My guide to Paris
I’ve been going to Paris for work trips for many years, and finally, recently, went for fun. It’s the most magical city in the world in my opinion, full of windy cobbled streets to discover, history, art, culture…and the food! Well that deserves a whole article in itself. So here are my top chic hangouts…
Walk as much as you can, it’s one of those cities where you’ll stumble upon cute cafes and little galleries at every turn. The best area to wander through is St Germain. Start with breakfast at Cafe Flore or Les
Deux Magots almost next door. This is where super famous writers and painters used to hang out, including Hemingway, Picasso and Albert Camus. If you’ve never had a croque monsieur before, try one.
Do shop in the pharmacies here, they have the BEST brands at a quarter of the price than outside of France. I love Caudelie’s Beauty Elixir and Vichy night cream.
Check out the Musee D’Orsee down there too, before hopping on a boat tour. This is my favourite way to see the city, and learn about the stunning architecture everywhere.
Stroll through the Jardin des Tuileries, right by Place de la Concorde where the first lady to make high heels fashionable, Marie Antoinette, was executed. Stop in at Angelina on Rue de Rivoli, for the richest, most delicious hot choc in paris. Wind up the backstreets behind it to Rue de Cambon, go inside Chanel and peek up the mirrored staircase to her old apartment. This is where she sat watching her fashion shows, perched on the top step but looking downstairs in the mirror, too shy to go down and greet the press.
Tea (or cocktails…) at hotel Costes is so elegant, it’s a fashion week staple and one of Kate Moss’ favourite bars to hang out.
Get up super early and visit Sacre Coeur (going early means you avoid the crowds) and wander around Montmartre
Square after. It feels like being on a film set, but is cute nonetheless. Don’t miss Notre Dame too, it’s overwhelmingly stunning, and if you veer off-path and check out the backstreets, you’ll find some beautiful, ancient homes and restaurants. Speaking of food, here are my top spots for…
Lunch:
*Castiglione best cheeseburgers in the world
*Entrecote in St Germain, for the best steak frites
*La Perouse, on the river, is about as romantic as a restaurant can get. Red velvet curtains, dark wood panels and oil paintings line your own private dining room. Yes, your OWN dining room! Legend has it that kings and princes once took their whores there, and there are scratches on the mirrors where they checked to see if their diamonds were in fact real. But lunch is a LOT easier on the wallet than dinner, it’s a different menu, but just as delicious.
* Georges at the Pompidou Center
Modern and chic, Carrie Bradshaw had a meal up here in THAT episode! Located at the top of the Pompidou center, you can see just about all of Paris from up here.
Tea
*La Duree in Rue Royale, famous for its macaroon
*Le Meurice – so grand and extravagant, you’ll feel like the Queen
*Mariage Freres in the Marais, like stepping back in time, the kind of place to write a poem or muse on the beauty of life!
Cocktails
*Le Bar, Plaza Athenee. My absolute hotspot is the bar inside the Plaza Athenee Hotel. Walk through the shiny marble and gold lobby, turn down the long elegant corridor (and if it’s Christmas time, you’ll see the ice rink in the courtyard to the left) and then check out the dark, moody, modern bar. The cocktail menu is presented to you on an Ipad, go for the house signature blend, the Black Mojito, and then just people-watch for a while. The length of this room’s cosy couches and high stools is full of interesting, fashionable people having laughs or secret trysts, I love it here.
Dinner
*La Derriere, for anyone with an appreciation for modern art and eclectic, cool décor, this place is for you.
*Chez Robert et Louise, in the Marais. Log fires, stone floors and old wooden doors, this has the feel of a country pub with a really friendly staff.
*Chez Andre, a really typically French, bustling and always-busy brasserie.
*Les Ombres, sit on the terrace of Paris’ new primitive arts museum,
the Musée du Quai Branly, and soak up unbelievable views of the Seine and the Eiffel Tower.
* Le Coupe Chou
Located on the left bank, this charming old 15th century house is cosy, quiet and just about my favourite place for a date. Expect traditional cuisine (I had snails!) and lovely warm candlelight all night.
