Yasmin Le Bon (44) has long been famed for her wonderful and unique sense of style. So the fact that the former top model has now designed her own collection for high street store Wallis can only be great news. Her new line, YLB for Wallis, is packed with super sophisticated clothes and jewellery, as glamorous as they are comfortable.
Don’t forget to put the 14th of November in your diary: on that day, British luxury brand Jimmy Choo will launch a collection of accessories and clothes to 200 selected H&M stores across the world, bringing glamour to the high street at affordable prices. It will be the first time that H&M, whose previous collaborations with designers include Karl Lagerfeld, Stella McCartney, Roberto Cavalli, Viktor & Rolf and Matthew Williamson, is teaming up with an accessories brand.
Liv, Emma, Gwyneth and Mario at the Burberry Show Front Row (Photo Chris Jackson, Getty Images)
I knew when I received my invite by courier (a metal card for the show, a black card for the party in chic cardboard envelops) that Burberry meant business when it chose to show its new Spring-Summer 2010 Prorsum collection -the most luxurious and fashion forward- in London rather than Milan.
I had been invited before by Burberry, the former Establishment name which has reinvented itself over the past ten years to become one of the most fashionable and cool brand on Planet Fashion. Three years ago, I went to the launch party of David Hockney’s exhibition, sponsored by Burberry, at the National Portrait Gallery, where I met the Great Man himself (charming), as well as designer Christopher Bailey (lovely and modest), the talent behind Burberry rebirth. This party was lots of fun, with a good mix of Art figures (Tracey Emin, in a sexy black dress somehow spoilt by trainers), Fashion (shoe supremo Manolo Blahnik and top model Natalia Vodianova), Films (Miranda Richardson and Michael York), with a touch of royalty for good measure (Gabriela Windsor). I had a chat with actress Thandie Newton (very friendly, amazingly beautiful), whom I met in a restaurant in Sydney in 1999 when she was filming Mission Impossible 2 with Tom Cruise, as well as with Jamie Oliver (very cheeky, strong character), whom I had interviewed a few months earlier for a profile piece. In 2007, I was also invited at the launch of The Beat, Burberry’s perfume -modelled by Agyness Deyn-, a very rock’n roll affair at Koko’s in Camden, where The Fratellis played a private concert in front of London’s brat pack. So I had already witnessed firsthand that Burberry knows how to throw a good party…
Why did you choose fashion as a career?
Because I went to Art school and I loved textiles, which are the reasons why it all started, although I had chosen at first to be an illustrator. But making clothes got a hold of me, almost as if I fell into it.
How would you define elegance?
Elegance for me means people who are at ease in their own looks and are sure of themselves: confidence is elegant, not conventional beauty.
Does being married to a Frenchman have influenced the way you perceive fashion?
Not at all, because I was already working as a designer when I met David, which was quite late in life.
Why go there ?
From feathers to flowers to lace to metals, headpieces are having a massive fashion moment, having suddenly become a staple at every party or festival. And why shouldn’t they? Flattering, original and glamorous, they can dress up any outfit and are super fun to wear.
And while Julia Cameron’s exquisite creations are delicate and chic, they’re still stunning enough to be noticed for all the right reasons. Handmade in India from gold, silver and natural stones, the nine styles are inspired by Grecian goddesses, medieval beauties and 1920’s flapper girls, and despite their vintage-y look, are definitely very “now”.
There is nothing like spending a long weekend at Wilderness, one of the most fun experiences I’ve ever had. I discovered it last year and can’t wait to be back in August, this time with my daughters, who have been on the case since seeing the photos I took of mermaids canoodling on the lake, the madly inventive costumes worn by party goers (I’ll never forget the human sized raccoon I saw emerging from the lake at 2am), the Bugsy Malone set recreated by Secret Cinema and all kinds of surprises deep in the woods, including an ice ring and a 1920s jazz big band, not to mention the giant skinny dipping contest at dusk: I didn’t take part, but that was quite a show.
The Place Wyndstock takes place in the spectacular grounds of Houghton Hall, a stately estate which is home to the Marquess of Cholmondeley. Situated in Norfolk and dating back to the 14th Century, the magnificent place emanates a fairytale quality, with its magical deer park, pristine manicured lawns, floral carpeted forests and an exquisite five-acre walled garden that belongs to another world entirely. Utterly enchanting and just a wood away from the Queen’s hunting estate of Sandringham, Wyndstock offers luxury camping facilities, but also invites its guests to bring their own tents. It takes about three hours to drive there from West London and there will be a coach service from Bethnal Green for those who don’t have their own transport.
For those who believe that sporting prowess is overrated, and who’d rather celebrate panache over physical exertion, then the Chap Olympiad -designed to separate the chaps from the cads- is just the place to be.
There, gentlemen can compete in inspired events such as the Raconteur’s Relay, Butler Baiting, Swooning the Ladies, Umbrella Joustling, Shouting at Foreigners, Moving Hat Stand and the legendary Pipeathlon, where contestants must complete three laps, including ten yards without their feet touching the ground (assistants allowed), while maintaining a fully lit pipe.
Curated by the producers of popular Lovebox and Secret Garden Party, Wilderness is a festival like no others. Launched last year, it aims to celebrate not just music, but also food, talks and debates, theatre, late night parties and outdoor pursuits. “For us, it’s important for friends and family to come along and use the weekend as a place to indulge the senses, relax, eat well, escape, learn and enjoy activities that aren’t so easily accessible in our day-to-day lives”, explain its founders. Like last year, it will be held in Oxfordshire at the beautiful Cornbury Estate on 10-12thAugust 2012.
