Wimbledon 2013

I was lucky enough to spend this year's first HOT day in London at Wimbledon, wearing my Current Elliot pale blue leopard print jeans and white Zara shirt, watching tennis matches from Court 1 and from Henman Hill/Murray Mound.  Whether you are a serious tennis aficionado or you just enjoy an afternoon of Pimms and strawberries with cream (I fall somewhere in between!) then I really encourage you to embrace the Murray Mania...

Wimbledon Tennis Championships (Mon June 24th – Sun Jul 7th):
 
If you have missed out on tickets fear not… You can queue EARLY in the morning at Gate 3 for a chance to grab one of the 500 tickets available each day for Court 1 and 2 or one of the several thousand grounds tickets.  The late entry queue opens at 5pm daily where you can also pay reasonable rates for the seats of spectators who have left the venue early.  Alternatively, there are plenty of atmospheric places around the capital which show live screenings (I recommend The Bluebird in Chelsea for Pimms on tap and BBQs) or if you want no distractions, the tennis will also be streamed live on BBC 1 and BBC 2.   

 

Trooping The Colour

The Duchess of Cambridge wore pale pink Alexander McQueen to Saturday's Trooping The Colour, a spectacular display of pageantry dating back to the eighteenth century, in what is expected to be her last official public engagement before she gives birth next month.  More than 1000 soldiers, horses and musicians took part in the annual parade which marks The Queen's official birthday.  The Royal family later gathered on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to watch a fantastically loud and proud aerial display by the RAF Red Arrows (left).

Chanel's 'Once Upon a Time'

To celebrate its 100th anniversary, Chanel has released a Coco Chanel film entitled 'Once Upon A Time.'   Shot by the brand's creative director Karl Lagerfeld, the 18 minute short film stars Keira Knightley as the label's iconic designer and focuses on the opening of her debut store in 1913, situated in the French seaside town of Deauville  which Lagerfeld allegedly went to great lengths to reproduce.  Models Stella Tennant and Lindsey Wixson, actress Amanda Harlech and Chanel muse Tallulah Harlech also make cameos.  
This definitely demands a short coffee break Ladies... with a Kit Kat peut-être...?!

Winona Ryder for Interview Magazine

Beetlejuice… Heathers… Edward Sissorhands… Mermaids… Reality Bites… If you, like me, were obsessed with all things Winona Ryder in the 90’s you will be just as pleased to see her on the cover of Interview this month looking SMOKIN!  The barely aged 41-year-old (who is appearing in two films this year, ‘The Iceman’ and ‘Homefront’) looks fan-freaking-tastically fierce in this macabre, gothic shoot by British photographer Craig McDean. 
Wino Forever.

Mr Foggs

The imaginative Duncan Stirling and Charlie Gilkes have yet again provided Londoners with an impressively extravagant bar.  Following in the footsteps of Barts, Maggies andBunga Bunga, this dynamic duo have recently opened Mr Fogg’s, on Mayfair’s Bruton Lane.  The beautiful bar pays tribute to the adventures of the famously eccentric explorer Philieas J Fogg.  I visited this bar last week with girlfriends and was immediately transported whimsically into the 1870s, being met by an immaculately dressed porter who showed us to our table.  The entire room is brimful with trinkets from Mr Fogg’s travels; quirky artifacts, unusual antiques, portraits, leather luggage, birdcages, maps and an immense hot air balloon (in which he travelled for 80 days) taking centre stage. The drinks and menu are also themed with Victorian Absinthe cocktails served in antique punch bowls.  Extraordinarily unusual, utterly elegant and highly recommended.

Below:  Charlie Gilkes and Duncan Stirling with his beautiful wife Zoe Stirling.

Mr.Foggs (15 Bruton Lane, Mayfair, W1) open Monday-Saturday 5pm-1am.

The Chelsea Flower Show

Headlined as a Pageant of Loveliness by the Observer in 1935, the RHS Chelsea Flower Show is this week celebrating its hundredth year anniversary.  Amongst the spectacular colours and hedonistic scents, this year’s highlight is the Forget-Me-Not garden designed by Prince Harry, created to promote his African charity Sentebale, and in memory of his mother.  Garden gnomes, previously banned at the show for being inelegant and crude, will also feature this year – I love the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge gnomes!

