Finally, after much talk, I made it to the Sanderson’s Mad Hatter Tea. I had wanted to go for a long time – no secret I am a huge fan of the hotel, the long bar, the lips sofa (really, just the lips sofa, I freaking love it), but I wanted to have this much appealing themed afternoon tea.
Those who know me can confirm I am not one to pass the opportunity to dress up. I LOVE dressing up. When I do it, I go all out; no point in being half-hearted, right?
You probably noticed I’ve been neglecting the blog, not posting as often, in fact, not at all for a couple of weeks. Not often I write a post this personal, but as I said before, I am a believer that beauty is mainly what is on the inside, and the last months have been dark and far removed from beautiful.
I always considered myself an anxious person – you know the type that suffers in anticipation, that will do various things to prevent a scenario that might not even become reality? Yes, that is me.
At first, I thought these products wouldn’t fit with the blog – yes, I’m funny like that. However, casting my eyes briefly over The Bonnie Marcus Collection Shoes Stylish writing paper was all I needed to want it.
Madly in love with Mad in England
My relationship with my glasses has blossomed in the past few years. Forward back to the teenager who wanted to wear glasses but had a perfect vision, than forward to the late-20’s girl who found out she needed glasses for reading/computer and thought it was a sign of getting old, getting the most discreet frames possible, I can say it came a long way. I now love my glasses – and Specsavers really helps me match them to my personality.
Glasses are really important – they are on your face every day, but somehow, the thought that goes with choosing them, is usually less than choosing clothes, or shoes that we might wear less often than glasses. And that is why I loved this showcase – it showed glasses as fashion accessories all throughout.
BEWARE: this is not a beauty, style or shoes post (boooo). However, I think it affects all of that, as the blog is a reflection of who I am and what goes on in my “real” life, so I am going to share this here.
I don’t think I ever made new year’s resolutions. Really. Partly due to the expectations and subsequently disappointments they bring. I mean, to start 2012, I had a couple things I decided I had to do: my post-grad course and get British citizenship. After getting that, I just relaxed and 2013 was a bit lacklustre.
Maybe I am being a bit hard on myself but that feeling of “nothing has happened” made me feel my life is lacking a bit of direction and maybe it is a jolly good idea to focus on some aspects. Some things just need sorting out with no procrastination.
So I am not going to call them resolutions (I admit I am a bit scared of the word), more like a to-do list. Here is what I am trying to achieve this year. No pressure. None at all. Argh!
So it looks like 2014 is going to be a pretty big year, one way or another. There are a few more things I want to do, like learn another language, travel to a few places, do more sewing, but they will come on time. I hope I get to achieve a few at least, and be careful so they don’t cause me any more anxiety. Small steps…
Image credit: Corbis
Going straight to it: I was blown away by Isabella Blow: Fashion Galore exhibition at Somerset House in London.
If you can, get yourself there now and feast yourself on Isabella’s fabulous life. Well, at least the part that is shown, which I find only fair, as it is a celebration of all things Issie. Despite all the unhappiness and tragedy throughout her life, as Philip Treacy said, “Nothing about her was tragic. She was triumphant”.
Isabella Blow, fashion editor, consultant, muse and nurturer of young fashion talent was born English aristocracy and started her career as Anna Wintour’s assistant at Vogue US, only to come home and head fashion for Vogue, Tatler and The Sunday Times.
Her quirkiness, creativity and wonderfully outrageous fashion sense was more than evident in her wonderful fashion edits. Sadly, her personal life was plagued by depression, infertility, cancer and multiple suicide bids, which eventually materialised, taking her away in 2007.
Blow is credited to discovering Philip Treacy, Alexander McQueen and Julien MacDonald, amongst other designers, and also models.
It was no surprise I would love the exhibition, being the huge millinery fan I am. Treacy’s amazing head pieces are an integral part of the exhibition, dotted around all over the place, as well as McQueen pieces – and I really like that the their stories appear entwined as they were in real life. It proves it takes one talent to know one. The what I now call “Blow triad” is very palpable: head in Treacy, body in McQueen and feet in Manolo Blahnik.
From all the wonder of feasting my eyes with glorious garments, a few caught my eye, including the fabulous Deborah Milner, A/W 1997 red velvet coat with fur collar. Sigh…
Another interesting aspect is the state of her personal garments. They show wear. And tear. This is something really important to me, as although I don’t share her careless attitude to these expensive items (she famously left shoes at the back of cabs – God forbid I will EVER do that; just the thought makes me shiver!), I believe every item should be worn and enjoyed to the maximum. Yes, a scuff, a stain might look ugly, but it gives the item life and tells a small story itself. And I think that is why they didn’t restore items.
In the various areas of the exhibition, we are taken through her life, her style, her influences and the celebration of British.
***SPOILER ALERT***
And the finale almost brought a tear to my eye – McQueen’s S/S 08 fashion show, a collection in collaboration with Philip Treacy and dedicated to Isabella after her death. The pieces are breathtaking, as well as the closing with the legacy of the unique legend that was Isabella Blow.
I had great fun and learnt a fair bit. I left with a sense of sadness for the losses fashion, and creativity, suffered. But I am also grateful for the legacy, nicely condensed and exposed here, for all to see.
The Isabella Blow: Fashion Galore exhibition is on at Somerset House until March 2014 and you can book tickets via their website.
Image credits: Somerset House, Vogue UK and Design Scene.
Pretty, quality jewellery. Shiny and sparkly. On a table for your consumption. This was exactly what happened at the Stella & Dot by Cintia Gardner trunk show.
