2011

An elegant place to stay in the city

The UK is well loved for its bed and breakfast accommodation. My experience of this type of place to stay has been really lovely, but I would normally only expect to find a superb b&b in the countryside. As I am always being asked where the good b&bs are in London I decided to identify one that I would choose to stay in, and this is it! Tucked away in the residential area of Islington, this is a handsome house with a stunning antique filled interior. It’s a perfect stopover for a night or two and the location is far enough away from central London to give you an experience of London life, with plenty of interesting shops and boutiques and places to eat within walking distance….and it’s easy to travel to and from by public transport (tube and bus) should you want to visit sites and museums in the centre. Lovely garden, should you visit in Spring/Summer. Book ahead as there are just two rooms…for more pictures and prices, visit www.arlingtonavenue.co.uk

Paris Retrospective

The eternally elegant, always turbaned Madame Grès, is truly one of the great masters of Couture.  Her designs are carved like sculpture.  In fact, she wanted to  be a sculptor, and she constantly said, throughout her long and productive life (1903-1993) that “working with fabric or stone is the same thing.” She was born Germaine Krebs, and fashioned herself Madame Grès, a woman whose sense of purity, simplicity and  timelessness, is still an inspiration for couturiers and designers today. Madame Grès, Couture at Work, is the first Paris retrospective of this grande dame of style.  More than eighty of her luxurious designs, along with original photos and drawings are on display at the Musée Bourdelle www.bourdelle.paris.fr. Her creativity and  figure-moulding drapery, plus her choice of superb fabrics are uncompromising.  For fashion and social history enthusiasts, this exhibition is a must. 25 March-24 July 2011.  The Museum is closed on Mondays.

Galliera hors les murs au musée Bourdelle Madame Grès, la couture à l’œuvre, 25 mars – 24 juillet 2011. Photo: Grès, Robe du soir, vers 1947. Fourreau à dos nu triangulaire. Jersey de soie noir. © Stéphane Piera / Galliera / Roger-Viollet.