Can us Brits ever hope to master the art of savoir vivre? We get a lesson in Frenchologie

Why is it that French women are, on the whole, so much more stylish and self-possessed than the rest of the continent? Is it because they invented the word chic?

I think it’s largely down to fashion, but according to Tamiko Zablith it’s got a lot to do with attitude. You won’t find Gallic ladies fumbling with which knife to use when dining at a posh restaurant, she says, nor will they struggle through small talk at a party, eking out mundane weather chat because they can’t think of anything else to talk about. That’s because they’re well-versed in the art of savoir vivre – the French term that means ‘to know how to live’ or, essentially, how to get the most out of life.

Zablith, of Minding Manners, was on hand to deliver a lesson in French etiquette last Monday night at the launch of Frenchologie.com, and Jo and I were there, hoping to pick up some pearls of Parisian wisdom.

 

Frenchologie is an online store stocking only French made and designed wares. From heels to homeware, jewellery to jams, the selection is curated by founders Beatrice Drovandi and Cécilia Cauville to cater to your every je ne sais quoi.

So, what did we learn in our Frenchologie lesson last week? Here are three top tips I took away:

1. At parties, always hold your drink in your left hand. That way you’re ever ready to shake hands with your right and don’t have to hastily swap your drink over or, worse still, go in for one of those clumsy opposite hand shakes.
2. Relinquish that oh so British desire to talk about the weather in social settings. Beatrice Drovandi and Cécilia CauvilleThe French love a debate so make sure you’re up to date with culture and current affairs and be prepared to argue your corner.
3. Don’t feel that you have to wear a suit in all business and formal occasions. Take your style cues from the likes of Charlotte Gainsbourg and Vanessa Paradis and inject a bit of insouciance into your wardrobe.

After the talk, we were treated to a cheese and wine tasting session. The swooningly French owner of wine bar Antidote off Carnaby Street, where the event was held, talked us through a fromage menu straight from the supplier of many of London’s Michelin starred restaurants. A soft, tangy goat’s cheese spread thickly on crusty brown bread and drizzled with &Terra rosemary honey (available from Frenchologie) was my favourite – it was so divine I swear it made my taste buds shout ooh la la.

Click through the gallery below to check out some of the fine Frenchologie pieces that were on show last week (including Jo modelling some very cool jewellery), and gawp at the cheese and charcuterie porn. Warning: this is probably going to make you very hungry.

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Want to see a really cool magic trick? Last night we got up close and magical with O2 Refresh

Last night, Helen and I went to by far the most magical blogger event we’ve ever been to.

Held at swanky cabaret bar Circus in Covent Garden, we got the party started with some zingy refreshing cocktails and super fresh sashimi canapes (can you see a theme emerging yet?) served from platters smouldering with dry ice.

Next, magician Oliver B took to the stage and performed some mightily impressive mind-reading tricks that had us scratching our heads for the rest of the night – he also had us in stitches when he ended the show by stripping off his black suit to reveal some seriously questionable undergarments. It has to be seen to be believed.

Later, after watching a host of mind-boggling acrobatics and burlesque dancers do their thing, we were whisked away for a very special private audience with Oliver, where he helped me to magically upgrade my phone in the blink of an eye. Check it out in this video:

Pretty good eh? The party was held to celebrate the launch of O2 Refresh, a new service launched last week that lets you upgrade – or refresh - your phone in a similarly snappy style, as often as you want, while keeping the same tariff.

Lucky little me, I got to take home my refreshed phone. It’s a Sony Xperia Z, the smartphone that Stuff magazine named as their number one smartphone (before it was knocked into second place). The great thing about this phone is that as well as a slick design and loads of whizz-bang gadgety features, it’s completely waterproof. It can be submerged for up to half an hour, which, as anyone who has ever suffered the indignity of dropping their phone in the toilet can attest, is a very good thing.

Oliver B will be out and about this Thursday delivering more magical moments around London. Visit @O2 on Twitter and Facebook to find out where you can get your phone magically refreshed.

Think opera is expensive, elitist and boring? Opera di Peroni will make you think again

Opera di Peroni returned to London this week and we were there to sample the action – and the beer, of course.

Opera di Peroni, the Italian lager brand’s biannual event that takes a classic opera and reimagines it for a modern audience, was staged over three nights in London this week.  Following last season’s al fresco airing of three classic arias (which we loved), for the autumn/winter season, producers GO OPERA and musician Kwes focused on Puccini’s La Rondine.

