Tuesday 30 November 2010

Gaultier For Roche Bobois




French designer John Paul Gaultier, creator of that cone bra, lover of stripes and maker of some of the most provocative fragrances (and ads) on the market, has teamed up with Paris-based furniture maker Roche Bobois to celebrate its 50th anniversary. The range launched in the US today.

According to WWD.com: "Gaultier reinterpreted the low Mah Jong modular sofa with his signature scribble, sailor-stripe and tattoo patterns, and created a paravent platform bed, a leather storage unit with drawers that also function as suitcases, a striped rug with red pom-poms on the corners and embroidered pillows and wool throws, among other elements."

The designer said of the hook-up: "My inspiration for this collection was mobility, freedom and travel. Almost all the pieces in this collection have wheels, because I wanted people to be able to move each item from one room to another."

Room For One More

My dressing table is getting seriously cluttered. I've just discovered a gorgeous site called www.something-shop.com (beauty/accessories and tasteful products for your home/garden), and this vintage-style atomiser instantly stood out.

Aside from it being a beautiful piece of design, it contains an Earl Grey Tea room mist that will enliven your surroundings as you apply your lippy.

Pass me the Amex, dear.

£22

Nuptial Notes




It's not just a certain Kate Middleton that will be saying "I do" in 2011. A few of my nearest and dearest chums will also be tying the knot with their chosen one.

To celebrate, I'll be giving the girls one of these Lanvin illustrated bridal notebooks. The white hard-backed book is adorned with a cute proposal illustration on the front by Alber Elbaz and it comes in a lovely designer paper bag so you don't even need to think about the wrapping.

Yes, it's wistful and pretty but it's also very useful. I cannot count the number of times I lost my precious wedding 'to-do' list (which was normally scribbled on the back of an envelope).

Happy planning, brides-to-be.

£25

Monday 29 November 2010

Colette: The Beauty Box






Colette is a must-visit shopping destination in Paris. Aside from the rather aggressive sales staff (get your camera out at your peril!) and the always-busy nature of this store, this is a haven for those who love designer fashion, cool coffee table books, zany gifts and, my favourite part, beauty.

The Beauty Box is an area of the store that houses all of Colette's favoured beauty/cosmetics and lifestyle brands. The pictures above represent the ones that I had never had the pleasure of knowing much about or have never seen in person.

1. Baxter Of California
A men's grooming line developed in the mid-1960s and updated to include contemporary skin care formulations.

2. Byredo
Byredo Parfums is a fragrance company based in Stockholm and was founded by Ben Gorham in 2006.

3. Cousu de fil blanc
Gorgeous handmade soaps with very cool packaging.

4. Honoré Des Prés
100% natural, no synthetic ingredients perfume. The innovative packaging also appeals to me.

5. Odin New York
An experience in scent, form and surface. Inspired by exotic destinations, Odin takes you on a fragrance journey with their four scents which span the scent spectrum.

Colette
213 Rue Saint-Honore, 75001

Places We Ate, Paris

Here is a small guide to some of the places where we ate in Paris. All are reasonably priced and not too touristy.

Bon appetit.

1. Le Beau Violet, 92 rue des Entrepreneurs, 75015
A very quirky Corsican restaurant in the 15th. The owner, Roger, befriended His L when he lived in Paris and he always pays him a visit whenever he's in town. We (four of us) shared dried sausage, sardines, bread and salad to start. For main, we chomped on a hearty stew of beans, sausage and other fine meats, washed down with several bottles of excellent Corsican red wine. Note: you can smoke inside so your clothes will smell. Also, the bathroom is down the street, but if it's authentic food and a traditional atmosphere you're after, you're in the right place.
Price: Approx £40 per head including wine. Very popular with the local community.

