Weekend in London: Day #1

It was a friend from university's birthday this weekend, her 23rd (don't tell - she's still 21 as far as you're concerned), and she was having a bit of a party so I thought I'd escape to London for a weekend.  I love the countryside, make no mistake, but it gets a little boring when your closest friends live almost an hour away, and I was starting to miss the city (and the shopping) so I booked a hotel and hopped on a train down to King's Cross. 

I had just enough time to check into my room before running to Waterloo to meet another friend, who  had travelled up from "the country" (Devon, for those of you who don't speak Deep South) and was my date for the afternoon. There'll be more on him later, but I'd like to show you around one of my favourite London hotels first - St James Court.

photo: London St James

The hotel is situated on Buckingham Gate, a stone's throw from the palace, and has this lovely courtyard (on the right) with beautiful blue tiled walls, a fountain, and outside dining - making it wonderful for summer visits.  IHG are our go-to hotel company of choice (they run Intercontinental and Crowne Plaza among others) and this is my favourite hotel in London by far.  I love the traditional decor and the narrow Victorian hallways, and there are several fantastic restaurants and cocktail bars all within the hotel and it's residences.  I'm never usually there long enough to check out the Spa at 51, but I'm determined to make time for an Anne Sémonin facial and massage during my next stay.

I ran off to meet my friend - we're going to call him D - to find he'd had a nightmare on the train.  It was far too hot for a theraputic lunch, so we settled for champagne instead.  D claimed the bottle was a gift from his friend Mary, but unfortunately I don't watch the Great British Bake Off (check me out, name dropping television shows) so I'm ashamed to admit I had no idea who he was talking about.. 

We were sent flutes and an ice bucket, which was kind of the hotel as we hadn't purchased the bottle from them, and caught up (and compared transport woes) while deciding what to do with the rest of our day.  D wanted to pop to Regent Street to check out the Gatsby Collection by Brooks Brothers so we rang them up, asked if they could squeeze him in for a fitting, and headed for the Tube.  D prefers taxis, but I'm a Londoner now (or at least I will be soon) so the Underground is my new best friend. 

Brooks Brothers did all the men's clothing for Gatsby, so you can buy almost every single item seen/worn in the film in from their collection: unfortunately it's almost all sold out, and can only be purchased from their Regent St. store or on the American website.  It wasn't all bad news - they had a sale on, and Amer (D's fitting man) was a fantastic laugh.

I couldn't get enough of these hats..

It was only after buying his prohibition stash that D realised he didn't actually know how to fix the bow-tie I'd convinced him to purchase, so Amer sat down and gave us a final lesson on his knee.. 

Among the purchases were a new pair of Church's loafers which, irresponsibly, someone had opted to wear without socks.. which worked for me because it prevented any further Bond Street shopping at all (although, retrospectively, I should have nipped into a shoe shop - I'll catch you up tomorrow) and I skipped back to my hotel in the sunshine to get ready for dinner. 

Here's a very quick instagram of my outfit: the Nadine Dress from Malene Birger's 2ND DAY collection.  It's from SS12, so you can't buy it in the shop now, however you can find it online in quite a few places.  I don't have a photograph of D, but he wore his Church's loafers with Levi's, a Jack Wills shirt and Hermès belt.

I shan't go into details regarding evening activities (and I didn't want to be rude taking photos all evening!) but we opted for dinner at the Bank restaurant within my hotel as we'd forgotten to make reservations elsewhere. I ordered a martini and the staff were kind enough to make D his favourite off-the-menu cocktail; an Old Fashioned, since you're asking. Prices were reasonable - it was fairly easy to stay under £100 - and both food and cocktails were excellent. 

Reservations here, or contact Bank Westminster directly by phone on 0207 630 6644, but if you're staying at the hotel it's relatively easy to walk straight in.  There's another restaurant in Birmingham if that's a little closer to you.

photo: Individual Restaurants, Bank Westminster

As for D, I don't know if I'll be seeing him again, but I did have a lovely evening. In the morning I headed over to Laura's flat in Islington (after a short detour via Mayfair & Hyde Park), and I'll be blogging the rest of my weekend on Thursday.

I'm going to have to apologise again about the photo quality, I'm far too forgetful when it comes to putting my camera in my handbag.

Vintage to Versace

So, as most of you may know, I spent most of my holiday-time working with the Art Deco photographer John Knight boutique on the top floor of a local Antiques centre. I've never really written about this place before, because it's my own secret Aladdin's cave of gowns, Dior and Chanel, but I've decided to stop being selfish and share a little with my readers.. 

John has photographed all over the world and is famous for his recreations of famous Pre-Raphaelite paintings but, to quote Bratz dolls, he has a real passion for fashion and so he opened Vintage to Versace in 2011 to get rid of some of his crazy collection! To give you an idea of what I mean by "crazy", here's a picture of the shop floor on arrivals day.. I'm going to apologise now for the quality of the pictures as I had to iPhone it!

