Functional Therapy With Stuart Green At The May Fair Hotel Spa Posted by Unknown |

Spinal book sculpture by artist Bronia Sawyer

How's your spine keeping? If, like me, the last eight months have consisted of little else other than looking after a new baby and blog, well... let's just say I'm feeling pretty scrunched up from the shoulders right down to my tailbone. So obviously, I jumped at the chance to try out a new type of corrective exercise for back pain with kinesiology (the study of human movement) expert Stuart Green. In the luxurious surroundings of The May Fair Hotel Spa, the lovely Stuart started with an orthopedic assessment which involved a few interesting looking measuring instruments. Needless to say, I wasn't exactly in tiptop shape, with a couple of vertebrae in my upper back hardly moving and my head sitting too far forward. About 7cm too far forward, which came as a bit of a shock, and what's worse, for every 2cm the weight of your head doubles and puts extra pressure on your neck and shoulders. In case you think you might be suffering the same, your cheek should be in line with your collarbone (test this by hanging a necklace between the two). After a few strength tests (involving clever pressure points which helped activate and strengthen various muscles) and identifying how to properly use my deep stomach muscles, we headed to the gym to try out some of the corrective exercises – familiar Pilates-like exercises stripped back to basics, focusing on re-learning how to do initial minimal movements. Trust me, it wasn't easy, I had to try pretty hard to activate the right core muscles and move correctly. Multiple repetitions and much muscle trembling later, the goal of postural norm was firmly back in sight. Inspiring and motivating.

Training sessions are available with Stuart at The May Fair Hotel Spa. £120/ph. functionaltherapy.co.uk

Introducing Hand Screen Printed Tights by Hose Posted by Unknown |

Step away from the black opaques and open up your wardrobe to these hand screen printed tights from independent label Hose – set up by Ravensboure womenswear and print graduate Rebecca Cluett. Watermelons, ice-creams and shells in a variety of colours and deniers to be worn up front and in your face or super sultry backwards. Although I'm not really a legs kinda girl, I had great fun one evening last week photographing a selection of the Spring Summer '13 collection and truly enjoyed dressing up my diminutive pins in these brights and nude. Which is your favourite? I'm loving the watermelons in nude (as seen in this previous outfit post). The SS13 collection is now available at hosetights.co.uk 

Ancienne Ambiance Candles & Soaps {Perfect For Mother's Day} Posted by Unknown |

I love discovering brands dedicated to creating luxury but natural products. Developed by London College of Fashion graduate Adriana Carlucci, Ancienne Ambiance launched in 2004 with six candles, based on ancient recipes, made from hand-poured beeswax and lead-free wicks (you are encouraged to return the glass for recycling). I was kindly sent the Persia candle (a favourite of Vogue writer Plum Sykes) to test out – a combination of rose and jasmine – and yes, it is as good as it looks, filling the room with the most deliciously dreamy fragrance; I forget how transforming to an evening it is to have scented candles burning. Free from parabens, synthetic ingredients and harmful chemicals, the soaps are made using traditional techniques from Marseilles with vegetable and coconut oils. Enriched with lovely moisturising shea butter, they are gentle enough to use on your face and, of course, smell divine. Lovely, lovely gift ideas. When the quality is this good, you can't go wrong.  Expect big kisses from mother.

Fashion Bloggers' Delight aka My Macaron Migraine Posted by Unknown |

If you read enough fashion blogs you'll have noticed the obsession with what I'm guessing, thank God, can rightly be called the new cupcake (never got the cupcake thing). Oh-so-pretty French macarons with whipped egg whites and ground almonds. To be honest, as a dedicated eater of dark chocolate and rhubarb crumble, I hadn't really bought into this new patisserie favourite, but hey, live a little right? And the fifty odd or so flavours looked so pretty lined up in their cabinet. Did you know that some are alcoholic? Spot the light pink champagne one in the corner – decadent or what. Needless to say, they are scrummy, the nutty filling and meringue-like sandwiching both chockful of sugar. Lots of sugar. I am now suffering a serious sugar-induced macaron migraine. But I did manage to take these pics before scoffing them all, which is the other reason I imagine fashion bloggers love them so – they take as good a picture as they taste. Is that even a sentence? I need to go and lie down. Again. You've been warned. (These came from L'orchidée in Westfield Stratford; from what I understand the best to be had are from Laudrée.)

