All that Glitters from Mawi

I have always said, if I had been born a boy, I would have grown up as a drag queen. A life without excessive glitter and sparkle, to me, would be a life lived as a lie. This is why I shrieked a very girly shriek when I first laid eyes on Mawi's stunning crystal-on-glitter clutches. So sparkly they made me salivate, so excessive they made my heart leap with joy. I'd wear it with a metallic cocktail dress, just because I'm a girl and I can.

Tim Walker Exhibition at Somerset House

I've wanted to see the Tim Walker; Story Teller from the second I heard about it. Supported by Mulberry, I was surprised at how much the space in Somerset House had been transformed - it perfectly supported the magical, fairytale quality of the photographs and props. I found the annotations a little pretentious but thought the way they carried through the rooms like a novel worked really well. It's free so do go and see it while you can! It's on until January 27th.

Denham

I went to the second anniversary of the Denham store on Charlotte Road in Shoreditch. The shop looked great, with too many creative elements to mention (I took photos of my favourites). I had the shop to myself because the guests preferred things al fresco! We ate some tasty food and drank fizz from Ruby, a small cafe opposite Denham. 

Mulberry Spin us a Yarn!

I love this amazing video from Mulberry! Margaret and Valerie hand-knitted the thick wool pieces from Mulberry's current autumn/winter collection.

Foxhall

"Foxhall equips men for the pursuits of modern London Life. Always fit for purpose". I went along to the opening of menswear brand Foxhall last week. The clothes looked great and mostly passed my tough 'would my dream man wear this' test. I could imagine Jenson Button wearing the clothes. Pass with merit. 

Foxhall
20 Earlham Street
Seven Dials, Covent Garden
London
WC2H 9LG

Nails!

The top hand is Laurel's and she is wearing Chanel Quartz. The thumb is mine and I'm wearing Essie's Lilacism

This is 'Goldeneye' from the new O.P.I Bond Collection. It makes me feel like I can squeeze men to death with my thighs. LOVE!

Mulberry's Brilliant Britain Guide

Mulberry has created a guide to all that makes Britain Brilliant! There’s a website, which launched today, www.brilliantbritainguide.com and a gorgeous printed booklet which includes ‘A selection of the country's wonderful landscapes, architecture, craft, food, people, traditions and innovations’. The sheer volume of content alone impresses me and I can’t think of a better brand to explore our beloved island.

Visitors to the website can send in their own nominations and enter an exclusive competition to win a ‘handbag of British curiosities’ curated by Mulberry. I will definitely be entering this one. One of my fave London spots is the Boundary rooftop in the summertime. It is chic, elegant and makes you feel like you are on top of the world, no matter what your mood. Also, not many people know about the utterly immense bread basket which comes with oil and is a total snip at around the £4 mark. It includes bread so good, you’ll forget Dr Atkins’ name.

I keep meaning to go and catch the Tim Walker/Mulberry exhibition at Somerset House too, I am going to do that soon. 

The website!

The guide!

I enjoy the bread basket at the Boundary

The Murads come to London!

I can hardly believe that it has been a whole year since I last heard skin genius Dr Howard Murad and his son Jeff speak about skincare and healthy living. Last year we were in the Mayfair Hotel but this year, things took a more scientific lean and the venue changed to 41 Portland Place and the Academy of Medical Sciences.

I really like the Murad approach to skincare, with ‘Youth building’ and ‘Inclusive health’ philosophies being the brand’s ultimate goal. Dr Murad makes things seem so much simpler than other fact-filled skincare brands – you always get the impression that they are trying to blind you with science, with making a sale being their target. Dr Murad breaks things down into terms which are easily understandable, and actually really inspirational. After a stressful week at work, a pep talk from Dr Murad was exactly what I needed. Here are the three key steps to a healthy, happy life (and great skin) according to the good Doctor:

1. “Wear your crown. You are the most important person to you. You should feel worthy to be wearing your crown”.

