Happy New Year!

Image courtesy of Nowness and the Haruki Murakami design competition:

To Veg or not to Veg! Check out Nigella ...

Brad Pitt hits 48 today - see him in all his roles!

NOWNESS celebrates Brad Pitt turning 48 today with a series of illustrations of the characters that have made him a household name, from the primal and lusty Tristan Ludlow in Legends of the Fall to the nihilistic, brawny Tyler Durden in Fight Club. Born in Shawnee, Oklahoma, and raised in Springfield, Missouri, Pitt caught his Hollywood break in 1991 when he played a sexy small-time thief in chick-flick Thelma & Louise. Later hits like Babel, Benjamin Button, and most recently Tree of Life brought him critical acclaim that hinged less on his undeniable genetic fortune and more on his diverse acting skills—though he is repeatedly crowned one of the most beautiful men alive, and his correspondingly lengthy list of past flames includes Jennifer Anniston, Gwyneth Paltrow and Thandie Newton. Now a father of six with longtime partner Angelina Jolie, Pitt is also an architecture fiend and a serious philanthropist; The Make It Right Foundation, which he launched after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, helps organize and finance the construction of affordable and sustainable residences in the city he now calls home. We capture some of the swaggering alpha male’s unforgettable moments of self-reflection. (Text and images taken directly from www.nowness.com)

Seeing Red for Christmas!

Just spotted the perfect dress to make an entrance in at the Christmas party (we wish!).  For the opening of Art's Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty exhibition, Brazilian Beauty Gisele Bündchen turned heads in a breathtaking McQueen gown.
Image from Vogue.com

Kate Moss bares it all

Models Natasha Poly, Joan Smalls, Margareth Madè, Malgosia Bela, Isabeli Fontana, and Rinko Kikuchi - who all star in the Pirelli 2012 calendar alongside Kate Moss, Lara Stone, Guinevere Van Seenus, Edita Vilkeviciute, Saskia de Brauw and Milla Jovovich - bared all for (ex model) photographer Soreenti in Corsica earlier this year.  Looking forward to seeing the full calendar.

Green Goddess!

The way to go during hard times is to spend a fortune on accessories to dress up your bargains to make them look a million $$$$s.  Just such a bargain is this great satin-look slinky dress on the Goddiva website for an amazing £15! But hurry as their Sale only lasts until the 14th.  Will dress it up with my fabulous Bionda Castana suede courts, Juicy Couture gold clutch and an amazing feather necklace, both from www.Stylebop.com  -  and look like a rich b**** at my next Christmas party. 

Lady Like Images by Iconic Photographer

Georges Dambier, the iconic French fashion photographer now in his late 80's, is being given his first major retrospective in the US.  After 40-plus-years behind the camera,  Who's That Girl?, is on view at New York’s Bonni Benrubi gallery

An evening with Dita Von Teese

As the global Ambassadress of Cointreau, Dita knows a thing or two about making the perfect cocktail with the delicious orange liqueur. The Fashion Bloggers spent a great evening sipping Citrus and Spice cocktails alongside Dita last night.  

The Cointreau Privé guest-list only club  at 215 Piccadilly is open for just three weeks so make sure you book your place at www.cointreauprive.co.uk, as you don’t want to miss out on  delicious cocktails in the exquisite ambiance of the Cointreau Privé.

Michelle and Heath: Together Again

Amazing shots of our favourite stars from brooding Michelle and Heath to a tousled young Marc Jacobs who faces off  flame-haired Julianne Moore while a buttoned up Françoise Hardy gestures ambiguously in this series by Dutch husband-and-wife team Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin. Known for iconic images that reveal a proclivity for nudity, public displays of affection and trompe l’oeil makeup tricks, Inez and Vinoodh are two of the most radical photographic talents of our time.....  Source Nowness.  

Buy a Bag - Save a Life!

Last night we attended the launch of the Bag to Save a Life Auction, (Bag to Save a Life) hosted by Mary’s Living and Giving shop in Westbourne Grove. Luxury designers and generous celebrities have donated hand bags of all shapes, seasons and sizes to raise money for children this Christmas. From Miu Miu to Jimmy Choo and Alexander McQueen to Longchamp, they’re all up for auction starting today! Don’t miss your chance to bag yourself a bargain and save children this Christmas.
This is guilt free shopping like never before, so get bidding.  Don’t delay, there are only 9days and left!

