Tag Archives: Winter

In Pursuit of the Perfect Winter Coat

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coat, shopping, winter coat. Finding the perfect winter coat is a time consuming and stressful business. So Frost has gotten ShopStyle to unearth the definitive trends for you, revealing the must-have items for the month

Each month ShopStyle, the web’s premier fashion search engine, will reveal a trend that has featured high up, or has made a surprise jump on the search term list. Gemma Cartwright POPSUGAR Fashion and Beauty Editor, will also offer a lesson in fashion terminology with a glossary of monthly ‘it’ words to help you hone in on that trend.

It may come as no surprise that the 90’s inspired parka, fur collar pea coat or pink wool coat fall in the top search terms this month. Whether it’s magenta mohair or pastel winter wool, the pink coat is the most coveted item for autumn/winter 2013.

Gemma says “When hunting online for your pink coat try not to see everything through rose-tinted glasses and ensure you consider the style, fabric and hue to ensure you don’t end up looking like a giant marshmallow. With so much variety on the market there is something to suit everyone, so if you’re not a girly girl, try a masculine tailored silhouette in a blush pink shade.”

In order to track down the right pink coat for you, Gemma Cartwright has developed a list of terms that will make your fashion shopping experience a whole lot simpler.

“Fashion vernacular is something of a minefield for most of us. Unless your name is Anna Wintour how can you be expected to know what an ‘ovoid mohair boyfriend coat’ is supposed to look like? When we analyse search terms we can see that entering a variety of terms can give fashion hunters the best results. Here are some words that will help you think pink and hone in on the trend of the month.”

Boyfriend coats have an androgynous fit that will glide over your waist and hips, and can be designed in any length. This classic style will take you from one season to next, and can look great with both work wear and skinny jeans and a blouse for a more casual feel.

Oversized styles are fairly obvious, enlarged and masculine; an ideal style to wear over chunky knitwear and extra layers. Try adding a belt for a waist-cinching effect.

Maxi coats are longer length, gender neutral and scantly fitted usually.


Wrap coats are universally flattering on all body types and sizes – think Diane von Furstenburg’s iconic wrap dress. They are unlikely to have buttons, just a wrap around with a belt perhaps.

Cocoon is a style ‘it word’ that’s been thrown around frequently of late, but the cocoon shape coat does exactly that; it envelops you in a cosy, comfortable clinch.

Ovoid meaning egg-shaped, is a new term to the fashion industry this year. Essentially ovoid encompasses all of the above, so if your search isn’t locating exactly what you want, try ovoid.

Coatigan is equally on-trend in fashion slang this season; part wrap, part boyfriend and part oversized. Give this a go and hopefully you’ll find ‘the one’.

Are you inspired? What do you think you will buy?

London Fashion Week: Where To Go

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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

London fashion week, where to go
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?

QVC AW13 Fashion Show | Fashion Video

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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.

london fashion week, fashion, AW13 oLondon fashion week, AW13, fashion

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



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Cheap and cheerful sun in Gran Canaria

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When you want to escape the cold and gloom of a northern European winter, you generally have to think about travelling a long distance to get some heat and sunshine. The Caribbean, Thailand, India all offer warmth and great holiday resorts, but it takes a long flight to get there, and though there are deals to be had, they generally aren’t cheap.

An alternative that will save both travel time and money is to head to the Canaries – a group of Spanish islands that are situated off the north-west coast of Africa in the Atlantic. Known for their fantastic climate, they are sometimes nicknamed the Fortunate Isles and their climate is referred to as ‘eternal spring’. In fact, the climate varies little during the year, and while the winters are warm and mild, the summer temperatures don’t ever get unbearable.

The main islands are Tenerife, Lanzarote and Gran Canaria and they have been dedicated to mass tourism for the last sixty years. Consequently, these places are really ideally set up for holidaymakers looking for beautiful beaches, hotels with great facilities and lots of different things to do. The Canaries make an ideal location to take the family for a ‘fun in the sun’ holiday, but you can also find quieter resorts if you’re after a walking or hiking holiday.

The biggest and most popular resort on Gran Canaria has to be Playa del Ingles, where you’ll find the biggest concentration of tourist attractions like waterparks and hotels such as the IFA Continental which all boast excellent facilities including swimming pools, tennis courts and spas and are designed to make your holiday relaxing but simultaneously full of entertainment possibilities.

Whoever you’re going on holiday with, you’ll find a resort in Gran Canaria that is suitable for your party, and the fact that you can get there so cheaply and easily makes it an ideal place for a sunshine break any time of the year.

 

Ming Pin Tien Bye Bye Youth AW13 | London Fashion Week 2013

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Taiwanese fashion designer Ming-Pin Tein named his AW13 collection ‘Bye Bye Youth’. He sent the models down the catwalk to Wankelmut’s remix of One day/Reckoning, in knitted beanie hats and oversized white clothes. The clothes were structured, with clean lines. I loved the music, and I loved the clothes. Thumbs up.

Ways To Get A Little Sun This Winter

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Ah, the great British winter. The season of dark nights and bitter cold temperatures, has somehow managed to creep up on us for another year.

Now I know what you’re thinking, just where has the time gone, right? It only feels like yesterday that we were enjoying the summer sun, and suddenly some how we’re now donning our thickest coats, wooliest jumpers and cosiest boots.

