Debenhams shakes-up long-standing fashion designer partnerships

The new chief executive of Debenhams is cutting back on some of the older fashion designers who have been selling ranges at the department store for decades as he tries to freshen up its cool credentials.

It is understood Sergio Bucher has decided to discontinue Betty Jackson, the 67-year-old London designer who launched Marks & Spencer’s Autograph suits collection in 2000, as part of his turnaround strategy.

Jeff Banks, the 73-year-old Warehouse co-founder who rose to popular fame in Eighties TV series The Clothes Show, will have his ranges shrunk to just formal suits and shirts.

No decisions have yet been made on other veterans, who include the likes of 63-year-old semi-retired John Rocha, Jasper Conran, 57, and Ben de Lisi, 61.

Bucher, who has also held senior roles at Zara owner Inditex, Nike and Puma is expected to bring in new designers to refresh the ranges Debenhams offers its customers.

While Designers at Debenhams, launched in 1993, started the idea of boutiques creating High Street ranges, other chains have arguably eclipsed it since. Topshop teamed up with Kate Moss, H&M with Stella McCartney.

It is not clear who Bucher plans to use as he refreshes Debenhams’ roster, but the recent success in its beauty departments of makeup from cult LA tattooist and model Kat von D could be a sign of a shift to appeal to a younger clientele.

Bucher will update on his strategic plan for Debenhams in April.

Victoria’s Secret Puts Record Number Of Asian Models On Its Runway

The luxurious world of lingerie is embracing diversity.

Victoria’s Secret’s world-famous annual fashion show included a record number of Asian women this year, with Ming Xi, Sui He, Xiao Wen Ju and Liu Wen ― all Chinese supermodels with massive Instagram followings.

Compare that with the two Asian models, out of a total of 44 women, who were in the show last year.

The 51 models strutted down the Paris runway Wednesday, but the annual show will premiere on TV on Monday night. The incredibly popular lingerie special will be broadcasted in more than 190 countries and typically pulls in an audience of around 6.6 million people.

The four Chinese models shared their excitement earlier this week by releasing a group photo of them posing, with peace signs raised, in front of the pink Victoria’s Secret banner in Paris.

Victoria’s Secret had been criticized for not featuring a more racially diverse lineup of models over the course of the fashion show’s 21-year history. In fact, no Asian model had walked the VS runway until 2009, according to Yahoo Style.

In recent years, however, the lingerie giant has ramped up its efforts to be inclusive.

Last year, Angolan model Maria Borges was the first black Victoria’s Secret model to wear natural hair down the runway. And this year, you can expect to see several models of color rocking a variety of natural tresses ― Afros, loose curls and all.

Similarly, Sui He has appeared in every Victoria’s Secret annual fashion show since 2011.

The lingerie brand’s decision to double down on Chinese models for the 2016 show may have been a strategic move as well, Yahoo Style reports.

Victoria’s Secret slipped into the Chinese market in 2015 with beauty and accessory shops and, after seeing success in the market, announced plans to open its signature bra and panty stores in the country.

And, as Reuters reported in July, the market for high-end lingerie in China has skyrocketed in five years, amounting to an $18 billion industry.

Victoria’s Secret echoed the Chinese models’ excitement by posting a photo of three of them on their own account, greeting them with a traditional “Ni hao” on Instagram.

Check out a preview of Victoria’s Secret’s event in the photo gallery below, and tune in to CBS at 5 p.m. ET on Dec. 5 for the full runway show.

How To Wear This Season’s Most Bewitching Trend

On the back of fashion’s recent fixation with Victoriana this season designers opted for a more demonic take on high-neck, frill-embellished garb. Ladies, welcome to the dark side.

While gothic style is nothing new it’s been a while since it entered high fashion’s conscience but thankfully, and just in time for Halloween, luxed-up, noir-laden glamour is back.

Perhaps the most straight-up goth looks came on behalf of Marc Jacobs who opted for black lacquered lips, smudged eyes and a collection vaulting in theatrical volume. There were feathers, lace, glossy black patent casting and crocheted doily collars ala Wednesday Adams.

Alexander Wang warped his looks with studded boots, sheer tights, metal-pierced leather and just about everything edged in heavy metal chains while Rodarte opted for a more sensual take on gloomy gothic glam.

With a nod to art-nouveau, the designer’s take on darkness was bewitchingly elegant. There were autumnal floral head dresses, hand-painted guipure lace, frill-embellished leather and oversized belt buckle chokers. Embellishment overrode here though with hand-cut florals, mesh and sequined lace.

Conspicuously dark and seriously bad-ass this modern take on black magic dressing champions some of the sassiest goth femmes around. The trend offers you a chance to get strange and unusual like Lydia Deetz and not just for one night only.

