GAGA IN NEW YORK

During my recent trip to New York I heard that Lady Gaga had set up her own work shop in Barneys, inside the retailer's in-store holiday shop, this apparently had been conceived, designed and christened by Lady Gaga- 5,500 square feet of bright colours & crazy shapes.

This was not to be missed.

Turning up outside there was no mistaking where to head to as the entrance to the store was covered in a massive Lady Gaga mouth in which you stepped in through to get in to the store.

Up on the 5th floor there was a small brightly coloured corridor that led off the shop floor with wonky signs saying “Lady Gagas workshop this way”.

With the work shop opening up in front of you I cant really describe it as anything else but a theme park/shop/museum on acid.

Entrance

On fixtures and shelves there were Mother Monster-inspired products like head-shaped candles, leather jackets, her favorite books and chocolates shaped like shoes and lips not to mention her famous sunglasses & actual shoes.

Walking around was like walking in a weird and wonderful labyrinth, feeling like you’re in Miss Gagas apartment, or more, her twisted world.

In the centre of the floor there was a gigantic cartoon statue of the superstar herself in a pinup pose surrounded by jagged mirrors and sitting atop thousands of black plastic discs.

Against one wall was a massive spider with Lady Gagas face on and inside was her precious jewels (for sale i might add, for a few thousand bucks).

A wig-shaped boudoir that dispenses Gaga's signature bow headbands fashioned from hair was in another corner and beside all this was also a candy shop, toy shop, closet space, library and a gallery to round up your shopping experience.

The centre piece

few of the Gaga things available

 The pricing was interesting, little coloured chocolate lips in a box sold for $58 whilst her trademark lace glasses went for a not too bad $250. The cheapest item was a $38 key ring in the shape of Gaga as a motorbike.

For shoe and chocolate addicts

Then there was the shoes; On one hand, it is an immaculately detailed replica in chocolate of the armadillo-shaped Alexander McQueen design worn by Lady Gaga in the video for “Bad Romance,” at a fraction of the original cost (reportedly $10,000 for the handful that were made). On the other, $95 is a lot to pay for a chocolate shoe, and, much like a luxury store that is turning over an entire floor to knickknacks inspired by a pop star, it may take some rationalizing to swallow.

The spider Gaga

A quarter of sales, through to it closing on January the 2nd, went to her new Born This Way Foundation, an anti-bullying campaign.

The Gaga Machine in window

Gagas personal boudoir in window

THE ONE AND ONLY SALE

I’m not a fan of them; the pushing, the shoving, the ugly faces and the even uglier fracas. 

So what is it with sales that are so tempting nowadays, that makes people flock in masses, to camp outside from the night before, to travel in to the UK from countries world wide?

I remember from starting in my retail career, the nervous moment the heavy doors to Harrods opened at 9am and seeing Chinese people (yes they were mostly Chinese 7 years ago too) running down the isles of men's wear, ripping into everything and anything.

Customers change from polite (well, most of them) & well spoken human beings to rude, impolite and downright nasty animals.

However, in saying that, 90% of the customers you see during the sale are customers you will never see again until the next sale (unless they are trying to return or exchange something which they have bought in sheer sale desperation).

Harrods open their doors to sale

As retailers is the biggest event of the year we are gearing up for, in all ways, in terms of available stock, extra tills and not but in noway the least security.

Sales and masses also tempt the opportunists and the organised criminals who know that the stores will be packed with too many customers and not enough vigilant staff. 

You have “customers” who change the £100 ticket for a £20 ticket, because apparently £100 just is not cheap enough for a mid range designer bag. The violence during these bi-annually events is noted more and more for each year. A couple of years back i remember a man being stabbed in the menus department in Selfridges and unfortunately also this year the violence made its presence frighteningly real when i young man was stabbed i the heart outside Footlocker on Oxford Street, it turns out he was a member of the notorious street gang ABM and was using the sale as a shoplifting spree when a rival gang was out doing the same thing. Just hours later another young man was stabbed in the leg in a seemingly unrelated attack.

Selfridges handbags

The stores also feed this frenzy by opening earlier and earlier, creating queues from early hours and over night camping outside in freezing conditions. I remember arriving at 7am in the morning to Selfridges first day of sale (to work! Don’t tell me you thought otherwise...) and seeing a queue from the Louis Vuitton entrance of the store and around to the main front doors, of teenage girls and Chinese people of all ages.

