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Thursday 22 March 2012

To Lunch or not to Lunch... on Mother's day.

London: Sunday 18th March, after 2.00pm



We were starving and schlepping big and getting progressively heavier shopping bags from Oxford Street to Park lane on a mission to find a restaurant that would have us at this late-ish hour.

The Connaught Hotel was about to set up for tea...Tea! I tell you...While the patrons were still cutting into their steaks.So we trotted up the gorgeous Mount Street, lined to the left and to the right with the most prestigious and luxury boutiques, hoping to find some joy at Scott’s. What we found were wall to wall people, boisterous laughing, many kids and no table. Dejected and blind with hunger we continued our search. The bags were now no longer held but unceremoniously dragged up South Audley Street. What was seen as fun and some much needed retail therapy quickly became a burden as our back and arms ached. With my sister in the lead and my mind sipping wine in my happy place, we soldiered on towards Wolfgang Puck's Cut restaurant at the new: 45 Park Lane Hotel.

We walked in: people peppered to the left and right, obviously waiting while we strode up bold as brass to ask for a table.
“Please wait here” said a smiling woman at the desk, “the hostess will be right with you.”

While we waited, I was given the once over from an elderly Middle Eastern woman sitting with her family having lunch. I stared back...she withdrew her gaze. I may have been dehydrated but I could still return daggers to the grouchy tiger.
We had time to take in the people, the many kids and the cheesy vocals from the live singer somewhere within the hidden depths of the restaurant: “I love you just the way you arrrreee...”

Oh! Crap...Mother’s day. We not only forgot, we hadn’t given it any thought.
The hostess wove her way towards us: “Good afternoon Ladies! What can I do for you?" Fake cheer, ugly shoes.


“We would like a table for two please...”


That was when she could have redeemed herself, but she made that fatal mistake: she looked down at our shopping bags, gave them the once over and made her decision on the spot: Le cheapo Sunday shopper. She obviously didn’t get a good look at our handbags...


“Let me go and see” she chirped facetiously.


She came back and the gig was up, we were dismissed with a perfunctory: “Sorry ladies, we have no more tables available.”

Nice to know that Aldo, Uniqlo, Gap and the ultimate in cheap Primark could not get us a more congenial attitude. She tried foolishly to give us an alternative: “Why don’t you go upstairs to the bar...they serve snacks!” And would that bar be plunged in darkness by any chance?


“Snacks???” replied my sister with a voice that could freeze water.


She quickly got the message and retreated back into the cheese fest going on behind her.

Head held high and our shopping bags now swinging with renewed vigour, we removed ourselves and our frowned upon shopping to greener, richer pastures: Bar Boulud at The Mandarin Oriental.
I can't recommend this establishment enough,the food is fantastic, the service is not only professional but impeccable ,the patrons are cool and no one gives anyone the once over let alone your shopping.


Lesson of the day: I am worth more than my shopping...actually my sister’s handbag is.
Lesson no.2: He who shops on the High street ...also shops at Prada.

Friday 16 March 2012

Ed Sheeran - Drunk (Official Video)



The fantastic, award winning dulcet tones of Ed Sheeran. This is his latest release...I am loving his songs.
So...It's the Weekend!...Let's get Drunk...on life and love and whatever tickles your fancy.
TGIF! Everybody....

Cotelac Spring/Summer Catalogue 2012

Have a quick gander at Cotelac's Spring/Summer 2012 collection for men and women.There is something for everyone and I have made my selection:




I tried this lovely dress on and it is a contender....a wisp of a thing that needs that extra something to give it POW! This leather jacket does so in spades but for summer...? Impossible. The  jacket is gorgeous though...food for thought.


Now this sleeveless leather jacket is also very tempting but!... it sizes small and made me look like a grown woman wearing children's clothes...so that is a definite No.



This is the Acote Line from Cotelac; a little less expensive but still sharp and on trend,like these trousers.

Easy, breezy...like a summer breeze.

Now to finish things off with the wise words from worldly wise man:

Bring out your Crocs!...it is time to plant some potato's....

Friday 9 March 2012

Crazy, Sexy , Cool :Anna Dello Russo

Courtesy of Grazia magazine.

The wacky fashion world of the lovely and fearless Anna Dello Russo.

During Fashion week in Milan she went from  demure Smurfette, to  razzle dazzle Statue of Liberty and for her finale: Mrs Darth Vader...."Luuuuke...I am your mo-therrr."

Everyday is Halloween for this fashion queen...No Guts, No Glory! 

Thursday 8 March 2012

Clemence Poesy as seen in Glamour

I just love the playfulness of these images of Clemence Poesy posing for Glamour UK in the heart of London. She looks dreamy and gorgeous and the streets of London are looking mighty fine from here too...
London...I do miss you,see you soon!
Here is fashion info just in case!
On the balcony:organza and lace minidress/ suede shoes by CARVEN
On the bicycle:wool cardigan/top/silk taffeta miniskirt/satin shoes all by MIU MIU

Tuesday 6 March 2012

Fight or Flight....

