So it was to the historic Shelbourne for me on Thursday 3^rd September to try out their Saddle Room restaurant’s typical Sunday lunch menu. Sounds good, right? But this was by no means your typical Sunday lunch. The lavish oak walls lined with gold, the oyster bar adorned with fresh fish and the huge open-plan kitchen were as far from my kitchen and home roast as you could possibly get. Added to this, there were potato turning lessons (a difficult skill which, according to head chef, Garry Hughes, is a dying art and involves rotating a potato whilst peeling it) and a carving lesson which came complete with a goodie bag of a knife, a piece of beef, some salmon, handmade sweets and a chef’s apron. Just your average Sunday roast, right?

     But it was lovely. From a delicious starter of smoked salmon with honey mustard and cucumber puree at the oyster bar all the way through to refreshing lemon meringue tart and grapefruit sorbet via succulent beef, the traditional accompaniments and red wine and tarragon jus, the menu was well thought-out, tasty and sophisticated – the perfect treat for a Sunday day out. The atmosphere too is special as there is a real sense of energy from the open-plan kitchen and plenty of excitement for children with the authentic sweet trolley that is wheeled out at the end of the meal, with macaroons, bonbons, pralines and marshmallow heaven displayed in large clear jars. All in all, it was a great experience and one I would highly recommend to people looking to dine out on a Sunday. Elegant yet traditional, simple yet stylish, it seems as though the Shelbourne have got it right once again. Table for two please!

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Ahh, the weekend. In fact, it's a bank holiday weekend here - and (according to fusty fashion types) the last chance to wear white as the summer draws to a close. As I was getting my weekly manicure in preparation for the days of freedom ahead, the woman next to me (a stranger) leans over: "OMG, that shade is purrfect. You should make it your signature colour". And then she turned her attention back to her magazine.

I kid you not. Signature fragrance, yes. Signature lip colour, also yes (hey hey, Gwen Stefani). But signature nail polish? Hmmm.

However. Now I have a confession: Today I went out and bought the shade in question at my local beauty haunt. In a land where the next day off is ironically called Labour Day, and manicures cost only $10, maybe a signature nail polish isn't too far fetched. I think I'm slowly becoming New York-ified - and am unsure whether to be excited or concerned...

P.S. The very pale pinky beige shade in question is by OPI, called 'Hearts and Tarts'...for those who want to know the colour my tap tapping fingers are now signing off with...

  

  

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It would seem that the autumnal feeling of mists and mellow fruitfulness is here to stay, despite the sun’s best efforts to convince us that we are still in the dregs of summer. Well, at least in a sartorial sense. MANGO’s latest collection, along with countless other autumn/winter designs, will have you longing for a crisp, cool day though, and delightedly reaching for the oversized knitted cardigan or ubiquitous camel coat from its rails. Featuring 70s-inspired paisley blouses, tweed full skirts and flared trousers, the collection certainly alludes to the traditional country-wear feel of MANGO’s previous collections, but it also emphasises the feminine natural silhouette – a feat that is de rigueur this season, and one that is perfectly reflected by its high-profile models, Poppy Delevingne and the fabulously named Elettra Wiedemann.

     Shot in Madrid and emulating the lifestyle of city it-girls, the leggy, glossy-haired pair float through cafes and courtyards modelling beautifully simple tailored clothes in camels, caramels, chocolates and deep reds. I’ve got my eye on the tartan ladylike skirt pictured, which just screams refined glamour and sophistication, and is somewhat reminiscent of the Louis Vuitton shape that is so covetable right now. But, really, the whole collection is gorgeous. Wiedemann sums it up perfectly saying that ‘It [the collection] gives off a lot of energy and at the same time it is a sexy and sensual collection with an air of sophistication’. Who wouldn’t want that?

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I’ve been back in the motherland for a few days now so that means cramming in a lot of coffee, lunch and drink dates. It’s nice to realise that Dublin is finally getting the hang of burritos over at Boojum and it’s always lovely to pop into Fallon & Byrne for a glass of wine and some pate. But one of my newly discovered and newly favourite lunch destinations is Bibi’s café, which is part of Dolls boutique on Emorville Avenue in Dublin 8. Run by Maisha Lenehan – sister of Petria who runs the boutiques in Clarendon Street and Emorville Avenue – the café focuses on simple, hearty and inventive sandwiches, salads and soups. I had the smoked salmon bruschetta when I called in on Saturday – a delicious open sandwich with horseradish cream, capers and pickled red onions – while my mum opted for a fried sandwich that was stuffed with taleggio cheese and mushrooms. There was an extensive tea menu but my mum assured the waitress that we just wanted the “normal stuff”. We finished things off by spreading sweet, dripping raspberry jam on a massive homemade scone. And of course by calling into Dolls for a browse of the new autumn stock. 

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As a September, and therefore Autumn-born baby, I have received many a coat as a birthday present through the years. From trenches and capes to blazers, parkas and military jackets, my burgeoning wardrobe boasts them all. Yet STILL my mother et al keep buying, deeming a good-quality coat a 'necessity' for the cold winter months and presenting me with ANOTHER dull navy blanket. Is it any wonder that I have never gone mad over a coat myself?! Yes, of course, there has always been plenty of choice and many a fashion-forward option, but unfortunately for me and most, coat shopping is about as far from the glamour of dress shopping as you can get. It is so far from it that it is actually a responsibility. Warm, waterproof, goes with everything, not too short, not too long; these are just a few of the burdens many of us carry when we look for a new coat. Added to this is what I consider to be the 'sensible factor'. A coat is inherently sensible, a good option and something your mother would like and approve of. Who ever falls in love with sensible? 

But autumn/winter 2010 has changed all of this, and I'm not sure I will ever look at a coat in the same way. For those beautiful MaxMara camel coats and Burberry shearling aviator jackets are not just sensible, warm, tailored and all the rest of it; they are achingly cool. And fashion is all about clean lines, minimalism and grown-up chic now anyway. Because of this, my dilemma this year is not the fact that I'm getting another coat, but which coat to buy. Luckily the high street has come up trumps once again, and so I can probably afford to indulge in a few of the key trends. However, this year, for my 21st birthday, I am actually asking for a coat from my parents. A good coat. One that will endure and last for years to come - possibly a trench, possibly a leather shearling jacket, I am as yet undecided. One thing I do know though, is that for the first time ever I will actually take a bit of care when it comes to outerwear. Gone are the days of wearing the perfect outfit and then throwing a denim jacket over the top of it before running out the door. Gone are the days of turning up to another black tie event in an elegant dress and ragged cardigan. I have now realised that coats are there to make a statement, not merely to keep you warm and protect a gorgeous dress. And you know what. For the first time ever I am looking forward to snuggling up in a brand new and glamorous piece of fashion. Hello September, I've missed you. 

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Some 380 million eggs have been recalled in the US, due to an outbreak of salmonella. Food poisoning schmoisoning - what are we meant to do now for brunch? Thank God for Eli's is all I can say. An Upper East Side institution, and still run by Mr. Eli Zabar himself, the Eli's brand is composed of a gorgeous supermarket, wine shop, bakery and two restaurants, my favourite of which is E.A.T., located on Madison Avenue. It is the perfect spot for an early Sunday brunch, taken before going for a walk through the paintings (the Met is one block away), the park (Central) or the shops (that's right, Madison Avenue). But back to the egg scenario - never mind omelettes, scrambled or poached - what Eli's is really known for is its smoked fish and heavenly baked goods. They have transformed a New York classic into a masterpiece, the aptly titled 'Tower of Bagel'. This toasted bagel, in three slices holding together cream cheese and folding layers of the greatest smoked salmon is literal heaven, and the best way to start an otherwise tired Sunday. Take away the eggs - as long as I have Eli's, everything will be okay.

