In the pink
A record 450 guests attended The Met’s Pink Drinks Party – probably the most sought-after event of London Fashion Week. There was plenty of pink champagne flowing from the sparkling Louis Roederer bar as well as signature pink Cirque de Rose cocktails, from the creators of Secret Circus clothing, who launched the world’s most expensive diamond-encrusted jeans at the event – which sold for £640,000. We had to fight over the gorgeous canapés (think baby beetroot and goats cheese meringue sticks, Miso sesame tuilles and crab with white peach and rosemary) with the models and stylists who hadn’t been fed properly while working hard all day. There were also sinful chocolate desserts, courtesy of Filthy Foods, served by burlesque Rose Tarts who wore vintage lingerie from What Katie Did and Ruby Rouge, eccentric wigs by Yukiness and shoes by Terry de Havilland. We put our cards in the handbags held by mannequins in the hope of winning a silver grey suit from Noir or a green chiffon cocktail dress from Mattijs van Bergen, courtesy of Holland Park’s Rous Iland boutique before hitting the dancefloor to an eclectic mix from the Readers Wives DJs.
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Jamie Cooke, Peter Gullestrap,
and Courtney Blackman
Julia Perone, Lucy Hoystead and Lucy Schroeder
Kiera O'Brien and Emely Skjelbred
Mark Wakefield, Annbel Slater, Freddie Achom and Sveta Nastera
Miss Perly Gates, Fifi La Bomb and Vicki Butterfly
Terry de Havilland, Liz de Havilland and Lee Gage
It’s a Pleasure!
The 20th Century Theatre’s John Reilly is more used to hosting parties for other people at the much-loved Notting Hill venue than being the centre of attention himself, as he was at a recent bash to celebrate his 70th birthday. John – who is known among friends by the nickname ‘Pleasure’ (which was given to him by his one-time boss Judy Garland!) is a well-known Grover, having managed the 20th Century with Missy Hyams and owner Sandra Kamen for nine years, before which he managed the back bar at Portobello Gold for two years.
Sandra presented John with the special birthday gift of a photo box, where guests – some of whom had some from as far as Switzerland and the US – could pose for a photo for him. It was extremely popular except with one rather camera-shy guest, family friend Daniel Craig who – with his beautiful fiancé Satsuki Mitchell – kept a low profile.
Photographs by Victoria Dawe
John Reilly and Daniel Craig
Janice St Damian
Rebecca Hernandez
Sandra Kaman and Liam Reilly
Debbie Does and Fred Defay
Nikki Stevens and Flavia Campilli
Bart Turner
Emma Steer and Poppy Bell
The shy George Butler
Roon Clayman and John Reilly
Laila Aitken and Mary Whitmore
Linda Johnson Bell and Satuski Mitchell
Curator Roon Clayman, Gloria Bomabasa and architect Mike Exton
Grove editor, Kate Crockett
Jewellery designer Laila Aitken and her husband James
Miranda Wildi and 20th Century manager, Missy Hyams
Curry Favour
Westbourne Grove was brought to life this month, despite the roadworks, with the much anticipated opening of Vineet Bhatia’s Urban Turban. The Launch party saw the restaurant cleared of furniture to accompany the throngs of well-wishers, eager to sample Vineet’s Michelin-starred offerings. Refreshed with mini bottles of cobra beer, party goers nibbled on delicate Indian canapés and admired the refurbishment, with plush purple banquettes and chandelier lighting. Tables for dinner are already hard to come by making Urban Turban the hottest new kid on the block.
Vineet Bhatia (second from left) with family friends Amee, Sonali, Raj and Bhavin
Simon Cooper and Amy Patterson
Meera Dattani and Ameet Gheewala
Devika Sauborah and Bhavna Mistry
James Bulmer and Rashima Bhatia
Nav Gupta and Kiran
Vineet Bhatia