The mayfair Magazine | Regulars
My life in MAYFAIR O m a r Va j a DIRECTOR OF SALES, Bentley & Skinner
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“Jermyn Street is exceptional for gentlemen’s ties and clothes” – Omar Vaja
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: OMAR VAJA; BLAZER, £1,095, THOM SWEENEY (THOMSWEENEY.CO.UK); THE RITZ london DINING ROOM; JERMYN STREET, IMAGE COURTESY OF THE JERMYN STREET ASSOCIATION; ENAMEL, EMERALD AND DIAMOND PENDANT, £57,500; ART DECO OPAL, ONYX AND DIAMOND MOSAIC PENDANT, £9,750, BOTH BENTLEY & SKINNER (BENTLEY-SKINNER.CO.UK)
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or me, Mayfair is the centre of the world, the centre of everything that’s excellent. I love the fact that we’ve got art galleries, restaurants, wonderful shops, buildings, even parks and hotels – everything you could possibly want. It’s a very elegant, lovely, gracious part of London and a joy of life for me. When I first came to London at the tender age of 19 I walked down New Bond Street and I saw this little shop tucked away at number 65 called Bentley & Co. I loved the shop so much – it didn’t seem real; it was like stepping back in time. I was quite determined to work there. I had two weeks off and asked to sit with the company and see whether it was something that I really wanted to do. When I was there, I was able to engage quite easily with people, and the director said: “Maybe you and I should talk.” That was 22 years ago. The day my passion dies is the day I leave; I think it’s very important to be passionate about things. My favourite jewellery has to be the Belle Époque Edwardian jewellery: it’s not the size of the stones but the delicate workmanship. I also love Art Deco pieces; the little details and the jewel encrustment on the accessories, such as the cigarette holder, the bag, and the gloves. The whole jazz age was so romantic and beautiful. The thing that lifts my spirits is walking into the dining room at The Ritz London. I just think it’s the most beautiful dining room in the city. It’s so romantic with the gentle pastel colours and the service hasn’t changed. There is still an old-fashioned courtesy and you can go there and have your supper and forget all the horrors of the world around you – you’re transported back in time. If I want to relax, I take a gentle stroll down Green Park into St James’s Park; I find it’s especially beautiful when all the daffodils and the blossom are out. The grocers across the road – Fortnum & Mason – is a great shop, an institution, and of course Jermyn Street is exceptional for gentlemen’s ties and clothes. For a quiet night of conversation with people, I head to The Wolseley – it has good food and good tablecloths. If you go to a restaurant and like the look of the table next to you, it’s quite easy to strike up conversation here in Mayfair. Anyone who’s anyone will come to Mayfair for the mixture of styles and the elegance of architecture – it even smells of luxury, and it’s divine. 17