The first Range Rover prototype broke cover in 1969, code-named: Velar. Its appeal was instant, combining permanent 4-wheel drive, a split tailgate and elegant modern design. Whilst I would have preferred to have owned the original three-door Range, the four-door iteration released in 1981 boasted all the nostalgia I craved.
Homes that orbit the top and ultra-luxury rentals market have to be faultless, flawless and in the most pristine locations to get on the books of the world’s foremost travel curators. As such, it’s remarkable that – at least, until now – there has been no professional measurement or recognition at this loftiest of levels.
We all know what it feels like when life starts to speed by. The days rapidly turn into weeks, meetings follow meetings, working late leads to rushed dinners out and a few too many drinks, then it’s hazy starts and your third coffee of the morning at nine am… and the cycle starts again. Before you know it, you’re going faster than you think and your stomach hasn’t caught up with the lurch of acceleration. To extend this metaphor further, it’s a miracle the car is still going straight, and you missed the sign to turn off at the next exit. Regardless of whether you manage to slow down enough…
In the Lake household, the Christmas Stocking is a sacred artefact. Everyone sleeping on the night of Santa’s rooftop landing meets the morning with a stocking; children, adults and guests alike. They are a festive staple and personally, my favourite part of the morning.
Let’s elevate the art of gifting for Christmas 2022, and seek out items which encapsulate the essence of finesse for our nearest and dearest. We’re here to celebrate bespoke and small-batch producers. Let’s hear it for the independents, the pioneers, and those crafting the precious, the thoughtful, the unforgettable.
On the second day of competition in the bay of Palma, a prevailing north-easterly wind had made conditions formidable for tacticians as an opposing breeze began to loom large. Europe’s longest-running regatta was coming down to the wire with more than one result calculated on countback. Join us as Peter Robinson finally sets sail for Palma to see the action in the Balearic waters first-hand.
The Spetses Classic Yacht Regatta is a unique 4-day event organised by the Yacht Club of Greece and supported by the Poseidonion Grand Hotel. Staged to the amazing backdrop of the hotel and the Argosaronic Gulf, a series of classic yachts (Classic Boats, Traditional Caiques, Traditional Lateens, Dragons) form an exquisite parade, with crews from Greece and around the world.
Escapism. Goodness knows we all need some after the last couple of years. Crossing the Masai Mara at sunrise by hot air balloon to watch the migration or boarding the Glacier Express across the alps is arguably bucket list-worthy. However, for me, the instant gratification of short-haul travel is equally satisfying, waking up to the mundane breakfast at home, yet taking lunch somewhere completely out of the ordinary. With French Alpine resorts open, this can only mean taking that midday intermission mountainside.
Springtime. My favourite time of year in London. We creep out of the winter, bleary-eyed and muscles stiff, stretch and look around. As quick as they came before, bitter mornings have made way for hazy lemonade sunrises of hot pinks and warm yellows. Magnolia trees bloom on the street edges, tulips burst from the curbsides, and parks are freshening their greens. With this first seasonal turn of the year comes many things, be that the pep in your step after finally feeling a decent dose of natural vitamin D, the craving to make changes to your daily drill after the long winter, or an overall spring clean of the home,…
“Look at that subtle colouring. The tasteful thickness.” The inspiration for the Rolls-Royce ateliers? That of haute couture from the likes of John Varvatos, Alexander McQueen, Yohji Yamamoto and Ann Demeulemeester. Ultimately, the darker aesthetic establishes a strong presence without detracting from the car’s silhouette.
Launched in May, the Range Rover Sport enters its third iteration. With it comes a sense that it has always been there. It fits. I mean, for many of the younger generation, it actually has always been there.
Finished in a hue not dissimilar to Audi’s Nardo Grey, the Ferox-T cuts a mean silhouette. Inside, one is introduced to the Italian side of this curious combo, but an interior that is certainly one that could be classed as luxury. Through the use of high-grade materials and the liberal application of them; the cabin feels as special inside as the outside does rugged.
This seamless blend of two Victorian townhouses (as of 1908) spans an impressive 91 bedrooms, whilst preserving its throne in the then power seat of London.
I will always remember the first glimpse I had of Lake Como. I was coming from Milan and just remember seeing a glint of sunshine bounce off the Lake as I approached. I was fixated on this mammoth lake that consisted of some of the clearest water I had ever seen, cosseted in between the Italian hills.
Freeride World Tour champion, podium taker at Nine Knights and title holder of the European Skier of the Year, Markus Eder is, without doubt, one of the worlds most versatile freeskiers. Parks, streets, mountains and backcountry Eder has proven time and time again that he is a well-armed cross-discipline disciple.
