Urban Life Magazine

www.urbanlife-magazine.com

January 2011

PROPERTY: SUSTAINABLE PROPERTY INVESTMENTS

Competition:

Win a luxury weekend break for two!

ART &

Privileged Life: We launch our very own loyalty card!

Motoring:

Aston Martin track day, Mazda and Peugeot 5 test drives

FA S H I O N URBAN LIFE COVER.indd 1

HEALTH & BEAUTY

CULTURE: ALEX PROUD & MARIE GUERLAIN JEWELLERY

TECHNOLOGY

PROPERTY 04/02/2011 06:46

UrbanLife_Buffett_Own the Jet_06Dec10_420x297.pdf 1 05/11/2010 10:39:48

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ADVERTS.indd 1

02/02/2011 16:41

ADVERTS.indd 2

02/02/2011 16:41

M A L AYS I A

The time is now, the place is Malaysia MALAYSIA (finalv2).indd 2

03/02/2011 14:36

MAALALLALAAYAYYSYSSI SIAIAIAA MMMA Sale iswith back with great The Year-End Sale is The back with great The Year-End Sale iswith back great The Year-End SaleYear-End is back great season is awaited discounts!

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KUALA LUMPUR & PENANG KUALA LUMPUR SHOPPING &SHOPPING PENANG KUALA LUMPUR &SHOPPING PENANG KUALA LUMPUR &SHOPPING PENANG KUALA LUMPUR&SHOPPING KUALA LUMPUR &SHOPPING LANGKAWI KUALA LUMPUR LANGKAWI& LANGKAWI KUALA LUMPUR &SHOPPING LANGKAWI KUALA LUMPUR &SHOPPING BORNEO KUALA LUMPUR &SHOPPING PENANG KUALA LUMPUR SHOPPING &SHOPPING BORNEO KUALA LUMPUR &SHOPPING PENANG KUALA LUMPUR &SHOPPING BORNEO KUALA LUMPUR &SHOPPING PENANG KUALA LUMPUR &SHOPPING BORNEO KUALA LUMPUR &SHOPPING PENANG

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For bookings contact us standard on 0844 4723412 For bookings contact us on 0844 4723412 For bookings contact us on 0844 4723412 Foreconomy bookings contact us on 0844 4723412 standard room Including return economy Price’s based on 2 adults sharing a Lakefront Including return class flights room. IncludingFor return economy bookings contact us1637 on contact 0871 811 1637 For 573 bookings contact on 0844 573 Foratbookings contact us on W1 0871 For 811 bookings contact us1637 on 0871 811 For bookings us on 0844 For bookings contact us1637 on 0871 811 For573 bookings contact us5899 on 0844 573us5899 For bookings contact us5899 on 0844 Or our store 56 BakerW1 Street, London Or visit our store at Street, Or visit ourW1 store at visit 56 Baker Street, London Or56 visitBaker our store atLondon 56 Baker Street, London W1 For bookings contact744 us on For bookings contact us 5899 on 01306 744 307 For bookings contact us on 30701306 744 307 For bookings contact us on 01306 744 30701306 classwww.funwayholidays.co.uk flights from London.

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Including return economy class fromwww.peoples.travel/malaysia-shopping.shtml London. All accomodation, return classwww.TravelBag.co.uk flights from London.www.TravelBag.co.uk www.peoples.travel/malaysia-shopping.shtml www.peoples.travel/malaysia-shopping.shtml www.funwayholidays.co.uk www.TravelBag.co.uk www.peoples.travel/malaysia-shopping.shtml www.TravelBag.co.uk www.funwayholidays.co.uk www.funwayholidays.co.uk www.kuoni.co.uk www.kuoni.co.uk www.kuoni.co.uk www.kuoni.co.uk flights with Malaysia Airlines from London. airport transfers and all hotel, Air taxes All accomodation, return airport transfers and fuel surcharges. Price is subject to All accomodation, return airport All accomodation, return airport transfers availability and can be changed or transfers and all hotel, Air taxes and and all hotel, Air taxes and fuel surcharges. and all hotel, air taxes and fuel surcharges.

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Price is subject toor availability and can may apply at certain times. For bookings availability and can be changed or For bookings contact your travel agent.

For more information please visit www.tourismmalaysia.gov.my call 020 7932 your travel agent.

For more information please visit www.tourismmalaysia.gov.my or call 020or 7930 For bookings contact your travel agent.

For morebe information visit www.tourismmalaysia.gov.my call 020 7930 79327930 Forcontact bookings contact your travel agent.

For more information please visit www.tourismmalaysia.gov.my call 7932 020or7930 7932 be charged or withdrawn at anytime. withdrawn at anytime.

Supplements Supplements may apply at certain times.

Tourism Malaysia 57 Trafalgar Square London WC2N email info@tourism-malaysia.co.uk Tourism Malaysia 57 Trafalgar Square London WC2N 5DU email info@tourism-malaysia.co.uk Tourism Malaysia 57 Trafalgar Square London WC2N 5DU email5DU info@tourism-malaysia.co.uk Tourism Malaysia 57 Trafalgar Square London WC2N 5DU email info@tourism-malaysia.co.uk Supplements may apply at certain times.

For bookings contact us on 0844 4723412 may apply at certain times. or visit our store at For bookings contact us on For bookings contact us on 01306 744 307 0844 573 5899 56 Baker Street, London W1 For bookings contact us on 0871 811 1637 www.peoples.travel/malaysia-shopping.shtml www.travelbag.co.uk www.funwayholidays.co.uk www.kuoni.co.uk

Secondary Palette Secondary PaletteSecondary Palette Secondary Palette

Suite 2 59 Islington Park Street London N1 1QB Studio: 020 7226 9786 manny@cantdance.co.uk cantdance.co.uk

Suite 2 59 Islington Park Street London N1 1QB Studio: 020 7226 9786 manny@cantdance.co.uk cantdance.co.uk

Suite 2 Suite 2 59 Islington Park Street 59 Islington Park Street LondonLIMITED N1 1QB 01 © 2008 CAN’T DANCE LIMITED London N1 1QB 01 © 2008 CAN’T DANCE 01 © 2008 CAN’T DANCE LIMITED 01 © 2008 CAN’T DANCE LIMITED Studio: 020 7226 9786 Studio: 020 7226 9786 The in this document is owned by Can’t Dance Limited.

The copyright in this manny@cantdance.co.uk document is ownedThe

by Can’t Dance manny@cantdance.co.uk The in this document is owned bycopyright Can’t Dance Limited. copyright inLimited. this document is owned bycopyright Can’t Dance Limited. cantdance.co.uk copying, lending and use of the work strictly prohibited. cantdance.co.uk Unauthorised copying, lending and use of the work strictly prohibited. copying, lending and useUnauthorised of the work strictly prohibited.

Unauthorised copying, lending and useUnauthorised of the work strictly prohibited.

For booking contact your local Travel Agent For more information please visit: www.tourismmalaysia.gov.my or call 020 7930 7932.

Tourism Malaysia. 57 Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DU e-mail: info@toursim-malaysia.co.uk

MALAYSIA (finalv2).indd 3

03/02/2011 14:37

EDITOR’S LETTER

GREETINGS!

I’d like to take this opportunity to wish all our readers a very happy and prosperous New Year. It’s a great pleasure to welcome you to the first edition of the magazine for 2011, and my team and I hope to continuously engage and entertain you with fantastic editorial content as we look to an exciting year ahead. .

I am very excited about this and the upcoming editions of Urban Life, as we have a lot in store for you!

This includes a new and revamped section on fashion, health and beauty, which will be managed by our new Head of Fashion & Beauty, Caroline Chantler. We’re also creating an entirely new section on private aviation and yachting, thanks to your feedback and requests. Expect some great interviews and features covering the ultimate in luxury lifestyle.

Aside from that, we also have two very special features lined up for the April edition; a Basel Special on watch and jewellery and a ‘Future Trends’ special on some amazing futuristic concepts that are taking shape for the premium consumer lifestyle market.

And lastly, I would like to formally inform you that we have now officially launched our loyalty card - the Privileged Life ‘Black Card’. After six years of enjoying your support and loyalty, we thought we would create something which will bring you, our readers and subscribers, immediate and tangible benefits on a daily basis. Once a member, you will enjoy a wealth of discounts, privileges and other value-added services at restaurants, hotels, shops, spas and even private health clinics. And that’s just the beginning!

We have already started to sign up businesses to this effect, so check the website for continuous updates and new partner information (see right).

Until the next edition…

YOURS

Ataur Rahman Editor-in-Chief editor@urbanlife-magazine.com

06 www.urbanlife-magazine.com

LEADER.indd 1

04/02/2011 07:30

T h e Pr i v i l e g e d L i fe B l a c k Ca r d

567/N90

PRIVILEGED LIFE

MR A. N. OTHER

For the finer things in life www.privileged-life.net

Launching 2011

privilege@urbanlife-magazine.com Sign up for your membership today and enjoy discounts, upgrades, invitations to private events and other value-added services at our partner outlets.

