Smooth Operator

Smooth Operator..

Harrods has been satiating the needs of its discerning clientele for some time with their uber-luxurious By Appointment personal shopping service. Now, courtesy of cult beauty brand NUBO (Pixie Lott and Kylie are fans), the exclusive (and oh-so-clever) Beauty by Appointment concept is bringing personally tailored beauty to you, via the Harrods Beauty Apothecary. For one week each month, those in the know (yourselves included you lucky devils), will be able to select a bespoke NUBO beauty treatment from a capsule menu, catering to every possible skin concern, from boosting radiance and deep cleansing to banishing fine lines and wrinkles.

The menu consists of five exclusive treatments, though these can be combined to create a bespoke, tailor-made service, to satiate your specific needs at the time:

NUBO Oxygen Surge (Ideal for sensitive skin)

A reparative treatment for devitalised, distressed or damaged skin that delivers an instant plumping sensation. A two part facial to plump and heal the skin, using NUBO's innovative oxygen plasma mask (created with NASA technology no less), followed by a treatment to repair and restore damaged or tired skin.

NUBO Cryolift Facial (Ideal for anti-ageing)

A new concept facial to stimulate and reboot the skin's ecosystem. The proven technique of cooling shock therapy kick starts the skin to reduce lines, lift and plump. The heating, then cooling creates an immediate tightening and lifting sensation. This is the perfect treatment for tired or unbalanced skin.

NUBO White Diamond Radiance (Ideal for brightening)

Diamonds are forever in NUBO's new facial to improve uneven pigmentation, skin tone and brightness. Using innovative methods, White Diamond Radiance instantly penetrates deep into the layers of the skin to create unrivalled luminosity that is visible immediately.

NUBO Jet Facial (Ideal for deep cleansing)

NUBO's turbo-powered, deepl cleansing, rapid results facial for young or oily skin types. The combination of unprecedented exfoliation and NUBO's detox mask leaves skin feeling smooth, cleansed and super charged.

NUBO Black Tie Men's Treatment (Exclusively for chaps)

All the facials described above are suitable for men, however, NUBO's Black Tie treatment specifically addresses all the unique characteristics of men's skin: razor irritation, dry and patchy skin. This treatment imparts a calming and soothing sensation on the skin. The perfect treatment for a NUBO man.

Being a friend of the brand, I had the privilege of popping into the Harrods Beauty Apothecary to see what all the hype was about (and boy was I glad I did).

The minute I caught sight of expert facialist Caroline Htchcock, I knew I was in safe hands. Being a make-up artist, I'm a firm believer in living and breathing my work. I'd have alarm bells ringing in my head if my hair stylist had a dodgy barnet, and by the same token, I'd be some what unsettled if my facialist had awful skin. Caroline was the complete antithesis of this, her skin literally glowed as if she had a mega watt light bulb inside her. It's my job to notice things, my friends don't call me "hawk eyes" for nothing, as there's very little that escapes my attention, especially when it comes to one's appearance. Caroline obviously attended the Audrey Hepburn school of beauty as she is immaculate from head to toe, from her perfect LBD and shoes, to her pristine hair, perfect brows, artfully applied make-up, chic dark nails and pore-less skin. Put it this way, if Gabrielle Chanel were alive today, Caroline would be her personal beautician.

I'm normally staunchly against cosmetic surgery (unless it is so good that you can barely tell). On examining Caroline's exquisite features, I couldn't help but notice that she didn't have one line on her forehead. For the sake of honest journalism, I discretely asked her if she's had any botox, to which she intimated that she had (in her forehead), together with a little filler in her cheeks. I don't know who did her work, but whoever they are, I must state for the record that they are the Rembrandt of injectables, because Caroline is a walking masterpiece!

Now before you all start thinking that I'm rude beyond imagination, my query wasn't solely to satiate my own inquisitive nature. NUBO have just launched their hot new Post-Injection Treatment (currently exclusive to the Harrods Beauty Apothecary), which promises accelerated recovery for distressed skin. As I haven't had any botox or fillers, I wanted to know if Caroline had tested the product herself after one of her treatments, and if so, what effect the product had on her down time. She admitted that the localised bruising she experiences after botox usually takes a week to heal, but that applying the Post Injection Treatment in the morning, throughout the day, and last thing at night, reduced her down time from one week to two days (how incredible is that).

