Jan 29
On a cold, crisp late January morning the boyfriend and I trotted off to Victoria Station, London, to embark on a fabulous five hour adventure aboard The Orient Express.
It is something I’ve always longed to experience and the luxurious ‘Golden Age Of Travel’ really did live up to all my expectations… Read more
I popped into the most fabulous designer store in Florence whilst on holiday, LUISAVIAROMA. My Mum and I spent the good part of a late Tuscan afternoon rifling through the rails and admiring the amazing decor, which featured oversized stag antlers and stuffed bears! But what I loved more than anything was the fantastic and varied brand mix. If you love your designer gear, you will love this shop!
I’ve just returned from a week’s holiday in Tuscany, which was a lovely mix of beach relaxation (we stayed in the mountains just up from the coastal town of Viareggio for 5 nights), and then the last few days in Florence for a mini city break. But one thing is for sure…in the style stakes, Italians don’t do things by halves!
FashionBite is off to Tuscany today for a week, hopefully enjoying some lovely sunshine! I’ll try and post whilst I’m out there…but can’t promise. See you soon. FashionBite xx
In its 64th year, Cannes Film Festival 2011 lived up to its glamorous reputation – stunning Hollywood A-lister’s hit the red carpet, billionaire bosses relaxed on luxury yachts and guests partied the night away at some of the world’s hottest clubs. Blogger and photographer Natasha Turrell had a front row seat and she reports exclusively for FashionBite in ‘Diary Of A Cannes Party Girl…’
Cannes Film Festival opens today on the stunning Côte d’Azur and guest blogger Natasha Turrell will be reporting exclusively for FashionBite from the most glamorous parties throughout the week. The new feature, ‘Diary Of A Cannes Party Girl,’ will bring you pics, parties, celeb spots and fabulous fashion…so keep posted!
Apr 12
FASHIONBITE PROMOTION
Cannes Film Festival is a designer’s dream, a non stop showcase of stunning outfits, beautiful people and amazing parties. I went just up the road to the glamorous St Tropez last summer, but you have to notch it up a few levels in the style stakes for Cannes… so what do you wear?
Stella Artois has produced a short film about the life of style icon and ‘king of Cannes’ Jacques D’Azur, to be premiered at the festival in May.
Jacques D’Azur (above) was a French actor, director, tennis player, chess master and water skiing pioneer who became synonymous with the luxurious glamour of Cannes in the ’50′s/60′s/70′s.
He was considered to be the Movie Stars’s Movie Star. One friend said: “One of the greatest attractions at the film festival was Jacques’ entrance. It usually received a better critical response than the films.” Another said: “No one could wear a suit like Jacques, we used to joke that he was born wearing a bowtie and sunglasses, but he actually was – I’ve seen the photos.”
If I was going to be Jacque’s plus one, I would need an outfit which seriously sizzled with glamour- and what better way to do this than the fabulous fashion label Halston Heritage? The brand – made famous in the ’70′s after becoming the look of iconic nightclub Studio 54 – has had a refresh in the last few years with a new diffusion line, even receiving creative imput from Sex and the City style icon Sarah Jessica Parker.
For daytime Cannes, I would rock this fluroescent ruffled silk-chiffon Halston Heritage playsuit and for night, this metallic silk-plisse gown – which screams Riviera glamour!
To be in with a chance of winning a trip to Cannes Film Festival this year, audition like a star at www.castingcall.stellaartois.com and you could be experiencing the jet set lifestyle like an A-lister next month!
FashionBite xx
Oct 24
Francis Ford Coppola winery, Sonoma
Yosemite National Park, California
Yosemite, California
California Freeway to Death Valley
Death Valley, California
The Grand Canyon by Helicopter
Landing in The Grand Canyon
Vegas by Night
I’ve just got back from the most incredible holiday in California, feeling a bit jet lagged but apart from that it was amazing!
We headed to San Francisco initially for a wedding and stayed nearby in the beautiful Sonoma wine region.
We hopped on bikes and went wine tasting round a dozen or so vineyards (including one owned by Godfather director Francis Ford Coppola)…things were a bit wobbly on the way back!
San Francisco’s an amazing city, it’s got a really great vibe to it and the people are so friendly.
After the wedding, we hired a car and headed out on the road. First stop, Yosemite. The national park is as famous for its breathtaking sculptural landscape, carved out of millions of years worth of erosion and the ice age, as for its black bear population (!).
