My West London Life

Party Pants

Mary Forestier-Walker

January
25

Founder of mobile knicker-making class Party Pants Mary Forestier-Walker on pole dancing hen parties and creating lobster outfits

Where do you live and why?

South Kensington – it’s where I’ve always lived since moving to London. It has everything you could ever wish for and more; a pub who knows my favourite tipple and a corner shop who know my name. I wouldn’t live anywhere else.

How did you come up with the concept of Party Pants?

Brainstorming ideas for my three older sisters’ hen parties. I did a trial run on them and they loved it. Beautiful knickers were made, people got talking and party pants was born.

What’s the wildest hen party you have hosted and what happened?

I did a hen party for 15 pole dance instructors. They were very happy to pose in their creations at the end of it all and they gave me a private lesson!

You studied at London College of Fashion. What is the craziest project you worked on?

I had an underwater project so I made a human-sized lobster outfit… Wadding in the shell, pincers and all.

How would you describe your personal style?

Mary Poppins meets the circus.

What is your favourite fashion era?

The ’60s. The micro mini-dress is a wardrobe staple… And big hair.

You grew up in the countryside. Where do you escape to in west London to get a little greenery?

My apartment has its own secret garden overflowing with flowers.

What’s your most memorable moment?

Making my first dress. It was a cherry-red, silk swing dress and I wore it to my birthday party.

What item of clothing could you not live without?

My long red coat with a fur collar that I bought from a vintage shop on a girls weekend to Amsterdam. I look forward to winter so that I can wear it.

What inspires you the most and why?

The British countryside, foreign markets and power ballads. Taking tradition and making it playful and a little outrageous.

What is in your fridge right now?

Two bottles of champagne and some tomato soup.

www.party-pants.co.uk

Nadia Cavelle & Zachary Fall

July
22

Theatre makers Nadia Cavelle & Zachary Fall talk parenthood, creativity & why they co-founded the Woven Voices Prize

Firstly, tell us your favourite thing about west London…

We love the hustle and bustle of Soho, where we’ve seen many shows and attended many auditions! We also have very fond memories of Chiswick, home of the Tabard Theatre, where we produced our first play, Bruises, in the summer of 2015.

Tell

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Carolyn Arnold, Clarendon Cross Residents’ Association

April
23

Carolyn Arnold, Clarendon Cross Residents’ Association, on TFL’s proposed new cycleway across Holland Park

Why are you against TfL’s proposed new cycleway across Holland Park roundabout?

While we support all efforts to make cycling safer in London, we are against the proposals because they involve removing road space and adding traffic lights on one of the busiest intersections in Central London, connecting… Read more →