And so a month of fashion weeks comes to an end. It took me a week to even state this. A month of travelling, what-to-wear planning and show scheduling is finally over for another season and I feel happily peaceful about it. To fuel my Parisian wardrobe I had Casadei to thank, the infamous Italian ‘blade’ heel, has been on my wish-list forever and last week I finally got to add it to my wardrobe in the shade of lemon sorbet. Cute right? You would think that the heel thinner than a cigarette is impossible to balance on, but it is actually quite sturdy and easy to walk in! I guess we have an answer to why the blade is prized worldwide. A good way to kick start the spring wardrobe, although I admit I need the black version. Nothing to complete my bad-ass, black, warrior-princess wardrobe than the blade heel in the darkest hue, this is what stiletto-fetish dreams are made of. To be continued….
My first introduction to designer Tabitha Webb was through the internet. In fact, and I hope she'll forgive me for saying this, I was introduced to Tabitha through the Daily Mail. I, along with about 50 million other people on the globe were drooling over The Duchess of Cambridge's 3/4 length sleeve midi dress, designed by Webb, and wondering how I could get my hands on such an elegant number. The obsession began there. Tabitha is famed for dressing both The Duchess of Cambridge and her sister Pippa Middleton, among countless others for everything from sidewalk style to red carpets moments. She is a name that is synonymous with elegant attire, but this week she's introducing a new look that's reinventing everything we know about the brand. It's purely by coincidence that Tabitha became a good girlfriend before this whole reinvention took place. And it's even more of a coincidence that I would find myself in Palm Springs around the same time she was shooting her look book. I think you see where I'm going with this...
For two days, I was a part of what I am now referring to as "the rewriting of Tabitha Webb." Now, let's not all jump into panic mode here. Ms. Webb is continuing on with her perfectly polite dresses, but even these seriously flattering shapes have a new edge to them. Fancy a bit of neon, Duchess of Cambridge? One can only hope that the new look for the brand will mean a bit more fun with fashion for the Middleton sisters.
Now, what's this new look all about? Well, I like to think that it's a Tabitha Webb that's rewritten with a Californian flare. You all know my obsession with all things Southern California, so it's no surprise I'm head over heels in love with this new look. From rainbow prints to friendly flamingos, this is a new casual collection that's all about pieces that make a serious statement. There's no fuss or muss, just great dresses, jeans, cashmere sweaters and button down shirts that say all they need to about keeping casual cool. And truly, the devil is in the detail here with the new casual look for Tabitha Webb. From cheeky hidden life lessons imprinted inside shirts to lovely neon detailing, this is a collection that deserves an up close and personal audience.
Oh, and the good news? Well, this is your behind-the-scenes look... but the collection itself has just dropped this week and is available to buy online. See it. Love it. Buy it....before the Duchess wears it and it sells out forever. You get what I'm laying down here.
This year we've had maybe two flurries of snow in my part of London. There is little to no winter weather happening here, besides a few cold fronts and a whole lot of rain. If you ask me, that doesn't really put one in any sort of festive mood. In fact, it's just down right depressing. So, I decided that I wouldn't wait for the snow any longer... I'd go out and find it. And that's exactly what I did with a weekend at Le Grand Bellevue in Gstaad, Switzerland.
Only this trip's a little different than most for what I usually share on Fashion Foie Gras. You see, the whole experience was so magical and picturesque that I thought I'd let my camera do the talking. A video was born. And ok, the lens doesn't do all the work here. I'm talking you through the experience of being in Gstaad at Le Grand Bellevue, but it's truly the first time I have felt like I have accurately been able to capture how it feels to be in such an incredible location (see video and still imagery below).
Our adventure with Le Grand Bellevue began with a fairytale welcome. We flew Easyjet from London into Geneva and were met by a driver at the airport. As we walked outside we were told that we'd arrived just on time. Gstaad had received two feet of snow in the past 48 hours - ideal for those seeking out a winter wonderland and perfect skiing conditions. We made our way to Gstaad by van and arrived ready to sink into a warm bed with a mug full of hot chocolate. Le Grand Bellevue delivered... and kept delivering for the next 48 hours.
When we weren't eating, we were taking part in any one of a thousand activities to keep guests busy. Various spa treatments with beautiful Bamford products were offered in the Spa (more on these delicious products later). Lunch was had on the top of the ski slopes featuring fondue and meringues and horse drawn carriages were awaiting our arrival at the bottom of the mountain, offering grand tours of the beautiful town of Gstaad. It should also be mentioned that I ate the best burger I've ever had... and I think you know that's a pretty big statement. And the food offerings continued in a Michelin star restaurant, a small sushi restaurant and a magnificent afternoon tea- all in the hotel. One could stay here for days and never get tired of the menus found within this hotel alone.
