London: Tea Time in Wonderland

It stopped me in my tracks. Sitting there, gorgeous, sparkling like a jewel. A crunch of luxury.

A creation by Fabrizio Verniani, who celebrates 40 years in the business, and the fascinating Anya Hindmarch which glitter are the favourite signature.

Or how to shine bright.

Just don’t look at the price. So bright it hurts.

Anya Hindmarch
157-158 Sloane Street
London SW1X 9AB

Winter? What winter?

Contrary to what the gentlemen sharing our life think, it is ever so easy choosing a Christmas gift for us.

No, really. We would be happy with a tiny gift. It is all in the intention.

Like a jewel. See? Tiny. Yet elegant, trendy, preferably one our work colleagues would consider with envy. Not a mainstream one -  nothing worse than meeting a girl with the same necklace as us. I told you. Easy.

Here are a few ideas for fiancés looking for inspiration.

Alice Menter offers a lovely range of refined pieces. The elegant touch of metal reinforces the strength of  the modern woman while still highlighting her feminity. Perfect on a simple black dress.

You are sure to shine with Gina Melosi – striking cut glass effect, very science-fiction heroin, ultra-modern, always on the go, a woman who knows what she wants and how to get it.

Jessica de Lotz brings a vintage touch – nostalgic, romantic jewels that will defy time and really have a meaning. They look like little poems.

Laura Gravestock‘s Promise collection evoques Arabian design and stories. Splendid – we just want to try them straight away.

Claire English  has just the necklaces for bubbles of happiness or playing with fire… A delightful twist.

We also fell for the more discreet but ever so sweet creations by Cabbage is king. Little smiles to bring sunshine, every day.

Gentlemen, take your pick!

Your dressing counts more shoes that it is reasonable to own yet you are still hunting down the perfect pair of heels? Then you have not heard of Upper Street yet: a site that enables you to design your model from A to Z.

And it is pretty easy to use too -  a structure proposes an incredible number of options: height, shape, flat shoes, straps, buckles, assymetric bands, Swarovsky jewel, leather, snake skin, metallic, colour of the internal sole… Possibilities are endless and your shoes… unique: a fashionista’s dream.

I recently had the chance to see some of those at the press day – finitions are impeccable, the sole comfortable, leather is top quality, the heels solid. You can be sure this went straight to #1 on my wish list. Not following trends much, I am always looking for the kind of shoes that are not “in”, which means 6 months before I find something I actually like. And what a better idea for a bride or a special occasion?

Not used to ordering online and afraid you might get the size wrong? Not a problem -  stop at their offices to see and try some models, touch the materials, ask for advice. the team is adorable and know when to give you some space to think.  Your budget is limited? Ask friends to get you giftcards for Christmas or your birthday and they might be yours in no time!

Warning: highly addictive website.

Remember this amazing hotel?

Well, it also hides a private cinema and regularly proposes wonderful evenings. For £42.50, you could tickle your tastebuds with a gourmet 3 course meal before seeing one of the best movies of the moment, sipping on a glass of champagne and nibbling on popcorn. A wonderful deal when you consider the price of a meal and a cinema ticket in London!

Last week, One Aldwych and Handpicked Media had organised a special screening of Ultrasuede. Sitting in one of the large, comfy seats, cocktail in one hand and sweet pop-corn in the other – luxury indeed – I fell for this fascinating documentary bringing Halston back to life. Recognised by Europe as the first American designer worth of the name – quite a compliment coming from the French – he did not just influence his era: he defined it.

And so we discover him through photos and films from the 70ies. But most importantly through people who love him such as his muse, Liza Minnelli . This is worth seeing for this alone. Anjelica Huston, Pat Cleveland, Dianne von Furstenberg, Ralph Rucci…They will tell you how vibrant those times were, how disco and crazy and happily excessive they were. How Halston could cut a dress without measuring anything and it would still look perfect. How he discovered ultrasuede form Issey Miyake and placed in on the fashion scene. Even though you probably have marvelled at his collections before, seeing so many glimpses of his catwalks, of the ethereal dresses, the natural evidence of them, the fluidity of the fabric he chose will still leave you amazed. His name was on every woman’s lips and on the jetset goddesses too – Jacquie Kennedy, Bianca Jagger, Elizabeth Taylor, Lauren Bacall, you name it.

You could easily call it an Empire. His offices were in the 22nd floor of the Olympic Tower, dominating 5th Avenue. A symbol in itself. From clothes, he will go to mass merchandising, perfumes, carpets. He decides to dress America, launches affordable fashion in high street shops. Sadly, this does not work as it would today – too new at the time, the public did not understand why such a top level name would do that, avoided it. His brand then gets pressured by one sponsor to another… He disappears from the scene, disappointed and dies in 1990.

The movie comes to an end -  we are left touch by the character. Its genius, its daring personnality, his vision, his energy and exploding love of life but also the devotion of those who loved – still love- him. Beautifully presented, the documentary will make you smile and laugh too. No need to be a fashionista to be charmed by it. One to watch again and again, pausing to better see the splendid clothes. A fabulous gift too – it recently was launched as a DVD as much for the glamorous 70ies than for this extraodinary destiny.

