London Noir coffee table book

Shadows of the City

FOREWORD

Embark on a journey through London with this book filled with captivating

photographs, offering a fresh perspective on the city. Readers will explore

famous landmarks as well as hidden treasures, with each image narrating

a unique story about London’s history, people, and culture. Whether

familiar with London or dreaming of visiting, this book will immerse

readers in the city’s secrets, providing an experience akin to being there

in person.

INTRODUCTION

In February 2024, we embarked on an unforgettable journey to London,

our first-ever visit to this iconic city. The trip, organized as a college

excursion, had a dual purpose: to gain exposure to the fashion industry

during London Fashion Week and to have fun with friends. Packed with

excitement and a dash of work necessities (because, priorities!), our bags

were filled to the brim with anticipation and adventure.

Our experience in London was a delightful blend of the familiar and the

novel. In India, having tea is a cherished routine, but in London, we found

ourselves indulging in croissants and hot chocolate. Trust me, the feeling

was completely different and refreshing. Each day was a mix of laughter,

fun, and work. We had the incredible opportunity to work under the

renowned designer Rocky Star and experience the backstage buzz.

Our book, London Noir, is inspired by the myriad details we noticed in

London. While many people think of the London Eye and Tower Bridge

when they picture the city, we discovered so much more. We captured the

essence of London as we saw it—the vibrant streets, the intricate details of

museums, and the lesser-known places that give the city its unique charm.

The color palette of our book—black, white, and yellow—reflects our vision

of London. Yellow is inspired by the lively streets, while black and white

represent how we see the city through our lens. All the pictures in this

book are primary images captured by us, showcasing London through

the eyes of first-time explorers captivated by its allure.

We hope you enjoy London Noir and experience London as we did,

seeing the city from a fresh, personal perspective.

Sapna Jat and Harshita Krishnani

“ The world is full of obvious things which nobody by any chance ever observes. ”

- Sherlock Holmes

M

U

S E U M

VICTORIA & ALBERT MUSEUM

Angarkha

Young man’s angarkha, cotton embroidered

with silk floss, metal-wrapped thread and

metal-strips, Mughal, late 18th century.

Peshwaz (woman’s court dress), muslin with

applied tinsel, spangles and foil, Mughal

empire or Deccan, late 18th or early 19th

Century.

Fine Champagne

Poster by M. Diuzolle advertising ‘Fine

Champagne’, the cognac of B. Léon Croizet

of Saint-Même, Charente. France, ca. 1895.

Riding Habit Jacket

Woman’s riding jacket of flannel trimmed

with mohair and lined with sateen, designed

and made by John Redfern & Sons. England,

1885-1886.

THOMAS

Numen

(Shifting Votive One)

J

P RICE

Philip Dormer Stanhope

Bust, bronze, Philip Dormer Stanhope,

4th Earl of Chesterfield, by Louis-Francois

Roubiliac, English, ca. 1745.

Henrietta Anderson-Pelham

Bust, marble, Henrietta Anderson-Pelham

(d.1813), wife of Charles Anderson-Pelham,

later 1st Earl of Yarborough , by Joseph

Nollekens, England, 1810.

Head of a Girl Wearing a White Hat

Oil painting, ‘Head of a Girl Wearing a White

Hat’, ca. 1760-70, by William Hoare RA

(1707-1792)

Virgin and Child with two Saints

Oil on panel, ‘Virgin and Child with two Saints’

by Bernardino Fungai, Sienese school, early

1480s.

The Seamstress

Oil painting, ‘The Seamstress’, Charles

Baugniet, 1858. This painting showing a

seamstress making a wedding in a bourgeois

interior is a good example of Baugniet’s

large output of female portraits ‘en situation’.

The V&A’s buildings were designed to showcase contemporary architecture

and inspire visitors, embodying the Museum’s educational mission.

Tapestry of woven wool and silk, ‘Manhood from The Life of Man’, possibly

designed by Benedetto di Michele Squilli, Florence, 1565.

S

T

R E E T A R T

HAGGERSTON STREET

Very Lucky

Mega Lucky 3 Layer Screenprint is crafted

from handmade artwork by Ben Rider. The

original picture is screenprinted by hand

using vibrant pastel fluorescents and infused

with good vibes.

This graffiti, created by @siam_ldn, was

spotted. The quote is from the London

Dungeons theater show on Westminster

Bridge Road.

Boards found on Haggerston Street were

utilized to create posters.

S

H

O P & S I P

LEGO World

In the Lego world, a diverse array of Lego

characters, among them iconic figures such

as William Shakespeare, were encountered.

This particular location is situated at W1D

6AP. Furthermore, visitors were offered

Lego pieces to explore their creativity and

construct their own unique creations.

London Beatles Store

The London Beatles Store, situated on

Baker Street in London, a haven for Beatles

enthusiasts, replete with memorabilia,

merchandise, and nostalgic items

commemorating the iconic band.

We saw a cafe at oxford street W1 Duke

Street the cafe is known as The Duchess is

named after the BBC drama The Duchess of

Duke Street, loosely based on the life of Rosa

Lewis, the eponymous “Duchess” who works

her way up from servant, to renowned cook,

to proprietor of the upper-class Bentinck

Hotel

R

U

S H H O U R

UNDERGROUND AND OVERGROUND

Oyester

London’s transportation network includes

both the Underground and Overground

systems. The iconic London Underground,

or the Tube, is the world’s oldest subway

system with 11 lines and 270 stations.

