Golden Globes 2014

I look forward to the Golden Globes every year.  Like the more louche and drunk cousin of the Oscars, this ceremony provides us with an early indication of the award season’s winners and, more importantly, our first glimpse at the latest SS’14 show stopping frocks and red carpet trends… #ClothesOverShows!  My favourite three dresses were worn by (*drumroll...) Lupita Nyong'o, Cate Blanchett and Caitlin Fitzgerald.

Above:  Lupita Nyong’o...  I am a BIG fan of cape dresses and ‘12 Years a Slave’ newcomer Lupita Nyong’o looked the bomb in this dramatic Ralph Lauren gown which was reminiscent of Gwyneth Paltrow’s striking Tom Ford cape dress at the 2012 Oscars.

Above:  Cate Blanchett... As always, the graceful ‘Blue Jasmine’ actress gave us a masterclass in red carpet dressing.  Always elegant yet quirky, Cate Blanchett looked both gothic and regal in her black tulle and lace Armani Prive high-necked, backless dress. 
Starlets take note. 

Above:  Caitlin Fitzgerald...  'Masters of Sex' actress Caitlin Fitzgerald looked incredible in her gorgeous powder blue, Emilia Wickstead step hem dress.  I do wish she had styled her hair a little more in keeping with the high neckline of the dress (a slick updo would have been perfect) but I think her accessories and make up were divine.

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Three major red carpet trends stood out at the 2014 Golden Globes; Red, Nude and… Bumps! Yes, amidst the crimson silks and blush tulle were several glowingly pregnant lead actresses posing for two.  I also noticed that, unlike last year’s ceremony, there were less glossy limbs and cleavages on show (perhaps a Miley backlash?!) as a welcome return to higher necklines and more demure dress lengths were favoured. 

Above:  Ladies in Red (L-R):  Lupita Nyong'o in her scene stealing Ralph Lauren cape dress and Emma Roberts in the backless scarlet Dior Couture dress she paired with navy trousers. Amy Adams looked sexier than usual in a ‘70’s inspired, two-tone burgundy/red halter-neck Valentino dress and singer Taylor Swift wore cherry-red Carolina Herrera.

Above:  Pale and Interesting (L-R): Naomi Watts wore a metallic, white gold Tom Fordcolumn dress and Margo Robbie flashed emerald green heels from under her cream Guccidress.  Zooey Deschenal looked as kooky cute as always in a glittering ivory Oscar de la Renta skirt and embellished crop top (with a daisy mani naturally!) and similaily, Sally Hawkins wore a beautifully embellished Dior ensemble.  Michelle Dockery looked every inch the lady (Mary) in strapless Oscar de la Renta.

Above:  Battle of the Bumps (L-R):  Olivia Wilde (who is expecting her first baby with Jason Sudeikis) looked bumpalicious in this body-skimming, long sleeved, emerald-green sequined dress by Gucci.  'Scandal' star Kerry Washington bumped beautifully in her, albeit quite mature, Balenciaga silk crepe gown with diamond pin designed by Alexander Wang. Drew Barrymore wore a petal-embellished Monique L’huillier bumptastic gown which I don’t think would have suited anyone else other than her.

As expected there are always a selection of dresses which cause debate and others which outright have us all united in mutual shock and horror...

Above: Marmite ('you either love it or you hate it...') L-R:  Jennifer Lawrence’s white Belle Epoque-inspired Dior (who else?!) gown with black ribbon detailing sparked a series of internet parodies (pugs in rubber tubes, kittens in coffee filters…) I don’t find the dress to be particularly inspiring but I do find her talent, attitude and punk-like hair is able to make any outfit notable.  The more I look at Emma Watson’s Dior Couture outfit the more I love it.  The actress looks modern, fresh and youthful, and even if I am in the minority, I am a big fan of this look.  Zoe Saldana consistently takes high fashion red carpet risks and once again the actress divided opinion in this this Prabal Gurung cocktail dress.

