La creme de l’haute couture
Here are some of the best picks from the Spring 2012 couture shows so far.
Givenchy
Chanel
Dior
Giabattista Valli
Bouchra Jarrar
Armani Prive
More Asos candy
Here’s another selection of amazing pieces all perfect fits for a pre Spring dash of colour in your wardrobe. The good part, 80% of the items below are on sale. Don’t bother to do the math because I have already done it for you: it all comes to a total of approximately £600. Devil, thy name is sales.
Four lovely highlights of this weekend
My first weekend back in London was very self-indulgent indeed and I shall begin with the two great restaurants I had dinner at. On Saturday it was Terroirs, a perfect French resto that serves exquisite wine, delicious charcuterie and a selection of cheese that words fail to describe. Without further ado, book in advance and enjoy a parisian dinner in Covent Garden.
Today it was The Troubadour in West Brompton. Aside from the great food, what I loved about this bistro was the interior design and decorations. Small, wooden round tables with vases of roses on each, tall candles, beautiful china and wall decorations. They also have a wine shop, private room hire, live music and an art gallery to rent. Another French venue that I strongly recommend as très très lovely.
On the cultural side, it was the premiere of Shame, a movie that set my expectations very high. And I wasn’t deceived. Steve McQueen’s cinematography is pure art and this movie’s brilliance doesn’t lie in the story but in the details. The perfect soundtrack- I had no idea Bach goes so well with sex addiction, and the majestic performance that both Michael Fassbender and Carey Mulligan give. I admit, Shame is not easy to watch and the pace is rather annoying. But that’s the whole point, to make you angry and annoyed, to make you feel the shame and despise the characters because you cannot identify with them. The sex scenes are raw, powerful and somewhat difficult to watch but beauty is always in the eyes of the beholder.
Today it was Fog, a wonderful play at Finborough Theatre. Maybe the world has watched and heard too many stories on dysfunctional families but this one is going to make your head spin, stomach turn and heart skip a few beats. By the end of the play there were tears in my eyes and I couldn’t quite believe this superb piece of art was written by one of the actors, a young guy in his early twenties. The play is not so much about having nothing but mostly about being nothing. And this happens not by choice, but rather because those people have no choice at all. The play might make you feel uncomfortable but I enjoy being put out of my confort zone for at least a couple of hours in order to be able to experience something I am unable to identify or empathize with. So many people should watch this play before laughing at or judging those kids whose biggest dream is a plasma TV or an Audi TT. Fog is at the Finborough Theatre only until the 28th of January and I say with all my heart that this is a must see.
Quick movie fix
Here are 5 movies to watch in January (what else to do anyway in the most depressing month of the year?)
Back on time for the January sales
I’m back in my beloved London and right on time for the big January sales. I generally hate the whole concept of sales and I only buy things on sale following very strict guidelines. Sometimes, however, I am willing to forget about rules such as buying basics and basics only on sale and try to actually spot some next season pieces that will make my smooth entry without leaving me broke for a month.
After a little research I’ve found some gorgeous separates on Asos and they all have ridiculously low prices. I’ll upload below my favourites but keep in mind I’ve only covered one of the S/S’12 trends (the sweet pastels), so go on and explore for other bargains.
A few more Christmasy things to do in London
Since I am going away for holidays tomorrow, I thought I might suggest a few more festive things to do in London for those of you who will stay here and celebrate Christmas.
Why don’t you start with an ice skating session at the Somerset House? Being presented by Tiffany’s this year, the Somerset ice rink wins by default. You could continue with a cup of real hot chocolate at Cocomaya on Connaught Street or enjoy a cup from L’Artisan duChocolat while strolling down King’s Road. Wrapped in your fur jacket or big slouchy knits you could go for a walk in Hyde Park and even try to have some fun at Winter Wonderland. As with any other Christmas fair, the place is an explosion of kitsch, but you’re aloud to indulge at least once a year.
Avoid the maddening crowds on Oxford Street and go shopping on Columbia Road or other more quite streets around Shoreditch or Marylebone HighStreet. Chances are you will find much better presents anyway. If you prefer big department stores, Fortnum & Mason is always the best option. And after an exhausting shopping morning, feel free to splurge on cinnamon buns at the Nordic Bakery in Marylebone or Soho. Finally, for same late night razzle dazzle, apply a generous layer of red lipstick and head to Claridge’s for cocktails and to admire the beautiful Christmas tree decorated by Lanvin.
As for me, I am heading to a colder place where with a little luck I shall enjoy some snow as well. However, 3 weeks is a very long time so I’d better start packing.
Au revoir :)
Karlie is super skinny. But she’s a supermodel. And you’re not.
