The Second Coming | MEATMarket

When MEATLiquor opened late last year, it quickly became a foodie phenomenon. Critics and plebs alike chimed in unison at the standard of the food, from the meaty goodness of it’s house burgers and ribs to the killer cocktails and near-deafening rock music playing overhead

Okay, maybe not the last bit – but you can see where I am going with this. The New York-style burger joint enjoyed a universally positive reception with one minor niggle – the notorious no-reservation policy that seemed to be endemic in most foodie hotspots at the beginning of the year (Polpo, Burger and Lobster etc.) That didn’t stop those meat-evangelists though, as even on the bleakest winter night, you’d find a sizable queue snaking around the back of Oxford Street. That’s some serious dedication.

When I heard that a sister restaurant – MEATMarket – was due to open a few weeks I ago, I expected much of the same. Overlooking the Jubilee Market Hall in bustling Covent Garden, it was also primed for some serious business. When I visited the spot last Friday, it was exactly what it was tipped to be. Branded to the nines, you still got all the quality and flavour of some pretty amazing meat numbers without needing to sharpen your elbows into the queue.

Granted, the take-away ethos of MEATMarket might have diluted a bit of the grit and glamour of its elder sibling – but if you want a proper burger fix and (more importantly) want it quickly, it’s well worth the visit.

MEATMarket Jubilee Hall, 1 Tavistock Court, The Piazza, Covent Garden, London, WC2

What Carine Did Next

Cast your minds back a year or so. The fashion world was rocked by the sudden news of Carine Roitfeld’s departure from French Vogue and the rumor mill began churning on how her successor, Emmanuelle Alt, would find taking over the reigns.

But she wasn’t due to be away from the world of fashion magazines for long. Between launching a book with Karl Lagerfeld and numerous design consultancy stints, it turns out Ms Roitfeld has also been working on a new fashion tome. Titled ‘CR’, the editrix told WWD that the magazine seeks to be a ““celebration of fashion and creativity”.

So what are we in for?

Judging from the mocked up spreads sent to advertisers and potential contributors, created around the theme of ‘obsession’, this is one mutha of a fashion magazine. Gone are the details and diary sections that we have grown so accustomed to in our monthly glossies. Instead, we can expect 288 pages of extended fashion stories, long-format articles (such a rare yet needed thing in fashion journalism), with even the adverts strongly editorialised.

For those culture vultures out there worrying about how they are going to fill out their diaries, fear not. Roitfeld has also planned to create a distinct digital voice for the mag, with lots of interactive treats and cultural highlights showcased online instead. It’s also a clever pull for consumers to take a get sneaky peek at trailers for upcoming issues.

There is a sort of excitement around the launch of CR that reminds me of when Conde Nast’s LOVE magazine first hit the newstands back in 2009. If the success of that bi-annual is anything to go by, every issue of CR is going to be covetable. Set to launch in September 2012, make sure you get the date in the diary

To find out more about the CR Fashion Book, read WWD’s original post on the announcement here

Hawksmoor Spitalfields Bar

I remember when I lost my steak virginity. It was a rickety little bistro somewhere off Rue Bonaparte in Paris, and I was completely nonplussed when I was asked by my rather handsome waiter, “Bleu, Saignant, A point or Bien Cuit?” What arrived on my plate looked like charcoal and as I crunched my way through it, with copious amounts of water, I kept thinking “Is this what I have been missing out on? Pah!”

Clearly, I had ordered badly. Six years on, my appetite for a good steak dinner will never be satiated. I day dream about porterhouse steaks and fillet steaks, and have an unhealthy curiosity for what particular restaurants put in their ‘secret’ house sauces, like the green gooey one at Le Relais de Venise in Marylebone.

When it comes to the great British steakhouse,  people can get a bit evangelical about their favorites – and none more so than The Hawksmoor chain. I’m not sure if it’s because of their beautifully sourced meat from The Ginger Pig, the copper-gilded interiors or knockout cocktail menus. I am sure that it’s a brilliant way to squander a spare afternoon, greedily consuming a Chateaubriand steak with a side of truffled macaroni cheese and lobster. You do need a whole afternoon mind, as you slowly pull yourself out of one of the most divine meat comas you’ll ever experience.

See. Right there. Evangelical.

A few weeks ago The Hawksmoor team announced via Twitter that they would run a soft launch of their snazzy new bar menu at their Spitalfields branch. Unlike some of the more trendy establishments in London that refuse to have a booking policy (Burger & Lobster, Meat Liquor, Polpo etc. etc.), the bar was taking reservations. Much like the aforementioned restaurants, however, getting a table was a bitch. I managed it – just – but that was largely thanks to a lawyer friend with an unhealthy obsession with his Twitter feed.

