BLOG BLESS AMERICA!: Jenna, Jenna, Jenna, JENNA!

Note: the title of this post needs to be read with this in mind.

I love J. Crew and I love Jenna Lyons. If you know me (hi!) you'll be well aware of that. You will also know that the likeliest answer to the question "what are you wearing" (although why anyone would actually ask me that I don't know) would be a) J. Crew, b) Whistles, c) COS or d) J.Crew and J.Crew and J.Crew! I am the person that associates any trip to the States with a trip to J.Crew. If I'm going I'll get J.Crew requests. If I know someone who's going I'll ask for a little something back and as soon as I hear "sure!" I'll hand over my printed wish list with pictures and everything. Yes, they now deliver to the UK but I'm clinging on to the old-fashioned notion that trips abroad mean presents you can' get at home.

I was therefore pretty excited to speak to Jenna a few months ago for a lovely feature we did at Glamour on her amazing style and the power of the Crew. I love the above picture and if you wish to read the full feature click here. And you can imagine my excitement when upon publication I received a gorgeous grey cashmere sweater from Jenna with the loveliest handwritten note. The words girl and crush, friendos, don't even come close!

The presentation at the Lincoln Center during NYFW did not disappoint. Well, crowd control could be improved, I guess, and perhaps it's time for the superbrand to not be so modest and acknowledge that A LOT of people want to attend their presentations so better give them a bigger space to enjoy. Cue a lineup of models in what is essentially the cashmere sweaters, Cafe Capri trousers, pointy pumps and bright pea coats we'll all be wearing come autumn, a lot of fashion folk snapping away and making mental shopping lists, and in the middle of it all a besieged by well-wishers Jenna.

I loved it, of course. And the moment I got some free time I went to the nearest store. Now it's all about waiting to find out what the location of their first UK store will be. One thing is certain; I'll see you there, yes?

BLOG BLESS AMERICA: I Raise My Hat To You, Grand Rapids!

Awesome. Bravo, good people of Grand Rapids. And suck it, Newsweek!

BLOG BLESS AMERICA: Happy 70th, Bob!

BLOG BLESS AMERICA: Miss Piggy Does 1982!

Oh yes, readers - she did! I had no idea Miss Piggy did calendars in the Glorious Eighties (although that's not to say I'm surprised she did!), let alone pose in them with Kermit as Great Lovers Of The Silver Screen, as they did in 1982. Needless to say, I want this and as a quick search on Ebay brought up nada, nothing, a big fat zero, I have a feeling tracking one of these babies down will not be easy. Let me know if you see it anywhere, will you please?

Now, the below image may just be on the best I have ever laid eyes on and I feel that I need to own it in print, framed and keeping me company by my desk. Because when things don't go to plan or when no clear plan even exists I just want to look over at Miss Piggy and Kermit as Diane Keaton and Woody Allen in Annie Hall and know that all's good in the world!

And as Margot Kidder and Christopher Reeve as Lois Lane and Superman...

...as Ginger Roberts and Fred Astaire...

...and yes, John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John as Danny and Sandy in Grease!

I love you, Miss Piggy!

BLOG BLESS AMERICA: Happy Birthday, Fred Astaire!

BLOG BLESS AMERICA: Theyskens Has A Theory.

Today sees the much-anticipated UK launch of Olivier Theyskens' first capsule collection for the American brand Theory and in just a few days, with New York Fashion Week kicking off, he will be showing his first collection for Theyskens' Theory as the brand's Creative Director. Isn't it amazing how in the little time that has passed since the shocking announcement that one of the most creative and admired designers of his generation, the man that gave Her Majesty The Madonna a goth edge, went on to breath life into Rochas and made every woman and girl - and any man with half a heart - on the planet cry first tears of joy at the beauty of his Nina Ricci gowns and then tears of sadness when he announced his departure from the iconic Parisian house...that the thought that this man would be designing for a label most commonly associated with office suits that last and last and admittedly, look pretty nice, wouldn't seem so bizarre?

I was lucky to get to interview Olivier on the day the announcement was made, which happily coincided with the launch of his Assouline book, 'The Other Side of The Picture', for Grazia Daily. He seemed very confident and excited about getting back to designing, surprisingly relaxed, and yes - just as dreamy as you could have hoped! His reasoning for taking on the challenge rather than indulging his public around the world (press and clients alike) with more sensationally romantic designs under his own label? He wanted to design something that his friends could afford and wear. And judging from the images of his first collection, available at Net-a-Porter from today, he has managed to do so much more than that.

I have a theory for Olivier Theyskens; he's the only male designer every woman wants to emulate! Here's a video preview from today's launch that proves it.

Images from Style.com, video from Net-a-Porter.

BLOG BLESS AMERICA: New Year, New Direction.