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Now tell me, who's actually looking at Jenson's hair in this picture?

He goes on... "I spend so much time with either a cap or crash helmet on I need to take care of my scalp. I use Head & Shoulders Classic Clean Shampoo and Conditioner which keeps my hair smelling great". Well, at least his locks are clean because he looks a little, er, sweaty in this picture.

Not that we're complaining... 

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I've moved. And I’ve become one those East Londoners who won’t leave their ‘hood. You know, the ones that I moaned about 5 or 6 posts ago. I may as well cut up my Oyster card because everything I need is on my doorstep.  OK I promise to still explore various parts of London and visit my friends in the west, north and south but gosh it is terribly handy to live just off Broadway Market, a street that Time Out describes as “painfully trendy”. It means that the Dove, a bar that has the largest selection of Belgian beers in any pub outside Belgium, is 25 yards from my house. As is the Hackney outpost of Artwords. Artwords carries a vast and perfectly edited array of visual arts books as well as all the best magazines and beautiful cards. I will never have to go anywhere else for birthday presents. Today’s browse led to the discovery of  A Visual History Of Cookery, which I must buy for somebody I am close to – ideally somebody I live with it, so that I can peruse it whenever the mood takes me. The book looks at how culinary imagery has changed over the centuries and there are stunning photographs and illustrations as well as contributions from food writers AA Gill and Anthony Bourdain. My favourite pictures are the ones taken in the ‘70s and ‘80s, those brownish-tinged photos of beef bourguignon and the like, that remind me of the hours I spent poring over my mum’s cookery books during childhood. Other Artwords books that I’m coveting include the Another Portrait Book and Sophie Calle’s Take Care Of Yourself, a book that accompanied last year’s exhibition.

 

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 "Natasha S...has gone blackberry picking". 

So read my facebook status as I swapped New York claustrophobia for some fresh countryside air. The response from friends, clearly more enthralled with city life than I, was slightly less refreshing. "You should get the Storm. Did you lose your phone?" Shocked (virtual) faces as I reported back that I was talking about real blackberries, as in the fruit. "But you're a city girl", one friend mailed me. "Ah yes", I replied, "but sometimes it's good to get out for a while". On top of which, these berries are so now - while waiting for a weather turn to allow for the autumn collections, we might as well make to with nature's seasonal offering. Great news is that this pursuit isn't limited to Manhattanites - if anything, I'm sure the hedgerows of home are probably far more ripe with flavour. So dare I suggest trying it? Find a local farm (or hedge) that offers pick-your-own, and go for it. A great Sunday pursuit - yes, there's potential for jams and pies but I found it far more satisfying to eat my whole bounty while on the traffic-jammed trip back to the City, reality - and (two) far less palatable, bleeping Blackberrys.

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Puffin is celebrating its 70^th birthday by launching limited editions of children’s classics.  There’s James and the Giant Peach with a cover designed by renowned sculptor Antony Gormley and The Secret Garden is introduced by model turned author turned domestic goddess Sophie Dahl. Each book will set you back £100 so this isn’t a present that you would give to an actual child, but rather a gift that you might bestow on a responsible adult who knows that limited editions are for looking at and not reading. Every woman I know has a soft spot for Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women and the Orla Kiely-designed edition would be sure to take pride of place on the bookshelf.

The books will be available to buy from the Puffin website from September 2^nd. 

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“It has an added collar tab for an extra snug fit. And look! When you roll up the sleeves, the pattern inside is different. And I picked it out myself!”

…and so continued the conversation with a (straight) banker friend of mine, an Irish transplant, working in NY. It seems you can take the boy out of Dublin, after all. He’s not the first – there’s a little trend forming here amongst the pack, as they embrace Brooklyn-preppy-hipster style. It involves their new favourite shirts, often gingham, with collars buttoned all the way up (including that special extra tab). No bow-tie or geek-chic glasses as yet, but hey, there are some instances when you just can’t take Dublin out of the boy (even if original Brooklyn-ite Jay Z can rock the look).

Bring Brooklyn Back (home) – Gap have the greatest selection of the shirts in question.

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said my friend nonchalantly, on the phone. "I'm looking at pictures of his house in a magazine. It's pretty amazing". Most people know Nazarian as Heidi's boss at SBE in The Hills but we know him because our old contributor George Wayne used to like hitting up his clubs and hotels when he went to LA for Oscar week...

Watching The Hills does make you lust after a lush and varied nightlife scene of cool hangouts filled with hot boys (not necessarily marriage material, mind). And isn't there just something deliciously illicit about a darkly-lit hotel bar? There's certainly a feeling that anything might happen. To this day, Phyl Clarke, the wonderful beauty editor at The Irish Times Magazine, believes I missed a trick by walking away from a mysterious Texan who chatted me up in the bar of the George V, when we went to Paris together.

One very cool, but I fear underrated, Dublin night spot is The Marble Bar at The Westbury (pictured). And there's something about taking a city break in your own country (or city, for that matter!) that feels doubly decadent! Style-minded lounge lizards might like to know about The Fashionista's Fancy at The Westbury, an offer which gives you ten per cent off at a number of nearby shops: Loulerie, Jack Wills, Dolls, Rebecca Davis, Smock and Chica. Amazing! It includes an overnight stay, breakfast in bed or at the Wilde restaurant, a 3 course dinner at Cafe Novo and... a glass of champagne in the bar. The offer costs €359 per night but think about it: that's €180 each, for all of the above.  Offer available until December 31, to book, call (01) 679 1122; www.doylcollection.com

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A trip to East London always presents the opportunity to observe hipsters in their natural habitat; to watch on as they roam the streets of Shoreditch in packs, jeans turned up to reveal little brown brogues, hair pulled into topknots. But when you visit Haggerston Park in Hackney you can actually see real live animals rolling about in the mud or pecking at the hay in the Hackney City Farm. Yup, cross over the Hackney Road with its aggressive traffic and numerous Chinese restaurants and enter into a bucolic idyll full of sheep and pigs and hens. There were even calves there when I visited yesterday. Oh and a donkey but he was quite unfriendly and didn’t like having his picture taken. The massive dozing pigs were much more compliant.

The farm is obviously a big hit with parents and children but it’s also a nice place for a date and you can pop into Frizzante, the Italian café on the grounds, when you’ve had enough of the farmyard. If you visit on a Saturday, a trip to the nearby Broadway Market is a must and if it’s a Sunday then a stroll past the flower sellers on Columbia Road is the perfect way to wrap up your getting-back-to-nature day. 

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 In this heat, rather than taking solace in the AC as most Americans do, I have the Irish mantra of "get-outside-while-the-weather-is-nice- because-you-don't-know-when-it-will-be-like- this-again". As a result, until last week, I had not been to see the annual Costume Institute exhibition at the Met (despite wanting to go since its May opening). But how time flies! Its closing date (next week), is now looming, so off I went - better late than never, as is said.

 Spanning from 1890 to the 1940s, it marks how the American woman used her clothes as a tool for liberation - politically, sexually and socially. Vionnet, Worth, Lanvin, Charles James and Chanel are just some examples of pieces on display against divine backdrops incorporating painting, film and exceptional antiques pulled from the museum's beyond-enormous collection. The shimmering, sparkling dresses and matching feather accessories of the 1920s were a personal favourite - and wouldn't be out of place at the right night out in 2010. I might even go back this evening to get some inspiration for the weekend's parties ahead...after all, claiming a new Chanel purchase as a 'tool for liberation' makes it sound much more necessary.

