A Quick Photo Selection

We had a visiting makeup artist at work the other day (my second dream job), 

so naturally I took a snap of her amazing kit.  

My best friend Char getting carried away...I don't get it.

Another fun task at work.  Bubblewrapping a bike separates the men from the boys.

An amazing mermaid costume I found 

On a trip to Angel, we walked along the canal and found floating libraries and markets.  

Gorgeous part of town.

An early Christmas present I had made for my gay best friend.

Disney action at the office.

A trip to Savile Row to help a friend with custom made suit decisions.  I saved him from a hideous two-tone lining just in the knick of time.  Boys can't be trusted.

Leather leggings a-plenty at Brandnation.

Drinks in Finsbury Park where an unexpected drag burlesque show was occurring.  GREAT fun.

An early morning walk looking at Christmas lights.

10 Of The Best Christmas Jumpers

The cold crisp days, the smell of chestnuts and pine trees, twinkly lights a-plenty, mittens.  There's so many things I love about this time of year.  Another is snugly seasonal knits.  Super cute with a little black skater skirt and opaques, toughened up with leather skinnies or simply thrown on with a favourite  pair of jeans.  Here is my round up of the very best in stores now.  Simply put, they are as camp as Christmas.

ASOS

Topshop

Miss Selfridge

Marks & Spencer

A Wear

 

Jack Wills

Aubin and Wills

River Island

Topshop

Illustrated People

Giving Thanks

My friend Jen is celebrating her part American heritage today by taking the day off and celebrating Thanksgiving with her family.  She has kindly lent me the recipe for her famous pumpkin pie to share with all you guys.  Happy Thanksgiving to all my readers in the US!!

 Jenny's Thanksgiving Pumpkin Pie (looks burnt, tastes amazing)

For the base: 

10 ginger biscuits    

25g butter, melted    

- Crush the biscuits in a food processor (or put in a plastic bag, seal and bash with a rolling pin). 
- Add the melted butter and mix well. 
- Press the crumbs into the base of a buttered 20cm springform tin and bake for 5 minutes. 
- Allow to cool.
 
For the filling:
450 g/1lb pumpkin flesh, cut into 1in/2.5 cm chunks
2 large eggs plus 1 yolk (use the white for another dish)  
3 oz/75g soft dark brown sugar 
1 tsp ground cinnamon  
1/2 level teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg   
1/2 tsp ground allspice   
1/2 tsp ground cloves   
1/2 tsp ground ginger 
10 fl oz/275 ml double cream    
                                  
- Pre-heat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4.        
- To make the filling, steam the pumpkin then place in a coarse sieve and press lightly to extract any excess water. 
- Lightly whisk the eggs and extra yolk together in a large bowl. 
- Place the sugar, spices and the cream in a pan, bring to simmering point, giving it a whisk to mix everything together. Then pour it over the eggs and whisk it again briefly. 
- Now add the pumpkin pureé, still whisking to combine everything thoroughly.
- Pour the filling onto your biscuit base and bake for 35-40 minutes, by which time it will puff up round the edges but still feel slightly wobbly in the centre. 
- Remove the pie from the oven and place the tin on a wire cooling rack. Serve chilled (stored loosely covered in foil in the fridge) with some equally chilled créme fraïche.
      

Mensday Wednesday - The Perfect Package

The other day over brunch, my friend James was showing off his new Ray-Ban sunglasses and showed me the impeccable way in which they had arrived.  Mr Porter is as slick and elegant as its female counterpart and is the go-to web destination for any dapper gent.  I loved the photos James had taken of the packaging so much I nabbed them for a Mensday Wednesday post.  If Mr Porter prices are out of the question this Christmas, this wrapping is a great way of making any gift that bit more luxe.

Start with a smart, simple gift box.

A hand written label personalised for James.  A great touch.

Plush grosgrain ribbon gives any box a new lease of life.

A box within a box, wrapped in tissue.  Adding a little extra excitment to a purchase.

The glasses in all their glory.

What I'm Wearing Today

When the mornings are this grey and miserable and you have to drag yourself to the office, the closest way to feel like you're still in your pyjamas is to wear a PJ shirt.  

My most recent purchase is this one from Topshop which today I've teamed with leather leggings and my Kurt Geiger boots. Dreaming of my duvet....

Sophie's Choice

My lovely sister Sophie has been poorly this week in hospital.  As one of my my most frequent readers (as well as some person in Santa Barbara apparently, hello who ever you are) I thought I'd kick off my gift guides with a very personal one.  A gift guide with no budget or restrictions, and from a dream world where I could give my family anything.  Just for my big sis.  Get well soon Soph xxxxx

A Christmas hamper from Fortnum and Mason - the perfect traditional gift for a foodie.

Soph is obsessed with the royals but I refuse to give anyone anything as twee as a commemorative mug.  Instead, I tracked down this Lydia Leith jelly mould in the shape of Her Majesty.

When she was little, Soph loved any thing to do with Miffy so I thought this 

cute-as-a-button fridge magnet would be the ideal nostalgic stocking filler.

A trip to New York.  Because I want her to see the best city in the world.

Every Alexander girl can be won over with a Chanel nail varnish. FACT.  

For Soph, I'd opt for best selling Dragon.  A classic Christmas colour.

The epitome of luxury and comfort - a pure cashmere robe from John Lewis.

A weekend in the house from The Holiday, one of Soph's favourite films.

Bunny PJ's from Lola Rose.  Just 'cause.

This to-die-for Aspinal of London handbag, big enough to carry around all Soph's teacher kit.

A weekly delivery of white chocolate fish and chips from 

Cranch's, our family's favourite sweet shop in Salcombe.

The ultimate Christmas candle from Diptyque - to fill her home with the smell of the season.

A majestic bowl from Harrods for her cat Willow.

Soph is always asking me to do her a smoky eye for evenings out.  

We've often done lessons so she can do it herself but it never seems to stick.  This mini kit from Benefit would give her everything she needed for the desired look.

A day with Fern Britton - Soph's icon.

Happy shopping readers - both real and imaginary x

Hooray Henry

I know this blog's been a little neglected this week - work has taken over in a big way.
Amongst a whole load of reports, boxes of clothes, Valentine's preparation juggled with
Christmas mania, I met with Henry Holland himself to discuss his underwear collection.
Plenty to get excited about - Autumn Winter 13 is going to be particularly exciting - but in the
meantime I thought I'd do a little homage to our meeting.  Henry's Spring Summer collection
for next season is spectacularly cool, a nod to the 90's rave scene.

This finale dress was one of my favourite looks of all the fashion weeks.  

Acid brights, tie dye and a 90's waif nightie shape.

House of Holland's new underwear collection that is currently hanging all round 

my office attracting numerous ooooo's and ahhhhh's has launched in Selfridges this week.  

To read all about it, see some of the pieces and get the gossip straight from the horse's 

mouth click here to read Henry's exclusive interview with Elleuk.com.

Imagery - style.com