London Fashion Week AW13: Orla Kiely

I once came across my mother-in-law's school photo from the 60's and  fell in love with it. It was a black & white official school photo of a girls only class where they all had either a fabulous back-combed up-do or a swish bob. It was très chic. It was so different to the bland school photos of my generation. MIL is the shy private types and would not have any of my "I'd like to copy it and frame if please". And I let it go. Zoom back to a week ago, I had the same expression on my face as had when I first saw that photo and felt the same awe as I knelt on the floor watching and photographing the Orla Kiely A/W13 collection at London Fashion Week. Amongst the countless astute media  narratives of the presentation, and references to Margot Tenenbaum and chubby coats et.al., the best I can muster was a 'oh so pretty! I want it all!'. The presentation, which centred around a 60's typing pool, was all about vintage office girl chic.

The Orla Kiely presentation was the bit I was most excited about at London Fashion Week. Having read accounts of her previous ones, my expectations were sky high. I was not disappointed. The icing on the cake was Orla's unassuming presence in the room. Following my Mawi cringe-fest, my grown-up self should have learnt how to pitch myself better. The reality was far from it, I was completely star-struck. I blurted something along the lines of "Hi Orla, I'm a big fan I love your work. Can I take your photo please?" Orla was lovely ( and kind?) and said she looked awful and that she had no make-up on and went on to say she'd send me a photo. Then she has for my card. In my little head, I had arrived. Even though she quite possibly added mine to a pile of others filed under 'sad bloggers'. Next year, I'll make intelligent conversation, I promise myself.

I'll leave you with some of my photos from the day. Let me know what you make of the collection. Ann x

 

Ice Cream Falooda

Can I cheat a little? Regular readers of my ex-blog 'Made by Ann' may remember my desire to cook a recipe from a different part of the world every month. Like many plans, that started really well; I cooked a lot of different international recipes. What I failed to do was take good photos and create blog posts. Now, even though I've deleted the old blog (but exported many posts over), I still fancy writing about recipes from across the globe. My rambling has a point; I've now made Falooda, a childhood favourite but I realise that it is also a popular Pakistani dessert. So I'm hoping to badge this as a 'Food Travel post too. See, a  little bit of cheating going on... Anyway, ice-cream parlours as the equivalent of pubs in India and Pakistan. The South Asian community in the UK clearly felt the void and so when we were visiting friends in Tooting ( big South Asian community here), we went to this extremely busy ice-cream parlour with long queues et.al. That trip, combined with our recent visit to India, inspired me to make falooda at home. Here is how I made it



Serves 2
Ingredients:
Falooda sev ( noodles)-handful
Basil seeds ( Tukmaria or Falooda seeds), 2 tsp
Rose syrup ( I used Mapro), 6 tbsp
Mixed nuts, 2 tbsp
Cranberries ( you can use chopped fresh fruit instead), 4 tbsp or as you please!
Semi-skimmed milk ( or skinny milk): 1/2 cup
Vanilla ice-cream

Method:
Soak the basil seeds for at leat 30 mins in water until they swell and multiply in size. Soak the falooda sev in boiling water for 5 mins and rinse in ice cold water. Use tall glasses and layer the ingredients starting with rose syrup followed by mixed nuts, cranberries or fruit, sev and milk. Pour the milk gently through the sides of the glass so as to maintain the layers. Add a teaspoon of rose syrup to the milk. Now add the basil seeds and top off with a scoop ( or two) of vanilla ice-cream. Your falooda is ready to be served!

I hope you have fun making this recipe and let me know how you got on. Ann x

London Fashion Week AW13: Jena Theo

After the mild disappointment with the Bora Aksu screen situation, I wasn't sure what to expect at my next show, Jena Theo. There were two sessions of Jena Theo which was reassuring but I wasn't taking any chances. So I trotted off to the Portico rooms on the top floor Somerset House and in plenty of time for show. Turns out, I was the first one there and show wasn't going to be as crowded and so I made my way back to the exhibition area where I spotted jewellery designer, Mawi. If you remember my blog resolutions from  a couple of months ago, I wanted to do a celebrity interview and Mawi was on my list of potential people to approach. And after much hesitating, I did. It was a cheesy bumbling, I'm a blogger, I'm a big fan, I love North East India and I want interview please. Thankfully, she was kind enough and suggested I talk to her PR Rebbecca and book a slot. More on that later.
I wandered around Somerset House for a bit before heading back to a smaller queue at Jena Theo.