 Catch it if you can! American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity is on until August 15th at The Metropolitan Museum of Art

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As we swayed into the marquee and past the now obligatory wedding "sweet shop" my friend groaned. "Oh no, I'm having one of those. Everyone will think I've copied them". No chance - as I've said before here and here, a wedding isn't a wedding these days without the guests getting off their heads on E numbers. This side show is my favourite part of any wedding - who can resist a soft melt in the mouth flying saucer? But that's not to say that we were fed only penny sweets; each and every table was adorned with a great big box of brightly coloured macaroons. What did the smart Dublin bride do in 2009 BL (before Laduree)?

And the proper food? It was provided by Yellow Door, who we featured an age ago, in our round up of the best of the best in Belfast. Simply delish!

Find Laduree in the Luxury Hall, at Brown Thomas.

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The French are great subjects for biopics. Perhaps it’s because they don’t take monogamy too seriously or maybe it’s because they prize artistic endeavour so highly. Maybe it’s just because of the famous Gallic glamour; the president is married to a supermodel after all. In the last couple of years we’ve had Marion Cotillard as Edith Piaf, Audrey Tautou as Coco Chanel and now we have Eric Elmosnino as Serge Gainsbourg in Gainsbourg (Vie Heroique), not to mention a host of beautiful actresses playing the ladies man’s wives and girlfriends. In terms of physical likeness, this is the best match I have ever seen in a biopic. Elmosnino is a dead ringer for Gainsbourg at each and every stage of the singer’s life. The early days with the dandyish suits and waistcoats, the scruffier middle years after Jane Birkin had performed a mini-makeover and the 80s when even Gainsbourg was not impervious to double denim and mullets. But there is more to Elmosnino’s performance than simply looking like Gainsbourg: he disappears entirely into the character – the narcissistic, womanising alcoholic who also had a wit, charm and danger that made being a Gainsbourg girlfriend the most glamorous thing you could do in the 60s.

French supermodel Laetitia Casta as Brigitte Bardot has huge fun from her stomping sexy entrance to a scene where she skips around singing Comic Strip in a sheet. The late Lucy Gordon has more of an emotional arc as Birkin – mother of Charlotte Gainsbourg – and it’s heartbreaking to realise that this is the last we will see of this talented actor. Director Joann Sfar is best known as a comic book artist and he has brought elements of animation and fantasy into his first feature film. Gainsbourg’s darker side is represented by a “mug,” a spindly puppet-like man with an oversized nose, who is always on hand to remind the chanteur of the antisemitism that was rife in 50s and 60s France and ultimately leads our hero down the path to self-destruction.

Sfar has created the very best kind of biopic; he avoids shying away from Gainsbourg's many flaws but the obvious affection for his subject means that the audience doesn't tire of the drunken mistakes and wrong turns. This is a film that will have you rushing home to download all of Gainsbourg’s songs so that you can dance around your sitting room whilst pretending to be Jane Birkin. 

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It’s summer holiday time, which means it’s also time to pick a selection of books that will take you from the plane to the beach to that shady spot under a tree by the pool. Now, the likes of Edna O’Brien and Anne Enright (two of my favourite authors) are fine for the winter. Curled up in a cashmere cardigan, it’s easier to deal with the knocks and blows doled out to the characters in The Country Girls trilogy and The Gathering; but nobody wants to be caught crying in their bikini.

Instead opt for Nancy Mitford and Melissa Bank, authors who deal with the thorny issues of family, divorce and sex but in a holiday-appropriate kind of way. Top of my holiday reads is Mitford’s The Pursuit of Love, a novel following Linda Radlett, a neurotic, selfish but absolutely loveable heroine, as she searches for true love via failed marriages and doomed affairs with communists. If you’ve already read it, then why not read Harold Acton’s biography of Nancy Mitford.  Admittedly parts of it are horribly dull (oops I’m lapsing into Mitford speak) but it’s still worth a look.

Melissa Bank’s The Girls’ Guide to Hunting and Fishing is another novel that charts a young woman’s path to love, but this is no flimsy chick lit. The clean prose, as well as the New York locations, brings Salinger to mind and the genuinely funny jokes are up there with Bridget Jones for inducing actual LOL moments.  The book is unfortunately out of print in Ireland and the UK but it’s pretty easy to find on Amazon.

Anybody who’s recently graduated from college, broken up with a boyfriend or made a move to a big city – particularly London – should consider Linda Grant’s The Clothes On Their Backs. The central character, a lonely but independent English graduate called Vivien, becomes entwined in her uncle’s shady property dealings. The uncle is based on the infamous Peter Rachman, the so-called slum landlord of the Notting Hill. Peter Rachman also pops up in Lynn Barber’s memoirs An Education, which is another good read: an interesting and honest autobiography that could easily be devoured in one lazy afternoon. 

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No, it can't be... has Karl Lagerfeld been touched by the magic of John & Edward? This, left, was not a one-off. Nearly every model walking at Lagerfeld's autumn/winter show had frightening Jedward hair. As we know, once Kaiser Karl decides you're cool, you've made it.

I'm pretty certain kids at the Institute didn't imagine they'd see those weird twins from their year performing on prime time television with Vanilla Ice. And who would have guessed that Jonathan Ross would invite them on to his last ever Radio 2 show, along with Tom Jones? Is it completely unthinkable that next season they might be front row in Paris? Anything would be better than Beth Ditto taking up a considerable amount of prime space, as was the case at Lagerfeld's last show. Yes, yes, we know it's cool to like Ditto but come on... I know who I'd rather sit next to.

Photograph by Jason Lloyd-Evans 

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In the past couple of years, several fashion bloggers have become famous through their online efforts: 13-year-old Tavi graced the cover of Pop and Stylebubble’s Susannah Lau has appeared in several glossies. Not wanting to be outdone, celebrities – who were hitherto known for non-fashion-related pursuits – have now begun to blog. First up is Hole frontwoman and professional over-sharer Courtney Love. Love – along with some people she calls “little fashionistas” – has set up a blog called What Courtney Wore Today. The name is slightly deceptive, as the pictures on the site weren’t really taken today. Or yesterday for that matter. Indeed, several date back to the early ‘90s.  It seems that Courtney just sends a random image to the helper fashionistas, which they then post on the blog with bizarre captions underneath. Love has said that the blog is a “social experiment,” a title that seems a little lofty but those who enjoy her Twitter ramblings will be sure to appreciate this new venture.

Also new on the blogging scene is 13-year-old Lourdes Ciccone Leon, who is best known for being Madonna’s daughter. Now this us a brave move as anybody who has ever had to endure the embarrassment of reading something – anything – they wrote when 13 will testify to. While readers of the aforementioned Tavi are often surprised that the composed and insightful musings are the work of somebody still in the throes of puberty, Ciccone Leon happily employs all the hallmarks of teenage writing and there are exclamation marks and OMGs aplenty. She blogs about fashion, music and art as well as promoting her own clothing line Material Girl. In the extract below she reflects on the popularity of gladiator sandals.

“OK but no joke gladiator sandals are OUT. They came out in summer 2008 and I was like ok those are really cute. Then 2009 comes around and people are still wearing them so I’m like, ok whatever it’s just a phae. BUT NOOOOO. Because good old 2010 is now coming along and people are STILL wearing them, and then I was just like OK NO! It’s been three years people COME ON!!!!!!!!!!!! I’m just like what?????”