The bar itself was situated in the basement of the flagship restaurant, and made up for the lack of natural daylight with sparkling brass bar tops and exposed peacock-green colored tiles, all rounded off with waiters sporting a range of fluoro Hawaiian-themed shirts. I don’t think it was intentional but collectively, it certainly brightened the place up. Between the group, we scoffed the friar sandwich, chilli cheese dog and cheeseburger, all set off with sides of shortrib nuggets (comes with a great dip), smashed cucumbers and an oxtail poutine (Canadian cheesy chips and gravy, topped with braised oxtail). For pudding, I opted for the peanut butter shortbread with salted caramel ice cream – a lovely little deconstructed number, with just the right balance of sweet and salt for my liking.

The real star in show here, however,  is the establishment’s cocktail menu – featuring beauties like the ‘Shakey Pete Ginger Brew’ (gin, ginger, lemon and London pride) and the ‘Nuclear Banana Daquiri’ (rum, chartreuse, banana and lime). They also do a ‘Desert Island Drinks’ list chosen by a Hawkmoor Bartender each month. Coming in at £40 – £50 a head including drinks, the place is great value for the quality of the food you get and a nice alternative to the quasi-religious Hawksmoor steak experience. Only just, mind you.

Have you tried the bar at The Hawsmoor Spitalfields? If so, let us know what you thought in the comments box below or @Style_thenSome!

Skin Savers // First Aid Beauty

When it comes to skincare, I’m usually a wash-and-go kind of gal. If I’m feeling particularly adventurous, I might ransack my mother’s beauty draw now and then, but being both time and money-poor, her snazzy Darphin and REN products often remain untouched after a few weeks of furious buffing, cleansing and exfoliation.

This is not good. To cover up any bumps or blemishes, I have to apply more make-up than even Lauren Goodger could dream of. It also means that I am destined for a complexion of a plucked turkey, and last time I checked poultry chic isn’t the best look. But problem is, there are so many technical terms and jargon involved when buying skincare products that I’m completely nonplussed and too scared to ask for help in case I look like an idiot.

I was sent a few tester products by the nice people at First Aid Beauty (FAB) before London Fashion Week. Designed for sensitive skin types, the first thing I liked about the range was it said exactly what it did on the front. Yes, the best beauty houses might favour a minimalist aesthetic for their products, but I respected that they eschewed this (boring) design principle in favour of good old facts and some retro packaging. Respect.

The first product I tried was the Gentle Body Wash which, on a day-to-day basis, did the same thing as my ordinary shower gel. Granted there was less foam action but I found the clean, unperfumed wash left my skin feeling more hydrated. It really came into its own, however,  after shaving or waxing. Where my usual body wash would leave skin feeling a bit scratchy and puckered, the FAB product left my legs and armpits as smooth as a marble.

Next up was the Ultra Repair Cream for the body and face. I mostly used it for my hands and legs, reason being they were most exposed and neglected. The cream worked fairly well, clearing up any potential scaley surfaces – although I found the smell a bit reminiscent of Greek yoghurt. The best thing about the cream was that it wasn’t greasy – proven by the lack of fingerprints or marks on my smart phone screen – and I could feel a definite improvement after less than three days of use.

Last up was the Age Delay Eye Cream and my favourite of the lot. Eye treatments wouldn’t naturally be on the top of my beauty priority list, but the cream glided on beautifully and left my lids and bags feeling as plump and perky as Nigella Lawson’s boobs. I also found that the cream worked really well just before applying any eye make-up, allowing any eyeliner or shadows to sit more firmly on the lids. The tube is also dinky and great for popping into the old handbag.

So would I recommend the FAB products? Almost definitely. Priced between £8 and going up to £35, the range is hardly going to break the bank  – and I quite enjoyed trying three simple products that made a tangible difference to my skin, without having to digest any beauty jargon. If you’re a skincare-phobe like me, this is the perfect range to start with.

First Aid Beauty products are currently available at Boots.com – click here to see the full range

Have you tried any of the First Aid Beauty products? If so, leave us a comment or tweet us @Style_ThenSome to let us know what you thought of them!

Osman at London Fashion Week AW12 // Taste of the Orient

Who: Osman

Where: BFC Courtyard Showspace, Somerset House

When: Monday 20th February at 7pm

Who: Poppy Delevigne, Theresa May, Harold Tillman, Bip Ling

No that isn’t a typo. The Frow at Osman on Monday night took a surprising political turn, as Home Secretary Theresa May took up her seat alongside BFC Chairman Harold Tillman and star blogger Liberty London Girl. And why not? A favourite of SamCam and Sarah Brown, Osman’s collections have always been a big draw for the fashion-savvy politicos ensconced on Downing Street.

With a set that included a vibrant printed carpet catwalk, this season Osman treated us to a journey through the orient. White shirts were accompanied by ornate brocade collars and matching booties; cape backed blouses and skinny fit trousers were constructed out of richly embroidered chinoiserie fabrics. Even leather skirts, with Osman’s trademark U-shaped hems, were given a blood red lining – instantly lifting the monochromatic looks.