What I'm Wearing - Black On Black + Hand Screen Printed Tights Posted by Unknown |

We've been invited to the opening of one of my favourite supper clubs – east London's The Clove Club (opening 4th March) which used to take place every now and then in various locations and, perhaps now, will have more of a permanent home. We haven't yet organised a babysitter, but I remain hopeful optimistic. If we make it, this is what I'll be wearing. Black skater dress (petite, c/o New Look), old Topshop blazer (very similar, if not the same one, here) and these fabulous hand screen printed tights c/o independent label Hose. You can't see the nude tights' watermelon print properly in these photos but there's a much more colour-popping and comprehensive set of photos of the new SS13 Hose collection to come. So, stay tuned. (Buy the tights for £20 here.)

SS13 Trend – #60sSwing – Betty, Meet Marianne... Posted by Unknown |

Outfit inspiration: Betty Draper, all dressed up and nowhere to go, firmly resolving to change her life and make it the one she wants. When will it happen? When it does, this is what she'll be wearing, cutting loose, but in ever-so-elegant style. The (5.) beatnik Chelsea boots in gold and (3.) oversized ring give this outfit a touch of the crazy (in a very good way) as do the floral (botanical – does that work?) (4.) capri pants. The (1.) bouclé  coat, while so sophisticated, hints at waywardness with its length in contrast to the structured perfection of the (2.) Marilyn shoulder bag by Raoul. The Sixties – dragging the prim and proper into rock n' roll. Betty Draper re-interpreted as Marianne Faithfull, now that I would like to see.

London Fashion Week – Thomas Tait AW13 Posted by Unknown |

This image from Thomas Tait's AW13 show just popped into my inbox and I couldn't not post it. Isn't it amazingly atmospheric? With masculine, very structured tailoring and bursts of bright block colour, the show took place in the garages in Carlton Terrace House in London's St James (technically defined by the four corners of Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, Green Park and Buckingham Palace – did you know that? I did not, I admit). Tait describes the collection as a "teenage mutant cosmic disco trip" and Vogue described it as "agility futurist". Works for me, and I am loving those raspberry sunnies. With an MA from Central Saint Martins graduate, the Canadian (but with British roots) Tait was the youngest ever to graduate from his course.

What I'm Wearing - Botanical & 3D Flowers - Boohoo #globalstyler Posted by Unknown |

Oh, it's so cold and windy outside! But still I feel like spring is on its way, hence the colour-popping outfit I bring you today as part of Boohoo's #globalstyler competition. I was thrilled to be asked to take part in the campaign (along with lots of other bloggers from all over the globe) and it's fantastic checking out all the entries – see the #globalstyler hashtag on instagram and twitter. For my outfit I teamed a pair of floral trousers (such a bargain at just £20) with this Boohoo Boutique 3D flower top (so Christopher Kane AW13 btw!). I wasn't sure if the look would work at first, but actually I'm really pleased with the result. A bit flower crazy for some maybe, but oh it feels good! Ah yes, the prize. The prize is a trip for you and a friend to a 'fashion destination of your choice', which I'm guessing could be just about anywhere. For me, it would have to be New York, I have NEVER BEEN, which feels like madness in this day and age. How about you, where would you pick? And what do you think of the outfit? I may have neglected to mention that come the spring I drop my sombre winter colours and tend to go a bit colour and print crazy. More to come. Enter the competition here at Boohoo.com

#LFW - Mini Show Report - Topshop Unique AW13 Posted by Unknown |

I was disappointed with last few Topshop Unique season, having been bowled over by Spring Summer 2011 (remember the big frizzy hair and long flowing disco outfits?) so I was really pleased to see such fab looks for AW13, despite them being (the dreaded) 90s derived. Visually sleek and simple with strong block colours and clothes that looked easy enough to wear. I love the wool trousers in rusty brown above and the cheeky little knit pattern on the jumper below. Midriffs everywhere (in keeping with the nineties revival soundtrack, obvs), but realistically, on shorter than model types you'll probably find there's enough material to meet your waistband. There was a lot of tech hype around this show to do with live streaming on You Tube and on Google+ from every possible angle including a model's POV (on, who else, but Cara D) and being able to buy the looks straight off the catwalk which sounds like the way forward to me. You can watch the show here – the amazing underground concrete space is the Tanks at the Tate Modern.

