30th Birthday, 54 Style

I blame my namesake Bianca (Jagger) for my fascination with all things Studio 54. Along with Bianca, the club was awash with the most exciting, daring, glamorous celebrities of the time including Grace Jones and Jerry Hall.

When my original venue choice cancelled with only days to go, Max from Southern Joe’s in Kentish Town stepped up in the nick of time. I’d been to Southern Joes a couple of times before – the fried chicken and waffle is AMAZING, as is the entire dessert menu. I knew that they had a bar downstairs, Jailbird, but I hadn’t been before. Typically leaving everything to chance, I turned up on the evening of my birthday without knowing what to expect. Fortunately, the venue was great, the staff were friendly and helpful, they let me play my own seventies tracks and everyone ended up having an amazing time. Oh, and did I mention there's an amazing £5 cocktail menu? I’d recommend it as a venue for anyone. I think the proof is in the pictures!

Monki Business

Monki helped me remember there was life after a four-day weekend by throwing a wonderful party on Wednesday night. Celebrating their new and improved store at 37 Carnaby Street, music was provided by Mapei and the Braid Bar were busy plaiting everyone’s hair into designs so elaborate that ‘watch You Tube braiding tutorials’ is now top of my to-do list this weekend. Monki is always a great spot for on-trend, fun pieces and pretty good for basics too – I love my high-waisted Monki jeans so much - I just realised I wore every day this week. There were several pieces from their new collection that caught my eye (khaki pleated skirt, floaty, 70’s style yellow kaftan) but the party was pumping so hard that I thought it would be best to go back another time to do a proper shop. That’s number 2 on the weekend plan.  

www.monki.com 

Motel Blogger Christmas Party

The Motel Blogger Christmas party was held in Ink, Leicester Square last week. It was lots of fun; lots of glamorous girls, lots of sweets and hair and beauty galore! I love Motel - the glittery party frocks are perfect for glam festive occasions. There were some great leopard pieces this time too; I'm in love with the oversized leopard T-shirt and sweater. 

www.motelrocks.com 

Trader Vic’s Re-launch

I escaped the drudgery of the week and headed to a tropical paradise on Thursday night. Home of the Mai Tai cocktail, Trader Vic’s has been a celebrity favourite for a while now and so it was no surprise to find the famous out in force at the venue’s re-launch party. I spotted The Voice’s Nate James (charming chap) Cheska Hull and Louise Thompson from Made in Chelsea. Amber Atherton was on the decks. 

The party had a fabulous Mad Men/Tiki theme and the cocktails were suitably fruity and exotic too. A fabulous night and Trader Vic’s is back on my party radar again!

Trader Vic’s 
London Hilton on Park Lane
London, W1K 1BE
(Nearest tube: Hyde Park Corner)

On the way to the party

Yum

Aloha!

The girls

Loved this dress

Cheska and Louise

Louise Thompson

Happy Birthday Cath Kidston!

I have always claimed I was born to be driven and last Wednesday, FINALLY, someone took notice. A car collected me from work and whipped me over to Cath Kidston head office in Latimer Road. Cath’s Café had been transformed into a blogger-friendly paradise, with the brand’s birthday book, ‘Coming up Roses’ being supported with more pretty florals, 50’s prints and polka dots than you could shake a stick at. 

Delicious cocktails and tasty bowl food was flowing, and after watching the Coming up Roses video, we selected a Cath Kidston mug and learnt how to make special birthday candles with Jessie Warren. I made mine in a red and white dotty mug and a sweet little pale blue egg cup. As our candles cooled in night, we donned our stripy aprons and moved on to cupcake icing with star baker Lily Vanilli. It was great to learn top tips from one of the best cake makers and decorators in Britain! We were soon ‘coming up roses’ ourselves; iced ones, mainly. Crystallising pansies was fun and we soon had some tasty looking creations to take home (in lovely Cath Kidston tins, no less). There was something for everyone in the new Cath collection; if you’re not a fan of florals, the vintage red and white dots print is a great alternative.

The ‘Coming up Roses’ book explains all about the history of Cath Kidston and how the brand grew to the print powerhouse it is today. I was beyond impressed with the mini TV tucked inside our Coming up Roses shopper goodie bag; for a luddite like me, it was exciting to glimpse the future of advertising! I was the last one to have a Discman, but I like to think I have been one of the first to watch something on a teeny tiny TV. The gadget shows the Coming up Roses video. 

This was a fabulous event to mark a long and illustrious history, Cath fans rejoice; there are some exciting new products to get your mitts on, I think this blooming marvellous brand will be celebrating many more happy birthdays to come. 

www.cathkidston.co.uk

#CK20yrs