sample vertu luxury content

Sally Dickson, Global Content Manager, Vertu.

Sample content from Lifestyle magazine and travel guide edited by Sally Dickson from September 2010 to September 2013

Vertu City Brief20 luxury recommendation in 200

cities in 73 countries translated into Russian, Chinese, Arabic, French, German and Italian

Vertu SelectMonthly magazine of 27 articles on Arts & Culture, Fine Dining, Champagne & Spirits, Fashion &Lifestyle, VIP Entertainment,

Elite Sport and Business Intelligence. Also translated into Russian, Chinese, Arabic, French,

German and Italian

Vertu PrivilegesMonthly offer of 20 unique and exclusive opportunities for VIP

access to events, invitation-only parties, exclusive sought after-

restaurants and private members clubs

Contact: [email protected] Tel: + 44 7957 440703

mailto:[email protected]?subject=Response%20to%20CV

Vertu City Brief

New YorkFrom the high rises of Manhattan to

the character-filled boroughs of Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and The Bronx, New York is a city of high energy and high expectations that

rarely fails to deliver.

The Knowledge

Insider

Read: The New York Times for news and New York Magazine for listings

Dress: Chic, smart casualEssential: Explore Central Park

Skip: The queues for the Empire State building – instead, scale the Rockefeller Center to the Top of the Rock for city views

Do: Tip all service staff

Don’t: Think that New Yorkers aren’t friendly (contrary to myth, they are)

Service Lunch: noon-4pm (Sunday brunch, 10am-3pm)Dinner: 5pm-midnightTax: 8.875% sales tax (exempt on clothing and shoes under $110) Tip: Taxi drivers, 10%-15%; restaurant service, 20%; bar staff, $1 a drink

City Time: GMT -5Currency: US Dollar ($)Language: EnglishDialling code: +1Population: 8 million

Eat and meet

In style: Flatiron Lounge37 West 19th StreetClassic old New YorkSleek banquettes, dark mahogany tables and wrought iron banisters give this lounge a real sense of New York’s glory days. Sit at the 30-foot bar – built in 1927 – and chat to the skilled bartenders, who remain cool under pressure on busy Friday nights.

In the know: 2nd Floor on Clinton 67 Clinton StreetA modern day speakeasyA new cocktail bar accessible through Barramundi, a dimly-lit Lower East Side tavern. The host will escort you to one of the mismatched tables or velvet benches under the tall windows. Order a James Delancey, made with gin, calvados, sweet vermouth and yellow chartreuse. Late: Plunge Bar & LoungeGansevoort Park Avenue, 420 Park AvenueSoak up the scene. Situated 20 storeys up, this stylish tri-level bar offers knockout views of the Empire State Building. There are six unique areas, including the rooftop deck with heated pool and the exclusive leather-panelled Blue Room.

Spend

Unique: New York Shaving Company 202B Elizabeth StCut above the restThese male grooming specialists take the daily shaving ritual to another level. The antique barber’s chair and 1940s soundtrack will cast you back in time. Traditional, not fusty.

Fashion: Tom Ford 841 Madison Avenue Master of designRenowned for being sharp and polished with a striking silhouette, you can buy Ford’s off-the-peg suits on the ground floor of this luxurious store, or book an appointment in a made-to-measure salon upstairs.

Editor's Choice

Where can I find an authentic jazz club? Harlem’s original Cotton Club and

Connie’s Inn are long gone, but some Greenwich Village crucibles from the

golden age of jazz have survived. Try the Village Vanguard or Smalls in the West

Village. The Lenox Lounge in Harlem attracts both old and new stars.



BeijingAlthough adapting to its global role, Beijing can feel parochial at times. Head to 798 Art Zone (Dashanzi Art District) or the Dongcheng district

for a more thriving and cosmopolitan culture.

