Hello There: Olivia Von Halle

Above:  I was utterly spoiled at Christmas when DG bought me a pair of gorgeous Olivia von Halle silk Coco Pyjamas (RRP. £330.00).  Unfortunately however, all my other pyjamas now pail into insignificance and I only want to wear these silk ones (...high maintenance much?!  Yup.)

Olivia von Halle launched her own luxury nightwear brand in 2011, inspired by the silk pyjamas Coco Chaneland her contemporaries wore in the 1920’s. The beautifully cut pyjamas in an array of stunning prints are now a firm fashionista favourite and are available in over thirty stockists including Harrods and Net-a-Porter.  You can even get them monogrammed These should be high on every girl's wish list - Trust me!
"Why have cotton... When you can have (OvH) silk...!"

Below:  Olivia von Halle's AW'14 collection inspired by Tsarist Russia in the early 20th Century.  Oliva has said, "on a trip to Moscow I was captivated by the extraordinary opulence of the buildings and the way a new generation of women such as Mira Duma and Lena Perminova were putting a chic modern spin on traditional Russian style." 

Oh, and another thing:  Olivia got married in 2008 wearing a pink skin-tight catsuit (awesome) and has a dog called Bathtub (who I am mildly obsessed with on Instagram!) 

 

 Olivia Von Halle, Olivia von Halle Silk Pyjamas, Silk Pyjamas, Harrods, Net-a-Porter, The London Chatter, Tsarist Russia, Opulent,Sleep Wear, Silk Sleepwear

 

 

Kate Moss SS'14 for Topshop

It’s time to sharpen those elbow ladies, Kate the Great is back with a new, and highly anticipated, Topshop collection an achingly long three years after her last.  In a range that is considered to be a ‘wardrobe autobiography,’ we are set to expect fringe jackets and 1970’s boho dresses galore, recreating the perfect festival, rock’n’roll vibe that over the years the supermodel style icon has been famous for.  

The collection (ranging from £30.00 to £600.00!) boasts a wide range of styles comprising four style stories (Balearic Dressing, Pyjama Dressing, Cocktail Hour and Tailoring Noir), which everything from beach kaftans to pyjama-inspired pieces (which I have my beady eyes on) and sparkling evening-wear, including the one Kate Moss wore on the cover of this month’s British Vogue. Prepare for a scrum Ladies!!

"I am very excited to create a new collection that bears my name. Now more than ever with London being at the forefront of fashion as it feels like I'm back home working with Topshop"  - Kate Moss.

Below:  Some of The London Chatter's favourite pieces from the collection...

The Kate Moss for Topshop collection is available online and in store from April 30th.

Credit Buy: Cobra Society Najet Loafers

All of Cobra Society’s footwear is inspired by New York-based Alex Davis’s love of travel and all her designs have a wonderfully exotic appeal.  The brand’s signature Kilim fabric Najet Loafers, hand-woven by artisans in Morocco, are the perfect flat shoes to be wearing now that the sunshine is finally out and about in London-town. 

These vibrant and tribal beauties are pretty, well structured and sophisticated.  Perfect for running to and from meetings, I am currently loving welcoming my ankles back from their wooly hibernation, wearing my Peach Tapestry Najets  (RRP. £ 170.00) with skinny jeans.

'Inspire: The Art of Living with Nature' Book Launch

I recently attended the launch of Willow Crossley’s latest book, ‘Inspire; The Art of Living with Nature’ at the beautiful King’s Road branch of Anthropologie. Divided into five key chapters (Woodland, Flora, Fauna, Edibles and Beach) Willow shares fifty ideas on how to incorporate shop bought and foraged treasures in decorating your home. 

The ever-enchanting Willow had created a magical, mossy woodland display consisting of hollowed-out red, white and savoy cabbages filled with pansies, primulas and hyacinths, and whilst she dutifully signed copies of her book for friends and family, we were all spoilt with pink bubbles and organic nibbles from Dayelsford. 

Above:  Willow Crossley wearing her Whistles shirt with the Melissa Skirt from Girls From Savoy(RRP. £87.29) and Zara High Heel Ankle Boot Sandals (RRP. £49.99)  

'Inspire: The Art of Living with Nature' available at Anthropologie HERE (RRP. £16.99)

'Alice in her Palace' at Fortnum and Mason

Last week, society sweetheart Alice Naylor-Leyland launched her lifestyle and fashion blog, Alice in her Palace (named after the song her ‘hubbie’ wrote for her when she was just 18!) Fortnum and Mason’s elegant Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon was jam-packed with the blonde and the beautiful of London, including Poppy Delevingne, Princess Beatrice,Laura Bailey and artist Sophia Rogge.  The exquisite cakes and pastel macaroons were just as pretty as Alice’s guests, who amongst the sweet smelling Nikki Tibbles' Wild At Heart roses and anemones, topped up on pink bubbles and Flamingo Sours to an old school DJ set spun by Lady Mary Charteris.  Poppy teamed a J Brand leather jacket with a floral skirt and Bella Freud jumper, and Alice, well known for her ‘high street buys with runway style,’looked divine in a white lace dress. Truuuuuly scrumptious. 

