Forward thinking: Spring trends 2012

Lemon sorbet

Spring Summer 12 collections were awash with ice cream shades - best paired with black, nudes or pastels. 

The Jazz Age

With the launch of The Great Gatsby and Madonna's WE, the roaring twenties and thirties are back on the fashion scene. Drop waists are bang on trend a la Daisy Buchanan.

Mid Century Modern
A look back to feminine lines of the mid-20th century with a contemporary punch. This trend is all about the skirt: A-line, pencil or full.

Hair: The Only Way is Up!

Neat, easy and fresh for Spring.

Sparkle and shine

Schuh, £80

Try out these Acne-inspired bad boys for some festive sparkle! Divine!

5 of the Best: Red Dresses

L'Anglaise. Christmas Gift Guide

Top Hair Salons in London

1. Hershesons / Conduit Street, Topshop Oxford Circus, Westfield, Harvey Nichols Knightsbridge, St Pauls


The Daniel Hersheson brand first sprang onto the fashion map during the early Nineties with the opening of its flagship Conduit Street store. With its particular brand of stealth styling the salon quickly became a favourite with models, celebrities and press. Revolutionary products such as the first professional straightening iron soon followed before the arrival of a luxury hair spa in Harvey Nichols and then in 2006, the launch of the ultimate in accessible hair and fashion, Hersheson’s Blow Dry Bar in Topshop, Oxford Circus. At the core of the brand is an ethos which acknowledges that hairdressing is continuallly evolving and likewise the company refuses to stand still. 2010 has seen the launch of new Hersheson hair accessories and products available online and in-store as well as the opening of the third Blow Dry Bar in the City at St Pauls in October. Today there are also salons in The Village, Westfield, and Harvey Nichols, Knightsbridge.


www.hershesons.com/

2. Gina Conway / Westbourne, Fulham, Wimbledon and Chelsea


With 3 different locations in London, Gina Conway Aveda salons offer top notch colouring and cutting services as well as pampering yourself with a stress-relieving massage (complimentary with your treatment). All hair cuts and colour are designed to fit each individual face shape, hair texture and individual personality. Offering a whole range of Aveda beauty treatments, including waxing, facials, massages, manicures and pedicures, Gina Conway salons are the one-stop trip to feeling refreshed and revitalised. All salons use Aveda's highly aromatic hair and skincare range, with all products available to buy in the shop. I particularly enjoyed the aromatic head massage experienced before my colour treatment. Offered 5 cards to choose from, I opted for 'nourished' which was a massage including Chakra 2, an essential oil made up of heady orange, cedarwood and geranium scents. The little goodie bag offered at the end of the session was also a nice touch. 


www.ginaconway.co.uk/

How to: create unique Christmas decorations

With Christmas round the corner, thoughts turn to decorating the house and with purse strings tighter than ever this year people are turning to the 'hand made'. I've always loved crafts, from making handbags as a young girl to fashion accessories (head bands, necklaces, brooches) out of trimmings and buttons from Liberty today. 

So when the office set a bauble competition, I took on the challenge.

How to make a Christmas 'natural' yet festive bauble

1. Select a ball of oasis and soak it in water

2. Pull bits of moss and attach onto the ball with pins or wire (I used bobby pins!)

3. Once covered attach the ribbon to the top by laying it flat and putting a bobby pin over the ribbon to secure. Tie a knot at the end of the two lengths to create a ribbon to hang the bauble with.

4. Decorate the bauble with ribbons, sparkly cherries and diamante pins.

5. Attach a final ribbon (here I chose the Noel one) to secure the ribbon hanger.

And there you have it! One natural-looking Christmas bauble.

One to watch: Lana Del Rey

Think this artist Lana Del Rey deserves a post of her own. Completely hooked on 'Video Games' and like the sound of Blue Jeans...think this is one to watch.

Parisian Perfection

Source: The Sartorialist

That is all.

How to: burgundy

It's not exactly breaking news that boozy colours are the colour this season, be it Bordeaux, Claret, Burgundy or Merlot. Here, L'Anglaise takes a look at how to wear burgundy and finds that it goes with a lot more than expected. The good thing about this colour is that it looks good in every item: bags, tops, bottoms, shoes, coats. It is very versatile, going with most colours and is flattering to most skin tones and shapes. 


And even better still...inject a bit of colour with a mustard jumper.

Inspiration: Zara 'People'

Proof that Zara really is the best for 'designer look' fashion on the high street. L'Anglaise adores Gala's navy, gold and brown ensemble in the top image. Gold sequins are ideal for Autumn Winter because they go with just about everything, particularly sludgy autumn colours like navy, brown, maroon, racing green, mushroom and black.

Slightly more daring is the ostrich feather mushroom shrug in image number two. Paired with a loose white blouse and jeans, this looks relaxed and bohemian. The brown vintage bag adds the final touch to this laid back look and a hat adds a seventies feel.

This season, shirts should only be worn with the top button done up. No we're not at school anymore, but this is the way fashion's most chic are wearing their blouses - and it works, particularly if the blouse has an interesting detail on the collar, as this one does. Lucy Williams (Stylus.com) also wore this Western-inspired blouse at London Fashion Week. The black zip jacket is absolutely covetable, with its versatility (it can be cropped or normal length) and stylish black colour. The gold zips add an element of luxe as does the textured woven fabric.

Most items featured are available at Zara.

Go Coco!

Places to eat: Senkai

New to the scene is Senkai, formerly Cocoon, with its crescent moon shaped windows and expansive floor, this is a cool place to be. The latest restaurant from the Ignite chain (Boujis, Bumpkin...) but seemingly without the  pretension. We were lucky enough to try out a range of platters at The Raw Bar - a round marble eating bar where you watch chefs chop deliciously fresh vegetables, meats and fish, proffering plates of sushi, sashimi, tempura, you name it. 

A fantastic space, Senkai also has a conference area at the back of the restaurant and a cocktail lounge at the front. With its perfect location on Piccadilly Circus/Regent Street, sustainably sourced seafood and simple decor, Senkai is somewhere for everyone. The best way to eat here is by selecting a diverse range of dishes and sharing because there simply is too much to choose from and so much to miss out on.

One last thing...be sure to try the pepper squid, it's a-mazing.

Seeing Treble

Seeing treble. Vogue Paris Editor, Emmanuelle Alt and her fellow Voguettes. Ici on la voit répétée trois fois!

While Vogue Paris editors have always had a distinct style, Emmanuelle Alt's is one that has inspired designers and fashionistas alike. Her iconic style inspired the overhaul of Balmain, which drew from her pointed shoulder and skinny cropped pencil trousers silhouette.

PFW: Cool Kids

Photos courtesy of Face Hunter

Whistles: Trunk Show and Champagne Lunch at The Savoy

Whistles showcases their A/W 2011 collection at the Savoy. Jane Shepherdson, CEO of Whistles, was there for the show and looks amazing in a Whistles blazer. 

Wow, what a long way Whistles has come since Jane took over in 2008.