When we heard about the Savoy Hotel in London re-opening in October 2010 after a grand 220 million pound, 3-year, eco-conscious renovation, we were inspired to track down some photos from the past, as well as the newly-done rooms, to recapture some of the glory days of this historic hotel.

Learn more about the history and refurbishment of the hotel, which opened in 1889. It was owned by theatre and music producer, Richard D'Oyly Carte, who financed it from the profits of Gilbert and Sullivan operas, and was the first luxury hotel in Britain. It included electric lights, electric lifts, ensuite bathrooms, and hot and cold running water, all rather luxurious for its time.

In 1890, Carte hired the hotel's first famous manager, César Ritz (who later founded The Ritz Hotel) who in turn hired "a little army of hotel men for the conquest of London" including famed chef Auguste Escoffier, and maître d'hôtel Louis Echenard.

Famous visitors, guests and entertainers have included Edward VII, Sarah Bernhardt, Sir Thomas Dewar, Enrico Caruso, Charlie Chaplin, Harry Truman, Judy Garland, Babe Ruth, Lauren Bacall, Prince Charles and Princess Diana, Laurence Olivier, Marilyn Monroe, John Wayne,  Elizabeth Taylor, Barbra Streisand, Amy Winehouse, Michael Ball, The Beatles, Winston Churchill, Lord Mountbatten, Charles de Gaulle, George Gershwin, Frank Sinatra, Sophia Loren, Lena Horne, Noël Coward, Claude Monet, James Whistler, Oscar Wilde and Lord Alfred Douglas, King Edward VII, Lillie Langtry, HG Wells, George Bernard Shaw, Nellie Melba, Charlie Chaplin, Fred Astaire, Marlene Dietrich, Bob Dylan, Lionel Barrymore, Harry Truman, Marlon Brando, Audrey Hepburn, Cary Grant, Ivor Novello, John Wayne, Humphrey Bogart, Lena Horne, Richard Burton, Richard Harris, Maria Callas, Coco Chanel, Christian Dior, Julie Andrews, Jimi Hendrix, Elton John, U2, Led Zeppelin, The Who, George Clooney, Whoopi Goldberg, Stephen Fry, the Savoy Orpheans (band) and the Savoy Havana Band.

Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II) was first seen out in public with beau Prince Philip at a wedding reception at the Savoy in 1946.

The hotel has been used as a film location several times, including:

• the romantic finale to the "Notting Hill" (1999) is set in the hotel's Lancaster Room, where Anna (Julia Roberts) and William (Hugh Grant) declare their mutual love
• "Kipps" in 1921 (based on the novel by H. G. Wells)
• "The French Lieutenant's Woman" (1981)
• "Entrapment" (1999)

There are a few photos below, plus two full photo galleries here:

• The Savoy Hotel, past and present
• Famous guests at the Savoy Hotel

More photos of the Savoy Hotel (past and present) as well as famous guests.
 

UPDATE: The Eloise Suite at The Plaza is now open!

The iconic Plaza Hotel in New York has secured exuberant fashion designer Betsey Johnson to design an exclusive “Eloise” family suite, celebrating the irreverent, irrepressible and fictional Plaza resident, Kay Thompson's "Eloise" (illustrations by Hilary Knight).

The precocious Eloise "moved into" The Plaza in 1955 with pet pug Weenie, turtle Skipperdee and her "mostly companion" Nanny.

The two bedroom suite, decorated in a color palette of "Eloise pink" and black, is due to open in late 2010.

See our Eloise photo gallery. And also check out our gallery of the decor of Betsey Johnson's own homes.

Not everyone is happy with changes at the Plaza, according to this article by Evgenia Peretz in Vanity Fair (January 2009), but we think the Betsey Johnson project will be a winner.

Learn more about Eloise from the official Eloise website or Wikipedia. Or stock up on the Eloise books, films and associated merchandise at Amazon. See some historic pictures (and accompanying history) from The Bowery Boys: New York City history.

From the Eloise books:

The Plaza Hotel, New York City:

In addition, there is already an Eloise store and tea rooms. The Luxist has the story here.

 
And here are some photos of the store from the official Eloise at The Plaza store:

See more at the Eloise Guides section on The Plaza website, or see our Eloise photo gallery.

So you're an epicurean domestic goddess who loves to sketch and decorate whilst practicing your French by singing songs in preparation to move to Paris to become the next Julia Child, Coco Chanel or Garance Dore...

Why not check out the following Luscious sections for some inspiration:

• Domestic goddess: Fabulous foodie
  
• Luscious lists: Epicureans, socialites and entertainers
• Design: Luscious inside and out
• Domestic goddess: Hostess with the mostest
• Luscious lists: Musicians
• Luxe travel: Take me with you!
• Luscious lists: Artists, interior designers, decorators, architects and furniture designers
• Luxe travel: Travel preparation
• Music: Seen and Heard

Photo: Diane Kruger for Louis Vuitton

STYLE

Paris-based style blogger, illustrator and photographer Garance Doré continues to gain influence in the fashion world, with over 50,000 site visits daily and industry publications and organisations clammering to be associated with her.

