Valentines Day Gift Guide 2013 - For Him

“You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.”  Dr. Seuss

Above (Clockwise) L-R:  Underwater Dogs at Waterstones – RRP. £14.99 £11.24, Persol Black Steve McQueen Sunglasses - RRP. £191.67,  Wildlife Photographer of the Year Portfolio 22 at Waterstones – RRP. £25.00 £18.75,  Biscuiteers L.O.V.E Biscuit Tin – RRP. £38.50, Chocolat Factory Ballotin of Chocolate Kisses and Bites - RRP. £8.99,  Classic Pink Burtonwode Boxers – RRP. £26.00, 'Irresistibly Kissable' Card - RRP. £2.75, Izola Botanist Beard Oil - RRP. £25.00

Above (Clockwise) L-R:  Condé Nast Travler Photographs 25th Anniversary Collection - RRP. £60.00,  Eclectic by Tom Dixon: Orientalist Scented Candle - RRP. £55.00,  Taylor of Old Bond Street Pure Badger Luxury Brush and Cream Gift Set - RRP. £29.95,  J.CREW Leather-Covered iPhone 5 Case - RRP. £40.00 £23.66, Prestat Zingy English Mint Dark Chocolate Wafers - RRP. £9.99,  ASOS Trainers With Banana Print - RRP. £18.00, Chilli with Cool Lime Dark Chocolate Wafers - RRP. £10.25

Above (Clockwise) L-R: South Devon Chilli Farm Three Chilli Bottle Gift Pack - RRP. £13.50,  Smythson, 'Note To Self' Manuscript Leather Notebook - RRP. £135.00, Tom Ford for Men eau de toilette - RRP. £45.00, ASOS Brogues With Leather Sole - RRP. £55.00, Cookery Lesson at Jamie Oliver's Recipease - From £15.00-£75.00,  J.CREW Tasselled Cashmere Scarf - £95.00,  Happy Socks - RRP. £8.00, Magimix Nespresso Citiz Coffee Machine - RRP. £199.00

Valentines Day Gift Guide 2013

"For it was not into my ear you whispered, but into my heart. It was not my lips you kissed, but my soul..." 
Judy Garland  

Above:   Charlotte Olympia Debonaire Heart-Shaped Platform – RRP. £545.00

"A kiss is a lovely trick designed by nature to stop speech when words become superfluous." 
Ingrid Bergman

Above (Clockwise) L-R:  Charlotte Olympia Delphine Suede Platforms – RRP. £595, Topshop Limited Edition Pearl Swing Dress – RRP. £195.00, Diptyque Rose Duet Candle at Space NK – RRP. £42.00,  Mimi Holliday Lace and Silk Satin Bow Back Knickers - RRP. £37.00,  Lulu Guinness Lipstick Red Snakeskin Lips Clutch -  RRP. £295.00

Above (Clockwise) L-R:  Topshop Iris Print Dress - RRP. £42.00, Rosie for Autograph Rose Bra and Brazilian Knickers - RRP. £22.50 & £12.50,  REN Moroccan Rose Bath Oil at ASOS - RRP. £30.00,  Fabulous Frocks at Waterstones - RRP. £14.99 £13.49, Miu Miu Sunglasses - RRP. £225.00,  Harvey Nichols Valentines Hamper - RRP. £70.00

Above (Clockwise) L-R:  Cowshed Gorgeous Cow Duo Set - RRP. £16.00,  Charlotte Olympia Debonaire Heart-Shaped Platform – RRP. £545.00 , Mulberry Double Wrap Star Charm Bracelet - RRP. £150.00, Raspberry Marshmallow Fluff at Harvey Nichols - RRP. £2.30, Chloe Love Chloe Eau de Parfum at Boots - RRP. £48.60, Miu Miu Sunglasses - £225.00, Marc by Marc Jacobs Heart Headphones - RRP. £35.00 

Above (Clockwise) L-R:  Smythson 'Everyday I Love You' Notebook - RRP. £35.00, Lauderee St.Valentine Macaroons - RRP. £32.00, Voluspa Japonica Candle at Anthropologie - RRP.£10.00, Limited Edition Pink Bubbly Vaseline - RRP. £3.49,  Shourouk Necklace at Matches - RRP. £372.00,  Olivia Von Halle Lila Sophie Silk Pyjamas - RRP. £330.00,  Phoebe Coleman's 'Love Me Tender' Bracelet - RRP. £66.67,  Pretty Ballerinas Rosario Heart Pumps - £149.00

"Love is a game that two can play and both win." 
Eva Gabor

David Beckham's Short Film for H&M

David Beckham’s short film for his H&M Bodywear line, filmed in Los Angeles by 'Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels' director Guy Ritchie, is HERE!!  Run David Ruuuuuuun!! 