Helen and I went along to the VIP preview night on Wednesday (along with a bunch of celebs), held in Factory 7, the event space where Refinery29 held their so-called #bestnightever. It’s a very cool industrial-looking building, all concrete and exposed brick, but minimal heating meant this was definitely a coats on affair. Amid the hipster crowd swigging on Peroni and sampling the Italian aperitivo served by impeccably dressed waiters (the chicken liver pate on bruschetta was our favourite), the performers were already on the scene: tuxedo-clad men and women in lavish eveningwear mingled around a lounge set-up. Then the musicians – a four-piece ensemble – took their places and the show kicked off.

Telling the story of Magda, a singer/model/actress/designer superstar who mysteriously retreated from the limelight at the height of her fame, the action begins two years after her disappearance. At a party thrown by Magda, she is reunited with a boisterous trio of her former bandmates and agrees to an interview with up and coming fashion writer Ruggero Lastouc. Sparks fly between Magda and Ruggero, which doesn’t please Rambaldo, the secretive multi-millionaire Magda is supposed to be dating. How will Magda choose between the two? Will she emerge from her self-imposed exile? And what was she even doing for those two years? All will be revealed in three action-packed scenes that move throughout the venue.

Compared to the traditional story of La Rondine, (meaning ‘the swallow’) in which Magda is a courtesan and Ruggero a poet, this was quite the departure, especially with all the iPads, iPhones and video cameras the characters weilded – but that’s what I like about Opera di Peroni. GO OPERA aim to garner new audiences with their productions, and that’s exactly what this does. I’m pretty certain that few of the skinny jean-clad watchers on Wednesday would consider themselves opera fans before, and I know I wouldn’t, but this really piqued my interest. Previously, I thought all that operatic wailing was a bit annoying, but seen live it’s actually really impressive and the music was beautiful, especially with Kwes’ added digital flourishes. At times I have to admit I got a bit lost, but that’s probably my own fault for not standing where I go see the subtitles projected onto the wall. I’m definitely going to look into attending a full-scale opera, armed with the knowledge that it’s best to read up about the plot beforehand so you know what’s going on. If you’re intrigued too, I highly recommend Opera di Peroni as a great little taster session. The performance only lasted about an hour in total, it was really stylishly staged and you get beer and canapés thrown in with your £10 ticket – what’s not to like?

Opera di Peroni’s La Rondine continues in Bristol on 28^th and 29^th March 2013. Keep an eye on the Peroni UK Facebook page or visit the website for details of next season’s performances.

Refinery29 launches in the UK, claims to host the #bestnightever

It’s arrived. US fashion and lifestyle site Refinery29 has landed on this side of the Atlantic, joining XOjane as the latest Yankee women’s website to get its own British sister site.

Falling somewhere between MyDaily and Jezebel in terms of content, Refinery29 is essentially an online fashion mag, but it’s a cut above because as well as the usual fashy stuff – say, a holiday wardrobe guide or a feature on an extortionately priced backpack – you’ll get articles on things like why journaling your heartache isn’t necessarily a good thing. It’s got the same sassy tone as MyDaily, so I wasn’t surprised to see former MyDaily editor Libby Banks has penned one of the first London-based articles, on ten great London vintage shops.

Helen, Katy and I went along to the R29 UK launch party last Friday, which was sponsored by ASOS and held at the Shoreditch Studios in East London. Now, check this out for confidence: the official Twitter hashtag for the party, according to the invite and the little makeup goody bags we got on the way out, was #bestnightever. So did we, or indeed anyone there, have the Best Night Ever? I’d wager not. A party in a draughty warehouse with one type of free drink (some kind of alcoholic root beer) and just a DJ and a photobooth for entertainment? With nobody dancing? I don’t think anyone could claim it was the best night in the history of nights. Don’t get me wrong, I had a fun time hanging out with Katy and Helen, but it seems to me that kind of overenthusiastic hashtag branding is setting yourself up for failure. I googled later and discovered there was another R29 UK launch part in Mayfair on another night, where local celebs ‘danced until the Champagne ran dry.’ Maybe they had the #bestnightever?

Not that it really matters. I’m just happy Refinery29 has made it over to Blighty. It’s a great site, I’d recommend a like or a follow.

The Illustrated Nail brings her epic nail art skills to Dalston

As if Dalston hair salon Stunt Dolly – with its art deco interiors and penchant for all things vintage – could get any cooler, it’s now got London’s awesomest nail artist on hand every week to cater to all your manicureal needs. Sophie Harris-Greenslade, she of The Illustrated Nail tumblr fame, will be in the house every Friday and Saturday, working her magic on the fingertips of the local hipsters.

