FASHION & FUN LEAD THE PARADE ON LADIES DAY AT THE FESTIVAL

Ladies Day at the Cheltenham Festival, on Wednesday March 14, is gearing up to be a top day out. This is racing’s special day for the Ladies, where all eyes will be on the most elegantly attired females bidding to win prizes in the Best Dressed Fashion Awards.

Entry into the hotly contested Fashion Awards is open to all ladies who come racing on the second day of the four-day Festival. Fashion scouts will be on hand at the racecourse assisting contestants who wish to take part in any of the three fashion categories; ‘The Best Dressed lady’, ‘The lady with the Best Hat’ or ‘The lady with the Best Accessories’. Entry is free and fabulous prizes will reward the lucky winners.

Prizes for this year’s Fashion Awards include a short break holiday to the unique destination of Clowance Golf and Country Club Estate in Cornwall, provided by Seasons Holidays, £1000 worth of gift vouchers to spend at boutique British ladieswear shop Moloh, £1000 worth of gift vouchers from award winning Stuart Holmes Hair & Beauty Spa, £500 worth of gift vouchers to spend at contemporary British women’s clothing specialists Hobbs, a bespoke Hat from celebrity milliner Denise Innes and an overnight stay at the Hotel du Vin, located in the chic Montpellier district of Cheltenham, including dinner for two in the Bistro, a night stay in a romantic junior suite, breakfast and two 30 minute treatments in the spa.

The judging panel for the 2012 Fashion Awards includes: Jackie Llewelyn-Bowen who, with her husband Laurence, successfully runs design company Llewelyn-Bowen Limited and The Rt. Hon. The Countess Bathurst, the National Vice President of The Royal British Legion. Celebrity hair stylist Stuart Holmes from the Stuart Holmes Hair & Beauty Spa will judge the Best Hat and the Best Accessories prize will be judged by personal stylist Kate Parker.

Ladies can enter the Fashion Awards competition from 10:30am to 1.30pm by simply filling out an entry form and having their picture taken. Following the live judging of the selected finalists, presentations to the winners will be made in the Winner’s Enclosure before the last race. To be fast-tracked through the entry process on the day, Ladies can pre-enter for the Fashion Awards by visiting the Ladies Day page at www.cheltenham.co.uk

The racing action and the atmosphere on Ladies Day will be magical. There are seven top class races, including the sportingbet.com Queen Mother Champion Chase, one of the highlights of the Jump racing season. Between races there is the opportunity to browse in the many fabulous shops in the Festival Shopping Village or grab a drink in one of the various racecourse bars.

Now in its sixth year Ladies Day is an important part of the Cotswolds’ favourite four days. This year the emphasis is going to be on fashion more than ever, so put on your best racing outfits and attend one of the great social events of the sporting calendar.

The Festival takes place from 13th to 16th March 2012. For more information or to enter the Fashion Awards please visit the Ladies Day page at www.cheltenham.co.uk

The MayFair Hotel fronts fashion with Felder Felder + Sunday Girl.

photo: Talented twins Annette (left) and Daniela (right) Felder of fashion house Felder Felder unveil their designer windows at The May Fair Hotel ahead of London Fashion Week

The May Fair Hotel kicked off London Fashion Week in style this week with the unveiling of their designer windows, exclusively created by talented twins Felder Felder and there is lots going on, including the chance to catch the amazing Sunday Girl.

The official hotel to London Fashion Week for the fifth consecutive year, The May Fair transformed its famous façade to reveal bold, vibrant scenes from the twins’ own collection.

On seeing their rock and roll aesthetic and signature feminine twist translated on to screens, Daniela Felder said “It makes us really proud to have our designs exhibited at the top hotel of London Fashion Week”.

Annette added she was “blown away – I’ve never seen our sketches on such a big scale before – they look so stunning and vibrant”.

Felder Felder have wowed the fashion world since the launch of the label in 2007, gathering a huge celebrity following including Rihanna, Gwyneth Paltrow, Alison Mosshart and Florence and the Machine. Winners of the respected New Gen Award for three consecutive seasons, they have also had features in Vogue, Elle, i-D Magazine and The Sunday Times Style.