See why I call it the cave?

 The reason I love this shop so much is that there's such a huge range of beautiful things - he's got pieces from 1960's RSC productions, Edwardian wedding dresses, 1950's Dior and original Louis Vuitton luggage right through to this year's Vivienne Westwood plastic cupcake-scented pumps.  I'll walk you through a few of my favourites from this week's arrivals..

See the blue coat? That's super special as it's from Christian Dior's original 'Miss Dior' collection. Usually it sits in it's own bag away from our other items, as it's so rare, but I asked very nicely and John said I could show you all.  The rest is Jimmy Choo, Moschino and Yves Saint Laurent's famous 'Tribtoo' pumps (unfortunately BOTH pars of shoes are a size 8 and I can't get them to stay on!), and there's always PLENTY of Chanel to keep me occupied:

Some of the stuff is downright weird designed for real collectors, however, like this collaboration between Jimmy Choo and Anya Hindmarch.

Who loves chewing gum?Anya Hindmarch and Tamara Mellon, apparently..

Of course my very favourite thing about helping out at Vintage to Versace happens when all the customers leave for the day.. if I've been very, very good I get to do this! 

Vintage to Versace has a Facebook page and a Twitter account where promotions, offers and fan discounts are announced.  If you can't make it into the shop and you've seen something on the page that you like, just leave a message and we'll get our best owls on the job immediately. 

The Summer of Love

As you'll remember I gave up blogging in March to concentrate on the final term of my degree.  It's all over now (I passed, don't worry - I know you were concerned), I've stopped partying and returned home to Nottinghamshire for a final stint in the countryside before moving to London in September. 

If you haven't been stalking my social media channels, let me update you on what's been going on since I handed everything in...:

There was a lot of this...

Fueled by a fair amount of this!

One of my best friends came to visit

I may have treated myself..

...more than once!

and finally, to top it all off, the girls of 42 Siward Street went to the ball!

Now I've got Instagram I'm totally addicted (and a total pain to all of my friends)

I'll be spending a few weeks in London, Paris, Milan (the last two are, unfortunately, wishful thinking) across the two months I have off before I start my new job - and I intend to keep you updated on every minute of my down-time travels (and my exciting new life).  Until Friday, however, I'll be drinking Pimms and playing ball:

Toodle pip! xo

The Thigh Gap

The glorification of diet fads such as the Dukan, “No Carbs before Marbs” and Samantha Brick’s latest contribution to the world of journalism, the “polo diet”, has convinced women of all ages and sizes that life just isn’t worth living if the gap between your thighs is less than three inches.  British women these days are 5’6 on average and weigh in around 10st 3lbs, giving them a BMI of 23 and placing them in the upper-half of the ‘healthy’ scale.  Sure, you could lose 6 BMI points and still hover around the healthy mark, but why can’t we be happy in our own skin?

It’s a kick in the teeth to anyone who has suffered from an eating disorder, seeing all their hard work to reach a healthy weight dismissed in favour of people wanting to know your diet tips, your gym routine and your favourite “thinspo” sites.  If you ask a girl who she aspires to look like then chances are she’ll reel off the name of a heavily-modified pop star or Victoria’s Secret model, rather than an ambassador for health and fitness. There are endless apps to help you document your calorie intake, magazine spreads dedicated to two-week diets and ITV’s ‘Lorraine’ recently aired a fifteen-minute segment entitled “Mind the Gap” that showed “six simple exercises for lovely-looking thighs," along with an interview with a woman who, alarmingly, underwent plastic surgery in order to achieve the coveted look.

There's nothing wrong with admiring a supermodel, but make sure it's for the right reasons..

What the health blogs, television panels and newspaper articles are consistently failing to recognise is the paper-thin line between promoting healthy lifestyles and encouraging activities associated with a destructive mental illness. You might start out with the best intentions, but if you’re skipping carbs after midday and sticking to salad for dinner then your body will start to suffer physically as a result. You might have that thigh gap, but the skin on your hands will start to peel, crack and bleed.  You might be able to squeeze yourself into that size six dress, but will that matter when your hair starts falling out?  Not to mention the bruises, the headaches, the fainting, the furtive whispers of others, and the irreversible organ damage that comes from long-term malnutrition and excessive working out.

Olympic heroines Jessica Ennis and Rebecca Adlington were trolled during the Summer 2012 games for their muscular ‘unfeminine’ body shapes and heavy weights, but when it comes to tests of endurance I’d put my money on Jessica over Cara Delevigne any day.  My thighs are touching as I’m writing this, and I’m happy.  Self-confidence should come from strength, ambition, and achieving your goals; in an age where women are equal, and taught to strive for success, why on earth are we not encouraged to make our bodies as strong as our minds?

