My favourite day to attend The Notting Hill Carnival each year is on the Sunday, traditionally known as Children’s Day. I find the atmosphere on this day always more relaxed… That is, if you could ever find thousands of feathered, sparkly, face-painted children, a multitude of banging steal drums, and around one million revelers attending Europe’s biggest annual street party, at all relaxing...
Whilst weaving my way through the streets (crocodile style!) with my friends, I saw this boy (below & top) balanced perfectly on a Pay and Display metre, dancing to the resounding sound of reggae music being blasted out from a nearby soundsystem. Super impressive!
Musical Moment: Sam and the Womp ('Bom Bom')
Fronted by Bloem de Ligny, Sam and the Womp are an 8-piece British group who formed in 2009 who fuse Balkan Music, Jamaican Ska and disco (intrigued?!) ‘Bom Bom’ was released earlier this month and is the perfect, euphoric, happy song to get you in the mood for the The Notting Hill Carnival this Bank Holiday weekend. Enjoy!
"But I'm so cool, and I'm so groovy,
when I go Bom Bom Bom!"
David Beckham's H&M Statues
This morning commuters posed for photographs outside the H&M Regent Street store next to two glistening,10-foot high statues of David Beckham in his underwear. The marvelous, metallic effigies of Golden Silver Balls himself are in celebration of the footballer’s second bodywear collection with the Swedish high street brand. A further seven statues will be unveiled at mystery locations across the U.K soon. I would like one of these locations to be my balcony please.
Below: The new range has also been captured by photographer Alasdair McLellan in a series of black and white photographs… Which I also thought I'd share. I'm really thoughtful like that. Happy Bank Holiday Weekend!
David Beckham Bodywear for H&M available here.
Naturally Beautiful, Beautifully Natural: My Facial With Abigail James At Lomax Chelsea
I went to Lomax Chelsea last week for the most extraordinary facial. I was lucky enough to secure an appointment with one of London’s top facialists; holistic therapist Abigail James. When the UK’s most well regarded beauty editors are vying for time with Abigail’s healing and expert hands, you know you’re in for a real treat! Steering clear of all synthetic products and cosmetics, Abigail’s mantra is ‘Naturally Beautiful, Beautifully Natural,’ and the organic approach to health and wellbeing she extols reveal fantastic benefits – namely, glowing and clear skin.
The whole experience was truly bespoke. I filled out a detailed questionnaire, covering all my skin routines, product preferences, medical conditions and dietary choices, which Abigail then read through and discussed at length with me before the facial, enabling her to design a treatment based on my specific requirements and needs. When I was completely comfortable in one of the 5 Lomax treatment rooms, Abigail went on to give me a really relaxing, super beneficial facial, which included some manual lymphatic drainage and facial reflexology to encourage my skin’s natural healing and vitality. The products she used were all ethical and organic, little known, niche brands (OSKIA, Dr Alkaitis and Live Native) but I certainly intend to track them down. I would have happily fallen asleep as she fluttered these lotions and potions over my face like a butterfly but I did not want to miss a moment.
After the facial Abigail gave me fantastic advice on what products to use and where to find them, and how I can better my overall health, which in turn, would also improve my skin. I left feeling completely relaxed, rosy-cheeked and with a long shopping list.
Thank you again Abigail xx
The Chanel 'Little Black Jacket' Exhibition Comes to London
Chanel’s latest photographic exhibition, ‘The Little Black Jacket,’ inspired by a coffee table book created by Karl Lagerfeld and Carine Roitfeld, will soon be hitting our very own shores after huge successes in Tokyo, New York, Taipei and Hong Kong.
The iconic ‘Little Black Jacket’ was first designed in the 1950s by Coco Chanel and has undergone several transformations and reinventions since. Karl Lagerfeld believes firmly that style is not a result of the garment you wear, but how you wear the garment, and this exhibition shows the versatility and timelessness of this iconic jacket. With 113 ‘friends of the House,’ including models, stylists, actors, designers and musicians, all photographed adapting the classic jacket in unique and modern ways their very own individuality and inimitable styles are highlighted.
Photographs include Lily Allen wearing the covetable tweed jacket as a cape, Claudia Schiffer wearing hers with a white apron, Alexa Chung teaming hers with cut off Daisy Duke shorts and SJP creatively wearing her jacket as a crown!
Eek! I'm SO excited!
Running simultaneously with the exhibition, window displays in Chanel's boutiques across London will present a selection of jackets from the latest collections.
The highly anticipated book, ‘The Little Black Jacket: Chanel's Classic Revisited by Karl Lagerfeld and Carine Roitfeld,’ will also be available worldwide in bookstores this autumn.
