Anthony Peto – Hidden Paris
Anthony Peto is English but set up his namesake hat company in Paris. Why because of the enormous wealth of skills and supplies in the millinery and hat making world here. Soon after, he set up his workshop in the centre of Paris , training staff in the heritage and artisan traditions of French millinery and hat making. This is his Hidden Paris.
IRK: Anthony what’s your favourite restaurant in Paris?
Anthony: My favourite restaurant for the quality of the food, which is exceptional, is Parcelles, 13 rue Chapon, 75003 Paris, in the Marais. You have to book.
IRK: Where do you head to for a little drink in the city of lights?
Anthony: My favourite bar, also in the Marais, is the Petit Fer à Cheval, 30 rue Veille du Temple, 75004 Paris. The bar is in the shape of a horse shoe. It is very cosy and convivial.
IRK: Where would you suggest for a romantic evening out?
Anthony: For a romantic night out – nothing beats walking by the Seine around sunset, between the Pont des Arts and the Ile de la Cité. Watch the sky change colour over the most beautiful buildings in the world, then jump into a taxi and have dinner at the Hotel Amour.
I love walking around the canal area in the 10th arrondisement, especially at night. Streets like the rue des Vinaigriers and the Quai de Valmy, with the neon signs lit up and the reflections on the water have a magical and cinematic quality quite different from the bustle of every day Paris.
IRK: Which gallery in Paris should someone should always go to?
Anthony: The Fondation Louis Vuitton has the most unmissable exhibitions of anywhere at the moment. The current Hockney retrospective; its Rothko show and the eye opening Warhol/Basquiat exhibition showing how much their collaborations set off and amplified each other’s work. The building is incredible, and it is set in the Bois de Boulogne, perfect for an afternoon’s stroll afterwards.
IRK: Anthony what’s your favourite store or boutique?
Anthony: I believe le Bon Marché to be quite simply the best department store in the world. It has luxury and style, a feeling of privilege and intimacy, and at the same time is quintessentially Parisian.
IRK: It’s Saturday night what should someone visiting Paris do?
Anthony: On a Saturday evening, I love to go to Le Petit Lutetia, 107 rue de Sèvres, 75006 Paris. It has such a lively atmosphere, guests drinking champagne and enjoying themselves, in a way that is wholly contagious.
IRK: What do you Anthony Peto, like to do on a Sunday in Paris?
Anthony: On Sundays I like to have brunch at Le Pain Quotidien, looking onto the Palais Royal. Scrambled eggs on toast, and delicious bread and chocolate spread. Perfect!
For peace and quiet, afterwards, the gardens of the Palais Royal are an absolute haven, with their gravelled walks, window shopping and magnificent architecture.
IRK: If someone is visiting Paris what is your must see/ must do activity?
Anthony: If you are in Paris at the weekend, you should definitely visit the flea market, or Marché aux Puces, at the Porte de Clignancourt. My favourite areas are Serpette and Paul Bert, for furniture, vintage clothes and jewellery, art and bric à brac. Afterwards, pop into La Chope des Puces for a drink and listen to the gypsies playing Django Reinhardt style jazz.
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Our editor at large Daniel Syrett, or SYRETT, which the artist is better known as, brings his extensive knowledge of the fashion and art industries to his role here at IRK Magazine. While SYRETT is recognized for his glossy Haute-Couture pieces, Daniel is also the founder and curator of Runway Gallery, the fashion-focused gallery that represents some familiar names from IRK, including our founders, French Cowboy. Daniel may be making his mark on the vibrant London art scene at present; however, his unique style is based on different influences from Daniel Syrett’s past.
After studying fashion at Jacob Kramer College of Art in his home city of Leeds, Daniel moved to Liverpool, where his style was influenced by the alternative creative’s of Merseyside. After successfully launching one of the most exclusive nightclubs in the country, Dan travelled to London to work as a freelance stylist, in a move which saw his career in fashion skyrocket. To date, Daniel Syrett has worked alongside some of the most prestigious names in the industry, including Elle, All Saints, EMI, the BBC, and London Fashion Week. Among his latest collaborations, SYRETT is most recognised for his partnership with True Brit Nail Varnish which is portrayed through his glossy art pieces. SYRETT uses the varnish as a medium to create highly polished, and highly fashionable works of art which expose the intertwining relationship between the fashion and art worlds. This connection is epitomised by his most recent collection in which SYRETT named each piece after some of the most iconic designers, including Alexander, Jean-Paul, Yves and Vivienne, with the latter designer being a frequent visitor to Daniel’s former boutique, Controversy.
As a result of working with these stylish clients, Daniel Syrett has solidified a global reputation as both a fashion stylist and an artist. His work has graced everywhere from New York and Florence, to the pastel-glazed buildings on Miami’s South Beach, where an exhibition of SYRETT’S work is also planned for the near future. It is, however, unsurprising that Daniel Syrett has reached such heights, after seeing his work published in over 200 National and International publications, alongside several other books, including the Booth-Clibborn Edition of the counter-culture book, High Flyers.
Alongside his role at IRK, Daniel continues to make his name in London and beyond, most specifically through Beautalism: the emerging art movement which is shaping the art scene across the capital. As the founder of the Beautalists, Daniel Syrett aims to bridge the gap between the public and the artist and make art accessible to all. This is all in a days work for Dan, who balances his Runway Gallery empire with his work as an artist. With other exciting partnerships launching with the W Hotel, Soho’s Century Club and ROOME, the future for the head of Beautalism looks beautiful indeed.
Biography by Megan Slack, Contributing Editor at Magazine by Runway Gallery.
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