If like me, you’re partial to a spot of macabre dressing anyhow then try revamping your already blackened ‘drobe with some texture; lace and lots of it is the real key to pulling off this bewitching style.

If you’re new to the dark side though, start with some well-chosen accessories. If you’re a fan of the enduring 90s revival chances are you already own a choker and luckily, they’re a Victoriana-goth staple.

Fashion fairground in New York for the launch of their 'see now, buy now' collection

Tommy Hilfiger is always a fan of a SET. In the past he’s whipped up Caribbean islands, football fields, Alpine mountains, not forgetting last season’s giant cruise liner – which are all usually housed inside, out of sight of the public's prying eyes, with the furore left to unfold in the comments below the plethora of Instagram images posted by the ticket holding industry insider attendees.

But this time, there was a marked shift. Hilfiger called it a democratisation, and a show that he had always wanted to pull off. Having taken over an entire pier - Downtown past the Brooklyn Bridge - he carefully created a Tommy fairground theme park, complete with wurlitzers, a 40 foot big wheel, lucky dips, tattoo stalls (stick-on), doughnut shops, burgers, fries, the lot: a veritable explosion of vintage kitsch.

The invitation came complete with a giant poster and stickers, which one show-goer  - dressed in a tropical printed jersey dress – had gamely stuck across her décolletage and legs.

If this was fashion Disneyland, then the star princess was Gigi Hadid, the mega-model with 22.5million Instagram followers, and Zayn Malik as boyfriend.

Hadid and Hilfiger have teamed up to launch the first Hilfiger ‘see now, buy now’ collection. Ostensibly designed by the duo, and available now for purchase. It is a shift away from the normal six month time lag of presenting collections which appear in stores half a year later. The reasoning being, that in these days of instant everything, the attention focused on catwalk collections would be better exploited immediately rather than expecting people to wait and still remember what they wanted a thousand images ago.

Cleverly, Hilfiger has tapped directly into this insta-generation, in signing up one of their leading figures – the potent combination of Hadid plus ‘you can buy this outfit she is wearing right now’ should, in theory, be a no brainer.

In support, the singer Taylor Swift arrived at the show wearing pieces from the collection which has already been debuted around the world this week, as Hadid embarked on a mini-tour promoting it – and which this crowd were about to witness on the runway.

This democracy went further still. 2000 members of the public, who won free tickets to the extravaganza, were able to watch on live, standing penned behind the seated press and buyers – whose role here is perhaps slightly obsolete.

Tomorrow, the Tommy Pier will be open to all to enjoy the rides and scoff down lobster rolls, candy floss and giant pretzels.

And as for the clothes you may be wondering: well, Hadid’s collection largely followed on from Hilfiger’s nautical themed autumn/winter collection, with an extra level of Americana blue, red and white insignia, including a rather Royal Tenenbaum-esque red tracksuit and featuring the Nineties-motif of the Hilfiger logo as waist band. Hadid herself opened the show in a skin tight pair of leather trousers styled with a jaunty naval frogged navy and gold jacket and bandana around her neck. These are clothes that should directly appeal to the young fans of Hadid - cool, but with familiar and safe style tropes. As a first step into the unchartered waters of direct to consumer fashion shows, it was a pretty fun ride.

Has Fashion Abandoned the Suit

Three. That was the grand total of suits that Hedi Slimane sent down the runway for his final menswear hurrah as the creative director of Saint Laurent during the fall 2016 shows last February. The same season, Bottega Veneta showed five, Hermès and Salvatore Ferragamo had four, and Louis Vuitton, just three. Burberry, the stingiest of all, showed one. Eight years ago, each brand showed up to three times as many.

These days, the suit is considered too boring for the cameras. Even when a label with a rich tailoring heritage does fill its runway with a slew of “interesting” suits, the results can feel out of touch, as was the case with Joseph Abboud’s army of three-piece clad dandies; the flashy, rock-’n’-roll-influenced suits at designer Justin O’Shea’s debut at Brioni; and Balenciaga’s cartoonishly oversize Talking Heads suits, which is purely an avant-garde fashion statement. Not exactly a corner-office look. Or even a generously-sized-cubicle look.

So how did the straightforward suit become the catwalk equivalent of an endangered black rhino? The answer may well be in the palm of your hand. “On social media you need to do something that’s really bright and really loud,” said Patrick Johnson, an Australian with a bespoke tailoring business that cuts custom suits for businessmen around the world. Designers aren’t just looking to appease fashion editors, they’re also hoping for precious retweets and likes. From that standpoint, the decision is clear: a tie-dye Valentino poncho will garner more attention than a pristine but predictable suit. And buzz can drive retail.

