- 10% off luxury accommodation
- 25% off breakfast
- 25% off dining at your hotel’s restaurant
- 20% off spa treatments*
- A House of Fraser gift card worth £30.00 (available for stays between 15th and 27th February 2011 only)
- Complimentary Wi-Fi
The launch of Amelia Gregory’s second book, Amelia’s Compendium of Fashion Illustration has been the most-talked about event of the new year, bringing a bit of loveliness back to a month filled with talk of detox and austerity (neither present at the launch). So much was the excitement online that #ACOFI may now be permanently lasered onto my eyes!
Illustrators, designers, bloggers and journos all got together for a right old knees-up at Scout Hut, behind the 123 Bethnal Green Road ethical clothing super store.
We drank Vodka O and Adnams beer, flicked through copies of ACOFI, made new pals and devoured the prettiest Lily Vanilli centre piece cake.
A brilliant party soundtrack was spun by The Pipettes and we were even treated to a guest DJ appearance by Will of Mystery Jets.
Photos: Max Petrossi
The turn out for the party was immense with all sorts of creative people and a few familiar faces…
Now on to the serious stuff…the gift bag! With the purchase of Amelia’s Compendium of Fashion Illustration came a printed cotton tote bag packed full of treats:
– Limited edition Tatty Devine necklace made for Amelia’s Magazine
– Limited edition Amelia’s Magazine Moleskine notebook
– Dr Hauschka organic beauty products
– Back-issue of Amelia’s Magazine
– Collection of Amelia’s Magazine postcards and bookmarks
– Tatty Devine 10% store discount
– Dr Hauschka 15% online store discount
It was amazing to come down and meet all of the people involved with Amelia’s Magazine and it’s nights like these that make living in London so much fun.
Amelia’s Compendium of Fashion Illustration is just so beautifully made and is a very relevant resource, as ethical fashion is moving forward so quickly.
There’s a lot of content to get through, so it will take you a while to read from cover to cover and it’s a real gem that you’ll keep going back to.
Having made my own zine a few years ago, I know just how much work, time and money goes into producing an independent print publication – printing costs alone can drain the budget.
So if you still love words on paper and beautiful artwork (can you tell I’m not a Kindle fan?), it’s so important to support Amelia and all of her brilliant print releases… especially so we can have more parties!
Buy Amelia’s Compendium of Fashion Illustration online for a reduced price and receive 12 unique Amelia’s Magazine postcards. For more info and a preview of ACOFI, visit www.ameliasmagazine.com
Art, Exhibitions, Guest posts, London
Guest Post: Little Card, Big City
January 31, 2011 by cheriecityMatthew Miles explores fragments of London at The Urethra Postcard Art of Gilbert and George…
This new show from the most famous couple in art is not as bold, or as immediately beautiful, as some of their previous high-profile exhibitions. If you’re seeking the shock-factor of series such as the ‘Naked Shit Pictures’ you might be disappointed, but dig deep and there’s layer after layer beneath the mass-produced surfaces of ‘The Urethra Postcard Art of Gilbert and George’.
With 564 works piled high on the walls, and each featuring 13 postcards set out in exactly the same pattern, the exhibition is a tad daunting at first glance. From tourist shop views of Trafalgar Square to Union Jacks and the calling cards of gay or transgender sex workers, all the sets are laid out to form an angulated version of the sign of urethra, used by one-time theosophist C. W. Leadbetter (1853–1934) to accompany his signature.
The urethra carries semen out of men’s bodies and urine out of a female’s – production for some, and waste for others. And for me, this show is about the ebb and flow of the big city – the industry and consumption; the new and the redundant; the opportunities for anonymity and rebellious self-expression that exist simultaneously in places like London.
With health awareness messages next to patriotic chest-beating and rose-tinted views of historical landmarks, the show confronts us with hundreds of adverts. But the deeper connection is in imagining the lives on the other side of the cards – the people that bought them, scrawled messages on the back or tried to forget their wife as they phoned that S&M sex-worker.
Having a quick chat with Gilbert & George at the private view were Tracey Emin; Stephen Fry; Jay Jopling; Bianca Jagger; Courtney Love; Alan Yentob; Pandemonia and Konrad Wyrebek.
You start to imagine possibilities. What’s happened to ‘Transsexual Linda new in town’? Is she still out there, or does she have a new name online or in another city?
