J Crew London Launch

You would have had to of been living under a rock to have not heard the preppy clad tremors of the J Crew brigade landing in London last week and I was thrilled to be invited (by balloon, no less) to their glitzy pre-opening party.  With 227 stores across the United States, J Crew’s gargantuan 17,000 sq ft of flagship store fun at 165 Regent Street was buzzing with excitement; finally the Brits can have easy access to the label’s rainbow of cashmere, bejeweled accessories and clashing jacquard prints without having to fork out for the plane ticket alongside them! 

The shop is divided into three interlinking sections, for men, women and children and is a visual feast.  The evening's (J) crew comprised some of the biggest names in British fashion celebrating the launch by enjoying great music, a flip book booth, an enormous table of retro sweets (obviously I spent much of my evening hanging out here) and, of course, exploring the extensive preview of colourful designs which were immaculately displayed. 

Below:  I was lucky enough to have a chat with the unbelievably charming and awesomeJenna Lyons, creative director of J Crew and all round style icon (not to mention also the owner of the most perfectly long ‘selfie’ arms, as put to the test below!)

Below (Clockwise) L-R:  William Woodhams and Annabel Simpson, Julia Neel and Kelly Eastwood, David Grievson, Amy Williams, Lauren Scott and Kelly Eastwood. 

Below (L-R):  With fellow bloggers Ella Catliff, Laura Fantacci and stylist Martha Ward. 

Below:  Wearing a polka dot Topshop playsuit with black lace back (available HERE - RRP. £48.00), a Zara perspex statement necklace, a Wilbur & Gussie Coco Clutch (similar available HERE - RRP. £265.00) and a massive bag of J Crew retro sweeties.

After a couple of glasses of champagne I left clutching an embarrassingly large bag of sweeties, a London-friendly J Crew Umbrella and one seriously extensive shopping list!
Below are some of the current items in stock that I now have my eye on…

Above:  Colourblock Funnelneck Coat - £RRP. £398.00,  Etta Sequin Pumps - RRP. £350.00

Above (Clockwise) L-R:  Chevron Fingerless Gloves in Citron Grey - RRP. £35.00,  Statement Flower Necklace – RRP. £198.00,  Double-Zip Sweater in Colourblock – RRP.£89.50, Hughes Satchel in Pale Graphite – RRP. £298.00, Jewelled Cuff - £125.00, Jewelled Donegal Sweater in Slate – RRP. £98.00

Above: (Top)  Collection Café Capri in Tie Silk – RRP. £198.00, (Below)  Toothpick Jean in Velvet Pack Green – RRP. £110.00

Hello There: Kirsten Goss

Since launching her first jewellery collection in London in 2002, South African designer and gemologist Kirsten Goss’ unique designs continue to go from strength to strength.  Despite being an internationally enjoyed brand, with celebrity fans including Sarah Jessica Parker and Rosamund Pike, and a shop in Kensington, Kirsten likes to keep her brand South African at heart with all her designs being created in in her design studio in Durban, saying “I love that we’re on the international stage but keep what we do South African.”

Kirsten Goss’ most recent collection is entitled ‘Arcade,’ (below) and was inspired by the flamboyance of 'The Great Gatsby’ and the opulence of the art deco era. This beautiful range includes elegant earrings, striking cuffs and cut-out necklaces made with semi-precious stones with delicate silver and gold vermeil.

 Below (Clockwise) L-R:  Dandy Earrings - RRP. £335.00, Wilde Earrings - RRP. £135.00, Queenie Bracelet - RRP. £325.00, Sweetpea Ring - RRP. £295.00

Above:  I was very sweetly given an early birthday present by Kirsten Goss;  a Lifesaver Necklace with my gold initial and green agate pendant (below at the Chelsea Farmer's Market).  I adore it and have barely taken this beauty off since I received it.  Versatile and fun, I am excited to add more of the affordable and interchangeable semi-precious pendants to my collection, allowing me to alternate its look depending on my outfit.

The 'Arcade' collection and Lifesaver Necklace are available online (www.kirstengoss.com) and from Kirsten Goss' London shop (29 Holland Street, W8 4NA).