But it’s not just designers who are shedding the suit. A recent Wall Street Journal article reported that financial firms like J.P. Morgan Chase & Co., BlackRock and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP relaxed their strict suit-only policies to allow business-casual for most situations. Dress codes are softening all over. “For the last century, men wore suits, and the market share was about 16 hours a day,” said George Bass, proprietor of an eponymous 31-year-old boutique in New Orleans. “Now it’s maybe 16 hours a week.” Market research firm Euromonitor International reported that suit sales in the U.S. declined 2% last year, the third straight year they’ve taken a hit.

It would make sense, then, that designers are paying tailored clothes less overt attention. Except that there are still legions of style-conscious men who have to wear a suit to work everyday. Take Peter Rothschild, 42, a dapper financial investor in Chicago who wants to “express himself but not stand out.” It would be tough to imagine him closing a deal in one of Brioni’s body-hugging, three-piece numbers. “There’s nothing on the runway that would have any influence over what I wear,” he said.

So has fashion abandoned the suit-wearing man? Not quite. It’s important to note that there’s a vast disconnect between what’s shown and what’s shipped to stores. Italian label Eidos, for instance, does a brisk business in tailoring, but, for fall 2016, designer Antonio Ciongoli chose to show just two suits (and took care to obscure one almost entirely with an overcoat).

The good news is that the fashionably evolved but palatable suit does exist. You just have to dig a little. “To a certain extent, the tasteful, understated stuff never gets a ton of attention,” said Kirk Miller, co-founder of the New York-based tailoring outfit Miller’s Oath, which has only ever shown its suits by private appointment.

Now that the “peacock” look, with its overflowing pocket squares and novelty cuff links, all the fashion a few years ago, is dèmodè, subtlety is key. “We’re no longer in the world of gelato- shaded plaids,” said Eidos’s Mr. Ciongoli. “That’s not what anybody wants to look like.” He recommends fabrics that are distinguished by low-key visual complexities, like a tonal gray-on-gray check or a finely flecked indigo-dyed wool, distinctive but not as loud as bold stripes and plaids. And instead of dandyish emerald or ruby shades, colors that are just a couple steps away from the ubiquitous classics quietly telegraph that you’re not one of the schlubby masses. “Today, there’s not only 50 shades of gray, there’s 50 shades of blue,” said New Orleans-based boutique owner Mr. Bass. And when it comes to fit, big padded shoulders and rigid construction are out; a softer, unstructured shape looks newer (and feels better).

This somewhat anonymous suit is certainly a better match for the more casual landscape; you don’t want to appear outmoded in a Gordon Gekko-esque pinstriped number next to the 20-something T-shirt-wearing CEO whose company you’re funding.

It doesn’t mean, however, that self-expression is dead when it comes to tailored looks. Quite the contrary. The new, more relaxed suits “lend themselves to different occasions,” said Bruce Pask, men’s fashion director at Bergdorf Goodman. Unstructured and understated suits from brands like Kiton, Attolini and Thom Sweeney, explained Mr. Pask, are sufficiently versatile that you can wear them not only with a white button-down and a woven tie but over a pique cotton polo shirt, a crewneck sweater or a T-shirt. Sneakers don’t look out of place.

From halfpipes to Halfpops, business ventures are sizzling with synergy for this Olympian

Ongoing endorsement deals with snowboarding apparel brand Burton and sunglasses maker Oakley (to name just two) and a new exclusive-to-Macy’s clothing line aren’t all that the “Shauntrepreneur” has in the works. Here are a few of the other business ventures in which Olympic gold medalist and Los Angeles-area resident Shaun White has a stake:

Air + Style: White bought a majority interest in this event, which combines music and snowboarding (at which he won competitions in 2003 and 2004), from Innsbruck, Austria-based founder Andrew Hourmont in early 2014. The just-announced upcoming tour dates include Beijing (Nov. 18 and 19), Innsbruck (Feb. 3 and 4) and a return to Los Angeles’ Exposition Park (Feb. 18 and 19).

“There’s talk of, after the next Olympics, creating a [snowboarding] tour that may be branded Air + Style that would be an [Olympic] qualifying event,” White says. “It could solve a lot of problems.”

Mammoth Resorts: In January, White purchased a minority stake in the company that owns the Mammoth Mountain, Snow Summit and Bear Mountain resorts in Southern California. “Big Bear was the mountain I grew up riding. It was home court so it all came together naturally,” he says. One of the ideas he has percolating is to bring youth skateboarding clinics based on the soccer-camp model to Big Bear Mountain Resorts.

“We’re planning to make camps up there,” he says, “And make it more accessible to kids from the city. There will be qualified instructors, the best facilities and a way to get your kid safely to the mountain and back home the same day.” There’s also the possibility, White says, of using one of the mountains as a future venue for one of his Air + Style events.

