED & AFFORDABLE IN-DEPTH, UNBIASED & AFFORDABLE
EXCLUSIVE READER OFFERS UP TO 75% OFF OFFERS ALL EXCLUSIVE ONLINEREADER COURSES
Trading & Investing Made Simple Trading Trading & & Investing Investing Made Made Simple Simple Lex van Dam is the creator of the BBC’s TV Program “Million Dollar Lex van Dam is the creatorofofLex the BBC’s ProgramEducation. “Million Dollar Traders” and the founder DamTV Financial Lex brings Lex van Dam is the creator of thevan BBC’s TV Program “Million Dollar Traders” and the founder of Lex van Dam Financial Education. Lex brings his institutional experience and wisdom in trading and investing to ordinary Traders” and the founder of Lex van Dam Financial Education. Lex brings his institutional experience and wisdom in trading and investing to ordinary ® methodology people and professionals His 5-Step-Trading his institutional experiencealike. and wisdom in trading and investing to explains ordinary ® methodology people and professionals alike. 5-Step-Trading the complex financial world in a His simple and well structured way. explains ® methodology explains people and professionals alike. His 5-Step-Trading the complex financial world in a simple and well structured way. Easy-to-use, the complex financial world in a simple and well structured way. online
Why you should learn with us: Why you should learn with us: Why learn with At theyou endshould of the course, you us: will have an in-depth At the end of the course, will have in-depth understanding about the you financial worldan what At the end of the course, you will have anand in-depth understanding about the financial world and what it takes to be good at trading & investing. If you understanding about the financial world and what it takes to be good at trading & investing. If you like to improve youratfinancial at a time it takes to be good trading skills & investing. If you like to improve your financial skills at a time convenient for you get online and register like to improve yourthen financial skills at a time convenient for you then get online and register today. convenient for you then get online and register today. today.
customer support Easy-to-use, onlineand no Easy-to-use, up-selling or online third party customer support and no customer support and no advertising. up-selling orOur thirdcourse party up-sellingis or thirdcourse party material available 24 advertising. Our advertising. Our course hours a day on any device, material is available 24 material is available 24learn which hours ameans day onyou anycan device, hoursskills ameans day onyou anycan device, new whenever and which learn whichskills means you can learn wherever you want: from new whenever and newcomfort skills you whenever and the of want: your couch, wherever from wherever you want: from at your desk, when the comfort ofor your couch, theyour comfort couch, you’re traveling. at desk,oforyour when at yourtraveling. desk, or when you’re you’re traveling.
Visit www.lexvandam.com/en/city or call us: 020 3286 3408 Visit www.lexvandam.com/en/city or call us: 020 3286 3408 Visit www.lexvandam.com/en/city or call us: 020 3286 3408
T&C apply. T&C apply. T&C apply.
UP TO 75% OFF ALL ONLINE COURSES UP TO 75% OFF ALL ONLINE COURSES
Online Courses: Online Courses: Online Courses:
5-Step-Trading® STOCKS I 5-Step-Trading® STOCKS I 5-Step-Trading® STOCKS I 5-Step-Trading® STOCKS II: 5-Step-Trading® STOCKS II: + Avoid Common Trading Mistakes 5-Step-Trading® STOCKS II: + Avoid Common Trading Mistakes Trading Tips + Lex’s Screen
£119 £119 £119 £119 £119 £119
£499 £499 £499 £499 £499 £499
5-Step-Trading® FX 5-Step-Trading® FX 5-Step-Trading® FX Lex’s Favourite Technical Lex’s Favourite Technical Trading Strategies for FX Lex’s Favourite Technical Applicable to Commodities & Indexes Trading Strategies for FX Trading for FX ApplicableStrategies to Commodities & Indexes
£199 £199 £199 £249 £249 £249
£499 £499 £499 £320 £320 £320
ALL COURSES ALL COURSES ALL COURSES
£499 £1800 £499 £1800 £499 £1800
Avoid Common Trading Mistakes + Trading Tips + Lex’s Screen Trading Tips + Lex’s Screen
Applicable to Commodities & Indexes
©2014 All rights reserved. ©2014 All rights reserved. ©2014 All rights reserved.
Telling stories An actress, philanthropist, perfumer, heiress and media mogul, Danielle Ryan is a woman making the most out of life. As her new fragrance line launches into Selfridges, Elle Blakeman meets the chic business woman to discuss her latest path
82
The mayfair Magazine | Feature
T
his perfume smells like home to me. I don’t know why, but I’m drawn to it. ‘That’s our Bitter End fragrance,’ says Danielle Ryan, the creator of the scent and founder of Roads. ‘It’s based on the west of Ireland.’ That’s what it is! The heady mixture of wild grass, damp moss, blowing leaves and a strong, cold wind, the smell of countless childhood days spent running around the open fields of Belmullet in Co. Mayo, where my family are from. It’s amazing how instinctively powerful scent is, it can whisk you back to a time or a place faster than any photograph or song. ‘It’s completely underutilised if you ask me,’ says Ryan, spraying test cards for me to explore the rest of the ten-strong collection. ‘You could have a particular evening with that fragrance on and it will remind you of something forever. All of these perfumes are based on things that really inspire me.’ It would have been easy for Ryan to sail through life, the beautiful young granddaughter of RyanAir co-founder, Tony Ryan, she could have taken the untroubled society path available to her – dinners, functions, party pictures in the back of glossy magazines... your standard life of privilege. Instead, she left Dublin and moved to London where she studied at RADA and became an actress. When her father sadly passed away in 2007, when Ryan was just 24, she took her acting knowledge and position and used it to fulfil a wish that she had long shared with him, to set up Ireland’s National Academy of Dramatic Arts, ostensibly Ireland’s answer to RADA, helping young talent into the competitive world of acting. She also used her inheritance to work on a project with UNICEF in Sri Lanka (Ryan’s mother is half Sri Lankan), learning about business skills from
philanthropy, as opposed to the other way around. Now, at the age of just 29, Ryan has followed in the entrepreneurial family footsteps and founded her own lifestyle company, Roads – an umbrella brand encompassing perfume, publishing and film production. Not one to let the wild grass grow. ‘I had to do them [the philanthropic projects] first before I could do anything, but
‘I had to do the philanthropic projects first before I could do anything’ this company has been on my mind for years,’ she says, when we meet over early-morning coffee in the foyer of the Ritz. Ryan flew in on the first flight out of Dublin, a trip she takes several times a week at the moment, and arrives looking subtly glamourous, yet effortless – a simple black skirt and grey T-shirt, lifted with tousled hair and red lipstick; the kind of look that is instinctive for some and has takes the rest of us hours to achieve. I suspect Ryan is in the former category. ‘I always wanted to create a brand that had a lot of different ways of being able to show its identity in the same way that a person would have multiple ways of expressing himself. I like the idea that a brand could be based on an ethos and rather than just having a single voice.’ On the face of it, it does seem a little confusing – a couture perfume house mixed with a media production offering and coffee-table books? But then again, we are in the age of
83
individualism – we’ve swapped Harvey Nics for the Dover Street Market, Starbucks for The Mount Street Deli. People don’t want to be boxed in anymore. ‘They’re autonomous businesses,’ explains Ryan. ‘The easiest way to explain it to compare it to Virgin – they’re all married by a similar brand ethos, so I have a great team behind each one, and they are all invested in working together. So it’s really whatever we’re reading about at the time. We’re curating a lot of things from newspapers and publications – and we have such a build of knowledge so we have to put it into blogs and on twitter and say “look at this, that’s cool”.’ The publishing arm of Roads has been in full swing since last September, with the launch of ten classic titles such as Arthur Conon Doyle’s The
‘Harmatan takes me straight back to a long weekend with friends in Marrakech’ Hound of The Baskervilles and Flaubert’s Madame Bovary, recovered with an elegant, circular design by Irish design team Conor & David, each one relevant to the book. Madame Bovary, for example, features a decaying yellow rose inside a black circle, a symbol of the deteriorating morals of the discontented Emma Bovary. ‘We’re printing some new coffee-table books soon,’ says Ryan excitedly. ‘One of the original paparazzi left this archive of over 14,000 images that have never been seen before – photos of Liz Taylor and Richard Burton on their boat, or Audrey Hepburn at the beach – it’s amazing.’ Today, we are here to focus on the perfume side of Roads, a collection of ten couture fragrances that will be launching into
84
Selfridges this month. As someone who attends more fragrance launches than evening meals, I wonder if Ryan is concerned by the increasingly crowded market – a fragrance seems as de rigueur as an ‘At Home With…’ piece for every aspiring starlet. ‘No I don’t think I worry too much about market research,’ she says laughing. ‘I think it would stop you doing a lot of things because you’d get intimidated, but there are a lot of different people in the world and a lot of different things and the niche perfume business is booming – more than I expected.’ As her grandfather is partly responsible for changing air travel forever, one can presume that this level of fearlessness must be at least in part inherited. ‘There weren’t any expectations from my family, they just wanted us to do whatever we wanted – but to do it well,’ says Ryan. ‘My family has given me a sense of, “nothing’s impossible” and “why not”. I remember my dad told me to call Steven Spielberg when I was at RADA. He thought, ‘Why don’t you call a big London director?’ There was always that attitude, always the idea that you could do anything. I grew up with my dad, and I think a lot of my tastes now are quite masculine. We’ve always had a sense of “what’s the worse that can happen?” ‘I think the link with Roads really is storytelling. People want something to represent themselves, it’s the same as clothes – you want to tell something about yourself, and this is what perfume does, it can cheer you up and give you confidence.’ While the Bitter End fragrance certainly told a part of my story, the rest of the collection offers a chance to fill in some the rest – The Graduate smells like a memory of my grandmother. ‘That was based on women in the 1950’s’ offers Ryan, explaining this connection. A time when women wouldn’t head to the post office without a good swipe of lipstick and a matching handbag and
The mayfair Magazine | Feature
heels. ‘It’s very glamourous and feminine.’ Meanwhile, Harmatan takes me straight back to a long weekend with friends in Marrakech. It’s an intoxicating blend of oud and desert smells – arresting and seducing the senses instantly. Each one has a narrative to it, which makes sense when you know Ryan’s background. ‘When I trained as an actress, a big part of what I learned is that research is really important. So if I’m researching a fragrance, I’m looking specifically for how I would want that product to make me feel. ‘With Cloud Nine I wanted to try and represent a kind of happiness that I now have in life, I’m married and I’ve got two kids, and I’m young so it’s this gentle, calm happiness; it’s very clean and comforting. Neon, however, is very different; it’s based on my sister who’s 22; she’s just finished studying business and she’s elegant and interesting, so the perfume is young and quite chic. You could imagine wearing a nice velvet dress with it…’ I suspect that Ryan has a scene in her head for each one, almost as if each were a costume for a part: the young girl in the velvet dress, the mother, at home with her family on a Sunday morning, the woman on a hedonistic weekend, partying the night away – it’s a scent wardrobe for life. So should we all give up the notion of being monogamous with our fragrances? ‘Oh completely, as a person you’re different with your grandmother than you would be on a night out or in a business capacity. You want to represent different things at different times. I see it as much as clothing, and people are very individual about that. And what of the film section of Roads? Are we talking big budget blockbusters or more homegrown titles? ‘They range – some are big budget, but you don’t always need that to do something very interesting nowadays. And they’re on many different subjects – so we’re working on one about mental health, another about hacking, one by a speechwriter for Robert Kennedy who also wrote Revolutionary Road – it’s giving a
platform to totally different things. ‘This is the point of Roads – it’s really just whatever’s interesting at the time.’ Spoken like a true storyteller. Books, out now (roads.co) Fragrances, £98, available at Selfridges from May (selfridges.com)
DANIELLE’S WORLD FIVE THINGS SHE COULDN’T live without #1 My two kids and husband My favourite people in the world to hang out with #2 Strong coffee Not a good scene without it #3 Running shoes I have to run everyday, helps me sleep, think, rationalise. Very important for mental strength #4 My library I am so happy when sitting flicking through books for hours, it is usually the time where the clearest ideas come to mind #5 Film downloaded on the iPad I travel a lot at the moment with Roads and I find it is the best time to catch up on the films and documentaries that I need to kept up to date on
85
Mirror, mirror
Take inspiration from the glamour of the Forties: flawless skin, thick eyeliner and lashings of bold, orange lipstick Photographer: Ian Walsh s t y l i s t: b o o a ttw o o d
86
The mayfair Magazine | Beauty
From left: Tom Ford Lip Color Sheer in ‘Firecracker’, £36 (selfridges.com). Chanel Vitalumiere Compact Douceur in ‘22 Beige Rose’, £42.50 (020 7493 3836). Chanel Le Crayon Levres in ‘56 Orange Intense’, £17.50 (020 7493 3836). Tom Ford Eye Defining Pen, £42, (selfridges.com). Paul & Joe Brush Holder, £14.50 (harrods.com). Bobbi Brown Brow Pencil, £16 (bobbibrown.co.uk). Laura Mercier Secret Concealer, £19.50 (johnlewis.com). Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge for Lips and Cheeks, £19 (bobbibrown.co.uk). MAC Studio Sculpt Lash mascara, £14, (maccosmetics.co.uk) 87
Your Heart
in Your Hands When you lead a busy life, sometimes the hardest thing to admit is a problem with your health.
