Chanel Une Promenade @ Harrods

I finally made it to Harrods to admire the Chanel 'Christmas Grotto' (in my opinion) as it displayed everything I wish Santa would bring me. Whilst the best things were heartbreakingly expensive or not for sale (the ultra cute teddies), it wasn't totally a waste of time. Sorry for the lack of pictures but photos were banned (although I got a few sneaky beaky ones). The installation itself was set up beautifully from the mannequins and their outfits to the maze and the giant 2.55 bags by the exit. You could get up close to admire garments and my favourite part was the videos showing the process of actually making the iconic 2.55 bag.

 The bag used to be my designer bag of choice but its overexposure has put me off. I now covet the Hermes Constance and its gorgeous 'H' clasp.

bisou bisou
Tadpole

Chelsea FC Focus

Another aspect of my blog that I want to develop is my football reports. I reckon I could do as good a job as the millions of ex footballer pundits who sit on sofas around the world, especially the Match of the Day lot who don't seem to know any  positive adjectives other than 'sensational'.

found on BBC Sport

Last Saturday was Chelsea vs Swansea. Whilst I was happy we won 4-1, I am hard to please and still had some issues with what I saw. Torres is a conundrum. I hated him when he played for Liverpool as he destroyed us but I couldn't help feeling ripped off when he joined us for £50 million in January. There is some truth in the Evening Standard article linking his footballing skills to his hair. Now he back to long and blond he is looking back to his best. It is quite unbelievable that Torres could score and be sent off in the same game but maybe not after seeing that miss from last week- I could have scored that and I can't really kick a football properly. As Torres is getting better, our defense is getting worse. John Terry is anonymous these days as is Bosingwa. Ashley Cole is starting to look his age and don't get me started on John Obi Mikel who is surely the most overrated player in the squad. We shouldn't concede goals like that and I worry every time Cech is injured as we have no replacement goalkeepers.

Andre Villas- Boas, although as suave and almost as handsome as Mourinho, is moulding the team into what The Special One and Ancelotti failed to achieve- attacking, exciting with that strong defence the foundation (who lose concentration at times). Mata was an excellent signing and a worthy replacement for Lampard. Sideshow Bob aka David Luiz scores great goals and Sturridge exceeds my expectations every time he scores. The future is bright but I hope we don't gamble on youth or we'll end up like Arsenal.

Found on BBC sport

Last night we faced Valencia in the Champions League. This was our second real test we'd faced all season, the first being Man Utd, and we would have won if is wasn't for Kalou's needless handball. Why couldn't he have done a 'Tevez' and refused to come on? Regardless I was so glad Lampard scored and general play was fine. The best thing about this round of Champions League games was  the exposure of the weaknesses of both Manchester clubs which was great for Chelsea...

Chelsea have enjoyed much success during the last decade but the Champions League eludes us. My dad has offered to buy me a shirt numerous times and I told him ' I'll get one when we win the Champions League'. I had already picked out my size (oversized so it can be a dress), colour (home so blue) and number (Drogba) when John Terry slipped in Moscow in 2008 breaking my heart in the process. This year I feel a bit more optimistic but I have a feeling we will probably draw Barcelona or Real Madrid. Chelsea-Real Madrid would be the perfect final so I can watch the two best looking and dressed managers in the game (Pep Guardiola is the third obviously) who have transformed my club fight it out. Of course I'd hope Chelsea would win the Champions League this year but Mourinho always seems to do his winning trick in his second season at a club in recent times doesn't he?

Magazine Pit stop

Last night after an impromptu stop at Selfridges, I bought all the magazines I had been craving for winter to add to the i-D I bought on Tuesday night.

 TANK(my Kim Noorda assisting shoot is in it); ARISE (most exciting black fashion magazine at the moment), GARAGE (great new art/fashion magazine), LOVE (telephone sized fashion inspiration) and i-D (just because I LOVE Carine).

I nearly bankrupted myself and broke my back carrying them all home but it was worth it ;)

bisou-bisou

Tadpole

London Fashion Week Spring Summer 2012

There has been a genuine buzz around London fashion week this season. The pieces have been so original and innovatively created. We also spotted foreign editors who usually skipped London for Milan like Anna Wintor, Emmanuelle Alt, Joe Zee and Anna Dello Russo as well as Kanye West (ahead of his first ever show at Paris Fashion Week). Trends that have already made themselves known are metallics, florals, blues, orange, British seaside and a slight futuristic edge (more to come later). I love love loved the whole ACNE and ASHISH collections and Burberry's hats.

Now I have been to fashion week before both as a dresser and production runner and, needless to say, it is fabulous but so so exhausting. This season I went with 1883 magazine which was a lot of fun!!!

Friday was exhibition exploration day and I trekked around the exhibition taking in some fantastic sights and sounds. I also went to the Dazed and Confused TV party at Rankin's studio in Kentish Town.  Saturday I saw the Belle Savage show, Sister by Sibling and  Dominic Jones' presentations, Fashion Fringe, visited the Bloody Gray exhibition area and went to the Adidas party. Sunday was work and then the Acne show. Monday was Nasir Mazhar, Louise Gray and then the Bloody Gray Party and today was the exquisite Inbar Spector (the last picture). In between all of this copious amounts of time was spent in the Glam Media hotel room at The Trafalgar Hotel, where all the lovely girls looked after us with Rimmel makeup, addictive crisps and champagne. The Vauxhall Fashion Scout VIP area was also fab with Hummingbird cupcakes, sushi and lots of Coconut Water (which I deteste but hey ho)

There was a  MAC press Lounge with a bloggers' bar (one of many), touch up make-up appointments (booked days in advance) and a preview of Mac's S/S 2012 collection.

Topshop New Gen Beach huts:

The AH-MAZ-ING designer moodboards

Designers:

I also met the lovely Tim Soar who spoke about his collection. My favourite piece is this shirt:

House of Flora

 Around the exhibition space.

Fleet Ilya

Charles Le Mindu

Hannah Warner

All in all a fantastic 5 days of womenswear (MAN day tomorrow)

bisou bisou
Tadpole