2. Sud Ouest Monceau, 8 rue Meissonier, 75017
A very traditional oldly-wordly affair - they have an old-school deli out front and you are led through to a dark, wooden dining room with doilies for lampshades, unusual items adorning the walls and each table has its own toaster. Quirky but cool. Cuisine is traditional to the south of Bordeaux - think stews (again!), duck and their speciality, foie gras. Absolutely incredible. Price: Our bill was 210 euros, including wine. Another locals joint.

3. Les Philosophes, 28 Rue Vieille du Temple, 75004
Set in the heart of Le Marais, a hub of hustle and bustle and great shops, this busy cafe-style restaurant is the perfect place for lunch or dinner and is brilliant for people watching. Key items on the menu include steak tartare, steak and chips and snails and, of course, they have a great wine list. We had to wait for 20 mins to get in so they sent us across the road to their sister cafe La Belle Hortense (a very cute library-cum-wine bar) where you can sip on a Kir Royale while thumbing through their incredible book selection. Price: Again, reasonable - around £35 per head.

4. Brasserie Lipp, 151 Boulevard St. Germain, 75006
The most tourist-like place we ate and the most 'French' - i.e. rather rude. After waiting for 45 mins, despite having a reservation, we were seated and our coat tag was thrown at us - charming. In this place, it seemed to me like you needed to be 'someone' or have had quite a large amount of plastic surgery to be treated with much grace. We were seated on the ground floor which is apparently a miracle, they tend to shove the tourists upstairs... That said, the menu was good and varied and the service was quick - especially given the fact that it was completely full to bursting. Try with patience.
Price: 160 euros was our total bill, including wine.

Thursday 25 November 2010

Paris - The Finale

I met my now husband in London in the year 2003 and on our second date he took me on a surprise trip to Paris. He said that this was when he knew I was kinda special. Following this, a whirlwind romance ensued before I had to hop on a plane to New York for a year. We flew back and forth to see one another until it was finally time to come home and be together. Seven years later, we're now married and both NYC and Paris will always have a special place in my heart

Let's see another couple who had a transatlantic love affair (albeit a much shorter one before they realised they were meant to be together.)

Carrie and Mr Big, take it away.

À bientôt, (well, until Monday to be precise, when I will bore you senseless with my Parisian escapades.)

J'Adore Paul & Joe


Once upon a time there was a woman named Sophie (Albou) who become a mother to two little boys, one called Paul and one called Joe. One day this clever French lady decided to start her own brand and the world of Paul & Joe (menswear, womenswear then beaute) was born.

Given that I am off to Paris tomorrow, I thought it was apt that I write about French products this evening. Paul & Joe embodies all that's nice about being a woman - it's kooky and pretty and fun and sweet and playful and charming and, oh, I could go on... but it is also a very clever brand and knows its customers and their wants very well indeed.

This Christmas, for example, their selection of limited edition cosmetic goodies are to die for. Every single thing I want, I need, I must have! My favourite is the Face Colour & Lip Gloss Set, housed in their most covetable cosmetics pouch yet.

As Sophie says: "It's about having fun. I don't ask for advice, I just have things I love."

Point taken.

Claridge's Tree - The Grand Unveiling

Here it is in all its glory, the Dior John Galliano-designed Christmas tree for Claridge's Hotel in London.

I think it's fair to say that it's pretty spectacular.

The tree was unveiled in the hotel's lobby today and will remain in situ until January.

Enjoy it while it lasts.

Wednesday 24 November 2010

It's All In The Ears

I love a good bop around to some funky beats, and these cool but playful earphones, courtesy of Marc By Marc Jacobs, are the perfect accessory to top off any outfit when I hotfoot it around town.

£65
www.net-a-porter.com

Versace Confirms January

After lots and lots and lots of chat in the media around whether Versace would or would not be using the beautiful visage of a certain Mad Men actress for their next campaign, the brand today confirmed that January Jones, a former model (and the lucky broad that got to play my second true love Don Draper's wife Betty) would indeed be the face of their spring/summer 2011 ads.

The campaign will be shot by Mario Testino (who else?)

