Aug

Is Lagerfeld misinformed about the modern woman?

After sneakily forcing my mother to buy me the new, and quite overly-priced, Porter (Fall edition) magazine, I stumbled across the fiftieth piece covering Lagerfeld and his celebratory 50 years as the creative director of Fendi. The octogenarian is quoted to have a “timeless modern appeal” but I worry that too many years designing has caused him to be misinformed about the qualities of a modern woman?

Now, firstly, I want to clarify that I am in no way suggesting I know more about fashion or women’s appeal than Karl himself, having been the creative director of Fendi and Chanel, plus his own household name – except, a quote by the man himself actually startled and paused my open-minded outlook and made me instantly jump to write this blog piece.

(Page 103) of Porter magazine:

“Don’t be a victim. You can be sweet and nice, but don’t be weak. Otherwise you become a stupid victim. I prefer toughness to girlieness. The Fendi woman is strong and modern, she is no romantic.” – Karl Lagerfeld

I would like to suggest that I believe the fashion God himself, is incorrect. What resonates most strongly in the quotation, for me, is how he too simply dismisses the very idea that a strong and modern woman could ever be romantic. I guess the very same question Carrie Bradshaw asks in one of her Sex columns, “Has feminism killed romance?” in the 1994 series has come back around 21 years later with strong modern connotations.

Being a feminist myself, and even recently turning down a high-salary job in Dubai due to the country’s lack of women’s rights, I would beg to differ with both Lagerfeld and Bradshaw, and suggest that feminism would never kill romance, because feminism hasn’t changed femininity.

When a woman becomes a mother, she instantly goes from being her own person to her own person plus the child – she adapts and develops into a two-sided coin – needing to be herself, plus the brain of another human. In theory, the mother becomes alpha. Whenever a woman is offered a high-paying job or senior position, she is then in charge of the many numerous men and women below her – again, in practicality, she is alpha. The same goes for women in leadership positions worldwide – from care-workers to fashion designers – no matter what her career or lifestyle, she is alpha of her own destiny. Do those women, celebrating their own personal successes, not deserve romance? Instead they must be strong and modern, but “never ever be romantic”?

That makes it seem like a woman must choose by ultimatum, like the Genie asks you from Aladdin, except you get only one wish out of two choices;

So – what’s it gonna be Al, huh? Love or Money?

Why can’t it be both?

Because modernity says so.

If that’s the case, I’m not so sure I want to be a modern woman. See – I’m a sucker for love stories, hearing about first dates, chivalry, love songs, poetry, opera, musicals, ballet – the whole traditional ‘love’ scene, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t look for love myself. In fact, I think that’s what makes me a modern woman – unlike in the olden days (as I’ve come to know through films), women are proactively taking that leap of faith and searching for love themselves. Whether it be through dating sites, or making wedding proposals, or being the breadwinner of the family – they aren’t waiting anymore for a guy to approach them whilst they are sat alone at a bar, nor are they expecting the man to do so. Surely the “strength” and “toughness” of a woman in love nowadays is the same very essence that makes her “modern” in the first place.

I can only imagine the amount of broken hearts my readers have experienced, or the shabby first dates, or the nerve-racking “taking him home to your family only for them not to like him” – but, believe me when I say that doesn’t make you a “stupid victim” – it merely makes you a woman. And what Lagerfeld is doing is stripping a woman of all her feminine-like qualities and reducing her to a level unfathomable to any person who actually wants love in their life, and to be loved.

Of all the things to fall ‘victim’ to in today’s increasingly feeble world, being a ‘victim’ of love doesn’t make you any less of a modern woman, in fact it makes you more. Because, every single day you wake up feeling like it’s the end of the world, you’re fifty times stronger than any other woman who has never taken that romantic leap in the first place.

I am girly, but I am strong and modern, and what’s more – I’m proud to say I am a romantic. Does that not make me a Fendi woman, Karl? Then so be it.

My Not So Fair Lady xox

Aug

No explorations are ever wasted

I can’t believe I’m sat here typing on my laptop – no longer my phone – and laying in my bed at home in England. Time has flown since I returned to the U.K from our bijoux beach house in Sicily and I couldn’t look back more fondly on my month in Italia. But, I must admit – it is brilliant to be typing on a keyboard again and not squinting trying to figure out the WordPress app – so every cloud!

I wanted to put a short piece together to expand upon my lessons learnt and exploration gained from my time away. However, I thought I’d start with being more precise to Italy, rather than to life, to keep in tone with my usual writing style (firstly, free flowing and then profundity).

