With all the chaos and mad panic arising on every twinkly-lit highstreet, finding a present for those lucky menfolk in your life can prove both tricky and super stressful. Rather than resorting to making IOU voucher booklets (Ha! That ol'chestnut!) here is some TLC giftspiration which may make life a liiiittle easier over the next week or so...
Hover over the items for direct links - Enjoy!
Regardless of your age, NOTHING beats waking up to a stocking at the end of you bed (... or in mine and my sister's case; stockings strewn across the floor, having already been opened around 4am, having stumbled back from some annual, terribly civilised Christmas drinks on the beach with friends...) If I have been a good girl this year (which, to be fair, is still under some debate), I hope to discover some of these little treats waiting for me (early!) Christmas morning...
Hover over the items for their direct links - Enjoy!
We all know that most men fear, dread and loooathe shopping, so rather than ‘accidentally’ flambéing him instead of the Christmas Pudding this year, as thanks for that last minute, delightfully flammable red underwear he left for you under the tree (“but it’s festive!”) may I suggest you help the poor fella out this year by kindly leaving this page open on his desktop…?! Warning... If someone else doesn't buy you some goodies off this list, you'll definitely end up buying yourself some (and that's ok, right?!)
Hover over the items for their direct links... Enjoy!
Or should that be 'Well Helloooooo There: Full Disclosure?!' I was really thrilled to be asked to curate an edit of TLC's top picks from the newest go-to lingerie and sleepwear haven, Full Disclosure. Housing (or should that be bedrooming?!) an enticing mixture of stunningly lacy and racy lingerie sets and corsets, beautiful and flirtatious playsuits and baby-dolls, elegant silk robes and suspenders, all from both well known and loved names to some new and exciting brands I too have just discovered. I mean, seriously, forget Lapland, THIS is where you want your Santa-Baby to visit en route to your Christmas stockings...
Check out the TLC edit HERE and if no one else will, go and spoil yourself!
London’s Christmas party season kicked off this year at Claridge's, where for the second year running, Dolce and Gabbana designed the hotel’s magical Christmas Tree, and I was invited to celebrate it’s grand unveiling – all eight sparkling metres of it! Covered in 300 hand-painted baubles, gold ribbons, and a multitude of flags, the tree was inspired by childhood memories and was surrounded by an enchanted forest.
Wearing my new Ingenue London Megan Long Sleeve Jumpsuit in navy blue velvet (RRP. £103.00) it dawned upon me that I clearly had NOT got the D&G memo… The festivally decorated lobby seemed filled with equally festively decorated ladies, all in little red lace dresses. Move over the LBD, it’s Christmas!
Above: Best pressie ever? I found this teeny-weeny-eenie Woodland Fairy (a.k.a my buddy, Anna Kendrick) wrapped up in Dolce & Gabbana underneath the tree.
Above (L-R): Martha Ward, Christy Osbourne, Emily Johnston, TLC, Amy Williams
Above: "Well colour me happy, there's a sofa in here for twoooo!"
Above: Heels off, robes on and Room Service... Anna and my after-party won!
Above: Featuring in Grazia magazine alongside Anna Kendrick
The first time I ever heard of ‘Black Friday’ was at an American friend’s Thanksgiving lunch last year in Primrose Hill. The Americans around the table seemed anxious they were missing out on the following day’s incredible sales and offers back in the US. If you're still a little lost, 'Black Friday' was a phrase coined by the Philadelphia police in the 1950's after the chaos caused by shoppers flocking to the high streets after Thanksgiving to begin their Christmas shopping. With stores keen to get as many people through their doors as possible, offers galoooore began, and a tradition born.
Like Starbucks, David Hasslehoff and Cronuts, Black Friday has also now arrived on our British shores. Thankfully however, in 2014 we don’t all have to panic, elbows at the ready to brave Oxford Street or Westfield, as plenty of online shops and boutiques are also offering some incredible deals this 'Cyber Weekend' (you couldn't make this up!) ASOS are amazingly offering 20% off ALL their products ALL weekend... Just LOVE those guys! So, to spare you hours of trawling their site, I took one for the team and selflessly put together this edit for y’all… Just hover on the items you like for prices and click. Yes, that’s right, you can also be thankful for me this weekend Pilgrims!
DISCOUNT CODE: CYBERWKND20
I was recently invited to Anthropologie’s King’s Road gallery for a preview of 'Cinder Embers,' the celebrated British textile artist Mister Finch’s solo exhibition and book launch.
I also managed to fit in one or three tea cups of Sipsmith/Champagne Cocktails (above) and some suuuuperb selfies with the artist himself (below). Welllll, it would have been terribly rude not to...
With a background in fashion, this dapper, self-taught artist from t'up North, now sews and creates original sculptures from recycled material, breathing new life and adventure into old velvet curtains, threadbare wedding dresses, vintage aprons, etc. Not only does this make Mister Finch’s ‘storytelling creatures’ beautifully ethical, but utterly charming and magical.
For this particular exhibtion, Mister Finch has taken inspiration from beyond his usual influences of nature and folklore, and instead draws on the story of the celebrated Parisian taxidermy shop Deyrolle. The iconic, famed store burned to the ground in 2008 and the charred remains of the stuffed animals were subsequently captured in haunting detail by investigative photographer Laurent Bochet.
Fifteen soft and mysterious sculptures, including a regal crowned swan and a seven foot sly fox, will be displayed in Chelsea’s Anthropologie until January 4th. If you can’t make it down, do buy Mister Finch’s fantastical debut book, ‘Living in a Fairy Tale World’ (RRP.£30.00), which features stunning imagery of his extraordinary one-of-a-kind creatures – the perfect coffee table addition (click on image below).