Living
My Diet Secrets
I’m on a detox at the moment, feeling a bit bored of it but hoping to feel bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, full of energy, in a couple of days! At the end of last year I read ‘Clean & Lean Diet‘ by my best friend’s trainer, James Duigan and it really changed my eating and exercise habits. Brilliantly, James suggests a balanced, not-too-vigorous fitness regime, with a mix of cardio and disciplines such as yoga and pilates. Now I do all three every week, with a little bit of hiking thrown in for good measure (and for good gossip – hikes are the best way to get everything off your chest with a mate!). When it comes to food, James has an equally sensible approach. I probably eat MORE now that I used to, but choosing the right stuff, and eliminating the grotty, toxic stuff, makes your body react in a very cool, positive way. Not just by changing shape, but by giving you miles more energy, brightening your eyes, clearing up your skin, and even clearing your mind. Don’t get me wrong, I haven’t lost my love of gin & tonics, chocolate milk and any Mexican food I can get my hands on, but I’ve definitely put in place some changes that are helping. So, combining that book with the tips and tricks I’ve picked up from various health nut friends over the years, here are my diet secrets…
Brekkie
I used to skip breakfast and grab a coffee if I was lucky, but now I make the most delicious smoothie of all time. Almond milk, 4 ice cubes, half a banana, a few blueberries, white chia seeds, a few goji berries, 2 walnuts, flaxseed oil, acai powder, a sprinkle of cinnamon and a scoop of James Duigan’s Body Brilliance powder. It literally is health in a cup, and it doesn’t taste gross, like so many of those green looks-like-river-water juices people drink. You don’t need ALL of those ingredients above, just see how many you can find at your local health shop, and make your own recipe. They’re an incredibly powerful mix of anti-oxidants, protein and Omega 3 oils, which in a nutshell, helps you burn fat and stay full til lunch. If I fancy something more or a mid-morning snack, then I love mashing avocado onto rye toast, with some pumpkin seeds on top, or I’ll spread organic peanut butter onto pumpernickel toast, that’s delicious too. Rye and pumpernickel are wheat-free breads, so you won’t bloat and feel sluggish. In my opinion, they taste better too. And ps. I just can’t give up that coffee, no matter how bad caffeine is supposed to be for us, I enjoy it and days when I’m up at 5am to film, I bloody well NEED it! So I try to switch to organic coffee, if that’s available.
Lunch
I’m a fan of enormous salads with at least 8 ingredients chucked in, so it looks like a rainbow. I usually start with rocket or spinach, then lean meat like turkey, shrimp, salmon, grilled chicken or tuna, then veggies such as corn, tomato, peas, roasted butternut squash, cucumber – anything you fancy. Then something crunchy for yummy texture, like pine-nuts, or cashews, sometimes a bit of fruit to sweeten things up, like grapes cut in half, mango or pomegranate seeds. Goats cheese or feta is always yummy on top. Cold pressed organic olive oil drizzled on top with whatever other seasonings you want. YUM. Low-fat dressings used to be a staple in my fridge, but in fact, they’re full of sugar and synthetic ingredients. If something has more than 5 or 6 ingredients on the back, and you can’t even pronounce half the names, throw it out, it’s no good for you. Keeping things simple is the key.
Dinner
I’m not much of a cook, and I do eat out a lot. If I’m at a restaurant, I know the healthiest thing to do is skip the bread and order fish with greens – that’s usually an option at all restaurants. But, like I said, I’m no saint, so if I fancy the burrito, I’ll order the burrito. Life’s too short not to enjoy yourself and indulge. Plus, if you skimp and have salad, you’ll a) be in the worst food-envy mood while you watch your mates tuck in to pizza and steaks, and b) probably undo all your hard work by scoffing the contents of your fridge when you get home, because you’re still hungry. So, enjoy yourself when you’re out with friends, but perhaps have a vodka soda instead of beer or wine (much better option) and skip the dessert, or go for the fruitiest – not the creamiest - option.