The Knowledge

InsiderRead:China Daily – liberal but still the voice of the partyDress: Conservative. Suit and tie for meetings, sharp jacket and jeans for socialisingEssential: Tiananmen Square. For all the reasonsSkip: The Summer Palace and organised trips to the Great Wall. Hire a driver and head for the Mutianyu section insteadDo: Take the hotel’s card with key addresses and phrases in Chinese characters. You will use itDon’t: Sit down first at business dinner. Some customs such as where the host sits persist

Service Breakfast: 7am-10am. Good for business and dim sumLunch: 1-2pm. Drinking alcohol at lunch is uncommonDinner: 6-10pmTax: 17% VATTip: No tradition of tipping but visitors should add 10%

City Time: GMT +8Currency: China Renminbi (RMB) called the yuanLanguages: MandarinInternational dialling code: +86Population: 22 million

Eat and meet

In style: Georges Gate 12, Workers’ Stadium, Gongrentiyuchang, ChaoyangMasterful mixologyIn this solo venture, George Zhou (of Q Bar fame) continues to serve up his creative signature concoctions. Journey down a flight of stairs into a classic black interior, with a lengthy bar on one side and intimate booths on the other.

In the know: Champagne Bar Fairmont Beijing, 8 Yongan, Dongli, Jianguomenwai Dajie, Chaoyang The finer things in lifeThis seductive ground-floor bar, featuring hard polished woods and caramel marble panelling, serves up a sterling selection of champagnes, including a vintage 1998 Krug. Take note of the striking $1 million Dancing Sleeves chandelier.

Late: Atmosphere China World Summit Wing, 1 Jianguomenwai Dajie, ChaoyangHigh societySituated on the 80th floor of Beijing’s tallest building, this new opening offers spectacular views of the city and stylish decor by renowned American designer Adam D. Tihany. Select a drink from the extensive menu and take in the live jazz.

Spend

Fashion: Sanlitun North Village Sanlitun Road, Chaoyang Dress to impressHome to an exclusive selection of designer boutiques, each situated around a central open-air courtyard. Browse the latest lines from Comme Des Garçons, Versace and Balmain.

Spa: Green T. House Living 318 Cuige Zhuang Xiang Hege Zhuang Cun, Chaoyang Award-winning pamperingInspired by a Tang dynasty emperor’s bath house, this exquisite spa offers a green tea-infused granite steam bath and massage therapies. Voted 'Best Spa Design' in the Wallpaper*magazine 2010 Design Awards.

Editor's Choice

Try some Mandarin

Offering up the odd 'ni hao' (nee how = hello) or 'she she' (shay shay = thank you) will bring kudos. As will a deft

chopstick grip.



Vertu Select

Delicious delinquent Jean Paul Gaultier may be a fashion stalwart, but that doesn’t mean he has grown up. Josh Sims catches up with the iconic designer

The surroundings of Elton John’s Grey Goose Winter Ball had an air of familiarity about them: the grand entrance was lined with blue and white stripes and the ballroom garlanded with a panel cut into a lace effect. That the set design was so familiar is a testament to the man who created it, almost as an anthology of his own iconography.

He may have released dance singles, hosted TV series, created costumes for Peter Greenaway and Pedro Almodóvar and, until recently, designed womenswear for Hermès, but the greatest contribution of Jean-Paul Gaultier has been his own spin on French fashion – the tradition of corsets and trenchcoats, Breton tops and pencil skirts, reworked with the irreverence of streetwear.

‘I just think I have a cinematic way of designing. I discovered fashion through the cinema,’ he says, ‘But, you know, actually, if you’re obsessed with certain ideas, you keep going at them – and over time they just become iconic.’

Obsession is putting it mildly. For example, those corset dresses – which gave us underwear-as-outerwear – were inspired by the corsets worn by his grandmother when he was a child. The idea of men in skirts and playing with ideas of the macho came simply from his own love of kilts, which for some time, along with a Breton, became the Gaultier uniform – expressing what some might see as a wacky creativity of which, arguably, the fashion industry has a diminishing store.

