London Wonder

So my last post was about Ciaté's Mini Mani Month 2013, and after a little bit of digging, I've found a bunch of other great alternative Beauty Advent Calendars. Eeeek!
Each year, more and more beauty brands and retailers come up with new and innovative Christmas gifting ideas, so I've found some of the best ones for you to have a little think about :)

First up; the Selfridges Christmas Advent Calendar, known to me as the holy grail. Selfridges' exclusive bijoux Christmas advent calendar brings you the best in beauty. From Viktor & Rolf, Yves Saint Laurent, Kiehl's and Giorgio Armani to Lancôme and Maison Martin Margiela, you can discover a precious treat behind every door to make you dazzle, sparkle and shine this festive season. SOLD.
At £84, it isn't the cheapest on the market, but you're definitely in for a treat with this one. I think one of the biggest turn-ons about this set is that you're getting such an assortment of top quality products - just enough to sample and try before you buy. Available to buy now.

Next up; the Boots Beauty Advent Calendar, an absolute steal at just £30! 2013 will be Boots' first venture into Beauty Advent Calendars, but they're making sure they start of with a bang! Wake up every morning to a new beauty treat and fill the month of December with gorgeous gifts to pamper yourself from head to toe. Featuring brands such as; Soap & Glory, Nails Inc, Paco Rabanne, Juicy Couture, Rimmel, Mavala, Umberto Giannini and Many More...
Perfect for the bargain hunter, what's great about this calendar is that it features all of Boots' best sellers and all of our fave's too! Available to buy now.

The last one I'm going to talk about is the Benefit Countdown to Love Advent Calendar. I have to admit, this is the one that I am most excited about. I very rarely venture outside my make up comfort zone, and all my friends absolutely love Benefit cosmetics. Other than a short stint quite a few years ago where I tried (and loved) BADgal Lash Mascara, the furthest I've ventured to Benefit is the MAC make-up counter next to the Benefit one, and now there is absolutely no excuse not to have some fun! Our one-of-a-kind advent calendar comes in a show-stopping Pop Art box and is filled with 24 fun and flattering beauty treasures! It contains a bevy of Benefit bestsellers and three glitzy little look goods…a charm necklace & bracelet and an adorable barrette. It’s the gift that gets more gorgeous every day! 
This selection comes in at a very reasonable £50, and will be available to buy from 2nd November 2013 at selected Debenhams stores, Benefit Boutiques and www.benefitcosmetics.co.uk.

Which one are you most looking forward to opening? It wouldn't be right to buy all three... would it?? Anyone know if Latest in Beauty or Liz Earle will be doing another one this year?

So, early last month Ciaté released their Mini Mani Advent Calendar for 2013. Back by popular demand, this should of been on every girls Christmas wish list last year, and should most certainly be on your wishlist this year - I've already sent a not-so-subtle link to Ciaté's website to my mum!
Only in it's second year, Ciaté London have put together 24 of their best selling shades of the year in this fun spin on the traditional Christmas Advent Calendar. The pack contains 17 mini Ciaté paint pots, 7 textured toppers from Sequin (eeek!) to Caviar, and a surprise full sized pot! Ciaté have confirmed that the line-up this year will be brand new with no repeats! Hoorah!
This years colours look gorge, lots of pastel and nude-type shades - great for the Winter - which you can also jazz up with the sequins or caviars for the party season, and a couple of bold numbers to brighten up those especially dark Winter days. I love the packaging this year too - much more Christmassy than last years' Aztec style set.
After selling out just a week (yes one week!) of it's release in Selfridges, Ciaté have opened pre-order on their website, to be dispatched between 21st October 2013 and 4th November 2013 with an estimated delivery time of 5 to 7 working days so you'll receive it with plenty of time to open your first door - the problem may be making sure you have the restraint not to open them all at once (my Christmas 2012 disaster). The set is a very reasonable £42.
I love the idea of a beauty advent calendar, there are a few beauty brands already doing them and they're slowly becoming more mainstream. It's a fabulous idea - They look great, make perfect gifts, and everyone goes crazy for them.

