The Conran Shop opens at Selfridges

The Conran Shop have opened an interiors haven within the illustrious and iconic lower ground level of Selfridges, and on the last night of London Fashion Week, my friend Rosanna Falconer (below, draped in glittering Matthew Williamson, as per) and I attended the launch.  Surrounded by a beyond stylish edit of multi-coloured gadgets and gizmos a’plenty, it took ultimate strength (of character, and at times pure manhandling) to not buy everything in sight after a glass (orrr two) of champagne. A go-to destination for note-worthy gifts and investment items for your home - Keep me away, this could be dangerous! 

TLC LOVES... THE CONRAN SHOP

Above:  I'm more than a little obsessed with these Medium Cactus Vases (£37.50) and Large Cactus Vases (£59.00). Next pay cheque, they're MINE! 

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Matthew Williamson for Osborne and Little

During London Fashion Week I decided to take a little fashunnnn time out go to the launch of Matthew Williamson’s latest collection of fabrics and wallpapers for Osborne and Little.  As I'm currently refurbishing my flat, I'm on the constant lookout for design inspiration - and what better place to start?  Matthew’s signature love of kaleidoscopic prints and his penchant for the exotic has been reflected in this collection of spirited, fruity fabrics and wild and whimsical wallpapers.

If you’re not currently looking to update your home with any crouching tigers, or not so hidden peacocks (and and I must ask, why not?!) I suggest you get yourself a FANTASTICAL Matthew Williamson for Osborne and Little umbrella.  I couldn’t have been more thrilled with mine on that day (my Clo and Flo blow dry was saved - Phew!!) and I can already foresee that my latest, fabulously flamboyant accessory will fast become my most useful!

See the full Matthew Williamson for Osborne and Little range HERE.

Nine by Savannah Miller at Debenhams

Savannah Miller, an old friend, has recently joined the Debenhams' Designer portfolio, and launched a 70-piece clothing range, with 45 accessories.  Nine by Savannah Miller is a laid back, boho, with definite references to both the 1970’s and 1990’s, both popular styles this season.

"I am delighted to become a part of the Designers at Debenhams offering with the launch of my new collection, Nine," said Savannah. "The range is inspired by the eclectic and bohemian, chic way that cool girls dress and comprises of relaxed, casual separates. Naturally there is a particular emphasis on amazing knitwear which can be teamed with perfect jeans to embellished sequin skirts."

I particularly like the Lou Bucket Bag, leather jackets, the Double Layered Faux Fur Gilet, and Steffi Biker Boots (all featured above) and I'm planning on maaaajorly stocking up on the navy and blush Breton style basic tops – you can never have too many and these ones are so soft and affordable. 

I recently met up with Savannah in THE most beautiful house in North London, and had a sneak peak at the collection...  Most of the collection works really well when worn together, taking away any worry of how to style a complete look.  Savannah talked me through how how she herself would wear the pieces together, creating simple yet elegant matches, and how she easily could take the looks from day into night, with accessories and make up. I hope you enjoy these clips we filmed… We certainly had a giggle making them!

Savannah Loves...

Below:  With Savannah at the launch night of Nine by Savannah Miller at Ham Yard Hotel. 

FACT:  The Debenhams' collection is named after Savannah’s lucky number, but also relates to her daughter’s name, Lyra, a constellation that shines most brightly after 9pm. 

Shop the full Nine by Savannah Miller collection HERE

The L.K. Bennett Social Skirt

I love wearing a mid-length, full skirt on evenings out in London. Aside from feeling automatically chic, the silhouette of the skirt is ultimately forgiving and flattering, hiding a multitude of sins; a win win! 

L.K Bennett’s beautiful array of ‘social skirts’ came to my attention earlier this year. Being oh-so-luckily frequently invited to some oh-so-faaancaaay evening events, I quite regularly and naturally gravitate to one of these characterful skirts.  Given the shape has a classic 1950’s aesthetic, the skirt could possibly come across in rather a prim way.  I like to therefore modernise the look, and make sure to keep it youthful, by wearing them with a flash of midriff, a slouchy cashmere jumper, or a little rocky t’shirt, with the highest of heels as an obvious necessity! The overall look is subsequently low-key and relaxed, but still omits a real hot to trot glamour for an evening out.