The Portico Rooms are small-ish, airy and filled with natural light. I managed to stand by an elevated area at the back of the room which was better from a photos point of view. I was still too dinky-legged to get impressive shots. The show was nice enough. The collection contained lots of silks, pinks, leather and oversized shapes. It was eclectic but not in an over-the-top sort of way. In fact, I thought the colour palette was rather summery. And why not, I think! The models channelled a tough girl chic. I particularly loved the cape shaped pink suede tops; feminine but not in a bubblegum girly way.

Jena Theo say they were influenced by the works of abstract painters Helen Frankenthaller and Morris Louis Bernstiein in developing the collection. It explains the beautiful multicoloured prints which formed a significant part of the AW13 collection. I must also say, I thought Jena and Theo were so very cute; they looked like the most approachable duo in fashion.

My verdict  was a thumb-up, mostly. If I could, I'd definitely invest in one of their pink mini-capes or silk blouses. Or possibly even those over-sized golden cocoons. The show didn't have the wow factor that Bora Aksu did but it was a lovely, friendly and intimate setting which is sometimes just as good. What do you make of the collection? Ann x

London Fashion Week AW13: Bora Aksu

When I started writing this post, I asked myself what I was hoping to achieve. Detailed reviews, clips and photos are already all over the Internet from the Bora Aksu AW13 show (which was the  second on schedule on day one of LFW). I'm not really going to add much more by way of sartorial musings than say Vogue or Elle. I could however share my experience of my very first show at my very first Fashion Week. Also, as a fashion outsider, I suspect my perspective may be slightly different to that of those on the inside.

Fact is, I felt a school girl giddiness as I lined up for Bora Aksu. I was thrilled that I'd actually got a ticket in the first place (newbie blogger and all). That giddiness turned to slight anxiety when, after over half hour of queueing, we were told that the catwalk was full. Thankfully, I was among the first forty on the standing allocation that got to view the show from the large viewing screen behind the catwalk. From a taking-photos point of view, it was rubbish. But then again, given how popular Bora shows are, even if I did get in to the catwalk arena, a standing allocation may have just meant photos of multicoloured fashion heads. Point to note, always get to a show half an hour early. They are often overbooked. 

 

As the music started up and the show began, I sat open mouthed and mesmerised. Slinky, expression-less models sashayed in wearing exquisite creations in multiple textures, intricate weaves and floaty purples. The clothes were fantastic and to my novice eyes, very much wearable. I absolutely adored the beautiful crocheted headgear ; if only I had the bone structure to carry them off. There was something strangely familiar about these models; I now understand Bora was trying to capture the essence of the Diane Arbus identical twins photo.

The show only lasted about thirty minutes but I really did love every minute of it. The purples and floatiness-contrasted-by-leather aesthetic very much appealed to me. The whole experience felt surreal; moi geeky engineer sat at a London Fashion Week show. I know I would have been terribly annoyed had I been one of those that got turned away; for some, this was their only fashion week show. The upshot of it all is that I am intrigued by this Turkish designer and will hopefully be able to afford his beautiful creations one day ( Are you listening TK Maxx?). 

What do you make of these clothes? Was your first Fashion Week show experience anything like mine? Ann x

All photos downloaded from Vogue online as mine were shit; taking pictures of a screen is pointless.

Custard Apple and Banana Sorbet

 

Appearances can often be deceptive and this is very much the case with custard apples (latin name Annona reticulata). They grow on ordinary looking trees and are quite possibly among the ugliest of fruits. Nevertheless, they beat most other hands down in taste. I love custard apples. You don't really see custard apples in the UK and so I decided to make the most of it whilst in India. I believe that ASDA and Asian supermarkets sometimes stock them but I suspect they won't be as cheaply priced. We bought a kilo of custard apples whilst at my Mum's but some of them were over-ripe. I detest over-ripe fruit, even if they are custard apples. So I made sorbet instead. It was an experiment but it turned out alright. See below for recipe.