All the major department stores snoop on each other months in advance to find out opening times and discounts. The build up for sale is massive and it is needed.

I have memories of many a sale in Harrods where different celebrities opened it up and my most memorable one would have to be the one where Mischa Barton arrived for the summer sale in 2009; she looked gaunt, washed out and like she had spent the week partying (her dark black make up suspiciously looked like “last nights”). As this was also a time where her career was faltering, one would have expected her to try to revive it through such a press tight occasion and done Mr Al-Fayed proud. Instead she fell asleep at his table during the champagne breakfast he had laid on for her and her people. Oops.

Mischa on the day.

Selfridges opened earlier than Harrods this year, and was stormed by customers, ripping through its merchandise. Oxford street was a mayhem to say the least and I have staff saying that customers rushed sales associates and ripped bags and scarves out of their hands as they tried to replenish, and threatening staff asking why certain (new season) stock was not on sale. 

All in all 2billion pounds was thought to have been spent on Boxing day in Oxford street. 

5 billion is expected to have been spent the first day of Sale in Harrods and House of Fraser. I thought people were broke??

Really? Running?

I have seen the sale from a retailers point of view which is cynical to say the least, as well as from a customers point of view (actually happened the other day as I had to go and get cat food from Harrods, on the first day of sale- don’t ask).

As I walked up to Harrods I casually strolled in to Harvey Nichols to see what Louboutin was doing, as you do. It was atrocious. There were shoes everywhere, on the floor, on wonky fixtures, it was mess and i could not even be bothered to walk in. Instead I happened to walk past Alexander McQueen on the way back out of the store and found a gorge black dress for work (and a forthcoming birthday party) and justified therefore spending £350 on it (previous price £700). The way I was treated by the stressed out staff was not nice and although I have been in their situation so many times I do believe a little respect would not go amiss but then again when dealing with 90% animals...

I moved on to Harrods and got my cat food from the 4th floor. Again I thought I should at least walk past the Shoe Boudoir and see what was happening.

It was a repeat of a sight for sore eyes plus there was also a manned queue where a security was operating on a one in, one out basis. I just had to see this.

I stood in the queue a relatively short period, and whilst doing so trying to figure out if the stunning woman in front of me was with her father or her lover, she did keep calling him ‘Papi’ although something did not quite add up.

My turn came up to go in, I walked over to the shelf with my size and stayed approximately 20 seconds after establishing that nothing was tempting, either price wise or look wise. I need aesthetically beautiful surroundings when i shop not jumbo sale mess.

I made my way out of Harrods as quick as I could and walked down Sloane Street, past a long queue outside Prada, and another longer one outside Gucci. Casually strolled in to Giuseppe Zanotti and bought a pair of new season shoes. Typical.

On the whole i’d rather do without than face the sheer awfulness of it all.

But if you absolutely HAVE TO do it, then please just use the following few tips to a more human experience;

1. Only buy something you really love or actually need.
2. Buy that bit of magic that you couldn’t otherwise afford.
3. If it doesn’t fit in the shop, that wont change by the time you get it home.
4. Avoid the boring classics- its better to buy them in your own good time in a solid high street store where there is no danger of being panicked in to buying- and where you know you can always bring things back.
5. Keep away from anything in a bin or with “special purchase” attached to it.
6. If there's something you’ve really set your heart on and you know its going to be reduced, then plan your venture like a military race. Scout out the place first and then plot the quickest way to your quarry.
7. Don’t be tempted to buy something in a wild colour that you’d never wear simply cause it is 50% off.
8. If you are liable to be tempted, take a good, honest friend with you- that can tell you no in weak moments.
9. Before you part with your hard earned cash, check the shop’s refund policy.

THE FOREVER SEARCH OF THAT MIRACLE CREAM...

Like any woman aged over 25, I am always on the look out for the next great skin product to promise me a quick route to perfect and peachy skin.

Too much choice

Having tried many over the years ranging from Boots No 7 to Creme De La Mer I still don’t know what makes a good cream, the name? The price? 

t’s a constant battle to find the one that is just slightly better in reducing those lines than the previous one. So I am always open to new suggestions.

