All She Wants For Christmas (In Her Stocking) 2015...

If I have been a good girl this year (which, to be fair, is still under some debate), I hope to discover some of these little treats waiting for me on Christmas morning by my bedside... Alongside Ryan Gosling covered in fairy lights Please Santa-Baby...  Click on the items for their direct links - Enjoy! 

Above:  Le chocolat des Français, created in a small village near Paris using 100% pure cocoa butter. 
Parce que la dame aime le chocolat...

Above:   Ampfly is the brand new iPhone case that makes your music three times louder, all without batteries. Yup. THREE TIMES LOUDER PEOPLE.  A Christmas essential. (RRP. £19.99)

Chanel Haute Couture SS'14

There was not one pair of skyscraper heels in sight on the Chanel Haute Couture runway in Paris last week. Instead, Karl Lagerfeld, clearly embracing the current sports luxe and streetwear trends, dressed every single one of his 65 (mighty grateful) models in trainers. Trainers? Chanel? Yup… You heard that right.  Trainers.

These were however, not just any trainers… These were Chanel trainers.  Created byChanel’s shoe-making atelier Massaro, the luxe embroidered, metallic and bejeweled footwear were worn with candy coloured corseted gowns and shimmering, iridescent flapper-style feathered dresses. The result was a cool, yet elegant aesthetic.  I'm game.

Cara Delevingne made the perfect run(a)way bridechiller, complete with her own little page boy, Hudson Kroenig, to hold her train. 

Culture Vulture: London 2014

London in 2014 looks set to be brim-full of excellent restaurant openings, exhibitions, theatre, and of course, fashion, making this a VERY Happy New Year indeed!  

RESTAURANTS

A big year lies ahead for restaurateurs Russell Norman and Richard Beatty as firstly, they re-open Polpetto after their 2-year residency above the legendary French House ended.  We can now once more enjoy the romantic, characterful restaurant from January when Chef Florence Knight and her team move to their new home at 11 Berwick Street.  The restaurant will seat a hungry 70 (opposed to only 23 like before!) and it will feature an aperitivo bar and open kitchen serving Venetian tapas.  The group will also be opening a second Polpo restaurant in Notting Hill early in the year, with the 100-cover restaurant set to be the largest of their portfolio.  All Norman and Beaty’s restaurants operate a strict no-booking policy but they are certainly worth the wait!  

After her shock departure from Michelin starred Petersham Nursaries Café last year, chef Skye Gyngell is set to open her own London restaurant early in 2014, in partnership withHeckfield Place in Hampshire.   Excitingly for South Londoners, Gordon Ramsey’s London House opens in a former coal warehouse in Battersea Square this February.
 
With Head Chef Anna Kelly promising a modern European menu using local British and artisan ingredients, there will be separate bar serving bespoke cocktails, London brewed beers and a lengthy wine list.  No Kitchen Nightmares expected here!

If this all sounds a little too fancy pants, and you’re looking for more of a quick fix, the first UK branch of the American shrimp chain Bubba Gump opens in Piccadilly Circus this year.  The restaurant is based on the characters in the epic film Forrest Gump and you can expect (in the words of Bubba…) “pineapple shrimp, lemon shrimp, coconut shrimp, pepper shrimp, shrimp soup, shrimp stew, shrimp salad, shrimp and potatoes, shrimp burger, shrimp sandwich. with garlic… shrimps with mayonnaise… shrimps with…” 

EXHIBITIONS

There are two particular exhibitions I am looking forward to in 2014 and they couldn’t be more different. The history geek in me is so excited to visit the British Museum in March to explore the ‘Vikings: Life and Legend’ exhibition (BOOK HERE), the first of its kind in London for more than 30 years.  Expect artifacts dating between the late 8th Century - early 11th Century, including a life-size replica of a Viking Ship, using some original timbers. Alternatively, the V&A will be hosting ‘The Glamour of Italian Fashion 1945-2014’ (BOOK HERE) sponsored by Bulgari.  A beautifully detailed insight into the history of Italian fashion will have every London fashionista rushing to buy tickets, desperate to see the stupendo contributions from Georgio Armani, Gucci, Dolce and Gabbana, Missoni, Prada, Valentino and Versace…. Swoon! 

