Doginista: The First Pomeranian

While Michelle was busy sporting Peter Pilotto's A/W09 Tiger Red Tie Top on a visit to the Veteran's Administration Medical Center in NYC, Butters was busy walking Barack. Perfectly toned arms or perfectly fluffed tail? Take your pick, Mr. President.

Graphics by Megan Ingraham

Guessing Games: 28 years of babes in blasted denim

I'm pretty sure the last time I set foot in a Guess store was nearly a decade ago (wow, I really am that old, Happy Halloween to me), wrangling with my mother over the fact that there was absolutely no way I could show my face at the Nsync concert unless she bought me that hot pink, python-print stamped, triangular piece of suede to tie round my early adolescent chest and pair with some stretch pants from Express. HOT.

So when the invite came for the brand's new retrospective, Wonder, Passion, Freedom: A Photographic Retrospective, celebrating its 28 year history, in a twinge of nostalgia for my classy outfit choices of innocent Justin Timberlake-worshiping days long since bygone, I didn't hesitate to grab my camera and head on out to Mayfair's Il Boccacio.

Expecting to be bombarded by those risque images of Paris Hilton which collectively were responsible for an entire generation of 13 year old girls being banned from certain corners of the malls of America, I was pleasantly surprised to be greeted by a slew of iconic black and white pictures featuring top models (Naomi, Anna Nicole, Claudia, et al) that were nothing but class. Well, as classy vacuum-jean-packed sex kitten bombshells provocatively sucking on their fingers can be.

A few celebs turned up to the launch. Some X Factor people whom I shamefully could not identify--I'm sorry, but I'm really just a simple American who likes her Grey's and Gossip Girl, if it ain't Blake Lively, I don't know who it is--as well as actress/singer Sinitta. But I will say this: the mushroom risotto was sure damn tasty and there wasn't any guess work about that.

The retrospective is taking place at Il Bottaccio on Hyde Park Corner until November 2nd.

The Scene:

X Factor people

Sinitta with X Factor guy

The Retrospective

I'm too sexy for this Vitamin Water

Glacéau Vitamin Water: I don't drink it myself (Perrier girl). Personally, I think water should just taste like water and that's that. But they sure do give a lot of it away at London Fashion Week, and so, twice annually, I find my fridge busting full of the stuff. And next come season, those bottles collected for the sole purpose that they are SWAG and not necessarily something to actually be consumed, will be joined by a new flavor: XXX-Triple Berry. Tuesday night, the Bert and Butters and I headed on down to the "Berry Light District" venue on Broadwick Street to check out the first night in a three-evening shebang launch event for the flavor of the week.

Apparently stars like their Vitamin Water, because the evening boasted celebrity host Mel B (who gave me the cold spice shoulder when asked for a photo...boo), Jody Harsh and a six song set from Right Said Fred. The nineties throwback topped off their performance with a rousing rendition of "I'm too sexy," and the overly enthusiastic girl in the front row clutching knitted dolls of bandmembers Richard and Fred Fairbrass nearly collapsed with joy when the frontman grabbed his package and purred inches from her face, "I'm tooo sexy for my cat, toooooo sexxxxxxy for my cat, what you think about that?"

Vitamin Water Triple Berry XXX indeed.

Front-row footage! Never underestimate a pushy girl with a camera

Set list


The Scene:

Daniel Lismore and Jody Harsh

Jody takes a smoke break--just look at those neon platforms!


As the venue was super small, we had to q outside for some time...hence...street style snaps!


Details, details, details

Butters gets papped

BBert's latest pin

Konnie Huq makes an appearance

Markus Maverick

Having a Westwood day

The Performance

I love this girl

Getting cosy at Cos

As the air continues to bite more and more by the day, and the sudden advent of daylight savings has left us in the dark at the unholy hour of 5 or so, I was overcome with the insurmountable urge to layer layer layer and sweater sweater sweater. Even in an itchy capacity, which is usually the antithesis of my knitwear dogma, something about this season is driving me to shades of grey and thick, scratchy knit. So, en route to drinks at Sketch the other day, I popped into Regent Street's Cos, the upscale sister of H&M which I know is an untapped source for snuggly and reasonably priced knits and, in the fifteen minutes in which I had to shop, these were the three jumpers I ended up schlepping to the fitting room.

