Canary Wharf Magazine April 2020

Magazine

April April 2020 2020

JOHN LENNON

How the musician's illegal artworks became collectors' items

ANDY WARHOL

Focus on London’s most anticipated art exhibition

RANGE ROVER Behind the wheel of the new Velar SVAD

The

GENERATION GAME How luxury brands are closing the age gap with one-style-suits-all tailoring

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DAWN ALFORD

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EDITOR’ S L ETTER

hen the team began working on this issue of Canary Wharf Magazine, our world was a very different place. My colleagues and I commuted into our One Canada Square offices, debated which cafe, restaurant or street food eatery to buy lunch from and many of us would hit the shops after work – or meet friends for a glass of something cold.

Now, as we are all working from home, catching up over Zoom and generally self-isolating, I miss the day-to-day rush, the workload and the office banter.

Most of us have very different and new schedules to stick to and I have morphed into a school teacher, full-time cook, avid cleaner and nurse to my poorly husband. Plus, I’m keeping the day job going as much as possible.

The challenge we face today has been both unexpected and unprecedented and, living or working in this financial district, we will all acutely notice the effects of this crisis.

We made a decision to continue producing this issue of Canary Wharf Magazine. The only difference is that it will also be

distributed widely digitally. Everyone needs some distractions in these times so there’s a plethora of stimulating articles inside that we hope will entertain you.

Our sister website luxurylondon.co.uk is also a fantastic addition to your bookmarks bar if you haven’t already taken a look. The journalists, writers and editors for the site are working hard preparing a curated daily series of articles to both help and captivate. There are ideas for life in self-isolation, fashion, motoring, art, books, food and music. I’d also recommend you sign up to the website’s regular newsletter to receive great reads and useful information straight into your inbox.

We have also purposefully continued to include travel ideas and features inside these pages as we know how widely read they are – and, let’s face it, we could all do with a little armchair escapism right now.

I hope you enjoy this issue and we look forward to seeing all our readers back at Canary Wharf in the near future.

Stay safe, and best wishes from all of us on the Canary Wharf Magazine team.

Magazine

C ON TR IB U TOR S

CONTENT DIRECTOR

Dawn Alford

DEPUTY EDITOR

Ellen Millard

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

Richard Brown

DIGITAL EDITOR

Mhairi Mann

SENIOR ASSISTANT EDITOR

Anna Prendergast

HEAD OF DESIGN

Laddawan Juhong SENIOR DESIGNER

Ismail Vedat

PRODUCTION MANAGER

Alice Ford

MANAGING DIRECTOR

Eren Ellwood

GENERAL MANAGER

Fiona Smith

COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR

Rachel Gilfillan

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

Samantha Lathan

BRAND EXECUTIVE

Dom Jeffares

Kari Colmans

Jeremy Taylor

Deborah Cicurel

On page 16, luxury editor Kari Colmans delves into the history of Andy Warhol ahead of his retrospective at the Tate Modern.

Motoring specialist Jeremy Taylor has written for The Telegraph and The Sunday Times. For this month’s issue, he gets behind the wheel of Range Rover’s newest — and fastest — motor: the Velar SVAD (p.36).

Freelance travel specialist Deborah Cicurel seeks R&R in a new Hawaiian retreat on page 74.

What is your favourite Andy Warhol piece from the new exhibition? I am particularly drawn to the Ladies and Gentleman series, which comprises 250 portraits of New York’s African-American and Latinx drag queens and trans women. I think it is so timely and relevant.

What are you looking forward to in April? Focusing on the small things – finding a good book to get lost in, and giving my home a little spring facelift.

What is your dream car? A svelte and cool Lancia Aurelia from the 1950s.

What are you looking forward to in April?

Firing up my ancient Citroen 2CV and taking it out of hibernation.

Where’s next on your travel bucket list?

I would love to go to the Galapagos Islands to snorkel with sea lions, stroll on pristine beaches and see incredible wildlife up close.

What are you looking forward to in April?

The sun shining, booking some more trips abroad – and hopefully an end to coronavirus.

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67

CONTE NTS ISSUE NO. 177 – APRIL 2020

REGULARS 8

CONTRIBUTORS Meet the people behind the April issue

12

THE AGENDA Everything you need to know this month

28

KIDS’ CLUB Easter activities and home cooking kits

44

HER STYLE The denim brands with a sustainable message

22

58 HIS STYLE

The hunt for the perfect white T-shirt is over

61 BEAUTY NEWS

Shimmering shadows and Rihanna-approved mascara

16

POP IDOL Tate Modern celebrates the king of pop art: Andy Warhol

22

COME TOGETHER How John Lennon’s illegal erotic artworks became collectors’ items

30

HOT WHEELS Inside the world of bespoke custom cars, where no dream is too big and no idea too outrageous

36

POCKET ROCKET Road testing Range Rover’s Velar SVAD, the marque’s fastest motor ever

FEATURES

62

16

74

46

MIND THE AGE GAP Why the fashion industry is having a senior moment

62

THE GENERATION X GLOW Skincare solutions for the over 40s

67

WHAT’S COOKING? The latest cookbooks and home bakes for culinary whizzes and amateur chefs

70

NEWS & VIEWS The businesses to support and the holidays to plan

74

SPA STRUCK

80

A wellness retreat on Hawaii’s Lanai island

SANCTUARY SAFARI

A multi-centre safari in Botswana and Zambia

PROPERTY

96

WIN A TWO-BEDROOM HOME IN LONDON An exciting chance to live in London City Island

36

TRAVEL

Book Club

Clothes... And Other Things That Matter

by Alexandra Shulman

Exhibition Artmesia When The National Gallery opens its Artemisia Gentileschi exhibition this April, it will more than double the amount of works it shows by women. More than 30 pieces by the Italian artist, a 17th-century feminist icon who challenged conventions through her epic paintings, will join the current 26 works by women in the gallery, which has 2,300 paintings, sculptures and sketches currently on display. Among the exhibits will be Gentileschi’s Self Portrait as Saint Catherine of Alexandria, which the gallery acquired for a record

sum of £3.6m in 2019, along with rarely-lent works borrowed from private collections – including those of fashion designer Gimmo Etro and the Sovereign Military Order of Malta.

A From £18, 4 April – 26 July, The National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, WC2N, nationalgallery.org.uk

the

*please note that all events and items for sale showcased on these pages may not be open or available due to the Coronavirus outbreak

FROM TOP ARTEMISIA GENTILESCHI, THE BIRTH OF ST JOHN THE BAPTIST, ABOUT 1635, ©MUSEO NACIONAL DEL PRADO, MADRID; ARTEMISIA GENTILESCHI, SELF PORTRAIT AS SAINT CATHERINE OF ALEXANDRIA, ABOUT 1615-17, ©THE NATIONAL GALLERY, LONDON

From the LBD to the bikini, former British Vogue editor Alexandra Shulman explores the meaning of clothes and how we wear them in this candid memoir, Clothes...

And Other Things That Matter. Weaving in her own personal experiences with those of society as a whole, Shulman touches on issues such as motherhood, sexual identity and body image while examining how our wardrobes intersect with the wider world. £16.99, Waterstones, Cabot Place

GENDA EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW THIS MONTH WORDS ELLEN MILLARD

4

NEWS

of the best...

Easter Eggs

Exhibition Lagerfeld: The Chanel Shows This spring, Art Photo Expo and Four Seasons Hotel London at Ten Trinity Square presents Lagerfeld: The Chanel Shows, an exhibition of photographs celebrating the creative director’s monumental fashion show set designs. Spanning more than a decade, photographer Simon Procter’s snaps capture the energy and essence of Chanel’s fantastical fashion shows, from ambitious sets to behind-the-scenes moments.

Hotel Chocolat’s extra thick white chocolate Easter egg is filled with dainty white chocolate treats for an added sugar hit. £29, Hotel Chocolat, Canada Place

Until 30 June, 10 Trinity Square, EC3N, fourseasons.com

A dippy egg with a difference, Carluccio’s Uovo Gianduja treat is filled with hazelnut and chocolate paste and topped with a white choc yolk. £2.95, Carluccio’s, Reuters Plaza

MISTY, PHOTO ©2020 TEIN LUCASSON. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Community

Book

English National Ballet

Dog: Portraits of Eighty-Eight Dogs and One Little Naughty Rabbit

If you’ve noticed your new neighbour has a spring in their step, they could very well be a dancer at the English National Ballet. The heritage institution has recently relocated to London City Island, where it has joined the English National Ballet School in a brand new Glenn Howells Architects-designed space. As well as new state-of-the-art facilities for staff, the building is home to a cafe and exhibition space, both of which are open to the public.

41 Hopewell Sqaure, E14, ballet.org.uk LU X U R Y L ON D ON .C O.U K

From a westie in a pink dress to a black lab in a sailor outfit, artist Tein Lucasson’s comical portraits of dogs have been compiled into a book published by teNeues. Combining photography with digital artistry, the images mirror Old Master paintings, but with pedigree protagonists that will tug at the heart-strings of any dog lover. £20, teneues.com

Pick up Charbonnel et Walker’s signature egg-shaped white chocolate truffles in a suitably-spring shade of lemon yellow. £26, Charbonnel et Walker, Cabot Place

Waitrose’s hand-decorated eggs come in a choice of three flavours: orange, salted caramel and raspberry. £7 each, Waitrose Fashion, Food & Home, Canada Place 13

Object of

D ES IRE

Bitter sweet: When life gives you lemons, make lemon-shaped chocolate. Waitrose’s hyper-real citrus treat is a zingy alternative to the traditional Easter egg. £3 each, Waitrose Fashion, Food & Home, Canada Place

ANDY WARHOL, SELF PORTRAIT, 1986, ©2020 THE ANDY WARHOL FOUNDATION FOR THE VISUAL ARTS, INC. / LICENSED BY DACS, LONDON

Po p

THE FIRST EXHIBITION OF ITS KIND I N 2 0 Y E A R S , A N D Y WA R H O L AT T H E TAT E M O D E R N S H O W C A S E S M O R E THAN 100 WORKS FROM THE POSTERBOY OF POP ART’S PROLIFIC CAREER. IN THE MIDST OF TURBULENT C U LT U R A L C H A N G E I S H I S W O R K MORE POIGNANT THAN EVER?

Idol WORDS KARI COLMANS

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I

t was Andy Warhol – artist, director, 20th-century pop-culture icon – who said “they always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself.” Although looking at his latest exhibition at Tate Modern this month, the first at the museum for more than two decades, its profound message is paradoxically how both everything and nothing has changed.

Surfing the wave of cultural transformation – if not propelling it from the ground up – Warhol’s work today is as significant and mesmerising as it was in his heyday. Homosexual, introvert, and from a deeply religious, low-income migrant background (his parents were both Czech), he was an unlikely poster-boy for the American art scene. His work radically rejected the prevalent abstract expressionist style of the 1950s, and pushed the boundaries through his use of medium, technology and subject.

Showcasing more than 100 pieces spanning his prolific career, the show demonstrates how Warhol’s personal experiences influenced his perception of the fluctuating creative, social, political and technological landscape around him.

His truly symbolic and much imitated paintings of Coca-Cola bottles, Campbell’s Soup cans and Marilyn Monroe reflected the explosion of American branding and celebrity and its infiltration of popular culture, but also people’s perception of what art OPPOSITE PAGE LADIES AND GENTLEMEN (ALPHANSO PANELL), 1975; THIS PAGE, FROM itself could be.