After the excitement of London Fashion Week, where some of the best in British design were showcasing wonderful SS14 pieces (Stella McCartney, PPQ, J.W Anderson, Mary Katrantzou, Vivienne Westwood Red Label and Burberry Prorsum - above - to name just a few of my highlights), it seems London is now cosying up.

The days are getting shorter, leaving the office is getting darker, and you wouldn't dream of setting off in the morning without your umbrella in your bag. This calls for the Autumn/Winter wardrobe.

I personally love dressing for Autumn. Laying is a favourite; there aren't really any strict rules and you can be as adventurous as you wish with it. Be bold, be brave, be fun, but be comfortable.

My key pieces/trends for this season will be:

- Leather Sleeve and Lapel Wool Coat. For those particularly cold Autumn days, wrap up in a stylish and comfortable updated version of last years' Autumn trend. This French Connection Wool Coat is a great piece, I love that it also hones in on this seasons boxy/oversized trend too!


- Slogan/Motif Jumper. I live for this trend - it's something you can quickly chuck on in the cold mornings with messy hair when you're running late. Wear it with leggings or a cute floral mini skirt, and great accessories (a chunky gold necklace, for example) to really style it up. This Brian Lichtenberg 'Homies' Sweater is perfect! NB Please stay away from slogans like 'Geek', 'Dork' or 'XOXO', they're absolutely dire.


- Bobble Hat. This is probably more of a personal trend rather than a general Autumn trend (the motif beanie being it's new season replacement), as I break it out every year, but I cannot tell you how much I adore my chunky woolly bobble hat. It's cute as anything, and keeps my ears so toasty in even the most bitterly cold days. I bought mine about four years ago from Warehouse, but you can get a similar one for this season from Accessorize (completely got distracted and went off on an Accessorize spree... mine!)


- Emerald. We're nearing the end of the year now, but Pantone's 2013 Colour of the Year is still going strong. Buy an emerald piece as a midi-skirt, chunky-knit scarf, this beautiful LK Bennett Rosamund Leather Bag or a blazer to really make an outfit pop. Team it with structured wovens and subtle gold accessories to make an outfit that even Victoria Beckham would lust after.  L-R: Vera Wang, Acne, Burberry Prorsum and Michael Kors, all from their SS13 collections.


- Tartan/Plaid Accents. Every few seasons this grungy trend is revived, and I don't blame people for doing it. It's not about making a massive bold statement with this trend, it's more about giving a modern and classic look, a fun and alternative accent. Just because it's tartan, it doesn't necessarily mean red - think deep blues, tree greens, even mustards. All perfect for Autumn. These shorts from Urban Outfitters are adorable (they have loads of plaid and tartan in at the moment), as are these Tripp NYC Jeans, don't forget you can accessorise too. The Stella McCartney Falabella is a must have! And if you're feeling really brave, check out this Checked Cape from Zara!


- Winter Floral's. Just because the weather is miserable, it doesn't mean with have to dress accordingly. I love digital print floral's in the springtime, but it seems that the trend tends to die down as the trees begin to lose their leaves. Big, fat, no! This season saw plenty of designers showing what they called 'Winter Florals'. Still as beautiful as ever, but slightly toned down and in darker shades to reflect the change in season. Zara have caught on to this trend beautifully with a wide range of different pieces to match your staple Winter Wardrobe Essentials. This Floral Print Jacket is to die for, and Thakoon's AW13 RTW line was all about the Winter Floral!


- Flat Ankle Boot. We saw this a lot last year, and they're back. For their easy to wear and comfortable traits, these are a must for this Winter. I'd say two staple pairs would see you through the season. A classic brown leather Chelsea Boot, like these from Office are comfy as anything and can be worn with a variety of outfits to create looks ranging from boho-chic to cosy-girl-about-town. I'm obsessed with these Toga Pulla Buckled Suede Ankle Boots, but if it's a bit over your budget, these Office Black Leather Boots are a near enough match to add a little edge to your wardrobe!


Well that's my Autumn round-up for what to look out for! It's going to be a chilly winter, so wrap up warm! I'm heading to M&S to stock up on my tights for the Winter!!

It was on a particularly humid Wednesday afternoon in London, when I was strolling through New Bond Street that I saw it.

I literally stopped dead in the middle of the road, eyes wide. Silent scream.