Some of the cards had a more personal tug and I began to wonder how I pictured my own future – the times I crossed Oxford Street in the mid-nineties, when a so-garish-it’s-tropical image of blue sky and red Routemaster buses was produced.
Konrad Wyrebek and friend
For big city people with a little time to spare, a visit to White Cube Mayfair could get you closer to the chaos and diversity of a seemingly anonymous and ordered place. Wish you were there?
Gilbert & George: The Urethra Postcard Art of Gilbert & George runs until 19 Feb 2011 at White Cube, Mason’s Yard.
Matthew Miles is a freelance arts and culture writer, photographer and video producer. To see more of his work visit: www.matthewmilescreative.blogspot.com
France’s best-loved natural skincare brand Melvita hosted a preview of its new products for Spring/Summer 2011 in a stunning, fairy-lit room at Century.
Melvita has gradually built up a following in the UK and opened its flagship store in Covent Garden just before Christmas.
Adding to its extensive range of 24 pure Beauty Oils, Melvita launches three new Quintessential Oils (£28/30ml).
The oils combine effective ingredients that are known for their nourishing, restorative properties.
The oil for dry skin is made up of Neroli, Rosewood, Immortelle, Myrrh and Carrot essential oils with a trio of Argan, Hemp and Inca Inchi plant oils to rehydrate and protect skin.
Sensitive skin is treated with a unique complex called SymRelief, extracted from Ginger and Candeia, along with Geranium, Chamomile, Sandalwood, Yarrow and Frankincense essential oils.
Combination skin is rebalanced with purifying Cistus, Mandarin, Lavender, Palmarosa and Benzoin essential oils with Apricot Kernal, Nigella and Tamanu plant oils.
I’ve been using Melvita’s Nigella Seed Oil as a night-time treatment to help decongest and balance my skin, so I’m excited to try out the Quintessential Oil for combination skin.
Another treat for 2011 is the Naturalift Youthful Skin range is based around Melvita’s bestselling Naturalift anti-ageing cream (£30/50ml), which also sees a rebranding.
The Naturalift Youthful Skin collection is based on Phyto-Embryogenesis and uses plant stem cells to encourage cell renewal.
The range is available from March 2011 and now also includes a complex for eyes and lips (£22/15ml), a serum (£32/30ml) and mask (£22/75ml).
A new release for high summer is the Floral Bouquet collection (available from July 2011), which is based on the Asian technique of a double cleanse, tone and moisturise.
Just imagine how refreshing and lovely it will be to cool skin down with the Eau Extraordinaire Rose on a hot day.
Melvita also have the holidays covered with their range of suncare products that go up to SPF 30.
The sun creams (£20-£24) contain natural ingredients to protect skin against sun damage, including Maracuja, Mango, Tahitian Turmeric, Para Nut and Sesame.
There is also a cooling After Sun Body Milk (£16) with Fig to repair and hydrate skin and a gorgeous Monoi Dry Oil with Amazonian Rocou to nourish skin and hair.
Melvita products are available to buy online and at the flagship store in Covent Garden.
Hotels, Hotels - Luxury, London, London Fashion Week
A Stylish Stay at Bloomsbury Street Hotel
January 28, 2011 by cheriecityAs London Fashion Week approaches, the search is on for a luxurious, centrally-located hotel where fashion folk can change from Balmain to bathrobe, Stella to slippers and recharge.
The Radisson Edwardian Bloomsbury Street Hotel is at the heart of the London Fashion Week buzz, just close enough to stride down to Somerset House and the off-schedule venues in the morning and hobble back at night.
I was invited to stay for a night at The Bloomsbury Street Hotel and road-test its fashion week credentials…
On arrival, we checked in at the stunning, art-covered reception and were met by the wonderful Manager Luke, who escorted us to our room and wouldn’t allow ‘the Princess’ (that’s me) to carry her own bags.
We had a good chat about the hotel and Luke mentioned that he’d personally selected our room – already I could see how warm, friendly and welcoming the Radisson Edwardian team would be.
Our King Deluxe was incredibly spacious, decorated in an opulent colour palette of pale gold, silver and damson with velvet and leather textures.
The bed was absolutely heavenly and there were extra pillow – duck feather or regular – just so we would feel at home. I loved the purple and silver velvet throw at the end of the bed and the snake-effect padded wall.
