It's the little things in life

that puts a smile on my face. Thank you Donna at Elle UK.
Can't wait till you see SS12.

Nicki Minaj / OPI / The Illustrated Nail

Nicki Minaj has teamed up with OPI to bring some fresh colours for early 2012. I'm particularly loving yellow for next spring/summer (wait till you see Black Neon SS12 Swimwear!!!)



To top it off London based 'The Illustrated Nail' aka Sophie Harris-Greenslade, one of the best nail artists around and an illustration graduate from Kingston University (another Kingston Uni grad, I'm guessing she didn't way finish back in 2001 like me!) has gone a step further and created these Minajesk designs. If you want your nails to say 'Oh yeah I know where it's at' book an appointment with 'The Illustrated Nail'

Wayuu Taya

There is a shop Ibiza that sells Wayuu Taya bags or very similar ones, and since I've come back to the UK I've tried to find them, finally success. The colours are vibrant and ideal for summer or for a splash of colour against black clothing or skys in winter. The bags are produced as part of the Wayuu Taya Foundation.
The foundation is a non governmental, nonprofit organisation founded in 2002 to help improve the lives of Latin-American indigenous communities while maintaining and respecting their traditions, culture and beliefs.
In the UK you can get them from NET-A-PORTER. You can also buy direct from Wayuu Taya, which has more styles and ships within 1-2 weeks.

Looking forward to

In less than one week, Dita Von Teese will open the doors to Cointreau Prive;
A fabulous 3 week pop-up, speakeasy bar, restaurant and club, in the heart of central London.

The Venue: Comprised of a series of themed rooms, all modelled after Dita’s own LA home and decorated with some of her own personal possessions. Prepare yourself to be transported back to the roaring 20s, a time of glitz and glamour galore!



The Bar: Dita has handpicked some of London's top mixologists to be on hand to serve you an array of exotic drinks and the finest of Cointreau cocktails. A casual dining experience consisting of exquisite tapas and food platters will also be available.



The Restaurant: Upstairs is a dedicated 50 cover, speak-easy restaurant. Guests will enjoy a 5-course dinner with all the accolades of a Michelin Star restaurant as the menu is designed and prepared by the award winning chef Laurent Michel.

The Club: Cointreau Prive has partnered with our friends from Jalouse to bring you the best in music, DJs and entertainment. Expect the likes of Paul Harris, Broken Hearts, Black & Lilac, performing and playing until 4am.

Bookings & Reservations: The Prive is by invite only. Please ensure all of your accompanying guests register at www.cointreauprive.co.uk.

Sometimes

Sometimes shoots just work, this is one of those times.
June 2011 Marie Claire Italia
Model: Yulia Kharlapanova
Photographer: Johan Sandberg
Stylist: Monika Kropfitsch

Dita in The Maldives

Really nice to see Dita in swimwear, especially a beach cover up by London brand Tallulah & Hope, who are based just up the road from me. It may not be sunny in London right now but with Tallulah & Hope, Olga Olsson, Prism, and Black Neon all based within 1 mile of each other, west London certainly has some hot talent.

Glitter Sculpture

The idea of glitter and pink in the same item doesn't really appeal to me, but I must say these Miu Miu shoes have me loving the result!
Tank Magazine's beautiful fashion editor Chloe Kerman can be seen here in another pair of Miu Miu shoes, picture taken from Garance Dore's blog.



Saying as we are on the subject of swooning over shoes, these sculptural Giuseppe Zanotti and Lanvin wedges are works of art, I can just imagine huge scale ones in the turbine hall at the Tate Modern!

Mara Hoffman

Looking back over some of the collections showcased at Miami in July this year, I still LOVE Mara Hoffman's swim collection. In fact its official Mara is my favourite modern designer (ie not Chanel or Dior). I love her taste, colour & tribal print reference, silhouette and execution.
A New York girl at heart, fashion designer Mara Hoffman hails from Buffalo and her business is currently based in Manhattan. Having graduated from Parsons School of Design in New York City and studying at Central Saint Martins College of Arts and Design in London, Hoffman began designing under own label in 2000. Possessing an unlimited passion for creativity, the former dancer
got her big break in fashion when Sex and the City Costume Designer Patricia Field, already known for being an innovator, stopped Hoffman on the streets of the East Village to compliment her outfit. Subsequently, Field bought all of the first Mara Hoffman label samples and sold them in her shop, House of Field. Not long after, a loyal client base began to take its root.

Albam. Another one up an running

Popping up like rabbits in the springtime, Albam opens another lovely new shop.
39 Monmouth St, WC2H 9DD
Telephone: 020 7240 9391
Opening times:
Mon to Sat
11:00 - 19:00 (20:00 on Thurs)
Sunday
12:00 - 18:00

Yell Ow

Merchant Archive

Every day on my way to and from work I pass Merchant Archive, whos fans include Florence Welch. It has recently had a 'to lease' sign above the door, which I feared may have implied one of the loveliest shops in London had fallen victim to the continuing recession. I can gladly say that this is NOT the case, they have relocated to 19 Kensington Park Road, London W11 2EU. Looking forward to getting down Portobello to see the new shop!

LOVE CHARLIE!

I'm so loving the new collection from 'Charlie by Matthew Zink'
Early in his career, Matthew has been fortunate to work with Tom Ford, Stefano Pilati, and Carolina Herrera. The recent Design Director for Victoria's Secret Swim and Shoes has created Charlie to indulge women who desire an elite swimwear experience. The 29 year old designer says, "I want to make provocative swimwear, and the timeless style icons of the 70's are my inspiration"
The swimwear shapes are simple and the cover ups look great too!

Post it / Galeria Melissa Sao Paulo

It looks like Bisazza tiles, which are actually the sexiest tiles in the world.



However the art is actually made from post it notes at Galeria Melissa in Sao Paulo, Brazil. I love the colours!

De Stijl / Sarah Schofield

De Stijl, Dutch for "The Style", also known as neoplasticism, was a Dutch artistic movement founded in 1917. Graphic lines and primary colours exhibited by the likes of Mondrian still have great impact, appearing modern and with a simplistic aesthetic.
Swimwear by Sarah Schofield