Here is the list I scribbled down when moving from place to place:

Italians have no concept of time – and this could however be down to the fact that wherever you go, whether it be a church or a free standing clock face – it never tells the correct time! And they aren’t all in unison either – they all tell different variations of the wrong time. You can be walking down a street and believe it to be 13:30 but when you see the time next, 5 minutes later, it reads 21:00. Tip: Always know the time.
Italians have zero spacial awareness and it is not uncommon for someone to walk into you or just not move when they see you’re struggling with a heavy suitcase on the cobbled sidewalk. Expect no more and no less. You are somehow in their way even when they are stood still.
When Italian men (in my case, of course) say “Ciao Bella” – it isn’t creepy. It does not equate to the same scenario as when white van men slow down to beep rhythmically until you turn around/ look with a red face to see them wink at you and drive away. I won’t mention the other catchphrases that such humans can come out with.
Italian women are quite straight-laced. The polar opposite to the men. They seem to be less humble and less friendly than even the Eastern Europeans/ Asians. They keep to themselves and don’t understand why you’re touring their part of the world.
Rome breeds crazy people. One day, having lunch, a man was laying face down on the cold road just screaming and singing to himself. He didn’t appear homeless, or starving – but perhaps, just drunk and with heat exhaustion. He carried on this way for a few hours, disappearing somewhere every now and again – only to return with the same tune and plonk himself down in the same place, to continue his plank.
The doors in Italy take Albert Einstein to work out – we couldn’t believe how retarded we felt every single time we went anywhere. We had to get the homeowners or their friends to show us again and again how to open and close the doors. It was worse mainly in Milan but there was no exception anywhere. Either we grew stupider with every bite of pizza, or the doors really do take a rocket scientist to work out – we still aren’t sure.
Wherever you go, you will find a friend.

I know these were all silly remarks but they really are what spring to mind whenever I look over the key points of my time there – and for those going to Italy, it might be good to keep in mind. WEAR A WATCH!

However, these are obviously not the only things I learnt whilst away. My greatest lesson was that: No explorations are ever wasted.

Whether you are a Jetsetter or a home-bird, I urge you at some time in your life to truly spend a lengthy amount of time in any foreign country and force yourself to adapt to their culture, try and learn their language, and eat/drink like a local. It really does change your perspective on how best to live your life. However, in my case, I know that eating carbs 3x a day only leads you to gaining 7lbs – not to a healthier, fitter me! But you get the general idea.

Secondly, in a form of maddening brilliance, you begin to accept others for who they are and know you’re never alone. It is quite easy to feel lonely when faced with large decisions or going through a tough time, but exploring new places gives you the kind of ease that makes you feel completely at one with yourself. It allows you to go outside of your comfort zone, and away from a bubble, and into the wide world – where people function, exist and live day – in, day – out. There is more to life than your country and habits – in fact, there’s a lot LOT more. And accepting that is a great way to keep focused but open-minded.

And lastly, Italy brought me back to life. Along with the previous two points, it showed me who I was again, which was easily lost in the emotional stress and turmoil of the past few months. I returned knowing exactly what qualities I have honed, and appreciating wholeheartedly the love, respect and intelligence of every friend I made out there. I obviously fell in love several times over (not just with the Italian men), and I ate to my hearts content – without any reservation or thought about my intake. I lived exactly how we are supposed to live as God’s creatures – carefree and happy to be exploring. It brought life back to my veins and heated cold bones.

It showed me what it means to feel completely comfortable with yourself and your surroundings and allowed me to relax in the thought of the future and the excitement it can bring. Even though, now I’ve returned, I’m being faced with some pretty hefty questions regarding where to take my future and whether to move abroad and work or to stay in London and study – I am grateful to have those few months of exploration, which will never be wasted. I’ve explored Italy and myself for a solid month – and I have found that life is most beautiful when we have to say goodbye. Because saying goodbye, when it is honestly difficult to do so, shows us that we are blessed to have had that opportunity and experience in the first place. At the end of the day, and no matter the outcome, I assure you that no exploration will ever be wasted.

Welcome home My Not So Fair Lady!

XOX

Mar

Bath in Fashion: SS15 High street Top Trends

On Wednesday evening, I was lucky enough to sit VIP at Bath Fashion Week’s SS15 High street Top Trends! So in virtue of that good will, I decided to write about it on here for those who didn’t manage to catch the show!

So here was the line up…

These are local shops (for those that don’t know) around the Bath area which focused on their own top picks for the warmer season. Despite working with high fashion brands, I really appreciated the effort that had gone into the show, and most brilliantly – the location!

The show was at the Assembly Rooms next to the Bath Fashion Museum (clearly not a coincidence), and four huge chandeliers hung down majestically over the catwalk:

This is super exciting to a fashion geek like me as location really is everything! So onto the show.. However, I must admit, I only took photos of the looks that I liked!

So here’s a long stream of the models in their assigned outfits. I must give credit to Artizan Bath who did the hair for the evening as it was fabulous – crimped and huge, the simplistic yet wild look added to the magic of the show!