So there you have it: two new blogs to distract you from important, but boring, internet activities like online banking and, um, work.

Picture of Lourdes “Lola” Ciccone Leon taken from her Material Girl blog

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Do red, flaky patches of eczema leave you feeling fraught? In extreme cases, people live with it day in, day out, following a strict skin care regime prescribed by their dermatologist. But if you only have the odd outbreak, brought on by stress, perhaps, or in my case, heat, you can be at a loss as to how to treat it. Cortisone creams are a must, of course, but can thin the skin if used too liberally and frequently so it's a matter of finding a few other 'normal' creams that don't aggravate it. Every skin is different and of course no cosmetic cream can do the same as a topical treatment prescribed by your doctor. However, I have found the following to be very effective and calming: La Roche-Posay Lipikar Baume AP Body Balm, which contains a high concentration of Niacinamide, which inhibits histamine, a precursor of inflammation and of course the legendary La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water, the soothing properties of which have been clinically proven. Aveeno, which contains oats, is another recommended brand that is very well priced. Or, for a luxurious treat, Elemis Skin Nourishing Milk Bath, which can also be used as an intensive creamy treat, straight on to the skin. I love its traditional scent, which takes you back to childhood, thereby soothing the soul and calming the nerves, too.

La Roche-Posay and Aveeno are in pharmacies. Elemis, at Harvey Nichols, Revive and selected salons. 

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 As Irish weather tries its best, our thoughts still turn to sunnier climes - or at least sunnier attire. Our top tip is to check out the extensive and beautiful Swimwear Department at Arnotts. They have rounded up a great all-year-round selection of bikinis, one-pieces and gorgeous cover-ups (from labels like Princess Tam Tam, Elizabeth Hurley Beach, Seaspray, and Moontide, to name but a few). Our New York based stylist, Luis Rodriguez's favourite pick for August is this red, curve-enhancing Princess Tam Tam bandeau one-piece - it's guaranteed to set temperatures soaring! 

 

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A thought dawned this morning, and it was not pleasant. In less than a month’s time I will be inter-railing around Europe for three weeks with a backpack. A BACKPACK?! How on earth can I pack my worldly possessions for three weeks in a backpack? I can’t even fit three days worth of outfits in that old thing. Now not all of you will have the exact same backpack-related problem as me, but thanks to Ryanair and the 15kg limit, we are definitely all bedevilled by the old torment of ‘packing light’. As one who has often got to check-in and had to open my entire suitcase in order to transfer a few ‘heavy’ items into my handbag, I am hardly in a position to talk about glamorous packing. However, I will try.

 

When it comes to packing for a holiday, I find two types of people highly irritating. Firstly, there is the effortlessly elegant pack. These people claim that all they need is a bikini, denim cut-offs and espadrilles, listlessly tossing them into a Cath Kidston bag and jetting off into the sunset, and leaving you with your housemates sitting on your wheelie suitcase in a vain attempt to close the damn thing. However, the second sort of person is infinitely more annoying. We all know one. Yes, dear reader, I am speaking of the uber-organised neat freak. They are the sort of person likely to say that a suitcase is a person’s personality in microcosm, and then proudly throw open their own disturbing display of garment bags and travel-sized containers, or to look at your own crumpled mess with a look of mild disgust. But, do not fear. Help is at hand with these simple tips.

 

The first tip is to think in outfits. Yes, I may love my vintage print midi-skirt, but do I have the shoes to go with it? Unfortnately not. And this, my friends, is something to leave behind when packing. Painful, but true. Think of it this way, more space for beautiful souvenirs. The second tip is to pack clothes that double up. I find denim, neutral colours and breton stripes work well here. All can be dressed up with wedges and gold jewellery, or made to look casual over a bikini with flip flops. But, I hear you say, what if the perfect occasion crops up for the midi-skirt? Well, I’ll tell you a secret. I have never under-packed. And when you’re on holiday, you won’t mind if you forgot your lace crop top. You’ll improvise with a cool and different combo. Finally, and this is quite a sneaky tip, take an oversized straw bag and stuff any precious items you just can’t leave behind in that. Et voila! Here’s hoping that packing for my European escapade in a few weeks works as well in practice as it does in theory!

 

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Ooooh, I love you! Yes, I'm talking to a watch. But not just any old watch. This perfectly curved timepiece is the Chanel J12 Marine, which has just arrived at the Chanel boutique in Dublin. It's hard to believe that the iconic J12 is ten years old. To celebrate, Chanel has created a diving version, with sand-blasted high-tech ceramic and steel that is water-resistant up to 300m. I'm not the only fan - last night the great and good of Hollywood attended a launch party for the J12 Marine at the home of Ron & Kelly Meyer, in Malibu. From Rachel Bilson to Anthony Keidis, via Robert Downey Jr and surf champ Laird Hamilton, this sounded like one cool party. Believe it or not, this Gloss head has been a guest of Ron & Kelly Meyer at their Malibu home. Boasting breath-taking views over the ocean and cool, curved interiors I can assure you that this was a launch party match made in heaven...

The Chanel J12 Marine is available in two sizes, from €3,300. Discover more about the watch and download a seriously cool screen saver (I told you - it's true love!) at http://j12-marine.chanel.com

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Living in a house of seven girls this past year (my first student house) has meant that cooking has always been a rather frantic affair. It is for this reason that I approached extracts from Tiffany Goodall’s new book, ‘First Flat Cookbook’, somewhat gingerly. After all, there have been so many disastrous suppers in our house over the year that we now all prefer to stick to the traditional student fodder; pasta and pesto, roasted vegetables, chicken stirfry and the like. Can this book really revolutionise how I cook for myself?

 

One particular meal from my first house sticks out in my mind as the worst, and it was of course while we were hosting. After seven of our friends from halls had hosted us to a surprisingly delicious chicken and chips supper back in January, we decided, some five months later, that it was definitely our turn. Now, none of my house are particularly awful cooks (excluding myself, obviously), but the prospect of cooking for fourteen couldn’t help but make everyone a little apprehensive. Luckily, or so we thought, one of my housemates proposed risotto, goats’ cheese and sundried tomato risotto. She promised us it was easy as you just cooked the arborio rice and then added in the extras last minute, simple and delicious. And so, naively, we bought in enough arborio rice to feed a small army and began adding it to a casserole dish slowly, stirring it all the time, and seasoning it with a dash of white wine here, a sprinkle of pepper there. It all felt very cordon bleu! Needless to say, it wasn’t. The only word that I can use to describe what we eventually served up is gloop. Just a fat sticky mess. It was surprisingly tasteless as well, despite numerous stock cubes and onions. What wasn’t a surprise is that absolutely no one wanted seconds, and we were forced to live off the stuff for a WEEK.

 

So, I return to the book. Which is actually quite nice looking. A ‘warm melty goats’ cheese salad with bursting tomatoes’ [God forbid!] looks quick, easy and tasty, and there are many other little treasures in the book. From quick 10 minute suppers to perfect party food and meals to impress, this really does seem to have everything I and many other people would need. Released this August, I am sure that I’ll be searching for this book come September as I pack up my things from home for my next sophisticated student house!

