For those not already in the know Nicola Roberts has taken Girls Aloud’s hiatus and stepped forward into the solo pool and has managed to do what most former girl band members fail at, being actually quite credible. From Mark Ronson to some of the industries biggest music insiders everyone wants to work with her and everyone wants to hear what she’s going to do next. Fresh from releasing her debut album, Cinderella’s Eyes, Nicola has taken some time out to work with Renault on their New Twingo car, taking on the challenge of redesigning the interior as part of their Cabinet of Curiosities challenge that they set to her and three other artists they deemed to have ‘twinguesque’ genes. Nicola’s effort is adorned with textured leather, Swarovski crystals, a coffee maker, copies of her album, a Chanel jacket, products from her Dainty Doll make-up range and much more besides. We met up with the singer as she revealed what her New Twingo looked like to find out where she heads to when she’s hanging out in London…
Harrods, Knightsbridge – It’s one of my favourite places in London because it has everything under one roof. I launched my Dainty Doll make-up range in there and now I have a concession in the shop so every now and then I go in and spy on the girls working there and make sure everything’s straight and running smoothly. I also like to see what people are trying and buying so I hide round corners and so some spying. I’ve brought a couple of dogs from there too so the staff at the pet counter let me go behind and play with the puppies which I love.
Hyde Park – It has the same effect on me as going to the seaside in the sense that it helps me tidy up my life. I like open spaces because they clear my mind and I love that you can get that feeling right in the middle of London.
Cirque du Soir, Soho – It’s a circus themed club so there’s men on stilts, burlesque dancing, dwarfs, women with metal bodies on that they use to sharpen knives on and it’s all very eccentric and so much fun so if I ever go on a night out that’s normally where you’ll find me.
The Wolseley, Piccadilly – I like how traditional it is in there, from the men on the doors who call you ‘madam’ when you get there through to the decore, it’s very traditionally British and I love that. It’s nice after a day of running around and busyness to stop in there and relax and get away from it all.
Somerset House, Strand – I feel like I’m there a lot because I always go to Fashion Week, although the cobbles are terrible to talk on in heels especially when you’re trying to run in between shows worrying that you’ll miss one but it’s a lovely area of London.
