First Kiss vs. First Sniff

The ‘First Kiss’ video (below) spread like wild fire yesterday, and unsurprisingly.  The 3.28  minute clip, by Hungarian filmmaker Tatia Pilieva, where twenty complete strangers are asked to kiss was awkwardly romantic, instantly intimate, and in some cases, preeetty steamy.  You would certainly have to be made of stone to not have been touched by the cute, fumbled small talk and endearing, giggling nervousness of the ‘strangers,’ heightened by SoKo’s lyrics; “If you’re ready for love, how can you be ready for life?”

How disappointing to find out today that this sweet and unique video was actually a viral advertisement for a clothes brand and the ‘strangers’ are all charismatic, camera-confident, professional performers ranging from French actors and indie musicians to Italian models and Hollywood hipsters.  It’s still cute… just not AS cute.  Well, in their defense, I suppose no one would actually want to watch, let alone share, a batch of random, incompetent fuglies haphazardly and sloppily making out with each other…

However, if today’s glorious sunshine is not alleviating the hurt you are feeling from being duped by these once adorable charmsters, may I suggest the joy be restored to your heart by watching Mother London’s ‘First Sniff’ parody (I imagine the first of maaaaany to come!) starring my friends Will Woodhams and Annabel Simpson’s two dogs; Disco-Rita the Whippet and Cokey-Bear the Chihuahua.  Authentically adorable. 

Lululemon's Movement Yoga Class at the Royal Opera House

I am known for many things, but my athleticism would not be one of them!  Having not moved quicker than a strut in the last decade, I was more than a little apprehensive when invited to take part in Lululemon Athletica’s 400 person Movement Yoga Class… Lets face it, that’s a 399 people to make a complete fool of myself in front of!

I was then generously sent the most comfortable, super sleek and sculpting Lululemon‘Wunder Under Pants’ (RRP. £72.00) made with Full-On Luon™ 'second-skin' fabric, and I immediately felt more confident… Well, at least I would look the part!  #AllTheGearNoIdea

My girlfriends and I made our way to the beyond stunning Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, alongside a beyond huuuge and enthusiastic crowd of self-named ‘Lulu-Heads.’  Despite originating in Canada and being the ‘go-to’ yoga wear brand in the US,  Lululemon has clearly built a seriously impressive cult following within the UK.  

The massive (and free!) yoga class was held in the Royal Opera House’s vast conservatory and with the sunshine streaming through it’s glass ceiling, we begun the hour long jivamuktiyoga class, conducted by Emma Henry and assisted by a more than helpful hoard of yogi adjusters, whilst the London Philharmonic Orchestra played live classical music. The whole experience was nothing short of euphoric and other worldly.

I will never forget the beautiful, heavenly sound of the orchestra playing ‘Adagio for Strings’ (below) during the relaxed Savasana (a.k.a 'Corpse Pose!) Prosecco and dark chocolate was served afterwards and we were all allowed to keep our Lululemon yoga mats ('The Mat' RRP. £62.00).  Exercising might not be so terrible after all… Namaste. 

Lululemon will be opening it’s first UK store in Covent Garden on the 28th of March. 
In the lead up, the brand will be teaming up with 13 yoga studios across London offering complimentary 'Cheeky Yoga!'  Can't get out of work to join in?  Fear not... Print out a doctors note to give to your boss from the Lululemon website!  See HERE for details. 

 

Lola and Grace: #MakeTheMoment

Last week I literally stopped (smiled) and smelt the roses at the gorgeous McQueen florists off Old Street for an afternoon of bubbles, cupcakes and a photo shoot with Lola and Grace, the jewellery label from the creators of Swarovski.  Amidst the beautiful blooms I was styled by InStyle Magazine's Robyn Kotze, where she accessorized my look with several pieces of jewellery from the Lola and Grace 2014 collection.

My favourite item I wore was the magnetic necklace that I conjoined with another just like it to make the longer version.  I decided, inspired by my purrfect new leopard print Senso Riley Heels and the surrounding graffitied streets of Shoreditch, that my look was to be entitled as ‘Urban Jungle’ (you can take the girl away from Africa...!)

Instagram your own favourite look and describe how it makes with the hashtag ‘#MakeTheMoment’ to be in with a chance of winning a trip to Berlin during fashion week with Lola and Grace. The jewellery company will also draw random winners each day, with prizes of online vouchers to be won. For more information see HERE.

Above:  My 'Make The Moment' currently featuring on the Lola and Grace homepage.