For membership queries, please email: membership@privileged-life.net

If you are a business owner and wish to sign up as a partner, please email: partnership@privileged-life.net Some of our Black Card partners

Audio/visual experience

Diamond Whites

LEADER.indd 2

04/02/2011 07:32

URBAN LIFE

CONTENTS 10: Beauty Reviews of products, salon and beauty treatments

10 12

28: Jewellery Contemporary jewellery design by some of our favourite designers 32: Motoring Aston Martin track day and test drives of the Peugeot RCZ and Mazda 5 UK launch 38: Technology A small selection of gadgets and gizmos for personal and home use

28

42: Property Gordon Miller from Sustain Worldwide discusses the value of sustainable property development 51: Competition Win a weekend break for two at the Imperial Hotel in Llandudno!

48: Art & Culture We talk with Alex Proud and Marie Guerlain, and look at the upcoming Art of Fashion at FashionCapital and The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee exhibition

32

58: Privileged Life We launch our very own ‘Black Card’! This is an initial list of our first-round partners with whom our card members can get discounts and other value-added services 62: Urban Social IWC and Baume & Mercier at the SIHH and the Berlin Fashion Week

65

57

63

52

08 www.urbanlife-magazine.com

CONTENTS.indd 1

03/02/2011 14:54

SUBSCRPTION

www.urbanlife-magazine.com

January 2011

PROPERTY: SUSTAINABLE PROPERTY INVESTMENTS

Competition:

Win a luxury weekend break for two!

ART &

Privileged Life: We launch our very own loyalty card!

CULTURE: ALEX PROUD & MARIE GUERLAIN

Motoring:

Aston Martin track day, Mazda and Peugeot 5 test drives

FASHION

HE A LT H & B E A U T Y

JEWELLERY

T E C H N O LO GY

PROPERTY

URBAN LIFE COVER.indd 1

04/02/2011 06:46

COVER PICTURE Photographer: Patrick Anderson Styling & Creative Direction: Caroline Chantler Model: Stacey at Oxygen Make-Up: Jo Sugar, using Dermalogica & MAC Hair Stylist: Laura Dexter, using Tigi Assistant: Samantha Owens Location: Private residence of upholstery designer, Evandro Kuhn

URBAN LIFE SUBSCRIPTIONS July 2010

www.urbanlife-magazine.com

April 2010

www.urbanlife-magazine.com

EXCLUSIVE:

KAREN DAVID FILMS, MUSIC AND THE LURE OF HOLLYWOOD...

EXCLUSIVE:

THE TAMSIN EGERTON INTERVIEW AND PHOTOSHOOT

Cowes Week

Your guide to one of the biggest and best Regattas in the world

Motoring

Three new test-drives for the summer

Travel

Croatia: Europe’s rising luxury destination

Property

Overseas investment opportunities

Competition

Win a luxury weekend break for two at the exclusive Lords of the Manor Hotel!

Best of British: Bentley

EXCLUSIVE: CARTIER MD, ARNAUD BAMBERGER

History – Pedigree - Luxury

Fashion Week Post-show reports

Motoring

Cartier Polo & life at the top

Highlights from the Geneva Motor Show

Competition

Stacey wears: Violet dress £560 by Clinton Lotter and coat with piping £825 by Sado, both available at Wolf and Badger (46 Ledbury Road, W11 2AB, Tel: 0207 229 5698) Shoes by Jimmy Choo and clutch bag by Temperley – both stylists own

Win a luxury weekend break for two at the K Club

BEAUTY

HOROLOGY

TECHNOLOGY

URBAN LIFE

INTERIORS

URBAN LIFE COVER (7).indd 1

ART & CULTURE 19/07/2010 14:44

www.urbanlife-magazine.com

December 2009

BEAUTY

JEWELLERY

H O R O LO GY

TRAVEL

PROPERTY

TECHNOLOGY

URBAN LIFE COVER (6).indd 1

06/04/2010 18:52

www.urbanlife-magazine.com

September 2009

Best of British Savile Row - The Best Dressed Address in the World

Best of British

Exclusive interview with Ben Ainslie – Britain’s most successful sailor of all time

Travel A mini-break in Helsinki

URBAN LIFE

High-Jewellery Cartier – Urban Life Special Feature

Salon Privé 2009

Luxury Phones Guide

A run-down of the UK’s only luxury motoring event

Phones you won’t want to keep in your pocket

Luxury Watches

Film & Entertainment

Published by:

Black and White special

Gemma Arterton, Zoe Saldana, Marion Cotillard and, yes, Monica Bellucci!

Film & Entertainment Whitney, Maxwell and Jude Law – need we say more?

Competition

Westside Communications Ltd. 10 Greycoat Place, London, SW1P 1SB Tel: +44 (0) 871 989 8206

Win a luxury weekend break for two!

FASHION

High-Jewellery Van Cleef & Arpels Special Profile

HEALTH & BEAUTY

MOTORING

TECHNOLOGY

NIGHTLIFE

ART & CULTURE

FA S H I O N

BEAUTY

T R AV E L

T ECHNOLOGY

NIGHTLIFE

ART & CULTURE

URBAN LIFE COVER (4).indd 1

Fax: +44 (0) 871 989 8207 Email: info@urbanlife-magazine.com URL: www.urbanlife-magazine.com Publisher and Editor-in-Chief

Ataur Rahman

Creative Director

Lee Thomas

Sub Editor

Will Dugdale

Motoring Editor

Patrick Anderson

Jewellery Editor

Leyla Abdollahi

Head of Fashion & Beauty

Caroline Chantler

Head of Business Development

James Tan

Interiors Features

Paulina Nejman

Features

Sarah Walsh

Ivan Petersen

Guest Contributor

Gordon Miller

Social Correspondent

Funky Nora

Editorial Assistants

Andy Simpson

Fashion Events & Online Contents

Rebecca Heijkoop

Assistant Graphic Designer

23/09/2009 14:33

Keep ahead of current trends with London’s hottest lifestyle magazine. Subscribe now for your free copy! Send your completed form to Westside Communications Ltd. 10 Greycoat Place, London, SW1P 1SB

Keep ahead of current

SUBSCRIPTIONS FORM trends with London’s hottest Name Profession/Job Title:

lifestyle magazine.Subscribe Age now for your free copy!

Address:

Town/City: Postcode: Contact telephone number:

& post-Production

Junior Monney

Advertising

Becky Chatsworth

Subscriptions Manager

James Mason

All enquiries relating to features, advertising and sponsorship should be directed to the sales team in the first instance: sales@urbanlife-magazine.com To subscribe please fill out the subscriptions form available in this issue, contact the office on the number below or email for further information: subs@urbanlife-magazine.com © Westside Communications Ltd 2010. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part as well as storage of same in any retrieval system or transmission in any form including content and advertisement designs without the express prior written permission of the publisher will result in legal action.

The content and views contained within this magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher. All details correct at time of going to press but are subject to change.

All errors and omissions excluded. All special offers and competitions are subject to terms and conditions (please see individual offers for details). Westside Comunications Ltd cannot be held responsible for any unsolicited material.

Email: I wish to subscribe to Urban Life magazine

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I have enclosed a cheque for £8.75 to cover postage and packaging for one year’s subscription (4 issues, UK only). For International subscriptions, please contact us for further information: subs@urbanlife-magazine.com Your details will be processed by Westside Communications Limited (Publisher of Urban Life Magazine) and its affiliates in accordance with UK Data Protection legislation. From time to time, Westside Communications Ltd. may contact you with information about our other products and services. Please tick here if you do NOT wish to recieve such information. Westside Communications Ltd. may occasionally share this information with other reputable companies who wish to contact you about their products and services, please tick here if you do not wish to be contacted by such companies.

www.urbanlife-magazine.com

www.urbanlife-magazine.com 09

CONTENTS.indd 2

04/02/2011 06:52

HEALTH & BEAUTY

BEAUTY REVIEWS

JASON SHANKEY EXPERT SHAVING RANGE Grooming maestro Jason Shankey has just launched his ‘Expert’ line of shaving products, which are designed to make the ritual a little less painful and a little more pleasurable! We tried the Exfoliating Face & Scalp Scrub, Smoothing Shave Cream and Skin Soothing Moisture Balm, which did the trick. Active ingredients include cocoa, margosa leaf, sesame extracts, olive stones, pumpkin seeds and beet extracts across the range for a clean, refreshing finish to the usually mundane process of personal grooming.

Exfoliating Face & Scalp Scrub £15.00, Smoothing Shaving Cream £14.00 and Skin Soothing Moisture Balm £16.00 For stockists and further information, log on to: www.jasonshankey.com

LIPOSONIX – NONINVASIVE LIPOSUCTION The Cadogan Clinic, one of the leading day hospitals in London, is the only clinic in the UK offering the seven most effective forms of liposuction. We recently got excited about one of their new treatments; Liposonix - the non-invasive liposuction treatment, which uses ultrasound to destroy the underlying fat in those stubborn areas that no amount of exercise can fix. ‘As part of the body’s natural healing process the destroyed fat tissue is eliminated via the liver, which processes the fatty acids as energy. Targeted fat is permanently reduced. Good for abdomen, hips and loins’.