Moving on from a colour scheme of reds, white and black, Osman’s later looks incorporated a moss-green hue – set off brilliantly by bright blue pom-pom and gold accessories by Erickson Beamon. Yes, all the Osman design signatures were there- that elegant curve of the waistline, the neat silhouette of a trouser suit -but refigured in exotic prints and fabrics, here was a collection perfect for brightening up those dark winter days.

Images and video credit: Samantha Meachin

Michael van der Ham at London Fashion Week AW12 // Collage for Grown Ups

Who: Michael van der Ham

Where: Topshop Venue at Old Billingsgate Market

When: Monday 20th February at 12pm

Who: Henry Conway, Lulu Kennedy, Susie Bubble, Tolula Adeyemi

Michael van der Ham is one of those designers who will always have a unique design signature. With his magpie-like eye for beautiful textiles and prints, his collections have always maintained that collage, arty aesthetic that has made him a favourite of avant-garde bloggers, Fashion East acolytes and London’s bright young things.

Personally, I was always fascinated by how beautifully he could incorporate patches and drape sashes across his dresses so that the whole thing moved as one. His technical skill is just mind blowing. I must have had sashes on the brain as I dreamt about his AW12 show last night as a spectacle that mimicked The Dance of the Seven Veils from Wilde’s Salome. Okay, so maybe three days of non-stop shows meant I was verging on delirium.

And also way off what he showed us today at the Old Billingsgate Market. Models were made up with Veronica Lake-esque curls as they glided up and down the runway in glamorous looks worthy of the screen goddess. Metallic details were present everywhere, from the jacquard panelling on bodice’s to hems with a delicate metallic floral appliqué – set against apple green separates.

But from the knitted, structured pieces that dominate daywear, we moved towards the night, with sequin-encrusted tops paired with shimmering mini-skirts, satin cigarette pants. The silhouette became more fluid, more nonchalent as MVDH upped the ante for his finale – a series of dainty organza concoctions, diffused floral prints across blouses and – yes- the odd sash here and there. In these lux fabrics and cuts, MVDH’s latest collection shows that grown-ups can do collage too.

Bernard Chandran at London Fashion Week AW12 // Midnight Rebel

Who: Bernard Chandran

Where: Freemason’s Hall, Covent Garden

When: Saturday 18th February, 5.30pm

Who: Pandemonia, Keisha Buchanan

Judging from his latest collection, it’s little wonder that Bernard Chandran has become a favourite of Lady Gaga. As the lights went up to an infectious drum and bass soundtrack, we saw a host of madcap evening looks come down the runway complete with retro barrel role hairstyles.

From funnel necked cocktail dresses, encrusted with Swarovski crystals around the neck, to wetlook black silk trousers and navy satin gowns, here was a collection that was eccentric yet elegant.

As his palette traveled from black and navy to caramel and toffee hues, we also saw Chandran experiment with Autumn staple pieces. Highlights for me included a woman’s tuxedo jacket, with exaggerated lapels and sequin detailing, as well as another black evening gown embellished with multicoloured crystals – something that had a touch of the orient to it.

The range of textiles on offer here also piqued my curiosity and showed off Chandran’s skill: whether it was mixing a delicate lace overlay on a monochrome number with a leather collar, or a fuzzy black knitted dress muddled with metallic threads. The whole collection felt young, fresh and futuristic – a great credit to Chandran’s talent.

Florian Jayet at Vauxhall Fashion Scout AW12 // An Egyptian Future

Who: Florian Jayet AW12 at LFW

Where: Freemason’s Hall, Covent Garden

When: Saturday 18th February, 12.30pm

Florian Jayet may be a Frenchman by birth but his latest Autumn Winter collection took it’s cue from tribal marking and ancient Egyptian culture. Models opened the show at the Freemason’s Hall sporting leather headpieces, threaded with delicate silver chains while wearing a selection of tribal printed body-con dresses and leggings, in a palette of shimmering greys, limes and midnight blues.

But though the prints may have been a nod to the past, the textiles and cuts at Jayet’s show were a thing of the future. Some looks began incorporating reptile-like scales on sleeves and hems, as others flirted with exaggerated waist pleating and heavily structured waistcoats. Highlights included a series of midnight blue satin separates – from ruched skinny fit trousers to a peplum shaped dress, accessorised with a necklace that looked like it was made of blonde  human hair.

Elsewhere accessories finished off his futuristic looks, whether it was a pair of killer pumps with heels shaped as wings or a stunning chain head pieces that fell over models’ faces like a metallic waterfall. Judging from the rapturous applause at the end of the show, it seems Jayet’s AW12 collection will provide him with even more cult followers.

