Overdose on Cartier

Naomi Watts looked sensational at the dinner to launch the Cartier exhibition in Canberra at the NGA.

The National Gallery of Australia’s next extraordinary exhibition featuring many of the world’s greatest jewels opens in Canberra on 30 March. Cartier: The Exhibition includes the tiara loaned to Catherine Middleton on her wedding day , a necklace worn by Her Majesty The Queen, Grace Kelly’s engagement ring and Elizabeth Taylor’s ruby and diamond necklace, along with some of the most exquisite pieces from the stunning Cartier Collection.

Below: at the Cartier dinner in Canberra: to launch the exhibition: Countess Zofia Krasicka v. Siecin, Lady Potter AC and Countess Primose Krasicka v. Siecin
For the uninitiated Countess Primose Krasicka is the former Primrose "Pitty Pat" Dunlop who featured in the madcap adventure in Venice when she and her fiance Prince Lorenzo Montesini arrived with the cream of Melbourne society in tow for the pair's expected marriage. At the very last minute Prince Lorenzo got cold feet and ran off with his best man and "life partner" Robert Straub. Straub and Montesini had met whilst doing their National Service during the Vietnam War.
You can read more of Primrose's adventures here.

A 15 year old Murdoch and the groom who eloped with his best man in Venice

Cartier fans and some of their jewels:
The Countess of Cambridge * HM The Queen* Elizabeth Taylor*Grace Kelly*Duchess of Windsor* Dame Nellie Melba

VIPs Only !

You have to hand it you nightclub entrepreneur Karim Gharbi who rules the roost at Double Bay's Casablanca nightclub. His new VIP venture is a much needed service for Sydney : the concept is a one-stop-shop for anyone that wants the very best this city has to offer. Whether it's a Lear Jet on standby, the best suite at one of this cities luxurious hotels, the best table at our world renowned restaurants or just perhaps the latest Rolls Royce to ferry you from point to point, Gharbi promises to smooth the way. And we love his 5 day cosmetic package that will rejuvenate the most jaded.
How appropriate that Karim should launch his business at the amazing Penthouse at the Top of The Town in Kings Cross.
The above vista is just part of the sensational view from one of Sydney's secret party spots. And yes, the Roller with the open doors greeted us upon arrival. No, the pushbike does not belong to Whispers (we walked) but we can report that magnums of Moet & Chandon flowed for one of Sydney's best parties of the year. Whispers approved. And we aren't even VIPS!. Russian oligarchs should form an orderly queue.

Royal Ascot, Royal Secrets

Please watch the video first as an introduction : that's a command from Her Maj, Queen of Australia (UK, Canada etc etc and so on) who is seen in our exclusive snap arriving at the pollies' Mid-Winter Ball in Canberra last week.

           It's very chilly in Sydney with a wind howling down from the snowfields but in London it's bright and sunny and that time of the year for Wimbledon, Windsor Polo and the races at Royal Ascot. Plenty of pics have been published of famous Aussies in the VIP Box at the tennis but here are our exclusive snaps of ritzy Double Bay hairdresser Joh Bailey who has taken Ascot by storm. And doesn't he look elegant? (no idea who the lady in top hat is but she looks great)
 Joh is a fine horseman himself so he has a great interest in the beasts and when he isn't tending to the locks of Sydney society matrons or visiting celebs like the Duchess of York or movie legend Jane Fonda- seen with Joh in our snap - he's appearing at gymkhanas and horse trials. At present he's moved on from the grand Belgravia mansion he was staying in and is now in Paris. Ain't life grand for some !

## The Shuttle has attended Ascot twice. Many moons ago we traveled in style in a Range Rover with a good friend Stephen Barry who worked at Buck Palace.  Amazingly, Barry's car was waved through at blocked intersections by police as they spotted him bearing down on them. They held up traffic as we sailed past. It's then we learned the car was owned by Barry's employer Prince Charles and he had borrowed it for the day. Being painted a special blue supplied by British Paints, a colour reserved for the Royals (right), it's how we discovered that all British police are trained in spotting the special coloured cars to ensure smooth passage of VIPs. Like us.
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          Below is a pic of the Windsor Polo and the Cartier Cup. It's a splendid snap and we love the lady in front. Apparently in one of our snaps is a royal impersonator and in our other snap it's a genuine Royal. We can't tell which is which, perhaps you can!

Sale Of The Century

If you happen to be wandering through Surry Hills tomorrow (all the smart people do) check out the Fabulous Editor's Garage Sale near the Bourke Street Bakery (633 Bourke Street). It's not be missed and begins at 8am and expect lots of fabulous designer outfits on sale both local and international brands plus lots of desirable goodies.

The sale is a combined effort of fashion journalist identities Lee Tulloch (above) -she lived in New York for years so expect lots of DKNY and Jo Gambale.  Get in early and grab a designer bargain!

