Penny McCormick finds out the latest fashionable haunts…
I am in awe of those who travel light. Irish style consultant Aoife Dunican (@thestylebob) packed everything she needed for a recent overnight trip to London in a smart Neverfull Louis Vuitton tote. Her tips? Stick to one neutral colour palette such as black, navy or grey. “Black trousers look just as good at the airport with a knit and trainers as they do at night, and can be elevated by changing your top, shoes and jewellery.” Aoife packs scarves (from Laura Chambers), a red lipstick (Lisa Eldridge’s Strawberry Shock) and statement jewellery (by Melissa Curry) to add colour. She rolls spare clothes in a dry-cleaning bag and uses sandwich bags for her underwear. “A game changer for me is using bronzer as eyeshadow to minimise cosmetics.”
Aoife has booked tickets for the “Gabrielle Chanel: Fashion Manifesto” exhibition which opens at the Victoria & Albert Museum on September 16, where outfits created for model Anne Gunning and actors Lauren Bacall and Marlene Dietrich are among the exhibits. For those who prefer contemporary fashion inspiration, including collections from Irish designers JW Anderson and Simone Rocha, the opening of “Rebel: 30 Years of London Fashion” at the Design Museum coincides with the start of London Fashion Week. If planning a trip, the discreet townhouse hotel, The Adria, is a stone’s throw from both museums and is a great base for enjoying the charms of South Kensington, where my favourite haunt is Walton Street. www.theadria.com.
Rebecca Devaney.
“Hot” new hotel openings this month include The Peninsula in London. New York architect Peter Marino designed the space which has lots of talking points, including a rooftop restaurant, nine boutiques, Jenny Packham-designed uniforms and a bespoke scent created by perfumier Timothy Han. www.thepeninsula.com. In Paris, Le Grand Mazarin in Le Marais follows hot on the heels of the opening of La Fantasie in Faubourg-Monmartre, both by the prolific Martin Brudnizki Design Studio. The former is centred around a pretty courtyard garden, the latter wows guests with its flamboyant decor, Israeli food at Boubalé, hammam, indoor swimming pool and bars. www.legrandmazarin.com. If you swoon over gorgeous fabrics, buttons and bows as I do, then do look up Irish embroidery expert Rebecca Devaney, who organises bespoke textile tours of Paris (and London) and shares her love of French craft in several online guides. One tip is to visit Marché Vernaison for vintage fashion and textiles. www.textiletoursofparis.com. @pennymccormicked