Covet a Clutch

A clutch finishes off any outfit. 

Whether your going City Chic or Holistic Hamptons, the art of the clutch polishes off any outfit with a well rounded (or squared- dependent on your choice!) seal of approval. 

With March 'springing' into fruition (get it?), a new season calls for a new wave of Little Bag candies! My must haves for this season?

1. These wonderful little perspex numbers from Furoshiki Shiki. Not suitable for the lady who leaves crushed Maltesers at the bottom of their bag, these see through bad boys will put all of the contents of your bag on display. So be sure to have a thorough clear out before rocking a Shiki! 

2. J'adore Clare V! These streamlined 'Oui' and 'Non' bags by Clare V come in the most delicious of monochromatic colour tones. Pair with your ripped jeans and blazer or maxi dress for that chilled out beach Sunday- I guarantee this is one to round your wardrobe off perfectly! 

3. See by Chloe does it again for this season! The younger line of the Chloe luxury brand has released this demure clutch for the up and coming little lady. Pair with a tailored look and channel your inner Blair Waldorf! 

4. For my pure amusement to 'make you happy' (in every sense of the word), Charlotte Olympia  has released this Tequilla Bottle Shaped Trick into the market! Love! 

Tijuana or Tottenham Court Road- we'll race you there!

A Night at The Oscars

Did you catch the Oscars? 

It's become a bit of a tradition- like Christmas Eve or the night before my birthday (7th of June- just in case you're wondering). I clear out any spectators, pour myself a glass of wine, skip straight past any predictions or awards and head straight for the red carpet fashion!

As predicted, the Oscars 2015 did not disappoint. With a strong lean towards all things Fiery Red and Natural Nude's- our best dressed award of the night, without a shadow of a doubt, goes to Jennifer Lopez! 

Creating a true Cinderella moment in this Elie Saab creation- Jennifer Lopez never fails to wow the red carpet. Sticking to a relatively safe colour but an overly dramatic silhouette- Jenny Lo manages to get the balance of creation & creative absolutely right! And as if that wasn't enough...

The lights dimmed as the evening transitioned into the Vanity Fair After Party and like a true trooper, Lopez shimmied into her go to designer friend - Zuhair Murad...

#Swoon.

Our other top picks for the night are: 

Miss Johansson in plunging green Versace, Rosamund Pike's Red Lace Creation & Lupita Nyongo in a Calvin Klein Collection gown!

Our not so favourites? 

Paltrow in Petals, Lady Gaga a.k.a. the fire marshall for the evening & Rita Ora... I have no words. 

Who were your best dressed picks for The Academy Awards?

LFW Report: Jasper Conran AW15

I'd heard whispers. 

"An Autumn Extravaganza", "A stroll through Central Park" - none of which could prepare me for the magic, courtesy of Jasper Conran, that lay ahead. 

Having felt thoroughly under dressed after Day 1 of London Fashion Week 

Photo Credits: blog.missguided.co.uk

I thought I'd throw caution to the cold wind, and bring out my new 'they're over the knee so technically insulating' babies courtesy of Aldo

Worth every nab of Frost Bite during the Winter Season! 

Running late, as usual, I arrived back to the pavilion only to do an ambitious, yet shockingly graceful, sprint across the cobbled courtyard (always time for a picture) to swoop straight into the Jasper Conran AW15 show. 

The rumors were true, I was about to be given the true Autumn/ Winter 2015 experience! 

In true poetic fashion, Model's glided down the runway juxtaposed by contrasting fabrics from this design-wizard! This winter, Conrad plans to cloak you in richness (by all meanings of the word!) 

A palette that spans all things plum, navy, olive & mulberry- Conran waxed lyrical with a plethora of contrasting layered fabrics- Cashmere, Velvet, Sheepskin- oh my! 

With perhaps an all too vigorous standing ovation at the end of the show, sorry bystanders, my fashion senses were sent into overdrive at the thought of rocking these geometric prints this Autumn! 

Can we speed past summer?!

Dear Diary, Dear Frances

Shoes elevate me. 

Not only literally [at 5ft 3.5 inches I can do with all the elevation I can get], but emotionally too! A well made, well crafted shoe is the perfect finisher to any outfit. Ripped jeans? Polish it off with a pair of courts. Pencil Skirt? Throw on a pair of Mary Janes- the choices are endless! 

So what's a girl to do when the number of shoes, good & bad admittedly, are endless but we have, woe, but only two feet?

Well wasn't it Marilyn Monroe who put things in perspective for us? 

"Give a girl the right pair of shoes, and she can conquer the world"- Marilyn Monroe

Let's take it back to basics shall we- strong design aesthetics and respect for artisian details also known as Dear Frances. 

Dear Frances shoes are the product of creator, Jane Frances, who trained at the London College of Fashion and ModaPelle Academy in Milan- the best of London and Italy? Yes please!

My favourite from the collection? 

The AW14 Arch Boot...

Rock with a cape, leather pants and something sparkly

Whether you're looking for the perfect present for someone special or you just fancy treating yourself, definitely the latter in most cases, head over to Dear Frances now and pick up your AW14 shoe-style staple! 

Date Night and Candle Light at The 1901 Restaurant

I'm a sucker for Romance.

You know that age old story? Boy meets Girl, Girl meets Boy, Boy surprises girl with a well thought out grand romantic gesture [or at least a few smooshy uploads on instagram] - you know that age old tale? So you can imagine my excitement to tell you all about my new found spot for a romantic evening.

