State Of Independenz




With the launch of Indian Vogue, a new Wes Anderson film, The Darjeeling Limited and numberous festivities celebrating 60 years of Indian independence, India is in focus right now. What’s to bet that autumn/winter 08 will be heavily influenced by all things South Asian? To whet your appetite, London College of Fashion is running State Of Independenz, a guest speaker programme during October and November featuring fashion designers Osman Yousefzada, Ashish and Manish Arora, alongside a host of photographers, artists and writers of Indian descent. To book a place at one of these talks, visit www.londoncollegeoffashion.wikispaces.com/State+of+Independenz

Photo:Manish Arora from www.vogue.co.uk

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Those were the days








If like me you’ve not yet had your fill of New York nightlife photography from the 70s, Bob Colacello’s Out will be of interest to you. Featuring candid snapshots from the sixties and seventies that journalist Colacello took for his “Out” column in Andy Warhol’s Interview magazine, this new coffee table book is overflowing with the likes of Mick Jagger, Arnold Swarzenegger and Bianca Jagger in clubby yet intimate settings.

Colacello got his lucky break when, following a favourable review he’d written of Warhol’s film ‘Trash’, he was invited to become Interview’s diary writer. As he reveals to the Telegraph, ‘I learned working for Andy that there isn’t really the separation people think there is between society, the art world, the corporate elite, the European aristocracy. As you go higher up the social scale, they all kind of merge.’

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Pretentious crap




Following on from my post about the increasing exclusivity of the luxury market, news reaches me of rather pretentious goings-on at Hermes. Following in the footsteps of Grace Kelly and Jane Birkin, the latest ‘celebrity’ figure to have an Hermes bag named after her is LA socialite Susan Casden. (Never heard of her? Me neither.) The ‘Susie Casden’ bag itself is gorgeous, a nicely manageable size with rounded edges and two cute front pockets in delicious Hermes burnt orange. But here’s the killer. The bag is made to order, and then, only available with Casden’s written consent. Could it be any more ridiculous? Or am I just jealous?

Pic: fashionweekdaily.com

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Coffee and cones



fortnum & Mason coffee and mini ice cream cone

When I first happened upon the revamped Fortnum & Mason store in Piccadilly, I practically recoiled in shock. What had they done? In their effort to modernise, all the character had been sapped out of the poor shop. A few months on and I decided to give it a second chance. To my surprise I discovered a gem. Parlour Restaurant on the first floor is a darling little ice-cream parlour, designed by David Collins (Madonna’s decorator no less) and decked out American diner style with a 50s Italian twist.

The pistachio-green chairs work beautifully with the fondant-coloured china and floor-tiles, while neopolitan-hued lampshades coordinate very nicely indeed. But it’s not just about the decor. There’s a choice of fabulous ice-cream sundaes including a few alcoholic ones and great attention is paid to presentation. My favourite touch? The mini-sized ice-cream cones served with the capuccinos in their own little holder! Absolutely adorable.

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