A Real Life Fairytale

Last week, I was in the presence of real life magic. It all started when last Tuesday, I met one of Disney's most popular princesses. Cinderella, my favourite one (she was always the most down to earth - literally a floor washer and scrubber), stopped by my office for an exclusive showcase of her jewelry.

No, I am not talking about the real life Disney Princess, God, get a clue. And no, do not worry about me, Zesties, I'm not going insane - though some Christmas holidays would be very much needed right now. Rachel, the closest thing to the collection's namesake and Brazilian muse, Cinderela, is the mastermind designer behind Cinderela B, a beautifully eclectic and utterly whimsical jewelry collection, which is based right here, in the heart of one of London's hippest area, Spittalfields, E1. And she can even visit your office or a girly night in, if you fancy the VIP experience.

Her line ranges from a colourful set of pearls and beads, necklaces and bracelets, pendants and charms, all made from the real thing and marked with a "made with love" stamp; a wide variety of DIY charm necklaces, for which you have an extensive choice of charms, from cutesy stars and boy and girl kissing, to rock n' rollin skulls and angel wings; and finally chains up the wazoo, gold, silver and bronze, dangly and neck-choking. 

It's a miracle Harvey Nichs hasn't whisked her away yet, and an even bigger miracle that I only got myself this adorable rose quartz star-charm bracelet. I wish I had filled up a cart full of goodies before Cinderela flew away in her pumpkin carriage.

If I were you, I'd give it a visit sooner rather than later. The prices are friendly and there is even a sale going on right now. Or, get Prince Charming to go there instead. Christmas is around the corner after all. 

Here are some of the places you can spot Cinderela B:

Sunday-Up Market (every Sunday 10am-5pm)
Just off Hanbury Street, Spitalfields, London, E1 6QL
Lucas Bond, 45 Bedford Hill, Balham, London, SW12 9EY
Tickled Pink, 2 Bellevue Rd, London, SW17 7EO

Westfield of Dreams

The last time I was in a real shopping mall, I was about 12 years old. Walking hand in hand with my American Grandma, in the dead heat of Los Angeles summer, I could think of nothing better than the Thousand Oaks shopping mall to indulge on a Haagen-Dasz ice cream bar, salty popcorn and an air-conditioned movie. Looking back on those fun-filled American old days, I actually remember enjoying these luxurious moments of convenience and practicality. Today, there’s nothing I hate more than an over-crowded, over-heated shopping center. To me, they’ve always come to stand for everything I dislike about American culture, be it sterility or over-consumption. Or so, I thought.

Never in my wildest dreams could I fathom once again setting foot in the prison cell that is the American shopping mall. My London years have led me to erase and forget about the concept of shopping malls all together. It’s just not something I’ve missed or been longing for - at all.

 

I was taken to Westfield Shopping Center last weekend when I met my friend for a movie at the Vue Cinema in Sheperd’s Bush. Walking towards the designated address, I looked up and was immediately startled by the gargantuan size of this unusual building. I nearly turned my heels in refusal to walk ahead. It was almost organic.  But I fought the urge to walk away and I slowly climbed up the steps of the stadium-looking facility, and little by little, entered the chaotic and euphoric - almost magical world of Westfield. My eyes were gorged with micro-tears of fascination and excitement. How could I have missed this modern marvel these past two years without even the simple curiosity to take a peak? I was disappointed with myself and my judgmental attitude.

So I decided to let myself be carried away. The inside of the monster’s chest is even more enchanting than its asymmetrical and origami-shaped outside façade. While the practical aspect of malls has always bothered me, I’ve never witnessed such brilliant engineering inside and outside the walls of a shopping mall. I looked around me; I transport myself next to Ethan Hawke in Gattaca and Tom Cruise in Minority Report. But this is not a movie; this is not the future; this is real; this is now. This is the pure brilliance of modern mankind. And then I remember to keep walking. I am not in Hollywood, I am in Shepherd’s Bush!

I am surrounded left and right, up an down, by Miu Miu, Dior; Prada; Zadig & Voltaire, Whistles, Massimo Dutti and Cos; Habitat, Waitrose, M&S and H&M; all within a few feet of each other. I suddenly love shopping malls! What was I thinking this whole time? It’s suddenly all about convenience and practicality. I go up numerous escalators and flying elevators and am in awe, even more bewildered by the countless choices of lunch spots. From Pho and Wahacca to Tossed and Chipotle, I cannot think of a better place to be than standing in the middle of London’s best fast food joints. 

I've finally come to the realisation that gems don’t have to be small and hidden. Sometimes, gems are right there in front you the whole time, before you even realize that you are standing right before one. 