Karlie Kloss and her already famous apparition in Vogue Italia have caused a lot of buzz around those controversial pictures. Many crazy girl posted the photos on pro-anorexia blogs and probably starved themselves even more at the sight of Karlie’s legs. I’ve been one of those girls as well. Not pro-anorexia but obsessed with being skinny. But one day I realized what a waste of time this obsession was. Don’t get me wrong, I still prefer skinny people to fat ones but I no longer prefer unhealthy over skinny. Because some time ago I got to the point where I didn’t mind being unhealthy for the sake of fitting in a SSX pair of trousers. However, I looked in the mirror and thought that I am not even a model so why try so hard to look like one when I won’t attend those parties, have a friendly chat with Karl over a glass of diet coke or be in the pages of Vogue. That doesn’t mean that I should stuff my face and “embrace my curves”, no. What it means is that I should leave the job of looking *super* skinny to the models who are paid to look like this.
Models need to be so thin because they’re blank canvases (I prefer this expression to clothes hangers) and they have to make clothes stand on the catwalk. Yes, clothes look better on skinny people but they also look great on gorgeous women. Think about most famous, young and beautiful actresses. Pretty much all of them have amazing bodies but they don’t look like models. Because they don’t have to. And unless you’re trying to become one, you don’t have to either. So it’s not the fashion magazines, the models, or the media to blame for all the girls out there who can’t grasp the difference between them and models and try so desperately to look like Karlie or Natasha Poly.
Eat healthy without dieting and try to consume a minimum of junk but if you have a slice of cake don’t throw it up the next minute. As long as it’s just one and not everyday, it’s perfectly fine. Exercise, but don’t become a slave of the gym. And most important, don’t compare your legs to those of Anja Rubik. There’s no point, really.
The harsh reality is that if you’re not in the business or intend to be, starving yourself to look like a model it’s a huge waste of time. Maybe you will get more attention but the model life style won’t come with it. And finally, your health seems like something you would easily trade for a ‘perfect’ body until you’ve lost it.
It took me quite a while to understand that this:
looks better than this:
The irony is that both Lara Stone and Karlie Kloss are super models, however, Lara looks healthier, more alive and a lot more attractive. Just my humble opinion.
The don’t-take-a-hot-bath nonsense
We all know hot water is not good for our skin. But in winter time, there’s no other way of doing it. And if you’re going to soak in a hot, hot, bath anyway, make sure you minimize the side effects by taking extra care of your skin.
First, choose oils and creamy bath melts to run in your water in order to keep your skin moisturized. I love the Lush bath candy. They smell amazing and are made with the best ingredients. Sometimes I mix my own and pour some coconut and lavender or rose oil but throwing the Frech Kiss bubble bar in the bath is just easier.
Stay hydrated and enjoy a warm cup of water with some lemon or a cinnamon tea while in the bath. It’s better not to have a glass of red or champagne because your skin will pay for your moment of diva glamour.
Although you might think this is the worst idea ever because your skin will be really sensitive after a hot bath, this is actually the best moment to scrub your body from head to toe. Use a mix of sea salt and oils or oats and some warm milk and don’t be afraid to give yourself a really good scrub.
Finally, use a very rich lotion or even better, an oil to pamper your skin. I love the Neutrogena oil because it’s not too fragrant and it absorbs quite fast. Having said this, enjoy your bubble bath and don’t feel guilty about it. Soaking in a cookie perfumed bath is definitely healthier than eating mince pies everyday.
Party special
If you are a true party lady and attend all the glamourous gatherings on your social calendar, chances are that at some point you will find yourself not knowing what to wear. And this happens because we always try to wear something new, fresh and unique. Even if it’s a little black dress every time, it has to at least be a new one. Like it or not, we can’t all be Anna dello Russo. She pulls of outfits directly from the catwalk, is one step ahead and never wears a thing twice. But then again, she doesn’t have anything else to do but think of the next crazy dress to get.
You can be unique in a more subtle way and focus on details rather than whole outfits to illustrate the latest trends. And that’s where a strong personal style comes in. Look at Paloma Faith, for example. She has a signature look: her hats.
You will not see her at a party without some extravaganza going on about her head. Or Anne Hathaway’s fairytale dresses.
It might not be so in your face but it definitely is there and makes her stand from the crowd. So why not spend some time thinking of certain looks, accessories or pieces that represent you and make you feel really confident and go along those lines when composing a new party outfit. And this applies to all the upcoming Christmas and New Year’s parties as well. Don’t just wear something red or something glittery. Take something you love and you’ve always loved wearing and twist it around a particular theme. I for one am not very found of colours. I’ve just always loved and always will love black. But I also do love red lipstick. And that’s Christmasy enough, don’t you agree?
20s for New Year’s
20s are going to be really big next season and not only in fashion. Carey Mulligan and Leonardo DiCaprio will star in Baz Luhrmann’s Great Gatsby and so I cannot think of a better way to inject some veritable glamour in your New Year’s party outfit than with a 20s inspired dress. Forget about the long pearl necklace, gloves and the flapper dress. Designers have reinvented 20s for spring/summer and there are so many options for you to work a little Daisy Buchanan influence.
Ralph Lauren based his entire collection on the 20s but other designers have also used different elements to bring that dazzling extravaganza back. Marc Jacobs was one of my favourites for his fresh spin on the flapper dress. Here are other looks from the ss2012 collections that could be useful as inspiration for your party outfit. Don’t be afraid do overdo your make-up and hair, this is about glamour after all.