Photos taken with Olympus PEN E-PM1 – for more information see here

Phoebe English at London Fashion Week AW 12 // Pops of Pink

Who: Phoebe English

Where: Freemason’s Hall, Covent Garden

When: Friday 17th February, 6.30pm

Who: Susie Bubble, Elle UK and the Style and Then Some team

Following hot on the heels of the One’s To Watch show, VFS alumnus Phoebe English staged her first solo offering at the Freemason’s Hall. Against a  soundtrack by Gabriel Bruce, we saw models emerge on the catwalk in laser cut ra-ra skirts with leather panelling, as well as sporty dresses with ruched waistlines and zig-zagging back straps.

With the lyric ‘I’ve got this feeling that we’re dead’ playing languorously (and on loop), as well as clothes showcased in a palette that was exclusively black and grey – things were looking pretty dreary. The name of the collection – ‘Sleep Paralysis’ – added to this moribund atmosphere. Almost anticipating this, however, English suddenly swerved into a sorbet pink colour scheme and reinvigorated her separates. Highlights included a picked cotton dress, with hidden pleated detailing on the back hem as well as the (previously mentioned) sporty dresses, but this time with a dense wool felt overlay on the skirt. The jump in to sorbet shades added a fresh point of contrast and I can see why English deserves her solo spot on  the VFS schedule.

Photos taken with Olympus PEN E-PM1 – for more information see here 

Ones to Watch @ Vauxhall Fashion Scout AW 12 // Bright Young Things

Who: One’s to Watch @ Vauxhall Fashion Scout

Where: Freemason’s Hall, Covent Garden

When: Friday 17th February, 4.30pm

Who: Susie Lau, the blogger behind Style Bubble

You could tell this was one of VFS’s most popular shows of the season, what with the half-hour delay and unusually busy crowd waiting in the foyer of the Freemason’s Hall. I counted over a dozen blue-rinse chignons and six trays of complimentary SNOG frozen yoghurt pass me before we were ushered into the catwalk space.

Stomachs and tempers soothed, this year’s OTW show opened with the work of Koreon-born Heohwan Simulton, whose collection echoed the designer’s background in menswear design. On offer this season, we saw cropped scoop-necked jackets with leather panelling, ankle-grazing tailored trousers and tangerine silk shifts (well it is THE colour of the year, apparently). But what started as a beatnik influenced collection – thanks to a remarkable number of plain black polo necks featured – slowly turned into the abstract. There was a hint of black velour on separates and a smattering of multicolored perspex tassels on shift dresses. It wasn’t unwearable, just an unexpected turn and one I’m sure could provide a nice shot of color in our otherwise dreary autumn wardrobes.

Next up was Myrza de Muynck and my second favourite of the lot. With her trademark buoyancy, the collection was a youthful, sporty and a real visual delight. Yes, a lot of what we’re seeing on the high street is saturated with the ubiquitous pastel trend, but Muynck modernised the candy palette using sporty materials and some interesting black paintbrush detailing.

Favourites of the show included padded mint trousers, exaggerated knit tank dresses – which reminded me a bit of the House of Holland AW11 collection – and a nice sky blue jumpsuit. Perhaps some critics would have found it a bit saccharine for their liking but I’ve always had a sweet tooth.

Anne Sofie Madsen went next and the contrast between this and Muynck’s collection couldn’t be more marked. As the first model walked down the catwalk in a leather dress with a Navaho-inspired skirt, I thought the collection was heading towards the Americas. Text-book error. If I had done my homework thoroughly, I would have known that Madsen’s aesthetic silently echoes her Scandanavian roots.

What followed was a series of latticed leather dresses, cocktail dresses embellished with delicate gold and silver chains and a healthy selection of chiffon blouses – softened by the occasional bit of floral rope arrangement. I know. It sounds bonkers and, quite frankly, at points it was. I didn’t know if I was watching a Gareth Pugh in-the-making, a master couturier in-the-making or someone who didn’t trust her talent enough (and it was there, in shed loads) to distill the collection further before showing.

The final hurrah came courtesy of fourth and final designer Nova Chiu. Having had previous stints at Matthew Williamson and Richard Nicoll, you can see where Chiu has developed her knack for using eye-popping color and sumptuous fabrics. She also uses digital printing techniques, which is probably how she achieved such a masterly mash-up of Asian, American and Oriental prints, seen on her multilayered dresses or structural jackets.

The whole thing was like watching the lovechild (or children, whatever) of the East. She also nailed it down to every detail. We saw Yeti-styled ear muffs, blouses that used protruding origami pleats and even some tassled earrings that looked like they same straight out of a Moroccan silk souk. Definitely my favourite from this year’s OTW collective.

Photos taken with Olympus Pen E-PM1 – see here for further details

Caroline Charles at London Fashion Week AW12 // A British Nostalgia

What? Caroline Charles

Where? The Caroline Charles studio, Brompton Road

When? Friday 17th February, 10am

Who? Voguettes, Telegraph Fashion Team, the cream of the King’s Road

Sitting in Caroline Charles’ Brompton Road studio, who’d have known that the mayhem of London Fashion Week had already begun? Greeted with a glass of bubbly and listening to the warm refrains of Ella Fitzgerald, we all got cosy in one of those rare salon presentations and were treated to Charles’ take on heritage wear, infused with a British wartime nostalgia.

