Sunday 17 March 2013

Food find of the day- Fellini Restaurant and Bar

What to do on a lazy Sunday afternoon? Well for me the only logical thing to do it look at shoes on the internet and lust over pictures of scrumptious food whilst trying to find the motivation to go whip something up myself. A particularly tempting set of photos on my iPhone are ones from my recent jaunt to Fellini Restaurant and Bar. These snaps are just too gorgeous to keep to myself so I thought I would share that and brag about my absolute find in this gem of a restaurant. 
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Fellini is a relatively new restaurant, occupying its coveted spot on Church road for under 2 years, but you wouldn't be alone in thinking that standing for decades, such is the quality of food and service. Popular with those in the know and local foodies, Fellini is fast becoming a Brighton institution. Providing a authentic yet modern Italian experience is key to the restaurant's success: impeccable service, scrumptious food & a gorgeous interior all stack up to a perfect dining experience. Number 4 out of 111 restaurants listed on trip advisor, it is clear that the food speaks for itself. Unlike many other such establishments, Fellini's menu is inherently Italian to its core. Bucking the trend for utterly Anglicized menus in Italian restaurants, the menu is stripped right back with a focus on good quality ingredients and traditional recipes. With delights ranging from grilled swordfish to mushroom and sausage infused spaghetti on offer there is something for everyone. The price point of many dishes is similar to other restaurants, you might be paying a few pounds more, but when the food is this good and properly italian, its most definitely worth it. The wine list is similarly excellent- with little known Italian wines standing against the old favourites of Pinot Grigio, and with prices from £15 to £55 per bottle there is something to suit any taste and pocket. I particularly enjoyed the use of antipasto boards, gorgeous in their simplicity- a real treat and one that is sorely missed from other Italians.
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Open all day, from breakfast to dinner, the restaurant aims to provide a tradition Italian way of life; whether you are popping in for a cheeky coffee and croissant to a lazy late dinner Fellini has it covered. This restaurant's appeal very much lays in its focus on good honest food and its refusal to sway from its Italian roots. The BN1 definitely gives it a solid 5 stars, and whole heartedly recommends to any seasoned Brightonian and vistor alike. 
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Here are some snaps from my recent visit to delight both your peepers and rumbling stomachs: 

 








More pictures of Fellini from their website- hungry people beware, this may be too much for you to take:










Have a look at their website here and if you don't believe me, have a gander at the trip advisor reviews here. Happy eating!!!!

Monday 11 March 2013

Brand Focus - Capulet London

Handbags are my kryptonite.


And yes, I can just hear the collective sigh at that vacuous and utterly stereotypical statement. Here we go again, you are thinking, just another blogger who loves her handbags. And yes, whilst I am unashamedly addicted to arm candy, I'm not going to bore you with lots of 'Omigosh isn't this clutch so uber cute?!' Instead I'm going to let you into a little fash secret. As every fashionista knows, one can't be too late to the party in regards to trends and new brands.
The british public are so on point with new styles and emerging fashions, that it is becoming increasingly harder to look individual and to find new brands. Nowadays you're lucky if 10 other people aren't wearing your outfit to town, let alone 1. Everyone has every item from Topshop/ Urban Outfitters /Asos (delete as appropriate) in their wardrobes. So its great, and essential, to find new relatively unheard-of brands to stay unique in such a mass market culture.

Introducing Capulet London. The brand is the one of the best kept secrets of fashion insiders and Chelsea girls alike. The perfect companion to any girls life, not only is it chic, they are inherently practical. Let me explain: as fashion retail becomes even more multi platform, twitter hashtags influence television programming and instead of 'call me', 'facebook me' is the go-to form of communication we are all beholden to technology. Whether it be an  ipad, blackberry, iphone, tablet, laptop or macbook, just name your poison, we are certainly all in it together on this one. Don't worry you're not going to look like a techie geek with armfuls of silver, as Capulet is on hand to sheath your device in a fabulously on trend skin. The brand provides stylish and pracical solutions for housing the little devices you can't live without. This way, you can haul along your iphone/ipad/mac to meetings and know you're not going to destroy them and look chic at the same time. Its win win! Turning your phone into a fashion accessory is not a new thing (anyone remember clipping a snazzy case from the market onto the backs of our nokia 3510s and thinking we were the don?!), but Capulet London really does take it to a whole new level. Don't just take my word for it, feast your peepers on my picks from the collection:
 