Felder Felder will be launching their Autumn/Winter 2012 collection at London Fashion Week.

This is the second season The May Fair has transformed its façade for fashion. Other May Fair London Fashion Week celebrations include:

* The Eat, Sleep Fashion Package
* A brand new Sunday night DJ residency, “Sunday Girl @ The May Fair”, starting 19 from 6.30pm-8pm every Sunday night
* The May Fair Bar’s exclusive £100 Show Stopper cocktail
* Complimentary pink candyflossin The May Fair lobby between 5-7pm each day

Also at the Mayfair Hotel….

THE SOUND OF FASHION:
SUNDAY GIRL SETS UP @ THE MAY FAIR BAR FOR
LONDON FASHION WEEK

The May Fair Bar; the official hub of London Fashion Week and London’s young, glamorous and well-connected, has announced the launch of a new venture with one of the capital’s hottest fashion and music rising stars – Sunday Girl.

Described by The Observer as “The One To Watch” and fresh from collaborating with Martin Solveig and Firetrap; DJ, model and talented singer-songwriter, Sunday Girl (aka Jade Williams) will be celebrating LFW and setting Mayfair up for the week ahead, with the launch of her Sunday night DJ residency “Sunday Girl @ The May Fair” from 19 February.

Celebrated for being the “Best Hotel Bar”1 in the “Coolest Hotel”2, the May Fair Bar, in the heart of Mayfair, has an established position as the must-visit venue for London’s fashionable jet-set. This latest partnership with Sunday Girl is one of many which celebrates it’s fashionable and creative roots including sponsorship of the British Fashion Council’s London Fashion Week and the BFI’s Film Festival.
MF.

Sunday Girl @ The May Fair will be mixing the coolest tunes, with old-school tracks and eclectic beats from 8pm-9.30pm every Sunday night. Support will be from the May Fair Collective; a set of
music stars from 6.30pm-8pm.

Said Sunday Girl “I’m really excited to be hosting my own Sunday night residency at the May Fair Bar. It’ll be a great mix of fashion, music, friends and cocktails. Come along – i’ll either be on the decks or on the dance floor!”

Said Bar Manager Marios Elias “We’ve long been associated with the top names in the music industry – Lennon, Jagger, Dylan, Madonna and Lady Gaga have all partied here over the years – but we’re really looking forward to supporting and providing a showcase for the next big name. It’ll be the first time we’ve ever had a resident DJ and I can’t wait to see the public’s reaction.”
Sunday Girl at the May Fair will launch on Sunday 19 February from 6.30pm-9.30pm. Entrance is free. For more information visit www.themayfairhotel.co.uk

Chinese creativity hits London Fashion Week

The “Mountain, Water” themed show brings original Chinese fashion brands, EVE CINA and EXCEPTION de MIXMIND, to the London catwalk.

Eve Group is regarded as China’s leading high-end men’s wear groups. With more than 300 stores in China the group has five brands: EVE CINA, NOTTING HILL, KEVIN KELLY, JAQUES PRITT, and EVE CINA. EVE gains creative inspiration from Chinese culture with a Western style and confidence. The brand’s design signature is delicate traditional culture in modern city life.

Ladies wear brand EXCEPTION is one of China’s longest-established, most successful art and fashion labels. With over 90 outlets across China, its design is original and contemporary. Its popular sister brand, WUYONG (“Useless”), is a leading creative label.

“China is a huge focus for us right now and an increasingly important market for our designers. I hope that China’s creativity will be a highlight of this Fashion Week. London is a creative powerhouse and China has a burgeoning creative industry. If we combine these two I believe great things can happen. This is the goal of the China Britain Fashion Alliance which I launched last August”, says Harold Tillman CBE, Chairman of the British Fashion Council.

“EXCEPTION and EVE are examples of well established Chinese brands that have real potential to build international followings. Let’s hope London will be a platform for them to build on in the future”, said John Walford, director of the shows”.