It was really refreshing to go back to the High street shop trends where all of us in the fashion industry more than likely started! And it gave me some really great ideas for the future. I think it’s important to put the emphasis back into the small brands that make fashion for the everyday person possible, and I think Bath in Fashion is all about the “everyday people”.

I can’t wait to see what next year brings, and only wished they had an AW15 show that I could attend too! Come on Bath – what’s going on?! Either way, I think you’re fabulous and will continue to shop in your inspiring high – street stores.

My Not So Fair Lady xox

Mar

There’s nothing I LOVE more than Alexander McQueen SS15

This blog focuses on how much I LOVE Mcqueen this season. Since the designer’s traumatic death and the opening of the V&A savage beauty exhibition, I decided to dig deeper into the new workings of McQueen and what they are now offering.

Many critics argued Sarah Burton wouldn’t do the McQueen fashion line any justice, without his quims and quirks manipulating everything he made… Except, since indulging in the SS15 season clothes, I can’t help but love Burton and the personal flair she is bringing to the label.

After my previous post on Orientalism and the SS15 trend of Asian Fusion, Burton incorporates this with a darker edge (characteristic of the man himself), here are my top picks from McQueen’s new season:

Burton has created one of the best current seasons in trend for SS15, but also developed a line even McQueen himself would be proud of.

My Not So Fair Lady xox

Mar

The Destructive Inevitable Death of Alexander McQueen

Over five years ago, Lee Alexander McQueen committed his most selfish act, taking his own life. After the fatal death of his mother Joyce, and the suicide of his mentor Isabella Blow, McQueen hung himself in his Mayfair apartment. This of course won’t be news to any of you – but with the recent ‘Savage Beauty’ exhibition coming to V&A in London, and Bath Fashion Week giving an hour talk on Lee’s life, I decided to indulge deeper into what lead to McQueen’s ill – fated destiny.

Lee Alexander McQueen was born on March 17, 1969 in Lewisham, London. His father, Ronald, was a taxi driver in East London, and his mother, Joyce was a teacher who taught social science. On their small incomes, they supported McQueen and his five siblings. At the age of 16, McQueen dropped out of school and found work on Savile Row at a tailor shop ‘Anderson and Shephard’, and then moved to the bespoke ‘Gieves and Hawkes’. After realising his metier, McQueen decided to start working with theatrical costume designers Angels and Bermans; the dramatic style of clothing he made there would later become a signature of his later independent design work.

McQueen then left London for a short stint in Milan, where he worked as a design assistant to Italian fashion designer Romeo Gigli. Upon his return to London, he enrolled at Central Saint Martin’s College of Art & Design, and received his M.A. in fashion design in 1992. The collection he produced as the culminating project of his degree was inspired by Jack the Ripper, and was famously bought in its entirety by the well-known London stylist and eccentric Isabella Blow. She became a long-time friend of McQueen, as well as an advocate for his work.

McQueen and his mentor Isabella Blow

Soon after obtaining his degree, Alexander McQueen started his own business designing women’s clothes to which he met enormous success – especially with the introduction of his “bumster” trousers (named because of their extremely low – cut waistline).

Iconic McQueen ‘Bumsters’

Only four years out of design school, McQueen was named Chief Designer of Louis Vuitton-owned Givenchy, a French haute couture fashion house. Although it was a prestigious job, McQueen took it reluctantly, and his tenure there (from 1996 to 2001) was a tumultuous time in the designer’s life. Even as he was pushing the limits of what people expected from fashion (one of his shows featured a model who was an amputee walking the runway on carved wooden legs), McQueen felt he was being held back. He would later say that the job “constrain(ed) his creativity.” However, he also made the following admission: “I treated Givenchy badly. It was just money to me. But there was nothing I could do: the only way it would have worked would have been if they had allowed me to change the whole concept of the house, to give it a new identity, and they never wanted me to do that.” Even with his reservations about his work, McQueen won British Designer of the year in 1996, 1997, and 2001, all during his time at Givenchy.

McQueen tested the boundaries by sending amputee model Aimee Mullins down the catwalk with carved wooden legs

In 2000, Gucci bought a 51 percent stake in Alexander McQueen’s private company, and provided the capital for McQueen to expand his business. McQueen left Givenchy shortly thereafter. In 2003, McQueen was declared International Designer of the Year by the Council of Fashion Designers of America and A Most Excellent Commander of the British Empire by the Queen of England, and won yet another British Designer of the Year honor. Meanwhile, McQueen opened stores in New York, Milan, London, Las Vegas and Los Angeles. With the help of Gucci’s investment, McQueen had become even more successful than he was before. Already known for the flare and passion of his shows, McQueen produced even more interesting spectacles after leaving Givenchy. Most notably, a hologram of model Kate Moss floated ethereally at the showing of his 2006 Fall/Winter line.