Expect more hysterical witterings when the pictures drop.

PS I picked this picture of Miss Jones as I felt she looked quite 'Versace'.

Georgia May Jagger's Rimmel Ad Ban

The length of Georgia May Jagger's eyelashes (or should I say the stick-on lash inserts that she flutters) have caused the Advertising Standards Agency to slap a big fat ban on Rimmel London's latest 1-2-3 Looks mascara advert - TV and print. Although both formats of their advert had a tiny line explaining that Georgia's look was styled with lash inserts, and the use of lash inserts is not uncommon in these types of promos, the ASA still felt that the results were too misleading: "Because we considered that the use of different-length lash inserts applied to the eyelash area was likely to distort the visual representation of the effect achievable from the use of the product alone, we concluded the images in the ad were misleading.

''We considered that the size and the position of the small print were not prominent enough to capture a reader's attention. We concluded therefore that the information set out in the disclaimer was not sufficiently clear.''


Rimmel will be unable to run this ad again in its current format.

Tuesday 23 November 2010

Anna Dello Russo Fragrance - In Film


Never one to do things by half, Anna Dello Russo, the editor at large and creative consultant for Vogue Japan, has captured the essence of her debut scent in celluloid.

Watch as she scuttles around her apartment in all of her finery to the strains of Kanye West's Runaway. It's frenetic stuff.

The scent, housed in an adorable shoe shaped bottle, will go on counter this December and will be sold exclusively online at Yoox.com.

Robbie Williams Does Candles - Really?

Yes, rather oddly, it seems that Robbie Williams, the superstar solo performer and fifth member of everyone's favourite UK boyband, has decided to launch a range of candles.

According to Heat World, the collection is inspired by Robbie's hits from the last two decades.

The scents are said to convey the message of some of Robbie's top singles:
Angels - rosemary and bergamot
Morning Sun - lemongrass, mint and verbena
Feel - sandalwood and ylanf ylang
Something Beautiful - cedarwood, orange and clove

They will apparently be available to buy from the end of November on
www.robbiewilliams.com.

Hmm, wonder if this will actually transpire... only time will tell!
For my US readers who have no clue as to the identity of Mr Williams, here's a video of the dishy man in action.

Valentino For Gap

It's team-up heaven (or hell, if you're a pessimist) at the moment. The next big designer appearing on a high street near you is Valentino, for Gap.

As you can see from the photos, it's a line with a military feel to it, whilst still retaining a hint of femininity thanks to the ruffled appearance of most of the items.

Prices start at £69.95 and the collection debuts on Saturday 26th November (that's this Saturday, people) at their Dover Street Market flagship in London.

Run like the wind.

Monday 22 November 2010

MAC & Nicki Minaj

Another exciting collaborative effort from MAC - this time, its partner in cosmetic crime (in the best possible way, you understand) is Nicki Minaj, rapper and singer-songwriter, and currently appearing with will.i.am on his latest single, Check It Out. The product, a lipstick called Pink Friday, will be released to coincide with her debut album of the same name.

Making it even more fresh, MAC will be rolling out the Pink Friday lipstick on, you guessed it, Fridays. From Friday 26th November (and Friday 3rd, 10th and 17th December thereafter), you can buy the product exclusively online at www.selfridges.com and www.maccosmetics.co.uk.

And then it'll be gone... forever.

Get it while it's hot.


£12.50

Colette - Here I Come

I'm off to Paris this weekend, and in between scoffing croissants, supping wine and taking in everything that this great city has to offer, I'll be stopping in at Colette, the quirky cool boutique on Rue St.Honore.

Take a look at this fab video from Crane.tv to find out more here.

Au revoir.

Colette
213 Rue Saint-Honoré
75001 Paris, France
www.colette.fr

Sunday 21 November 2010

Chanel Pop-Up Love



Another reason to visit New York again asap - the Chanel Pop-Up store within the uber-cool Jeffrey boutique in the Meatpacking district, which has sought to recreate the feel of St. Tropez and its iconic Café Sénéquier, where Chanel unveiled its cruise collection in May.