#LFW - Mini Show Report - Mulberry SS13 Posted by Unknown |

With Issa as my favourite show of the season, I think it's fair to say Mulberry tied second with FelderFelder – both appealing to my (multiple) different fashion faces. Taking luxe to the super luxe, the Mulberry show was just so gorgeously elegant and sophisticated and I'm practically weeping into my keyboard looking at that classic English check in its various colour combos complimented by the new butterflies and woodland flowers print. Nice, sturdy chunky heels and then, of course, the bags – more structured and framed, more expensive looking and more for the sophisticated kind of lady. I sure want to be that lady. Joining the Bayswater, the Mulberry It bags of the season are the Willow (the one with a zipped envelope compartment on the front) and the Suffolk (like the Bayswater but with a metal frame at the top). Nice to see Mulberry continuing with their bright yellow rather than it being just a one season kind of thing and by all accounts, the show, which took place in Claridges Ballroom was a pretty fabulous affair with a butterfly-shaped invitation, brambleberry muffins, breakfast compotes. woodland inspired juices and Rococo chocolate ladybirds. Now that is a show list I somehow need to get on. :) Watch the show here.

#LFW - A Visit To The Maison Triumph Pop Up Exhibition & Store Posted by Unknown |

I really did mean to try and get these photos up earlier as yesterday was the last day of the Maison Triumph pop up. Official supplier of lingerie for London Fashion Week, Triumph (celebrating their 127th year) put on a lovely exhibition, talks by Caryn Franklin and Ruby Hammer among others, commissioned some beautiful designer collaboration pieces, including Matthew Williamson, FelderFelder and Louise Gray and had Helena Christensen there with her Triumph lingerie line. All very bijoux and gorgeous on one of my favourite Covent Garden streets – Monmouth Street, home to Poste Mistress and Tatty Devine among other many splendid little boutiques.

London Fashion Week - Christopher Kane AW13 - Some Snaps Posted by Unknown |

Wow, I never thought I could enjoy a fashion show so much. I know that sounds silly, I love fashion therefore I should love shows, right? Granted seeing fabulous designs marched out in front of you is a pleasure but what I've found goes along with shows is highly-strung anxiety – from the musical chairs as the right people are made sure they're put in the right seats to personal space land-grabbing on the benches and neck-craning celeb spotting – which encases and is individual to each show. Or maybe it's because I haven't been in a big enough venue, where practically 50% of the audience have a front row seat like today at the Christopher Kane show, which was actually more like several shows in one. The multi-faceted collection was staged in a cavernous art gallery-like eighth floor on Cannon Street – the tinted windows flooding each section with primary colours – so spacious that any tense vibes (which sensitive souls like me always pick up on) were dissipated and dispersed. I felt relaxed and ready to enjoy the show. And boy, I did. With 55 models walking the 500m catwalk, I found myself gasping as each new mini-collection presented itself. In clumsy summary, the fur and blue camouflage, see-through coiled detailing, 3-D flowers on burgundy and black, velvet dresses with tulle bands, geometric print, feathered and filament-fringed (or tinsly?) dresses. Oh yes, and the silk-screen print of an MRI brain scan. As you can see from the photos, that's a lot of ideas crammed into one collection and that's what had me gasping in surprised delight. I loved the wide-legged trousers over the heels, the fur jacket over a mini-dress, the brain shift dress and please, please can I have a tinsly dress? And did I mention UK Vogue editor Alexandra Shulman was in the same (very crowded) lift as me? I didn't see Salma Hayek, unfortunately, whose husband is the CEO of PPR, the French company that now has a 51% stake in Christopher Kane and I'm guessing whose financial backing allowed for such an elaborate show. Anyway, bravo Mr Kane, I can't wait til next season.

What I'm Wearing - #LFW Day 4 Posted by Unknown |

So having skipped LFW day 3, come day 4, I set off nice and early for the Christopher Kane show. Just down the road from Bank tube on Cannon Street the fashion peeps were out in force congregating for one of the 'big four' shows of the season. A flurry of bulbs flashed as Susie Bubble (dressed in a supercute mix of pale pink and blues) quickly rushed into the venue while others made themselves available for copious (arduous? ;)) street style pics. Inside the mob grew, waiting to be allowed access to lifts that would take us up to the show space. Anyway, I will save the details and photos for the next post, but suffice to say the space itself (soon to be offices, oh no!) was mind-blowing and the collection even more so. I heard myself gasping as each new 'mini collection' appeared (Chris Kane must have access to some sort of magical well of never-ending ideas, where is that now?). What I wore, well, I saved up my smartest monochrome outfit for today – H&M skinnies, peplum top (c/o New Look - Petite collection), biker jacket by Next and bag (few seasons ago) by Mimi Berry.