TOP FLOWERS, 1964; LADIES AND GENTLEMEN (IRIS), 1975; MARILYN DIPTYCH, 1962; ALL Through celebrating IMAGES BY ANDY WARHOL, ©2020 THE ANDY everyday subjects and WARHOL FOUNDATION FOR THE VISUAL ARTS, INC. / LICENSED BY DACS, LONDON objects in his work (“What's great about this country is that America started the tradition where the richest consumers buy essentially the same things as the poorest”), his influences, fascinations and flirtations with commercialism were often literal, but certainly not conventional. This exhibition looks deeper than the immediately identifiable, touching on themes such as desire, identity and religion, which emerge from his biography.

Born Andrew Warhola, he grew up in Pittsburgh to deeply religious parents who were devout followers of the Byzantine Catholic Church (also known as the Ruthenian Greek Catholic Church). The strong religious views of his mother are presented LU X U R Y L ON D ON .C O.U K

as providing the context for a lot of his work, along with his sexuality (and unsurprisingly the conflict between the two).

In his gold circular painting Marilyn (1962), Warhol utilised Byzantine Catholic iconography to transform the movie star and gay icon into a modern-day saint.

A whole room will also be devoted to one of his most fascinating series, Ladies and Gentlemen, which was first exhibited in Ferrara, Italy, in 1975.

Here Warhol produced more than 250 brightly coloured portraits of New York’s African-American and Latino drag queens and trans-women. Partly lent from a private collector, it presents the largest ever staging of the series in the UK. Warhol’s final works of the 1980s, such as the poignant Sixty Last Suppers (1986) – on view for the first time in this country – will be considered in relation to the artist’s untimely death as well as the unfolding HIV/AIDS epidemic, which ultimately went on to impact the lives of many in his close circle.

Originally commissioned by Italian art dealer Luciano Anselmino, the paintings were created at a time of growing public interest in gender fluidity and followed the passing of Warhol superstar,

19

While the artist prophesised that everyone will be famous for 15 minutes, Warhol was no novelty act the American actress and trans icon Candy Darling. While thankfully, in the US and UK at least, attitudes towards the treatment and stigma of HIV have shifted (to a degree), current conversations about gender renders the series exceptionally timely. Unfortunately, religious fervor has changed little in the years that have passed. As Warhol once asked: “Isn’t life a series of images that change as they repeat themselves?”

Although at the time the Ladies and Gentleman sitters were not named, they included some prominent community figures such as Marsha ‘Pay it no mind’ Johnson, who played a key role in the Stonewall uprising of 1969. New research by the Andy Warhol Foundation in 2018 finally identified all but one of the 14 sitters, enabling Tate Modern to name the seven who will feature in the exhibition alongside their portraits for the first time. Some of Warhol’s other early line drawings of male portraits and nudes from the 1950s are paired with the film Sleep (1963), which documents Warhol’s lover, the poet John Giorno. This examines how the artist pushed the boundaries on how we classify artists, and how popular culture defines art in general. Nearly 70 years on, the question is still being tested.

Of course, his iconic works from the pop-art period, such as Marilyn Diptych (1962), Elvis I and II (1963/1964) and Race Riot (1964), will all be observed through today’s kaleidoscopic political and cultural lens. Warhol’s unique ambition and innovation when it came to pushing the traditional boundaries of media will be represented via his famous Screen Tests (1964–6) and a recreation of the psychedelic multimedia environment of Exploding Plastic Inevitable (1966), originally produced for the Velvet Underground rock shows. Visitors will also be able to experience Warhol’s floating Silver Clouds (1966) installation, initially meant to signal his retirement from painting in favour of moviemaking. He famously stated that “good business is the best art”: the exhibition will also examine why Warhol took such an

interest in publishing and TV, as well as his role in the muchdocumented club culture of the era.

The showcase will celebrate the UK debut of Warhol’s vast 10-metre wide canvas Sixty Last Suppers, which depicts six rows of 10 silkscreened images, each a black-and-white reproduction of Leonardo da Vinci’s iconic mural The Last Supper. Created in 1986, just a few months before the artist died in his sleep while recovering from gall bladder surgery, it is poignant in its evocative themes of faith, immortality and the afterlife, topics that are no doubt reflective of his religious upbringing, as well as his close brush with death in the late sixties when he was shot and briefly pronounced dead in hospital. When looking closely at Warhol’s compendium of creations, mortality stands out as a surprisingly central idea to some of his most renowned works, including his depictions of skulls and news images of disasters.

While the artist prophesised – in a time before reality TV – that everyone will be famous for 15 minutes, Warhol was no novelty act. But not even this visionary could predict how symbolic and central his reflections on contemporary popular culture would still be for generations to come.

Andy Warhol at Tate Modern, in partnership with Bank of America, £22, until 6 September, Bankside, SE1, tate.org.uk

THIS PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM FAR LEFT BOY WITH FLOWERS, 1955-7; HAMMER AND SICKLE, 1976; DEBBIE HARRY, 1980; OPPOSITE PAGE GREEN COCA-COLA BOTTLES, 1962; ALL IMAGES BY ANDY WARHOL, ©2020 THE ANDY WARHOL FOUNDATION FOR THE VISUAL ARTS, INC./LICENSED BY DACS, LONDON

C U LT U R E

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C O ME TO G ET H ER C O N F I S C AT E D I N A S C O T L A N D YA R D RAID, JOHN LENNON’S EROTIC D R A W I N G S S P E N T O N LY A S I N G L E D AY O N D I S P L AY I N L O N D O N . F I F T Y Y E A R S ON, THE EXPLICIT LITHOGRAPHS MADE B Y T H E B E AT L E AT H I S C R E AT I V E A N D C O N T R O V E R S I A L P E A K A R E H I G H LY DESIRABLE COLLECTORS’ PIECES WORDS ROB CROSSAN

DETECTIVES SEIZING EIGHT EROTIC PICTURES AT JOHN LENNON’’S EXHIBITION BAG ONE, 1970, ©DAILY SKETCH /​SHUTTERSTOCK

‘M

ost of the famous couples of history – Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Pat and Dick Nixon – have left it to our imaginations to envision them joined in the act of love. But here, for the first time, a pair of famous lovers actually shows us how they express their love for one another.’

So ran the introduction to a feature in the March 1970 issue of the short-lived Avant-Garde magazine.

The magazine was taking quite a risk by publishing the set of lithographs it was describing. Not from a commercial perspective – there were certainly no shortage of people who were curious to see erotic drawings sketched by John Lennon of himself and his wife Yoko Ono on their honeymoon.

The peril came from Scotland Yard; these drawings were considered so obscene that not only had they been removed from a London gallery by the Met two months earlier, but they would also go on to be the basis of a court case that eventually drew on the content of the Queen’s art collection.

By the beginning of 1970 the Beatles were, to the outside world at least, still a functioning band. Paul McCartney’s public announcement of the break-up of the group was still four months away. But, in reality, the former Fab Four were already de facto solo artists.

While Ringo Starr began shooting movies with Peter Sellers, McCartney took sanctuary on his Scottish farm and George Harrison recorded a mammoth triple album solo project, Lennon was, at this point, by far the highest-profile

C U LT U R E

JOHN LENNON, EROTIC #1, 1969

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musician in the country. Fresh from his two week-long Bed-Ins for Peace in Montreal and Amsterdam, and having just scored a world-wide hit with Give Peace a Chance, Lennon had no intention of entering the 70s quietly.

“Perhaps I’ll get interested in drawing and painting again,” he said in an interview at the end of 1969. “You can’t stand still and I think I’ve been standing still for a bit too long.”

It was Anthony Fawcett, Lennon and Ono’s assistant at the time, who first suggested that lithography could be a new creative avenue. At first Lennon’s response was ambivalent; the Beatle preferred the spontaneity of drawing cartoons straight onto paper. But Fawcett managed to find a solution.

“I devised a way to shortcut the complicated procedure of working directly onto stone blocks or zinc plates,” he later recalled. “By using specially treated ‘litho paper’, which I had sent out to his house along with an array of suitable brushes, litho ink, and crayons, John would be able to draw or paint in his usual manner. The images could later be transferred from the paper onto sensitized zinc plates by means of an advanced technical process, and the lithographs printed in the traditional way.”

The impressionistic results were created by Lennon in two phases. The first, drawn around the time of his wedding to Ono in Gibraltar and their subsequent holiday in Paris, were fairly simple depictions of the couple together. The second set, drawn during their Bed-Ins were far more skillfully crafted, and a lot more intimate, depicting both of them naked in various lovemaking positions.

Three thousand individual prints were made up, each signed

by Lennon, and 300 complete sets of the 14 lithographs were packaged in white leather bags emblazoned with the words Bag One in black capitals. The lithographs could be bought for £40 each or a whopping £550 for the set.

The London Arts Gallery on New Bond Street (now a Burberry store), opened the show on 15 January 1970 – though the exhibition was doomed not to run its course. The very next day, Scotland Yard’s Obscene Publications Squad, known as the Dirty Squad, entered the gallery, charged the owner Eugene Schuster under the 1830 law forbidding “profane, indecent or obscene” drawings or images and seized eight of the prints.

Lennon and Ono were away in Denmark, but their absence only inflamed the fury of Detective Inspector Frederick Luff, the head of the Obscene Publications Squad, who, according to files released in 2001 by the National Archive, said: “Many toilet walls depict work of similar merit. It is perhaps charitable to say that [they] are the work of a sick mind.”

The decision to use this obscure 1830 law rather than the better known Obscene Publications Act of 1959 seems to have been taken only after the director of public prosecutions received a letter from an artist by the name of PFC Fuller two days after the raid.

‘John Lennon’s lithographs interest me considerably,’ Fuller wrote. ‘If the subject matter forms the basis of the prosecution case, this will be the first of many such actions your department may well have to cope with. There are thousands of prints by Rembrandt van Rijn (to name but one artist) depicting sexual intercourse, so at least one such print will figure in all the important state and private collections... I understand that HM

GALLERY DIRECTOR EUGENE SCHUSTER, 1970

the Queen has some highly erotic work by Fragonard.’

Regardless of the possibility of the reigning monarch’s art collection being raided in the future, the case went to Marlborough Street Magistrates Court in late April 1970, a few weeks after the lithographs were printed in Avant-Garde.

It was only in court that the reasons for using the obscure 19thcentury law, which contained the accusation that the artworks were ‘…to the annoyance of passengers’, became clear. By using this, rather than the Obscene Publications Act, Scotland Yard felt it had swerved the chances of Lennon’s representatives using the defence of artistic merit and public interest, which did not apply under the more arcane law.

The explosive-tempered Detective Inspector Luff told the magistrate that when he went to the gallery on 15 January about 40 people were viewing the prints.

“I saw no display of annoyance from the younger age group, but one gentleman was clearly annoyed,” he told the magistrate, St. John Harmsworth.

“Did he stamp his foot?” asked Harmsworth. “Anger was definitely registered on his face,” came the reply.

Then a prosecution witness, an accountant from south London, took the stand to state, “I felt a bit sick that a man should draw himself and his wife in such positions. It was a shock to see Yoko in the nude with a rather exaggerated bosom with apparently somebody sucking a nipple.”

