Something’s happening in west London. There are velvet ropes springing up,
paparazzi scuffles on the street and late-night taxis full of well-oiled
Hoorays. A new scene is breaking out that’s unlike anything we’ve seen
since, oh, the days of the Sloane ranger.
It started, of course, with Boujis, the notorious South Kensington nightspot
that has become a second home to our wild young royals. But one club can no
longer contain the new crowd. And so, in the past six months, we’ve seen
Amika open in Kensington, Raffles on the King’s Road, Chloe in South Ken and
Kitts on Sloane Square. And who for? A glamorous new generation of toffs
whose appetite for a party is attracting wayward Hollywood starlets, Brit
celebs and rock-star offspring. Yes, after years in the wilderness of
Parsons Green, the posh people are back at the top of the social tree.
And this time, the embarrassing socialites of old, the rather awkward aristos
and their distinctly unfashionable ilk, are absent. In their place arrive
the new toffs, who happily merge with London’s fast-living Euros and the
hedge-fund boom boys. They are more likely to wear Prada, holiday in
Sardinia and drive a soft-top than to disappear to Scotland in search of
salmon. Not for them a quiet gentlemen’s club or a naff dancefloor – not
only are they very much at home in London’s glitzy scene of £11,000 bar
bills and Cristal-spraying sessions, but they’re fuelling it.
William Cash, the seasoned society-watcher and editor of Spear’s Wealth
Management Survey, says: “It’s to do with the princes; it’s to do with
money; and it’s to do with the Euro scene, which has embraced everything
that is old school and English, and shaken it all up a bit.” The emergence
of Wills and Harry on the club circuit has brought the set into focus, but
it’s the Euro royals – the Casiraghis, offspring of Princess Caroline of
Monaco, and the Hanovers, their stepsiblings – who are bringing the glamour.
Add to that a few home-growns (the beautiful Calthorpe girls and the
stunning Delevigne sisters) and throw in a few celebs (Sienna, the
ubiquitous Calum Best) and some rock-star kids (Jaggers and the odd Ferry)
and you have an intriguing new social mix. “Clubbing with an international
angle is much more glamorous than the reserved scene that used to play out
in London,” says Matt Hermer, who, as the owner of Boujis, is king of the
new Sloane heartland.
This scene is built around shifting sets of alliances. Previously, where you
went to school defined your social circle. Now, four distinct groups have
emerged, and membership is defined by what you wear, which club you went to
last Thursday, whose table you were on at the polo and when you’re going to
Ibiza. From the outside, they all look young, posh and loaded, but up close,
the differences in style, attitude and polish are vital.
Yet, despite these new rules, this crowd remains a quintessentially
aristocratic phenomenon at heart – and that is what makes them so
attractive. Their good old-fashioned decadence is infectious, their
particular brand of loucheness is glamorous, and no amount of new money
could ever buy the party attitude that has come down to them through the
generations. As Piers Adam, the owner of Mahiki, party playground of the
princes, says: “I just love a bit of toff gone mad.”
THE BOOZE AND ROYALS
The Wills and Harry crew make up in credentials what they lack in
sophistication. Surrounded by a protective group of school and army mates,
such as Harry Meade, Henry Ropner and Thomas van Straubenzee, and the royal
nanny Mark Dyer, they have some keen female followers – from Natalie Pinkham
(Harry’s boozing pal) to local hostesses to Hollywood A-listers. Stumbling
out oftheir favourite haunts, Mahiki and the new members-only Kitts, they
may look like a bunch of young farmers out on the lash, but they’re the ones
that everyone is desperate to get close to.
Princes William, 24, and Harry, 22
Who The future king and his brother.
Party power Never tire of an Ibiza anthem or energetic dance moves.
Wills has a particular penchant for a Springsteen-style knee-slide, and
Harry goes by the party name “Gary”.
Naughtiness factor Keen on a bit of rough – see boob-grabbing antics in
Bournemouth and Canada – both have been known to proposition girls singled
out by the press as suitable (sample chat-up line: “Sorry about the press
intrusion. Fancy a drink?”).
Glamour gauge Not obvious hunks, but there’s something to be said for a
royal.
Posh factor Second and third in line to the throne. Takes some beating.
Guy Pelly, 25
Wh oKnown as Court Jester, this Mahiki employee is the princes’ closest
friend.
Party power Goose to Wills’s Maverick, he taps girls on the shoulder so
the princely one can take a better look. Dead keen on fancy dress, and sees
himself as Piers Adam’s protégé.
Naughtiness factor Untrustworthy – danced dangerously close to
Kate Middleton on more than one occasion – and still unable to shake
off those weed rumours, however unfounded.
Glamour gauge Ruddy-faced, less-famous sidekick. Not a good look.
