bonne année!

the zetter

This is such a cool and cosy place away from the bustle of the West End. The Zetter Hotel is to me a cute little chic bolthole for when you need to cosy up for a good conversation (of the deep and meaningful kind) and some good food.

The bistro has a good selection of your not-so-typical french food but with a more contemporary twist to it. All delicious coupled with a good wine list. Tres bonne!

The Zetter Hotel
St John's Square, 86 - 88 Clerkenwell Road, London EC1M 5RJ

le editrix

French Vogue editor Carine Roitfeld leaving after ten years… is Mr Tom Ford calling her back to relive Gucci / YSL golden years? Or.... are there more exciting things to come from this fashion revolutionary?

joyeux noël

blackbird

adr - fiercest chick in fashion

Anna Della Russo getting ready for the Masquerade ball celebrating Vogue Paris' 90th Anniversary
Headpiece: Gareth Pugh

Gown: Custom made by Pucci

Photos via jaknjil.com

karling in the new year

Who wouldn’t want to start a year off chicly with Karl Lagerfield’s calendar for Pirelli? The designer picked his favorite muses like Julianne Moore, Erin Wasson and of course, Baptiste Giabiconi, to model in the limited-edition mythology-themed almanac. Mmmmmm......

kaisertv

A Karl Lagerfeld television network? We can all dream. For now,I’ll settle for recent news that the Kaiser has indulged his thespian side...and shot a Volkswagen commercial. Even I couldn't make this stuff up! The playful spots directed by Johan Renck (the genius behind music videos for Madonna and Robbie Williams) will arrive on December 22 in Germany, and Karl reportedly plays himself.

in progress - Habits, Patterns, Algorithms

Stephan Jaklitsch Architects - the firm behind the design of Marc Jacobs stores around the world, and soon to be unveiled, this is a a preview of their first ground-up store for the brand, located in Omotesando, Tokyo, right next to Herzog & de Meuron’s Prada store.

The 3,000sq feet project (which already won an Award of Excellence from AIA New York) is a stratified volume, with two dark strips sitting on top of a glass box, acting as a lamp during night.

Cheesy as this video may be, but the tune is sooooooo uplifting!!

sac magique

I am in love with these bags, whatever the colour, but mainly in the lovely blue and navy hues it comes in, or... just any colour - red, khaki, black... J'adore......! Xmas wishlist No. 555. Noted.

Bonne weekend! Bisous! X

Photo via jaknjill.com

love is all you need

You needn't be recession-proof to buy some fine jewellery, really. Marie-Helene de Taillac's mini love amulet pendant is made of 23-carat gold and royal blue enamel, and weighing in at under four figures, it's less expensive than most boots at Harrods or Louboutin. Epic with tees of any persuasion!

Available at net-a-porter.com

Daisy Buchanan

The recent CFDA awards event was a big night for Carey Mulligan. Sure, she was on the arm of Karl Lagerfeld at the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund party, but she also got what looks likely to be the next big role in her career: as Daisy Buchanan in Baz Luhrmann’s adaptation of The Great Gatsby. According to Deadline Hollywood, Mulligan got the call from Luhrmann on the red carpet—and promptly burst into tears. (In fairness, I might too if I was told I’d be playing opposite Leonardo DiCaprio as Jay Gatsby.) “I was thrilled to pick up the phone an hour ago to the young Oscar-nominated British actress Carey Mulligan and say to her: ‘Hello, Daisy Buchanan,’ ” Lurhmann said in a statement to Deadline. Here’s a preview of what to expect: The Aussie director shot this image of Carey in character during a rehearsal earlier this month... enchanting, non?

