High-flying ladies, take note. You may be wearing work clothes rather than a bikini in the South of France but that’s no reason to ignore the need for sun protection. The heat of the city streets can be as damaging as any sea air – more so because we don’t necessarily realise that even sitting next to a sunny window can cause skin damage. We’re enjoying the hottest summer for years, and city skin has never been more at risk from both sun damage and pollution at the same time. Not a great combination for a glowing complexion.  Read more... (637 words, 3 images, estimated 2:33 mins reading time)

This week two Belle’s popped through the looking glass and entered the fantastical world of The Jacques Townhouse.

This end of terrace property in the centre on London has been transformed into an urban orchard with fruit trees and fanciful pompoms in pastel shades by interior design genius David Carter. Known for his theatrical and quirkily retro installations David was given free rein to create this fairytale adventure with a slightly dark edge.  Read more... (617 words, 4 images, estimated 2:28 mins reading time)

I have a dream. A dream to spend my days baking tasty treats for my special friend. A dream, that one day, I can hopefully turn into reality – a Barkery. No that’s not a spelling mistake, a barkery – a bakery for dogs.  Read more... (500 words, 3 images, estimated 2:00 mins reading time)

The elusive prize in shoes is the comfortable heel. Now I am certainly no expert in walking tall in a pair of towering stilettos for more than about 30 minutes but I certainly admire those girls who can pull it off effortlessly.  Read more... (491 words, 6 images, estimated 1:58 mins reading time)

There simply aren’t enough hours in the day. What with work, catching up with friends, the gym, shopping, cooking and relaxing, sometime it’s our nearest and dearest who gets put to the end of the list.  Read more... (701 words, 4 images, estimated 2:48 mins reading time)

Humanitarian Clooney to wed?  Read more... (946 words, 7 images, estimated 3:47 mins reading time)

Nelson and Desmond Tutu at the time of Mandela’s release

World-renowned photographer Alf Kumalo was the eyes and ears of Nelson Mandela during his 27-year incarceration. In a new book, he reveals to the world a moving collection of never-before-seen intimate photographs of the Mandela family surviving that heart-breaking era of apartheid, violence and corruption.  Read more... (1654 words, 5 images, estimated 6:37 mins reading time)

Last week I had the good fortune to attend a little party for the upcoming release of the Dom Perignon 2002 vintage, an ‘intimate discovery’ hosted by Richard Geoffroy, Dom’s Chef de Cave. We were introduced to the 2002 side by side with the current release of the 2000, and then we tried the Dom Perignon 1996 vintage alongside their 1996 Oenotheque – literally the ‘library wine’ selected by Dom in what they regard as superior vintages and held back for longer maturation. The 1996 Oenotheque is to be re-released later this year.  Read more... (1036 words, 4 images, estimated 4:09 mins reading time)

As loathed as we are to say goodbye to summer, following the Autumn/Winter fashion weeks in New York, London, Milan, Paris and Berlin, we are preparing for the colder weather – but only so we can get some practice in to master that gorgeous hairstyles that we saw gracing the catwalks.  Read more... (686 words, 7 images, estimated 2:45 mins reading time)

Old Spitalfields Market (OSM) is hosting a week-long celebration of all things culinary this week. A food fair always brings out the gourmet in me and knowing that I have a whole week to head to the city and enjoy the best food the capital has to offer has me pulling out my cookbooks and looking for fantastic new recipes that require unusual and high quality ingredients.  Read more... (473 words, 4 images, estimated 1:54 mins reading time)