Having been inspired by many of the looks I admired over London Fashion Week, I decided to style up my L.K. Bennett Kenton Skirt (now on sale!) in the day time,  and have a little wander, with the fantastic photographer Ella Sadika, around my beyond colourful Notting Hill ‘hood. 

I decided to wear the Kenton Skirt with a Chinti and Parker cashmere top, a Nathalie Trad clutch (a total work of art) and some pink Sunday Somewhere sunnies.  I have literally not taken my L.K. Bennett black and rose gold Sally Platform Ankle Strap Courts off since I got them, and this day was no different...

An easy and more comfortable day time alternative to heels would be a pair of brogues (I like the LKB ballerina pink Elga Saffiano Leather Brogues) or a pair of boots (like the blue LKB Keri Knee High Boots) for when it gets chillier - a look I really love and will definitely be trying out more this fast approaching Autumn.  

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Below:  L.K. Bennett’s range of elegant social skirts come in a variety of textures, dramatic prints and fabrics, and there is definitely a style suitable for everyone's taste.  Check out the amazing mulberry Delfine Leather Skirt, an online exclusive which is in extraordinarily high demand. 

Hotel Chantelle

I was really excited to be invited to brunch at the new Hotel Chantelle behind Selfridges, having heard fantastic things about its famed New York’s outpost in the Lower East Side. Named after a World War II safe house, Hotel Chantelle is not an actual hotel.  Confused?  I was too. Hotel Chantelle is a ‘relaxed,’ but actually a strictly chic, restaurant with a late night bar set across just the one floor, with two outdoor terraces and a healthy wash of graffiti by the renowned, and super cool, New York street artist Bradley Theodore, who I had the pleasure of meeting.  There is, for your guidance, an enforced ‘dressy chic’ dress code, which may well result in putting off the very same London crowd they wish to attract, but I would ask you, even if in your forced finery, to venture in to taste the food – it’s worth it. 

With live jazz from the dapper Dandy Wellington and over-flowing Bellini's (surely what a good Sunday is all about?!) my friend Kalita and I settled in to what soon revealed itself to be, an EPIC brunch of EPIC proportions.  Advertised as having an American and French inspired fare, the imaginative menu (featuring a glorious Holly Golightly image) full of beyond unique recipes would make you assume it had been created by someone completely buzzed… Full English Breakfast Pizza anyone?! 

We were assured by the talented chef, Seth Levine, that he was not actually the ultimate stoner, and that his ‘molecular gastronomy, comfort food and haute cuisine,’ menu was all just down to his whimsical Willy Wonka’esq imagination!  Not a smashed avocado on toast in sight, I tell you!

Kalita and I were both soon presented with an assortment of delicious (and at times, potentially heart attack inducing) dishes that included Thyme Pomelo Brûlée, Frosted Flake-Encrusted Brioche French Toast, Baked Alaska Waffles (these were amayyyzing!) and Lobster Benedict. Forget ‘dressy chic,’ they should encourage diners to wear elasticated trackie-bums before rolling them home!  I'm intrigued to try the lunch menu next.

Hotel Chantelle is open seven days a week between 11.30am-11:00pm.
Late night dining will be available between Thursday and Saturday until 3am. 
Weekend brunch will be offered on Saturdays and Sundays from 11am-4pm

HOTEL CHANTELLE:  23 ORCHARD STREET, LONDON, W1

Iris at Annabel's

Last month I attended the Curzon Mayfair for a private screening of Iris, the much anticipated Albert Maysles documentary about Iris Apfel, the self-christened ‘nonagenarian It-girl.’  After watching the film amongst an audience of well dressed, over accessorised fashionistas (in honour of the ‘more is more’ starlet herself, naturally!) we all headed to the ever-fabulous Annabel’s, the iconic member's club, for dinner.  

Above:  Iris Apfel attended the dinner, welcoming us all warmly, wearing a bright orange faux-fur coat, copious Nancy Cunard bangles and her signature, magnified Edna Mode glasses. 

Above:  Let loose with the polaroid camera!  With journalist Amy E Williams, fashion blogger Ella Catliff and House of Hackney founders Frieda Gormley and Javvy M Royle.