It sounds great on paper, but when we tried this the results unfortunately did not quite hit the mark (our subject was female, late

20s and physically very active and fit – a gym goer at least 3-times a week). We were told it’s a one-off treatment, and that the results would be seen almost immediately. However, any noticeable reduction is yet to be seen following treatment. “This may well take a bit of time”; our subject was informed by one of the nurses. “Also it might be a course of treatments before you see a difference”.

The treatment itself was painful. There was bruising in the abdominal area where this was applied, including on the ‘love handles’.

As far as treatments go, we’re on the fence with this one, however, we will let you know if something happens after we’ve gone to press with this edition.

The Cadogan Clinic 0207 901 8500 www.cadoganclinic.com

10 www.urbanlife-magazine.com

BEAUTY.indd 2

03/02/2011 15:01

HEALTH & BEAUTY

TREVOR SORBIE – SHU UEMURA INTENSIVE TREATMENT WITH A CUT & BLOW DRY Being able to put aside a couple of hours in a day for a visit to the salon is one of life’s little luxuries, and something that every woman (and man) should do on a regular basis. And Trevor’s team don’t do things by half! The Shu Uemura Intensive Treatment included a head massage using essential oils (you get a choice of two or three), which lasted for around 30/40 minutes (who can keep a track of time when you’re in bliss?). This is followed by a shampoo and conditioner wash, then a cut and blow dry. Both Juan and Lee were amazing and made it all look so effortless.

The salon also offers a whole host of other treatments, including aromatherapy treatments to facials and waxing, which means we’ll definitely be back for some more...

Shu Uemura Intensive Treatment - from £64 Cut & Blow Dry - from £55 0207 379 6901 www.trevorsorbie.com

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

NOUGAT CHERRY BLOSSOM BATH RANGE For a truly pampering bathtime experience, try these products from Nougat. With active ingredients including bergamot, cherry blossom, sandalwood and musk, you will feel intoxicated with the light fragrance and left with skin as smooth and soft as a baby’s bottom!

Soothing Bath Pearls in Cherry Blossom: RRP £25.00 & Nourishing Bath Velvet in Cherry Blossom: RRP £25.00 Available from the Nougat Spa and Salon: www.nougatlondon.co.uk

ALL FOR EVE – THE COLOUR & BATH AND BODY COLLECTION We love ‘Eve Red’ Lipstick, created by make-up supremo Daniel Sandler, which is perfect this spring/summer’s signature red lip. Team this with a matching ‘Eve Red’ nail polish, created by world class manicurist Sophy Robson, to really finish and perfect the look.

‘All for Eve’ bath and body has been created by our favourites at Urban Retreat. The range includes an award winning hand cream, refreshing cucumber bath and shower gel, body lotion and body butter, and a richly moisturising body scrub, with jojoba beads, for silky smooth skin all over. Good for you, and for a good cause!

For pricing and more information go to: www.allforeve.co.uk

GREEN PEOPLE Green People’s range is inspired by nature, and suitable for all skin tones and types.

Our favourite products include the superrich Volumising Mascara £13.99, which contains almond oil to condition the lashes and it’s non smudge formulation lasts all day. Their Pure Blush £18.99, highlights cheeks naturally, giving the perfect rosy glow, without clogging the pores.

For more information go to www.greenpeople.co.uk

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03/02/2011 15:02

HEALTH & BEAUTY

MELVITA MEN’S SHAVING RANGE The men’s shaving range from Melvita is definitely amongst some of the best products we’ve tested to date!

Used in conjunction with one another, the shaving cream and after–shave balm leave your skin feeling soft, smooth and hydrated. With active ingredients including Birch Sap, Shea butter, Cypress Nuts and Olive Leaves, the skin is left feeling refreshed and invigorated. Highly recommended.

Shaving Cream £14.00 & After shave balm £15.00 Available from Harrods and John Lewis, as well as their new store in Covent Garden. www.melvita.co.uk

SUDOCREM Good things do come in small packages! Suitable for use on all sorts of skin ailments (from spots, cuts and grazes to dry knees, elbows and sunburn), this little treasure will help you sooth away any discomfort in no time. Celebrities such as Cheryl Cole, Martine McCutcheon and Amanda Holden are fans.

Retails at £1.99 for a 30g tube and can be found at most high street pharmacies.

PUPA BREAST ENHANCER We’re not big supporters of going under the knife (if it can be avoided), so when this product came to us recently, we thought we would put it to the test. It is apparently selling like hot cakes in Italy and women are noticing a difference in firmness and volume. With regular daily use, it claims to enhance your bust by at least one cup size, therefore giving you an alternative to surgery. This is mainly aimed at women with small breasts or those that have been breastfeeding post-pregnancy. We are still doing our (non-scientific, practical) trials on real women, and will be bringing you the final results in the April edition. Watch this space... www.pupa.it www.urbanlife-magazine.com 13

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03/02/2011 15:02

The colour of Spring Photographer: Patrick Anderson Styling & Creative Direction: Caroline Chantler Models: Stacey & Karl at Oxygen Make-Up: Jo Sugar, using Dermalogica & MAC (www.josugar.com) Hair Stylist: Laura Dexter, using Tigi (www.lauradextermakeupartist.co.uk) Assistant: Samantha Owens Location: Private residence of upholstery designer, Evandro Kuhn Thanks to The Fashion Crowd for help in finding the venue 00 URBAN LIFE

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03/02/2011 16:37

Karl wears: grey coat £695, by Crombie Grey polo neck £125, by Crombie Stacey wears: Fushia dress £234, by Love Moschino, from www.my-wardrobe.com

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Karl wears: stripe shirt, from £155 and suit, from £1075, by Udeshi Black fur felt Trilby £175 and black double-breasted coat £995, by Crombie Derby shoe £495, by Sutor Mantellassi

Stacey wears: beige wrap coat £895, by Crombie White blouse £69 and black skirt £69, by Brooks Brothers Watch £195, by Breil Diamond cocktail ring £1400, by Leblas Stockings by Woolford and shoes by Fendi, both stylists own

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03/02/2011 16:39

Karl wears: black shirt £79, by Hugo Boss, from www.my-wardrobe.com Westbourne suit £534, by Paul Smith London, from www.my-wardrobe.com Watch £175, by Breil Three colour shoe £755, Sutor Mantellassi Stacey wears: black ruffle dress £427 by Sia Dimitriadi from Wolf and Badger Shoes, by Jimmy Choo, stylists own

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Dress, by Biba, stylists own Gold necklace £595, by Leblas; Ring £105, by Lola Rose from www.lolarose.co.uk

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03/02/2011 16:40

Check double breasted suit £500, by Austin Reed White shirt, from £155 by Udeshi Brown buckle shoe £645, Sutor Mantellassi

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03/02/2011 16:41

Violet dress ÂŁ560, by Clinton Lotter from Wolf and Badger Shoes, by Jimmy Choo and clutch bag, by Temperley, both stylists own

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03/02/2011 16:42

Black track biker jersey jacket £225, by Marc Jacobs and white melange slouch pocket t-shirt £139,

by Phillip Lim from www.my-wardrobe.com Check double-breasted suit trouser (suit total £500), by Austin Reed

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03/02/2011 16:43

Grey coat £695, by Crombie Grey polo neck £125, by Crombie Charcoal suit trouser £120, by Austin Reed (suit total £400) Black brunswick shoes £195, by Paul Smith London, from www.my-wardrobe.com

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03/02/2011 16:44

Black picnic dress £608, by Mulberry from www.my-wardrobe.com; Ring £95, by Lola Rose www.lolarose.co.uk Shoes, by Fendi, stylists own

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Fushia dress £234, by Love Moschino, from www.my-wardrobe.com Ring £105, by Lola Rose (www.lolarose.co.uk) Nude clutch bag £500, by Vaza from Wolf and Badger Shoes by Fendi, stylists own

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03/02/2011 16:45

Suit, from £1075, stripe shirt, from £155 and Scarf, from £135, by Udeshi (www.udeshi.co.uk) Derby shoe £495, by Sutor Mantellassi (www.sutormantellassi.com) Batchelor cufflinks £85, by Crombie Watch £135, by D&G Moorgate Laptop Case £330, by Grays and Kings Road Helmet £374,

by Grays, both available at Harrods

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03/02/2011 16:46

Camel coat £795, by Crombie Black shirt £189, by Vivienne Westwood, from www.my-wardrobe.com Watch £200, by Breil Travel bag £990, Sutor Mantellassi

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London dress £395, by Jasper Gardiva from Wolf and Badger Immi Shoulder bag £325, by Loren Taylor Black stockings, by Woolford and black patent shoes,

by Miu Miu, both stylists own

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03/02/2011 16:47

JEWELLERY

Aquitane necklace and Coral Ring Simon Harrison www.simonharrison.com

QUIRKY

BY DESIGN

When it comes to choosing jewellery, everyone has their personal take on what makes a piece work.

