The Lomax Way

I was recently invited to Lomax Victoria to experience ‘The Lomax Way’ - a combination of bespoke fitness, tailored nutrition and holistic wellbeing...

Step One: Podular Training

Founder and personal trainer Jonny Lomax’s concept of Podular Training consists of you exercising (either alone, with a trainer, or in a class) in one of their eight fully equipped personal fitness pods, each offering several different work out options, including spinning and circuit training. With no monthly fees or contracts – the pay-as-you-go rates for Podular Training range from £20 - £65 (or if bought in bulk, £10 - £55.)

Daunted by my 40 minute personal training session with Jonny, I felt obliged to mention that not only am I NOT a gym-bunny (worse, I haven’t moved quicker than a strut in over a decade) but I am also seriously mal-coordinated and that this whole ordeal could be really rather embarrassing. After some confidence boosting and a motivational pep talk, I was soon spinning away and circuit training (“Sets” and “Reps” - evil, evil little words!)

Apparently I am not as unfit as I think and I even began to enjoy my 'Gazelle Jumps' (soon renamed 'Giselle Jumps') as I eagerly hopped up and down onto a high box without any complaints or squeaks... Unlike my turn with the weights... Unfortunately my frequently used excuse of ‘not being built for lifting’ did not get me out of that particular exercise!

Apparently if I were to do this twice a week, the results would come fast and furiously – and after 2 days of various muscles I never knew that I had mercilessly aching, I felt bouncy, energetic and ready to do it all again.

Step Two: Nutritional Consultation

If I had previously felt apprehensive in revealing my lack of natural athleticism to Jonny, that was nothing compared to the anxiety I felt over my meeting with Zoe Copesy, the nutritionist at Lomax.

However, sitting in the Lomax cafe with Zoe (left, a gorgeous, glowing example of what she preaches) whilst we sipped on Vita Coco and munched protein Bounce Balls, she showed no judgment whatsoever over my daily diet (ummm... chocolate, Cheerios and cupcakes) but instead gave me some brilliant, accessible, advice on how I can fit better eating habits around my lifestyle. I was then given a freshly prepared foodbox from the Lomax café, based upon my own health goals and protein, carbohydrate and fat requirements.

Step Three: Wellbeing

At Lomax, professionals from around the world aim to help you achieve a physical and emotional balance, offering physiotherapy, osteopathy, massage, holistic facials, acupuncture, homoeopathy and meditation.
I was spoiled with a relaxing massage, combined with metatronic healing, leaving me feeling more refreshed and balanced than I had felt in weeks – I believe I could also benefit from two of these sessions a week!

Thank you to all at Lomax Victoria!

I am now very excited to see the new Lomax Chelsea venue which opens in February at 293 Fulham Road... With even more fully equipped pods and an expanded class roster they will also be offering sit in/take away nutritionally balanced meals and snacks, a juice bar and delicious Monmouth coffee. There will be 5 treatment rooms and also a studio for pilates, yoga and barre classes. If you pre-register with them at Lomax Victoria now, you will receive 50% off all services during your first month in Chelsea… Sign. Me. Up.

Alice Temperley's Got Talent

Move over Simon Cowell, Alice Temperley is now searching for Britain’s Next Big Thing…

Each season, the celebrated British designer of all things ethereal, will invite an emerging creative (model/musician/artist/actor) to showcase their talent alongside the latest, and more contemporary Temperely range, Alice By Temperley, collection in a short film which will be shown on their website.

Alice explains, "I am always on the lookout for new talent and love being inspired by unique skills and meeting artisans with passion for their craft… It was appropriate to dedicate space and time to promote emerging talent through the platforms and audiences we have available to us, supporting the future icons."

In conjunction with the launch of the label’s pre A/W’12 collection, the project kicks off with unsigned singer/songwriter, Isabel, whom Alice heard at an impromptu gig at the Glastonbury Cider Bus last summer. Isabel performs her song "Kiss Me Madder" in a romantic music video (below) directed by two of the designer’s siblings, Henry and Matilda, shot in East London, the Golborne Road and the Somerset countryside.

Isabel models some of the pre A/W’12 Alice by Temperley collection in the video and unsurprisingly I’ve fallen for many of the clothes - some of my favourites are below…

If you think you know/are the next (*drum role) Temperley Talent, or are an upcoming artist wishing to display your work in an area of the London or Los Angeles Temperley boutiques, submit your work for consideration by emailing talent@temperleylondon.com

Musical Moment - Lana Del Rey ('Born To Die')

The release of Lana Del Rey’s haunting debut single Video Games last October proved a huge hit with the fash pack; Both Christopher Kane and Emilio de la Morena both used the song in their London Fashion Week shows last Autumn, Antonio Berardi, Moschino and Prabal Gurung have all recently dressed her, and she also performed at Mulberry's SS’12 presentation in New York.

It comes as no surprise then that the blonde beauty, with those lips, has now also been signed to Next Model Management – another big year ahead for Miss LDR.

"Come take a walk on the wild side

Let me kiss you hard in the pouring rain

You like your girls insane..."

Lana Del Rey's 'Born To Die' will be released on January 23rd

Oh, the Places You'll Go at Burning Man!

Reminding us all to live adventurously and with great faith, Los Angeles based photographer Teddy Saunders at Tedshots, brought Dr. Seuss’ beautiful and joyous ode to life, ‘Oh, The Places You Will Go,’ to the screen last summer at the dusty extravaganza, Burning Man, in the deserts of Nevada.

In the below video you will see a bunch of brilliant and charming ‘Burners’ recite this classic story of life's ups and downs, with all its unrivaled exuberance, in a series of vibrant shots alongside a magical musical score.

