Phillips Bae Bien-U Photography

I went to this Bae Bien-U exhibition opening last night, which was excellent.



Huge, glossy nature shots of pines, landscapes, tree trunks, blue skies and green waters. Then we ran up to Oxford Street to do some fancy dress shopping in time for tonight's festivities... Happy Halloween!

Hunting for The Perfect Flapper Dress

According to the Chicago History Society, 'in the 1920s, the word "flapper" described a young woman who rebelled against convention. Like jazz music, the gangster, and the speakeasy, the rebellious and fun-loving flapper was a product of 1920s urban America. Most American women were not flappers, but the flapper's shocking behavior set a tone that helped many women explore Jazz Age freedoms without fear.'

Such a cool era!  I am trying to find a vintage 1920s beaded flapper dress so I can channel Joan Crawford.



I LOVE looking at photos of my maternal Grandma who used to dress up in extravagant, bohemian beads, capes, feathers and silks, blanched pancake powdered face and striking dark lips. People don't throw themselves into fashion so gracefully these days!

I already have the maribou, the black lipstick and the long strings of pearls...



But I haven't found anything yet which jumps out yet, so I'll probably just end up with a not-particularly-1920sish modern black spangly dress like this lovely Alberta Ferretti one (if I could afford it!)

Westfield Opening

We went to the grand opening of Westfield Shopping Centre this morning, in Shepherd's Bush. Bumbling Boris Johnson cut the red ribbon, speeches were given, an orchestra played, and Leona Lewis sang. It was very grand, and the shopping centre is very futuristic, shiny, clean, and in Boris' words "new and spanking", so consequently heaving.



I bet it's killer for Christmas shopping/ January sales. There are hundreds of stores, restaurants and a cinema and I bet it'll be full of street rats any day now...

Luella Looks

I HAVE to get the stunning grey and pink dress, top left. Taken from Luella's most recent show, the SS09 collection was her wonderful take on quirky British tailoring and girly accessories. I love the excessive layered strings of pearls, and the cute little fascinators and veils. Bella Luella...

Tonight at Ministry of Sound

Tonight at Punk

Blonde Eurotrash

Reason to be blonde #1: this wicked shot from Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin. I'm sure she's a European Countess or something, but she looks fabulously trashy. Yet, somehow at the same time tastefully restrained in her subtle, neutral safari ensemble.

Fetch the peroxide...

Leibovitz Marriage

Last night I went to Phillips de Pury (my favourite gallery/ auction house) for an Annie Leibovitz exhibition opening (my favourite photographer [or one of them, anyway]) for lots of champagne (my favourite... etc). The exhibition was stunning and whilst I had seen almost all of the images before, it was great to see them all blown up and looking fabulous.


Then we went for dinner, then the newly-refurbed Movida then Marriage at Bungalow 8. Jamie Dornan, David Walliams and Josh Hartnett (Josh Heartnett) were there, along with half the beautiful people of London.


I wore a long red vintage silk dress which prompted a proposal (I do not, but thank you), "Jessica Rabbit" (excellent, thank you) and "are you a glamour model?" (oh, too much with the red lipstick too, then...) Can't win them all.  Such a fun night and must channel the Who Framed Roger Rabbit? girl.

Crown, Cocktails & Canapes

Last night I went to Crown Paint's press event at The Music Room on South Molton Lane. Two Homes & Gardens stylists won awards and Crown showcased their beautiful new fashion-inspired paint ranges.



Then I moved onto Rocket for cocktails, then onto Cafe Boheme in Soho for champagne. Hiccup.

Fried Gwyn Tomatoes

Gwyneth Paltrow looked awesome during Milan Fashion Week wearing this knee-length sundress. I love the ruffled ruching, the relaxed, soft hemline and the fabulous on-trend luminous tomato colour; (and she's still stomping about in a pair of her excellent fetishistic black shoe-boots). Without committing to fancy dress proportions of neon orange-red, it's easy to instantly update your look with accessories and make up, like the gorgeous Jourdan Dunn at the Paris Jean Paul Gaultier show, looking very sharp with bright lips and clean cut black lines:

Buddha Bar

Last night I went to the Buddha Bar for a cocktails and canapes event.  I went for dinner in August when it opened, so I'm not sure if last night was just a delayed phase of their soft launch but it was a nice relaxed way to start the week...

< 3

3 of my beautiful girls:Saskia

Alison

Alexa

Harlequin

I love this knitted harlequin jumper from Topshop. This season's separates are really great, especially the knitwear, thrown over the top of the omnipresent leather trousers/ leggings/ treggings/ whatever.

I don't know why Topshop insist on their shoots being on the back of a faux-bus though... Schoolbus chic?

1.2.3.4.5.6.7

Beach Holiday in Greece

Last year I spent a week in the sun in Kardamena on the Greek island of Kos with my BFF as a much needed escape from London.