Merry Rockin' Christmas from London 2012!

By Laura Medina

If you're assumptions of London...and England is that of "Masterpiece Theater, Downton Abbey, and Dr. Who," boy...aren't you mistaken.

This is a special treat to you all...the modern-day London Christmas edition.  How Londoners really rock Christmas.

By rock, it means getting no more English than the Rolling Stones.  Celebrating their 50th Anniversary and the launch of a 12 month music celebration in Carnaby.  The Rolling Stones have co-designed the Carnaby Christmas Decorations to rock the holidays.

Boy, did Carnaby in London rock the holidays. 

With Grazia Magazine's help, they helped get the Carnaby 20% Shopping Party rolling where shoppers and guests enjoy 20% discount at participating 100 shops and restaurants.

Shoppers enjoyed 20% off dinner and drinks at the restaurants, bars and cafés. Ginger and White served slow roast pork sarnies and mulled spiced apple juice.  Cinnamon Soho offered shoppers rock n' roll  combo of cocktails on the rocks and Indian lamb rolls.

Youtube’s new fashion channel FASHTAG launched their new Ganton Street studio with a live beauty bar where shoppers learnt to recreate the latest looks and trends.

Carnaby Style Spotters were out on the hunt for the coolest shoppers to appear in an Instagram shoot after having a free Illamasqua rocking makeover and Carnaby styling session.

Dr Martens is very much alive and well.  They opened their flagship store with a live band, drinks, and complimentary customization.

Among the fun-filled hustle and a bustle, Grazia’s editor-at-large Angela Buttolph hosted AW12 trend talks at the Book Exchange in Kingly Court.

Upper Playground had a signing by model Ellis Cooper.


Lomography launched their new exhibition ‘Deck The Walls’ by outline editions.   Live music on the streets of the Newburgh Quarter was provided by Fourth and Main.   Evisu collaborated with Threads TV to create an in store styling event with lucky winners walking away with their styled outfits.  Some lucky shoppers walked away with goodie bags full of treats after finding the secret location on twitter.

For a more traditional English vibe, during the day, you can hit St. James for very traditional British gifts for the gentleman in your life...or for yourself.

At shirt and tie makers Harvie & Hudson, gift tokens for fully bespoke shirts starting from £175 are available for a totally personalised present, or for a festive themed gift, a made to measure pyjamas set from Turnbull & Asser costs £285.

With 170 years of experience, Foster & Son can create an extra special bespoke shoe. For an investment of £2850, style and design can be tailored and a shoe created precisely for that person’s measurements, the ultimate in custom-made gifts. If an indoor winter is planned, Crockett & Jones offers hand-embroidered velvet slippers designed for both men and women starting from £150 and £225 respectively.

A traveller gift essential is the Harris Tweed Wash Bag from D. R. Harris, available in two sizes and featuring two bespoke-designed Harris Tweeds, ‘Town’ and ‘Country’; prices are £75 for small and £95 for large.

If the fine folks at St. James can outfit a gentleman, they can also "kit" him with Perfumers Floris' four new exclusive gift sets comprising moisturiser, shower gel, hand washes and eau de toilette. Scents include White rose, Cefiro, Santal and Cinnamon & Tangerine, ranging in price from £35 to £70.

Customers can be pampered and relax in St. James by enjoying a glass of Perrier-Jouët Champagne in the Lounge at Dukes Hotel, or afternoon tea at The Cavendish.

The Italian restaurant Franco’s have tables, rooms and even the whole restaurant to hire to host Christmas parties from 12 to 125 guests to enjoy traditional and modern Italian dishes in the heart of St James’s.

For the lucky partner whose gentleman has a hidden wish to be a chef, Fortnum & Mason can help during the build up to Christmas with their Stir Up Sunday Kit and Christmas Cake Kit, providing all you need to make the perfect Christmas deserts. Ready made Christmas cakes and puddings are also available and for those wanting an alternative, sponge cakes come in a variety of flavours such as Lemon Curd, Triple Ginger and Sticky Toffee with Salted Caramel.

For the foodie in your family, nothing beats a savoury alternative, Paxton & Whitfield’s Acacia Wood Boards with Cheese cost £45.00; made up of four individual cheese boards made from acacia wood, they come with portions of delicious Montgomery’s Cheddar, Trefle, Beauvale and Oxford Isis.

For my American readers, this isn't your usual Christmas gift guide.

Think of this as a travel guide through a London Christmas.

Cheers for a Rockin' London Christmas.



Divine Design Gala Rocks the Holidays

By Laura Medina

Last night and this year, Project Angel Food's Divine Design Sale and the glamorous Opening Gala Dinner turned 21 years-old.

This intrepid charity sale and fundraiser has stood the test of time for two decades, setting the standard for other holiday charity galas and fundraisers to follow and emulate.

This year's chair duo, George Anderson (President of Creative Services at The Cimarron Group) and Karo Vartanian (film and tv costume designer and stylist), sense that Divine Design Opening Gala and VIP Shopping were getting set in their ways, setting the standards.  They thought it is about time they shake things up to keep the Gala, the charity, and the foundation alive and vital for the next twenty-one years.  The theme, this time around...a "Rock n Roll Holiday."  The former Robinson-May Department-cum-Divine Design Sale Marketplace is generously garnished by rock n' roll photographs by IMG Images and rock photographer, Steve Erle.  Last night's entertainment wasn't the usual prim n' proper runway show marching down the catwalk but...a hot and sexy dance troupe rolling and pumping to rock n' roll classics like Ike & Tina Turner's "Proud Mary."