Get amongst the beachy scene pronto, the store is only open untl 4th January.

Jeffrey
449 W 14th St
New York, NY 10014-1003
T: (212) 206-1272


Ikea Aesthetics


Ikea, home of the flatpack and till point hotdogs, has surprised me with the recent arrival of a beautiful array of quirky, vintage-inspired homeware, with these items being my favourites.

Inexpensive yet dressing table-worthy, these are the kind of things I'd like to find bubble-wrapped at the bottom of my stocking.

YNGAREN
Bottle, set of 3
£6.99

LÖNSBODA
Scented candle in glass
£3.29

When the candle has burnt itself out, the glass cup can be used as a tealight holder.

Anna Arrives

This week saw LK Bennett launch their first It bag, the 'Anna'.

Available in rose pink, white, black and snake print (with cherry red and caramel tan versions to follow soon), this is the perfect bag for the girl on the go.


The Anna is named after Anna Dawson, a senior geophysicist, who featured in LK's autumn/winter 2010 campaign (which sought to promote items suitable for the lifestyles of real women - i.e. you and me.)

Get your hands on it asap - I imagine it won't hang around for long.

£295
www.lkbennett.co.uk

Tuesday 16 November 2010

William & Kate Finally Get Engaged


Prince William and Kate Middleton announced today that they are getting married, after an eight year courtship.

The wedding will take place in spring/summer next year. Cue an enslaught of speculation on the venue, cake, guests and, of course, the dress until then.

William, the son of Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana, presented Kate with his late mother's engagement ring, a beautiful oval blue 18-karat sapphire and diamond sparkler.

"It is very special to me. It was my way to make sure my mother did not miss out on today and the excitement that we are going to spend the rest of our lives together," said William.

I hope they live a very happy life together.

Away We Stay



Last night saw the premiere of Away We Stay, a four-part film series funded by the W Hotel, loosely based on a movie about the photographer David Bailey.

The first part features supermodel Helena Christensen and Brit hunk Daivid Gandy - click on the video above to watch, I think it's really rather stylish.

Monday 15 November 2010

Tom Ford Does Women('s Clothing)

Remember the frenzy back in September at New York Fashion Week when Tom Ford debuted his first womenswear collection for the TF brand to a very select group of editors? (you must remember, there were no photographers allowed - bar Terry Richardson, no info leaks on Twitter, no info at all, not a peep.)

Well, thanks to Vogue, you can now get some idea of what's in store when the line finally lands - sumptuous, elegant, classic, divine - some words that I think sum up what the line stands for.

Ford's whole thinking behind the 'no photos, no info, no nothing' manner in which he showcased this collection is to ensure that customers are excited and full of energy when the clothes are finally available to purchase - rather than being bombarded with images, text and analysis months before we can even open our wallets.

Like most things he does, I kind of see where he's coming from.

MAC's Terry Barber At Selfridges - Tomorrow

This is a beauty event not to be missed - your chance to discover the latest make-up trends straight from the catwalk with MAC's Director of make-up artistry, the legendary Terry Barber.

Let him show you the techniques that he used to create the directional looks that were on the runways of New York, London, Milan and Paris. A model, moi?!

Book now to get your space on this make-up masterclass.

DATE: 16TH NOVEMBER
TIMES: 6.30PM-8.30PM
SELFRIDGES, LONDON W1
TEL: 020 7318 3276
£50 REDEEMABLE AGAINST PURCHASE

www.selfridges.co.uk
www.maccosmetics.co.uk

Galliano Does Claridge's


Legendary designer John Galliano will once again be taking up the mantle of designing the Claridge's Hotel Christmas tree, this year with the theme Under The Sea.

And, of course, it won't be any old fir tree.

Dior's creative spark said of the continuing collaboration: "The majestic beauty of Claridge's Art Deco interiors never fails to inspire me. I am thrilled to be invited to create a new tree for Christmas at Claridge's.

