Pilar Ordovas talks personal taste
A former deputy chairman at Christie’s, Pilar Ordovas founded her Savile Row gallery in 2011, showing work by the likes of Francis Bacon and Lucian Freud
My personal style signifier is a men’s IWC Portofino watch given to me by my husband for my 40th birthday. It is minimal and beautiful, with a simple black face and black crocodile strap. Dresses in lightweight fabrics by Saint Laurent are my go-to pieces, usually paired with flats by Pretty Ballerinas that are ideal for running between galleries, museums and art fairs. From £3,250;www.iwc.com. From £109; www.prettyballerinas.co.uk. From £1,569; www.ysl.com.
Giorgio Armani Acqua di Giò, about $65 for 50ml EDT | Image: Weston Wells
The last thing I bought and loved was a sleek, black Tesla Model S. I used to drive a tiny G-Wiz, so this is a luxurious change. Not only does the car seem to fly, I can also drive greater distances in it and I now have room to take friends for day trips. I like that it’s electric and environmentally friendly, but I do have to plan my route carefully so that I can find charging stations along the way. From £58,300; www.teslamotors.com.
And the thing I’m eyeing next is a gorgeous Gustavian sofa for my bedroom in New York – sourced by my friend, Scandinavian art and antiques dealer Jill Dienst. This particular piece from the late 1800s is made of light-coloured wood and is upholstered in a very pale grey fabric. I gravitate towards simple, spare, unfussy pieces and imagine that I’ll spend hours reading on this sofa. Dienst + Dotter, 411 Lafayette Street, New York, NY 10003 (+1212-861 1200; www.dienstanddotter.com).
Ordovas’ IWC Portofino watch | Image: Weston Wells
The books on my bedside table are Significant Others: Creativity and Intimate Partnership, an exploration of artist and writer couples such as Sonia and Robert Delaunay. Love in the Time of Cholera is always on my bedside table because I love magical realism and Gabriel García Márquez has the power to transport.
Significant Others, edited by Whitney Chadwick and Isabelle de Courtivron | Image: Weston Wells
A recent “find” is Chisou, an intimate Japanese restaurant near my gallery in London. I like that this place is small, the service is very good and you don’t need to book in advance. I’ll often go to the sushi bar – by myself or with my husband – and order delicious salmon sashimi and the avocado and seaweed salads. The atmosphere is lovely at night as well. 4 Princes Street, London W1 (020-7629 3931; www.chisourestaurant.com).
A Book Like This by Angus and Julia Stone
An object I would never part with is a bright yellow coat that I bought at Zara many years ago. I am particularly fond of it because one of the photos I treasure most – a picture of me with Lucian Freud in his studio, taken by my friend David Dawson – shows me wearing this coat. It is very reminiscent of Courrèges in terms of style and is perfect for adding a pop of colour on a dreary day.
Ordovas and Lucian Freud, by David Dawson | Image: David Dawson/Private Collection/Bridgeman Images
The beauty staples I’m never without are Janet Sartin Hydrating Lotion, for my face – perfect for me because it’s very effective on sensitive skin – and Armani’s Acqua di Giò, which I have been wearing for many years so it’s sort of my signature. It’s light and slightly floral – not at all overpowering. Giorgio Armani Acqua di Giò, about $65 for 50ml EDT; www.armanibeauty.co.uk. Janet Sartin Hydrating Lotion, $62 for 1.75oz; www.sartin.com.
The last music I bought was an album called A Book Like This by Angus and Julia Stone. They’re an Australian brother-sister folk-pop duo and I can’t stop listening to their upbeat music and romantic love songs. www.angusandjuliastone.com.
The last thing I added to my wardrobe was a pair of black Louis Vuitton boots that my sister, fashion blogger Paula Ordovas, introduced me to. They are kind of like motorcycle boots – a bit edgy, but very comfortable. I am living in them at the moment – they look good worn with more feminine dresses. Similar from £1,010;www.louisvuitton.com.
My favourite website is Instagram.com because it’s so creative and visual and I follow museums and cultural institutions around the world – as well as my friends, of course. Tate.org.uk is a particularly good website, with original films featuring emerging and established artists. I rely on BBC.co.uk, FT.com and NYTimes.com for the news of the day.