Kate Moss Hologram at McQueen show circa 2006

Alexander McQueen was also known for not being shy about his lack of traditional good looks or his lower class background. One acquaintance described that during a first encounter, McQueen was “wearing a lumberjack shirt with the most low-class kind of schlubby-looking jeans falling down with a long key chain…[and was] quite podgy.” Another friend said that his teeth “looked like Stonehenge.” According to those who knew him closely, McQueen was proud of breaking the traditional mold of a successful designer.

In 2007, the specter of death would come to haunt McQueen, first with the suicide of Isabella Blow. The designer dedicated his 2008 Spring/Summer line to Blow, and said that her death “was the most valuable thing I learnt in fashion.” Just two years later, on February 2, 2010, McQueen’s mother died. One day before her funeral, on February 11, 2010, McQueen was found dead in his Mayfair, London apartment. The cause of death was determined to be suicide.

McQueen and his mother, Joyce.

Lee was found hung in his wardrobe (which is quite symbolic considering his legacy in fashion) and was said to have slashed wrists. The autopsy stated that McQueen had a “lethal cocktail of cocaine and prescription drugs” in his body at the time of death. Notably plagued and struggling with depression, anxiety and insomnia, it was still a surprise to find the designer dead in his Mayfair apartment close sources reveal.

Most notably, the tweets sent from Lee’s personal account showed little sign of remorse or no hint of what was still to come:

Read Bottom to Top

However, the designer had made previous suicide attempts, and when the death of his mother had finally sunk in, McQueen had lost the one thing he felt was worth living for. Most fatally, the police found knives around the room, one which he used to previously cut himself, and his laptop open to information on how to commit suicide.

The toxicology report showed his blood contained 2.8 milligrams of cocaine per litre – enough consummation to kill him, without the need of the noose or the slashed wrists. As little as 0.7mg per litre can prove fatal.

A suicide note was found, scrawled on the back of a book called “The Descent of Man” (again, symbolic) and read: ‘Look after my dogs. Sorry, I love you, Lee. P.S. Bury me at the church.’

Alexander McQueen’s rise from lower-class high school dropout to internationally famous designer is a remarkable story. His bold styles and fascinating shows inspired and wowed the world of fashion, and his legacy lives on. However, there is something more striking about McQueen’s story than perhaps any other suicide or death in the industry. There is something very symbolic in Lee’s story which resonates in the fashion world and the memories of his fans and family today.

McQueen’s story was characterised by loneliness and controversy. With a portfolio of memorable shows/looks such as the ‘Golden Showers’ of 1998 which saw the models walking down the runway, caught in a storm, clothes soaked and makeup running. Or the iconic Plato’s Atlantic for it’s unearthly beauty, and the poignant promise of what’s yet to come. It was, of course, his last show.

Looking through the blurred lines of depression and anxiety, McQueens legacy was an individual self – professed mission to change and challenge the boundaries of an industry which inevitably lead to his own self – destruction. McQueen was reported to have said that when he was happy, his collections suffered and the intensity of his frustrations would be reserved and not taken out on his collections. His life and his death were both the same tragic tale, and one was inextricably linked with the other. The symbolic references of McQueen’s suicide (the book, the knives, the cocaine, the tweets, the hanging in the wardrobe) all makes his legacy that much more cataclysmic.

The point of this blog was both to give tribute to McQueen’s fashion endowment, and to ensure that the British population don’t forget that it was he who demolished the rules of fashion and broke tradition. It’s safe to say that those active during McQueen’s reign of British fashion were lucky enough to witness the revolution, and those younger, should learn about him as a fashion hero, and an irrevocable artist.

Never forget the importance of a healthy mental state. I can’t help but think that the tragic death of McQueen has unearthed a perversive impact on British fashion since 2010. An evolution of couture was storming, brewed to be exposed and unveiled by the legend Alexander McQueen himself.

My Not So Fair Lady xox

Unfortunately, I can’t attend the McQueen talk for part of Bath Fashion Week, so if you can – make sure you get tickets: http://bathinfashion.co.uk/event/alexander-mcqueen-savage-beauty/

Also, keep checking back to the V&A website and book tickets for the McQueen Savage Beauty exhibition (not to be missed!): http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/exhibitions/exhibition-alexander-mcqueen-savage-beauty/

Feb

The Devil Wears Westwood

I feel like I’m apologising far too much for my absence on MNSFL but I have some super exciting news: I HAVE A REAL JOB. Not only is it a ‘proper job’ (all students/ ex – students will understand), it’s a fashion writing position based in Bristol. How exciting is that! What’s more, it’s working with my favourite designer brands, such as Vivienne Westwood, Victoria Beckham and Versace (the 3V’s).

So this blog is more a chance for me to express my excitement via words and to explain why I’ve been away, than to speak pure fashion but please follow my journey anyway! Instead of apologising for my lack of writing, I will propose that my blog will now be written once weekly as trying to juggle a job (which I started on Wednesday), my degree and this blog is getting quite difficult.

