HAWT: Daisy Lowe in Miu Miu

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.

The second I saw Daisy Lowe dressed as Jessica Rabbit (think long red latex!) at a mutual friend’s ‘OTT’ party on Osea Island, she became an instant girl crush.
This was once more confirmed when I saw pictures of the twenty-four year old English model attending theBritish Heart Foundation’s ‘Tunnel of Love’ themed fundraiser in London (left)wearing this diiiivine Miu Miu A/W’13 party dress.  
The shocking pink and red strapless bustier frock with a foldover sweetheart neckline was accessorized demurely with black peep-toe heels, a black satin Pradaenvelope clutch with red lipstick and a retro up-do, allowing this showstopper dress do the talking. 
HAWT!

Alexander McQueen and Damien Hirst Collaboration

In celebration of the 10th anniversary of the iconic skull scarf, Alexander McQueen has collaborated with artist Damien Hirst (not adverse to skulls himself!) and launched a 20-piece limited edition collection. The line is inspired by Hirst’s Entomology series and the designs feature butterflies and spiders in kaleidoscopic shapes, in addition to the signature skull imagery.

The unique designs, available in Chiffon, Pongé, Twill and Cashmere with prices ranging from £315.00 to £715.00, are exclusively available from Alexander McQueen boutiques and online HERE. 

Below:  Photographer Sølve Sundsbø's short video celebrating the collaboration.

Musical Moment: Lily Allen ('It's Hard Out There')

Just when we thought it was safe to relax, sit back, tear in eye, and enjoy a more sereneLily Allen singing Keane’s ‘Somewhere Only We Know’  in the John Lewis Christmas advert(as an aside… are that bear and the hare actually an item?!) the singer goes and releases the track, ‘Hard Out Here,’ knocking us for six.  No, Lily has not become the all sugary sweet, apron wearing, strawberry jam-making, mother of two John Lewis would have us believe!  Still a feminist to her core, this week Lily released a casual evisceration of the pop music industry sexism we have, particularly of late (thanks Miley and Robin) had violently twerked in our faces.  Lily’s song is a sarcastic take on body image and the outlandish expectations projected upon women, the ridiculous phenomenon of twerking and the horrendous double standards women still seem to endure.  I love the subversive swipe atRobin Thicke’s ‘Blurred Lines’ balloons and the liberal use of the word ‘bitch’ repetitively sung alongside the catchy tune - another statement against its unimpressive overuse in popular culture.  Yes.  Just Yes.  Welcome back Lily.

" I won’t be braggin’ ’bout my cars, or talkin’ ’bout my chains
Don’t need to shake my ass for you ‘cuz I got a brain..."

J Crew London Launch

You would have had to of been living under a rock to have not heard the preppy clad tremors of the J Crew brigade landing in London last week and I was thrilled to be invited (by balloon, no less) to their glitzy pre-opening party.  With 227 stores across the United States, J Crew’s gargantuan 17,000 sq ft of flagship store fun at 165 Regent Street was buzzing with excitement; finally the Brits can have easy access to the label’s rainbow of cashmere, bejeweled accessories and clashing jacquard prints without having to fork out for the plane ticket alongside them! 

The shop is divided into three interlinking sections, for men, women and children and is a visual feast.  The evening's (J) crew comprised some of the biggest names in British fashion celebrating the launch by enjoying great music, a flip book booth, an enormous table of retro sweets (obviously I spent much of my evening hanging out here) and, of course, exploring the extensive preview of colourful designs which were immaculately displayed. 

Below:  I was lucky enough to have a chat with the unbelievably charming and awesomeJenna Lyons, creative director of J Crew and all round style icon (not to mention also the owner of the most perfectly long ‘selfie’ arms, as put to the test below!)

Below (Clockwise) L-R:  William Woodhams and Annabel Simpson, Julia Neel and Kelly Eastwood, David Grievson, Amy Williams, Lauren Scott and Kelly Eastwood. 

Below (L-R):  With fellow bloggers Ella Catliff, Laura Fantacci and stylist Martha Ward. 

Below:  Wearing a polka dot Topshop playsuit with black lace back (available HERE - RRP. £48.00), a Zara perspex statement necklace, a Wilbur & Gussie Coco Clutch (similar available HERE - RRP. £265.00) and a massive bag of J Crew retro sweeties.

After a couple of glasses of champagne I left clutching an embarrassingly large bag of sweeties, a London-friendly J Crew Umbrella and one seriously extensive shopping list!
Below are some of the current items in stock that I now have my eye on…

Above:  Colourblock Funnelneck Coat - £RRP. £398.00,  Etta Sequin Pumps - RRP. £350.00

Above (Clockwise) L-R:  Chevron Fingerless Gloves in Citron Grey - RRP. £35.00,  Statement Flower Necklace – RRP. £198.00,  Double-Zip Sweater in Colourblock – RRP.£89.50, Hughes Satchel in Pale Graphite – RRP. £298.00, Jewelled Cuff - £125.00, Jewelled Donegal Sweater in Slate – RRP. £98.00

Above: (Top)  Collection Café Capri in Tie Silk – RRP. £198.00, (Below)  Toothpick Jean in Velvet Pack Green – RRP. £110.00

Hello There: Kirsten Goss

Since launching her first jewellery collection in London in 2002, South African designer and gemologist Kirsten Goss’ unique designs continue to go from strength to strength.  Despite being an internationally enjoyed brand, with celebrity fans including Sarah Jessica Parker and Rosamund Pike, and a shop in Kensington, Kirsten likes to keep her brand South African at heart with all her designs being created in in her design studio in Durban, saying “I love that we’re on the international stage but keep what we do South African.”

