Dining At: Buddha Bar London

Buddha Bar London

After a few weeks hiatus I’m very happy to say that “Dining At” is BACK! And boy, is it back with a vengeance. As you might remember, the last restaurant I reviewed was a bit of a let down but my visit to Buddha Bar London more than made up for it. I’ve been to the Knightsbridge glamporium (AKA emporium of glamour, new word made up by my, whatcha think?) a couple of times for drinks and always had a good time. No matter how hard I try, I’m not and never will be one of those achingly hip people who enjoys drinking vodka cokes out of plastic cups in dive bars. Now and again I do end up getting dragged East of Hoxton, but given the choice anywhere with luxe ambiance, crisp Pinot Grigio and some form of lounge music is where I feel most in my element. Buddha Bar’s London outposts delivers all these things and then some. The wine is fine, the decor unashamedly opulent and, as I discovered last Friday, the food is to die for.

Buddha Bar London

When my dining companion, Tayler and I arrived we were greeted like long lost family members and ushered to a table in prime people watching position where flutes of bubbly deliciousness were awaiting. You know the phrase “you had me at hello”? Well, Buddha Bar had me at “a glass of champagne to start, Miss”. In all honesty, even if the food was rubbish the whole experience still would have been fabulous. After our delectable apéritif the charming staff swooped over with an equally delectable white wine selection. Throughout the evening, they remained attentive and accommodating beyond belief, letting me swap bits of the menu around without the slightest flicker of an eye roll and not laughing when I tripped over my platform ankle boots on the way to the bathroom.

Buddha Bar London

Buddha Bar London

Buddha Bar London

Eventually we did get around to ordering, once I’d finally managed to get my head around the concept of “Bento”. It’s not actually complicated in the slightest but believe it or not, I’d never Bento-ed before. Well, believe you me, I’ll be Bento-ing a lot more in future. I ordered the Green Papaya Salad and Spicy Tuna Sushi rolls which came with fresh Wakame Salad, seed sprinkled steamed rice and THE tastiest Miso Soup. Generally speaking, I’ve always thought that Miso Soup was murky, salty and pointless but evidently, I just haven’t been drinking the right kind. Tayler chose the Prawn Tempura and Salmon Miso, having swiped a bit of both off his plate (in the name of blogging of course) I can confirm that they were equally scrumptious.

Buddha Bar London

Buddha Bar London

Buddha Bar London

As per usual, we went for a liquid dessert. Both of us opted for our “usuals” but these were Lychee Martinis and Old Fashioneds beyond our most decadent dreams, beautifully presented and dangerously drinkable.

Buddha Bar London

Buddha Bar London

I’m sure you’ve gathered how I feel about Buddha Bar London after 400 plus words of praise but just in case, I thought it was absolutely bloody brilliant! If you like Asian Fusian, Sushi, great wine and luxe ambiance then I advise you to book a table asap.

Love Ella. X

Posted on by Ella Catliff in Lifestyle Leave a comment

Stylenoir Magazine Launch

Stylenoir

Having been styling, smiling and socialising in high heels for four hours straight at my Monica Vinader event, by the time 8 o’clock rolled around last Thursday I was just about ready for bed. But pyjamas and peppermint tea would have to wait as I had another party to attend. Before you start despairing that I’m a complete nutter, hell bent on exhausting myself and crippling my feet in the process, I’ll tell you why I wouldn’t of dreamt of skipping this particular soiree. You see, that day my good friend (and the man responsible for La Petite Anglaise’s makeover last summer) James Joseph unveiled the first ever PRINT issue of his very own Stylenoir Magazine!

Stylenoir

Given that Stylenoir has been running as a hugely successful online mag since 2008, many Editors would be inclined to stick to the digital formula rather than venturing into the treacherous waters of print publication. It came as no surprise to anyone who knows him, that James isn’t one of them. With the help of Forward PR Founder (and former LPA interviewee) Courtney Blackman and a small team of talented creatives, Stylenoir’s debut print issue “Retribution” launched last week and I have to say, it’s magnificent.

stylenoir

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stylenoir

As we all know, any fashion occasion must be celebrated with a party involving gorgeous guests and lethally strong cocktails. Stylenoir had taken over Mo*Vida for theirs. I don’t know whether you’ve been to the club but its lair-esque, underground setting provided a fittingly glam goth back drop for noir themed cocktails and dark-inspired make overs. Sadly I didn’t stay until the dancing got started (very out of character, I really was knackered!) but I managed to get in a good mingle with some of my favourite fashion friends, guzzle a few vodka confections and have a good read through the magazine.