We camped in the mountains and were taught to run at a bear shouting if we happened to encounter one.
On the second day, we set off on a 12 hour hike to Half Dome, virtually the top of one of the mountains..it was hardcore. The following morning, we were woken to the sound of shouting as a bear was chased out of camp, right outside our tent!
After Yosemite, we drove 11 hours through snow capped mountains, lakes and into the searing hot desert and Death Valley. It was the most amazing drive I’ve ever been on and I can’t recommend it highly enough. We were on the open road, roof down and driving through the most incredible landscapes. If was so strange, we headed from winter into summer in one day…
Death Valley led us into Las Vegas and we arrived late at night with the whole strip lit up. Vegas is a crazy place- very expensive (you need to go with a spare few grand at least!).
We gambled, saw some shows but the highlight was definitely a helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon, it was AMAZING!
We flew over Hoover dam, landed in the Canyon and sipped champagne, then flew back over Vegas at night with all the strip lit up from above..it was such an incredible experience.
It doesn’t come cheap, but it’s well worth it- especially if you can do the sunset flight. I also LOVED Freemont Street, which is old Vegas- about a 15 min cab ride from the strip..it’s absolutely crazy. A similar vibe to The Secret Garden festival if you’ve been and feels a lot less commercial than the strip.
After Vegas, we were back on the road and headed to Santa Barbara, a typical Californian seaside town just up from Malibu. Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t great but we hired bikes and biked all round the area. We then drove up the coast, through the Big Sur which is a coastal path with breathtaking views and ended up in San Fran again where we spent a few days properly exploring the city (and shops!). There was a big sale at Banana Republic-my credit card took a bit of a hammering..
So, back to fashion tomorrow- I start a job freelancing as the new online editor for a luxury/high fashion watch retailer called TIME².
There’s also loads of fab press days coming up over the next few weeks which I’ll be updating about on FashionBite- so keep posted…
FashionBite xx
Oct 5
I’m off to San Francisco nice and early tomorrow morning on a road trip all around California..woo!
I’m flying out to San Fran for a wedding, then hiring a car and traveling through the wine regions in Napa Valley, Yosemite National Park, via Las vegas and back up the coast. I’ll be away for 2 and a half weeks. I can’t wait!
See you v.soon.
FashionBite xx
All weekend I have read the reports on Karen Woo, the British doctor who was murdered (along with eight aid workers) by the Taliban in a remote part of Afghanistan, and I am mesmerized by her story.
This is woman described by others as an ‘amazing lady’ with ‘tremendous enthusiasm’ and someone who was due to marry in two weeks.
I am mesmerized by her story because of the blog she kept, which is still up and running at explorerkitteninafghanistan.blogspot.com., because it gives an incredible insight into the life and struggles of this woman.
We get a glimpse into a woman who was clearly passionate about what she was doing. She said ‘the loss of nearly all elements of the infastructure of a country, security, governance, education, transport, clean water, sanitation and power, are all visible in the health of the people. The things that I saw…made me, as a doctor, want to be able to bring back the human stories both good and bad.”
However, we also see her struggles as a female in a war torn country and her human qualities, as she talked of the tortoise and kittens she looked after in her garden.
She talked of nail varnish worries..July 12“I’m in the shower at home and I’m contemplating the negative impact of taking nail polish on a medical expedition into a remote mountanious area of Afghanistan. Ridiculous I know but several tense minutes were spent thinking through the consequences of blonding with the women of the village over Crimson Lake or Buttercup baby…”
And she talked of time spent rummaging through the market stalls for clothing. She said “Being all so last minute I’ve got a ball gown being made in Qualai Fatullah and some ethnic tops I wanted for the trip. I probably shouldn’t be worrying about a ball gown right now, but still, what’s a girl to do?
She worked with the wife of a former ambassador to Kabul last year on producing a fashion show to raise money for Afghanistan. Bridget Cowper-Coles told The Sunday Times: “She volunteered her services quite late on and really pulled the show together. I just can’t tell you what an amazing lady she was, so kind..”
After reading all the accounts of Karen Woo’s life and so tragically her death, it seems such a terrible waste of life- through reading her blog you feel in some way you know her, her struggles and her thoughts…
fashionbite xx
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