The Oscars - 2014

With surprisingly less ‘stand out’ frocks on the red carpet this year than the last (what were these drably dressed women thinking, that we cared about their actual films?!) the uncontested best dressed ladies at the 86th Academy Awards were Cate Blanchett andLupita Nyong’o.  In a sea of black gowns and (we’ve seen them all before) nude-toned dresses, both these actresses dressed to impress and with every intention of walking away with those golden statues… which they did.  

Best Actress Cate Blanchett wore a flesh toned, delicately embellished and very romantic Armani Privé dress which almost looked like her own beautifully pale skin.  As faultless as she always dresses, and this was no exception, I’d have loved her to have worn a brighter, red or coral lipstick to really perfect the look.   Best Supporting Actress Lupita Nyong’o, who hasn’t put a (well heeled) foot wrong during the lengthy awards season, wore a custom-made ‘Nairobi Blue’ Prada gown (the colour reminded the actress of growing up in Nairobi) with a plunging neckline and sparkling embroidery.  I wasn’t entirely sold on the actress’ Fred Leeighton diamond headband, but hey, who am I to judge a girl for having her Cinderella moment?!  The award winning actresses, who we are more used to seeing wear bolder (Lupita) and quirkier (Cate) designs, both looked elegant, super-feminine and timeless.

A special mention must also go to Kate Hudson (above), who was presenting an Oscar on the night.  Wearing a stunning, low-cut Atelier Versace dress with amazing caped sleeves, the gorgeous actress evoked an old Hollywood glamour, accessorizing with an Art Deco inspired clutch.   Also, Angelina Jolie’s make-up (below) deserves a special mention. Neutral, earthy and simple, Angie's thick lashes, soft smokey eyes and nude lips looked subtle and flawless. 

Below:  Ummm... déjà vu much?!  Clumsy Best Supporting Actress nominee Jennifer Lawrence, wearing Dior (like last year) and a Harry Winston back-necklace (like last year) fell over (like last year) on the red carpet at the start of the evening.  The loveable clutz then hid behind a giant Oscar statue.  Ellen Degeneres later mocked J-Law by saying if she were to win an Oscar that night, they would bring the award to her... Safety first.

Below:  Singer/Rapper/Producer Pharrell Williams arrived at the Oscars wearing schoolboy-like Lanvin Tuxedo Shorts… Please tell me this is not going to become ‘a thing!’  Come back Vivienne Westwood Canadian Mountain Ranger Hat, aaall is forgiven!! 

Below:  A big new red carpet trend at year’s Academy Awards was… Photobombing!  Jennifer Lawrence’s love of the red carpet photobomb has gloriously caught on andBenedict Cumberbatch’s magnificent airborne photobombing of U2 was worthy of anOscar in itself! Other note-worthy photobombing was achieved by Jared Leto to Anne Hathaway, who then in turn photobombed Jessica Biel. Boom!!  

Below:  ​Pharrell Williams (thankfully out of those shorts) performed his song ‘Happy’ from ‘Despicable Me 2’ (catchiest song EVER?!) and shared short, impromptu dances and shoulder shimmies with nominees Lupita Nyong’o, Meryl Streep and Amy Adams.

Below:  Jared Leto, with enviably perfect ombre hair, won the Best Supporting Actor award for his role as transgender AIDS patient Rayon in 'Dallas Buyers Club.'  Jared is 42 years old... HOW did that happen?!  He doesn't look a day over Jordan Catalano. 

Below:  ​John Travolta introduced the performance of (award winning song) ‘Let It Go’ from the Oscar winning animated film ‘Frozen.'  The actor however, some how introduced the song’s singer, well-known Broadway star Idina Menzel, as Adele Dazeem… Car crash.  You had one job John… Just one.  Believing that you’re nobody until you’ve had your name mangled by the actor, Slate immediately created its own widget allowing you to “Travoltify” your name (mine is Kirsty Edians!) Pleeeease next year can he introduce Benedict Cumberbatch and/or Chiwetel Ejiofor?!  ('Travoltify' your name HERE)

Below:  In the most memorable moment of the entire night, a tearful Lupita Nyong’o accepted the award for Best Supporting Actress and became Kenya’s first ever Oscar winner.  Eloquently and humbly, Lupita dedicated her award to Patsey, the brutalized plantation slave she so powerfully portrayed in ’12 Years A Slave,’ "it doesn’t escape me for one moment that so much joy in my life is thanks to so much pain in someone else’s."

Below:  After losing out on Best Supporting Actress for her role in ‘American Hustle’ pranksterJennifer Lawrence jokingly tried to steal Lupita Nyong’o’s award. 

