Manolo Blahnik, who has taken up a well-heeled residence at the Wallace Collection in London, would feel right at home on the Garsington Opera stage this summer. That’s because its version of Offenbach’s Fantasio offers a powdering of Marie Antoinette (the Sofia Coppola version) with some flamboyant Commedia dell’Arte thrown in. And whilst poor old…
Londoness Loves July 2019
As London prepares for tennis fever, I’m sticking to the non-sporty side of the city where you’ll see me hanging out in our cool museums and theatres or sitting lawnside, but with a Pimms in hand and listening to jazzy tunes. Here are some of the best things to do in London this July. Stay…
Present Laughter | Andrew Scott | Old Vic
If you could transplant the hearts face emoji onto humans, then the crowd at the Old Vic last night would have radiated red, pulsating love for Noel Coward’s Present Laughter. That’s because Andrew Scott was in the house, having recently traded in his cassocks from Fleabag, for a much more jazzy, art-deco inspired wardrobe in…
The MullenLowe NOVA Awards | Central Saint Martins
Always looking for a good excuse to go back to school, I found myself heading to Central Saint Martins in London’s Kings Cross not once but twice in the space of a few weeks. I’d been invited to look at the finalists for the Degree Shows, an annual design brouhaha which has tongues wagging, eyes…
The Neasden Temple | Visiting the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir
Shri Swaminarayan Mandir. I know, you won’t be able to pronounce the name, so just refer to it as the Neasden Temple. Yes, you read that right. Neasden. This divine temple, which you would expect to see in Agra, actually resides in north west London. It’s a masterpiece in Indian craftsmanship and it shimmers in…
Retreating at The Carillon Miami
Miami. The American Riviera with its pastel palaces, its swaying palms and Art Deco curves is one of my favourite haunts when I need a break from the slate-coloured skies at home. Eye-popping art and sleek design sit in every corner and crevice of this sorbet-coloured city, so it’s surprising to those who know me…
Haute design : Manolo Blahnik at the Wallace Collection
Nobody clads a foot quite like Manolo. Women fantasize about having a pair of his arty concoctions in their shoe rack. My eldest daughter asked me for a pair of Manolos for her eighteenth birthday. We know he was Carrie Bradshaw’s shoe designer of choice in Sex and the City, and who better to adorn…
Eltham Palace | Where Medieval meets Art Deco London
Imagine a hotsy-totsy sleepover with both Henry VIII and Hercule Poirot. You have a coupe de champagne in one hand, and the ivories tinker away in the background. A lemur called Mah-Jongg and Caesar the Great Dane are chasing each other around a panelled Art Deco entrance hall fit for a Queen. Oh, did I…
Cultured Kids #46
Welcome to another edition of Cultured Kids, co-hosted with the eminently refined Catherine’s Cultural Wednesday. Cultured Kids is a virtual space where we share articles on all things cultural every two weeks, for kids around the world. Check the articles below for fun and informative posts from other bloggers on theatre, museums, attractions, travel, historical…
Things to do in London June 2019 | Londoness Loves
June is blasting off with a mini heatwave, and it’s going to be sizzling quite nicely on the cultural front as well this month. Check out what’s on this June 2019 in London from classical music to theatre, exhibitions and events. There’s some Andrew Scott, some Manolo Blahnik, John Malkovich puts in a creepy appearance,…