 

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Who actually wears kimonos, I sometimes wonder? Is it just louche ladies waiting for gentleman callers? People in 1980s films? In fact I do know someone with a large collection and if memory serves me correctly she likes to wear them on holiday, while wafting around her house in Tuscany. Putting such questions aside, there's no debating the fact that a kimono is a million times sexier than a bobbled old bathrobe, with washed-in fake tan stains. This beauty is from the new B by Ted Baker lingerie and sleepwear collection, that's exclusive to Debenhams. Butterflies are becoming something of a motif for Ted Baker - a while ago we raved about their divine little butterfly clutch. I have of course picked the most expensive item from the range (€77) but the general price point is roughly €35 for a bra, €19 for knickers. There are 42 pieces in total, including lots of lovely padded balcony bras, for girlie-girls who need a little oomph. I love all the little frilly boy shorts too. If you're a fan of Pleasure State lingerie (which I am) I think you'll find this range equally appealing. This range is available at only three stores in Ireland: Henry Street, Dublin, Limerick and Galway.

Right, time to take to my day bed...

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We all have favourite items of clothing, those old reliables that can be broken out every season – the perfect pair of jeans, the cosy cashmere cardigan, the simple trench coat. Pieces that we will cherish forever. Now Selfridges has put together a pop-up shop on their ground floor that celebrates those faithful design classics.

Curated by Selfridges creative director Alannah Weston, designer Paul Smith and Elle Decoration Editor In Chief Michelle Ogundehin, ‘The Forever Shop’ is comprised of clothes, books, food and homeware that we will never tire of. Weston has picked the clothes and she’s opted for simple pieces but there are still elements of frivolity. Yes, she’s included a Breton top but it’s an embellished pink and grey version by Sonia Rykiel. Alexander McQueen’s skull print scarf is also on show. And then there are the pieces that you simply can’t argue with: converse trainers, Ray-Ban Wayfarers, a Burberry trench and Repetto ballet pumps. Paul Smith is responsible for the book list and he has gone for British favourites: D.H. Lawrence’s Lady Chatterley’s Lover; Hanif Kureshi’s hilarious coming-of-age tale The Buddha of Suburbia and the wildly popular Harry Potter and The Philosopher’s Stone. Waterford Crystal sits beside simple Riedel glasses and Muji tableware in the home section.

On the walls are images by Ari Seth Cohen, a photographer who captures older people he considers to be impeccably turned out for his street style blog Advanced Style.

Photograph by Ari Seth Cohen for Selfridges. The Forever Shop is open until 15th August.

 

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Over at Oxegen, the sky is gloomy but here in London, the temperature continues to rise. It’s clammy and humid but I’m not complaining; after that hard winter, I am going to revel in this heat wave even if it means I’m perspiring from places I didn’t know could sweat (the insides of my elbows, for example). And once we’ve got the working week out of the way we are free to abandon the constraints of office-appropriate garb and break out the tiny shorts and little vests and head off for a picnic. London is full of amazing picnic destinations – London Fields, Kew Gardens, Hampstead Heath – but one of my favourite places to spend a sunny afternoon is Regent's Park. The inner circle with the rose garden and pond is breathtakingly beautiful and it’s so centrally located that rounding up friends proves relatively easy. The perfect picnic basket should include:

2 chewy baguettes from Paul

A punnet of grapes

Brie de Meaux

Tomme de Chevre

Saint Agur

Hummus

Some posh crisps

A few Scotch Eggs

Cans of Pimm’s that can be decanted into fruit-filled plastic cups

Napkins, paper plates and cutlery

A blanket

Some factor 30

And that’s really all you need for a successful afternoon. Swap the Pimm’s for beer at your peril: there is nothing chic about bleary-eyed stumbling at 5.30pm. You might want to bring along the papers too, just for that last lazy hour when you have exhausted the topic of whose side you’re on – the brawling ducks or the haughty swans, Holland or Spain – but can’t quite bring yourself to pack up. 

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Ah yes, it's festival time: this weekend is Oxegen, for those of you living under a rock. This means one thing in the beauty world: cue an onslaught of bonkers features about festival beauty and what you simply MUST take with you. The last time I camped at a festival was a long, long time ago but one of my overriding memories is of having everything stolen from my tent. Every time I left it. Therefore, there is nothing madder than taking a whole host of much treasured and expensive beauty buys with you. Feeling and smelling clean  - not having the right false eye lashes fitted - is really your main concern. The residual layer of dirt that settles on your skin is particularly distressing: at last weekend's Wireless Festival I spent most of the day cleaning my legs with baby wipes. Rank. This is all you need: Cleansing wipes, deodorant, Batiste dry shampoo (not an expensive big name one), mascara (I wouldn't bother with waterproof as smudgy looks fun at a festival and you won't feel like pulling at your eyes later on, to get it off) and blusher. Loads and loads of cream blusher, which you can also use on your lips. You can't go wrong with Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge. Don't pack precious eye shadows - I'd recommend Essence for cheap as chips, bold-as-you-like colours. The one item I might pack that's a little on the pricey side would be a nice perfume. Benefit's Crescent Row fragrances are dinky little 30ml numbers that are perfect for slinging in your bag. Find your favourite from the first three - Laugh with me Lee Lee, Something about Sofia and My Place or Yours Gina at www.crescentrow.co.uk, or, check on counter for three exciting new additions to the range...

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“It’s all about Oscar de la Renta for daytime dressing”, announces my Hamptons hostess to me over the weekend  (happy belated July 4th, everyone). All well and good for those attending afternoon cocktail parties in airy marquees, lifted with a sea breeze (meteorological or the drink, you decide). But for those who have been dragged back to a Manhattan facing into a week of forecasted 36 degree heat, Mr. de la Renta’s beautiful (and heavy) silk skirts (paired with a plain white T and statement neckpiece, in case you’re wondering) are just not going to cut it.

If you’re having similar heat issues (don’t pretend  - there has to be a holiday somewhere on the horizon), then say it with me: shorts. Manhattan-ites are wearing them in a light cotton, slightly oversized, with the hems rolled up for a Huckleberry Finn-goes-to-the-city type vibe. Brilliant with a loose t-shirt, even better layered at night with a belted cardigan – it’s amazing how things are always (sartorially speaking anyway), that much cooler in the city.

We’ll always have The Hamptons, Oscar...

 

Find your perfect shorts at JCrew (on www.net-a-porter.com), H&M or Zara – they all have a great range of colours and hem lengths.

 

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Thank heaven for two cute jewellery shops in Dublin: the lovely Loulerie and the sassy Rebecca Davis. What would we do without these little gems, with their twinkling, fashion forward delights that don't break the bank? The good news for those of you who don't live in Dublin is that the Rebecca Davis website has been revamped, which means it's even easier to shop online for bangles, rings and all manner of sparkling things (including pieces by Kenneth Jay Lane). And, even more exciting, is the news that she will soon be stocking jewellery by New York based designer Kara Ross. Ross describes her jewellery as "statement accessories that incorporate unique materials in unexpected ways" and her autumn/winter collection was inspired by the paintings of Georgia O'Keefe. Ross has been much in the news of late since it was announced that she has designed a capsule jewellery collection for her childhood friend, Tory Burch. Indeed, when The Gloss met the diminutive designer in Dublin we were rather taken by an Evil Eye ring she was wearing, which she told us was "designed by a friend". The Evil Eye is the main motif of the collection, which will be sold in Tory Burch boutiques - sorry! - and also online at www.net-a-porter.com. Keep your eyes peeled. Ha Ha.

How reassuring to know that our boutique owners have their fingers on the pulse when it comes to seeking out the coolest designers. 

Rebecca Davis, Unit 27, Westbury Mall, Dublin 2.