Posh factor Son of a Kent landowner – palatably posh.
Princesses Beatrice, 18, and Eugenie, 17
Who The latest royals to hit the clubbing scene.
Party power Since they ditched partying with Mummy, the cool quotient
has been upped, but they still suffer from wallflower syndrome.
Naughtiness factor Bea’s dalliance with bad boy Paolo Liuzzo hinted at
a wild streak. New beau Dave Clark, who works for Richard Branson, is more
suitable, though not averse to a bit of banquette snogging.
Glamour gauge Dress too old for their age, with big, bouncy blow-drys.
Ripe for a makeover.
Posh factor The Queen’s granddaughters; shame about the mother.
Kate and Pippa Middleton, 25 and 22
Who The most famous ex in town and her glam sister.
Party power Kate reins back when out, staying off the booze, but she
was once seen straddling her prince on the Cuckoo Club dancefloor.
Glamour gauge Seriously high maintenance. Kate is famous for her
pre-club-exit preen in the loos before facing the paps. Naughtiness factor
Very controlled, but one guesses this steely pair have a long-term plan.
Posh factor Parents in trade; mum was an air hostess. Enough said.
THE INTERNATIONAL GLITTERATI
These Euro royals ooze old-world glamour, flitting from the Monaco Grand Prix
to hip Hoxton gallery openings, from the Riviera to the Kenyan coast. The
look is bohemian fantasy by day and serious fashion by night. Chased by
hungry scenesters, they pick up socialites wherever they go – Olympia
and Fiona Scarry, Camilla Fayed and Dasha Zhukova all hang on to their
Chanel coat-tails.
Charlotte Casiraghi, 20
Who Daughter of Princess Caroline of Monaco. Party power Limited.
Typically controlled fashionista – polite, but nervous of straying
outside her own gang.
Glamour gauge Untouchable. Karl Lagerfeld, who designed her
18th-birthday-party dress, said she reminded him of Brigitte Bardot.
Naughtiness factor Keen on long-term boyfriends. Split from her
childhood sweetheart Felix Winckler, son of a Euro banker, early this year;
since linked with a Kuwaiti prince.
Posh factor Royalty from the chicest principality around, is the
granddaughter of Princess Grace and has a private island off Sardinia.
Andrea Casiraghi, 23
Who Naughty brother of Charlotte, the hottest totty on the circuit.
Party power Silent and mysterious, he can work a room with his piercing
blue eyes alone.
Glamour gauge Scrubs up beautifully in a suit, but also spotted hanging
out in Notting Hill wearing a white T-shirt and Thai fisherman’s trousers,
complete with ethnic sandals and matted hair.
Naughtiness factor A serious catch, though the picture of bohemian love
with the Colombian beauty Tatiana Santo Domingo. Posh factor Royal
from Monaco. Doesn’t really get more classy.
Prince Ernst August of Hanover, 23
WhoToxic Euro youth known as Ernsty, son of renowned bad boy Prince
Ernst of Hanover (the Casiraghis’ stepfather).
Party power Seen on the clubbing circuit from New York to London; his
party trick is to swallow-dive onto a nightclub table full of drinks.
Glamour gauge Slight chinless wonder, but with plenty of cash.
Naughtiness factor Had a tempestuous fling with Margherita Missoni.
Posh factor German royalty and 389th in line to the British throne.
Tatiana Santo Domingo, 23
Who South American heiress and girlfriend of Andrea Casiraghi.
Party power Very decorative, but not likely to go wild.
Glamour gauge Always causes a stir at official functions with her
vintage-style chic.
Naughtiness factor Has been safely ensconced with Casiraghi for the
past three years and, as is the wont with royal escorts, is unwilling to let
her guard down (see Kate and Pip).
Posh factor May not be royal, but her Colombian family owns the
brewery, the TV channel, the airline and the newspaper back home – aka
muchos pesos.
THE SCENESTERS
“Posh but fast” sums up this set – and they’re all faces to
know on the London scene. Favourite haunts are Kensington Roof Gardens,
Amika, the Cuckoo Club (Thursdays only), Chloe and, of course, the annual
Cartier Polo. Often seen out with the boys about town Isaac and Otis Ferry,
as well as the actors-and-rock-stars crowd – Sienna, the Jaggers and
Orlando Bloom.
Jacobi Anstruther-Gough-Calthorpe, 24
Who Smooth aristo property heir.
Party power Permanent fixture on the London party scene and involved
with the nightclub Amika. Keen on fast cars – he once held his own
mini-Gumball Rally.
Glamour gauge Very good-looking, with a taste for fashion – think
Beckham does posh.