Halfpops: In May 2015, White bought a stake in Halfpops, a 5-year-old Scottsdale, Ariz.-based company that makes a partially popped popcorn snack food that crunch-wise falls between corn nut and traditionally popped kernel delivered in a compact shape roughly the size of a shelled pea.

“My family is really into popcorn — it’s our guilty pleasure. We’ll get big bags, and they’ll be all over the house,” White says, “And I stumbled across these, and they’re good to carry in your pocket when you ride because you can’t crush them.”

In addition to helping dream up new flavors, including his favorite Brooklyn Dill Pickle, White’s involvement has given the snack food company more exposure, including getting samples of the snack into the hands of thousands of attendees at the February 2015 Air + Style event in L.A.

Today in Fashion Lessons: J.Crew's Jenna Lyons Dishes Her Personal Style Advice

Fashion heaven: J.Crew president and creative director Jenna Lyons joins the Glamour squad as our special guest editor. Also, she knows everything.

Q: I love the idea of mixing patterns, but I don’t know how. Any pointers? —Jayme, 25, San Francisco

A: Every time I wear pattern on pattern, I get that half-cocked look, like, Oh, you can wear that together! So I have a few policies for pulling it off. First, start with things that are rooted in the same color tone, like navy stripes with navy polka dots. That’s level one. You can take it up a notch by adding one print that has multiple colors; this definitely requires some chutzpah. Level three is mixing two prints that are multi-color but still based on the same hue, like a navy floral paired with a navy paisley. Then my level five—I skipped level four because I just don’t care about level four—is really going for it, like mixing a green animal print with a pink one—same print but different colors. I’m so appreciative that Gucci brought back the crazy, because of course I love a mad hatter mix. I’m fully wearing mismatched pajama-inspired pants and tops this fall. My underline to all of this is that there are three prints you can wear with anything: a navy-and-white stripe (I would challenge anyone to come up with something that you cannot wear with that), leopard, and camo. As far as I’m concerned, they’re neutrals.

Q: How can I wear a monochrome look in a fresh way? —Sarah, 24, Park City, Utah

A: The most important thing is the mix of textures. It’s very similar to decorating a house: If you have a plush velvet couch, don’t put a velvet pillow on it. Add something totally different that complements it. So if you’re wearing blue flannel, maybe your shoes are a blue satin or patent—something a bit shinier. Another thing not to lose sight of is mixing tones. There’s nothing I love more than a milky pink chino with a hot pink t-shirt or silk blouse. As long as you don’t mix blue pinks and yellow pinks, it’s OK. Blue undertones are harder to wear with other things. They have a tendency to go dark and gray, as opposed to going bright. Especially if you’re pale, they’re not as flattering. That’s why I walk around with a red sweater all the time in the winter! Also, I do think that if you’re doing monochrome gray, it’s absolutely beautiful to do a red lip. But if you’re wearing a red lip, please, please, please, don’t wear a smoky eye!

Q: What are the easiest ways to transform a look for fall? —Erica, 47, Philadelphia

A: Hello, accessories! Right now I’m having a big earring moment, and the bigger and more sparkly and crazy, the better. That’s such an easy look-changer: I can wear something with my hair down and casual during the day, then up with earrings at night, and it looks so different. Also, if I’m wearing long chinos or cargoes with flats at the office, I’ll roll up my pants, put on ankle-strap shoes, and change into a crisp white shirt unbuttoned low. All of a sudden I look dressed up. I love that I don’t have to change everything, because who has time to change everything?

From Khloe Kardashian to It Girls, the Nineties trend is the ultimate hair accessory

As any Nineties baby will known, bandanas were once a wardrobe staple.

And it seems the statement accessory is making a comeback.

Celebrities such as Khloe Kardashian and Kylie Jenner, as well as a swag of fashion bloggers, have been pictured rocking bandanas in recent times, prompting a resurgence of the trend.

The Kardashian clan are known for making fashion statements.

And where they lead, most will follow.

Both Khloe Kardashian and her younger sister Kylie Jenner have shared selfies in bandanas - Kylie's in a Louis Vuitton print no less.

Khloe opted for a more casual look, tying a soft pink bandana in a bow on top of her head.

Following them is Hailey Baldwin, who at 19-years-old who is recent time designed her own capsule collection in collaboration with Australian brand The Daily Edited.

Rather than opt for high-fashion, Hailey paired her bandana with ripped jeans and a white crop for a festival feel.

The famous model was photographed wearing the trend at Coachella.

It's not just Hollywood heavyweights who have embraced the trend.

Australian Instagram influencers and models Gabrielle Epstein and Mimi Elashery were both pictured in bandanas.

Joining them is fashion blogger Nadia Fairfax, who paired her navy and white  bandana with a bikini.