She told me that the secret to the product's efficacy was the Vitamin K and Vitamin P content, together with the lacto-peptides, which work in tandem to rapidly soothe irritation and restructure the connective tissue (I knew there was a reason Tatler has been buzzing about this gem of a product). Caroline also shared that the product is ideal to tackle a variety of skin complaints head on, ranging from high colour and rosacea to broken capillaries and acne, working on all fronts to swiftly calm the skin and minimise redness. Given that the NUBO by Appointment facials are a modest £50 for 50 minutes (fully redeemable against NUBO products), I'd suggest snapping up the Post Injection-Treatment, which quite frankly is a bargain at £48!

But I digress - let's get back to my fabulous facial. I have to admit, blogging about all things beauty means I spend an inordinate amount of time in front of a laptop, which not only sucks every drop of moisture from my skin but also leaves me with dark circles (how attractive). Caroline could see that I needed a boost, so she designed a bespoke treatment just for me, combining the Oxygen Surge and Cryo Lift treatments to instantly boost my lacklustre complexion.

My 50 minutes of fabulousness commenced with Caroline cleansing my face with the Velvet Cleansing Cream, which, just as the name suggests, leaves skin feeling a smooth as velvet, thanks in large part to a nifty line banishing and collagen boosting tri-peptide. Wheatgerm and coconut oils restore optimum elasticity and replenish moisture levels. This cleanser is so divine that I'm using it on a lot of my high end make-up clients in Urban Retreat at Harrods. Actually, the entire NUBO line is so heavenly that I've started to rely on it as frequently as other super-luxe brands in Urban Retreat, such as Creme De La Mer, Sisley, La Prairie, Rodial, Elemis and Omorovicza. One of my clients from Hong Kong was so enamoured with the cleanser when I prepped her skin with it today, that she snapped it up on the spot.

Given my naturally oily skin, I'm a huge fan of twice-weekly exfoliation. If I don't exfoliate regularly, I can guarantee that I'll get breakouts. Similarly, anything relating to microdermabrasion gets my vote, as there's nothing better to instantly brighten the complexion, diminish fine lines, and prep skin for nourishment. Given this information, you can imagine how much I enjoyed the Diamond Peel & Reveal treatment. This uber-luxurious two step, at home microdermabrasion treatment contains micronized diamonds (how chic). I can't stand exfoliators with large grains, which inevitably drag on the skin, causing more harm than good. But the micronized diamond particles in this product duo are so minute, that you get the most satisfying exfoliation.

To date, my favourite microdermabrasion treatment had been one I'd had at The Refinery, but this at home treatment knocks The Refinery's professional treatment out of the park. Once you've massaged The Exfoliator (containing the diamond dust) into the skin for a couple of minutes, you then add The Activator (containing fruit and lactic acid suspended in gel form) for the optimum in skin smoothing and brightening (in minutes). I used this on the aforementioned client from Hong Kong today as her skin was dry, dull and flaky from frequent flying and sun exposure, and I was amazed at how smooth it left her skin. When I cleaned her face after massaging both products into her skin, the cotton pads literally came away a dull grey colour (all the dead skin cells had been removed, paving the way for a host of nourishing NUBO treats).

Once Caroline had sloughed off all my dull dead skin with the Diamond Peel & Reveal, she gave me a little modern "Mummy" treatment, wrapping my face in hot towels infused with peppermint oil, to warm my facial muscles and open my pores.

I have to admit that this part of the treatment was amazing, the heat from the towels was so comforting, it was like being enveloped in a peppermint oil cocoon! Up until this point, I'd been bombarding Caroline with questions, but it was it this point that I finally shut up and started to enjoy the experience.