The other day I found myself walking out of Browns on South Molton Street (no doubt perving over shoes and beautiful clothing) when I heard someone calling me across the street, turned out it was a ginger man standing by a seemingly new boutique by the name of Oro Gold. He was holding out a small sample of something that looked like cream, and like a duck to water I was drawn across the pebbled street to the shop.

The sample turned out to be a satchel of the Oro Gold Deep Day Moisturiser.

As I was early to meet a friend for a afternoon coffee, I accepted the invitation to come inside to learn more.

Sth Molton Street

I was asked to take a seat in the beautiful surroundings of gold products and zebra arm chairs whilst asked about my skin routine. The sales representative explained that he was not there for commission and to make money but that he was a medical student specialising on the skin and working part time with a product he believed in.

Now, before I continue I just think we should be aware of the fact that i have worked in the luxury retail industry for about 10 years and know everything there is to know about customer service tricks and traits to persuade the customer to spend.

Yet I am probably the most gullible and perfect target any sales person could hope to get.

I WANT them to sell it to me, I want them to persuade me. And a good sales person can spot this a mile off; my shopaholic aura.

So back to the boutique, sitting comfortably he had now started removing the make up on my skin with a cotton bud and a 24k gold cleansing milk, all along telling me the brands history. Based in LA and started in 2002, this is the first store in the UK and has only been open for 4 months, and to put it simply- all products contain 24k gold.

Gold in itself has long been known it’s anti ageing qualities and is thought to have numerous healing benefits that oriental cultures have long been aware of. Some gold salts do have anti-inflammatory properties and are used as pharmaceuticals in treatment of various deceases. But enough about boring facts and back to the cleansing. 

The cleanser felt cool and relaxing on my skin, it contains Vitamin C & E for antioxidant properties and jojoba & musk oils to ensure a thorough and effective yet gentle cleaning.

It was quickly followed up with the Oro Gold Purifying Facial Toner. This toner is designed to swipe out the last traces of dirt & hydrate the skin. It’s enriched with hazel and chamomile which is known for it’s soothing, calming and hydrating properties as well as to balance out the PH levels of the skin and at the same time make it ready for the next step.

The sales rep (or medical student if you like...) continued to give one side of my face a deep peel with the 24k Deep Peeling mask,a thick layer was added to my skin and followed up by a solution made up of water which “activated” the mask, it became pleasantly warm (39 degrees apparently) and was left for a few minutes to cool down. and then wiped off.

Oro Gold

At this stage I reached up and touched my skin and was surprised to already feel my skin softer and more supple.

After the deep peel was removed a 24k Vitamin C Booster facial gel followed, it promises to illuminate and brighten your skin immediately whilst diminishing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It was instantly refreshing and at this point I couldn’t wait to see the final result (also, half hour later, the chair was now staring to get uncomfortable).

Once the facial gel had set in to my skin he applied the 24k Deep Day Moisturiser, the same one used to lure me in to the store. This is a very delicate moisturiser designed to help reduce the appearance of expression lines, relax wrinkles and restore softness, smoothness and radiance. All a girl needs!

It all sounds a bit too good to be true really.

However, as I looked in to the mirror not only did my right side of my face (where the deep peal and facial booster had been applied) look noticeably brighter but it also looked tighter and felt smooth as a baby’s bottom. I was sold. But I knew this would not come cheap. And it didn’t.

As he got up to fetch the price list (his grand finale) I sat and went over my current credit card bill in my head as well as my pending Christmas expenses and forthcoming New York trip, I knew this was not something I should spend money on right now.

In my head I decided that if the Vitamin C Booster serum was £150 or below, I would get it.

Try adding another £100. He could see the doubt in my eyes and quickly told me that if I got the serum, he would add a 24k Anti Ageing eye serum, priced at another £200, for free (at this stage I was beginning to wonder how concerned he really was about my sun & make up damaged skin), as I was still hesitating he walked out on the street where his colleague was now trying to get people in and mumbled a few words to her. She nodded and he came back in and added the 24k Cleansing pack as well containing the milk cleanser and toner. Probably because I had told him earlier that all my cleansing procedure really required was a wet wipe; he had stared at me in shock horror. 

