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Nicolas Ghesquière, artistic director of Louis Vuitton women’s collections, first introduced me to Zaho de Sagazan. He was talking about the artists he had been following and she was his current cultural crush. Since then, the French singer became friends with the fashion house, dressed in Vuitton, and her career skyrocketed. She first went viral singing David Bowie’s “Modern Love,” in white socks, for the Cannes grand jury headed by Greta Gerwig; a performance of such magnificence that it left Gerwig fighting back tears. De Sagazan then appeared at the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games, delivering a transcendent performance of Édith Piaf’s “Sous le Ciel de Paris” that was seen around the world.
De Sagazan offers a unique blend of classical, pop and electro music, all wrapped in a raw yet ethereal performance style. His debut album, The Éclairs Symphonywhich was re-released last month with seven new songs, has seen her hailed as the new hope for french song. Alice Cavanagh met her in Paris to talk about Her strange rise from quirky teenager to pop ingénue and fashion star. His personality is mischievous, flighty and very fun, he craves the constant company of other people and thrives in crowds. Who better, then, to start our celebration number? She epitomizes the modern party girl: elusive, elegant and completely independent-minded. Their music is the ultimate spiritual boost and the best antidote to the current grim news cycle.
Elsewhere in this issue, we have also revived our How to Host seriesThis season focuses on annual traditions and personal rituals. For many chefs, the festive period is one of the busiest: it is no surprise that the Spiteri clan, who all work in hospitality, enjoy a night off from their kitchen duties to play Perudo and eat Chinese takeaway . Other hosts seek more traditional comforts: Sally Clarke brought Thanksgiving to her Kensington restaurant, having picked up the habit while working in California. “I thought it was the most wonderful, all-encompassing celebration,” he tells Tim Auld of the turkey dinner. “Everyone seemed to be invited, everyone was willing to contribute something and the more I learned about it, the more I felt like it was an international celebration for all faiths, all colors and all ages.”
Likewise, Phyllis Ny attempts to recreate the flavors of an African party in Tooting. For her, this reminds her of how she helped her mother in Ghana when she was a child. “It’s one of the most vivid memories of my childhood,” says the 31-year-old nurse-turned-private chef, who now cooks those same beloved dishes for her friends.
For all of our hosts, the party is a means to spend time with their loved ones. But I’m a little relieved to discover that Phyllis still finds hosting somewhat stressful. I’ve only thrown one party in my adult life (last month, for what you might call a “significant” birthday), and navigating the hell of invites, RSVPs, and no-shows can be a lot more traumatic than it should be. Maybe I should have consulted Alice Lascelles’ Etiquette Guide to Party Planning before embarking on my own: apparently it is not okay, for example, to create a group WhatsApp group. You’ve spoken to a list of planning experts to find out how to make the most of the night.
Despite the WhatsApp group, my party was a lot of fun. And although I thought I would pass out from social anxiety before the first guests arrived, the night went off without a hitch. My advice: hire a DJ and wear dancing shoes. There’s nothing like a bop to lift your spirits.
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