 This bag would be perfect, it is most definitely my favourite pick of the collection. One of the most practical little bags I have stumbled upon. Easy for day or night, clutch or shoulder bag, with a special pocket for cards and your phone, it just works so well. Crafted from soft leather with a popping orange suede interior, it is classic and wearable but altogether trend led still.
Oh and it also comes in three more delightful colours. Must. Not. Look. Yes they're abit pricey, but think of cost for wear- its so versatile and in these colours you can't go wrong really. 
Most of their product is focused on providing a stylish covering for a particular device. Unsurprisingly lots of the clutches are iPad shaped, since their target market always seem to be toting these bits of kit. The Olivia is my personal favourite of all the iPad cases, with a veritable smorgasbord of this seasons shades, it should be on every girls wish list. I know you really can't tell scale but they are perfectly iPad proportioned with a roomy tardis like interior, the perfect size of clutch really to fit all your tidbits in.
One for your Kindle! Have books ever been so chic?!



 13inch laptop sleeve, OMG I just love Capulet's trademark bright orange suede interior. Each of the pieces in the collection features this cute detail, just like the ever fabulous Louboutin pumps, it really makes the product.

 And for your netbook.
And back to where it all started the humble phone, although now in a much posher reincarnation- the all powerful iPhone now has its own jammy case. Again love all the colours.

Capulet London's aesthetic values of simplicity, quality designs, good craftmanship and on trend colours makes for a winning combination.  Predict big things for this brand, especially if they stay true to this winning look. To be honest, technology is such an integral part of our lives and will continue to be, so a brand which embraces this and makes it a key part of our look, is certainly in for a bright future.
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Shop online HERE or in UK store at Fortnum and Mason, Harrods or Selfridges (also sold across the world, should you be jetting off to Taiwan any time soon... in which case I am very jealous and you don't deserve a nice handbag.)
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Tuesday 5 March 2013

Timeless Chic at the Cambridge Satchel Company


So The Cambridge Satchel Company has been floating around in my fashion consciousness for a while now. Last season saw the high street explode with cheap plastic imitations, yet even after a few seasons of being the epitome of cool, this old school style has yet to lose its appeal with the fash pack. Such a longetivity is rare, especially when it comes to the new 'it bag' of the moment (take note you Chloe Paddington's and Mulberry Bayswater's). Such styles are super popular for only a few months, seen everywhere and on everyone, until inevitably somebody from Towie is snapped clutching one or Kerry Katona wears it to Lidl and BAM they are relagated to the bottoms of wardrobes or worse, the Primark sale bin. Yet with the Satchel style, whether thanks to their minimal aesthetics or being rooted in traditional english heritage, it doesn't appear to be meeting the same fate as its predecessors just quite yet.


-The ad that propelled Cambridge Satchel Company into the public consciousness-
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The Story 
Everybody knows you can't beat an honest rags to riches back story, especially one that is as honest and genuine as this. Started by Julia Deane in 2008 with an order of 8 generic satchels and budget of just £600, it is a true example of how hard work and perseverance can pay off (a pay off of a £12mill 2012 turnover in this case!) even in a sector as saturated as Fashion. Combined with the fact is a family business and has an exclusively UK manufacturing ethos, this company is simply unique and altogether effortlessly British.

