Pret-a-Portea

The Berkeley Hotel, London

As far as afternoon teas go this one has to be at the top of my list. FASHION, FASHION, FASHION, that’s all that this tea is about. Just as the fashions change twice a year with AW and SS as do the themes for this afternoon tea. The menu, within this beautiful setting, is reviewed after each fashion month and picks out several different iconic pieces of the season, to which the cakes and treats are made too.

(A list of the menu is added below).

With plates, cups and saucers all designed by Paul Smith, this smells of fashion right down to the last crumb of cake; the name place is even a bright pink shoe! My personal highlight was being given a bight pink doggy bag that was full of more treats to take home.

Cake wise the Jimmy Choo bag of this season was incredible and Matthew Williamson also tickled my taste buds. I think mostly that this afternoon tea is just a little bit of fun for anyone who is into fashion. Image references and descriptions are also provided for those who are a little less fashion savvy and just want to enjoy a great afternoon out.

Hurry! This menu won’t be around much longer as it is time for the new season. The restaurant has also added two new additions to the menu in correlation with the ‘McQueen: Savage Beauty’ exhibition being held at the V&A museum. So get your forks at the ready, and eat, eat, eat…

Mathew Williamson sequin macaroon with Mont Blanc cream ganache and psychedelic swirl of black & white.

Jimmy Choo monochrome chic Cayla zebra print bag in Dulcey chocolate moelleux topped with a rainbow of meringue drops.       

                                                                                            

Moschino’s quirky ‘Yellow M’ handbag of blood orange victoria sponge swathed in red quilted chocolate.

Charlotte Olympia ‘Sarah’ knee high dark chocolate biscuit boot covered in sultry scarlet and black.

Diane von Fürstenberg’s iconic golden gown ginger biscuit with a sprinkling of sparkle highlighting 40 years of Hollywood glamour.

 Chistopher Kane silk-organza peanut sponge cake and Poire William brandy mousse with delicate pink meringue layering.

Manish Arora pink lady apple, cassis jelly and crème de menthe mousse crowned with a marzipan candyland apple cap.

Valentino’s sexy sixties mini dress chocolate tartellette filled with caramelia cremeux, whipped ganache with red and pink chocolate polka dots.

Dolce and Gabbana’s whimsical night owl with blackcurrant bavarois and star anis pannacotta savouring the designers’ Sicilian forest fantasy.

Gareth Pugh 

Galeria Melissa, Covent Garden

Have you ever felt like you have just walked on to a set for a futuristic space movie? No? Well why don’t you visit the Galeria Melissa in Covent Garden; home to a show space for their shoes made of plastic. The venue is currently hosting an exhibition of a select few Gareth Pugh catwalk looks from various collections, and I have to tell you THIS is like walking into a sci-fi movie.

Although this is the smallest exhibition I have ever been to it is by far the least disappointing. The pieces were perfectly complimented with the choice of music in the space and they definitely gave you the wow factor.

 As soon as you walk into the space it is breath taking with the 8 pieces in such a small room. It is a chance for you to get up close to the items to see the intricacies and the materials use. Gareth Pugh has to be at the cutting edge of fashion, producing ever more wonderful and spectacular fashion shows. This is definitely worth a view for any fashionista.

Guy Bourdin: Image Maker

Somerset House

Until 15^th March - £9

Exhibitions at Somerset House always have something very special about them, being curated to the highest standards, and the Guy Bourdin exhibition is no exception. Presented in the stunning space situated off the Embankment, it is home to several highly identifiable pieces from one of the biggest fashion photographers that we have ever know, along with previously unseen works.

           

For anyone who is anyone in fashion it is hard not to see references to Guy Bourdins’ work in many advertisements, editorials and other fashion images. With work spanning over 4 decades, this exhibition is a great place to start if you are a budding fashion photographer.

It is easy to see that the photographer and surrealist Man Ray, to who Bourdin was protégé, has inspired Bourdins’ work. Images are a non-conventional, some quite fun and others taking a darker approach; one in particular wouldn’t have looked out of place as a still from The Shining. My favourite in the exhibition struck me at once; an image full of black umbrellas with brightly made up eyes of a model peering through the centre. Her eyes draw you into the image and make you feel that there is some beauty beneath the drab setting. This piece could easily inspire a thousand beauty advertisements. 