THEATRE

There will be a series of exciting theatrical offerings in London this year, with Fame and Miss Saigon both returning to the West End.  Simon Callow and Felicity Kendal (LOVE them!) will star in Michael Morpurgo’s ‘The Butterfly Lion’ and the wonderful Stephen Fry is to play Lady Bracknell in Oscar Wilde’s ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ (one of my all time favourite plays!)  I hear (stage) whispers that 2014 will also see Will Young starring in 'Cabaret' with musical adaptations of ‘Slumdog Millionaire’, ‘Bridget Jones’, and ‘Bend It Like Beckham’ soon to be announced... My jazz hands can barely contain their excitement (*sits on hands).  

The Sam Wanamaker Playhouse will also open in early January at the Shakespeares Globe after much anticipation.  The totally unique, Jacobean theatre will provide both indoor and outdoor playing space and as such will host a wide variety of events throughout the year.  With a handmade oak structure, pit seating and performances lit by hundreds of candles, this venue is going to be magical.

FASHION

Get ready to feel utterly spoilt with some WOW new store openings in the capital in 2014.
Karl Lagerfeld is to open a flagship store on Regent Street this March for his self-titled Karl Lagerfeld label.  The shop will be his largest European to date (2700 sq ft!!) filled with (probably all monochrome) ready-to-wear collections and accessories.  iPads will be integrated into the display racks so you can watch digital footage showcasing the collections, and the fitting rooms will come equipped with photo booths… Just YES.  
Mayfair’s Mount Street will also be welcoming two new shops this January; Scottish designer Christopher Kane, adored by Alexa Chung and her merry band of cool cats, will be opening a flagship store as will dreamy dress creator Roksanda Ilincic.

PFW: Chanel SS'14

Karl Lagerfeld’s transformed the stark, white-walled Grand Palais into an art gallery setting for his SS’14 Chanel collection during Paris Fashion Week.  As well as exhibiting several installations and sculptures, such as an awesome Chanel No 5 robot, artists including Kandinsky, Pollock, Oldenberg and Duchamp also heavily influenced the ninety-odd designs that still managed to remain identifiably Chanel.  

The headphone’esq pearl bauble necklaces really caught my attention, as did the model’s themed, artistic eye make up.  The  monochrome socked patent court shoes(below) were almost certainly chic on the day, but the practicality of this footwear is clearly questionable!  Right... I'm off to buy a peroxide wig. 

Below (L-R) Clockwise:  I do sooo love a Chanel FROW!!  Lou Dillon, Vanessa Paradis, Poppy Delevigne, Leigh Lezark, Laura Bailey and Caroline Sieber. 

Kate: The Kate Moss Book

Rizzoli have released a Kate Moss coffee table book featuring a collection of photographs, chosen by Kate Moss herself, spanning the supermodel’s lengthy 20 year career.  Edited by her ex-boyfriend Jefferson Hack and close friend Jess Hallett, contributing photographers include Hedi Slimane, Juergen Teller, Terry Richardson, Mario Testino, Corinne Day and Karl Lagerfeld, to name just a few!  The 488 page book, which will be on EVERY fashionista’s Christmas list this year, is a ‘highly personal and complete retrospective of Kate Moss’s career, illustrating her evolution from girl to supermodel to photographic icon,’ which is also reflected by using 8 different covers (below) depicting this transformation.  This book is the ultimate roundup of the ultimate British supermodel. Dear Santa…

Below (L-R): Kate Moss attending a book signing wearing SS'13 Marc Jacobs, attending her book launch at 50 St.James Street Mayfair. 

'Kate: The Kate Moss Book,' RRP.£50.00
(Currently available here from Waterstones for RRP.£39.50)

Joseph's Michael Roberts for One T'shirt Launch

Last week I was invited by Joseph to their launch of Michael Robert’s One T’shirts.  The Vanity Fair’s Style Director’s illustrations of the fashion industry’s most iconic faces have been printed onto a series of brightly coloured t’shirts which are now available from Joseph’s Westbourne Grove store. The T-shirts include the faces of Karl Lagerfeld, Tom Ford, Anna Wintour, Grace Coddington and Carine Roitfeld to name just a few.  How much more designer can a t’shirt possibly get? 

