Arts and Culture

A Quick Guide to Investing in and Collecting Fine Art

Investing in art is expensive, but it has also outperformed the S&P 500 YoY for over 20 years (according to the Citi Global Art Market chart). Art is considered a ‘passion’ or ‘alternative’ investment, along with collectible cars, watches, and fine wine [among others]. Passion investments are dubbed as such because they require the investor to have a sufficient level of passion and knowledge about the investment. The Knight Frank 2023 Wealth Report reported that “from an investment point of view, art currently leads all other sectors in passion-related luxury investment performance across the world – in fact, at 29%, it performs almost twice the average for this class of investment”. Though a lot of this performance can be attributed to the astronomical prices paid by investors for the art. To quantify the scale; sales of the collections of Microsoft founder Paul Allen and American investor Anne Bass produced in excess of US$2.5 billion.

The Best Music Festivals this Summer 2023

Music has always been a universal language, transcending boundaries, captivating souls and igniting a spectrum of emotions. Catering to the discerning tastes of the luxury audience, these festivals curate an extraordinary ambiance that combines top-tier musical talent with the epitome of indulgence. Join us as we explore the most popular music festivals in the world, where exceptional music meets unparalleled luxury.

Summer in Switzerland with The Dolder Grand

In summer, beach escapes are tempting, but paradise takes a myriad of forms. Lakes and rivers offer cool, clear water, especially in Switzerland – and the summertime charms of Lake Zurich and the Limmat River are undeniable. If you are a guest of Zurich’s Dolder Grand, Amar Harfy, one of the concierges, may advise you to try the city’s lake and river baths for a refreshingly authentic Zurich experience. After all, this is a city where commuters can be seen swimming to work in the warmer months. But, if you don’t fancy venturing too far from the Dolder Grand – which is entirely understandable – Amar may direct you to Dolder Bad, a pristine pool a short stroll away, or the hotel’s own spa. It boasts a large swimming pool, a Japanese-style Sunaburo and a philosophy that’s all about achieving life balance. A Dolder Grand summer experience is not just about finding beach alternatives, however. Art and culinary delights are plentiful. In 2008, the hotel opened two new wings designed by Foster + Partners, which created a tradition-meets-modernity feel.

London's Enchanting Socialite Scene: A Glimpse into High...

London, the vibrant and cosmopolitan capital of the United Kingdom, is renowned for its rich history, cultural diversity, and illustrious socialite scene. Nestled amidst the iconic landmarks and high-end establishments, the city's elite society thrives in a world of opulence, exclusivity, and extravagant soirées. Today we delve into the alluring realm of London's socialite scene, where luxury and glamour seamlessly intertwine, captivating both the city's residents and visitors alike.

The Very Best Flower Shows in the UK

A long-standing tradition of almost 200 years, Britain's flower shows are renowned for a reason. The chance to admire the wonders of nature and all things that bloom is a pleasure enjoyed by swathes of people every year. Visit one of these amazing flower shows in England this summer to get in the spirit.

The 2023 Met Gala’s Most Memorable Outfits

And just like that, the first Monday in May has rolled back around again - when the world's rich and famous get together to do well, we don’t actually know. The annual Met Gala ball takes place on the first Monday of May at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Its purpose is to mark the opening of the Costume Institute's annual fashion exhibit, and this year's theme was ‘Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty’. The details of what happens at the inside Met Gala are often subject to what we can put together from the dribs and drabs of Instagram posts from our favourite celebrities. What we do know is that it never fails to provide plenty of red-carpet looks to swoon over in the group chat (or not).

Book Festivals to look forward to this Spring & Summer

With more to choose from than ever before – from small local events to the long-established big-hitters – book-lovers are spoilt for choice. And even reluctant readers might be tempted by the social scene and big names that the best festivals attract. Here’s our pick of the bunch.

Yayoi Kusama at the TATE

It’s not often that I am captivated by an artist, and I don’t just mean by their work, but by who they are as a person. Yayoi Kusama left me intrigued and wanting to know more after witnessing her extraordinary collaboration with design powerhouse Louis Vuitton. So, who is this Japanese artist that stole the hearts of many? I took to YouTube to see if I could find out more about this fascinating woman and, how at 93, she has dominated some of the worlds most famous galleries and department stores. It’s safe to say that my endless hours of watch time made me a fan. On a mission to solidify my fan girl status, I booked a family day out to the Tate Modern to see a very special showcase of two immersive mirror room exhibitions by Yayoi Kusama. After knowing more about her history and why she is one of the most celebrated artists of our time, I was extremely excited to be able to get to experience her much-loved work in such a up close and personal setting.

Altered State: A Psychedelic Playground at 99 Projects

There aren’t that many galleries in London that owe their existence to a dog: the seed that flowered into Kensal Rise’s 99 Projects first took root whilst gallery director Frances Casey was walking her canine companion during lockdown. Whilst the dog in question is apparently more of a silent partner, 99 Projects has grown exponentially since its 2021 inception; with February 2nd seeing the opening of their first satellite pop-up on Golborne Road in Notting Hill. In a part of London that’s no stranger to the gallery scene, a first exhibition can be something of a trial by fire. As a result, Casey has come out guns blazing, with a seriously striking first effort. If Dan Pearce and Cody Burridge’s collaboration is representative of future exhibitions in the space, it wouldn't be too surprising to see this pop-up turn into something more permanent.

Featuring How the V&A explores Africa's global impact on the...

Iconic African designers, such as Kofi Ansah and Alpahdi, have given the public the opportunity to explore never seen before designs amongst the array of garments and objects on display for the exhibition. I was absolutely blown away by the artistry that was on display, solidifying how much I will be supporting African designers moving forward. You have to visit to understand the magnitude of greatness when it comes to design. When asked what pieces evoked raw emotion, it was difficult to choose. Numerous parts of the exhibition evoked multitudes of sentiments which, to me, is the true aim of fashion. From extreme joy and pride to see such dimension, craft and skill, and at other times, sadness and disappointment to know that African designers aren't given the recognition and platform they deserve to be able to thrive as significantly as the designers we love today.

Featuring 2023’s Most Exciting Art Exhibitions

His Royal Wordiness: A Spare Thought for Prince Harry

The central plank of Spare is simply: what makes the man born Henry Windsor tick? A question answered in frankly exhaustive detail. Over the decades since the death of Princess Diana, the numberless legion of royal biographies which have sprung up can be more accurately described in terms of forests than paper. Whilst the majority are penned by authors whose closest glimpse of royalty was a matinee of the Lion King, a few of them actually have the royal in question working closely with the author. For the blue-bloods, this is the way of getting your story told in as close to your own words as possible, without doing anything as gauche as writing an autobiography. The royals who actually do the unthinkable and publish under their own name tend to be divorced spouses, like Sarah Fergusson with My Story (she also penned 2011’s Finding Sarah: A Duchess’s Journey To Finding Herself, which I refuse to believe anyone has read) rather than thoroughbred Windsors.