'An Afternoon With Audrey' at Le Caprice

The National Portrait Gallery’s ‘Portraits of an Icon,’ the must-see exhibition celebrating Audrey Hepburn, teamed up with Le Caprice this Summer, and with only a few days left to go, I was thrilled to be invited to ‘An Afternoon with Audrey.’  For an amazing £35 pp, my girlfriend Kalita and I were spoiled with a delicious lunch (with a glass of bubbles, naturally) at the iconic London restaurant before heading to the gallery to enjoy over 70 images of the beautiful and elegant Audrey, taken by all the photographer greats; Richard Avedon, Cecil Beaton, Terry O’Neill, Norman Parkinson and Irving Penn.  

With images spanning from her chorus girl days, to being one of the world’s most famous actresses and fashion icons, to her admirable philanthropic work in Africa in her later life, Audrey truly deserves her title of 'icon.'  A stunning wall of vintage magazine covers, original film stills and truly special archival material (such as her old, pink ballet slippers worn in the 1940’s, below) add to the whole experience.

‘An Afternoon with Audrey’ is available Monday-Friday between 2.30pm-6.30pm until October 18th. To book call 020 7629 2239 and quote ‘Hepburn.'

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! 

SHOP TLC'S LOOK...

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

French Sole x English National Ballet

French Sole founder and designer, Jane Winkworth, has designed a limited edition, sparkly pink pair of shoe in aid of English National Ballet, an arts charity she and her brand have supported in the last couple of years. The ‘Henrietta’ style, which has a silver leather insole stamped with the English National Ballet’s logo, are a gorgeous addition to any ballet lover’s wardrobe…. And any non-ballet lover for that matter!
 
Female dancers can go through up to THREE PAIRS of pointe shoes in just ONE performance of a full-length ballet (that’s A LORRA LORRA twirls) so it’s easy to see how the girl’s pennies for pointes mount up!  As a result, the English National Ballet, which spends around £145,000 on pointe shoes every year, has set up the Pointe Shoe Appeal.  This appeal is vital to keep English National Ballet’s dancers performing world-class ballet to audiences around the UK and beyond.

French Sole’s beyond pretty pink pumps are available to purchase HERE for £120.00 and 50% of each sale will be donated directly to the English National Ballet’s Pointe Shoe Appeal.

Father's Day Gift Guide 2015

Father's Day is THIS weekend and if you haven’t managed to already find a pressie for the father in your life (or your child’s father) and the kitchen cupboard is already heaving with novelty ‘No.1 Dad’ mugs (best present ever, SURELY?!) then here are just a few ideas… We love you Dads! You rock.

Click on the picture of the items you like for their direct web links...

Below:  Frustrated by the lack of dedicated boxer shorts for men, Liverpool artist David Huglin set about creating something that combined his artistic vision with a commitment to comfort. Burtonwode’s boxers and PJ’s are all made in the UK and are 100% cotton.  I have a pair of lemon PJ bottoms (from £60.00) myself, and if that is not enough affirmation, Eddie Redmayne OBE is said to have been married wearing a pair of Burtonwode boxers (from £17.50) beneath his tails! 

Below:  Unique and colourful, and perfectly suited from beach to bar, Frangipani’s designs (RRP. £75.00 each) are made of 100% power-loom cotton and influenced by travels around the world.  Matthew Williamson loves them and Poppy Delevingne steals them from her husband.

Below:  Ampfly is the brand new iPhone case that makes your music three times louder, all without batteries. Yup. THREE TIMES LOUDER PEOPLE.  A summer fun essential. (RRP. £19.99)

Below:  Collar Club makes the finest quality Egyptian cotton shirts without the unnecessary mark-ups.  Designed in Britain and made in Italy, the ready to wear shirts, available in five fabrics and two styles cost £59.00, and the made to order service allows you to choose from slim and tailored first and a variety of collar and cuff styles for £69.00.  Collar Club's revolutionary concierge service is also worth considering for any London-based Don Draper Daddy's; for the price of a yearly subscription, eleven made-to-measure, Jermyn Street-quality shirts, are made for you, and collected, washed and ironed for you once a week.

This kills me...

‘Cinder Embers’ by Mister Finch at Anthropologie

I was recently invited to Anthropologie’s King’s Road gallery for a preview of 'Cinder Embers,' the celebrated British textile artist Mister Finch’s solo exhibition and book launch.  

I also managed to fit in one or three tea cups of Sipsmith/Champagne Cocktails (above) and some suuuuperb selfies with the artist himself (below).  Welllll,  it would have been terribly rude not to...

With a background in fashion, this dapper, self-taught artist from t'up North, now sews and creates original sculptures from recycled material, breathing new life and adventure into old velvet curtains, threadbare wedding dresses, vintage aprons, etc.  Not only does this make Mister Finch’s ‘storytelling creatures’ beautifully ethical, but utterly charming and magical. 

For this particular exhibtion, Mister Finch has taken inspiration from beyond his usual influences of nature and folklore, and instead draws on the story of the celebrated Parisian taxidermy shop Deyrolle. The iconic, famed store burned to the ground in 2008 and the charred remains of the stuffed animals were subsequently captured in haunting detail by investigative photographer Laurent Bochet. 