Ingredients:
3 large custard apples
1 small banana
50g sugar
1 lemon
500 ml water

Method:

De-seed the custard apples. Mash the banana into a smooth consistency. Boil water and add sugar.  I have not recommended adding much sugar as the custard apples and banana are both high in sugar and calories. When the sugar syrup is well mixed, add the custard apple pulp and banana. Simmer for 5 minutes and let it cool. Pass the mixture through a strainer to get rid of any remaining seeds. Freeze for about 3 hours. The addition of the banana gives the sorbet a smooth consistency and reduces crystallization. Serve with a dash of lime.

I hope you enjoy making this dessert. It is really easy to make and tastes exquisite. Ann x

A Poet and the Queen of Hearts

With Valentine's day round the corner, I decided to get ahead of the mobs and take the husband out a few days in advance. Call me cheapskate if you like but it is the recession and we've been married a few years now so I thought using a Groupon voucher was fair deal. As part of his Valentine's pressie, I took Ed to afternoon tea at John Clare Cottage. The cottage in Helpston, the home of the poet,  was acquired by the John Clare Trust a few years.  It is now a creative hub and seeks to celebrate the life and poems of one of England's finest poets.

I like dressing up for no reason at all and our little visit to Clare Cottage for an early, low-key, Valentine's treat was no exception. My favourite fashion find in recent days is Miwa, a lovely Japanese lady, and her Etsy shop. Miwary, her brand, makes the quirkiest accessories ever. I'd been looking for an Alice in Wonderland teacup for ages and Miwa made me the most perfect one. Miwa's creations are inspired by country shabby chic and her love for the Japanese street style, Mori. She produces unusual and delightful hairbands, fascinators, rings and others little items and sells them all with a personal touch. I may have shocked/amused the good people of Helpston with my little hat but I think John Clare would have approved

I must add that the afternoon tea at the cottage was a lovely informal affair. The food had a touch of homemade loveliness to it and the staff (mostly volunteers) were friendly and engaging. And the scones were bloody marvellous! We also went for a little wander around the cottage, explored the gardens and read up on John Clare's life. Given the time of year, I think it is appropriate I share a few lines from his wonderful poem 'A World for Love'

And there to pluck the blackberry, and there to reach the sloe,
How joyously and happily would Love thy partner go;
Then rest when weary on a bank, where not a grassy blade
Had eer been bent by Trouble's feet, and Love thy pillow made.

For Summer would be ever green, though sloes were in their prime,
And Winter smile his frowns to Spring, in beauty's happy clime;
And months would come, and months would go, and all in sunny mood,
And everything inspired by thee grow beautifully good.

I'd recently borrowed a poetry book from our local library and I can't wait to soak up more of John Clare's words. As I've often said, this part of the UK is so under-sold and I think John Clare Cottage, Helpston and surrounding areas are all well worth a visit.

Hope you have a lovely week and go spoil yourselves this Valentines day, whether it's buying yourself a hat that makes you smile or spending an evening with a few poems and a glass of wine. Waiting to be spoilt is so 2012. Ann x

Coat & Jeans: Zara, Top: Cos Reverse Panel Top, Shoes: Vivienne Westwood Anglomania Lady Dragon Shoes , Purse: ASOS .All items purchased in the sale or pre-loved, except the coat

Escape to Eritrea via London

OK, here is a random question; how much do you know about Eritrea? A couple of my mates confessed they had not heard of the country before and others said they knew it was somewhere near Ethiopia but that was it. Fact is, I knew little about Eritrea until I discovered Eritrean food. London is great like that. You find most most cultures represented there, even if in tiny proportions. My first encounter with Eritrean food and culture was a couple of years ago at a lovely restaurant called Mosob in Westbourne Park. The restaurant owner provided us with lots of insights into Eritrean culture and even organised a little quiz to test our knowledge of the country.