The laughter from the public gallery, reported The Guardian at the time, was audible. Harmsworth dismissed the case, concluding that the wording of the law concerning the word ‘passengers’ left the Dirty Squad without a hope of a successful prosecution.

“They have, for the time being, finished passaging,” he declared, referring to those who attended the solitary day of the trial. He also found that Lennon’s drawings were “unlikely to deprave or corrupt.”

Half a century on, the paintings are a lot less likely to cause moral panic. They are, however, also a lot more likely to bankrupt anyone desiring to own one. Currently, the official Art of John Lennon website is selling some of the original signed lithographs for upwards of £10,000.

As the defending lawyer at the trial observed at the time, when he handed over a set of lithographs to the court, “I hope the officer will not mark them, because no doubt by the end of this case they will be worth a lot more than £550.” artofjohnlennon.com

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JOHN LENNON, HONEYMOON, 1970

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Happy Easter!

Kids’ Club E A S T E R T R E AT S A N D PA R T Y D R E S S E S FOR SPRING WORDS MORAG TURNER

Kids love Easter – what’s not to like about copious amounts of chocolate? If you are planning a little Easter celebration, there are lots of fun goodies out there to help you do just that.

To create the perfect Easter table, look no further than Meri Meri (merimeri.co.uk ). The children’s party supply specialist has a gorgeous selection of decorations such as bunny plates and flower garlands. Just add chocolate eggs.

Head to John Lewis (johnlewis.com) and you’ll find pretty painted hanging eggs and spring wreaths, or Paperchase (paperchase.com) for fun crafty options such as paint your own egg kits.

And if you would like to break away from the chocolate egg tradition, visit Biscuiteers (biscuiteers.com) which has a wonderful range of iced Easter biscuits in the shape of bunnies, eggs and chicks. Everything you need for funpacked Easter.

NEWS

Dressing up Needle and Thread, the go-to occassionwear brand for stylish women (fans include HRH The Duchess of Cambridge and Princess Beatrice), has just launched a gorgeous mini-me collection for little girls aged three to 10. Tumbling tulle skirts in a pretty colour palette of pastel shades, striking reds and dusky blues are hand-finished with intricate beadwork and sequin embellishments.

These junior versions of the brand's classic designs are the perfect choice for a wedding or special occasion.

Mind your manners All parents want their children to have impeccable manners. And who better to offer advice on how to achieve that than royalty? Crown Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece has written a book about modern etiquette for children and their families. In The book, Manners Begin at Breakfast: Modern Etiquette for Families, she shares her thoughts on modern decorum, covering topics such as table manners, fashion dos and don’ts, travel tips, parameters for play dates and much more. The Princess, who is best known for her children’s clothing range, hopes her tips will help parents to raise self-assured, well-adjusted children who are equipped to thrive in society and develop into confident, successful adults. mariechantal.co.uk LU X U R Y L ON D ON .C O.U K

From £125, needleandthread.com

Let’s get cooking Budding Master Chef’s will love the Little Cooks Co subscription boxes. The monthly recipe kits are posted through the letterbox, direct to kids, in a neat 100 per cent recyclable box with compostable packaging. Each parcel is packed with all the natural and healthy dry ingredients for that month’s delicious and nutritious recipe, ready for kids to make at home. The

recipes have been designed by a registered child nutritionist, so are free from refined sugar and processed ingredients. Best of all, there’s a philanthropic element: for every box purchased, a donation will be made to Magic Breakfast, a charity that provides healthy breakfasts for vulnerable school children in the UK. From £8.33 per month, littlecooksco.co.uk 29

Hot Wheels PRESENTING THE NEW BREED OF BESPOKE: HOW ROLLS-ROYCE IS CASHING IN ON CUSTOM CARS WORDS ELLEN MILLARD

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ustom cars have come a long way since the blinged-up days of MTV’s Pimp My Ride. When once scissor doors, glow stick neon paintjobs and subwoofer stereos were the height of cool (in some circles, at least), today a bespoke motor is an altogether more sophisticated creature. Just as customisation has infiltrated our homes, wardrobes and even the way we travel, so too has it made its mark on, er, marques.

Rolls-Royce reports its personalisation service, Rolls-Royce Bespoke Collective, as receiving an unprecedented number of requests in 2019, with almost all of the 5,152 motors the manufacturer created last year featuring some sort of bespoke aspect. In some cases, this meant adding a champagne fridge, a television or climatecontrolled humidors.

In others, the commissions were more challenging. The Pebble Beach 2019 Pastel Collection, for example, is a triad of motors refreshed in colours inspired by the palette of the wildflowers on California’s Monterey Peninsula. All Black Badge models, the marque’s Ghost, Dawn and Wraith racers were reimagined in mint green, coral and buttercup yellow respectively, with refreshed interiors to match.

Another customer, a Swedish billionaire, paid for a onemillion-satin-stitch rose garden to be embroidered on the

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LEFT ROLLS-ROYCE ARABIAN GULF PHANTOM ALL OTHER IMAGES THE MILLION STITCH ROLLS-ROYCE PHANTOM

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MOTORING

ALL IMAGES THE PEBBLE BEACH 2019 PASTEL COLLECTION

interior of his Rolls-Royce Phantom in homage to his wife and two of his four children, who are named after flowers. The Rose Garden at Goodwood, the home of Rolls-Royce, served as inspiration for the brand’s bespoke designer Ieuan Hatherall.

“There is a transcendent beauty when a rose garden is in full bloom,” Hatherall said. “The patron wanted to create

Last year, Rolls-Royce unveiled the most expensive car ever made, a one-off custom build worth $13m that same feeling of awe; an abundance of flowers to lift the spirit and celebrate nature’s decadent beauty, in the Rose Phantom’s serene interior.”

Big ideas and even bigger pockets keep the brand’s bespoke division busy. Last year, the marque unveiled the most expensive new car ever made, a one-off custom build dubbed the Sweptail reported to be worth $13m. The owner approached the marque in 2013 with the idea to create a one-of-a-kind car drawing from the luxury yachts of the 1920s and 30s. A single-piece glass roof, the largest grill ever fitted on a modern-era Rolls and a raked stern directly inspired by the world of racing yachts kept the client happy – and Rolls-Royce grinning all the way to the bank. rolls-roycemotorcars.com LU X U R Y L ON D ON .C O.U K

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POCKET

ROCKET THE NEW VELAR SVAD IS THE FASTEST RANGE ROVER E V E R – S O H O W D O E S I T C O M PA R E W I T H THE FULL-SIZED ORIGINAL? WORDS JEREMY TAYLOR

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and Rover’s lightweight Velar was always destined to feature a high-performance engine but who could have guessed the new SVAD version would be the fastest

Range Rover ever?

Blessed with a 542bhp V8 engine borrowed from the heavier Range Rover SVR, the slippery-looking Velar SVAutobiography Dynamic breaks the five-second barrier to 60mph and keeps on accelerating until 176mph.

There are plenty of sports cars that will keep up with that performance these days but none can carry five people and your dog at the same time. Yes, the Lamborghini Urus and Bentley Bentayga Speed SUVs are faster but they also cost twice the price of the SVAD. The Velar has been a runaway success story for Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) since it launched to great acclaim just over

The Velar SVAD needed to be good to compete with a whole bunch of sexy rivals two years ago. The company has sold far more than expected, meaning that this new, slicker version was never in doubt.

By far the most modern-looking model in the Range Rover stable, the Velar SVAD needed to be good to compete with a whole bunch of sexy rivals, including the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio and the Porsche Macan Turbo.

It also faced stiff in-house competition from the big daddy of the Range Rover family – the full-sized SVAD. The price difference is vast but the Velar is so good that you wonder how it can possibly cost almost £60,000 less than its brawnier brother.

Let’s start with the name. Land Rover started work on a luxury off-road vehicle in the 1960s. The prototype was called Velar, from the Latin verb meaning to hide – a crucial factor for the Solihull company in the early design stages of such an important new vehicle.

That prototype was to become the Range Rover – the world’s first luxury SUV, launched in 1970. It was one of the few vehicles to deliver permanent four-wheel drive and became so famous that it was even displayed in the Louvre Museum in Paris.

The Range Rover has evolved into a design icon. Built with Land Rover’s trademark ‘go-anywhere’ ability, the new Velar SVAD is the latest model in a stellar line-up that includes the Evoque, Sport and original Range Rover.

Created by JLR’s Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) department, the Velar SVAD is not only seriously quick, it is incredibly luxurious. The design team has managed to retain the comfort of less sporty models, despite beefing up the performance.

Sumptuous quilted-leather seats and quality trim adorn the cabin, noise levels are low and the dual-screen dash is a joy to use. Rear leg and head room are compromised in the Velar compared to a full-sized Range Rover, but you can still squeeze five adults in at a push.

The SVAD feels reassuringly solid and robust to drive. It’s light around town but the steering stiffens up at speed, keeping the high-sided body very stable.

And it’s that remarkable V8 engine that dominates the driving experience. Mated to JLR’s sublime eight-speed, automatic gearbox, the all-wheel drive Velar just needs a tweak of the right foot to fire into life.

It’s not as outrageously noisy as the new Maserati Levante Trofeo, for example, but the drama is there for all to feel. Anyone who has driven an SUV with an active exhaust system will know all that audible nonsense can become tiring after a while.

Yes, the SVAD is thirsty and the over-aggressive styling might turn some people off, but the modern-day trend for low-slung SUVs means it steals a march on its taller big brother, the Range Rover SVAD. It handles better and there’s less body roll in the corners.

If you still feel the need for a ‘proper’, full-sized Range Rover, then the SVAD version of that vehicle is another remarkable machine. The current fourth generation model has been around for seven years and still looks the business. Built around an aluminium monocoque frame, it remains one of the most luxurious cars on the road. Its unmistakable styling ensures

MOTORING

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RANGE ROVER VELAR SVAUTOBIOGRAPHY DYNAMIC Price: From £86,685 Engine: 5000cc V8 supercharged Top speed: 176mph Power: 542bhp 0-60mph: 4.3 seconds

RANGE ROVER SVAUTOBIOGRAPHY DYNAMIC Price: £144,225 Engine: 5000cc V8 supercharged Top speed: 155mph Power: 565bhp 0-60mph: 5.1 seconds

RANGE ROVER SVAUTOBIOGRAPHY DYNAMIC

Range Rover’s iconic status – a 4x4 that is instantly recognisable anywhere in the world.

Even the entry-level 3.0-litre turbodiesel model is a class act at a shade more than £80,000. So what has the SVO team done to make the SVAD version worth the extra £65,000?

The flagship of the entire Range Rover model range is handcrafted and available in both short and long wheelbase versions. The rear seat configuration is more luxurious and offers dual, adjustable armchair-style seats with a large centre console in the middle. This houses a cool box big enough for a bottle and a couple of aluminium tray tables.

A lot of the tweaks are less obvious, like adaptive bi-xenon headlights, assorted Land Rover safety features and acoustic windows all-round. It’s whisper quiet until you start playing with the 825w Meridian sound system.

A lot of the switchgear is made from aluminium, while the leather seats are second to none. Compared to the Velar it’s positively palatial inside – and the boot’s massive.

But the real reason to own the Range Rover SVAD is to drive it. Sitting in the back might a be first class travel experience – but getting to grips with that V8 engine is an unforgettable pleasure.

