Fashion Forward: The Kensington Hotel X V&A

Naomi Campbell is strutting her stuff on the catwalk, VTs of her iconic walk are on repeat high on the walls and you can hear her London drawl coming out of speakers, next to specially-commissioned mannequins shaped exactly to her figure—one sunken doll even captures the model’s famous fall, wearing Vivienne Westwood vertiginous heels at the British designer’s show in 1993.

For the past few years, the Victoria & Albert Museum has captured the zeitgeist with its shows delving into popular culture. Its latest—Naomi: In Fashion—is the first of its kind, delving into the work and life, not of a designer or artist, but of the UK’s (if not the world’s) most famous model. Produced in collaboration with Campbell and foregrounding her voice and perspective, Naomi: In Fashion draws upon Campbell’s own extensive wardrobe of haute couture and ready-to-wear ensembles, from key moments in her career, along with loans from designer archives and objects from the V&A’s collections.

A short walk around the corner from the museum, meanwhile, the doors to The Kensington have also been dressed, not with high fashion but, instead, with wafts of pastel blooms. Outside the front door, terrace tables see diners sip cocktails and embrace the best of a London summer’s day. The hotel, part of The Doyle Collection, has long worked alongside the famous museum on its doorstep, but its latest partnership brings guests a little bit closer to the V&A’s sell-out summer shows. Check in for an overnight stay, and you can access tickets to the summer’s hotly anticipated cultural exhibitions, such as Naomi: In Fashion and Fragile Beauty: Photographs from the Sir Elton John and David Furnish Collection.

The package also includes the hotel’s new Art of Afternoon Tea experience, which features an array of treats inspired by world-renowned artists and creators, such as Jackson Pollock, Yayoi Kusama and Alicja Kwade. Served in the hotel’s elegant Drawing Room at The Kensington, the theme is an ode to The Doyle Collection’s patronage of the arts, with guests able to ‘taste’ Pollock’s famed ‘drip technique’ found adorning a dark chocolate mousse tart with passion fruit parfait, while Kwade’s natural spheres are reimagined from white chocolate vanilla mousse with pineapple compote centre. Champagne and a selection of teas from The Rare Tea Company and delicate finger sandwiches are served alongside the patisserie for an artistic ‘high tea’ moment.

Carved out of seven traditional Victorian townhouses, The Kensington is owned and managed by The Doyle Collection, an Irish family-owned luxury hotel group. Offering 116 rooms and 30 suites, no two rooms are alike due to the original townhouses’ unique footprints. The interior, designed in collaboration with London design studio Timothy Mather, reflects the traditional architecture of the property with a modern twist (think: rich colours, pretty detailing and sumptuous fabrics). Its open fires, high ceilings and elegant drawing rooms echo that of a private Victorian residence.

As well as a central place to stay, the latest cultural package means guests can access in-demand shows such as ‘Fragile Beauty’, which runs until 5 January 2025, and has been curated from the private archives of Sir Elton John and David Furnish. The exhibition showcases over 300 modern and contemporary prints by more than 140 photographers. From striking fashion editorials to poignant historical snapshots, ‘Fragile Beauty’ offers a rare glimpse into the diverse realm of photography. Included are first-time public viewings of renowned works spanning from the 1950s to the present, highlighting themes of fashion, news and celebrity.

The ‘Naomi’ retrospective, meanwhile, which runs until 6 April 2025, celebrates Naomi Campbell’s career across four-decades—showcasing around 100 looks, including designs from leading global designers such as Alexander McQueen and Chanel. Through the lens of prominent photographers, including Steven Meisel and Tim Walker, the show offers a glimpse into Campbell’s creative collaborations, activism and her impact on the cultural zeitgeist. Marking the first time a model has been the sole focus of an exhibition at the V&A, Naomi: In Fashion also sheds light on the chameleon’s role beyond the runway, touching on her activism and cultural leadership.

Highlights include a dramatic 1989 Thierry Mugler car-inspired corset, Campbell’s look from Sarah Burton’s last Alexander McQueen show and a pink Valentino ensemble worn at the 2019 Met Gala. The exhibition includes key iconic looks and accessories from the best of global high fashion chronicling her 40 years in the industry. It’s a moment.