Kirsten Goss’ most recent collection is entitled ‘Arcade,’ (below) and was inspired by the flamboyance of 'The Great Gatsby’ and the opulence of the art deco era. This beautiful range includes elegant earrings, striking cuffs and cut-out necklaces made with semi-precious stones with delicate silver and gold vermeil.

 Below (Clockwise) L-R:  Dandy Earrings - RRP. £335.00, Wilde Earrings - RRP. £135.00, Queenie Bracelet - RRP. £325.00, Sweetpea Ring - RRP. £295.00

Above:  I was very sweetly given an early birthday present by Kirsten Goss;  a Lifesaver Necklace with my gold initial and green agate pendant (below at the Chelsea Farmer's Market).  I adore it and have barely taken this beauty off since I received it.  Versatile and fun, I am excited to add more of the affordable and interchangeable semi-precious pendants to my collection, allowing me to alternate its look depending on my outfit.

The 'Arcade' collection and Lifesaver Necklace are available online (www.kirstengoss.com) and from Kirsten Goss' London shop (29 Holland Street, W8 4NA).

Skate at Somerset House Sponsored by Coach

The (albeit slightly wonky?!) ‪Christmas tree is up and the water is freezing over which can only mean one thing... Skate at Somerset House, sponsored by the American luxury design house Coach, is one of London’s most glamourous and fashionable ice skating experiences, opens this Thursday 14th and I cannot wait to go!  Nothing can beat an evening skating alongside a live soundtrack spun by top DJs, whilst enjoying rink-side yuletide treats (welcome back mince pies and mulled wine, my old friends!) followed by dinner at Tom’s Kitchen and a wander around the luxury pop-up Christmas market.  
Tickets start from £7.50 and are available until January online HERE

Rosewood London Launch

I was really happy to attend the launch of Rosewood London, to check out the capital’s latest luxury hotel.  The 1914 Edwardian Belle Époque Grade II-listed building property in the heart of High Holborn has had an £85 million refurbishment and boasts 262 rooms and 44 suites which magnificently combines a traditional English heritage look with a contemporary London aesthetic.  After arriving trough a massive courtyard and walking down a beautiful hall of mirrors (see below), I arrived at the hotel's opulent bar room, designed by Martin Brudnizki, where I enjoyed a pretty huge celebratory Scarfes Royal Punch cocktail whilst listening to an acoustic performance by the gorgeous Anglo-Italian singer-songwriter Jack Savoretti (above), who I am a big fan of.  Later, DJ and The Saturdays’ Mollie King (above) took to the decks to entertain the Rosewood revellers.  

Above L-R (Clockwise):  Kelly Eastwood and Jack Freud, Lady Natasha Rufus Isaccs with Katy Wickremesinghe, Jack and Kate Freud, Steve Merchant.

Above:  Wearing high waisted Topshop shorts and a navy silk Greta ruffled top, accessorised with my bright orange Zara heels and the Emerald Wilbur & Gussie Charlie Clutch with a jewel encrusted lion clasp (RRP. £150.00, available to purchase here).

Alexa Chung for Eyeko

Alexa Chung has joined up with British beauty brand Eyeko to create a capsule collection of eye make up.  Alexa has always felt naked without her 1960’s cat-eye liquid eyeliner flick, something she has become synonymous with, admitting ”it's my comfort blanket."  Having had an Eyeko eyeliner used on her by a make-up artist on a recent shoot she decided to meet with the brand’s directors, “I just felt the whole company seemed fun and it got my creative juices flowing… it became quite an organic collaboration.”  

Alexa’s Eyeko collection will sport her name, her own artwork and have kooky names (such as the ‘eye do’ liquid liner) that she has chosen.  The set will cost £35.00 and will be exclusively launched at Selfridges Oxford Street on November 14th where she will be meeting and greeting her fans eager to also have the most fash-lashes in town. 

Galvan Preview

Last week I attended a sneak preview of Galvan, at Kettners in Soho, a new London-based label established by Sola Harrison, Carolyn Hodler and Katherine Holmgren, three young and beautiful ladies with backgrounds in art and fashion.  Alongside designer Anna-Christin Hass this gorgeous team have created timeless designs; elegantly constructed, boldly cut, and achingly beautiful.  Galvan launches officially in 2014 but both Sola Harrison (with husband, Dhani) and Bond Girl Olga Kurylenko have been seen wearing the label’s stunning and sophisticated eveningwear earlier this year (below). 

Below:  With Creative Directors Sola Harrison (left) and Carolyn Hodler (right). 

Musical Moment: Katy Perry ('Roar')

I was lucky to attend Katy Perry's iTunes Festival performance, the last show in a star-studded month long festival. The excited crowd, myself included, were treated to 45 minutes of all the singer’s best hits as well as two newer tracks from her latest album Prism.

You sometimes forget just how many BRILLIANT and sassy pop gems Katy is responsible for, Wow... California Gurls, Teenage Dream, I Kissed A Girl, Firework (“dedicated to anyone who has ever felt less”) and my latest favourite pop-punch anthem, ‘Roar!’ (below) which even my father mentioned to me the other day was, "a jolly good tune." Praise indeed.  The all singing, all dancing and all rope-skipping (yes, yet another talent displayed during the performance) Katy Perry really is the perfect popstar.  Just awesome. 

Above (L-R):  In Katy's dressing room (I don't know how this happened either...) with Katy Perry, Anna Kendrick, Tamra Natisin, Ellie Goulding and Lauren Glucksman.

"I got the eye of the tiger, a fighter, dancing through the fire
Cause I am a champion and you’re gonna hear me roar...!"

Katy Perry's album 'Prism' is now available to buy from iTunes Here