Check out her Une Fille Comme Moi website (now in English as well as French) and this piece by Rebecca Voight for "Interview Magazine".

She also has a Facebook page and Twitter account.

Or visit the famous site by her partner, Scott Schuman, The Sartorialist. What a cool couple!

Photo, Garance and her friend Jade, and illustrations by Garance Dore

MUSIC

Have Paris Combo playing some delicious tunes in the background, such as "Living Room", below from YouTube. Or stock up on Paris Combo CDs at Amazon:  

LANGUAGE

Are your French language skills a bit rusty?

Find your local Alliance Francaise for some private tutoring or class sessions.Or visit this "learn French online" section of the BBC website which includes video, audio, text and pictures to help give you a variety of learning methods.  

COOKING

Keen to become a culinary diva? Then follow in Julia's footsteps by enrolling in a class with Le Cordon Bleu.

Le Cordon Bleu Paris is in the 15th arrondissement in Paris, between Montparnasse and the Parc d'Expositions of Versailles.

And thanks to the publicity from the Julie and Julia film, they've created their own dedicated page on the website.
 

ACCOMMODATION

Looking for somewhere to live? We're big fans of the Marais area in the 4th arrondissement of Paris.

For hotels, we love The Ritz (which became Coco Chanel's permanent home) in Place Vendome, just around the corner from the famous Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré and Avenue Montaigne, and Hotel du Petit Moulin (designed by Christian Lacroix) in the Marais.

Photos: Hotel du Petit Moulin, right, and The Ritz Paris, below

FASHION

Not sure what to wear? 

Then improve your knowledge of French fashion with these absolutely gorgeous books about Christian Dior and Prada.

EXPLORATION 

Our friend, Lovely Liz, is thrilled with her personalised gastronomic and cultural tour of Paris with Ute Biefang from "Ute in Paris".

According to her website, "Ute is a consummate passionate connoisseur and lover of all things Parisian who has immersed herself in the cultural and gastronomical heart of Paris.

"She has worked with some of the world’s great chefs and culinary personalities such as Luis Andoni Aduriz, Michel Roux, Thierry Marx, Mario Batali and Anthony Bourdain.

"She is fluent in German, French, English and Australian!"

Visit Ute's website here. 

DECORATION

For those of you who love the Vase d'Avril like we do (the famous vase comprising a row of glass test tubes - see picture, below), then why not learn more about the creative duo behind Tse & Tse Associates, Catherine Lévy and Sigolène Prébois, based in Paris.

You can read the site in French or English, visit their online shop (click on the icon to change it to English), or this interview with Catherine on thelayercake.com website.

Share 

Let’s face it, while we may feel fatigued and droopy eyed (not to mention worryingly oily) during a long flight, airhostesses have always seemed to have an effortless glamour about them.

Why not channel their glamour at your next dinner party by investing in a reconditioned airline meal cart.

At www.flightstudiostore.com, AL.Carts meal carts are designed, engineered and built with the highest aerospace quality requirements, with their designs flying daily, worldwide in many airliners.

For your own meal cart however AL.Carts not only allows you to chose your colour, but also interior configuration (half food trays/half wine rack seems to be the best option; or for quirky office use, filing systems are also available).

Prices start at $952, in a range of colours and interior configurations.

Share 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Whilst we're on the topic, check out Come Fly With Us!: A Global History of the Airline Hostess. Here's the official product blurb from Amazon:

"When the first commercial flights took off in the 1930s, stewardesses were registered nurses whose duties included swatting flies and helping passengers read railroad timetables in the event of forced landings. In the 1950s, stewardesses were viewed as wives-in-training, as adept at preparing a baby's bottle as mixing a martini.

"By the swinging 1960s and 1970s, female flight attendants were considered successful marketing tools, sporting micro-minis, hot pants, and buttons that read "Pure, Sober, and Available" to lure male business passengers on board.

"Come Fly With Us! explores the unique history of this industry pioneered by women, tracing changes in the flight attendant's role - from flying nurse to airborne sex kitten to today's custodian of safety and service.

"Stunning visuals from airline archives and early flight maps, promotional brochures, and print advertisements re-create a sense of the early days and underscore the dramatic changes encountered in this dynamic industry."

Share 

Avoiding work and looking for ways to divert yourself? Then have a flick through our luscious photo galleries on our Luscious on Facebook page. Here's a taster...
 

Inside Martha Stewart's houses and offices	Luscious lingerie	Grace Kelly

 Whilst you're at it, why not become a fan of our FB page and get daily Luscious updates!

Reached the bottom of the page but desperate for more? Then check out all our sections:

• Home
• About Luscious
• Diva Darling
• Style Leader
• Social Butterfly
• Domestic Goddess
• Hip & Healthy