As one of the original designers to back British Fashion Week over forty years ago, Charles’ is one of biggest proponents of classic British design principles. This season’s designs had a classic, wearable feel, featuring low-key skirt suits and crepe dresses covered with claret coloured velvet jackets. A decidedly feminine collection, this season’s featured all the classic moss and berry autumn tones, but refigured in sumptuous silks, satins and velvets.  I also spotted some rather snazzy accessories and jewellery (feathered tiara anyone?) designed by the Bijoux Heart.

Heritage may be a bit of a safe bet when it comes to autumn winter collections but it wasn’t all tweed and tartan. Charles re-spun the Bloomsbury aesthetic with touches of jewel embellishment on sleeves and collars, as well as a healthy dose of leopard print and silver lame in the mix - giving the uber-glam offerings a more youthful edge. All in all, a thoroughly polished start to the season indeed.

Check out the rest of Style & Then Some’s LFW coverage here.

Photos taken with Olympus PEN E-PM1 – for more information see here

Marie Laurencin at L’Orangerie, Paris

Sick of this late winter? Tube delays and leaky shoes? Me too. It seems that with every fresh sprinkling of snow, I’m forced to don yet another layer of mismatched knitwear and navigate through the streets of London, looking like a demented Russian doll. Suspicious looks tell me it’s not a hot look.

Deciding that enough is enough, I booked a last minute Eurostar to Paris last week, hoping that that a few spontaneous (and slightly warmer) days in a foreign country, complete with vin chauds, might help to charge up my batteries like an injection of Vitamin C. And the one place I find myself drawn to each time I visit the city is L’Orangerie – the beautiful museum situated just beyond the Louvre and home to eight spectacular Monet water-lily paintings.

But this time, my pilgrimage to the museum held less charm than it had in past years. Teeming with students and pensioners, the atmosphere was more manic than meditative. I decided to leave the Monet behind and ventured into the museum’s underbelly to explore a temporary exhibit instead – dedicated to a man named Paul Guillame, one of Paris’ most famed art collectors and cultural patrons.

Looking at the works on display, Guillame’s collection is prolific. There’s a Picasso here and a Gaugin there. A healthy smattering of impressionists too. All fairly dull fare because of their ubiquitous presence on Paris postcards and guide books. No, what truly left me reeling was discovering a tiny display of work by Marie Laurencin.

This series of pastel portraits – some of women dancing, others playing with flowers and dogs – were quite simply stunning. With their candy-coloured hues and exclusively female subject matter, I would have thought her work would be more well known over here in the UK, or more widely discussed in art history books. It turns out her largest body of work is currently housed in the Musée Marie Laurencin in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. Handy that.

Reading up on her back at home, I soon found that Laurencin was also a pioneer of sorts: a close friend of Pablo Picasso,you can see influences of Cubism throughout her art – albeit a more feminine and refreshing take. It was also rumored she was a sometime lover of the poet Apollinaire and the closest thing he had to a muse. She designed costumes for the Ballet Russes in the mid-twenties and became famed for her society portraits (her painting of Coco Chanel formed part of L’Orangerie’s current exhibition).

I am always sceptical when people recommend art or artists to me. Call it the effect of verbose press releases or some seriously crap modern art exhibits, I rarely come across something that really moves me. But this did. And standing in the corner of the temporary exhibition, I found that unexpected burst of sunshine I was looking for

What do you think of Laurencin’s work? Give us a tweet @Style_ThenSome to let us know your thoughts

Picture Credit: L’Orangerie/ ADAGP Paris

February Fashion Virals

Remember that Lanvin video last year? The one with superstar models Karen Elson and Raquel Zimmermann dancing to Pitbull’s I Know You Want Me? The video became an overnight sensation, spurning dozens of immitations and made us remember just why we love Alber Elbaz at the helm of the french fashion house

And it seems he hit upon gold, making the fashion industry quickly realise that viral videos are more chic than chav right now. In this vein, the first week of February has seen a flurry of fashion virals – a preemptive move before fashion week season I think. Here we round up three of our favourites

Victoria by Victoria Beckham, shot by Quentin Jones

This madcap sequence uses Quentin Jones skills as both a filmmaker and illustrator. With VB’s diffusion line taking a more youthful affordable edge, Jones employs a sixties- style synth track in the background as we are taken through a fantasy world, filled with shimmying cats, look book tear sheets and a magical self unzipping dress. No wonder the line already has a waiting list at Harvey Nichols, as Grazia Daily reported, just a week after it’s initial launch

Watch the Victoria by Victoria Beckham video here

Prada Spring Summer 2012 Campaign

With the current campaign shot by Steven Meisel, the video was always going to pay tribute to the uber-glamorous offerings Miuccia Prada presented last September. Staged in a American gas station, the viral takes a nostalgic turn with a 1950s aesthetic and accompanying soundtrack. Or so we think, until the music flips into an infectious mash up of the Sleigh Bells, Tobacco and Tom Recchion tracks – contrasting the sweetheart vibe of the collection with hyper-real music. Genius.