I was told this was also worth about £150.

I quickly calculated in my head that I was to get products worth about £550 for £250 and decided it worth it, besides I had already seen remarkable results.

I did not even put any make up on to go and meet my friend, that's how fresh and radiant I felt.

Vitamin Booster serum, you even get a 24k gold certificate with it

I have now been using the products for 4 weeks and I love the results.

I now want to get the 24k Deep Peel as well as the 24k Deep Day Moisturiser but how on earth can I justify spending up to £1000 on skincare, that a good pair of Louboutins for gods sake!

So I decided to research a bit. And look what I found...(thank heavens for google);

The same Oro Gold 24k Vitamin Booster Facial Serum, that I paid £250 for, is £70 on Amazon (wince...), the Deep Day Moisturiser, priced in the shop £160, is £60 and so forth.

So although I paid £250 I still feel I got my moneys worth with all the products and I will continue to use the whole series as it’s working great with my skin.

However, from now on I will pay only a fraction of the price. A win win situation for me and apologies to the very enthusiastic sales rep/medical student.

THE RED SOLE

Mount Street Louboutin

Anyone who knows me knows I am an absolute addict to the red sole.

Not least my boyfriend.

So when I received the invitation to the preview of the SS12 Pre-collection in Mount Street, I jumped for joy.

I brought along my friend which is a Loubi virgin, she is the more conservative, sensible type so the opposite of me. But I needed to open her eyes to the world of red soles and painstakingly high heels.

To honour the evening I wore my black calf grain Daffodils, very comfortable and extremely high.

We arrived on the red carpet (inside the shop) and was instantly greeted with a glass of champagne. My kind of party.

The front of the shop was filled with beautiful creations with spikes and bright colours, some of the heels were very similar to current AW11 with a few added extra details.

Asteroid- in the correct height!

The collection is an array of statement heels which are not for the faint hearted, they include metallic brights, Mexican beaded, rock star studded and bejewelled Bollywood.

The collection is inspired by heels from the 1940’s through to 1970’s and this is really noticeable in the collection.

I immediately fell for the Asteroid, here seen in brown leather, python and silver spikes.

They also come in black with gold spikes which is just up my street, but only Motcomb street was to get them in 160 (I tend not to go below that).

As i was unashamedly drooling over the merchandise waiters came around with little Mexican fajita parcels wrapped in Louboutin paper, absolutely delicious but oh so messy.

SS12

At the back of the store was whatever had not sold out of the SS11 collection, I spotted these little gems below, they are cat paws hand stitched on to the shoe with crystals covering the heels, divine and so uncomfortable that even just standing in them for 30 seconds made me wince (I walk 10 hours straight in 6” heels without wincing) and coming in at the mere price of just over 3k, i decided it was not worth it. But beautiful they were.

Not being able to purchase and walk out of the shop with the shoes made me feel like a diabetic in a sweet shop. It was painful.

I didn’t put my name down for any of the shoes as I know myself, i am an impulse buyer.

If they were to call me 3 months down the line reminding me of a pair of shoes that has just come in the chance is very slim i’d be interested, unless they were magnificent.

That also gives me an excuse to “pop by” the shop to see if something new is in.

My craving of the red sole has been satisfied for yet another week.

U(rgh)GG's vs MUKS

Really?

The love/hate relationship this nation has with UGG’s I believe is stronger than that with Marmite. You have young girls swearing by them in all weathers (UGG’s paired with mini skirts on a hot summers day is a sight for sore eyes) & fashionistas spitting venom when walking past a bearer.

Me, I find myself somewhat in-between, not because I like them in any other way but for the sheer comfort, but I tend to quite loudly voice my opinion about the to me naff, out sized, outdated & aesthetically tedious poor excuse of a boot.

Urgh

I particularly hate how they quickly become crippled with huge creases at the heels, not to mention the slipper-like quality of the boot that encourages a slap-slap walk, with the foot supporting (and slipping over the sole) the boot rather than the other way around. This is also damaging to your feet.

UGG boots too are a perfect example of the sartorial disaster that happens when you decide to dress for comfort!