Huge congratulations to James, Courtney and everyone at Stylenoir! If you want to get yourself a copy, click here.

Love Ella. X

Posted on by Ella Catliff in Parties Leave a comment

5 Minutes With: Sophie Anderson

Sophier Anderson

If, like me, a day rarely goes by without you checking the Matches website then you’ll no doubt have spotted the work of Sophie Anderson. Given how bright her deliciously colourful, bold patterned, hand crafted handbags are, it’s pretty hard to miss them. Since launching her label in 2011 Sophie Anderson’s eclectic creations have been something of a sartorial sensation. Having lived everywhere from Kuwait to Columbia and worked as yoga teacher and interior stylist, Sophie’s own journey to accessory stardom is equally fascinating. I caught up with the globe trotting designer to talk inspirations, aspirations and of course, travel…

Sophie Anderson

LPA: Born in Kuwait and raised in Oman, I think it’s fair to say you’ve had a fairly exotic upbringing. How do you feel this has influenced your creative process and design aesthetic?

SA: I think wherever we are we absorb the environment in a way that influences and inspires our creatively. My travels and up bringing, not only added more inspiration and ideas to my work but form an enormous part of my personality and also Sophie Anderson as a brand.

LPA: Having grown up in Oman, travelled extensively and launched your brand while living in South America, I can imagine adjusting to London life could have been quite a shock to the system. What prompted your decision to relocate here? How does it compare to the other places you’ve lived?

SA: We loved living in South America, but that’s life sadly, all great adventures come to an end. I cried and cried leaving Colombia. I just love the excitement and unfamiliarity of living abroad. It keeps everything real.

LPA: I was interested to learn that you first trained in Montessori Education then as a Yoga teacher and then also worked in interior design before turning your hand to fashion. What drove these changes of career direction? Do you think now you’ll stick with accessories or could something else be on the cards?

SA: None of it was planned it just happened like that. I loved all of them and still do, I think in this world it’s important to be able to be interested and capable in many skills…. with the Sophie Anderson brand who knows! Let’s see if all the Wayuu weavers continue their magic and don’t take too many ‘Sacred Ritual festivals’ throughout valuable production time again!

LPA: Since launching the Sophie Anderson brand in 2011, your designs have been picked up by numerous top stockist including Matches, Browns and Fenwicks. Did you have a clear cut business/PR strategy or was it a case of right time right place?

SA: I was a very lucky person in the right place at the right time …. I had no idea what I was doing!  I had very few weavers when I first started.  Since the launch in October 2011, I was lucky to meet people who share the same passion of fun, vibrant colours and designs as I do. Now it’s a matter of jumping on a plane and getting back to the desert searching for hundreds more to increase the demands.

LPA: How would you describe your personal style? Do you follow trends or read fashion magazines?

SA: Summer is my season; it really brings out the true me I could say I blossom during summer. As for trends I do not tend to follow them; It doesn’t really interest me. I much prefer individuality. I believe everyone has a unique colour and that’s how they should be.

LPA: Which other designers do you particularly rate and why?

SA: I like many of course so it’s difficult to pick, but I particularly like….Temperley, Dolce Gabbana as I find them romantic and flirtatious. I also love Vintage as they have so much character and history behind them.

LPA: Who, dead or alive, would you most like to see wearing your designs?

SA: Id love to do a photo shoot of the beautiful young Wayuu Girls in the desert wearing all their mothers woven work, wearing any designer outfits they wanted! That would be so fun …. My dear friend and Photographer Hannah Dakin – would come with me and we would have the most amazing time shooting it- I would then take her to go and party in Cartagena!

LPA: What’s next for Sophie Anderson? Could you ever see yourself expanding into ready-to-wear?

SA: I’d like to think so… but for now I am just going to focus on what I have and keep it tight. But who knows what will happen in the future, the possibilities are endless.

Love Ella. X

Posted on by Ella Catliff in Interviews Leave a comment

LPA x Monica Vinader: The Final Chapter

Monica Vinader

Like so many of my post titles, I suspect or at least I hope this one is a little misleading. While my first project with Monica Vinader may have come to an end, with any luck it’s just the start of much more to come. First and foremost, I’d like to say a huge, huge, HUGE thank you to all of you lovely lot who entered the “Make It Your Own” competition and/or joined me at Monica Vinader’s South Molton Street boutique last week. I’m not going to lie, I was seriously nervous about hosting an event for the fash pack’s favourite jewellery brand but much to my relief and thanks to everyone who came along, it was a wonderful evening on every level.