Complementing it, the Overground

connects suburban areas to the city center

with 112 stations. Together, they offer

efficient and extensive coverage, making it

easy to navigate the city.

B

E

LONDON FASHION WEEK

H I N D T H E

B U Z Z

In the backstage area, models are seen donning garments

designed by Nitin Bal Chauhan.

In the photoshoot, garments designed by Rockystar are worn by

Victoria Larsen, Miss Supranational Denmark 2024.

Influencers and Trendsetters made their presence felt at the

London Fashion Week show.

Behind the scenes, makeup preparations are being made for

Victoria Larsen.

The renowned designer Rockystar-designed

garments paired with accessories before the

shoot and show.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Museum, V. and A. (2008) Angarkha: V&A explore the

collections, Victoria and Albert Museum: Explore the

Collections. Available at: https://collections.vam.ac.uk/

item/O155023/angarkha/ (Accessed: 16 May 2024).

Museum, V. and A. (2009) Peshwaz: V&A explore the

collections, Victoria and Albert Museum: Explore the


item/O470782/peshwaz/ (Accessed: 16 May 2024).

Museum, V. and A. (2009) Fine champagne: Diuzolle, M.:

V&A explore the collections, Victoria and Albert Museum:

Explore the Collections. Available at: https://collections.

vam.ac.uk/item/O578909/fine-champagne-posterdiuzolle-m/

(Accessed: 16 May 2024).

Museum, V. and A. (2005) Riding habit jacket: V&A explore

the collections, Victoria and Albert Museum: Explore

the Collections. Available at: https://collections.vam.

ac.uk/item/O117401/riding-habit-jacket-john-redfern/


Thomas J Price at the V&A - display at V&A South Kensington

· Victoria and Albert Museum. Available at: https://www.

vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/thomas-j-price-at-the-va (Accessed:

16 May 2024).

Museum, V. and A. (2006) Philip Dormer Stanhope, fourth

Earl of Chesterfield: Roubiliac, Louis-François: V&A explore

the collections, Victoria and Albert Museum: Explore the


item/O127094/philip-dormer-stanhope-fourth-earl-bustroubiliac-louis-francois/philip-dormer-stanhope-fourth-earlbust-roubiliac-louis-fran%C3%A7ois/

(Accessed: 16 May

2024).

Building the museum · V&A (no date) Victoria and Albert

Museum. Available at: https://www.vam.ac.uk/articles/

building-the-museum#slideshow=31131014&slide=0


Museum, V. and A. (2006a) Henrietta Anderson-Pelham

(died 1813): Nollekens, Joseph: V&A explore the collections,

Victoria and Albert Museum: Explore the Collections.

Available at: https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O127086/

henrietta-anderson-pelham-died-1813-bust-nollekensjoseph/


Museum, V. and A. (2007) Head of a girl wearing a white hat:

Hoare, William (RA): V&A explore the collections, Victoria

and Albert Museum: Explore the Collections. Available at:

https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O133026/head-of-a-girlwearing-oil-painting-hoare-william-ra/

(Accessed: 16 May

2024).

Museum, V. and A. (2004) Virgin and child with two saints:

Fungai, Bernadino: V&A explore the collections, Victoria and

Albert Museum: Explore the Collections. Available at: https://

collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O89323/virgin-and-child-withtwo-oil-painting-and-fungai-bernadino/

(Accessed: 16 May

2024).

Museum, V. and A. (2007b) The seamstress: Baugniet,

Charles: V&A explore the collections, Victoria and Albert

Museum: Explore the Collections. Available at: https://

collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O134108/the-seamstress-oilpainting-baugniet-charles/


Museum, V. and A. (2004) Manhood from the life of man:

Squilli, Benedetto di Michele: V&A explore the collections,

Victoria and Albert Museum: Explore the Collections.

Available at: https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O101867/

manhood-from-the-life-of-tapestry-squilli-benedetto-di/


Very lucky (no date) Enter Gallery. Available at: https://entergallery.com/collections/ben-rider/products/very-luckyeg12737


ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

In the whirlwind of creating “London Noir,” the unwavering support

of our dear family was our guiding light. A heartfelt thank you for

not just being our emotional backbone, but also our financial

supporters (we promise to settle those debts with interest... eventually).

We extend our deepest gratitude to our esteemed

faculty, especially Dr. Rishabh Manocha, whose guidance

was as essential as the copious amounts of coffee

consumed during our late-night brainstorming sessions.

To the organizers of fashion week and the city of London:

your efforts in orchestrating a trip that transcended mere

education and became a cherished chapter in our lives are

truly appreciated. Your meticulous planning allowed us to fully

immerse ourselves in the city’s essence and the pulse of fashion.

And to Mr. Santosh Anand, our unwavering companion throughout the

journey, you were the pillar of strength that kept our spirits high and our

logistics in order, even amidst the bustling streets of London.

Lastly, a special mention to our faculty Mr. Udayveer Singh for his

invaluable help during those last-minute hurdles, and to our supportive

friends who were always there when we needed them.

With boundless gratitude and a sprinkle of cheekiness,

Sapna Jat and Harshita Krishnani

London Noir coffee table book

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