LFWeekend 2012

London Fashion Weekend proved to be a huge treat. Filled with anticipation and buzzing with fashionistas, Somerset house saw a final flourish of style following the success of London fashion week. The day started with a Mulberry designed tote bag filled with indulgent goodies. Followed by a Daks catwalk showcasing their Autumn/Winter 2012 collection for which I will dedicate another blog post!

From top right:

1. Daks Autumn/Winter 2012 write up
2.Lavazzo coffee sample
3.Compeed plaster
4. Velvet tissues
5.Colgate tooth whitener
6. Elizabeth Arden moisturising face cream
7. Limited edition John Paul Gaultier coke
8. London fashion weekend guide for the day
9. Triumph underwear

My lovely friend Saskia Hadley (read her blog here) and I enjoyed a gorgeous lunch. I chose of mushroom risotto (below) and a glass of chilled champagne at Tom’s dining room.

Following the show, we explored the pop up boutiques at gorgeous stalls selling designer wear from, John Galliano, Maison Martin Margiela and Twenty 8 Twelve and millions more! I indulged in a gorgeous thick leather t-shirt dress which I plan on living in as the winter rolls in. Later, we sat in on two talks. The first focussed on London as a fashion hub with CEO of the British fashion council, Caroline Rush and Senior Elle UK editor,  Natalie Wansborough- Jones with crucial tips on how to make it in fashion.

In between talks we relaxed in the kinder bueno room with a free massage and endless supply of chocolate. After having a further browse at the ever-appearing rooms filled with designer bargains (and purchasing a super-soft Elizabeth Lau jumper pictured below in grey with black bead wording) we returned to of a beauty focussed talk with fashion week stylists Richard Mannus from Toni and Guy, Lisa Potter-Dixon from Benefit and Rachel Singer-Clark from Elizabeth Arden which looked at the looks for the season, and the products to never go without.

A fantastic day was topped off with a delicious cocktail overlooking the river Thames and I’m already looking forward to next year’s London fashion weekend.

Jamie’s Italian

I’ve been wanting to do some food writing for a while now. My philosophy is; We have to eat to survive, so why not make every meal/snack/midnight feast as nutritious and delicious as possible? I’m going to start my culinary adventures with a post about Norwich’s new place to eat – Jamie’s Italian. Located in the historic Royal Arcade the surprisingly spacious restaurant offers a place to unwind. The decor is reminiscent of a rustic café and the relaxed ambiance is complimented by a chef preparing fresh pasta at a work station whilst across the floor another work station is set up as a ‘charcuterie’ draped in gorgeous hams and salamis. In the name of research I chose two cocktails, a lovely Florence fizz with pomegranate and a non-alcoholic ginger beer with lime and fresh mint – life changing! My husband and I chose a plank of various meats, silky chili mozzarella and a crunchy seasonal salad to share for starters. He then had a steak (his favourite) with a side salad topped with parmesan. I chose the tagliatelle bolognese and discovered the freshest pasta I’ve ever tasted. For dessert we shared a smooth vanilla pana cotta topped with the tangy flesh of an orange. All of the ingredients tasted fresh and the price was extremely reasonable. The atmosphere was buzzing with people enjoying a relaxed and delicious experience whilst countless curious shoppers peeked through the windows admiring the fresh pastas, meats and colourful veg on display. Bonus points for having a separate bar complete with bar snacks menu, which will make a great (and potentially messy) meeting place with friends.