Whether it’s a ring, bangle or necklace, it has to reflect ones taste and sense of personal style.

Choosing the right piece of jewellery is as important as buying a dress or a handbag; they have to fit the occasion and compliment the attire. In this edition I have included some fabulous examples of quirky, yet contemporary designs, which show the designers creativity and sense of style. Dress up or dress down, but either way, look fabulous in these timeless creations. You will not want to take them off! Leyla Abdollahi Mount Zion Ethiopian opal, set in silver black rhodium plated with gold leaves and Sparkling Coral Ring (Lucy in Wonderland and Abyss collections) Ornella Iannuzzi www.ornella-iannuzzi.com

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JEWELLERY

Ball crusher Ring in 18ct yellow gold and yellow pearl, Fringe Ring in 18ct yellow gold and diamonds and Hot Lips silver and enamel ring and Love Written Ring in 18ct gold Solange Azagury-Partridge www.solangeazagurypartridge.com

The flat top ‘Kismet’ engraved cuff -18ct gold plated on top of sterling silver and two size bracelets from the ‘Delicate’ collection in sterling silver brushed brass in thick and thin Sarah Eyton www.saraheytondesigns.co.uk

18ct gold plated sterling silver and Divorce knuckle duster ring – 18ct goldplated electroformed bird skull and pearl Gisèle Ganne www.giseleganne.com

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JEWELLERY

Exclusive Collection- 21ct gold hand-crafted multi-stone layered filigree ring – Azza Fahmy

Multi-faceted bangles for Preen and Large silver choker with lace motifs for Preen Azza Fahmy www.azzafahmy.com

xclusive Collection - filigree silver 18ct gold amethyst rings – Azza Fahmy

Scroll Ornament & Drop Earrings - Oxidised silver,18ct gold, garnet and mabe drop pearl by Marianne Anderson and Ring by Polly Wales – both available from www.electrumgallery.co.uk

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03/02/2011 15:20

JEWELLERY

BASEL WATCH & JEWELLERY SPECIAL Look out for the next edition in April for our Basel Special on luxury watch and jewellery!

Contact us: Editorial: basel@urbanlife-magazine.com Advertising: sales@urbanlife-magazine.com

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03/02/2011 15:26

MOTORING

ASTON MARTIN – TRACK DAY Patrick Anderson plays Bond with Aston Martin, spending a day on the tracks at Millbrook

I

t’s fair to say that it is almost every man’s dream to sit behind the wheel of an Aston Martin. So an invitation to experience not one, but five of their current models on a closed circuit was an opportunity not to be missed!

I was invited to join a small exclusive group of people to spend a day putting all the current models through their paces.

The cars were the V8 Vantage SportShift, V12, DB9 Touchtronic, Rapide and DBS Touchtronic. What a dream line up.

Millbrook is a 40 yr old test facility originally set up by General Motors

and now used by nearly all the manufacturers. Featuring a high-speed bowl, two and a half mile hill route, city routes and standing mile, it enables hard testing of cars and drivers in a safe and controlled environment. Although I did wonder why they wouldn’t allow us to use the off-road and water bath routes.

Aston Martin have their own facility here where prospective and confirmed buyers can get some hands-on training in their dream cars. Aston still remains in the old tradition of custom building to every

customers spec. You can’t just go and buy a new car from a showroom, so every vehicle is slightly different as you can choose the colour, interior finish, trim etc.

A short two or three laps in each vehicle was not enough for an in depth report but an overall impression of these luxurious vehicles capabilities.

The V8 Vantage Sportshift was for the standing mile on the circuit. With the vehicle’s amazing acceleration it was time to brake almost as soon as you got the speed up. A very steady and well

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MOTORING

balanced car that almost kicked you in the kidneys as you changed gears up and floored the throttle!

Taking the cars on the hill circuit was an eye opener, having driven the circuit many times in the past on SMMT test days. Plus having one of Aston Martin’s own professional instructors on hand certainly improved my perception and speed on the hill. The cars are all very similar inside; deep luxurious leather trim and well finished facia and instrument clusters. The touchtronic

gearbox was simple and as one would expect, well positioned for ease of use.

The surprise came with the 4-door Rapide, which from the outside looks almost identical to the other models. And when the instructor asked me to sit in the back, I was rather apprehensive as you can imagine since I stand at over 6.7ft!

But much to my (pleasant) surprise, it was fairly comfortable, especially when compared to similar 2+2 sports cars.

It wasn’t knee knockingly tight, but I wouldn’t want to travel all day in the back.

So to our final test; having driven the bowl at Millbrook we were not really allowed on the lip top lane. Each lane is designed for certain speeds, so after careful instruction we did the lip circuit at 100mph with no hands on the wheel. I can tell you, it takes a bit of getting used to driving at such high speed and putting your trust in the centrifugal and gravitational pull to hold you on line. All in all a thrilling day and can’t wait to get the chance to drive one of the cars on a proper road test. > www.astonmartin.com

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MOTORING

Cygnet The latest news from Aston is that their concept city car the Cygnet will go into production this year. A small city car unlike anything they have ever produced (you may have seen it featured in one of the Harrods Christmas window displays for a while). I’ll bring you more on the Cygnet in later editions.

Jaeger-LeCoultre AMVOX2 DB9 Transponder So what can you possibly buy for the owner of one of the finest and last remaining pieces of British engineering?

Well, Aston Martin have their own range of luxury goods, but the ultimate must-have has got to be the latest incarnation of the AMVOX Transponder watch from luxury Swiss watch maker Jaeger-LeCoultre.

Following on from the DBS and Rapide, the AMVOX2 DB9 Transponder is a third generation luxury timepiece, which in true James Bond fashion, can be used to open the DB9 by simply pressing on the sapphire crystal of their watch. When first launched two years ago, the Transponder was the first mechanical watch that allowed you to control access to your vehicle using the built-in micro transmitter.

This is the latest collaboration between the two companies, and one which takes luxury merged with technology to new heights. Understated elegance at its best.

The watch is available to order from the Aston Martin dealership network and priced at ÂŁ12,426. www.jaeger-lecoultre.com

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03/02/2011 15:44

MOTORING

MAZDA 5 - UK launch

P

ress launches are a rare occasion to be a passenger as well as a driver. So a 2-day trip down to Devon and Cornwall to try out the improved latest version of the Mazda 5 was just such an opportunity as well as a chance to get to sample some great food and lifestyle down there. Lunch at Jamie Oliver’s 15, a restaurant run to help young people get a job opportunity and a career, was a splendid opportunity to relax and eat as we watched the surfers and half-term holiday crowds on the wide beach at Watergate bay.

Then it was off into the cars for driving across the moors and the winding small roads of Devon and Cornwall. So the car was a people carrier of which we had two different models to try. The two petrol vehicles we tried (2.0litre and the 1-8 litre) were underpowered (diesel models will be available later in the year in the UK).

The steep hills and tight turns of the small roads of this part of England

showed this, with a lot of driving resorting to 2nd gear. The other major fault on the six-speed gearboxes is the reverse gear.

No lock or gate meant as I changed down on a tight steep hairpin it easily dropped into reverse! My other gripe was with the front passenger seat where I was constantly rubbing my knees on the dash, so not ideal for the taller person.

etc. The driver’s side has no less than 10 switches, but the one thing missing was the sat-nav! None of the models we tested had any fitted, which these days is a standard and not an extra in most cars.

However, the 2.0 comes with i-stop which is becoming another standard in many vehicles as petrol prices soar, so there was a little saving grace.

The rear seats can be configured in several ways depending on loading and passengers, with seating for up to 7, in three rows of 2-3-2 configuration. The side sliding doors mean easy access for rear passengers from either side when the car is parked in tight spaces, with doors opening to 686mm and barely standing out from the side of the car at 160mm. The rear seats can also be flattened in various configurations giving a large flat space for big loads. But if you are tall be aware of the tailgate which is at eye /head catching height when opened up. The dash has a large selection of buttons 13e switches of which 5 are blank possibly for fog lights

After a night in Rick Stein’s delightful hotel/restaurant, including a cookery demonstration in his cookery school followed by a sumptuous meal in the restaurant, we woke early for a drive up across Bodmin Moor. It was raining and the vehicle didn’t like the strong winds.

The difference between the 1.8 and 2.0 petrol engines is not very noticeable and still the gear ratios of the vehicle are not very well suited to a people carrier.

All in all not the best of the people carriers although a gourmet tour of Devon and Cornwall did make it a worthwhile road test... www.mazda.co.uk

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MOTORING

PEUGEOT RCZ Diesel

H

aving the chance to test a car across Europe’s high speed roads is always fun. So taking the new Peugeot RCZ HDI 163bhp diesel coupe for an 1800 mile spin across France, Belgium and Germany was a joy. The car is a real head turner with its exotic forward cabin, metallic cabin rails and race-bred double-bubble. It is described as a 2+2, and as always, a little tight in the back for long-legged people like me.

