#FF London Fashion Week

Being an avid fashion-lover, I adore having the opportunity to do the following #FF (Flashback Friday, for those hashtag virgins) 

Spring is in swing, and although these pics are from the AW15 LFW, I still think they are worthy of a little reminiscence and appreciation for some of the undeniably best-dressed fashionistas in London...

Topshop Campaign model - Tarcha Ann

I think these boys love Hemsley London...

Let me talk a selfie

Possibly the most (non-famous) adorable couple in fashion

When fashion goes hardcore

Celebrating label.m's 10th birthday!

Thanks to the gorgeous team, this year hand-selected from the Stratford salon, I was given a complete hair makeover.

This year was the 10th anniversary of T&G being official sponsors of London Fashion Week, and with the new label.m products on full display (including their new hair perfume) the pop-up salon was buzzing with the sound of hair dryers, gossip and the latest LFW trends. 

Upon entering, we were greeted with a bottle of rose prosecco and seated with a widescreen television displaying all the @toniandguyUK tweets - once we realised this, we were tweeting (if possible) even more than usual, squealing like schoolgirls when we saw our tweets displayed...Our aim was definitely NOT to fill the entire screen with just our tweets...promise!

We were taken for our hair wash and near-orgasmic head massage, then seated and cut, blow-dried, brushed, pampered, supplied more prosecco, oiled, souffled and preened within an inch of our lives - and we loved every single minute of it. I went for a gentle, bouncing curl effect, created by separating the hair into sections and blow-drying with a thin roller brush. The stylist used the label.m Souffle to tame my flyaway frizz, along with Anti-aging Oil on the ends to add moisture and a spritz of the new label.m Hair Perfume to add the the sweet-smelling orange blossom shampoo/conditioner fragrance of my locks.

Lillie, my gorgeous LFW partner-in-crime, opted for a more layered cut, embracing a 50s style textured bob, and using her Ray Ban sunnies as a makeshift headband - stepping out of the salon she looked positively Audrey Hepburn-esque. With the thickness and weight of her hair, the stylist used the Smoothing Cream to allow manageability of the hair, along with copious amounts of the Limited Edition 10 year anniversary label.m Hairspray, to ensure the voluptuous body of Lillie's locks did not falter.

We adored this season's in-salon staff and left feeling relaxed and pampered whilst strutting around Somerset House with our new fabulous hair - Thank you T&G!

Orla Kiely LFW15 - A/W Collection

In true Orla Kiely style, this year's catwalk presentation was exceptional. Performed in a double spread area, (one side of the room set with a formidably chic librarian, the other side a pseudo-study space equipped with a staircase for strutting) the models entered the show space in true style, showing a Cath Kidston-esque colour palette of pastels and a series of winter warming knits.  

Using a typical 60s/70s influence, there were shift dresses, thick woolen pantyhose, pinnafores and button-up collars, all paired with the Orla/Clarks collaboration shoes in an array of muted tones - our favourite had to be the tan Beryl shoe, an Italian leather t-bar platform with a skyscraper 12cm heel.

The pastel knitwear really showcased the 60s/70s vibe that has stormed this year's catwalk, all seen in pastel tones of yellows, oranges and pinks with mohair/cashmere finish that clearly demonstrated the collection's sassy-yet-sweet vibe. The use of print this season was minimal, sticking with block colouring with the occasional chequered pattern, seen on the miniature tote bag in navy, orange mohair knit and monotone knee-length A-line dress.

As usual, we want all the pieces in the presentation and adore the soft colour palette that displays OK's talent for taking vintage style and pairing with contemporary flair to produce and infallible AW collection.

Images provided by the talented L. Bleasdale

Teaser Toni & Guy

#LFW2015 is in full swing - but with the abundance of content about to hit my blog, I thought I would give you a little teaser of my hair.

Think Sandy from Grease... Badass sex goddess gone modern!

So my chair awaits...

Fortnum and Mason's Supper Club

Having been invited to meet Tom Parker-Bowles at Fortnum and Mason's Supper Club, I went along and enjoyed the menu fresh from his new cookbook, 'Let's Eat Meat'.

So we started the evening with Bullshot Cocktails - I won't lie, they were STRONG to the extent that I couldn't have a mouthful without coughing (whoever made these put wayyyyy too much Lea and Perrins in!)

Then came the beautiful starter of buffalo wings with blue cheese sour cream, spiced venison tartare and sourdough bread - Tom is a notorious lover of chilli and spared none on these mouth-swellingly hot buffalo wings but the chilli was cooled by the creamy smoothness of the blue cheese sour cream. As for the tartare with egg yolk on top, when partnered with the sourdough bread made a delectable combination of flavours, textures and the richness of the venison really came through.