Above:  With Joseph's gorgeous PR Alex Eagle (and Grace Coddington!) 

Michael Robert's One T'shirts available from Joseph. RRP. £75.00

PFW - Chanel SS'13

‘Fashion Month’ always ends on a high in Paris with the iconic French fashion houses in competition to put on the most memorable of shows.  Chanel was never going to disappoint. Karl Lagerfeld had models parade his SS’13 Chanel collection along a wind turbine and solar panel lined runway in the cavernous hall of the Grand Palais.  Playing with this concept of wind and energy, the collection was, as Lagerfeld explained, “all about volume and lightness, because usually volume and lightness don’t go together.” 

Left:  Karl Lagerfeld in THAT shirt and THAT tie. A huge difference to usual monochromatic style.

Below:  The towering wind turbines. “Energy is the most important thing in life,”  Karl Lagerfeld told reporters backstage after the show.

The collection reflected the traditional heritage of the label and the elegance of Coco Chanel, particularly reflected in the tweed and pearl embellishment but with a distinctly modern aesthetic.  I really enjoyed seeing the cocoon cuts and bell sleeves which provided a relaxed feel amongst the summery, neutral colour palate that was chosen. 
 
Below and Left:  Before this model had even left the catwalk this hoola-hoop style handbag had caused a veritable storm on the Twittersphere.  I can't imagine this being the easiest of bags to manipulate whilst shopping, dancing or on the tube?!  I cannot wait to see who is seen out and about next summer with this particular piece of arm/shoulder candy! 

Above and Below:  Oversized pearls embellished a huge proportion of the Chanel SS'13 collection, with many of the models also wearing pearl chokers around their necks and pearl clusters around their wrists, and they all wore a single pearl in their ponytails. 

Below:  My favourite piece from the collection - the movement in this dress was gorgeous.

Below:  The beautiful Chanel-clad FROW (L-R)  Stylist (and fashion favourite of mine) Caroline Sieber, model Laura Bailey, DJ Leigh Lezark and model Poppy Delevigne.

Jean Paul Gaultier Diet Coke

This must be the most chic Diet Coke Break possible.. French designer Jean Paul Gaultier has followed in the feet of Matthew Williamson, Karl Lagerfeld and Roberto Cavalli by becoming this year's creative director for Diet Coke.  The limited edition designs (left) named 'Day' and 'Night,' are available at Harvey Nichols but I was lucky enough to be given one at Vodafone's London Fashion Weekend.

Below:  With my haute bottle of Diet Coke.

The Chanel 'Little Black Jacket' Exhibition Comes to London

Chanel’s latest photographic exhibition, ‘The Little Black Jacket,’ inspired by a coffee table book created by Karl Lagerfeld and Carine Roitfeld, will soon be hitting our very own shores after huge successes in Tokyo, New York, Taipei and Hong Kong.

The iconic ‘Little Black Jacket’ was first designed in the 1950s by Coco Chanel and has undergone several transformations and reinventions since.  Karl Lagerfeld believes firmly that style is not a result of the garment you wear, but how you wear the garment, and this exhibition shows the versatility and timelessness of this iconic jacket.  With 113 ‘friends of the House,’ including models, stylists, actors, designers and musicians, all photographed adapting the classic jacket in unique and modern ways their very own individuality and inimitable styles are highlighted.  

Photographs include Lily Allen wearing the covetable tweed jacket as a cape, Claudia Schiffer wearing hers with a white apron, Alexa Chung teaming hers with cut off Daisy Duke shorts and SJP creatively wearing her jacket as a crown!
Eek!  I'm SO excited!

Running simultaneously with the exhibition, window displays in Chanel's boutiques across London will present a selection of jackets from the latest collections.

The highly anticipated book, ‘The Little Black Jacket: Chanel's Classic Revisited by Karl Lagerfeld and Carine Roitfeld,’ will also be available worldwide in bookstores this autumn.

October 12 - October 28, 2012 
The Saatchi Gallery, Duke of York's HQ, King's Road, London, SW3 4RY.

Admission will be free.

 
www.thelittleblackjacket.chanel.com