Back to cooking at home, I’ve made a massive effort lately to learn, and farmer’s markets are a good place to start. You actually enjoy picking up the food and thinking about what you could create with it. It’s more therapeutic than a supermarket – not to mention cheaper and better quality.
Supermodel Sophie Dahl has some easy and lovely recipes on her YouTube videos, ‘The Delicious Miss Dahl’, so check them out.
If I’m in a rush, I tend to grill fish in foil with a sprinkle of herbs and some lemon drizzled on top, that’s super easy. Roasting veggies is great too, and I recently made mushroom and chestnut soup, taught by my bestie Stephanie, recipe below. I’m never going to be a gourmet chef, nor do I really want to be, but I have learnt that there’s a huge difference between takeaways and pre-packaged meals (full of bad fats and preservatives, which sit in your body slowing everything like energy and metabolism down), and taking the extra ten minutes to chop up your own meat and veggies. As for carbs, switch pasta, white rice and potatoes for wild rice, sweet potato and quinoa. Oh and if you’re cooking up scrambled eggs, a stew or stir-fry, use coconut oil in the pan, instead of olive oil. This totally surprised me, but when olive oil is heated, it breaks down into a worse fat, so only use it cold.
Easy winter warmer recipe: Wild mushroom & chestnut soup
1 white onion, peeled and sliced
150 grams of mixed wild mushrooms – half the fun is choosing them at the farmer’s market.
Half a litre of stock – chicken or vegetable is best.
150 grams chestnuts (vacuum packet is fine)
Fresh parsley
Heat some olive oil in a pan, then add the sliced onions and sweat for about 5 minutes. Then add the mushrooms, cook for a further 5 minutes before adding the chicken stock and the fresh thyme. Simmer for 10 minutes.
Add the chestnuts and simmer for a further 10 minutes. Check everything is soft and squishy enough to put a knife through. Remove from the heat and blend until smooth in a food processor. Serve with a little pour of olive oil and some chopped parsley on top.
You can make the soup in advance and freeze it, awesome if you’re having a dinner party or a super busy week.
Living
Quotes to make you feel grateful, gorgeous and giggly.
I always find a great quotation particularly inspiring and motivating at this time of year, when everything’s starting afresh. Here’s some food for thought - my favourite fashion (and lifestyle) quotes of all time, many sent in by Twitter and Facebook from YOU guys too! Enjoy. Xx
“Whatever you can do,
Or dream you can do,
Begin it.
Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.”
-Goethe
“I don’t know who invented high heels, but all women owe him a lot.”
-Marilyn Monroe
“Dress shabbily and they remember the dress. Dress impeccably and they remember the woman.”
-Coco Chanel
“We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.”
-Oscar Wilde
“Blue jeans are the most beautiful thing since the gondola.”
-Diana Vreeland
“I believe in pink. I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner. I believe in kissing, kissing a lot. I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day, and I believe in miracles.”
-Audrey Hepburn
“Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society.”
-Mark Twain
“Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.”
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Cherish all your happy moments. They make a fine cushion for old age.”
Christopher Morley
“There must be quite a few things a hot bath won’t cure, but I don’t know many of them.”
-Sylvia Plath
“Whoever said that money can’t buy happiness, simply didn’t know where to go shopping.”
-Bo Derek
“Vain trifles as they seem, clothes…change our view of the world and the world’s view of you.”
-Virginia Woolf
“Give a girl the right shoes and she can conquer the world.”
-Bette Midler
“It is every woman’s right to ignore the dictates of fashion and dress in a manner that is becoming to her own character and personality.”