The Louis Vuitton store on this glamorous stretch of road has gone pre-historic! It was the eye-catching gold that struck me first, which dominated other store window displays on the street, and it was only a nano-second later that I realised that the gold was gorgeous skeletal structures of dinosaurs.


This wonderful display showcases the LV Pre-Fall/Winter 2013-2014 collection - some shown on mannequins sat on top of the dinosaurs, some casually hung off a Velociraptor's arm. Brilliant.



Upon further investigation, I also found that the Champs-Elysées store in Paris, and the 5th Avenue Maison in New York had a similar display - the dino's are taking over - Louis Vuitton explains that the inspiration came from The Natural History Museum in Paris (one of my favourite places in the world).

It's almost as if there's a secondary/subliminal message, sure it's a great eye catching display. Something fun and exciting. But are the guys and LV also trying to suggest a timeless collection? Something major that will never be forgotten? Interesting, right!?


Whatever it is, Louis Vuitton sure have their work cut out for their next seasons display... this is a must see.

Long live the dinosaurs! Ps, if you love dinosaurs as much as I do, be sure to check out my older post Dino Couture :)

I LOVE candles. I love how wonderful they smell, how special they make you feel, how relaxed and zen'd out it makes you and how they come in all different shapes, colours and sizes. They're fun, right?

I've always been a fan of candles; Yankee, Muji, Max Benjamin, True Grace etc etc are some of my favourites. And on a cold and pretty rainy day in Covent Garden, I smelt it from outside. Absolute heaven in a beautifully presented jar.


So off I toddled to the beautifully merchandised Covent Garden store to discover the scents. At the threshold, I was completely blown away. Presentation alone, this store would score a 10/10. Easy. From its decadent chandeliers and wall hangings, to it's chabby chic Parisian furniture, the store exudes luxury and the very best quality. With its branded rugs, and its bold striped walls, it feels almost like more of a showroom than a retail outlet, which makes it a real destination experience.


After spending a long, LONG time examining every single fragrance, and fragrance combination (a service unique to Jo Malone), I finally chose my scent - a fresh and yummy Grapefruit, priced at £39.


I've now had the candle for about 3 months, I burn it for about an hour once every week or so, and the smell is still as delicious as the first time. I'm about three quarters of the way through it now, and think a PayDay treat is in order!!

Makes for a wonderful gift (beautifully gift wrapped and presented), or a really nice treat if you're feeling a bit run down and tired. Recommended to anyone who likes fresh, airy, crisp and clean scents, with a hint of zest.

I can go on forever about this product, but for now, I'm going to leave you to try it for yourselves!

Ps, I've also heard a little rumour that Jo Malone created the lemon fragrance for the scented hand wipes in McDonald’s... can anyone confirm this? Way cool!!

Ok. So I've waited a long time for this film to come out.


The Bling Ring, directed by Sofia Coppola (Lost In Translation, The Virgin Suicides), is a story inspired by true events, telling a tale of a group of fame hungry/obsessed/passionate teenagers who use the internet to find the whereabouts of local San Fernando Valley/Calabasas, California celebrities and use this information to rob their homes whilst they are away.

First shown at the coveted Cannes Film Festival this year, the film, starring Emma Watson, tells of the spree a group of arrogant, ballsy and fame hungry teenagers in 2009, who are willing to throw their inhibitions, fear and morals in the bin in order to pursue a life of celebrity style and luxury. The film is set to be a hit when it roles out to cinema's worldwide later this month.


I remember when these robberies were happening, all over the glossies and interwebs people would be writing about them. Victims of the criminal shopping spree included Paris Hilton (who cameo's in the film), Lindsay Lohan, Megan Fox, Rachel Bilson, Audrina Patridge and Miranda Kerr. The group stole almost $3million worth of designer gear!

The cleverly titled original article, written by Vanity Fair, 'The Suspects Wore Louboutins' reveals an in-depth and candid account of the group in action. A real interesting read.

As for me, I think I'll stick to trying to get the attention of the celebs I stalk with the odd tweet!

The Vogue Festival; a celebration of the iconic title's dominant place within its industry, bringing together the fashion industry's leading and most influential designers, models and creatives alike.

