ASSOULINE takes Piccadilly

By Rio Hamilton - NOV 05, 2014 WEDNESDAY

Tuesday 28th October 2014, 6:12pm 16 celcius

After much anticipation, Assouline’s first international flagship boutique, dedicated to a luxury lifestyle opened its doors with a glamorous launch party.

I’m so excited by the guest list you may read the names in the next paragraph. More than 300 guests gathered to celebrate a remarkable 20 Years of ASSOULINE culture as well as the launch of their newest publication. Valentino: At The Emperor’s Table. Mr. Valentino Garavani was present and signing copies of his elegant new book.

The Assouline tome, which has an introduction by
André Leon Talley, shows how Garavani has turned his eye to designing his residences and hosting gatherings at them. During the evening, Garavani noted that his approach to entertaining isn’t so different from his approach to design. “I told [Assouline] it was not very far from my evening gowns and my creations — it’s joyful beauty,” he said of his inspiration.

Some of the distinguished guests included . . . .
Mr. Giancarlo Giammetti, Mario Testino, Stanley Tucci, Suzy Menkes, Carlos Souza, Duchess of Marlborough, Princess Pavlos of Greece, Roland Mouret, Colin Callender, Charles and Pandora Delevigne, Nicky Haslam, Tamara Beckwith and ex-King Constantine of Greece.

Some prominent PRESS included . . . . The Telegraph, L’OFFICIEL, Daily Mail, Architectural Digest, London Evening Standard, Vogue, WWD, HELLO, Book Moda,Tatler, Fashionel . . . .I could go on and on . . . . photographers Nick Harvey, David Benett, Tim Jenkins and Dominic O’Neill.

Following extensive refurbishment, ASSOULINE has taken over 196A Piccadilly, London. Designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens in 1922 it has become one of the most
iconic locations in the city.

Martine and Prosper Assouline are broadening the brand
au-delà des livres with the opening of Maison ASSOULINE” on Piccadilly. The 5,400-square-foot flagship exhibition space has a bookbinder corner, an expansive ground-floor café serving beautiful plates of delicious delicacies and a clever series of oxygen cocktails, orchestrated by Dr. Nadia Volf, one of Assouline’s new authors.

One wall is covered top to bottom with almost 5000 books, while another is dedicated to the Ultimate Collection of glorious coffee-table books. Featured is an immense Deco glass/mirror showcase filled with a new collection of LUXURY leather goods ranging from wonderful WALLETS, sophisticated PASSPORT COVERS, couture carrier bags and portfolios all embossed with Assouline’s signature “didot” MOTIF.

“This is a candy store for culture,” said Prosper Assouline, who founded the publishing house with his epouse qui a beaucoup d’allure Martine in 1994.

Upstairs, there are two rooms that Assouline calls their “cabinets of curiosities” filled with antiques, exquisite tribal masks, vintage typewriters and a catalogue raisonné of Rembrandt’s works. A larger beautifully paneled room nearby showcases an amazing marble bust of the emperor Hadrian as well as selections from the new furniture collection which clients can custom order.

Thank you ASSOULINE your magnificent event was an energetic cultured entertaining education for all.#KRUG