Despite it being wholly predictable (“Florals? For spring? Ground breaking!”) this is the most opportune time to look blooming hot in your prettiest flowery prints...
Below:  Topshop Tattoo Floral Teadress RRP. £45.00

'Manet: Portraying Life' at the Royal Academy

I recently went to see the Manet exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts… alongside most of London it seemed!  In what was the most overcrowded of shows I’ve been to in a long time (advance bookings were among the highest in the academy's recent history) I saw more that sixty of Édouard Manet's portraits.  Unfortunately, the quality of the work exhibited, much of which was not shown during the artist’s lifetime, was desperately uneven (several were even unfinished) and I found myself searching for the more well known of Manet’s paintings, omitted from this show.  However, as well as learning a lot about the artist’s life, there were some obviously excellent pieces to admire, especially those of Manet’s sister-in-law Berthe Morisot (above) and that of the Monet family in their tranquil garden at Argenteuil (below).

The show closes this Sunday but there are extended opening hours this weekend until midnight.  Tickets RRP. £15.00 available Here. 

The Black Cat Cabaret

Last week I was invited to the decadent Titanic Ballroom at the Café de Paris to watch The Black Cat Cabaret, the descendent of the infamous Parisien nightspot, ‘Le Chat Noir’, brought to London by the co-founders of the Boom Boom Club and La Rêve.  

Whilst enjoying a delicious three-course dinner, I was treated to an array of vintage-inspired performances from musicians, dancers and acrobats, transporting me back to the bygone era of Montmartre’s daring cabaret world.  It was easy, having been to London hotspot, ‘The Box,’ not to be as impressed with all the performances as I perhaps should have been (some of the acts were simply too underwhelming), but the show’s devilish host and co-creator, Dusty Limits, gave a fantastically mischievous and utterly commanding performance, ably abetted by wonderful can-can dancing, an ethereal burlesque performance, mesmerizing hula hooping from ‘drunken’ showgirl Kalki and, my favourite, Dickie Beau’s brilliantly mimed invocation of Kenneth Williams.  A totally charming and whimsical night out. 

The Black Cat Cabaret has one last performance with this cast on Good Friday.  For £10 off tickets enter the discount code '8livesleft'

General Show Admission:   £15.00
Early Bird Show Admission:  £12.00
2 Course Dinner & Show:  £47.50
3 Course Dinner & Show:  £52.50
VIP 3 Course Dinner & Show: £75.00

Follow The Yellow Brick ... Carpet

This month there are three (great and powerful) women’s names on the tip of Tinseltown's tongue –Michelle Williams, Rachel Wiesz and Mila Kunis; the leading ladies of ‘Oz the Great and Powerful.’ 

Above:  At London’s European premiere of the movie, the red carpet was exchanged for yellow bricks with the actresses shining in their beautiful dress choices… Rachel Weisz looked every inch a classic Hollywood star in a champagne laceMichael Kors strapless gown, Mila Kunis wore a slate grey Alexander McQueen SS’13 ruffle tiered dress (my least favourite of the three as it slightly drowned her small frame, but she still managed to look gorgeous and hold her own) and the ever quirky Michelle Williams (a red carpet favourite of mine) in a peacock blue Burberry feathered cocktail dress from their SS’13 collection - cute. 

I must say however, I thought the outfits these actresses conjured up for the Los Angeles premiere of the film were even better - which lady do you think won in the style stakes?

Above:  Rachel Weisz looked HOT in this bright orange, floor-sweeping gown by Victoria Beckham with signature exposed VB zip.  Rachel let the dress do all the talking, opting for zero accessories and scraping her glossy locks into a chic bun.  Bond Girl Perfection! 

Above:  Mila Kunis looked adorable in a Dolce & Gabanna embroidered dress with peep-toe Louboutins, a Bottega clutch bag and STUNNING ruby drop Sutra earrings. 

Above:  Michelle Williams looking oh-so-demure from the front in a pretty, floral Prada gown but not-so-demure from the side, with a waist-high slit revealing her black pants!  Absolutely magical, and as unique as ever.  My cute-as-a-button winner.

'The Great and Powerful Oz' is out in cinemas now...

Super (Bowl) Beyonce

A leather-clad Beyonce brilliantly strutted her stuff last weekend, in what was the most amazing halftime show in Super Bowl history!  In 12 high-octane minutes, Beyonce managed to not only belt out a several of her own songs, including ‘Baby Boy,’ ‘Halo,’ and ‘Crazy In Love,’ but also host a mini Destiny’s Child reunion with Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams, which was, as expected, A.W.E.S.O.M.E.  

Aware of what an honour this opportunity was, Beyonce said, “I'm trying to learn to live every moment, because these moments are not promised to us," she said. "I've had a 16-year career, and all of the things that I've done have prepared me for this. ... I'm ready."