-Lillie Langtry
“Fashion is all about happiness. It’s fun. It’s important. But it’s not medicine.” - Donatella Versace
“Be daring, be different, be impractical, be anything that will assert integrity of purpose and imaginative vision against the play-it-safers, the creatures of the commonplace, the slaves of the ordinary.” cecil beaton
“The most beautiful clothes that can dress a woman are the arms of the man she loves. But for those who haven’t had the fortune of finding this happiness, I am there.” Yves Saint-Laurent
Living
New Year, New YOU
I just read a quote by Diane Von Furstenberg, where she states proudly that she’s her own best friend. Which got me thinking – what a cool start to the New Year if we can pamper and nurture ourselves as much as possible. As Kate Winslet says in The Holiday, “Every woman should be the leading lady in her own life, right?” So here are my top ten ways to steal a little “me time” and become BFF’s with yours truly…
1. Buy yourself a bunch of beautiful flowers, and arrange them in a vase in your bedroom. There’s something extra luxurious about waking up and seeing your favourite blooms in the morning – I love hydrangea and peonies.
2. Google the funniest movies of all time, rent 3 of them and laugh your head off out loud all afternoon. Laughing reduces blood pressure and releases a huge amount of endorphins, making us feel fabulous. In fact, laughing for 1 hour every other week can lower blood pressure by 5-6 points in 3 months. Which is basically the same effect on your health as losing 10 pounds!
3. Snap and frame a totally gorgeous photo of yourself, even if it takes 100 shots, then put it into 70’s tone on the computer – or have it turned sepia when you print it. This is the most flattering, retro lighting.
4. Instead of buying clothes in the sales, invest in a new set of something that you use every day and never really replace. It could be new sheets, pens, pillows, glasses, eye makeup.
5. Build a scrapbook full of your favourite quotes, old Polaroid photos, magazine tears. It will fast become a mood board for all your inspirations, reminding you or the values and styles you want to live, dress, and think by.
6. Buy a red lipstick. It’s not just silver screen goddesses who are allowed sexy scarlet lips, so try on a few before you buy and once you own it, wear it with pride whenever you feel like it: with jeans and a sweater is to me, much chicer than saving it for a formal occasion. It’ll make your face pop, and you’ll attract more attention.
7. Finish a book. Not a magazine, but an actual book. Turn off your Blackberry, Iphone, Twitter or Facebook, and put aside two hours to really get into it, losing yourself in your imagination. People that read on a regular basis are proven to be more likely to take part in charity work, community volunteering and exercising. Who knewBecome a book worm and enrich your life.
8. My favourite poet, Sylvia Plath, once said, “There must be quite a few things a hot bath won’t cure, but I don’t know many of them”. Run yourself a hot bubble bath, light candles and just soak: it feels so decadent and comforting. Plus another science bit - physical and social warmth are actually interchangeable, so having a hot bath actually helps get rid of any feelings of lonliness. Try it.
9. Cook something from scratch, just for you. As a self-confessed terrible cook, I find supermodel Sophie Dahl’s “The Delicious Miss Dahl” YouTube videos the easiest and most fun to follow. You get lost in the mixing and chopping, I find it very therapeutic.
10. Go and get your eyebrows professionally shaped, and book in to a good spa for eyelash extensions. Trust me when I say this will change your face dramatically for the better: no surgery or make-up required!
Living
Louise’s Christmas Gift Guide
With less than a month to go until Christmas, it’s time to get your shop on. Here’s my cherry-picked wish-list of chic bits & bobs, perfect for your friends, your family, your other half and…YOU. Yup, I’m a big believer in being your own Santa, why not!?
Book
The Tale of the Elves & The Shoemaker
A beautiful fashion-memoir-meets-fairytale, that cleverly intertwines the classic story of the Elves and the Shoemaker, with (Carrie Bradshaw’s fave shoe designer) Manolo Blahnik’s real-life career.
Blahnik illustrated the book, and my talented, stylish friend Camilla Morton, wrote it.
http://www.harpercollins.com/books/Manolo-Blahnik-Tale-Elves-Shoemaker-Camilla-Morton/?isbn=9780061917301
Bespoke
A personalised bookmark from Anya Hindmarch - such a novel idea – no pun intended! Hand-write a name, message or favourite quote and it’ll be transferred onto the leather: beyond chic.
http://www.anyahindmarch.com/cat/Bookmarks/975/
Stationery
I’m a stickler for old-fashioned thank you letters, and Paper Plain create the most stylish, affordable printed cards I’ve found. I just ordered mine, name-tagged in scarlet, with red-lined envelopes.
http://www.paperplain.net/
Scarf
Louise Roe London Collection for HSN, Farrah scarf.
