Bavarian Label Annina Lands in London With a Chic Dinner

Last week in London, friends and family of Bavarian designer Annina Pfuel feted her first showroom with a cozy dinner. Tucked away at 8 Clarendon Cross, Holland Park, the showroom has been beautifully outfitted by Isabella Worsley. Fellow contributor and Annina s close childhood friend Lady Max Percy, the founder of Notting Hill stationer Tusche, was enlisted to hand-paint the wooden paneling and ceilings.

Pfuel, who began her career as a costume and set designer before starting her Dirndl and alpine wear brand, welcomed a group that included Debonnaire von Bismarck, her two sons Sascha and Tassilio, Charles Forte, Susan Bender, Electra Niarchos, Harriet Dalmeny, Caroline Sieber, and Fritz Von Westenholz. Many were dressed for the night in bespoke creations—Pfuel pieces offer brilliant takes on traditional tracht.

“The brand began with dressing my friends and family, designing garments that draw inspiration from my upbringing in Bavaria and my time working with historical costumes at the opera. Hand-crafted clothes were created for the good times. It was so important to have this moment in London to celebrate this journey with the people I hold closest to me. The showroom is a window into a world I love,” Pfuel tells Vogue.

The night began with a cocktail hour on the street outside the shop, including Ruinart Champagne, Pfuel’s favorite German beer, Tegernseer Hell, Casamigos tequila and soda, and the traditional Austrian cocktail, Hugo. After guests could admire the space—its antique furnishings, its fabric walling by Lewis Wood—they relocated to the newly reopened neighborhood spot of Julie’s.

At gorgeous tables festooned with wild blooms from Norfolk, including foxgloves, trailing cowslip, eucalyptus, and peonies, Sharing plates were served, French brasserie food with a twist: beef fillet tartare, eggs mollet with truffle, followed by crab scallop tortellini, sole meunière with frites.

More flowers by Alfie Nickerson from Burnt Fen were dotted on the mirrored tables; food was served on a medley of colorful plates created by friends Olympia Ivring and Ariadne Irving of homeware brand Carolina Irving and Daughters. Each place setting was marked with personalized heart-shaped gingerbread biscuits from the Bavaria Shop. By the end of the night, they were worn around everyone’s necks as they danced round the room. Prost!