The first, a classic waffle textured charcoal oversized number (left) was the one that made it home with me--though I'm sure it has many lookalike siblings buried in the back corners of my as-yet-to-be-excavated winter wardrobe, a girl can really never get too much of a simple good thing.

The second, a carpeted, hedgy, quasi Comme concoction (middle), inevitably could lend itself to a healthy amount of styling and layering, but just wasn't quite me. Had this been the booming days of yore, I might have taken it home for a play, but beggars must be choosers these days, so the hedge cardi was left behind.

The third (right), which had upon being selected for fitting, was the front runner in my mind, cream, soft, excess uses of fabric to create a poncho/jumper/dress/walking blanket. But when I put it on, it was just a table-cloth of knitwear that really didn't do anything for me.

And so the hunt for the perfect chunky sweater continues.

Doggone Vuitton: Selfridges xmas pop up

Image source: fashionindie.com

Louis Vuitton, the luxury brand that just keeps on giving, has announced the opening of a SECOND pop up within Selfridges' massive yellow bulk: this time, they're opening the doors to a Christmas specific store on November 2.

The pop up is set to be a brand-enthusiast gift givers paradise: with a 19 meter long wall bursting with a display of over 200 small stocking stuffers (sunglasses, belts, textiles, jewellery, city guides, etc, etc) at a time, would be luxury Santas can literally serve themselves up a hearty holiday shopping feast.

But where Vuitton really made sure to land themselves squarely on my holiday shopping list was with the lovely Mr. Marc's full on range of dog accessories to be on offer in the Christmas shop. That man has read my consumer psychology accurately: whence in recess, forgo new Neverfull for thyself and splash out £200, mere chunk change, on a new dog collar instead. What is Christmas after all if not the puppy wagging her posh tail happily beneath the tree in her new LV collar, bag and lead, all emblazoned with BK (Butters Knox, not Burger King) having been personalized by hot stamping? Oh and did I mention that the shop will feature new colors and styles--I know what Santa will be bringing Miss Butters this year.

Good old Marcy Marc (father to two bull terriers, nothing gets you through rehab like a little canine loving) has even gone so far as to design an exclusive dog motif tee or the occasion. Available in three colors, the tees retail for £185 a pop. How long is it til Christmas again? In dog years, please.

Image source http://www.jedroot.com/

Fall Frolicking at Aesop

227A Westbourne Grove, London, W11 2SE‎ - 020 7221 2008‎

On a routine walk during a particularly glorious autumnal weather this weekend, Butters and I happened upon a delightful feat of merchandising: Australian alternative skin care brand Aesop's Westbourne Grove shop had been transformed into an October wonderland (at least for Butters) as the entire shopfloor was filled ankle deep with crunchy and crispy, rusty red leaves.

Needless to say, Miss Butters was thrilled. Particularly when she was joined by an equally frisky boy chihuahua in her ecstatic romp through the dried foliage. Now I've been in the quaint apothecary-style shop before, when they first opened, and picked up an exfoliant powder that can be mixed in with any face or body wash. But in an attempt to be a selfless mommy and allow the little darling to wrestle and scurry about with her newfound friend for at least a solid fifteen minutes, I took advantage to take a closer look at one of my neighborhood beauty outposts. And based on the range of beautifully arranged botanicals including an organic doggy-shampoo in vintage-inspired bottles, I wondered to myself why I don't stop in here more often.

When I got home and had a look at the website, I was equally pleased to find a brand who bills itself as advocating "the use of our products as part of a balanced life that includes a healthy diet, sensible exercise, and a regular intake of good books." Good books! Beauty and brains--that's what I like to see! The website, in addition to providing ample reading material about their products and treatments, also offers visitors reading suggestions. Man of the moment? John Keats: a gentleman, scholar and bastion of perfect pores. I'm sure his guest spot on the home page has nothing to do whatsoever with upcoming film Bright Star. What can I say? Poetry interspersed with shopping always brings out the optimist in me.

"What the imagination seizes as beauty must be truth." John Keats

Click here to check out Aesop's website