A little bit of luxury: Handmade lingerie by Ohhh Lulu

Oh my! Buying custom made lingerie was a luxury I thought would be out of my reach as long as bras at Rigby & Peller cost upwards of £90 each. I’ve written about the importance of a good underwear before, so you’re going to think that I’m obsessed. (Well perhaps I am.) Anyway, I recently came across a beautiful Etsy shop called Ohhh Lulu, and ordered a few of the handmade vintage inspired pieces. They arrived the other day, beautifully packaged and fitting perfectly. Wearing it is kind of like wearing a hug. The shop has 3734 admirers and 100% positive feedback from happy customers on Etsy, and it must have something to do with the fact that you give your measurements at checkout and can ask Sarah, who custom makes the lingerie herself for every order, to make little tweaks to the design, if you wish.

It’s fantastic the way that sites like Pinterest, Etsy, and Folksy are giving small scale businesses the opportunity to sell their unique handmade products world-wide.

Sarah of Ohhh Lulu grew up ‘very close to the middle of nowhere’, and learnt to sew with her grandmother from an early age, making Barbie clothes to enter in a local fair. She spent two years at George Brown studying Fashion Design.

‘I am so fortunate to live in the most beautiful little town. I am often inspired by the Victorian and Edwardian architecture of my little town, the beautiful waterfront, the forests and lakes,’ she says. ‘My biggest inspiration though, is the clothing of days gone by. I’ve always loved dressing up in costume, and I am just amazed by the detail that went into the clothing of our ancestors. I try to capture bits and pieces of that in my lingerie, through the delicate hand sewn ruffles, decorative stitching, and bows.’

She is still working full time in an office, but hopes to be able to focus on Ohhh Lulu full time eventually. I am sure she will be able to fulfil that dream before long – the response to her work has been so positive I am not sure how she juggles the demands on her time.

Do it like a Druid, and other fancy free days out around London…

Having worked in central London for nearly two years now, my purse strings have finally caught up with my heart and I am now proud to say I now live in London.  However, this city, it be mighty expensive, and thus I have been looking at what cheap (or even free) thrills there are to have in our dear nation’s capital.  And boy, there are a lot.  Seriously, am I the only one who hyperventilates when I scan through Time Out magazine? With all eyes on Stratford for the next month or so, providing the World with its sporting fix, it is easy to forget there are many other experiences to be had through which you can avoid becoming olympified.

First on my free(ish)-thrills agenda are the floating markets that can be found along Union Canal.  Having headed over there last week one evening in the gorgeous sunshine, you are more than welcome to sit on the grass outside the Palm Tree Pub at Mile End and soak up the atmosphere.  Imagine old world barge boats along the canal serving drinks, food (BBQ style straight off the boat), selling books and playing live music onboard for your delight.  It’s old-school charm and offbeat location means it can provide a dose of respite if you are looking to escape the hoards of tourists from the Olympic Park (ironically located just down the road).   So if you fancy getting your float on, head down before the 11^th when the barges are set to sail off down stream.

Secondly, and I say this with much anticipation, Sacrilege is in town.  If you haven’t yet heard about Jeremy Deller’s work of art, well, think of it as a giant inflatable Stonehenge.  Because that’s exactly what it is my friend.  A GIANT INFLATABLE STONEHENGE!  The pagan king of all bouncy castles is currently on tour around the UK (dates can be checked here) and you too can do it like a Druid for absolutely free in and around London’s parks throughout August.  Seriously, how can anyone not be excited by this?

 

So for all you guys who fancy a break from the Olympics, like we haven’t heard enough about it for the last 7 years, go check out my little findings if you haven’t already, and feel free to add your own suggestions in the comments box below.  My purse strings and I will be much obliged.

Some thoughts on the Olympics Opening Ceremony 2012

Me: Ending on Hey Jude was a disappointment and it just goes to show that middle-aged, white men still rule this country. That said, the amount of silliness, eccentricity and charm that Danny Boyle managed to squash into a ceremony which also delivered beautiful visual sequence upon beautiful visual sequence really made the evening.

My highlights included the children bouncing on the trampoline hospital beds with monsters of literature surrounding them, huge towers rising up out of the set to destroy the countryside landscape and bring on the Industrial Revolution and the Arctic Monkeys singing Come Together while winged, glow-in-the-dark cyclists circled the stadium. Magic, and we genuinely didn’t know what to expect next.

Ai Weiwei (Chinese artist): He compared the 2012 Olympic Ceremony to the spectacular opener at the last Games. “Beijing’s Olympics were very grand – the government … was trying to create an image.” In contrast, “this was about Great Britain; it didn’t pretend it was trying to have a global appeal. Because Great Britain has self confidence.” More on The Guardian.

The rest of the world: Brazilians got nervous about staging the Olympics in Rio, the French weren’t impressed and an Italian commentator said Boyle was “as unpredictable” as the people of Great Britain.

A journalist in Zimbabwe did have a point though, he said: “OK Britain, we see you flaunting your history. Where’s the bit in which you invade, loot, kill and plunder?” More on The Guardian.

Thomas Heatherwick (designer of the Olympic Cauldron made up of 204 copper petals): “It seemed that if we could have these 204 very small, humble objects but then in them coming together have a moment where they all rise and rear out of the centre of the stadium… And the idea is that at the end of the Games this cauldron will dismantle itself.”