Having warmed my facial muscles with the hot towels, Caroline then treated me to the most amazing face, scalp, neck and shoulder massage with the NUBO Bien-Etre Serum. This divine holistic oil is infused with juniper essential oil, known for its detoxifying properties, expressed with lemon, lime and vanilla oils, which combine to, as the name suggests, impart feelings of Bien-Etre (well being). The first thing that hits you about this oil is the incredible "green" scent. It is so sharp and invigorating, immediately clearing the mind of any worries or stress.

I'm not known for being especially quiet (the term motor mouth could have been coined for me), but you can see here, that Caroline's massage skills had me on the brink of slumber (why go Buddhist when she can get you to Nirvana in well under 50 minutes). She is resolutely petite, with the physical stature of David, and the strength of Goliath. I couldn't believe how strong her hands were, I felt like a piece of melting putty in her superbly capable hands. Having hit the gym especially heavy that week, my neck and shoulders were as stiff as a board and full of painful knots, but Caroline expertly kneaded away every lump, leaving me in a state of bliss.

There's nothing less satisfying than booking in for a massage, only to have a therapist pussyfoot around from the task at hand, but Caroline approaches massage like a commando, she goes in for the kill, getting the job done line a pro. I'd book in with her again solely on the basis of her massage skills. I find it incredibly hard to switch off as my mind is so over-active, but somehow, she was able to relax me in a way that I've never experienced before. She told me that she also practices Reiki, when customers are receptive to it.

I'm a huge fan of all things holistic and definitely believe in alternative therapies. I can't help thinking that this marvellous woman has magic hands. Whether it was energy flowing from her finger tips, or just exceptional skill, she is far more than just a typical beauty therapist. As she massaged the pressure points on my brow and temples, just as she had done with my neck and shoulders, she intuitively read the areas where I was harbouring tension, as if she were reading braille with her finger tips. With just the right amount of pressure, I felt my energy channels unblocking, releasing all the pent up tension and anxiety I'd been manifesting for goodness knows how long.

Having rendered me almost unconscious with her expert hands, it was time for me to experience NUBO's hot new Cryo Lift Face Mask (launching this summer). Ginger and Peppermint oils combine to stimulate blood flow, simultaneously warming and cooling to invigorate the complexion, as well as the senses. Having placed some cooling cotton pads over my eyes, she smoothed the mask over my skin, and proceeded to massage a high tech device over my face, emitting sonic waves to aid the mask's active ingredients to penetrate deep into the deepest layers of the skin. Though odd at first, the subtle buzzing sensation was strangely soothing. The mask is without doubt stimulating, I could feel a strong tingling sensation all over my face, it was as if my skin had woken up from a deep slumber and had been electrocuted into life.

Once she had removed all traces of the Cryo Lift Mask, it was time to boost my complexion even more with NUBO's Plumping Oxygen Boost. The technology for this groundbreaking serum is derived from NASA research no less. The world renowned aeronautics institute created the technology for this serum, initially to ensure the optimum skin health of astronauts in space. Skin cells rely on oxygen for optimum healthy function, but as there is no oxygen in space, NASA created this oxygen plasma especially for astronauts. NUBO being the cutting edge brand that it is, purchased this technology from the NASA scientists, and formulated it into a cosmetic serum. The first thing you notice when it comes into contact with the skin, is a bracing icy sensation, it's almost as if you can feel it pumping life into your skin. As my skin was already tingling from the peppermint and ginger oils from the Cryo Lift mask, the Plumping Oxygen Boost was especially bracing.

This mask was also accompanied by a crazy gadget, this time, a mini pen that blew a cooling jet of oxygen all over the face. Caroline paid special attention to my under eye area, which was especially dark due to fatigue and a build up of toxins.

To tackle my dark circles and the beginnings of dreaded crow's feet, she smoothed NUBO's Cell Dynamic Eye Focus Cream around my eyes. Beloved of The Daily Mail, Hello! and Instyle magazines, this wonder eye cream tackles every concern that we have about our eyes, from dark circles and lines to sagging skin, thanks to a potent cocktail of Vitamin P (combats broken capillaries), Pro Vitamin C (to instantly brighten shadows), neuro-peptides (has a botox effect on lines), tri-peptides (boost collagen production to plump hollows under the eyes) and tetra-peptides (to further tighten the skin).