Think about your heart this month and make an appointment 020 7483 5004
If you’ve recently experienced central chest pain, a dull ache, heavy feeling, or mild discomfort in your chest, don’t push these matters of the heart to the bottom of your priorities. Speak to your GP who can refer you to see a specialist. The Wellington Hospital has an international reputation for excellence in cardiac care, offering a full range of Outpatient Cardiac Testing, Daycase and Inpatient Cardiac treatments.
www.thewellingtoncardiacservices.com
Wellington_Advert_templates_cardiac_Final_Awk.indd 1
15/02/2013 16:26
The mayfair Magazine | Beauty
Beauty news Want flawless skin every day? With new ranges from Eve Lom and Urban Retreat, your wish is our command w o r d s : elle bl a k e m a n
Absolutely flawless After three decades of producing cult-status skincare (including her world-famous Cleansing Balm), Eve Lom has now launched a line of ‘Radiance-boosting’ make-up – light, beautifully formulated foundations, concealers and powders that will make you look like you fell out of Photoshop, along with an primer that will keep it all in place. We also love the range of brushes to go with it. From £30, available from Space NK (evelom.com)
3 of the best…
1
fragrances #1 Flowerhead, £130, Byredo Parfums (liberty.co.uk)
2 3 #2 ‘H’ The Exclusive Aoud, £395, Roja Parfums (harrods.co.uk)
The one Urban Retreat has long been our go-to when our skin is looking less than groomed. Now, the luxury beauty service (whose flagship location at Harrods is one of the biggest salons in the world), have designed a core range of products for daily use, including a natural exfoliator with coconut, ‘elixir’ oil and an eye gel that has already been hailed as the ‘hero product’. Prices from £20, available at Harrods (urbanretreat.co.uk)
Intelligent beauty Anyone who spends any time on or around Oxford Street will be in need of a serious de-stress. Happily, you can now book a one-hour treatment with Elemis (a first for a retail unit) in their beautiful new space. The clever SkinLab analysis machine will tell your therapist what facial is best for you (anti-ageing, calming etc), and you will then be led to a room that feels a million miles away from the hustle and bustle outside. £75, Elemis (elemis.co.uk)
Made in Manhattan Fans of Tory Burch’s off-duty, New-York style will be thrilled to hear that the designer is launching into the beauty world. The golden T logo will adorn her new products, which range from a beautiful lip and cheek tint to a blushtoned body cream. Just add your ballet pumps and a cashmere sweater and you’re ready for brunch at Bergdorfs! From £22, Tory Burch, available at Harrods (Harrods.com)
#3 Blacks Club Leather, £85, Shay & Blue (shay&blue.co.uk)
89
The
good life Confused about the best way to shift those extra pounds? Here, Consultant Upper GI Surgeon, Mr Krishna Moorthy and General Practitioner, Dr Charles Capper discuss the most effective ways to lose and maintain weight
E
very day we read about the latest and greatest diet, leaving us confused before we have even stepped on the scales. The truth is that many diets will lead to weight loss, but the challenge is keeping it off. There is only one way to lose weight: to expend more calories than you take in. An ideal diet is one that is simple, healthy and sustainable. Excluding certain foods or counting calories can be tedious and unsustainable, usually resulting in short term fixes and sometimes gaining more weight in the long term.
90
The mayfair Magazine | Health Promotion
Why not start with the following: #1 Reduce your portion size – by about 25 per cent. If you find it difficult to estimate, the simplest solution is to buy slightly smaller plates and avoid going for seconds #2 Eat slowly – try to make every meal last at least 20 minutes #3 Keep ‘naughty foods’ as treats - a little indulgence is fine, but only now and again #4 Eat food in its natural state - there are many more benefits than in processed food #5 Avoid high-energy drinks – such as fizzy drinks, fruit juices and alcohol #6 Up your exercise – ideally, you should undertake aerobic exercise (e.g. running, tennis) for 30 minutes a day, five times a week. In addition to this, undertake resistance exercise (e.g. weights, squats) 30-45 minutes a day, three times a week to preserve strength and muscle mass #7 Set achievable targets – aim for a modest, gradual rate of weight loss by setting realistic goals Before you begin any kind of weight loss regime, be sure to seek the advice of your GP. This will give you an opportunity to discuss weight loss strategies, help you to set realistic goals and, if relevant, you may be prescribed medication. Seeing your doctor can help identify risk factors for diseases associated with being overweight such as raised blood pressure and cholesterol. Your GP will help you set a target for weight loss, following a full assessment. If you are losing weight, losing as little as five per cent of your total body weight could have immense health benefits, such as reducing your risk of heart disease. Bariatric surgery If your BMI is 35 or above and you have been unsuccessful with losing weight by conventional methods, you may want to consider
bariatric surgery. While diets and medication may help initially, in some cases, surgery is superior in maintaining weight loss in the long term. The three commonly performed weight loss operations are: • Laparoscopic gastric bands • Sleeve gastrectomy • Gastric bypass All three methods are associated with weight loss of around 20-30 per cent of total body weight. These operations work through suppressing appetite and triggering satiety. Their effect on hormones formed in the gut means that bariatric surgery can help in treating diabetes. Each surgical option is not only different in method but also in post-operative care, which can be discussed with your GP. Factors to be considered when deciding which surgical procedure to choose include; eating habits, the presence of any health conditions as well as personal preference. While gastric bypass is the most effective procedure, it is also the most complex, meaning many opt for a sleeve gastrectomy. Bariatric surgery is associated with better health by reducing the risk of developing diseases such as Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol. In cases with extremely high BMI, where there is an increased risk of fatal heart attacks, strokes and cancer, surgery can reduce the risk of developing these life- threatening conditions. These operations are associated with an extremely low complication rate, with the risk of serious complications occurring in less than one per cent of cases in centres of excellence like The Wellington Hospital. For further information or if you would like to arrange an appointment at The Wellington Hospital, please contact the hospital Enquiry Helpline on 020 7483 5004 or visit thewellingtonhospital.com
91
THE LARGEST POLO TOURNAMENT IN EUROPE HOSPITALITY PACKAGES AND GENERAL ADMISSION TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW Hospitality Enquires: 0207 936 5284
General Admission Tickets: 0844 248 5069
www.polointheparklondon.com
PITP Run Wild A4 Advert 2014 AW PRINT.indd 1
06/02/2014 10:10
The mayfair Magazine | Beauty
Spa review Caudalíe W O R D S : k at e r a c o v o l i s
T
here are many shops on the cobblestoned Monmouth Street that provide respite to weary shoppers; the oft dubbed ‘Best coffee in London’ at Monmouth Coffee Company, for example, and shops of curiosities for the mind, body and spirit. Cult beauty brand Caudalíe is the latest import, with its spa and boutique – a London first for the French specialists in Vinothérapie (and no, we are not referring to drinking wine as therapy, but rather as a beauty treatment). The globally-followed Caudalíe is known for using the antioxidant powers of grapes in its products. Here, you will be reminded of how sometimes, small can be beautiful. You won’t find dozens of treatment rooms, expansive gyms, steam rooms and saunas, as Caudalíe has just one space for a concise list of facials and massages, keeping it very personal and bespoke. It is hard to choose, with a menu including treatments such as the sleep-inducing Divine Body Massage, using Caudalíe’s signature Divine Oil – a dreamy product with high moisturising abilities and warm colour that looks almost like liquid gold. Since I already had plans in the evening, I selected something a little more invigorating; the Fleur de Vigne massage. A candle was gently dripped over my body in the form of an oil, scented with roses, grapefruit, pink pepper, vanilla, cedar and white musk, while my therapist, Holly, listened carefully to how I was feeling (very tense in the upper back), and adjusted the massage to my needs. It felt special to be the only one enjoying this massage at the time, and I loved that for days afterwards, my skin felt noticeably softer and hydrated. Fleur de Vigne massage, £60. Caudalíe, 39 Monmouth Street, WC2H (020 7836 8636; caudalie.com)
‘Caudalíe is known for using the antioxidant powers of grapes in its products’
93
Win! The ultimate luxury prize.
4 friends 1 exclusive private jet 2 michelin stars As prizes go, they don’t come much better than this. Treat yourself and your colleagues to a day in Paris, whisked away by your own private jet. Enjoy a gastronomic feast at CamÊlia, the brainchild of Michelin-starred chef Thierry Marx, at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, renowned for its traditional French fare. To enter simply take part in the Runwild Media Group magazine survey by visiting the website below.
www.rwmg.co.uk/competition Terms & Conditions: (TBC) Entries must be received before midnight on 20th April 2014.