  

Next came the Peposo, a peppered, braised beef cheek with chianti and tomato, accompanied by horseradish mash and buttered sprout tops. Suffice to say that this dish was gone within minutes, and they even brought over second helpings! The beef had been marinated for 24 hours, so it practically fell apart in my mouth, along with the light yet flavoursome horseradish mash and the buttered sprouts (seasoned perfectly) I was in absolute meat heaven! It is also worth me mentioning here that Tom is a firm believer in supporting our local trade, and uses only British-bred meat and encourages others to do the same, along with using every single piece of meat possible so as to avoid waste - even the bones (which, when boiled, make fabulous soups!) 

Once the main had been taken away, and I had recovered from my food-induced pseudo-coma, dessert was laid; traditional British treacle tart with clotted cream. I have a sincere weakness for desserts and all things sweet, but even I had to eat this slowly as to avoid suffocating myself from the inside out due to food overload! 

Finally came the hot chocolate and truffles, which (shockingly) I demolished. Struggling to keep my eyes open, having been fed and wined (and even champagned!) to the limit, it was time to thank the host and retreat to the realms of pyjamas and bed!

What an absolutely sensational evening, the food was elegant, traditional, well-executed and truly special; I heard not one complaint and it seemed all the talk was focused around the chef, the menu and of course, our host Tom Parker-Bowles.

Obvs got to have a selfie with Tom Parker-Bowles!

Photo with Fortnum's executive chef, Sydney Aldridge

#OOTD Tartan Loving

Back to work after all the festive cheer and what better way burn off those Christmas calories than by doing a load of exercising... by walking around hundreds of shops :)

I wanted an outfit that was sophisticated and in-season that looked chic and expensive but I could afford it by using my mere pittance left over after all my Christmas shopping - so where better to head than Primark for an entire outfit!

I wanted to have tartan but needed to make sure the pattern and colour worked with my skin complexion, so I managed to find a dark blue tartan with very thin red and green tied in - the blue also goes with most of my wardrobe!

To pull out the blue and green in the trousers, I wore a chiffon long-sleeved collared blouse, done up to the top button and tucked it in for a smart-casual look.

I finished it off with a pair of powder blue frilly ankle socks, paired with black patent cut-out brogues and added a silver chain necklace to pick up my silver Michael Kors watch and midi-rings.

Ultimately, I love this look, and also mixed it with my dark blue and green tartan blanket scarf/cape so I was warm in the winter but also an apparent tartan worshipper.

                           Turquoise blouse - Primark, Silver chain necklace - eBay boutique

Tartan trousers - Primark, Silver Watch - Michael Kors, Midi rings - Primark

Powder blue frill socks - Primark, Black patent brogues - New Look

Tartan blanket scarf - Christmas gift (New Look)

Tartan trousers close up - Primark 

#OOTD Christmas Sparkle

So I had a Christmas do to attend and wanted to look fabulous but not OTT so I raided my wardrobe and decided it was definitely time for a new outfit... It is the festive season after all, time for giving (to myself!) so I did a bit of shopping.

I wanted something comfortable that didn't restrict my stomach (as we were attending a three-course meal, so I wanted room for my inevitable food baby) and I decided on a pair of sparkly, black and silver harem pants (elasticated waists should be on every item of clothing...).

Then to fit with this year's tomboy look, I went for a loose fitting, off the shoulder top from New Look in bright orange with an oriental pastel blue sequin print. This is the first orange top I have ever bought, usually I look horrible and blotchy in reds and fiery oranges but the pastel blue toned it down, and as I paired it with a blue statement necklace and matching pastel clutch (courtesy of Hemsley London), it still looked wonderfully vibrant but not too in-your-face.

Finally I finished off the look with a pair of Kim-Kardashianesque black stiletto sandals and my silver Michael Kors Chronograph watch that picked up the silver from my harem pants and the sequins from the top.

Everyone seemed to love this look, and the general consensus for my trousers were that not only did they look fabulous, but apparently also made me look slim - so a win-win on my part!

See below for the photos, and let me know about your Christmas outfits - go on and treat yourself to a new Christmas outfit, you deserve it!

Tweet your looks to @ellcakes and I will feature you on my blog!

Harem pants - Next (just £26!), Top - New Look, Necklace - River Island, Clutch - Hemsley London (part of the Hemsley Slice Lunchbox Range), Shoes - Forever 21 (NY store), Watch - Michael Kors  

The Hemsley Lunchbox - perfect as a fashion statement lunch box and as a clutch bag!

Michael Kors Chronograph - pearlescent face and Swarovski crystal numerics