"I wanted to create an underwater fantasy and have mixed pink corals, seahorses, anemones and jellyfish, all glinting like gem stones, swimming amidst the silver leaves. I hope we create something as sumptuous as its setting and this inspires a truly luxurious escape and a very festive season at Claridge's."

And Claridge's hotel manager, Thomas Klochs, was equally enthused: "Both Claridge's and Dior are synonymous with timeless glamour and impeccable heritage and we look forward to celebrating the festive season together."

Merry Christmas indeed.

The 'tree' will be displayed from 25th November until 5th January.

Sunday 14 November 2010

Christian Louboutin For Charity

Shoe master Christian Louboutin is doing his bit for charity and has designed 33 pairs of the shoe above, Peace of Shoe, to benefit the charity Microfinance, which helps the poor with funds to start their own businesses. His charity project is said to have been inspired by the book Creating a World Without Poverty penned by Nobel Prize winner Muhammad Yunus, the founder of Grameen Bank/Grameen Foundation, a microfinance funded group.

Each shoe is numbered and will be on sale in different colours in three Louboutin stores locations: New York (champagne), Los Angeles (pink) and Miami (lavender).

Whilst the price tag is quite hefty - $1,495 (approx £925) - you can feel happy in the knowledge that your spending power will help those in a less fortunate place than you or I.

Marc Jacobs Must-Haves




I love designers who have a sense of humour, and Marc Jacobs epitomises someone who is super successful and creative but also doesn't take himself too seriously.

Above are just some of the fun things you'll find on his brilliant website, www.marcjacobs.com.

1. Lipstick pen $3.50
2. Condom $1.50
3. USB stick $15 (my personal favourite)

And if you're in Manhattan, why not pop by his book store, Bookmarc, on Bleecker Street (is there nothing this man can't do?) to browse through a carefully selected offering of books and stationery items, including notebooks with hilarious titles including Moby's Dick (LOL) and The Gay Gatsby.

Enjoy. Life's about having fun after all.

Saturday 13 November 2010

The Scent Of The Season


Before the frenetic activity of Christmas truly hits, why not bed yourself in gradually by enveloping yourself and your home in a scent that sums up the festive season perfectly, Jo Malone's Pine & Eucalyptus.

This is one of my favourite scents from the luxury perfumer, simply because it brings back so many happy memories when I smell it. It's available in a home candle, luxury candle and living cologne (room spritz). Trust me, be quick as this fresh, warm and comforting scent sells like hotcakes come December.

Stationery Salute


I'm a sucker for stationery - probably because I'm forever writing lists, and on sight of this new collection from Vivienne Westwood I think I'm definitely in need of another pad or two.

The collection consists of an A5 2011 diary (£35) which is covered in yellow tartan and A4 printed silk notebooks (£25) that come in a choice of two covers - the iconic Squiggle or the Anglomania Union Jack flag. All paper is recycled.

www.viviennewestwood.com

Hindmarch Hamper Heaven

I don't know about you, but I am forever having to find places to store the extraordinary amount of items that seem to build up in my home. It's a constant battle to keep on top of the things that I buy, that I'm bought and that I'm sent.

Add to this the fact that I have the occasional tendency to be OCD about the state of my home and having things everywhere can, from time to time, send me into a tidying tizz.

However, I think I may have found a container that is not only a storage solution but is stylish to boot.

Introducing the Anya Hindmarch hamper (available in three sizes). A beautiful wicker hamper, stamped with the signature Hindmarch bow and complete with pleasing panelling detail and robust buckles. Quite delightful.

It would also make a great Christmas present for your nearest and dearest. My advice? Purchase one and fill it wilth the best that Selfridges food hall has to offer. You can't go wrong.

Anya Hindmarch hampers from £20
www.selfridgeshampers.com

Friday 12 November 2010

Reed Krakoff Debut Fragrance


Reed Krakoff, American designer and president and executive creative director of Coach, is making his foray into the fragrance world.