To help combat redness from my blemishes and to accelerate the healing of pigmentation from former blemishes (thanks to a terrible habit of squeezing my occasional pimples), Caroline smoothed the Post-Injection Treatment over my skin.

I'd been rushing around attending beauty launches all day, and hadn't drunk as much water as I ought to have done, so you can imagine my lips were rather dry. To combat this, she smoothed the collagen boosting, natural capsicum infused Instant Lip Perfection treatment over my lips, which has a delightfully moist, balmy texture. I regularly use the superbly conditioning and minty Creme De La Mer lip balm to soothe my clients' chapped lips, but I use the NUBO Instant Lip Perfection on clients in search of an instant lip plumping effect. It's great to have options, at the end of the day, I use the products best-suited to my clients' specific needs at the time. It's all about bespoke beauty.

As I had to dash off to another beauty launch later that day, she smoothed a little of the Voile in Shade 5, Tan, over my skin, to act like a tinted moisturiser / primer hybrid, to diffuse fine lines and imperfections. This divinely silky primer is so good that I now use it on all of my make-up clients at Urban Retreat in Harrods. I apply it to my clients' faces after the Cell Dynamic Day Performance SPF 20 (using a foundation brush to apply both, to further enhance penetration and efficacy). I swear by both for creating a perfectly smooth canvas on which to apply flawless, airbrush effect foundation that lasts all day.

The only low point of this treatment, was the fact I had to get off the treatment bed afterwards. Walking to Mayfair to make my next appointment was some what of a challenge, given that Caroline had left me so relaxed that I could have happily gone to bed and not woken until the next morning. On the plus side, my skin was so radiant, I was able to get away with just wearing the Voile (which for the record, is super sheer). I had brought my make-up bag with me but didn't even need to apply my tinted moisturiser and concealer, which just goes to show how dewy and glowy the treatment had left my complexion. I suggest clearing your schedule after your treatment so that you can truly relax and make the best of Caroline's legendary skills.

Velvet Cleansing Cream - £28

Diamond Peel & Reveal - £65

Plumping Oxygen Boost - £80

Cell Dynamic Eye Focus - £180

Post Injection Treatment - £48

Instant Lip Perfection SPF 15 - £38

Voile - £40

NUBO Beauty by Appointment is £50 for 50 minutes, available at Harrods Beauty Apothecary, 8th - 21st May with expert facialist Caroline Hitchcock.

To reserve your place, call the NUBO counter on 0207 730 1234 extension 3285

www.nubobeauty.com

www.harrods.com

www.urbanretreat.co.uk

www.beautique.com

The G Spot

The G Spot..

I was pretty intrigued when my friend Andre e-mailed me info about Vanessa G's fashion debut. For one, the show venue was the Whitehall Banqueting house (FYI the venue is typically reserved for large-scale media awards ceremonies), so I knew from the get go, that this was to be no run of the mill event. A lot of fashion brands would usually pick a miniscule venue off the beaten track in the depths of Shoreditch to showcase their premier collection.

There was no way anyone in the media was going to miss out on this spectacle. Firstly, the PR's sent out an e-invite, followed by a postal reminder, which in turn was followed by a rather large red perspex invitation, together with two "admit one" perspex cards. My fashion spidey senses were well and truly tingling. Who on earth is Vanessa G and what is this all about?

My attempts to find a website were to no avail (her website has now launched), all I could find were blog articles buzzing about the forthcoming event.

According to her Press bio, Vanessa G (aka Vanessa Gounden, pictured at the top, in one of her own signature floral print trench coats) is a "formidable entrepeneur, with business interests spanning Africa, Europe, and the Asian subcontinent. She is arguably one of the most successful businesswomen in the mining sector on the African continent, and her other interests include Healthcare Services, Financial Services and Lifestyle and Leisure". Already, it's clear to see that this is no ordinary fashion debut, but the plot thickens. On reading the paragraph above, it's easy to assume that this is just another trustafarian or rich divorcee creating a little fashion diversion with which to amuse herself, but her life has not always been one of privilege.