Watch the Prada Spring Summer 2012 campaign video here

Spring 2012 T by Alexander Wang, directed by Daniel Johnson

If South African hip hop isn’t your thing, chances are this might scare you a bit. Featuring a soundtrack by Die Antwoord, a trio of artists hailing from Cape Town, Alexander Wang presents his latest ‘T’ collection for Spring Summer 2012. The diffusion line quickly amassed a cult following after it’s first campaign back in 2009 fronted by Erin Wasson and for this collection Wang has created yet another line of covetable seperates. Very cool indeed.

Watch the Spring 2012 T campaign video here

Which viral is your favourite? Tweet us @Style_ThenSome to let us know!

Katie Hillier and the BFC Rock Vault

As London Fashion Week fast approaches, it feels like we’ve reached the home stretch. While bloggers and press dust off their trophy trousers and finery, here at Style and Then Some HQ we have been pouring over schedules and highlights of the bi-annual fashion fest (along with some casual outfit rehearsals, au naturellement)

Year on year, the British Fashion Council constantly come up with new and exciting ways to showcase the city’s best design talent – and quite rightly so. After last year’s Royal Wedding, British Fashion Awards and the New Year’s honours list, never has London’s fashion had such a dominant presence on the international stage

But for me the most exciting news popped through our inbox today – namely, that this season there will be a dedicated platform for fine jewellery entitled the ‘Rock Vault’. Okay, so maybe it isn’t the most imaginative name but bloody hell do they have a stellar line-up that includes Husam El Odeh, Jordan Askill and (my new style crush) Hillier London, all curated by industry favourite Stephen Webster

It’s the new Hillier line that has really piqued my interest, though. Katie Hillier is one of those people that keeps cropping up when I think of my all-time favourite design houses. She was a brand consultant for the now defunct Luella label and created lines for fashion heavyweights that include Loewe and Marc Jacobs.

She also happens to be bessies with Victoria Beckham and you can see her cheeky influence trickle through VB’s new diffusion line, replete with rainclouds and flirty scalloped hems. It might sound a tad affected to talk about building a fluent design language but for all the labels I have admired from my teens to present, Hillier seems to have had a hand in them some way or the other.  Right now, I have an unhealthy obsession with her Bunny Love jewellery line and can’t wait to see what she has in store in February

Read more about the British Fashion Council’s ‘Rock Vault’ initiative here

Is there a highlight of LFW that you’re looking forward to? If so, give us a tweet to let us know @Style_ThenSome!

Book Porn | Selfridge’s Pop-Up Library

Last week saw what some silly statisticians term as ‘Blue Monday’ – the most depressing day of the year. Worked out using an equation (that can be found here) that factors in debt and the weather, the man-made event dominates endless headlines and becomes a convenient scapegoat for our post-Christmas lethargy

Thankfully, I was untouched by the hoo-ha and decided to take direct action to combat any potential blues, and ducked into Selfridges to have a casual browse. Down in the basement they have created yet another fantastic temporary installation – a pop-up library- that is as beautiful as it is informative.

A side note here: I have a bit of a thing for books – not just reading them, but adorning any wall, table or floor space with stacks of them. When I lived briefly in Paris, I was more preoccupied with packing three giant boxes of them and completely forgot to take any underwear or socks. Nice one. When I came across Decorating with Books by Marie Proeller Hueston and the Book Porn tumblr site, it was like the mother ship calling to me.

Anyway, the pop-up library was out of this world: covering a massive 3,500 square feet, covered wall-to-wall in some of the store’s most beautiful books-  predominantly fashion, photography, art and poetry – and curated by publishing houses Penguin, Taschen and Faber. Chatting to one of the sales assistants – a lovely man named Brian who also moonlighted as a radio producer – he explained the logic behind the book selected: “We’re happy to have these beautiful books displayed here, because even if they are expensive, people are much more likely to flick through a photography collection or a couple of poems than read an entire novel.”

I ask which ones have been the most popular and he directs me to two Taschen collections – A Chronicle of the Crusades: 1474 Manuscript and an Atlas of Human Anatomy & Surgery from the 19th Century. They are quite beautiful and provide brief respite before I’m slowly lured to the other parts of the installation. One wall has been dedicated to celebrity book recommendations, featuring the likes of Olivia Palermo, Sophie Dahl and Will Ferell (see pic). There are also some pretty interesting classes run by the Idler Academy, including calligraphy classes and an Introduction to Greek Philosophy.