The Crazy Reason I Decided to Ditch My Bra

There isn't a ton that Kendall Jenner and I have in common: I'm not a top model, my family isn't rich or famous, and I definitely don't have people — fans, paparazzi, the media, etc. — dying to know my every move. But one thing KJ and I do share? The fact that genetics have blessed us with fairly small chests. Only I wasn't as happy about it as she was.

Growing up, and especially in high school and most of college, I was obsessed with wearing a bra, solely because I hated the way my clothes — and maybe my body in general — looked without one. A quick trip the store? I "needed" to wear a bra. Sleepover with friends? That baby wasn't coming off. I didn't own a single piece without padding because life and my outfits looked "better" with cleavage.

Even after gaining confidence as I got older, you'd rarely catch me without a little something to give me a little something. But then, in 2014, something changed: Kendall Jenner truly exploded onto the fashion scene, rocking a fully sheer top in Marc Jacobs' Fall '14 show — and it turns out the girl, small chest and all, didn't care a bit that she was exposed. Later that year, she showed up at Coachella in a sweatshirt that said "I Have No T*ts," and was soon (and still is) speaking out about her love of going braless and showing her nipples. She admittedly thinks it's a sexy look.

"I really don't see what the big deal is with going braless," Kendall wrote in a blog post on her site called "Free the Nipple". "I think it's cool and I really just don't care! It's sexy, it's comfortable, and I'm cool with my breasts. That's it!"

Perhaps it's because I frequently write about the model for work, but slowly, I've started to see what Kendall is talking about. Through street style alone, she and other women have shown me that a variety of outfits do look good sans that extra support, even more so if you have small breasts. More importantly, Kendall seems supercomfortable and confident with her body, and I've started to feel silly worrying about how I looked in certain shirts or whether or not someone can see my nipples. (The no-nipple thing has truly started to seem weird to me — it's just a body part!)

It's strange to type, but Kendall going braless and then talking about it inspired me to do the same. Bodysuits that show some side-boob? I'm down. Dresses where even a strapless bra will stick out? It's time to go au naturel. I'll now take trips to the store, meet up with friends, and even spend date-night dinners without a bra, and it's a lifestyle/trend I've grown to love.

So if you're addicted to your bra like I was, dare yourself to ditch it for a day. I promise, once you try it, you might just feel freer, more confident, and — just like Kendall — a bit sexy, too.

Pokémon Go Has Started A Surprising New Beauty Trend

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll be well aware of ‘Pokémon Go’, the new iPhone and android game which is taking us all in a time machine back to our childhood.

We all remember that excitement in the playground at school when we finally got hold of that Pikachu card we’d been dying to find, and whilst we may have all thought Pokémon was a thing of the past, it has well and truly landed back on the scene recently.

You only have to look out the window to see people glued to their phones, desperately trying to find the nearest Pokestop – but what does Pokémon have to do with beauty, you say? Well whoever said Pokémon was just for boys has been seriously proven wrong… introducing Pokémon nail art!

This is the hot new trend that Pokémon obsessed beauty buffs all over the world are now trying – and some of them are super impressive!

Whether you want to make a more subtle tribute to your favourite new game, or you want to display your Pokemon obsession for the world to see, there is bound to be a nail design to suit you.

Whilst loads of people have gone for the traditional red and white pokeball design, (aka the ball that you throw at Pokémon to catch him), there are also some majorly complicated looks being flaunted too…

Yes, some Pokémon pros have actually gone as far as painting on the characters in miniature nail by nail, and it must have required some serious dedication.

Why choose between Snorlaz, Bulbasaur, Jirachi and Squirtle when you can have them all?

Another popular Pokémon look making an appearance is, (of course) nail art featuring the much loved Pikachu, which involves painting the nails yellow and then drawing on his eyes, nose, mouth, and his famously rosy cheeks!

Pokémon fans who like all things pink are opting for Jigglypuff, who’s known for making people fall asleep by singing lullabies. This Pokemon monster looks as cute as he sounds – and, come on, the fact his name is Jigglypuff is enough of a reason alone to paint him on your nails!

There are even some blingy Pokémon fans who have gone all out and put diamantes on top of their nail art – because who said Pokémon couldn’t be pretty?

Sure, they might not be for everybody, but it can’t be denied that Pokémon nails are certainly having a beauty moment.

See the Fashion Trends from the Floor of the Republican Convention

The fashion at political conventions is both timeless and contemporary.

Delegates and dignitaries who head out every four years to the national meetups stick with the tried-and-true: bold reds, whites and blues; colorful hats, buttons and stickers; standard slacks and sport coats.

But within that rigid framework, there is endless variation, with each convention bringing its own themes and each delegate having their own special flair.

It is another part of the pageantry of democracy in action, the individuals expressing themselves even as they join together in a larger whole. From a distance, the hats and buttons and sunglasses blend together, forming a colorful composite.

