Let's Get Physical

Get in shape this Spring with a little help from Alexander Wang, Proenza Schouler and Peter Dundas at Pucci - where gym kit takes on a whole new meaning.

Gone are the days when sports chic translated to bruised knees, ankle socks and a grass stained polo neck. Instead imagine a lean mean silhoutte, scuba style body con, overlapping straps and cutout reveals. And colour? Think black. Think acid brights. Think the best P.E lesson you ever had.

Alexander Wang

Pucci

Proenza Schouler

Josh Goot

Hong Kong Ahoy!

Esteemed British shoe designer Rupert Sanderson is a very busy man of late, opening boutiques in both Paris and Hong Kong - the two seemingly disparate and contrasting locations cater (somewhat surpringly!) to a corresponding clientele:

“I’ve always been struck by the grace and refinement with which women in Hong Kong dress. There is a sort of old fashioned respect for the formalities of things: it’s not entirely about the breathless acquisition of the latest fad. It reminds me a little bit of how Parisian women dress: super chic and highly considered - our model customer."

GQ says MAN UP!

It's a well known fact that GQ throw the best parties - add a generous helping of Paul Smith, a slug of GQ Style and beats courtesy of Steve Mackey and you're really onto a winner.

Guest were invited to MAN UP and celebrate the launch of the Spring/Summer 2010 issue of GQ Style (on sale now!). The crowd was young, fiendishly fashionable and impossibly gorgeous. The drinks were strong and the canapes copious.

The shoes of course, were Rupert Sanderson.

[Alex Kotsias and GQ's Retail Editor Giorgina Waltier]

Flower Power

Never has a retail splurge been more easily justified: Recycled polyester? Organic cotton? Sustainable and environmentally friendly??

Oh well go on then, H&M. We like to do our bit.

My picks from H&M's eagerly awaited Garden collection

From leather to lager...

Anya Hindmarch is trading in her handbags for Heineken as she launches her pop-up pub, the Bag & Bottle in Knightsbridge. Celebrating will be Alex Shulman, who is co-hosting a fashion-friendly pub quiz in situ tonight with the designer herself - but never fear, the B&B is open to the public all week, so drop in for a shandy and a sneaky peek at the A/W10 collection.

Written in the stars

The archetypal Libra

Introducing Rolly

Those who know me, know also of the dog-shaped hole in my heart. I grew up with a dog (Jackson, RIP. currently on the fast track list to Sainthood) and would love a furry friend of my own to nurture and love. Unfortunately, 55% of my DNA make-up is sensible, and vetoes this idea as both silly and selfish. I must wait patiently for my puppy.

This is where my lucky streak kicks in. Every now and then I have the privilege of dogsitting a divine Norfolk terrier by the name of Rolly - a mutually beneficial relationship - his owner gets a weekend away and I get a much needed hit of puppy love. Everyone's a winner!

A most wonderful weekend of long leisurely walks and general canine adoration.

Lara 4 Prada

My No. 1 girl crush Lara Stone is the new face of Prada's campaign for fragrance D'Iris, shot by Meisel. Add this to campaigns for Versace's scent Versus, Vuitton, Jaeger and Eres and that's one busy (and super successful) girl!

NY Wishlist

Dear TopShop

I am going to New York for the very first time in June and would very much like to represent your brand while I'm there.

I've taken the liberty of selecting a few necessities - please pop them in the post for me?

Your Loyal Subject,

Sarah x

Monday

Luxury is an unexpected night home alone. A warm, cosy, quiet flat and a few hours of solitude.

Luxury is running a long, hot bath. Luxury is Jo Malone bath oil. A book. Some music.

Luxury is rare steak, and ice cold wine. Luxury is pyjamas and a box of chocolates. Luxury is biting into the marzipan one and putting it back without consequence.

Luxury is liking my own company.

Luxury is being happy on my own.

A shiny new feather for our cap

The first edition of Vogue Turkey, featuring the very beautiful Jessica Stam.

Alex in Paris! (5)

Iceberg ahead!!

The sun poured in through the glass roof of the Grand Palais, reflecting and refracting off the ice-white set that was to stage Chanel's arctic collection. With bonafide iceberg transported in from Scandinavia (recession who?) and the help of a cold and crisp Paris morning, attendants needed only to suspend a little disbelief to imagine they were in some far off, polar clime.

The first twist came with the fur. Faux. And lots of it - weaved into tweed, incorporated into jewellery, pelmets, bonnets, and the ultimate winter wardrobe standby: The Furry Trouser. A flash of the iconic CC, quilted leather and glacial crystal rings added the extravagance and luxury for which Chanel is known.

Miss Kotsias, our French contingent, professed her love for fur hotpants and cited Erin Wasson and Lara Stone as the stand-out models. Props also, for some excellent celeb spotting: Vanessa Paradis, David Walliams and more French Nobility than you could throw a frozen stick at!

BUNNY BLOG (4)

Friday night at home with the godbunnies

Alex in Paris! (4)

Another day in Paris

Parisians awoke to a beautiful pink-tinged sunrise this morning - snapped from the window of L'hotel Quai Voltaire by Fashion correspondant Kotsias. But there was no time to linger as she hot-foot it over for a date with dearest Unkle Karl and his latest collection.

