Metallic Make-up for A/W13

Saying `good night` to a giant Harrods bear; I am wearing a Michael Kors dress

Karen and I checked out Dior`s new make-up collection called Bird of Paradise, at a reception hosted by Vogue beauty team in Harrods. Dior`s make-up artist Jamie Coombes explained that eye colours in cobalt, emerald and deep violet look modern when smudged upwards from block-colour base on the eyelid. He also demonstrated how to `polish off ` the look with fabulous crystals, which adorned models` faces at Dior`s A/W13 shows. Placed in the inner corner of the eye, they look like tear-drops. I loved them so much that I went to the office the next day, with a few blue crystals added to the outer corners and along the lower lash line!

We will see a lot of metallic make-up next season – the experts revealed – so I bought a metallic nail varnish from the collection, to start getting used to this look.

Karen and I had a giggle as we left the department store when the lights were going out and I seriously considered staying in for a bit longer…I would love to be locked in Harrods for the night.

Read My Lips

Lulu Guinness perspex clutch

My latest purchase makes me smile; I chose this sunshine colour because it is a less predictable option than hot pink or red. This small bag has enough room for my BlackBerry, lipstick, and money, so it is as functional, as it is head-turning. An ideal complement to glam dresses and vertical heels, as well as to accompany skinnies worn with loafers.

I am wearing a bespoke leaf headpiece from V.V. Rouleaux,  dress by Manoush, jacket – vintage, clutch by Lulu Guinness, and shoes by Kurt Geiger  

Button-eyed Woman Eats my Pretzels

In front of Swarovski Crystallized store, which sells exclusive designs from fashion starlets; I am wearing a vintage dress

Olives and miniature swirly pretzels accompanied lashings of prosecco at the Swarovski Crystallized party. My friend and I perched on high stools, which surrounded a swanky steel bar, and were taking full advantage of my favourite tipple being topped up on a regular basis. Several glasses into the evening, I reached for a small but deliciously-looking pretzel, which a helpful bartender placed in front of me. Suddenly, a plump hand appeared from nowhere and grabbed a plate of goodies.

-          Can I have one? – I asked extending my hand towards the disappearing plate.

The owner of a chubby arm glanced at me through her button-like eyes, hidden in shiny folds of her cheeks. Without a word, she quickly moved away, stuffing herself with a stolen treasure even before her hefty behind touched down on a nearby sofa.

I jumped behind the bar for a moment, pretending I am as good at serving, as I am at drinking bubbly. Don`t have a clue who the barman is, but he was making sure our glasses were full all the time - `thank you` our unknown hero!

Slender models were showcasing Swarovski`s stunning jewellery throughout the evening; they were wearing Banana Republic clothes and my friend fell in love with a pair of trendy trousers, so we moved next door, to this American retailer where she purchased a fab outfit. I have never bought anything from Banana Republic but may pop in there next week as I noticed they sell clothes in my size: XXS.

Dazzling Diamonds

I am wearing a vintage dress, and a Mulberry leather jacket. Belt by Escada, glasses by Bvlgari, bag by Michael Kors, tights by MaxMara and shoes from Kurt Geiger

The Talisman Crown has 974 diamonds, including a 73 carat rough diamond. I went to see this astounding piece at De Beers in Westfield London. The crown has been created to celebrate the Queen`s Diamond Jubilee.

Looking at it, I remembered paying a visit to De Beers HQ, almost a decade ago, and being greeted by my host, who asked me to hold two pieces of uneven rock, each containing a murky looking slice of glass. To my astonishment, he explained I was holding rough diamonds worth 1.5million. 

  

Fake Names at the Door

Champagne flown easily at the launch of the Mayfair`s newest events space, The Clubhouse. It was served in beautiful wide-rimmed glasses, which brought back sweet childhood memories of my parents drinking their bubbly from a similar looking goblets.

 

The Clubhouse is a specious, well-designed business club, lounge, and meeting space.

My friend and I decided to give false, ridiculously sounding names at the door and watched a gorgeous girl frantically scanning her tablet for non-existing names on her guest list. We couldn`t keep up a straight face and started laughing only seconds into her fruitless search, so had to admit our prank.
  

How Do You Window-Shop?

At Selfridges, wearing a fur jacket from Jitrois, and a bag from Michael Kors

According to the British Retail Consortium, which conducted a research with Google, we are becoming virtual window shoppers. Retail searches on tablets, touchscreen devices and smartphones rose by 198% in the first three months of this year, compared to a year previously. The interesting fact is – as revealed by this research – consumers prefer to complete their transactions on PCs as they are seen to provide better access and security than tablets.  

Personally, I believe that nothing bits the thrill of shopping in a real world.

One World – Many Choices

At Bicester Village, in a Michael Kors dress, Anne Klein merino wool and fox jacket, a MaxMara tights, shoes by Kurt Geiger, bag by Michael Kors, and glasses by Marc Jacobs

Last week I volunteered at a charity shop in North London where my remit on the day included moving clothes from one rail to another, to create space for new items, which came in big bags, and after being sorted and steamed by other volunteers, went onto a shop floor.  I also get to sell, and chat to customers. Many came looking for a bargain but not all left with a purchase despite keen prices and friendliness of the shop assistants. It was a truly enjoyable experience, and my heart was still with the charity when my husband and I visited Bicester Village a few days later.

Smart looking designer outlets, ranging from Gucci, Furla, Vivienne Westwood, DVF, and other empresses and sultans of style, were not – as one might expect - a world apart from a charity store. Yes, Valentino was selling a gorgeous lace and fur coat, reduced from £17,000 to £3,500 which couldn`t be compared with pre-loved Jaeger skirt which went for £4.50 in North London, but both shops  were manned by friendly sales teams who were knowledgeable about their stock and eager to please their customers. And as a patron of both, I was equally happy to purchase a blue, snakeskin- pattern blouse for £2.50 at a charity shop, as well as a chic Missoni coat at Bicester Village, priced accordingly to its quality and desirability. Cool colours make snakeskin design look contemporary, and I shall team it up with leather. As for my newly-acquired Missoni, it will provide a suave cover on cool summer mornings.

Bicester Village is a popular destination for many foreign visitors, but – similarly to what I observed at the charity shop – not many customers were partying with their cash. All were searching for bargains. My husband found an exquisite Versace suit (he is a perfect Italian size 50!) and we went to a well know American designer`s retailer to buy some cute little tops, as presents for forthcoming birthdays of two little `Ralph Lauren boys`.