Debit Buy: Kara Ross Earrings on The Outnet

When American fine jeweller Kara Ross was 13 years old her parents bought her a gemstone of her choice to commemorate a family safari in Africa.  When she returned home Kara designed a ring with the tourmaline she had chosen, “to know that I could create something wholly original at a young age really affected me.”  Kara’s elegant and dazzling cocktail rings, bangles and drop earrings are firm favourites of Kate Hudson,Cameron Diaz, Eva Mendes and Michelle Obama. 
 
Below:  These Kara Ross gold-plated Water Monitor earrings available HERE on The Outnet are a steal!

RRP. £95.00 £52.25 

Trend: Spring Knits

Above: Day or night, no one rocks a sweater better than Alexa Chung.

Despite the sun STILL refusing to put his party hat on (yes, that is snow outside... IN APRIL!) I refuse to let my style suffer.  It may be all miserable and gloomy outside but underneath my heavy parka and umbrella I shall be wearing a series of gorgeous light and bright knits bound to put Spring in my step.  A knitted jumper is key this season so whether you choose to wear yours with a bejewelled statement necklace, layered with a shirt underneath (collar done up for the ultimate in geek chic), or, à la Brrrrr-ave Alexa Chung, with bare legs and a skirt, your Winter Blues will be banished. 

Above (L-R):  Jump(er)ing into Spring:  Sienna Miller, Poppy Delevigne & Laura Carmichael.

Best of London - David Huglin

Burtonwode was launched by artist David Huglin (left) in 2010 when he noticed the huge imbalance “between the choice women had with their underwear compared to men.”   David set about to create stylish and unique boxer shorts for men who wanted something more individual ”underneath it all.”  

Printed in a 19th Century Carlisle mill and then stitched in London’s Canning Town, the sixteen pair collection of colourful Burtonwode boxer shorts are classically cut, made from 100% softened cotton and are available in a range of quirky prints from David’s own artwork.

Despite being based in London, David is Liverpudlian and has 'Liverpool' sewn onto every label "because I want it to be seen as a Liverpool brand; the city very much suits our outlook because there are things like plums and cherries on the boxes - it’s meant to be quite witty and cheeky and not taking itself too seriously.”  Fruity. 

David Huglin shared with us some of his London Favourites…

My Pint – I always try and go for something I've not had before.  I ask to try a bit of something random and and then have a pint of the stuff if I like it.  One that is always good value for money is Sam Smiths Alpine Lager at Blue Posts ( 81 Newman Street).
 
My Date Night – Home made Pierogies on the couch with my wife watching some trashy food porn programme.    
 
My Sunday Brunch – It has to be bagels with cream cheese and dry smoked smoked salmon at L&D in Hampstead (15-17 Lyttelton Road), or at Panzers in St.Johns Wood (13-19 Circus Road) - It's making me hungry even thinking about it...   
 
My Building – This is hard to choose, but probably the The Isokon Building in Hampstead.  Early residents included Walter Gropius, Marcel Breuer and Agatha Christie. I also find theRoyal Festival Hall just remarkable.  The details are unbelievable - check out the entrance door handles and brass banisters.

My London Shop – It was the Paul Smith furniture shop on Albermarle Street, full of whimsy and playfulness.  Sadly it's temporarily closed as it had some awesome stuff in there.  Calvert Street in Shoreditch is really great, it has Anthem, Mawi and Ally Capelino.

My London Extravagance – Taking the day off and strolling around the British Museum.
 
London's Best Kept Secret – I like the second hand furniture places on the Holloway Road.
 
My London Icon – Edward Johnston who invented the Underground Symbol and Typeface used until the 1980's. A brilliant and efficient response to the challenges of the underground mapping system. 

Burtonwode Boxer Shorts RRP. £26.00

www.burtonwode.com

Princesse Tam.Tam's Red Nose Day Pyjamarama

blog_223198_1959156_1363612913.jpg

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). 

blog_223198_1959155_1363612914.jpg
blog_223198_1959168_1363612914.jpg


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.  

Mother's Day Flowers ... From Chanel

Show your Mum just HOW much you love her by hot-footing it down to Covent Garden this weekend and buying her a beautiful bouquet from the Chanel pop-up flower stall.  From tomorrow the flowers essential to the House’s most loved fragrances (including roses, jasmine, patchouli and irises) will be available to buy until late Sunday afternoon.  Also, if you purchase a 100ml of Chanel perfume, you will be given a complimentary hand-tied posy with a personalized message handwritten by a Chanel calligrapher on a camellia-embossed card... I’m slightly breathless at the very thought.  

These are not just flowers. These are CHANEL flowers! 

Trend: Canary Yellow

blog_213337_1932969.jpeg

Here comes the sun... Ok, kindof!   We all knew Canary Yellow was going to be a big and bright SS’13 fashion trend after DKNY tickled us with their NYC Cab hues and then more delicate tones soon followed in the Zac Posen, Jenny Packham and Carolina Herrera spring runways.  On last week’s freezing, snowy EE BAFTA's red carpet, Marion Cotillard (in Christian Dior) and Rising Star nominee Andrea Riseborough (in Vivienne Westwood) bravely led the way, both looking stunning in their LYD (Long Yellow Dresses!)   
Lemon, Canary, Mustard… Get ready for the highstreet to flood with an array of glorious sunshine shades – just add some simple jewellery and pouty red lips... 

blog_213337_1932971.jpeg

Above:  To emulate the feathery Bridget Bardot or Girl-Of-The-Moment Lena Dunham (at this month's Grammy Awards):  Rag & Bone Knitted Ribbed Dress - RRP. £195.00, Nars Nail Polish in Amchoor (designed by Thankoon Panichgul of Thankoon) - RRP. £14.50, Whistles Structured Tee - RRP. £75.00, Topshop Mustard Brocade Cutout Dress - RRP. £59.00.

Debit Buy: Bianca Jones Lotus Flower Necklace

I love this elegant 18ct Gold Vermeil Lotus Flower Necklace (above) designed by award-winning, London-based jeweller Bianca Jones. Inspired by peaceful love, the Lotus Flower signifies purity and beauty.  Delivered to you in a vintage style envelope with a hand-tied ribbon, this is the perfect present for a loved one… or yourself.  But preferably yourself.

RRP. £64.00
 
Bianca Jones' Cards (left) designed and printed by hand in collaboration with the illustrator Tessa Dunlop, are also seriously worth stocking up on. THEY’RE Ace.
 
RRP. £1.60

Valentines Day Gift Guide 2013 - For Him

“You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.”  Dr. Seuss

Valentines Day Gift Guide 2013

Above (Clockwise) L-R:  Topshop Iris Print Dress - RRP. £42.00, Rosie for Autograph Rose Bra and Brazilian Knickers - RRP. £22.50 & £12.50,  REN Moroccan Rose Bath Oil at ASOS - RRP. £30.00,  Fabulous Frocks at Waterstones - RRP. £14.99 £13.49, Miu Miu Sunglasses - RRP. £225.00,  Harvey Nichols Valentines Hamper - RRP. £70.00

blog_209828_1920395_1360615773.jpg