Glimpse inside the capital’s hottest parties and catch up with the chic set each week with Last Night in London.
From the early hours at Chiltern Firehouse to heady nights at The Standard or posh nosh at The V&A, we have your lowdown on the laughs, the looks and the dedicated scenesters making London nightlife electric.
Not-so sleepy Sunday
The bash: While many in town hunkered down for an early Sunday evening, British Vogue’s Editor-in-Chief Edward Enninful had a better idea. To celebrate the launch of his new memoir A Visible Man, published tomorrow, he headed from a talk with Michaela Coel at the Southbank Centre to a glittering Champagne reception in Claridge’s French Salon room hosted by Enninful’s collegue Vanessa Kingori, Chief Business Officer of Condé Nast Britain.
The crowd: The stellar guest list was a testiment to Enniful’strailblazing tenure at British Vogue. Supermodels Kate Moss, Kristen McMenamy and Jourdan Dunn arrived to bustling a room counting Nobel Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai, author Bernardine Evaristo and activist Munroe Bergdorf.
When actress Salma Hayek took to the floor for a heart-felt speech, she took the opportunity to mark the progress the editor has inspired. “There was a moment in history, where if you were a person of colour or you had curves, you didn’t necessarily feel welcome,” she said, to an audience in agreement. “But if you saw that ray of sunshine walk in, you felt safe as you watch his incredible talent at work.”
The looks: It might well have been Sunday night outside, but within the room was awash with sparkles, sleek suits and high-octane, feather-fringed gowns. Adwoa Aboah, who was Enninful’s first Vogue cover girl in December 2017, led the way in a translucent, long-sleeve cream dress by London label 16Arlington. Jourdan Dunn arrived in dramatic, feathered style in a frock by Jean Louis Sebaji, while Sabrina Elba showed a playful side with a trompe-l’œil printed Loewe dress.
The lowdown: As canapés and chic bowl food did the rounds, the overriding feeling was one of elation.“People need to hear your story and read it,” said actor Idris Elba, to cheers. “We are celebrating one of the most magnanimous men in the world, one of the most beautiful human beings that all of us know. Thank you so much for doing what you’ve done.” After, a cake arrived with sparklers and Enninful’s signature black specs before the music cranked up, and the flutes stayed raised.