I am a jumpy sort and one of my pet peeves are (from past experiences) surprise phone calls from people who don't identify themselves and who want to play the "guess who" game.
I just had such a phone call:

Ring...ring...ring...
"Hello ?"
"Hello there!..." (enthusiastic male voice,I don't recognise).
"Hi! Who is this?..."( I politely but tentatively ask).
"You know me!" he insists playfully.
"Erm...no I don't ! Can you identify yourself ?" My mind is rushing through family, friends and foes, people I should remember but simply can't ...." Who are you please?!"
" You do know me....!"playful silence...
This is making me nervous so...
I hang up.

I get my voice mail and the mysterious man leaves a message but still omits to tell me who he is...! Something he says at the end captures my attention but doesn't register until...
my sister confirms to me that the call was from a Swiss mobile... ( no she doesn't work for Vodafone nor MI6...)it hit me like a freight train. The call was from my Arabic teacher back from my high school days!!I haven't seen nor spoken to him in over 20 years?! But I did get a message from him on Facebook only last week....nice work Sherlock!

Under these and other, lets call them ,"unsettling" circumstances my fight or flight mode kicks in.... and it is flight all the way baby!

Looks like I may never hear from him again! I do hope he got my text message...
Sorry Mr. B

Pub 2012 - L'Odyssée de Cartier HD&3D



2 years in the making: the gorgeous Cartier Odyssey advertisement 2012.
Watch this magnificent voyage,truly a work of art that leaves you wanting...the diamonds or the leopard?..

Monday 5 March 2012

Pearls of Wisdom


As the timeless lyrics in “The Lady is a Tramp” go:
(She)“Won’t go to Harlem, in ermine and pearls” ....and she may well have her reasons not to but ...what if He... is so inclined?

When I worked for Pashion magazine , I was introduced to the magnificent creations of Giambattista Valli through my then editor S. who was crushing on him big time. We would rush backstage after the shows in Paris and try to push ourselves through the maddening crowd so that she may congratulate him personally. On one such time she asked me to take a picture of him while he was being papped with Ashley(or was it Mary Kate)Olson and that is when I first noticed the string of pearls around his neck. 

When we were out of the melee I asked S. about it and she simply shrugged it off by saying that Giambattista is known for wearing it, that he came across the pearl necklace on one of his travels to India? And has never been seen without it. 
I guess we all like to be identified by something,to have our very own personal trade mark. Just look at Karl Lagerfeld who wouldn't be who he is without his fingerless gloves, Cuban cha-cha heels and razor sharp quips. Or Victoria Beckham without Harper and Hermes balancing each other off.
I didn’t think any more about it then ...creative license works in both ways, after all. He is a slight man giving off a slight Park Avenue meets via Montenapoleone vibe. Thankfully he doesn’t seem to find the need to match his pearls other than with his talent. 

I love Marc Jacobs...but the image of this buff,tanned and gorgeous guy holding a Kelly the size of a small child is disconcerting at best if not upsetting when seeing it lying carelessly strewn on a sandy beach. Try as I might, I can't wrap my head around the fact that a guy would want a Kelly....probably the same reason why Giambattista would want a string of pearls.... 


This is so not about the “Man-ecklace” :there are plenty of men who have been wearing necklaces since the dawn of time....and have not solicited a raised eyebrow. But this is about the precious pearl necklace; a symbol of demure sophistication,of class and pedigree, of Sloane rangers and Park avenue princesses....of a culture once lost but now found...by men!? No,no,no...


A few months ago,while having my haircut, I came across an image of a handsome, sexy man in a black suit jacket,open neck crisp white shirt and  a...pearl necklace !  The man is none other than the dutch product and interior designer Marcel Wanders.


Now here is a man who ticks all the boxes: handsome: tick
Charming...sexy...exuberant,husky voiced....tick tick tick...TICK!
Wears a pearl necklace unabashedly:...erm,untick? 
In the interview he was asked by the journalist Sixtine Chapel....I mean Dubly!(sorry,it just rolled off my fingers...) about his predilection for wearing a pearl necklace. His feathers weren't ruffled in the slightest,he simply replied that:..."He has 2 necklaces that he likes to wear and has been doing so for the past 8 years." He also added that:..." he deeply regrets that in this day and age,men aren't a little more sophisticated...."
Erm...sophisticated in a Tux and Pearls???!!! Come on! Tom Ford is sophistication incarnate and he don't need no pearls,he simply oozes it.
So there we have it,one man’s idea of sophistication is another  wo-man’s need for derision.
Back to the lyrics of “The Lady is a tramp”: 
(she)... “ Won’t dish the dirt,with the rest of those girls...”
I just did...deal with it!