Heatherwick is currently showing at the V&A until 30 September and an exhibit about the Olympic Cauldron is being added this weekend. More on The Telegraph including a video on his inspiration.

Beauty Basics | Cleanser

As I’ve harped on about previously, I’m a self-confessed beauty product-bore. On a sliding scale this is one up from a boyfriend-bore but two down from a baby-bore. Following on from my recent Skincare Steals piece, here’s the next weekly installment brought to you from my digital soapbox to impart my nuggets of wisdom. This week we’re starting with beauty basics: Cleanser.

Cleanser removes dirt, pollution and impurities (also known as dirt) from your face so serums and moisturisers work their self-proclaimed magic when applied to the skin.

I’m not a huge fan of harsh exfoliants or astringents and a regular cleansing routine may negate the need for intermittent skin-stripping treatments. Using a cleanser containing salicylic acid, natural scrublets (I made that word up) or a slightly abrasive face cloth will diminish dead cells gradually whilst keeping skin balanced. Ensuring a thorough routine at night means a splash of water or a sweep of toner will suffice in the morning.

As tempting as it is to rub a disposable wipe sleepily across both eyes before rolling into bed, a consistent approach will get results. Being lazy is fine one day out of every calendar month…the rest of the time, be strict.

1.       Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser, £14.25

A cleansing classic, Cleanse & Polish is a worldwide best seller. The starter kit comes complete with a muslin cloth and offers a no-fuss daily routine suitable for all age-groups and skin types. With a cult following and more awards than any mantelpiece could hold, it’s definitely worth a try.

2.       Neutrogena Visibly Clear Oil-Free facial wash, £4.49

At the bargain end of the scale, Neutrogena excels in effective cleansers, catering for all skin types. Suitable for problem skin, this soap and alcohol free wash is a facial staple.

3.       LUSH Angel on Bare Skin Fresh Facial Cleanser, £6.25

This solid formula turns to a cleansing milk when mixed with water. The 100% natural ingredient list includes ground sweet almonds which lightly exfoliate while the selected essential oils balance and tone the skin.  It takes a while to get the application right and can be a bit messy but is great with continued use, especially on combination, sensitive or uneven skin.

 

4.       Murad AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser, £34

If you prefer to throw some science at the problem, dermatologist brand Murad does a high-performance exfoliating cleanser which you only need to use twice a week to see results. Exfoliation is boosted via a complex of salicylic, lactic and glycolic acid encouraging clarity and brightness by dissolving skin cell build-up. Perfect for older skin, the formula is gentle and simultaneously hydrates, multitasking its way into my favourites.

5.       Olay Daily Facials cloths, £4.09

These might remind you of your Gran and are harder to get hold of now but unlike newer facial wipes, these offer a much deeper clean. Just add water and get a proper foam face wash.  Brilliant for travelling (super light to pack) and a swift all-in-one solution for low-maintenance types.

There you have it, five clever cleansers to get you started. Next week I’ll be looking at the innovative world of skincare gadgets.

More Brits are coming home: Preen and Philip Treacy to return to London Fashion Week

Early indications show a strong trend coming through from the spring/summer 2013 London Fashion Week, which will take place in September, but it’s nothing to do with the collections…

There’s no place like home is there? A feeling shared by Brit fashion label Preen and, as of last week, milliner extraordinaire Philip Treacy. According to the LFW show schedule released by the British Fashion Council both are set to make their return to the coveted line up due to start in just over a month following a 6 year absence for Preen and 8 years for Treacy. The Preen Creative Director duo, Thea Bregazzi and Justin Thornton, had this to say about their latest move from New York Fashion Week, ‘We are delighted to be part of LFW again, it feels great to back on our own turf.’

Although more and more fashion weeks continue to pop up all over the globe, you would be forgiven for thinking it was all about Paris and New York. But in 2012 all eyes are on Britain’s fashion capital. So many things to celebrate, so little time – from the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee to the impending Olympics (only a matter of hours to go now guys!) These designers really couldn’t have picked a better time to return home to the undisputed hub of all the excitement, London, where both Preen and Treacy started out and first found success.

The Preen brand will forever be immortalised in British pop history at London’s Madame Tussauds thanks to the late great singer, Amy Winehouse who famously wore one of their bright yellow creations to the Brit Awards back in 2007. The same dress that clothes her waxwork was also worn by the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow, helping associate Preen with uber flattering silhouettes. Philip Treacy, meanwhile, is the official Royal family hat designer, something I referred to in an earlier blog post. I think I speak on behalf of all Brit fashion lovers when I say welcome home Preen and Philip, we’re glad to have you back.

Searching For Sugar Man: Courtesy of Grolsch Film Works

Last week I absent-mindedly entered a competition I’d seen on Twitter and totally forgot about it, like you do.  Then, out of the blue, 2 tickets to a private film screening of ‘Searching For Sugar Man’ courtesy of Grolsch Film Works landed in my inbox.  Now, I’m not going to pretend I’m some kind of film-buff or avid 1970s music mentalist, so you may scorn at my review (hell, my DVD collection reads like a 14 year old girl’s), but in this case, I believe this may have even helped.  Intrigued?! Then read on dear readers!