Gianni's Muses

Ditte Reffstrup, the creative director of Danish label Gianni (founded in 2000 and launched in the UK last year) has revealed that the label is inspired by four style icons in particular; Audrey Hepburn in ‘Funny Face,’ Jean Seberg in ‘A Bout De Souffle,’ Vanessa Paradis in ‘Be My Baby’ and Kristen Dunst in ‘The Virgin Suicides.’ Ok, you have my attention…

"That's a lot of different influences all in one, but it's what makes it fun to work with," says Ditte Reffstrup "It's also what makes it possible to dress in Ganni from top to bottom without looking like you're only wearing one label.”

Ditte Reffstrup explains that the Gianni look aims at mixing “the best of past icons but tweaked for the modern everyday girls of today,” and the result is simple femininity; floral skirts, slouchy jumpers, well cut trenches paired and Parisian stripey tops...

Gianni will launch a standalone shop in London later this year.

Golden Globes 2012

I love the Golden Globes…

As Ricky Gervais observed in his opening gambit this weekend, they are to The Oscars what Kim Kardashian is to Kate Middleton, “a bit louder, a bit trashier, a bit drunker.”

One BIG similarity with the two award ceremonies however, is their focus on the dresses…

Here are my favourites of the night...

Below (L-R): Jessica Alba is always impeccably perfect - in Gucci, Emma Stone is my red carpet crush - in Lanvin, Charlize Theron looks completely dreeeeamy in Dior - the winner.

Below (L-R): Angelina Jolie’s flashes of red in Atelier Versace, Michelle Williams is always unique - in Jason Wu, Rachel Evan Wood dramatically ruffling feathers in Gucci Première.

Below: I am sorry Ladies, but I just was not a big fan of your choices…

(L-R) Elle MacPherson - TuTu much In Zac Posen, Lea Michele is a bit too ‘flashy,’ in Marchesa, Sarah Michelle Gellar – Spilt. Paint. Everywheeere. In Monique Lhuillier.

Below (L-R): Charlize Theron and Michelle Williams both decided to wear delicate headbands – I feel a new red carpet trend for 2012 may have just begun…

I have been left excited to see award winning film, ‘The Artist,' a romantic French film directed by Michel Hazanavicius, starring Jean Dujardin and Bérénice Bejo.

The story takes place in Hollywood between 1927 and 1932 and focuses on a declining male film star and a rising actress, as silent cinema grows out of fashion and is replaced by the ‘talkies.’ Most of the film itself is silent; it is shown in black-and-white, and Jean Dujardin also won the Best Actor Award this weekend at the Golden Globes.

Matthew Williamson Pre Fall 2012 Collection

Matthew Williamson recently celebrated his Fabulous Fortieth at the beautiful Aynhoe Park in the Oxfordshire countryside. His gorgeous gaggle of girls and muses (including his BF Sienna Miller, below) all wore dresses from his different collections dating back to 1998.

Below L - R: Tali Lennox in the Pre Fall‘11 Feather Georgette Maxi, Poppy Delevingne in the AW‘11 Ombre Sequin Mini, Matthew WIlliamson, Sienna Miller in the Galaxy dress from the AW’99 Glomad collection, Cara Delevinge in the Pre Fall'11 Feathered Tulle Cocktail Dress.

But Matthew, as much as we love all these OLD dresses, what about all the NEW ones...?!

Below: A sneak peak at some of the Matthew Williamson pre-fall 2012 collection which consists of tribal prints, stunning embellishment and a 1970’s influence running throughout; printed jumpsuits, flared trousers, stunning maxi dresses - and an unfortunate use of fur.

www.matthewwilliamson.com

Best Of London - Humphrey Ker

Acclaimed comedian. History geek. Brilliant storyteller. Fantastically funny. Toweringly tall.

Humphrey Ker is one third of the Victoriana-themed comedy troupe ‘The Penny Dreadfuls,’ a featured talent on BBC2’s ‘Fast and Loose’ and more recently, a solo performer in ‘Dymock Watson: Nazi Smasher!’ for which he recently won ‘Best Newcomer’ at the Foster's Comedy Awards.

Based on the experiences of his grandfather, ‘Dymock Watson: Nazi Smasher!’ Humphrey comically portrays a series of heavily accented characters, including Nazi soldiers, a Texan Belle, a Romanian musical theatre actor, a foul mouthed Scottish spy chief, and of course, the hero himself – Dymock Watson - a naval officer parachuted into Romania on a secret mission in 1943.

The piece is jam packed with laughs and drama and I implore you to book your tickets now! In the meantime, London based Humphrey shares with us his London favourites...

My Pint – A pint of coke. Can't afford to get into alcohol as I have a heavily addictive personality. That + Booze = NO FUN.

My Date Night – My girlfriend Carrie and I love a trip to the theatre followed by a late night Chinese at The Four Seasons on Gerrard St.

My Sunday Brunch – Nobody does a better roast than my friend Sam Collins. Everyone reading this should make friends with him. If that proves impossible, Kerbisher & Malt on Shepherds Bush Road for a fishy alternative.

My Building – The Tower of London. Bad ass.

My London Shop – ‘The Orcs Nest’ on Cambridge Circus. I am a dork and they don't come dorkier than this shop.

My London Extravagance – Chateaubriand and Potted Haddock at Hawksmoor.

London's Best Kept Secret – It's probably me isn't it?

My London Icon (Past or Present) – Samuel Pepys. He wrote well and he ate well... What more can any man aspire to?

Humphrey Ker's 'Dymock Watson: Nazi Smasher!' is showing at the Soho Theatre on 26th Jan-4th Feb, 13th-18th Feb at 9.30pm.