On Aura Tout Vu Spring Summer Couture 2013

With a name that means “you think you’ve seen it all”,  design duo Livia Stoianova and Yassen Samouilov begin the show with what initially appears an absence of their signature sparkle. We are instead presented with tame prints which gradually evolve into full shine and shimmer – perhaps a reflection on their growth after having celebrated ten years of couture just last season.

The collection sees inspiration taken from spring fauna, namely the beetle, which heavily influenced designs throughout.  The duo’s totem animal is used to its full capacity – transparent PVC sleeves reminiscent of the hind wing, shoulders and necklines with collars are sharp and angular, while elytra embellishments are from the beetles themselves. 

The upper body saw tailored volumes, particularly to the shoulders – a common theme so far during Couture Week - along with revealing lower halves, while gowns were balanced with fitted iridescent bodices and floor-sweeping skirts. While perhaps not the most haute compared to their couture counterpart, the show comprised of interesting pieces avoiding the common flora cliché of the season.

Images courtesy of fashionising.com

My piece above is published on www.theglassmagazine.com where I contribute regularly.

Valentino: Master of Couture

How very apt, I think to myself. The name given to Valentino’s current exhibition at Somerset House, that is - a conclusion I reach after leaving the final set of doors. 

Here is a man who personifies la dolce vita, creating works of art in the form of elegant dresses for glamorous women, from Jackie Kennedy to Audrey Hepburn. Offering a rare glimpse into the inner sanctum of Valentino’s world, the exhibition is staged in three parts. The first room delves into Valentino’s private life, showcasing previously unseen personal photographs, couture invitations, sketches and words of thanks from the industry’s most feared and admired - who knew Anna Wintour would have such enormous bubble-esque handwriting. 

The centrepiece of the show sees the transformation of the long Embankment Gallery into a catwalk of Valentino’s 138 hand-crafted creations. In a clever reversal of roles, the “audience” is in fact made up of mannequins dressed in the priceless couture we have all flocked to see, and it is we, the viewers, who are on the runway. While the dresses are not placed in the centre of attention literally, our attention on them remains quite so - their positioning on the side of the catwalk does not distract us from their beauty and diversity.

The third and final part of the show takes us behind the seams at the atelier through a series of specially made films, showing the painstaking artistry of the couture techniques that go into making a Valentino gown, some of which are unique to Valentino - awe-inspiring indeed.

Valentino and his dresses 

Photo by Peter Macdiarmid

A/W 2002, 2003  HC romantic Valentino Red taffeta evening gown © Valentino Garavani

Photo by Virtual Museum

Valentino dress from S/S 1969, 2000 

Photo by Ruven Affanador

Wedding dress of Princess Marie-Chantal © Valentino Garavani

Photo by Peter Macdiarmid

Catwalk of dresses © Valentino Garavani

Photo by Peter Macdiarmid

Running until 3rd March 2013 at Somerset House 

Admission: ￡12.50, Concessions ￡9

www.somersethouse.org.uk    

My piece above is published on www.theglassmagazine.com where I contribute regularly.

A house of a group of friends: The Michelberger Hotel, Berlin

A new year brings with it a burning desire to plan as many holidays as physically – and most importantly, financially – possible. At least that’s the case for yours truly. At present, in no particular order I have New York, Stockholm, Thailand, Italy, Turkey and Paris in mind. So far. And out of the bunch only two have a 99% chance of materialising, while the rest are just up in the air could-be ideas.

When speaking to friends about holiday plans, Berlin popped up – a place where some of us plan to visit or have already visited. I belong to the latter. We discovered that we’d all stayed at The Michelberger Hotel, or were planning to. We either have incredibly similar tastes, are super cool people, or there are no other hotels/hostels left in Berlin.

It’s the perfect blend of hotel meets hostel, inspiring interiors for a very modest price; a place not just for sleeping. If you haven’t yet discovered this little gem, fear not – take a peek at my post at the Glass Magazine… 

Here are a few photo teasers for now:

Images by James Mackenzie

Burger crack-down

It's been brought to my attention that there is a burger crackdown happening. The first thing that sprung to mind when I heard the news was perhaps some sort of burger mutation, rogue meats (like the Maccy D's worm infused patties or Ridley Road Market rats), or a super-villain situation. The reality of it is a bit more mundane: Westminster council have decided to grill (I couldn't help myself) burger joints who offer rare or medium-rare burgers.

So why is it that restaurants offering rare steaks aren't being given the same treatment? It's essentially the same thing right? Well actually, there's a teeny difference and here's the science: bacteria forms on the surface of meat. The surface area of steak is seared so bacteria is killed while the meat inside can still be bloody, tasty and bacteria free. Burgers are minced and therefore exposed to bacteria, so even if it has been seared, there could still be bacteria lurking throughout... Are you still with me??

Anyway let's drop the science - who cares anyway as long as it tastes good! I've always had the mindset of being exposed to a bit of dirt or germs can be good for you. After all, isn't that what vaccinations and immunisation is all about? And I've never had food poisoning from a medium-rare burger... *touch wood!!* Have you?