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Back in the '90s West London  – and specifically Notting Hill and North Kensington – was the place to be. Damon Albarn and Justine Frischmann were holed up on Kensington Park Road and artists, musicians and boutique owners kept the area alive with interesting exhibitions and events. Nowadays North Kensigton’s most famous residents are SamCam, or at least they were until the recent move to Number 10. Notting Hill is overrun with yummy mummies and all the cool people have moved east. The cool people won’t even come visit. "But it’s 15 minutes from Oxford Street," I wail in a desperate attempt to get people to visit me. But still they insist on spending their Saturdays in London Fields or Stokey.

Orsola de Castro, who owns the ethical shop From Somewhere on Portobello Road, also laments the fact that the area has gone “a bit dead” and in a bid to liven things up she has invited some very exciting ethical designers to sell their work in her store. The pop-up shop, which runs until the 3^rd July, features work from Finnish designer Minna – who I recently blogged about – and talented handbag designers MT Labels and Sonya Kashmiri. If you’re not able to make it to the pop-up shop, I still urge you to check out this slightly overlooked (by my generation anyway) area of London. Eat tapas at Galicia, browse for vintage at Rellick and admire the imposing ‘70s tower block, Trellick tower (pictured), as it casts its shadow on the Victorian buildings below.

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Yes, I know I go on about lashes and mascaras a lot but come on - lengthened lashes are the surest route to guaranteed allure. Yesterday I had THREE comments on my lashes. The first was from a girl washing my hair, the second was from a lovely make-up artist called Karen, who's stationed in Dylan Bradshaw and the last was from a friend. All three enquired as to whether I have eye lash extensions. Of course I don't! I was wearing Estee Lauder Zero-Smudge Lengthening Mascara - that's all! The Gloss Creative Artist Christine Lucignano and myself regularly extol the brilliance of the Estee Lauder Double Wear range: from foundations to mascaras, this is the range to go for if you put in long hours at the office and still need to look polished and professional when called into a meeting at seven in the evening. This mascara makes your lashes look insanely long and lasts all day. 

While at the Lauder counter don't forget to pick up one of the sparklingly new Pure Colour Glosses - choose from 24 shades, in 3 finishes. I'm addicted to the Praline Paradise in Shimmer. Yum yum.

Estee Lauder Zero-Smudge Lengthening Mascara, €23; Pure Colour Gloss, €20.

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As regular readers of this blog will know, celebrity fragrances are a slight thorn in my side. But then this nose has smelt some seriously serious scents over the years so in the name of fairness I decided to give this newest one, Avril Lavigne Forbidden Rose, to a less biased nose, Gloss intern, Lucy Bowen, to try. Here is her report...

Why do celebrities have fragrances? I have often wondered about this [at times, disastrous] concept and so my approach to the latest, by Avril Lavigne, was not without caution. However, I was pleasantly surprised - in place of the sickly sweet bouquet I was dreading, I smelt a perfume that was in fact quite pleasant! Lavigne has stuck to her true spirit with Forbidden Rose, a continuation of the punchy "follow your dreams" message of her first fragrance, Black Star, which debuted last autumn. Whereas the first perfume was "all about being edgy and feminine in a fun way," her second fragrance has a "gothic garden" theme (whatever that means). Sounds a little more grown-up. 

As with Black Star, the new fragrance comes with a free, studded ring - not necessarily that attractive but interesting and creative all the same. The scent itself is sweet -  but not sickeningly so - and boasts fruity, floral top notes rounded off with a rich gourmand base.

A young, girlie scent, Forbidden Rose is clearly aimed at the teenage consumer but one with a Lavigne punk princess theme - cute, but with a rebellious streak.

Forbidden Rose, eau de parfum, 15ml, €17. Available from June 30.

BY LUCY BOWEN

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 So I have not fallen off the radar. Indeed, yes, here I am in Manhattan. At least for a little while. It’s been some time, so let’s quickly catch up.

In sum, I have been…finding an apartment. Setting up bank accounts, phone numbers and most importantly, internet access. Surfing in Starbucks is not that great – even if they do provide you with free refills. For some reason here, their aim isn’t to shunt out you out the door as quickly as possible. Those Bewleys stalwarts would be pleased. Meeting up with old friends, making new friends. Sitting in Central Park (it was a very cheery 30 degrees all weekend) and delighting in being able to leave the house without a cardigan. Joining a seriously snazzy gym where the women are as super toned as they are super groomed and the Kiehl’s products in the changing rooms have been nailed to the wall to stop addicted members from putting whole bottles into their bags (especially the men, apparently, Caroline). Breakfasting in Balthazar, ordering sushi in. Noting the extreme numbers of Louis Vuitton Neverfulls on the streets - uptown, downtown, on every second girl’s arm. Partaking in a three-hour bookcase-building marathon (thanks, Ikea), to house my…shoes.

 Do I miss Ireland? Just a little. Do I miss the Avoca foodhall? Well, yes. But no time to dwell on lost Chocolate Rice Krispy Squares– I have a Pilates class to attend instead - and from the looks of my fellow gym enthusiasts, it’s probably best I’ve swapped the two…it’s time to get New York-ified…

 

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Errr... not quite. We're talking about the new, long-awaited Kiehl's shop on Wicklow Street in Dublin. We were told mid June... but today I was told by the powers that be that the opening is fixed for July 1 (fingers crossed). Thinking it would be open by this weekend, I was going to tell all you forgetful types to head in there for last minute Father's Day gifts. Did you know that Kiehl's has been offering products designed specifically for men since the 1950s? That's pretty impressive and men LOVE the stuff. Trust me: Whenever I get cornered by a man - at a party, on a ski lift, at dinner - it's never for romantic reasons. Instead of being seduced with sweet nothings I hear this instead: "Um, you work for a magazine, right? I bet you get free stuff. Any chance you could get me some Kiehl's?" I kid you not. This has happened three times. All men are after is some Facial Fuel (and not me, it would seem). The first Facial Fuel formula launched in 2004 and several others have followed since, from cleansers to buffers (that works on the face sadly, not the abs). Just recently someone asked me over for dinner. I didn't mess about: along with some chocolate (the new Lindt Excellence Crunchy Caramel - totally delicious stuff launched at Taste of Dublin last week) I slipped in a tube of Facial Fuel ...

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It’s sale time. Yay. So many of my favourite items of clothing are from the sales. Sure, it feels cruel in January; ogling the beautiful new stock, turning over the tag to be greeted with figures that you just can’t afford but hang in there and come the end of June, those prices are slashed. The Urban Outfitters sale started yesterday and there are tonnes of bargains on the website and in store. APC dresses that were £98 are now £39.99, Vanessa Bruno coats have come down from £280 to £129.99 and there are Le Mont St Michel knitted tops up for grabs for a relatively puny 50 quid. And don’t worry about buying out of season: all that’s needed to take that sundress through to October is a pair of opaque tights and a chunky cardigan. Amazing sales have also got underway at Liberty and Brown Thomas but you’ll have to get off the sofa to take advantage of the discounted loot available in BT as you can’t buy from the website.

Picture: Peter Jensen dress available from Urban Outfitters

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Here in London, celebrities are often recruited to star in West End plays – Kelly Brook in Neil La Bute’s Fat Pig, Kim Cattrall in Noel Coward’s Private Lives, Nicole Kidman in David Hare’s The Blue Room, the list goes on – but the Irish stage has tended to be less starry. Sure, luminaries such as Ralph Fiennes or Stephen Rea have graced The Gate and Abbey stages but it’s been rare to see a bona fide – by which, perhaps, I mean American – TV star. Rough Magic has changed all that by casting The West Wing’s Stockard Channing (that’s Rizzo from Grease to those of you who missed out on the show that the Guardian hailed as the 11^th best TV drama of all time) as Lady Bracknell in The Importance of Being Earnest.