 Meanwhile the auction house Lawsons (the Shuttle has furnished our house with amazing finds there) has an on-line auction of a collection of international designer outfits from Cartier, Dolce & Gabana, Diane von Furstenberg, Gucci and-well you name it's there. Some items are pictured below Go to the Lawsons' website for the auction : One Woman's Wardrobe - Vintage Fashion &Accessories 

Cartier Style

Patricia D'Arenberg and Baroness Jean de Gunsburg                 

They do things a little differently in Paris. 

 

 

To start with publicists can distinguish between the dreaded paparazzi and social snappers. The former go into a lather over the Lara Bingles of the world, whilst the latter tend to actually know who is who, dress accordingly for the event and believe good manners are appropriate. 

Lately Sydney's publicists seem to be employing just one well known snapper to cover events. This is no different to perhaps just one journalist writing for every publication or one public relations officer handling every single account, one restaurant being the only event location and so on.

 Why is that Melbourne , New York, Paris and London can get it right while Sydney still revels in the dark ages, sometimes trying to live up to it's reputation as the ' Chicago of the Southern hemisphere' and all that it implies ?

                    Archduchess Eleonore Von Habsburg, Princess Francesca Von Habsburg & Prince Albert de Monaco * Nefer Suvio & Nick Rhodes * VV Brown* Kristin Scott Thomas & Joely Richardson

Here are a few snaps from the Shuttle's Parisian operative Rindoff Petrov of the fabulous Cartier

retrospective organised by the Réunion des Musées Nationaux-Grand Palais, the Cartier. Le style et l’histoire , a celebration of Cartier style and an expression of cultural recognition that affirms Cartier’s place in the world of decorative arts. From 4 December to 16 February 2014, this creative heritage will be on display at the Grand Palais in Paris, offering a testament to the Maison’s style and craftsmanship. More than 600 creations have been selected: high jewellery pieces, mystery clocks, watches and precious objects will be exhibited alongside private loans on show for the very first time.

 Spot the difference if you can ! 

                  Archduchess Eleonore Von Habsburg and Sheikh Hamad Bin Abdullah Al Than , Emmanuel & Pia de Brantes, Baron Guy Ullens de Schooten, Baroness Helene Ludinghausen and Philippe Venet

Letter From Dubai

The Shuttle's Dubai operative disguised as a date palm has sent a report on the Cartier International Polo Challenge held over a few days last week at the luxurious Desert Palm Retreat & Polo Club.

Sheikh Mansour Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum

Hosted by Bernard Fortas of Cartier and under the patronage of HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, wife of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, four pro-am polo teams competed in the 7th International Challenge

Leading names from the world of polo flew in for the event and some high profile locals attended like Farez Al Yabhouney, Saudi national Amr Zedan, who regularly leads the Gulf Co-Operation team to victory in the UK, leading Swiss player Adriano Agosti and Guards Polo Club's own patrons Kassem Shafi and Gary Shepherd . Joining them was a patron who made his debut at this event, Saad Audeh.  Unfortunately regular Cartier International Day patron, Saeed Bin Drai, was forced to pull out due to injury - he was scheduled to play for the Cartier team - but his place was taken by his younger brother Mohammed Bin Drai.

And our associate reports some good news that will please fashion entrepreneur Simon Lock who flew into Sydney from Dubai last week to attend the Australian Fashion walk of Style launch in Paddington. Dubai is buzzing about Lock's Dubai Mercedes Fashion Week that will premiere later this year.

Mona Abou Hamzeh with Nada Mirza

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And what a shocker of a night Thursday evening was-rain pelting down, howling winds. Whatever happened to summer?

There is only person who could get us out on a night like that-our very own pop royalty Kylie Minogue who hosted an intimate party at the Sheraton On The Park for her Sydney Mardi Gras appearance. Amongst the guests-Mark Trevorrow and Kath & Kim star Magda Zubanski.
                                                                    

Fashion World Sees Sense

He has often been named as one of the world's best dressed men-HRH Prince Charles and the Shuttle fully agrees.

Having encountered Charles twice in an official capacity and accompanied him though two exhibitions, we always noted that Charles dress sense is impeccable.

Not a thing out of place, no shirt sleeve hem too long or too short, trousers cuffs (nicely  pressed) just resting at the top of a pair of spit polished British handmade brogues.
 Always a beautifully hand tailored Jermain Street shirt of a pleasing hue and a tie that doesn't match but complements.  Plus a jaunty pocket silk square shoved in that superb off hand way . probably by a valet whose sole job is to achieve that look.

And certainly no shiny ROLEX glittering with diamonds. Just the humblest Cartier Tank watch, gold case and black strap.
 And a simply gold engraved signet pinkie ring, which probably says 'all this is mine'.and perhaps a small lapel medal significant for the event, His jackets are handcrafted to follow the line of his body and they fit like a glove.

Now nobility from the fashion world has weighed into the debate on Charles's dress sense which many say is old fashioned or a royal embarrassment. Britain's Grand Dame of Fashion Dame Vivienne Westwood has announced that Charles is not only her hero, he is Britain's all time most elegant gentleman. You can read all this in the NEW STATESMEN out today.