But the front seats can be adjusted in height, so even tall drivers fit very well under the low sloping roof.

Although I must say, it’s probably the first car I test drove that had possibly too much leg room as I found myself moving my seat forward to drive! This also overcomes the fact that there is no adjustment in the steering wheel position. The seat can be preset for different drivers, but my first slight gripe was with the heated seats switch, which is positioned in the seat squab so only a bony size 0 would be able to locate it. The column-mounted cruise and onboard computer controls are badly located as they are hidden behind the steering wheel spokes. There is a rear spoiler that can be raised manually but I found little change in road holding whether it was up or down, even at speed. The park-assist is excellent and well positioned for easy parking in tight spaces. The cockpit is clean and sporty with a large central storage box that slips forward as a good arm rest on long drives.

The six-speed gear box has a shift indicator showing the most economical moment to engage the next or previous

gear. When strictly following this advice, the diesel engine consumes 6 litres per 100 km (47 mpg), therefore worth keeping an eye on. The boot is voluminous and surprisingly large for a coupe which practically doubles in size when you fold down the rear seats. The front doors open really wide so getting in and out is with ease. So back to my drive; I was amazed

at the great acceleration. Even when climbing the Hunsruck hills in Germany, the car was pulling past the locals and cruising at a good 95mph, reflecting the diesel’s peak torque of 251lb ft (at 2000 rpm). The fitted sat-nav even gave me an altitude reading as we climbed.

The six-speed manual gear box

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MOTORING

was very responsive, so I arrived feeling ready for another days driving. The glass double-bubble roof did present a small problem next morning as it was heavy in frost. Not sure how fast that would clear in real cold weather. The car has excellent all round vision, though unlike many other ‘coupes’ with restricted vision. This

is a great coupe and has just been awarded “Top Gear Coupe of the Year 2010”, having already been made “Most beautiful car of the year “ in 2009. The car is being produced by Magna Steyr in Austria, and with the RCZ models starting from £20,000, a good rival to many more pricey ‘coupes’. www.peugeot.co.uk

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03/02/2011 15:45

TECHNOLOGY

HIGH TECH A small selection of gadgets and gizmos to make your ‘must-have’ lists in the New Year...

By Ivan Petersen

<

FREECOM MOBILE DRIVE MG Encased in an ultra-lightweight and strong magnesium enclosure, the Mobile Drive Mg is an ideal match for the Apple MacBook – perfect for the style-conscious Mac user. And at just 10mm it’s also the thinnest mobile hard drive available. The drive features the latest USB 3.0 interface standard, which offers rapid data transfer speeds of approximately 130 MB/s. It’s also backwards-compatible and will work with all USB 2.0 enabled computers and notebooks, as well as forthcoming USB 3.0 models.

Available from mid-January.

320GB – RRP: £69.95 & 750GB – RRP: £109.95 www.freecom.com

<

THE ACTION CAM FROM CHILLI TECHNOLOGY This is brilliant for anyone who’s looking for an entry-level, hands-free video camera. Using a head-strap (which you can wear over baseball caps and hats or helmets), you can record continuously until the memory runs out on your MicroSD card. Video resolution is at 640 x 480 or 30fps with a built-in microphone with a 12ft range! Great for outdoor activities to record your own experiences such as cycling, bungee jumping or skiing, but can be restrictive beyond that as has limited functionalities. Still, for the price it’s worth getting as you can have a lot of fun with it! SRP: £24.99 and available in the UK from www.amazon.co.uk

The Destiny Digital Pen is a lifesaver for those who still find taking notes or filling in forms a regular necessity. It converts your hand written notes, including sketches and diagrams, in to word documents, saving time and effort typing them out. You can send these to your PC whilst you’re out and about, using Bluetooth to upload them to your mobile phone and emailing them instantly to yourself (or anyone else you wish to share them with). It doesn’t come cheap, and writing concisely does take getting used to, but will pay for itself in next to no time! £400 Available exclusively from the Pen Shop www.penshop.co.uk

<

< DESTINY DIGITAL USB PEN

ROBERTS STREAM 63i This is a new product from Roberts, combining an iPod dock and CD player with built-in DAB / FM and Wi-Fi. You can also stream music directly from your PC using the USB connection.

It works well as a stand-alone product with the built-in stereo speakers, so can be used anywhere around the house. RRP: £350 www.robertsradio.co.uk

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TECHNOLOGY

<

SANUS BFV145 AV STAND The BFV145 Audio Video Stand is the first product to be released within the new Sanus Foundations Basic Series furniture line and features a beautiful high-gloss, black lacquer finish and an open architecture for a sleek, modern look. Tempered glass shelves provide strength and shatter resistance, while generous cable management holes make it easy to keep cables hidden and organised behind the furniture. With no doors or enclosed sides, the stand allows unrestricted airflow, keeping AV components at a proper temperature for optimal performance. The BFV145 also features adjustable feet for easy levelling on any surface.

RRP: £199 www.sanus.com PRADA LUXURY IPAD AND IPHONE CASES

<

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Fuoco iPad case £135 and iPhone case £85

Saffiano Travel iPad case £340 Prada, 16-18 Old Bond Street, W1X 3DA 0207 647 5000 www.prada.com

NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto Piccolo Meaning ‘little’ in Italian, this small but powerful coffee machine makes you great beverages at the touch of a button. It has an impressive 15bar pressure pump; giving you that shop-quality, velvety smooth, intensely flavoursome layer of ‘coffee crema’ or ‘milk froth’ for your espresso, skinny latte or cappuccino. What’s more, you can also enjoy cold drinks using the Piccolo simply by flipping a switch to make iced cappuccino or Peach Nestea. Perfectly cute and practical for space-conscious coffee lovers. RRP: £89.99 For stockist enquiries call: 0800 707 6066 or visit www.dolce-gusto.co.uk

< NIKE +SPORTWATCH GPS NIKE and TomTom have collaborated to create the Nike+ SportWatch GPS, powered by TomTom. The running watch will provide athletes and runners with a direct connection to www.nikeplus.com, the world’s leading running community with almost 4 million members, allowing the user to add personalisation and motivational features to the running experience, including audible sounds, challenges and run reminders. The GPS captures location information while showing runners their time, distance, pace, and calories burned on an easy-to-read screen featuring a customizable layout. Due for launch in the Uk in April. www.tomtom.com

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PROPERTY – SPECIAL FEATURE

SUSTAINABLE PROPERTY DEVELOPMENTS Eco-Conscious Investment opportunities with pazazz...

By Gordon Miller

GEORGE Clooney hangs out at an eco resort so exclusive its name dare not be mentioned. Leonardo di Caprio’s a fan (he owns an eco island), Julia Roberts and Brad Pitt too. Even Manchester United footballer Gary Neville is trying to build an eco home in the hills outside Manchester.

Yes, green has become the new luxury it seems when it comes to our homes.

So fashionable have eco homes and products become, Livia Firth, wife of actor Colin of Bridget Jones and Mama Mia! film fame, has opened a shop called Eco in trendy Chiswick in west London.

The 41-year-old, mother of two boys, started the business Eco-Age nearly three years ago, and it has become a de rigeur place to shop for west London eco-aware ladies.

Anwar Harland-Khan, CEO of Sustain Worldwide, which is a collective of the world’s leading sustainable property developers and professionals, said: “The sustainable homes of today are stylish, beautifully finished, invariably with warm and light spaces for living. They are also where the smart investment money is being spent these days – it stands to reason. Not only will properties be cheaper to run – because they will require less heating, will be better insulated and fitted out with energy saving applications – they will increase in value faster because the homes are more ‘future proofed’ than a conventionally built existing house.

This means costly retro-fitting to bring the property up to standard will be avoided.”

A recent survey by leading estate agent Knight Frank found that 32 per cent of the 142 senior housebuilding representatives polled, believed there will be a value premium for sustainable homes built to the highest standard. (And those guys are the ones who know what’s going on in the housing market.)

But if you’re still not convinced, figure in that the house that you live in says as much about you as the car you drive and the clothes you wear. Whether you are male or female, owning a sustainable first, second or investment property demonstrates that you are socially responsible, ahead of the curve and can afford to purchase a state-ofthe-art home.

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PROPERTY – SPECIAL FEATURE

WHY SUSTAINABLE HOMES ARE INVESTIBLE NOW 5 reasons why your next property purchase should be a sustainable new one

1

They look a million dollars, baby Sustainable homes are the cutting edge of architectural design: they look and perform like a million dollars. Invariably constructed from sustainable sources the contemporary sustainable home is often a glass, timber and render edifice, which shouts stylish modernity. These homes demand to be looked at - their performance ensures they are taken seriously.

2

Investment uplift – show me the money A US study of rental rates and selling prices of Energy Star and LEED-rated (two robust, independent certification methodologies) commercial buildings versus conventional control buildings, 10,000 buildings altogether, found ‘green’ rental rates were 3% higher. Actual selling prices were 16% higher.

