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敬请期待中文版  StephenWebster in his Mayfair studio, where the launch party for his newbook, "Goldstruck", washeld Picture credit: @SuzyMenkesVogue MOUNT STREET IS one of the fanciest areas in London, hometo the classy Connaught Hotel and luxury boutiques from Céline,Dior and Lanvin to Marc Jacobs, high-end leather goods Moynat,Oscar de la Renta and shoemaker Nicholas Kirkwood.  TheCouture "Stargazer" Collar set in 18k white gold with whitediamonds Picture credit: Stephen Webster But where is Stephen Webster? The most flamboyant of Britishjewellers is nowhere to be found, although his colourful stones andequally colourful stories made a bestseller of his autobiography,"Goldstruck: A Life Shaped by Jewellery" (published by SalmaEditions).  The gildedcover of Stephen's biography Picture credit: @SuzyMenkesVogue The entrance to his showroom is discreet. After trawling MountStreet, I finally spotted it, with his name in gilded letters onthe door. Up two floors and I finally struck gold - along withdiamonds, opals, and the entire spectrum of stones the jewellercould muster. Among the art objects furnishing the two displayareas there was also jewellery by his artist friend, Tracey Emin,who also wrote the foreword to his book.  TraceyEmin's collection for StephenWebster Picture credit: @SuzyMenkesVogue But why the hide-and-seek discretion for such a flamboyantdesigner? "Under-the-radar jewellery shopping seems to have become thepreferred experience amongst our clients for some time," Websterexplained.  Kate Winsletwearing Stephen Webster earrings at the Moet Awards in2015 Picture credit: Getty "In our original Mount Street boutique, clients always sat inthe VIP area at the back, even when they came as a group," hecontinued. "And in Beverly Hills, more shopping is done in theupstairs 'No Regrets' lounge than in the store. In response tothis, we have removed the potential intrusion of a door on thestreet." Once inside the showroom, which is attached to the workingstudio, clients have a full-on vision of Webster's taste. Devisedby architect Guy Holloway, the live-and-relax room has a FredriksonStallard "crumpled paper" golden chandelier, a pony skin-patternedrug by Alexander McQueen, and a gilded guitar made in honour of"Goldstruck" from Marlow Guitars.  InsideWebster's Mayfair showroom, where a gilded guitar by Marlow, madein honour of his autobiography, has pride ofplace Picture credit: @SuzyMenkesVogue I asked Stephen if this modern hideaway was made in response tosocial media's interference in what should be his celebrityclients' private world.  SiennaMiller wearing a Stephen Webster ring at the London premiere ofBurnt, in October 2015 Picture credit: Getty "I'm not so sure social media has become a problem for ourshoppers," Stephen said. "I know they use it themselves whileshopping in private, so maybe the salon works in reverse: moreprivacy, more self-generated social media."  JLo recentlyposted this Instagram of herself wearing Stephen Webster pendantearrings Picture credit: @SuzyMenkesVogue Apart from the dramatic paintings, the interior design includesa stuffed swan from taxidermist David Wildart and thought-provokingTracey Emin jewellery based on her artworks, including "Angry Owl","Bird and Fix", "Squirrel and Hare" and others.  TraceyEmin's collection of gold charms for Stephen Webster, based on herpen and ink series of drawings Picture credit: @SuzyMenkesVogue "For many years I thought the emotion and sometimes subjectsTracey shows in her work could translate beautifully into my worldas a jeweller," explains Webster, who comes from Kent, the samearea of England as Tracey Emin. "It all started when she made the neon, 'I Promise To Love You'for my LA store," he continued. "She said it should be in a placewhere people buy and give tokens of love. After that ourcollaboration had to be."  InsideStephen Webster's showroom, which features an Alexander McQueen rugand "crumpled paper" chandelier by FredriksonStallard Picture credit: @SuzyMenkesVogue "The new area is artistic, it's a reflection of my studio -where people love to come - and my home," Stephen said. "In bothplaces I have artwork by many other people. I have built this upover time. I deliberately decorated the new space in a way that Ican add to it as I feel fit. This way the evolution will be moreauthentic and in a way homely - and everyone likes to feel athome."  StephenWebster's "Lady Stardust" couture ring set in 18k white gold withemeralds and pavé white diamonds Picture credit: Stephen Webster It struck me as quite a contrast that Stephen, who has beenthrough many adventures with his Russian wife Anastasia (known asAssia) and has had half of Hollywood in his LA boutique, should trythe discreet approach in his other boutiques.  Stephen andAssia Webster at the "Goldstruck" book launch in his Londonshowroom Picture credit: Getty "The London showroom is definitely a template for further suchspaces in other markets and hopefully Seoul will be one of those,"said Webster, who will talk about his "Goldstruck" life at the CNI Luxury conference in SouthKorea this week.  Webster'scouture "Stargazer" earrings in 18k white gold withtanzanite Picture credit: Stephen Webster Compared to the heady days of opening showrooms by thedozen in Russia, which he vividly describes in his book, the newsoftly, softly approach seems a welcome change of pace. The Second Condé NastInternational Luxury Conference runs from the 20th-21st April atThe Shilla, Seoul. Visit www.cniluxury.com for more details; followthe Conference on Twitter and Instagram: @CNILuxury; and search#CNILux (责任编辑：admin) |