Londoner's Diary: Edward Enninful means major wardrobe change at Vogue

In today's Diary: All change at Vogue | Photo London begins with Don McCullin dinner | Ladies and Gentlemen try out Bermuda shorts | Tom Daley on his wellies | Chris Huhne's pink knickers | Denis MacShane on a swing to the left
Patrick McMullan via Getty Image
19 May 2017

Out with the old, in with the new at Vogue. That’s the way fashion works, after all.

Following the announcement of the departures this summer of managing editor Frances Bentley, fashion director Lucinda Chambers and, of course, Alexandra Shulman, there is talk in fashion circles of a massive overhaul of the magazine and its image when Edward Enninful arrives as its new editor. An insider also wonders which other staff members will stay under the new regime.

Enninful, pictured right, who had been fashion and style director at W magazine in New York, has been assigned a sizeable budget allotted specifically for staff replacements —“just soft talk for redundancies” is the interpretation, says the insider — and will establish a new, younger and more diverse regime at the magazine. Enninful has also been given a sizeable fee in addition to his promised salary. Thought to be a hefty figure — fashionistas believe it is approaching £1 million — this is solely to cover the inconvenience of relocating to the UK from his New York base. Condé Nast declined to comment on future arrangements.

The more precious among the fashion community are concerned at what is expected to be a drastic change for the magazine but it will surely pay off. Anna Wintour started her long tenure at Vogue US by raising eyebrows with her first cover: a model in a jewelled couture jacket and high-street blue jeans — then unheard of for the luxury fashion bible. Expect more forward thinking on a much grander scale from Edward.

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Will Theresa May win the backing of Tory voters after releasing her manifesto?
AFP/Getty Images

Not quite the reception Theresa May would have wanted from the pages of the Daily Telegraph, after the Tory manifesto revealed a plan to make wealthier people pay for elderly care out of the value of their homes. “Thank you, Theresa May, for making my mind up,” writes Stephen Marshall from Essex in a letter to the paper today. “I’ve been dithering for ages about equity release and blowing the kids’ inheritance. Barbados, here we come.”

Radio, someone still loves EU — MacShane

AFP/Getty Images

A MISSIVE arrives from Denis MacShane, former Minister for Europe. “Funny to see Brexit politics turn globally to the Left and regulation while the continent is globally turning to the Right and freedom,” he writes. “I thought the main British problem with the EU over most of its 40+ years of presence was insane bureaucracy.” MacShane, always tuned in to continental issues, adds that he’s had the radio on when our PM is being compared to a French Socialist. “I am right now listening to Europe 1 and they just found a new nickname for the British PM: Theresa Maylenchon.”

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ITV via Getty Images

Quote of the day: ‘Will you call me Leanne?’

Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood asks Ukip’s Paul Nuttall to call her by her name in the ITV leaders' debate yesterday. He called her Natalie twice.

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Let’s race to be lost in the Bermuda triangle

Dave Benett/Getty Images for The

It might have been a washout last night but that didn’t deter our favourite partygoers from showing up to the Gentleman’s Journal summer party on the roof of the Ham Yard Hotel in Soho. Actress Olivia Grant and Tatler cover girl Lady Violet Manners cosied up under the awning with sister Alice and Princess Diana’s niece Lady Kitty Spencer. As for the knees on show, it’s not the new GJ style: the fellas in the shorts were from the Bermuda tourist industry, offering partygoers a free trip to the island, if their images from the photobooth were chosen as the best. The Londoner is still awaiting the results..

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Dave Benett/Getty Images for Hun

OLYMPIC diver Tom Daley was singing the praises of his favourite item of clothing at a fashion brand party in Soho last night with new husband Dustin Lance Black in tow. “With the amount that it rains in England, at least I can still wear these,” Tom told us. “I wear them walking the dogs with my friends in Devon.” No, he wasn’t talking about his Speedos but Hunter wellies, which hosted an event celebrating festival season at The Vinyl Factory. We like to think of Tom in the fields wearing both.

A life behind the lens

Dave Benett/Getty Images for Mar

Say cheese! Last night those behind the camera got their moment in the spotlight, as locations across the city marked the start of Photo London, this weekend’s photography festival.

Wallpaper* editor Tony Chambers hosted a grand dinner to celebrate war photographer Don McCullin, who has just got a knighthood. The crowd at Mark’s Club in Mayfair included snapper David Bailey and his wife Catherine, pictured with McCullin, and Alexander McQueen creative director Sarah Burton, who designed the Duchess of Cambridge’s wedding dress.

Over in Soho, The Photographers’ Gallery hosted the 20th annual Deutsche Börse Prize. The winner was Dutch photographer Dana Lixenberg, for striking images of the residents of housing projects of LA.

Finally, a flash of Labour’s Tulip Siddiq in west London. Siddiq took time to support a constituent — photographer Elainea Emmott — at the launch of exhibition Portraits and Places at St Anne’s and St Andrew’s in Queen’s Park. No selfies in sight.

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Tweet of the day: “Corbyn winning would be incredible, purely cos we could eliminate the national debt by putting his first meeting with the Queen on pay-per-view.”

Comedian Ahir Shah would like to see a Labour win.

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Huhne is tickled pink in Notting Hill

(Christian Streatfield)

CHRIS Huhne thinks the election is pants. The former Lib-Dem Cabinet minister, left, sampled some pink knickers at new Notting Hill boutique Maison SL this week, helped by store founder Susana Lorena, right. Huhne is no longer an MP but let no one say he has gone commando.

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Getty Images

Endorsement of the day: US actor Danny DeVito backed Labour yesterday. “UK. You’ve got the guy,” he tweeted. “Vote for Jeremy Corbyn ... show us how it’s done! #grime4corbyn.” Eh?

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