My top stocking-filler. Printed in Winter’s warmest and brightest
colours: soft mustard, olive green, deep purple and elegant taupe, the ‘Farrah’ scarf from my HSN collection has a 1970’s feel, named after Farrah Fawcett’s effortless Charlie’s Angels style. Lofty and lightweight, the cut is so big it wraps around your neck three or four times. I’m wearing mine to Paris this Christmas!
http://fashion.hsn.com/louise-roe-the-farrah-feather-print-scarf_p-6485860_xp.aspx?o=PD-RI&sz=0&ocm=sekw&attr=&subcat=&cat=&dept=&sf=&gs=&prev=&cm_sp=Recommended*PD*right
Smellies
Dr. Bronner’s Almond Soap.
I just discovered this brand and I’m addicted: not only does it smell delicious, have beautiful apothecary-style vintage packaging, and is super affordable, but Dr Bronner’s is also a 60 year old company, using completely organic, fair trade ingredients. My favourite almond flavour includes extra virgin coconut oil, jojoba, and hemp oils. Mmm.
http://www.drbronner.com/
Calendar
Every year, I go back to London from LA, and hit Bond Street to buy my Smythson diary. I use it every single day to keep appointments and make notes, I way prefer pen and paper to keeping a calendar on my phone!
Picking it out has become a ritual, and the blue box, bag and ribbon the store wraps it in is stunning. This yeat I’m plumping for the purple Soho diary.
http://www.smythson.com/diaries/for-her/mid-size-diaries/soho-diary-purple.html
Winter Warners
Mini Cashmere hand-warmers for only $10? Done and done. These are adorable, and come packaged in a lovely box. Choose from baby blue, grey, red and black.
http://www.restorationhardware.com/catalog/category/products.jsp?categoryId=cat1640014
Scent
Carlos Huber Arquiste perfume
I have a very stylish friend in New York, who’s a Historian by background. Last year he decided to combine his two passions (history and fragrance) into one: a passion-driven project. Boom! Arquiste perfumes were born. Sold in Barneys, the scents are poignant and incredibly unique – the antithesis to lots of mass produced perfumes on the market nowadays. Carlos used rare ingredients, including foods like cocoa, and herbs like cinnamon, to create smells that evoke specific times and places. There’s L’Etrog, a woodsy, citrusy blend that channels the medieval harvest in Calabria, or Flor Y Canto, a heady tuberose and marigold mix meant to take you back to ancient Tenochtitlan, Mexico, during an Aztec ceremony.
http://arquiste.com/
For Him
Reiss is my first stop when I’m buying clothes for guys. Everything is beautiful quality, and just edgy enough to stand out, in a very Carey-Grant-old-school-elegance kind of way. Their taupe herringbone Alford tie, made from 100% silk, is top of my list this season.
http://www.reissonline.com/shop/mens/accessories/ties/alford/taupe/
Cashmere
I’ve known designer Madeleine THompson since we went to uni together, and back then she rocked the most incredible, boho style. Her beanies and blankets are to die for (I cosy up in mine on every plane ride), and now she’s teaming up with one of my favourite spas, Cowshed, to create limited edition cashmere slippers and hats. And to boot, from January 5th 2012, the first 100 Cowshed customers to book a Cosy Cow package (massage & manicure) will receive a free pair of slippers, worth £85.
http://www.cowshedonline.com/madeleine_thompson_for_cowshed_cashmere/c789152-1.html
Kimono
M&S kimono
The most decadent, gorgeous thing to put on before bed, and when you
wake up. I’m in love with Marks and Spencer’s full length floral silk
kimono.
http://www.marksandspencer.com/Autograph-Satin-Floral-Dressing-Gown/dp/B0058Q5S3A?ie=UTF8&ref=sr_1_53&nodeId=42966030&sr=1-53&qid=1323311133
Christmas in a cup
Salted caramel hot chocolate is the yummiest thing I’ve ever tasted!