So, I am now a fully fledged fashion writer for Garment Quarter in Bristol. Check out our website: https://www.garmentquarter.com and get involved, this boutique may be small but it’s a fabulous profitable business with some high – end designer brands that will probably be of interest to most of you reading.

Let me show you around anyway:

My new office! Looking very professional!

My desk, and product description list

One of the most gorgeous Westwood bags this season – a timeless day bag!

In fact, I get to look at these beauties all day looooong!

I even spotted an absolute find for Mother Bear

Deciding to be the lovely daughter I am, I bought my mum one of the biggest new Westwood bags to hit our store and soon to hit nationwide. Pictured in a green hue with a leopard overlay, this new season essential just screams out to my mum! Let’s hope she loves it as much as I do. Can you believe I used the last of my money to buy her a bag and didn’t even use my generous discount on myself?! I have become altruistic in my professional life…

#selfie

Looking intellectual, I’m hoping this new fashion world is for me because let’s face it guys – it’s everyone’s dream! After thinking about the film the ‘Devil Wears Prada’, I decided that i’m more like the Devil in Westwood – for now anyway! In a few years, if you see my blog post entitled ‘The Devil Wears Chanel’ you know i’ve made it!!

First day outfit. Ripped Jeans, All Saints top, Leather Jacket followed by a fur – body warmer and Kurt Geiger heeled boots. Teamed obviously with my timeless Moschino scarf!

Day 3 – More of a laid back look – with a LBD underneath a long All Saints cashmere sweater, teamed with black tights, black floppy hat, Westwood Seditionaries and a Westwood Scarf

So that’s what I’m doing if you don’t hear from me – and i’m swamped! But i’m definitely going to keep posting my various outfits here and hopefully you’ll see some major names when I start getting paid – yay!!

Imagine working here – aaaaaah!!

The most luxurious of boutiques!

Obviously it’s Valentines Day, and I received love in the shape of a little turquoise box… which can only be…. Tiffany!

The best jewellery box!

If you know me, you will know i’ve worn Tiffany from the age of two – so i’d like to think I’m a bit of a connoisseur with the brand. I have held an affinity with Tiffany even before I was born… intact, it’s just that, I was BORN to wear Tiffany.

Gorgeous present

So I’m also now wearing a Tiffany affinity ring which has ‘I love you’ engraved on the silver band – absolute J’adore. Couldn’t ask for a better gift – I’ve been the luckiest girl this week. From new job to new Tiffany, what could be better?

24 red roses delivered to me this Valentines – what a hopeless romantic

I almost forgot that I haven’t posted about my major 21st birthday present! Finally made to fit perfectly, I received this diamond – encrusted platinum princess – cut ring:

Pricing higher than a Rolex, and acting as an heirloom – this reduced me to tears!

The camera doesn’t do it justice – this is perhaps the most gorgeous diamond ring you will ever see – perhaps ever.

I still remember a quote from my favourite film Breakfast at Tiffany’s when Audrey Hepburn says:

Personally, I think it’s a bit tacky to wear diamonds before I’m 40.

Well on this occasion Audrey, I think you can never be too young for diamonds and having worn them round my neck and in my ears for years now, it’s the natural progression to having thousands of them in a ring also! Let’s hope my engagement ring will be half as fabulous….

So here’s to a great start to 2015 and let everyday be a great one!

MNSFL xoxox

Feb

Skipping breakfast at Tiffany’s

I am going to warn my regular fashionista readers that this blog will be slightly different, yet I still encourage you to read on.

After receiving some questionable news, a very close friend of mine decided lunch somewhere would be good and be the ‘spoon full of sugar to help the medicine go down’ (excuse the Mary Poppins pun). Despite much deliberation, umm-ing and aww-ing about where to go – we decided to try one of the very few cafe’s we haven’t yet eaten cake and drank coffee at – The Blue Quails deli.

For those of you whom know Bath, this small little find is appropriately located – in the centre of the town, yet far enough to guarantee a bit more local eating and not a tourist delicatessen. However, this small cafe is always rammed – and naturally, I wanted to know what the fuss was about!

Blue Quails Deli from the outside – petite yet warming!

I don’t know about you, but I just adore little cafe’s like this – they appear pristine, and for lack of a better word, rather ‘homely’.

From the inside – the menu is found on black boards, and if you like – you can inspect the salad bar and check out the fritata’s and pies!

The sweetest little place!

Blackboard of options – scrumptious!

I loved the fact it was a little quirky, with the place itself being rather tiny – it almost ‘forced’ you to talk to everyone in the cafe! There was no Chinese whispers possible! My friend and I got chatting to the lady next to us, who said she was a regular and advised us on our cake choice – but we decided to go for more than cake – we wanted to try out the cuisine too!

