A spirited memorial at The Wolseley yesterday as the restaurant closed its doors for the first time in a decade to commemorate the death of its interior designer David Collins. Hosted by Graham Norton, who had attended the funeral in Collins’s native Ireland, the guest list included photographer Mario Testino, journalist Janet Street-Porter and American Vogue stalwart Hamish Bowles.
Tom Ford showed his respect, with a source noting a rare display from the fashion designer: “Arriving with the trademark sunglasses on an overcast 4pm London afternoon, he brightened the atmosphere. Softened by the charm of fashion blogger Charlie Porter, Tom’s glasses were removed and all present were equal.”
Bowles made the one-day visit en route to New York despite Collins’s tendency for cheek. On greeting Bowles he once declared “I love your shirt… no, tell me Hamish: do they make them for men?”