Williams Sonoma does a deliciously spiced, velvety version made from
chocolate shavings rather than cocoa powder, so the taste is super
rich.
http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/4330023/?catalogId=82&bnrid=3120901&cm_ven=Google_PLA&cm_cat=Food&cm_pla=Beverages&cm_ite=Chocolate_Peppermint_Salted_Caramel_Hot_Chocolate_Set_of_3&adtype=pla
Pyjamas
I wear Victoria’s Secret violet leopard-print PJ’s every night through
the winter months – super soft, cosy and cute.
www.victoriassecret.com
Clutch
I’ve got a thing for orange this winter, to me it evokes the
effortless, retro style of 1970’s icons like Lauren Hutton.
Accessorize’s Alba clutch is a patent burnt orange – the perfect pop of
colour to your festive frock.
http://www.accessorize.com
Fashion with a conscience
If I had to wear one label for the rest of my life, if would be New
York fashion week staple, Tibi. Vivid colours and prints in modern,
flattering silhouettes are totally my bag! This year, Tibi went into
their archives and pulled out their most cherished prints to create a
hot red silk head wrap, with 100% of profits benefiting the charity
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Pediatric Cancer Care and Research.
http://www.tibi.com/shop/memorial-sloan-kettering-scarf
Sarong
Artist, model and writer Sophia Rogge has traveled the world and
consistently looks effortlessly polished. She’s just launched a range
of cotton sarongs, in an array of beautiful beachy colours and
patterns. But what’s very cool about the collection, is that 10% of
profits go to her favourite eco charity, Corals for Conservation.
www.Sophiarogge.com
Candle
Trapp package their candles in pretty leaf-green boxes, and smell like
heaven.
The Bamboo Sugar Cane flavour sits on my desk and burns every day while
I write.
http://store.trappcandles.com/Bamboo-Sugar-Cane-s/1843.htm
Sunglasses
Nicole Richie strikes again! Robyn, her 50’s style tortoiseshell shades
with a curved arm, are amazeballs. Check out the rest of her House of
Harlow collection too.
http://hoh1960.com/collections/sunglasses1/
Tabletop
A good friend gave me these gold and white china salt and pepper
shakers for my birthday, and they look so elegant on the kitchen table.
Jonathan Adler’s eclectic prints on homewares make for easy, brilliant
gifts.
http://www.jonathanadler.com/Futura-Salt-and-pepper/?cat=438&initial=
Living
Upside-down Yoga
Everyone gets bored of their typical workout routine, but we recently heard of a hot new upside-down yoga trend that has Hollywood in a toned-up tizz. AntiGravity yoga is the newest exercise fusion that combines yoga and acrobatics to work the abdominals, balance the body, and release spinal tension. Acrobat and gymnast Christopher Harrison developed the practice and swears by hanging upside down in hammocks to help eliminate strain on the body while exercising. Feel the burn…
Lauren Splendido
Living
Spinning globes and the Madmen-era chairs
With the New Year always comes a desire to fix up and revamp my house!
I don’t want to spend a fortune, but I want it to look like I did. Plus I want pieces and accents that none of my friends will have already bought for their own homes, I want to avoid shopping at the obvious place. So… I’ve been scouring the internet for brilliant interiors sites, offering unique and stylish bargains to spruce up home, here’s what I found.
www.Notonthehighstreet.com Sells a variety of French-inspired trinkets and accessories, the coolest of which being vintage door signs and tin plaques.
www.Bluesuntree.co.uk Retro, bright clocks and prints, for a minimal feel.
www.Thomaspaul.com Stunning cushions and throws in unusual animal designs and prints.
www.Horshow.com Designer stationery, gorgeous lamps and an array of sunburst mirrors.
www.Pennyfielding.com Bespoke neon signs, I’ve always wanted one of these.
www.Mydeco.com For those in a rush, you can buy the whole look for your room. This site cherry-picks chic brands and stores and sells the best of their ranges. A one-stop shop.
www.Theoldcinema.co.uk An incredible range of vintage pieces from different periods. My favorite items are the old wooden Coca-cola bottle crates, the spinning globes and the Madmen-era chairs.