Beulah London’s Lady Natasha Rufas Isaacs and Lavinia Brennan not only create elegant designs, loved and worn by the Duchess of Cambridge, but they also help provide a sustainable livelihood to girls rescued from sex trafficking in the Southern slums of Delhi. I for one, particularly enjoy feeling fashionable and virtuous at the same time, so was thrilled to feature in the girl’s recent #MyWeekInBeulah insta-campaign. After having a blow-dry at Duck & Dry (my new fave) and my make up done by the gorgeous Charlotte Cowen, I went to the Bluebird Chelsea where I was able to get my hands on all the latest beautiful, ethical designs, style them up à la TLC and take'em for a whirl (or a twirl as it turned out!)
Above: Wearing Beulah London's Lumina Wide Collar Overcoat and Rose Smoke Light Clutch, with River Island Authentic Daisy Jeans, ASOS Rattle My Cage Sude Ankle Boots, Astley Clarke Lockets and Feather and Stone stacking bracelets.
Above: Wearing Beulah London's navy Painted Lady Dress with ASOS Happy Go Lucky Heels and Beauchamps of London Codrington Clutch Bag in charcoal.
Above and Below: Wearing my favourite look of the day, the Beulah London Blythe Crop Waffle Top and Evangeline Trapeze Skirt with my Lulu Guinness Lips Clutch.
Photographs: lse Viveros
As I have incredibly (and super annoyingly) sensitive skin, I am always looking out for natural, yet effective, products - not as easy as you may think! I was recently sent some Elemental Herbology products to try out (available at ASOS and Space NK). I fell immediately in love with the British brand’s sleek packaging, but also their mighty fine ethics; the communities who provide their ingredients are supported, alongside their environment, by the company and their partners. I was looking forward to giving them a whirl.
The brand’s founder, Kirsty Cimesa, is a qualified acupuncturist, with a background in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Kirsty aimed to find a way of rebalancing skin that is taxed daily by the environment, hormone levels and lifestyle. Jam-packed with nutrients, essential oils, vitamins, antioxidants and bioactive ingredients, this high-performance, luxurious skincare range really does deliver.
My skin really began to look radiant and clear after sticking to a routine of cleansing twice a day with the ultra-nourishing Purify and Sooth Cleansing Balm, using the light, hydrating Calendula Damask Facial Moisturiser in the morning and the deeply hydrating Facial Soufflé at night. Twice a week I also applied the Cell Food serum at night which helps your skin repair by boosting the production of collagen and elastin (and Laaawd knows, we all be needing as much of that sweet goodness as possible these days!)
“We believe in looking after your skin both inside and out. I am proud of everything that we put into our products, and proud of what we leave out. Made in England, we support the responsible harvesting and production of all raw materials and ensure our products are 100% free from synthetic fragrance, artificial colour, mineral oils, sulphates, parabens and preservatives. Live life, live Elemental Herbology!" Kirsty Cimesa.
When the products eventually ran out (they wonderfully last rather a long time) I begun to test out some other products; ones with unpronounceable names I’d been sent, some I found sitting in my bathroom cabinet that I can’t even remember buying… I regret to say, and as the children and horses I currently frighten on the street daily will testify, I have a red rash across my chin from using a very drying cleanser and a far too rich day cream. It’s penitently obvious I must immediately return to my Elemental Herbology routine pronto, anything else would be just Kelemental! (Sorry, I couldn’t resist…)
Last week I was invited to the launch of The Grill, the recently refurnished and stunningly re-imagined restaurant at The Dorchester.
Before myself, and the beyond gorgeous (inside and out!) Emily Johnston of Fashion Fois Grois, attended the much-anticipated party (and more to the point, sampled the delicious menu!) we were both blissfully pampered at the Carol Joy’s salon. We were both treated to voluminous blow dries (Emily assured me “the higher the hair, the closer to God”) and manicures (in a room which could actually compete, and possibly win, against me in an Essie Polish count!) in this hidden oasis.
Once in my dress (I wore a pale pink Huishan Zhang dress which unzipped at the front to make an unusual crop-top dress), I joined Emily at The Grill ahead of the other guests so we could have a look around the sparkling new venue, see the detail of the new design, and meet the team on their first night.
First established in 1931, The Grill quickly became an iconic, ‘go-to’ venue for the finest grill food in London with regular customers including royalty, statesmen and celebrities alike. Now with a timeless yet vibrant new interior, courtesy of French interior architect Bruno Moinard, the restaurant and its charming staff are ready to welcome in a new culinary chapter, under the reign of Head Chef Christophe Marleix, Alain Ducasse’s protégé.
An amazing, hand-blown Murano glass chandelier hangs prominently in the centre of the room (right) adding some serious, majestic drama. Another special and defining feature of the room are its pivoting wall panels which rather theatrically manage to create an entirely different ambience and mood by transforming the light from day to night. Thus, the restaurant not only provides a romantic, cosy venue for dinner, but also the perfect light and bright breakfast location too.
We were utterly spoilt with various, mini dishes from The Grill, including yummy scallops, utterly delicious fish and chips (a must!) and little pots of their signature blue lobster chowder and several different flavours of sweet soufflés (the rum and raisin is OFF the scale… I maaaay have had two... Ok three, but in my defence, they were really freaking small, OK?!...) If these dishes were anything to go by, trust me, this restaurant is one to check out - and it will certainly be seeing a lot more of me!
Below: With Matthew Williamson's Communication's Director Rosanna Falconer.
Below: With Louisa Preskett and Marissa Hermer.
