Lollipop colours for a party goddess look December 7, 2009 IT’s the one time of year when you can let your hair down – within reason, of course. No drunken snogs at the office party please, or embarassingly short skirts.But fun party makeup?Why not?Sure, you might not wear green sparkly nail varnish to work, or sumptuous gold eye makeup or even siren-red lippie, but you [...]
EARN YOUR STRIPES December 3, 2009 1. Austin Reed, £35www.austinreed.com 2. Thomas Pink £55www.thomaspink.com 3. Brooks Brothers £59www.brooksbrothers.com 4. Simon Carter £49www.simoncarter.net 5. Gieves & Hawkes £69www.gievesandhawkes.com 6. Eton £54.95www.harrods.com 7. TM Lewin £28.50www.tmlewin.co.uk 8. Ben Sherman Savile Row £45www.benshermanpresents.co.uk 9. Giorgio Armani £84.95www.harrods.com
Because you’re worth it: the best bachelor pads in town December 3, 2009 ATROPHY apartment is the ultimate reward for spending your 20s chained to a desk. And in case you hadn’t noticed, tastes for this type of flat, and the facilities found within it, are changing. Overt ostentation, 1980s-style, is out – so swimming pools with your monogrammed initials at the bottom are a no-no – to [...]
Keep your eyes on the pies December 2, 2009 CHRISTMAS without mince pies would be like a British summer without rain – simply not possible. We love our mince pies – at least before a month of over-eating them makes us a stone heavier and permanently nausceous. But they can vary in quality. At their best, they are a combination of sweet, sour, gooey [...]
…AND WINES TO MATCH December 2, 2009 CROFT’S PARTICULAR A rich Amontillado-style cream sherry like this one works well for your more traditional pie – and traditional pie eater. It’s an unusually pale sherry, which uses fino instead of oloroso as the base wine, lightening up the style overall, and adding the interesting nuances. £10.06 at Waitrose. H&H VERDELHO MADEIRASometimes, nothing beats [...]
Pick up a pad in London’s smartest areas on the cheap November 26, 2009 THERE’S living in London, and then there’s living in a London area with a truly sought-after postcode. It’s not just about status – it really is smarter, and nicer. Of course the problem with London’s poshest parts is that they cost the earth, plus a bit more. But for those considering splashing some bonus-fuelled cash [...]
Both black and white beers will bring out the best in oysters November 26, 2009 London's connection with oysters goes back as far as the city itself. The eating of oysters in London began in Roman times, when the British product was shipped as far as Rome. They continued to be popular in medieval times, when the church imposed lots of “fish days”, during which seafood had to be eaten [...]
FOOD & BOOZE NEWS November 23, 2009 QUAGLINO’S BACK ON FORMQuaglino’s, the vast St James’s dining establishment that was the fashionable cornerstone of the Conran empire in the nineties, is aiming to bring back the buzz with a new chef, an enhanced look and a bit of live entertainment. Belgian cook Konrad Inghelram arrives having worked at Michelin-starred establishments back home, and [...]
The prezzies kids will really want to find under the tree this year November 23, 2009 THE TOY WORLD has been set alight by a renewed desire for gift-buying after a year of belt-tightening and anxiety. And boy is there demand – John Lewis is doing a roaring trade (up 15 per cent on last year at this time), helped by sales of its toys of which the bestseller is the [...]
Indulge with a basket of gourmet treats November 23, 2009 IN the season of excess, hampers overflowing with foodie favourites and boozy delights have become central to our idea of seasonal indulgence. And these days they’re better than ever – the organic revolution and revival of interest in quality local food means that the best hampers are bursting with variety and class. Artisan cheeses, mouth-watering [...]