Harrods Made with Love
For those languishing in London, there is recompense at Harrods, which is hosting the festival Made with Love (until Saturday August 29). The event celebrates craftsmanship in modern luxury, and many items have been specially conceived for the festival – some of them limited edition or one-off.
Top of the list will be the world’s most desired bags, exclusive editions of which include Chloé’s Drew in blue, red (£1,050, first picture) or exotic red python (£1,365), a wonderful Loewe red Puzzle bag (£1,271) and a heart-shaped Stella McCartney Falabella (£614), while a pop-up Fendi boutique will sell items exclusive to the festival.
Those with their eye on bespoke, exclusive and personalised pieces might want to take a look at Casadei – in the fifth floor’s Shoe Heaven. Here, women can choose the heel height, material, colour, lining and piping of their shoes (from £660), as well as have their initials carved on the sole. Gentlemen will not be left out – Paul Smith Shoe is offering customisation services, with clients able to select soles, uppers and lining materials (price depending on style), while Tod’s classic Gommino Sole Driver shoes (from £285) will be suited to signore with a choice of 15 leathers and laces in 20 shades.
The festival will also be a good time for brides, as in the Fine Jewellery Room on the ground floor Harry Winston will be creating one-of-a-kind diamond engagement rings (price on request). Bulgari will also be showcasing one-of-a-kind jewels (price on request), while bejewelled timepieces come courtesy of Panthère de Cartier (price on request). In the Fine Watch Room, Panerai, Jaeger-LeCoultre and IWC will create watch straps embossed with the Made with Love logo (price on request).
The sixth-floor Salon de Parfums will be more fragrant than ever, thanks to Ex Nihilo Oud Vendôme (£2,500, second picture), a limited edition (of 10) set of four custom fragrances using materials blended and customised at Harrods. Guerlain will be offering its Collection Privée (£27,500), of which only five fragrance flacons are produced every year, as well as the white and gold bee bottles with intricate ornamental detailing (white gold, from £145, yellow gold from £435). The house has also created the limited-edition Royal Extract perfume (£280) for the festival, in Harrods green, which contains notes of rose, jasmine and tuberose.
Gourmands will find nirvana in the famed Food Hall – exclusive chocolates include those from brands such as William Curley, Godiva and La Maison du Chocolat, and custom tea blends will come in a personalised sleeve. Xavier David cheeses and Ibérico ham from Sánchez Romero Carvajal, both exclusive to Harrods, will also be showcased.
August may traditionally be a quiet month in London, but those in the know will have plenty to keep them entertained.
Spending time in London in August? How about going for dinner at a pop-up on a platform suspended 25m above the ground, or heading to Mayfair for some retail adventuring at the newly revamped Sonia Rykiel shop, or for something really different, try hula hooping on a chic hotel rooftop.