Nº 32: Will Hosie
Writer and founder of Gauche Magazine recommends vintage shopping in Bethnal Green, a spontaneous bite in Covent Garden, his favourite fashion show, and much more!
We’re back with writer and founder of Gauche Magazine Will Hosie. Read on to find out what he’s into, and if you’re new here, hit subscribe for secret recommendations once a week.
Aspirational early bird and founding editor of the upcoming Gauche Magazine, William is 23 and enjoys mansplaining the genius of ABBA’s back catalogue to anyone who won’t slap him.
☞ SECRET RECIPE: Anchovy and garlic infused vegetables on a bed of hummus. Works best with purple sprouting broccoli or asparagus.
☞ READING: Sorrow & Bliss. The best novel about mental illness I’ve ever read. Written in the tradition of sad girl books from the likes of Dolly Alderton or Sally Rooney, but less navel-gazy and much rawer. A real tour de force.
☞ RESTAURANT: Perilla. Nestled on the corner of Newington Green with a short menu changing daily based on local produce. Teetering on the overpriced but so delicious you won’t / shouldn’t care. Handsome wooden interior with cutlery tucked into a discrete drawer on each table. Portions are dainty but not waifish. Cocktails are a must.
☞ DESTINATION: Pietrasanta. A charming town off the beaten track in Tuscany, less than an hour from Pisa airport by train. Stay at the newly opened Paradis-Pietrasanta Eco-Azienda.
☞ SHOPPING: Nordic Poetry on Bethnal Green road. An incredible selection of high end vintage clothes including (last time I was there) a jacket from Gianni Versace’s 1992 “Miss S&M” collection. Shopgirls indulge you as you try on outfits that you can neither afford nor pull off. An ironically uplifting and validating experience.
☞ SPONTANEOUS BITE: If you find yourself without reservations on a Thursday night in Covent Garden and you don’t want to spend over £30 on a main, head down the perennially insalubrious Saint Martin’s Court until you reach an unpretentious terrace fronting dusty windows. Above them, the insignia: Koha. The grotty excuse of a former celebrity haunt backs onto the Wyndham and Noel Coward theatres, making it a hit on opening nights for people-watching patrons. The bathroom has Carex hand wash filled to the brim with slightly soapy water which tells you everything you need to know about an establishment that ought to take itself more seriously but has decided its charm lies in an indecorous approach to sanitation. The meat is some of the best you can get in central London without breaking the bank. Pair with a negroni. Not suitable for veggies. An absolute joy of a joint.
☞ FAVOURITE FASHION SHOW: Valentino Haute Couture AW 1999. Gisele drops a bag the moment she steps onto the runway, another model takes off her poorly fitted heels about ten minutes in, and a third later gets a pashmina stuck in the embroidery of her gown, prompting Giancarlo Giametti to intervene. But no number of presentational mistakes can take away from the triumph of this collection — one of the few shows (along with a handful by McQueen, Galliano, Gaultier and Prada) that has made me weep with genuine emotion. Gisele and Naomi’s finale looks (red dresses, naturally) are some of Valentino’s best. The show is available on YouTube, but make sure you watch the version with the real soundtrack.
☞ GAUCHE MAGAZINE: A new quarterly which celebrates the awkwardness of life and identifies young, emerging denizens of curiosity across different media and art forms: fashion, food, TV, film, literature, music… Watch this space.
♪ LISTENING TO: Dear Joan & Jericha. A delightfully unhinged take on the classic agony aunt by the alter egos of Julia Davies and Vicky Pepperdine who have fully internalised the patriarchy and pedal hilariously outdated misogynistic judgement rather than helping a sister out. Hilarious and occasionally disquieting. Somehow manages to synthesise narcissism and self-deprecation into a combined art form.
☠︎ HATES: Train carriage doors closing while I’m running onto the platform. Being told off for smoking indoors when the doors are open and it’s a party.
TY Will! Follow Will here to keep an eye on the launch of Gauche.
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