The David Beckham Bodywear Spring/Summer collection is in stores now.

Cara and Kate's Love Cover-Off

LOVE magazine issue 9 has treated us to two cover options, one featuring a ‘cleaned up’ Kate Moss and the other featuring a ‘scrubbed up’ Cara Delevigne.  Provacatively photographed by Mert & Marcus and styled by Katie Grand, both ladies look stunning.  Which cover is your favourite?  Mine is Kate’s... No, wait… It’s Cara’s… Kate’s… Cara’s…
 
Below:  To celebrate her LOVE cover, a masked Cara Delevigne recorded this hypnotic video showing her lip-syncing to my most favourite guilty pleasure, Shania Twain’s 'That Don’t Impress Me Much’  whilst stroking a little grey kitten.  I just love this girl.  Simples.

Super (Bowl) Beyonce

A leather-clad Beyonce brilliantly strutted her stuff last weekend, in what was the most amazing halftime show in Super Bowl history!  In 12 high-octane minutes, Beyonce managed to not only belt out a several of her own songs, including ‘Baby Boy,’ ‘Halo,’ and ‘Crazy In Love,’ but also host a mini Destiny’s Child reunion with Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams, which was, as expected, A.W.E.S.O.M.E.  

Aware of what an honour this opportunity was, Beyonce said, “I'm trying to learn to live every moment, because these moments are not promised to us," she said. "I've had a 16-year career, and all of the things that I've done have prepared me for this. ... I'm ready."

H&M Rock'n'Roll Mansion Collection

When highstreet giant H&M decided to launch a Rock’n’Roll inspired collection, model Georgia May Jagger, the striking daughter of the Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger, was a natural choice to front the campaign.  Behind the scene images of 20-year-old Georgia, famed for her bee-stung lips and gap-teeth, were released this month showing the model styled as a 1960s siren and being photographed by Terry Richardson on set in an English mansion.  Georgia has said of the range, “I think music influences fashion and has done so for generations. Music creates a certain mood and then people dress accordingly. I think it’s all quite closely intertwined."

The H&M Rock 'n' Roll Mansion spring/summer 2013 collection launches in H&M stores this month.

SS'13 Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week

Ooh la laaaa… For five days a year, a few selected designers present some of the most beautiful and otherworldly creations during Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week.  Haute Couture means ‘High Fashion’ in French and the ultra-luxe, super detailed pieces are made on an individual basis (for those that can afford it!)  Last week Christian Dior, Giambattista Valli, Jean Paul Gaultier and Maison Martin Margiela all showed their latest haute couture creations but it was the glitteringly elegant Elie Saab dresses and the floaty, intricate Chanel collection which really caught both my eye and imagination...

Described as an 'Ode to Delicacy,' the Elie Saab SS’13 Haute Couture show in Paris (above and below) was utterly breathtaking.  Totally timeless and totally dreamy.

And speaking of dreamy… Beaded and sequined Chanel Couture gowns glided down a forest-styled runway filled with Coco Chanel’s favorite flower, the camellia.  The traditional wedding finale was also anything but ‘traditional’ with two brides walking, hand in hand, down the runway together – perhaps Karl Lagerfeld's stand against the thousands of Parisians who recently marched in protest against the legislation of same-sex marriage? 

I loved the striking red bejeweled pouts at the Christian Dior show (below left) and the extreme false lashes at Chanel (below right)  which resembled dark, feathered tears.

2013 Screen Actors Guild Awards

Award Season is in full swing and unlike the Golden Globes, which was a sea of beige fishtails, last night's 2013 Screen Actors Guild Awards was all about the navy.   Marion Cotillard, my favourite red carpet chéri (above), looked utterly sensational at the SAGs in a stunning Dior satin gown, complete with a tied bow sash and pocket detailing which kept the look fresh and modern.   Below (L-R):  Other navy red carpet beauties included SAG award winner Jennifer Lawrence in a tiered Christian Dior Haute Couture dress, a mermaid-like Amanda Seyfried in Zac Posen and Nicole Kidman in Vivienne Westwood. 

