Kettner's is one of those places that you could be completely oblivious of, despite having lived in London for years. Tucked down a tiny Soho street, this restaurant and champagne bar doesn't look like much from the outside but is delightfully decadent once you're through the doors. It is here that Mr Carter from 40 Winks is now playing host to a regular afternoon of glamorous frivolity called Coquette.
After being greeted at the door and sent upstairs, where two floors of Coquette goodies awaited, I headed straight towards vintage hair experts Lipstick and Curls to see if they could transform my hastily done attempt at a vintage hairdo into something with a bit more wow-factor. After a short wait - not too much of a problem though as during this time I was offered a tasty gin and elderflower cocktail in a pretty vintage teacup - I sat down and one of the girls worked her magic. Sky-high victory rolls in place, I pondered waiting for the Benefit ladies too as they seemed to come highly recommended, but instead decided to apply a bit of my own red lippy and explore further.
It turns out that I should perhaps have ventured into all the rooms before deciding what do first, as American skincare company Murad were offering mini treatments throughout the afternoon which would have been fabulous before getting my hair and make-up done. But, after having my cocktail refilled several times and being treated to as many mini sandwiches and desserts as you would get during an afternoon tea for two, I figured the best plan was probably to head for the ‘Charleston Masterclass’ with the very dapper Mr Nigel Anderson in order to burn off a few calories. Who says exercise can't be fun?
Whilst in the mood for learning new things, I decided to try another masterclass. Author and social commentator Zoe Strimpel was on hand to teach us all some essential dating tips with her talk entitled ‘Ten Ways To Make Him Fall For You’. It was extremely fascinating stuff and certainly gave us all much to think about, but gossip later on in the afternoon indicated that I probably should have hung around for Lana Citron's class on ‘The Art of Kissing’ too as I heard that one of the attractive waiters was roped in for a demo!
After a rather scary Tarot reading, I decided to console myself with a spot of retail therapy. Rag & Bow were in the dressing up room with a wonderful selection of vintage treats, and so I tried on a couple of their pretty dresses in the rather luxurious setting of Kettner's powder room. There were also pretty hats from Katherine Elizabeth, lovely jewellery by Jeminee Solanki and luxurious lingerie by Fred & Ginger... so much choice! However, it was the 20% discount and the beautiful sailor dress at Stop Traffic Clothing that finally tempted me to part with my cash. There was almost a fight over the last medium-sized Bettie Page Blue Ella Dress too, so I'm quite glad my budget didn't stretch to that one!
I chatted to some lovely ladies throughout the day, many of whom had used the afternoon as an opportunity to re-connect with old friends. Coquette certainly is a rather wonderful excuse for a girly get-together. At the end of a beautifully glamorous afternoon I sat in the champagne bar and rummaged through the goodie bag we'd been given as we all left. There were plenty of little treats and discount vouchers in there to keep my momentum going until their next event in June. Tickets for an afternoon of treats at Coquette are £90. Call 0207 790 0259 or email reservations@40winks.org to make a booking or register your interest.
Images taken at Coquette by Rosie Reed Gold.