London Fashion Week: Where To Go

Posted on September 9, 2013 by Frostie

London Fashion Week is nearly here and we are super excited. Here is a round up of great places to go to eat, drink and have a break from the fast pace.

Josh Wood To Launch Breakfast Pop-up Salon At sketch During London Fashion Week
Sketch on Conduit Street in Mayfair has collaborated with world-renowned salon Josh Wood Atelier to open an exclusive pop-up breakfast blow-dry and nail bar in the Glade at sketch. The salon will offer guests a dry-style blow dry and a file and polish together with an express breakfast for £25.00, ensuring they will look impeccably groomed before a busy day of shows, whether gracing the FROW or simply soaking up the atmosphere at Somerset House. Open from 8.00am until 10.30am, the beauty bar will run throughout London Fashion Week, from 13th-17th September. www.sketch.uk.com

Babbo
To celebrate this autumn’s London Fashion Week, discreet Mayfair restaurant Babbo has devised a special menu packed with superfoods. Known for being favoured by royalty and celebrities alike, it is frequented by A-listers including Stella McCartney, Kate Beckinsale, Princess Beatrice, Colin Firth and Claudia Schiffer. Head chef Carlo Scotto has created dishes such as Salad of handpicked crab meat with avocado and hazelnuts , Tuna carpaccio with wild asparagus and aubergine puree and John Dory with fresh peas, broad beans, dry tomato and beetroot puree. The menu will be available for the duration of London Fashion Week and is priced at £45 for three courses
39 Albemarle Street, W1S 4JQ – www.babborestaurant.co.uk

Fornata
Between 13-17th September, relaxed Italian restaurant Fornata – located on Soho’s bustling Kingly Street – will offer an express three course meal with a glass of wine for just £25. The vibrant and informal restaurant will offer low-carb dishes such as Grilled courgettes with ricotta, mint and pine nuts or Beef Carpaccio with fresh Porcini mushroom salad to start. These will be followed by a choice of either Sicilian style char-grilled swordfish, Char-grilled ginger baby chicken with rocket and parmesan or Grilled lamb cutlet with aubergine puree and pecorino cheese for main. To finish, guests can choose between Panna cotta with mixed berries or Lemon crostata pie. The menu, which is available throughout London Fashion Week, can be best enjoyed al fresco on Fornata’s lively terrace.
15 Kingly Street, W1B 5PS – www.fornata.com

Ping
PING, West London’s renowned ping-pong rooms will be giving pizza’s a fresh twist for London Fashion Week with the introduction of its ‘Skinny Bitches’ pizza menu. Challenging the perception of what it is that makes a great and nutritious pizza, head chef Bruno Elias has created three low calorie pizzas, that are sure to keep you feeling chic throughout fashion week. The ‘Skinny Bitches’ menu at Ping features pizza made from wholewheat crusts, light cheeses, fresh and healthy toppings, which are all under 600 calories. Pizza’s include the ‘Kate’ made up of ricotta, fresh spinach, roasted apple, walnuts, the ‘Naomi’ with fresh mozzarella, sun blushed tomatoes, raisins, anchovies and pine nuts on a rich tomato base, and the ‘Giselle’ with roasted aubergines, peppers, onions, fresh basil on a rich tomato base.
180-184 Kingly Road, SW59GG – www.weloveping.com

STK
To celebrate this September’s London Fashion Weekend, contemporary steakhouse STK will be opening its doors at the earlier time of noon, on both the Saturday and Sunday, to offer the cities fash pack an exclusive STK’OVER lunch menu. Located minutes from Somerset House STK is the perfect pit stop for post or pre show entertaining, and diners with a pass for London Fashion Weekend will also be offered a complimentary signature STK cocktail. Dishes on the STK’OVER menu include scallop ceviche, feather steak and STK salad.
STK, 336-337 Strand, London, WC2R 1HA – www.togrp.com/togrp-stk-london/about

Villandry
To mark London Fashion, Villandry, located on Great Portland Street has created a perfect, exclusive menu for die-hard fashionishtas to enjoy throughout September, with each dish no more than 150 calories. Each dish has been carefully devised to follow Villandry’s philosophy of offering lighter Mediterranean dishes, where by bad fats are kept to a minimum. Dishes on the menu include tomato and green bean tartare with avocado salsa, grilled salmon on a bed of pea puree, roasted diced beetroot and horseradish, and for those with a sweet tooth there is the frozen yogurt summer berry trio.
170 Great Portland St, London, W1W 5QB – www.villandry.com

Where do you like to go during London Fashion Week?

Lisa Snowdon Talks Boyfriends, Marriage And Babies

Posted on September 9, 2013 by Frostie

In an exclusive interview and photoshoot with Fabulous magazine on Sunday September 8, Capital FM presenter, Lisa Snowdon, opened up about the future and reveals that she’s not that fussed about the whole ‘marriage and babies thing’.

The 41-year-old breakfast show host and former model says: “I’m definitely not planning to have a baby. I have so much respect for mummies, but you have to give everything to your children and I guess I’m not that kind of girl. Your hips stretch out and I see friends with their nipples falling off.”