It’s not as fast as the Velar SVAD but you will wonder how a car this large can perform this well. There’s a distant rumble from the quad exhaust system when the Range Rover opens up but it’s all effortless and easy – there’s that much power.

The new Bentley Bentayga Speed is equally special but it’s also more expensive and has yet to achieve the go-anywhere status of a Range Rover. It’s also not as pretty – remarkable considering this Range Rover has been around since 2012.

Ultimately, it will come down to the depth of your pockets, but when it comes to performance SUVs, for the moment at least, the Bentayga Speed and Velar SVAD exist in a class of two.

MOTORING

What the Velar SVAD has to beat…

MERCEDES-AMG GLC 63 S

JAGUAR F-PACE SVR

MASERATI LEVANTE TROFEO

FROM £88,425

FROM £72,630

FROM £124,900

A wonderful 503bhp V8 engine ensures this SUV is both dramatic and entertaining. It feels heavy, however, and the styling is not to everyone’s taste. mercedes-benz.co.uk

Another V8 that sounds glorious and is subtler inside than some carbon-clad rivals. Terrific fun and almost a bargain among its high-priced peers. jaguar.co.uk

The new, Ferrari-built V8 model gives the Maserati the performance it has been missing. It also has tons more character than a Porsche Cayenne. maserati.com

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ZARA SS20, ZARA, CABOT PLACE

S T Y L E

The sustainable denim brands making eco-friendly jeans (p.44)

Fashion’s senior moment: why the industry is waking up to the older generation (p.46)

Wardrobe staples and grooming updates from the world of menswear (p.58)

Her Style S U S TA I N A B L E D E N I M A N D N E W S E A S O N S TA P L E S T O A D D T O Y O U R WA R D R O B E WORDS ELLEN MILLARD

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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT BELTED DENIM JACKET, £99, COS, JUBILEE PLACE; CHRISTY TURLINGTON X J BRAND, JBRANDJEANS.COM; BACK TO NATURE RIDER JACKET, £110, LEE.COM; DENIM BAG, £59, COS, JUBILEE PLACE; JEANS, COS, JUBILEE PLACE

ou can switch up your water bottle, embrace all-things bamboo in the bathroom and swear off single-use carrier bags once and for all – but the biggest enemy to the environment lies in your wardrobe. The denim industry has one of the worst ethical and environmental footprints on the planet, with a single pair of jeans using enough water to sustain a family of four for an entire month. Thankfully, there are a host of fashion-forward denim brands wising up to ecological initiatives and producing a series of sustainable collections in the process. COS recently launched its first range of sustainable denim, made from organic cotton and ranging from jeans to accessories. The revit-free designs make them easy to recycle once you’ve got your wear out of them, while the complementing kidswear clothes are made to be passed down once outgrown. At Lee Jeans, meanwhile, the Back to Nature collection – a white belted jacket with matching wide leg jeans – is completely biodegradable, thanks to clever compostable linenyarn cottons. Over at J Brand, model Christy Turlington gives her seal of approval to the label’s sustainable collection, which is free from harmful chemicals and is made from 90 per cent less water than its traditional styles.

NEWS

Run the world For International Women’s Day last month, GANT partnered with four female entrepreneurs on a capsule collection of sweaters and T-shirts inspired by the British Women’s Social and Political Union’s colour scheme. Among the women was Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon (left), the youngest person to graduate from Oxford with a masters degree (she was 20), and founder of Stemettes, a social enterprise promoting women in STEM. IWD may be over, but the commorative Femme League range is still up for grabs.

From £15, GANT, Canada Place

Mellow yellow Part of Maje’s new SS20 accessories collection, this faux croc C-Walk belt bag in zingy yellow is the perfect way to inject a slice of spring into your wardrobe. £100, Maje, Jubilee Place

Star-crossed lovers Inspired by Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo and Juliet, Topshop’s latest Idol collection merges simple silhouettes with statement beadwork, bold colours and jazzy prints in a grunge-meets-girly range. Spring wardrobe sorted.

Topshop, Canada Place LU X U R Y L ON D ON .C O.U K

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Mind the AGE GAP AFTER YEARS OF FOCUSING ON YOUTH, THE FASHION INDUSTRY IS HAVING A SENIOR MOMENT — WITH AN INCREASE IN M AT U R E M O D E L S A N D A W I D E R A P P R E C I AT I O N FOR “THE GREY POUND” WORDS ELLEN MILLARD

The adage ‘dress your age’ has officially been debunked.

When Jennifer Lopez took to the catwalk to close Versace’s AW20 show last year, wearing the very same green dress she broke headlines with 20 years previously, she showed the world what 50 looked like. Sure, it was her own interpretation of 50, bolstered by money, cosmetics and the backing of a designer brand — but, with new stats suggesting ageism could cost the fashion industry a hefty £11bn, the star’s model moment was potentially groundbreaking.

Research by the International Longevity Centre has found that people aged 50 and over will be the sector’s key consumer base by 2040, with spending expected to increase by 60 per cent. Ignoring this could be a costly move for an industry built on a preoccupation with youth.

“People seem to think that once you reach 40, you’re not interested in clothes and don’t buy anything — but that’s simply not true,” Jilly Johnson, one of a number of protestors who picketed London Fashion Week in 2017 over its lack of representation, told The Telegraph at the time. “A huge percentage of clothes are bought by older women — so fashion is making a huge mistake ignoring that grey pound.”

PREVIOUS PAGE Porter dress, £425; Tokyo trainers, £150; Natasha shoes, £195; Luella bag, £75 THIS PAGE, LEFT Lou T-shirt, £85; Patti skirt, £150; Tokyo trainers, £150; RIGHT Aila cardigan, £95; Porter dress, £425; Hayden shoes, £195, all L.K.Bennett, Jubilee Place

STYLE

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STYLE

OPPOSITE PAGE, LEFT Roo dress, £295; Myra canvas bag, £275; RIGHT Edith cardigan, £150; Mortimer skirt, £225; Myra canvas bag, £275 THIS PAGE, LEFT Biarritz dress, £450; Hayden shoes, £195; RIGHT Glinda top, £195; Glinda skirt, £275; Flora shoes, £195, all L.K.Bennett, Jubilee Place

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STYLE

OPPOSITE PAGE, LEFT Biarritz jacket, £295; Biarritz skirt, £250; Nala shoes, £195; Dora bag, £150; RIGHT Holzer dress, £375; Florence shoes, £250; THIS PAGE, LEFT Sabella dress, £295; Hayden shoes, £195; RIGHT Biarritz dress, £450, all L.K.Bennett, Jubilee Place

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Change is slow, but afoot. A number of fashion and beauty brands have turned to mature models in recent years — 72-year-old Helen Mirren is the current ambassador for L’Oreal (read our feature on ageless beauty on page 62) while in 2015, then 82-year-old Joan Didion was the star of Celine’s campaign, Joni Mitchell, now 76, was the face of Saint Laurent, and last year 92-year-old Iris Apfel signed a contract with modelling agency IMG. It’s a similar story on the catwalk. For Balenciaga’s SS20 collection, creative director Demna Gvasalia cast several older models to star in his mock parliament runway show, while the likes of Fendi and Salvatore Ferragamo chose a diverse group of models to walk in their AW20 shows.

On Instagram, too, the mature influence thrives. Tsuyoshi and Tomi Seki are retirees from Japan who share their kitsch, coordinated outfits via the account @bonpon511. Together they have amassed a following of 834k and a clothing collection of their own in partnership with a Japanese department store.

In Kentucky, 91-year-old Helen Ruth Elam van Winkle, a.k.a Baddie Winkle, captured the hearts of the world with her rebellious attitude and penchant for neon clothing, scoring 3.8m followers and a campaign with Missguided in the process. Her tongue-in-cheek bio tells you all you need to know: “Stealing your man since 1928.”

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“L.K.Bennett’s designs transcend generations through their ability to be timely yet timeless”

THIS PAGE Mimi dress, £350; Alivia trainers, £150; OPPOSITE PAGE, LEFT Sabella dress, £295; Hayden shoes, £195; RIGHT Adelin cardigan, £150; Wilson trousers, £150; Dora bag, £150; Alivia trainers, £150, all L.K.Bennett, Jubilee Place

XXXXX

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STYLE

ABOVE, LEFT Marceau dress, £295; Mariel bag, £150; Tulum trainers, £150; RIGHT Candice dress, £225; Tokyo trainers, £150; BELOW Holzer shirt, £150; Biarritz skirt, £250; Nala shoes, £195; all L.K.Bennett, Jubilee Place

But it’s not just about the models. Fashion that appeals to customers of multiple ages is a sure step to tackling ageism in the industry, and with more of us looking to invest in clothes that will last a lifetime, it’s a more sensible, sustainable way to shop, too.

The key, says L.K.Bennett’s CEO Darren Topp, is in creating timeless style. The brand, whose fans span HRH The Duchess of Cambridge to Theresa May, caters to a diverse audience, and its latest range reflects that. The first under the guise of new owner Rebecca Feng, the Reimagine Collection celebrates the label’s history with prints, cuts and colours pulled from its own archives – a “modern interpretation”, Topp says, of the brand’s design heritage, with a pan-generational campaign to match.

“L.K.Bennett’s designs transcend generations through their ability to be timely yet timeless,” Topp says. “We used two models of a different age in our new campaign to show our customers that our pieces are designed to suit all women, no matter your style or age. Each season we create styles that nod to trends in a subtle and elegant manner and are able to carry through our customer from season to season — and with that generations.”

Timeless clothes; mature models — they’re baby steps in what will be a long road to inclusivity, but a glimmer of hope at least for those who’ve for too long felt ignored by an industry obsessed with age. It is just a number, after all...

The Reimagine Collection is out now, L.K.Bennett, Jubilee Place 56

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11 • 12 • 13 SEPTEMBER TICKETS & PACKAGES AVAILABLE AT GOODWOOD.COM

ZARA MAN SS20 COLLECTION

His Style T H E P E R F E C T W H I T E T- S H I R T, A S M A R T C O L L A B O R AT I O N A N D G R O O M I N G U P D AT E S WORDS ELLEN MILLARD

NEWS

Tee total The great escape Daydreaming of far flung places? For those suffering from a serious case of wanderlust, look to Zara’s SS20 collection – and its complementing campaign – for escapism.

Arid landscapes form the backdrop of the label’s latest collection, but the clothing is noticeably more urban – and far more wearable – than your typical desert fare.

Think checked Mod-style overcoats teamed with khaki chinos, two-tone bomber jackets and chunky dad trainers.

New grooming products to add to your bathroom cabinet

The Shelfie

From a selection, Zara, Cabot Place

Reiss is the word

Crockett & Jones has partnered with tailor Thom Sweeney on a capsule collection of shoes.

Designed to pair perfectly with a Thom Sweeney suit, the line includes three smart-casual styles – two brogues and a tassel loafer – along with Scotch Grain leather lace-up ankle boots and a pair of dress shoes.

Designed around the concept of building a timeless wardrobe, Reiss’s SS20 collection offers a curated selection of wardrobe staples in a neutral colour palette of white, khaki and brown.

Sweatshirts, chinos, tailored trousers and striped shirts have all been created with the rest of Reiss’s collection in mind, providing a rotating wardrobe of simple pieces that will see you through many seasons to come.

thomsweeney.co.uk

Reiss, Cabot Place

Step up

Conditioning body wash, £27, dermalogica.co.uk

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Terre d’Hermes eau de toilette, £87, hermes.com

Purist Fusion razor, £120, MÜHLE, conranshop.co.uk

Already the go-to brand for simple yet perfectlyexecuted basics, COS has upped the wardrobe staple ante with a capsule collection of white T-shirts.

