Beulah and French Sole Collaboration

Forget wearing your heart on your sleeve and start wearing them on your toes!  Beulah and French Sole have collaborated to make the loveliest of heart-shaped limited-edition ballet flats to help raise money for the United Nations' Blue Heart Campaign which supports the plight against human trafficking, a cause of great importance to the beauteous Beulah co-founders, Lady Natasha Rufus Isaacs and Lavinia Brennan (above).

The night before I flew home to Kenya for Christmas I went to George on Mount Street in Mayfair, for the launch of these adorable, must-have slippers.  The soft grey flats with navy velvet hearts on their toes have bright blue soles and Beulah print lining. 

Available at French Sole (HERE) - RRP. £185.00 (25% goes to the Blue Heart Campaign).

 

The London Chatter's Charity Gift Guide for MyGoodness.com and Elephant Conservation

I have never kept either my love of elephants or my frustrations over their rapid demise a secret.  Alongside hundreds of other ele-lovers I recently protested outside The Houses of Parliament (left, see HERE) urging the government to take action to end the illegal trade in ivory.  At the current rate of poaching African Elephants could face extinction in the wild by 2025!!  I was therefore, thrilled to be asked by MyGoodness.com to curate a Christmas gift list in aid of Elephant Conservation. 

MyGoodness.com is a fashion and lifestyle website with a ‘Buy to Give’ mentality, allowing you to and give back to great causes and charities with every purchase made online.  Each of my chosen gifts will trigger a donation to these three brilliant elephant conservation organizations; The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, Tusk Trust and Elephant Family so why not surprise your loved ones this Christmas with stylish gifts that make a positive impact on elephant welfare? Now that WOULD be a Happy Christmas! 

Right: Visiting the elephant orphans at the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trustin Nairobi, close to where I was brought up, when I was little and also more recently.

Hello There: Chavín Jewellery

Last week I attended the online launch of ethical jewellery brand Chavín Jewellery at speakeasy, Barts London. Amidst the moooreish vodka infused hot chocolate (adorably served in vintage espresso cups!) I liberally tried on most of the jewellery displayed – a delicious but dangerous combination! 

Right: Wearing a faux fur lilac/grey jacket fromOasis (similar HERE), pink shirt from Topshop and necklace from Lulu Frost for J Crew (similar HERE). 

Chavín (pronounced ‘shav-een’) was founded in 2011 by Simon Ogilvie-Harris, and named after an ancient Peruvian civilization that produced refined precious metalwork.   The collection beautifully fuses ancient Peruvian mythology with a modern design. 

Chavín is one of a new breed of designers;  those that amazingly give back right from the start.  Every piece of jewellery you buy from Chavín sees a donation made to SOS Children’s family strengthening programme, ‘Luz Y Vida.’  This programme helps to improve the economic situation and development of education within Peru, making any purchase from this company a responsible luxury (the very best kind of purchase!) 

I was immediately drawn to the Jaguar Collection, perhaps because Harry and Lloyd (my new rescue kittens who turned up on my doorstep at Halloween!) look like teeny tiny jaguars themselves!  Once seen as a sacred symbol in Chavín culture, the jaguar is also now used as the logo for the Chavín brand and the range of jaguar jewellery is really striking.  I was extremely kindly given the stunning Rose Gold Filigree Jaguar Head Pendant (RRP. £77.00)  which I and, unsurprisingly, my wild little kittens, adore!   

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. 

Keira Knightley's Anti-Domestic Violence Campaign for Women's Aid UK

Love Actually star Keira Knightley is left battered and bruised by her jealous boyfriend in a deeply disturbing, TV campaign which raises awareness of domestic violence for the UK charity Women’s Aid.  The advert breaks the stereo type that only meek housewives suffer from such horrific violence with Keira playing a successful and beautiful film actress.
 
"I wanted to take part in this advert for Women's Aid because while domestic violence exists in every section of society we rarely hear about it," said Keira, "Domestic violence affects one in four women at some point in their lifetime and kills two women every week."
Both Keira and the commercial's director Joe Wright, who also directed the actress in Atonement and Pride and Prejudice, refused payment for their services.

The Chelsea Flower Show

Headlined as a Pageant of Loveliness by the Observer in 1935, the RHS Chelsea Flower Show is this week celebrating its hundredth year anniversary.  Amongst the spectacular colours and hedonistic scents, this year’s highlight is the Forget-Me-Not garden designed by Prince Harry, created to promote his African charity Sentebale, and in memory of his mother.  Garden gnomes, previously banned at the show for being inelegant and crude, will also feature this year – I love the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge gnomes!

Despite it being wholly predictable (“Florals? For spring? Ground breaking!”) this is the most opportune time to look blooming hot in your prettiest flowery prints...
Below:  Topshop Tattoo Floral Teadress RRP. £45.00

Princesse Tam.Tam's Red Nose Day Pyjamarama

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Princesse Tam.Tam promised to donate £50.00 in my name at tonight’s 25th Comic Relief fundraiser if I agreed to be ‘Funny for Money’ and wear my pyjamas to work this morning!  I have worn my Princesse Tam.Tam Diamond Blue PJs (available here) along with the accessory du jour, a Red Nose, all day – including at a meeting with Literary Death Match creator Adrian Todd Zuniga at Notting Hill’s Granger & Co (below). 

