SAMPLE SALES - SMALLS

It’s Thursday so it must be time to check out London’s sample sales. This week, it’s lingerie with Princess Tam Tam knocking 80% off (that’s not a misprint) and La Perla 70% off. I know, “lingerie?” you say, “It’s nothing but M&S thermals for me in this weather!” . But the snow won’t last forever, and you’ll wish you had taken advantage of these fantabilis offers.  You’ll need to hurry though, La Perla Sale ends today at 6pm and Princess Tam Tam tomorrow at 6pm


Princess Tam Tam                                                                 
                                                                                                                                                                          
1st Floor, 16 South Molton Street, London
W1K 5QS
020 7499 4598

La Perla
Hornvale Ltd, 4th Floor, 22 Newman Street
London
W1T 1PH
020 7291 0930

DIOR BRINGS CHRISTMAS TO CLARIDGES

For the second year, John Galliano has been invited to decorate the Claridges iconic Christmas Tree. The pairing of the flamboyant Dior designer and one of the most luxurious hotels in the World is a recipe for success, last years 'Frozen' tree attracted thousands of visitors. Set in the modern Art Deco foyer, Galliano has said“The majestic beauty of Claridge’s Art Deco interiors never fails to inspire me. I am thrilled to be invited to create a new tree for Christmas at Claridge’s. I wanted to create an underwater fantasy and have mixed pink corals, seahorses, anemones and jellyfish, all glinting like gem stones, swimming amidst the silver leaves. I hope we create something as sumptuous as its setting and this inspires a truly luxurious escape and a very festive season at Claridge’s.”  Ehh, okay so John

While we certainly wouldn't expect Galliano to use tinsle from the attic and plonk a battered fairy on the top, we can't help but feel he could have injected some Christmas spirit into the decoration. Beautiful and all as it is, it isn't exactly festive. What do you think?

       Last Year's 'Frozen' Tree, which for some reason had a blue tiger in it...

Selfridges Make Early Winter Mornings A Whole Lot Brighter

 I’ve been finding it increasingly difficult to drag my sleepy head out of bed over the last few weeks. Clambering out into pitch black sub zero temperatures, it takes every inch of my being not to listen to that little voice in my head ‘one more snooze’. Luckily, next week brings December, and with it, a luxurious incentive which will see me bouncing out of bed on the first ring of the alarm. But what is it, I hear you cry. Why, it’s the Selfridges 24 Days of Luxuries Beauty Advent Calendar!! Okay, so 60 Quid is more than the cost of your average advent calendar, but then the average calendar doesn’t have 24 luxury beauty products, put together by the Selfridges Beauty team (home of the BEST beauty floor in the Western hemisphere) .  The calendar provides an ideal opportunity to sample a range of beauty products without splurging on the full sized bottle. Products from Lancome, YSL, Victor & Rolf, Armani and Kiehl’s are just some of the delights you can open the door to throughout December.  And unlike a month of chocolate, the treats in this calendar will have you looking in tip top shape come Christmas morning!
Available from Selfridges London while stocks last @ £60

FRENCH CONNECTION SAMPLE SALE

Another London weekend, another delightful sample sale! High street Favorites  French Connection will be slashing their prices this weekend knocking up to 70% off their prices at their not to be missed Sample Sale in North London.  For the paltry entry fee of £1, bargain hunters have access to a huge range of coats, knitwear and dresses from as little as £10. Get there early to nab one of their trademark flirty frocks ideal for the Christmas Party Season.

Friday 26th November 9.30am to 7pm
Saturday 27th November 10am to 5pm
Sunday 28th November 10am to 4pm

Centro One
39 Camden Street
London
NW1 0DX

The £1 Entrance fee goes to Children with Lukaemia and Richard House Children‘s Hospice,

 

Above: Everyone from Hollywood Super Star Diane Kruger to Future Queen of England Kate Middleton can't get enough of FCUK party dresses.

Valentino for GAP

Hot on the heels of Lanvin for H&M is the unveiling of Valentino for GAP. As I have previously mentioned, this collaboration left me somewhat baffled, Italian house of Couture and American ‘Mom jeans’ favourite is a bizarre and uncomfortable pairing. The seven-piece collection goes on sale tomorrow at Dover Street Market and Gap’s flagship store in London as well as newly opened GAP stores in Milan and Rome. So if you fancy a pair of ruffly combats you’ll need to get yourself to one of the selected stores as the collection will not be available to purchase online. Something tells me the queues won’t be quit as long as Tuesday’s at H&M…

Lanvin for Lanvin

Miss out on today's 'Lanvin for H&M'? I couldnt get into the online store until 8.30 because of the overcrowding, and by that time it was all sold out! As I mentioned in a previous post these collaborations never appeal to me too much anyway, so I'll save my pennies for the real deal, Lanvin by Lanvin. Christmas is coming, and I can't think of a better present to me from me.  Below are the shortlist. All available from Net-a-porter.com and Lanvin store at 125 Mount Street, LondonW1K 3NU. Available now, without a three hour queue!



And if you need a bit more time to save those pennies, below are some of Lanvin's offerings for S/S 2011

Goolge's Fashion Foray

Cold, miserable November days are best spent curled up on the sofa with hot chocolate and a slew up fashion magazines.  The only problem is, December brings a slew of parties that require bringing the shoes, dresses and jewels from the pages of the magazine to your wardrobe. Luckily, for the last 10 years. Natalie Massenet has allowed us to fill our wardrobes with on trend designer clothes from the comfort of our own home via the World’s leading on-line Designer clothes shop, Net-a-porter. I dare not count the hours of my employer’s time spent searching and salivating over the beautiful array of luxury goods the website brings to my screen each week. Needless to say, I was more than excited to hear about the latest online fashion revolution, Boutiques.com. Internet Giants Google, last week launched the site, a heady mixture of celebrity and fashion which apparently would ‘change the way women bought clothes online’ . It allows women to look for clothes by genre, silhouette, pattern, shape and size from a range of different stores. You can create your own boutique by marking items your "favorites" as you browse, and follow others with a similar sense of style, including a number of high profile celebrities including Kelly Osboune, Carey Mulligan and both Olsen sisters.  So does it live up to the hype? Er, no. The very first item I clicked on (Christian Louboutin Big Lips shoes) took me to a website which stated ‘item no longer available’. Meh, why tease me with things I can’t have? The cynic in me also reckons a number of the celebs are being paid hefty sums to promote certain labels. And finally, I want to see ALL the clothes, not limit myself to certain celebrity ‘picks ‘ or particular colors and styles. So, who will you be following on Boutiques.com?