She says, though, that she’s not ruling out marriage in the future: “I want the amazing party at the end of it. But that’s probably the wrong reason… I’ve never been that close to sharing my life with someone.”

Fabulous magazine is available free in The Sun every Sunday.

QVC AW13 Fashion Show | Fashion Video

Posted on September 8, 2013 by Catherine Balavage

We were front row at the QVC AW13 Fashion Preview. At Vinopolis we ate the most amazing canapes (they were whole yorkshire pudding with sausage inside. I don’t want to disclose how many we ate), drank prosecco and checked out the amazing clothes, jewellery and makeup that was on display.

Check out our fashion video and be sure to subscribe to Frost Magazine TV if you want more of the same.

What did you think?

St. Katharine Docks | London Gems

Posted on September 8, 2013 by Catherine Balavage

One of the best things about the stunning metropolis that is London is variety. Everything really is here. Whether it is marina views or green scenery, if you want something different, just start walking in the other direction.

St Katharine Docks is beautiful. This small harbour next to Tower Bridge has plenty of places to eat and drink. The best thing about this marina is just to sit, have a drink or a meal and watch the world go by. There are also shops, two art galleries, festivals and events. Every Friday at St Katharine Docks, between 11:00 & 15:00 hours they hold their Award winning Good Food Market on Marble Quay.

There is also a Starbucks, a Cote Brasserie (which I think does very good food), a Cafe Rouge, and one of the most famous historic pubs in London, The Dickens Inn. St Katharine Docks are also taking part in the Thames Festival.

Perfect for: soaking up 1000 years of history, being near water, yacht/boat watching, eating, drinking, shopping, stunning views and meeting up with friends.

St. Katharine Docks
50 St. Katharines Way, London E1W 1LA, England

Have You Got What It Takes To Be a Top Model?

Posted on September 7, 2013 by Frostie

– Have you ever dreamt of being plucked from obscurity and becoming a professional model?

Are you ready to become a professional model? StarNow the UK’s number one casting website and the world’s leading site for online auditions and jobs – is working with three of the world’s top model agencies to find up-and-coming models, and you could be the face that they’ve been looking for. The StarNow Global Model Search begins on the 4^th September 2013, offering the chance for every day girls and guys to step into the world of modelling and change their lives forever! Could this be your year? To find out more go to www.starnow.com/globalmodelsearch2013.

Now in its second year, the Global Model Search has already provided the perfect platform for one of last year’s winners, Rebeca Marcos, who recently fronted a campaign for Topshop, beating over 3000 other model entrants “Being part of StarNow’s Global Model Search has been a fantastic experience for me and a whirlwind journey. It’s one of those things that I never really thought I could win, but StarNow have created an amazing campaign that is also supported by Models1, LA Models and Vivien’s Model Management, who all have great global reputations. This model search really does provide the perfect opportunity for young models to take their first steps into the industry”

Jasmine Taggart from StarNow “We have a very strong track record of helping and supporting talent across the globe and the Global Model Search is a great chance for us to work with our partners (Models 1, LA Models & Vivien’s Model Management) and discover aspiring models in different countries. Rebeca has been a great ambassador for us and shows that talent can be discovered anywhere and at anytime.

This year’s winner could end up working with a major fashion brand, as Rebeca has done, or even be the face of a cosmetics giant – the opportunities are endless”

The StarNow Global Model Search is free to enter and is open to anyone from around the world aged 14 to 21. The competition runs from 4^th September 2013 to 2^nd October 2013, just go to – www.starnow.com/globalmodelsearch2013 to register!

Errol Douglas MBE Wins Creative Talent At Creative Head Most Wanted Awards

Posted on September 6, 2013 by Frostie

Errol Douglas MBE, one of the world’s most influential hairdressers, has secured the coveted Creative Talent 2013 honour, awarded to “a creative director or senior stylist with exceptional artistic skills”, at this year’s Creative Head Most Wanted Awards 2013. The A List Stylist, with over 3 decades in the industry, is also a nominee (his 17th consecutive nomination) for British Hairdresser Of The Year, the current President of the British Fellowship For Hairdressing and Hair Magazine’s 2013 “Hair Hero” winner. He recently launched a range of electrical tools in Boots Stores, including the first Keratin-capsule system heated styler on the high street

Douglas is known for his spectacular photographic work, his highly respected mentor role within the industry and his established Belgravia salon with high profile clients spanning film, fashion, music and business. On his win, Douglas said: “I love this industry, I’ve loved it since I first began at 11 years old, and to be recognised in this way is an absolute honour. I’m obviously delighted”

Congratulations from us Errol.

More Than Honey | Film Review

Posted on September 6, 2013 by Daniel McCarthy

Acclaimed Swiss director Markus Imhoof’s new project More Than Honey has made a noticeable splash in the world of documentary filmmaking, picking up numerous awards including a Lola (German Film Award) for best documentary. It is a simple yet elegantly composed film confronting a frighteningly contemporary issue; the unexplained deterioration of the global bee population. The downward spiralling figures of colonies over the past fifteen years and across nations have left scientists and bee farmers dumbfounded. The long term effects of ‘colony collapse disorder’ (as the phenomenon has been named) could be devastating for both agriculture and economy worldwide. Imhoff travels across the world and meets various beekeepers, business owners and scientists as they explain the disaster confronting them and what they believe to be the causes behind it.

