The Best of Everything...

This Wednesday I met the lovely team at Vintage Seekers - a brand new website dedicated to 20th Century  style. With it's chic retro/modernist layout, this is clearly not just any vintage site. They believe in showing you only the best things in life. The website sells the most glamorous and highly collectible vintage pieces from signed movie memorabilia, designer wine, and Rolexes to items by key fashion designers such as Chanel and Ossie Clark.




Original Costume Sketch by Edith Head £15,000



If your idea of vintage is a shuffle through the rails at Oxfam this site is probably not for you! However, from what I can tell, the items they sell are priced fairly and are based on collectibility and more importantly quality.

Courrèges Haute Couture Dress with Belt 1965 £2,250

Or how about this stunning watch for Father's Day?



IWC Ingenieur 1961 Vintage £8,450



The Vintage Seekers online Magazine will keep their readers entertained with travel, events and culture features - keep posted for my review of 'Strictly Gershwin' at The Royal Albert Hall next week!

The offices of Vintage Seekers happened to be too close to The National Portrait Gallery to resist a visit. I really like the portrait of Princes William and Harry by Nicky Philipps, the style of which is reminiscent of John Singer Sargent - probably the greatest compliment I could ever give a portrait painter. 

I also chuckled at the classic Sir John Major portrait by John Wonnacott. If you strain your eyes you'll notice Norma tucked away in the background. One looks at it and wonders who is the more 'long-suffering' of the two.

I can understand our leading portrait gallery celebrating the lives of politicians and royals (good or bad) and even outstanding people like Judi Dench but why the fascination with celebrating TV presenters or stand up comedians? (with the exeption of Billy Connolly). I even spotted a photograph of Susan Boyle! Is that really what people want to see?

Feeling pretty infuriated, a drink was required! We ended up in Mews of Mayfair - a very popular place frequented by rich city boys and amorous couples appreciative of the subtle lighting after 6pm, and it also happens to be a handy port of call before dinner at Claridge's - after all I did promise you 'The Best of Everything' - (a title I have stolen from the book I am currently reading).

Claridge's Lobby

Talking of reading, the best kept secret in London is Claridge's 'Reading Room' - it is more understated than restaurant Gordon Ramsay and has the added joy of not being frequented by celebrity hairdressers, WAGS or for that matter Gordon Ramsay himself. Try the 'The 'Menu Du Jour' - it is a gastronomic delight priced at a staggeringly reasonable £35 for three courses. I ate:

Tempura Oysters, Orange and Watercress Salad, Nantaise Dressing

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 Roast Pave of Salmon, Lobster Tortellini and Brasised Fennel

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Almond Macaroon, Lime Curd and Strawberries

Reading Room - Claridge's

In 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' Holly Golightly says of Tiffany's jewellery store 'what I found does the most good is just to get into a taxi and go to Tiffany's. It calms me down right away, the quietness and the proud look of it; nothing very bad could happen to you there, not with those kind men in their nice suits, and that lovely smell of silver and alligator wallets. If I could find a real-life place that made me feel like Tiffany's, then I'd buy some furniture and give the cat a name.' Claridge's is just such a place. It is so refined it never has to show off about it, and for all the years I've been going there nothing really changes, which is comforting beyond belief.

The Foyer - Claridge's

On Friday, as it was a glorious day and no-one ever seems to reply to emails on Fridays I popped down to the The Real Food Market at Southbank to see my friend William Borrell of Vestal Vodka. It's great to see someone so passionate about their work (whilst remaining sober I hasten to add). William is extremely hands-on and enjoys talking through the vodka making process with customers, encouraging them to try the unique flavours of Vestal which, unlike better known vodka brands is not packed with chemicals, making it a much smoother and more flavoursome experience. With Harvey Nichols now a supplier you know you'll be hearing a lot about it.

Go along to the pop-up Vestal bar which serves classic cocktails every Friday, Saturday and Sunday - Bloody Mary, Moscow Mule and my personal favourite the glorious Espresso Martini. I truly believe you will never want to drink another commerical vodka again. The Real Food Market celebrates the finest food and drink suppliers in the UK. Open from 11am - 8pm (6pm on Sundays) with live music and a party atmosphere, it's the perfect way to spend the weekend.