 

Now, in an attempt to be all professional and that, (Hey Time Out, if your reading this, give me a job?!) I will exercise some restraint and not give away the main premise of the film.  But seeing as I am no Peter Travers and legit movie-buff either, here is the basic low-down:

Searching for Sugar Man tells the incredible true story of Rodriguez, the greatest ’70s rock icon who never was. Discovered in a Detroit bar in the late ’60s by two celebrated producers struck by his soulful melodies and prophetic lyrics, they recorded an album which they believed would secure his reputation as the greatest recording artist of his generation. In fact, the album bombed and the singer disappeared into obscurity amid rumors of a gruesome on-stage suicide. But a bootleg recording found its way into apartheid South Africa and, over the next two decades, he became a phenomenon. The film follows the story of two South African fans who set out to find out what really happened to their hero. Their investigation leads them to a story more extraordinary than any of the existing myths about the artist known as Rodriguez. — (C) Sony Pictures Classics

Now, I’m not joking when I say I was absolutely riveted by this documentary.  And if I hadn’t got these tickets for free, I probably would have picked going to see Batman over Sugar Man which would have been an epic fail.  If you have never heard of Rodriguez before this film, like me, this true life story of a 1970s nobody who became bigger than Elvis in South Africa (without even knowing it) will blow your mind.  A word of warning though: DO NOT GOOGLE until you have seen it.  You do not want to ruin this for yourself, and this is my main reason for not uploading a trailer too. ..

 

Alexandra Shulman talks 20 years of Vogue covers

Last week, British Vogue editor Alexandra Shulman took to the stage at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London to discuss her twenty years at the helm of the magazine. Against a backdrop of twenty Vogue covers from the past two decades projected onto the vast wall of the lecture theatre, Shulman talked to radio and TV presenter Francine Stock about her career, her cover stars, her first novel and what the future holds for brand Vogue. Here are fifteen fascinating quotations from the evening.

 

What am I going to wear?

Shulman’s first thought we she learned she’d got the Vogue job. She had been working as editor of GQ for the previous two years.

 

He was the first male musician ever to be on the cover of Vogue.

Bono, alongside Christy Turlington, is a bold choice for one of the first covers under Shulman’s editorship in December 1992.

 

The magazine sells very well when she’s on the cover. In 1992…Kate was a new London model and she seemed to me to epitomise that style [the grunge movement]. She’s really beautiful, there’s something about her, that symmetry.

Kate Moss was – and still is – a favourite Vogue cover girl.

 

We did that cover line about two months ago actually…I’d forgotten we’d done that.

Like many women’s magazines, the same content sometimes gets recycled at Vogue. The January 1995 cover story ‘Are you leaving it to late to have a baby?’ is just as relevant in 2012.

 

It’s the only time a Marks and Spencer shirt has been on the cover.

Why the May 1996 cover, starring Amber Valetta stands out in Vogue’s history

 

When the Princess of Wales died on that August bank holiday, our October issue was coming out about a week later at the beginning of September and we were obviously not [planning] to have a picture of her on the magazine. But we realised there was this shoot that had never been run that Patrick Demarchelier had done. So we managed to get him to get us the pictures in about twenty-four hours and we put that on as a commemorative issue.

The death of Diana, Princess of Wales in August 1997 led to a last minute cover change.

 

It’s probably the best selling issue I’ve ever done. What I love about that fact is that it’s a silver issue so you only see your own face and your reflection rather than the model. It was a huge risk doing that.

On Vogue’s millennium issue in December 1999 the reader was the cover star.

 

That’s such a kind of trashy-looking perfect cover really. He was completely easy going and so was she, it’s one of the easiest covers that we’ve ever done.

Another big seller, October 2000, featured Robbie Williams and Gisele Bundchen.

 

Now, you’re on a shoot and you have a monitor there and everybody can see what’s being shot and a certain amount of editing is done literally as it’s happening, which I have to say is a really bad process because people don’t step away from the shoot.

Why digital isn’t always better when it comes to cover shoots.

 

I think you’re a Vogue reader no matter what age you are. You’ll start maybe as a teenager…and then you carry on and then an awful lot of women in their seventies and eighties are still buying Vogue.

Shulman believes Vogue appeals to women – and men – of all ages.

That’s Victoria Beckham. We had a lot of criticism about the idea of putting her on the cover. But I’ve had the last laugh on that now.

Spice Girl-turned-fashion designer was a prophetic cover choice for April 2008

 

We do trend talks every season after the shows, all the retailers come and the brands come, so they hear what we’re going to be doing, what we’re going to be featuring in the catwalk supplements.

Vogue influences the wide fashion landscape by sharing with retailers which trends they’re going to get behind.

You’re going to see the return of models on the cover of British Vogue probably next year because I’ve decided to shoot more model covers next year than we have been doing. What’s hard is that there aren’t very many recognisable models.

The era of the Vogue celebrity cover star may soon be over, given what Shulman has planned for the next year.

 

We are competitive with each other. And now there are an awful lot of Vogues. There are about 19 of us. They’ve just launched Thai Vogue. We’re like a sort of really big family where everyone’s competing, there’s sibling rivalry.

Shulman describes the friendly rivalry between all the Vogues across the globe.