Living
10 ways to feel fabulous on a budget
1. Snap up designer diffusion lines the second they go on sale – H&M, Target and Forever21 make the best designer and celebrity collaborations, and - here’s a heads up - often sneakily put them out on racks a day before the advertised launch date.
2. Wear a hat. Not a beanie, but a proper hat. Trilbys, Fedoras and Bowlers add instant chic, elegance and intrigue to a plain outfit.
3. Throw a tea-party. Pick up an old tea stand at the flea market, bake a cake, cut the crusts off sandwiches, make your friends dress up (think Charlotte-style from SATC) and enjoy an afternoon of inexpensive, old-fashioned glamour.
4. Put aside two hours to watch an Audrey Hepburn movie, alone, with a large glass of red wine.
5. Cut bangs into your hair, paint your nails chocolate brown and slick on red lipstick. An instant new, ladylike you.
6. Buy last-minute, standing tickets to the opera. They’re very cheap, and it still sounds the same!
7. Sit in a posh hotel lobby to people-watch and just soak up the atmosphere. I’m obsessed with Claridges in London, The Sunset Tower in LA, and The Waldorf Astoria in New York…but every city’s got a good few!
8. Always wear expensive perfume. Whiz through the department store, spritz, and leave with as many samples as they’ll hand out.
9. Dress up to the max with a friend and spend the afternoon trying on clothes at designer boutiques. (Discreetly) take a Polaroid camera. Many stores even serve free champagne while you’re in the changing room too.
10. De-clutter your bedroom, iron your sheets, sprinkle lavender water on them, and put fresh flowers in a vase. A lot closer to a 5* hotel than it was before.
Living
Chic Seat
Oh how we love a bargain. So we nearly leapt out of our Jimmy Choos when we caught sight of Ikea’s cool Perspex ‘Tobias’ office chairs – the perfect seats to decorate the new white lacquer conference table, over at Front Roe towers. Call us geeks, but we’re excited about how fab the office looks now! Next we’re on the hunt for chic ‘n’ cheap stationery…reporting back soon…
Living
Come Dine With Me
Maybe it’s the cold. Maybe it’s the recession. Either way, Supper Clubs have become the hottest new way to meet new people, and show off your skills in the kitchen. From posh to not, check out our favourite options, online: www.savoytrufflesupperclub.com, www.humblekitchen.co.uk, www.thesupperclublondon.com.
Living
Anya Hindmarch’s Melting Moments
She’s the goddess of arm candy, and now the kitchen too! Our spies got hold of Anya’s favourite dessert recipe, and we’re sneaking it on to you… Cream 75g caster sugar with 110g butter. Beat in 1 egg yolk. Add a few drops of vanilla extract and sift in 150g self-raising flour, until you get a smooth dough. Divide into 24 balls and roll in lots of crushed cornflakes with a rolling pin. Flatten the portions onto greased baking sheets and bake for 15 minutes at 190’C/Gas 5. Hey presto!
Living
Coconut Water
Coconut water has been all the rage lately in the celeb world. Rihanna swears by it- she not only mentions it in a recent hit song, but is also the water’s newest spokesmodel with her billboards decorating the Hollywood skylines. So I decided to do some further investigation as to why the water has people ready to scale a palm tree for a taste. Aside from the fact that it is delicious, it is great for the body. Coconut water is perservative and fat free, which is an obvious plus for the body-conscious starlets and is super hydrating, benefiting the skin from the inside out. It is also filled with electrolytes for an added energy boost. Drinking the water will not only provide immediate health and beauty benefits, but the antioxidants it contains are supposedly anti-ageing fighters. Skip your daily Starbuck’s iced coffee, I’m on my way out the door to pick up a case!
