Marni for H&M - Coming to an H&M Near You

Pinch me. I can't believe it's finally happening, zesties. Are you as ecstatic as I am for the biggest fashion-for-all event of the year?! The Marni for H&M collection is only one week away from hitting the H&M store near you on March 8th. Prepare yourselves for a battle of the high-street-meets-designer fashion victims.

The collection perfectly embodies the modern woman. It is at once playful and serious; dramatic and calming; breezy and warm. I love it. I love it all. And even Sofia Coppola agrees.

See here the short film she produced capturing the ultimate cool factor of the Marni for H&M collection.

Marni for H&M hits select H&M stores Thursday, 8th March

Stores open @9am
There will be massive queuing so make sure you get there early!

The Latest Addition to the Bruton Street Fash Pack

No, this is not a joke and this is not a tease. Your heard me. It's happening and it's true. The cult Parisian designer Isabel Marant is coming to town and bringing her delicious garments to Mayfair's finest street to reside at 29 Bruton. While no official opening date has yet been announced, you can be sure that there will be buzz, fashion lights and beautiful people populating the new space and strutting their stuff with her latest collection through the streets of London. Marant will move into a 3,5000-square-foot premise, and will become neighbour to Matthew Williamson, Stella McCartney and Diane Von Furstenberg. Yes, dear. I did say the Finest.

Being a hardcore fan myself since 2004, I've never once not seen her catalogues, and never once not bought anything from one season to the next. I've always clung like glue to her ankle boots, floral prints and skin-tight leather trousers. And her knits have a way to make any look seem effortless yet feminine. There's something to be said about laid back French fashion. It's just undeniably cool.

Take a look at her exquisite A/W 11 collection here.

LondonZest Tries Hollywood Glamour

How can one think about gowns, jewels and stilettos when the outdoor temperature reaches the zeroes and all you want to do is slap on some mittens and a hoodie just to brave the cold London wind? I am feeling awfully shabby these days, preferring to settle for the jeans and knit sweaters than the cute LBD and accessories combo. But the Hollywood awards season having kicked off already and Spring weddings and exciting travel plans coming up shortly, I am finding myself longing for the occasion to dress up and be glamourous. Done with the winter blues, hello to the bejeweled evenings out and parties. In comes the shopping.

Walking past the Merchant, the posh yet welcoming high end designer Vintage store on Ledbury Road in Notting Hill, I was immediately enamored with the beauty of the window. I saw Chanel, I saw Stella and Dior, I saw Louboutins, Choos and Prada.

I grinned. I immediately had a vision of myself, tall, confident, glamourous, donning a flowy frock and diamond earrings, an Oscar in hand, on stage, thanking my mum, my dad, God, and of course, the academy. I don't know how it happened, but before I knew it, I was inside the treasure trove, trying on dozens of items, garments, shoes and jewelry and forgot about it all, the cold, the wind, the mittens. And then I grinned even wider, the treasure trove sheltered a Golden chest filled with vintage jewels. 

And suddenly, the long grey gown I had chosen for my upcoming friend's wedding seemed much less dull. The earrings were on my ears - and there was no taking them off. I smiled to the clerk - and there was not much else to say but thank you. And have a good day.

These are no diamonds but I'll settle for these any day of the week. I wish I could tell you the name of the designer but he remains nameless- honestly the shop assistant had no idea what his name was. You'll have to go check it out for yourself. So off you go, zesties.

The Merchant

36 Ledbury Road 

London, W11 2AB

A Little Bit of Paris Zest

Paris is just as amazing as everyone says. After returning from a mini break in the city of Love, I can confidently make the claim that Paris is the most magical city in the world. Don't get me wrong, London is my new home and I have embraced it as the new city of my heart. But Paris oozes class and elegance. It is the hub of all that is fashion, art and food. There is no point in denying it. Paris is simply put, the one and only capital of cool. And the more I return, the more I play around with the idea that I might eventually move there to live. I'm consistently charmed by Paris. Overwhelmed by all of its quirks, weirdnesses and character flaws. And because Paris is so full of flaws, I love it. Because Paris is so full of flaws, and I accept myself as a flawed French American girl, I can't help but daydream about a future life within its beautiful city walls. This is why, after much thought and consideration, I have decided to put a list together that would summarize, in a typically London Zest Top 10 fashion, my favourite zesty activities and spots in the future city of my heart, Paris.

1. For an all around fantastic shopping experience: Le Bon Marche has everything to offer, from cosmetics and menswear, to high end designers and a fantastic selection of ladies pret a porter. Vanessa Bruno, APC, Maje, Sandro and Tsumori Chisato, the racks of this 19th century monument offer an exciting array of contemporary fashion.