The exhibition starts with some very surreal images indeed. Bourdin has taken a shop mannequin and cut off the legs. He stages the pair of legs in several different locations with different pairs of shoes in each shot. Illusions are created in your mind to whom the person is that these legs belong to, by which location they appear in. It is such a fun and simple idea, but one that could inspire so many ideas within the fashion industry; I can imagine a Louboutin campaign with images not dissimilar to these.

Amongst the striking photographs it was also great to see how Bourdin arrived at the images that are so recognisable today. The exhibition offers you the chance to view drawings, polaroid’s and test shoots from the photographer himself; a tiny glimpse into the magical world of fashion photography, an exhibition not to miss. Hurry! Only a few weeks left on this one.

WITH LOVE FROM LONDON

London Fashion Week

AW15 season

Saturday 21^st February 2015

Somerset House

So London, what’s new with you?

As New York Fashion Week has come to an end for this season, London Fashion Week is in full flow. Here comes AW15!

The main location for London Fashion Week comes again to Somerset House. Sporting bright pink stripes this season, the BFC Show Space becomes a colourful background for all those fashion forward (and sometimes a bit out-there) people, whether they have come to view the shows held in the space or just come to watch the event unfold; Models, Editors, Bloggers all mixing together to create a beautiful parade of clothes.

Model style always stands out for me, but clean simple outfits with stand out tailored pieces (and of course the odd occasional splash of colour) also are my favourite. Take Alexander Wang, for example; for the AW15 season he sticks with his usual black and white palette mixing in red once or twice, and the use of blue denim. He presents us with thick and chunky lumberjack jumpers, with coats to match, layers of wintery black leather and sheer fabric to contrast. Wang was one of the best during NYFW, but now we come to LFW.

LFW has to be my most desired out of all of the fashion weeks. It presents us with a range of designs, some for the most daring of us out there, to clean-cut, simple lines. All in all there is something for all of us and nothing disappoints. So far this season there have been some wonderful collections but certain a few definitely stick out for me. A new name I have discovered, Nili Lotan gives us cosy knits and coats to wrap yourself up in when the cold weather strikes, all in a gorgeous neutral colour palette.

Sass and Bide was another on my top list. They gave us pieces that could be worn day or night; with leather trousers, capes and skirts, structured coats and jackets and all importantly embellished pieces to add the sparkle to your wardrobe. I would happily wear just this catwalk show for the AW15 season.

Last but not least Marcus Lupfer shines through again with a range of different patterns, which aren’t too garish if you want to keep your wardrobe a bit subtler. These pieces would be perfect to mix with your clean and simple staples or continue the co-ords for another season, either way Marcus Lupfer is something that you cannot miss out on.

So until next season London. Looking forward to seeing you again.

J CREW

J CREW MARYLEBONE

Store Opening

Wednesday 18^th February 2015

6pm-8pm

Starting the night off right I chose to nod towards J Crew’s new AW15 collection by wearing a nude colour palette with a hint of yellow. Feeling inspired and ready to celebrate the new store opening and looking forward to what it has to offer.

Hosted by ‘Fashion Me Now’ writer Lucy Williams and located on the beautiful Marylebone High Street, the placing for shops such as Anthropologie, Matches Fashion, Paul Smith, Whistles (among one of my favourites). This new J Crew store started with a big fashion bang. Inside there, with a relaxed party vibe, was an in-house DJ and dressed for the occasion waiters serving champagne, basil lemonade, and an array of gorgeous canapés (including my favourite of the evening – homemade mango marshmallow).

This Marylebone store is quaint but just the right size to show of the best off this seasons’ collection. A few of the best starting with a stunning pair of tailored coral joggers that could be styled for day and dressed up for evening too, a warm thick cotton bomber jacket in off white, perfect for those slightly chilly spring nights before summer hits, a perforated leather top in navy, that would go well with tailored joggers, jeans or a summery skirt, then last of all and my most wanted the parker cross-body bag in coral, perfect to hold those all important items without the unwanted heaviness of those tote bags. If you are a fan of the tailored casual look then this is the place to head. Prices aren’t cheap though, if your used to perusing the rails the high street. They start in the range of £85 and above, but pieces are perfect if you are looking for an investment that with last you seasons to come.

After shopping why not pop into one of the many Marylebone High Street bars and pubs. We headed to Coco Momo, perfect for post shopping cocktails and a quick bite to eat if you happen to have worked up an appetite.

SEEING BLUE SS15 SHOWS LONDON

ITS ALL IN THE DETAIL SS15 SHOWS NYC AND LONDON