f**k milk got pot

Freja by Mario Testino for V Magazine #67

werk that lil thang

suds up

First L’Occitane and J. Crew, now this. Just got word that in a few short weeks, A.P.C.’s New York outpost will stock Aesop’s line of body care essentials. Beginning the first week of December, the French clothier’s Mercer Street store will carry gift kits, travel kits, lotions, and salves from the naturally-crafted Australian beauty range, with more items from its skincare line to be added next year if all goes well. The limited edition Fine Fabric Care, the two brands’ first collaborative effort, is also reportedly being reprised. “[That] product was such a success, they decided to take the partnership to the next level,” Aesop’s general manager and president for the Americas, Giovanni Lepori, said of Aesop founder Dennis Paphitis and A.P.C. founder Jean Touitou’s decision to join forces again. But the connection between the brands goes deeper than a love of clean laundry. “Not only do we share the same customer base, but we share the same company philosophy in terms of approach to design, literature, architecture, art and more,” Lepori says. Considering I am a huge fan of both brands , I couldn’t be more pleased by the news of this union; suds up guys!!

eat cake with yer grillzz!!

ooh la la

INDUSTRIE Magazine Issue 02Katie Grand - Dressing Marc Jacobs in Drag

sai lei

Maggie Cheung for Lane Crawford

what's your canvas of choice?

tickling the tip of your tongue

It isn't often you come across a good, honest eating place. But this is spectacular!!! Lola and Jamie (inset) are such good, wonderful hosts besides being absolutely passionate about food (it prides itself on being able to trace the history of everything that is served or used). I wanted to order the whole menu for fear of missing out but of course, there is always the promise of a return.

Aptly named - A Little Bit of What You Fancy sums up the feeling you experience there perfectly.

art of embrace

Called LAT – Love.Approach.Together – the seats are connected together in twos or threes by criss-cross wooden elements on the back.The inside legs of the chairs are also crossed and joined together to express the feeling that we really care about somebody in a personal way. From young to old, connected in a personal and human way.

Embrace each other, embrace to be really connected!

LAT by Jeroen van Laarhoven

pour monsieur, pour madame

Now that his New York tour is done, Alber Elbaz is back to Paris and back to work. The first order of business? Designing the holiday windows for Paris department store Printemps, which he has titled "Noel Au Chateau." Sporting Elbaz's signature cartoonish eyes and grins, dolls dubbed "Mr. and Miss Lanvin" will sit in various holiday tableaux. Question: are these adorable dolls available à vendre? Gifts all around!

Bonne weekend! x

house of hermes shows a chicer way to skate

You would never skateboard in your Hermès, would you? What about on your Hermès? Or over it? Confused yet? Don't worry, loves, just watch this fabulously creative and mesmermizing (!!!!) little video, and all will be revealed.

sssssssssssssssssssss

Ophidiophobia, or fear of snakes, is an affliction that affects many but luckily, it doesn't apply to the slithering creatures of the crystal variety. This particularly alluring reptile, made from sterling silver and hand-set semi-precious stones, is anything but scary, non?

struck by a million lightning bolts

This was kinda my take on Halloween. I love this lightning bolt print and I must admit, went a little crazy on the outfit. But I love it. The shoes has been and still is one of my Fall crushes.

(Shirt, trousers, snood from Whistles, boots from Cos)

so yummy i could eat this snake!

The satchel, the messenger, the clutch - you probably are well-stocked in the classic bag shapes, but what of the round little pouch? This Sang A Mini Pop bag (though don't be fooled by the name; it's still big enough to store plenty of essentials) is adorable but still prefectly practical, luxe in black seasnake (yum..!)it also comes in blue/gold dégradé or bright yellow python and just a little edgy with that bright gold zipper trim

Where? www.sanga.com of course dahling!

to begin to beautify yourself

Did I say what a HUGE fan I am of Illamasqua?? I am so thrilled to share with you this piece of news - Alex Box, creative director of Illamasqua has recently finished wrapping up work on an extensive portfolio with photographer Nick Knight, getting model Kristen McMenamy camera-ready for Gareth Pugh’s spring 2011 concept video. Cannot wait to see that video when it goes LIVE.

