The V&A has been given unprecedented access to the David Bowie Archive to curate the first international retrospective of the extraordinary career of David Bowie – one of the most pioneering and influential performers of modern times. David Bowie is (opening next spring), will explore the creative processes of Bowie as a musical innovator and cultural icon, tracing his shifting style and sustained reinvention across five decades.
Travel
The Crown Jewels at the Tower of London are a unique working collection of royal regalia and are still regularly used by The Queen in important national ceremonies, such as the annual State Opening of Parliament. Film footage showing the Crown Jewels in use on such occasions will bring this to life for visitors.
Many days, as I wander through London’s trendiest and chicest spaces, I am often taken by the beautiful spaces and environments. Quite recently though – I think I have fallen in love. Yes love; and it wasn’t because of a charismatic accent or sharp attire – this time I was struck by vibrant colors, meticulous details , and spectacular beauty. In case I haven’t made myself quite clear, this article worthy of my admiration was the nothing more than the de Gournay hand painted wallpapers.
In 1985 Tim and Kit Kemp opened their first property, the Dorset Square Hotel and in doing so introduced a new breed of luxury to the London hotel market. This marked the birth of Firmdale Hotels. It was sold in 2002 but the Kemps reacquired the hotel last year and embarked upon an extensive refurbishment stamping it with Kit Kemp’s signature style: bold colours and textures, bespoke and one-off pieces as well as original art collected from around the globe.
Located in the heart of Soho, Yauatcha offers spacious and relaxed dining. Combining the highest quality cuisine with cutting edge interior design, Yauatcha consistently remains a popular destination for both London’s residents and visitors.
This week, I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to witness a major new exhibition celebrating the life and work of Valentino at Somerset House which started this November 2012 ending March 2013
“Valentino: Master of Couture” glamorous exhibition focuses exclusively on haute couture created by the legendary Italian designer. With a 50-year career starting in the late 1950s this exhibition will showcase over 130 hand-crafted designs worn by icons such as Jackie Kennedy Onassis, Grace Kelly, Sophia Loren and Gwyneth Paltrow.
The Lanesborough is recognised as one of the finest hotels in the world. However, it began life in 1719 as the red-brick residence of the 2nd Viscount Lanesborough. The house’s location in fields adjoining Hyde Park led the Viscount to carve the declaration that ‘It is my delight to be both in the town and the country’ above the door. However, the house was left empty after his death since he left no heirs.
The Harrods Food Hall in London is known worldwide for its opulence and grandeur, and the Food Halls are no exception. Harrods has been around since 1834, founded by Charles Henry Harrod and originally operating in a single room selling a mix of grocery goods, perfumes, and stationary items.
Mostly dedicated to the enjoyment of Quebec’s winter, La Luge is a secondary home lying in the midst of the forest.
Nestled on its site, surrounded by dense vegetation preserving the house’s privacy, La Luge integrates a private spa which occupies almost a third of the useable area, adding on to the traditional countryside living spaces.
A world traveler and elaborate, frequently fantastical decorator, Pinto amassed a clientele ranging from Middle Eastern petroleum billionaires and politicians to celebrities. He was 69.
Born in 1943 in Casablanca, Pinto spent his childhood in Morocco. His tours across Europe and the rest of the world with globe-trotting parents would influence Pinto’s exotic, global design vision later in life.
If you think a frozen hotel and warm night’s sleep are polar opposites, think again. Part novelty, part adventure, ice hotels and igloo villages illuminate dark and cold winters. With thermal comforters and natural insulation to keep you warm, the experience is like camping in a winter wonderland. Even better, you’ll wake up to resort benefits like restaurants, bars, and even chapels—all made of ice, of course.
Oscar Niemeyer, the last lion of architectural modernism and the most renowned cultural figure in Brazil, died Wednesday at age 104. Here, in a review essay originally published in The Atlantic magazine in 2008, literary and national editor Benjamin Schwarz appraises Niemeyer’s life and work, focusing on the architect’s most colossal, enduring, and controversial work — the city of Brasilia.
One of Manhattan’s favorite Italian eateries, Il Buco, is offering foodies and skiers a unique opportunity this winter to travel with its staff to Courchevel 1850 in the French Alps for a food-and-wine getaway. From January through March, Il Buco owner Donna Lennard and her husband, Luca Boniciolli, who is a private ski guide, will host groups of eight to 12 people in private chalets for one-week vacations that combine skiing, food, wine, and other activities.
Creel and Gow incorporates and adds to the collection of Ruzzetti and Gow an extensive range of fascinating and exquisite objects sourced from all around the world by Paris based Jamie Creel and former Sotheby’s expert Christopher Gow, both avid collectors.