The London Chatter's Winter Sun Essentials

If you are lucky enough to escape the f..f..f..freezing weather in London right now, and are getting ready to jet off to sunnier climes, then you may be wondering where to find stylish summery goodies whilst the high street is currently brim full of wooly jumpers and mittens. Fear not, as a seasoned Winter-skiver (I have myself just returned from FIVE weeks in Kenya, above) I have put together a selection of Winter Sun must-haves, so whether you are heading to a tropical jungle, a secluded white sandy beach or are just planning to relax pool-side somewhere glamorous, your sunshine needs will be totally catered for...

Above Clockwise (L-R):  Globetrotter Safari Trolley Case in Ivory - £860.00,  Topshop Sundress - £38.00,  Miu Miu Cat Eye Sunglasses - £225.00,  Daisy Jewelry's Solar Plexus Chakra Bracelet - £86.00 £34.40, Kenneth Jay Lane's Gold Coin Necklace - £70.83 £49.17,  Accessorize Flower Fan - £6.00,  Stella McCartney Lizzie Espadrilles - £146.00.

Above Clockwise (L-R):  Melissa Odabash India Bikini - £139.00,  Topshop Floral Bandeau Bikini - £30.00,  Melissa Odabash Madrid Bikini  - £137.00,  Mara Hoffman Pow Wow Printed Bandeau Bikini - £205.00,  Topshop Blue Tie Dye Crochet Bikini - £30.00. 

Above Clockwise (L-R):  Heidi Klein Wide Brim Buckle Hat - £135.00,  Ondademar Tes Gauze Dress - £207.00,  ASOS Floral Beaded Clutch Bag - £40.00,  Pamela Love Cutout Turquoise and Bronze Cuff  - £340.00,  Stella McCartney Faux Patent-Leather and Cork Wedges - £385,  Malin &  Goetz Essential Travel Kit - £20.00.

Above Clockwise (L-R):  Meli Melo Bon Bon Bag in Cipria - £320.00 £224.00,  Topshop Hawaiian Print Sundress - £36.00,  Tangle Teezer - £10.00, Nars Monoi Body Glow Ii - £44.00, Benefit CORALista Powder - £23.50, Benefit CORALista Lipgloss - £13.50,  Dara Ettinger Lark Dyed Amethyst Cluster Ring - £69.17,  ASOS Cat Eye Flying Birds Sunglasses - £20.00, DKNY Linda Patent Multi-Strap Cork Wedges - £120.83.

Left and Below:   At The Tamarind in Mombasa, Kenya, wearing The Summer Dress - £150.00 - a British collaboration between designer Chessie Grievson (of the luxury bespoke label Tephi) and artist and conservationist Sophia Rogge.  This silk dress features a sand dollar print, inspired by the sea urchins from the oceans of Fiji. 10% of profits from this purchase will go towards coral conservation. Fashionable and environmentally friendly... No excuse not to really!  

Above Clockwise (L-R):  Lalesso Jaali Purse - £95.00,  Cowshed Camomile Refreshing Toner - £16.00,  FB Collection Frescobol Beach Bats - £120.00,  Mufti Havana Leather Perudo Set - £75.00,  Accessorize Flip Flops - £16.00,  Moroccan Oil Restorative Hair Mask - £30.45.

Above Clockwise (L-R):  Beach Tunes!  The Very Best Of Toots & The Maytals - £15.99,  Bruno Mars 'Unorthodox Jukebox,' - £7.99,  Jack Savoretti 'Before The Storm' - £7.99,   Ben Howard 'Every Kingdom,' - £8.99, Lissie 'Catching A Tiger' - £4.99,  The Lumineers - £7.99.

HAWT: Michelle Obama in Jason Wu

Hawt = A late 1940's and early 1950's acronym for "Having A Wonderful Time."
Now the word is used on the internet as slang for something reeeeally hot.

After putting 26 year old Jason Wu firmly on the fashion map at the 2009, Michelle Obama once again turned to the same designer to create her striking red, velvet and chiffon gown, at last weekend’s Inaugural Ball. The sleeveless dress highlighted Michelle’s famously toned arms, and she accessorized with Jimmy Choo high heels. The First Lady looked HAWT. Everyone wolfwhistle: Twit-Wu!