Westfield Shopping Center

Ariel Way
London W12 7GF
020 3371 2300

Vintage Shopping-By Appointment

Thank you Daily Candy for leading me to this special place in Notting Hill, the second-hand clothing heaven on earth, Chic & Seek. Call up for a "relaxed" appointment (020 7229 4308) with lovely shop/home owner (that's right her shop is her home), Tara Nash-King, for the vintage ride of your life. Meandering in Notting Hill, you'll find her shop in a  "sleepy mews just stones throw away from Portobello Road and Ledbury Road." It's actually off All Saints Road, the coolest street in Notting hill where my fave Italian Restaurant, The Ripe Tomato, sits.

The mews house stocks the most beautiful dresses, shoes, handbags and everything vintage from the most exclusive designers and all for a quarter of the original retail price. She calls it "top-end fashion uniqueness available to all." Okay, okay, it's still expensive, you'll tell me, but the just for the experience, it's worth it. In one corner, you'll dig out a really special Roberto Cavalli dress while in the other you'll stumble upon awesome Gucci studded sandals.

Roberto Cavalli, size 8, £250

Gucci Sandals, size 36.5, £145

And it's not over! You'll also revel at the sight of last season's Louboutin platform sandals!

Louboutin Sandals, size 37.5, £135

Vanessa Bruno here, Isabel Marant there. Marni and Dries van Noten everywhere! It is truly as if you've stumbled into Ali Baba's cave, and without the weird men in Aladdin pants chasing after you!

Isabel Marant boots, size 38, £110

And guess what? You know that putrid old clothes smell that most vintage shops seem to carry around with them wherever you go? Chic & Seek doesn't have it! In fact, it smells amazing! 

Anyways, forget about the smell-bit...just hear me out. If you're not ready to spend the money, convince a friend to take you along with them, and take in all the beautiful colors, garments and sparkles around you. It's like waking up on Christmas day when the tree is more beautiful than ever and all you want to do is put your nose in it.

ps: if you're feeling cold and lazy, you can order online!
ps2: Spring cleaning is closer than you think. If you want to clean out your closet of some cool designer stuff, she takes that in too and you'll get a share of the money if she's able to sell it!

Here Here Baby Gazelle, Come to Mommy

Ladies and gentlemen, the day has finally come for me to tell you all that I am closer than ever to achieving my dream of owning a Gazelle Dutch Style bicycle. The model in question is a modern make of the 1940s original version. It is a true piece of art and I will cherish it, cradle it, caress it til I am on my deathbed. Cross my heart.

Sunday afternoon, I went to the, and I quote, Most Beautiful Bicycle Shop in Britain (that's what they call it there so I'm not just making it up...and I agree), Bobbin Bicycles, on St John Street, in the heart of cute and quirky Islington. The place is filled with vintage two-wheeled jewels, retro helmets and funky bicycle accessories. The store director, Tom, is a delightful sweater-vest sporting character, and knows his product like his own child.

Not only that, the selection of bicycles is mind blowing. And I kid you not, zesties, the Gazelle Oma is a true beauty. It is sleek, it is simple, it is retro and it's feminine and it rides like a vintage Jaguar. The driving on the left side of the road is what is scaring me for the most part, but it's my belief, that after some practice runs around the block, a couple rides in Hyde Park and a few scratches and scares on the street, I will be riding my new Gazelle baby like a true London lady.

The Classic Gazelle 

My Gazelle Oma will be the cream version below. The below picture is a wee bit small but hopefully you get the idea. Add to that a smart looking helmet and a mailman-style panier, and I'm ready to roll.

 All in all, it is a magical bicycle. And in less than 2 weeks, it will be mine forever!!!

A Swedish Holiday in London- Preparing for Lucia

I have a special affinity for the Swedish traditions...for anything Swedish actually. I am an avid Stockholm enthousiast and enthousiast is an understatement. Love the city, have been there 5-6 times before, sometimes in the dead of winter, when it's pitch black outside by the time you get out of lunch at NK, or when it's broad day light, all night long, in the hot months of June and July and you're thankful for those IKEA special light-blocking curtains.

The Archipelagos are also, in my mind, some of the most beautiful islands/places I've been to in my life. 

And don't even get me started on Swedish people. Swedes are not only some of the most gorgeous human beings I've encountered in my lifetime, but they're also some of the warmest. I'm not kidding...I know, it's kind of surprising for a people living in a supposedly cold bloody country. But it's true, I really do believe it. 

I recently learned from my sources that there are some two hundred thousand Swedes living in London. I don't know if you realize but that is a whole lot of Swedish people living outside of Sweden. I even hear London is the third largest Swedish population in the world, after Stockholm and Gothenburg. That is pretty surreal if you ask me.

