COX Cookies & Cakes! 13 Brewer Street

What a great addition to the streets of Soho and what a perfect name! Former shoe designer Patrick Cox has opened what has to be the sexiest cake shop I have ever seen. All black lacquer, sparkly walls and pink neon – with a specially created piece by Tracy Emin no less, hanging above the till! Not only are the designs cheeky and original but they're also delicious - the oozing cupcake centre's are really decadent. When drooling over their website I was particularly drawn to the COXXX selection, especially the Beef Cake…a praline flavoured bulging bicep,  so was a little disappointed to find that they don't stock it yet. I didn't come away disappointed though, after great recommendations from the helpful, leather aproned staff. Open until 11pm over Fri and Sat, this is the perfect place to pop into for something a little naughty (but legal) on your way home! 

Not just for Halloween...this triple chocolate sponge with blood red frosting was simply delicious. 

Lily Allen new Vintage clothes shop

Last week, I finally got round to visiting Lily Allen and her sister Sarah Owen’s new business venture, Lucy in Disguise. Right in the heart of Covent Garden on Kings Street, this is a must for all you vintage clothes lovers. Forget rummaging through packed rails, this is a high end, pain free experience. Housing a gorgeous selection of well-sourced pieces, from the likes of Alaia, YSL, Chanel, the wonderful Ossie Clark, as well as beautiful ‘un-named’ gems, you are sure to find your every want and need! I had to pull myself away from an Ossie maxi that was calling out to me, only to be drawn in by a beaded 20’s flapper dress! Prices aren’t cheap, starting from around £100 going into the thousands, but if you are looking for a one-off stunner then this is the place for you.

What’s lovely about the shop is that everything is accessible, so even if you’re not able to buy, it is just nice to get a real good look at these beautiful pieces and soak up the great shopping experience LID has to offer. The staff are super trendy, super friendly and also double up as personal stylists. You can then polish off your look with a trip to the blow dry bar and salon downstairs, 'et voila', you are ready for your close up! Go in and take a look…just be prepared to fall in love!

Trend Alert - Diaghilev, the Ballets Russes and its influence on fashion

The V&A’s major autumn exhibition, Diaghilev and the Golden Age of the Ballets Russes 1909 - 1929, celebrates the life and work of the legendary creative director Serge Diaghilev and his revolutionary dance company, the Ballet Russes, highlighting its enduring influence to this day. The exhibition showcases over 300 items including elaborate costumes, props, film clips and art work, as well as collaborations with major artists, designers and composers, such as Picasso, Matisse and Chanel. Billed as an inspiring, sensory feast, this is a definite must see!

An example of the sumptuous costumes featured in the exhibit.

 Images via the V&A website.

The Erdem SS'11 show drew on the Ballet Russes for inspiration (Erdem Moralioglu became inspired whilst spending time with the curator of the V&A's Summer show). This was clear to see in the silhouette of his dresses, Nicholas Kirkwood's delicate shoes and the accompanying music from the ballet Petrouchka by Igor Stravinsky.

 David Koma S/S'11 at LFW, continuing the ongoing influence of ballet in fashion. Images via Style.com

Another major ballet influence soon to hit our screens will be the release of The Black Swan, starring Natalie Portman, in January 2011. It looks fantastic...can't wait!

Experimental Food Society Spectacular

With the promise of jelly mongers, bread artists, butter sculptors and food landscapers, the man and me hot-footed it to The Brickhouse on Brick Lane this weekend, for this annual, edible, exhibition. An avant-garde celebration of food with the aim of challenging our preconceptions, whilst tantalising the taste buds. 

A number of interactive exhibits included, Stefan Gates promoting the virtues of 'bug burgers', a Marie Antoinette look-a-likey, fashioning a macaroon-adorned ball gown, and the opportunity to have your hand cast in dough...hmmm. The event culminated in a 5 course, multi-sensory, evening banquet with the opportunity to sample the day's exhibits, which I am told when down a treat. By lunch time the venue had started to get very crowded, with queues stretching around the block, so we decided to make a swift exit and indulge in a little food experimenting of our own, with some fantastic Ethiopian food from a stall next door! 