Right, I'm off to make my own burger. Medium-rare. In the meantime here are some snaps of delicious burgers I've sampled:

Meat Liquor, Dead Hippie burger. Super tasty, juicy topped with brioche buns Mmm...

Meat Market (part of the Meat Liquor family), Black Palace burger.Lots of onions. 

Home-made summer BBQ. Can't go wrong with a home-made ones. 

GBK, Wellington burger (and Taxidriver). Looks like GBK have upped their game. Tasty goodness.

Burger & Lobster, 10oz burger. It was a mother of a burger. Messy, huge, amazing. 

GBK, free cheeseburger, served by the All Blacks NZ rugby team! The perfect hangover burger and probably one Westminster council would target...

If all else fails - go for a chicken tower burger with hash brown and cheese. Home-made of course!

P>S>> I love this burger blog. Check it: www.burgerac.com/

Enamoured: 80 Years of Revlon

A "Happy (Belated Birthday)" is in call. 

As you may - or may not - know, this year is a certain American beauty giant's 80th anniversary. A pretty good chunk of the female population will most likely have had one of the brand's lipsticks or nail polishes in their make-up bag at some point in there lives; I am of course talking about Revlon. 

The stunning retrospective was held at the London Film Museum for three days last week. I was lucky enough (along with my colleagues/friends - the best kind of colleagues - Jess and Sheree) to enjoy and appreciate the exhibition at the launch party where there was champagne flowing, canapés floating and some of Revlon's nail ambassadors ready to treat nail polish addicts to a manicure with the new "Enamoured" design (see below).

Anyway, I'll keep this post short and sweet - a bit like the exhibition itself - but feel free to take a gander at The Glass Magazine where I wrote a teeny bit more about it...

The "Enamoured" design, which I have yet to try! Revlon Nail Enamel was used for this in Revlon Red and Knockout.

Revlon lipsticks in the shape of rouge lips.

Matching "lips and tips" - a Revlon innovation.

My current festive favourite nails, which I sported at the recent work Xmas party.

Barbican's Rain Room

At some point in most of our lives there's been a time when we've been caught out in the rain - without a brolly - soaked to the skin. Brrr.

The other day though, I was strolling leisurely in the rain yet remained completely dry. Well, that must be because you had an umbrella I hear you say? WRONG. I was in fact at the Barbican's newest art installation called the Rain Room. It's a very clever concept actually, incorporating art with science and technology, and the magic only comes alive through audience interaction; when you walk into it.

It's the strangest feeling; as you stand on the edge of the rain you think to yourself, "there's no way it'll stop raining...I mean, how does it even work?? Surely I'll get wet!". You don't get wet. Unless you run around like a loony boon (very tempting were it not for the other 4 people allowed in the room and the Barbican staff watching...). The folks at the Guardian have kindly provided this video explaining how it all works, so I don't have to...



Not too shabby, eh? Make sure you don't miss it! It ends 3rd March  2013, and yes there is a queue but it's definitely worth it. After all, it's only here you can control the rain - and you can leave your brolly at home (if it's not raining in the real world, that is).

Here's some photos I took earlier:

Where the rain begins and ends... nice and dry!

My friend mocking the rain...!

PITCHFORK

My oh my...was my last blog post really over 2 months ago?? Shame on you! Well, more like me, oops!

ANYWAY - I went to Paris last week to go to what I was expecting to be a pretty sweet music festival called Pitchfork. Did it live up to my expectations? Oh God YES!! In fact, it went above and beyond them! It's only their second year in Paris (originally from Chicago in the US) but my musical antenna senses it's only going to get bigger and better.

There was music from the likes of M83, John Talabot, Chromatics, Jessie Ware, Death Grips, Simian Mobile Disco and so much more... As you can see, there's a little bit of a variety with genres so there's something for (almost) everyone! And for you fuss-pots out there, the quality of the sound system and lighting was on another level, and to be frank, puts everything else to shame (like the Two Gallants gig I went to two days after Pitchfork - even though they were great in their own right!!). And if that's not enough, you can rest assured you'll get your money's worth as there's only two stages at arm's length from each other (okay okay, maybe not that close - but close enough!) and each set is one after the other, so all you have to do is just turn 180 degrees and enjoy the next act into the small hours. Not too bad, eh?!

But don't get too comfy, for there's pesky little pickpockets about! I know this as I had my phone nicked - scum bags! As a result, I have no photos of my own to share with you *boohoohoo* but my friend has kindly offered his for me to use. Hooray! Here they are in all its glory...


Grande Halle de la Villette - BOOM!

Italians do it better - Chromatics:

We had to buy tokens so that we could buy food and drinks!

John Talabot!

The insane Death Grips

Disco ball reflections!

 Room with a view...

Oh and the Eiffel Tour of course, with the beautiful autumnal sky...