Anyhow, I came to talk about Sweden because a very important holiday, called Lucia, is nigh, and the festivities of light are soon to take place. On December 13th to be exact. Lucia, aka St Lucy, is a young lady who came with lights and sweets to brighten up the skies and souls of Sweden. Rumour has it, that back in the day, 304 AD, she was martyred by the Romans during one of the darkest days of winter, hence all the lights and the candles on her crown. 

It is one of the few saint days observed in Scandinavia. And one of the yummiest at that. You will want to try a delicious Swedish Saffron Bun, originally called the Lussekatter, at the Scandinavian Kitchen on Great Titchfield Street in Soho, at Fika on Brick Lane, at the Nordic Bakery in Golden Square, or simply try it yourself by following this recipe here.

If you're interested in finding out more about Swedish cooking in general or Swedish specialty foods especially for Lucia, go check out Totally Swedish, a cool and everything-store dedicated to Swedish stuff only on Crawford Street in Marylebone. 

There you'll be able to dig out a variety of Swedish foods and cooking ingredients, including candy (not Swedish fish), coffee, caviar, meatball gravy, pickled gherkins and herring, crisps, and ginger biscuits (Pepparkakor, the best ginger snaps you'll ever taste), as well as all types of magazines, life-changing cheese-slicers and a wide range of other fantastic nonsense. 

As for me, I'm very excited for the Lucia holiday. I get to go spend it at Met Mum's house with Little L. and lots of other beautiful people. On that note, Happy Lucia everyone!

Luxe Chocolate in the Heart of Marylebone

I've been stuffing myself silly lately, what with the hundreds of Lindt chocolate Santas and bunnies, chocolate covered almonds, and the five too many kinders and smarties that I had over the weekend... and  to tell you the truth, I don't know how much more of it I can take. I know the Holiday season is coming up but I've been stuck in the pre-Holiday season for far too long! I was just in Switzerland over the weekend where chocolate is like...peanut butter in the US. It's the best damn chocolate you can eat, the finest and the purest. And it's just so friggin good. Ok ok, so I know comparing chocolate to peanut butter is pretty much like murdering a baby kitten, but I am just so into the PBJ (Whole Foods homemade PBJ...oh I miss you dearly), that I have no other comparison to give.

Cocomaya Chocolatier on Connaught Street in Marylebone has noting to do with Lindt, Cadbury, Smarties or Ferrero. It's a whole new category all on its own, and I'd be lying if I told you it's just chocolate. Because it's not. It's luxe chocolate. It's fashionable chocolate. Imagine Prada chocolate. It's like that, except not Italian. The chocolatier is a lovely Northern Irish Cambodian man (I know! Go figure!) who is a true chocolate artist and who will revive your chocolate senses like Juliette Binoche did in Chocolat!

It was co-founded by the Liberty's guy and the Agent Provocateur lady...now you know what I'm talking about? If you're feeling festive and generous you can also have the chocolates made to measure for an exclusive and personal gift. Now they are making other things non-chocolate as well, which are just delectable, and you'll even drool over some miniature Damien Hirst chocolate skulls!

 

The shop is a delightful hidden gem off the high street of Marylebone. You'll want to retreat there forever and eat nothing but pure Luxe Irish Cambodian chocolate for the rest of your lives!

 

Newburgh & Carnaby For Your Christmas Shopping

I'm a huge fan of the Christmas shopping experience. I know, you must think I'm mad and that there's nothing worse than rushing on the 24th of December in the cold and frosty afternoon, up and down the high street desperately trying to pick out your last gifts for that one person in your life you don't rally care about or even like that much. I get it, I do. That's why it's best to start your christmas shopping early. I've been shying away from the high street stores trying to find the hidden gems, boutiques and personal finds that will make those happy faces shine on D-day. That's my favourite part. The happy faces. And just because of those, I enjoy my Christmas shopping.

Working at Oxford Circus, I find it incredibly difficult to find a quiet area nearby to take a breather. That's why Carnaby and Newburgh Streets are little slices of heaven right off the beaten paths of Regent and Oxford Streets. I love these two little streets. I actually stumble upon something new everytime and my eyes always sparkle at every new shop that opens. In between Liberty's, creative artsy "everything" stores, cool dress shops (like the adorable Beyond the Valley) and cute lil cafes, you'll find a whole afternoon worth of activities, to enjoy especially around Christmas time.

Liberty Back View on Newburgh Street

Beyond the Valley, Newburgh Street

If you're around the hood for dinner, take a 15 minute walk down and around the area to digest. You'll find the evening lights to be most refreshing.