There is a bigger story here though- as the library forms part of Selfridges ‘Words, Words, Words’ initiative, designed to draw attention to planned library closures throughout the UK and to celebrate the written word. If you have the time, check it out. It’s a sure fire way to beat off those (hypothetical) January blues.

What do you think about the phenomenon that is Blue Monday? Is it all just media hype? Tweet us @Style_ThenSome to let us know what you think!

Image credit: REX / DA

Kids on the catwalk | Anais Gallagher

The fashion industry’s obsession with all things young and beautiful shows no sign of abating. Earlier this week The Daily Telegraph reported Anais Gallagher (daughter of Oasis front man Noel and ex-wife Meg Matthews) is set to launch her modelling career, having signed a contract with prestigious model agency Select.

In many senses, she is perfect for the profession: icy blonde, lithe-limbed and with previous modelling credits including a campaign for Paul Smith. Great. The only issue with it all is that she’s 11 years old and already being pitted as ‘the next Kate Moss’.

No doubt her celebrity credentials will stand young Anais in good stead – mum Meg has already tweeted a pic from her first test shoot with none other than Mario Testino and, age aside, it is stunning.  But isn’t there something quite curious about the fact that a girl can’t walk down a catwalk if she is under 16 and yet some of the biggest (and most controversial) campaigns of the past year have featured child stars – namely Hailee Steinfeld for Miu Miu and Elle Fanning for Marc Jacobs?

Granted, both the above landed their campaigns after some brilliant acting work and personify the youthful brands. And they aren’t the first. The long history of child stars moving into the world of modelling stretches as far back as Jodie Foster, after her turn in Bugsy Malone, or Brooke Shields in the 70’s following her role in Pretty Baby.

And yet it continues to niggle away at me that they are, legally at least, still children. Comparing an 11 year-old to one of the most iconic models of the 20^th century seems daft (the fact that I can’t even publish a picture of her with this and yet her face could easily be plastered across a billboard in a year, even more so). But the nub of the issue isn’t prospective legal woes or fashion journalism’s institutionalised hyperbole – it’s the fact that the news sets a dangerous, if not impossible, precedent in the modelling industry.

What do you think – is the modelling industry straying into dangerous territory with child models? Tweet us @Style_ThenSome to let us know your thoughts

Picture credit: Ontario Fashion Week / REX features

Back-to-School jewels | Me & Zena Stationary Collection

New Year and I have that familiar back-to-school feeling. There’s something about a freshly bought diary and donning a pair of squeaky-clean shoes (Christmas pressie naturellement) that gets my nostalgic juices going.

And so it is in the spirit of fresh starts that I decided to review this pencil-case inspired line by Me & Zena. I say fresh starts because normally, if I received an email from a PR promoting ‘Jewellery for the Unruly’, my mind would instantly conjure up images of that pre-teen Mecca Claire’s Accessories and I’d break out in a diamante induced sweat.

But breath. It’s probably a good thing that I did pay attention this time, as the line is actually very clever and has a tongue-in-cheek quality that I actually quite like. Taking inspiration from the humble pencil case, Edinburgh Graduate and Designer Zena Mckeown contorts pencils and slices apart sharpeners to create some rather interesting pieces (I particularly liked the ‘Big Sharpy’ ring in rose gold).

With fans like Eliza Doolittle, Pixie Lott and Marina Diamondis, it’s not unsurprising that the collection has an uber youthful edge. The lovely thing about quirky accessories like these, however, is that you don’t have to subscribe to the whole lot. One or two pieces is enough to liven up an outfit or – at the very least- your jewellery box.

The Me & Zena ‘Write On!’ Stationary Collection is available online now, with pieces priced from £16 – £44.

What do you think? Do Me & Zena have an inspired concept, or is it a gimmick too far? Tweet us @Style_ThenSome to let us know your thoughts

An Indian Winter | Marianne Cotterill Jewellery at Matches

Although the phrase is a bit of a cliché, the fashion industry is having a ‘microtrend’ moment. Back in October, Hermès unveiled their a limited edition Sari collection, with piece priced between £4,000 – £5,000 a pop (wow..) – a move designed to celebrate the opening of their new Mumbai flagship.

Never one to be outdone, Karl Lagerfeld also embraced the Asian trend earlier this month, staging a decadent Maharaja-themed couture show to showcase his ‘Paris-Bombay’ collection. The Daily Mail reported shortly afterwards that Essex’s finest David Gandy was planning to relocate to the Indian capital to open up a hotel.

Left to right: A sari from the Hermes collection; Chanel 'Paris-Bombay' collection; David Gandy

In the name of research, I had a quick scan of the high street to see if the microtrend was slowly surfacing – and surely enough it was all there. With my magpie instinct, one of the brands that stuck out the most for me was the Marianne Cotterill collection at Matches:

These pretty pieces play on the traditional Indian idea of a hath panja – jewellery which runs along the back of the hand from the wrist to the wedding finger. I remember my granny had an impressive set, in the gaudiest yellow gold with green inlaid enamel. Granted, they were spectacular but far too loud to wear day-to-day. What Cotterill’s collection does rather cleverly is update the classic design with a sprinkling of semi-precious stones and charms. Beautiful don’t you think?