Playing on the ephemeral hunt for the perfect white Tee, the three-strong range is crafted from organic cotton, and is designed with construction, fit and fabric in mind. Offering a T-shirt for all occasions, the collection includes an oversized, soft jersey style, a ribbed regular fit with raw edging and twin patch pockets, and a voluminous, relaxed silhouette for slouchy days. £29 each, COS, Jubilee Place

Fixing Wax Strong Hold, £31, acquadiparma.com

59

DISCOVER THE

BEAUTY

HEALTHCARE . PHARMACY . SKINCARE . WELLBEING

NEWS

Beauty Edit SHIMMERING SHADOWS AND RIHANNA-APPROVED MASCARA WORDS ELLEN MILLARD

All that glitters Swoop Nars’ new Powerchrome Loose Eye Pigment Intensity over your lids for a dramatic metallic look. Available in sparkling rose gold, bronze, red, green and blue, this high-intensity pigment is packed with multi-dimensional pearls that create a foil-like shine. £22 each, Space NK, Cabot Place

Take a bow Palette pleaser Bobbi Brown has partnered with London-based artist Morag Myerscough on a trio of limited-edition products. The new eye palette, highlighting powder and lipsticks come wrapped in the artist’s zany geometric print – a collection worthy of your dressing table.

From £24.50, Bobbi Brown, Cabot Place

Having secured a dedicated fanbase with its 50-shade line-up of foundation and concealers, not to mention a rainbow of lipstick and eyeshadow shades, Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty has unveiled its first mascara. Full Frontal boasts a ‘fat-to-flat’ brush that volumises, lengthens and curls lashes. £21, Boots, Canada Place, or harveynichols.com

Bright spark Tom Ford’s Extréme Lip Spark collection ticks all the boxes: highpigmentation, smooth application and a glitter finish that doesn’t feel gritty. Eight new shades have been added to the collection for the new season – take your pick from deep plums, baby pinks and shimmering nudes. £40 each, tomford.co.uk LU X U R Y L ON D ON .C O.U K

Face time Retinol, also known as vitamin A, has been hailed as the ultimate anti-ageing elixer – but it’s potent formula can be harsh on sensitive skin. Enter La Roche Posay’s Retinol B3, a blend of 0.1 per cent retinol and 2 per cent vitamin B3 that works together to smooth wrinkles, even skin tone and reduce irritation. Remember to always wear SPF after using a retinol product – La Roche Posay’s Anthelios range is our favourite. £38, Boots, Canada Place 61

ALL IMAGES TRINNY LONDON, TRINNYLONDON.COM

The G E N E R AT I O N X g l ow O N C E O V E R L O O K E D B Y T H E B E A U T Y I N D U S T R Y, W O M E N IN THEIR 40S AND ABOVE ARE THE NEW FOCUS OF THE S AV V I E S T B R A N D S . T H E R E S U LT I S A N E W T R A N C H E O F TA R G E T E D , T H O U G H T F U L P R O D U C T S G I V I N G W O M E N S K I N C A R E S O L U T I O N S W H I C H A R E S E E M I N G LY A G E L E S S WORDS ANGELINA VILLA-CLARKE

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hen Anna-Marie Solowij turned 50, she began to notice an increase in online pop-up adverts for cruises, pension plans and incontinence pads. “I just couldn’t relate,” she says. “My generation grew up through all the ‘youth quakes’ in music, fashion and lifestyle and this notion of what it meant to be 50+ seemed terribly out-dated. Women of my age simply don’t identify with the traditional concepts of ageing, especially when grey hair is a fashion choice, not a default; wrinkles can be deleted or celebrated; and keep fit classes have been replaced by yoga, HIIT, and a slew of

other dynamic forms of movement.”

Solowij, the former beauty director of British Vogue and the co-founder of the cult BeautyMART store (thisisbeautymart.com), says that she considers psychographics, not demographics, when sourcing the must-have beauty products for her customers. “It’s about your style, your mindset and attitude, not your age, income or education. I’d like to think that all our brands are age-appropriate, no matter how old you are – from Sam McKnight’s easy-to-use styling products, which transform everyone’s hair, to the colour balms by Jillian Dempsey, the

Hollywood make-up artist, which adapt just as well for 16-year-olds as they do for those in their 60s.”

Having been teenagers in the 80s and 90s, Gen X women watched the likes of Madonna and Annie Lennox rewrite the beauty rules, were glued to Melanie Griffith coming into her own in the film Working Girl and witnessed powerhouse women, such as Margaret Thatcher, break the glass ceiling in the workplace.

The result is a generation of females with a deep-held sense of self-expression, fluent in beauty know-how, and who have more in common with their daughters, than their own mothers.

“When it comes to skincare, older women used to be boxed off in the ‘mature skin’ category. But that approach is now very out-dated” Co-founder of new British skincare brand AMLY, Kerry Anne Moore agrees that ‘middle age’ is being redefined.

“When it comes to skincare, older women used to be boxed off in the ‘mature skin’ category,” she says. “But that approach is now very out-dated.”

Offering a new generation of products, which contain sustainably-sourced, plant-based bio-actives for skin health, Moore and co-founder Lisa Smallpeice were inspired to launch a clean beauty company which spoke to women’s lifestyles. Based at Hawthbush Farm in Sussex, the AMLY range may have its roots in a whimsical, ancient English meadowland (the collection contains a unique mineral-rich spring water drawn from beneath the farm), but it brings a 21st -century vision to skincare.

“Both of us are over 45,” Moore continues, “so we have created products that we want to use. AMLY is all about healthy skin, rather than this vague bracket of ‘older’ skin. Our products work to address the way we live as opposed to how long we’ve lived. The Digital Detox Face Mist, for instance, is aimed at the many of us who sit in front of a screen for hours on end. The Sleep Tight Face Balm addresses another modern-day concern – sleep deprivation. When you are young, the focus is a quick result, but as you get older, it’s more about a considered approach and that’s our USP. All the products have been designed to use in a ritualistic way and are intended to be ultra-caring, with luxurious textures, inspiring scents and intelligent formulas.”

Boots No7 range has long been known for pushing boundaries when it comes to its launches, campaigns and research. To introduce its new Booster Serums, the

company carried out a study which polled 2,000 Gen X women about the meaning of beauty. Instead of youthful looks and no worry lines, as you might expect, the results showed instead that it was the traits of inner confidence, honesty and kindness that ranked highly. What’s more, eight out of 10 women claimed it was important for them to be considered a beautiful person on the inside as well as the outside. The research also revealed that 67 per cent of those polled thought

for them to be more visible. Makeover expert Trinny Woodall, who is 56 and has more than half a million followers on Instagram, has even gone on to launch her own beauty range – Trinny London – aimed at flattering all skin types and offering a versatility that fits within busy lifestyles.

As is always the way, the shift in focus from big brands to an older demographic may also come down to the numbers – the 50-and-over age group is the fastest-

that women in their 40s and 50s have been overlooked for too long.

While the likes of older celebrity women, such as Helen Mirren, Jane Fonda and Isabella Rossellini, have been used in advertising campaigns for a while, there is a growing increase in ‘real women’ beauty influencers, aged 40 and above. The likes of Erica Davies and Nadine Baggott are giving a voice to older women and creating a space

growing population sector in many countries, including China and the UK. By 2025, half of Japan’s population will be older than 50, according to Euromonitor International. Another report by Mintel says that by 2022, women aged 55 and above will make up 32 per cent of the female population in the US. While it is true that older skins may need extra help when it comes to areas such as hydration to plump the skin,

B E AU T Y

Seven ageless wonders Your essential glow kit Boots No7 Dark Spot Correcting Booster Serum, £38, Boots, Canada Place

Slow Ageing Essential Facial Essence, £56, slowageing.co.uk

Clarins Nutri-Lumière Day Cream, £90, clarins.co.uk

and with aiding collagen production, which naturally slows down with increasing years, the latest products are nevertheless veering away from being too age-concerned.

Leading dermatologist Dr Simon Zokaie, from Linia Skin Clinic (liniaskinclinic.com), says that this is the future and that looking after your skin effectively should be more about an individual approach. “There are numerous products popping up on the shelves designed for both mum and daughter to use. Although skin ageing starts from the age of 26, it’s always best to personalise your skin care as no two complexions are the same.”

Better known for its tanning line, Sienna X’s recently launched skincare collection is a case in point.

The tightly edited 11-piece line-up, of masks, cleansers and creams, is purposely ageless and suitable for all and, says founder Nicky Matthews, is “perfect for mixing and matching, depending on current skincare needs and no matter your age”.

London-born make-up brand Code8 echoes this sentiment with its inclusive approach – it was launched, say the founders, to target women of all ages and all skin tones. “At Code8 we don’t compartmentalise women to certain products, product ranges or even colour schemes,” says co-founder Nadine Ayache.

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“The Code8 brand was created with a sophisticated woman in mind, who is over those intense experimental years,” adds co-founder Sophia Chikovani. “Our target is the woman who values her time and wants optimal outcome with minimal output in her beauty routine. Our makeup includes active skin benefits, has been tested on all skin types, ages and tones, and will make you look and feel your best with no limits and no fuss.”

Featuring 57-year-old champion fencer Claudia Maria Ferreira da Costa in its most recent campaign, Clarins is also targeting older women with its new Nutri-Lumière collection, which has been designed to nourish and illuminate women’s skin postmenopause. Celebrating ‘graceful ageing’, meanwhile, new brand Slow Ageing Essentials is based around seven key products, which work to keep skin looking amazing as we get older, and promises to be a game-changer.

David Lieber, Slow Ageing Essentials’ co-founder, has the last word: “There has been a clear shift in the industry as we begin to understand the different demands for this demographic and we actively encourage this positive change.

At Slow Ageing we don’t like to use the word ‘old’ or ‘older’ when it comes to skincare. After all, when we age, our desire to look our best doesn’t change – we simply see beauty as ageless.”

Code8 Radiate Beauty Balm, £39, codeeight.com

Sienna X The Cleansing Balm, £22.80, sienna-x.co.uk

AMLY Beauty Sleep Silver Rich Face Mist, from £18, amlybotanicals.co.uk

Jillian Dempsey Cheek Tint, in Sunny, £26.50, thisisbeautymart.com

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FOOD & DRINK

What’s cooking?

A W E L L - S T O C K E D ( O R S H O U L D T H AT B E STOCKPILED?) KITCHEN DESERVES TO BE COOKED IN. SWAP BEANS ON TOAST FOR SOMETHING A LITTLE MORE ADVENTUROUS C O U R T E S Y O F T H E L AT E S T C O O K B O O K S B Y B R I TA I N ’ S S E A S O N E D C H E F S WORDS ELLEN MILLARD

Table Manners

The Pastry School

Based on their hugely successful podcast of the same name, singer Jessie Ware and her mother Lennie present Table Manners, a cookbook of simple dishes peppered with the mother-daughter duo’s signature brash sense of humour.

A book for anyone who’s ever drooled over Julie Jones’ Instagram snaps (@julie_jonesuk, if you’re interested), this beautiful tome features the chef’s highly decorative (and highly flavoursome) pies, tarts and pastry creations, which look (almost) too good to eat.