Londoners Life 25 by Phil Ryan

Well the snow didn’t hang around thank goodness. But it’ll probably blast back in March! Right now I’m trying to avoid the Mayoral election nonsense. It’s very simple really. All of them are pointless to a large degree. Ken and Boris are arguing about high tube fares who’ll put them down or up – the fact of the matter is that whatever they are far too high and the service is lousy and continues to be lousy. And the fringe candidates are basically invisible. The mad Green woman who looks like a bush was spouting off about punishing car drivers again to save the planet. The failed ex-cop was going on about more police. Er that’s about it. So we’ll get stuck with a fight between two fools who are all about self-promotion and self-advancement. I’ll never forgive Ken for many things but his most offensive crime was building that hideous City Hall building opposite the tower of London.

Desecration. They should lock him up in the Tower Of London and force him to watch Londoners blowing it up as he’s pelted with rotten fruit! And Boris’s ludicrous billion pound buses will arrive soon. Why don’t the pair of just set up a permanent photograph of themselves being laser beamed onto the clouds above London. We get it guys. You love yourselves and couldn’t care about Londoners. Under both of you everything went up, life got harder, travel got worse, more taxes appeared and ultimately you have bugger all power. Remember folks your vote is essentially worthless. Nothing ever gets better or cheaper. Remember that. They could make one of the Muppets Mayor at least it would be entertaining and cheaper.

Travel in London really is getting to be a soul destroying experience. This Friday I had the horrible experience of arriving back at Victoria by train at around 6.30pm. Trying to get to the underground across the station was like swimming in a tide of bodies. Angry depressed bodies who were rooted to the spot necessitating a weird ducking and diving route – it was like a giant desperate game of pacman. And when I finally got to the tube the platforms were pleasantly six deep. Apparently two other tube lines had gone down (the usual reasons – aliens at baker street – a wave of indifference at St Johns Wood – badgers with guns at Charing Cross) and now Victoria was reduced to holding back groups of commuters behind gates a completely common occurrence the miserable and clearly suicidal guard guy told me (I think they’d taken away his laces and belt before they stuck him on the platform with his little microphone). It certainly wasn’t for the faint hearted. London’s underground system seems to just swallow tons of public money now and I honestly can’t see much difference. It’s over-priced and over-crowded (I’m sure that will improve during the Olympics with the expected six million extra journeys they’ve predicted – oh joy)

Talking of our much anticipated London Olympics we now learn that this money sponge for the amusement and enrichment of corporate sponsors and construction companies is into another revelatory moment again. Turns out that the ticket fiasco continues with an American ticket printing company getting the contract to print the tickets instead of a British company, the second revelation that most of the merchandise and goods are produced in China by Chinese companies and just when they couldn’t break anymore promises and commitments we now find out that they’ve let an American company sell tickets to Americans that we Londoners can’t get hold of! I notice that we grabbed back Mr Fred Goodwin’s title what about Lord Coe. If the guy told me it was the morning I’d check with five other people plus look out the window. For a London event paid for in the main by Londoners the guy has simply lied to us time after time. Virtually everything he has promised Londoners hasn’t materialised. And don’t get me started on the LOCOG bunch. Slightly darker in the way they operate than the Syrian regime they have been quietly flogging off the buildings and land to foreign property developers and foreign corporations. The London Olympics? I don’t think so. It’s the International Greed Olympics with all the gold going out the country to everyone except Londoners and Great Britain. But it’s a done deal. Nothing can be done. That’s total corruption with complete government backing for you.