On Thursday night Stunt Dolly held a launch event to celebrate Sophie’s arrival, and as Helen and I are mildly obsessed with nail art at the minute (check out our lovingly curated Pinterest board) we sure didn’t want to miss this. On the ground floor, the hair half of the salon, stylists were administering up-dos and blowouts and other things that supremely preened people get all the time (if I had the cash I’d get one every week), while downstairs, Sophie and another nail technician had set up shop.

We grabbed a glass of Zeo, a new drink that is non-alcoholic but claims to give alcoholic effects (it’s tasty, but we weren’t really convinced) and headed downstairs to watch enviously as some lucky party guests’ nails were adorned with all kinds of zingy colours, jazzy patterns and some extra sparkly bits. The attention to detail was astonishing, with Sophie expertly applying base colour, then using finepoint pens and gluing on tiny sequins – check out my photos in the gallery below. Such intricate work takes time though, and sadly we had to leave before it was our turn at the nail bar. The range of nails on the menu, displayed on framed sets of fake nails, is huge, from multi-coloured tribal patterns to cutesy cartoons and even London Underground-themed motifs. If you want to treat yourself to some seriously talk-worthy talons, whether it’s a la carte or something totally bespoke, then Sophie’s your girl.

The Illustrated Nail manicure prices start from £20 with additional nail art from £3 per nail. Visit http://www.stuntdolly.com or call 0207 018 2191.

Hey Londoners, want to stay up all night next Tuesday? Come to US Electiongiggle 2012

Where will you be watching President Obama get relected next week? I’ll be going to US Electiongiggle 2012 in Bethnal Green.

I’m not gonna lie to you, there’s absolutely no editorial impartiality on this blog when it comes to the US Election. I am whole-heartedly supported Barack Obama, even though I’m not American and therefore can’t vote. But I am very interested in the election, because the decisions that the Leader of the Free World makes do have some bearing on a global scale. Also, Mitt Romney is a monumental moron, so there’s that (here are a few reasons why).

Next Tuesday night I’ll be heading to Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club for a special all night long event hosted by politically-minded comedy types Lampoon Apathy, to (fingers crossed) watch Obama get voted back into office for four more years of Democrat delights – but it’s still a very close race at the moment, so if it all goes wrong in the swing states the States could be in for a term or two of right-wing clusterfuckage of the highest order.

So what’s in store for the Electiongiggle? Funnymen Thom Tuck and John Luke Roberts will be hosting the night, accompanied by political pundits and comedians including Scott Caurro, Grainna Maguire and Tiernan Douieb, all set against a backdrop of live results coverage. Doors open at 8pm and won’t close again until a winner is announced, which is expected to be any time between 3am and 5am. So think of it like the most political night out you’re ever likely to have.

‘I’ve been excited about this ever since our all-night election gig for the UK two years ago,’ says Neil Hughes from Lampoon Apathy. ‘It’s amazing how well comedy, pizza, live election results and an all-night bar actually blend together. The comedy line-up is excellent, and if you want to celebrate Obama’s return – or even Mitt Romney’s ascent to global overlordship – while being entertained by the finest comics in the UK scene then this is the only place to get your electoral laughter fix.’ I couldn’t agree more, which is why I’m equally as excited, and have booked Wednesday off work. I suggest you do the same.

US Electiongiggle 2012, Tuesday 6th November, 8pm until the election result. Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club, 42-44 Pollard Row, London, E2 6NB. Tickets are £10 (£8 students/JSA) and can booked in advance here. Visit the Facebook page.

Here are some photos of some very well dressed men. You are welcome.

You would expect that at the launch party for a new menswear tailoring range there would be some sartorially superb men about wouldn’t you? Well at the River Island life of a tailor event there certainly were. Oh and one lady too. Read Helen’s excellent report from the event here then marvel at the awesomely attired menfolk below.

First up, Terence Sambo aka blogger One Nigerian Boy. I think I liked his suit so much because it reminded me of my most favourite blazer.

This is Tokyo James from Rough Magazine. Yes he is wearing a bobble hat and sunglasses indoors. What a dude.

This is Cuba Charles aka @ChaseBondStyle, also from Rough Magazine. Don’t you wish you could rock a statement necklace like that?