3

They perform well too Well-constructed properties will out last poorly conceived and badly built ones, which will maintain and even increase the property’s value for longer at less ongoing expense. Furthermore, properties which are designed and fitted out with appropriately specified and procured renewable energy technologies will have a built in ‘future proofing’ of the asset, providing a competitive advantage.

“Much like driving a Prius car, owning a sustainable first, second or investment property is a badge of honour for the clued up, forward thinking, urban professional.”

What’s more, sustainable homes are the cutting edge of architectural design: they look and perform like a million dollars.

Invariably constructed using sustainably sourced materials, the contemporary sustainable home is often a cool glass, timber and render edifice, which shouts stylish modernity. These homes demand to be looked at and their performance ensures they are taken seriously.

Harland-Khan said: “We are at a moment

in time when sustainable properties represent great value for money. Right now they don’t necessarily cost any more to buy than a conventional house because the market will not bear a price premium – much to developers chagrin – although they cost more to build and perform better. In time, I predict there will be a price uplift for sustainable homes over and above the market. It’s inevitable.

And turning a blind eye to sustainable homes is not an option. It’s the future. It’s as simple as that because sustainable, eco or green (call it what you will), is the way all residential and commercial property is being developed worldwide whether through government legislation, or because we are all slowly but surely becoming more environmentally aware.

So don’t get used to it. Get ahead of it”.

4

They save you money and hassle Better-constructed properties require less cost-incurring maintenance than poorly built ones. Those that are built to rigorous energy efficiency and environmental standards additionally perform better in energy efficiency and water consumption, which will furthermore save money in operational phases for property owners.

5

They make you look good – honey traps! Purchasing a sustainable property demonstrates that the buyer is socially responsible, and ahead of the curve – because he is attuned to sustainability issues, and can afford to purchase a state-of-the-art home. Much like driving a Prius car, owning a sustainable home is a badge of honour for the clued up, forward thinking, urban professional.

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PROPERTY – SPECIAL FEATURE

THE SUSTAIN WORLDWIDE LUXURY COLLECTION

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3

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1. AlmaVerde Village & Spa, nr Lagos, Western Algarve, Portugal AlmaVerde is a pioneering luxury eco resort, located in the underdeveloped and unspoiled Western Algarve. AlmaVerde’s stylish villa properties’ eco credentials include adobe bricks and the innovative Coolhouse cooling and heating system, which reduces energy consumption by as much as 94 per cent over conventional air-conditioning. Prices start from €550,000 www.almaverde.com 2 L’Amandier, Atlas Mountains of Marrakech, Morocco L’Amandier is an exquisite boutique resort development of just 15 exclusive villas, located in a lush valley overlooked by the snow-peaked Atlas Mountains. The project was conceived by award-winning London-based architect Nick Gowing, and has been developed as a low-density and authentic contemporary vision of traditional Moroccan riad-style architecture.

Prices start from £319,000 www.lamandier-maroc.com

3 Porto Heli Collection, Peleponnese, Greece The Porto Heli Collection features branded Aman, GHM and Nikki Beach Villas and Residences, and unbranded Golf and Sea Front villas. Already available for sale, are the Aman Villas at Porto Heli, which feature a limited number of exclusive, spectacular designer residences for sale, each with elevated vistas out to the Sea. Sustainable resource management minimises energy and water use, emissions and waste production. Prices start from €2m www.portohelicollection.com 4 Joia das Dunas, Santa Cruz nr Lisbon, Silver Coast, Portugal Joia das Dunas is a collection of 18 Contemporary Eco Villas serviced by a 5 Star Boutique Hotel & Spa. Overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, the luxury resort utilises geothermal heating and cooling technologies. Designed by the renowned architect Vasco Vieira, the units have three en-suite bedrooms, a pool, barbeque area and terraces. Prices start from €625,000 www.elementsclub.com

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PROPERTY – SPECIAL FEATURE

Gordon Miller is Sustainability & Communications Director of Sustain Worldwide. He also works as a journalist, writing for The Financial Times and Sunday Times, amongst other publications, and is founder of eco homes website www.whatgreenhome.com For further information about investing in sustainable properties or any of the properties featured above, contact Sustain Worldwide on: +44 (0)20 7754 5557 or log on to the website: www.sustainworldwide.com

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5 PGA Catalunya, Girona, nr Barcelona, Costa Brava, Spain PGA Catalunya is a master-planned resort of striking architectdesigned, floor to ceiling glass ‘wall’ contemporary sustainable houses. Set in 300 hectares with two golf courses – the Stadium course is ranked number two in Spain, third in Europe and 88th worldwide. The double volume, pavilion style villas, townhouses and apartments are exemplars of dynamic bioclimatic design.

Prices start from €320,000 www.pgacatalunya.com

7 La Reserve, Annecy, Haute Savoie, France La Reserve, in the beautiful French lakeside town of Annecy, in the foothills of the Alps, comprises just two stylish apartment blocks. One is home to four apartments and the second housing seven, including a penthouse on each. All the apartments have balconies with stunning lake and mountain views. The interior materials used include materials like stone and timber, sourced from nearby quarries and sustainable forests. Prices start from €536,000 www.mgm-constructeur.com

6 Medina Palms, Watamu, Indian Ocean, Kenya Medina Palms is an exclusive collection of luxury apartments and villas, all with direct access to the beautiful white-sand beaches of the Watamu National Marine Park and the warm waters of the Indian Ocean.

The properties are built from locally sourced stone block, concrete and steel, with palm thatch roofs. Water conservation is practiced – dual-flush wcs and aerated showers – and rainwater harvested for irrigation use. Prices start from £188,000 www.medinapalms.com

8 Minthis Hills, nr Paphos, Cyprus Minthis Hills, a collection of stylish open plan, glass, pavilion-style villas, located in the hills 20 minutes’ drive from Pafos, creates a harmonious balance between contemporary design and the environment by carefully integrating the development into the landscape. The private residences, situated around an elevated 18-hole golf course, have a passive solar design, and low e-glazing to repel UV rays and prevent overheating. Prices start from €1.1m www.minthishills.com

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C m th qu th

Sc Te

TECH PIECE.indd 6

20/10/2010 20:09

Foto: Daniel Wester

Lars Wallin and Carpe Diem Beds have Lars Wallin and Carpe Diem Beds have through a unique cooperation in bed- and through a unique cooperation in bed- and bedroom textile design created an extravagant bedroom textile design created an extravagant collection of beds and bedtime accessories. collection of beds and bedtime accessories.

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ART & CULTURE

THE PROUD

EFFECT Ataur Rahman

Alex Proud with Dancer at Proud Cabaret

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ART & CULTURE

Proud Camden Gallery

Amy Winehouse

When it comes to art & culture, London is still by far the most exciting city on the planet to inspire, provoke and entertain the zeitgeist. And even though we’ve just had the worst recession of our times, there is an explosion of creativity that is influencing, shaping and leading the way in which we engage and interact with our surroundings across the cultural landscape.

And nowhere is this truer than with the movers and shakers behind the scenes who are shaping opinion for what is on trend. Amongst these is Alex Proud - a sharp-suited, fast-talking entrepreneur and media darling, who seems to have it all - a successful chain of businesses shouting out his name across London town, and beyond. These consist of art & photography galleries, live music venues, restaurants and his newest romance; cabaret.

“It wasn’t always like this” he tells me when I caught up with him recently. “I started a small photographic gallery off Trafalgar Square back in ’94, and although it soon became the hottest

Proud Chelsea Gallery

venue for showcasing photography, it wasn’t translating into sales. So yes, we had untold amounts of press coverage and all our exhibitions were well attended, oversubscribed even, but the reality was no body was buying”.

A familiar story amongst many a successful entrepreneur who has had to fight hard for their business every inch of the way. And Alex Proud is no stranger to this process. “People used to assume I was making tons of money. You couldn’t blame them, as on the face of it I had a busy gallery and getting a lot of exposure in the media. I had celebrities in their droves, and we were running a very slick operation. We were putting on some amazing shows; Rankin’s Nudes, The Official Bob Dylan Show, Buddy Holly etc. But as I said, there were very few people buying, so in reality I was almost always broke and living day-today. Something had to give”.

The turning point came in 2006 when Proud opened a bar and gallery in Camden. Putting on live performances and intimate gigs by the likes of The Kooks, Stereophonics and Dizzee Rascal, it soon started to attract a cult following.

And along with it came the celebrities, all hanging out. Sting, Mick Jagger, Jude law, Pete Doherty, Amy Winehouse, Sadie Frost, The Arctic Monkeys, they all became regular faces and turned Proud Camden in to the hottest live venue going.

Alex & Jarvis Cocker

Kassidy

Mark Ronson

“We couldn’t cope with the numbers, and before long we had to move to bigger premises. So wev took over the old Stables Market Grade II Listed Horse Hospital, which took it to another level.