Photographer Landon Nordeman visited the Republican National Convention in Cleveland to capture some of that fashion up close.

Theresa May Passion for Fashion Will Bring a Touch of Glamour to Politics

Those heels are about to walk into No.10

Theresa May’s passion for fashion will bring a touch of glamour to politics.

Yes, it might be a certain kind of glamour... she reminds me of a batty old auntie who doesn’t care what people think of what she wears.

Her taste may not be for everyone, but if she likes it she going to wear it and to hell with you.

Her wardrobe will most definitely shine through the neverending sea of dull grey and navy suits during Prime Minister’s Question Time.

And while women in politics should never be judged by what they wear, it’s refreshing to see a lady who has fun with her clothes.

May’s fun sense of style livens up the corridors of power

I love her quirky touch of style, from the tartan suit to her animal print kitten heels.

She can always be relied up to show off her wild side, who else would wear a pair of thigh-high patent boots to greet the Queen.

Her flamboyance always raises eyebrows

Her flamboyant fashion sense has always raised eyebrows and I hope she continues with her funky footwear when she become the new PM.

She’s also fond of a flamboyant Vivienne Westwood suit which would her set her back a pretty penny with the British designer’s suits going for over £800.

Switching the heels for some funky flats

May has teamed the tartan suit with patent brogues that look just like a pair from Russell and Bromley priced at £215.

And the patent thigh high boots she wore to meet the Queen look remarkably similar to a pair of croc print leather boots costing £465 a pair, also from Russell and Bromley.

Food and booze are fun, and it is good to be exacting but it is bad to be pompous

Well, I had my cake and I ate it. And not just my cake, reader, but the bits before the cake, too. The lunches and dinners and the multi-course breakfasts, and the absurd afternoon teas, and those new cocktails with beef dripping, and just about every other highly calorific confection those frenzied minds that spend their time in subterranean kitchens dreamt up; up to and including a portion of un-fried ants eaten in the Claridge's ballroom. “They are very acidic,” said Noma's René Redzepi, my host. “Have them with a little lettuce.”

By my own reckoning, I have consumed about 208,000 superfluous calories and added a stone to my body weight. I have also learnt a treasure-trove of things about life and people, not least that suffering does not ennoble when in the dining room.

Favorites of the week

Unmotivated: Do you know that if you just do not want you ever to do anything and are constantly tired? So I felt somehow this week. I probably have the dark gray weather over slowly. I'm really looking forward to spring. Until then, I'll get the spring with a few fresh flowers in the apartment. So the world seems much better.

Netflix: Friday night I was a little "shocked". Netflix had already announced at the beginning of the entire Geoblocking services to declare war. Over the past few weeks, many VPNs have been blocked so you could Netflix in certain countries, except their own, no longer reach. In known DNS services accounts were simply blocked, so that they could no longer receive payments from PayPal. Now the sides have surfaced in the new design and you find no evidence more on Netflix etc. Personally I think the barriers to Netflix does no favors. It is very interesting as well as Netflix must yield under the pressure of other ... So I did not write anything so as my friend has done, you can read his thoughts here. I would write it to 100 percent as well :-)

Buy / Gifted: In the last week I got myself these new sports shoes. My old shoes have become a bit too small with time. Now I have the Zumba no more pressing shoes. Also my friend has given the great bag from Topshop. Last week I then bought my beautiful shoes at Asos. I had long been on my wish list, as they were then sold out and it last week then gave it back to 38, I have ordered the same.

February favorites

Copper Decoration

Decoration of copper can be seen at present everywhere and I got me there. To my black and white means it fits quite well, but I have a wall in lavender and since I had in mind a bit if the colors so well together.

In the fall could be the first copper part to move in with me - a candlestick from Ikea. And as I have seen in H & M Home on sale this beautiful copper plates, I just had to strike directly. A little later a matching tray is also gotten. Meanwhile, I am completely in love with my new deco. And I find that it even fits nicely with the delicate purple. As the trend also still remains in this year we will certainly still join one or the other decorative part.

Self-made dressing

What woman does not dream of a dressing ?! I can no longer even count how many times I'm the Hemnes dressing table from Ikea. This has noticed my friend and he built me ​​why at Christmas a year ago a dressing himself. However, he did not come him ready in time and somehow that is then already almost forgotten. Last it ended up being finally ready and the dresser now adorns my dressing room.

Unlike the playful dressing table from Ikea, the design has become very minimalistic and precisely meets my taste. And he has the frame fully welded metal itself, it is also indestructible. For all my make-up I bought a few months ago already times a small cabinet.

It is really convenient to have the same hand super everything and I do not want to give up my dressing table!