Andrew or @IamjustDre is a store manager at Dr Martens. Doesn’t he look at home amongst all the models?

The token female in our line up is Arieta Who. I love this double breasted blazer with a cheeky peak of contrast lining on show.

Plus she was had what the Man Repeller would describe as an ‘arm party’ of accessories going on.

This is Dan who works for Quintessentially. It was for a slightly vain reason that I so admired his outfit…

Mainly because he was twinnies with me. It’s hard to even tell us apart isn’t it?

Oh and there was one other guy that night whose style we admired. I say admired, Helen went a bit Lars and the Real Girl on him…

Dîner en Blanc | Apply now for your spot at London’s first 1,000 person flashmob picnic

I think this sounds pretty awesome. And kind of epic.

On Thursday 20th September at 7.30pm, 1000 people will descend upon a secret London location, all dressed in white and armed with the ingredients for a rather posh picnic. Given just one hours notice of the destination, they will take their hampers, plates, cutlery, food and fizzy wine (there’s no beer allowed) and congregate for a magical, communal, al fresco dining experience.

Why? Just for fun really. It’s called Dîner en Blanc and it’s a concept that was invented by (you guessed it) a Frenchman, François Pasquier, in 1988. On returning to Paris after several years abroad, Pasquier wanted to gather his friends for a dinner party. Rather than host it in his own maison, he told all his pals to meet at a park and wear white so they could find each other. Now the ‘epicurean flash feast’ takes place in 20 cities across five continents every year and it’s coming to London for the first time in September.

Despite the 1,000-strong guest list and outdoor location, it’s actually a pretty exclusive affair. To gain a place (and a plus one) you have to register on a waiting list, with preference going to previous attendees first. Last year, more than 30,000 people applied to attend the first US Dîner en Blanc, in New York’s Battery Park.

If you are lucky enough to grab an elusive invitation for the London event you’ll have some pretty strict guidelines to follow. As well as adhering to the compulsory ‘any colour as long as it’s white’ dress code you’ll be required to bring a picnic hamper with ‘high quality menu items’, wine or champagne (beer and spirits are prohibited), a white table cloth, white cloth napkins, a table (of a specified size), white foldable chairs, and flatware, stemware and crockery in fuchsia (just kidding, of course they’ve got to be white too). I think the idea with the  is to weed out anyone who can’t be bothered to make an effort. And judging by the video below, the diners in white sure do make an effort.

At the end of the night everyone packs away their things and it’s like they were never there. Oh, and for the cynics among you, this isn’t some thinly-veiled PR stunt. There’s no big corporate sponsor and it’s run by a not-for-profit organisation – ‘there is no goal except to spending an extraordinary night‘ they say. So Parisien, non?

But what if it rains? I wouldn’t worry, I’m sure it’ll be all white on the night. (Sorry, I couldn’t help myself.)

Dîner en Blanc London takes place on Thursday 20th September 2012 at 7.30pm. The location will be revealed to invitation holders an hour before the event. Visit www.london.dinerenblanc.info/waiting to register or visit the Facebook or Twitter pages.

Ready, set, bake: it’s the Cake and Bake Show 2012

It’s no secret that us Style & Then Some-rs are pretty keen bakers. From Sophie’s perfect American cookies to my experiments in cupcakes we love a bit of sweet kitchen action. Which is why we’re pretty excited about the Cake and Bake Show, taking place at Earls Court, London on 22 and 23 September 2012.

We’re not the only baking enthusiasts either. New research shows that 41% of Brits bake at least once every two weeks and the average consumer eats home-baked goods more than four times a fortnight. The Cake and Bake Show promises ‘everything the home baker, sugarcrafter, cake eater, amateur enthusiast or professional baker’ could need. There will be demonstrations from expert bakers, a food market, stands selling the latest must-have culinary equipment, as well as workshops for you to try your own cake and bake skills out. Plus, the stars of everyone’s favourite baking programme, the Great British Bake Off, will be making an appearance. Baking legends Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood will be at the show along with series one winner Edd Kimber and last year’s champion, Jo Wheatley.

I’ll be heading down to the show to see if I can pick up some pro baking tips. Expect a follow up blog post with some serious baking porn photos.

The Cake and Bake Show 2012 takes place on 22 and 23 September 2012 at Earls Court exhibition centre. Visit the website for tickets (starting from £12.50 for adults) or visit the Facebook or Twitter pages.

