December
The final few parties of 2006 included Paul Smith and Manolo Blahnik's bookish bash in Westbourne Grove, Alice Temperley's catwalk show for Coutt's, the Notting Hill Press Day fashion frenzy, the launch of a fabulous new French boutique in Westbourne Grove and the opening of a new gastropub in Golborne Road. In true Notting Hill syle, famous faces were in abundance.
November
In November, The Hill celebrated the launch of Jo Malone's new fragrance,the opening of Decoratum at Alfie's Antique Market, Carine Gilson's new Belgravia lingerie destination and Links of London's fabulous new Marylebone shop, all with the aid of a few cocktails and the odd glass of fizz.
Fat Badger
Just opened on the site of the Bed Bar, on the corner of Portobello and Golborne Roads is the Fat Badger, launched by Rupert Walsh with Joad Hall (formerly of The Metropolitan) and William Leigh (formerly of Blueprint Café, Kensington Place and The Cow). A fat party kicked off the new watering hole and a fantastic time was had by all.
Fat Badger
Fat Badger
Press pass
The Notting Hill Press Day attracted a host of journalists from all kinds of media, all pounding the streets of W11 to look at next year’s brilliant shopping prospects. They rounded off a busy day at Westbourne Grove’s White Stuff, which laid on a party for the weary hacks.
White Stuff
White Stuff
White Stuff
Banking on fashion
Notting Hill fashion designer Alice Temperley showed her new collection to an audience of Coutts customers as a branch of the bank was transformed into a catwalk. The show was part of a program of events created specifically by Coutts for professional women and female entrepreneurs to meet with other like-minded women. And to look at some fabulous clothes too of course.
Coutts
Coutts
Coutts
French style in Westbourne Grove
The opening of Comptoir des Cottoniers’ new boutique on the former Agnes B site on Westbourne Grove attracted a host of celebrity shoppers. The invitation specified ‘mothers and daughters’ and those who brought their offspring included Trinny Woodall, Pearl Lowe, Patsy Palmer, Tess Daly, Mica Paris, Mariella Frostrup and others. Fantastic clothes too.
Comptoir des Cottoniers
Comptoir des Cottoniers
Comptoir des Cottoniers
Comptoir des Cottoniers
Comptoir des Cottoniers
Comptoir des Cottoniers
Comptoir des Cottoniers
Comptoir des Cottoniers
Comptoir des Cottoniers
Bookish types at Paul Smith
Paul Smith and Manolo Blahnik teamed up to commission a series of covers for Penguin Classics from various designers – and then threw a party to celebrate the results. Guests at the Westbourne House shop event included Ron Arad, Sam Taylor-Wood, Jay Jopling and of course Paul and Manolo – an interesting crowd to say the least.
Paul Smith
Paul Smith
Paul Smith
Paul Smith
Paul Smith
Links of London
Links of London opened a fabulous new store in Marylebone and the beautiful people came out in force. Links Chairman John Ayton chatted with GQ’s Dylan Jones while countless models and socialites enjoyed champagne and admired Links’ lovely jewels.
Links of London
Links of London
Links of London
Decoratum
Just opened in the basement at Alfie’s is Decoratum, a fantastic space dedicated to 20th century furniture and design. Art dealers, designers and architects came to admire the 5,000 foot gallery that is the world’s biggest showroom dedicated to mid 20th century design and to sip a celebratory glass of fizz.
Decoratum
Decoratum
Decoratum
Decoratum
Carine Gilson’s new lingerie shop in Belgravia
A star-studded turnout for Carine Gilson’s new lingerie shop in Belgravia included Sadie Frost and Amanda Wakeley. The Lowndes Street shop, London’s first stand-alone store for the Belgian designer, is full of beautifully made silky and lacy things and revellers.
Carine Gilson
Carine Gilson
Jo Malone - Blue Agava & Cacao party
Jo Malone certainly knows how to throw a party and what seemed like half of London turned up to celebrate the launch of her tropical new fragrance, Blue Agava & Cacao. Exotic cocktails and nibbles fuelled the crowd as they were entertained by performers and musicians, all the while sniffing the captivating new scent.
Jo Malone - Blue Agava & Cacao launch party
Jo Malone - Blue Agava & Cacao launch party
Jo Malone - Blue Agava & Cacao launch party
Jo Malone - Blue Agava & Cacao launch party
Jo Malone - Blue Agava & Cacao launch party
Jo Malone - Blue Agava & Cacao launch party
Jo Malone - Blue Agava & Cacao launch party