For the Fashionista: Pret-a-Portea, the Royal Collection For the past few years, the Caramel room at The Berkeley has added a creative twist to the traditional English afternoon tea with pastries resembling the latest catwalk designs. However, from 29th May to 9th June 2012, cakes will be especially transformed to resemble the most memorable hats worn by the Royal Family, from the Queen’s crown to the infamous Philip Tracy fascinator worn by Princess Beatrice at the Royal Wedding last year.http://www.the-berkeley.co.uk
Punts, a type of flat-bottomed boats not dissimilar to gondolas, were introduced in Cambridge at the beginning of the 20th century by the students, who used them for both leisure trips and racing on the River Cam. Today, they are an almost mandatory way of discovering the old medieval colleges as well as the pretty countryside further upstream around Grantchester Meadows, a favourite for picnicking.
While companies hiring punts are aplenty, Doubletree by Hilton has launched a tailor-made (from two to 12 passengers) and rather stylish variation of the traditional experience, complete withgourmet picnic, punt umbrellas and blankets. Available to hotel guests and non-residents, they come in two versions: the first one (from £65.95 for two) includes a one hour self-driven punt ride, while the Ultimate Veuve Clicquot Punting & Picnic experience (from £120 for two) is a chauffeur-driven 90-minute cruise.
Do we really need one more summer festival? Well, why the hell not, if it comes with a difference, which is certainly the case with Vintage at Goodwood, which aims to become an annual celebration of British cool over the last five decades, thanks to partnerships with The Design Museum, British Film Institute and British Music Experience.
Run from 13th to 15th August in Goodwood Estate, overlooking the Sussex coast, it will be the first event of its kind to combine music, fashion, design and retail, while bringing the idea of glam and comfortable camping: “Vintage at Goodwood will bring something fresh and unique to a summer festival circuit that in many ways has become stale, homogenised and one dimensional, explains Wayne Hemingway, one of its creators. We have carefully curated a celebratory festival that is unashamedly about dressing up rather than down and being comfortable rather than compromised.”
L’Etranger (South Kensington) While French gastronomy doesn’t necessarily bring to mind the word “detox”, L’Etranger has managed to do just that. So OK, the fat free menu created by chef Jerome Tauvron -who worked for Pierre Gagnaire, Alain Ducasse and Marco Pierre White- is clearly inspired by Japanese cooking rather than traditional French recipes, but with delicacies such as sea bass carpaccio and scallops, beef and prawn hot pot, it will certainly appeal to the Frog Valley residents (£29.00 per person for 2 courses, and £38.00 for 3 courses, until 31 January). www.etranger.co.uk
Tom’s Terrace at Somerset House The River Terrace Cafe at Somerset House has been taken over by Tom Aikens for the summer, with an informal menu, including mini burgers and triple cooked chips, to accompany the evening drinks and splendid views of the Thames. The Admiralty Restaurant will also be transformed into Tom’s Kitchen at Somerset House, serving signature dishes from Tom’s Kitchen in Chelsea. Somerset House, The Strand, WC2 (Charing Cross, Blackfriars)
River Café, Hammersmith Widely regarded as London’s best Italian restaurant with great pedigree in the kitchen that has produced many successful alumni and imitations, the River Café creates an unforgettable dining experience, thanks to a minimalist, sleek design and a light colour scheme that blend effortlessly with the riverside setting. Thames Wharf, Rainville Road, W6 (Hammersmith Broadway)
Espelette at The Connaught : the most gastronomic Created by Hélène Darroze, the « Chic and Shock » Afternoon Tea (£35) offered at the Connaught combines the best of British but interpreted in a way in sync with XXIst century’s palates. The famous French chef has thus successfully mixed nouvelle cuisine with quintessentially English ingredients, as demonstrated by the exquisite “Cucumber, lime and mint fusion with Mojito foam”. Not to be missed are the handmade jams created by her friend Christine Ferber (rose and passion fruit in particular) which can be bought at the restaurant. Clientele: well heeled Mayfair locals and wealthy tourists. The Connaught : Carlos Place, W1 (Bond Street)
La Cave à Fromages
This cheese shop in South Kensington, which stocks around 200 types of seasonal cheeses (a third of which are English) was opened in November 2008 by Frenchman Eric Charriaux and Israeli Amnon Paldi. As suppliers of fine cheeses to famous chefs including Gordon Ramsay, Raymond Blanc and the Roux brothers since 1999, through their distribution company, Premier Cheese, the two business partners have set up an open shop without a sales counter, where clients can easily taste the different products on offer. Of particular note: cheeses with “added value”, infused with port, truffles or tea as well as the excellent honeys infused with truffles (to try with blue cheese) or saffron (perfect with goats cheese). 24-25 Cromwell Place, SW7 (South Kensington)
French artisan mustard maker Maille and super chef Hélène Darroze (who holds two Michelin stars at The Connaught in London and two others at her eponymous restaurant in Paris) have teamed up to create a six courses Drunch menu, available to sample at Maille’s lovely pop up boutique.
There they can taste tomato gazpacho, slow cooked lamb parmentier, crab cakes, eggs, red berry salad and caramelised apples. The tables are already fully booked but tastings will be available at the boutique’s counter. And all for free!