Monica Vinader

Monica Vinader

So, after months of meetings, phone calls and emails, two blog posts and God knows how many tweets, instagrams and Facebook posts, the final and most important part of my collaboration with Monica Vinader finally arrived last Thursday. As I teetered my high heeled way down Bond Street at around 4pm, I was shaking like a leaf. I don’t know whether you ever hosted a party as a teenager but my memories of doing so mainly revolve around panicking that no one was going to turn up. Well hosting a soiree with a major label is much the same, only the stakes are higher. Wearing my favourite Whistles cocktail dress and so many jewels I felt positively regal, I anxiously waited by my gorgeous Ladurée macaroon Eiffel tower (thank you MV team!) as the clock struck 5pm, then ten past, and still no one arrived. Thankfully by half past the place had filled up and my urge to lock myself in the loo and weep swiftly subsided.

Monica Vinader

Monica Vinader

Much as I adore getting my style on, I was slightly apprehensive about inflicting it on unsuspecting attendees who no doubt had perfectly good ideas about what rocks to rock already. After all, there are few things more maddening than being patronised, especially when it comes to something as personal as jewellery. Plus, there was always the risk that said customer was just there for the free champers and wouldn’t be thrilled about some chick in a fancy frock trying to dress them in diamonds. Evidently, luck really was on my side that evening and when, after one or two confidence boosting glasses of champagne, I got styling people seemed (or at least pretended) to appreciate it.

Monica Vinader

Monica Vinader

Monica Vinader

Monica Vinader

If ever there were any doubt that I have very specific (and perhaps predictable) tastes, my event with Monica Vinader dispelled them forever. As you all know, I have a major weakness for all things shiny and green so naturally tried to get everyone in Siren pendants and cocktail rings. Unsurprisingly I ended up going home with a nugget ring in Green Onyx for myself… I just couldn’t resist it.

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Monica Vinader

Monica Vinader

Monica Vinader

Before I get even more carried away retelling the events of the evening, I MUST fill you in on our “Make It Your Own” competition winner! As you probably remember from my previous posts, Monica Vinader and I challenged you to tell us what you’d have engraved on your own Ava bracelet and why, whoever’s choice I most adored would receive a Create Your Own necklace worth up to £250 and the aforementioned arm candy. So, without further ado (and I do heart a bit of “ado”) the winner is…*drum roll*.. HELEN STEVENS with her entry…

“I would surprise my friend who is going through a really tough time by giving her Ava with ‘stars’ engraved. We were approached by a complete stranger a few months ago in New York who told her not to worry because all her stars were aligned and everything would sort itself out – hopefully this would keep her smiling and remind her that everything will turn out just great”

Thank you again to everyone who got involved and all the lovely readers I got to meet last week, and of course Monica Vinader! If you didn’t make it along to last thursday’s style-a-thon, or simply feel like indulging in another customisation session, then I highly recommend taking the Create Your Own page, not exactly conducive to concentration but full of pretty things.

Love Ella. X

Ps) #LaPetiteMV

Posted on by Ella Catliff in Parties 1 Comment

Look Du Jour: Racing Stripes

stripes

stripes

stripes

stripes

stripes

stripes

What: Stripes jeans: Paige Denim exclusively at Net-a-Porter (c/o), Jacket: All Saints, T-Shirt: Zoe Karssen (c/o), Boots: Massimo Dutti, Bag: Marc by Marc Jacobs, Necklace: Anne Bowes Jewellery.

Where: Meetings in London and dinner at Buddha Bar.

I knew this ensemble was a departure from my usual pastels and Peter Pan collars style but I certainly didn’t anticipate the shock with which many of my friends would react! But, as I’ve come to realise more and more recently, most of the time I’m completely and utterly predictable in my tastes. Whenever I arrive at a press day or pay a visit to a PR showroom, someone always points out a particular piece that they “just know I’ll love”… Said item tends to be pink, frilly or covered in polkadots and inevitably, I do. In the interest of not becoming the most boring person and the planet, I decided to mix things up by trying a slightly more rock n’ roll vibe. And do you know what? Not only did everyone else seem thrilled with my new look, so was I! Who knows, maybe you’ll see me working the 90s grunge trend yet…

Love Ella. X

Posted on by Ella Catliff in Look Du Jour 3 Comments
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