Busy Week + Autumn 2013 previews

This has been a really busy week. Starting with a visit to the David Bowie exhibition at the V & A Museum. I would not say that David Bowie's music was ever among my favourite however the exhibition was well worth a visit. Brilliantly curated and a full on sensory experience. It was like going down an Alice in Wonderland rabbit hole and entering another world. I was truly amazed at how talented an artist David Bowie is in so many areas from drawing, writing and composing his own songs to acting. As for the costumes they were amazing in every sense of the word. They looked so small he had a 26" waist (have not personally experienced that for a while!).

The exhibition seems to be sold out however you can read about it at David Bowie V & A Exhibition or check out Tilda Swinton's dinner speech at opening of Exhibition

Then yesterday I attended a couple of Autumn 2013 press preview days. As I have not had a chance to wear any of my new Spring/Summer clothes due to the inclement weather in London I think I might as well fast forward to next Autumn. Both collections were very impressive with some stunning looks. I took a few photos, although the light was not good in the rooms. Below is a mini preview. I will be posting more in depth reports next week to give you a glimpse of what is to come. 

Linea at House of Fraser Autumn 2013 collection - View current Linea collection at Linea at House of Fraser

Pied a Terre at House of Fraser Autumn 2013. Current collection Pied a Terre at House of Fraser

Collection of scarves for Autumn 2013 from  House of Fraser

Selection of bags for House of Fraser Autumn 2013 Current Collection of bags at House of Fraser

Classic camel coat from the Phase 8 Autumn 2013 collection.  Current Phase 8 collections here

Selection of scarves from Phase 8 Autumn 2013 Collection 

Phase 8 also offer some stunning fashion jewellery. Above from Autumn 2013 collection

Off this week-end to Hampshire with friends for a fishing week-end. At least our respective husbands will be fishing I guess my friend and I will be in the nearest cafe catching up on news, doing a touch of window shopping in the village and going for long walks in the beautiful countryside.

This is not us. Source of picture A really magical part of the country

Maybe we will have one of these for our supper Source of fish picture

Have a great week-end

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Discovery of new skin care - La Sultane de Saba

Over the last few years beauty treatments have become increasingly popular in the UK, with spas and beauty salons popping up daily, especially in London. We are beginning to catch up with the French and Americans in our enthusiasm for "beauty treatments" from facials to mani/pedis. No longer is this a special treat. We now realise something the French have understood for years and that is that our "grooming" and the care of our skin is just as important a factor to overall style as the clothes we choose.
Many hotels now offer "spa" and/or leisure facilities to their guests. Our hotel in the Cotswolds was no except and luckily a 30 minute treatment was included in our week-end package. So I took full advantage and booked a "Mini Moroccan facial".  I am familiar with most of the product ranges commonly used in hotel spas, from Clarins to Decleor through to Molton Brown. However I was introduced to a completely new range "La sultane de Saba". I have not come across this range before. It was divine.

I could not resist and came home with one of the body lotions.

A little research on the internet came up with a French website La Sultane de saba. You can also order the products from their on-line shop La Boutique.

An excerpt from their site explaining the philosophy behind the range.

The "La Sultane de Saba" brand is born out of a dream...
a dream of sharing, of generosity...
a dream of escape, of traveling...
a dream of ancestral tradition...

La Sultane de Saba's very concept is based on the ancient and precious beauty rituals of oriental women, which are passed down the generations from mother to daughter.

Trough its authentic and original products and trough its body treatments avaible in a dazzling array of fragrance and colors, La Sultane de Saba's aim is to encourage you to dream, allow you to travel, discoveringfar-off horizons, as you head towards the lands of the sun, where body and spirit return to the very essenceof relaxation and well-being.

Inspired by the beauty rituals of the mystical Orient, but also by Asia and Elsewhere, La Sultane de Saba offers several product ranges, each based on unique and magical authenticity.

The products can also be bought through Amazon although I am a little reticent about buying beauty products through Amazon as the seller is usually of unknown origin and I have heard rumours recently that there is a possibility of ending up with products that may be past their sell by dates or even worse "fakes". Do any of you have any experiences good or bad of buying products through Amazon?

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A relaxing country week-end in the Cotswolds

I have returned to London feeling relaxed and refreshed. We spent a wonderful week-end in the beautiful Cotswold village of Chipping Camden. We went for long walks over the gently rolling hills attempting to make the best of the "now you see me now you don't" intermittent sun which was playing hide and seek shyly peeking from behind mid-toned grey ominous looking clouds. The cottages were picture box pretty with "house and garden" perfectly manicured lawns. I began to absorb the sense of peace and tranquillity which pervaded the very air we breathed. So calming after the hectic busyness of London, especially as we live in South West London which is not too far from Heathrow airport and we are thus disturbed by the now fairly continuous air traffic as the planes follow the river Thames on their descent to the airport.
I began to dream of a life in the country, probably not that practical and I must admit I would miss many of the opportunities available in a big city. As Samuel Johnson is quoted to have said during a conversation with his friend Boswell in 1777:-

"Why, Sir, you find no man, at all intellectual, who is willing to leave London. No, Sir, when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford." — Samuel Johnson

This was my favourite house - Divine

A cottage inhabited by the author Graham Greene from 1931 - 1933 - You can just see the blue plaque on the wall on the left.

Below pictures of the garden in the hotel where we stayed. Instead of an ordinary hotel bedroom we had a tiny cottage all to ourselves with our own open fire and outdoor hot tub.

Views of the surrounding countryside 

Do you prefer to live in the countryside or a city. Perhaps in an ideal world you might choose both?

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