A Swell Spectacle

With the Mad Men's season 4 premiere just around the corner, it's only natural to start daydreaming about the beautiful 1960s fashion: powder-blue pouffy skirts, frilly blouses, big hair, voluptuous red lips, kitten heels, lace garder belts and secretary glasses. Most of all, secretary glasses. How great that a pair of large reading spectacles can make any regular gal look like a sex kitten. I sort of envy women who can accessorize their face daily with more than a dab of makeup. It always seemed to me like it gave them an extra splash of power and confidence. 

So forget about the secretary thing. My very good friend C. has recently been gifted with these perfect pair of spectacles. Now is it me or does she look like she means business? Meow. Jokes aside, she's alot of fun. As a matter of fact, she's a total hoot. And guess what? She's no secretary, she's an ad lady too. And an important one at that. If I could allow myself one more observation, I'd say it's because of her glasses.

My very special model is sporting the swell and unique Knightsbridge-based Cutler & Gross eyewear, only suitable for over the top fun gals. If you are an over the top fun lady yourself, you could be the perfect candidate for these super stylish twins. They come in all shapes, colours and sizes, but more importantly whether you're interested in reading lenses or sunglasses, C & G epitomise glam and sophistication without screaming "label" or bling like other eyewear brands. They are imaginative and original, fun and playful, vintage and futuristic and always ones to grab attention.  

 

You can find yourselves a pair of reading glasses or sunnies at the very swell Cutler & Gross boutique located in the heart of Knighstbridge. You'll discover that there is a Betty Draper within everyone, even you.

 

Cutler & Gross Ltd

16 Knighstbridge Green

Cutler & Gross Vintage

7 Knighstbridge Green

Fashionable Foods

If you have ever found yourself at Harrods, Selfridges, Dover Street, Liberty's and Harvey Nichols, then you will have had to pit stop at their respective food markets, cafes and restaurants. I am here to talk to you about one in particular, where aesthetics and fashion play a particular role. Visually, it's got the most elegant and luxurious aisles, food packaging bedecked in grey, golden and silver images, and displays you'll want to replicate in your own kitchen. Quality is a must where London's poshest and most extravagant shoppers are involved. 

So yes, the Foodmarket at Harvey Nichs on the 5th floor of the Knightsbridge store, is worth the detour. Especially if you're galavanting down the aisles of Tom Ford and Stella McCartney on floors 3 and 4, the Foodmarket is worth the detour. There is nothing discrete about the fifth floor food joint. Their claim to fame is that "it's the most fashionable food destination for die hard foodies and fashionistas alike." I say that's a pretty big statement, but hey, I think they measure up to it. So stop by for a quick coffee and pie or linger on for hours in their posh restaurant. It's a catwalk in its own right.

 

Chop Choppity Chop at the Urban Retreat

The Gwyneth. The Katie. Let's face it ladies. A great haircut is hard to come by. I have lived in a little over 5 different big cities in my life, where I have had probably a total of 7 great memorable haircuts. And I am no young sprout. So yes, those are slim pickens. I have to admit, I am obsessively inclined to change my hairstyle every three months. I mean, drastically change my hair. I can let it grow for years, then chop it all off. I can decide to grow the boy cut out into a feminine bob and decide it's too cutesy. The long tedious process of letting the hair grow. I have been there...way too often. I am simply never satisfied with one hairstyle. Maybe that's because I associate a change of hair with a change of lifestyle, or a change of hair with a change of mood. Or a desire to start anew, to start afresh. I don't know. But looking back at my 7 successful cuts, I am starting to think that I may have a real problem. I was living in NYC for a total of 4 years. Tried  different hair dressers, ended up with one great one (Monique at Paul Labrecque , you have shears of gold and I trust you with my life!) The only problem was, before I knew it, I was moving again and the search for the perfect hairdresser was about to begin all over again. Blerg.

But there's no point in moaning about it, is there? We must find a solution (my advertising friend, who is the best motivational speaker I know, used to say: "there's no point in bitching," she would authoritatively remark, "the key, Emily, is to find a solution"). So there I was, freshly arrived from across the pond, conveniently in need of a haircut again and desperate to find a solution to my ever so bothersome problem. So I asked around. Prices were always too high. Senior stylists always too busy. Excuses excuses excuses. To my own surprise and delight, I nailed an appointment with a young lady called Natasha (recommended by a friend) at the Urban Retreat , upstairs at Harrods, and was determined to make her my loyal hair chopper. I went, she saw, she conquered. The cut was £55.  I left feeling happy, satisfied and ready to tackle the big city of London. I have had 2 haircuts since I've arrived in London. 2 different lives, I guess. Or 2 different moods. I'm not sure. I am eagerly waiting for the next mood swing to come creeping down my scalp. It's way too eery, I know. Tell me hair fairy, what will I do next?


                               The Urban Retreat at Harrods

  A recent nearly successful cut (making it the 7th)  at the Urban Retreat

Don't leave the Urban Retreat without checking out the Roja Dove Haute Parfumerie . The boudoir room adjacent to the salon is a gorgeous jewel filled with vintage and modern scents alike. Watch your nostrils flare as you breathe in the variety of magnolia, florals and musky odors emanating from the sparkly bottles.


                             Roja Dove Haute Parfumerie, Harrods