For a very respectable £8.50 I chose Palestinian chicken frittata (bizarre I know, but I’m all for the Palestine – cause) and a side salad:

My Palestinian chicken frittata and a side salad – Delish!

My friend went for the Duck and homemade chutney ciabatta sandwich (which for £5 seemed rather small!):

Duck & Homemade chutney sandwich

The colours on the plate don’t grab your attention half as much as my food did, nor does the size look adequate for being only a mere £3.50 cheaper! So, if we were to critique the Deli whatsoever, it would be to advise the readers to pick a frittata (or soup as the woman we met recommended), not the homemade sandwiches.

Now onto the good stuff: Coffee and Cake. The two best ‘C’s’ in life.

We always, without fail, manage our weekly coffee and cake dates – and in keeping with the theme, killing two birds with one stone, we decided to take the ladies recommendation and order two very different deserts:

Coffee and Walnut Cake

Now, given that I always think coffee cake needs the walnuts, my friend politely disagreed and took the mission upon herself to actively remove every single nut from the cake – quite the effort as I’m sure you agree. The cake itself tasted moist, and the icing quite bitter – which is common for coffee cake, but perhaps (if possible) too – coffee’ish. We appreciated the strawberry and raspberry puree on the side – it was really needed with the harsh taste of the coffee on the back of the throat. Perhaps it wasn’t the best cake we’ve ever had.

My first petits four!

As the name denotes, this ‘desert’ is quite ‘petits’. Except, it was super delish! I chose the dark chocolate, nut based one – which proved an absolute delight.

Petits fours are a small confectionary or appetiser and usually eaten in France, for those that don’t know. If you ever get the chance – try one, because they are small portions of heaven, and just enough after a large lunch.

When discussing our thoughts about this place with the woman sat next to us, she proceeded to asking me my advice on where she should go in Bath for various things such as: coffee, cake, sportswear, leggings etc.

So the next part of my blog will be attributed to just that – most of the brands will be international well – known labels, but the cafe’s and restaurants perhaps will be more exclusive to just Bath residents and tourists. Either way, I hope you enjoy!

My Top Picks

Best Coffee and Cake: Personally, I recommend Jacobs (Bath). It’s a cute little independent cafe which looks onto the Bath Abbey – the location, alongside it’s food and drink is spectacular and a real treat for locals and visitors alike. Jacobs uses an independent, ethically – sourced coffee provider called ‘Origins’ – so if you ever see it advertised, you must instantly buy a latte! They also have a large collection of organic herbal tea’s, supporting the local Bath tea – shop – I highly recommend the Green Tea and Ginseng! The homemade cakes are superb too – and it’s also my top pick for ‘Best Cake’ – make sure you try the Carrot cake and Banana bread.

Lovely shot capturing the beauty of Jacobs Coffee House (Bath).

Best Independent Restaurant: Personally, my favourite cuisine is Thai food. I think the fact a good thai is GM – free and gluten – free (which serves my diet perfectly), and for this reason I go for the classic dish ‘Pad Thai’ which i’m sure many of you have tried! So, for that dish in particular, and for the added value of an independent, I would dine at Mai Thai – found on the corner of Manvers Street, Bath. To make an evening out of it – there is also a late – night bar called Circo which has won awards for their spectacular cocktails repetitively – perfecto!

Best Sports Brand: This question is incredibly easy – I stay true to my love of Sweaty Betty and always will. This eco – friendly fabulous couture sports brand provides clothing for yogi’s, runners, skiers, snowboarders, tennis players, swimmers (the list is endless). The clothing is made from the best materials for the given exercise and also ensures you look trendy even when exercising – which does make you want to go running in that cold weather a lot more, I assure you.

Best Fashion Brand: This question is a little more difficult, as the woman didn’t specify whether the brand was high street, or high brand. So I approach this question with caution. If she had asked me my ‘favourite designer’, I suppose that would have been just as tricky. So I will say that there is no ‘best’ fashion brand, as what is good for one person, may be unsuitable for the next. The question seems vague, and therefore so does the answer. However, I can offer an opinion on high – street shops currently, and I’d probably even say that Banana Republic has the most reliable new – season clothes, and recommend my readers to take a look on their website!

Finally, Best Bar in Bath: Another extremely difficult one. Being a cocktail drinker, I could easily recommend numerous places for people visiting to go and check out. There are very few ‘pubs’ and as I dislike beer and wine, it leaves me usually dehydrated at said watering holes. To give the most precise answer, I will set myself the mission of evaluating the local cocktail bars and their drinks for a future blog – so watch out for that one! For now however, I recommend Opium for more intimate drinks, and the Earl for shisha and a great beer garden – but watch this space, as that will probably change!

I’m in great support of local restaurants, cafe’s and bars and so, I hope that most of my recommendations will support these smaller establishments in Bath. It has always been a dream of mine to recreate a shop/ cafe I found in Seminyak, Bali. The cafe was based on detox/ natural health foods, and the shop was mainly yoga gear and homeopathic remedies. Except, it also had a small supermarket attached which sold all the food they used in the cafe (and more!). Great idea – one in which I hope to replica in my own fabulous way in the future.