 

I see it having a lot of different digital outreach in different ways…and I am absolutely confident there will still be a Vogue that you can hold and carry around in ten years time. If I had to put money on it I think it would probably become possibly more expensive and more precious and probably sell slightly fewer copies than it does.

Shulman’s predictions for the next ten years of British Vogue.

A day out at the Auction House

I am very bad at auctions – I arrive too late to properly scope out the gems then forget how much my upper limit is when bidding. I know this because I recently spent an hour or two at a General Sale held by Cape’s Dunn, an auctioneers in Manchester where my mother works.

I came away empty handed but still had fun bidding for a medieval ring and a tripod wash basin after fawning over an onyx cigarette box that was almost nice enough to make me contemplate taking up smoking. There were a few trinkets and ornaments and a great set of Carl Zeiss binoculars in a scruffed up leather case.

Cape’s Dunn also hold Fine Art sales and have an amazing treasure trove of jewellery and paintings in the back. My next move: finding an auction house in London with the same incredible furniture prices so I can give Ikea a miss for once.

What we wore|Forever 21 fashion bloggers event

Take five fashion bloggers and two fashion PRs and you’d except some pretty cool outfits right? Well that’s exactly what I found last Saturday at the London-based event to celebrate the opening of first Forever 21 in Manchester. Check out all the looks below and read about the event here – the store opens today.

Penny from Fashion-Fade

Dress and suede blazer, Topshop; studded boots, Office; sheepskin bag, River Island.

Emma from Kisses and Cross Stitches

Skirt, vintage; t-shirt, American Apparel; boots, Clarks; leather satchel, Greensitts Satchels in Afflecks Palace.

Sarah from Fashion Dotty

Kimono, Prophecy; top, French Connection; trousers, Topshop; shoes, Acne.

Katie of The Quick Red Fox

Jacket, vintage army surplus; shirt, American Apparel; cut-offs, Levi’s; boots, Topshop.

Katie (that’s me!)

Jacket, Mango; t-shirt, skirt, tights and boots, H&M; hat, Portobello Road market.

Sarah from Shine Communications

Dress and tights, Forever 21; jacket, Kooples; bag, Sara Barman; shoes, Urban Outfitters.

Molly from Shine Communications

Coat, Zara; bag, Mulberry; jeans, Forever 21; boots, Topshop; hat, eBay.

What’s gone wrong for Marks and Spencer?

It was recently reported that the definitive British high street stalwart, Marks and Spencer is experiencing its worst sales figures in the last three years, falling an unnerving 2.8% compared to 2011. So where has good old Marks and Sparks been going wrong?

Maybe old is the operative word? Although M&S have acknowledged many different factors contributing to this latest disappointment – such as poor buying choices and this terrible weather we have all been suffering through lately – could they be missing something?

I conducted my own mini survey this week in light of these revelations where I asked around ten of my closest girlfriends – ranging from their early to late twenties – about their personal opinions on Marks and Spark’s women’s clothing. The general consensus was that it’s a shop for older women where collections can sometimes border on frumpy but you can be lucky on the odd occasion.

Marks and Spencer has been celebrated for its ability to appeal to different generations which is true, up to a point. During a recent trip there with my sixty-something (although she claims fifty-something) mother I realised that once she had successfully satisfied my Grandmother’s comfy beige slacks fix, she, true to form, began to peruse the Per Una aisles. Whereas the only fix I was looking to satisfy was that of a Percy Pig persuasion.

In a bid to appeal to a younger generation of shoppers by featuring various glamourous celebrities and models including Myleene Klass and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley in their ad campaigns, is there a chance team M and S have maybe taken their eye off the ball somewhat when it comes to their staple demographic? This tends to be around forty-plus (thirty-five plus at a push) but realistically – and having recently glanced around there myself – it’s probably closer to the fifty-plus bracket. I must admit, I do find it hard to believe that the likes of Rosie, another twenty-something like myself, would shop there off her own bat.

It would be a great shame to lose this British institution but hopefully it will never come to this and the company reports it is doing really well in other areas. Although we  are evidently not all rushing out to stock up on their latest summer fashions, Marks and Spencer has become indispensable for plenty of other reasons – from their underwear to home furnishings, and of course their food, even for work clothes sometimes. Could this be a case of a business spreading itself too thinly in a bid to stay afloat during these (here comes that horrendously overused phrase again) troubled financial times? Should they concentrate on upping their design game for the older generation?

Festival Fashion: The Teenage Bum Rebellion

I’ll freely admit I’m a festival fashion addict.  I spend hours pouring over blogs, online shopping festival sections, and screen grabbing a gazillion Coachella festival outfits all in the vain attempt I could ever look that stylish whilst knee-deep in mud.  But lets not get this confused with actually being a festival addict.  I love a good day festival, but the only way I will ever do Glasto is if im in a Teepee with its very own en-suite.   But having been to a few ‘dayers’ this year so far in order to feed my festival fashion addiction, I have noticed a particular festival trend that’s got me all depressed and feeling like an old lady…and that’s the Teenage Bum Brigade.