After exploring the whole room, we curled up on the velvet sofa and tucked into a complimentary platter of strawberries and chocolates – a perfect start to the stay.
The living area was well-equipped and comfy with a large Philips flatscreen TV, free high-speed wifi, tea and coffee making facilities, a well-stocked minibar and new issues of Wallpaper* and Harper’s Bazaar.
The bathroom is one of the largest I’ve ever experienced and had a separate bath and walk-in shower (with excellent water pressure).
Every ‘bathing station’ has the most lovely wall-mounted Bee Kind toiletries by Gilchrist & Soames and is even a tray of travel-size sachets to take away.
The adorable Bee Kind range is free of all chemical nasties and are made with organic honey, chamomile and red clover extracts.
A percentage even goes towards research into sustainable pollination and the preservation of honeybees at the University of California.
Once we had settled in, another member of staff from reception called to check that we were happy with our room and everything was ok.
There is a good room service menu so you can order comforting meals, club sandwiches and light snacks all through the night – perfect for arriving back starving after a day of shows followed by parties.
There’s nothing more decadent than just making your way downstairs for a wonderful 3-course dinner. The Bloomsbury Street Bar & Restaurant is dimly-lit and seductive with the kind of atmosphere that feels intimate yet buzzing.
We spent a long, delightful evening sampling the seasonal, locally-sourced delights, but more about that later, as the exceptional dinner deserves a feature of its own!
In the morning, we rolled down to the Bloomsbury Street Bar & Restaurant for a good, hearty breakfast.
You can choose to have a full breakfast delivered to your room in the morning, but I quite like the ritual of getting ready and going down to start the day among the other guests.
The breakfast buffet has everything you could possibly want for breakfast, including different kinds of sausages, bacon and eggs, accompanied by beans, mushrooms, grilled tomatoes and seasoned potatoes.
As well as the cooked breakfast, we could choose from mini pastries, cereal, toast, cheeses, yoghurt, fresh juices and fruit. The lovely breakfast staff brought us a large pot of coffee and milk, which we took back to our room to finish.
When it came to leaving the Bloomsbury Street Hotel, we felt somewhat reluctant, as the stay was so relaxing and memorable. The friendly, welcoming staff really make the difference and nothing was too much hassle for them.
The Bloomsbury Street Hotel is a perfect choice for London Fashion Week, as it’s located just a taxi ride or brisk walk away from Somerset House and the Holborn off-schedule venues.
Sister hotel, the May Fair, is the official hotel of London Fashion Week and is the hub of all things fashion, while the Bloomsbury Street Hotel feels more like an intimate luxurious retreat.
It’s close to the action during the day and in the evening you can get back quickly to change into a robe and slippers, grab some dinner, file copy and have a peaceful night’s sleep.
The Bloomsbury Street Bar & Restaurant is also the ideal place to take a break from the shows and sit down for a proper lunch or for an end of the day cocktail.
I’m already planning for The Bloomsbury Street Bar to be my unofficial HQ for London Fashion Week, come and join me!
Stay at any central London Radisson Edwardian hotel during London Fashion Week and receive a complimentary £30 House of Fraser voucher, plus the following discounts…
For more information on the London Fashion Week package and booking, visit: www.radissonedwardian.com
Photos by Chérie City
* Chérie City was a guest of Bloomsbury Street Hotel.
On a dreary winter’s day in London, there’s nothing better than reconnecting with your inner Marie-Antoinette and escaping the chill over a warming pot of tea and decadent tiers of afternoon treats.
Marylebone Belgian brasserie Cafe Luc takes the quintessential English afternoon tea and gives it a French twist with tea from Mariage Frères and delectable pâtisserie.
Curled up in one of Cafe Luc’s cosy booths, we started by selecting a pot of tea from extensive menu.
I went for a pot of Mariage Frères Marco Polo, which came in an elegant black and gold teapot (Mariage Frères signature colours) and was lightly fragrant and fruity.
Then we were served a cake stand laden with delicious savoury and sweet delights.
To start there was a selection of delicate, perfectly cut finger sandwiches filled with cucumber, smoked salmon or egg and cress.
Then came the scones fresh from the oven and served with home-made raspberry and strawberry compote and a bowl of clotted cream.