Suitable for vegetarians...the life size, suckling pig cake

Guess who...

One of the creative landscape photographs that I had wanted to see more of...

Interiors Focus - Rainbow stairs at Benetton

How gorgeous is this rainbow staircase? It makes my mouth water just looking it. Definitely the thing to brighten a grey, dreary Monday like today. Pop into the flagship store at Oxford Circus, to see it in all its glory. Guaranteed to make you feel brighter!

Selfridges shoe lounge opens at last!

Shoe heaven is finally open! At 35,000 square feet and holding at least 4,000 styles at any one time, this is the stuff of dreams!  It was like some kind of reverse Narnia...I went in there thinking I had only been 20 mins, only to realise it was more like an hour! That was without even trying anything on! With six shoe galleries and eleven bordering 'apartments', housing the best of the high street to designer must haves,  it is THE place to satisfy all your shoe cravings. Now, Selfridges is a great shopping experience anyway (apart from Saturdays when I get irrepressible crowd rage), but now with this shoe emporium it is a mandatory pit-stop. Check out these pics to get a feel for the inspiring shop fits...as well as the gorgeous shoes of course!

Wooden lasts...Part of the shoe tables in the high street section

Mulberry bow shoes..firmly on my wall of want!

Warm feet at Chanel

Nicholas Kirkwood for Rodarte, exclusive design for Selfridges

Part of the Alabaster and Silk display in the designer section

YSL...Fierce!

Another exclusive for Selfridges by Louboutin

Oh Miucca, we love you...the Prada boutique was gorgeous, with thick, beige carpet that put a spring in your step

... oh I will!

The Legend that is Paul Smith

I am still on a massive high from this unbelievable experience! Being a huge Apple fan and a huuugge Paul Smith fan this event was just a dream come true. The new Apple store in Covent Garden hosted an evening with the man himself, with Dylan Jones (Editor of GQ) in interviewer mode. Although, they are obviously good friends, so it felt more like a friendly chat! As well as being an amazing designer, inspiring businessman and all round creative genius, Paul Smith is also a really nice bloke! He had us all in stitches with quirky little anecdotes and stories of how his career began.
There will be a free podcast of the interview to download from the Apple website soon, (keep an eye out for upcoming events whilst you're there) which I thoroughly recommend you sit down and watch with a cuppa. As always, he looked amazing, in one of his beautifully cut navy suits with printed purple lining and a sharp white shirt with mother of pearl popper buttons...style personified!

I loved the 'lived in' look of his shoes and the polka dot socks.

LFW S/S '11 - Burberry

If this winters jacket is all about the Aviator then next summer sees the turn of the Biker. Christopher Bailey has once again shaped the trend for outerwear next season with studs, spikes and padding all adding to the uber-fierce look. Skin tight black and flesh coloured leggings, as well as cute, ruched mini dresses completed the look. The illustrious trench was updated through padding and leather trims with acid wrap-around belts cinching the waist. Overall, this collection didn't have the same impact as his last...but hey, it is still sure to be a commercial success and major high street influence.

Images by Yannis Vlamos via Style.com

LFW S/S '11 - Paul Smith

Paul Smith at his best... masculine tailoring cut perfectly for women, resulting in a collection that oozed sex appeal. Ankle length trousers were key, whether they were slim fit, carrot leg or flare. A sumptuous colour palette of gun metal, pumpkin, navy and aubergine was accompanied by floral and his signature swirly prints. As always, the detailing and quality were second to none, with Smith's personality shining through in quirky placed contrasting polka dot and stripey hems.

Accessories included cute little ipad cases, which I am sure will be a talking point at the Q&A session that Smith is holding at the new Covent Garden Apple store on Thursday. So if you are a Paul Smith fan get yourself down there for 5pm to see the genius up close.

Sheer looks to be another key trend for SS'11

Once again neon was featured with wrap around belts and cheeky coloured soles on transparent brogues.

Images by Yannis Vlamos via Style.com