It must be said, however, that while the interior decoration at Le Grand Bellevue was simply outstanding, it played a close second to a much more natural beauty - the views surrounding the hotel itself. Every window was an opportunity to discover a different landscape, and every hour presented the beauty in a new light. If all you did here was sit on your balcony and marvel at the mountains around you for two days, I'd say the trip was worth it. And don't even get me started on the air. Coming from London, taking a deep breath in Gstaad was a therapy like none other. After just one evening of breathing the fresh mountain air, I felt like a new person. I felt healthy. Imagine that.
Alright, enough talking. It's time to share the whole weekend in a much more visual way... with video! Check this out...
View from the room:
Spa in Le Grand Bellevue.
The new nightclub in the hotel: Bouquet.
A horse drawn carriage ride through Gstaad.
Out and about around town in Gstaad.
Fashion Foie Gras stayed as a guest at Le Grand Bellevue, Gstaad.
Damn Batiste back at it again with the dry shampoo. I think Batiste now cover each and every scent known to man in their dry shampoo offerings. This new dry shampoo is infused with notes of raspberry and vanilla which helps to banish oily roots and lift lacklustre hair by adding body and texture. Batiste is a daily staple in my hairdrobe to help give
Overall I like the scene, it does smell very sweet and feminine without being childish or overpowering. I wanted to it to sell like the Fudge Vanilla and Raspberry hairspray but it doesn't quite reach that level of sweetness. Which is a darn shame as I love that so much! All the goodness of traditional Bastiste (Tropical will forever be the one) with the sweet smell candy. Absolute dream team. If you havent tried Batiste yet... where have you been?
There is a new discovery method in beauty and it comes to us by way of box. Ok, first of all - who am I kidding? This is hardly new. Only, it is new in the way that it's actually become worth taking a look. Long gone are the days of simply sending samples of beauty products to those interested in finding the next big thing in beauty. Finally, people have clocked onto the fact that full sized bottles are needed to truly hook someone onto their product. How is anyone supposed to see that something works after just one application anyway? Could never really put my full weight behind that. But, times they are a changing!
Over the past year I've seen the development of some pretty intense beauty boxes and I just wanted to take a moment to tell you about two, in particular. Two that I believe are really paving the way for more beauty box collaborations in the future.
Let's kick off with Cult Beauty. They've now created numerous boxes with beautiful beauty guru Caroline Hirons and not only have they sold out, they've commanded wait lists. And so they should. These were products recommended by an expert, packaged together and sold as a whole for far less than if one were to buy them individually. Caroline basically puts together her dream box of products and tells people how to use them to boot. It's a magical miracle in a box...hence the sell out. A brilliant collaboration with a brilliant result, right? Haven't heard a bad word said yet. And, if you guys are followers of Caroline Hirons' blog, you will see that there's a new box with Cult Beauty in the making as we speak. Try to contain your excitement.
For those of you that need an instant fix now, let me point you towards a beauty box I received last week from Liberty. Yes, London's favorite department store has jumped into the mix and they are leaping into the marketplace with quite the stellar beauty box indeed. Well, should I say beauty? It is most certainly all about beauty, but it's more about building beauty from the inside as well as servicing the outside. It's what I'm officially referring to as soul food. But, Liberty like to call it the Be Well Box. Created in collaboration with fitness ambassadors Hip & Healthy, the box contains nine cult products and is priced at £65, but carries a value of over £165. Just a quick word about this box - it has everything from a Diptyque candle to my dream hair mask (called Nou Nou... love it). It's a true journey of both body and soul and I have it on good authority that this may be the first, but it is most certainly not the last we'll see of such a collaborative effort from Liberty.
Really, all this is worth mentioning because I've found myself in one too many meetings with people discussing the old school beauty box. This is truly a new era and the beauty powers that be have listened to us as consumers, when we asked for more guidance in our routines and better products to trial with such guidance. I use the Cult Beauty and Liberty boxes as introductions to the new way forward. They by no means stand alone in the marketplace. As you find yourself shopping department stores or online beauty outlets, keep your eyes peeled for such buying opportunities. In the past year I have been introduced to at least three (that I can think of) beauty products which are now part of my day to day regime. Call me crazy, but I think that's well worth the price of trial and error involved here. But you see, that's just it - there's no error as these boxes are curated to a fine point. Get in there, beauty lovers. There's plenty left to uncover.