October 12 - October 28, 2012
The Saatchi Gallery, Duke of York's HQ, King's Road, London, SW3 4RY.
Admission will be free.
Beyonce Performs 'I Was Here' For United Nations World Humanitarian Day
Earlier this month Beyonce donned a sparkly Marc Bouwer gown and recorded the video for her latest song, ‘I Was Here,’ in front of a live audience at the United Nations in New York. The video was released on Monday, August 19th, World Humanitarian Day with the goal “to inspire people all over the world to do something good, no matter how big or small, for someone else.” The video features footage from recent disasters and images of humanitarian workers who have made a real difference.
Beyonce recently revealed, “I feel like we all want to know that our life meant something and that we did something for someone else… That we spread positivity no matter how big or how small.” Prepare to well up a little...
Lana Del Rey's Campaign for H&M
I mentioned here that Lana Del Rey was to be the new face of H&M’s A/W’12 campaign and I can now reveal the results.
The 10-page lookbook, photographed by Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin, show the singer modeling H&M’s latest collection looking like a melancholic, dainty doll from a 1960’s film noir, with back-combed hair, dark winged eyeliner, trademark pouty lips. The collection is made up primarily of pastel colours but they are given a harder edge when mixed with charcoal greys and burgundy staples. I particularly like the abstract, printed pieces Lana wears, the velvet heels, chandelier earrings and adorable little bows in her hair.
Lana has recorded a cover of ‘Blue Velvet’ for H&M that will be released on September 19. While we wait on the release I am still loving the remix of Lana’s ‘Blue Jeans.’
Wilderness Festival 2012
Last weekend I went to the idyllic Cornbury Park in Oxfordshire to enjoy the funshine at Wilderness. Organised by the team behind the Secret Garden Party and Lovebox, the two-year old festival is distinctly original and unlike any other I have been to.
With an emphasis on ‘feasting, lounging and partying,’ Wilderness attracts a diverse, family-friendly crowd (there were as many beer-hungry ravers as there were milk-hungry babies) as it combines music, food, talks, debates, outdoor pursuits and late-night parties in equal measure.
With a beautiful boating (and for the more brave/buff, skinny dipping) lake, horseriding, fly-fishing, a spa sanctuary with hot tubs, yoga classes, massage tents, screenings by Secret Cinema, theatre, talks, debates, an array of craft stalls and an exceptional array of delicious food, the whole occasion is both creative and relaxing. Tim Harvey, who organises the festival said, “Wilderness is more than just a feast for the eyes and ears… It’s a place to indulge the senses, relax, and eat well.” And Indulge I certainly did....
Rodrigo Y Gabriela, Lianne La Havas, Spiritualized, Crystal Fighters, Temper Trap and Wilco were all playing at the festival, but the real headliners were the celebrated chefs Yotam Ottolenghi, Fergus Henderson and Valentine Warner who all staged decadent banquets across the weekend. There was also a very popular Moro Souk Tent (below) and the Thyme Cookery School were at the festival offering some excellent classes.
The copious, delicious food stalls spread generously around the park were certainly not offering the usual greasy festival fodder… With Fin and Flounder, Poco Loco, Churros Bros, Annie Mae’s, and my favourite chilli wraps from Arancini Brothers ('World Famous in ALL Posh Towns!') I could have been rolled home on Sunday.
Below: Festival Style - I loved these unfussy, simple and chic looks.
This year Wilderness joined forces with The Vintage Festival (previously held at London’s Southbank.) So, admist the more usual festival attire (flower garlands, hotpants, colourful Hunter wellies) there was fantastic retro and sexy pin-up fashion in abundance (left and below).
Adding to the eccentricity of this festival, there was an immense vintage market (which I had to be dragged kicking and screaming to vacate), a 1950’s beauty parlour, a roller disco, and a stunning swing/jazz club offering dance classes.
Below: Not a festival trend I EVER wish to see again... Leave the tails to the children!
Below: I felt like Joan of Arc in this incredible Prangsta Costumiers Head Candy.
Love. Want. Need. Please.
Below: The wonderful Jack Savoretti
Watch my video of Jack singing 'Take Me Home,' one of my favourites, here.
The highlight of my weekend however, was The Old Vic Tunnels Masked Ball. An enormous masked crowd were led by an African percussion troupe in a midnight procession, from the Wilderness Stage into the Wychwood forest, for a magical extravaganza which had three DJs playing throughout the wood into the wee hours.
(Above: With You Magazine's Amy Williams and Old Vic Tunnel Director, Hamish Jenkinson.) Amidst the corsets and stunning venetian masks I found myself, in a leopard print catsuit and cat mask, dancing alongside an array of heroic Batmen, a Skeletor, various furry faced animals, several morph suited revelers, and some bloke in a mankini…
Below: The Old Vic Tunnel's Masked Ball certainly put the 'Wild' into the Wilderness.