My highlights included meeting Charlotte Dellal (above, I could be one of the biggest Charlotte Olympia fans around), being treated to the restaurant's reknown Bitter Chocolate Ice Cream (Oh. My. Sweet. Lord...) and managing to perfectly match my Matthew Williamson outfit and Miu Miu heels with the carpet and doors at Annabel’s…. Next level coordination commitment!  Excessive fun all round - just like Iris loves.

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Debit Buy: Novelty Socks

Depressingly, it’s time to go 'back to school' and back to shoes… I've decided the only way to cope with the severe lack of sand between my toes is to with some good ol’novelty socks.  Seriously, what doesn't alleviate the summertime withdrawals more than looking at your feet and seeing some hula dancing cats?!...  

Jimmy Choo's 'Choo Hound' Launch

This summer Brazilian artist Rafael Mantesso and his Bull Terrier, Jimmy, collaborated Choo to launch ‘Choo Hound,’ a capsule collection of leather accessories featuring playful images of his Bull Terrier Jimmy. The collection included tote bags, purses, cosmetic bags and iPhone cases, not to mention the limited edition leather dog collars which sent the Lapdogs of London into a frenzy. 

To celebrate the collaboration Jimmy Choo’s Creative Director Sandra Choi, alongside Olivia Palermo, co-hosted an adorable tea party at the newly opened Ivy Chelsea Garden (now a firm favourite of mine.)  The entire garden had been transformed by the brilliantly creative Polar Black Events, with the monochrome style of the collection reflected in the setting’s aesthetic, complete with a central doggy fountain!

A traditional, yet quirky, afternoon tea was served, which included delicious iced dog-bone shaped biscuits, Slush Puppies (of course!) and paw-print lattes.  Adorable!! 

Below:  Despite many of the fashionista guests attending with their gorgeous canine counterparts, there was really only one guest of honour… internet sensation Tuna, the chiweenie (Chihuahua and Dachshund, who knew?!) from L.A with over one million Instagram followers (@tunaMeltsMyHeart) who was at the time 'summering in London!' Tuna, you really did melt our hearts… LOOK AT THAT SWEET LITTLE FACE!!

Below:  The amazing shoes and handbag I wore for the event... Swooooon!! 

TLC LOVES... JIMMY CHOO

HAWT: Emily Ratajkowski in David Koma, Balmain and Maria Lucia Hohan

Hawt = A late 1940's and early 1950's acronym for "Having A Wonderful Time."
Now the word is used on the internet as slang for something reeeeally hot.

Emily Ratajkowski has once again been hitting the headlines, but this time more for what she HAS been wearing, rather than what she hasn’t!  The model-turned-actress, and ‘star’ of Robin Thicke's ‘Blurred Lines’ music video, made appearances on the red carpets at three premieres for ‘We Are Your Friends’ in the cities of London, Paris and Hollywood – all looking beyond HAWT! 

In London. Emily wore an electric blue David Koma A/W’15 dress with a Monique Lhullier ‘Stella’ clutch and Giueseppe Zanotti heels.  With her hair pulled into a ponytail, she really allowed the striking dress to do the talking and exuded high fashion.  In Paris, Emily once again pulled out all the stops and wore a shimmering jade fringed Balmain dress, which not only showed off THOSE legs in all their glory, but also brought a touch of rock’n’roll to the glamourous proceedings.  Lastly, the 24-year-old wore a show-stopping, plunging (welllll, it was bound to happen at some point) Maria Lucia Hohan Grecian style gown, Giuseppe Zanotti heels, and carried a rose gold clutch by Treesie. Red Carpet High Fives all round Emily! 

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TLC Vacation: Giraffe Manor, Nairobi, Kenya

There are many reasons as to why growing up in Kenya lead to a rather magical, privileged and enviable childhood, but one of them was almost certainly my close proximity to Giraffe Manor.  I grew up visiting it’s neighbouring Giraffe Centre, a breeding programme for the endangered Rothschild giraffe, most days after school (frequently feeding the giraffe from my mouth, driving the tourists wild, and driving my poor mother to absolute distraction!)  I would often gaze onto the Manor ahead, dreaming one day I would live there, alongside my wondrously leggy and lashy friends.