Access to over
400
consultants Combining the excellence and experience of The Wellington Hospital, The Platinum in theMedical UK Centre provides only the best in private healthcare
beds
Continual investment
t treatments and technologies
in
And offer
the finest treatment
for all major medical specialties
No.1 Private Hospital Group
020 7483 5148 ellingtonhospital.com Platinum Medical Centre, 15-17 Lodge Road, St Johns Wood, London, NW8 7JA Tel 020 7483 5004 www.theplatinummedicalcentre.com
PMC_5004_A4_Advert.indd 1
20/02/2014 13:36
The mayfair Magazine | Regulars
Suite
dreams … at The London Edition Words: amanda mills
W
Photo by Nikolas Koeni
ith a name like Ian Schrager behind it, creator of Studio 54 in New York and one of the cofounders of the term ‘boutique hotel’ as we know it, the expectations for the London Edition hotel were set extraordinarily high when it opened last September. After a 15-year hiatus from the London hotel scene, after designing St Martins Lane and Sanderson in 1998, there is no doubt that Schrager has made quite an entrance with his latest project in collaboration with interior designers Yabu Pushelberg. Its design blends a modern urbanity with the building’s history, keeping some of its Georgian hallmarks, such as the lavishly decorated lobby and restaurant, Berners Tavern, in true Belle Époque style. Sometimes, staying at an ultra-contemporary hotel can leave you feeling like you’re missing something, such as the grandeur and tradition in some of the other iconic London hotels. But the London Edition combines the best of both. Each of the rooms have been designed to give a
cabin-like feel, such as that which comes with being in a private yacht, with wood-panelled walls in walnut or light oak, and soft, neutral interiors. This indeed rings true, but it also feels very Scandinavian in its design, with its clean lines and minimalist décor. Its one-bedroom suites on the seventh floor are really special, with its own living-room and a sweeping terrace surrounding it and views overlooking Soho. Every corner of this hotel seems suave, from the Jason Atherton-run Berners Tavern to the Punch Room – a dimly lit bar where you can order one of its signature punches, such as the Punch à la Romaine, à l’Edition, a modern version of the classic tipple. It has attracted an equally cool crowd, making the hotel the latest place to see and be seen; Poppy Delevigne was joined by her friends Sienna Miller and Alexa Chung for her hen party in December, to name just a few of the stars whose heels have clipclopped on the marble-clad lobby floor. The London Edition, 10 Berners Street, W1T (020 7781 0000; edition-hotels.marriott.com)
‘Its design blends a modern urbanity with the buildings history’ 97
C
M
Y
CM
MY
CY
MY
K
The mayfair Magazine | Travel
Short haul
Grand Hotel Tremezzo, Lake Como
Travel news
Lake Como in Northern Italy could easily be described as the polar-opposite of London: fresh air, azure waters and striking mountain views. Best of all, there’s a hotel that combines all of these aspects in to one lavish stay. Family-run Grand Hotel Tremezzo, has just undergone a renovation, unveiling 30 new lake-view rooms, and a new signature historical suite, with a collection of antiques. In addition to this the hotel has three pools, and all suites come with a private terrace, outdoor jacuzzi and butler service. (Grandhoteltremezzo.com)
Whether it’s a yoga journey of self-discovery in Brazil or simply relaxing on the enchanting waters of Lake Como, take the opportunity this May to de-stress, unwind and re-invent yourself Words: Bethan Rees
TRAVEL TIPS Don’t leave home without… For the most restful journey you’ll ever have, keep this little pot of Aromatherapy Associates’ Deep Relax Sleep Balm with you during your journey, which will lull you into a blissful state of rest with the scents of chamomile, vetivert and sandalwood. £18 (aromatherapyassociates.com) There’s an app for that… SayHi Translate For those who are not linguistically blessed, SayHi Translate is a smart tool which breaks down language barriers. Just speak in to your iPhone in your native tongue for an instant translation. £1.49 from the iTunes App Store
Long haul
Butterfly House, Bahia
Vs
Close your eyes and breathe. It’s widely known that the ancient practice of yoga can help us de-stress, and where better to do it than chic eco-resort Butterfly House Bahia. The retreat, located in eastern Brazil, is hosting a getaway from 2-6 May, where acclaimed teacher Andrew Meyer will guide guests through Ashtanga yoga to help find inner peace. The resort is surrounded by pristine beaches, freshwater lakes, a heritage listed rainforest, and guests will reside in luxury yet ecological thatched grass-roof villas. (butterflyhousebahia.com)
‘One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things’ – Henry Miller 99
S
trasbourg makes you wonder if all border locked cities are as fun as this one. Founded in 12BC by the Romans, this city has always held a strategic position in Europe. The Romans knew Strasbourg as Argentoratum, which means ‘at a crossroads’. Due to its location, it has often changed hands between the French and Germans over the centuries and both these influences can still be felt and seen throughout the city today. While overtly French, German remains widely spoken. In its modern incarnation, Strasbourg is one of Europe’s great seats of power. The European Parliament, the Council of Europe and the European Court of Human Rights are all based here. But it is also home to a modern and cosmopolitan culture abounding with café-lined streets, trendy restaurants and innumerable bicycles. All of this set against the stunning backdrop of old half-timber houses, canals, and the impressive single spire of the city’s cathedral. By foot or bicycle, start exploring the town centre, the area known as the Grand Île. This is the historical centre of Strasbourg and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. It doesn’t take long to work out why, with its expansive public squares, stunning architecture and high-end shopping. Architecturally, the red-sandstone Cathédrale Notre Dame is the city’s highlight. Be sure to arrive at noon to see its 300-year-old Astrometric Clock. Just near-by is the Musée de l’Oeuvre Notre Dame – a splendid museum of medieval religious art related to the cathedral which is definitely worth a Situated on the border visit. And of course don’t miss a glimpse of the gorgeous baroque style L’Opera. Just south of the between Germany and Grand Île is Petite France. This area has to be the France, Strasbourg is the city most photogenic of all. Think rows of narrow where Germanic and Gallic cobbled streets, half timbered townhouses, cultures meet head on blooming flower boxes and canals. Beyond these highlights, Strasbourg is famed as W ORDS : K a t e V a n d y one of France’s great gastronomic destinations. The speciality of the region is Alsatian cuisine and the German influences are undeniable. Be sure to try some soupe à l’oignon, choucroute/ sauerkraut, and what must be the greatest Alsatian specialty, the tarte flambée – the region’s answer to pizza (a rectangle of very thin and crisp pastry covered with crème fraîche, onions, chopped smoked ham and mushrooms).
[city break]
strasbourg View oF the St. Paul Church
the European Parliament of Strasbourg
image © endermasali
100
image © endermasali
The mayfair Magazine | Travel
Where to stay Housed in a former 18thcentury ice factory in La Petite France, Regent Petite France Hotel is a wonderful choice for a luxurious stay in Strasbourg. Canals surround the hotel and nearly every room has a view of the water and the half-timber houses this area is famous for. The rooms are spacious and modern, and the service is second to none. (regent-petite-france.com)
SUITCASE E SS E N T I A L S #1 Baume de Rose, £38 By Terry, (spacenk.com)
Eating & drinking
cathedral of Notre-Dame
image © LIUDMILA ERMOLENKO
image © endermasali
#2 Coat, £1,495 Burberry (burberry.com)
Most Alsatian restaurants are relatively cheap, simple and delicious. However, for a finer Alsatian experience, make your way to Le Buerehiesel. The menu is based on local fresh ingredients, and seafood from Brittany, which means the menu is always changing. Don’t miss out on the apple tatin, if it’s on offer. If fine dining is on your mind, the city boasts many Michelin stars. Au Crocodile and Buerehiesel have three, and Vieille Enseigne and Julien, two. (buerehiesel.fr)
#3 Trousers, £355 3.1 Phillip Lim (avenue32.com)
Mayfair recommends Strasbourg itself is the centre of the French brewing industry. Visit one of the two breweries located just outside the city centre – Kronenbourg is the top choice. If beer doesn’t get you excited, then a day trip to the beautiful Black Forrest or River Rheine is also an easy trip from Strasbourg. (brasseries-kronenbourg.com)
#4 Bag £640, Givenchy (brownsfashion.com)
#5 Pumps, £159 EnBrogue.com for Jemima Vine (jemimavine.co.uk)
101
the adventurer’s
bucketlist On paper, young graphic designer Dave Cornthwaite had it all – a good education, a promising career and a vibrant social life. But the view from his window and the world beyond it proved a life-changing temptation‌ words: mike peake
102
The mayfair Magazine | Feature
‘I
all images © dave cornthwaite
f the only reason you’re doing a job is that you get paid at the end of the week, you’re doing something wrong,’ says 34-year-old Dave Cornthwaite, an upbeat if rather philosophical British adventurer whose rugged, outdoorsy looks and ebullient approach to life have won him an army of admirers. ‘When I woke up one day in 2005 and made the decision to prioritise what made me happy, I never had any doubts that it was the right thing to do. I’d never done anything like that before and it was liberating.’ Initially unsure where any of this newfound spirit of adventure was going to lead him, Cornthwaite set off to Australia where he embarked on an epic skateboarding voyage that saw him traverse the entire breadth of the country. While there, the idea of kayaking the length of the 1,500-mile Murray River appealed to him as well – so he did that, too. It was the second time he’d used human power to cover a distance of more than 1,000 miles and Cornthwaite was soon thrashing out what would turn out to be a life-changing goal: a mission to complete 25 voyages in excess of 1,000 miles, using a different mode of non-powered transport for each. He christened it Expedition 1,000, and to date, he’s done eight of them. ‘It’s been an incredible learning experience,’ says Cornthwaite. ‘The amazing people I’ve met, the breathtaking scenery I’ve seen. I feel myself growing every time I do something new.’ His adventures so far include a tandem bike ride from Vancouver to Las Vegas; a 68-day odyssey down the full length of the Mississippi on a stand-up paddleboard, and a crossing of the Pacific by yacht. Not all of them got off to a great start – his 2012 mission to take a pedalpowered car 1,000 miles across the US was temporarily derailed after another vehicle knocked him off the road just four hours into the adventure. Dusting himself off, Cornthwaite nonetheless completed the challenge and started planning some more: there’s a sail-powered bike adventure across Chile’s Atacama Desert this April
103
followed by a ‘surprise’ voyage he has agreed to start in Germany but has no idea what it involves. Then there’s kitesurfing the Brazilian coast as he tries to learn what, exactly, is ‘out there’. ‘It could be anything!’ he says. ‘And it varies for each person. It’s just great to give yourself some real thinking time, which we don’t normally do because it’s always, ‘Go! Go! Go!’. On my journeys, I’ve had so much time to think it’s as if I’ve taken a pill that enables me to use 100 per cent of my brain, instead of just the fraction we normally use. But you’ve got to actually go out and do something – you can’t just talk about it. The power of the word “yes” is just incredible.’ Throwing in the towel at work and deciding to embark on a decade of adventure is sadly not a realistic option for most of us: family and financial commitments keep us firmly glued to the grindstone – but many adventurers are starting to realise this. Alastair Humphreys, a young British explorer who once cycled around the world, is the champion of what he has termed ‘microadventures’ – shorter trips that can be done in a weekend or 24 hours. Microadventure devotees typically go on long cycling journeys with a ‘bivvy’ bag (basically a waterproof cover for a sleeping bag), or head off to a local hill to spend the night under the stars. Cornthwaite agrees that this ‘break from the norm’ is what most of us need. He also knows that adventures on such a grand scale as his own aren’t for everyone, especially when things have a tendency to go awry from time to time… ‘I was paddling down the Mississippi down in the deep south when I rounded a river bend and saw three guys fishing,’ he says. ‘One of them just raised his gun and pointed it straight at me. That was pretty unpleasant. Every possibility of what could happen next races through your mind.’ His trick, he says, is to keep a level head and keep on going – no matter how difficult that may be. ‘Everything I challenge myself with is going to be difficult,’ he adds, ‘so that’s all part of the
104
journey. It’s getting through the hard stuff that makes us better people. I see the potential of failure as a positive because we learn more from our failures than our successes, and with that mindset the pressure is off.’ When he’s exhausted, hungry, and feels like he can barely take one more step, he sleeps. He rests. ‘And everything feels better in the morning,’ he says. (davecornthwaite.com)
Just do it! Impressed by Dave’s adventurous spirit but cursed by your own procrastination? Here’s the adventurer’s top tips to get yourself started. #1 Write a ‘Yes’ list ‘It’s like a bucket list but without the fear of dying being the motivation,’ explains Cornthwaite. ‘Put at least 30 things on it that you’ve always wanted to do.’ Some of these, he says, can be small – something you can tick off today just by making a tangible decision about something, such as striding into an art gallery you’ve always imagined to be intimidating. ‘Other stuff should be bigger, longer-term challenges.’ #2 Start! ‘As you tick off one item, then another, it becomes a conversation piece because you’ve given yourself some aims outside of work; things you’re passionate about,’ says Cornthwaite. Enthusiasm will breed more enthusiasm, and the list aspect of the venture will make it feel like a habit. #3 Imagine life without it ‘Think about why you’re here, why you’re alive,’ says Cornthwaite, who argues that goal-driven people find much more satisfaction in life. ‘If every day seems the same then you’re wasting your potential. Sorry to be harsh, but why ignore that?’ #4 Find the new you Once you’ve actually set out on a quest, Cornthwaite states that the fears which used to hold you back seem less and less potent. ‘You find yourself saying “Yes” to the right things and you find yourself more interesting and more able. So stop reading this and do something new!’