The plain and fruit scones were golden brown on the outside and cracked to reveal a soft, dense and moist centre.
To finish off the afternoon of indulgence, there was a refreshing, smooth tartelette au citron and a rich, heavenly tartelette au chocolat.
Not to be outdone, we found some room for the adorable palmier biscuits – buttery and crisp topped with crunchy sugar.
Cafe Luc understand the value of the small touches and Marylebone’s Frenchies will be delighted to find Mariage Frères tea, without having to make a Eurostar trip.
At just £17.95 for two people, Cafe Luc’s afternoon tea really is extremely good value for money.
With such excellent service and head chef David Collard’s exquisite pâtisserie, Cafe Luc offers affordable luxury, so you can treat and impress without spending a fortune.
It’s a relaxed and intimate alternative to the deluxe hotel afternoon teas with the chic atmosphere of a Parisian Grand Cafe – where better to spend an afternoon?
Photos by Chérie City.
Chérie City was a guest of Cafe Luc.
Last night I came home to a wonderful hand delivered parcel – a preview copy of ELLE Collections Spring Summer 2011, hitting the newstands tomorrow.
Rather than a mere round up of the catwalk shows, ELLE Collections deconstructs the trends and makes the whole business much more fun and accessible.
The ELLE UK team bring an insider’s view of the shows, from the soundtrack at Chloe, the Prada snacks, the show scenery and all the pretty invites.
Pulitzer Prize winner and fashion critic, Robin Givhan, discusses the innate sense of glamour only achieved by curvy gals and rising Brit designers such as Peter Pilotto, Jonathan Saunders and Holly Fulton talk about the art that inspires their work.
Other visual delights include a month in the wardrobe of Anna Dello Russo, a who’s who of the front row and a montage of designers’ backstage inspiration placards – ‘think posh school girl’, was the pre-walk decree by Preen.
ELLE have even given us bloggers a helping hand with a calendar recording all of the important fashion and art events until November. I’ll definitely be scanning a copy to stick up at my writing desk (ripping the page out would just seem blasphemous).
Other fashion treat to expect in the 10th issue include:
224 Poodles
2,000 words by a Pulitzer Prize-winning writer
73 images by style blogger Tommy Ton
16 school photos of designers
10 awe-inspiring fashion moments
8 Hermes dressage horses
… and a DIY Prada banana
ELLE Collections is available to buy from 26th January 2011. For more info, visit: www.elleuk.com
Bistrotheque has been on my ‘to do list’ since moving to London three years ago. I’ve had light meals and coffees from their pop-up restaurants at London Fashion Week, Zoo Art Fair and other ‘happenings’ but despite living just up the road, a visit has just never materialised…until last night!
I went with my Parisian pals during a birthday weekend stay in London, so I was after somewhere impressive but informal, where we could catch up properly over some good food and wine.
Bistrotheque is tucked away in a warehouse in Bethnal Green, parallel to Vyner Street’s industrial unit art galleries. You wouldn’t know it was there until you see a glimmer of light and activity and a couple of tables and chairs in a tiny courtyard.
Going up the concrete stairs reminded me of being back at Glasgow School of Art on a messy Thursday night and coincidentally we were greeted by a very dapper Scottish maitre d’.
Bistrotheque is noisy, busy and a bit too warm but all of these things make it fun!
Our waitress was so warm and smiley and really looked after us, making sure our glasses were topped up. She immediately offered us a jug of iced water and brought a basket of fresh roughly sliced sourdough bread with butter.
The wine list is interesting and well-selected, offering mostly French, Spanish and Italian wines, with the odd Argentinian and Australian bottle.
As it was a Frenchie evening, we went for a bottle of Vincent Bouquet 2009 Merlot, which was fruity, rounded and easy to drink.
Being a particularly nosy bunch, we did a little pass the parcel of each other’s food, so we could all try it out.
The fish and chips (£12.50) were exceptional – crispy golden, seasoned batter and super fresh fish. My fork didn’t reach far enough to scoop up some pea purée or tartare sauce, but on all accounts, they were also delicious.
My half roast chicken with garlic and rocket (£14.50) was so tender and tasty and the caramelised garlic cloves really added to the flavours. It only comes with a handful of rocket and could’ve done with fries as part of the dish – I had to order them as a side.
