Sample Sales - Go! Go! Go!

Dream job! Want to work for ELLE?

The lovely and er.......... brave Elle editorial team have taken leave of their senses and are offering all interns out there in the beauty and fashion field, the opportunity to edit the October Issue of Elle magazine.  Don't believe me? See it for yourself, here

Meet God a.k.a. Tom Ford

Once in a lifetime opportunity to meet Tom Ford, as he talks about the highs and lows of his career.  Be there.  

Weekend Escape

Lazy Sunday at Penrice Castle Estate, Oxwich Bay, Swansea

Oxwich Bay - Saturday afternoon and hardly a soul in sight

Pan fried cod, samphire, asparagus, baby courgettes in a lemon & caper butter

 Pan fried razor clams, olive oil, capers, chorizo, sundried tomatoes and a handful of cherry tomatoes.  Serve with warm crusty bread.

Sorry for the prolonged absence, I escaped to the coast for long lazy weekend, which as you can see from the photos was exactly that.  Having booked a last minute stay in one of Penrice Castle cottages in Oxwich bay, we arrived on Friday evening and immediately felt like we had found Narnia.  No reception, no internet, just the two of us and what felt like the whole estate to ourselves.  The views were reminiscent of a Constable painting, with not a soul in sight.  Even on a busy Saturday afternoon, you can escape the crowds on Oxwich bay and find a secluded spot for yourself.  With a failed attempt at catching razor clams, we resorted to buying them and cooked a delicious meal, pan frying the clams in little olive oil, capers, sundried tomatoes, chorizo and a handful of cherry tomatoes.  Bon Appetit!

NEON

Neons.  They're everywhere and in every shade possible.  Accessories seem to be the easiest way to wear them mixed with pale cool pastels, crisp white and neutrals, but personally I love any woman brave enough to go out dressed in highlighter brights.  COS have the newest take on neons on the highstreet, including my favourite - the coveted playsuit......but get it quick, it's almost sold out!

COS S/S12 - Get it here, but be quick!

Mark Fast Sample Sale!

Eeeek! As a knitwear designer, this is possibly the most exciting news to hear.  I remember trying on one of his body con dresses in Browns and not wanting part with it.  The Topshop range didn't really do it for me but now with up to 80% off, it looks like finally I might just get my dress, and without having to pawn my collection of Mulberrys!

Hot Collars

Neon jumper from http://fellt.com/garypepper

DIY embellished crochet collar

Love them or hate them, it's the trend with more longevity than the Acne Pistol boot and neon Cambridge satchel combined.  Embellished, leather, lace, metal, printed - collars are here for the long haul.  Particularly love the embellished gem encrusted offerings worn with neutrals and brights.  Heres a few images of a crochet collar I livened up recently. 
    

In Bloom

 

Floral Mash Up

Today we got three whole hours of sunshine, which in Britain constitutes as Summer.  And whilst today I saw more Jesus sandals and pasty white legs than I would have liked, I also noticed everything in full bloom.  Florals are everywhere.  Love the printed trousers teamed with jersey basics and hints of fluoro.  If Celine is off limits, Zara is ticking all the boxes on the high street. 

The Perfect Shirt Dress

Finally found the perfect white shirt dress by Yiorgos Eleftheriades, if anyone can help me find a stockist it would be greatly appreciated.

Underwater Love

Alexander McQueen clutch S/S12 

Seafoam, shell, amethyst, alabaster, mint, white, metallics.

Beautiful colour combination for S/S12

Like it best with sheer pale layers and metallics underneath.

Love the limited edition Comme des Garcons purses.  

For those less fortunate, Topshop have got more bank friendly options on sale..

Get them here

GINA - Sample Sale

GINA - Sample Sale for One Day Only - 10/05/12 - 11.30am-7pm

The Music Room, 26 South Molton Lane, Mayfair, London W1K 5LF

Lita Gone Bad!

Jeffrey Campbell Litas Gone Bad!  Ouch.  I've been wondering what to do with that bag of silver cone studs I bought.....

Bloglovin'

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Stay, Eat, Drink, Berlin

Tv Tower

Rhubarb pie with rhubarb ice cream 

Boy George DJing at the Felix Club in Berlin 26.03.11 

Kater Holzig - one of my favourite clubs in  Berlin

So what can I tell you about Berlin?  Well three days isn't long enough to see the city.  This was my second trip and I feel there's still so much to see, but here's a head start.  

STAY - Soho House Berlin.