Giraffe Manor was built in 1932 by Sir David Duncan, half an hour outside Nairobi, on 12 acres of picturesque private land, next to 140 acres of forest with stunning views of the Ngong Hills.  In 1974 Jock Leslie-Melville and his American wife Betty, who founded the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife (AFEW), bought the Manor, bringing with them two baby Rothschild giraffe, the first of many generations to inhabit the estate.  After Jock passed away, Betty opened the house up to visitors, and to this day staying at this colonial residence, and having giraffe poking their heads into the dining room looking to share your breakfast, is one of THE most unforgettable experiences you can have in Kenya, if not Africa. 

Well, my dream of owning Giraffe Manor sadly did not come true, but I did have two wonderful recent opportunities to visit the Manor.  Before Christmas I was invited for breakfast with my sister and my niece Willow. Willow, a New York resident, was six months old and on her first trip visiting her mother and aunt’s beloved Kenya.  Sharing darling Willow’s first meeting and greeting with my giraffe pals was so unbelievably special.  Not an ounce of fear in her little body, my niece launched forward to touch Helen’s face, who seemed far more interested in the grain pellets I had in my hand than the tiny baby poking at her eye (a relief to us all as as these gentle giants have been known to give a ferocious head butt if irritated… I unfortunately, albiet amusingly, have a couple of experiences of this!... OUCH!) 

Steering clear of the warthog, hilariously funny to watch following the giraffe around in the hope of finding discarded food, but obviously less baby friendly, we ate delicious pancakes and enjoyed fresh juice and coffee to the accompanied sounds of Willow’s excited shrieks. 

Then earlier this year, I was asked, alongside some other bloggers and journalists, to stay at Giraffe Manor for the night by The Safari Collection, the latest owners of the residence and several other luxury holiday hot spots around Kenya. I know… I say it time and time again, but my job does NOT suck.  Reminiscent of the homes existing in Kenya’s colonial heyday, a time when my grandparents were living in the country, the hotel is cosy and romantic, and a little insight into a bygone era.

After a wonderful morning visiting the elephant orphans at David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, we returned for a lovely lunch (munch, drool and slurp!) on the Manor's sunny verandah.  We were then left to enjoy the Manor in it’s entirety for the afternoon. There are spa services available, a gift shop and copious wildlife photography books, and famous colonial Kenyan’s autobiographies scattered around the sitting room and library for your perusal; an entirely relaxing environment.  That is, until 4pm, when non-residents can now venture in for their afternoon tea. This is a brilliant time to explore the nearby boutiques or historical attractions (feeding giraffe, as experienced with Willow, can cause extreme excitement and squeeeeals!) 

After a delicious red wine fuelled evening dinner in the candle-lit dining room we all sat by a roaring fire (Langata, and Karen where I was raised, can be notoriously chilly at night due to their high altitude) drinking our choice of tea and sharing stories. Old-school elegance at it’s best.

Sadly, no giraffe came to my window the next morning but boy, did Ed over-compensate for that at breakfast!  One of the larger males, Ed showed no desire in waiting his turn in line, as he repeatedly lunged through the dining room windows towards our plates of pancakes and fruit – totally hilarious, and yes, like I said, an unforgettable experience that only this unique property afford you.

Yes, some of the bedrooms in the main house are a little basic and could use a minor lift… Yes, the wifi frustratingly only works in the Manor’s extension, and not in the main house… BUT, lest we forget, YOU GET TO EAT BREAKFAST WITH GIRAFFE!!  And for that amazing reason, these small details are easily forgiven.  A brilliant, and beyond special, start or end to your holiday in Kenya. 

Below:  Could my giraffe-tastic SENSO IDA XI mandals beeee anymore perfectly placed?! 

TLC ON TOUR... GIRAFFE MANOR SUITCASE:

(Click on the items below for their direct links)

Below:  Willow's experience at Giraffe Manor clearly stayed with her.  When back in New York she immediately went to kiss her giant toy giraffe, a trick her naughty Aunty maaay have taught her!  See below (and hover for links) on some of Willow's favourite 'Sophie La Girafe' toys and products.

FACT: One of the Manor's giraffe is called Kelly. A coincidence? I think not.

Thank you to Giraffe Manor and The Safari Collection.

To make a donation to the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife please go HERE.