But to finish on a positive point I’ll return to my usual trend spotting game. It really is the new Korean revolution alongside the sushi invasion. Loads of places called Bim Bam Bong and Noodle Beng Bim Bom Bang (Okay I am making these up) seem to be popping up. Udon Noodles are now the order of the day. Just an FYI Udon noodles are those fat disgusting long ones with the consistency of rotting slugs and a similar discomforting sensation when swallowed ( not that I’ve swallowed rotting slugs but go with me on this one) They have also copied that clever Japanese canteen style of making you sit on a cold and cement hard plank like wooden bench. This of course causes people’s buttocks to go numb at the same time that their stomachs are being paralysed with tasteless horror food. All together more of a punishment than a dining experience. But hey it’s fashionable. And in London we like our variety. And when I asked some people I was jammed next to recently in a Korean restaurant what they thought of the food they all told me it was challenging! Very London. And despite the pointless mayoral elections and Olympic fiasco do any of us truly care. No. We just get on with our lives. Why? It’s a London thing.

Flipping Pancakes On Their Heads

It’s pancake time and Frost has new Ocado recipes to tickle your taste buds this Shrove Tuesday

Ocado is mixing up more than batter for Pancake Day with a range of quirky recipes to excite the taste buds. Whether you’re a traditionalist looking for a twist which isn’t just lemon, or fancy yourself as the new chef on the block, there’s a crepe recipe to suit all palates and cookery skills this Shrove Tuesday.

Baked Pear and Caramel Pancake Pudding

Using the nation’s burgeoning obsession with baking as inspiration, the Ocado Baked Pancake Pudding is an ideal recipe for all those Great British Bake Off fanatics. Created by Ruth Clemens, runner up of the 2010 series, this scrumptiously sweet and fruity pancake pudding is sure to be popular with all the family.

Lemon Curd

Putting a spin on an old favourite, the traditional lemon and sugar pancake, Ocado has created an exceptionally more-ish lemon curd cold topping to add real zest to your Tuesday treat.
Ham Hock, Gruyere and Duck Egg Galettes

Pancakes aren’t just for desert you know. This crispy, grilled Galette is truly tasty and a great dinner for those who prefer savoury treats. It looks pretty fantastic too – one to impress your Pancake Day dinner party, for certain.

Ban Xeo

If you have an adventurous palate, take on the Ban Xeo. Bursting with flavour this traditional Vietnamese spicy chilli, chicken and prawn pancake has a truly exotic edge. Invite loved ones over to celebrate your skill as well as those popular pancake festivities.

Healthy Spelt and Buttermilk Baby Pancakes

Ocado’s baby pancakes are a lighter option for those who aren’t looking to overindulge in the Shrove Tuesday festivities. These little wonders are topped with poached dried fruits, Greek yoghurt and sweet honey for a healthy touch. Delicious.

For further information on recipes and ingredients visit www.ocado.com.

Win London Fashion Weekend Tickets. 4 Pairs to Give Away

Win The Ultimate Fashionista Day Out!

Frost has a pair of VIP tickets and three pairs of runner up tickets to London Fashion Weekend 2012.

Chambord, the ‘spirit of fashion’ will be making a welcome return to VODAFONE London Fashion Weekend in February 2012, bringing with it an added touch of French chic to London’s fashion scene as well as hosting the exclusive Chambord Platinum Club Lounge.

Chambord black raspberry liqueur is the spirit of fashion and has been enjoyed by the style elite at some of the most exclusive designer parties.

Do you and your friends live and breathe fashion? Chambord and Frost magazine is giving you the chance to follow in the footsteps of the fashion crowd and win the ultimate fashionista day out. You could win a pair of tickets to London Fashion Weekend, plus entry to Chambord’s Platinum Club Lounge. Here you can enjoy a complimentary Chambord and Champagne while learning how to strike a model-worthy pose thanks to top fashion photographer Fabio Affuso who Chambord has enlisted to help you always look your most fashion fabulous in photos. Three runners up will win a pair of standard tickets to London Fashion Weekend.

For your chance to win follow @Frostmag on Twitter, and then tweet: ‘I want to go to London Fashion Week with @Frostmag and Chambord” or sign up to our newsletter. The winners will be revealed on Wednesday.

Over 18’s’ only we are afraid!

PLEASE ENJOY CHAMBORD RESPONSIBLY

This competition is now closed.

Made In Chelsea Stars Attend Launch of MEGAzine.