Westbourne Park is a bit of trek from Kings Cross and we like to spare a few hours to visit Mosob. It gets a bit tricky as we often tend to go down to London with work or on day trips. Also, they only open after 6 PM on weekdays, another point worth noting. Nevertheless, it is a great place to check out. More recently, I also discovered Adulis, another Eritrean restaurant, which is easier to get to from my London Offices. I like having a few different options at hand.

 

Eritrean food is has many similarities to South Indian cuisine. Injera, the staple on Eritrean menus, is a bit like the South Indian dosa. It is eaten in a similar fashion, expect that it is not served at room temperature. Similarly, Eritrean food is eaten with your fingers and without cutlery. You use the Injera to scoop the side dishes, a bit like a pseudo spoon. And the side dishes are often spicy-even by my Indian standards! And like Indian food, Eritrean cuisine is hearty, flavoursome and makes you feel happy in your tummy. Except, if you are wimpish and can't handle a spicy dish.

No Eritrean meal feels complete without a coffee ceremony. Fresh coffee beans are are roasted over hot coals (you are encouraged to sample its rich aroma) and then ground. The ground coffee is then emptied into a Jebena and boiling water added to brew the coffee. The coffee is served with pop corn and accompanied by the burning of frankincense- my all time favourite fragrance. In fact, it was after one such coffee ceremony that I decided to buy some frankincense for our garden chimnea. I'm just hoping we have at least a few days of summer this year to use it again.

 

 If you want to learn more about Eritrea, I suggest checking out the Visit Eritrea website or Lonely Planet. If are happy staying in blighty and travelling via food experiences, I'd recommend both Mosob and Adulis. Ann x

* First photo via http://www.mvmtravel.com/

Quirky Shops: Either Or & Doodlage

When I wrote about Either Or the other week, I promised to write a part two. Well, here it is. As I'd mentioned in my previous post, Either Or has been a great supporter of up and coming  Indian fashion brands and they also encourage sustainable fashion. Happily Unmarried and Chumbak are friends of Either Or and were supported by the store. However, the best example of the store's support of young, ethical and quirky is it's collaboration with Doodlage.

When I first spotted this lovely jumpsuit with whimsical bunny prints on one of the store rails, I bounced with joy. When Laxmi brought out more of Doodlage's delights, I was utterly smitten. Doodlage makes gorgeous fashion items out of used clothes. It draws about the traditional Indian ethos of recycling beautiful clothes and handing things down the generations albeit slightly touched-up. Doodlage's price band isn't the cheapest but the quality of its reused fabrics and its robust designs make it good value for money.

The prices start at about £50 upwards for a shift dress to about £80 for the bunny print jumpsuit. If you fancy a piece or two from this up and coming brand, head to Either Or Pune or check them out online at Not Just a Label. Also, hopefully this post and the lovely clothes will hopefully have inspired you to re-invent and up-cycle your own old clothes. Ann x

Fashionable Travel Treasures: Cos I Love the Ugandan Bag

I'm liking my travel fashion series. It is making me think about and dig out those little gems in my wardrobe from my many travel adventures. I am a bag lady. Being a bag lady does come with its many conundrums-one of them being the under-use of beautiful bags. My little bag from Uganda is one of those under-used babies. This bag was a gift from my Uncle and Aunt in Uganda whilst we were out there. It is handmade by the local women from locally sourced products. It has a unique shape and it is beautifully made. It is the kind of bag that, with a bit of thought, will take you from a day in the office to drinks at night. You can buy similar bags (with a bit of patience) on eBay and online African stores for less than $50.

I've teamed my lovely Ugandan bag with another favourite from Cos, the yellow straight cut dress. I adore its androgynous cut. The fabric is a lovely and thick and it washed really well. A lot of Cos dresses are trans-seasonal or can become trans-seasonal with clever pairing.

And when I don this outfit, I dream of lush green forests, crossing the equator, perfectly temperate weather, sipping Amarula cocktails and all the loveliness of Uganda.