clockwise from top: image: © dave cornthwaite; image: © dave cornthwaite; photo by danny loo; image: © maddalena arosio
The mayfair Magazine | Feature
105
Soul mate Had enough of life in the fast line? Then retreat to the beautiful island of Ibiza, with a ‘SUP and Soul’ break that will have you back to you in a matter of days words: elle blakeman
106
The mayfair Magazine | Travel
107
Y
ou’d be forgiven for thinking that the only transformation available on the beautiful, Spanish island of Ibiza is an artificial one, usually in the early hours at some warehouse-sized nightclub. However, 38 Degrees North is offering a feel-good factor a little more permanent. Based on the east of the island in Santa Eulaia, a far cry away from the party scene of San Antonio, this is a fitness retreat run at the five-star, family-owned Hotel Aguas de Ibiza. Set just in from the water, each room is decorated according to the principles of Feng Shui, the impact of the revellers feels a long way from this idyllic spot. The hotel is a beautiful structure – all glass and exposed limestone – which has won the family several design awards, however the Ace card – and the place you will be spending a lot of your time here – is the huge Aguas spa: a stunning space, all white curtains and huge, inviting day beds, featuring a fitness centre, yoga studio, hammam, Turkish Bath, four pools (cold, jet, relaxation and Feng Shui), flotariums and colour therapy – it’s a place where you will have to literally drag yourself away from every time you need to leave. Ex-londoners, Kelly Morgan and James Davies decided to throw in their shiny city lives (Morgan was in advertising and Davies in media), and set up a company based on their twin passions – fitness and Ibiza. ‘We have had a love affair with Ibiza since the
108
1990s,’ says Kelly. We love the nature – beaches, forests, beautiful scenery. The island has an amazing energy around it.’ And despite the traditional party atmosphere, they have found it the ideal place for people to come and recharge. ‘We provide the space, time and experiences to allow you to reach your potential,’ she says. ‘We get people coming looking to re-centre themselves after a tough time at work or home, as well as people looking to kick-start a new healthy version of themselves.’ The couple, along with their team of experts, including the twice gold-medalist kickboxing champion Faye Maloney, and offer a range of retreats for what ails you, from sleep retreats for insomniacs to the ‘SUP and Soul’ retreat – a paddle-boarding meets yoga and gentle boot-camp version, which is what I signed up for. Day one and we are shown to the outdoor ‘gym’ – a gorgeous stone circle overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Here, Faye led the most enjoyable boot camp class I’ve ever done – mixing in boxing, with running up and down steps, pilates and core work but all made not only bearable, but actually quite fun, by virtue of being outside. Every time a sit-up or boxing punch felt a bit difficult, I simply looked up and
The mayfair Magazine | Travel
took in my surroundings. It’s amazing what a good view and a bit of fresh air can do. The rest of the day is left to my leisure which is amazing to hear – I can swim in the pool (indoor or any of the three outdoor ones too), or work-out in the gym, or take the easy option and have a massage. Blaming travel weariness, I plumped for the latter option.
‘We love the nature – beaches, forests, beautiful scenery. The island has an amazing energy’ In the evening, we met the yoga teacher Ayda (another city escapee) – a brand ambassador for yoga if there ever was one; Ayda is everything you hope to become if you take up yoga – relaxed, spiritual, beautiful, healthy. And yet despite being someone who usually hates yoga (it actually makes me inexplicably stressed most of the time, it’s like a joke I don’t get), the 90 minutes of Hatha yoga, on the empty beach at sunset, were absolutely heavenly. As a group we were lulled into a delicious soporific haze which lasted for days. The next morning began with a coastal run, which in London would sound as appealing as eating a leftover ham sandwich off the tube floor, but here along the pretty coastline was absolutely beautiful. At this time, the sun is not hot enough to cause a problem, and instead simply lights up the beach with an early morning glow that cannot fail to cheer even the most stubborn of joggers among us. After a healthy breakfast – including some of Kelly’s alkalising juices – we took our first SUP (stand-up paddle-boarding) lesson. SUP is a hugely growing trend out here, with more and more holidaymakers flocking to see if they can stay vertical on water. We each gingerly pick up what appears to be a light, oversized surfboard and a paddle and stand next to it in the water. Kelly and James show us how to get started – basically by balancing on your knees and then hopping up to standing once you have your
balance (easier said than done), however after a few goes we are all up and the challenge became staying upright – a core workout like no other. The rest of the retreat followed in this manner – coastal run in the morning followed by an afternoon of SUP. As with the boot camp, the sheer virtue of being outside, by the sea and among nature, has an enormously calming effect on the worn-out, city-beaten soul. Even when the SUP turned treacherous – choppy waters and the odd jellyfish (let me tell you nothing will motivate you to stay on a paddle-board like these creatures swimming around your board), it was still great fun with a real sense of achievement when we got back on dry land. Back at the hotel, we could sign up for various add-ons like boxing classes, aqua spinning or bike riding around the island with James. The bike ride was definitely worth doing – you will see a side to Ibiza that you would never dream still exists – fields of watermelons, pathways of overgrown trees and beautifully rustic cottages – a stunning backdrop that will have you forgetting that cycling is exercise. Of course, you could always simply retreat to a day bed in the spa, a good book in tow. On the final day I realise that I am a completely different person to the one who packed a suitcase full of trainers and Lucas Hugh just four days earlier. I’m relaxed, I’m smiling and I don’t throw anything across the room when it refuses to fit in my suitcase – I appear to be a reasonable human being again! Obviously this feeling won’t last forever so I am already booking my return. Flights London City to Ibiza from £59, one-way, from British Airways (Ba.com). Lux, SUP & Soul Week Residential staying at Aguas de Ibiza from £1,615. SUP Long Weekend Residential staying at Aguas de Ibiza from £1,130 (thirtyeightdegreesnorth.com)
109
escape A tranquil oasis amidst the hustle & bustle of Mayfair. A unique dining experience begins as you walk down a tree-lined pathway to reach The Greenhouse. London fades away and calm descends. Michelin-starred chef Arnaud Bignon’s acclaimed light touch with highly flavoured dishes brings a thrilling dimension to classic French cuisine. Make your reservation today at
The Greenhouse, 27a Hay’s Mews Mayfair, London, W1J 5NY 020 7499 3331 www.greenhouserestaurant.co.uk reservations@greenhouserestaurant.co.uk
The mayfair Magazine | Food & Drink
Food is getting serious. Mayfair’s Roka opens to great fanfare, while the perfect cocktail is just a stone’s throw away words: Bethan rees
Top table ‘WHEN is it opening and HOW can I get a table?!’ These two questions have plagued me ever since Rainer Becker announced that he was bringing the high-powered, Japanese restaurant Roka to North Audley Street. Already a huge hit in Canary Wharf and Charlotte Street, Mayfair’s Roka fits in so perfectly with the area it’s hard to imagine why it took so long. The virtually psychic staff are a dream, appearing a millisecond before you even know you wanted something, the food is stunning, black cod marinated in yuzu miso, and Korean spiced lamb cutlets remain as firm favourites, while the layout, counter seats at the Robata grill combine or something more formal in the private dining area make it the perfect option for a date, celebration or even just a weekday treat. As for getting a table – best of luck! 30 North Audley Street, W1K (rokarestaurant.com)
Spanish flavour 2011 Masterchef winner Ash Mair is bringing his Spanish pintxo chain, Bilbao Berria, to the capital, its first site outside Spain. The Basque-type restaurant in Lower Regent street is set over two floors, with an open kitchen on both; one floor will be offering casual pintxos and tapas with a wide range of Spanish wines by the glass; the second will be more formal, serving contemporary and classic Basque and Spanish dishes. The salt cod fritters and the confit suckling pig are already destined to be stars. (bilbaoberria.com)
Sweet treat Step inside Carpo London and you’ll be welcomed by the perfume of aromatic coffee and floor-to-ceiling shelves of naturally dried fruits, fresh roasted nuts, rich chocolate and pure honey. The gourmet emporium also doubles up as a deli and coffee bar, making it the perfect stomping ground for those health-conscious snackers with a sweet-tooth – an ideal spot for a morning boost or an afternoon treat. 16 Piccadilly W1J (020 7287 7233; carpolondon.co.uk)
Q: What are people in Mayfair drinking? A: In the pub (the Running Horse – situated downstairs), our Cask ales and craft beers are a big seller amongst the gents, where as the ladies prefer a perfect Gin and Tonic. In The Whip, Juleps fly out like there is no tomorrow. Q: Where did the idea for The Whip come from? A: We always wanted to create a cocktail bar which reflected the history and name of the pub. The Whip was our idea of a classic cocktail bar to encapsulate all of the fun and excitement of the races. Q: Why Mayfair? A: Mayfair is full of cocktail bars but most are in five-star hotels. There are lots of young people who work in Mayfair and they have to travel over to Soho if they fancy a nice cocktail in a lively environment. We wanted to save them the walk! Q: What can guests expect to see on the menu? A: Juleps and lots of them! We are passionate about seasonal produce and try and highlight the best of British. Q: Is there an art to making cocktails? A: Absolutely. It requires a well-trained palate to balance drinks with perfect acidity and sweetness. A lot of places get it wrong, so we ensured we had a world class bar tender in Jimmy Grant (The Whip’s Bar Manager) to head up our team in there. image: Max Lacome-Shaw.