In the late 1800's, Vanessa's grandparents left India for the shores of Africa to work as indentured labourers on the sugarcane plantations of South Africa. Her early childhood memories include helping her family, on their small holding, cutting and preparing roses for sale to the florists in the district.

As the dreaded apartheid state swept Africa in the 1960's, and segregation by race was tragically enforced, Vanessa and her family were removed from their home and livelihood, and forced to reside in a dormitory township with minimal facilities. This hideous chapter in Vanessa's life sparked her political awareness, so it is no wonder that in the years preceding South Africa's first democratic election, Vanessa played a pivotal role in the country's Trade Union agreement, thereafter serving in Nelson Mandela's administration in 1994.

Her experience of working with Mandela galvanized her business acumen, inspiring her to commence her own commercial activities, from the humble surroundings of her bedroom desk (I wonder if Annie Lennox and Aretha Franklin's "Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves was written about Vanessa), it would be a fitting theme tune none the less.

Vanessa's extensive travels exposed her to various forms of art, be it community based or the work of young emerging talent. This, together with her belief that dress sense should reflect one's inner beauty and confidence, led to her venture in the world of fashion.

I don't know about you folks, but am I the only one sensing Hollywood film material here (or at the very least a New York Times best selling book). Calling Frieda Pinto!!

At this point, I have to add that Vanessa walked past me at her launch on Wednesday evening, looking petite and radiant in a pewter coloured sheath. I wasn't sure if it was her at first, but the impossibly tall security guard with the discrete ear piece who was escorting her kind of gave it away! Furthermore, she was resolutely devoid of attitude, flashing me a lovely genuine smile as she passed (and for the record, she looks far more beautiful in person, the Press shot of her does her little justice). Naturally, when she took her turn on stage at the end of her show, my earlier suspicions were put to rest. The lady herself, had in fact glided right past me before her show. How fabulous!

There's something about Vanessa's story that immediately resonated with me. Though I haven't experienced apartheid per se, racism is something that I most definitely lived through for a large part of my childhood and adolescence. My father is Scottish, while my mother is half Ethiopian and half Eritrean (Vanessa and I share the African connection). At the age of five, I relocated with my parents from Oman (my birth place), leaving my international school and settling with my parents in rural Northumberland, attending a private school there. Given that we were literally in the sticks, my mother and I were, without doubt, fishes out of water. It took me a great deal of time before I was able to make friends, with our neighbours calling me a "Paki", not bothering to find out what my ethnic origin actually was. Later, when I was sent to boarding school at 9, I was called a "nigger" on my first day at school. I recall my headmaster telling the boy who'd hurled the insult at me, that it wasn't a very nice thing to say, and that was that.

Furthermore, when I was given my first taste of Scottish bonfire night (and the subsequent joke telling around the fire as our marsmallows melted), I was treated to the lovely experience of having quite a few kids from the school take their turn in standing around the fire, and uttering such comical gems as "What do you call two Ethiopians in a body bag? A Kit-Kat", which was soon followed by "How do you get a million Ethiopians to jump off a cliff? Throw a can of baked beans over it". My response was to cry. I didn't hear any children stand up and make jokes about white people, and being the only child of colour at the school, I felt targeted. Oddly enough, we're talking about the late 80's here, at least 20 years after apartheid, yet clearly, racism in Britain was still strong. When I asked my headmaster how it was acceptable for people to say things like this, he turned to me and said "it would be no different if you were fat or ginger". Nice!

Later, in the 90's, when I attended another prominent Scottish school on the outskirts of Edinburgh, my peers would often force me to eat my meals alone, moving along the benches at the dining room tables, proclaiming that there was no space for me (though magically creating space when children of their own ethnicity needed a seat). And so it came to be, that in a dining room filled with over a thousand students and teachers, I would sit at a table alone, crying into my food, wondering what on earth was wrong with me. Progress? I wonder? Thank goodness then for people like Vanessa.

The Advance Press Shots

I've copied a selection of my favourite advance Press shots of her garments below, I feel they represent the essence of Vanessa G.