Magazines prepare their editions months in advance and so brands and shops follow through. Christmas in August, summer in November. Strange journey through time – you step in the show room humming jingle bells and leave thinking about sunscreen…

Invited to discover House of Fraser’s interior collection, I stayed fascinated by the view. From the 7th floor office on Baker street, the imposing BT tower really look unique.

Each room had been remade for the occasion -  a kitchen, 3 bedrooms, 2 lounges. Decoration magazines are there too – Elle Decoration had just signed in. Everyone looks around, moves objects around to compare effects, takes notes.

What did we like? The classic touch – romantic, poetic. Ethereal curtains sublimed a simple cupboard, white as basis with Asian inspired drawings, a palette of soft hues from cream to pink, enhanced by bright touches of purple. Very soothing and spring like.

A few steps further – energetic fushia, flower explosions, a very graphic firework. A single flashy wall is enough to make the room vibrate. Note the balance bed/mirror rectangles giving height to the space, the round notes on each side of the bed. White with key object bringing a parallel to the curves -  as a pebble bouncing on water. Beautiful prune bed throw that tones down the floral designs – same effect with the two cushions, as if the landscape were coming closer to you. How pleasant to wake up in a garden…

How to make the most of a tiny flat and keep a lounge effect? With a 2-seaters sofa – cozy, practical, lightened up with cream cushions. Target kawai inspiration too, use round plates for a confetti effect, a bunting to alternate geometrical shapes. As you cannot fit a large coffee table, opt for a multitude of smaller ones which you can arrange around the room for guests or put together as needed. The secret here? The summer fête style. Very British, very festive especially with Michèle Mason‘s ever so cute designs (a hit at Paris’ Bon Marché).

Bathroom will be your new rise and shine – hot colours, as bright as you can, in trios, even in accessories. Look out for the round /curves there too.

Yes, the time of having a mono-tone theme is over. The kitchen takes its hints from bright vegetables – aubergine, pepper, chili… Your favorite tools and robots now exist in the same palette. No need to tidy up – it looks amazing out of the cupboards! A great way to feel like cooking again even after work and commuting.

Verdict? Well, 2012 might not have a perfect summer on the temperature sides so we’ll keep the sun indoors!

The adventure starts in 1997 – Jos and Alison Skeates open their first boutique on Exmoor Market, which postcode is EC1. He is a genius goldsmith, she has the chic for design and beautiful arrangements. An amazing team, an assured success too. They are, of course, adored by fashion divas and magazines. But their best advertisement comes from their customers who whisper the secret to their friends. Their collections are splendid and they can create the ring of your dreams in their workshop… Diamons, platinum, tourmaline, moonstone, pink quartz, blue agathe… If often, jewels seem to depend mainly on the brilliance of its central stones, here they show a particular grace, a personnality – romantic, tribal, poetic… Most importantly, they always look unique. Beware – Econe is a girl’s best friend!

Econe
41 Exmouth Market
London
EC1R 4QL

One look at I am at their feet. Sadly, me rather than them – their price (£470) making them slightly inacessible. A shoe dream, of their elegance that makes me feel like knocking the heels three times: surely they are quite magical…

Charlotte Olympia at Marches Fashion

With Next’s heavenly soles collection, I am discovering that I do not need to swap my high heels for sensible shoes anymore. Those include comfy little cushions that support the foot and my, can you walk in those! I trotted all along London and the Cotswold last week-ends – miles on pavement and countryside alike – without having to stop for a plaster once. Meet my new best friends! (Heavenly soles, double straps, £45)

Already famous in the US, the brand has just opened its first two European addresses, both in London: on in Covent Garden, the other in Marylebone. Don’t know it? Well, listen closely, Eileen Fisher is going to make you love winter.

Her collections are best describes as cocoons you feel like snuggling in. Alpaga, merinos – the textures are thin yet extra-warm, a caress to the skin, fall in beautiful curved collars, flatter the body, allow to superpose and play on transparence. The palette of colours altern between bright grays highlighted by brilliant bronze, golden yellow, lilac that will brighten your complexion better than any cream on the market. The clothes have been thought to make your life easy, they all complement and match each other.

We fell in love withe coats with Asian modern lines, the rich velvety scarves so soft you will keep them on all day long, the belts that turn a dancing tunique into  a gorgeous waistline, the satin textures.

The shop is extremely well designed – clear, spacious. It is easy to butterfly from one side to another, marvelling at his new range. It is a whole lifestyle -  one set is so elegant yet so comfy you can easily go from a business meeting to a dinner with friends. The fabric evolve around your body, never in your way always working with you. A must for the modern amazones…

Eileen Fisher UK

Covent Garden
5 Slingsby Place
St Martins Courtyard
London WC2E 9AB

96 Marylebone High Street
London W1U 4RH