Food & drink news
Q&A with Dominic Jacobs, co-founder of Mayfair’s hottest new drinking haunt, The Whip
Q: Will The Whip be serving any food? A: Definitely. The Whip has some delicate bites designed to work well with the style of cocktails. From British Scallop Ceviche, to beautiful lamb cutlets with a mint and sherry dipping sauce. The Whip, 1st Floor, 50 Davies Street, Mayfair W1K (thewhipmayfair.co.uk)
111
The legend of krug James Lawrence explores the magic and mysticism behind champagne’s most iconic brand
I
talians famously like to boast ‘Vedi Napoli e poi muori,’ or see Naples and die. If we were to apply the same absolutism to champagne, then we could undoubtedly say ‘taste Krug and die.’ Krug is a powerful expression of luxury and glamour, but more importantly it is also an incredible wine that ages for decades – Krug does not solely rely on its brand image. It is one of the most expensive, exquisite and least consumed champagnes in existence – hence Krug is an indulgent treat like no other. The house of Krug has been producing superlative champagne for well over a century, founded in the 1840s by Johann-Josef Krug. Johann-Josef had cut his teeth at rival house Jacquesson, before starting his own concern following his departure from Jacquesson in October 1842. Johann-Josef (Gallicised to Joseph) worked with his son Paul in the 1860s to develop a Champagne like no other, and the house has stuck to its quality principles faultlessly. Since the original founders started working together in the 19th century, a father-and-son team has collaborated at this house for several decades, passing on their knowledge and ever pushing the envelope for higher quality. This tradition ended in 1999, when Krug was sold to the luxury goods group LVMH, though it retained its independence and family interest. The current reins reside with
112
sixth-generation Oliver Krug, Krug’s brand ambassador and cellar master Eric Lebel. But historical pedigree aside, just what makes Krug so unique and intensely sought after? Krug is unusual for a number of reasons, not least the fact that all the wines are fermented in small French oak casks rather than the standard stainless steel tanks. The yellow-labelled Non-Vintage Grand Cuvée, Krug’s most instantly recognisable and important Champagne is aged on average for eight years, rather than the standard four to six. The added time greatly contributes to the wine’s complexity, length and depth of flavour. Winemaker Lebel typically produces each release of the Grand Cuvée by selecting up to 200 different wines from various villages in Champagne and then blending them with older wines from past vintages, known as reserve wines. So the high price being asked for a bottle permits a ruthless degree of selection, and no other champagnes receives as much meticulous care and attention as Krug. The results speak for themselves: Krug is simply profound – a rich, powerful wine with unrivaled finesse and character. Like all great Champagne houses, Krug declares a vintage in a particular year. However, what again makes the house distinctive from its rivals is that they manage to release superb Champagne in socalled poor years, when most houses refrain from making a
The mayfair Magazine | Food & Drink
vintage. A recent case-in-point is 2003. The growing season was hailed as a ‘nightmare’ by many producers, with early flowering, frosts, extreme heat and a disjointed, early harvest. Yet Krug managed to surpass expectations for the vintage, wowing critics with the 2003 release on 31 January 2014. The limited allocations to merchants sold out within hours. Krug 2003 is priced at £230 a bottle, but many would say that this is still a bargain sum for such a prestigious and relatively rare champagne. At a recent tasting, the 2003 stood out for its balance and freshness, silencing the naysayers who insisted that this quality could not be produced under such challenging vintage conditions. The aromas were complex and multifaceted: citrus, plum, honeysuckle and brioche were supported by an intense palate of chestnuts, red fruits, apple and cream. Truly, each Krug vintage is a remarkable and unique offering to the world. This iconic champagne has long been the
‘The Queen Mother famously smuggled a case of Krug into hospital’ at the age of 97’ favourite tipple not only of the aristocracy (the Queen Mother famously smuggled a case of Krug into the hospital where she was being treated at the age of 97), but also among those who wish the world to know of their recent wealth. Of course, if every house followed the Krug philosophy, champagne would become so elitist as to be unattainable for most fizz lovers, and many enjoy Krug for its name, rather than the stunning wine. Devotees, however, have always understood the simple truth of Krug: it is an exquisite, luxury champagne that everyone should enjoy at least once in their lifetime. You can taste the newly released 2003 Krug Vintage at: Petrus, The Greenhouse, The Connaught, Arts Club in London. Stockists include: Berry Bros & Rudd, Farr Vintners, Fine and Rare.
113
{
classic dishes, beautifully cooked. cosy, rustic, informal and incurably romantic
6 Old Court Place Kensington Church Street London W8 4PL
{
www.maggie-jones.co.uk 020 7937 6462
The mayfair Magazine | Food & Drink
DINING OUT Marani, Curzon Street W o r d s : K at e R a c o v o l i s
I
n Mayfair, we love tradition, particularly when it comes to food. But we also treasure innovation, as our palates continue to evolve, as does the way we live. Marani, a new family-run restaurant on Curzon Street (where Tempo once was), has arrived with a cuisine that is new to the area, but that is steeped in a rich history of the eastern and western cultures that stemmed from the Silk Road.
‘Marani has set out to serve a lighter, more contemporary take on Georgian food’ Marani has set out to serve a lighter, more contemporary take on Georgian food, but in doing so, it has managed to keep the flavours of what it is recognisable for (think plenty of spices, cheeses and stews). For this, we owe our gratitude to respected Georgian chef Tekuna Gachechiladze, whose menu is replete with the types of dishes you might have seen piled high at a royal banquet hundreds of years ago – or as it is traditionally called, supra – a feast, enjoyed by all walks of life, based on sharing food. The dishes are truly indulgent, without being excessive, and are the gastronomic equivalent of a big hug or a cashmere blanket. Start with the Georgian classics, such as the soft pillows of Khinkali. Don’t miss the skewered meats cooked on the mangal grill, or the veal cheeks cooked in red wine or the Chkmeruli, aka, corn-fed grilled baby chicken, served on the bone, in a cream and garlic sauce. Further adding to the atmosphere of authentic cuisine of this country, Marani literally translates to ‘wine cellar’, so expect an impressive list of wines from the Caucasus
region, which are fermented in a ceramic clay jar, buried in the ground – the way wine has always been made in Georgia. The interiors resemble a grand home on the ground floor, but the first floor is something entirely special – an ornate, French salon-style room with walls lined with lace and a chandelier made from crystal decanters. There are just two options for dessert, the Napoleon, a rustic, Mille-fuille-style cake with mascarpone cream, layered over a lighter-thanair biscuit, and the Matsoni, a yogurt parfait with walnut preserve. Whichever you choose, the simplicity of these dishes is the perfect way to conclude your culinary journey. Marani, 54 Curzon Street, W1J (020 7495 1260; maranilondon.co.uk)
115
www.bachet.fr
The The mayfair mayfair Magazine Magazine || Regulars Regulars
Remembering
MAYFAIR t h e o n ly r u n n i n g f o o t m a n , 5 C h a r l e s S t
F
ormerly known as the ‘I am the Only Running Footman,’ the Only Running Footman is a public house near Hay’s Mews, a moment’s walk west of Berkeley Square. From 1749 onwards, the pub primarily provided viands and beverages to the working footmen from the mansions nearby. Footmen – or lackeys as they were called – had the unique task of running alongside stagecoaches to pay tolls and ensure that the carriages did not turn over. Before the Great Fire in 1666, London’s
‘The ‘Only Running Footman’s’ link to this tradition lies with the mysterious founder, an ex-footman who purchased the property’ streets were a labyrinth of littered, cluttered and disjointed alleyways that were almost impossible to navigate without the aid of a vigilant assistant who could clear the road of debris and watch for highwaymen. The Only Running Footman’s link to this tradition lies with the mysterious founder, an ex-footman who purchased the property as a meeting and socialising point for his friends. As the position of the footman began to die out in the Victorian era, customers were mostly stable hands and cab drivers who traversed Charles Street regularly throughout the day and early evening. The public house underwent a revamping when it was later
demolished during the Edward VII abdication crisis in 1936 and rebuilt several months later in 1937. In 1986, the pub accrued worldwide celebrity after American crime author Martha Grimes listed the pub as the site of a double murder in her novel I am the Only Running Footman. Today the gastro-style watering hole is a world away from its humble origins, but as you savour your meal, you might at least reflect upon the rough-and-tumble history of its former Mayfair publicans. Words: Andrew Manns
117
Property | The mayfair Magazine
Mayfair estate agents 020 7834 4771 (sales) www.hamptons-int.com Kaye & Carey Beauchamp Estates 24 Curzon Street, W1J 7TF 020 7499 7722 www.beauchamp.co.uk
Harrods Estates
Knightsbridge
Knightsbridge
Plaza Estates
4 Yeoman’s Row SW3 2AH 020 7590 0066 www.kayeandcarey.co.uk
29-31 Edgware Road, W2 2JE 020 7724 3100 www.plazaestates.co.uk
Marble Arch
82 Brompton Road, SW3 1ER 020 7225 6506
Mayfair Chesterton Humberts
Mayfair
61 Park Lane, W1K 1QF 020 7409 9001 www.harrodsestates.com
47 South Audley Street, W1K 2QA 020 7629 4513 (sales) 020 7288 8301 (lettings)
Westminster & Pimlico 10 Gillingham Street, SW1V 1HJ 020 3040 8201 (sales) www.chestertonhumberts.com
Horne & Harvey 23a St James’s Street, SW1A 1HA 020 7839 6006 www.horneandharvey.co.uk
John D Wood Fine & Country
Mayfair
121 Park Lane, W1K 7AG 020 7079 1523 www.fineandcountry.co.uk
Knight Frank
Mayfair
188 Brompton Road, SW3 1HQ 020 7581 5234 (sales)
Hyde Park
Mayfair
Chelsea
134 Fulham Road, SW10 9PY 020 7717 5433 (lettings)
Knightsbridge
1 Craven Terrace W2 3QD 020 7871 5060 (sales) 020 7871 5070 (lettings)
36 North Audley Street, W1K 6ZJ 020 7578 5100 (sales & lettings)
Marylebone
139 Sloane Street, SW1X 9AY 020 7730 0822 www.savills.co.uk
55 Baker Street W1U 8EW 020 3435 6440 (sales)
Sloane Street
Belgravia
48 Elizabeth Street, SW1W 9PA 020 7824 7900 www.johndwood.co.uk Strutt & Parker Pastor Real Estate Ltd 48 Curzon Street W1J 7UL 020 3195 9595 www.pastor-realestate.com
Hamptons International
Savills
120a Mount Street W1K 3NN 020 7499 1012 (sales & lettings) www.knightfrank.co.uk
John taylor 48 Berkeley Square, W1J 5AX 020 3284 1888 www.john-taylor.com
London Head Office 13 Hill Street, W1J 5LQ 020 7629 7282
Knightsbridge 66 Sloane Street SW1X 9SH 020 7235 9959 www.struttandparker.com
Knightsbridge 168 Brompton Road, SW3 1HW 020 7717 5463 (lettings)
penyards
Winchester
Mayfair 32 Grosvenor Square, W1K 2HJ 020 7717 5465 (sales) 020 7717 5467 (lettings)
Paddington & Bayswater 4C Praed Street, W2 1JX 020 7717 5473 (sales) 020 7717 5343 (lettings)
Pimlico & Westminster 50 Belgrave Road, SW1V 1RQ
KAY & CO
Hyde Park & Bayswater 24-25 Albion Street, W2 2AX 020 7262 2030
Marylebone & Regents Park 20a Paddington Street, W1U 5QP 020 7486 6338 www.kayandco.com
21 Southgate Street Hampshire, SO23 9EB 01962 860300
W.A. Ellis 174 Brompton Road, SW3 1HP 020 7306 1600 www.waellis.co.uk
Brockenhurst 66 Brookley Road Hampshire, SO42 7RA 01590 624775 www.penyards.com
For estate agent listings please contact Sophie Roberts at: s.roberts@runwildgroup.co.uk
Wetherell 102 Mount Street W1K 2TH 020 7493 6935 www.wetherell.co.uk
showcasing the
finest HOMES & PROPERTY from the best estate agents
Spotlight on: Harvey Cyzer Meet the enigmatic head of Knight Frank’s Mayfair and St Jame’s office
A life of
style
Fendi Casa designs for The Carlyle in Los Angeles
image: haRRODS ESTATES www.harrodsestates.com
KF_Mayfair Mag DPS_LHP.indd 1
17/03/2014 15:50
KF_
IMMACULATE NEWLY BUILT
FARM
FREEHOLD HOUSE WITH PARKING One of Mayfair’s most highly sought after addresses, Farm Street is a quiet residential street one block south of Mount Street and just to the west of Berkeley Square.