Have you spotted any pieces that are working the Indian microtrend? If so, let us know @Style_thensome

My Christmas Wish List | Dee

Following on from BlondeKatie’s post, I decided to put together my own christmas wish list. Predictably, this soon turned into some full-on fantasy shopping online – either because the item was a tad too expensive or temporarily out of stock.

But I refuse to admit defeat. Christmas is about miracles and magic and all that – so if the consignment boys at Selfridges want to help a girl out, here’s what I’m asking for:

1. This gorgeous Hummingbird Tray from Pedlars comes in at a rather pricey £95 – but the nostalgic feel of the trim and hilarious print makes it perfect for sprucing up my drab little kitchen.

2. As her British Fashion Award win a couple of weeks ago reflects, Charlotte Olympia’s quirky designs are probably the most exciting when it comes to fantasy footwear. I loved that  these Kitty shoes look like a demure pair of flats from one angle and a completely bonkers pair from another. Clever sausage.

3. If I were to have one meal before I died, it would be, without a shadow of a doubt, the humble Steak Frites. Unfortunately, I’m a bit of a shoddy cook and can never hope to duplicate the dishes I sampled at The Hawksmoor in Covent Garden. Luckily, the team behind the restaurants released Hawksmoor at Home in October this year, and I can’t wait to get my hands on a fool-proof way to cook the perfect steak.4. I hate how monochrome outfits seem to become my uniform at this time of year. Yet, with a panache that only Marc Jacobs can achieve, this Havana print iPad case is the perfect tonic to those dreary wintery mornings (and at £60 squid, quite reasonably priced)

5. After a years worth of T.O.W.I.E, Made in Chelsea and, most recently, Desperate Scousewives, fake eyelashes have never been more popular. I love these Paper Eyelashes, made by Paperself, designed to imitate french lace. Yes, they may be a tad theatrical, but they promise to be the perfect talking point when at an awkward crimbo party. Handy.

6. I have loved the smell of the Moroccan Rose range by  REN for years now, but this special Christmas edition of the rose otto bath oil at Liberty is almost too beautiful to use. Hey – who said there was anything wrong with accessorizing your bathroom? I have no shame.

7. These plastic thermos flask’s by Nettlegreen are available in three candy-coloured shades and have a capacity of 1 litre. That’s alot of coffee.

8. Underwear shopping is still as confusing for me as it was when I went for my first fitting at M&S with my mum. Sometimes, though, I come across a piece or two that I soon become obsessive about. This week it’s Stella McCartney’s Irene Gardening briefs and bustier. That springtime print, classic bra shape and the fact that the pants don’t resemble dental floss are but a few of the highlights of this set.

9. Topshop always pulls out the best transitional winter coats and the mod-ish number above is no exception. The contrast sleeves are a nice way to work in some winter leather and I’m a big fan of the pepper-effect on the wool.

10. The above photo may not make very much sense so allow me explain. A month ago I stumbled upon a delicious recipe for a hydrangea cake (pictured) on the iambaker blog. Despite my best efforts, the flower frosting never looked quite right and it turned out I needed to buy some specialist kit – namely a Wilton’s 2D tip. At £5, it’s a little steal for something that can produce some beautiful (and edible) hydrangea bouquets – perfect.

Christmas Shopping Ideas | Vogue.com Online Fashion Week

My advent calendar’s up and has now become a constant reminder that I have 21 days and counting left to get all my Christmas presents bought, wrapped and smugly piled under my (as yet non existent) tree.

Coming from a rather sizeable Indian family, this time of year is never kind to my bank account, given that there are twenty people in my immediate family alone. So this year I have made myself a promise, namely that it is ALL going to be done online and everything will be bought, stuffed and dressed two weeks before Christmas day.

Now, for fear of sounding a bit like a Tesco advert, every little helps – and this year the team at Vogue.com have come up with the brilliant idea of an Online Fashion Week.

Following up on the huge success of the global Fashion’s Night Out phenomenon, the Voguettes announced back in July that they will be organising a scheduled week of exclusive online offers and events – take a look at the schedule here to see just how many brilliant online retailers and shops they have managed to get on board.

Given my personal promise of refusing to negotiate the crowds in bustling department stores, this is a veritable godsend. With brands like Topshop, Matches and Mulberry involved, Vogue.com editor Dolly Jones and her team have hit on a stellar idea for the time-poor woman who wants to bag a bargain in the run-up to Christmas. I know I’ll be logging on tomorrow morning to do a bit of digital splurging.

British Vogue’s Online Fashion Week begins Monday 5^th December at 9am. Check out the schedule here, and tweet us if you are taking part in the online extravanganza yourself!