Skate at Somerset House Sponsored by Coach

The (albeit slightly wonky?!) ‪Christmas tree is up and the water is freezing over which can only mean one thing... Skate at Somerset House, sponsored by the American luxury design house Coach, is one of London’s most glamourous and fashionable ice skating experiences, opens this Thursday 14th and I cannot wait to go!  Nothing can beat an evening skating alongside a live soundtrack spun by top DJs, whilst enjoying rink-side yuletide treats (welcome back mince pies and mulled wine, my old friends!) followed by dinner at Tom’s Kitchen and a wander around the luxury pop-up Christmas market.  
Tickets start from £7.50 and are available until January online HERE

Rosewood London Launch

I was really happy to attend the launch of Rosewood London, to check out the capital’s latest luxury hotel.  The 1914 Edwardian Belle Époque Grade II-listed building property in the heart of High Holborn has had an £85 million refurbishment and boasts 262 rooms and 44 suites which magnificently combines a traditional English heritage look with a contemporary London aesthetic.  After arriving trough a massive courtyard and walking down a beautiful hall of mirrors (see below), I arrived at the hotel's opulent bar room, designed by Martin Brudnizki, where I enjoyed a pretty huge celebratory Scarfes Royal Punch cocktail whilst listening to an acoustic performance by the gorgeous Anglo-Italian singer-songwriter Jack Savoretti (above), who I am a big fan of.  Later, DJ and The Saturdays’ Mollie King (above) took to the decks to entertain the Rosewood revellers.  

Above L-R (Clockwise):  Kelly Eastwood and Jack Freud, Lady Natasha Rufus Isaccs with Katy Wickremesinghe, Jack and Kate Freud, Steve Merchant.

Above:  Wearing high waisted Topshop shorts and a navy silk Greta ruffled top, accessorised with my bright orange Zara heels and the Emerald Wilbur & Gussie Charlie Clutch with a jewel encrusted lion clasp (RRP. £150.00, available to purchase here).

Alexa Chung for Eyeko

Alexa Chung has joined up with British beauty brand Eyeko to create a capsule collection of eye make up.  Alexa has always felt naked without her 1960’s cat-eye liquid eyeliner flick, something she has become synonymous with, admitting ”it's my comfort blanket."  Having had an Eyeko eyeliner used on her by a make-up artist on a recent shoot she decided to meet with the brand’s directors, “I just felt the whole company seemed fun and it got my creative juices flowing… it became quite an organic collaboration.”  

Alexa’s Eyeko collection will sport her name, her own artwork and have kooky names (such as the ‘eye do’ liquid liner) that she has chosen.  The set will cost £35.00 and will be exclusively launched at Selfridges Oxford Street on November 14th where she will be meeting and greeting her fans eager to also have the most fash-lashes in town. 

Galvan Preview

Last week I attended a sneak preview of Galvan, at Kettners in Soho, a new London-based label established by Sola Harrison, Carolyn Hodler and Katherine Holmgren, three young and beautiful ladies with backgrounds in art and fashion.  Alongside designer Anna-Christin Hass this gorgeous team have created timeless designs; elegantly constructed, boldly cut, and achingly beautiful.  Galvan launches officially in 2014 but both Sola Harrison (with husband, Dhani) and Bond Girl Olga Kurylenko have been seen wearing the label’s stunning and sophisticated eveningwear earlier this year (below). 

Below:  With Creative Directors Sola Harrison (left) and Carolyn Hodler (right). 

Musical Moment: Katy Perry ('Roar')

I was lucky to attend Katy Perry's iTunes Festival performance, the last show in a star-studded month long festival. The excited crowd, myself included, were treated to 45 minutes of all the singer’s best hits as well as two newer tracks from her latest album Prism.

You sometimes forget just how many BRILLIANT and sassy pop gems Katy is responsible for, Wow... California Gurls, Teenage Dream, I Kissed A Girl, Firework (“dedicated to anyone who has ever felt less”) and my latest favourite pop-punch anthem, ‘Roar!’ (below) which even my father mentioned to me the other day was, "a jolly good tune." Praise indeed.  The all singing, all dancing and all rope-skipping (yes, yet another talent displayed during the performance) Katy Perry really is the perfect popstar.  Just awesome. 

Above (L-R):  In Katy's dressing room (I don't know how this happened either...) with Katy Perry, Anna Kendrick, Tamra Natisin, Ellie Goulding and Lauren Glucksman.

"I got the eye of the tiger, a fighter, dancing through the fire
Cause I am a champion and you’re gonna hear me roar...!"

Katy Perry's album 'Prism' is now available to buy from iTunes Here

Hello There: Chinti and Parker

Cousins Anna Singh and Rachael Wood launched Chinti and Parker in October 2009 with one clear mission: to create beautiful, ethically made garments that value style on par with substance.  Loved by all the cool cats, including Alexa Chung, Kate Bosworthand Olivia Palermo, Chinti and Parker super-soft cashmere is available in an array of block colours and fun prints which provide the building blocks for the perfect capsule winter wardrobe.  Actress, lifestyle guru and all round TLC fave Gwyneth Paltrow also recently collaborated with the label after discovering the brand on a shoot, creating two exclusive jumpers for her Goop website.  I have picked out a few of my favourite items from the current collection – effortless, beautiful jumpers and a statement neon pink pom pom scarf and bobble hat that have my name ALL over them.  I do LOVE a pom pom. 