Above:  When Bad Outfits Happen to Good People (Clockwise L-R):  eece Witherspoon looked particul.... zzzzzzzzzzz... I'm sorry, wha... um, she wore a really dull dress by Calvin Klein. I was more than excited to see Julia Roberts back on the red carpet… I was however, less enthused about her outfit especially when imagining how many designers must have been clambloring to dress the supporting actress nominee.  Whhhhy oh whhhhy did she wear this peculiar, drab and unflattering Dolce & Gabbana ensemble?!  White shirts under gowns should only ever be seen on Meryl Streep (mainly because Meryl Streep is Meryl Streep and can do whatever the hell she likes... Fact).  Sandra Bullock started the awards season so well, but this Prabal Gurung colour-block gown makes the actress look a Licorice Allsort, albiet one with immacualte hair and makeup.  As Tom Ford only dresses one star per awards show, Hayden Panettiere bought (yes, actually paid for) her dress by the designer for the night... is it too late for a refund?!  Very 90's... and not in a good way.  Lena Dunham’s canary yellow Zac Posen strapless dress totally wore her and I am yet to see one picture of the actress from the night looking remotely comfortable. 

 

2013 Flipagram

If you are enjoying a digital detox this holiday the latest, greatest app to take the (social media) world by storm may have, thus far, eluded you.  Flipagram lets you choose photos from your camera roll, select a song from your music library, and then allows you to share the constructed montage.   Along with pretty much everyone else on Instagram, I created my own 15 second flashback of 2013 filled with some of my year's highlights;  new puppies (Atlas and Albas), new kittens (Harry and Lloyd), protests (against the ivory trade and the annual dolphin slaughter in Taji, Japan) and playing the Bongos with Cara Delevingne are featured admist my amazing trips to Los Angeles, Kenya, Berlin and Mallorca (below).  Try it yourself - it's flippin' fantastic! 

All She Wants for Christmas 2013

We all know that most men fear, dread and loathe shopping so rather than ‘accidentally’ flambéing him instead of the Christmas Pudding as thanks for that last minute, delightfully flammable red underwear he left for you under the tree (“but it’s festive!”) may I suggest you help the poor fella out this year by kindly leaving this page open on his desktop…!  

Above (Clockwise) L-R: Kate: The Kate Moss Book – RRP. £50.00, Jonathan Adler’s Mr and Mrs Muse Mug at Amara – RRP. £24.30, Topshop Rasberry Bow Heels – RRP. £55.00, Anya Hindmarch Girlie Stuff Wash Bag – RRP. £95.00, Princess Tam Tam’s Folie Bra – RRP. £58.00

Above (Clockwise) L-R:  Dannijo Joanie Stud Earrings at Matches – RRP. £125.00, Topshop Collar Jacquard Dress – RRP. £75.00, Monica Vinader’s Gold Vermeil Stacking Rings - RRP. £50.00 - £100.00, Anthropologie Lady Bugs Dinner Plate – RRP. £24.00, Anthropologie Multitude Hairbands – RRP. £14.00 

Above (Clockwise) L-R:  Smythson 'Shoe Queen' Leather Notebook at Matches - RRP. £38.00, Topshop Velvet Sequin Pencil Skirt – RRP. £42.00, ‘Isabella Blow: Fashion Galore!’ at Amazon – RRP. £37.50 £23.25, Limited Edition Diptyque Candles at Space.NK– RRP. £25.00 -£45.00. Graham and Green Ceramic Animal Boxes – RRP. £15.00 - £18.00 

Above (Clockwise) L-R: DVF Diane Von Furstenberg Lips-Print Iphone Cover - RRP. £30.00£21.00, Wilbur & Gussie’s Penny Clutch - £295.00, Soru’s Double Green Opal Ring in Gold –RRP. £120.00, Beulah’s Shibani Shawl – RRP. £120.00 (10% from each Shabani shawl purchase goes to the UN’s Blue Heart Campaign against human trafficking), Biscuiteers Nativity Biscuit Set – RRP. £35.00, Just Ballerinas’ Leopard Print Slippers – RRP. £139.00

Thank you to actresses Anna Kendrick, Sienna Miller, Tara Summers and Ella Smith,  presenter Louise Roe and fashionistas Savannah Miller, Tanya Semikoz and Natasha Rufus Isaacs, for sharing with The London Chatter their 2013 Christmas wishes. xxxx


All He Wants for Christmas 2013

The Christmas count down has officially begun and with the chaos and mad panic on every twinkly-lit highstreet, finding a present for the lucky menfolk in your life can prove both tricky and stressful.  Rather than resorting to making an IOU voucher booklet (that ol'chestnut!) here is some TLC giftspiration which may make life a liiiittle easier...