Hey commuters, French Connection are giving away free swag at London’s Victoria Station tomorrow

French Connection and Sure Women have teamed up to offer you a free wardrobe refresh (see what they’ve done there?) on your way to work this Thursday.

For one day only, Thursday 5th July 2012, a giant pop-up wardrobe will be in place in Victoria Station stocked with French Connection clothing and accessories for commuters to pick up first thing, at lunch time or after work. It’s one piece per person and the fashion freebies will be divvied out on a first come, first served basis so you might do well to set off on your commute a tad earlier than usual so that you’ve a better chance of bagging a handbag or pocketing a pencil skirt. Got an important client meeting coming up? Need a certain something to complete your holiday wardrobe? The FC closet might have just what you’re after. Since my office is just round the corner I’ll be heading over to the station to have a peek myself.

If you can’t make it down to Victoria there’s still a chance to win a brand new outfit from French Connection’s latest collection every day until 30^th September 2012.  All you need to do is pick up a limited edition can of Sure Women antiperspirant, go to www.surewomen.co.uk and enter your code next to your favourite fashion look to be in with a chance of winning.

The fashion for free pop-up wardrobe from Sure Women and French Connection will be at Victoria Station, London from 7.30-8.30am, 12.30-1.30pm and 6-7pm on Thursday 5th July 2012. For full competition terms and conditions visit the Sure Women website.

Gentlemen, on your marks for the Chap Olympiad

Forget the actual Olympics, this summer the most stylish sporting event in London will be The Chap Olympiad.

Calling all dandies, fops and gentlefolk. This July, The Chap Olympiad gives you the chance to show off not so much your athletic abilities, but more your aesthetic aptitude, in a two day celebration of all things gentlemanly. A joint venture of The Chap magazine and cocktail connoisseurs Bourne and Hollingsworth (you really should check out their excellent eponymous underground drinking establishment off Tottenham Court Road), the Olympiad is back for the fourth time and this year, due to popular yet polite demand, they’ve doubled it to a two day event. (The Chaps have actually been asked to stage an event in the real Olympic Park later in July, too.)

What can one expect at the Olympiad? Well spectators can lounge around the delightful surrounds of Bedford Square Gardens (just round the corner from the Bourne & Hollingsworth), admiring each others formal finery, sipping gin and tonics and enjoying live music and dancing in between the official Olympiad sporting events. And for those chaps and chapettes who wish to compete for a coveted bronze, silver or gold cravat, this year the line up features:

• Umbrella Jousting. No horses and jousting poles here – bicycle bound contestants attempt to knock each other off using an umbrella and a reinforced copy of the Daily Telegraph.
• Raconteur’s Relay. Contestants take turns to continue an anecdote in as witty a manner as possible. Straying off the subject scores extra points.
• Butler Baiting. Who says we live in a classless society? Here, points are awarded to chaps who can get their butler to carry out unreasonable jobs like mixing a dry martini with vodka (the horror!) or fastening the lower button of their waistcoats (dear God!).
• Ironing Board Surfing. Every chap needs an ironing board to get those perfectly creased trousers (or at least his butler does) but in this event, said chap must mount his board, surfer style, to be carried across the finishing line by his butler and housekeeper.
• Swooning. Facing a row of lovely chapettes, a line of chaps must induce the ladies to swoon, via any means necessary.

Think you’ve got the wit and panache to become an Olympiad champion? Or just want to watch the dapper chaps and chapettes in compettion? Tickets are £20 per day or £30 for the weekend. Buy them here. Be warned, though, you’ll have to adhere to the dress code – elegant formal finery or military wear is preferred, the only sportswear permitted is cricket whites, and don’t even think about wearing denim.

The Chap Olympiad, Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th July 2012, Bedford Square Gardens, London WC1. Visit www.thechapolympiad.com.

Cupcake lust and canape porn

I’ve been to a lot of press events recently (darling), featuring everything from painting to pore cleansing, but on Wednesday night I went to a couple of events that really brought out the foodie in me. That’s right, don’t be deceived by these skinny limbs, I’ve got an appetite to rival that guy off Man v. Food at times.

First up it was the QVC press day. While Helen was trying on every diamond (and Diamonique) ring she could find and imagining with which one Prince Harry would choose to propose to her, I was transfixed by the best baking gadget I’ve seen in years. The Cassie Brown Cake Decorating Airbrush Set allows you to unleash your inner domestic goddess – or grafitti artist – on fondant icing. The QVCers had taken some ready iced cupcakes and added their own artistic flourishes, which was cute, but frankly, if I got my hands on one of these (hint, hint: it’s my birthday in 2 months people, and I think £109 is very reasonable) I’d be trying to recreate the Mona Lisa on a lemon bun, or at least a blurry version of Monet’s Waterlillies.