Le Bon Marche, Rue de Sevres, 6eme Arrondissement

 

2. For some fancy food shopping: if you're a bourgeois lady heading to the shops to prepare for a dinner party in your Haussman style palace apartment, then you'll probably love to come to La Grande Epicerie inside Le Bon Marche, for your foie gras and epicerie items. It truly is Alibaba's cave when it comes to the delicacies a gourmet supermarket can offer.

La Grande Epicerie, Rue de Sevres, 6eme Arrondissement

3. For some uber-cool neighborhood boutique shopping: visit le Marais, 3e arrondissement. As usual it started all with the gays. It turns out, it is now the hippest shopping neighborhood in Paris. You'll find the upmarket labels like Isabel Marant (my fave!) and you'll also spot some reasonably priced quirky shoe boutiques like Mellow Yellow.

Isabel Marant, Rue Debelleyme, 3eme Arrondissement

4. For the best rose and people watching: La Palette is the epitome of Parisien bobo (bourgeois boheme) style, elegance and nostalgia, where The APC-clad youngsters and hipsters circle and dot this perfectly sectioned terrasse of the super hip 6eme arrondissement.

 La Palette, Rue de Seine, 6eme Arrondissment

5. For a scrumpscious "burgers and hipsters" combo: also located in Le Marais 3eme arrondissement, Cafe Charlot houses the best burgers in town if you're feeling like being kooky in the homeland of Coq au Vin and Poulet Frites. Order it with a side of freaking good looking people, dressed to impress the crowds of this delightful little cafe.

 Cafe Charlot, Rue de Bretagne, 3eme Arrondissment

6. For the best new hip restaurant to be and be seen: Le Derriere has "Cool New Hot Spot" written all over it. Industrially chic and fantastifally fashionable, this place loosely translated into "The Bottom (or behind)" is not only a fun people-watching venue but it also guarantees an ecclectic variety of fusion French dishes mixed with traditional fare. Un vrai delice is all I can say. Also, while you're there, don't forget to check outt he room behind the closet upstairs. Secrets are coveted in this mysterious little fumoir area.

Le Derriere, Rue des Gravilliers,  3eme Arrondissement

7. For some Paris by night: Le Curio Parlor is reminiscent of New York's Lower East Side Freeman's restaurant and bar. Taxidermy is not the only strange element you'll find in the curious parlour-type venue. Aside from stuffed foxes and pheasants hanging from the walls, you'll relish on some eccentric cocktails recipes and eye-poppingly gorgeous locals.

Curio Parlor, Rue des Bernardins, 5eme Arrondissment

8. For the best cheap eats: Situated smack in the middle of the Jewish quarter of Le Marais, L'As du Falafel has been a go-to favourite cheap-eats location of mine for years and I always recommend it to Paris visitors, looking for a bit of exotic food in their Parisien diet. This is by far the best falafel I've ever tasted. Try the Shwarma as well. While your breath will suffer for hours on end, the moment you bite into this little package of paradise, your mind will draw a blank as to where you even live.

L'As du Falafel, Rue des Rosiers, 3eme Arrondissement

9. For some tea and macaroons Parisien style: La Duree in Saint Germain des Pres, has been on my Top 10 list for a while. I'm a caramel macaroon fan and La Duree is the only answer to my sweet afternoon cravings.

La Duree, Rue Jacob, 6eme Arrondissement

10. For an afternoon nap in the sun: La Places des Vosges is in my mind, the most beautifully quaint slice of Parisien paradise. Lay yourself down with a novel in hand and doze off into a deep sleep under the warm Spring sun.

Place des Vosges, 3eme Arrondissement

Kelly Graces London

The V&A is one of my all-time favourite museums in London. Firstly because, knowing myself, I think I could spend hours just gazing it. Architecturally, it carries within it that impressive London regal status that only a few other monuments have in London, and it catches my eye every time I pass by it. And secondly, because when I enter the grand doors of the museum, I can't help but think about and be moved by the fantastic love story that took place between Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, and the love they both fostered for art and beautiful objects. I think, yes, I'm in the presence of true love. Last Saturday, I strolled down the long corridors of the true love V&A to catch the 4pm viewing of the Grace Kelly show- a selection of Grace Kelly's most beautiful and desirable gowns and accessories, accompanied by a snippet of her life story as Hollywood actress turned Princess of Monaco.

Not only was I mesmerized by the her fabulous 1960's Haute Couture designer wardrobe, but I also realized how forward-thinking she was - in her dresses, her accessories, in her choice of outfits, in her hair, in her jewelry. I couldn't help but think: "hey, I could wear this!" Or maybe more appropriately, "hey, I would wear this if I could afford it! This Chanel suit is timeless. I think I might just be able to pull it off at my next client meeting."

