STYLE | 1,>,33,9@
ntroduced in 1968, Van Cleef & Arpels’
Alhambra collection, with its
four-leaf-clover motif, has
effortlessly endured for five
decades and survived
fleeting trends. Luck has always
been a favourite theme of the
French maison, with four-leaf clovers
making their first appearance in its
archives in the 1920s. It was under the
influence of the free-spirited, peace-loving vibe
of the 1960s that Van Cleef & Arpels created the
Alhambra collection, and these symbols of luck have
perhaps become the brand’s most emblematic line.
In reaching the half-century milestone, the
Alhambra collection is testament to the timeless
style of the maison and its savoir faire. In late May,
to celebrate its big 5-0, Van Cleef & Arpels invited
its friends and media to a bash we couldn’t possibly
refuse in beautiful and exotic Marrakech.
And, boy, was it some party. The celebrations
kicked off with lunch served on the manicured
lawns of the French consul’s home. We feasted on a
delicious spread of French dishes with a Moroccan
twist prepared by Yannick Alléno, a French chefwith three Michelin stars, who
was flown in for the occasion.
Across the lawn by the pool
was a tent filled with stunning
1970s vintage couture by Paco
Rabanne, Yves Saint Laurent,
Pierre Cardin, and Karl Lagerfeld
for Chloé, to name a few, which we
could dress in and accessorise with fedora
hats, feather boas, oversized sunnies, and—
naturally—Alhambra jewellery.
The stunning home—with its beautifully tiled
fireplaces, handcrafted wooden furniture, walls full
of artwork, and floors lined with richly patterned
Moroccan rugs—was transformed to immerse us
in the Alhambra world. Craftsmen stooped over
benches working on Alhambra pieces greeted us
in the foyer, which led to a sitting room where
vintage Alhambra jewellery curated by the maison’s
heritage director, Catherine Cariou, was on display,
glinting with lapis lazuli, tiger eye, onyx, and wood.
More craftsmen around the room, selecting and
polishing stones, gave a sense of the level of skillTo mark 50 years of its inimitable
Alhambra collection, Van Cleef & Arpels
staged an unforgettable celebration in
Marrakech; Charlene Co was there
of
TOUCH
LUCK
134 philippine tatler. august 2018