STREET
Spanning seven floors and totalling in excess of 8,000 sq ft, this elegantly decorated property provides the perfect entertaining space. Finished to a very high standard, the house is a great example of contemporary living in historic Mayfair.
ACCOMMODATION
• 4 bedrooms • Dressing room • 2 reception rooms • Kitchen • Server and dumb waiter • 3 bathrooms • 3 shower rooms • 2 guest WCs
• Media room • Gym • Steam room and pool • Patio and roof terraces • 8 person lift • Garage
EPC rating B Approximately 756 sq m (8,139 sq ft)
15:50
KF_Mayfair Mag DPS_RHP.indd 2
MAYFAIR W1
FREEHOLD
JOINT SOLE AGENTS
120a Mount Street, London W1K 3NN T: 020 8166 7482
knightfrank.co.uk
£32,500,000
102 Mount Street, London W1K 2TH T: 020 7529 5566
wetherell.co.uk
17/03/2014 15:51
KF_Mayfair Mag_DPS_LHP.indd 1
11/03/2014 09:31
KF_
grosvenor square â?– mayfair An elegant and impeccably designed lateral apartment with five south facing windows overlooking Grosvenor Square 109 Year Lease
Joint Sole Agents
120a Mount Street, London W1K 3NN T: 020 8166 7482
knightfrank.co.uk
09:31
KF_Mayfair Mag_DPS_RHP.indd 2
ÂŁ18,000,000
102 Mount Street, London W1K 2TH T: 020 7529 5566
wetherell.co.uk
11/03/2014 09:32
No.1 FOr property
sold in 2013 We are proud to be number one for property sold in 2013 in Mayfair and St James’s.* To keep up with the latest property news and events follow us @KF_Mayfair
120a Mount Street, Mayfair, London W1K 3NN +44 20 8166 7482 * Data taken from “London’s property pulse”, Lonres.com on 6th January 2014 3563
KnightFrank.co.uk/mayfair
Tra
KnightFrank.co.uk
Trafalgar One, Trafalgar Square WC2 The ultimate city penthouse
With the finest views in the West End, this 3,600 sq ft penthouse at Trafalgar One occupies the only residential address on Trafalgar Square. 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 2 reception rooms, study, kitchen, guest WC, 2 terraces, air conditioning, direct lift access, porter, parking. EPC Rating B. Approximately 350 sq m ﴾3,765 sq ft﴿ Leasehold approximately 998 years remaining
KnightFrank.co.uk/mayfair mayfair@knightfrank.com 020 8166 7482 Joint sole agent: Iles Property charlotte@ilesproperty.co.uk 020 7235 4555
﴾WER130264﴿
3563
Trafalgar One MM April
13/03/2014 19:19:23
KnightFrank.co.uk
Maddox Street, Mayfair W1K
Perfect pied‐à‐terre on fashionable Maddox Street This newly renovated, one bedroom apartment on Maddox Street boasts plenty of natural light, a fully integrated and open plan kitchen/reception room, lift access and newly refurbished communal areas. Bedroom, bathroom, open plan kitchen/reception room, direct lift access. EPC Rating C. Approximately 47 sq m ﴾505 sq ft﴿ Leasehold: approximately 999 years remaining
KnightFrank.co.uk/mayfair mayfair@knightfrank.com 020 8166 7482 Joint sole agent: WA Ellis sales@waellis.com 020 7306 1600
Guide price: £1,000,000 ﴾WER140022﴿
Maddox Street - Mayfair sales Mayfair Mag
13/03/2014 19:15:49
Ma
49
KnightFrank.co.uk
Portland Place, Marylebone W1 A substantial lateral apartment
An impressive lateral apartment encompassing the entire fourth floor of a Portland stone fronted mansion block. Master bedroom suite, 2nd bedroom suite, 2 further bedrooms, family bathroom, drawing room, dining room, library, kitchen/breakfast room, utility room, entrance hall, lift, 24 hour concierge. EPC rating C. Approximately 462 sq m ﴾4,983 sq ft﴿
KnightFrank.co.uk/marylebone marylebone@knightfrank.com 020 3435 6440
Leasehold: approximately 85 years remaining Guide price: £12,950,000 ﴾MRY110010﴿
Mayfair Mag April 2014 Portland Place - 05 March 2014 - 48441
12/03/2014 17:06:50
KnightFrank.co.uk
Clifton Place, Hyde Park W2 Stylish and spacious apartment
A beautiful apartment, located in a white stucco building close to Connaught Village, offering a wealth of living space. Master bedroom with en suite shower room, 2 further bedrooms, bathroom, dual aspect reception/dining room, semi open plan kitchen, cloakroom, attic storage. EPC rating D. Approximately 120 sq m ﴾1,300 sq ft﴿ Leasehold: approximately 160 years and 10 months
KnightFrank.co.uk/hydepark hydepark@knightfrank.com 020 3544 6140
Guide price: £1,850,000 ﴾HPE130093﴿
3 35 Clifton Place Mayfair Mag April 2014 - 20 February 2014 - 47840
27/02/2014 09:12:07
47
7
KnightFrank.co.uk
Hyde Park Gardens Mews, Hyde Park W2
Fantastic development opportunity
A rare opportunity to extend this pretty mews house to create the perfect dream home, providing 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms and a large roof terrace. The current house comprises 3/4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, reception room, kitchen, dining area, study, utility room, roof terrace. EPC rating E. Approximately 120 sq m ﴾1,300 sq ft﴿ Freehold
KnightFrank.co.uk/hydepark hydepark@knightfrank.com 020 3544 6140
Guide price: £2,950,000 ﴾HPE130236﴿
47 Hyde Park Gardens Mews Mayfair Mag April 2014 - 20 February 2014 - 47849
27/02/2014 09:13:21
KnightFrank.co.uk New Cavendish Street, W1
Contemporary apartment A fantastic third floor apartment ideally located in the heart of the Marylebone Village. Comprising double bedroom with amble built in storage space, bathroom, separate WC, spacious reception room with dining area, fully fitted kitchen, lift, concierge. Approximately 68 sq m ﴾732 sq ft﴿. Available furnished £675 per week
Marylebone Lettings KnightFrank.co.uk/marylebone lettings@knightfrank.com 020 3641 5853 ﴾MRQ193048﴿
Frederick Close, Hyde Park W2
Minimalist London living A choice of two luxury apartments in this exclusive development. 2 or 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, spacious reception rooms, high specification kitchens, comfort cooling, Lutron lighting, lift, concierge, secure on‐site parking. Approximately 141 sq m ﴾1,519 sq ft﴿ and 158 sq m ﴾1,702 sq ft﴿ Available furnished Guide price from: £1,895 ‐ £2,150 per week
Hyde Park Lettings KnightFrank.co.uk/hydepark lettings@knightfrank.com 020 3544 6140 ﴾CCQ156015﴿
All potential tenants should be advised that, as well as rent, an administration fee of £276 will apply when renting a property. Please ask us for more information about other fees that may apply or visit KnightFrank.co.uk/tenantcharges
Mayfair Magazine Lettings April 2014
14/03/2014 15:51:00
00
Beyond your expectations www.hamptons.co.uk
Berkeley Street, W1
£2,395,000 Leasehold
On the fifth floor (with lift), of this 24 hour portered block, this is a stunning, superbly refurbished two bedroom apartment with beautifully appointed kitchen and bathroom.
•
EPC: D
•
• • • •
Hamptons Mayfair Office Sales. 020 7717 5465 | Lettings. 020 7717 5467
Two bedrooms One bathroom Lift 24 hour porter High quality finish Approx. 743 sq ft.