And although the famous face is a big reason to catch the production, there are plenty of other treats in store for the huge audiences making their way to The Gaiety this June. Wilde’s brilliantly entertaining dialogue (“The good ended happily, and the bad unhappily. That is what fiction means.”) is safe in the hands of Rough Magic regulars Eleanor Methven, Rory Nolan and my ex-flatmate and BFF Aoife Duffin. Eimer Ní Mhaoldomhnaigh‘s costumes are suitably ridiculous and spectacularly colourful, and fashion fans should not forget that this is a play that takes the role of a handbag almost as seriously as we do.

The Importance of Being Earnest runs until the 19^th June. Tickets are available from The Gaiety box office (+353 (1) 6771717) and website. 

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Leaving the friendship bracelet to the pre-teens, we've moved on to the Love bracelet. Besides, friends come and go!

This particular bracelet is the Cartier Lovecharity bracelet: white gold with two diamonds, on a beautiful gold silk cord. June is Cartier Love month and this year the luxurious French jeweller is partnering with Barretstown Children's Charity. This means that Cartier will pledge 20 per cent of the proceeds from sales of the bracelet (and in fact, the entire Love collection), during this month. Could there be a better reason for having a peek inside the Cartier boutique?

Cartier Lovecharity bracelet, €650, at Cartier, The Luxury Hall, Brown Thomas, Dublin.

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Move over Lily Allen and budge up Kate Nash, Eliza Doolittle is the latest London singer on our radios. The daughter of Les Miserables star Frances Ruffelle, she has inherited the clear and sweet voice that made her mother famous; but instead of following her mum into musicals, she has decided to concentrate on a pop career. Her songs – much like her style – are fun, fresh and perfect for sunny summer evenings. I caught up with her recently for a fashion-focused chat.

 

In your song ‘Skinny Genes’ you sing “I really don’t like your skinny jeans so take them off for me.”  What do you think of skinny jeans on guys?                

I really don't like them!  Especially guys with rugby physiques ...oh no no no.

How would you describe your style?

Summery, bright but with tights when it's cold.

 

What are your top 5 must-haves for summer?

Short shorts, Nike high tops, button-up cardigans, pastel colours, ankle socks.


Is your onstage wardrobe different to your everyday clothes?

I try to dress my best all the time but I suppose I do push it that little bit more on stage.


If you could pick any designer to create your perfect onstage wardrobe, who would you choose?

Christopher Kane.

 

Would you ever cut your long hair?

Yes! I'm thinking about getting a fringe soon actually.


Do you have a style icon? 

I don't really have a style icon but I do admire some people's style... I love Carmen Miranda's shoe collection and fruity head gear and I adore Carrie Bradshaw's wardrobe!


What’s your favourite shopping street in London?

I like Carnaby Street... there are always cute little pop-up shops there with interesting one-off buys.


Do you wear a lot of vintage? Where do you buy it?

In Chalk Farm I go to a vintage shop called Episode and there's a shop in Portobello called One Of A Kind that has amazing pieces and a secret room at the back with super amazing stuff.

Do you shop online?

Yes I do!  Ebay is great but I always overspend! I try and make my rule 'Sell more than you spend' but that never happens. I love very.co.uk and mytights.com.


Do you read fashion blogs? Do you have a favourite?

Yes, there's a couple I like. I keep my eye on The Satorialist, Wah Magazine and stopstealingmylook.com.

 

Skinny Genes is out now. 

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Now this is what we're talking about when we say we'd like a "bit of a glow". This C-3PO-like lovely was spotted in the Miu Miu window in Cannes. Isn't she pretty? And can you see this season's must-have Miu Miu cat print on the fabric behind her? DIVINE.

So we're being somewhat silly, admittedly, but after a day in the sun there's nothing more fun than bling-ing oneself up with a bit of sparkling skin (which is completely ok when you're on "vacation", by the way).

Grab the biggest brush you can find and sweep Rimmel Shimmering Maxi Bronzer from head to toe (€9.91). This is a generously sized compact with a gloriously golden finish. Or, for skin that's already tanned, try The Body Shop Body & Leg Shine (€18.95), a cool gel stick containing soothing Community Trade aloe vera. "This is a secret that I use on celebrities on the red carpet and pop stars in music videos, " says make-up artist Chase Aston, who's worked with all sorts of celebrities, from Cameron Diaz and Cindy Crawford to Daphne Guinness. "Smooth Body & Leg Shine up and along the middle of the legs, starting from the ankle to the top, to make legs appear longer, toned and tanned. Fabulous!"

All we need now is the Miu Miu outfit to match. *sigh. 

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Every time I get a package delivered, I manage to be out. Well, sometimes, I’m actually in but I assume that the doorbell couldn’t be for me so I ignore the buzzing and carry on with whatever it is I’m doing. Only when I step into the porch do I see the little red Royal Mail card that tells me I must now traipse up to Westbourne Grove to collect my parcel. A parcel that usually contains terrible films and books that my flatmate and I bought on a drunken Amazon spree.

“They only have Hush-a-Bye Baby [Sinead O’Connor’s early movie about teenage pregnancy] on VHS and we don’t have a video.”

“Whatevs, throw it anyway. It’s only 50p. And don’t forget about Anastasia’s Chosen Career and that movie where Brittany Murphy interns at British Vogue.”

And so five days later I find myself hurriedly shoving the parcels of shame into my bag in the post office on Westbourne Grove. And then I have the problem of actually being on Westbourne Grove AKA one of the nicest shopping streets in London. I’ll just take a quick peek into Joseph, Agent Provocateur, Twenty8Twelve, Zadig & Voltire and Whistles. Oh and perhaps I’ll have lunch at Daylesford Organic.

But now to counteract feelings of guilt at having splurged on Amazon and overspent at AP, you can cross the road to Mary’s Living and Giving Shop and give something back. It will cost you though. The latest charity shop venture from Mary ‘Queen of Shops’ Portas isn’t exactly cheap but rather fairly priced considering the quality and condition of the pieces. She has appealed to local designers and businesses for end-of-season stock and seconds so there was lots of lovely Armand Basi on the rails the day I was there. Local residents – and this is a terribly well-heeled postcode! – are also being encouraged to donate to the shop. The shop itself is airy and the stock is merchandised so well that the overall impression is one of high-end Notting Hill Boutique rather than charity shop.  The store is staffed by volunteers and 100% of profits go to Save The Children, a worldwide charity that last year improved the lives of over 6 million children.  

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It was my birthday last week and instead of panicking about getting older, I spent my day luxuriating in the gifts I received. The cherries, cookies and cocktails that I wolfed down on the terrace of Home House. The Nikon digital SLR camera that I can’t quite use yet. The voucher for champagne afternoon tea at Claridge’s. And a beautiful book called ‘Eat London’ by Terence Conran and Peter Prescott.

This book is the perfect present for me: beautiful to look at and jam-packed with recommendations for eating out in London, which just happens to be my very favourite past time.

Unsurprisingly, I’ve been to many of the restaurants mentioned. The Ivy, tick; Ping Pong, tick; the Rivington Bar & Grill, tick; Hache, tick; The Electric, tick; New Tayyabs, tick; Nobu, tick; the list goes on. But there were plenty more that I hadn’t been to and a few that I hadn’t even heard of.

Short reviews are accompanied by recipes, beautiful photographs by Lisa Linder and fun little features like ‘Best Sunday Ever,’ a list (replicated below) that outlines all the culinary delights that one should sample on a Sunday around Brick Lane and Spitalfields.

 

 

 

Terence Conran and Peter Prescott’s Best Sunday Ever!