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To donate to Red Nose Day click here.  The money you give will help poor and vulnerable people, both in the UK and in Africa.  

International Women's Day ... Chime for Change

Gucci’s creative director Frida Giannini has joined forces with Beyonce Knowles Carter and Salma Hayek Pinault to launch Chime For Change, a global campaign for women’s empowerment, specifically aimed at the areas of education, health and justice.  The three co-founders are joined by an expert  ‘Advisory Board’ which includes Meryl Streep, Jada Pinkett Smith and Julia Roberts, leading Beyonce to feel “honoured to be in the company of women who live fearlessly and who set an example for the next generation of young ladies."  The fact that today is also International Women’s Day,  I'm even more excited about their initiative. Girl Power at it’s best. A Zigga Zig Aaaaah. 

Beyonce Performs 'I Was Here' For United Nations World Humanitarian Day

Earlier this month Beyonce donned a sparkly Marc Bouwer gown and recorded the video for her latest song, ‘I Was Here,’ in front of a live audience at the United Nations in New York.  The video was released on Monday, August 19th, World Humanitarian Day with the goal “to inspire people all over the world to do something good, no matter how big or small, for someone else.”  The video features footage from recent disasters and images of humanitarian workers who have made a real difference.

Beyonce recently revealed, “I feel like we all want to know that our life meant something and that we did something for someone else… That we spread positivity no matter how big or how small.” Prepare to well up a little...

Marie Curie Cancer Care Fundraiser

On Tuesday night I attended Heather Kerzner's star-studded fundraiser for Marie Curie Cancer Care. Marie Curie Cancer Care is best known for its network of 2,700 nurses, who provide vital and free end of life care to patients with terminal illness in their own homes, or in one of its nine hospices.

The beautiful ballroom at Claridges, filled with celebrity florist Rob van Helden’s heavenly pink peonies and red roses, looked almost as stunning as the glamorous guests, including Kate Moss and Jamie Hince, Ronnie Wood, Yasmin Le Bon, Holly Valance and Nick Candy, Tamara Beckwith, Geri Halliwell, Sarah the Duchess of York and Princess Beatrice.

Above:  Wearing a Nanette Lepore velvet dress and turquoise Chanel shoes.  Below: (clockwise) David Bailey and Sarah the Duchess of York, a rocking Ronnie Wood, Holly Valance, Richard Dennen and Kelly Eastwood, a papping Kate Moss, Matthew Freud with Heather Kerzner, Kate Moss and Jamie Hince. Photographs by Christopher Jackson.

During the lavish dinner, Heather Kerzner and model Saffron Aldridge movingly expressed their own personal gratitude to the Marie Curie Cancer Care nurses. Matthew Freud followed, cheekily referring to his infamous scuffle with Hugh Grant (“it’s nice to attend one of Heather’s parties and not get punched… although the night is still relatively young!”) went on to introduce ‘When I Die: Lessons from the Death Zone’, an intimate short film (below) he co-produced about his friend Philip Gould’s final days.

An auction followed, led by the charismatic Lord Harry Dalmeny, that raised over £620,000 for the Marie Curie Cancer Care. The amazing lots included an opportunity to have your portrait taken by David Bailey, a private party at Annabels, and an absolutely stunning George Pragnell Diamond Daffodil ring.  The ring, shown below, in the shape of a daffodil (the Marie Curie’s emblem) was designed by the jeweller’s grandson, Charlie Pragnell, in recognition of Marie Curie’s outstanding work.  I was allowed to wear the stunning ring, with its rare and glittering orange-yellow diamond centre for around five minutes before I was reminded I had to give it back... They were a happy five minutes. ‘My’ beautiful daffodil ring was later auctioned off for £50,000. Parting is such sweet sorrow...

Kate Moss took to the stage to model a last minute donation from Ronnie Wood; a painting of Rod Stewart by the Rolling Stone himself. The piece was auctioned off for £12,000 after Lord Harry Dalmeny managed to push the bidding past £10,000 by saying that Kate Moss wouldn’t even get out of bed for so little… Reaslising he’d got his supermodel’s mixed up (“Oh, no, that’s not you – that’s the other one!”) Kate went on to confirm that she would indeed rise from bed for less than £10,000. Damn recession.

We were later entertained by the legendary Grammy award winning R&B artist Sam Moore, who was joined on stage by Ronnie Wood in a surprise set that included 'Stay With Me' and 'Mustang Sally' (which was directed at Wood’s new girlfriend… Sally!) 

My place at the front of the stage allowed me the perfect view of Ronnie Wood’s studded Louboutin loafers, and in what must be the most glamorous mosh pit ever, I spent a good part of the evening dancing next to Kate Moss.  Just your average Tuesday night…

After a hugely fun and successful night, Heather Kerzner commented, "I am so impressed by the work of Marie Curie Cancer Care it was natural for me to lend my support. People don't like to talk about death, but we all have to face it and I wanted to help bring money and attention to this incredible charity whose nurses, like angels, bring peace to terminally ill patients and their families during this devastating time."

Below: In the Marie Curie Photo Booth with Katy Wickremesinghe and with Charlie Pragnell (wearing the stunning George Pragnell Daffodil Diamond ring he designed.)