Thursday 29 March 2007

The right foot forward for Kylie


As far as I'm concerned, my fellow Aussie-living-in-London Kylie Minogue can't put a foot wrong in the style stakes. She always manages to look so sophisticated but not in a contrived way. Just elegant and quite natural.

This look is one even I would wear despite feeling like I'm trying to be 12 on the two occasions I've ventured out in leggings.

I was particularly excited to see her wearing these Gil Carvalho Ivy ankle boots because you too can own a pair - they are now available on Brittique. I already have limited stock, so be quick!

Wednesday 28 March 2007

Lunch with Tina Gaudoin, Roland Mouret, Jonathan Saunders and Todd Lynn - the event!


Oh what a lunch! Today I dined with some of the darlings of British fashion. Roland Mouret, Jonathan Saunders and Todd Lynn, not to mention Tina Goudoin who is just lovely!

To say I was in awe of them would be an understatement. It was nerve wracking to get out the door and into a taxi to Home House. But once there they immediately set me at ease. And Madonna walked in just after me!

Roland is the most charming of French men - the type that makes you want beg God to make him straight, but alas not... I'm still in love though! Todd and Jonathan are both so unaffected by their success and the most down to earth gentlemen. Todd has a lovely soft Canadian accent while Jonathan has a lovely Scottish sound that makes Australian girls weak in the knees.

The conversation was easy and ranged from Madonna, Kate, Anna W, Vic and Dave's place, Elton's place and other people you might have heard of. We discussed surrealist art and dance (well, I just listened!), had a great gossip about fashion and analysed what creates design envy in each of them (Roland is jealous of Jonathan's prints naturally).

Now I'm on a post lunch high! I wonder if they'll remember me in 12 months time? Something tells me that they are the type of guys who would. Let's hope so anyway.

Thursday 8 March 2007

To Milan for (a buying) lunch



I flew to Milan for lunch yesterday. Got the 7:40 flight from London Heathrow, landed in Milan Linate at 10:30. From there it's just 7km into the city centre. I wandered the shops, ate wonderful pasta and then boarded the 17:35 back to London.

As grand as it might sound, it was actually for a buying appointment with Basso & Brooke. While the design duo Christopher Brooke and Bruno Basso are based in London, all their viewings are done in Milan.

It so exciting to be stocking their electrifying prints from SS07. But it's not just their prints that are incredible, their basic solids and knits are just lovely too. Before the buying appointment I kept telling myself "stick to prints, don't look at the plains, stick to the prints". But there was nothing plain about the "non-prints". They are high quality and just as moreish. The initial delivery from the Basso & Brooke collection will be available on Brittique.com shortly.

Tuesday 6 March 2007

Grazia features Nicola de Main for Brittique.com


Getting press is great. But even better is flicking through a magazine and seeing your business name staring out at you. Highly exciting.

In the 12 March edition, Grazia features the Nicola de Main silk dress for Brittique.com. These dresses are not currently available but pre-order yours now so you don't miss out!

We've also got the Gil Carvalho orange shoes featured in the bottom corner - but at a snip at £99 instead of the +£200 price shown here. More sizes coming soon. Get them before they're gone!

Hannah Marshall's Quiet Noise



At the risk of sounding like a broken record I just have to mention Hannah Marshall once again. She was featured with a HUGE picture in last week's Grazia then again in fashion156.com and also ChicagoFashionista.com.

Her launch collection is entitled Quiet Noise. But as everyone has predicted, it's been anything but quiet.

I've put in my order for her launch collection and due to high demand will be opening pre-orders shortly. This is one reason to look forward to autumn/winter again!



Monday 5 March 2007

Escaping the city


Feeling exhausted and drained after the excitement of LFW and then LFW'end, I had to get away. We were supposed to go snowboarding at our favorite resort in Austria, but thanks to global warming there was no snow. And I was so tired that the thought of facing Heathrow airport made me break out in a cold sweat.

So the man and I jumped in the car and off to the Lakes District for a couple of nights. We stayed in a beautiful restaurant with rooms (they stress that it is not a hotel) L'enclume and dined in the Michelin starred restaurant. The menu was amazing in it's creativity. Foie Gras ice cream anyone? Oh yummy it was fantastic!

I believe that when you're away the rooms should be better than what you have at home. Now with our amazing bed and lovely decore, it's pretty hard to beat. But the rooms at L'enclume were amazing too. When holidaying in the UK I am repeatedly let down by the high prices of rooms that are so terribly you can't wait to get home again. We had our own large room with a private adjoining sitting room. The best thing about it was there was no mobile or Blackberry reception! After the initial panic it was bliss!

We walked off our meal by hiking around Lake Windermere. It is truly stunning with the lakes, greenery and snow capped mountains. But the best thing is that now I've returned to London invigorated and ready to face the rest of the year.