Now, if you for some reason must wear UGG’s then please stick to the real thing and avoid cheap knock-off’s, they will damage your foot even worse than the real ones, foot experts call it the “UGG shuffle”; the loop sided walk i previously mentioned.

Another even more important reason to get the real deal is the recent headlines of how they source the fur for the fake UGG boots; farmed in horrific conditions in China, the Raccoon dog is a species related to the domestic dog. Animal rights activists recently released a video showing sickening scenes of them being skinned alive on a Chinese fur farm. And unlike cat or dog fur, which cannot be sold in Britain, there is no ban.

While the genuine boots made by UGG Australia use only sheepskin produced in a humane way, there is no such guarantee with the lookalikes. 

The Raccoon

So now i suppose you know how i feel about UGG boots, I guess you would never think I ever owned a pair... Well, i did. Let me explain.

It all happened last winter, a very cold and blistery one if you can remember (not making excuses), I was trying to hold out for as long as possible wearing my little gold French Sole ballerinas for as long as possible when rushing to and from work. My feet were ice cold and painfully shoved into my 6 inch Louboutins when i reached work and same procedure as i left in the evening.

However, December was fast approaching, and with it more sleet and snow, I just couldn’t do it no more. I swallowed my pride, went to Selfridges & purchased a black pair of calf high UGG boots, the most discreet ones available.

I cannot even begin to describe in words the feeling when after a long day in my 6 inch heels, I slipped my feet in to my UGG’s, coming close would be like walking on clouds, i’m sure I could even hear the ‘Hallelujah’ cords sounding in my ears.

But as I was doing so I also felt an immense guilt, such a hypocrite, I hung my head in shame each and every time I walked out my door with them.

I had to justify my crime to fashion, so i went and got some higher heels to work in.

Even the prettiest girls struggle in these,  how will us mere mortals do it?

Spring came, and as soon as the ice and snow started melting away I threw my UGG’s and my brief wintry love story with them away.

I would never wear a pair again. No matter how comfortable.

But what now?? Winter is yet again upon us with rumours it is to be the harshest one yet, i’m also off to spend December to February in New York which is always colder than London, so whats a girl to do?? I just can not strut around in my heels, not even my trusted fur-lined Yves Saint Laurent 6” booties (although I will give it a good honest try).

Like my fellow Swede Britt Ekland once said:

“ I know it is incredibly impractical to suggest high heels for walking through the snowy wintry streets of Stockholm, New York and London. Trying to negotiate snow with ice underneath is lethal, i know.

Mukluks

So, go for boots with a wedge heel and non-slip soles. They will give you a bit of a lift.”

I believe she was unconsciously talking about Mukluks. They must be the answer!

Although once having been hailed by fashion as the “new UGGs” they never really took off.

Kate looks so much better in these

Traditionally worn for hunting in the snow, Canadian Aboriginals have been enjoying the warmth and comfort of Mukluks for hundreds of years. Unlike UGG boots who originates from surfers in Australia (what do they know about cold?).

Mukluks have since then evolved into a range of stylish footwear with every pair individually handcrafted to the highest quality. 

The materials used in a Mukluk boot is always natural skin and fur drawing their inspiration from theses native Canadian tribes, these are environmentally friendly, but if you want to go a step further, they also come in faux fur.

Jaime Cooke founded Muks in 2003 when demand for her unique and stylish Mukluk boots caused a stir, handmade with beautiful individual beaded styles and fur options.

Kate Moss was officially the first Mukluk customer, since then the likes of Kate Hudson, Elle McPherson, Beyonce & Jennifer Lopez to name but a few have joined in.

The price for a pair of original Mukluks come in at a slightly higher price than UGG boots, around about £300 and up but for that you get beautiful individual styles and shapes.

If you want to have a look for yourself they are sold in Harrods in London, or you can always visit the Muklukstore.com on line.

Loved by fashionistas all over the world and soon to be loved by me, I think Muks really are the “new UGG”, at least for me.

...and i reckon they'll make my thighs look smaller ;)

BIRTHDAYS, TO DO OR NOT TO DO...

BIRTHDAYS....

...I am never one to really celebrate or make a big deal of it. That has always been my dear mothers job, and year after year she made me feel special with parties and countless amounts of Barbies.

one can see where the addiction comes from

As much as these are now wonderful memories, it has also left me somewhat spoilt and always expecting my birthday to be as special as it was back when i was a little girl.