In his approach to what admittedly sounds like fairly dry subject matter, More Than Honey fuses fact and humanity in an engaging and subtle manner that avoids any sense of preaching. The film has running narration from Imhoof referring to his childhood memories of beekeeping in his family and remembering its unique mix of family values and commerce. The English translation is provided by the great actor John Hurt, whose warm tones still have an air of sombre fragility that match the tone of Imhoof’s recollections and findings. Rather than settle on traditional talking head interviews, the film takes its time with every subject, spending time observing them in their specific locale and professions. One of the most memorable subjects, beekeeper Fred Jaggi, is shown in particular methodical detail in his native German countryside, from tending to his hives to terminating rogue queens (ie. queens guilty of infidelity!). There are no hurried edits, no voiceovers layered over his own and no artificial sentiments. As a result there is far more genuine empathy than a lot of other documentaries would be able to muster even with potentially more attention grabbing subject matter. The sight of the old man’s calm yet forlorn face as a lost beehive is burned speaks volumes.

Then there is the astonishing footage of bees themselves, filmed in their natural habitat with micro cameras and in stunning high definition quality. Looming out of their honeycombs and swarming over one another and their queens, the footage captured is at once bizarre, otherworldly and yet oddly beautiful; the smallest aspects of nature blown up to epic scope cinema. Anyone uncomfortable around insects may obviously find this approach not entirely comfortable but it makes a refreshing change from the normal depiction of insects in cinema as a source of disgust or stupidly vengeful nature. Rather the film refreshingly focuses on the unwarranted wrath that we may have foisted upon them.

It is possible to argue that Imhoff doesn’t bring his intertwining threads to a thorough conclusion but since this is an ongoing environmental crisis, a pat ending for comforts sake would ring false. Though there is a sliver of hope provided, Imhoff wants to keep this mysterious epidemic fresh in the viewer’s perspective and get them thinking and talking about something that we take for granted being in genuine danger of disappearing completely. With a clear vision and unfussy style, he has constructed and powerful understated wake up call.

Most Common Laser Eye Surgery Questions – Answered

Posted on September 6, 2013 by Ella Mason

If you rely on glasses or contact lenses day-in-day-out, then it’s likely that you’ll have considered the option of laser eye surgery at some point or another – after all, being able to see without your trusty specs would change the way you live your day-to-day life.

But, when you do decide to make the decision to opt for the op, although it’s likely that you’ll be feeling quite excited towards the prospect of being able to fully see on your own, it’s also likely that you’ll be feeling a little apprehensive towards it all, too.

It’s not uncommon for your head to be filled with a plethora of uncertain queries and questions about the surgery ahead, so it’s important that you’re fully briefed beforehand in order to fully put those uncertainties to rest.

In order to help you do just that, here are three of the most commonly asked questions, along with their answers, so you can go ahead with the surgery with full confidence, should you wish:

1. “What Is The Difference Between LASIK and LASEK eye surgery?”

So, you’ve turned to the Internet to help and give you a little more information on the general procedure, only to find two different acronyms – LASIK and LASEK – sprawled over every page – now you’re completely confused. Are they the same thing, or do they mean completely different things entirely?

Well, it’s the latter, as they are used to refer to two different procedures; Laser Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK) is surgery that involves lasering beneath the front surface of the eye. This procedure involves cutting a very thin flap of skin on the cornea and lasering underneath it. As it doesn’t cause a wound to the eye, it is usually painless.

Laser Assisted Sub Epithelial Keratomileusis (LASEK) involves lasering the surface of the cornea under the epithelium. As this takes a little longer to heal than LASIK eye surgery, post procedure can sometimes cause some slight discomfort.

Although your optician will usually recommend which procedure will be right for you, your needs and your sight prescription, the end choice is entirely up to you. However, if you’re still unsure, then laser eye specialists such as Optimax can assist you with any worries, queries and questions that you may have, taking care of your needs from start to finish.

2. “Does Having Laser Eye Surgery Hurt?”

No, there is no pain during laser eye surgery due to the application of anesthetic eye drops at the start of the procedure. However, some people may experience a slight discomfort after the surgery depending on the type of surgery they have.

For example, if you have LASIK eye surgery, the recovery period is normally completely pain-free. Any discomfort that you may experience afterwards can be easily relieved with the help of over the counter painkillers.

LASEK surgery however may require a little more aftercare in order to minimise any discomfort during the healing process. Drops or tablets are often needed for the next couple of days after the surgical anesthetic has worn off.

3. Finally, “Is It Safe?”

Laser eye surgery is now a common choice for people all over the world – so much so that two million treatments are now carried out annually.

As with any surgery, there are small risks involved, but thanks to excellent research and the low occurrence of major side effects, the procedure is now performed all over the world.