VOGUE UK – FEBRUARY 2010

FEBRUARY 2010

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YOUR FAVOURITE HOTEL? 

I GO TO THE EXCELSIOR LIDO IN VENICE EVERY YEAR. THE ROOMS ARE LIKE BIG '50S CARTOON MOORISH FANTASIES, AND I FEEL LIKE ASCHENBACH ON THE BEACH WITH HAIR DYE DRIPPING DOWN MY FACE IN 'DEATH IN VENICE.' 

YOUR FAVOURITE FASHION BOUTIQUES? 

I LIKE THE AUSTERITY AND ALMOST HOSTILE SILENCE AT THE COMME DES GARCONS SHOP ON RUE DU FAUBOURG ST. HONORE. IT'S ALWAYS A DELIGHT LOOKING AT THOSE CLOTHES AND I ALWAYS PICK UP BOTTLES OF AVIGNON INCENSE PARFUM. 

YOUR FAVOURITE JEWELLERY STORE? 

NAILA DE MONBRISON ON RUE DE BOURGOGNE IS THE MOST PERFECT SHOP I KNOW. I LOVE THE BEIGE COLOR OF THE CURTAIN IN THE WINDOW, THE LITTLE CASES IN THE WALL AND THE INDUSTRIAL METAL FITTINGS. IT FEELS LIKE A LITTLE ESOTERIC CORNER DESIGNED BY PIERRE CHAREAU. AND THE JEWELRY IS BOLD, BARBARIC AND RADICAL. 

YOUR FAVOURITE PERFUME/FRAGRANCE SHOP? 

WHEN I CAME TO PARIS THE FIRST TIME AROUND 25 YEARS AGO, THE FIRST PLACE I WENT TO WAS THE SERGE LUTENS PARFUM SHOP IN THE PALAIS ROYAL. IT WAS ONE OF THE FEW PLACES YOU COULD GET SOMETHING UNAVAILABLE ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD. I LOVED HOW HE CREATED HIS OWN MYTHOLOGY OF BEAUTIFULLY EXAGGERATED CREATURES FLOATING IN HIS VERY PERSONAL UNIVERSE. IT FELT LIKE A DIVINE DESTINY TO OPEN MY SHOP NEXT TO IT MANY YEARS LATER. 

YOUR FAVOURITE HOME FURNISHINGS STORE? 

I LOVE GALERIE ERIC PHILIPPE IN GALERIE VERO-DODAT. HE CARRIES THE MOST BEAUTIFULLY EDITED SELECTION OF 20TH CENTURY SWEDISH AND DANISH FURNITURE; UNUSUAL PIECES FROM THE SWEDISH GRACE MOVEMENT. 

YOUR FAVOURITE MUSEUMS? 

WHEN FRIENDS COME TO PARIS, I LIKE TO TAKE THEM TO THE GUSTAVE MOREAU MUSEUM. I LIKE BEING ABLE TO GO THROUGH HIS PERSONAL ROOMS AND ESPECIALLY ENJOY THE LAYERS OF PAINTINGS DISPLAYED IN HIS STUDIO. I LOVE THE HEAVINESS OF THE THICK LAYERS OF MELODRAMATIC SYMBOLISM; ALL THE SALOMES AND SEBASTIANS AND ANGELS OF GOMORRA. IT MAKES YOU DIZZY LIKE TOO MUCH INCENSE AND PERFUME. 

YOUR FAVOURITE FINE FOODS STORE AND DELICATESSEN? 

I LIKE THE BEAUTIFUL LITTLE CAKES AT PATISSERIE PAIN DE SUCRE ON RUE RAMBUTEAU. THE WAY THEY PUT STUFF TOGETHER IS LIKE VICTOR AND ROLF AND CHRISTIAN LACROIX IN THE KITCHEN. 

YOUR FAVOURITE RESTAURANTS? 

I LIKE WALKING THROUGH THE AIR FRANCE BUS STATION IN THE INVALIDES TO GET TO RESTAURANT CHEZ FRANCOIS UNDERNEATH IT—UNEXPECTEDLY COZY WITH BIG BANQUETTES, MISMATCHED PILLOWS, PLENTY OF FLOWERS AND A PIANO BY THE BAR. 

AND THE AMERICAN IN ME IS ALWAYS IMPRESSED WITH THE EXTRAVAGANT AND BEAUTIFULLY TATTERED INTERIORS OF LE TRAIN BLEU. I ALWAYS THINK OF MAGGIE SMITH THERE IN A SCENE FROM ONE OF MY FAVORITE MOVIES, 'TRAVELS WITH MY AUNT.' 

BEST PLACE FOR A LATE EVENING DRINK? 

I LIKE THE ENERGY AT LE MATHIS AFTER I HAVE DINNER THERE. THE TABLES START MOVING AROUND AND A NEW GROUP STARTS COMING IN. AS I'M LEAVING, I FEEL LIKE SOMETHING DELICIOUSLY ILLICIT IS GOING TO HAPPEN AS SOON AS I'M GONE. 

YOUR FAVOURITE NIGHTCLUB? 

I LIKE THE MUSIC AT THE REX. I WAKE UP AT 3 AM, HAVE AN ESPRESSO AND GO THERE TO DANCE FOR A FEW HOURS. LIKE WAKING UP EARLY TO GO JOGGING. 

BEST FLORIST?