£22, Ebury Press, penguin.co.uk

£25, kylebooks.co.uk

PHOTOGRAPHY BY PETER CASSIDY

PHOTOGRAPHY BY OLA O SMIT

James Martin’s Islands to Highlands Having scouted out the best dishes in the British Isles in his TV series James Martin’s Great British Adventure, the chef presents his top picks in this 80-strong recipe book that spans Cornwall to the Isle of Skye.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JENNY ZARINS

£25, Quadrille, hardiegrant.com

Deliciously Ella Quick & Easy The fifth cookbook by Ella Mills — a.k.a Deliciously Ella — serves as a how-to guide for quick and easy veganism, with 100 recipes offering fuss-free plantbased dishes.

Available from 14 May, £25, yellowkitebooks.co.uk

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Falastin: A Cookbook A delicious journey through the Middle East, Falastin by Ottolenghi co-founder Sami Tamimi and co-collaborator Tara Wigley offers more than 110 recipes. A mix of traditional and contemporary dishes, the tome is a veritable travel log of the chefs’ time in cities such as Bethlehem, East Jerusalem and Nazareth.

Available from 28 April, £28, Ebury Press, penguin.co.uk 67

the

RICH LIST 50 luxury holidays that will enrich your life

Out now Order your free book now carrier.co.uk/richlist

Search Carrier Holidays

TRAVEL

FOUR SEASONS HOTEL LANAI AT KOELE RETREAT (P.74)

ARMCHAIR ESCAPISM

WHILE SOCIAL DISTANCING PUTS A STOP TO TRAVEL, LIVE VICARIOUSLY THROUGH THESE NEXT PAGES – AND PUT PLANS IN PLACE FOR FUTURE TRIPS

The businesses to support and the holidays to plan during self-isolation (p.70)

A scientific wellness retreat on Hawaii’s Lanai island (p.74)

A multi-centre safari in Botswana and Zambia (p.80)

NUKUTEPIPI PRIVATE ISLAND

News

&

Views

T H E T R A V E L I N D U S T R Y I S S U F F E R I N G G R E AT LY A S A R E S U LT OF CORONAVIRUS. BUT POSTPONING YOUR TRIPS, INSTEAD O F C A N C E L L I N G T H E M , A N D F I N D I N G WAY S T O E X P L O R E THE WORLD FROM HOME HAS NEVER BEEN EASIER. WE’VE P O O L E D S O M E O F O U R FAV O U R I T E FA N TA S Y H O L I D AY S A N D I N S P I R AT I O N F O R T H E A R M C H A I R T R AV E L L E R WORDS ANNA PRENDERGAST

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THE OBEROI MARRAKECH

Future fantasies Planning something to look forward to grounds us in the present as well as giving us hope for the future, and travel has always had the power to inspire and uplift. Whether your priority post-quarantine is reconnecting with nature or throwing yourself back into full-throttle city life, it’s important to remember that the world will open its doors (and departure lounges) once more. Nukutepipi in French Polynesia is a private island owned by Guy Laliberté, co-founder of Cirque du Soleil. The concept has been 20 years in the making, split evenly between the search for Laliberté’s dream island and the design of a self-sufficient, super-remote castaway refuge with its own solar energy plant and unexpected food trucks in the forest. From your beachfront bungalow, you can go whale watching, deep-sea fishing, outrigger canoeing, and with no more than 52 guests at any one time, it’s an inviting place to prolong self-isolation if you’re not quite ready to face reality. For those after some neuron-

WHAT TO PACK

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sparking immersion therapy, a stopover in Marrakech is just what the doctor ordered: the city’s noise and energy will reawaken the senses with it’s souks, spices, smoke and song. Find a sliver of peace at The Oberoi, where locally crafted mosaics and arabesques present a visual feast, too.

Essential reservations include female-run Al Fassia for fine dining, Barometre for quirky cocktails and Ksar Essaoussan for a serious breakfast spread.

For parents who have been quarantined just a little too long with their (precious, beloved) kids, take a well-deserved break at Haritha Villas + Spa, an adults-only Ayurvedic retreat at a hilltop estate

by Hikkaduwa beach in Sri Lanka’s south, which opened in December 2019. The island has been in

The Lost Pianos of Siberia by Sophy Roberts sensitively unravels the history of the region through its music and its makers. £16.99, waterstones.com

Morrama specialises in product design, and this wet-shave razor provides clean, controlled grooming with zero

plastic waste. £85, mrporter.com

THE OBEROI MARRAKECH

Tom Ford’s latest fragrance drop, Beau de Jour, blends lavender and leatherlike oakmoss with rosemary and basil for a fresh but sexy scent. £83, tomford.com

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THE ROSEWOOD, LITTLE DIX BAY

the recovery position since this time last year, but it’s finally back on its feet and stronger than ever - now is the time to return to its surf-ready shores and wildlife-filled landscapes. Leaving the little ones at home? An hour further south is low-key, couplefriendly surfer’s paradise The Kip, the crashpad that kickstarted many an interior trend (think handmade pottery and vintage surfboards) and is so comfortable you won’t want to leave. The Caribbean is also on the mend having suffered serious damage at the hands of Hurricane Irma, but this January the iconic Little Dix Bay reopened after three years of renovations.

New features at the private resort include an informal butler service which starts when you book your trip, an on-site sustainable farm that supplies the kitchen, a single-use plastic ban and a midcentury-inspired revamp by Meyer Davis (the design team behind 1 Hotel’s first West Coast outpost last year). But regulars to the private bay won’t be put out – the house cocktail, a Pelican Smash, hasn’t changed since 1964, and neither has original owner Laurance Rockefeller’s conservational approach.

Nukutepipi Private Island From approx. £800,000 per week, spmhotels.com The Oberoi Marrakech From approx. £440 per night, oberoihotels.com Haritha Villas + Spa From approx. £400 per night, harithavillas.com The Kip From approx. £60 per night, thekipsrilanka.com Little Dix Bay From approx. £1,500 per night, rosewoodhotels.com

HARITHA VILLAS + SPA

NUKUTEPIPI PRIVATE ISLAND

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How to help Travellers, foodies and philanthropists, if you’re wondering what you can do to help the hospitality industry, there’s plenty of ways you can contribute.

3 APPS TO DOWNLOAD NOW

1. Pay it forward – buy a voucher for your favourite restaurant, and redeem it when self-isolation seems like a distant memory (Kricket, for example, will add an extra 20% value for every £250 spent) 2. Don’t cancel your trip, postpone it until a later date to reduce the damage done on communities that rely heavily on tourism 3. Send someone their favourite hotel’s merchandise – T-shirts, beauty products, a spa treatment or even a fun night away make great gifts

INHOUSE Don’t be fooled by the website – this new membership just launched in London, too, turning you into a ‘regular’ wherever you eat. inhousenewyork.com

DUO LINGO Tap into the power of language to transport you to Spain, China, Italy, Korea, Russia and more – plus learn a new skill in your downtime. duolingo.com

4. Keep reading, researching, planning and sharing the trips you can’t take now, and feed your curiosity

ABOVE: Agriturismo Villa Lena has launched a Tuscan sparkling rosé in collaboration with Mazzei wines. £20.00, villa-lena.it ABOVE LEFT: EDITION Hotels’ Le Labo collection makes bathtime feel like a spa treatment.

From £28.20, europe.shopedition.com

HARRIET PARRY’S INTERPRETATION OF A STILL FROM HOTEL CHEVALIER (2007)

The cult souvenir

(that you’ll actually want to take home)

A H OY C L U B This is the ‘uber for superyachts’, making finding and booking your ideal charter and easier than ever. Download and scroll for days of fantasy planning. ahoyclub.com

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In a time where connecting to nature can feel more difficult than ever, inviting a little wildness into urban spaces is important. Flora and fauna permeated interiors trends last year with biophilic walls and tropical wallpaper, and while hotels have always commissioned bespoke bunches, there’s a new handful of creatives disrupting the scene with experimental masterpieces. Stylist and florist Harriet Parry, famous for installations that mimic film stills and artworks, was invited

by London’s hot new hotel The Standard to transform their lobby with one of her stunning interpretations, and The Dorchester launched an eponymous rose in partnership with in-house florist Philip Hammond and grower Meijer Roses. harrietparryflowers.com; thedorchester.com 73

SPA ST R U C K T H E F O U R S E A S O N S H O T E L L A N A I AT K O E L E R E T R E AT I N H A WA I I I S T H E BRAINCHILD OF FOUR SEASONS, SENSAI AND NOBU, WITH A SCIENCE-MEETSH E A LT H A P P R O A C H T O W E L L N E S S – A N D A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAMME OF A M E N I T I T I E S T O M AT C H WORDS JULIA ZALTZMAN

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lose your eyes. Tilt your face towards the warming glow of the Hawaiian sun and feel the cool mountain breeze kiss your cheeks. Breathe in deeply, exhale slowly, and relax. You’ve arrived. Four Seasons Hotel Lanai at Koele, A Sensei Retreat is a garden of Eden in a league of its own. As the latest incarnation of the Four Seasons Hotel brand, it bears all the elegance and refinery that is synonymous with the worldrenowned establishment – and then some. It’s the caviar on a smoked salmon blini. The gold leaf on a Samurai sword.

Set away from the glittering white-sandy shoreline, higher up in the dusty mountains, the hotel, as the name suggests, is found on Lanai, the smallest of Hawaii’s six volcanic islands. Majority owned by American businessman Larry Ellison, Lanai was once nicknamed the ‘Pineapple Island’ after the 20,000-acre plantation built in the flatlands surrounding the Pālāwai basin. Today, the island, run amok with 20,000 wild deer, is focusing its efforts on tourism, and Four Seasons is its beating heart (the brand unveiled its first property, Four Seasons Lanai, here in 2005).

But Lanai at Koele is different. It sits apart from its beach resort sister. Instead, this adults-only refuge is a haven of wellbeing, a hideaway sanctuary that awakens the senses.

Landscaped gardens envelop guests on arrival, with a yawning pine tree-lined view descending to the coastline. Voluptuous Botero figurines lie seductively in wait at the front of the plantation-style property – just a hint of the striking sculptures that pepper the 24-acre grounds, all taken directly from Ellison’s personal collection.

Step inside the 96-room hotel and the eye is instantly drawn to a vast wall of glass that looks out upon verdant gardens. Sat overlooking the oasis pool, British artist Marc Quinn’s Burning Desire, a monumental bronze orchid painted in fuchsia, is visible from all angles. Newly renovated by Todd-Avery Lenahan of TAL-Studio, the hotel’s grand, high ceilings and re-imagined Great Hall set the design tone. A smorgasbord of specially commissioned artwork by top tier names line the walls, dazzling in golden hues; Summer Kimono by Miya Ando in the lobby, Goldfish by Riusuke Fukahori near the south wall, and Kaze

by Harue Shimomoto along the south corridor. There is a commonality that runs through it all. A central theme that invites guests to shake off the shackles of everyday life and surrender to the serenity of Sensei.

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A collaboration between Four Seasons, Sensei and Nobu, Lanai at Koele is the hotel’s world debut of an all-inclusive offering. Twinned with a fully customised wellness itinerary, it takes a scientific approach to good health. Each guest is paired with a dedicated Sensei Guide – qualified practitioners in the fields of nutrition, fitness, mindfulness, stress management or yoga – who tailor guests’ experience to specific personal needs.