After tearing myself away from the cupcake stand we wandered over to – or rather, got a bit lost on the way to – a party celebrating the launch of new website London-Boutiques.com. Here, it was the excellent dessert canape selection that I was feasting my greedy eyes on. I failed to get a photo of the adorable miniature cones filled with tequila flavoured ice cream, but check out this cheeky jelly pop with a glace cherry centre. And I had to hand it to them for their superb branded biscuits. I don’t think Cassie Brown could have bettered them. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to make a Pinterest board called Canape Porn. Or maybe just canaporn?

An education in exfoliation plus some arts and crafts fun with St Ives

To celebrate the relaunch of their iconic Apricot Facial Scrub, St Ives invited a select group of bloggers to the Hospital Club last week for an evening of informative beauty advice and some arty fun too.

It was basically like a grown-up bloggers crèche. On arrival at the beautiful Forest Room (check out that wicked woody wallpaper) Helen and I were offered a delicious martini cocktail, apricot flavoured of course, and we mingled with fellow bloggers as we nibbled on canapés including dried apricots filled with cream cheese – are you noticing a theme emerging here?

For the first educational portion of the evening we sat down along with Lauren of The Beauty Habit blog to listen to Pedro Mendez, a Technical Manager from St Ives parent company Unilever, who was well versed in all thing exfoliant. Pedro demonstrated the power of St Ives Apricot Scrub by using a little electronic tool to measure the moisture levels on the back of Lauren’s hand. Needless to say, after a gentle scrubbing with a dollop of the apricot good stuff Lauren’s skin had vastly improved in both texture and moistness. Pedro explained (in his adorable Spanish accent) that St Ives scrubs use apricot, walnut and ground corn as their all-important exfoliating ingredients.

Next, Emine Ali Rushton, Beauty Director at Psychologies magazine, gave a fascinating talk about the history of exfoliation. Check this out: crocodile dung, camel urine and nightingale droppings have all been used as exfoliants throughout the ages. Pretty gross, right? I think I’m gonna stick to apricots and walnuts myself.

Finally, we were given the chance to get arty – and a bit competitive. We were presented with a wig block (you know, one of those polystyrene heads they keep wigs on) and told to paint it in a way that we thought represented natural beauty. Despite being totally on brand, with a delicate sunset-coloured floral motif that included actual apricots and everything, we didn’t win the incredible chocolate and marzipan apricot tree sculpture. Clearly, we were robbed. Just kidding, the wig block winner was totally deserved.

The new look St Ives scrubs come in three varieties: invigorating, blemish fighting, and renew and firm, available now at all the usual places. Visit the St Ives Facebook page.

Check out all my photos from the event in the gallery below. Click on the images to enlarge.

Lacoste launch their new fagrance with a little help from Central St Martins

To celebrate the launch of Eau de Lacoste Rouge, the latest scent in their L.12.12 mens fragrance collection, the French brand turned to London’s most famous art school Central St Martin’s and presented them with a design challenge.

Graphic design students were given a brief at the Lacoste headquarters: to design artworks out of the coloured fragrance bottles of the four scents in the Eau de Lacoste L.12.12 mens collection (it’s pronounced el-douze-douze, with a French accent, naturellement). The latest addition, Rouge – which follows Blanc, Blue and Vert – was unveiled at an event at the Hospital Club last week, along with the winner of the CSM contest. Helen and I went along to sniff out (sorry I couldn’t resist) the competition before we headed over to the Batiste launch event.

All the students’ entries were on display, along with lots of bottles of Rouge. Forget the boys, we like the scent so much we want to use it ourselves. Apparently it features a triple blend of spices – ginger, black pepper and cardamom. Sounds more like a chai tea recipe, I know, but it’s actually a really great zesty combination, not overpoweringly masculine.

Lacoste design director Christophe Pillet, who set the brief initially, had flown into London especially for the occasion. In his swooningly thick French accent he explained, in typical award ceremony style, that it had been a really difficult decision picking the winner. He also suggested, I kid you not, that the students who didn’t win might want to swipe some of the Rouge fragrance bottles later as a substitute. He was very droll. Christophe presented Sabba Keynejad with the top prize for his very cool design in which little Lacoste crocodiles were created from a mass of lots of L.12.12 bottles. After the presentation, we had a quick chat with Christophe (I can confirm he smelled divine, as one would imagine) and asked him why they chose St Martins rather than a French art school. ‘Because we wanted the best,’ he said, explaining that CSM’s reputation for talent and innovation is world famous. Well, vive l’Anglaterre, you might say.