Valentines

If you've not got a romantic bone in your body, or you just have the creative imagination of a teaspoon, you don't have to fear.  I'm the queen (or at least the princess-in-waiting) of thoughtful, quirky gifts, and I've opted to share a few of my favourite innovative and budget-ready gifts for you to entrance your beloved this romantic season

When it comes to perfume girls (and guys) can be pretty picky: the wrong choice can leave your lover wracked with guilt and wearing something that doesn't suit them, so it might be best to check what's already in their wardrobe before you hand over your plastic.

Ask their opinion! They might be up for trying something new. If you're still planning on surprising them, then ask the most senior shop-assistant you can find to recommend classics or current bestsellers; there's no price difference on perfumes in the more expensive department stores, but there's a noticable difference in customer service.

Trendy and inexpensive options can be found in Paul Smith, Davidoff and Diesel; mid-price favourites include Armani, JPG and Chloé, and if you're going all-out here then opt for Chanel, Dior, or head to Penhaligon's to create your own.

CUTE & QUIRKY

Celebrating your 3-month anniversary? Avoid anything with the words 'BEST GIRL/BOYFRIEND EVER' on. Equally, vouchers for matching tattoos = big no-no. If you're approaching V-Day as a new couple, or treating it casually this year, then try going functional instead of flamboyant.

I'm not suggesting you buy towels or spare socks, try and think of functional presents as cute additions to everyday life;  heart-shaped piggy banks, pirate coasters, or a special mug for your favourite caffeine addict.  Check out John Lewis and Whittards for the best selection.  If you're going down the jewellery route, keep in mind you're buying for your other half, not for you: keep it universal and don't get upset if they don't wear it 24/7.  Charms (the charm pictured is the 'Winterbourne' Rose from Jack Wills) and cocktail rings make great presents for her, while men look great in leather bracelets.

If you really fancy going all-out on this, or your boyfriend is as much of a geek as I am, Airswimmers have created a range of giant inflatable animals priced between £30-40. Who doesn't need an inflatable shark?  My mother bought these for me at Christmas, but I'm thinking they'd make a pretty great V-Day present for your girlfriend, too:

Whether a treat for yourself or your beau, this is the season for sexy underwear.  This is the time of year when girls ditch La Senza and M&S for Myla and Agent Provocateur, don stockings and suspenders, and look absolutely fabulous.

I always think basques and bustiers look special; this Gossard corselette is a mid-price alternative to products such as the 'Love' collection by AP, and it's gorgeous. Inspired by vintage 1940's, the collections are flattering and sexy without being too daring.

As for the boys, I like my men in more colourful boxers, personally, but this particular Tommy Hilfiger pair are Harry Styles' weapon of choice. Use your imagination. Check Bjorn Borg at Urban Outfitters or Diesel for more playful numbers priced around £20.


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What to wear to London Fashion Week

The big, bi-annual event of the fashion season is almost upon us (I am counting down the moments as we speak!)
Fashionistas from all over the country (and further, even) to check out the latest couture shows,  clothing exhibitions and - more importantly - what everyone else is wearing. Last year I clapped eyes on Kanye West @ Mark Fast at AW12, and sat next to Kelly Brook and Kate Nash @ Bora Aksu SS13. HEAVEN.

With all this in mind, I've pieced together a couple of looks for AW13 that will ensure you come out at the top of your fashion game whatever your budget.

LOOK ONE: Eighties Throwback

If punk was ever cute, this sort of outfit is the reason why.  For the basic template pair a baggy white tee with a tutu or flared skirt, tough booties and plenty of bold jewellery - add small details such as colour (I've gone for a black/gold colour scheme), tights or a hat to make it your own.

During SS13 cheeky mock-designer tees were the topic on everyone's lips; BlackScore have created a great selection of tees featuring Tom Ford (pictured), Dior, Chanel and Prada, and they start at £40. Sure, the original Céline tee is amazing, but a little naughty searching on Google and you'll find hundreds of tutorials for making your own Céline or Chanel tee for next-to-nothing.  The skirt I've chosen here is Antipodium (£270, Sarah Coggles) but you can buy tutus from most costume shops, or invest in one of American Apparel's chiffon 'circle skirts' for something you can wear all year round.

Gold jewellery stands out the most - and everyone stood out in the eighties.  Opt for chains if you want an urban look, or elaborate costume jewels if you're not feeling quite girly enough.  This three-chain necklace from ASOS comes in at just-under £8.  The cuff is something else - it's a Hermés Collier de Chien, and it comes in between £2,240-£59,620 depending on materials and detail. Michael Kors' watches make a great alternative, as do Accessorize's new range of cuffs (priced between £8-15 - much friendlier!).  Tiny bags are all the rage this season, so get down-sizing into a clutch or cross-body camera bag (Vintage Chanel, P.O.R, and Michael Kors Saffiano travel-wallet, £125).

To finish the look add something playful, such as the Topshop Bowler (£25), and black/nude makeup.

I'll be posting three more LFW looks over the weekend, so look out! Then it's all about the big V...

xoxo