To the Sanderson Hotel on Sunday night, where the lovely Julia Sarr-Jamois, Victoria Young and Fran Burns hosted a tequila fuelled
fashion party. Out on a school night, I DJ’d away in Peter Jensen and MY FLASH TRASH before handing over to Hanna Hanra and diving into a sea of Givenchy and Miu Miu madness. Sunday night parties are my new favourite parties! Read More at Refinery29
Julia Sarr-Jamois, Fran Burns and Victoria Young
WANTING: AURIA LONDON SWIMWEAR
This time last week I was sitting in a vintage F1 car at one of the world’s biggest car festivals. The Goodwood Festival of Speed is a glorious 3 day occasion of non-stop motoring and decadence, celebrating the life of the automotive. I was down there not only to revel in engine noise and lust over Maseratis, but to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the sassiest of drink brands, Martini.
The Italian house of vermouth is infamous for its cocktail glamour specifically the Martini Royale ( half MARTINI Bianco (70ml) and half MARTINI Prosecco (70ml) in a wine glass full of ice. Squeeze a lime wedge, drop and garnish with fresh mint- sublime) the chicer version of an Aperol Spritz. I’ve lost count of how many I’ve drunk this year already, on the balcony of Soho House West Hollywood to a terrace in Porto Fino, or even Buck Pal ( below) where I found myself once more sipping Royales in the royal gardens. #hardlife
Above At Buckingham Palace, wearing Escada, for the Coronation Festival- The Martini Terrazza was vibing (below) Read More about my Buck Pal Adventures in my HELLO! mag interview here!
Martini the company started in the mid-19th century, in the wonderfully underrated Italian city of Turin, with three men businessman Alessandro Martini, winemaker Luigi Rossi and accountant Teofilo Sola, In 1992 Martini & Rossi merged with Bacardi and to this day the brand is ranked the world’s fourth most powerful “spirit” brand. This year as the brand celebrates 150 years in the biz, they made a return to racing, having previously sponsored Ferrari and Porsche, they’re back in the game with their badder than bad logo. (below)
I’m not sure what I like more, the drink or their company slogan ‘LUCK IS AN ATTITUDE’.
See www.martini.com for more…and follow my adventures later this year with the brand.
You could not pay me to put my school uniform back on – those itchy blue sweaters and heavy long kilts – but when I was invited to a class at Van Cleef and Arpels’ new L’Ecole, I’d have pulled that jumper on faster than you can say detention. Of course that was not required: oh no, the pupils here were in head-to-toe Savile Row, gripping Montblanc pens and ready to take on the challenges of gemology with an enthusiasm unknown to my old chemistry classroom.
Located a short walk from Place Vendôme in Paris, Van Cleef’s grand school was opened in 2010 in an effort to educate customers new and old about the secretive fine jewellery industry. This is the place to learn where and how precious gems are formed and sold, why you should never buy rubies in the afternoon (yellow light distorts the gem’s true clarity) and how those stones, once found, are cut.
Arriving off the Eurostar, I dashed over to class in a new kind of uniform – Escada mesh dress – to join my fellow students: an Arab prince, a Japanese businessman and two very keen Texan women. When I asked them why they were here, the Texans excitedly replied that they wanted to turn their shopping habits into a hobby. “And also just to sound more intelligent when someone compliments my ring or earrings!” they explained.
The inquisitive Arab man was definitely there to learn the trade, but at the end, when I asked our teacher Isobel if opening the school would be USP suicide, giving away their brand secrets and all, she laughed. “No, of course not. We want to grow the fine jewellery market. We are the wise old teacher, we have unique cuts and a history that will never be crushed by competition. ”The Japanese businessman was thrilled that the school will open as a pop-up of sorts in Tokyo this year. An interesting move, I thought – why not China? But with a playful sense of design, characterised by eccentricity and feminine whimsy, it’s easy to see why Japan is one of their biggest markets.
As we broke for afternoon tea in the lavish mini-Versailles sitting room (a far cry from my common-room cereal bars), I pondered over a macaroon what the Americans had said about turning their shopping habits into a hobby. By providing an education and insight into their brand and industry, Van Cleef have created a new, dedicated army of ambassadors. Experiential retail is the key to attracting customers offline and into stores. Embracing honesty and education in the retail experience is the way to acquire and retain loyal customers, and excite a brand passion that mere product alone cannot offer.
That being said, as we put down our magnifying glasses and the diamonds went back into the safe, it was the product I was desperate for. And so without any pressure or expectation from our teachers, I made a beeline for the store. I left not only with my first piece of Van Cleef, but the most memorable retail experience I have ever had.
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