Hill Street, W1 This property boasts charm and period features as well as excellent space. Split over two floors, the reception room is spacious with high ceilings and the bedroom offers excellent space and storage. There is a sauna off the bedroom with a shower, as well as a spacious bathroom with freestanding bath. EPC: D *Tenant Charges Tenants should note that as well as rent, an administration charge of £216 (Inc. VAT) per property and a referencing charge of £54 (Inc. VAT) per person will apply when renting a property. Please ask us for more information about other fees that may apply or visit www.hamptons.co.uk/rent/tenant-charges
Hamptons Mayfair Office Lettings. 020 7717 5467 | Sales. 020 7717 5465
£600 per week Furnished/Part/Unfurnished (charges apply)* • • • •
One bedroom One bathroom Split level Sauna
Beyond your expectations www.hamptons.co.uk
Cleveland Terrace, W2 A beautifully presented two bedroom apartment on first floor of a white stucco fronted period building in the heart of Bayswater. The property boasts lots of natural light, wonderful high ceilings and is ideally located within walking distance to Hyde Park, Paddington Station and Lancaster Gate. EPC: F
£1,100 per week • • • • • •
Hamptons Paddington Office Lettings. 020 7717 5343 | Sales. 020 7717 5473
White stucco-fronted building Open plan kitchen reception Two bedrooms High ceilings Moments from Hyde Park 1,042 sq ft
Gloucester Square, W2 A three bedroom, three bathroom duplex apartment set within an imposing white stucco fronted period building. Measuring approx. 1,900sq ft and lovingly refurbished by the present owners in a contemporary style whilst retaining many period features, residents enjoy access into a gated landscaped garden square. EPC: D
£2,950,000 Leasehold • • • • • •
Hamptons Hyde Park & Bayswater Office Sales. 020 7717 5315 | Lettings. 020 7717 5345
White stucco-fronted building Three bedrooms Large reception room/dining room Private patio High ceilings Moments from Hyde Park
savills.co.uk
1 THIRD FLOOR FLAT IN PERIOD BUILDING green street, w1 Entrance hall ø reception room ø kitchen ø master bedroom with en suite shower room ø further bedroom ø bathroom ø lift ø 93 sq m (1,007 sq ft) ø EPC=D
Savills Mayfair Lindsey Webb lwebb@savills.com
020 7578 5100 Guide £2.75 million Leasehold, approximately 84 years remaining
savills.co.uk
LETTINGS LAYOUT ONLY
1
A SPECIAL PENTHOUSE APARTMENT IN A BEAUTIFUL BUILDING green street, w1 3 bedroom suites ø 2 reception rooms ø kitchen ø lift access at each level ø terrace ø 185 sq m (1,989 sq ft) ø Council Tax=H ø EPC=B
Savills Mayfair Lindsay Gill lgill@savills.com
020 7578 5100 Furnished £3,000 per week + £276 inc VAT one-off admin fee and other charges may apply* *£36 inc VAT for each additional tenant/occupant/guarantor reference where required. Inventory check out fee – charged at the end of or early termination of the tenancy and the amount is dependent on the property size and whether furnished/unfurnished. For more details, visit www.savills.co.uk/fees.
Chesterton Humberts property experts
South Audley Street, Mayfair W1K
An imposing apartment of approximately 4,021 sq ft, occupying the upper floors of this key building in a Queen Anne style terrace. 1st floor drawing room, kitchen, 5 en-suite bedrooms, study/7th bedroom, 2 shower rooms, cloakroom, lift & private entrance. The apartment is located close to the corner of South Audley Street & Mount Street, moments from Mayfair’s famous designer boutiques & restaurants. EPC rating D
£10,850,000 leasehold
Mayfair & St James’s
020 7629 4513
sales.mayfair@chestertonhumberts.com
De Walden Street, Mayfair W1G
A contemporary duplex apartment with stunning roof terrace close to Marylebone village. Comprising 1 reception room, 2 bedrooms & 2 bath/shower rooms. EPC rating E
£2,295,000 leasehold
South Audley Street, Mayfair W1W
A rare opportunity to acquire a 3rd floor apartment (lift) located in a highly sought after Mayfair building just off Grosvenor Square. Comprising drawing room, kitchen, 2 bedrooms, 2 bath/ shower rooms & porterage. EPC rating C
£2,950,000 leasehold
chestertonhumberts.com
m
Upper Brook Street, Mayfair W1K
Rarely available to the market, this brand newly refurbished and interior designed Mayfair townhouse has been remodelled & finished to the highest of standards. Located in the heart of Mayfair, just off Grosvenor Square, the house offers superb entertainment space & has a master suite covering an entire floor.
£6,500 per week
Mayfair & St James’s
EPC rating D
020 7288 8301
lettings.mayfair@chestertonhumberts.com
Park Street, Mayfair W1K
Newly refurbished Mayfair townhouse. Finished to the highest of standards & comprising reception, dining room, kitchen, master bedroom with en-suite, 3 further bedrooms & 2 further bathrooms. EPC rating F
£4,200 per week
Mount Street, Mayfair W1K
Stunning lateral apartment with high ceilings & an abundance of natural light, on Mayfair’s most premier street. Comprises reception room, kitchen, master bedroom with en-suite, double bedroom & 2nd bathroom. EPC rating D
£1,600 per week Additional charges apply. Administration: £222 (VAT included). References per tenant: £42 (VAT included)
chestertonhumberts.com
Chesterton Humberts property experts
Lygon Place, Belgravia SW1W
Lygon Place is an exclusive enclave of Grade II listed historical houses in Belgravia with security gates & concierge porters lodge. Completely renovated to provide wonderful lateral accommodation of circa 7,804 sq ft with master bedroom suite including dressing room, 6 further bedroom suites, 3 reception rooms, kitchen/breakfast room, media room, 2 parking spaces & lift. EPC rating C
£28,000,000 freehold
Knightsbridge & Belgravia
020 7235 8090
sales.knightsbridge@chestertonhumberts.com
Parkside, Knightsbridge SW1X
An exquisite 3 bedroom penthouse apartment situated on the 8th Floor of a 24 hour portered building in the heart of Knightsbridge, with extensive views over Hyde Park. EPC rating D
£9,750,000 share of freehold
Lowndes Square, Knightsbridge SW1X
Newly refurbished 2 bedroom flat, on the Ground Floor of a popular portered block. Benefiting from 2 double bedrooms & 2 shower rooms. Lowndes Square is centrally located for the many shops & transport links of Knightsbridge. EPC rating C
£1,850,000 leasehold
chestertonhumberts.com
m
Knightsbridge, London SW1X
A sumptuous 5th floor, portered apartment refurbished to exacting standards in this red brick period building in Knightsbridge, conveniently located for all amenities of Sloane Street & Hyde Park. The property benefits from under floor heating, Crestron & Lutron technology controlling sound, lighting, video & blinds. Comprises reception room, open plan kitchen, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms & guest cloakroom. EPC rating C
£1,900 per week
Knightsbridge & Belgravia
020 7235 3530
lettings.knightsbridge@chestertonhumberts.com
Princes Gate Mews, Knightsbridge SW7
Beautifully presented mews house of approximately 1,626 sq ft over 3 floors. Comprising reception room, drawing room, dining room/ study, kitchen, 3 double bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, shower room & utility room. EPC rating C
£1,650 per week
Chesham Street, Belgravia SW1X
A charming & unique apartment of approximately 1,658 sq ft in the heart of Belgravia. Comprising reception room/kitchen, 2nd reception, 2 double bedrooms with en-suites, study, steam room, utility room, pantry & patio. EPC rating E
£995 per week
Additional charges apply. Administration: £222 (VAT included). References per tenant: £42 (VAT included)
chestertonhumberts.com
facebook.com/struttandparker twitter.com/struttandparker
struttandparker.com
Wilton Street, Belgravia SW1
With the principal rooms laterally configured, this sensational family home offers a flexible layout and up to 6 bedrooms, located close to Belgrave Square and Hyde Park.
4,267 sq ft (396 sq m) Entrance hall | Kitchen/breakfast room | Dining room | Drawing room | Studio/ Sitting room | Library | Galleried library | Cloakroom | Master bedroom suite | Four further bedrooms | Study/bedroom six | Six further bathrooms | Laundry room | Safe | Terrace | EPC rating D
Knightsbridge 020 7235 9959 charlie.willis@struttandparker.com JSA Russell Simpson 020 7225 0277
£11,000,000 Freehold
Palace View Penthouse, St. James’s Street, SW1
An amazing, newly refurbished penthouse apartment in a discrete 24h portered building in the heart of St James’s, with wonderful views and over 800 sq ft of extensive terracing.
3,066 sq ft (285 sq m) Entrance hall | Reception room | Family room | Kitchen | Master bedroom suite | 2 further bedroom suites | Study / bedroom 4 | Roof terraces | Lift | 24 hr Porter | EPC rating D
Knightsbridge 020 7235 9959
james.gilbert-green@struttandparker.com
£12,000,000 Leasehold
facebook.com/struttandparker twitter.com/struttandparker
struttandparker.com
One Hyde Park, Knightsbridge SW1
A spacious two bedroom apartment situated in this iconic new development on the first and ground floor with views of Hyde Park.
1,686 sq ft (157 sq m) Entrance hall | Reception/dining room | Kitchen | Master bedroom with en suite bathroom | Guest bedroom with en suite bathroom | Cloakroom | Terrace | Private wine store | Concierge | Cinema | Pool | Gym | Spa | Parking space | EPC rating C
Knightsbridge 020 7235 9959 james.forbes@struttandparker.com
ÂŁ9,500,000 Leasehold
Belgrave Place, Belgravia SW1
A magnificent first floor three bedroom apartment, laterally converted across two period buildings in prime Belgravia.
2,605 sq (242 sq m) Entrance hall | Drawing room | Dining room | Kitchen | Master bedroom with en suite | Two further bedroom suites | Guest cloakroom | Balcony | Porter | Lift | EPC rating C
Knightsbridge 020 7235 9959 james.forbes@struttandparker.com
ÂŁ12,000,000 Leasehold
Follow us on Twitter: @marshandparsons
Join us on: facebook.com/marshandparsons
Visit our YouTube channel: youtube.com/user/marshandparsons
SALES
See all of our properties online: marshandparsons.co.uk
Brayanston Mews W1 £2,500,000 If you follow the adage ‘location, location, location’, then this must be the house for you. It isn’t only where it is that catches the eye; it’s the property itself too. Unusually for a period mews house, it has high ceilings and large west facing windows, giving the reception a loft feel. There are three floors with two bedrooms and a bathroom on the ground floor, a large reception and separate kitchen on the first floor and a large bedroom suite on the top floor. Freehold. EPC=D. Sole Agent. MARYLEBONE: 020 7935 1775 sales.mar@marshandparsons.co.uk
Upper Brook Street Mayfair W1 An immaculate split level three bedroom penthouse maisonette with roof terrace just off Grosvenor Square.
■ ■ ■ ■
£2,250 per week
Reception Room ■ Dining Area ■ Fully Fitted Kitchen Master Bedroom with En Suite Bathroom Two further Bedrooms ■ Guest Cloakroom Roof Terrace ■ Lift
no-one knows mayfair better than wetherell
Wetherell_DPS_LHP.indd 1
17/03/2014 16:23
Weth
Grosvenor Square Mayfair W1 An impressive two bedroom lateral apartment on the top floor of this period portered building, with views over Grosvenor Square and the cityscape of London.
n n n n
wetherell.co.uk
16:23
Wetherell_DPS_RHP.indd 2
ÂŁ2,860 per week
Entrance Hall n Reception n Conservatory Dining Room Separate Eat-In Kitchen n Master Suite with Dressing Room Further Double Bedroom n Guest Bathroom Guest Cloakroom n Roof Terrace n Porter
102 Mount Street, London W1K 2TH T: 020 7529 5588 n E: rentals@wetherell.co.uk
17/03/2014 16:13
kayandco.com
W1 Baker Street, Marylebone £1,300,000 Leasehold
A “loft” style apartment in Marylebone! Situated within a small building on Baker Street is this delightful apartment featuring circa 1000 square feet of living space, large windows and good ceiling height. The flat also benefits from a long lease and low service charge. Ideally situated just a short walk from Baker Street Underground station, Marylebone Road and the green open spaces of Regents Park. Energy Rating: E
020 3394 0012 sales.marylebone@kayandco.com
kayandco.com
W2 Radnor Place, Hyde Park ÂŁ5,350,000 Freehold
Exquisitely refurbished to exacting standards, this period family home now offers over 3000 Sq. Ft of internal accommodation arranged as three reception rooms, four bedrooms, and a bespoke kitchen/breakfast room. The house benefits further with a roof terrace and a gated off-street parking space. Radnor Place is located in an enviable location in the heart of Hyde Park Estate. Energy Rating F.