I also asked LA-based Brit musician and all round dude Dhani Harrison and the evvver hilarious Irish actor and comedian Chris O'Dowd to share with us their Christmas wishes. 

Above (Clockwise) L-R:  Drakes Knited Wool Tie – RRP. £95.00,  Ray-Ban Mirrored Aviators –RRP.135.00, Anthropologie Moscow Mule Mug – RRP.£16.00, Spotty Happy Socks at ASOS –RRP. £13.00, Cox & Cox Wooden Letter Rack – RRP. £65.00,  J Crew Flecked Wool-Blend Sweater – RRP. £90.00

Above (Clockwise) L-R:  Nike Air Max Trainers – RRP. £94.99, Suits (Season 1 and 2) – RRP.£34.99 £20.00, Kiehl’s Facial Fuel Energising Face Wash – RRP. £25.00, Leica D-Lux 5 Camera– RRP. £644.00, Laguiole Carving Set – RRP. £31.00, Graham and Green Winston Antique Globes – RRP. £79.00 - £89.00, The Kooples Straight Cut Wool and Cashmere Coat with Leather Details – RRP. £420.00 £336.00

Skate at Somerset House Sponsored by Coach

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The (albeit slightly wonky?!) ‪Christmas tree is up and the water is freezing over which can only mean one thing... Skate at Somerset House, sponsored by the American luxury design house Coach, is one of London’s most glamourous and fashionable ice skating experiences, opens this Thursday 14th and I cannot wait to go!  Nothing can beat an evening skating alongside a live soundtrack spun by top DJs, whilst enjoying rink-side yuletide treats (welcome back mince pies and mulled wine, my old friends!) followed by dinner at Tom’s Kitchen and a wander around the luxury pop-up Christmas market.  
Tickets start from £7.50 and are available until January online HERE

 

Musical Moment: Katy Perry ('Roar')

I was lucky to attend Katy Perry's iTunes Festival performance, the last show in a star-studded month long festival. The excited crowd, myself included, were treated to 45 minutes of all the singer’s best hits as well as two newer tracks from her latest album Prism.

You sometimes forget just how many BRILLIANT and sassy pop gems Katy is responsible for, Wow... California Gurls, Teenage Dream, I Kissed A Girl, Firework (“dedicated to anyone who has ever felt less”) and my latest favourite pop-punch anthem, ‘Roar!’ (below) which even my father mentioned to me the other day was, "a jolly good tune." Praise indeed.  The all singing, all dancing and all rope-skipping (yes, yet another talent displayed during the performance) Katy Perry really is the perfect popstar.  Just awesome. 

Above (L-R):  In Katy's dressing room (I don't know how this happened either...) with Katy Perry, Anna Kendrick, Tamra Natisin, Ellie Goulding and Lauren Glucksman.

"I got the eye of the tiger, a fighter, dancing through the fire
Cause I am a champion and you’re gonna hear me roar...!"

Katy Perry's album 'Prism' is now available to buy from iTunes Here

Literary Death Match

Given that this week is International Book Week, I thought it was appropriate I write about a recent awesome evening at  Literary Death Match, performed at Shoreditch’s ‘Concrete,’ under Pizza East.  Established in 2006 and hailed as the “most entertaining reading series ever” by the Los Angeles Times, Literary Death Match is hosted by it’s quite brilliant co-creator, my dapper friend, Adrian Todd Zuniga (usually wearing a three piece suit and bow tie no less).   This live show features 4 authors each reading from one of their novels for 7 minutes in front of an all-star panel of 3 judges and a usually quite rowdy audience!  Critiqued in the categories of literary merit, performance and intangibles, two chosen finalists compete in a comical finale for the Literary Death Match medal. 