‘There is nothing that I would call fashion these days,’ says the designer. ‘For someone to tell me that I have to do trousers in a certain way because that is what’s selling, which is what happens a lot in the industry now, well, I’m not interested in that. I’m interested in difference.’

Now, 35 years since he got his first proper design job with Jean Patou, with Hermès behind him and a world-touring retrospective of his work opening soon at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, the 59-year-old is back to focusing on his own collections and a new deal with La Perla to design what is actually his first underwear line. La Perla, rightly, expect big things from the launch collection. Above all, he is back to a labour of love: couture – one that he earns nothing from.

‘Maybe couture helps sell some perfume,’ he suggests. ‘But just as some people buy an apartment with their money, or a little boat, I do couture, because that’s what it’s been my dream to do since I was a child. Couture is an important laboratory. And it’s exciting – when I find the idea. And when I don’t, it’s like… urrgghh.’

Josh Sims writes for The Independent and the Financial Times



Sailor Pen has been producing exquisite writing instruments since 1911. Named after an unknown British sailor, this company makes some of the most desirable and collectable pens in the world. They are like miniature works of art, writes Ian Buxton‘With a treasured fountain pen, the writer assumes an air of accomplishment and expresses his innermost thoughts and passions to the world. Rising above the times, a fountain pen will stay, and forever remain, the purest means of self-expression.’

So say Sailor Pen of Japan that, since 1911, has been producing some of the world’s finest nibs and precision writing instruments for an enthusiastic group of connoisseurs and collectors.

Blame an unknown British sailor who, more than one hundred years ago, demonstrated his fountain pen to Kyugoro Sakata, an engineer from Hiroshima. Sakata was so intrigued by the design and function of the pen he chose to honour his British friend by naming his company Sailor Pen. Today, Sailor remains dedicated to crafting the finest writing instruments in the world. From their factory, still located in Hiroshima, they offer an exceptional range – both a permanent collection and limited editions of as few as 10 pieces.

Such highly desirable objects are miniature works of art, the ebonite barrels meticulously hand-decorated by experienced and highly skilled artists employing ancient Japanese techniques, including Maki-e. This 1,500-year-old technique combines intricate lacquer painting with a variety of surface decorations including powered gold and other precious metals, gemstones and mother-of-pearl.

The themes of the various collections reflect Japan’s long cultural heritage, with editions honouring Noh theatre; the four seasons of Mount Fuji; the ancient Tale of Genji (believed by some to be the world’s oldest novel) and traditional images from Japanese art, such as the cat and the chrysanthemum flower. Other collections honour ancient languages (the link to writing is clear) and endangered species of ocean creatures and birds. The limited edition pieces are highly collectable and cost around £1,000 – they are long-term investment pieces that are also superbly functional.

Sailor’s permanent collection may cost less but there is no compromise in production standards and these are highly satisfying pens with which to work. Well balanced, comfortable in the hand and with a range of nibs to suit every writing style, the entry-level 1911 series is suitable for everything from signing a deal to writing your first novel.

However, the complete pen obsessive demands special and unusual ink, also from Japan: for example, correcting paperwork in Pilot’s Momiji shade, from the Iroshizuku series is particularly rewarding. This dramatic red ink, which seeks to match the colour of autumn maple leaves, comes in an elegant hand-made bottle. This is only available in Japan but it is worth ordering as the ink can add a touch of class to even the most spidery scrawl.



Ian Buxton is an author and journalist who lives in Scotland

When it comes to paradise islands, complete with prerequisite white sands, coconut palms and glorious sunsets, Zanzibar is about as good as it gets. By Nick Smith

There can’t be many places where the name alone is enough to conjure up the sheer romance of barefoot luxury travel. Maybe Timbuktu or Mandalay, but the most evocative of all is Zanzibar. Cast adrift off the coast of East Africa in the Indian Ocean, this tiny coral archipelago – famed for its cinnamon and nutmeg, cloves and vanilla – is a must-see for all who love their travel to be truly exotic.