Shoes - Gladiators Heels fringed in taupe

I have often admired the beautiful shoes, but somehow I have the subscription but then quenched somewhat. When I Rina but then recently stated that you can also pause every month, we went immediately to the shop.

Directly I fell into the Gladiators Heels with fringe. While I will still need to practice a bit, so that I can actually run on the high heels also, but it's definitely worth it! Since even two styles for 39.95 € you get as a new customer I immediately picked yet a second pair. The choice was between the end of black boots and these in taupe. But because I already have plenty of black boots, my choice is then nevertheless fallen. In addition to my black and brown (here and here I have shown you already in outfits) was a lighter pair anyway long been on my wish list and therefore there tomorrow also equal an outfit so!

Leather jacket by Denim & Supply Ralph Lauren

The leather jacket made of Denim & Supply Ralph Lauren collection * you know already from my Valentine outfit. Leather jackets are for me simply a must-have. They really can be combined with every outfit - whether casually with jeans or as a break in style to fine dress. And everyday I wear them really ever.
Clearly, the Ralph Lauren leather jacket this month with one of my favorites. Unfortunately, it is the last day again become so cold here that I could not really run it, but fortunately the spring always comes closer!

Black and white nails

Now, I am not a big fan of any nail designs and wear my nails rather simply in a paint. However, I have seen lately often Nails in marble design and love me totally in the design. Unfortunately, I'm very clumsy with something and have not the stamina until it looks reasonably good at the end. At some point I then remembered that I still bought a Crackling lacquer of p2 times ages ago me I've never worn. So my nail polish was quickly searched box and actually - it was still there. While it is not marble, but still my black and white design like it very much and it is also even for laymen, very easy to implement me.

Friday Faces - In the Summertime.

I love summer and especially the many garment that you can just put on only in the summer. Anyway it could be the year the summer, so I can bounce only in short dresses and shorts. Somehow Mauritius is this year came much faster than expected and I am completely before the time ran away. I actually wanted me still stock up on a lot of new clothes, but what I have this year simply overslept. Well, quite a lot can be at the temperatures here anyway not attract, but just when comes to summer clothes, I just can not have enough of it. Fortunately in a few months once the summer - for which I am but then really well prepared. I myself last night at drink on our terrace even clicked through new Mango range and have found (as usual) way too much for me.

I love stripes in all versions - therefore wars clear that I will love this short summer dress also. Honestly - I am angry just so much that this pretty part now is not on vacation!

Small bags to go out I have far too little - I really only two Fort Goes pockets and two large pockets that I use regularly. The beige Clutch would super loosen my otherwise so black "range".

Even with beautiful shoes from rather poor - especially at the sandals I actually only a single pair in shoe closet, which I run regularly. The ecru model are the cords for high tying.

In sunglasses, is it my mind a bit - somehow I will always there all. See the black Sunnies but my Erika Ray Ban then but a little too similar, so I'll probably still do without it.

If it is as hot as here in Mauritius, an airy top is simply required. The bright color does not heat up and makes a sweat immediately.

As soon as I saw these shorts with scalloped, I knew that the necessarily in my basket. Please that is how sweet it?

Out of order or the search for a new coffee machine

You belong also to the human species, the life without coffee can not imagine? Then you can certainly understand well what happened to me a few weeks ago. For quite some time has made my problems. He always informed me error messages: time the brewer wanted to be purified, then was something wrong with the water filter ... The upshot: Although reasonable attempts and intensive care and cleaning of the fully automatic someday he could not continue. He just wanted to spit out of coffee. I had to send it in for repair him for better or worse.

A defective coffee machine shortly before the end of the guarantee period - a coincidence?

Luckily I had a few more months warranty and repair the coffee machine was carried out for free. Of course I missed my fully automatic in the time in which he was to repair, painfully. But in an emergency does indeed a hand stove. Unfortunately, the disillusionment was quite large after returning the coffee machine of the repair. Although the coffee produced again my beloved espresso, but after a short time he was back to various error messages. So just before the end of the warranty period, which could not be a coincidence, right?

As I had but played for some time with the idea to buy me a new coffee machine, I saw these unsuccessful repair as a sign of fate. With the old coffee machine I was actually never been completely satisfied anyway. He prepared me though sometimes more and sometimes less reliable my espresso, but the foaming milk was often a struggle.

Only after the preparation of several coffees he was able to produce a reasonable froth. Everything came out of the coffee machine before, you could not call it a milk froth. This limitation meant that we really only use the coffee machine when we had guests. In the preparation of many coffees the coffee machine was really worth gold. In everyday life, I prepared my milk froth but mostly separately, so I'm often asked why I ever use the coffee machine for espresso preparation. An espresso machine is sufficient for it but actually completely, right?