I’m sure I’m not alone in saying that rather than relishing what the great British winter has to offer, all I associate it with is sneezing, colds, rain, rain and more rain. Wouldn’t it be great if we could just hibernate for the whole season, or run away to a hot country somewhere? Well, it’s exactly what some fellows do when it hits this time of year (the hot country bit, not the hibernating bit).

Jetting off to a corner of the earth where the sun still shines during the winter is a great way to catch some winter rays.

So, if you’re seriously considering booking yourself on the next plane in order to do so, then here’s a little guide of short-haul, mid-haul and long-haul options to help you on your way.

Short-Haul

If you’re simply looking to step out of the dreary winter and into something just a little bit brighter, than a trip into Europe may be what you’re looking for.

Locations such as the French and Italian Rivieras, Sicily, Majorca and Portugal are perfect if you’re after simply a brighter winter. Although these locations don’t boast scorching heat in the winter months, they do offer reasonable temperatures, sunny days and beautiful surroundings that’ll give you a whole different meaning to the word ‘winter’.

Whether you opt for a hotel stay or prefer to hire out a villa, such as a Portugal property for your short break, you’ll be amazed at how far you can be from the British weather, without having to travel to the other side of the world to get it. With flight times of less than 4 hours, they’re perfect for both week-long stays or long weekends.

Mid-Haul

If you are looking for temperatures a little higher than what Europe has to offer for this time of year, then there are a vast array of mid-haul options that’ll help you escape.

By hopping on a plane ride of 5 hours, you can find yourself in the beautiful Cape Verde, situated off the coast of Africa. Cape Verde offers average temperatures of between 22 and 29 degrees in the winter months, and with the area boasting stunning surroundings, you really can’t go wrong.

Egypt is also a popular choice with holidaymakers looking to get away for some winter sun. With a flight time from the UK of around 5 hours again, you can experience a city break in Cairo or take a River Cruise up the world famous Nile. What’s guaranteed is that whatever you choose to do, you’ll feel a million miles from the British winter weather.

Long-Haul

So, you’ve been saving up your annual leave days all year in hope of one thing as the end of the year approaches; a well-deserved holiday soaking up the scorching hot sun.

If this is you and you’re really looking to travel far to escape the winter weather, then the Caribbean is definitely for you.

From locations such as the Maldives, the Seychelles or Barbados, all with a flight times of around 8 hours, it’s time to don that bikini, take a dip in the ocean and take long strolls along the beautiful white sandy beaches. With temperatures of around 30 degrees Celsius, what was all that moaning about winter again?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

UGG Australia For London Fashion Week

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Shoes glorious shoes. Who cares what they look like? Well, everyone actually. UGG Australia the makers of the shoes that are the most comfortable IN THE WORLD have branched out into different styles. I went to see their AW13 collection at Handpicked Media’s One Aldwych Hotel suite.

Alex showed my the collection. I was incredibly impressed. UGGs have not always been thought of as fashionable but even the most discerning fashionista would find something to love in the new collection.  I love the knee-high blue boots below. I was also got a pair of gorgeous ankle boots. Check out Callum from Handpicked Media’s photo below. . They are so comfy and stylish. Top marks for UGGS.

The boots are very well made. The materials are gorgeous and the designs are on trend but also timeless. With winter coming in I might even buy myself some new winter boots. I love the lining inside the boots. Guaranteed to keep you warm.

Maps & Atlases – Beware and Be Grateful | Music Review

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I must confess that before being given this to review, I didn’t know of Maps & Atlases. Having listened to their new album “Beware and Be Grateful” I’m still not sure I know them. Getting to grips with them is a tough grind but wonderful, nonetheless.

The band formed in 2004 at art school in Chicago and in that time they’ve grooved their way from being a pure math rock/post rock band to making beautiful pop music but based on the old math-rock principles of signature time changes. We’ll call it Math-pop.

The record begins with “Old And Gray”, a six minute affair that doesn’t exactly blow the doors off of the house that is “Beware and Be Grateful”, but tiptoes gently in and makes a nice cup of tea. It’s clever. It knows it doesn’t need to be route one. It will sit waiting for you in the living room, until you come to and will assassinate you there and then. It’s pop Jim, but not as we know it!

“Fever” moves towards more straightforward pop music and “Winter” is very much in the same vein. Both songs have a million things going on behind the music in the way of vocals and music. It’s all incredibly well arranged – a beautiful layering of the music and backed up by soft electronic beats. On “Remote and Dark Years” Dave Davison’s lush baritone vocal has more than a tilt towards Paul Simon and the song has a lot in common with his African moments.

Throughout the record you can hear morsels of the influences behind the record – all sorts. From Vampire Weekend to Paul Simon to Secret Machines to Joeyfat but built around those math-rock principles. It’s a stunning mix but it’s a mix that needs to be played in the order it was made – no skipping, no shuffle etc. I don’t they Maps & Atlases have quite realised that the internet has rendered the album superfluous but their ignorance is our gain – a finer collection of songs you’ll struggle to find all year.

 

“Beware and Be Grateful” is released 17th April 2012. They tour the UK from 16th – 20th April.