Last week we were invited to the amazing Dennis Severs house in Spitalfields, to an event curated by the lovely Kate Evans, owner of Precious, an up market women’s fashion store, also based in Spitalfields. Kate, former buyer for Harrods and Harvey Nichols, opened Precious in 2006 and stocks a great selection of labels, including Diane von Furstenberg, Carven, Moschino Cheap & Chic, Malene Birger, 2nd Day and Sportmax.
Looking for a new way to showcase her A/W collections, celebrate the shops five year anniversary and launch the new Precious fragrance created by Angela Flanders (who also happens to be Kate’s mother), Kate and her hairdresser Jerome came up with the idea of Inside Story, a ‘Tableau vivant’ featuring hair, fragrance and fashion.
Dennis Severs historical house was the perfect venue for the event, with the clothes, fabulous hair and make up and amazing room sets, combining to create an atmospheric live fashion installation – each one with it’s own unique fragrance. Our favourite was the drawing room, which featured Diane Von Furstenberg and Lola Cruz clothes, Nicholas Kings shoes and the rich atmospheric Ottoman room fragrance.
We spoke to the charming Angela Flanders about her inspiration when creating the Precious perfume and she told us she tried to evoke the smell of the word Precious, which for her meant, luxurious, comforting warm fabrics, such as cashmere or gauze. She combined fuers de nuit, tuberose and jasmine to create the top notes, added softest green chypre and oak moss for warmth and a hint of vetiver for a smokey base.
Angela has been making perfume since 1985, when she opened her wonderful Columbia Road shop. Inspired by her fascination with the history of perfume and extensive research, she has created a range of over 30 fragrances over the last 25 years, which are available in her shop and online.
Precious Angela Flanders
16 Artillery Passage 96 Columbia Road
Spitalfields Shoreditch
London E1 7LJ London E2 7QB