In 2016, we live in an age where handbags aren't just handbags, if you get my meaning. Handbags are identifiers. They say so much about a person from the get go. Some people care little, others care immensely. The importance is all in the eye of the beholder. But, one thing can't be argued - originality is key. My biggest pet peeve is an "it bag." I think we all know what I'm talking about here. Just look at Chloe last season. Do you remember seeing one top fashion blogger that wasn't swinging a Chloe bag from their instagram page? Can I get a collective yawn? I crave the brave when it comes to fashion, and in particular fashion accessories. Which leads me to where I find myself today... at a restaurant sitting next to a bag that defines me to a tee and it comes from a talent that has quite simply transformed the ability to stand out from the fashion pack. Meet Boyarde.
I have had the opportunity to work with some pretty amazing artists over the past couple of years of my career, but none have blown me away more than Boyarde. I first heard the name Boyarde a number of years ago after spotting an Hermes Birkin bag with a special twist - it was painted with a one of a kind design, made specially for the owner. Years later, Boyarde once again came onto my radar and this time around I knew the time had come - I had to have a Boyarde of my own. It was commission time.
Meeting Boyarde is what I imagine it's like to meet Banksy. Ok, that may seem like a bit of a stretch but follow my lead here. You see Boyarde paintings hang from the arms of some of the world's most fashionable and fantastic women. These women are trendsetters and industry leaders. They purchase and customize to suit their own needs and very rarely share the secrets of their style success. So, just like Banksy, Boyarde has been a name that is whispered in social circles. If you have one of her paintings, you are one of the lucky few. But never have I heard anyone detail how exactly you go about getting your hands on a custom piece.
Well, it's time for me to let the cat out of the bag. Boyarde is in fact accessible. There's still a waiting list for her talent, but getting your hands on a one of kind handbag design is not impossible. And here's the kicker. I've met Boyarde, in the flesh, and I'm crazy about her - absolutely head over heels. Her creative energy flows like a river. We sat and had breakfast and talked about what I wanted to do for a piece and it was love at first bagel.
First, one needs to determine what bag they'd like to have customized. Boyarde is great at being able to easily establish which leathers will work best with the methods she uses for painting. After all, she wants you to have a product that you can hand down to generations to come, so she uses only the best materials that will stand the test of time. But, the type of leather she works with plays a very important part in that. It will also determine how big a canvas she has to work with in creating your original piece of art. For my Boyarde original, I came to the table ready. I knew I wanted to work with my beautiful Bally bag - a classic that I thought would be the perfect canvas for a groundbreaking painting.
Then, over breakfast with the ladies, we all discovered our unwavering love for the movie The Way We Were and actor Robert Redford. It was in that moment that I knew. You see, I have always said to any long term boyfriend that they should never ever be fearful of me being unfaithful. There is only one man that I would ever cheat on anyone with and that man exists in a movie that was filmed decades ago. Of course I'm referring to Hubbell from The Way We Were. So it seemed fitting that I should have the man of my dreams on my arm at all times. Boyarde made that dream a reality and did so by capturing one of my favorite scenes - the moment when Barbra Streisand says goodbye to Robert Redford. In case you're lost in remembering such a scene, watch this:
This is the moment that Katie has to let go of the one man she's ever really loved, and let him start a life with a new woman. Queue the tears. It's emotional and I'm a basket case just writing about it. Yes, I'm a glutton for punishment that I'd want such a moment frozen in time on my favorite handbag. But there you go. Boyarde didn't ask any questions, she just knew I'd landed on my perfect painting concept.
A week later I had my bag couriered over to Boyarde's studio in North London and I awaited a sketch to showcase what my "scene" would translate to with her vision as an artist. The first look was perfection. I told her to get started and I could barely contain my excitement when I had an email a few weeks later with the first look at the bag. Boyarde checks to make sure that the painting is exactly as you had envisioned it before she puts on her final coat of paint that will lock the detail in place for the life of the handbag. I gave my final approval and two days later the handbag was on its way back to me, complete with a Boyarde ribbon tied around the carrier bag. It arrived just in time for fashion week. Couldn't have planned that timing any more perfectly.
Now - what you need to know as someone who is looking to commission Boyarde. First of all, check out her website. Here you'll find contact information and discover some of the past commissions in her portfolio. This will give you a much better idea of the breadth of her work and what she can accomplish for you. Secondly, let's talk price structure. Boyarde works with all different sizes and materials in her paintings. She can create a piece on something as small as a wallet or as large as an oversized humidor. Truly, she's up for whatever challenge you can throw at her - although she may kill me for writing that later. Prices start at £250 and you become a member of a highly elite club - a Boyarde original caretaker. These are truly beautiful creations and are most definitely pieces that will set you apart from the rest. My Robert Redford Boyarde moment presently works double duty in my household as a handbag and a shelf display. It is a piece of art worthy of display, in my opinion, and will never be hidden away in any closet of mine.