Needless to say, it never lives up to my expectations, I almost always end up quite emotional and sad towards the end of it (think its the lack of Barbies).

So, I decided this year would be different. Luckily I have a very generous and loving partner who lives in the country side in a rather large house, so naturally it was decided that my celebrations was to be held there in form of a dinner party, no expenses spared.

Wouldn't you agree that there is nothing worse than when it comes to celebrating for example in a restaurant, the bill due to be split, and all of a sudden you need to take in to consideration that someone didn't have a drink, someone didn't have dessert and so on, it really ruins the evening and the atmosphere, not to mention people not turning up because of lack of funds (my birthday always falls when everyone is broke).

No, this would be different. I started by contacting a recommended catering business not far from the house, At-Home Catering aptly named, they were very eager and willing to help, and with one phone call we had decided the menu and the theme of the party- it was that easy.

The following Tuesday the Manager of the catering business came around to the house to further discuss the menu options and to check out the utilities and dining area. He also brought some juicy muffins from their delicatessen for me to sample. So sweet!

It did feel a bit over pretentious to have 2 waiters as well as a chef and a helper for the event, but he insisted this was needed besides it was included in the price so why not.

The theme of the dining room was to be in black and gold (i was going to wear a gold dress which i worked everything around), and leading up to the Saturday I had to frantically run around and try to find gold cutlery and gold napkin rings (thank god for Peter Jones)!

The gold table layout and a very happy Eva

 The weekend fast approached & my friends were getting really exited expecting grand things,  and finally Saturday arrived. My close friend Eva arrived early afternoon and together we made sure that everything was going according to plan.

I had had this idea to spray stones with a recently purchased gold spray to simulate gold nuggets, so the poor house keeper went out to collect some stones and sprayed them. The end result was looking like something a dog would produce on an upset stomach, so that was out the window. Me and my grand ideas!

We settled for the fake diamonds we had scattered over the table and that was in fact more than enough.

Once assured everything was as it should be, me and Eva retreated to the master bedroom and started the serious part of the evening- getting ready. We had 4 hours. We barely made it.

At half eight my girls started arriving to a champagne reception (the most delicious french boutique champagne I had sourced from Eight over Eight on Kings Road) along with some canapes in the hallway/living room area.

It’s always tricky bringing together different groups of friends at a gathering but this went so smooth, perhaps the champagne helped...

After about an hour of mingling and the last person arriving, we were all shown to the dining room to be seated. It was such a beautiful sight, the dark table and furnishings set off by sparkling gold glasses and plates and all dancing in candle light. Even the staff had joined in the theme and wore black shirts with gold ties.

Everyone seated, the starter arrived; a seafood platter containing gravad lax (I am Swedish after all), tuna tartar and crab mousse, accompanied by a small prawn cocktail and a spoon with a very succulent scallop. It looked divine but after all nerves and running (unnecessarily) around i did not have much of an appetite.

The stunning seafood starter

The main course was presented shortly after in the shape of a thick piece of fillet beef with red jus, glazed vegetables and potato gratin, and sea bass for my vegetarian guests.

The sight of it was over whelming and the taste beautiful.

Beefy main

Towards the end of the course my friends started looking rather full and content, more champagne was rapidly needed!!

In-between the main course and the dessert was a completely unnecessary but impressive cheese course. Melted cheese was being scooped out of a round tray and serves with salad and chutney. I tried my hardest to eat some, and so did my guests, but it was just too much food!!

At this stage whisperings started going around the table so I knew what was up, and before I even had a chance to look surprised everyone stood up and started singing Happy Birthday, I was brought out the dessert with a tea light on top (apparently the latest craze on birthday cakes, or rather a lack of birthday candles).

Presents were opened and included Hermes leather bound note books as well as some fox fur earmuffs and Jo Malone candles, i’m so lucky to have such amazing generous friends who knows exactly what i need!

Everyone was happily tucking in to their melted chocolate fondant with mint ice cream and fresh raspberries, I don’t have a sweet tooth so I was quite content in watching the others.