I hope you too give new shops and restaurant’s a go in your spare time – it’s all in keeping with helping the local economy!

And my moral of this piece will be: No matter how short you are of time, and how stressed you are because of life, make sure you always have time for Friends…. Coffee …. and Cake!!

My Not So Fair Lady XOX

Jan

Drinks in style

Last night’s celebrations were for Ed’s 22nd – Happy Birthday again! So obviously, a new outfit was in order – even a new jacket. The dress pictured in the photo of me below was from Religion, a smashing new season beauty falls elegantly on any figure. It has been fashioned with a Banana Republic chunky necklace to give it that extra grunge it needed to go from a potential debutante dress to one suitable for a birthday night out in Bath! In other words, it needed to be classy but not restrictive, and most importantly – pretty but never ‘cute’.

Me last night in a Religion dress and Banana Republic necklace. The shoes are courts from Kurt Geiger – KG brand.

Huge studded and weighted necklace, made from metals and stones from Banana Republic. Still available in store now! Perfect for any occasion to sass up your outfits! Cross earrings also shown from couture boutique on the backstreets of London – absolute find!

All smiles ahead! Still in love with the classic white shoe – black toe heels!

Close up of the Kurt Geiger shoes. Perfect for any occasion and the heel low enough to wear comfortably – perfect for that crazy night out or just casual drinks

What’s really great about this dress in particular is the ease of the print. As the fabric isn’t hugely detailed, it doesn’t make accessorising too difficult – instead, the dress can be fashioned with something simple but enables you to add some block colour.

Added casual cardigan/jacket from All Saints with a golden fringe – enabling you to bring in those golden sparkly accessories and bag!

As I was fashioning a religion dress, I decided to add some cliche cross sparkle – studded earrings bought a few years back from a cute boutique on the backstreets of London. They were an absolute bargain and have come in use ever since. Except, I think something that simple would be really easy and cool to make your own – buying standard cross earrings and adding your own diamantes. If you can’t buy it – make it!

Jesus Cross Earrings!

The night was a success and everyone who’s anyone looked stunning. Which leads me to my next point… What do people look like the morning after?

Well, in my opinion if you want to grab your joggers and a cashmere sweater, be my guest! Except, when you’re looking for a hangover cure which goes far beyond paracetamol and junk food, how about trying to ‘train’ your brain that it feels fine..

For example, this morning after the deep sigh of regret for staying out until the early hours of the morning and having to be up and out the house also in the somewhat ‘early hours of the morning’ (9am) – I decided to break my comforting habit of slouch clothes and coffee, and got dressed as if feeling fresh as a daisy!

The morning after

Feeling Westwood inspired, I went for a classic punk rock meets Russian couture look styling ripped jeans and Westwood boots with a Moschino scarf and white fur Russian hat. The pearls were added for couture effect – made famous by my idol Audrey Hepburn, and the red lipstick added to bring the colours out in my scarf and add a bit of umph to the face of someone struggling! The lips are bold enough to allow your eye makeup to be subtle, so today I went for just mascara on top and bottom lashes but with a thick Rimmel 01 red lipstick – perfect for day or night time!

The bag is added to bring some metallic madness to the outfit, and ties in with the overall look of the style

Close up of the bag in all it’s glory – looking bold and fabulous against the overall black of my chosen outfit. Beautifully Italian crafted bags alike to this one from Riparni make any outfit that little bit more special!

And of course it wouldn’t be the same without a close up of these beauties…

Vivienne Westwood Seditionaries boots. New season and available now! High demand, so grab yours soon!

I decided to try this post as a tester, to see if my readers are interested in how I put my day – to – day outfits together! So do comment or message me with your thoughts.

I guess the main moral I want you to take away from this post is:

It doesn’t matter what day or mood you’re in, you have no excuse not to look fabulous!

My not so fair lady xox

Jan

Battle of the Rouge – Will Louboutin reign supreme?

I was just thinking what colour to paint my nails this week, when the guilt – trip feeling of not applying the Louboutin Rouge passed me by. Having worn the polish over the festive period, I was getting a tad bored of the red and it’s never – ending chipping. Yes, that’s right – you heard – the Louboutin Rouge chips… and chips a lot!

The classic Louboutin Rouge in all it’s glory and most fabulous bottle!

You can’t deny that the aesthetic is more than pleasing, in fact it’s revolutionary, quadruple the size of an ordinary nail polish, Louboutin sticks out like a sore thumb, or rather stands tall but sturdy like the very best of stiletto’s. The story however behind the product perhaps contributes to it’s sturdy price of £36/ $50 per polish: Early in his career, the designer famously grabbed some nail polish from an assistant and painted the sole of a shoe he was working on to make it more vibrant. And thus, his signature was born. The Louboutin house lore is noticed throughout the thickness and shine of the shellac. Currently the most expensive nail varnish on the market, I decided to test it against the market leading brands to see if the price is really worth it!