Above:  With designer Kalita Swaidi wearing a Topshop floral jumpsuit and clutch, with Zara heels. I'm LOVING Kalita's Meli Melo initialed Bon Bon Bag (RRP. £390.00).

Musical Moment: Hozier ('From Eden')

Following the success of the blues rock-inspired debut EP, ‘Take Me To Church' last year, Irish singer-songer writer Hozier recently released the captivating ‘From Eden.’  The combination of 23 year old Andrew Hozier-Byrne’s sentimental and weathered, soulful voice alongside a heavenly acoustic arrangement makes this song irresistible.  ‘From Eden’ is available on iTunes HERE and for Hozier’s upcoming UK tour dates see HERE. 

"Babe, there's something tragic about you
Something so magic about you
Don't you agree?
Babe, there's something lonesome about you
Something so wholesome about you
Get closer to me...'

'Honestly Healthy For Life' Book Launch

Last week I attended the launch of vegetarian chef Natasha Corrett and nutritionist Vicki Edgson’s second alkaline cookbook, ‘Honestly Healthy for Life,’ at Notting Hill’s Bumpkin. With over 100 new and anticipated easy-to-make recipes to choose from, this book promises a diet that will boost your energy and immune system, improve your mood and aid digestion. Fear not sweet teeth, HH also offers some healthier versions of your naughty favourites, including sticky toffee pudding and doughnuts! (*cue my face lighting up!)

The alkaline diet has become one of the biggest eating trends of recent years, with Victoria Beckham naming Honestly Healthy as her favourite cookbook.  To summise, our blood is 7.35/7.45 on the pH scale, making it slightly alkaline, so staying clear of acid forming foods, and eating more alkaline meals, keeps us at our optimum health.  

Above:  Guests, including Laura Whitmore, Sienna Miller (in an elegant nude Chloé shirt and sparkly Jimmy Choo brogues which hadmy inner magpie squawking with envy) and Jo Wood all enjoyed bite-size quinoa beetroot and spinach burgers, mini-slices of orange and almond cake, crunchy toffee popcorn (yum!) and vodka coconut mojitos.  

Above:  Natasha’s proud-as-punch mummy interior designer Kelly Hoppen.
Below:  On yer Honestly Healthy Bike!  With Natasha Corrett and Katy Wickremesinghe.

Below:  The London Chatter wearing a dusky pink jacket from H&M (RRP. £39.99), Black Ripped Jeans from Zara (RRP. £39.99), Senso Qimat Boots in concrete (RRP. £152.00), Mulberry Lily (RRP. £750.00) and a leopard print coat similar here from Topshop).

Raw Green Curry with Courgette Noodles. 

A quick, fool-proof recipe packed full of flavour from ‘Honestly Healthy For Life.'

Ingredients:
 
For the Sauce:
1/3 cup dried or fresh curry leaves
1 cup raw cashew nuts, soaked for 30 minutes and drained
½ cup water
Juice ½ a lime
½ cup coriander, chopped
Generous ¾ cup coconut milk
1 tsp each of ground cumin, ground ginger, dried lemongrass, fresh chilli (chopped), ginger root (grated) and ground coriander

For the Courgette Noodles:
5 courgettes
1 cup bean sprouts
1 ½ cup snow/sugar snap peas
200g baby corn, sliced
raw cashews to garnish

Instructions:

Put all of the sauce ingredients into a blender and whiz until smooth. Set aside. Spiralize the courgettes, and mix through the sauce. Next, add in the chopped vegetables and pack everything into containers and refrigerate until ready to serve. If you prefer you can make the sauce a day or so ahead and mix with the spiralized noodles just before serving.Garnish with a sprinkle of cashews and coriander leaves just before eating.

Below:  The London Chatter featured in Grazia Magazine.

‘Honestly Healthy for Life’ is available HERE from Amazon (RRP. £̶2̶5̶.̶0̶0̶ £12.41)

TFIF

#ThrowYaHandsUpInTheAirLikeYaJustDontCayAir

#NoMakeUp Selfies for Cancer Research UK

Over £8 MILLION has been raised for Cancer Research UK in the last SIX days during a campaign that’s seen women flooding our social media pages with their bare-faced ‘selfies’ and donating just £3.00 via their phone.  The trend grew totally organically by each woman nominating several friends to follow her lead.  On Day 5 of my bed-bound ‘Spring Fever’ I was nominated by FOUR of my girlfriends on facebook (flowers will do next time girls… jus’saying!) but as it's all in the name of charideeeeeee…  

Cancer Research UK have said that the generous donations would allow the charity to carry out 10 clinical trials that it did not have money to fully fund last week.  Harpal Kumar, chief executive of Cancer Research UK, said: "We have been overwhelmed by the support people have been showing us through the #nomakeupselfie trend… It has been an exciting week, and we would just like to thank everyone again for their support."

Above:  What’s also great to see is just how beyooootiful all my friends look without their slap… Truly gorgeous inside and out ladies!  To donate £3.00 please text BEAT to 70099.