Below:  Love was certainly in the air at this years Oscars.  Bradley Cooper lost out on Best Supporting Actor but does he look remotely phased or disappointed? Hell no, he was too busy canoodling with his gorgeous girlfriend, the British model Suki Waterhouse! Likewise, after winning  Best Actor for his standout performance in 'Dallas Buyers Club,' Matthew McConaughey told reporters that he and his beayoooticul wife Camila would not “stay at the after-party long – I want to go home and make another baby!”

Below:  When Steve McQueen's modestly budgeted slavery odyssey, based on Solomon Northup's 1853 memoir, ’12 Years A Slave,’ won Best Picture, the joy and excitement amongst the cast and crew was almost tangible.  After leaping for joy, British filmmaker Steve McQueen poignantly dedicated the award to all those who had suffered, and still suffer, from slavery, saying “everyone deserves not just to survive, but to live."

Ellen DeGeneres took the ‘selfie’ to end all ‘selfies’ mid-ceremony, which later broke all Twitter records (and even Twitter itself momentarily!) for the most retweets (3 million times and counting!), a record previously held by President Obama.  The EPIC picture included Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Jared Leto, Channing Tatum, Bradley Cooper, Kevin Spacey, Meryl Streep, Lupita Nyong’o, Jennifer Lawrence and… ummm… who? Ohh hi there Junior Yup, Lupita’s brother Junior made his way into the most Hollywood of Hollywood ‘selfies’ and I personally think he MADE this picture.  I can imagine his Christmas card is sorted for the next few years/forever...   

Mr. Boddington's Penguin Classics from Anthropologie

I, like many, have several well-thumbed copies of the Penguin Classics in my house, most of which have seen better days; scrawled with now nonsensical revision notes and inky doodling from school.  I recently however, saw these six cheerily covered Penguin Classicsin Anthropologie (below) and they have left me wanting to overhaul my entire bookshelf, peppering it with the beautiful (both inside and out) books it deserves. 

Mr. Boddington’s Penguin Classics available from Anthropologie (RRP. £9.99)

 

Pancake Pops

Shrove Tuesday – my FAVOURITE day of the year!  Today is the ONE day every year where eating huge stacks of pancakes is not only encouraged, but religiously and historically justified.  This year in celebration, I recommend all fellow maple syrup enthusiasts to makePancake Pops! Yes, Pancake Pops!  Even saying the words bring me some sweet joy. I came across this recipe on the blog ‘What Olivia Did’ and they look flippppping good...

Ingredients:
3 eggs
115g plain flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
140ml milk
A pinch of salt

1. Separate the eggs, and put the egg whites and yolks into two separate bowls. Add the flour, baking powder and milk and mix to make a thick batter.
 
2. Whisk the whites and pinch of salt until it forms stiff peaks, like a meringue mix.
 
3. Fold the whites into the yolk batter gently, this is what makes it all very fluffy.
 
4. Using a teaspoon, create small circle shaped pancakes in your heated pan and leave to brown for a couple of minutes. 
 
5. Whilst the bottom side is cooking sprinkle your filling/blueberries on the top side, before flipping them over, and leaving for another couple of minutes.
 
6. Leave to cool for a few seconds and pop the sticks through the centre (these are definitely best warm) and lather with golden syrup, honey or lemon and sugar... Enjoy!!

Kate Moss Collects BRIT Award for David Bowie

When 67 year old David Bowie was unable to pick up his Best Album award last night, the now oldest Brit Award winner in history sent Kate Moss in his place… as you do… or at least, as Bowie does. The supermodel strutted onto stage to accept the award wearing the ultimate in rock star vintage attire; Bowie’s red ‘Woodland Creatures’ playsuit, printed with white rabbits, from his 1970’s Ziggy Stardust Years. Epic! Kate has long since been a friend and big fan of Bowie, and has covered both British and French Vogue editions made up as the celebrated singer in 2003 and 2012 respectively (below).     

Porter Magazine

Have you got your mitts on PORTER yet?  The high fashion e-tailer Net-a-Porter launched their 284 glossy paged magazine (featuring the glorious Gisele on it’s first cover) this month in 220 cities and 60 countries.  Editor Lucy Yeomans has said the magazine, focused on everything from fashion to beauty, travel to tech, is aimed at “sophisticated women of the world” and the editorial pages feature “all brands, whether they’re stocked on Net-A-Porter or not”.  A Net-a-Porter app can be downloaded which has amazing image recognition capabilities, allowing readers to point their mobiles at the pages and buy the products they desire incredibly easily.  With six issues expected a year, and with each issue costing £5.00, this could potentially be the cheapest kind of luxury in town.