I bet Miley had something to do with this…

Now, I did have a few pics to illustrate this, but don’t want to add to any teen angst, but seriously, whatever spunky fashion editor over at Teen Vogue, Sugar or Mizz (is that even still going?  Gosh I hope so) introduced the most impressionable age group EVER to denim knick-knacks has a lot of underage arse pinching to answer for.  Now, my hatred of seeing these young innocent girls with their derrieres out in  a muddy field is that it really makes me feel uncomfortable, and run up to them and offer my knee-length coat.  And not because I couldn’t pull it off (incidentally, I couldn’t if I tried.  Having no hint of a hip makes even the Large Levis cut offs unbearable to wear, dammit).  No, it makes me uncomfortable as I cannot comprehend how so many girls snuck past their parents wearing them!  Or the fact you would even want to risk this level of hem sans tights.  But on the other hand I would never have had the confidence at that age to pull this off.  So maybe its a good thing they do.  before the Cellulite kicks in anyway.   It’s just that it baffles me how getting one’s arse out for the crowd is so de rigour this season (as long as your under 16 mind.  Any older and can take a hike, Grandma).

How to nail it if you’re over 16

The only reasoning behind the denim clad bottom brigade is that one popular brave girl dared to bare, and all her Gretchen Weiners like friends (you know, from mean Girls) responded accordingly.  Maybe next season, they will all start wearing Pink on Thursdays, too.  So what do you think?  Am I being a Grandma, or is this a little too far for the fields of V etc?

Skincare Steals|Hero beauty buys under a fiver

The best beauty buys aren’t always the most expensive. Here Joanna shares some of her favourite money-saving products.

Ever since the ‘bad years’ have been upon us, magazines have embraced recession-busting features on how to shop smarter and spend less.  However, sometimes ’50 under £50′ doesn’t always ring bargain bells in my ears. I’m your typical paycheque to paycheque sort of a creature and frequently endure pre-payday pinch.  However my one vice, which usually pushes me into the depths of my overdraft, is my obsession with beauty buys. I am an avid ‘product’ enthusiast; my dining room table is no longer a social eating space but a high-tech testing lab for the myriad of tinctures and tonics I’ve amassed. Here, I’ve whittled down a few of my favourite purchases that don’t have to wait until payday:

Firstly, don’t write-off basic or unbranded products.  The key is to go for cheaper ranges of larger umbrella brands as ultimately the extensive R&D trickles down to lower-end ranges.  The newly launched Simply Pure range by Superdrug has been well reviewed and as serums are usually costlier skincare items, this version is a bargain: Simply Pure Aqua Hydrating Serum, £4.99.  Brands like Nivea who offer a huge spectrum of skincare also do basics really well:  Nivea Visage Daily Essentials Oil Free Moisturising Day Cream SPF 8 50ml, £3.99

           

Another hint is to be creative and multi-task your products.  For example Vaseline Lip Therapy with Aloe Vera, £1.99 works perfectly as a soothing under eye night cream. Additionally, Tesco Baby Newborn Wipes, £1.36 can substitute more expensive facial cleansing wipes.  They’re designed for teeny babies so chances are they won’t irritate your skin.

                

Traditional skincare is often over-looked in favour of modern alternatives, however sometimes it hasn’t been fixed because it ain’t broke.  Boots Traditional Glycerin and Rosewater, £2.32 is simple, contains just a handful of ingredients and feels like a toner and lightweight serum in one. Similarly The Body Shop Cucumber Cleansing Milk, £4 is another excellent basic. Ignore the bland packaging and get stockpiling.

                            

Sleep deprived eyes don’t always need a miracle cream.  Eye drops can instantly brighten eyes and wake you up at the same time, Sainsbury’s Dry Eyes Drops, £2.60.

For problem skin Tea Tree Toner Water, £3.95 by Lush is a gentle spritz that balances oily skin without drama. Perfect for travel, the handbag sized spray has antibacterial properties which refreshes skin during a long flight or in hot weather.

Finally, save on cotton pads by switching to face-cloth cleansing.  Once associated with childhood bath times, flannels are back.  Buy a few and rotate, throwing one in the washing machine after each day.  These are lovely and as they are reusable, are definitely in my top 5 under £5: Organic Pharmacy Muslin Cloth £3.80

Share your own skincare steals in a comment below.

Forever 21 is heading up north

The US retailer will open its first store in Manchester’s Trafford Centre this weekend.

When Forever 21 opened its Oxford Street store last year, shoppers in London got pretty darn excited. I know that for certain because the amount of hits Helen’s blog post about the opening got – the traffic stats don’t lie people! A year later and business is still booming, with three London stores now trading and the sixth jewel in Forever 21′s UK crown (in addition to Birmingham and Dublin locations) due to open in Manchester this week. The 20,000 square foot retail behemoth will open it’s doors on Saturday 21st July at 10am, but listen up Mancunians, I’d get there earlier if I were you – the first 300 customers in line will receive free gift cards to spend in store or online.

To celebrate the new store up north, the lovely folks at Forever 21 took a group of five Manchester-based fashion bloggers and I to visit the Oxford Street flagship last Saturday for a taste of what’s in store for the Trafford Centre. Having not ventured into Forever 21 since I did my Christmas shopping last year I was pleasantly surprised by how calm and collected an experience I had in comparison. But then Oxford Street in December is basically like the apocalypse isn’t it?