But the programme is fluid and adaptable, without even a whiff of pressure to conform. The goal is rested mindfulness realised in the lap of luxury, and the Sensei Guides are the willing Sherpas who help guests to climb that mountain.

Central to the philosophy is evidence-based nutrition. Housed in a glass pavilion that sits upon a reflective Koi pond is Sensei

by Nobu, the one restaurant on location. Executive chef Yoshi has blended years of culinary experience with a scientific approach to delicious food, elevating the menu to a higher ground. Traditional culinary ingredients have been replaced with

A leisurely stroll around the gardens will lead to the jewel in the crown: a stepped waterfall garden

healthier, more nutrient-dense oils.

Smaller servings of animal protein sit alongside larger servings of vegetables, much of which is grown on Sensei’s organic hydroponic farm on Lanai. This is applied to breakfast, lunch and a mouthwatering five-course dinner, where Nobu signature dishes, including miso marinated black cod and grilled Wagyu, are served together with flavoursome, locally-inspired creations, such as roasted lobster and seafood shabu-shabu.

A minimum three night-stay is the recommendation, extending to seven nights to truly embrace all that is on offer. And there is so much on offer. Signature spa treatments take place in one of 10 private spa ‘hale’, meaning house in Hawaiian. These dedicated standalone suites are set in the lush grounds and come complete with oversized treatment tables (for individuals or couples), an indoor and outdoor rainshower, infra-red sauna, steam room, Japanese ofuro bath, private salt-water plunge pool and lounging area. One of four signature scents permeates the air. Dedicated hale time is highly recommended. Two suites also feature outdoor Watsu pools for water Shiatsu, a weightless massage that eases tension by being cradled, twisted and gently stretched in a body-temperature outdoor pool. Much like the entire retreat, it induces a deep state of waking relaxation.

Spa treatments and group sessions are founded upon Sensei’s three guiding pillars – movement, nourish and rest. Take evening Vinyasa yoga on the pavilion deck, opt for strength training in one of two movement studios, or experience suspension training in the dedicated fitness centre. A leisurely stroll around the gardens will lead to the jewel in the crown: a stepped waterfall garden wrapped around 10 heated Japanese onsen baths.

What Lanai at Koele offers is room to breathe. Far from the madding crowds, it teaches a slower pace of life. A place to take stock, and rejuvenate from the inside out. Bolstered by island excursions – a sunset sail to Sweetheart Rock or a visit to the moonscape grounds of the Garden of the Gods – the intention is to nurture and grow the mind, body and soul. And for what it’s worth, it works.

Packages at Four Seasons Hotel Lanai at Koele, A Sensei Retreat start from £3,445 per night in a Koele Room for two people, minimum three-night stay, inclusive of all meals and beverages (including wines, beers and spirits), spa treatments, fitness classes, yoga and meditation, island activities, round-trip flights from Honolulu on Lanai Air, transfers and gratuities, fourseasons.com/koele

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S A N CT UARY

S A FARI A M U LT I - C E N T R E S A FA R I IN BOTSWANA AND ZAMBIA PROVIDES AMPLE OPPORTUNITY TO SCOUT OUT THE BIG FIVE WORDS DEBORAH CICUREL

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ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF SANCTUARY CHOBE CHILWERO

S

etting an alarm for 5.30am, watching an impala be torn to shreds and sitting as still as a corpse to avoid being eaten by a leopard: not a usual trio for a holiday checklist. But I was in Botswana’s Chobe National Park, and, as I’d come to learn over my stay, this magical spot was very far from usual.

Home to the world’s largest concentration of elephants, Chobe National Park lies in the northwest of the country, on the border with Namibia, and is home to an estimated 80,000 elephants. I’d come to stay at Sanctuary Chobe Chilwero, a luxurious retreat set overlooking the Chobe River, with all the wildlife I could hope for on the doorstep of my stylish suite.

In the first day alone, I’d seen lions resting in the shade of a tree, a herd of elephants wander within touching distance of our truck, a family of baboons carefully grooming one another and a territorial crocodile chase a baby hippo away from its nest (it escaped unscathed).

Now, at barely 7am, my guide, Cavin, had carefully unearthed a young leopard, following its tracks to a bush

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where it could barely be spotted (if you’ll pardon the pun). A dead impala, killed the day before, lay in a neighbouring bush, waiting to be devoured.

“Let’s wait here,” Cavin said, as we gawped from the safety of our safari vehicle. “I’m sure it will come out to have its breakfast.”

Sure enough, half an hour later, the leopard prowled over to the impala and began tearing into its carcass, turning round occasionally to show us an impressive array of teeth, in case we had any designs on its morning meal.

Going after the impala myself would be the last thing I’d want to do, but as far as spectacular game viewing went, it didn’t get better than being a spectator in this real-life nature documentary.

The seemingly endless amount of jaw-dropping wildlife in this national park means you’re almost certain to see big cats, herds of elephants and a family of rhinos, seemingly unaware they are being watched, both on game drives in the national park and boat trips – accompanied by cocktails and canapés – on the Chobe River.

It’s not just surprise sundowner drinks that bring a sense of luxury and pampering: Sanctuary Chobe Chilwero and its staff have an impressive attention to detail that makes the entire stay a joy. While the rooms, views and wildlife is spectacular, it’s the small details that make the stay feel even more five-star, from the three-times daily housekeeping, with towels folded into shapes of animals I’d just spotted, to the friendly waitress printing out a recipe for a drink I’d complimented so I could recreate it at home.

To relax between all the animal-spotting and eating, you can enjoy a “spafari” in the hotel’s very own treetop spa, which offers locally-inspired treatments such as a de-stressing African heated stone massage using mineral-rich volcanic basalt rocks and shea butter, and an African potato anti-ageing body experience, in which a warm African potato and marula wrap detoxes and hydrates. I can confirm that if 5.30am wakeups and all the excitement of being metres away from hungry leopards don’t exhaust you, just a few moments of contact with volcanic basalt rocks will be enough to put you in an unimaginably deep sleep.

Safaris have a reputation for being remote and hard to access, with expensive flights and long, dusty drives synonymous with the whole experience, but Sanctuary Chobe Chilwero is 83

At the Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park, you’ll find a herd of rhinos, watched over 24 hours a day to protect them

Need to know Prices at Sanctuary Sussi & Chuma start from £415 per person per night based on two people sharing on a minimum four-night stay. This includes all meals and drinks, two daily shared game viewing activities including a tour of Victoria Falls on the Zambian side, game drives in the National Park, sundowner cruise, local school and village tour, walking safari, fishing and canoeing excursions, park fees and return transfers to and from Livingstone airport to the camp. Prices at Sanctuary Chobe Chilwero start from £370 per person per night based on two people sharing on a minimum four-night stay. This includes all meals and drinks, two daily shared game viewing activities, park fees and return transfers to and from Kasane Airport to the lodge. For more information, please visit sanctuaryretreats.com

ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF SANCTUARY SUSSI & CHUMA

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ideally located for a seamless safari experience, being just 10 minutes from Kasane Airport. As it’s also so close to the border with Zambia, I was keen to make my trip a multi-centre safari experience, so I decided to stay at Zambia’s Sanctuary Sussi & Chuma for another four days. In just an hour and a half drive, I thought, I could experience the wildlife of another national park without the need for any exhausting drives or pricey flights.

Set on the Zambezi River within the Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park, Sanctuary Sussi & Chuma is just as luxurious as Sanctuary Chobe Chilwero, with 12 gorgeous guest rooms set in treehouses connected by wooden walkways. The rustic setting, in between picturesque Jackalberry trees, provides an ideal escape from the every day, but there are also all the 21stcentury conveniences you need, including high-speed wi-fi and USB ports. The meals are superb, with different menus daily, and there’s also a spa and a terrace from which to enjoy the magnificent sunsets, cocktail in hand.

The national park is one of the smallest in Zambia, but that doesn’t mean you’ll be short of adventures. The lodge offers a host of hair-raising activities, including game drives, walking safaris, cruises and canoeing or fishing on the Zambezi. You can also take a tour of the local village to see the community projects the lodge is involved with, including meeting women who turn old glass bottles into gorgeous jewellery. I was in for a few days of serious adventure, which was immediately highlighted to me when, upon being there for just an hour, I was greeted by a rather menacing hippo yawning at me as I relaxed by the infinity pool overlooking the Zambezi.

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The national park has no lions or leopards, but there’s an impressive series of animals just waiting to show off, as I soon discovered: on my very first excursion, a boat trip on the Zambezi, I spotted a week-old elephant walking alongside its mother, more elephants cooling off by playing in the water and lazy crocodiles sunning themselves on the banks of the river.

You’ll also find a small herd of rhinos, watched over 24 hours a day to protect them from poachers. Our guide walked us to where the rhinos were snoozing in the midday sun, and I stood just metres away from the magnificent but endangered species while hearing about the lengths poachers will go to to kill them and sell their horns.

Another huge draw for visitors to Zambia is one of the seven natural wonders of the world, Victoria Falls. The thundering waterfall and its otherworldly mist can be seen either from the Zambian side or the Zimbabwean side, and the lodge can organise tours, which include all the visa formalities, should you prefer to see the falls from Zimbabwe (again, just a short drive away). If you’re feeling extra adventurous, you can see the falls from a helicopter or micro light, as well as try zip lining and bungy jumping, or put your nerves to the test by in Devil’s Pool, right on the edge of Victoria Falls.

By the time my week’s safari experience was drawing to a close, I could hardly recognise myself. A week of 5.30am wake-ups without any complaints, a notebook full of information about lions, elephants and obscure birds, a new obsession with hippos and the ability to track (or, to be fair, watch an expert track) a leopard to the very spot in which it would consume its morning meal.

I never thought that watching an animal snack on another animal would be fascinating rather than gruesome, but this experience in the wild had surprised, delighted and intrigued me in equal measure. I would have to head home to Netflix and Sir David Attenborough for now, but I was already planning my next safari trip to Africa for another real-life taste of the animal kingdom.

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HELAINE AT PIETRASANTA QUARRY. PHOTO © JULIAN JANS

What’s on at CANARY WHARF Looking Up: Helaine Blumenfeld OBE at Canary Wharf Daily until Friday 26 June Lobby, 1 Canada Square; Cabot Square, Jubilee Park, Westferry Circus and Wood Wharf Free A Focus on Marble and Travertine Since 1972 Helaine Blumenfeld has worked on her white marble sculptures in Pietrasanta, the town in Northern Italy not only renowned for its marble quarries, but also as a centre for sculptors to work, providing studios, foundries and skilled artisans. The marble there is white, sometimes flecked with grey, and fine-grained Statuario marble. Blumenfeld also uses travertine, a highly textured stone with random holes caused by heat during its formation from sedimentary limestone. ‘White marble is much stronger and harder than travertine,’ Blumenfeld explains. ‘Statuario white marble is my preferred material, not only because it is capable of rendering very fine detail, but because of its translucency when carved very thin.

Travertine is not translucent. It is very porous, softer and much easier to work. It has naturally occurring holes which can interrupt the line and effect I am trying to create. I will use travertine for very particular works where I want to create a sense of time and drama.’

Helaine Blumenfeld’s extensive exhibition at Canary Wharf includes recent pieces in white Statuario marble that show its qualities pushed to the limits, from density to finest translucency.

