ulian Fellows may have
been researching his next
historical drama as he
mingled amongst the great,
good, stylish and elegant of
Chelsea. There was a
definite air of The Smart
Chelsea Set around The
Breast Cancer Haven
Summer Garden Party at The
Chelsea Physic Garden on a
breezy warm evening in July.
Hair styles were perfectly
coiffured, summer dresses and
trousers flowed with silks and
chiffons and gentlemen
maintained sartorial standards
in summer jackets and chinos.
In addition to Lord and Lady
Fellows other notable guests
the Rausings, Richard Turpin of
Artemis, Andy Buchanan of
John D Wood. Definitely plenty
of material for Julian Fellowes’
next look at British society.
medicinal and historical plants,
100 variety of trees, many rare
and endangered, and
Glasshouses of Tropical and
Subtropical species. A place to
go back to and explore in much
further detail when not
distracted by the fundraising
events.
Of course everyone was there
to enjoy the supreme setting of
The Chelsea Physic Garden,
London’s oldest botanic
garden, founded in 1673 by
the Worshipful Society of
Apothecaries. The Garden is a
quite magical place to visit; its
own microclimate hosts around
5,000 different useful,
J
Above and right: The amazing
Chelsea Physic Garden.
Not only were there fascinating
people to observe in an
enchanting setting there was
also great fun chatting with
friends, competing in the live
and a silent auctions, a raffle
tree and pledges, plus delicious
canapes and Champagne
circulating in abundance. The
auction, conducted by Adrain
Biddell, recently with
Sotherby’s, included exciting
Stylish Summer Garden Party
for Breast Cancer Haven
prizes donated by Steppes
Travel, EVA Airline,Kassiopi
Villas Corfu and Noble
Caledonian.
Breast Cancer Haven is a
caring charity there to provide
women with breast cancer the
support that treatment alone
can’t do through a UK network
of centres and services. The
585 guests at the Summer
Garden Party raised £130,000
to continue this essential work.
JONATHAN BYRNE
www.breastcancerhaven.org.uk
http://chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk/
Isabell Kristensen’s
Royal Ascot Couture Collection
I
sabell Kristensen is a top
Danish designer who has
offices in both London and
Monaco and has dressed
many well-known figures.
She also designs for feature
films and holds fashion
shows internationally. Her
glorious Royal Ascot Couture
Collection celebrates the
highlight of the London
Season, the four-day royal
race meeting which is a
paradise for designers and
milliners.
The event began with a
champagne reception in the
Mandarin OrientaL Hotel in
Knightsbridge and the show
was held in the Ballroom. As a
tribute to the black and white
colours, which have become
synonymous with Royal Ascot
since the immortal sequence in
My Fair Lady, the early outfits
were beautiful examples of
using these colours to create a
hedonistic ambience.
The show also had a classical
theme, the outfits were so
imaginative and
quintessentially feminine, with
pink being a particularly
favoured colour. They flattered
the female form and were
enthusiastically received. Duck
egg blue and grey were also
widely used and there were
some chic and glamorous
outfits for evening wear. The
materials and fabrics are
sourced from fine mills in
Britain.
I loved the millinery, most of
which was provided by John
Boyd. He has been involved in
making hats for 75 years and
Diana, Princess of Wales, was
one of his clients. The jewellery
was a collaboration with Bykov
Jewellery House and some
gorge ous pieces were
displayed.
One of the many chic outfits.
An elegant ensemble.
Visit The London & UK DatebooK on www.thedatebook.co.uk
Fashion shows have
considerable significance in the
trade as they showcase the
designer’s work for the press
and, most significantly, for
potential buyers. Unlike so
many outfits which appear on
the catwalks and which are too
extravagant to be worn, Isabell
Kristensen’s creations are
specifically designed to beautify
the wearer at fashionable
events.
RICHARD FITZWILLIAMS
THE LONDON & UK DATEBOOK
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