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Yay its almost Christmas, I bought a tree today. Stella McCartney switched on the Christmas lights in London last night to the sounds of the Mighty Boosh boys in drag. Yup it’s that crazy festive thing all over the place. Feeling super festive myself as I have just been appointed as editor of Marie Claire SA. Yay! I am so excited and thrilled and honored and, and, and….. But more on all of this later.
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In the Westcliff Hotel’s Polo Lounge loo is a photograph of some Maharajah and his closest mates posing atop their polo ponies in the 20′s. Gorgeous does not begin to describe these elegant fellows. So it is not without some bitterness ( since I am not about to fly to London) that I make this next observation. The V&A has just opened an exhibition dedicated to this rara avis- the Maharaja of India. Suzy Menkes’ review – The exquisite glory of the preening male peacock is a must.
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I am a total sucker for spa treatments with a difference. Hence I found myself at the Saxon recently vibrating from top to toe to the full body reverberations of Tibetan sound bowls. Where do you go from there in the quest for extreme spa sensation? London to Lush spa is the correct answer for a spot of Synaesthesia. The Times’ Nick Wyke tested it out – I love that you can choose your treatment outcome – ‘ambition’, ‘feel younger’ or ‘enlightenment’ – yes it really is that easy!
“One carefully conceived treatment – synaesthesia is hard to pronounce but it is colourful, fun and engages all the senses. Devised by Lush’s head perfumer and MD Mark Constantine and behavioural therapist Lady Helen Kennedy, with specially commissioned traditional English music by Simon Emmerson of The Imagined Village, the treatment is, hmmm, supposed to relax you enough to prise open your subconscious and liberate the “scent shapes and sound colours” in your imagination. ”
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I love this competition – read the press release with this year’s shortlist of seven finalists from 70 entrants after the break
( This is finalist Celeste Lee Arendse’s storyboard)
Read More…
This is a collaboration made in recessionary shoe heaven – Jimmy Choo for H&M.
How does it work though? Pleather soles? The cost of a ticket to London will even out the cost benefit anaylisis for me.
Perhaps I should just stay at home and blow it all on this knotty number – definitely not the recessionary varietal…
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Riding public transport is no reason not to look adorable.
Vintage hat from Rocket in Covent Garden. The bag is Hermès.
- simon
I am off on holiday – the sun is shining rather boldly in Cape Town – and I plan to soak it up with wild abandon. In the interim here is a little relevant snippet about the Kenya – born, London-bred designer Brian Gathii’s graphic streetwear line To-orist. I am really feeling his exploratory, travelling themes and the zebra.
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I have been absent – it’s true – galavanting about London for a week. So apologies for neglecting my Frock duties.
I thought I should start up again with this fellow – Marco spotted at the sweetest little coffee shop Dolce con gusto – a phrase which here means sweet and in good taste and I think it aptly suits the chap in question too. It’s in Birdhaven Jozi and is a delightful cross between comforting mom and pop store and glam patisserie.
I liked the way he works chocolate brown and I really liked the way he tied his scarf – all debonair and dapper like.
I have to say that London was full of girls with scarves – think Yasser Arafat but around your neck – as well as variations on the theme: flowers , gypsy etc. 
This little pic is from The Sartorialist ( thanks) and perfectly illustrates the trend
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