A Good Start To The Week

I've decided to include a famous saying or quotation on every blog I write on VOGUE.COM from now on. There may be no rhyme or reason, but hopefully they will be poignant and encouraging to some at least who read it. So, as it's nearly Valentine's Day (of course I don't actually believe in all that, I believe every day should be romantic apart from the 14th February), a heart felt message to start:

"Love doesn't make the world go round, love is what makes the ride worthwhile."
~ by Elizabeth Browning ~

Talking of love, let's talk cars. I had an astonishing couple of days in Paris thanks to the Jaguar team. However, it wasn't the cars that made it so memorable; it was my fellow guests, Stephen Bayley (cultural commentator), and Carlos Brandelli (designer/artist). Not only are they the most suave and stylish men I have met in a long time, they are both so tremendously knowledgeable that the history of the architecture and mostly everything Parisian was so, so interesting that it really opened my eyes to the beauty of a city that I had never really warmed to. One of the highlights was having lunch in the original house and factory of Louis Vuitton. The special order trunks and bags are still made at this factory by the "artists" as they are called. It's a fascinating place. Unfortunately, I didn't manage to drag one of the 100-year-old, priceless original trunks out though. The reason we were all out there of course was to celebrate Louis Vuitton awarding Ian Callum (design director of Jaguar), for his work on the sublime C-X75. Ian is not only humble and charming, but also in my opinion one of the best, if not THE best car designer working today. Not only was he responsible for the design direction that Aston Martin now so famously pursue, he designed the XF, XK (my car - need we say more), and new XJ for Jaguar. The genius in his designs is that they last. You are initially almost shocked at his designs, as to the extent of the direction he has taken, but over time you come to more than appreciate these designs and realise the rest of the industry start to follow. A little tip - the sign of a really good-looking car is that you always turn back to for one more look.

Marigay McKee, Adrian Clarke and I.

If you haven't been lucky enough to come across Shortlist magazine, then please try to get your hands on one and see what a truly great men's weekly should be like when executed perfectly - and to top it all off it's FREE. I usually pick one up at the airport when I am off on one of my trips, and too be honest I get a little bit too excited at the prospect of reading the new edition. It really does make numerous flights go that little bit quicker. It engulfs everything men need to know (styling, grooming, technology, current affairs), into one small, but very stylish magazine. I attended the Shortlist Grooming Awards this morning and was lucky enough to be voted their Face of Today for 2011. I am truly very honoured and grateful and would like to say a special thank you to their style director Adrian Clark and chief executive, Mike Soutar for a great event.



On a more concerning note, I am writing this blog in pain. No, don't worry I didn't accidentally pick up the extra small D&G pants in the shop! The pain is from running 16miles at the weekend. I have decided to run the London Marathon for Oxfam in April. When I know more details and have links for sponsorship for this very worthy charity, I will put them up on my blog. I will also keep you updated on my training progress. In the meantime, if there are any experienced marathon
runners reading this - if you could be so kind and to give me any helpful tips (buy a horse and ride that round was a very unhelpful remark from a close friend!), I would appreciate it immensely.
Source: http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/david-gandy/default.aspx