2. “Eat your water”. As well as drinking it, eat foods which have high water content. That way, your skin gets all of the good nutrients too. Pass the watermelon.

3. “Wear sunscreen all the time”

I was lucky enough to try out YouthCam, a ‘state-of-the-art skin analysis system featuring DermaDiagnose. This basically involves having a photo taken of your face and then having the results analysed. My results were surprisingly good, I was especially chuffed with the 77% hydration result. There is a machine at the Murad counter in House of Fraser on Oxford Street so I’m going to go back make-up free to check the results after using the Radiance Rescue Murad Christmas kit for a week or two.  I’ll let you know how I get on. You should try it too. The Murad counter is at the front on the ground floor, next to Christian Dior’s. After trying it, I also highly recommend a Murad facial (which you can also have in House of Fraser) – it left me looking and feeling like a new woman. I was definitely ‘wearing my crown’ afterwards!

Here are some more good tips I picked up from Dr Murad and his product-guru son Jeff:

Build muscle- muscles have more water than fat

Use SPF but anti oxidants are just as important

Eat beans, salmon

Take fish oil tablets and vitamin D

“Give yourself permission to be happy in what you eat. If you splurge once in a while, it's good for you. Before there was medicine there was food and before there was food there was chocolate”

Write down three things which were positive at the end of the day and write down everything you have to do the next day

Some Murad skincare tips:

Cleanse before bed

Toners are important

Moisturisers add water to skin, not oil

Use anti ageing products

Eat your water-fruit and veg. The more colourful the better

Exfoliate twice a week

Relax. Stress ages you. Be imperfect, live longer. Get enough sleep

Make your life more simple

You are what you eat

Smile-make your heart happy. Think positively - why have a bad day when you can choose to have a good day

Basically, my faith in Murad products knows no bounds and there are lots more I am excited about trying now, namely:

Active Radiance Serum (this has been recommended for the spots on my neck)

Blemish and Wrinkle Reducer (ditto this)

Clarifying body spray (as well as the neck spots, I also suffer with the occasional back/chest breakout too, I’m really hopeful this is going to help)

As usual, I will keep you updated with my ongoing quest for perfect skin. From Monday I am going to start ‘eating my water’, trying to reduce my stress levels and, most importantly, start ‘wearing my crown’ again. I do love a fresh start. 

Anna Lou of London

I am super excited about the new ranges from funky jewellery brand Anna Lou of London. Anna Lou started out in Portobello Market and I already own a cool Perspex bow-shaped bangle from a previous collection. The brand is best known for their use of enamel and celebrity fans include Kate Moss, Lily Allen and Emma Watson.

The brand has had a really cool overhaul and the new enameled animal pieces are really getting my motor running and enamel bracelets (of which I wear many) are so easy to mix and match every day. I like the look of the chevron-shaped ones stacked up. There’s also a new personalised collection which I have been recommending to all of my engaged friends for future bridesmaids presents!

www.annalouoflondon.com

Ooh La La Lingerie Française

I went to the London Film Museum in Covent Garden last night for the launch of Lingerie Française, a fabulous new retrospective celebrating 100 years of glorious French undies. The show included an amazing ‘holographic striptease’ – the first I had ever seen! It was a great way of seeing how underwear had evolved over the years.

The launch was really fun too, we sipped fizz and nibbled delicious cakes from Bakery Covent Garden. Having these tasty treats really added to this chic French event.

Following the success of Fifty Shades, we keep hearing how sales of underwear have never been better – if, like me, your underwear drawer is about as sexy as Rab C. Nesbitt’s, then you’ll definitely be considering an undie overhaul after seeing this exhibition.  I’m planning a spree this weekend.

Lingerie Française is on until this Sunday and is FREE. Go and see it while you can!

Location:

London Film Museum

Covent Garden

45 Wellington Street

London WC2E 7BN

Dates: 2nd – 7th October 2012

Opening Times: 10am-6pm

Late Night: 9pm Fri 5th October