But first things first, you've got to get the outfit right: 

The genius, New-York based designer Joseph Altuzarra has entered into a venture with Net-a-Porter to send the best of the big apple straight to us lovely Little Londoners-  shop your own version here 

Wear it with a pair of these bad boys available here and it's fair to say you'll leave your date floored for the evening... 

Now, back to date night...

Running slightly late, as usual, I arrived at the entrance of The Andaz Liverpool Street's 1901 Restaurant with my accomplice for the evening.

"Just this way madame..."

Now I'll let you into a little secret  but you've got to promise me you'll keep it to yourself! Deal? 

On the last Wednesday of every month, The 1901 restaurant becomes transformed with a sea of romantic candles that'll guarantee to give you that breathtaking moment with your loved one...

See what I mean? Stunning.

Gasps and Fluttery hearts later- we were seated. Hours of conversation, pondering over the extensive 350 bottle long wine list [ The 2010 Châteauneuf-du-Pape ‘Réserve’ will not disappoint] and oggling at the incredibly talented saxaphone player- we were ready to order. 

The menu is fabulous. Straight, to the point, no airs and graces- tell me what's in it so I can devour it [in a romantic, elegant and orderly fashion so not to appear anything less to my date ofcourse!] 

Crab for Starters and Beef Fillet for mains- it all sounded relatively simple... [ Mandatory Disclaimer- mood lighting is fabulous for the ambience not so much for the pictures...]

But don't let that fool you ladies and gentlemen, what arrives to your plate is a host of well thought out flavours and presentations that will undoubtedly be sure to leave you securing a reservation for your next visit before you even step a foot out of the door.

Struggling to breathe we scoured the dessert menu before deciding it wouldn't be as romantic to be rolled out of the restaurant [I'll most definitely start with dessert the next time- I had a pang of food envy from the table next to me as the dessert looked incredible!] 

Filled with what can only be described as wonderful memories from a lovely evening [well that and oodles of Mash Potatoes]- we were floored by the excellent food and service at 1901. 

But don't take my word for it... for your fix of delicious dining in a special setting you can find more details about the Andaz Candlelight's Evening here. 

Designers to watch: Aquazzura

I've been through a lot of change this year. Ups and downs, a real roller-coaster if I'm honest. And as we draw closer to the end of the year it's fair to say...

I still have my feet on the ground, I just wear better shoes- much to the credit of Edgardo Osorio's new line, Aquazzura. 

Taking the best from Colombia, Miami and London- Osorio combines the best in luxury and impeccable craftsmanship [not to mention one fine eye for dressing women's feet] with his fall/winter 2014 collection.

Hues that span a plethora of colours ranging from primary to fiery, Aquazurra has fast become the go to shoe for ladies across the globe. Designed to take you from not only day to night, but lift your sensory awareness to a realm of exotic skins and golden pineapples [The Willy Wonka of the Shoeworld if you will] - Edgardo Osorio is fast changing the landscape of footwear fashion. 

What I'll be strutting this season? The Amazon, Leaf and Lola ofcourse!

 So ladies, slip your feet into a pair of shoes from Aquazurra this winter and strut your way into the holiday season!

Cigarettes & Men at The Chiltern Firehouse

Ok... so perhaps the title is a little misleading- but this change in weather has made me want to be a little controversial. 

I'd been to Chiltern Firehouse previously for dinner but had never experienced the brunch/ lunch sitting. Getting a classic case of food envy from my counterparts that had raved about the airy atmosphere and slightly less hectic sitting- I decided it was my turn... the brunch/lunch menu was something that I could not possibly do without. 

I threw on my Sunday best...

and enlisted the help of my favourite male companion...

My Chanel Boy Bag [which you can find here] A bit of an investment piece but I promise you- you'll definitely put it to good use! 

One lengthy Uber and a brief confrontation with a more than slick Italian man at the door- we marched our way through the outdoor seating area into the main restaurant.

It's beautiful. 

So Chiltern Firehouse used to be a firehouse, funnily enough.

Now it's the humble abode of André Balazs' newest and much raved about hotspot. His name might be familiar to you [unless you've resided under a rock for the last decade] He's the statuesque man behind Chateau Marmont in Hollywood and he's hop, skipped and jumped across the pond to set the London market on fire[house]. Sorry couldn't resist.

Having heard so much about the lunch/brunch sitting- I was already attempting to articulate my excitement as we walked through the restaurant... 

Now what was meant to be a brunch/lunch turned into a bit of feast... 

The crab doughnuts were a home run for me- soft, fluffy and filled with the freshest most delicious crab meat. The Monkfish was slightly over cooked and made for a bit of a rubbery experience, but it was more than compensated by the crunch of the puffed barley and the waft of fennel from the puree. 

And for dessert you say? [Because who in the right mind doesn't have a four course meal at circa 2pm in the afternoon...]

Me: "What's the Frozen Apple Panacotta?"

Waiter: "It's a panacotta maam" 

Me: "I hate panacotta-does it taste like panacotta?"

Waiter: "Not at all maam. " 

Now I thought this was just one of those appeasing lies I was told by service that I'd immediately regret buying into once the dish arrived at my table...

He was absolutely right- this was the most abstract tasting panna cotta that I'd ever had and it was incredible.

The praline dessert failed in comparison for me slightly but was all in all a delicious experience. 

Fed, full and suffering from minor food sweats we headed for a stroll through my beautiful city...

Race you to the Firehouse Readers!