See Sabba and the runners-up designs in the gallery below. Eau de Lacoste Rouge, part of the Lacoste L.12.12 mens collection, is on sale now.

Temperley London | Renaissance robes and bridal gowns

While doing the rounds at the autumn/winter press days recently, Naomi got up close and personal with Temperley London‘s winter and bridal collections.

Having already reviewed her recent collaboration with Barbour (read about it here) as well as  being a fan of her work, I was quite excited to see what this young designer – her label was born in 2000, which is no time at all in fashion years – had in store. When designing her next collection, Alice Temperley reopened her old Royal College of Art sketch books, taking inspiration from the religious paintings and tapestries of the Renaissance Movement. Embroidered satin, velvet, taffeta and floral prints are mixed with heavy gold brocades, giving the whole collection an opulent and multi-textural feel.

ALICE by Temperley, the designer’s more casual and affordable diffusion line, pays homage to a host of French style icons. 1950’s necklines à la Brigitte Bardot, oversized knitwear and beautifully finished leather jackets worthy of Vanessa Paradis’s wardrobe, are brought together by a simple monochromatic color palette, with black, white and smokey grey taking the lead.

Also, take a look at these lovely cashmere scarves, specially designed for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

As you all may know by now, one of team S&TS, Sophie Caldecott, recently got engaged  Ever since then, the rest of the team have been snapping up invitations for bridal press events and keeping their ears to the ground for anything wedding-related that could inspire our very own bride-to-be. I decided to lend a hand by snapping my two favourite wedding gowns from the Temperley bridal collection. What do you think Sophie?

Guest Post | Harvey Nichols autumn wonderland

Naomi Morello (of Dirty Ramen blog) has been attending press days on behalf of Style & Then Some. Here’s her second guest post from the leafy Harvey Nicholls press day.

There is a little story I must tell you before I start babbling on about the Harvey Nicholls autumn/winter 2012 press day.

It was in precisely this store a little over a  year ago that I attended the Vogue Experience, an event launched by Italian Vogue’s editor-in-chief Franca Sozzani to support and give advice to young aspiring writers/photographers/designers.

Aside from being a writer, I am also a photographer, and having the chance to show my work to one of my biggest inspirational figures was a dream come true. I, Naomi Morello, was about to get feedback on my pictures from one of the leading figures in today’s fashion industry. I felt a bit like Frida Kahlo when she showed her paintings to Diego Rivera.

On the day of the event, I got dressed, packed my laptop (I couldn’t afford to print my pictures), threw up a little, and headed to Harvey Nicholls. Long story short, Franca happened to think my work wasn’t absolute crap, and asked me to upload one particular photograph on Italian Vogue’s website. Two days later, I won a competition that saw my picture being displayed at the opening exhibition of  the Vogue Fashion’s Night Out 2011.

So when S&TS asked me to attend the Harvey Nics press event, I accepted right away, glad to step once again into the place that gave me my first (and so far, only) fashion-related success of my life.

As soon as I stepped into the private room at the fifth floor restaurant, I couldn’t believe my eyes. Harvey Nichols had taken the autumn theme quite literally – the venue was packed full of crimson coloured trees and fallen leaves were scattered all over the wooden floor. At the back, a small bistro had been set up, with wrought-iron chairs and tables  and a stunning bar entirely decorated with fresh magenta flowers.

The visual impact was stunning, but the collections offered some competition: Meadham Kirchoff, one of my favourite brands, led the way with an absolutely breath-taking burgundy fitted suit decorated with golden laurel leaves and baby blue ‘paint-drops’, finished off with a multi-coloured fur coat.

I have always been lovingly drawn to designers who take inspiration from art when creating a collection. That’s why Erdem left me in absolute awe: looking at the abstract printed garments reminded me of Jackson Pollock’s action paintings: definitely my favourite collection.

Being an avid collector (and wearer) of mens shirts, I fell in love with these two pieces by Alexander McQueen: the delicate colours of the hummingbirds create a beautiful contrast against the dirty white fabric, making it the perfect statement autumn piece. At least for me.

And finally, also on my personal menswear podium, Dries Van Noten definitely had cold British winters in mind when he designed these oversized wool jumpers, with colours that would brighten up even the greyest November day.