At this particular Literary Death Match the authors included John Niven, Sathnam Sangera,Nuala Casey and Polly Morland.   The judges, Louise Doughty, Sarah Morgan and Bunny Suicide's Andy Riley chose Sathnam Sanghera as our winner.  I am really looking forward to reading Sathnam's book ‘Marriage Material,’  which he so brilliantly read from.  Occurring regularly in Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and London, the show frequently tours around the world and it really is worth checking their website to see if they are visiting a city near you as a truly random, original and hilarious night may await you... ‘The pen is mightier than the sword and ink will be spilt.’

DISCO London

The opening of Disco (owned by nightclub entrepreneurs Duncan Stirling, above right with wife Zoe Stirling, and Charlie Gilkes, above left with finance Anneke Von Trotha Taylor) has certainly been one of my (Donna) Summer highlights. 

Expect glamorous Pan Am-esque stewardesses, choreographed dance routines and DJs spinning classic vinyl disco tracks from inside an oversized glittery disco ball...  And if that isn’t kitschy cool enough, cocktails will be served in miniature Michael Jackson heads by waitresses and waiters in Kylie-stylie gold hot pants!  

Since the doors closed on Manhattan's Studio 54, there has never been a more opportune excuse to invest in a white flared suit... You can Blame it on the Boogie. 


Left:  Last night's Disco Summer Drinks (L-R: Olga Nicolae Ciobanu, Kelly Eastwood, Anna Collins, Nicholas Bayliss).

Disco is open Thursday - Saturday, 11PM-3AM, 13 Kingly Court, Soho.

Now everyone...

"She is D, desirable
She is I, irresistible
She is S, super sexy
She is C, such a cutie
She is O, oh, oh, ohhhhh"

Burton and Taylor

I cannot wait to watch tonight's  ‘Burton and Taylor,’ the 90-minute BBC4 TV biopic documenting the final reunion between the glamorous Cleopatra co-stars Richard Burtonand Elizabeth Taylor, depicted by Dominic West and TLC’s favourite luvvvie Helena Bonham-Carter.

Known for their particularly turbulent relationship, this drama focuses on when the couple, who were married and divorced to each other twice, performed together, disastrously and for the final time, in the 1983 critically-slated Broadway revival of Nöel Coward’s ‘Private Lives.’  Despite being in different relationships at this time, Liz and Dick’s on-going, mutually obsessive, alcohol-fuelled love you/loathe you, can’t live with you/can’t live without you lovelife saw an exhausted Liz check in to the Betty Ford clinic straight after the show closed. Writer William Ivory understood the his two star protaganists well, "Burton and Taylor were addicted to more than alcohol… they were addicted to each other.” 

 Elizabeth received Richard’s final love letter to her later that year, three days before he died.  The letter was buried with the iconic actress when she passed away in 2011. 

'Burton and Taylor' is on tonight at 9PM, BBC4.

Omega Summer Party

One year on from her amazing performance in London 2012, British heptathlete and Omega ambassador Jessica Ennis-Hill hosted Omega’s annual summer party in Burlington Arcade’s magical shopping walkway.   Jessica wore a citris-bright orange Antonio Berardi dress, Jessica sipped some bubbles alongside actors Bill Nighy and Dominic Cooper, whilst I enjoyed an impromptu mid-week Girl’s Night Out, as the pictures show! 

Above (L-R):  Jessica Ennis-Hill with Bob Nighy, Sinclair Sellars and Katy Wickremesinghe, Kelly Eastwood and Marie-Claire's fashion editor Tanya Semikoz.   

Above (Clockwise L-R):  DJ/Presenter Izzy Lawrence with Shirley Leigh Wood Oakes, Katy Wickremesinghe and Kelly Eastwood,  Kirsty Williams with presenter Zoe Hardman, Zafar Rushdie with girlfriend, opera singer Natalie Coyle.