The birthday girl’s grilled guinea fowl (£18.50) was the poshest meal on the table. The guinea fowl was succulent and juicy and came with a celeriac dauphinoise, mushroom, fig and devil on horseback.
She loved the guinea fowl but had no idea what the ‘devil on horseback’ was. It took some googling today to identify said accompaniment.
To finish it all off, we ordered the white chocolate cheesecake with griottines in Kirsch and three spoons. This was absolute heaven – creamy, dense and smooth with a gritty biscuit base.
The only thing was, we all started coughing from the extra fine cocoa powder laden on top. We found it pretty hilarious and laughed about it all evening…cheesecake with a kick!
The sign of a really great restaurant is if you’re dying to go again the very next day! I’m already planning next week’s brunch…
The bill came to around £87 with wine and service for 3 people. As this was £29 per person, next time I would arrive earlier and book the pre-cabaret 3 course dinner and show for £31.
Louis Vuitton takes inspiration from the Orient for its Spring Summer 2011 campaign, featuring a power trio of Freja Beha Erichsen, Kristen McMenamy and Raquel Zimmermann.
Shot in a New York studio by Steven Meisel, the campaign leads on from the Spring Summer 2011 catwalk show and Marc Jacobs’ new exotic siren is a world away from last season’s immaculate screen icon.
The trio of models have gone from powdering their noses in a backstage dressing room to pouting with glistening lips in a glitzy mirrored boudoir.
The collection features colour block lurex dresses in rich jewel tones, monogram lace full-length skirts, layered beaded tassle dresses and exquisite silk cheongsams with scattered luxurious tassles.
The dramatic styling and orientalisms bring up images of Yves Saint Laurent’s iconic 1977 Chinese collection.
Marc Jacobs’ inspiration for the collection came from this deliberate, artificial reference to The Orient that was tied up in the glitz and glamour of the 1970s.
Steven Meisel said: “We arrived at something which I would compare to the
Eiffel Tower lighting up every hour on the hour – something of artifice that is just so gorgeous, and glamorous, and beautiful, that you are completely mesmerized by it.“
This season’s handbags are like round droplets of hard candy with a retro feel – a real departure from last season’s demure alligator bags.
The orient look is complete with the most exquisite monogram lace fans – j’adore!
The Louis Vuitton Spring Summer 2011 collection will arrive in store from February.
SPONSORED POST:
So we’re half way through January and it’s time to reflect on the progress of the resolutions. My organisational skills are still questionable, the saving money scheme was blown during a major splurge at Liberty but one thing I have excelled at has been my Hovis Breakfast Challenge!
A few months ago if I’d been told I’d be eating wholemeal bread every day for breakfast, I would have been suspicious to say the least, but it has been easier than I imagined and has made a real difference to my morning routine.
I’ve found that for most of the time, I haven’t felt the need to snack before lunch hour. According the research carried out by Hovis, 86% of 50 bloggers who took the challenge agreed that Hovis Wholemeal prevented them snacking in between breakfast and lunch.
I also found it interesting that after eating Hovis Wholemeal for breakfast, 71% of bloggers felt more positive about bread overall.
Women’s media often perceives bread as a hindrance to healthy eating and weight management, but the Hovis Challenge has clearly changed attitudes towards bread for the majority of bloggers who took part.
I don’t have scales at home, so I can’t determine whether I’ve actually lost weight, but I feel lighter and more energised after my Hovis Wholemeal breakfast than when I was doing the coffee-chain muffin dash just before work.
I’m planning to continue eating wholemeal bread for breakfast each morning, although with a few trips abroad next month, I’ll have to try super hard to keep the croissants and muffins away from my plate!
Surely the best motivation for avoiding the patisserie basket is remembering the feeling of lightness that comes with the wholemeal bread and not wanting to be weighed down and sluggish for the rest of the day.
To join the Hovis Challenge online community and get tips on stopping the snacking and helpful recipes, visit http://www.facebook.com/hovisbakery
With the Facebook app, you can set yourself personal goals and be rewarded for your efforts with daily give-aways, medals and motivational advice from Hovis ambassador and Olympic gold medalist, Victoria Pendleton.
Writer, photographer and activist Amelia Gregory has released her second book – Amelia’s Compendium of Fashion Illustration: Featuring the Very Best in Ethical Fashion Design.