Snow Piste Off!

  Check out the Ashish collection for snow bunnies at Top Shop!  Tongue in chic slogans, sporty styling and animal prints make this a collection for the gym as much as the slopes.

Hallelujah - Jerusalem!

Catch it if you can!  Mark Rylance gives a magnificent, moving and charismatic performance in a play that questions our prejudices and keeps us thinking about it well after it is over.  Gave away  tickets for the original performance due to injury but thrilled to have been offered a second opportunity to see this stunning piece of theatre.  Will Jez Butterworth ever be able to better this magnificent piece of writing?  The bar has been set high.

Singing in the Rain

We've never been one's to applaud bad weather, but getting caught in the rain has never been so stylish! The luxury ‘Westminster’ umbrella made famous by designer Archer Adams has hit the shelves of Liberty London as well asNeiman Marcus across the pond. The hand-crafted, silver handled Westminster is available in two sizes (long classic and collapsible) and comes in eight different designs, including a Lions head, Snake and Labrador. And you can even ask for Swarovski crystals to be added ....Bring on the Rain.

Billie Piper in Reasons to be Pretty

Neil LaBute's latest offering at the Almeida theatre is light on content but offers some great acting from Billie, for whom pregnancy meant a rewrite of her part in the play and Tom Burke, a strangely attractive young man bullied by his girlfriend, his best friend and Billie, his best friend's wife.  No great shakes but definitely worth a visit for the troupe of four young actors and an exciting set design.

Hate Tattoooooos but love these!

Model Eli from Model Management

Win this beautiful dress!

We are giving you the chance to WIN this stylish bold patterned size 10-12 dress worth just under £100! To be entered into the draw, all you have to do is 'Like' The Fashion Bloggers page on facebook and leave a comment to say you have done so on Claire Justine's fashion blog http://clairejustineoxox.blogspot.com/ before the 7th December! Happy liking!

Carmen Dell'Orefice a Style Icon of our Times

80 year old Hungarian/Italian New York offspring,  Carmen Dell'Orifice continues to model on the catwalk..  Four times married, front cover of American Vogue at 15, this icon continues to wow!  A standing ovation please! 
'Carmen: A Life In Fashion' runs from Wednesday, November 16, 2011 to Saturday, January 14, 2012 at the Fashion Space Gallery, London College of Fashion, John Princes Street, London W1; fashion.arts.ac.uk

Early New Year Resolutions!

Book now for a place in a luxurious Boot Camp to work off those extra pounds gained over Christmas.  We've discovered a secret hideout offering 5* luxury accommodation alongside a tailor made fitness and wellbeing regime.‘bootique’, nestled in a tranquil setting in delightful Mallorca between the Tramuntana mountains and the turquoise bays of the north east coast is perfectly placed for walking, cycling and swimming. Whether it's weight loss, general fitness, healthy eating, detox, or just a lovely relaxing trip it's just the place  to get fit in luxury and style. We're booking our places now to ensure we're looking our best BEFORE Christmas!

A Tribute to a Fashion Icon: Loulou

Fashion Icon Loulou de la Falaise died aged 63 on Saturday

For her part in inspiring YSL’s ‘Rive Gauche’ revolution, Loulou de la Falaise will be remembered as an important figure in the history of fashion. It’s hard to imagine now, but at the time, the very idea of buying YSL straight off the rack, as ready-to-wear, was a risky and revolutionary idea. It was the ‘fast fashion’ of its time and raised many an eyebrow.



But this revolution had little to do with the price; rather it was all about the idea of ease. It brought iconic pieces, like Le Smoking and Le Saharienne, along with beautiful jewelled coloured silks and khaki trench coats to “the rack.” You could walk out of the store with them right away, rather than endure a series of appointments at the haute couture salon, with all of its formality.


But what the inimitable Loulou de la Falaise really brought to fashion, whether on HSN (Home Shopping Network) or in the haute couture salon, was to underline, as only she could, that style can come with ease.

Cupcakes from LA ....

