WHAT: THE LAUNCH OF THE AMANDA WAKELEY FLAGSHIP STORE, 18 ALBEMARLE STREET
WHEN: Thursday 30th January 2014, 7pm until late
WHERE: 18 Albemarle Street, London, W1S 4HR
VIPs from the world of fashion and business converged at 18 Albemarle Street to toast the opening of Amanda Wakeley’s flagship store. Set over two floors, the beautiful townhouse features bespoke interiors personally designed and selected by Amanda herself. Amanda and her CEO Sagra Maceira de Rosen guided their personal guests around the store whilst conversation flowed over bespoke “Eightinis” and delicious canapés courtesy of Mark Hix and Belvedere.
WHO:
Amanda Wakeley (wearing Amanda Wakeley)
Hugh Morrison – Amanda Wakeley’s partner and co-owner of Amanda Wakeley
Sagra Maceira de Rosen – CEO of Amanda Wakeley
Elizabeth Hurley (wearing Amanda Wakeley)
Tracey Emin CBE
Kelly Hoppen MBE
Darcey Bussell
Tamara Beckwith
Yasmin Mills (wearing Amanda Wakeley)
Greg Rusedski
Nicky Haslam
Lisa Butcher (wearing Amanda Wakeley)
Sarah-Ann Macklin (wearing Amanda Wakeley)
Olivia Inge (wearing Amanda Wakeley)
Olivia Grant (wearing Amanda Wakeley)
Camilla Rutherford (wearing Amanda Wakeley)
Marissa Montgomery (wearing Amanda Wakeley)
Tiphaine Chapman (wearing Amanda Wakeley)
Sophia Hesketh
Amanda Sheppard (wearing Amanda Wakeley)
Francesca Zampi (wearing Amanda Wakeley)
Gabriela Peacock (wearing Amanda Wakeley)
Katie Redman (wearing Amanda Wakeley)
Sofia Wellesley (wearing Amanda Wakeley)
Emma Pilkington (wearing Amanda Wakeley)
Alessandra Balazs (wearing Amanda Wakeley)
Kim Johnson (wearing Amanda Wakeley)
Olivia Hunt (wearing Amanda Wakeley)
Martha Ward (wearing Amanda Wakeley)
Saffron Aldridge (wearing Amanda Wakeley)
Alexandra Shulman
Elizabeth Saltzman
Caroline Rush
Harold Tillman
Heather Kerzner
Mark Hix
Natasha Rufus-Isaacs
Arun Nayar
Kristina Blahnik
Sir Charles and Lady Celia Dunstone
Nick and Nettie Mason
Tim and Malin Jefferies
WHAT THEY ATE: A bespoke menu for Amanda Wakeley by Mark Hix:
- Golden beetroot galette with goat’s curd and pickled walnuts
- New Forest ham with tomato toasts
Sprouting broccoli with herb mayonnaise - Soft-boiled quail’s eggs with Oscietra caviar
- Buttermilk fried chicken with kimchi ketchup
- Beef tataki with green beans
- Spiced aubergine cigars
- Pumpkin arancini
- Winter squash risotto
WHAT THEY DRANK: A bespoke menu specially-designed for Amanda Wakeley by Mark Hix:
Eightini – Rose petal-infused Belvedere, fresh grapefruit juice, lemon, rhubarb and vanilla syrup with a touch of orange blossom and rhubarb bitters.
Mojito Iced Tea – Belvedere vodka perfectly mixed with Burrow hill apple juice, peppermint tea, mint leaves, apple syrup and finished with soda water.
The Tonnix Grand Crew wine – Amanda’s favourite wine from Mark’s very own brand. The label has been specially created by Tracey Emin, and depicts Amanda’s classic sailing boat Savannah.
WHAT THEY TALKED ABOUT:
Amanda – Amanda’s friends congratulated her on the stunning new Mayfair “home” and toasted her success as a designer for over 20 years – next year is the 25th Anniversary of the brand!
Albemarle Street– tipped to be “The next Mount Street” in London…Amanda joins Paul Smith, Tiffany and Globetrotter with several other big brands rumoured to be moving in later in the year
Strictly Come Dancing vs The X Factor – The age-old dilemma of which Saturday night show is your favourite, and all the tougher for Amanda who dressed both Strictly’s Darcey Bussell and X Factor’s Nicole Scherzinger no less than four times whilst the shows were on.
London Fashion Week – Amanda revealed that she will be showing back on schedule at London Fashion Week again in February after a hiatus of several seasons, and the location would be none other than her 18 Albemarle Street boutique. British Fashion Council CEO Caroline Rush was delighted with the choice of venue.
Above (L-R): Elizabeth Hurley (wearing Amanda Wakeley); Tracey Emin; Darcey Bussell and Amanda Wakeley (wearing Amanda Wakeley); Kelly Hoppen and Amanda Wakeley (wearing Amanda Wakeley); Alexandra Shulman, Amanda Wakeley (wearing Amanda Wakeley) and Elizabeth Hurley (wearing Amanda Wakeley)