Swanky Lash & Brow Bar

I was recently invited to Swanky Lash & Brow Bar on the Portobello Road, one of two salons (the other being in Kensal Rise) owned by sisters Sophia Chrifi-Alaoui and Donia Chrifi-Alaoui.  Perfectly placed opposite some of my nearby Notting Hill faves (Pizza East Portobello, Meli Melo and Lowry and Baker) this vibrant and affordable salon is usually chockablock full of loyal regulars (I advise booking) and I could easily tell why… With a room full of talented beauticians and real characters, you would be hard pressed to find a more personable, chatty and buzzing environment to get pampered. 

 Arriving early (yes, this sometimes happens!) for my mani-pedi, a treatment Sienna Miller recently raved about to Vogue, I got my eyelashes tinted.  After this, Sneeha, one of Swanky’s more hilarious employees, suggested I also had my eyebrows threaded; a quick and relatively painless treatment I always seem to forget about yet find so effective.  I found it hard to keep still whilst listening to Sneeha’s amusing stories and jolly giggles but luckily the results revealed otherwise!  

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My manicure and pedicure was made far easier by Donia (above right) speedily helping me decide which colours to wear (a usually agonizing procedure for me and any poor technician waiting).  I went for ‘Tiki Tiki Laranga’ gel polish for my hands, and 'Where Did Suzi's Man-go’ from the latest SS’14 O.P.I range (above left) for my toes.  Two weeks down and both tips and toes are still going strong.  I have been hapilly able to show them off the last two weekends running; in Cornwall over Easter (below left wearing my Zara slides) and at a friend's wedding (below right wearing my Topshop jumpsuit, Zara Sunglasses, Monica Vinader stack rings, Astley Clarke locket and my customised Bags By M Book Clutch) and just in time for the sun to make a much-appreciated appearance.  
​Thank you Ladies, I'll see you again VERY soon! 

Hello There: Bags by M

Maria Marigliano Caracciolo's Bags By M Book Clutches are inspired by her native Italy’s heritage and traditions.  Using the finest of leathers, silks and gold leaf, the customised book clutches are bound by Neapolitian craftsmen near Maria’s home in Palazzo Marigliano, using techniques passed down over the generations in a century-long tradition.

Every detail of your Book Clutch is personalized according to your preferences;  the colour, the material, the decoration, and of course, the title.  Both traditional styles (RRP. £240.00) and luxury designs (RRP. £350.00) are available and your name can be printed on the back of the clutch under the Latin phrase ‘Ex Libris (‘Library Of’), alongside your date of birth or dedication, making this a totally individualised and one-of-a-kind accessory. 

After speaking with Maria over a coffee at Megans one morning, I decided I would choose Karen Blixen’s ‘Out of Africa,’ as my title as I too “once had a house at the foot of the Ngong Hills,” having being raised in Kenya on the author’s former coffee plantation just outside Nairobi.  We chose the colours we thought suited the title and my style best, and then the perfect illustrations.  This is a truly bespoke and special gift, a lifelong treasure and I am totally in love with it!!  Thank you SO much Maria!! xxx

I have had SO many compliments this week over my Bags By M. Book Clutch, and I’m more than happy to spread the word of it’s origins... Something I won’t need to do for long as Poppy and Cara Delevingne (right) have  both ordered their personalised Book Clutches for Christmas (above and below) so this brand will be on the tip of every fashionista’s tongues by 2014! 

Order HERE today for delivery before Christmas and mention 'THE LONDON CHATTER' to receive a 10% discount on traditional clutches and 15% on luxury designs!