Illamasqua, which opened the doors to a 1600-square-foot boutique and makeup school in London’s West End this fall will enable beauty enthusiasts who wander into the high-concept retail space enamoured by liquid-metal face pigments (in glimmering, straight-off-the-runway shades of teal and russet) or explosively colorful lipsticks. As for the adjacent school, Box says, “I wanted it to be a mix of talents: [professionals] from fashion and theater backgrounds and real people who just love makeup.” For that reason, Box—a democratic believer in beauty’s transformative power—has developed intensive two-hour courses for real girls who simply want to hone their skills. “People,” she says brightly of watching her master plan come together, “are already starting to congregate.”

The Illamasqua Store and School of Make-Up Art, 20 Beak Street London; makeup lessons from £50
www.illamasqua.com

matchy matchy

These Lanvin sneaks are totally the most awesome-ss, comfortable shoes ever!!! Punch-load of street cred.

love forever

There is no explanation needed when you have the best design......that’s the beauty of the brand’s Love collection, which was founded in the seventies by designer Aldo Cipullo’s now-iconic Love Bracelet. Its closure system is legendary: A tiny screw affixes it semi-permanently onto the wrist, only to be removed by the included screwdriver. According to Rainero, around the time of its debut, salespeople encouraged couples to buy them in pairs and toss away the key, as it were, making a commitment to love for life. (They were also instructed to avoid selling them to singletons, at least those who weren’t buying them as gifts for significant others.)

For the latest edition of the Love collection (in Cartier stores and online), however, not all of the pieces are so permanent. Pendant earrings in white gold and diamonds, drop necklaces, and sapphire-and-amethyst-crusted rings round out the offerings. But Love will always be known for its bracelets, and its newest is a stylish update, not to mention a fine concession to a more contemporary view of “forever.” Love everlasting? It’s a beautiful goal. But just in case it doesn’t work out, the pink gold chain comes with an easy-to-open lobster-claw clasp.

spooky muse

Just in time for Halloween: a gorgeously Bride of Frankenstein-ish Anja Rubik, shot for Muse Magazine by Solve Sundsbo. The veils, the hair, the curling smoke not to mention the scarily chic furry boots and more than a little PVC make for a full spread of costume inspiration.

In need of a sweet fix to make it through the week? Nous aussi. Which is why I was overjoyed to discover that John Galliano has jumped on the macaron train, creating this lovely package of lovelier Ladurée treats. Now, if only we could snack while sporting this Spring Dior...

banana boat song

In trying to buy some fruit at a local corner shop, I had a sudden flash. I thought the colours were pretty and vibrant. It was very ironic that I was wearing my favourite and very old Tom & Jerry tee. I found this at the bottom of a pile while trawling through my closet recently.

(Top, jacket, scarf & trousers from Zara, ballet pumps from Topshop belt from Marc Jacobs)

pants du jour

Crazy about these pants!

painful genius

I’M STILL HERE
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix
Directed by: Casey Affleck

inter-galactic commander

Anna D: She looks poised to take over the galaxy! What a shot

Photo via Garance Dore

dries on denim

What a killer pair of denim swingy legged jeans! Or the sleeves on this boat-neck tunic top (above), they’re white denim, and at the cuffs, a worn-in indigo blue like your favorite, age-old jean jacket. When Dries does denim, he does it so well! I'm totally in crush mode! I WANT!

bust out yer bootay

Lara & Freja by Mert & Marcus for Vogue Paris

divine detailing

Bling-a-ling ling!! One of the highlights of the Milan shows were the accessories, and Silvia Venturini Fendi’s bags for her family’s house are deservedly adored. But don’t miss the jewelry this season—if you ask me, it’s the must-buy from Lagerfeld and Fendi’s strong new collection. All the action is on the wrist this time around, with oversized, chain-link bracelets piling on top of colorful, graphic watches, and F-clasp enamel bangles. Blink and you might’ve missed them as they sped down the runway-which reason enough to give a close look through all of our runway details. Hah!! Add to that the shoes!! The stacked-sole flats sported by some of the models looked very familiar—from Prada’s Spring ‘11 menswear collection, no less.The menswear-style brogues she showed with strata soles of jute and rubber were versions of men’s shoes she debuted on the Milan men’s runway back in June. Put yer foot down with these mamas soon!!