It's a brand new year so what better than fresh new fashion from bright young designers (I'm hesitant to describe designers that have already established their names and aesthetics as young but compared to fashion megaminds like Uncle Karl, young seems right enough). This spread from V magazine's new issue, hitting newsstands on Jan the 13th, and appropriately called New Direction (shot by Peter Funch and styled by Cathering Newell-Hanson) instantly caught my eye. Oooh, I spot a Mary Katrantzou and a Holly Fulton, is that Meadham Kirchhoff and look, there's a J.W. Anderson. I can't help but feel proud when I see so many London-based designers in international spreads. It even makes me get excited for the next round of shows in February. Quite but not there yet!

All images by Peter Funch for V magazine.

BLOG BLESS AMERICA: The Music and The Tee!

Let's begin with a full disclosure, shall we? These guys are really good friends of mine. And I love what they've created a little bit more because they're buddies - don't you get that mother-looking-at-her-kid-like-it's-God-on-Earth feeling when someone you know does good? However, If I had absolutely no idea they are THE BEST and I came across one of these hanging on a rail or read about them I'd still think they're great. So, there!

By these, I mean The Music Tee, which is - finally! - available here in the UK at Seflridges from today (already available worldwide online) with the official launch of the Daisy Dares You Music Tee. Already in charge of a fantastic music label in LA, called Invisible DJ - more info here - they came up with the, may I say, GENIUS idea of creating great tees - and by great I mean perfect cut, soft, slouchy - with a difference. I know that The Revelation of perfecting the good ol' Tee is as original a concept in LA as every waiter carrying a script they wrote in their back pocket but this is quite different.

Each tee is a collaboration with an artist and features their artwork on the front, always a playlist on the back - often scribbled - and a specially designed tag with a code that allows you to download said artist's album online, all for the price of one tee. The tee and the music in one! Genius, no?! The guys have already collaborated with a fantastic lineup of artists from Mos Def and Devendra Banhart to The Plasticines as well as putting together their own compilations - one of which features artwork created by yours truly's boyfriend.

And did I mention they're great guys?!

All images by The Music Tee.

BLOG BLESS AMERICA: Still dreaming about Gallo!

Rest assured dear readers, the end is not nigh; please continue sipping your tea, eating your crumpet, reading something else much more interesting! Yes, the Earth keeps spinning and I haven't blogged for ages - again. Yet, despite the frightening fact the lunch I'm writing about here took place something close to two months ago (arghhh!!!) I'm still thinking about it and this may be the only reason required for blogging about anything!

Part of my California trip with Basso & Brooke for Grazia Daily (here and here) included a visit to one of the Gallo family's vineyards - the world's largest privately owned winery, a wine tasting session accompanied by Gina Gallo, granddaughter of Julio Gallo - who alongside his brother Ernest founded the company in 1933, and a taste-bud-exploding lunch so fresh we may as well have been sitting among the vines. As it turns out, we were in this beautiful room, the wine tasting session was fascinating, my first, but please do not expect any notes on the wines we tasted. They were all delicious and palette-enhancing but two months later I'm still thinking about the greener than green olives and Gallo olive oil we had. I intend to track it down.

Glass vases full of earth from the various family vineyards. See how their colours vary?

A lot of wine, professional tasting note printouts, a lovely pen and yet mine remained pretty blank!

A beautiful tiled large table set right outside our room overlooking the vineyard below. Sadly, the Sonoma Valley's sunshine hadn't burnt through the clouds yet so my pics don't make the stunning surroundings any justice!

Oh, the lunch! The Gallo ladies that joined us must have been worried we poor Londoners have no access to fresh fruit and vegetables because we ate those olives - sooooo green! - dunk fresh bread in olive oil so tasty and when our starter of gnocchi, cherry tomatoes and baby vegetables arrived we gasped with delight!

For main, we had beautifully roasted lamb with orzo pasta, asparagus and amazing bay leaf crisps!

By the time our dessert arrived, I was interrogating the Gallo ladies on how on Earth did they get to work in this beautiful place and eat this food and get to taste 300 million wines each day whilst remaining knowledgeable, composed and professional! I can't remember their answer - if there was one - because the orange sorbet and slice of yummy cake I had in front of me was calling me. All very Joan of Arc but with a much better ending!

And to finish this memorable lunch, great coffee in a fantastic rooster cup! Heaven.

BLOG BLESS AMERICA: Hotel Healdsburg Forever!

I mentioned briefly in my previous post that Hotel Healdsburg happens to be one of my all-time favourite hotels. Sure, the fantastic time I had last time I stayed there for B and S's wedding is primarily to blame; a group of friends from around the world that just came together and enjoyed every last second of it so much so that the photograph of all of us standing in front of the hotel, taken on the morning of our departure, still makes me smile. So much so, in fact, that T and I came back to ye olde London and started making plans of moving to California. That is a good trip, my friends!

But, of course, even without those memories, Hotel Healdsburg ticks all the right boxes for me. It's located in a ridiculously picturesque setting, in the middle of Healdsburg town and amongst California's Wine County and Sonoma Valley. The morning's light mist/drizzle/overcast weather does not even come close to ruining your mood. It makes for a more impressive and rewarding experience when just before midday the sun burns through it and rises high.

