I’ve only been back in London for one week and what a week it’s been! Dealing with serious jet lag I was launched back into London night life this week on Monday when I visited the Old Vic Tunnels where Lazarides Gallery, coinciding with Frieze art fair, brought us ” Bedlam”, creatively exploring the well-intended beginnings of ‘Bethlam’ London’s Hospital for the mad. We entered the installation through a pitch black room that altered ones senses and prepared us for the damp dripping walls and disturbing installations that on closer inspection were beautifully fragile and delicate depicting the state of mind of many asylum patients. Artists such as 3D from Massive Attack played with our mind and vision to bridge the delicate balance between sanity and insanity.
On a more glamorous note Wednesday night was the London Lifestyle Awards 2012 , hosted by capital radio’s DJ Greg Burns, at the beautiful Hurlingham club. I was happy to accompany my darling ‘big brother’ Mark Fuller to the dinner and award ceremony where his fabulous boutique hotel The Sanctum Soho, won hotel of the year for the third year running. Hot diamonds sponsored the event and kindly gave me a black pearl bracelet to wear, thank you guys!
The deserving winners across all the lifestyle categories were:
Best Green Contribution to London: The Royal Parks
London Fashion Retailer of the Year: Katherine Elizabeth Millinery
London Coffee Shop of the Year: The Haberdashery
Hospitality Business of the Year: Firmdale Hotels
London Cultural Attraction of the Year: Society of London Theatre – Kids Week
London Festival of the Year: E4 Udderbelly
London Fitness Facility of the Year: Pineapple Dance Studios
London Live Music Venue of the Year: Royal Albert Hall
London Theatre Show of the Year: Matilda
London Hairdresser of the Year: Taylor Taylor London
London Restaurant of the Year: Le Caprice
London Concierge Company of the Year: Quintessentially Lifestyle
London Bar of the Year: Salvatore’s at The Playboy Club
London Club of the Year: Mahiki
London Hotel of the Year: Sanctum Soho Hotel
London Members’ Club of the Year: Eight Members Club
London Lifestyle Legend: Arlene Phillips
London Personality of the Year: Boris Johnson
London Health and Beauty Facility of the Year: Chuan Spa at The Langham Hotel
Outstanding Contribution to London Lifestyle: London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games
I had a blast catching up with old friends and new friend, Jessica Knowles, reminiscing about the disgraceful behavior of our youths now everyone is now a little older, wiser but still every bit as fabulous! We finished the night off back at the Sanctum rooftop bar where I left at the very reasonable grown up hour of 1am, drank my 2 glasses of water before bed and woke up the next day hangover free and ready for the day ahead.
My next adventure was in a damp underground car park in Soho (apparently the theme of my week) where the avant garde fashion darlings SORAPOL – Sorapol Chawaphatnakul and creative director Daniel Lismore, held Euphoria, their omage to fallen bohemian girls such as Edie Sedgewick. The models, wearing artist Achraf Amiri’s ironically blank paper mache masks, stumbled, vogued and blew kisses along a fake cocaine lined catwalk.
Beginning with a panther-headed motorbike revving down the catwalk roaring at the front row fashionistas, followed by stumbling “doll queen” models with the traditional wedding dress finale replace by a twin-bladed guitar dress whilst The Voice’s Vince sang a Rolling Stones number accompanied by distorted electric guitar, this was the perfect underground glamour and even more perfect way to end the week.
What do you think?