Anyway, I picked up some great items: a cream fitted blazer (I’ve wanted one for aaages); a very authentic looking distressed denim shirt (‘Are you going to the rodeo?’ asked my bitchiest gay friend when I wore it the next day); and an adorable white jumper with a moustache on it (I’m hoping that by wearing it I can attract a man with a moustache. I’m all about the facial hair you see.) But probably the very favourite thing I took home was a little gold whistle pendant necklace. The great thing is, it actually works when you blow it. Do you know how much fun you can have on a night out with a whistle? After Saturday night I can tell you the answer is: a lot.

I’m sure I’ll be showing you some of my Forever 21 finds in subsequent #TodayImWearing blog posts. Stay tuned as well for a style post featuring my fellow bloggers Penny, Katie, Sarah and Emma and their outfits – as you can imagine, they were a super stylish lot.

Forever 21 opens at the Trafford Centre, Manchester on Saturday 21st July 2012. Visit the Forever 21 UK website.

Downton dressing: Gracia Woman

I have to say, I never thought I’d have a craving to wear tweed, but Gracia Woman’s ‘Cliveden’ jacket has given me one. There’s something timelessly British about it. Perhaps all this Royal Wedding/Jubilee/Olympics stuff is finally getting to me. Or maybe it’s the fact that I’m marrying an American – something about looking pointedly British is suddenly very appealing. Another tweed trigger is bound to be those stylish Downton Abbey ladies. Let’s all put on our riding jackets and go hunting, what what?

Just as a side note (you all know how obsessed with ethical fashion I am by now), Gracia Woman happens to be ‘eco-luxe’. They were recently awarded the Positive Luxury Blue Butterfly trust mark, and design all their pieces to last using Scottish Glen Mills tweed and fine Italian wool, keeping important European skills from dying out.

Raquel Gracia of Gracia Woman says: “Having a Blue Butterfly trust mark helps communicate the values of Gracia Woman – that fashion can be luxurious, beautiful and ethical.”

In other exciting Downton related news, if you enjoyed Vogue‘s Downton Abbey fashion shoot earlier this year you’ll be glad to hear that Vintage Seekers, the British website dedicated to original 20^th century design and collectibles, are going to be adding to their couture dress collection with a selection of 1920′s original beaded pieces. Just in time for the film release of our favourite 1920′s trend setting classic, The Great Gatsby, too. Have you seen the trailer yet? It’s spine tinglingly cool.

Oh Nicky you’re so fine! How Grimshaw is set to shake up the morning airwaves

Last week some shocking news hit the airwaves.  Chris Moyles, self-proclaimed ‘saviour of Radio 1’ and the UK’s very own human Marmite, announced his retirement from the station’s most coveted slot, the breakfast show.

Now, I’m not a massive Moyles fan, but I don’t particularly want to see him choke on his own ego either (unlike Frankie Boyle it seems, who’s twitter timeline would suggest a general disregard, to sugar coat it, for the DJ).   However, this has paved the way for what the Beeb are calling ‘fresher, younger talent’ and quite rightly so.  Radio 1, like all other stations, is a business, and must roll with the times. Hell, that’s why they HAVE Radio 2.  Think of it as a resting home for the aging broadcasters of Yester Year, so to speak. Ok, I’m exaggerating, but Jo Wiley must have put on a brave face when she found out she was off the Live Lounge and heading to the quiet corner.  Oh, and just a word of warning Fearne; if I was you, I’d stop banging on about the fact your now 30 and back track quick, for your own sake.

This does mean, however, a new host will be greeting you at the breakfast table come September.  And I do believe I am one of the few people who are genuinely excited that nick Grimshaw will be taking over.  Now, this may have something to do with the fact I am plagued with the worst taste in men, or the fact I find a northern camp accent extremely sexy (trust me, my birthday present to myself next year may in fact be therapy) but I do genuinely find ‘Nicky Grimaj’ extremely refreshing compared to the host of other DJs on parade throughout the day.  So good luck Grimmy, and…call me maybe?

Summer Recipe | How to make houmous from scratch

And now to a guest post from the woman who has made some of the finest foods to ever pass through Style & Then Some’s lips, Aisling Lavelle. Finally she sets down some of her wisdom in blog form, starting with homemade houmous.

There is clearly a time and a place for shop-bought houmous, but it’s not in this lifetime you’ll find me buying in what has to be one of the best health:taste ratio snacks in the world.  Chick peas are so self-righteously healthy that you can eat houmous by the bucketful and not feel bad about it.

As with all dishes that go back centuries, there are countless recipes to be drawn upon. Felicity Cloake recently wrote a ‘How to cook the perfect….’ on houmous, which was very informative but far too fussy for anyone with a passing hankering for the Middle-Eastern delicacy.

Recipes should act as a springboard for your own tastes: they should demonstrate the basic elements required, and allow enough flexibility for you to fiddle about with the results until they suit you.  It seems I’m not alone either, as foodies-du-jour Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and Dan Lepard regularly champion learning a few key steps before adding your own twists to their dishes.  I hope this recipe will allow you to do just that while keeping washing up to a minimum.