A new Amelia print publication is always exciting, as you can expect a visual wonderland of new design talent, excellent writing and innovative illustration all packed into a beautifully crafted collector’s volume, made with love.
Amelia’s Compendium of Fashion Illustration explores the work of 44 leading and emerging ethical fashion designers and features exquisite fashion drawing from 30 contributing illustrators.
Initiatives like Estethica and e-commerce site Young British Designers have given a platform for London’s ethical designers and with ACOFI, you can delve further into the thought process behind their brands and collection.
Amelia quizzes the designers on what it means to be a sustainable brand: what is ecoluxury? Why use organic fabric? How do you balance fair trade and maintain profit?
The list of ethical designers interviewed includes: Ada Zandition, Minna, Prophetik, Goodone, Emesha, Junky Styling, Christopher Raeburn, Edun, Nina Dolcetti, Henrietta Ludgate, Lu Flux and many more…
Each designer profile has been wonderfully illustrated by emerging illustrators, who were enlisted through an open brief.
ACOFI is a covetable coffee table book that of course, has been ethically produced and features a pearlised cover designed by Arizona-based artist, Andrea Peterson.
A bit about Amelia’s Magazine…
Amelia’s Magazine has always taken an alternative approach to publishing throughout its 10 issue lifetime and as a student, I was completely in awe of a magazine with a cover embellished with Swarovksi Crystals!
In 2008, Amelia’s Magazine went digital and massively upped its readership while continuing the creative content of the magazine.
This was followed with the publication of Amelia’s Anthology of Illustration, featuring a creative take on renewable technologies to prevent catastrophic climate change.
Amelia’s Compendium of Fashion Illustration leads on from the ethical questions raised in the Anthology and a resource you’ll want to keep as the featured designers expand their labels.
Buy Amelia’s Compendium of Fashion Illustration online for a reduced price and receive 12 unique Amelia’s Magazine postcards
You can also buy it with Amelia’s Anthology of Illustration and save £10.
For more info and a preview of ACOFI, visit www.ameliasmagazine.com
Designers, Fashion, London, Shopping, Stores
Dover Street Market Tachiagari SS11
January 19, 2011 by cheriecityComme des Garçons superstore Dover Street Market prepares for a brand new year with a complete overhaul and the arrival of the Spring/Summer 2011 collections.
Meaning ‘beginning’ or ‘start’ in Japanese, DSM has a bi-annual Tachiagari, when the store shuts down for three days to change direction and make room for fresh installations, newly invited designer and a thoroughly different mood.
The new season additions are meticulously overseen by Comme des Garçons founder Rei Kawakubo and husband Adrian Joffe.
A major coup for DSM is the Egg space on the fourth floor, as they have always wanted to work with the London brand, headed up by former Issey Miyake designer Maureen Doherty.
The clean, structured and voluminous pieces are custom-made and tailored to your body. Summer raffia hats are also available with the bespoke service.
Comme des Garçons have also collaborated with Dr Martens on two limited edition pairs of airwair Mary Janes.
New season Comme des Garçons Play cashmere cardigans and tees….
On the third floor, Stephen Jones has created a unique installation featuring his exquisite millinery with quirky topiary, perfectly embodying the feeling of Spring…
Alber Elbaz personally curated the Lanvin display exclusively for Dover Street Market.
Jewel shaded silk dresses feature next to metallic gold and caramel pieces and his signature luxury embellished tees.
There is also a treasure cabinet for bags, accessories, mother and daughter figurines and illustrated stationery – a more personal display than you would find in a regular department store.
Hussein Chalayan…
Christopher Kane…
Erdem…
Comme des Garçons…
Comme des Garçons has collaborated with Paco Rabanne to reissue le69, an iconic futuristic handbag as worn by Brigitte Bardot, Françoise Hardy, and Catherine Deneuve.
Rei Kawakubo has re-imagined le69 using different materials and created a limited edition collection of 9 designs.
Le69 is exclusive to Dover Street Market has takes pride of place on a conveyor belt in the front window.
New sneaker space…
For more information and to see the Spring/Summer 2011 collection, visit: www.doverstreetmarket.com.
Are you loving Alber’s chessboard Lanvin space, or is le69 top on your accessories wish list? What are you favourite pieces for Spring/Summer 2011?
Photos by Chérie City