London: Tea Time in Wonderland

Winter? What winter?

Each year, rather than adding yet another toy to the house, I take my daughter to see a musical. Girly time and fabulous memories. The Cirque Invisible, the Lion King, the Wizard of Oz. This year,  Wicked put a spell on us. The theatre in itself is already magical, a different universe. Do take the binoculars (£1, one between each seat) to better see the details of the decors and costumes. The story? A different version of Oz, each role being reversed, sprinkled with formidable humour. Quick, go and see it!

Christmas is coming to town:
* Go gift hunting on that adorable Finnish market.
* Plenty of ideas at the Chelsea Physic Garden fair too.
* On the craft side, you will find real wonders at the Merry Magpie pop-up.

That’s art, baby!
* Nothing better than 4D projection to bring life back into a building.
* Is art really rubbish?

Yummy time:
* Burger revolution.
* It is winter time and Dickens then rhymes with punch and Courvoisier.
* Still on the Dickens’ theme -  opt for the pub crawl!
* Food allergies? Go and enjoy this free from festival.

Shopaholics, beware:
* Remember Upper Street? Great news -  they are having a sample sale of unique models this Saturday, up to 50% off the original price. Just go to Upper Street Studios, 1A Clarendon Buildings, 11 Ronalds rd, London, N5 1XJ. From 10.00 to 16.00, payment by card only.

Take the little ones along:
* Especially for adventurers-to-be: a tour of the HMS Belfast with a hot chocolate.
* This adorable kids festival in South Kensington should make the whole family happy.

Out of the ordinary:
* Le Cool and Fiji Water have thought of a wonderful winter stroll along a forgotten river -  click here to see the app / map, it’s all free!
* Underground tales, this way.
* Discover London… aboard a kayak.
* Manga fans, rejoyce: this one takes place at the British Museum.
* One of the mysteries of London…

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.

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

There is only one thing that can alter a girl’s quest for chocolate: that would be shopping. Even better: shoe shopping, including trying on a whole collection of them.

Between the title and the previous sentences, I probably have lost my whole male audience. They would have rolled their eyes and ran away. We would have too, had they mentioned engines and mechanics…

Fashionistas dreamt it, Selfridges launched it: a whole gallery of them. Dedicated to ballerinas, boots, high heels, stilletos and crazy creations. Jimmy Choo, Louboution, Channel… They’re all here my dear! 150 designers, with proper – not boutiques, that would sound too cheap – apartments, says the press edit. Add 4000 shoes on show and 15000 in stock. True paradise for any shoe-addict: what are you waiting for?

As you can guess it is shoe-time! The shop windows have invited creators to express themselves… from a shoebox point of view…

On the ground floor, you are guaranteed a sweet time…

Escalators promise real fireworks:

Don’t forget the accessories!

Really, Selfridges thought big this time:

Are your toes hurting? Have a break @ the bistrot Aubaine, you will melt for sure…

Last but not least -  add even more fun with this photomaton. One of those who takes 4 different poses and guess what? It is there for a month and completely free!

The Shoe Gallery
Selfridges
4th floor
400 Oxford Street
London W1A 1A

Pssst: Vivienne Westwood exhibits 200 crazy creations there too – shoe-esque!

Vivienne Westwood is one of those fashion dames who compensates the grandeur of her title by a touch of fun and arrogance. Remember, she is the one who is in tha 70ies, introduced punk into the fashion network. tartan, leather boots, pins, hop, with her magic sewing needle, she had transcended the rigidity of the system. Since then, she has been jungling with glamour, Victorian style, rebel looks, rock’n'roll. Tumultuous and fabulous. I remember the polemics when she launched her “faux cul” dresses or her entirely transparent dress!

The general public, us, are so hypnotised by the dress collection that we forget to even look at the accessorizing. Now is the time to look down -  Selridge’s has launched an exhibition reviewing 50 years of… shoe creation. this includes the famous pirate boots – so high Naomi Campbell almost fell on the catwalk. 200 models are presented here, all more improbable than the other, and you have to wonder about some: can anyone even stand in them? Not that it matters, they are amazing. Some are covered in Swarowsky cristals, others are made of recycled Guinness cans, you will see vertiginous high heels, soles cut to follow the precise detail of toes… Don’t miss the glossy plastic ones -  inspired by Alice in Wonderland, so perfect they look unreal.

There is no need to be a fashion fan. Nor to read through her bio beforehand. This is purely visual pleasure… Well, you might want to leave the guys outside!

Are you Vivienne-crazy? Then don’t miss the pantomine she has designed with Jean-Paul Gaultier -  October 12-16, 2010

Vivienne Westwood shoes: an exhibition 1973-2010
Selfridges
400 Oxford Street
London W1A 1A
Until Sept 22, 2010 – free