Ingredients:

1 can chick peas, drained and rinsed well

Juice of 1 lemon

1 clove of garlic roughly chopped (a fairly chunky clove – about the size of a broad bean, but again, you can tinker later on)

1 heaped teaspoon tahini (substitute with peanut butter if you can’t find tahini, or doubt whether you want it kicking around in the cupboard after houmous-gate)

1 tbsp olive oil

Pinch o’ salt

Water



1. Bung all the ingredients except the water in a mini-blender or food processor and blitz.

2. Add water, about a tablespoon at a time, and keep whizzing until you get the consistency that you know and love.

3. Check the salt levels – add more if you fancy

4. Transfer to a bowl and pour over a drizzle of olive oil

5. Choose a suitable vehicle with which to transport the houmous to your mouth.  I prefer chunks of a Pide, which is a large, flatish, focaccia-esque Turkish loaf, but if you can’t get one then pitta will do.



Now for the adjustments!  Remember that bit about fiddling?

Here’s my favourite variation:

1tsp ground cumin (grind it yourself, if you know what’s good for you)

1/2 tsp turmeric
1/4 tsp chilli powder

A few sprigs of coriander (I will admit here that I tend to just keep a bag of coriander in the freezer.  There.  I said it.)

Add these ingredients to the ‘original’ houmous and you will have a serious party going.

Obviously for the non-spicy eaters you can just save some of the ‘naked’ houmous for them. You can put it at the back of the room where all the vegetarians are hiding.

Don’t forget to wash it down with something sensible – my wine-savvy friend Hugo Read recommends either Paul Blanck Alsace Auxerrois 2008 (available at Waitrose for about ￡13.50) or a Cederberg or Morgenhof chenin blanc costing ￡8.95 and ￡11.95 respectively (also from Waitrose) .

And of course, please leave a comment to share your own versions!

Do you know what this weather calls for? Shuella, the umbrella for shoes

File them under ‘inventions you never knew you couldn’t live without.’ These are not just wellies, they’re Shuella.

When I first heard about Shuella, the self-proclaimed antidote to rain-ruined shoes, I scoffed. I might even have LOLed. Who on earth would bother with such a ridiculous contraption?

But then the summer arrived in London.

The summer that brought us officially the wettest June on record, the reversed hosepipe ban and the most rain since that scene in Forrest Gump with all the different kinds of rain. But it’s also really schizophrenic weather. Just yesterday, I set off on my bike for work, bare of leg and free of care, in the little black canvas Mary Janes I wear to death every summer, with the sun beaming down (it lasted all of about 40 minutes). By the time I got home at the end of the day, my MJs and I were thoroughly rain-drenched as the day’s five-hour allocation of torrential rain had just set in.

Now I’m thinking whoever’s behind Shuella should be awarded the Nobel Prize for Fashion (I can’t believe this category doesn’t exist either) and I want a pair in every colour to slip on whenever the heavens open. Then I wouldn’t have to keep lugging round spare shoes all the time, swapping from heels to flats just to walk to the tube and risking trench foot every time I walk out the door. ‘SHUELLA’S are easy to put on and strong enough to walk in with a slip free sole. I’ve also included a cloth to wipe off any excess water before you fold them up and put them back in their convenient pouch,’ explains designer Rebecca Miller. She’s thought of everything! (Except grammar, because I’m really not sure there should be an apostrophe in Shuellas.)

Anyway, want some Shuellas of your own? You can order them from the US Shuella website for $47.45 (about £31) including P&P or you can get them on this UK website for a bargainous £8 but they’re currently out of stock.

Exhibitions | A second chance at The House of Annie Lennox

As the only Scotland-based member of the Style and Then Some team, I was rather disappointed to miss the exclusive Q & A session with legendary pop icon Annie Lennox at the Victoria and Albert Museum to launch an exhibition dedicated to the singer last October. However I was lucky enough to get a second chance at an insight into this musical genius when The House of Annie Lennox, popped up again, this time right on my doorstep and Annie’s hometown of Aberdeen.

Not only does Lennox have an impressive recording career – spanning over three decades, from her work as one half of pop duo the Eurythmics to being a solo artist – her influence on modern music is still strong today. Whether it’s Lady Gaga being accused of stealing her look, Beyonce singing the Eurythmics‘ hit Sweet Dreams at Glastonbury last Summer or Nicki Minaj sampling Lennox’s solo song, No More I Love Yous for her 2010 break out hit Your Love.

Annie Lennox, 2009 Photograph © Mike Owen

The House of Annie Lennox didn’t just celebrate her talent but also her contribution to contemporary style. Along with the likes of Grace Jones, back in the 80s Lennox’s name was synonymous with the androgynous look; so it was rather apt that the first exhibit as you enter is a Tartan suit by Jeff Banks - one of her favourite designers – worn during the Eurythmic’s 1983 Touch tour. More stage costumes are on display such as the vibrant Union Jack Tuxedo she wore for a performance at the 1999 Brit Awards and a silver and black gothic ball gown worn to perform with fellow trendsetter David Bowie. As are her numerous accolades including the Quadruple Platinum Award Disc Lennox garnered for her 1994 solo album Diva and the Oscar she recieved for the song Into the West off the Lord of the Rings soundtrack.

Annie Lennox, 1991, Photograph © Satoshi Saikusa

Just before you enter the main part of the exhibition where Lennox’s Gold and Platinum disc collection practically covers the room like wallpaper, there is an opportunity to listen to an interview recorded especially for the event. In it, Lennox reveals how her masculine style choices came about as a result of her musical partnership with Eurythmics counterpart, Dave Stewart. Although many people speculated over the singer’s sexuality due to her fashion and often short hairstyles, this did not bother her, as all she wanted was to assert herself and really stand out when placed next to a man and I think it’s safe to say she achieved her goal. Not only will Lennox be immortalised as a great style icon, she is often referred to as one of the greatest voices of our time.

Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart, 1984, Photograph © Gered Mankowitz

For those of you a little further up north than London (OK alot further), The House of Lennox exhibition will be on until September 29^th at the Aberdeen Art Gallery, Schoolhill, Aberdeen. Open Tuesday-Saturday, 10am-5pm, Sunday 2-5pm.

Madonna circa 2012: Hypothesis of a hypocrite?

I’ve never been a massive Madonna fan.  And that’s mainly due to being born at the tail end of the 80′s and missing out on my teenage years singing in to a hair brush all Material Girlie (I still did that, it was just Britney instead of Madge I was taping off the Top 40).  In fact, my earliest memory of being introduced to the so-called Queen of Pop was when my Dad bought the Evita soundtrack and played it until my youthful ears bled.   Not an exemplary first impression I think you will agree. 

That’s not to say I didn’t dip in and out of Madonna’s back catalogue throughout my youth.  Hell, the woman’s career has spanned like thirty years or something.  You couldn’t get away if you tried.  I still to this day regard Frozen as one of my favorite shit songs of all time (it’s up there with All Saints Never Ever and N Sync’s Bye Bye Bye).  I also wound up buying that ridiculous Cowboy styled album she did with Ali G or something.  But that, if you ask me, is the direct fault of MTV’s universal influence on the impressionable who don’t know any better.  You know, the people without older siblings.  Damn it.  

But despite never being a ‘True Blue’, I have always admired Madonna from afar.  Popular culture, it seems, demands our appreciation for Madge and her sexy 80′s women’s liberating, on-stage masturbating, cone-bra wearing legacy.  And that’s all well and good.  But something is telling me, and others it seems, that the Queen of Reinvention has now gone one-step too far.

Everything from the title of Madonna’s latest album, to that hilariously staged Superbowl ‘I’m a MASSIVE PR stunt and you’ll never prove it’ debacle with M.I.A, to EVERYTHING to do with her world tour happening right now, screams of hypocrisy, and she needs to stop, before she does some irreversible damage.

Here is my blow-by-blow list of bug bears with Madonna circa 2012:

1. Her latest album is entitled MDNA.  Seriously.  The 53-year-old, mother of 4, deemed appropriate and fit enough to adopt two children internationally, has attempted to connect with the youth of today by making her album sound like a party drug.
2. She also caused a stir at a recent gig when she asked the crowd ‘Where is Molly?’ (another slang term for the same drug).  Luckily Deadmau5 told her where to go and embarrassed her and her people beyond recognition.  What a dude.
3. The Superbowl.  Hey Madge!  If you don’t want any one stealing your spotlight, then don’t team up with one of the most liberally outspoken political rappers of our generation. Tit.
4. She recently played the Israeli leg of her current world tour and handed out hundreds of tickets to Israeli peace activists.  After making an emotional plea for peace in the Middle East, Madonna then decided to use fake machine guns and revolvers as props throughout her show.  Oh, and jump through a fake stain glass window with a gun.  In one of the most devout countries in the world.
5. The flashing.  I don’t necessarily have a problem with her doing this regarding her age.  But I do have an issue with this it so unbelievably boring and clichéd. It would have been more shocking if she’d actually covered up for a change.
6. Her beef with Lady Gaga.  How can a woman who has taken constant inspiration from strong, independent women throughout time such as Marilyn Monroe, Marlene Dietrich, and even Princess Diana turn round to a fellow icon of popular culture and demean her on the world’s stage for openly admitting her admiration of Madonna and taking inspiration from her?  She didn’t have a problem when Britney did it.  Oh no, they just collaborated instead.  Maybe Gaga turned Madge down…

We are all aware you are the original ‘shocker’, Madonna, and that you are probably running out of fresh ideas, but that’s no excuse to have some bingy, mid-life crisis revolt and start acting like THAT mum who tries to crash parties with her teenage daughter.

My favourite new brand: a-thread

As every Style & Then Some girl knows the right shade of nail varnish is the perfect way to finish off an outfit. But is it just me or does the smell sometimes make you wonder what’s in it and whether it’s doing your nails any damage?  That’s why I was very excited to discover a brand that makes eco-friendly nail varnish in all sorts of pretty colours.

Scotch Naturals sold by a-thread is the first non-toxic, eco nail varnish that I’ve ever heard of. I didn’t know that such a wonderful thing existed. This range doesn’t contain the nasty things like toluene, dibutyl phithalate, formaldehyde, acetone or heavy metals, and has the added bonus of being vegan, cruelty-free, hypoallergenic, biodegradable, paraben and gluten free. That’s quite an impressive CV.

It gets better; a-thread do a line of clothes and accessories, too. The LA based company, whose motto is: “shop and effect” (which means you can look good, while doing good), donates 5% of every sale to the charity of your choice. Not that you would need any incentive to open your purse other than the clothes themselves, which are oh so chic and on trend. Have a browse of their lovely chiffon shirts and dresses. You will leave feeling summery and inspired. I’ve really got into this whole shopping online thing, recently. I blame Pinterest. (Plus, I just love getting parcels in the post.)