Puerto Rio is borne out of an immensely long and diverse history. Its current social make-up and the basis for much of the social aspects of life, food, dance and art are influenced by the triumvirate of backgrounds that the population is largely made up of, those being the indigenous population.
To explore the prevailing wind of the latest travel destinations is one thing. To unpick the essence of luxury travel and hospitality, to unravel the nature of what a whole new generation of high-end holidaymakers are seeking, and to understand what is driving the shifting sands of travel trends is something else entirely.
For me, London tends to be a swift one-day affair for a day on set, back-to-back meetings or events across the city. However, last week my visit was a little different, I was to stay at The Gantry, a Stratford hotel, with dinner at Chino Latino, just south of the river. To the eyes of someone with a packed schedule, staying almost an hour away from an evening destination might seem abhorrent. If this sounds all too familiar, let me explain why you need to embrace a slowing pace, and never overlook the joy of seeing one’s own country or city through the eyes of a tourist. The Gantry Arriving…
From the lush terraced rice paddies to mysterious forests and serpentine rivers, Vietnam’s natural splendour is nothing short of breathtaking. The nation’s rich cultural tapestry, a seamless fusion of Asian and French influences, is beautifully woven into the very fabric of daily life, from its unique architecture to exquisite cuisine.
Welcome to the digital nomads. This new tribe of traveller has an intense desire to immerse themselves in a place, to get a sense of its space and its people. To unearth the roots of its way of life and discover its heartbeat. Only then, can they feel like they are part of its landscape rather than just a visitor to it.
The thought of a summer vacation may feel all too painful in the depths of winter, but as the frost begins to thaw, you might find yourself spending more time staring out of the window at your desk, daring to dream of a summer escape.
In this inaugural edition of The Elective, we sit down with Aesthetician, Ophthalmologist and Oculoplastic Surgeon Dr Jennifer Doyle and Consultant Ophthalmologist and Oculoplastic Surgeon Mr Richard Scawn for a deep dive on The Clinic Holland Park.
The perfect gift doesn’t need to be seasonal. The occasion might be a birthday, a win at the office, or maybe a moment of self-care. Whichever way, we are here for your inspiration. Here’s our hot list of what we would like wrapped up and gently pressed into our palms from another, or in a moment of self-celebration. The Fragrance Moment Goldfield & Banks, Ingenious Ginger As one’s perfume collection grows, the available space for play between fragrances could narrow – especially for a nose that knows what it likes. For a scent that boasts overall citrus and floral notes (my least reached-for categories), this unusual blend is a…
A little dress, legs out, heels on. Should I take a jacket? It’s early summer so I might need it. I will probably only want to toss it aside when I get there… I’ll grab an Uber rather than the Tube… It’s not pre-planning for a night out, but it could be. I am actually off to breakfast with Hanover and Jessie, from Discothéque. The newest, and in my humble (if not industry-specific) opinion, most exciting home fragrance launch I have attended in a long while. Now, it’s not a unique notion to use scent to take us away to another place or time, but Discothéque wants to whisk us…
I slip my slightly clammy hand gingerly into the slot, ease some pressure and pull gently skyward. That scissor-door entry is nothing less than muted pornography. So effortless in its execution, it’s part of the recipe that makes the Aventador just that little bit more special.
Quality, innovation and – by god, in this case – style. Casio’s reputation precedes it when it comes to its product development and, crucially, its product refinement. Their first electronic keyboard, The Casiotone CT-201, was birthed by Toshio Kashio and his team in January 1980.
Fresh from four days in Scotland driving the simply astonishing Ferrari F8 Spider, there are times in one’s life where you have to sit back, take some time, and genuinely let an experience wash over you. You need to take it in. Revel in it. The smells, the sights, the sheer visceral nature of it.
Like many Swiss watchmaking dynasties, Alpina can trace its founding back to the turn of the nineteenth century – 1883 to be precise – by Gottlieb Hauser, a watchmaker in Winterthur, who also established the Swiss Watchmakers Corporation (Union Horlogère Suisse).
It wasn’t until Stacia Suttles turned 19 and stepped into a boxing ring for the first time, that the amateur fighter realised she was exceptionally gifted in the combat sport.
I scanned the horizon of the Finnish race circuit but Charlie was possibly doing a few laps in the 500hp V8 110. “Let me see if I can find him Tony”. “Cool man”. This was the first of a handful of semi awkward exchanges I would have with Tony Hawk that week as we crossed from Finland into Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Austria and Monaco.