Early Bird tickets are already available for Wilderness 2013 here.
Sign. Me. Up.
Vodafone UK Announces Partnership With Mary Katrantzou
Yesterday morning, over cappuccinos and mini granola berry pots at Soho House, I heard how this Autumn Vodafone UK and acclaimed fashion designer Mary Katrantzou, famous for her graphic print dresses, will enter into an exclusive two-season partnership. This collaboration will see Vodafone UK supporting Mary’s shows in London Fashion Week and the designer devising a fashionable and innovative way to use Vodafone technology.
Vodafone UK have long championed British fashion, teaming up in the past with other well renowned designers, Christopher Kane and Richard Nicoll (the results of which saw a fleet of London cabs decorated in Kane’s Galaxy print, with mobile phone charging capabilities for it’s passengers, and Nicholl’s unforgettable white leather handbag with in-built phone charger!)
Danielle Crook, Vodafone’s UK Director of Brand Marketing, also assured me that they will once again at this year’s LFW be providing the life saving mobile phone re-charging units on the front row at the BFC space and pop-up re-charging points at Somerset House – Phew!
(Above L-R: Mary Katrantzou, Danielle Crook and Chairman of the BFC, Caroline Rush)
The lovely Mary Katrantzou, who I had the real pleasure of meeting (left), spoke enthusiastically about the upcoming collaboration, “I am excited to be working with Vodafone, as a brand they have really cemented their credibility and support within the fashion industry over the past few seasons. Their innovation elements really appeal to me and it felt a natural fit to join forces. I'm really looking forward to be able to widen the fashion net to their customers and bring them to the front line of fashion week.”
Danielle Crook, whilst wearing a head turning Mary Katrantzou dress, said, “Mary's bold graphics and iconic designs have attracted a cult following from every part of the fashion world and we are thrilled to be working with her.” The partnership launches next month and will run across the spring/summer 2013 and autumn/winter 2013-14 shows.
If you are a Vodafone UK customer you can register for Vodafone VIP online here for the opportunity to meet Mary Katrantzou and watch her catwalk show during LFW. If you are NOT a Vodafone UK customer... There's never been a better reason to become one!
Super Girl Power at the Closing Ceremony
There was some SERIOUS Girl Power in the Olympic Stadium on Sunday night when we were not only treated to an awesome Spice Girls reunion but also to a strutting swarm of stunning Supermodels.
Ever since Stella McCartney signed up to design the Team GB outfits (unsurprisingly, the most coveted by all other athletes) fashion was always going to play a part in London 2012. Soooo… Who wore who?
The Spice Girls
Victoria Beckham looked very ‘Posh' in a stunning, custom-made Giles Deacon dress with black Christian Louboutin stilettos. Ginger Geri Haliwell paid homage to her infamous Brit Award’s Union Jack dress wearing this Suzanne Neville peplum dress, an Olympic inspired tiara and Isabel Marant gold Dicker boots. ‘Baby’ Emma Bunton wore her signature pink in a dress by Maggie Cook with glittery heels. Melanie C wore a white jumpsuit from JD Sports with some Sporty silver wedged trainers. Melanie B wore a nude cat suit embellished with amazing gold detailing by Lenanese designer Zuhair Murad – definitely more sexy than Scary! A-Zig-A-Zig-Aaah.
The Supers
This army of British Beauties were a glittering mirage of gold medal hues in outfits created by iconic British designers. A totally immaculate vision paying tribute to British fashion and it's Midas Touch.
The Supermodels were styled by Lucinda Chambers, Vogue UK's fashion director, who nervously spoke from backstage on the night, "It's incredible that Britain, such a tiny country, has such a broad range of talent in fashion, and that's what we wanted to show. We're known for bonkers fashion, but what I hope came across is that these designers make beautiful clothes… that people would want to wear."
Above: Kate Moss in a mermaid-like, gold and silver Alexander McQueen dress.
Above (L-R): Karen Elson glamourously glistening in Burberry and Naomi Cambell looking beyond radiant in Alexander McQueen.
Above (L-R): Stella Tennant glitters in a Christopher Kane tuxedo while Lily Cole is effortlessly ethereal in Erdem.
Above: Lily Donaldson shimmering in Vivienne Westwood
Above (L-R): Georgia May Jagger shines in Victoria Beckham, David Eye-Candy Gandy wears a suit by Paul Smith and Jourdan Dunn models a Christopher Kane dress and a feathered headpiece by Stephen Jones.
18 carat Fashion Fabulous.
These images appear in Vogue's September Issue - Out Now.