Robes

From Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers to a G & T, nothing beats a great double act. And the early success of veteran Parisian fashion label, Nina Ricci, came down to just that.

When it comes to home comforts, no country dwelling would be complete sans fresh, natural linens for the bed, bath and dining rooms—the way it used to be. The go-to fibre for centuries, as one of the world’s oldest fabrics, linen’s key characteristics include breathability, durability, insulation and softness, not forgetting its anti-bacterial and moisture absorbing properties, which all aid a good night’s sleep. With its luminous, light-reflecting qualities, a great linen bed set can transform a bedroom.

How to revive a sleeping giant of the nightclubbing world – Les Bains Douches – while respecting its legacy as the after-dark playground for a Who’s Who of subversive notables in the Eighties? With the formidable Marie-Line manning the door the mythic nightspot was as a popular rallying ground for artists, intellectuals and designers, with among regular punters Andy Warhol, Yves Saint Laurent, Jean Paul Gaultier, Claude Montana, David Bowie, Iggy Pop, Mick Jagger and punk priestess Edwige Belmore. Joy Division even recorded a live album there in 1979.

"There is something special about Beirut that will touch you."

"There’s an enormous creative energy here, which manifests itself in fashion, music and art. It’s the fact that it’s all out there, and even if you’re short of time, then a quick window shop as you’re on the way to a meeting lifts the soul!"