Situated in the Mitte district and a five minute walk from Alexander Plats station, Soho House is set over eight floors in a beautifully restored Bauhaus building.
If its good enough for Madonna and Olivia Palermo, then its good enough for me! Prices are reasonable, service is excellent and the staff are friendly and very welcoming.

EAT - Soho House Berlin

Menu to cater for all tastes and can be found on their website.  We sampled almost everything and were not disappointed once.  Highly recommend the fresh strawberry and mint smoothies if you need a 'pick me up' after a late night.

DRINK - Soho House Berlin

You may have noticed a pattern emerging.  Yes. I admit it, i'm biased.  But where else can you drink cocktails made with homemade syrups.  Its alchemy at its best.  We enjoyed cocktails made with lavendar and honey suckle syrups as well as a delightful new cocktail made with rhubarb liqueur, vodka and god knows what else.  It tasted like angels descending from heaven and dancing on your tongue.  Well, thats how I remember it, after drinking six glasses of prosecco.  

PARTY -

Kater Holzig
On our first night in the Soho House bar we met Germanys answer to Justin Bieber, a very charmingly inebriated male TV presenter, and a well known chef.  It was a surreal and hilarious experience, watching Kate have 'Happy Birthday' sung to her ten times by Bieber and friends.  After consuming most of the cocktails on the list, we all squeezed into a taxi and headed to Kater Holzig.  If you spend one night in Berlin, go here! It looks like a giant playground, and to some extent it is a giant adults playground set alongside the river.  Rules and health & safety go out the window, all in the name of fun.  Don't make the mistake I made and turn up in heels, a leather skirt, white blazer and a Mulberry clutch.  You'll look like an idiot.  Infact that applies to everywhere in Berlin, noone dresses up.  


The Berghain
A former power station, now converted into an amazing venue.  Unfortunately we visited on Monday night for a private gig so certain areas were shut off, but the club has great reviews and is packed on the weekends, playing electro music that Berlin is renowned for.


The Felix Club
Worth a mention if you don't do 'dressing down'.  We visited 'Felix Club' last year and saw Boy George perform a really good set.  Bit more expensive than the others and with an older crowd.


RECOVER - The Cowshed Spa, Soho House Berlin

Cowshed Spa Review -
Treatments - 
60 Minute Full Body Massage
30 Minute Speedy Manicure
75 Minute Deep Cleansing Facial


Possibly the best relaxing full body massage I've ever had.  So relaxing infact, I fell asleep.  Using the very appropriately named 'Lazy Cow' Massage Oil, Anya worked into any areas of tension she found, predominantly in my back and shoulders and any stresses or worries were soon forgotten.


Next up was the speedy manicure.  The only treatment in which I managed to keep my eyes open for.  Loved the Essie nail polish selection and opted for a metallic ink blue shade which stayed chip free for a whole week!


Ah the deep cleansing facial, I admit I was apprehensive about this one.  As it was my first facial, and began with the beautician reassuringly telling me to let her know if I could feel a 'burning' sensation, as she was about to, "use some strong chemicals" on my face.   I think the German to English translation may need to be revised.  The first 20 minutes felt like I was in an Al Quaeda torture chamber, a jet of steam dispersed over my face, followed by hot flannels and 'extractions' and then......... the most divine massage.  It felt so good, I fell asleep (again) and 'snored' apparently, much to my immense embarrassment.  The results were wonderful.  My skin is prone to breakouts, and afterwards it felt so smooth and clear, one week on and not a single spot in sight! 

DIY Leather Cuff!

'Camel' colour leather cuff with gold finishings ©

Just a leather cuff I made, references to primitive, makeshift shelters, using found materials - leather & metal.  Interested in the ideas surrounding a nomadic lifestyle, tension, and function - the cuff can also be worn as a necklace.  I like how clean it looks.  What do you think?

Sex Cupboard

Apologies for the poor photos, they make this post seem seedy, which it isn't meant to be! I will invest in a decent camera soon.  As you know, I recently stayed at the Soho House Hotel in Berlin with one of my friends.  The room had everything you could possibly want including a very reasonably priced 'sex cupboard'.  Works in exactly the same way as a minibar, anything you take just gets discreetly added to your bill when you check out.  Pity it was wasted on us, but perfect for a naughty weekend away.  I recently met a couple that came to stay at Soho House Berlin last Christmas.  Despite the weather being terrible and not being able to leave the hotel, they had a wonderful time..........and now I know why.