The sheath dresses were some of the standout winners from the collection. Channelling Hitchcock femme fatale chic (think Grace Kelly and Tippi Hedren), with elements of Erdem and Peter Pilotto (digital prints / draping / sculptural silhouettes), of all the pieces on show, these were the ones that are destined to sell in their droves.

The blouses were also very on point, immaculately tailored in sensual, fluid silk, whether rendered in metallic neutrals or digital florals, they are the perfect addition to any stylish woman's wardrobe. Team with one of Vanessa's knockout high waisted trousers or pencils skirts, or dress them down with a skinny or high waisted 70's flared jean in a dark indigo wash (teamed with skyscraper heels naturally).

What woman could live without her go-to LBD? Putting the "Result" into result dressing, sharply cut, chic numbers like this are simply a wardrobe staple. I especially love the sculpted torso, flattering pleat details and opulent detailing (after all, who says black has to be boring). From cocktails, to dinner, to parties or the red carpet, an LBD will work hard so you don't have to. Black takes statement jewellery especially well, so channel Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's, and go OTT with the bijoux.

The Champagne Reception

The Hors d'oeuvre were insanely delicious, I couldn't keep away from the smoked salmon (with champagne flowing so freely, protein was essential). I especially loved the waitress serving delicacies from an ornate birdcage (doesn't everyone?)

The attention to detail was impressive, note the floral print carpet runner (clearly, red carpets are passe)

The Celebrities

The champagne reception was buzzing with news of the celebrities in attendance. I was rather chuffed that I'd positioned myself in an ideal spot to not only observe everyone in the room, but also to get photos of the celebrity guests as they passed (whom I have to add, were all incredibly gracious and forthcoming about having their photograph taken).

My first (and possibly most exciting) encounter of the night, was with Jade Jagger. What a supremely cool woman, she literally slinked towards me like a seductive panther (with no entourage may I add), and when I asked politely if I could take her picture, she flashed the kind of smile that would literally turn a gay man straight (trust me, she exudes a palpable sexual charisma), and posed without a second thought. She remained within my vicinity for about five minutes, chatting happily away with friends, then flashed me yet another smile as she departed. Love her!

Getting a photo of Emila Fox was a little trickier. I'd spied her minder flanking her all evening (a lovely PR lady, wearing some rather funky geek chic glasses). I'd seen her PR before, helping Emilia navigate the red carpet at the BAFTA's (actresses of Emilia's calibre invariably need protection from over-zealous journalists and paparazzi). So when it happened that the PR and I headed to the cloak room at the same time to get our bags after the show, I politely enquired as to whether she was looking after Emilia that evening, and whether it would be possible for me to take a photograph of her client for my blog. It's amazing how helpful people can be if you ask them something politely. After enquiring what the name of my blog was (and responding "cute" on hearing the name Diary of a Fashion Mister), I was able to follow her to Emilia, the PR worked her magic, and low and behold, her photograph is now on my blog. How glad am I that my grandmother forever drilled into me at a young age that "manners maketh man".

Sophie Ellis Bextor was so shy when I asked her for a photograph. Poor thing, I'd imagine navigating her way down the hall must have been an experience akin to dodging all the beauty sales people spraying perfumes in a department store, yet again, after just a moment's hesitation, she politely obliged, posing for the shot above (thanks again Sophie, it is much appreciated). She looked stunning in this metallic Vanessa G sheath (bonus points for the statement jewellery and neon clutch), punctuated with minimal make-up and a slash of her signature liquid liner (her twinkling feline eyes are divine). Sophie and her husband Richard Jones (of The Feeling) were on the decks at the after show party (at least they were according to the Evening Standard, I didn't stick around as I had four beauty launches to attend the next day and needed my beauty sleep).

It wasn't difficult spotting the Burberry model Poppy Delevigne, with her coltish legs, flowing blonde locks and honeyed skin, she doesn't exactly blend in! Naturally, I zoomed in and asked for a photograph, to which she happily obliged. (FYI she was wearing a Vanessa G pewter sheath (in the same fabric as Sophie's), accessorised with a Burberry Prorsum SS11 leather jacket and ankle boots).