#LFW - Mini Show Report - Issa London AW13 Posted by Unknown |

As soon as I locked eyes on the live stream, I knew – with ever-increasing certainty – that Issa AW13 would be my favourite show. The boho luxe, the feathered fedoras, the out-on-the-plain polo necks, the graphic but feminine prints all screamed camp beneath the desert stars (Brazilian designer Daniela Helayel talking about "...a trek to the desert") and dance with wild abandon. Sorry if that sounds indulgent, but something about the clothes' flowing confident abandon (apologies: repeat word) tapped into how I like to feel, and how I like clothes to make me feel. Btw I had no idea that Camilla Al Fayed bought 51% of the company in 2011 and I'd also forgotten that Issa was a favourite of Kate Middleton. Hmmm, never mind, the clothes speak for themselves and have utterly worked their magic on me at least. Watch the full show in the video below and tell me what you think.

#LFW - Mini Show Report - FelderFelder AW13 Posted by Unknown |

I thought I'd set myself the challenge of doing a series of mini show reports on my favourite shows with the criteria of choosing just four looks – the looks that stood out to me the most but also the ones which I feel defined the show. So here goes. FelderFelder AW13 feels much more evolved than previous collections; grown up in the sense of exploring and breaking new ground. The FelderFelder black body-hugging rock chick staples still underpin the collection (flared mini-skirts and cigarette pants) but there are some exciting new elements – fresh new colours, trench coats. tailoring and a dreamlike princess dress in flowing silver (LOVE) . The breathtaking show closer was two gigantic Mongolian furs in grey and white, belted and beautiful. No wonder the Felder twins were so gleeful at their end-of-show appearance, they're taking things to the next level. Watch the show below and tell me what you think. (NB – red lips throughout.)

#LFW - Wolf & Badger Showroom AW13 - Amy Hall Posted by Unknown |

As promised here are some photos from my trip to the Wolf & Badger showroom on Dover Street. (If you follow me on Instagram you may have seen a couple of these already.) My main objective was to finally meet the lovely knitwear designer Amy Hall whose pieces have featured in outfit posts on this blog (here and here) who I had a great chat with before checking out a few of the other brands on show including PPQ, Feather M and John & Pearl. It's so nice to get a feel for next season and planning colours and looks. I love Amy's selection of greys, navy and clarets and her introduction of gold chain in her crochet sections remind me of a Comfort Station necklace I teamed one of her knits with in this outfit post. The colourful John & Pearl pieces would also go perfectly. The showroom is open to the public so do pop in if you get the chance over the next couple of days. It's a great way to discover new brands.

ps. Sorry for the quality of the snaps, this was one-handed iPhone shooting :)

London Fashion Week AW13 - The Fashion Parade Contd - Candids Posted by Unknown |

Bumble bee crochet and beaded fringing – hello LFW

Some more of my snaps from Somerset House, this time candid ones while 'doing the lap' a few times over around the buzzing courtyard. Things to note, 1. new trend the neon beanie is already dividing opinion in the Twittersphere 2. snazzy pink & orange brogues with matching socks and denim is a winner 3. ideally have your photographer blog partner/real life partner/brother tailing you for the perfect street style snap 4. music and fashion do mix good – scratch beneath the fashion surface and you'll find a plethora of DJ/producers 5. cute photographers in cute sneakers are a sight for sore eyes 6. why do fashionistas love cutesy iPhone cases so much?

It takes two, baby

The serious photogs

Yes!

Team FelderFelder leaving the building & Manolo Blahnik shoe tree 

Spot the Javier the Owl iPhone case by Marc Jacobs

Mr Annette Felder aka music legend DJ/producer Arthur Baker and David Dewaele from 2ManyDj's/Soulwax

Very cute sneakers too

White fox, marillion fringing, glitter gold tights and diamante slingbacks – nuff' said.