Fifteen soft and mysterious sculptures, including a regal crowned swan and a seven foot sly fox, will be displayed in Chelsea’s Anthropologie until January 4th.  If you can’t make it down, do buy Mister Finch’s fantastical debut book, ‘Living in a Fairy Tale World’ (RRP.£30.00), which features stunning imagery of his extraordinary one-of-a-kind creatures – the perfect coffee table addition (click on image below).

Frieze Art Fair 2011

Regents Park saw the annual return of the Frieze Art Fair last week and when my friend asked me to go with her I leapt at the chance. I have always, for one reason of another, missed out on going so I had no idea what to expect…

When I arrived I found a huge showcase of commissioned art and design to explore from over 170 different contemporary galleries… Curated by Sarah McCrory, a massive, eclectic collection of eye-catching paintings, sketches, prints, sculpture and photography are displayed along several very long aisles (I wiiiish I’d worn trainers!!)

Right: Tracey Emin's 'And I Said I Love You!'

Here are some of the pieces which caught my eye:

Above: This amazingly dressed lady was unsurprisingly drawn to the chandelier of neon, multi-coloured bodies... How brilliant?!

Above: Jung Lee’s sculpture ‘Aporia’

Above L-R: Jim Lambe, Untitled and Dominique Gonzalez-Foerster's 'After'

Above L-R: Barnaby Hosking's 'Thoughts' and David Shrigley's 'Untitled (This is Nothing)'

Above L-R: Dawn Mellor's 'Kristen Scott Thomas' and Cornelia Parker's '30 Pieces of Silver'

Above: Sculpture by Tara Donovan

Above: Tracey Emin's 'You Made ME LOVE You'

'Thought Of You' - Animated short by Ryan Woodward (music by The Weepies)

"Everything that I said I'd do

Like make the world brand new

And take the time for you

I just got lost and slept right through the dawn

And the world spins madly on..."

This 2 minute little treasure of a short film, created by animator Ryan Woodward (‘Where The Wild Things Are’) came from his desire to unite several of his passions into one art piece; 2d animation, EFX animation, and contemporary dance. These three forms were combined to convey an intimate, complex relationship dancing along to The Weepies’ ‘World Spins Madly On’… The results are extremely powerful, evocative and affecting.

The meaning of the love story shown is open to each viewer’s interpretation...

I have a feeling that if there had been another sequence to this film we would have seen this girl standing up, dusting off her frock, and once again raising up her wings…
'You go Mama!' (I'm still trying to speak 'Kelly Rowland' - but not quiiiite pulling it off yet...)

The Minotaur at The Old Vic Tunnels

On Monday night I went to the Old Vic Tunnels for the opening night of 'The Minotaur' - a unique collaboration of theatre, visual art, film and food to coincide with both the Frieze Art Fair and the London Restaurant Festival.

The Lazarides Galleries, the influential group who represent emerging international artists who defy convention, have collaborated with Kofler & Kompanie (the pioneers of PRET A DINER, Europe's most celebrated pop up restaurant) to transform the Old Vic Tunnels into an alternative cultural space featuring a labyrinth gallery of cutting-edge artwork and film alongside creative cuisine from Michelin-starred chefs.

The exhibition takes inspiration from the ancient Greek legend of 'The Minotaur' and Steve Lazarides commissioned several exciting and innovative artists to each create their own interpretation of the classical myth. Highlights of the exhibition included art and installations by Robert del Naja “3D” (from Massive Attack), David Choe (who was commissioned by Mark Zuckerberg last year to paint the new Facebook offices) Conor Harrington, Antony Micallef, and Jonathan Yeo.

Art aside, what also really excited and amazed me was the venue itself. The vast, maze-like Old Vic Tunnels, hidden beneath the deepest, darkest depths of Waterloo Station, is the most unique and atmospheric venue I have seen in a very long time. Acquired by The Old Vic in 2010 the mystical, dimly lit, arches have since been used for a plethora of art, music and theatre events.

Tickets to 'The Minotaur' exhibition: £5.
A three course meal at PRET A DINER including entrance to the exhibition: £75.

Showing until the 25th of October.

Celina Teague: 'My Bunny is Full of Teeth and Other Stories' Exhibition

Above: Under Worship

Above: Artist Celina Teague by The Hollow Couple

On Tuesday night I went to the preview of 'My Bunny is Full of Teeth and Other Stories' - the latest exhibition by artist Celina Teague.

The title of the show was inspired by Celina's unruly pet bunny rabbit, Gretel, who made a surprise appearance on the night! (left)

It is always very exciting to see Celina's work exhibited and this show certainly did not disappoint – the paintings, and several drawings, together are a powerful force – incredibly bright and hugely charismatic. One can become completely absorbed in the detail of her work (where often the most fun is discovered!)

Above: By The Rape of the Honeybee

Above: Marina Fogel, Michou von Beschwitz, Marcus Waley-Cohen, Baldassare La Rizza, Sinead Murtagh, Fiona McGlinchey, Celina Teague, Shirley Leigh-Wood Oakes

Above: Simon Ambrose, Awsa Bergstrom, Emily Marr, Alex Roupell, Anthony Nathan, Charlie Beamish, James French, Vanessa Story, Olivia Hunt, Orlando and Emma Seale.

'My Bunny is Full Of Teeth and Other Stories' is showing until Sunday 9th Oct at The ROA Gallery.

www.celinateague.com