Not content with designing clothing, sunglasses, bags, watches etc... Mr Krakoff is now entering the full-to-bursting world of designer perfume, seeing it as the "touchstone" of his self-titled line. With his creation, he wanted to produce a "beautiful, artisan-inspired product... for a modern, sophisticated woman."

With a price tag of $695 (around £430), the limited edition eau de parfum will definitely appeal to those with more expensive tastes, however, this is not any old fragrance that you can pick up in a department store. Firstly, the packaging: Each bottle is made of Italian glass and will come in four shade varieties - nude, silver fleck, gray and clear. The empty bottle (yes, you read correctly, empty) is numbered and will be housed in a luxurious gray case along with a hand-ground stopper, a gunmetal funnel for decanting the scent, two refills and an autographed card from Mr. Krakoff himself.

And what of the scent itself? According to WWD.com, the unisex scent is a high-expense blend of the following: top notes of black pepper, bright aldehydes and neroli extract, a heart of French hyacinth absolute, white peony and violet leaf extract, and a base of vetiver heart, precious vetiver absolute and orris concrete.

Only 100 bottles of each colour will be sold so start saving.

Available from Reed Krakoff stores and on request from December (er, can I request one, please?!)

Lanvin For H&M: The Video



I brought you some photos of the Lanvin for H&M collection last month, but now I can show you some of the fabulous looks that will drop into your local H&M store on 23rd November.

In a word, stunning.

Enjoy.

Thursday 11 November 2010

Revlon Fire & Ice Collection Reborn





Anyone who knows me will tell you that I love anything that is old or that has had at least one previous owner (husband and lingerie aside!)- what we now fashionably term 'vintage'. Whilst I'm not terribly keen on cast-off cosmetics, I am certainly interested in collections that hark back to a bygone era.

Above you will see Revlon's latest campaign image, which was shot by fashion photographer Mario Testino and stars the beautiful Jessica Biel, for its latest offering, Fire & Ice.
Alongside this (on your left) you will see the original 1952 ad shot by Richard Avedon for a collection of the same name, which starred the hot model of the time, Dorian Leigh.

For the vintage-loving amonsgt us, Revlon has kindly recreated the line for a limited time
. Think bold, sumptuous, red-carpet glamour.

I'm giddy just thinking about it.

www.revlon.com

Ralph Lauren 4D Experience





Last night, Ralph Lauren celebrated 10 years of digital innovation by projecting a 4D visual feast onto the buildings of its flagship stores in both London and New York.

Click on the video above to experience the magic for yourself. It is truly a visual feat.

And if you want to know more, click the second video to understand what went on behind the scenes - from storyboards to video sets to digital mapping and high tech computer renderings - to create this ground-breaking fusion of fashion, art & technology.

One word: wow.

www.ralphlauren.co.uk

Wednesday 10 November 2010

MAC & Marcel Wanders Collaboration




Another covetable collaboration from MAC Cosmetics, this time with the legendary Dutch designer Marcel Wanders. The collection is gothic, dark, sumptuous and beautifully crafted.

The directional cosmetics brand's latest team-up will be released for the holiday season and features the following products:

MAC & MARCEL WANDERS LIPSTICK
£17.50

MAC & MARCEL WANDERS LIP GLOSS
£16.50

MAC & MARCEL WANDERS SHEER MYSTERY POWDER
£39.00

FALSE LASHES
£17.00

AIR OF STYLE SCENT CONCENTRATE
Air of Style Air of Style scent in a solid perfume formula
£22.00

MAC & MARCEL WANDERS BRUSH CLUTCH
£60.00

MAC & MARCEL WANDERS BRUSH
£45.00

Simply stunning.

All the products are limited edition and are available from December 2010 exclusively online at
www.maccosmetics.co.uk. Just in time for Christmas - perfect timing!
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