Contact
Last week I spent a perfect 24 hours in Paris with the lovely team from Farfetch to celebrate the launch of The Playlist, a new project in which they’ve collaborated with six of the world’s best independent music shops and two emerging bands to celebrate the spirit of independent music stores worldwide and the ever-evolving relationship between music and fashion.
To mark the launch, Farfetch asked both bands – S.C.U.M. and Singtank – to create a fashion film with them, as well as play an exclusive gig, one of those being the reason we travelled to Paris. Myself, Charlie May and Katie Chutzpah were invited to watch Singtank play a gig in the new RA Boutique – one of Farfetch’s partners. Singtank is an up-and-coming French brother/sister pop duo consisting of Alexandre and his sister Josephine de la Baume, a French actress and wife of Mark Ronson. We were lucky enough to have a chat with them before the gig, and they were absolutely adorable, down to earth and my god, I’m pretty sure I’m going to have dreams about Josephine’s beautiful red hair for months to come!
Although the trip was short, we managed to pack a lot into the day, with a visit to L’Éclaireur, another one of Farfetch’s partners and one of the best shops I’ve been to in a long time (full review to follow in another post), afternoon tea at the Ritz, drinks in a secret bar (so secret, I don’t know what it’s called), a midnight Steak Tartare and a few hours sleep at Hotel Le Général (review to follow later as well).
Click here to find out more about The Playlist and make sure you have a look at the lovely fashion film Singtank created with Farfetch below, called “Lonsdale Road” (because that’s where it was shot. Get it?)
A big, massive, huge thank you to Farfetch for taking us, and spoiling us absolutely rotten!
p.s. if you like Singtank, they’re playing at Koko in London this Friday (May 4th!)
Payton and Byrne breakfast on the Eurostar
My new Tusting bag got to go with me on its first trip
These were waiting for me in the hotel room… nom nom
Charlie May aka Girl a la Mode
L’Éclaireur (review to follow)
Afternoon tea at the Ritz (and my midnight steak tartare)
Ready for the party!
Singtank at the new RA Boutique. Never been to an event before where Absinthe was served…
Charlie, Karen and me – I may look wasted, but I wasn’t drunk, promise! Not yet at least…
I’ve just celebrated my 4th year in my beloved home, my own little slice of London. Becoming a homeowner really changed the way I started thinking about “home” – I became very houseproud and always thinking of ways to improve it. Add to that the fact that I also work from home, which means I’m there 24/7, and improving it becomes a downright obsession.
Sadly, a lot of my big plans cost a lot of money, and so they usually go out the window as fast as they came in. That’s why I’m always looking for easy, simple and cheap ways to change my home without too much effort, and yes, sometimes even I get bored of IKEA (not often though). So, I was pretty excited to find out yet another high street chain are dipping their toes into the homewares pond. After Zara Home (love) and H&M Home (haven’t seen too much of it, but what I did see was nice), French Connection have just launched their homeware range, and it’s lovely.
French Connection Home has a vintage-y vibe to it and I can’t help but feel it matches their clothing aesthetic completely, so hats off to FC! Personally, I’m a little bit more minimalist and modern in my style, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t found some great pieces in there. Am ordering the striped cushions as we speak!
And as luck would have it, whilst writing this post an email arrived informing me of a 20% online discount from Wednesday 4th April to Midnight Thursday 5th April, so if you like what you see, just type in GRAZIASS12 on checkout!
1: Striped Jersey Cushions, £30-£45 each
2: Painted Canvas Magazine Bag, £30
3: Gallery Clock, £120
4: Classic FC Centrepiece Votive Small, £45
5: Jute and Leather Rug, £160
6: 4-part Storage Tray, £55
7+8: Blue Stripe Vases, £35 and £29
9-10: Driftwood Stool, £95 and £120
Last weekend I headed up to Edinburgh for the first time, to explore, relax, shop and visit. When looking for which hotel to stay in, the choice was pretty obvious: Edinburgh is home to the first Hotel Missoni, which opened in 2009.
I’ve never stayed in a “fashion hotel” before, so I was intrigued to see just how much of the brand’s signature style would be incorporated in the hotel. The answer? It’s like taking a walk inside Creative Director Rosita Missoni’s brain. Whereas in my own home, I tend to take the minimalist approach, this is about as far removed from minimalism as could possibly be – and it is fantastic. It is colourful and full of clashing patterns and over-the-top statement designs and a true feast for the eyes.
We arrived on Friday evening, were initially confused whether we had walked into a design bar instead of the hotel, as the lobby bar has become a popular meeting place for Edinburgh’s fashionable crowd. I always think a thriving lobby bar is the sign of a great hotel, so it boded well for the rest of our stay. Everywhere, from the lift to the hallways to the bedroom features countless prints and colours (my boyfriend referred to it as “a bit trippy”) and you can’t help but feel quite cheerful just walking around the hotel. I became slightly obsessed with the adorable Missoni tableware and the black & white robes (a lot of which you can buy in reception!).
Breakfast was in Cucina, the hotel’s restaurant. Again it was a barrage of colours and prints and materials, mixed with delicious food served by Missoni-clad staff. As hotel uniforms go, these have to be the coolest I’ve ever seen, especially the lovely man in the Missoni kilt in front of the hotel. Inside the hotel, it’s pretty easy to imagine you’re inside the Missoni HQ in Milan, but the moment you step out of the hotel, you’re reminded of the history of its location. Just around the corner of Hotel Missoni you’ll find Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Mile, which seems a world away from the modern and stylish interiors of the hotel, and yet somehow, the clash between old and contemporary just works.
Whether you’re staying in the hotel or just passing by for food or drink – I promise you it’s absolutely worth the visit! Rooms start from £90 per night.
Hotel Missoni Edinburgh
1 George IV Bridge
Edinburgh EH1 1AD
www.hotelmissoni.com
For lots more pictures, head to the Alex Loves Facebook Page!
View from my room…