Found in an LA vintage shop by vintage queen Liz Goldwyn and shot by Tommy Ton .  Picture courtesy of one of our favourite video zines, Nowness. 

Michael Sheen as Hamlet: First Night

MICHAEL SHEEN PLAYS HAMLET IN THE THEATRICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR
After worldwide acclaim in The Queen, Frost/Nixon and The Damned United, Michael Sheen returns to the London stage in one of the most anticipated performances of his career. And I'm going to the first night tonight!

Why Destroy a Classic Loafer?

LOVE a classic loafer and even approve of high heel loafers but WHY? has United Nude added a block heel (and this one really is block!) to an otherwise beautiful shoe (and not sure we condone the stack below the toe either)....

Louboutin's Cocktail

This cocktail is inspired by the glamour and sophistication of the red carpet and the famous scarlet hue of Louboutin’s soles. The needle and thread represent the architecture and the exquisite French craftsmanship involved in his work.  Devised to raise monies for the Elton John Aids Foundation.  Drink it and enjoy!



Ingredients:


35ml Grey Goose Le Citron Vodka


5 French raspberries


15ml fresh lemon juice


50ml French Montmorency cherry juice


Splash of Himalayan goji liqueur


1tsp fresh ginger


Garnish: Maraschino cherry, five pepper blend


Method:


Mix all the ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake well. Strain over crushed ice into a wine glass. Garnish with a Maraschino cherry skewered with a needle and thread and a crack of five pepper blend.

Films Worth Talking About: Great Clips of Stars including Leonardo

Countdown to Versace at H&M ...

So what do we think about Donatella's collection for H&M?  Flash trash or toned down designer desireables?  We go for the latter and are looking forward to picking up a piece of in-yer-face Versace on 17th November ...

Designer Sales

Designer wear sales proliferate.  A new location for Brick Lane designer sales is in Hamstead Town Hall this weekend with labels including Belstaff, Prada, Fendi & Miu Miu.  Still our very favourite designer sales are The Designer Warehouse Sales which take place every six to ten weeks (check the calendar on the site - next Friday kicks off the forthcoming sale).  Replenish wardrobes with accessible designer labels at affordable prices downstairs, or mosey upstairs to the designer floor for labels such as Celine, Galliano, Westwood and many more at 50% or less.  Still expensive but these are definitely investment pieces and are bargains compared to the prices in Bond Street.  If you're looking for a designer bargain the trek to North London is definitely worth it!

Gerhard Richter at Tate Modern

Off to the private view of the Gerhard Richter exhibition.  Can't wait to see the variety of his genius from squeegy paintings to portraits of his euthanised German aunt alongside his Nazi uncle.  A celebration of his 80th year and works spanning nearly five decades.

Get £50 off Karen Millen Trench Coat!

Love this classic Trench from Karen Millen which is offering a £50 reduction on the £325 price tag for a limited period.  Buy it or regret it!

Link to this coat:  http://bit.ly/pCamr8

New York Fashion Weeker Does Vintage

And our favourite visitor to New York Fashion Week was a shop owner dressed head to toe in vintage.  We love the look from Peter Pan collar to chunky chain necklace.

Vogue Fashion Writer Making Fashion Simple

Chic Sarah Harris, Vogue fashion writer, sports our favourite look at London Fashion Week, making everyone else look simply overdressed!

RIP Steve Jobs

"No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don’t want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life’s change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away. Sorry to be so dramatic, but it is quite true. Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of other’s opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary."

“

—	Steve Jobs (via dalinkwent)

Stella (McCartney) Blows us Away in Paris!

Not one of our favourite designers - though we are in the minority - Stella's Paris collection for SS12 demonstrated both skill and confidence and blew us away.  Pyjama cool prints, flowing fabrics and sexy cut-outs.  We want want want!

Bryanboy Gets his Skates on for DSquared2

Check out the hairy legs in these too too dangerous boots.  Ridiculous!

A Winning Collection from Jil Sander

Raf Simons is a designer who understands the moral of less is more.  Another designer to steal sweeties from the candy jar, the collection was fresh, classic and ultimately wearable.  Jil Sander - make this a favourite label during times of hardship as these are investment pieces able to bear the test of time.