Four impressive, monumental sculptures on the edge of Westferry Circus, Spirit of Life (2007); Mysteries (2011); Meridiana (2016) and Taking Risks (2019), testify to the artist’s skill, gained through nearly forty years of working in her studio in Pietrasanta, where she can work long hours without distraction on her regular visits. ‘The process of carving Statuario is very slow, which means that my plans for a sculpture grow slowly as I work.’

In the Lobby of One Canada Square are sculptures in white marble, Statuario and Travertine in different colours. The earliest, Fantastico (1974), is named after its material, Fantastico marble, whose intense dark seams running through the white body Blumenfeld has used to accentuate form and movement within the composition. Seascape 1983, an assemblage of five parts in white Travertine, and Forest of the Gods (1993-94) in pink Travertine, reveal how she uses the texture of the material to great advantage in creating a sense of drama.

When carving Blumenfeld allows the individual qualities of these different materials to contribute to her overall vision for the sculpture – her deep respect for materiality is essential in the ways she works.

Next month we will focus on her work in other media, which includes bronze, terracotta and wood.

TAKING RISKS, 2019 WESTFERRY CIRCUS

Exhibition Tours Tuesday 12 May and Tuesday 9 June 6.30pm-7.30pm Curator Ann Elliott tours the exhibition with Helaine Blumenfeld, exploring the materials and themes within the work.

This event is free but please contact Canary Wharf Public Art Office to reserve a place on 020 7418 2257 or email publicart@canarywharf.com. Download an exhibition leaflet available at canarywharf.com. Find more information about the artist on helaineblumenfeld or hignellgallery.com

EXODUS III, 2019 LOBBY, ONE CANADA SQUARE

What’s on at CANARY WHARF

Community Window Old Flo – Key Stage 2 Art Competition Canada Place Mall Until Tuesday 12 May In celebration of Canary Wharf hosting Henry Moore’s Draped Seated Woman sculpture, known as ‘Old Flo’ on behalf of the residents of Tower Hamlets, Canary Wharf Group invited primary schools in Tower Hamlets to participate in our Art Competition. The competition asked for students to create 3D sculptures inspired by Henry Moore.

The winner and runners-up entries will be displayed in the Community Window until Tuesday 12 May 2020. ‘Congratulations to Rousseau Group 1 at Mayflower Primary School who won first prize and £1,000 for their school.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP ROUSSEAU GROUP 1 AT MAYFLOWER PRIMARY SCHOOL; WORLD IN MY HANDS

BY SELINA FERDOUS AT HALLEY PRIMARY SCHOOL; GROUP 3 AT BIGLAND GREEN PRIMARY SCHOOL; YUSAIRAH KARIM AT SEVEN MILLS PRIMARY SCHOOL

A NOTE FROM CANARY WHARF GROUP The health, safety and wellbeing of our customers and staff is of paramount importance to us. Following the Government’s guidelines to introduce social distancing measures to help reduce the transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19) we have made the decision to temporarily suspend our events programme in line with guidance to avoid public gatherings and limit face-to-face interaction.

We hope to be able to deliver the exciting programme of events we had planned for spring a bit later in the year. We will announce this on our website canarywharf.com and on our social media channels so please check there for the most up to date information.

In the meantime, keep safe and we look forward to welcoming you back to an event at Canary Wharf soon.

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NEWS WELCOME HOME: MEET 10 PARK DRIVE’S FUTURE RESIDENTS FANCY BEING ONE OF THE FIRST R E S I D E N T S AT 1 0 PA R K D R I V E , C A N A RY W H A R F ? H E R E ’ S W H AT S O M E O F T H E E S TAT E ’ S E A R LY- B I R D B U Y E R S T H I N K

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s 10 Park Drive approaches completion, newly-engaged Chandan and Fruzsina were among the first to purchase.

“We don’t work on the Canary Wharf estate, so it’s important to have good transport links, and Canary Wharf certainly does,” says Chandan. “We were particularly excited by the idea of living by the water,” Fuzsina adds. “We are reasonably high up on the 16th floor and we can see out across the river, and it feels very intimate and private as the balconies are slightly set back.”

Designed by Stanton Williams and with interiors by award-winning Make Architects, the development includes 345 apartments set across two towers. The couple were also “really impressed” by the amount of green space nearby, and reassured that there are so many great places to eat and drink on the Estate, including recent openings such as The Alchemist and Humble Grape, plus staples such as The Ivy and newly-rennovated Carluccio’s. With 24-hour security, a concierge, entry-phone system, bicycle storage and charging points for electric vehicles, this summer purchasers of apartments within 10 Park Drive will also have exclusive access to a terraced sky garden on the 13th floor and residents’-only fitness facilities at a state of the art gym, Third Space.

Apartments at 10 Park Drive start from £880,000. For more information, contact Canary Wharf Group at residential. sales@ canarywharf.com or visit canarywharf.com/residential

Canary Wharf-January 2019 edition-Maxlight.indd 1

12/12/2018 2:00 pm

LONDON CITY ISLAND (P.96)

PROPERTY

HIGH LIFE THE LATEST HOMES HITTING THE MARKET THIS MONTH

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3 ALBERT MEWS, LIMEHOUSE

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newly renovated, waterside house overlooking a private canal.

Meticulously re-designed, this beautiful property is set across four floors and offers energy-efficient, flexible living accommodation with great entertaining space, private parking and good transport links.

3 B E D R O O M S | 2 B AT H R O O M S | 2 R E C E P T I O N R O O M S A I R F I LT R AT I O N S Y S T E M | PAT I O G A R D E N | A P P R O X I M AT E LY 1 , 4 7 9 S Q F T | E P C C A P R R O X I M AT E LY 0 . 4 M I L E S T O L I M E H O U S E S TAT I O N

Guide price ÂŁ1,250,000 Freehold Knight Frank Canary Wharf lee.oneill@knightfrank.com 020 3641 9344

knightfrank.co.uk

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PORT EAST APARTMENTS, CANARY WHARF

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n the second floor of an iconic Grade I listed building, this dock-facing apartment is rare to the market. The property benefits from original features throughout, guest shower room and a stylish reception room with direct access to a private south-facing balcony.

B E D R O O M | 2 B AT H R O O M S | R E C E P T I O N R O O M | C O N C I E R G E S E R V I C E | PA R K I N G S PA C E AVA I L A B L E F U R N I S H E D | A P P R O X I M AT E LY 6 4 4 S Q F T | E P C C A P P R O X I M AT E LY 0 . 5 M I L E S T O C A N A R Y W H A R F U N D E R G R O U N D S TAT I O N

Guide price £450 per week Knight Frank Canary Wharf christopher.paxton@knightfrank.com 020 3461 5890

knightfrank.co.uk

All potential tenants should be advised that, as well as rent and the deposit, an administration fee of £288 and referencing fees of £48 per person will apply when renting a property (if not an AST). (All fees shown are inclusive of VAT.) If the landlord agrees to you having a pet, you may be required to pay a higher deposit (if not an AST) or higher weekly rent (if an AST). Please ask us for more information about other fees that will apply or visit www.knightfrank.co.uk/tenantfees.

PROMOTION

WIN A T WO -BEDR O O M HOME IN LONDON A L O N D O N C I T Y I S L A N D A PA R T M E N T I S THE PRIZE IN A CHARITY COMPETITION

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allymore and Roscommon GAA, a voluntary sporting organisation for the Gaelic Athletic Association in Ireland, have launched a competition with a unique prize. Win a Home in London offers the chance for one lucky participant to scoop a two-bedroom apartment in London City Island, worth £695,000.

The €100 (£85) ticket competition follows the success of Roscommon GAA’s 2018 Win a House in Dublin competition, which saw a Dublin-resident win a three-bedroom home in the city’s Royal Canal Park.

For the London competition, 502 Hercules House in London City Island’s 18 Botanic Square is up for grabs. The maritimeinspired development is set on a 12-acre island, with 1,706 new homes and a host of independent restaurants, shops, creative hubs and al fresco spaces. Designed as an emerging cultural hub, the neighbourhood is a stone’s throw from Canary Wharf, and is

home to some of the UK’s most important cultural institutions, including the English National Ballet and the London Film School. As is the case with all Island residents, the winner will automatically become a member of the development’s private City Island Arts Club, which boasts a gymnasium, spa, swimming pool and outdoor rooftop space.

The winner of the competition will be announced via Facebook Live on 10 May 2020, a week after Roscommon GAA’s first game of the 2020 Gaelic Football season. All proceeds from the raffle will go towards building sporting facilities in County Roscommon.

For more information and to enter the competition, visit winahomeinlondon.com

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LU X U R Y L ON D ON .C O.U K

AMAZING HOMES WITH SPECTACULAR RIVER VIEWS Call 020 3925 1557 to book an appointment today and experience this fantastic place

This limited collection of 2 and 3 bedroom apartments is ready to move into now. With a location next to a new landscaped park, riverside walk, exciting range of dining options and the superb facilities of The Waterside Club, it offers a truly luxurious lifestyle.

Residents also benefit from proximity to Woolwich Works Creative District, set to rival the South Bank as a major cultural destination, and excellent transport connections via the DLR, National Rail, Thames Clipper, forthcoming Crossrail and a six-minute journey to London City Airport.

Visit the Showhome and experience it for yourself.

Prices for these Premium Apartments start from ÂŁ949,995.

Sales & Marketing Suite open 10am to 6pm (Thursdays until 8pm) Imperial Building, No. 2 Duke of Wellington Avenue, Royal Arsenal Riverside, Woolwich, London SE18 6FR Photography depicts Waterfront Premium Apartment Showhomes and The Waterside Club at Royal Arsenal Riverside and is indicative only.

Approximate travel times taken from Woolwich Arsenal. Prices and information correct at time of going to press.

www.royalarsenalriverside.co.uk

Mayfair Showroom 66 Grosvenor Street, London, W1K 3JL 35 offices in central London and over 70 across the capital

Hoxton Square, N1 ÂŁ1,995,000

Ideally located close to transport links, a three double bedroom penthouse with floor to ceiling sliding doors opening onto a roof terrace overlooking the square. With a large open plan kitchen/reception room and two bathrooms, this stylish apartment has ample living space for all, energy rating c.

Dexters Shoreditch 020 7483 6371

The Highway, E14 ÂŁ2,900,000

Set in the heart of Wapping, this Grade II Listed family home has been tastefully refurbished by the current owners.

With three reception rooms, three bedrooms and front and rear gardens, this property would be ideal for entertaining during those summer months. The house has the added perk of a separate studio with terrace, energy rating e.

Dexters Wapping 020 7650 5350

dexters.co.uk

Marsh Wall, E14 ÂŁ925 per week

A three bedroom apartment located within this development which offers incredible views across the River Thames. This apartment has a large open plan kitchen/reception room with floor to ceiling windows and the added bonus of a private balcony, perfect for al fresco dining, energy rating b.

Dexters Canary Wharf 020 7517 1190

Millharbour, E14 ÂŁ925 per week

Located moments from the shops, bars and restaurants of South Quay, a fantastic two bedroom, two bathroom penthouse apartment with a huge amount of living space. There is a wonderful wraparound balcony with far reaching views, this is riverside living at its best, energy rating c.

Dexters Canary Wharf 020 7517 1190 For further information on the costs associated with renting a property, please visit our website or ask one of our local experts.

CABOT PLACE