But there is nothing I could ever do to measure up to this gorgeous woman. What an elegant lady Grace was. As she ducked out of her vintage Rolls Royce, as she floated down the aisle arm in arm with Prince Rainier, and as she gently waved hello to her thousands of adoring fans, she always carried herself like a true Princess. She stood tall next to Jackie O. She could pull her weight for sure. Her sense of old Hollywood glamour mixed with regal floor-length gowns made the conservative touch of Jackie's New England pencil skirts and twinsets nothing but conservative non-fashion.

And there was nothing more beautiful than her glowing smile and golden locks combed backwards and perked sideways beneath her bejeweled ears. She truly was a style icon wrapped up in the tiny yet voluptuous body of a blond siren, of a Grecian Goddess.

I fell in Love with Grace that day. I fell in love with her Chanel Couture, her Balenciaga gowns, her Hermes bag and her dreamy diamonds. I fell in love with her life as a Hollywood actress turned Princess. And I fell in love with her gorgeous smile. But I could not have imagined a more horrible end than dying so young in a tragic accident at the wheel of a car. But her legend still lives as she graces the walls of the Victoria and Albert monumental museum.

Book online (in advance!)
Victoria & Albert Museum
Cromwell Road
SW7 2RL

It's a Jungle Out There

One of the many great things about London are the hundreds of sample sales that are at our disposal week after week. I generally tend to miss out on them unfortunately, always finding something better to do, or some other excuse that will keep me far away from spending way too much money on something I'll convince myself I need, at a price I'll convince myself I can afford. Sample sales are killer. But hey, that's part of the game. You get there, you promise yourself you won't buy anything over £100 and then you end up with 4 things adding up to exactly 4 times that amount. It's inevitable. You sample sale, you ruin yourself. 

New York's Barney's Warehouse sale did that to me every year. It killed me but I loved it. The smell of a large uninhabited warehouse and the thousands of clothes and accessories ready to be snagged off to better and greener pastures. The women, the crazy women, stomping, ripping, yapping, shouting and swearing at each other all for a pair of marked down Loubs and McQueen trousers. I would go there at times just to enjoy the unreal jungle scene (it's a Mean Girls moment). Here in London, I hear there is something quite like it called the Secret Sample Sale at the awesome and legendary Old Truman Brewery in Shoreditch (87 BRICK LANE LONDON E1 6QL) and it must not be missed.

It starts today, April 8th, and lasts through the 11th, all day til 9pm. You print out your pass (only needed for today April 8), you show up, you pay £1, you got yourself an entry to the sample sale of the year. 

It's your last chance to grab a McQueen anything for a decent price, your shot at a great pair of Seven jeans for the spring, some Stella McCartney blouses and Miu Miu jackets, a Zimmermann bathing suit, Martin Margiela shorts, and of course Marc Jacobs colourful prints sometimes only for a  tenner. It's all there. And the prices are crazy at discounts of up to 80% off. It's a jungle out there. Be ready to unleash the lioness in you!

Blaze it Up!

A couple of my friends have been "launching their own businesses" lately and I've been feeling quite sentimental about it all. Not only does it impress me so much that a 20 something year old can quit her regular day job to dedicate her time and energy to something she really loves and feels passionate about, but it also makes me so proud to know someone who has this much determination and passion for a personal project. In New York, I used to meet tons of young entrepreneurs. They would always leave me bright-eyed and curious to know more about their passion, their decisions to do it, their relentless ambition and their thirst for success.

Surely enough, my friend Christina and her friend and business partner Louisa have come to London all the way from the Big Apple to present their new Guy French blazer collection next Thursday, March 25th from 6-9pm, at an intimate trunk show in a Chelsea home. Their collection of cool and original jackets is so hot that they've already managed to get articles published in Daily Candy and WWD and many fashion blogs. Guy French jackets have only been around since February but they sure are popular and are already selling like hot cakes in trunk shows all over the US. 

The line is directly inspired by the women they know. They're smart, sophisticated women--who have lived in some of the most dynamic cities in the world--with great taste and an eye for good value. The Guy French ladies even named their first line after them. The Camille jacket (below) is one of them- loose, relaxed and sophisticated, it personifies its namesake perfectly: a young Parisian woman working in crisis communication in New York. 

They are starting small to focus on the fit, attention to detail, and quality of materials. Each of their garments--showcasing colorful, patterned, 100% silk liners, imported Italian wool and 4-ply silks fabrics--are made by hand in Manhattan. All jackets are made to order for £250-400 and are available at trunk shows and online.

If you are interested in attending the trunk show, please RSVP and ask for address details at info@guyfrench.com, reference Emily at LondonZest, and they will put you on the list. There is of course no obligation to buy, just an excuse to view the jackets and mingle with other ladies. Hope to see you there!