In the old days, you would arrive by dhow, a traditional seafaring vessel made entirely of wood. But today you’re more likely to get your first glimpse of the islands from a light aircraft, where the bleached white coral sands fringe an emerald green equatorial paradise, nestled in the indigo and turquoise tropical sea. As you land, you can almost smell the spice plantations, and as the taxi takes you the short ride to Stone Town – the ancient capital of Zanzibar – you’ll see a blend of African, Arabian and European architectural influences that blend to give a multifaceted cultural experience like no other.

Stone Town is the best place to say, with many unique and intimate converted spice merchants’ houses. The finest of these boutique hotels is Emerson and Green, which rises above a skyline of mosques, temples and churches, giving a sumptuous panorama westwards over the ocean. The open-air rooftop bar is the perfect place to have a sundowner, where, seated on Persian carpets, the experience is of pure tropical indulgence.

In Stone Town, you don’t need a map. The narrow unnamed streets, filled with antique shops and coffee bars, are so confusing that a map would be no help at all. Much better to get lost in the labyrinth, soaking up the ambience of a bustling and lively town.

But there’s more to Zanzibar than just the ancient walled city. Nowhere is more than a few hours away, and with the help of a guide you can head east, through mango groves to visit the incredibly rare Colombus monkeys of the Jozani forest, or even venture further to the idyllic coastline of Jambiani, where you can watch fishermen out on the reef in dug-out canoes, or the women of the village farming seaweed in shallow lagoons. There are spice plantations, ruined castles, churches and forts, while, for water-sports lovers, there’s superb scuba diving and snorkeling in the north.

But for many, the abiding memory of this jewel of the Indian Ocean will simply be the thrill of being in one of the most exquisitely beautiful places on earth, where coconut palms line the white beaches, and where the aroma of exotic spices wafts on the tropical breeze.

Nick Smith writes for The Telegraph, Literary Review, The Times Higher Education Supplement and The Wall Street Journal



Vertu Privileges

Racing around a Grand Prix circuit in a F1 car is one of the most exhilarating experiences anyone can encounter

Racing around a Grand Prix circuit in a F1 car is one of the most exhilarating experiences anyone can encounter. Step into the shoes of one of your racing heroes as you take an adrenalin-fuelled spin at speeds of up to 200mph around Budapest’s Hungaroring circuit with Lotus Renault GP’s i-Race programme.

A race day includes a full day driving experience behind the wheels of three superb racing cars: Formula Renault 2.0, Lotus GT4 and a F1 single-seater. Being a racing driver doesn’t just include zooming round a track, so your day will include full briefings, debriefings and both physical and technical training.

This once-in-a-lifetime experience includes one night’s accommodation at the five-star Four Seasons Budapest, chauffeur transfers to and from the airport, a VIP gift, breakfast and lunch at the circuit and a cocktail reception with dinner.

The ultimate Rio Carnival experience

For any party lover the legendary Rio Carnival is a four-day party you simply cannot miss. It is the biggest carnival in the world and attracts international partygoers to watch the parade and attend the surrounding parties. And the hardest-to-access party happening around the Carnival is the sophisticated Magic Ball at the legendary Copacabana Palace Hotel.

Indulge in the ultimate carnival experience at the Copacabana Palace Hotel by calling Vertu Concierge, who can arrange accommodation in a highly sought after sea-facing room looking over the Carnival. Rub shoulders with international and Brazilian VIPs at the Magic Ball, taking place on Saturday, 18 February. The highlight of the Carnival is Rio’s Samba Parade, taking place at the Sambódromo on 19 and 20 February. Vertu members can access the best seats in the house – the luxury VIP lounges lining the catwalk, usually reserved for the A-list.