Celebrities including Henry Holland, Cheska and Kate Walsh come out to celebrate the launch of Aigua Media’s Fashion and Beauty MEGAzine

Celebrities including Henry Holland, Cheska, Bobby Sabel, Kate Walsh and Lizzie Cundy come out to celebrate the launch of Aigua Media’s Fashion and Beauty MEGAZINE

Aigua Media last night launched the UK’s first Fashion and Beauty MEGAZINE. The company that owns top fashion sites including OSOYOU and Catwalk Queen showcased some ‘UK first’ website features to a host of guests including Henry Holland, Cheska, Kate Walsh, Lizzie Cundy, and Trinny Woodall.

With a reach of over 1.25 million, the MEGAzine is home to hot on the pulse commentary for fashion followers from the top style stalkers, the best bloggers and the readers themselves.

www.aiguamedia.com

Stars of the MEGAzine include:

OSOYOU – the ultimate shopping resource where the world searches, shops and shares

Kiss and Makeup – the most exciting shopping destination for beauty anywhere

Catwalk Queen – the first fashion blog ever to be invited to London Fashion Week

Shoewawa – for shoe, shoe and more shoe style

Baglady – bagging all the news, must-have buys and celebrity style handbags

From a Muffin Top to a Skinny Muffin

From a Muffin Top to a Skinny Muffin

By Alison Clark, independent nutritionist and spokesperson for Europe’s no 1 healthy eating plan, Eurodiet.co.uk,gives advice on how to get rid of a muffin top.

What is a muffin top?

According to the Oxford Dictionary a muffin top is “a roll of fat visible above the top of a pair of women’s tight-fitting low-waisted trousers”. You might also call it spare tyre, love handles or back roll but either way, what most of us want to know is why is it there and how can we get rid of it?

In some cases, the only risk from the over spilling of flesh above the waistline is one of sinning against fashion. However, for many more this excess fat could be a sign of central obesity, indicating a real risk to future health.

As we are often reminded, being overweight is bad for your health. What many people don’t realise is that carrying extra fat around the middle of your body can put you at an even higher risk. This is because there are two types of fat with different characteristics: the fat carried under the skin, called subcutaneous, and the fat stored around the tummy surrounding the organs, which is called visceral fat. Visceral fat is the most dangerous, significantly increasing your risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure.

How do I know if I am at risk?

Get to know your body! Apple shaped people store more fat around the middle than pear shaped. It’s a good idea to make a habit of measuring your waist circumference – see the table below for the key limits.

Increased risk

Very high risk

Women

80 cm or more

88 cm or more

Men

94 cm or more

102 cm or more

To measure your waist accurately, use a soft tape measure and aim for halfway between your hip bone and your lowest rib. If you’re not sure, measure just above your belly button – the important thing is to always measure the same place so that you can keep track of any changes.

What can I do about it?

The only way to reduce fat is to lose weight! The best way to do this is with a combination of a balanced diet and regular exercise and the good news is that shrinking that muffin top won’t be the only benefit of adopting a healthier lifestyle.

Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, aim for at least five different ones every day to ensure that your body gets all the vitamins, minerals and fibre it needs. If you prefer a little help and want to go on a diet, try a high protein diet such as Eurodiet.co.uk, they have revered engineered foods normally associated with high carbs into high protein such as bread, pasta and risotto. Base your meals on wholegrain starchy carbohydrates to make sure that you have plenty of energy throughout the day. Include lean meat and fish and try some alternative protein sources for a change such as pulses and eggs.. Make sure you also include low fat dairy products in your meals to get the calcium your bones need. Avoid fatty, sugary, fried and salty foods and drink plenty of water.

Finally, in order to have a healthy lifestyle and lose the love handles, you will need to exercise. Although targeting your stomach with sit ups or crunches will help to tone the muscles in that area, it will not specifically reduce abdominal fat – you need to lose weight from your whole body. Start with 30 minutes a day or moderate activity and build up from there. If you are not sure then speak to a personal trainer or gym staff who will be able to advise you on the best exercises for you.