Editor-in-chief of British Vogue, Alexandra Shulman states about the 2012 event that 'It is clear that giving our readers the chance to see and hear the people whose talent is reflected in the pages of the magazine surrounded by a fun, fashion environment, attracts an engaged and lively audience that are part of the unique appeal of this event.' - say it ain't so!

I was lucky enough to of bagged a ticket for one of the Vogue Festival 2013's most sought after events. Yesterday (Sunday 28th April 2013), Victoria Beckham herself was sat on a raised stage on a sofa just 6 rows in front of me. Imagine my glee.

Having arrived at Queen Elizabeth Hall at around 10:30am, I was ready. The sun was shining, and the Ray Bans were out. Hopped up on a Starby's Iced Caramel Macchiato for breakfast, and wearing my beloved 'sexy pants', I felt right at home.


Walking through the doors felt like walking into a different world - I felt like Carrie Bradshaw when she first stepped through the rotating doors of US Vogue in the Condé Nast building...


It was buzzing - glam, chic, beautiful people everywhere, organised chaos. It was Vogue.

I was pleasantly surprised by the small and intimate theatre room to which the scene was set. The excitement grew.


After a short introduction by Perry Oosting, the President of Vogue Festival Sponsor, Vertu (he mentioned celebrating the '3 V's; Victoria, Vogue and Vertu'),  we were met by Alexandra Shulman. After a very stern warning that 'unfortunately, anyone found to be taking photographs or recording will be removed from the auditorium.' (BUZZKILL), it was time.

In came Victoria. She was greeted my an ear-shattering applause and *shock horror* she was smiling - seriously guys, this mis-conception that she never smiles has got to stop.

Wearing one of her own designs from her AW13 collection, she started out saying 'a lot of people wanna hear me talk... I hope I say something good!'. After some polite chuckling, the interview began.

Shulman first spoke to Victoria about her inspirations for the collection which ranged from the California lifestyle having effect on her Victoria line, to her RTW line being inspired by son Romeo running into the house after school one day in a baseball tee, to her husband David and his signature beanie hats.

Speaking breezily and with ease, she joked and laughed and was extremely confident in what she was talking about, making it known that she knows her clothes inside out - from fabrics to stitching.

She spoke about the amount of work it took - a year long project with conversations lasting months about set, music, hair, make-up, styling, all for an 8 minute show! '[it's] a lot of pressure, but I love it!' she gushed.


The British Vogue EiC then asked if she would ever show a collection in London, to which Victoria replied bashfully 'Never say never'. It's clear that Victoria has built a dual living situation for her family, constantly moving between LA and London, but with her children being schooled in LA, for now I personally think that is her main base. Boo.

Not at all giving London the cold shoulder, she stated exclusively, that London would definitely be the place for her first stand alone store. On a possible venture into retail, she considered 'for me it feels like it's time to do something a little bit different.' - after the successful launch of her e-commerce site, bricks and mortar isn't far along the road, it would seem!

Stating that she welcomes constructive criticism, and was aware of the pre-conceptions her chosen path would follow her with, she was always determined. She jokes '...there was a lot of raised eyebrows... for those who could raise their eyebrows!' a hearty laugh from the audience this time.

Victoria Beckham came across wonderfully - she was funny, lovable and completely and utterly charming. It was the way she spoke with so much passion that made her so endearing and likeable.


It was a fantastic day, and I only wished I could of stayed for the other talks to soak up more fashion fabulousness! I did however, get to go and play - the Vogue cover board, the YSL & Dior make-up counters and the gift shop were all a hit!



The whole point of the event is for fashion nuts to get real up close and personal with the people that have inspired them through a series of talks, debates, makeovers and workshops. It's a great opportunity for young people to really learn about the industry from the people who are changing it. Ticket prices, at £40 were modest, and able to be kept at a low price due to its lead sponsor - thank you Vertu!

This 2 day event is in it's second year, and I can only see it going from strength to strength - although, this years line up which included VB, Mario Testino, Cara Delevigne and Donatella Versace will be pretty difficult to top, but if anyone can do it, Vogue can.

Walking away from the venue (around 3 hours after the talk, as I refused to leave this wonderful world), I felt inspired, empowered and determined.

I'm off to find the number for VB's PR office...