The aesthetic was futuristic sexy - with PVC and a little more PVC for good measure. Who said sexy had to be subtle? The structured dresses and killer heels (courtesy of our very own Rupert Sanderson) created a chic and defined second-skin silhoutte that was tough, feminine and modern. Hair was up, with thick patent leather headbands giving the already towering models a couple of inches extra height. More is most definitely More.

The man himself - who got a little bit confused about when to come out for his wave and had a little chuckle! SWEET!

Our Makeover

New look blog courtesy of Dan Osburn @ danosburnCreatives©.

Alex in Paris! (3)

This just in!

Miss Kotsias has been sending me super sneaky emails from the Viktor & Rolf show in Paris - which sounds like an incredible spectacle. First appears a model shrouded in layers upon layers of clothing - followed by the designers themselves, who undress her and dress up the other models and style them live before sending them down the catwalk! Boys, I salute you.

Alex in Paris! (2)

Our Paris correspondent hits the shows after a hard night's partying in the Capital.

Colour at Issey Miyake

Alex's pick from second row at Roland Mouret: Fuschia hooded dress

But really, there is only one show in Paris. Chanel.

Updates and Karl close-ups to follow!!

Alex in Paris!

Rupert Sanderson's PR mastermind Alex Kotsias (alter ego: my fabulous co-habiter) is living it up in Paris - she's sweetly been keeping me updated with her fashionable comings and goings.

Leaving our abode at an ungodly hour yesterday morning, Alex obviously required a serious sugar hit upon arriving in Paris

And it appears the fashion pack do eat! And they do it in style - with profiteroles at Cafe Ruc.

Less than 24 hours in and she's already schmoozing at Le Maurice with Viktor and Rolf, celebrating the anniversary of Flower Bomb.

Grace Jones performing an exclusive set for V&R - before singing Happy Birthday to Flower Bomb and cutting the cake!!

Stay tuned for more Parisian tales of adventure from my favourite (and much missed) fashionista.

SMOKE+RAIN

I heart this blog and the man who writes it.

BUNNY BLOG (3)

My darling godbunnies

Barnaby on his faux fur throne

Fluffy bunnytails!

Matilda and Barnaby snacking

A Universal Truth

I have a habit of being quite lucky - good things tend to happen to me now and again. Don't get me wrong, I've had my share of disappointments, but the Universe does seem to have a lovely little habit of shifting to accomodate my wishes.

It happened when I suffered a month of serious heartache - and the Universe threw a festival and a holiday my way.

It happened when I wanted to join a gym. I visited a super slick establishment on Bond St and fell a little bit in love - and then received a very nasty shock when they revealed the huge hole it would leave in my bank account on a monthly basis. Two days later, I received a week free trial courtesy of Conde Nast, went once and hated it! I joined Brixton leisure centre (a discounted membership in exchange for a little flirt) instead, and hey presto! A match was made.

I decided last Thurday that I needed a little chest of drawers, so that clothes I had shoved in suitcases could be folded and stored in the more fitting fashion i felt they deserved. Yesterday, but ten doors distance from my flat, I found the perfect piece of furniture, left out for rubbish. The Universe even put it on wheels, so i could wheel it into my flat, and into its allocated spot. Obviously, it fit like the preverbial glove.

I'm not a religious person. But I really do have faith in the Universe. If you ask for what you need (and not just what you want) the Universe will probably deliver in some form or other - he's got your back.

Belevdere, Bunnies and British Fare

Today marks the end of the good times, and the beginning of a new prudent and economical world view, in which I attempt to reconcile my lifestyle and salary. I am New York bound with my New Yorker come June 21st, and I am determined not to buy a single champagne cocktail or item of clothing until I'm in the Big Apple. I decided to go out with a bang.

Friday night brought my formal introduction to Matilda and Barnaby Gillinson-Barrett: And would you believe it? The photos don't do them justice. I picked them up a little more than I should of... but they were just so soft and loveable and I just wanted to be near their softness and love them. Despite the over zealous bunny hugging I think we bonded. Once the little pets were safely put to bed - so the girls-only fun began. We mixed drinks, swapped dresses and fatefully played I Have Never. We just about finished putting the world to rights before heading out for Mayfair hijinks - much silliness and dancing on sofas sans shoes.

Far too few hours later I found myself headed to work in Knightsbridge, where I was at least consoled by Rupert Sanderson's new collection and caffeine. Then off for Mexican in Clapham with some of my dearest friends, including Janine From Wigan, who had made the journey to visit us. 3 plates of nachos, 4 stuffed fajitas, 2 Margaritas and 1 Mojito later and I was ready to drop.

Ten glorious hours of sleep followed. As did tea in bed. Feeling rested and serene, we headed to Spitalfields to meet two of my oldest and most treasured friends. Much giggling and gossip was had at Canteen, along with pie, mash and mushy peas in addition to a restorative Sauvignon and steamed sticky pudding. The afternoon brought with it a Sunday sorting and cleaning frenzy, where I realised that my super-vacuuming and ruthless wardrobe culling boyfriend is one in a million.

After showering off the dust of the day, we settled with Thai prawns and trashy TV before Sunday sleep. A weekend that lived up to every expectation. A weekend that ensures a week of virtuous and wholesome living must surely follow.