Buy it now: AW13 first drop



As is the rule, the hottest British weather is accompanied by fresh in-store deliveries of, well, knits, boots, scarves and socks. So here are my picks of the new autumn collections that you could wear now, after sundown should you so wish (although ideally not all at once). My vote goes to the Carven sweater and Matthew Miller ‘Born To Fail’ men’s top – especially teamed with J.W. Anderson’s ample skirt. Plus a bit of equestrian detail (on the Village England bag – new label alert!) is always welcome for the summer-autumn switchover…

Village-EnglandMatthew-Miller-menswearElyona Wolf Badger
Burberry Carven-aw13APC-socks
JWA Moda OperandiTabitha-simmons-aw13River-Island-Ring

ABOVE LEFT TO RIGHT:
TOP: Village England bag, £165; Matthew Miller men’s top, £195; Elyona ear cuff, £133
MIDDLE: Burberry scarf, £295; Carven jumper, £320; APC socks, £25
BOTTOM: J.W. Anderson skirt, €755; Tabitha Simmons boots, £815; River Island ring, £15



How to use a Clarisonic



Clarisonic-Plus

Last week I had my first hands-on demo of the infamous Clarisonic to launch its new counter in House Of Fraser on Oxford Street. Alas, 15 minutes before my appointment, I found the store temporarily closed due to a power failure, so the expected chi-chi demonstration became a potted history with Daniel Sandler on the pavement until the doors reopened and we set to.

Make-up artist Daniel Sandler discovered the Clarisonic on a trip to the States a few years ago and helped to spread the word on his return to the UK. The Clarisonic then became something of a cult, nay a phenomenon, which has now spawned quite a few imitations. But they’re not exactly the same. Clarisonic’s famous oscillating technology has been patented, meaning none of the copies are an exact match. Whereas the competitors tend to have rotating brushes, these have brushes that gently vibrate back and forth to break down oil and dirt. This means that if used properly, it shouldn’t stimulate acne or aggravate sensitive skin. According to my demonstrator, while you may experience a breakout the first time, this is just the result of deep pore cleaning, much like a post-facial breakout, but subsequent cleanses should be fine.

Here’s what else I learnt:

*You don’t need to scrub or apply pressure, just gently move the brush in circular motions guided by the timer. There are also special brush heads for delicate or sensitive skin.

*You do need to clean and dry the brush head each time you use it. You can use it in the shower but don’t store it in there wet attracting mould (ew).

*Don’t use an oil or cream cleanser. If you wear a lot of heavy makeup, Daniel recommends double cleansing, so use your rich oil or cream cleanser to remove makeup first, then use a water-based cleanser with the Clarisonic.

*Men love the Clarisonic too. It has a brush attachment that lifts the beard to prepare for a closer shave and guys with ultra short hair can even use it on their heads.

*You can also use the Clarisonic Plus on the body, even dry for circulation-boosting dry body brushing. And it’s apparently very effective in reducing those icky upper arm bumps (otherwise known as keratosis pilaris).

At £125-£179, the Clarisonic clearly isn’t cheap. But it’s a tool that dermatologists (its original customers) and make-up artists swear by for prepping the skin to help absorb products more efficiently.  Effectively, I guess that also means your expensive creams,  serums and make-up will perform better so you’ll need to use less. In that sense,  it’s really not a bad investment.



Ever wondered how Smythson business cards are made…?



Smythson-Factory main

I took a trip to the Smythson workshops to find out how their famous business cards are made

Shock confession: in six years of freelancing I haven’t had a business card. The shame! I’ve somehow survived on the dual methods of LinkedIn requests and pitiful scraps of Moleskine paper but that only gets you so far. Much better, I decided, to step things up and investigate the process of designing and printing bespoke business cards. Not just any business cards you understand, but the ultimate in luxury and elegance – Smythson’s copperplate printed cards. (more…)



First look at Ryan McGinley and Chloe Sevigny’s videos for Uniqlo (and some of the 330 knitwear colour options)



Ryan-McGinley-Uniqlo

“I guess I would wear cashmere if I wanted to feel cozy and comfortable. Cashmere always makes you feel like you’re being hugged by maybe ten people, and it also makes you feel like you’re right next to a fireplace.” So coos Ryan McGinley in soothing tones in this slightly cheesy video for Uniqlo.

Scoffing aside I must admit I’m tempted by the cut and colours of these Uniqlo men’s cashmere knits*, which are part of the silk and cashmere line and come in 330 colour options.  (more…)