Above (Clockwise) L-R: Bobble Scarf (Grey Marl) - RRP. £125.00, Bobble Hat (Grey and Neon Pink Bobble) - RRP. £70.00, Contrast Cuff Sweater (Oatmeal) – RRP. £295.00, Heart Pocket Cardigan (Grey) – RRP. £295.00,  Contrast Cuff Sweater (Grey) - RRP. £295.00

Halloween 2013

Celebrating Halloween in the UK has become increasingly popular in the last few years (thank you Heidi Klum!) and now there is no shortage of thrills and chills to enjoy come October 31st.  With this ghoulish night fast approaching us (like a serial killer in a dark alley) costumes are now firmly on my mind.  Usually the ladies of London use this annual opportunity to leave as little to the imagination as possible... something spooky + clevage = (Sexy) Vampire/(Sexy) Cat/(Sexy) Skeleton/(Sexy) Devil, etc.  I however, would love to see more effort on the whole and witness some really spooky, stomach-churningly dramatic outfits on the big night;  a tormented zombie, a rabid hybrid werewolf, a two-headed cannibal, a VMA’s Miley Cyrus… Now THAT would be terrifying! 

Above: (Clockwise) L-R: Moto Bat Print Leigh Jeans at Topshop - RRP. £40.00,  Topshop Sadie Lazer Cut Heels - RRP. £80.00, ASOS Full Midi Skirt in Mesh – RRP. £55.00, ASOS Halloween Bat Print Unitard – RRP. £38.00, H&M Super Stretch Treggings – RRP. £12.99,Skeleton Print Unitard – RRP. £32.00

Above:  No Tricks, Just Treats:  Loving these Limited Edition shoes by Charlotte Olympia!
L-R: Vampira - RRP. £975.00, Bite Me Kitty - RRP. £495.00, Nocturnal - RRP. £745.00

Above:  Hummingbird Bakery Limited Edition Cupcake Gift Boxes - From RRP. £19.50
HOW awesome did Emma Roberts look dressed as her Aunty Julia's character Vivienne Ward from Pretty Women at last year's Halloween?! Genius. 

Left:  If you are still in need of some more devilish sinspiration head to Austique where flamboyant fancy dress boutique Violet’s Box are holding a pop up shop for the next two weeks. Stylist Violet Day will be on hand to help you choose a perfectly show-stopping/heart-stopping outfit.

The International Elephant March 2013

I love Elephants, and being raised in Kenya I was beyond lucky to have grown up admiring these majestic animals in their natural habitat.  The recent escalating evidence of their demise, from terrifying poaching statistics to personally witnessing large rotting carcasses whilst on safari, has left me heartbroken.  At the current rate of poaching African Elephantscould face extinction in the wild by 2025!!  A future without these beautiful, intelligent animals is not one which we can sit idly by and allow to happen. 

Earlier this month 10,000 people spread over 14 different cities united for the International March for Elephants with one desperate message to their governments;  Stop the ivory trade!  I, along with hundreds of other Ele-lovers, demonstrated in London's Parliament Square urging the government to take action to end the illegal trade in ivory.

The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (DSWT), a Kenyan conservation charity known for the rescue and hand-rearing of orphaned elephants before their rehabilition back into the wild, and its advocacy campaign iworry, have reported that an estimated 36,000elephants are slaughtered every year by the illegal ivory trade, amounting to one killedevery 15 minutes!  To date, the DSWT has arrested 1,400 poachers and in the past month alone, has been called to rescue 14 elephants in just 18 days bringing the total number cared for by the charity to 33, the highest number since 1977.  A letter signed by Dr Dame Daphne Sheldrick was delivered to 10 Downing Street after the rally at Parliament Square.

Below: Visiting the elephant orphans at the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Nairobi, close to where I was brought up, when I was little (yes, in flannel shorts) and more recently.

Rob Brandford, director of the DSWT, said: “The time to act is now. The UK government and governments around the world cannot ignore this growing crisis. Recent responses by other world leaders are encouraging but if our children and grandchildren are to see elephants in their lifetime, the international community must act urgently and collaboratively to enact a global ban on the commercial sale of ivory and protect elephants before it’s too late.”

Founder of the DSWT, Dr Dame Daphne Sheldrick DBE, said: “Both elephants and their protectors are being killed by this illicit trade. Every life lost to the trade in ivory is a scandal. Their extinction would not only bring heartbreak, but it will have a devastating impact not only on the wider environment but also in millions of livelihoods dependent wildlife tourism. We urgently need to act now to protect the elephants and those that protect them to prevent a wider environmental and economic catastrophe.”

Please add your name to the list of people around the world saying NO to ivory HERE.
With your signatures, we can urge government leaders around the world to bring an end to all trade in ivory, permanently.