Now Satchels are EVERYWHERE, and whilst it is tempting to just got to Primark and nab one for a fiver, every high street rip off I've seen is just that, a poor imitation of the original. With inferior pleather substites, proportions that are just slightly 'off' and hard unforgiving structures the high street satchels just can't compete. And with an average price point of just over £100 they are an affordable luxury that won't date or start to look utterly lame next season (think cost per wear girlies!) I for one, am going to stretch my pennies to invest in one of these classic beauties and help support a truly british and home grown company.

Now the most important bit of all, what Satchel to chose?! With dozens of colourways and inch combinations, this is certainly going to be a tricky task for one who has been known to procrastinate for hours over handbag purchases.

Store
Luckily the new store in Covent Garden means that I can lust over every concievable bag combo at my leisure. As good as the website is, lots of pretty bag pics and useful info, aswell as quick delivery and online engraving, as every lady knows nothing is a substitute for holding the bag in your own hands before you decide. Shop online now HERE.


You can find the store just off the trendy seven dials area north of Covent Garden market. Based on the concept of Deane's kitchen where the business first flourished, the bags are nestled in vintage esque cabinets splashed with minimal colour to really let the product speak for itself. It also features a bloggers lounge with *GASP* free coffee and *UBER GASP* a satchel LENDING LIBRARY. I for one are definitely going to sign up for this- such an inventive way to give back to the blogging community which first pioneered her designs. Oh and my goodness I am excited about the prospect of an embossing department. Ahhh oh how lovely it will be for my bag to proclaim 'MASKELL' for all to see. #Heaven.

Here are a few pics from the brand's social media, look how pretty and well branded the entire space is. The brand very much operates on a simplicity that shouts if its not broke don't fix it ya know. 

Note the snazzy print satchels in the Bloggers Lounge- products of collabs with big brand names such as Chris Benz, Comme De Garcons, Christopher Shannon, Basso and Brooke and J Crew. Phew that is quite a list.

Now onto the products themselves- the very reason why this brand is going from strength to strength. Popular with celebs and bloggers alike, they are a simple style that fits the vintage theme that has been threaded through the zeitgeist of our fashions. 

~S'leb fans~
Ahh yes, we all know that anything Miss Chung lays her paws on becomes instantly covetable, the satchel is no exception. I just hope she doesn't suddenly start to like low rise ugg boots, heaven forbid or we are all doomed to shuffle around in chav slippers.

THE BN1'S EDIT

This new collection features a smattering of oh so stylish shades for s/s13, I want each and every one in my life.

So shall I choose the creamy chic classic or go for a pastel pop of cuteness? Good news is that many of the collections come in lots of different inches. The chelsea collection comes in 11" to 13" perfect for a little daily bag. 

Or perhaps a cheeky discontinued buttercup yellow? Only £80 and with only a few left I should probably snap it up sharpish. 

You can't beat a nice bit of metallic purple and at only £62 its abit of a steal!


Or perhaps the classic? Available in a varitable cornocopia of colours and sizes, there are literally too many for me to deal with. £94-£104
The fluro perhaps?! The fashion eds fave, its oh so on trend, it will make any outfit from a breton t and jeans to a little black dress so uber chic. Tempted by the yellow. £115-£130.

The Designer perhaps? You can just imagine Alexa clutching it in her mitts. £145.

A cheeky 15" 'Batchel' more your thing?! Totally practical, and oh so colour pop in this red, you can't really go wrong. Love the top handle. 

Now this. THIS I do believe is the one. Not so out there as the fluro yellow, but not as safe as the taupe. LFW catwalks AW13 showed monochrome with bright sunburts of yellow, so will probably be a safe bet for a year or so. Apart from that the yellow just calls to me, its so unusual, especially against the aesthetic of a simple satchel. I can just imagine it looking lovely in the summer. More than anything it just makes me smile. Which is as good a reason as any?!

 Im feeling a trip to the store at the end of this month, so I shall grab a few piccies of me looking deliriously ecstatic due to the euphoria of handbag shopping. In the mean time I would definitely recommend you have a cheeky look at the website, it really is lust worthy. Go on I dare you not to want each and every one.