The Louboutin Rouge in the centre, accompanied and tested against Nails Inc Red, OPI Strong Red and Barelle Rouge

Clearly, the ‘wow factor’ is awarded to the Louboutin Rouge, as it reigns supreme aesthetically, but how do the colours differ?

Although the picture seems dark, the only major difference which can be seen is that the Nails Inc sample is a slightly pinker – red than the remaining three. However, what’s most stunning is that there is very little difference between the remaining brands, with a major price difference of £30!!

OPI – the leading market brand shows a solid red in one coat, strong enough to be compared easily to Louboutin Rouge (below).

Louboutin Rouge: solid first coat but not too dissimilar to the OPI sample. Can we really warrant spending so much on the product then?

Without seeming unimpressed with Louboutin’s famous red, the price tag seems a bit heavy for the product in hand. When properly assessing the different colours (much easier when not on a photograph), the Barelle seemed to stand out the most! Bought from the Paris CDG airport last year, the nail polish cost me a mere $4!

My vast nail polish collection, dominated by Barelle, OPI and Nails Inc – all worthy of their price tag… however, I’m not sure Louboutin is – despite it’s beautiful exterior!

I don’t blame anyone wanting to buy a high fashion label and tell all their friends about it, but from one blogger to another, or rather, one fashion lover to the next – save your pennies and invest in a pair of his timeless shoes. Until he reconsiders his price tag, this product is not worth the price he’s making us pay for couture – and most importantly, a couture that chips!

Hope this helps,

My Not So Fair Lady xox

Jan

“New Year, New Me, New Kors”

It’s that time again – the time characterised by women rummaging their cupboards to ensure every last scrap of chocolate left over from the Christmas period is binned, every single carb is related to Saturn, and every mirror in the house covered up like it’s a Jewish funeral. The phenomenal amount of memes imitating the classic “new year, new me” routine crowding Facebook timelines and Twitter’s tweets. Fitness First and Total Fitness laughing away at their successive streak in profits thanks to the January ritual of the ‘get fit’ frenzy and weight loss. However, this year alike to every other year – my January isn’t about ensuring I swap crisps for rice cakes and coffee for fruit smoothies – my month is about me, my 21st, and most importantly my new Michael Kors bag.

Let me show you around my new space:

The bag can be a shoulder bag or a mini clutch. Well done Kors.

As much as I love a good bag (and trust me, I do), Michael Kors has never been on the top of my ‘Need’ list in terms of high fashion brands. I must commend him on his precise craftsmanship, American designers aren’t usually at the top of my pick list. But, I must admit, this little shoulder bag is really something quite revolutionary for Kors, perhaps (and let’s hope) we are moving away from the classic Tote or Saffiano bag fad. If the bag fashion industry is to take any turn in the future, it should start by ensuring teens don’t think they need to prove their worth through the price tag on that designer bag. In this respect, and especially with Mr Kors himself, little is more. Like this little find pictured below!

Cleverly designed to hold your phone – except, not everyone has an iPhone.. Design fault?

I am a keen lover of accessories, sleeping in my many Tiffany necklaces, pearls and spiritual bracelets, and so why would I stop there? When and where possible, always think about how you can add to your bag. On Christmas Day I was happily surprised to find perhaps one of the best boxes you can hope for when you peel back the layer of Santa wrapping paper…

The classic, best loved and couture version of Pandora’s box

This box literally is my version of Pandora’s box, with the vast array of new accessories Burberry have brought out, it was a delight to see something so… original. Perhaps best understood as a niche in the high street market, currently only dominated by those forward thinking big fashion houses.

The every bag must – have!

Oh and another little surprise for the owner – burberry lipstick accompanied by a small mirror! Oh you’re too good to us!

You can’t deny it makes the perfect accessory – just incase it was missing something!

I quite like my things oversized, making you look a little smaller! So for that reason, I have hung my burberry bag charm on a small bag to give that extra umph I think any shoulder bag needs. You can’t deny it looks cute though!

So how about you ditch that diet fad you’re experiencing, knowing that when the moment takes you, the thought about indulging in some chocolate or chips won’t pass you twice! So instead of getting smaller, allow your bags and accessories to get or feel bigger! Invest in something to keep you going this year. A bit of designer luxury never hurt nobody!

So here’s to the New Year, New Me, New blog and most importantly… My new Kors!

The not so fair lady xox

9 years ago Short URL Comments

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MY NOT SO FAIR LADY

Tag Archives: High brand

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Battle of the Rouge – Will Louboutin reign supreme?

“New Year, New Me, New Kors”