Naughtiness factor Has been linked to a series of beauties. Kate Moss
and Jade Jagger were once rumoured to have fought over him. New girlfriend
is best friends with Chelsy Davy.
Posh factor Moneyed dad, society mum, public-school education.
Isabella and Gabriella Calthorpe, 27 and 18
Who Jacobi’s sisters – an actress and a model, respectively.
Party power Perfectly refined aristocratic beauties, not often found,
but often sought out.
Glamour gauge Known as the most beautiful girls of their generation –
Gabriella has had modelling contracts with Topshop and Pringle – both
have posh boys drooling the world over.
Naughtiness factor The world was once, wrongly, convinced that Isabella
was Prince William’s squeeze – in fact, she’s going out with Sam
Branson.
Posh factor Impeccable aristos with scandal-free pasts.
Jack Kidd, 34
Who The newly single, polo-playing brother of Jodie and Jemma is
definitely back in the game.
Party power A fast-living lothario, his Smyle/Kidd party at the Cartier
Polo is the invite to score.
Naughtiness factor Recently broke up with his wife of six years amid
rumours of dalliances with stable girls. Has already been linked to a
20-year-old student and a 19-year-old estate agent.
Glamour gauge A hot polo hunk with incomparable roué credentials.
Posh factor A descendant of Lord Beaverbrook, but made friends with
Prince William’s fake Facebook profile, so perhaps not really in the know.
Chloe and Poppy Delevigne, 21 and 23
Who Society beauties and girls about town.
Party power Chloe has just opened her own members’ club with her
fiancé, Louis Buckworth, in South Ken – they gave Princess Bea
membership for her birthday.
Naughtiness factor Too nice to get caught in any trouble.
Glamour gauge Immaculately turned out and stunning.
Poppy has worked for Versace and is the face of Anya Hindmarch. She also
worked the catwalk for Julien MacDonald.
Posh factor Mum, Pandora, was a 1970s socialite; Dad is a property
developer. Perfect Chelsea posh.
THE INFLUENTIALS
The holy grail in the land of posh, the Influentials combine style and
substance – if you don’t have a cause, you might as well get out.
Whether they’re out with Natalia Vodianova or Hugh Grant at that old
favourite Annabel’s, gambling at Aspinalls or on the charity circuit,
they’re immaculately dressed, yet never look as if they’ve tried too hard.
Ben and Kate Goldsmith, 26 and 24
Who A serious power couple in the making – she’s a banking
Rothschild, he’s Jimmy’s youngest son.
Party power Parents of two young babies, so not likely to be found
stumbling out of nightclubs. Instead, find them at the Aspinalls poker
tables on a Wednesday night, or hosting parties at their new £15m pad in
Hampshire.
Naughtiness factor Got married when she was only 21 and he was 23, but
both famous for their wicked sense of humour. Glamour gauge She used
to be a fashion designer and sketched her own wedding dress. Both have the
bohemian look down pat.
Posh factor A dynastic match made in heaven, and ridiculously well
connected.
Ben Elliot, 31
Who Ringleader of the older posh set; co-founded Quintessentially, the
concierge club and service.
Party power Always up for a big night out. Very good at organising
outrageous stag weekends for his mates.
Naughtiness factor Was once a real cad about town, linked to everyone
from Jade Jagger to Sophie Dahl to Cat Deeley, but now has a transatlantic
relationship with the 24-year-old Portuguese student Ines Ferro Ribeiro.
Glamour gauge Big, booming voice, impeccably cut suits and trainers. A
good look.
Posh factor Now that Aunt Camilla’s married the future king, couldn’t
be better.
Arthur and Jemma Mornington, 29 and 32
Who She’s Jodie and Jack Kidd’s sister and runs a make-up school; he’s
a duke in the making.
Party power Impressive. At their wedding in Barbados, the bride, groom
and all the guests ended up in the pool.
Naughtiness factor She once dated Eddie Irvine, and he had a society
beauty or two, but now firmly snuggled up in their Notting Hill home.
Glamour gauge Adored by Anna Wintour – she chose them for her top
table at the annual Met ball.
Posh factor Will be Duke and Duchess of Wellington, with the coolest
address in town, No1 London.
David de Rothschild, 28
Who Youngest son of banking billionaire Sir Evelyn.
Party power Poster child for the grown-up It-boy crowd. More likely to
be found trekking across the Antarctic or taking time out on his ranch in
New Zealand.
Naughtiness factor Definitely one for the ladies, but the sweet smile
disarms us all.
Glamour gauge Seriously handsome – all towering height, rough
beard and smiley eyes. A serious ecologist who founded the eco-website and
gallery Adventure Ecology, only adding to the phwoar factor.
Posh factor A banking heir with a conscience. Perfect Noughties posh.