1am came sooner than expected and a few of my friends who had commitments in the morning called for cabs, the rest stayed.

And after the party is the after party...

As we were busy saying goodbye to the friends leaving, my friend Yoanna took a stroll around the inside pool area and somehow managed to slip on the step and sit down in the shallow end, I so wished i had had my camera ready! With one person soaked we decided we might all as well get in, so bikinis came on as the jacuzzi started bubbling. Our drinks were brought to the pool side and we sat there relaxing and talking for a couple of hours. The water felt amazing and it was such a perfect end to a perfect evening.

All in all I couldn’t have asked for a better birthday party, my close friends were fed and had a nice time and i didn’t have to worry about a things throughout the whole night, Amarou, the Manager of At-Home Catering and his staff took care of everything with such elegance. I recommend them highly to anyone thinking to do the same.

Shoes worn on the evening; nude Highness Louboutins

As it stands now, I really can not wait for my next birthday!

www.athomecatering.co.uk

I NEVER QUE.

What is it with us girls (and surely a few boys too) and queueing...?

None of my girlfriends Que. It’s just a no go area, whether it is for the newest quirkiest club, a super busy lounge bar or launch of a restaurant, we just don’t do it. 

We either make sure we know someone on the door or that one of us have got some kind of connection there, to save us the embarrassment of queueing in front of everyone, i mean, who do they think we are, we have a reputation to hold up!!

It is a mix between a blown up ego (too good to Que) and impatience (at least for me as I have none.)

There are obviously certain places where queueing is almost inevitable; The Post Office, The Bank and to be honest, anywhere in London on a weekend (bloody tourists!).

The Loubi Que.

Yet here I was, on Thursday last week, on my birthday, queueing.

But it was just queueing for anyone, but for Mr Christian Louboutin himself.

The occasion took place in Harvey Nichols where Mr Louboutin was due to sign his first coffee table book and as the Louboutinoholic that I am there was no way I was not going to be there. I had to swallow my queueing pride.

I luckily managed to drag my poor friend Marie with me, she is so not in to over priced shoes and finds the whole idea of spending £600 on a pair of shoes quite remarkable, she would rather spend it on a nice holiday somewhere, and rightly so.

Nevertheless she was there by my side.

Marie entertaining herself

After having gone for a quick lunch to raise our energy levels we reached the 4th floor in HN by 16.30, not knowing what to expect in terms of queueing.

It stretched across the whole of the ladies fashion floor with about 100 people in front of us, waiting with the big book in their hands. I didn’t mind too much, i was on a mission, and i was going to accomplish it.

What hit me though was that out of the approximately 100 people queueing up, not even 5 of them were wearing Louboutins!! There were people from all walks of life, people I would never have expected seeing there (i thought the Que would be full of Tamara Ecclestone lookalikes, maybe I am narrow minded), old men in busted trainers, young Hoxton girls in brogues and plain office Jane's, what were they all doing there???

I felt like I was the only true Louboutinista and wanted to shout over the crowds that they should sort the Que in accordance of pairs of Louboutins owned. My ego was out in full force again. 

What I wore

Instead we decided to make the most of the queueing. Luckily HN had organised waitresses walking around giving out elderflower water and yummy macaroons. We acted like teenage girls, giggling and talking about the people in the Que, in Swedish of course, and by doing so probably annoyed the whole Que (i might personally have been responsible for giving Louboutin wearing blonde's a bad name).

About 17.20 the que started moving quite rapidly and before we knew we were at the forefront of the que.

Mr Louboutin (a rather small man) was sat at a table in front of posters of his beautiful designs, as my time came I walked up, he did not even look at my stunning crippling pony skin, leopard printed Madame Butterfly Louboutins, but I didn't let that bring me down.

He proceeded making small talk asking where i was from and saying Sweden was a beautiful country, I managed to chip in I have about 30 pairs of Louboutins and before I knew it the time was up.

I had my book signed and i was sent on my way.

Meeting his biggest fan

The book itself, if you have not seen it yet, is beautifully done in softest pink and rose gold and is currently displayed on its very own glass table in my house.                                             

Although my attitude to queueing has not changed, sometimes, and only sometimes its actually worth swallowing your pride and in doing that get a rememberable experience to treasure for life.