EVENTS | Emilio Cavallini Risque Business party Or How to look sexy taking your tights off

Sexy as they may look with a bodycon mini and heels, tights are a pain to take on and off while still looking like a sophisticated temptress. Step up Emilio Cavallini firstly for giving men the same problem to deal with once they fall in love with their “mantyhose” and for putting on a model masterclass on getting in and out of sexy hosiery.

For AW12, Cavallini’s inspiration was pin-up Betty Page and the result is a gorgeous collection of vampish, monochrome designs with a hint of colourful polka dots thrown in for good measure. Then there’s the line of unisex tights that men can also wear – look out for these attention-seeking designs on an East London street near you sometime soon.

Party DJs Eliza Doolittle and Jameela Jamil both turned up in Emilio Cavallini tights as did Paloma Faith and male supermodel Tyson Beckford plus Dudley O’Shaughnessy was also spotted in Sketch that night (more on the amazing venue in an upcoming post).

EVENTS | Schwarzkopf Shake n Straight launch

Let me tell you straight up, I’m a bit biased when it comes to Schwarkopf products. The very first time I went blonde, way back in 2004, I used Schwarzkopf XXL Colour in ice blonde, because it’s the lightest blonde shade that you can buy. I still use it to this day, when I’m not hair modelling that is. So I was more than happy to go to the latest Schwarzkopf product launch last Tuesday with Olivia of Tellus Fashion.

The event was held at Circus in Covent Garden, a venue that hosts live burlesque acts, so every so often a scantily clad girl would come out and perform. But there was plenty of other activities to keep us occupied.

After we’d grabbed a couple of got2bellini cocktails (see what they did there?), a lovely stylist called Katie did our hair. I got a loosely curled, slightly quaffed do why Olivia went for sleekness and a bit of volume. You can see our before and after shots in the photo gallery below – also check out the weird stool that we had to straddle, it was like a horse’s saddle!

A short presentation revealed the new products on offer: the got2b Play it Straight Straightening Blow Dry Kit, a two-step system for super sleek hair, and a couple of new blonde shades of the popular Live Colour XXL Shake it Up Colour Foam. Olivia and I were pretty pleased about the latter, obviously.

Next, we discovered there was a pick n’ mix (I wish every press event had one of these) so we stocked up on sweets in lieu of dinner and grabbed a few yummy canapes too – the lemon cheesecake ones we divine. There were pairs of twin models wandering round with ‘hair monster’ wigs on, showing off an app that’s going to be on the got2b Facebook page soon, that allows you to upload photos and try

Finally, we headed to the photo booth, put on some ridiculous sunglasses and posed like loons for a bit. I know, so cool, right?

Check out all my photos from the night in the gallery below. Visit the Schwarzkopf got2b website.

An evening with Mary Katrantzou

I was so pleased to hear that Mary Katrantzou was triumphant at the British Fashion Awards last night, taking home the New Establishment Award. I was particularly pleased because not only is Mary one of my favourite designers but I got to meet her last week.

I was very excited (quite overexcited, truth be told) that I was invited, via Alice from RunninginHeels.co.uk, to see Mary in conversation with Libby Banks, Editor of style website MyDaily.co.uk. The event marked the announcement of Katrantzou as the site’s latest contributing editor, following the likes of Christopher Kane and Dannii Minogue. You can read my write up of the interview over on RunninginHeels, but here I thought I’d share with you a few snaps I took on the night.

The first ever ‘MyDaily presents’ evening, the event took place in a room at the top of the very cool Kettners champagne bar in Soho, which was kitted out with images from Mary’s latest collections and a couple of beautiful frocks.

This is the ‘Harp Hazard’ dress, which you can win (minus the train – it’s more versatile that way Mary said, after an audible sigh from the assembled bloggers) if you enter a competition over on MyDaily.

Mary and Libby talked for almost an hour, covering everything from how Mary started out in fashion (she originally wanted to be an architect); what she thinks of celebrities wearing her clothes; to her collaborations with Topshop. Check out my list of choice quotes.

I always imagine that amazingly talented designers will be icy cool and won’t deign to speak to lowly bloggers like me, but speaking to Mary after she was really friendly and chatty. I thought I’d try my luck and pitch for a writing gig by offering to write the blog on her soon-to-be-launched new website when it goes live. Well, you’ve got to take advantage of these ‘networking’ opportunities haven’t you?