Push the button, Cliveden
While the ever immaculately dressed Alice Naylor-Leyland was in charge of switching on the Halcyon Days Christmas tree lights, supported by bezzie Olivia Buckingham, other guests sipped Veuve and nibbled on lobster choux buns. A proper posh cracker of a night.
Special branch, Brook Street
To Claridge’s, where Diane von Furstenberg and British Vogue drew the stars out to celebrate the hotel’s festive Tree of Love. David Blaine worked his magic on the crowd while guests including royalty and dames quaffed themed cocktails. ‘Too. Much. Fun,’ whispered one attendee — Flashbulb couldn’t agree more.
In the frame, Mayfair
Art stars gathered to toast Artists for Studio Voltaire, an exhibition at Cork Street Galleries where the bright and brilliant Tim Blanks, Valeria Napoleone and Joe Scotland were on hosting duty. Bryn Williams took a night off from Odette’s to cook up a three-course feast while his other half Sharleen Spiteri got to enjoy his efforts.
Mac Attack, Carnaby Street
Jasmine Guinness, Gareth Pugh and Ellen von Unwerth crammed into the Shakespeare’s Head on Carnaby Street for MAC Cosmetics’ bash for World Aids Day, where 1,200 branded condoms were on show, fish and chips was on the menu and Princess Julia dominated on the decks. Gin and tonics in fishbowl glasses made things go with a swing.
Good Jeans, Marylebone
Kim Kardashian’s impossibly glamorous ex assistant Stephanie Shepherd, or Steph Shep as she’s known to her 1.2 million Instagram followers, threw a party in honour of her collaboration with J Brand. Naturally, the great and the glamorous — think the likes of Lottie Moss, Laura Bailey and Lucy Williams — welcomed her to London.
Perfect 10, Mayfair
Fashion magazine 10 launched its new ‘boxazine’ 10+ at the MatchesFashion townhouse shop at 5 Carlos Place. Carol singing, boxing and some serious party outfits were the order of the day as ceramics star John Booth relaxed on his own-design double bed and designer Roland Mouret boogied with 10+ editor Sophia Neophitou.
Tarty Party, Belgravia
Restaurateurs and ES Magazine columnists Tart London joined forces with Matilda Goad to celebrate their super chic Christmas cracker collaboration. Tacky festive knitwear was eschewed for personalised Hades jumpers given to all guests, while lunch was a festive ham with kohlrabi and a brown sugar pavlova for pud.
Jewel Purpose, Piccadilly
To market, to market — well Dover Street Market for the DSM x Sotheby’s Fine Jewels exhibition. Alex Eagle perused the sparkle on show, guests marvelled at the bespoke works by artist Sammy Slabbinck and everyone was treated to supper upstairs by Rose Bakery. Delish.
Wild West End,Covent Garden
Yippie-ki-yay! The thespian set moseyed on down to the Foundation Bar in Covent Garden to celebrate Kit Harington and Johnny Flynn’s performance in Sam Shepard’s True West. Johnny’s brother Jerome showed up, along with the Treadaway twins, Harry and Luke, while Maxine Peake cosied up with Neil Stuke against the cold.
Win some, dim sum, Covent Garden
A lot of dough indeed went into celebrating the London arrival of highly anticipated Taiwanese dumpling chain Din Tai Fung, with guests including Charlotte Tilbury, the Rothschild sisters and, er, Boris Johnson, who joined Stephen Fry in attempting to make xiao long bao pork dumplings.
