by | September 11, 2012

BeautyMart: they-who-know beauty

recently launched BeautyMart, 3rd floor Harvey Nichols, Knightsbridge

Hold onto your heated hair rollers.  I have some rather exciting beauty news.  Those who know more about creams, eye-liner, nail polishes and shampoos than the rest of us put together are launching something a little bit clever – BeautyMart.

Former beauty director of Vogue, Anna-Marie Solowij and Millie Kendall, of Ruby & Millie fame, have joined forces to create a highly edited cosmetics boutique selling their favourite beauty products sourced from around the world.

Millie Kendall, one of the founders of BeautyMart

I met Millie at the Harvey Nichols press breakfast (the first of BeautyMart launched in Harvey Nichols last week) to hear how they came up with this – quite brilliant – concept.  She explained that, as she had been living in LA for a number of years, she had immediately noticed that there was a gap in the UK cosmetic market:  a beauty shop which could bridge the high street with the high end.

industry beauty favourites stocked at BeautyMart

And, we all know how much we love to read the beauty pages in the weekend colour supplements.  So why not simply stock slap which has been tried and tested by they-who-know?

I was already impressed. And also impatient to see how they would display these hero products. Imagine my delight to then hear from Millie that the boutiques would be complemented by vending machines which we might catch sight of in nightclubs, hotels, train stations, airports…. need I go on?

So when a trip to Boots feels more like an errand and a trip to SpaceNK feels too much of a treat, BeautyMart will be just where you want to choose your new conditioner/nail file/moisturizer.

BeautyMart is located on 3rd floor of Harvey Nichols, Knightsbridge.

A full e-commerce retail platform is scheduled for 2013.

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by | September 10, 2012

Brunch at The Drift

The Drift bar & restaurant

There is something about brunch, as a meal, that makes me feel like I am cheating – in a good way.  It’s not that I either need or want an extra meal, but that I might be sneaking one in, when my stomach least expects a treat.

And my review of The Drift, located in the Heron Tower on Bishopsgate, was to be a real treat.  A customary end-of-holiday treat for the Smalls and, even more so as they were to be the reviewers of this rather cool brasserie in this extremely tall building.

Initially – I should add – they were disappointed that The Drift was not at the top of this tower.  But they soon forgot once they had clapped eyes on the most enormous fish tank (largest private fish home in Northern Europe, I was told) and from there, the brunch treats kept coming.

juices at table 409 / The Drift

Juices (strawberry, watermelon & lime £4.50), fresh mixed berries with honeyed yoghurt (£5.25) and a split stack (yet still plenty) of pancakes with maple syrup and candy dust (£6.15) kept them quiet, happy and nodding approvingly.

The Smalls’ stack of pancakes

And I wasn’t disappointed either.  My Californian Kick Start (poached eggs on toasted rye with hummus, guacamole, mushrooms and tomato sweet chilli sauce £7.95) was too large to finish (I promise I had not had breakfast earlier).

Asked to describe the restaurant, I was offered words such as ‘big, smart and busy with friendly people working there.’  I agree.  It is big but it is attractive (although I have to be honest I wasn’t a fan of the dubious nautical theme) and buzzy.  If I worked in a nearby office, I would, without doubt, use the restaurant as a meeting location – and without doubt skip breakfast at home.

the treat of a view from the top of Heron Tower

Disappointment of not being able to see the view from the top of the City’s tallest building returned as we left The Drift.  So, I somehow (against protocol) managed to edge our way into the Sushi Samba lift for yet another end-of-holiday treat.

 

 

 

www.thedriftbar.co.uk

0845 468 0103

110 Bishopsgate EC2

 

 

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by | September 7, 2012

Hush on the school runway

The Smalls have skipped with glee as they’ve slipped back into their uniforms and another school year. But – without a uniform of my own – I am wondering if it’s time to smarten up my back-to-school wardrobe.  While I’ll never look (nor want to look) ridiculously glamorous, it would be great to achieve some ‘effortlessly fabulous’ style as I drop them at the school gates.

Mandy Watkins with Rosie and Finn

Mandy Watkins, founder of Hush and mum to Rosie (7) and Finn (5), has this look mastered.  I begged her to share some fashion advice:

What is your fail-safe school run outfit?

My all-year-round banker is our long harem trousers.  I usually team them up with a jersey blazer, but this winter I will be living in the Goldie Jumpers, our wrap skirt, leggings and boots.

How would you describe your personal style?

Easy and casual, very much what you see in the Hush catalogue.

How long do you take to get ready in the morning?

I spend 15 – 20 minutes getting myself ready and 40 minutes trying to get my kids ready! It’s always a mad rush to get them out of the door dressed, with brushed hair and teeth and no obvious signs of what they had for breakfast on their faces.

Mandy Watkins – founder of Hush

What do you think of the Fashion Mummies on the school run?

I love looking at stylish women and take my hat off to anyone who can get their kids to school on time and still manage to look great. I wonder though what time they get up in the morning?

Autumn boots of choice?

We are offering winter footwear for the first time this season and I suspect my collection of boots is about to get a whole lot bigger. My first purchase was the suede boots, which I love – they make me feel very tall and they’re super comfy.

Describe how you would spend your coziest night in?

There would be candles, a very large sofa, an open fire, my favourite home-cooked lamb tagine (prepared by my husband), chocolate, a brilliant movie and soundly sleeping children.

What makes one pair of slouchy trousers look good and another look like a sack of potatoes?

I worked at Adidas for 7 years and spent many hours sitting in fittings while garment technologists tweaked the fit of joggers. The fit of our trousers is very much based on my experience at those meetings.

What’s the first thing you do when you get home from work?

Kiss my kids, then change out of my work clothes and into my home clothes.

Favourite local pub?

I’m not really a pub girl and this one’s not local, but I love going for walks on Hampstead Heath followed by lunch at the Freemasons Arms. Otherwise, nearer to home is the Canton Arms in Stockwell, which does the most amazing slow cooked lamb.

What are you currently reading?

The Priory by Dorothy Whipple. I have read lots of her books and loved all of them.

Which film has recently blown you away?

The First Day Of The Rest Of Your Life. It’s a French film centred around five key days in a family’s life. Very believable, funny, sad, heart-warming and beautifully acted. It’s brilliant.

Who is your hero?

There are many people I admire but no one I’d describe as my hero.

Biggest extravagance?

Aesop Geranium Leaf Body Cleanser. It’s ridiculously expensive, but smells incredibly good.

Tell us a secret about your life…

I don’t wear pyjamas to bed.

 

Check out Hush’s fabulous lounge and nightwear at www.hush-uk.com 

 

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by | September 5, 2012

BRCA: fighting the genetic battle

My interview on tonight’s ITN News(6.30 & 10pm):  Scientists have discovered that huge parts of our DNA – which were previously thought to have no obvious use – could in fact be essential in keeping life going. So-called ‘junk’ DNA contains millions of ‘switches’ which can turn genes on or off.

http://vimeo.com/48898858

 

 

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