 

Start on Bushfield Street with an Italian coffee at Verde & Co. Buy some French artichokes or some Pierre Marcolini chocolate, then step next door to A. Gold and buy some London smoked salmon with pickled cucumber or Uncle Joe’s mint balls.

Then - One-course lunch at Canteen. Call in advance and order one of the roast dishes like a whole roast chicken.

Then - Browse the market stalls and pick up some organic green tea or kalamata olives.

Then - Cross Commercial Street to The Ten Bells for a quick Guinness and a cigarette.

Then - Collect your sourdough bread and Eccles cakes from St. John. 

Then - Head up to the Up Market for a game of carrom with a cup of pan-roasted Ethiopian coffee.

Then - Have a piece of carrot cake at Story Deli.

Then - Visit Taj Stores for rare spices and rice.

Then - Head to the Hookah lounge for hot almond milk and baklawa.

Then - Go to the Vibe Bar for a cold Margarita.

Then - Catch an art house short, then a gig at 93 Feet East and dance the night away.

Then - Pick up a Pieminister steak and kidney pie for the journey home or breakfast, whichever comes first.

 

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Ahead of a long weekend in Nice, emails have been pinging backwards and forwards between my travelling companion and myself over who should pack an iPod docking station. I dodged out of it, claiming mine was "too cumbersome" and besides, I'm bringing the hairdryer. Oh, to think of the glory days when you could pack to your heart's delight, without having to worry about paying €1000 for being one kilo over weight (or whatever). At roughly age 13, half my case would be filled with tapes. Mostly to listen to but also in case I met anyone 'cool' on holiday and needed evidence of my Indie kid credentials. Of course, the piece de resistance would always be the "mix tape", carefully curated and constantly tweaked. A new exhibition at the Lewis Glucksman Gallery, Mixtapes, Popular Music in Contemporary Art, is a celebration of this precious item and also the huge influence of album covers, posters and music videos on artists and their work. Much has been written, recently, about the lost art of the album cover and the fact that it no longer defines an era or an artist. These days, most of us only ever see them at the size of a postage stamp, on our iPods or computers. And talking of stamps ... earlier this year, The Royal Mail, in the UK, issued a set of stamps featuring the most iconic album covers of all time. But I digress... Waves of artists, stylists, fashion designers, graphic designers and art directors have been influenced by images associated with the music industry. This, and more, is explored in the exhibition, such as the notion of the artist as a fan, as someone who incorporates their own musical tastes and preferences in making visual art. 

Mixtapes: Popular Music in Contemporary Art, June 8 - October 24, at the Lewis Glucksman Gallery, University College Cork.

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Are we all feeling like this after our oh-so-rare sunny weekend? I sincerely hope it's more of a warm, happy, vitamin D induced high, as opposed to a "oh my god my shoulders are sunburnt and sore" sensation! This deliciously suntanned lady is an integral part of the history of tanning and sun protection: she was the poster girl for the original Ambre Solaire Sun Oil, which launched in 1936, when the French first started taking paid holidays.  Soon, the rose and jasmine scented oil would become synonymous with summer. As keen readers of The Gloss will have spotted in the May issue, Ambre Solaire has returned to its cult classic ... except this time around its got a high SPF (15,20 or 30). Grease me up! 

New Garnier Ambre Solaire Golden Protect Oil, from €22.49. 

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I struggle with false lashes. I really do. At the MAC Cosmetics Autumn Winter Trends talk at Somerset House in London, last week, I nearly collapsed when I learnt that this "new take on a feline eye" requires not one but FOUR sets of false lashes! Oh my god, the wedding/party/ball would be over by the time I'd finished trying to apply all of those!

"The result is lashes that look like fur," purred Terry Barber, Director of Makeup Artistry.

This amazing look was created by Lesley Keane, a Senior Artist with MAC. In between working back-to-back fashion weeks, Keane can also be found working her magic on the shop floor at MAC in Dublin. She is incredible at what she does - how lovely that an Irish make-up artist is one of the stars of the MAC PRO Team.  

Find out more about Lesley's inspiration and favourite MAC products here. 

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Last night, rummaging in my wardrobe, I tried on a top that seriously doesn't fit anymore. Weeping quietly to myself, I put it back on the hanger, back into the closet. But why? It doesn't fit! Am I waiting for the day it will slip on as it used to? I bought the top in college - a mid-lecture sprint to Oasis on Nassau St before a Pav Friday, I do believe. Um, honey - I think those days are long gone...let it go. Damn it.

So now, with that realisation accepted, I'm considering having a little 'Days Gone By" sale on eBay, thanks to YouTube inspiration from the lovely Kitty...at least I might earn something to invest in a wardrobe that fits. *sigh*. 

 

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"Changeable weather to be expected for much of the afternoon". Yes, thank you newscaster - very informative. 

What we'd really like to know is how to combat the warm/cold/raining/cold/sunny/windy/overcast day we are facing into - sartorially speaking of course.

My take is this - embrace layers. Pile them on, take them off - a clever way to look chic while avoiding mumbling about being too hot/cold (this is no longer a conversation starter, FYI). Look for lightweight, breathable fabrics - cottons, linens and jersey (nothing chunky - unless you want to look that way, too), in complementary tones. Massimo Dutti and Marc O'Polo (left) have some great pieces in organic fabrics and muted colours, perfect for our earthy climate. Just don't forget an umbrella.

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I popped along to the Estethica (the British fashion Council’s eco sustainable initiative) press day a couple of weeks ago, half-expecting to be met with crusty pieces of sackcloth that had been fashioned into pinafores or clumpy sandals that boasted about being vegan. But luckily, eco fashion has moved on and a bright, airy space in Somerset House played host to innovative and quite beautiful creations.

One stand particularly caught my eye though, not least because the woman hovering by it was a tall blonde Finn who is the perfect advertisement for her delicate lace pieces. Minna Hepburn uses organic, fair trade and recycled materials where possible and ensures that there is no waste by using the remnants and offcuts to embellish her pretty dresses and tops.  Her long, flowing maxi dresses are just crying out to be off set with a pair of oh-so-now clogs and a bulky cardigan. 

Minna is stocked in Harrods and Anthropologie but you can also buy directly from the website. 

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"To me, rather than changing from flats to heels, chandelier earrings are what takes an outfit from day to night - that's why I always carry a pair in my bag!". So said Spanish jewellery designer Monica Vinader to me over espressos (and macaroons, bien sur) from Laduree.

Much as I love a good high heel, I was inclined to agree - especially if the plan takes you to dinner when, sitting down, your companion would only see your top half anyway. For summer, I love Vinader's new rose gold collection - this pair especially, set with blue chalcedony drops, make me dream of a  far-off beach. And they're so well priced. And they'll be far lighter to tote around than a separate pair of shoes. And...do I need another excuse? Let's be honest - you know I was sold at "earrings".

 Monica Vinader is available  from Harvey Nichols, The Luxury Hall at Brown Thomas, and online.

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When I interviewed Irish Italian film director Vittoria Colonna for a This Glossy Life feature (in the May issue, with today's Irish Times) I was intrigued to learn more about her award-winning documentary Identities, about Ireland's transgender community. The community is much bigger than I imagined and very definitely not confined to the city centres. If you would like to watch this brilliant film in full, it is available to buy online, from Underground Films. Watch a clip of it here.

 And what's next for Vittoria? She's currently working on a film screenplay. Oh, and this month's Cannes Film Festival, of course! 

VITTORIA COLONNA, PHOTOGRAPHED BY RENATO GHIAZZA. 

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