Cintia is a very good friend of mine and recently she became an independent stylist for Stella & Dot. The prerogative of an independent stylist is to obviously sell the jewellery, but advising on the pieces that might suit you better! She also sets up what they call “trunk shows” – a much glitzier version of a Tupperware party really – where she takes the displays to a host’s house and demonstrates the items and makes sales.
Stella & Dot provides a great structure, so all invitations are customised for the the event and Cintia organises it all – all the host needs to do is to give her the email addresses of the invitees and open her door on the day!
The host gets great deals: a free gift, heavy discounts against purchases depending on the amount sold at their event and of course, a lot of fun – the atmosphere was great!
I went to check out the trunk show at the lovely Rachel. The trunk show was a great chance of actually touching and trying the items before committing. It is also a good opportunity of getting to know other people – it is a lovely girly night in!
The items are lovely – you can take a peek at Cintia’s page over at Stella & Dot.
If you want to host a trunk show, get in touch with Cintia via her page on Facebook or Twitter and she will be able to organise it for you, being at hand at the event!
You probably noticed from one of my outfit posts that I am a specs wearer, and I was very happy to be invited by Specsavers to try one of their fabulous glasses and picked a lovely Osiris frame.
The glasses mecca is very well-known nationwide and I ended up in their Tottenham Court Road branch, in London. With the specialist help at hand, I was able to pick my favourite frames which then received my prescription lenses (I had an eye test with Specsavers in March anyway, so I didn’t have to have a new eye test). The lovely Laura from Beattie Communications was also there to provide much needed girly advice.
I had already decided I wanted cat-eye shaped glasses and wanted to stay away from my always reliable black frames. So I mentioned that to the assistant and he was very thorough in finding all the frames in the shape I wanted.
In the end, I was between three frames: two from Osiris and a Karen Millen – two involving leopard print – and ended up settling for the gorgeous Osiris B39, a dark purple cat eye shaped frame. I chose that as it was the biggest shape of the three and I thing bigger frames look best on my face, which is heart shaped with not so delicate features, so the bigger frames balances it out quite well.
The frame is of excellent quality, very well finished, with a flexible hinge and fashionable – I hear this on has just arrived and at the moment they are on a 2 for 1 offer, and they price on the sticker already includes single vision lenses! 🙂
My lenses weren’t available immediately; in some cases, they can do that for you straight away, which is great! My non-reflective lenses took only a couple days to be put on my chosen frame and upon collection the service was impeccable – quick, friendly, attentive, even though the shop was full. I had a little adjustment to the legs, which got done pretty quickly, and the assistant told me I could take them to any shop to have any others done after I wear them for a bit – which I did for a small adjustment to the nose bridge. It is great to count with some after purchase service!!!
So, I am in love with my frames and really impressed with the overall service received at Specsavers – a great start to this intimate relationship, I am sure me and my specs are going to be happily ever after.
To check the Osiris range and the extensive glasses, sunglasses and contact lenses offers, check the Specsavers website.
New Simple products – pretty and good to the skin!
I was delighted do be invited to attend the Simple skincare blogger event which took place at Kettner’s in central London.
Basically, the evening was divided in pretty much what the Simple Sense skincare routine online tool is about; looking after your skin as a whole, including your body, inside and out, through three points: skincare (the right products, routine, application), exercise and nutrition.
Upon arrival we were faced with a tough choice of amazing skin loving mocktails, prepared by Fiona Hunter, the Simple nutritionist. I went for a deliciously tropical mango combination and loved it. Fiona also was at hand to create personalised smoothies (I ended up with a fantastic apple, avocado and melon mix) and give advice on particular nutritional concerns. Invaluable information!
Click on the images to enlarge
I was introduced to the amazing new products from the Simple Kind to Skin+ range. We all know Simple has skin loving ingredients, the products are formulated for sensitive skin and they unbeatable value for money; you can rest assured the new additions don’t deviate from that.
Here’s what Simple has for you:
The creams are all very light on the skin! The radiance cream delivers a very glowy effect, and is great under make up to illuminate the complexion and boy, I love a mist. My favourite, however, has to be a fantastic Protecting moisturiser with SPF 30, and I’ll say it again – with RRP of £6.99. Yes, you read right. Under £7!!! Amazing.
If all that wasn’t enough, Caroline Frazer, a make-up artist and Simple’s skin expert and brand ambassador, was at hand really drilling down on the correct four step skin routine (cleanse, tone/polish, treat and protect!) giving out personalised tips and showcasing the products.
The tough but girly personal trainer Anna Reich, who is Simple’s fitness expert (and also lovely and super funny!) was there to offer great fitness advice, as well as introduce me to face yoga – and even demonstrating some exercises to tackle most common face problem areas, dubbed as the “biceps curls for you face!”.
The principle does make sense – if you look after the muscles on your face, just like your body, they will tone and perk and this will also help delay the dreaded effects of time! I have a cheek video of Anna showing how to do one of the 18 exercises in the face yoga programme.
Top it all off with great canapés (oh-so-tasty pink macaroon with creamy goats cheese – who would’ve said, trust me, it is lush!), lovely people (other bloggers, PR and the Simple guys) and a superb goodie-bag (which will fuel the blog for quite some time!) and you have a not only a fun, fantastic evening but also a very informative one.
Cannot wait to start telling you about the products! Trial has already started!!!
Don’t forget you can create your own tailored routine at the Simple Sense online tool and the new products are hitting the shelves of retailers nationwide in September, when you can get all the info on them on the Simple website.
So Many Lovely Things 