Keeping it 'Monreal'

Wimbledon may well be over and the fizz may have just settled on the celebratory Lanson that was popped across the nation [those little tennis champagne jackets were narly], but that doesn’t mean that tennis fever can’t well continue on into the ‘embers!

My line to lust-over at the moment happens to be Monreal London. Having launched earlier this year, Monreal is the creation of Stefanï Grosse. Combining 16 years of fashion with a flare for the feat that is the game of tennis, Grosse launched the first Monreal Collection comprising of 7 seriously delightful tennis dresses adorned by white tailored undershorts and a delectable zip-front jacket that would take you from the courts to Claridges with the bat of a well mascara’d eyelid.

Merging fabrics with the highest quality and performance potential from Italy with contemporary silhouettes and trends [Mesh & Colour block anyone?], Monreal London is fast becoming my brand of choice for off-court affairs too! Take this gorgeous number

Rock it with a pair of dangerously high gladiator heels and you’ll ensure to have the fashion pack swooning with your every strut [or serve- which ever you prefer!]

You can find these beauties in retailers such as Wigmore sports in Harrods, Yoox.com and The Queens Club or just head on over to Monreal.

Stir up a racket [get it?] with these tennis inspired creations! 

A Tea of Two Cities

On one of my first trips to Paris, I had the pleasure of meeting, 5 times in the space of 5 days, Ladurée .

Staring wide eyed  and open mouthed at the rows and rows of round discs that looked so delectably airy and spanned the entire spectrum of colour, I was 7 how many colours would I have encountered at this stage anyway?!, I was captivated.

A different time and an entirely city later, Ladurée still stands as one of my favourite tea houses in London.  Lets face it- it’s an institution!

Bathed in Parisian glamour, the front half of Ladurée Harrods is seamlessly carved out of a Princess wedding dream. Hues of white, powder pink and mint green swim across the furnishings, and encapsulate you in a regal state of mind that transports you back to the times of Marie Antoinette.

“Let them eat cake?” If you insist Marie.

Needless to say, I was more than a little excited to see the over indulgent list of Afternoon Tea Menu’s. Pages littered with sugary treats whose titles although unpalatable, my French is a little rusty, but key buzzwords such as “Chocolate” and “Brioche” sent my imagination reeling.

The concept is simple; you choose 2 finger sandwiches, 2 Mini Pastries, 2 Full Pastries, a selection of 2 flavoured macaroons and then choose whether you would like to be rolled or shimmied out through the door frame (totally kidding- but it’s more than enough food for one individual!) Its accompanied by a Laduree Coffee, Laduree Tea or hot chocolate. If given the chance, definitely go for the Thé au Caramel- who knew tea could be so tasty!

Although Ladurée Harrods was filled to beyond capacity, I was pleasantly surprised at the speed at which the waiters brought over our food- partly because we were quite visibly drooling over our neighbouring tables selection.

A tower so beautiful arrived, decorated with the finest patisserie delights that a girl could ask for!

My favourites were the Ladurée Plaisir Sucré, a Hazelnut meringue sandwich cake with crushed hazelnuts and praline filled with cream and milk chocolate, and the Ispahan, a rose flavored macaroon biscuit filled with fresh rose petal cream, raspberries and lychees. (Both taste just as beautiful as they sound).

After, quite literally, breathing in the contents of the tower- we thought it wise to order a box of Salted Caramel Macaroons to go and trotted off for a day of mindless wandering around Harrods- oh the joy!

If you haven’t given it a go, or if you’re from across the pond and planning a trip, Ladurée is well  worth stumbling into on a lazy London Afternoon.

You’ll find them here:

Harrods

87-135 Brompton Rd

Greater London

SW1X 7XL

Just FYI you may have to bare a short wait pre-tea, but it is well worth the wait!