Welcome to Mayfair, Bally!

Jacket & Bag – Bally. Sweater – Uniqlo. Trousers – Zara. Shoes – Acne Jensen boots

Carpenter’s Workshop Gallery

Hedonism Wines

Annabel’s chocolate cake, at Mount Street Deli

Mount Street Deli

Jacket & Bag – Bally. Extrafine Merino knitwear – Uniqlo. Trousers – Zara (similar). Shoes – Acne Jensen boots

Oh Mayfair. Home to old-school London opulence and playground to hedge fund boys; and reportedly – the scene to Prince Philip’s stag night, way back when. Dusty terracotta-orange bricks punctuate the neighbourhood, Victorian filigree curling around the frames. And the occasional Lamborghini, parked like boys’ bicycles on the curbs. Soon to add to the flags of the not-so-commonwealth along New Bond Street is Swiss brand Bally who, those of who will remember, my sister from another mister (in my dreams) – tucked in a corner at number 45, designed by none other than David Chipperfield Architects (of Hotel Cafe Royal, Valentino NY flagship…) In the lead-up to the store launch I worked with Bally on leading a new video series named #BallyMayfairWelcome, essentially doing what new neighbours do and knock on doors of their Mayfair neighbours, pie in hand. Of course, in some cases we ate the pies… Annabel’s chocolate cake at Mount Street Deli will change your life (TEAM CHOCOLATE) – you heard it here first. The videos are being released in the Bally blog, but do keep an eye out on their Twitter and Instagram as from the sneak peeks I’ve been seeing so far it looks a right stunner. Think leather shoe boxes lining the walls, mid-century furniture and stone stairwells…

I’m coming to realize that I never managed to share this news here, but I’ve been consulting for and managing the Bally social media accounts since July. (The amount of times I very nearly tweeted chocolate cravings and in-bus rages from that account… heart palpitations.) Do come by and say hi soon!

Many thanks to Laetitia (another sister from another mister) for helping with the photos of me. In Collaboration with Bally.

Coat – Dagmar. Asymmetrical skirt – Dagmar (stocked at Harrod’s). Shoes – Gianvito Rossi (similar lower price). Bag – Louis Vuitton Vivienne. Cross-ring – Elizabeth & James (via Revolve). Rings – Monica Vinader. Leopard keyring – Charlotte Olympia. Pear & cage Bracelet – Razan Alazzouni. Round bracelet – Monica Vinader

I know the title hints on an impending rant about how I am yet again here to renew my vows to this blog and give yet another go on becoming a better blogger/designer/human being… but fear not, I have fully accepted the fact that I am a kebab-munching, inconsistent internet person with an aversion to showering. Everything else will need to happen around this smelly SpongeBob CubePants. The weather in London has just turned a corner into coldsville and I’m simply enjoying the fact that I can drape a big coat over any old thing and call it an outfit. A bit like shoving dirty laundry under the bed, I suppose, monsters and all. Funny thing with this grey Dagmar number (stocked at houseofdagmar.com) is that it comes with the black knitted gilet so – if I might let you in on a secret – I’m technically wearing nothing but a breeze under this coat. Talk about a new leaf, this one’s turned a whole tree into tart territory…

Also, before you ask why it is I’ve attached a toothbrush onto my glasses, the eye contraption you see in the photos are actually the notorious Google Glass, fitted onto a DVF frame (DVF | Made For Glass). Witness as my life & body molds around this gadget and finally I’ll be able to upload my first video on Youtube with a unique skillset of being able to move my eyeballs completely independent of eachother. Attraction.

Inside the Studio with Harrods & Antonio Berardi: a teaser

Behind the scenes images of Inside the Studio with Harrods & Antonio Berardi

Goodness, I’ve been having to put a cork on spilling details on so many exciting projects for the past few weeks, it’s starting to hurt inside. I don’t do secrets very well – usually it ends up being yelled out amidst a completely irrelevant sentence (i.e I’d like to have eggs for breakf- YOU’RE GETTING AN XBOX FOR CHRISTMAS) – so you gotta give it to me for having kept my mouth zipped this long.

While this is just a few droplets that make up a small teaser, I’m very excited to finally be able to share a sneakpeek of something I’ve been working on with Harrods in the past month. Soon to be released, Inside the Studio is a series of films that capture the essence of the design studios of Matthew Williamson, Rupert Sanderson, Antonio Berardi and Alice Temperley. Harrods granted me, and by extension only my readers, an exclusive invitation inside Antonio Berardi’s bustling atelier to discover the exquisite craftsmanship behind his new collection.

So stay tuned for the full feature: Berardi’s muse, his journey through a collection, and the magic of a masterfully-tailored, sensual pieces come to life. And do excuse me while I go duct-tape my mouth again…

In collaboration with Harrods

Suede leather jacket – All Saints. Jeans – Levi’s 501. Heels – Malone Souliers. Rings – Monica Vinader

Behind scenes & interview, click to watch

McArthurGlen Denim Icons campaign, shot by photographer Nick Haddow

Chuffed – That’s probably not the most sophisticated word I could’ve dished out and certainly not a word that describes the amazing opportunity that’s being photographed by Nick Haddow, but that’s the word I’ll stand by when it comes to this McArthurGlen global campaign that I can finally share with you today.

I would never label myself an icon or a model (model what – model citizen? I pick up after my neighbour’s puppy, if that’s what they mean) of any sort, I was invited to be one of McArthurGlen’s Denim Icons, which at first I hesitated to accept. But the hero of the campaign was to be Denim, and the iconic versatility of it – so I accepted. Figured I owed a lifetime worth of uniform anyway – skinny, ripped, bleached or cut-off at any given junction in life…. and if it meant a few hours with Nick, then heck, let’s call meself an Icon. McArthurGlen Outlets so happen to have ridiculous discounts on designer/high-street denim too so happy to front that intelligent shopping game at the same time.

In collaboration with McArthurGlen; thoughts and opinions are my own as usual.

Jacket – H&M. Skirt – Three Floor (via REVOLVE). Bag – Bally. Leather trousers – Hoss Intropia (similar).

Neoprene jacket – H&M. Skirt – Three Floor (via REVOLVE). Boots – Tibi (via REVOLVE). Bag – Bally. Leather trousers – Hoss Intropia (similar).

Just a quick one today before I rush out to the airport – we’re off to the South of Spain to catch the last of the summer sun, leaving behind a million things that I have no other choice but to trust will pickle* into something agreeable. The flat looks a bit like a scene from Home Alone with the aftermath of fashion month strewn around: crinkled receipts from hurried lunches, stained show invitations, half-drunk Coconut Water cartons… and shoes, shoes everywhere. To top it off, the hubby’s purchased timed-sockets for our lamps so they go on and off every hour after 7pm. No burglar wire dare tackle this obstacle course. Except of course, I’ve just advertised our home security to the internet so none of that matters in the end, I SMART. The plan is to eat, sleep and siesta some more. I might even try braving the water and see where that takes me. Africa, I hope.

Hasta la vista, babies.

BTW, am I the last one in this planet to have discovered REVOLVE? Had a wee discount card lying around and pretty much went crazy browsing through all the US brands that are hard to get here in the UK… Felt like 2008 all over again.

* Pickle = life philosophy.

Photos with the help from Abi!