The staff are friendly, the rooms stylish without screaming, with lovely colours that calm you the moment you walk in, and then there's the bed. BB turned his upside-down last time we stayed, trying to discover the make of their mattresses. He didn't succeed but confirmed that those beds are indeed the most comfortable you will ever sleep on. I, of course, told everyone in this trip, as we were crossing San Fran's Golden Gate Bridge and they weren't disappointed. There's a lovely swimming pool and small garden and an equally small but great spa for massages - this time I tried their wine wrap and still wish I didn't have to wash that delicious smell off of me!

The hotel's restaurant, Dry Creek Kitchen, is extraordinary in that uniquely American way where the setting is so relaxed you simply can't dress up for it but the food succeeds at being simply and heavenly mouthwatering. The chef is Charlie Palmer, whose story is one of those success-at-a-young-age/immense-talent-and-determination that leaves you slightly exhausted but so glad at least he made it and you get to savor his food! We had the Tasting Menu, every plate came with an accompanying wine, and this is what our table looked like by the last course.

And this is what my next morning looked like. Seems unfair not fall in love all over again, no?

BLOG BLESS AMERICA: Here, there, everywhere!

It's been so long, my friends but what a time's it's been! Aside for a day here and there when 'the lazy' hit and hit hard, I can - this once - say that I haven't been blogging because I've been too busy. Makes for a nice change, no?

It started with an email (don't most things these days do?) from The Lovely Angela at Grazia Daily - that is her full name, trust me! - asking whether I'd fancy flying to San Francisco to spend a few days with the designers Basso & Brooke on a research trip to California's Sonoma Valley, sampling wine, vintage shopping, oh, and writing some stories for them while there. The occasion? Basso & Brooke's recent appointment as Designers in Residence for the wine company Turning Leaf and their upcoming collaboration on a range of products (more infohere). My train of thought went somewhat like this: "YES!!! Hmmm, let me think about this for one sec..sounds great, yes, YEP, I'm in!"

Virgin Atlantic's Upper Class Lounge at Heathrow Airport

I got a haircut at the Bumble & Bumble salon with fantastic views of the airport's runway!

And that's how I found myself on a pretty Sunday morning throwing my bag in a chauffeur driven car, making my way to Heathrow Airport and Virgin Atlantic's Upper Class lounge. Or as it's been renamed since by yours truly, Heaven! Because yes, Turning Leaf were kind enough to fly me First Class and the cherry on top of this already irresistible cake? We'd be staying at one of my favourite hotels in the world, Hotel Healdsburg, where some of my best friends, my boyfriend and I spent a wonderful trip a few years ago to celebrate B & S's wedding.

My view from my seat on the upper floor of the plane

Waiting for my salad starter, catching up with Radio 4's Woman's Hour (cute airplane salt & pepper shakers)

My trusty Newbark flats were made for this!

So, 11 hours of intense planning on how to fly first class again, a delicious 3-course meal, dozens of pages of Stieg Larsson's The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Jane Campion's Bright Star and some oh-so-blissful pockets of sleep on my flat bed we arrived to this: San Francisco, its glorious Golden Gate Bridge and a long drive to Healdsburg. Like I said, Heaven!

BLOG BLESS AMERICA: Comme La Garconne.

For a tomboy who spent her childhood summers climbing up trees and seaside rocks, venturing on secret bicycle adventures and collecting bruises, scratches and dirt like badges of honour La Garconne is the epitome of everything my now older but still-proud-of-remnant-scars-from-kicking-boys self would ever want in her wardrobe! Something akin to Oscar de la Renta for all Upper East Side princesses. Or look at it this way; it also worships at the altar of Saint Sofia of Coppola!

I love the clean, minimal but full of character layout, the easy displays, the inspiring editorial they put together and above all, the superb selection of labels in their roster. From Comme des Garcons, Zero + Maria Cornejo, Proenza Schouler and a dose of Lanvin in the Atelier section to - take a deep breath - Phillip Lim, Acne, Alexander Wang, A.P.C., Boy by Band of Outsiders, Future Classics, Jerome Dreyfuss, Lover, Opening Ceremony, Rag & Bone and Vanessa Bruno in the Boutique; surely this is the coolest, most desirable list of must-haves anyone has put together, right?

Oh, but I lied. Above all these, what I love the most about La Garconne is the name itself. La Garconne c'est moi!

This is an older editorial page on all things Le Smoking that still makes me stare at it for far too long, in hope that I will magically metamorphose into Sofia or Patti, or at least that those shoes will appear by my desk. And here are some shots from their latest Spring-Summer shoot. Knee-length socks, dainty prints, cardis in soft tones, cool shorts with clog boots that are so wrong they're the only right thing in the world as of now, a long skirt, stripes and a cropped trench/cape hybrid? Yes, oui and si, por favor!

Images by La Garconne.