Noelle Reno is one of those girls who are difficult to label without slashes. The model / socialite / Zandra Rhodes business collaborator / professional girlfriend of the uber-rich deserved a photo because she is supremely gorgeous (bonus points for the immaculate make-up / blowdry and nude patent Louboutins, which offset her minutely proportioned digitally printed shift dress to perfection).

What launch would be complete without Henry Conway? He and his father have had a terrible time with the mainstream Press, but for the record, he is a lovely chap with such an effervescent personality. It's no wonder he has party invites coming out of his ears, he'd be a welcome addition to any soiree and was delightful to converse with, all be it briefly. He even went so far as to politely excuse himself when he wanted to disappear outside for some air (what a gent).

Konnie Huq looked lovely in this mustard chiffon blouse and indigo skinny jeans with nude patent platforms and tan leather Mulberry Alexa bag. She did make me giggle though, when I asked her if I could take her photo for my blog, she assumed I wanted a photo WITH her, so there was a brief awkward moment where I had to explain that, although I was definitely a fan of her outfit, the love affair ended there! However, Fashion Mister isn't a meanie, so Konnie gets bonus points for being such a sweetheart.

The other celebrity guests of note, were models Jasmine Guinness and Jade Parfitt, actress Naomie Harris and legendary 80's club promoter Philip Salon (while uber-editors Shelly Vella and Hershey Pascual led the media posse).

The Show

Whoever art directed the show was clearly a genius, as the theatre created by the set and sountrack was phenomenal, the perfect backdrop to the film noire showcase. There was little doubt that the natural world was a huge source of inspiration for the delectable prints and textiles, as the laser projections displayed rivers, forests, iris blooms and the sky (amongst many other wonders of the natural world).

Rivers

Flowers

Azure Skies

Fashion Mister Loved

I loved the feminine draping and sculpted shoulder detail in this digital floral print top. The printed pencil skirt balances the look perfectly.

The craftmanship in the top is more evident in this close up. Heaven! Note the retro beehive (with that of-the-moment frizzy texture), punctuated with Cleopatra eyes (all the more poignant given Elizabeth Taylor's sad death), and the deep pink/red matte lip.

There were some beautifully tailored pieces in the show. On the left, a floral print blouse/trouser combo looks super feminine, while on the right, the pewter 3/4 length jacket, blouse and trouser combo is the sort of thing power women the world over would love to rock up to the boardroom in (if Vanessa G had been around in the 80's, you just know it would have been Sigourney Weaver's go-to wardrobe option in Working Girl).

How cute is this blouse? It's a shame the collection was AW11 as I think a fair few women would want to rock this piece NOW!

This dress is like something out of The Stepford Wives or Valley of the Dolls, I love the retro 50's shape and gorgeous print.

"All right Mr. De Mille, I'm ready for my close up"

Love this shift dress, the sleeve length is infinitely more forgiving than the the cap-sleeved styles on show (which realistically couldn't be worn by many women, other than perhaps Anna Wintour, Victoria Beckham and Mary-Kate Olsen). The draping across the torso and clever use of volume on the hips means that this piece would flatter a more voluptuous figure, while adding curves to a slimmer frame. Genius! Gorgeous print too, just so, so pretty.

This piece would work especially well on the typically pear shaped British woman, the A-line bell shape of the skirt would skim fuller hips, nipping in the waist to create a beautiful silhouette. Note the embellished hosiery (a must-have from the show, I hope they go into production).

Some of the skirts veered dangerously into granny territory (low points were the A-line mid calf length skirts teamed with cropped jackets, far too Driving Miss Daisy for my liking). The printed skirt above however, is borderline sexy and vaguely reminiscent of Maggie Gyllenhaal in Secretary. Hot (in a Prada governess kind of way).

Another sizzling shift dress from the show. I love the exposed zip at the back. It would be a life saver when explaining the Vanessa G credit card bill to your partner. I can imagine women turning to their husbands/lovers and seductively asking mid-argument "darling, could you unzip me". Problem solved!

www.vanessag.co.uk