Zurich with Thomas Sabo

The past month or so has perhaps been one of the busiest I’ve ever had, not counting fashion month, obvs. It’s been a non stop bonanza of meetings, shoots, extravagant dinners, swish soirées and travels with no sign of things slowing down anytime soon! Not that I’m complaining of course, the aforementioned activities are my absolute favourite ways to pass the days, aside from shopping, and it feels totally surreal to consider them part of my “job”. There are plenty more projects, parties and adventures to come before we all swap our cocktail frocks for waistbands elasticated enough to accommodate Christmas indulgences, don’t you worry!  First up, the tale of my whirlwind trip to Zurich with jewellery giant, Thomas Sabo…

Before this year I’d only ever made hour-or-so stop offs in Switzerland en route to skiing holidays so it’s been an unexpected treat to discover not one, but two of the countries major cities within a matter of weeks. Sadly my visit to Zurich was far shorter than our girl’s getaway to Geneva but the small slices I did experience were utterly wonderful. Having managed to put my neck into spasm yet again just the day before, I very nearly had to bail on the trip altogether. Any of you who’ve done something similar in the past will know all too well how grim neck spasm is; total bloody agony to the point where literally any movement is so painful that you’re pretty much stuck sitting on the sofa feeling like a very frustrated vegetable. Luckily it’s not usually a condition that sticks around for too long and a visit to the physio combined with industrial strength muscle relaxants had me just about mobile again in time to head to the airport. The moral of this story is of course to always sort out any ailments you have properly, my neck’s been pretty dodgy since I did the same thing during the summer and being the idiot that I am, I chose to ignore it. Never again will I be so foolish! But that’s not the point of this post. I arrived at Zurich airport with my fellow trip attendees, editor & consultant (formerly of Harper’s and My Wardrobe) Carmen Borgonovo, Harpers Bazaar Fashion & Jewellery Director, Julia Dorff and Vogue Fashion Features Editor, Laura Weir. I won’t lie to you, being in such hugely influential and inspiring company made me feel pretty intimidated and wonder WTF I was doing there but everyone was so warm and lovely that insecurities melted away by the time we arrived at the hotel. And what a hotel it was! Over the past couple of year’s I’ve been lucky enough to stay in some truly amazing places but The Dolder Grand is a whole other level of luxury.

As we climbed a long, sweeping drive the palatial building the greeted us totally took my breath away. The Dolder Grand’s original “Curhaus” part dates from 1899 and, as I rather obnoxiously captioned my instagram snap of it, looks more like a castle than a hotel. In 2004 the historic hotel closed its doors but four years and one very intensive restoration programme later it re-emerged with the addition of a stunning new modernist wing, fusing the place’s legacy with cutting edge contemporary architecture and art complete with works by the likes of Andy Warhol, Salvador Dalí and Camille Pissarro dotted around the corridors and grounds.

After stopping to take about a million pictures (and feeling like a bit of a tit for doing so, given that I was the only blogger there) I checked in and headed up to my room. Or rather, my absolutely ginormous, could-sleep-six-comfortably suite. I’m not exaggerating here, it was hands down the biggest boudoir I’ve ever seen. We’re talking roughly the same size as, if not bigger than most studio apartments, especially if you take into account the huge bathroom in which you could lounge in the whirlpool tub looking out over the lake or scrub in the marble shower or, if you’re feeling really indulgent, do both. Unfortunately I didn’t have time to create my own in room spa, or for that matter check out the hotel’s famed 40,000 spa, so instead I settled for snacking on the handmade chocs left as a welcome gift and settling down at the vast oak desk to prep my next morning’s interview post.

Before I knew it, I was running late to meet the others downstairs in the palatial lobby and made a high speed outfit change into something a whole lot less comfortable. Word of advice, if you’re planning on sitting down to a seven course dinner don’t for God’s sake wear a pencil skirt that cuts off your circulation at the best of times! But anyway, I digress. First on our evening agenda was a trip to Thomas Sabo’s beautiful Zurich flagship store where we’d be introduced to their newly launched fine jewellery collection in the specially designed first floor salon. Thomas Sabo is one of a number of major international jewellery brands who produce a range of pieces across different price points and the launch of a fine jewellery offering was a very smart move that will no doubt differentiate the company from many of its competitors. As for the collections itself? A triumph on every level. Crafted from 18k rose and yellow gold and 925 Sterling silver, selected gemstones and diamonds, it’s pretty luxe stuff but also in many cases very wearable. I fell hard for the cocktail rings in particular which came with subtly inlaid diamonds around the bands framing the opulent hued gemstones. Creative Director Susanne Kölbli had drawn inspiration from Hindu chakra teachings as well as the brand’s own European aesthetic and the interior of the meticulously decorated salon – think 50-square-metre silver-plated wall, Venetian silk lamps, Far Eastern motifs and antique furniture – reflected this fusion of influences beautifully.

Me & lovely Sandra Bauchknect at the Thomas Sabo soiree

Once Thomas Sabo himself had given a speech, it was time to move on to the final part of our evening, dinner. We all piled into a fleet of waiting Mercedes coaches to travel en masse to the city’s hottest new opening, Razzia. Housed in a neoclassical building dating back to the 1920s, the restaurant/bar/cultural-pop-up-spot combines original deco features with quirky modern pieces (a giant giraffe, for instance) and is the perfect place for a spot of glamorous debauchery. Not that this particular evening was exactly debauched, more indulgent and thoroughly enjoyable. After a champagne reception we took our seats to be treated to a spectacular performance from violin wunderkind and Thomas Sabo ambassador, David Garrett. Then it was time to kick off the first of the seven or so courses. Many hours and glasses of incredibly fine wine later we waddled back to our cars (the pencil skirt had been unzipped by this point) to head back to The Dolder Grand for one of the most blissfully comfortable night’s sleep I’ve had probably ever.

David Garrett performing

Me, Carmen & Julia

Thank you Thomas Sabo for a fantastic trip to Zurich!

Love Ella. X