Living in the Trenches

After a memorable holiday in the sun, all I can think about is palm trees, turquoise blue water and sun-kissed skin. Unfortunately, since I've been back, I've seen a lot more rain, cloudy skies and gray-toned cheeks than any of the above. I love London, don't get me wrong. The rain has always appealed to me as a kind of a necessity to a romantic Sunday afternoon filled with long walks in Notting Hill, tea and scones at the local coffee shop. But now, I am desperately seeking to make this week go faster and Spring seem nearer than it actually is. Screw the rain, tea and miserable baked sweets. I want a colourful cocktail with a little umbrella in it. I want a sunburn on the back of my neck and some aloe vera to soothe it with. I want some salsa and guacamole. I want a hot and humid afternoon at the beach. But I can't have that so I've got to find a way to survive.

Here's my remedy. Find myself a warm and practical accessory to protect me from the rainy weather. The famous trench coat is the obvious answer. The trench coat will help me find my way and help me last til the much awaited springtime in London. So let me present you with a selection of my favourite S/S 10 zesty discoveries.

The zestiest one of all, the APC trench (to find at Liberty's)

It's short, it's spunky, it's well-tailoured and it's definitely sexy. The detachable hood makes for a perfect rain and shine accessory and you'll love riding your bike in it since there is no excess material to get caught in the wheels of your Pashley bicycle.

My guilty-pleasure and object of desire, the pink Burberry trench, timeless

It's not as pricey as you'd think, though it still exceeds the amount I would spend on a barely-there piece of cloth. At £695, you can look, act and dress the part of a glamazon living in London. Love the pink, it gives the coat a little spice, a little attitude, a little je ne sais quoi.

The wanna-be Burberry trench, the Banana Republic trench coat

 

For £140, this adorable belted trench gives you the confidence to walk into any room and feel like you're worth as much as the Burberry-clad Emma Watson: 9 million bucks. 

The Comptoir des Cotonniers trench, a far cry from the Burberry one, but a lasting style at that

The baggy hood makes for an air of skateboarder meets Harry Potter and I've gotta admit, I kinda like it. 

So go on, confront the rainy weather with the Brit-style trench coat. It will guarantee a faster recovery to Spring and a long-lasting fashion item to last you for at least a couple years.

V-Day's Coming up: Give it Some Heart

I'm normally not such a big fan of Comme des Garcons. I find it quite intellectual, not that wearable and generally a little too...trying "too hard to be edgy." It's what I call "unnatural fashion", the kind of fashion that one wears to call attention to oneself. Not in the way some people sport the LV and Gucci print bags. But in the way that Comme des Garcons, just in its pure artistic form, is heardly ever a proper piece of clothing but rather an assemblage of fabrics put together hapharzardly to create what some people may call fashion.

The Dover Street Market, Mayfair

However, for the sake of following the footsteps of my fellow bloggers and buying into the media frenzy that is the commercial celebration of Valentine's day, I found it only appropriate to talk about the designer's Play collection at the Dover Street Market. Only because it's all about that weird two-eyed heart that pops out of the garment like a red pimple on a cheek, and only because I happen to love DSM. So here are some of my favourite pieces from the Play collection from Comme des Garcons, available upstairs at the Dover Street Market.

I'm loving the striped stuff these days so this one obviously caught my eye and I'm also really into polo shirts again, finding them much cooler now than I have in the past. For some reason, I could never figure out how to wear the preppy pieces "un-preppy" but I find that this one would look great with a pair of cut-off jean shorts and some Havaianas. And the thing that I love about the white tee with the giant red heart on it, well, that's just coz it's V-Day, baby.

For my other entry on Dover Street Market's Rose Bakery, please click here.

Everybody's Got the Vintage Fever!

I've never considered myself to be a Vintage-junkie, finding the new and fresh scent of never-worn clothing on my skin much more exhilarating than the old and stuffy smell reminiscent of an old lady's medicine cabinet. I guess I'm a bit OCD that way, scrubbing every corner of my flat, shining the kitchen counter til it shrieks and picking at every ball of dust I find in my way. At the risk of sounding like a hygiene freak, I have to admit I find my skepticism towards vintage clothing to be at par with my obsession with cleanliness- and in my mind skepticism and obsession are equally hard to shake.

I have, however, been surprisingly more open-minded towards vintage shopping lately as I continue my journey through London's hidden gems and observe that vintage stores actually sometimes protect the city's most bejeweled objects and garments.The West End treasure trove, Fever, is one of those places, one of those fairy-land magical places. 

 

Filled with unique and old-fashioned pieces alike, the racks of Fever feature quirky dresses, blouses and blazers, with fashionable cuts and trimmings, and lots more to dream about, for prices even dreamier, and scents even lovelier. 

 

The sale season is calling your name and spelling it out on the glossy windows of the Eastcastle Street vintage clothing boutique. You can't escape the Fever!