We still have sell-out exhibitions, top artists and bands visiting, playing or just hanging out”.

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ART & CULTURE

2009 saw the opening of Proud Chelsea - another photographic gallery, and the City-based Proud Cabaret - a 1920s style speakeasy with live cabaret and burlesque performances in a fine dining setting.

Having dined and spent an evening there, I was surprised to see that it wasn’t full of suits, as I had expected, but couples and groups of women far outnumbering the men folk. “You’ll find that it’s actually a classy joint” Proud tells me. “Of course everybody has this image of the whole burlesque scene as one of titillation and perhaps a little sleazy. And I must admit, it took us over a year to get the formula right, and it is now without doubt the destination venue to go to with friends and family for a wholesome enjoyable night out”.

So what about the sceptics who say it’s demeaning for women? “Well, I find it a rather boring subject to have an intellectual debate about to be honest!

You can look at it two ways: either as light hearted entertainment or that it’s demeaning to women. There are far worse things going on in the world than a spot of dancing in underwear.

And you only have to ask the girls doing the shows to see how many of them complain. They all have a great time and enjoy what they do, because they are professional dancers, all of them. So to be honest, I don’t try to intellectualise it and just let people make up their own minds. And right now I’m busy putting in some more changes to the venue, but namely the food. I’ll be the first to admit,

you wouldn’t want to cross town for the food. You would for the entertainment, but not for the food. I mean it’s good food, but not great food that people would come for especially. And I want it to be great. That’s my next challenge”.

It’s true, and I rather appreciated his honesty. The food was ok, but not something I would go for specifically.

And seeing as the bill came to over £150 for two (!), I could easily say I’ve had better, for far less! Never the less, the entertainment was superb, and something completely different to what’s out there. The atmosphere was great and they even have a smoke machine to recreate that dark and dingy look of a speakeasy. It’s a shame that the pianist couldn’t actually smoke a real cigarette whilst he was belting out some classic crooners! But as far as entertainment value goes, it’s definitely worth making a trip across town for.

Proud’s next projects include taking over the 3000+ capacity Matter, at the o2 (can’t wait to see what he has planned for that monster!), a restaurant on the South bank and even a venue in New York.

Exciting times for Alex Proud, but also for the fabric of London - and beyond – as the creative sectors fuse together to continuously engage and entertain...

For more information on the Proud collection, log on to the website: www.proud.co.uk

50 www.urbanlife-magazine.com

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04/02/2011 07:43

URBAN LIFE COMPETITION

WIN A LUXURY WEEKEND BREAK FOR TWO IN LLANDUDNO!

Llandudno is one of the finest traditional seaside resorts on the North Wales coast offering lots for visitors to see and do whatever their age and interests. So for one lucky Urban Life reader we’ve got a luxury three-night weekend break up for grabs at the elegant and excellent Imperial Hotel, which includes breakfast and dinner for each day.

And if you are a keen golfer, we’ve also secured a round of golf at the North Wales Golf Club to win in our fabulous competition.

The Imperial Hotel is Llandudno’s largest quality Four Star hotel and winner of the prestigious AA Hotel of the Year Wales 2010-11 Award.

With its impressive Victorian façade and stylish décor, the hotel boasts an outstanding reputation for food and service and spectacular and panoramic views across the bay.

Guests can choose from the Award winning Chantrey’s Restaurant for fine dining or The Terrace for a more informal and relaxed atmosphere. And with the hotel’s central location in the heart of the resort, guests have easy access to all local amenities and attractions including the longest pier in Wales, Britain’s only cable hauled tramway, a ski slope and snowboard centre, Britain’s longest passenger cable car and the Championship seaside links course at North Wales Golf Club, where our winner receives a complimentary two ball. So whatever your level of experience,

this is your chance to enjoy the exhilarating sea air and North Wales’ magnificent scenery with plenty of challenges!

And after a hard day on the course, you can return to The Imperial’s extensive health and fitness centre, Mint Condition, to enjoy a swim or more vigorous workout in one of the two gyms equipped with an extensive range of cardiovascular and weight training equipment, or unwind and relax in the pool, sauna, solarium and steam room.

So enter our competition for your chance to win a stylish and memorable break at The Imperial Hotel in Llandudno

For further details on accommodation, availability, rates and details of golf courses, call The Imperial Hotel on Freephone 0500 700788 or visit www.theimperial.co.uk www.northwalesgolfclub.co.uk The competition closes on 15th April 2011, with the draw taking place on 18th April 2011 where the winning entry will be chosen at random.

For your chance to win this fantastic weekend break, simply fill in the form below and send it to: Competitions Desk (Llandudno competition), Urban Life Magazine, 10 Greycoat Place, London, SW1P 1SB (or enter online by logging on to: www.urbanlife-magazine.com

URBAN LIFE COMPETITION ENTRY FORM - LLANDUDNO COMPETITION Name Profession/Job Title: Address: Town/City: Postcode: Contact telephone number: Email:

Terms and conditions.

• Competition open to UK residents only. Entrants must be aged 18 or over.

• The prize is valid from 20 April to 31 October 2011, subject to availability and excludes bank holidays and special events.

• The prize is for two people sharing a double or twin room at The Imperial Hotel on a bed, breakfast and dinner basis for three nights.

• The prize excludes supplements, drinks and wine which are an additional charge and should be paid for on departure.

• The prize is non transferable and no cash alternative will be offered.

• The prize includes a two ball at North Wales Golf Club. Tee time must be booked direct with the Golf Club.

• The competition closes on 15th April 2011 and the draw will take place on the 18th April 2011.

• One entry per household.

• Editor’s decision final. No correspondence will be entered into.

• Winner’s details may be used for future promotional purposes.

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ART & CULTURE

THE ART OF GUERLAIN...

As an artist, you may not be familiar with her work, but chances are you have worn a fragrance or used a cosmetic product bearing her family name!

Woman in anguish

Woman veiled she wants out of life. The passion with which she speaks of matters close to her heart, and the warmth of her personality, shine through immediately and endear her to you even more.

Marie Guerlain is a sixth generation descendent of the legendary Guerlain perfume and cosmetics dynasty. Having studied fine art at the prestigious Parsons School of Design, Marie is now settled in London, where she is juggling her art with motherhood and her humanitarian pursuits.

Art is Marie’s first passion in life. “I’ve always wanted to be an artist ever since I could hold a pencil. And when I left art school, I immediately began working as a professional artist” says the surrealist painter, who counts Picasso, Matisse and Frida Kahlo amongst her heroes. And it is with her art that Marie is looking to involve and inspire others through the humanitarian causes she is involved with, namely Innocence in Danger, a children’s charity which is already established in many countries worldwide.

A gentle soul by nature, Marie has that rare fragile quality that you can’t help but instantly warm to. You are drawn to her down-to-earth demeanour, a trait which belies the determination of a woman who clearly knows what

For the past few years, Marie has been busy in her Chelsea studio producing paintings for future exhibitions. As well as these, Marie is using her celebrity name to raise much needed funds and awareness for the IID, which

will no doubt bring her to the public consciousness even more. As Chairman of the UK arm of Innocence in Danger, Marie is actively involved in the setting up and running of the operation in the UK; which helps rehabilitate sexually abused children using art therapy.

“Innocence in Danger is an organisation that operates in 29 countries. Our aim is to protect children against all forms of sexual exploitation which includes child trafficking, paedophilia and child images of sexual abuse on the internet.

I chose to work with this organisation because it’s something I felt a real connection with.”

The charity works closely with the families of abused children, as well as leading psychologists, doctors and artists to provide a support structure in a trusted and safe environment. Creative therapies like art, drama and music are used to aid with the healing process of affected children. “As a mother its is

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ART & CULTURE

Fish I

Woman pretty and grooming

deeply upsetting to know that there are approximately 1 in 3 girls and 1 in 7 boys being sexually abused before the age of 16. I have a strong urge inside me to help affected children recover from their experiences.â&#x20AC;?

The charity is already getting a lot of attention including the backing of luxury jewellers Adler, which is holding a two week exhibition of her art in their Bond Street shop in February. Expect to see more of Marie; the Guerlain girl whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s calling in life is perhaps a lot more than just skin deep...

For more information on Marie Guerlain or Innocence in Danger, log on to: www.marieguerlain.com or www.innocenceindanger.org.uk

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03/02/2011 16:15

ART & CULTURE

ART EXHIBITIONS

THE ART OF FASHION

Ataur Rahman

Sardax

Emma Cowlam

As London readies itself for the descent of the fashion-pack, one W1 boutique is celebrating a different kind of designer.

A special exhibition of illustrations and prints at the pop-up concept store, FashionCapital, will bring fashion and art together this February. From 16-23 February, the FashionCapital boutique will be marking London Fashion Week with an Art of Fashion exhibition featuring original works from fashioninspired artists and graphic designers.

In the 1930s Vogue began the descent of fashion illustration by putting a photo

on the cover. Photography remains integral to the fashion industry, but it was illustration that historically caught its artistic energy and was the visual route through which ideas for new designs were first brought to life.