Have you got an under-used  fashion accessory from your travels too? Ann x

Photography by Edward Chandler

Jo Malone and the Art of Civilised Flying

My favourite flying ritual is going perfume crazy at the duty-free section. I usually end up  spritzing myself with a so many different fragrances that I transform into a little perfume ball as I saunter towards my flight. I am partial to niche fragrances but unfortunately most airports tend to stock only mainstream brands. Heaven would be an airport that stocked Le Labo, Frederic Malle, Penhaligons, Diptyque and Jo Malone. Unsurprisingly, I squealed in delight when I came across the newly opened Jo Malone store at Dubai International airport.

I am a Jo Malone fan and have previously been treated to their complimentary hand and arm massage and fragrance tailoring sessions. I've even dragged Ed along to these. Luxurious indulgences are hard to resist and I so I succumbed to yet another session at Jo Malone Dubai. The session, which lasts around 20  minutes, involves a hand and arm wash with a Jo Malone body wash of your choice (or as recommended), a lovely hand and arm massage followed by perfume spritzing and completed by a vitamin E gel massage. Bliss, if you are a perfume-head like me.

 

The idea is that you choose a fragrance family you like and then experiment with fragrance layering. The Jo Malone website also provides combination suggestions. My all time favourite is Wild Bluebell  layered with Blue Agava & Cacao Cologne. I often spritz some on even when when I'm lounging around the house and sometimes before I go to bed. The mix of floral and chocolatey notes is just the perfect the formula for lifting my spirits after a long day. At the recent session, I experimented with Nutmeg & Ginger layered with Pomegranate Noir -a lovely combo of spicy and fresh notes. Ed tried the newly launched Earl Grey & Cucumber with Amber & Lavender- it smelt musky and macho yet had a lovely freshness to it. Jo Malone fragrances lie quite close to the skin so I sometimes experiment layering them with stronger scents like Hermes or a woody Penhaligons scent to enhance sillage.

But, this post isn't just about Jo Malone. Besides perfume-mania, below are other little things ( in my experience)  that help  make flying (especially long haul) feel luxurious even if you fly cattle class like me...

 

Seats: Due to Ed's long legs, we always try and get emergency exit seats on flights. You can't book these online and so you need to get to the check-in desk early. They make the worLd of difference, even if you have little legs like me. You can also be cheeky and ask for complimentary upgrades at the gates- just make sure you scrub up well.

Foot massage: Most airporst have massage facilities. I've found that it costs about £10-£20 on an average ( depending on where in the world you are) for a 15-20 min foot massage to soothe tired feet and improve circulation. Just what you need to cope with several hours of travelling in a pressure vessel. I must add that I've found that full body massages don't really work for me while flying-I tend to feel a bit rough after.

Sleep Lounges: Not all airports do these and I think they are missing a trick. Singapore has the best I've seen so far. The Rainforest Lounge has sleep pods that can be hired for an hourly rate in between connecting flights or whilst waiting for a silly-hour flight. They also offer light bites and fantastic massages. If you do your research before you fly, you will be able to either find airport transit hotels that offer hourly rates or you could negotiate a rate to get into one of the posh business class lounges. Sleep, as you know, can do wonders to your feeling of wellbeing

Flying Fresh: Ed introduced me to the concept of showering in between flights-I did not think it would help when you are getting into a manky plane again but it did. You can choose to use the free shower facilities available at most airports or for a small charge, use a hotel facility with all the toiletries, towels etc included. The Dubai International Hotel has one of the best facilities for this-for about £7 you get an hour's use of a shower cum dressing room with fluffy towels, a bathrobe, slippers and good quality toiletries. It made a huge difference to how I felt after many hours of flying. Also, carry a small pot of moisturiser, wipes, a face spritzer and toothpaste & brush to keep you feeling fresh up in the air.

Duty Free Shopping: Did you also know that most of the posh duty free stores offer a reserve and collect service? Airport duty free sections are also ideal for investment purchases. The Heathrow Duty Free used to be one of the best places to buy a classic Chanel bag (up to £500 cheaper for a Chanel 2.55) but they have recently stopped selling their classics at airports. You can still buy other styles for much cheaper. Also,  if you plan to fly around the January sales time, you are likely to get up to 70% off on brands like Mulberry, Miu Miu, Ferragamo and Smythson in their annual sales. Fab or what?!

Have you got some more ideas on how to make flying more enjoyable? Ann x