A passion for fashion
London Fashion Week brought with it the usual array of elaborate outfits, with highlights including clothes inspired by Disney’s Fantasia, the theme of gender fluidity and Fearne Cotton donning white PVC.
Official RICS job site RICS Recruit got in on the act, promising fashion advice to “make sure you make a stunning first impression at your next job interview”. So, suitably inspired by the cutting-edge design on show in the capital, presumably they are suggesting ostrich feathers, chain mail and striking cut-outs at the waist? Riot gear chic and androgynous robes? Er, no. The revolutionary fashion tips for men and women pretty much extend to wearing suits (in navy, black or dark grey), with conservative shoes and only limited jewellery – with cleavage and midriff to be covered at all times. Not how to get noticed on the catwalk, but it’s still safety first when it comes to getting ahead in property.
Visibly important persons
Diary reckons it would make a good VIP, living the high life at ambassadors’ parties, attending Hollywood premieres and sipping something sparkly in cordoned-off areas at exclusive nightspots. But if Diary ever does achieve such heady status, it will want to make darn sure everybody knows, at a glance, exactly how VI a P it is.
Happily, those innovative folks at Kimmre have come up with just the thing, which will hopefully become the accepted global standard of very important personhood.
Now Kimmre’s very important clients will never run the risk of having their very importance questioned. Because nothing screams important like hi-vis.
Better late than Neville
You never want to be late for a meeting with a client, but it appears OBI Property’s timekeeping was exposed rather publicly this week.
After the company tweeted “loads to do this week… can’t wait to kick off our team meet this morning! 2x pitches to nail and a big presentation” they were quickly called out by controversial property developer and former Manchester United and England star Gary Neville – a man who knows a thing or two about pitches. “You’re late” he chastised.
At least he has only 3.6m followers.
Build that wall
Are you a developer looking for your next big project? $20bn (£16bn) big? And you don’t give a damn about a bad reputation? Then secure yourself a $200,000 membership at Mar-a-Lago, Donald Trump’s Palm Beach, Florida, club. The New York Times reveals it has been transformed into the “part-time capital of American government, a so-called winter White House”, where an elite few can enjoy the ear of the new US president.
Among them is Richard LeFrak, fellow New York developer and one of Trump’s closest friends, who is said to have been a “little startled” when the president took the opportunity to sound him out about a certain high-profile opportunity close to Trump’s heart.
Trump apparently told LeFrak that the Department of Homeland Security’s quote of more than $20bn for the proposed border wall with Mexico seemed “absurdly high”, and asked his friend if he was interested in the work. LeFrak’s non-committal response was to the effect that he thought Trump was going to let Homeland Security deal with the wall, to which Trump responded: “Yes, maybe General Kelly will call you.”
To get yourself onto General Kelly’s list, be sure to stump up for a membership – apparently they are going fast.
And the winner is…
Congratulations to media consultant (and old friend of EG) Duncan Lamb, who came up with the goods for last week’s caption competition. With a bottle of plonk on offer, the entries flooded in – but Lamb’s suggestion for the caricature of auctioneer namesake Duncan Moir tickled us the most. Before the inevitable cries of nepotism, please be assured that while Lamb was once of this parish, that played absolutely no part in the decision – it was all down to the punchline. Call us weak, but Diary has always been a sucker for a big end joke.