Fashion illustrations capture the style and glamour of fashion design and are much sought after by collectors.

The Art of Fashion celebrates the role of illustration and graphic design in fashion. Each work in the special exhibition embraces the shapes, movements and emotions of fashion â&#x20AC;&#x201C; some of which were the starting

sketches and drawings that led to catwalk sensations. Others simply inspired by the designers, collections and models that wore them.

Hemyca designers Helen and Myra, both graduates of the London College of Fashion, worked for leading designers including Ben de Lisi and Roland Mouret before launching the label in 2006. Since then the pair have been praised for their exquisite tailoring, a talent evident on the bold lines and delicate movements that jump off the illustrated page. A selection of their original sketches and

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ART & CULTURE

Spiros Halaris

Spiros Halaris

Hemyca

illustrations that precede their catwalk designs will be on display.

Greek born graphic designer, Spiros Halaris, works with various techniques using collages, hand drawn as well as digital elements, and has collaborated with demi-couture fashion designer Ziad Ghanem. His work embraces the human element of fashion and his graphic stylings are evident, as they are in fellow exhibitor, Sardax, a well known underground fetish artist. Selfstyled the ‘Femdom of Art’ Sardax brings a sense of fantasy and erotica to

the interpretations of the fashion design.

Sardax collaborated with FashionCapital designer Afira on the Dark Daze collection. Also exhibiting in the Art of Fashion exhibition is Chelsea Art School textile design graduate Emma Cowlam, who produces hand stitched and hand drawn original illustrations, a unique technique which she has developed.

The result is stylish and full of motion.

Her work is both prize-winning and internationally exhibited.

FashionCapital is a unique concept store that showcases the very best of British

fashion design including the likes of Emma Cook, Felder Felder, Jean-Pierre Braganza and PPQ - the impressive list goes on. The boutique not only houses key designers from the London catwalks but up and coming talent too – a rare chance to see so many British designers and London Fashion Week names selling side by side.

The Art of Fashion, 16-23 February at FashionCapital, 2 Seymour Place, London, W1.

0207 7248430 www.fashioncapital.co.uk

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ART & CULTURE

ART

NPG Queen Elizabeth II by Dorothy Wilding hand coloured

EXHIBITIONS Ataur Rahman

The Queen: Art and Image 2012 marks the Diamond Jubilee of the reign of Her Majesty, The Queen. And to celebrate the occasion, the National Gallery is organising a unique touring exhibition which will showcase 60 of her most iconic images, some of which will be on public display for the first time.

The exhibition starts with the National Gallery Complex in Edinburgh in June, followed by the Ulster Museum in Belfast, the National Museum in Cardiff and finally ending up at the National Portrait Gallery in London in May of next year. On show will be a wide selection of mixed media images; official portraits, photographs and media pictures, including a significant selection of unofficial portraits of the British Monarch by some of the 20th century’s most important artists.

From Beaton and Leibovitz to Annigoni and Warhol, The Queen: Art and Image will be the most wide-ranging exhibition of images in different media devoted to a single royal sitter.

Collectively, the exhibition celebrates and explores the startling range of artistic creativity and media-derived imagery that The Queen has inspired.

It also probes the relation of this imagery to a world of changing values during a reign that has engaged the attention of millions.

Sandy Nairne, Director of the National Portrait Gallery, London, says: “The Queen is the most portrayed person in British history, reflecting her long reign and also the respect and affection which is felt towards her. The Diamond Jubilee is a wonderful celebration and the

National Portrait Gallery is very pleased to be sharing this exhibition with our other national partners in Edinburgh, Belfast and Cardiff.”

The exhibition will be accompanied by a fully-illustrated catalogue featuring over 60 portraits, with essays by

historian and writer Sir David Cannadine and curator Paul Moorhouse.

Published by the National Portrait Gallery, London, priced £30 (hardback).

Available June 2011.

National Portrait Gallery – 17 May – 21 October 2012 www.npg.org.uk

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03/02/2011 16:19

ART & CULTURE

Lightness of Being Chris Levine

www.urbanlife-magazine.com 57

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03/02/2011 16:19

The Privileged Life Black Card – Please check individual partner ads for offers and www.privileged-life.net for current information on member/partner benefits

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04/02/2011 07:14

The Privileged Life Black Card – Please check individual partner ads for offers and www.privileged-life.net for current information on member/partner benefits

Chinawhite. The Restaurant Located on the ground floor of Chinawhite, the restaurant is an intimate and relaxed dining room; serving a modern and western twist on classic Asian cuisine. Dishes such as Kung Pao chicken, sashimi tuna, blackened halibut, griddled watermelon and grilled foie grass with langoustine offer a tantalising choice of dishes to whet the appetite. The menu has been designed by Head chef Adam Penney who has been cooking in some of London's most notable restaurants, including the award-winning Horseshoe in Hampstead, Bibendum and The Lonsdale in Notting Hill.

With spice blends direct from India, China and Japan, meat from free range farm Devon Rose and seafood straight from Cornish fishing boats 24 hours before delivery, Adam and his team are passionate about food and where it comes from. ‘Black Card’ members will get a complimentary bottle of house wine for each booking of a table for two.

4 Winsley Street, London, W1 Reservations: +44 207 291 1480 Email: info@chinawhite.com www.chinawhite.com

Concept Venues – For a full and current list of offers, please visit the Privileged Life website. www.conceptvenues.com

Complimentary bottle of House Wine for each booking of a table for two

Complimentary upgrade on rooms (subject to availability) and a bottle of house wine for a table for two at the restaurants. 10% off total bill at the bars.

COMPETITION.indd 6

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04/02/2011 07:15

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Monogrammed Linen Shop The Monogrammed Linen Shop, MLS, is London’s premier linen shop. It is renowned for the luxurious quality of its cottons and linens, as well as its exceptional embroideries. Its bespoke service enables you to choose any thread colour, design and fabric and its iconic monogramming facility allows you to personalise any item, from napkins and pillowcases to bathrobes and blankets. In addition, it also carries a glorious assortment of the most elegant items for the bath, bed and table – from silk nightwear and the finest cashmere to personalised wash bags and sumptuous towels – as well as a wide selection of clothes and gifts for children. MLS is the only destination for those seeking the most beautiful, unusual and refined linens, nightwear, gifts, accessories and children’s clothing.

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COMPETITION.indd 7

04/02/2011 07:16

URBAN LIFE

OUR GUIDE TO THE MOST EXCLUSIVE AND HIPPEST PARTIES & EVENTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD IWC launches the Portofino range at the SIHH 2011 Daniel Henney

Guest

Fabian Cancellara

Laurent Blanc

Jean Reno and his wife Zofia Borucka

Luis Figo and wife Helen Svedin

Malin Jefferies, Elle Macpherson and Sharlely Becker

SOCIAL.indd 2

Peter Lindbergh

Cate Blanchett

03/02/2011 16:23

Getty Images

Ronan Keating

Kevin Spacey Boris Becker and his wife Sharlely Becker

Tim Jeffries

Zinedine Zidane and his wife Veronique

Richard Krajicek

Elle Macpherson and Georges Kern

Alexei Nemov and his wife Galina

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URBAN LIFE Baume & Mercier at the SIHH 2011

Alain and Nicole Zimmermann and Thomas Kretschmann and Bettina Zimmermann Marina Aleksandrova

Amanda Hendrick in Swarovski

Diana Vickers

Alain Zimmermann and Gwyneth Paltrow

Vincent Perez

OliviaTaton Inge Julie

Nuria Roca

Cecile Bahler

Cecile Bahler

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Getty Images

Arantxa Sanchez

Valeria Bilello Laura Chiatti

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Emmanuelle Chriqui Mathilda May

Xenia Tchoumitcheva

Rashard Reed

Bettina Zimmermann

Marta Sanchez

03/02/2011 16:24

URBAN LIFE Berlin Fashion Week AW2011

Getty Images

Jennifer Ulrich

Shermine Shahrivar

Lena Gercke

LouLou von Brochwitz

Anna Frohmader und Hubertus Regout

Jan-Henrik Scheper-Stuke

Papis Loveday

Marcel Ostertag

Bettina Cramer

Kristin Meyer

Luise Baehr

Enie van de Meiklokjes

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Most people drive to the airport Some people drive to the aircraft Most people rush to catch the flight Some people leave when they’re ready

Some people charter Private Jet Charter is : • Convenient

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Expedient Jet Charter - so much more for a lot less than you may think.

For more information or to discuss your individual requirements, call +44 (0) 208 991 9817, or e-mail graham.turner@expedientjet.com

www.expedientjet.com

Some people arrive at an airport conveniently close to their destinations

The time is now. The place is Malaysia For booking contact your local Travel Agent For more inofrmation please visit: www.tourismmalaysia.gov.my or call 020 7930 7932 Tourism Malaysia. 57 Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DU e-mail: info@toursim-malaysia.co.uk