“The wonderful thing about the word posh is that when someone uses it, they’re not posh. For me, posh is a synonym for ghastly.”
In London, the epicenter of the social scene is undoubtedly jewelry designer Mark-Francis Vandelli. I caught up with Mark when he was in town promoting his show Ladies of London, The New Reign on Bravo. – ALEXANDER HANKIN
Tell me about your childhood.
My upbringing was what people today would call dysfunctional. But when you’re a child, you don’t know. You don’t have a picture of what is normal. I spent a lot of time traveling, so my parents lived separately. There are couples who believe in separate bathrooms. And there are couples who believe in separate countries, and that was the case with my parents. I was schooled in London, where I lived with my mother, and I would spend the weekends in Italy with my father. I was exposed to two very different cultures and got used to traveling, which helps one in terms of adaptability. It’s important to be adaptable, because anything can happen.
Would you describe yourself as posh?
The wonderful thing about the word posh is that when someone uses it, they’re not posh. It’s such an objectionable term. It just screams predictably middle class. It’s so dire as a concept, it’s so unsexy, so dry and ghastly. For me, posh is a synonym for ghastly.
You have great manners.
I was brought up by a mother who was raised with impeccable manners, but who reveled in breaking the rules. It’s terribly bourgeois – and posh – to know all the rules and follow them. You can afford to be a little outrageous, because life is all about outrage.
You’re invited everywhere. What makes a party fabulous?
Much like a cocktail, it’s a mix of ingredients. There must be a balance within the imbalance. You need people who are smart and nerdy, but also people who are beautiful and possibly a little vacuous. You need socialites but also need the person who never normally leaves the house. The key to a great party is when worlds collide. You can be amazed at the common ground that people find when they’re thrown together in the right setting. The setting needs to be right. People think that throwing a great party is just a good florist and five kilos of beluga caviar. It takes a hell of a lot more than that. People don’t care that much about food or the flowers. As a host, how you make people feel is what makes the difference. Being a great host is about making people feel at ease, making them feel welcomed. Don’t expect people are doing you a favor by coming to your party. That’s the mindset you need to have as a host, gratitude for your guests turning up.
You’re launching a new jewelry line.
I’ve always designed jewelry and reached a point where I feel that jewelry needs to be more democratic. Gold has become so extraordinarily expensive that it’s unattainable to a lot of people. I want to celebrate silver, a metal that is often overlooked. It allows one to create incredible jewels that are fairly priced.
What are three staples that any London gentleman should have in their wardrobe?
A three-piece suit, a good one, and the waistcoat should be double breasted. They should, without question, go to Cifonelli. If you want a good suit, that’s where you go. Every gentleman should have a good brogue, and it should be black and buffed to within a millimeter of its existence. Shoes need to be in perfect order. They can be 20 years old, but they should be polished, and they will last a lifetime when they’re good.
“I have entered a new chapter. I’ve grown up a little and found the courage to show a more multi-faceted version of myself – more all-encompassing, honest, candid and vulnerable.”
How did you wind up on the show?
It’s an odd story. I opened a jewelry shop on Mount Street at the tender age of 21. And my lawyer sent a casting agent to my house that I would never have let in, but my housekeeper did, and she saw this person and a cameraman into the drawing room, offered them a drink. They proceeded to interview me for the show, and then cast me. I thought it was all a silly joke, and the rest is history. It was a very happy accident, and one that I would never have gone looking for, but that has given me a great deal of pleasure and an interesting outlook on life.
What can viewers expect from ladies of London, the new reign?
I have entered a new chapter. I’ve grown up a little and found the courage to show a more multi-faceted version of myself. My work in television to date has been quite formulaic, and it’s now more all-encompassing, honest, candid and vulnerable.
Have you learned about yourself being on the show?
You owe it to your younger self to put yourself in the shoes of people who are 20 today and struggling to find themselves. Life is tough sometimes, but there’s also great joy to be had, and that is my journey on this new series. I hope it makes kids who are not going through the easiest time, feel like the future is bright.
That’s great advice.
Everybody has the right to be themselves, to grow into themselves and to celebrate their true personality. I would love to use this as an opportunity to inspire people to celebrate who they are deep down. No matter how weird, kooky, unusual or peculiar, they should celebrate it, because that uniqueness is what is going to separate them from the crowd. People feel today that they can forge their identity on the brands they wear or the postcodes in which they live, and it’s not that. It’s really who you are deep down. Oscar Wilde was, as always, right when he said, ‘Be yourself. Everybody else is already taken.’