Looking for a new coffee machine

Since my hopes that a renewed Returning the fully automatic machines could change something about the problem, were rather low, I decided to bite and me to make the search for a new coffee machine in the bullet. Since the purchase of a coffee machine is not necessarily a cheap purchase, it was important to me to let me fully before buying.

So I looked not only at various manufacturers sites and in online shops for coffee machines to, but let me also in forums offer which manufacturers of coffee machines, a high quality at a reasonable price and where the error rate is minimized.

A comprehensive maintenance and cleaning extends the lifetime

A page on which there is not only a pretty wide range of coffee machines, but you can also buy accessories like coffee, filter paper, dishes and tamper. After I did a little poking in the coffee machine shop and discovered a few gems, I already was my favorite choice definitely a bit more Refinement. It was also aware that I must necessarily more value on a care and cleaning with my new coffee machine. The use of a water filter and the use of special cleaners for the milk foamer are really useful and delay definitely the "wear process" and the error rate of the coffee machine. Just who in his area has hard water, you should definitely use a water filter. This not only prevents calcium deposits in fully automatic, but also ensures a better taste of coffee.

My decision for a new coffee machine way, I have now taken. Whichever model I have decided, I'll tell you about soon.

How are you all doing? Are you also such coffee junkies? If so, how do you prepare for your coffee? Do you also have a fully automated system?

Vegan chocolate muffins with raspberry filling

There was no longer a recipe on my blog. The last were the marble mini and that's been over 2 months ago. Since I have decided, this year once again likely to baking and especially sometimes wants to try new recipes, it is now also determined times more likely to be new recipes. Today I want to show with raspberry filling therefore a recipe for vegan chocolate muffins.

Vegan Baking - the first attempt

I have long wanted to try vegan baking. Although I live neither vegan nor vegetarian, but I find it totally interesting times to test something completely new. Previously I've often eaten in times Cafe's vegan cake and was always very pleased. So now I have this plan implemented finally into action and as a first attempt I decided for vegan chocolate muffins with raspberry filling. The recipe I found on Cake invasion. I love chocolate muffins and combined with raspberry filling the prescription heard simply delicious to.

I personally have the vegan chocolate muffins tasted really super. Different but still delicious! By raspberry filling, they are nice and juicy and the sprinkles are even slightly crispy. My mom liked her well, only my friend has decided to bite off once that the muffins are not for him. So it will probably continue to give regular muffins for him.

Ingredients for vegan chocolate muffins with raspberry filling

For the chocolate muffins
200 g flour
2 tablespoons cornstarch (corn or potato starch)
30g cocoa
2 teaspoons baking powder
100g sugar
60 g sucrose
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp salt
75 ml of oil (rapeseed or sunflower oil)
200 ml vegetable milk (soy, rice, oats, spelled or almond milk)

For the Streusel
50 g flour
25 g sugar
40 g vegetable margarine
For the filling
12 TL raspberry jam

Preparation of vegan chocolate muffins with raspberry filling

For the vegan chocolate muffins flour, cocoa, cornstarch in a second bowl. Sugar, cane sugar, vanilla sugar and salt Add and mix briefly. Now add the oil and the plant milk and mix with a whisk until the ingredients have blended together.

The muffin cups to fill about the dough, it should best still about half remain. Put it into the center of each ramekins one teaspoon raspberry jam. Then you can distribute the remaining muffin batter. Finally it scatters nor the streusel over the muffins and then they come for about 25 minutes at 175 ° C top / bottom heat in the oven.

Cosy times - Not Only Indoors

Gray, wet and foggy presents time with us. Shrubs and trees now also drop their last leaves and partly comes one now feel that it even during the day is no longer enough light. Absolutely no weather and no season for me. I would love to make me permanently with my blanket, a cup of tea and some cookies by the fireplace or keep the same hibernation.

Since the realistically it is not possible, I have to willy-nilly to bite the bullet and from time to time leave the house. But this is unfortunately just wrapped thick, because at least now in winter I'm going to a real frostbite. Therefore I have brought a few weeks ago our winter clothes out of the closet and sorted. It quickly became clear: I need a new winter jacket. This should be warm, simple and robust, because thanks to two small children is also my winter jacket often special "weather conditions" exposed.

After some searching I found what I was looking for. A simple, black winter jacket, which is not only cut waisted, but also long enough for the cold wind does not pull up the back in autumn and winter. Especially if you drive a lot or bike is with the kids in the playground and sand castle building, long cut jacket can be beneficial. With the short jacket that can otherwise namely be very uncomfortable after a short time.

Decided I'm looking for the model "Fia". The jacket is slightly padded and both wind waterproof. The cuffs can be adjusted with Velcro, so that the cold wind can not pull into the sleeves. If needed, the hood can be removed. Practical feature are the many pockets in which some can be stowed. Winter jacket is Closed way with a zipper and additional velcro.