020 3394 0029 sales.hydepark@kayandco.com
152
The mayfair Magazine | Property
Spotlight on:
Harvey Cyzer We meet the man who leads Knight Frank’s dynamic Mayfair office to talk all things Mayfair and the latest predictions from the Knight Frank Wealth Report for 2014
‘M
ayfair has a terrific vibrancy,’ says Harvey Cyzer on this rather special area. ‘The thing about Mayfair is that is has something for every purchaser. I don’t believe that other areas of London do.’ The immaculately-suited Cyzer, who is head of Knight Frank’s Mayfair and St James’s office on Mount Street, is unreserved when it comes to sharing his knowledge and genuine passion for all things Mayfair. ‘It is the central capital of the world. I feel I am working in the absolute epicentre, where people who are decision-makers globally operate and work and
live and have their offices, and I find that very exciting,’ he says. ‘So many people aspire to live in Mayfair and want to be a part of this central hub.’ This fast-pace suits Cyzer. He oversees the busy Knight Frank office on Mount Street and the 70 properties under its instruction at present, including Red Lion House (pictured). And, he is meticulous when it comes to selling a property (it is not unusual to find him on his Blackberry after the working day has finished for most, speaking with overseas or London-based clients). Mayfair remains one of the most sought-after locations in which to purchase property in
left: harvey cyzer (photo: sarel jansen)
153
London, despite its many changes and developments. Cyzer knows this all too well – he has borne witness to the eclectic mix of residents from all over the world who have come to live here, the rise of Mayfair’s commercial side and the gentrification of streets such as Mount Street, on which the Knight Frank office elegantly sits among the terracotta-coloured historic buildings. Red Lion House, which sits just a few blocks away on Waverton Street, is an example of the calibre of properties, which is currently for sale. The newly-built property is spread across six contemporarily designed floors, which includes five bedrooms, eight bathrooms and enough leisure facilities (a sauna, steam room, pool and cinema room) to make you feel as though you never have to leave. Cyzer grew up in St James’s and his family have lived in the area since the 1960s – plus, his
154
uncle’s gallery, E&R Cyzer sits just around the corner on Bruton Street. Suffice it is to say that he knows his market very well – and he has all the right local connections. ‘I can remember in St James’s in the late 1970s and early 1980s on the weekends it emptied out it was completely quiet,’ he says. ‘There were a few gentlemen’s shops and that was about it. I also remember it was not like now, where everyone gravitates into Mayfair, it was very much people just living here slightly in isolation, whereas now you find with the transport links and with the publicity of certain restaurants, everyone comes in and enjoys it.’ Outside of office hours, you will find Cyzer at his local favourites, such as the Lansdowne Club, or with a client at one of his favourite restaurants, Bellamy’s, tucked away on Bruton Place. ‘The Lansdowne Club has really retained its Englishness, and it still has a dress code and a policy of behaviour, which I like very
The mayfair Magazine | Property
centre, top: harvey cyzer (photo: sarel jansen)
much: as it has not succumbed to a relaxed dress code and it is very particular in that respect. I think Bellamy’s is a really lovely restaurant that is run extremely well too.’ But even though Mayfair and indeed London is considered the crème de la crème of everything from fine-dining to fashion, and, of course, property, I was keen to quiz him about the latest Knight Frank Wealth Report, which has just been released. One forecast predicts that New York will overtake London as the most important city for the ultra-wealthy by 2023. ‘London has historically been and will always be one of the central financial capitals of the world and I don’t think that will ever change. You may find that we are right in our predictions but at this stage it’s only a prediction and a lot can happen in between now and then.’ Indeed, prices have remained consistently good since the global financial crisis, and Mayfair continues to
be regarded as a safe place to invest in property. Making the most of this strong market position, Knight Frank’s Mayfair office are uniquely placed to handle all manner of properties for sale or to let, having the manpower of the global company behind them, while the small but mighty team offers a tailor-made approach to the way they do business. From the beginning to the end of the sale process you can expect proper advice along with a stellar marketing campaign and strategy, 24-hour availability for all of your queries, and for any objections (which there always are) to be overcome in a timely and professional manner – after all, when you handover your most valuable asset for sale, this reassurance is priceless. Red Lion House, £25,000,000. For further enquiries contact Harvey Cyzer at Knight Frank (020 3589 0900; knightfrank.co.uk)
155
Property | The mayfair Magazine
At your service
property news
Hotel-style living and a new report on why Grosvenor Square could take centre stage as the number one address in prime central London
A fashionable abode If you love Mount Street, then this property on Adams Row, which runs parallel to the fashionable street, is sure to get your attention. Spread over 3,000 square-feet, the spacious property features an open-plan reception space, as well as a kitchen with a terrace and four-bedrooms, each of which have en-suite facilities. You will also find an integral garage, plus a terrace on the top floor, which is perfect for spring and summertime entertaining. Grosvenor Square is also just one street away, which only adds to the prestige of this location. Guide Price £6,250,000. For further enquiries contact Savills Mayfair (020 7578 5100; savills.com) 156
There are a finite number of residential properties in Mayfair that are connected hotels and enjoy the same amenities and services that a hotel guest would receive. A new top-floor property next door to the Marriott Park Lane Hotel is one of them, having newly arrived on the market for sale. The three-bedroom apartment has been recently refurbished to reflect a clean, contemporary look, from the bespoke marble-floored kitchen to the three bathrooms with Procelanosa tiling. Aside from the 24-hour access to the Marriott’s fitness centre and kitchen (as you can have room service delivered to your apartment), personal parking space and porter service, there are also breathtaking views over Hyde Park. What’s not to like? Guide price £5,950,000. For further enquiries contact the Harrods Estates Mayfair (020 7409 9001; harrodsestates.com)
Prime location Is Mayfair’s Grosvenor Square poised to take the top position, over Eaton Square and Cadogan Square, as London’s number one address? A new report by Mount Street-based estate agent, Wetherell, predicts that indeed it may. It has found that Grosvenor Square, London’s second largest square, had seen a 314 per cent rise in sales value from the year 2000 to 2013, compared to 223 per cent in Eaton Square and 215 per cent in Cadogan Square. A decade ago, Grosvenor Square came third to these two famous squares, and Wetherell’s findings illustrate just how noticeably things have changed. For further enquiries and a full version of the report, contact Wetherell, 102 Mount Street W1K (020 7493 6935; wetherell.co.uk)
California Dreaming 158
The mayfair Magazine | Property
As the home of Hollywood, it’s obvious why so many of us want to buy in LA. Now you can experience summer living all year long. W o r d s : B e t han R e e s
O
wning a luxury apartment with floor-to-ceiling windows, nestled among the upscale locales of Westwood and Beverly Hill’s finest restaurants and world-class boutiques might sound like the setting for the next big movie. However, The Carlyle has unveiled its newest model residence, giving you the opportunity to own a slice of the American Dream. The building, located on Wilshire Boulevard, houses some of the largest high-rise apartments in Los Angeles. In collaboration with Luxury Living, the exclusive retailer of fashion-house turned lifestyle brand FENDI Casa, the 2,837sq ft abode sits on the 21st floor, boasting east, south and north facing views over the most populated city in California. Consisting of two bedrooms, and two and a half bathrooms, the interior combines modern style with comfort, and functional innovation. Almost all of the pieces selected for the residence are from the FENDI Casa contemporary collection, designed by Paris
‘The building houses some of the largest hi-rise apartments in Los Angeles’
129
Property | The mayfair Magazine
born Toan Nguyen, highlighting distinguishable belts and buckles, using leathers and fabric of a primordial origin and tone, with a rich elemental colour theme throughout the apartment. Residence 2101’s design reflects the luxury high-rise living on the Westside. Highlights of the apartment include an Agadir sofa with Villa Borghese embroidery, a chandelier with Swarovski crystal option in the middle, and a Serengeti dining table in massacar ebony paired with gunmetal grey Blixen chairs. It also contains a handpicked art collection from local art dealers, Art Angels. The sophisticated atmosphere can be felt throughout the building, right from the foyer, which features dark chocolate Canova drawers and an Alupel mirror with croco-embossed leather frame. The Carlyle residence gives the opportunity to live in an effortless turnkey apartment, ready for you to move in. Prices start from $3.275m (unfurnished). For further enquiries contact Fendi Casa (luxuryliving.com)
130
Marylebone, W1G A fabulous period townhouse with a lift, a short distance from the Oxford Street department stores and 350m from the proposed cross rail link with a 29 minute service to Heathrow. The ground floor comprises an interconnecting reception room and dining room which leads into a contemporary kitchen with spectacular domed ceiling. Two further elegant reception rooms with period features are located on 1st floor. The master suite takes the 2nd floor of the house and encompasses a dressing room and luxurious bathroom. There are three further bedroom suites as well as a study, gymnasium/studio which benefits from a kitchenette area. A 5th bedroom suite for staff or guests works well on the lower ground floor. Long leasehold of approximately 899 years.
£7,950,000 LONG LEASEhold APPROXIMATELY 4,291 sq ft ABU DHABI MEGEVE •
JSA Knight Frank, Marylebone 020 3435 6440
John Taylor UK london@john-taylor.com 020 3284 1888
• AIX-EN-PROVENCE • BARCELONA • CANNES • COURCHEVEL • COSTA BRAVA • GENEVA • GSTAAD • LONDON MERIBEL • MILAN • MONACO • PARIS • ST-JEAN-CAP-FERRAT • ST-PAUL-DE-VENCE • ST-TROPEZ • VALBONNE
www.john-taylor.com
Green Street, Mayfair W1 A beautiful three bedroom duplex apartment situated on the first and second floor of this well presented building. Comprising a stunning south facing reception room with high ceilings and balcony, a large kitchen/dining room, master bedroom with en suite bathroom, two further double bedrooms and a separate bathroom.The apartment has been refurbished to a high specification and offers excellent storage throughout. EPC rating C. £4,500,000 Leasehold approximately 120 years remaining 020 7409 9346 jennifer.marwick@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
Walpole Mayfair, St James’s, SW1A This lavish, three bedroom apartment has been designed in a contemporary style with a classic twist.The apartment benefits from bespoke furniture, the finest finishes and concierge service. Walpole Mayfair is an award winning and prestigious development by Oliver Burns and was once the home of Britain’s first Prime Minister, Sir Robert Walpole. Available, furnished. EPC rating D. £6,500 per week Plus Property Fees: Admin £180, Checkout £276, References: £42 per person* www.harrodsestates.com/tenants
020 7409 9001 robin.boghhenrikssen@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
mappinandwebb.com
ReGenT STReeT | oLd bond STReeT | FencHURcH STReeT
M&W_Empress_Purple_London Stores.indd 1
10/03/2014 14:50