This year's honoree is a Project Angel Food/Divine Design Sale steadfast...fashion designer, David Meister. In the past five years covering Divine Design Sale Gala's red carpet, Mr. Meister never failed to show up.  Sure, there had been and will be celebrities whose star wattage shines brighter than Mr. Meister's but their one time appearance is a fleeting comet to Mr. Meister's constant glow, a reassuring and consistent glow spotlighting the mission of Divine Design Sale and Project Angel Food.

Each and every year this scribe interviews him, he always reminds people about the purpose about this charity sale.  The funds raised from this holiday sale pays for 11,000 meals every week that are being delivered to 2,176 severly ill people, with 567 new intakes during the year.  What started out as a compassionate meal delivery service to people stricken with AIDS, has grown to taking care for people sicken by cancer, congestive heart failure, emphysema/COPD, stroke/cardio vascular, and diabetes.  Money raised from this sale also pays for two nutritionists who inspect each and every meal before it goes into mass production and delivery.

The meals are free of charge, on-staff dieticians tailored each meal to each individual condition, and cooked by professional chefs.  Vegetables and fruits are now grown in their new Urban Gardens Initative, taking over neglected city lots to supply fresh produce.

In monetary value, each meal costs $5 but Project Angel Food never charges to those in need.  Plus, the home-bound and striken always like to someone check on them. 

This year's entertainment was rock n' roll dance troupe.

Fellow Midwestner, actress Jenny Garth honored David Meister with the award.

Actors, Jane Lynch and Eric McCormick having a chat.

Jenny and David showing off his award for dedicated support to Divine Design and Project Angel Food.

It's not just the entertainment or the theme that changed.

Time Warner is the major sponsor of this year's Divine Design Sale.  The fundraising sale is rocking with technology.

The media/communications company kindly offers a wifi/entertainment lounge for weary bargainistas, kind-hearted fashionistas, and their patient but tired spouses. While one shops for great deals on great finds, one can drop one's significant other at the Time Warner Lounge to make the shopping easier on them.  Think of it as a really awesome day care center for weary partners.



Time Warner has more up its sleeve; and exhausted shoppers and their company have more to do than be couch potatoes surfing the net or watching tv.

Shoppers can jump in a green screen booth, act out their favorite tv fantasies then have them super-imposed on a scene.

Virtual make-believe bringing back the fun of being a kid again but at an higher form.

The tv screen doesn't have to be stationary.  Cute attendants, like this guy, are wearing special tee-shirts with a live screen sewn into the tee.

Now, you'll have a real reason to watch a cute guy while you shop the huge markdowns each day for this 3 days sale.  Saturday is the 70% off sale, followed by Sunday's 80% sale then finalizing with the mad rush of Monday's 90%.  Suggestion, wearing a helmut and some really cool body armor.

A No-Fuss Straight-forward Skincare Line ...Recipe for Men

By Laura Medina

Ok, this might be my last "Movember" piece for this month with the holidays quickly approaching.

However, this will not be the last of my menswear and men's skincare picks.

In the past six years researching and trying some really deluxe men's skincare lines (some so effective and refreshing, it is the women who are stealing them now!), this guinea pig of beauty has been fortunate enough in seeing "crinkles and wrinkles" being eased and soften and the skin brightened.

Sweden's Recipe for Men is no exception.

Developed by one of the members of the Swedish Olympic ski team where the air is so pure...that it is cold and dry enough to crack one's skin with sun-damaged faces and painfully chapped lips.

Searching for something effective and natural that is durable to endure the elements while soothing enough to heal the skin, their goal was to create a straight-forward, quick-acting skincare with active ingredients, smooth textures, and subtle fragrances, elemental enough for no-fuss men.

The clean-smelling, effective has been a big hit among straight-forward, results-driven women too, who don't want the coying smell of girlish sugar and vanilla (not that's anything wrong with that. Proper fragrances for proper place and time).  

Recipe for Men has driven a Movember contest, "Grow A Mo' Contest," where men are encouraged to grow their best mustaches, photograph them then post them on the company's facebook's page.  Supporting the efforts of those raising money for men's health, they're giving prizes to their favorite entries.  There were winners every week, you can enter your mo' at growamo@recipeformenusa.com until the end of this month.

Just because Movember is coming to an end, to make room for the holidays, now is the perfect time to try and use Recipe for Men for incoming snow, blizzard, and blistery winds.  Just what Recipe for Men is made for.

Shop eBay in Bliss. Not a Black & Blue Friday

By Laura Medina

Did waiting in line for a week got you all blue?  Did you had to do a Turkey Day BBQ because you were waiting in line for that kinda-sorta discount?

Are you spending more time and money in the emergency room because you really did got all black and blue busting a fight over that one and only discount?

Other than other notable Black Friday offers, let eBay's Buy in Bliss pampering event ease you into a more festive and luxurious mood for the holidays.

Ok, today is a good day to find discounts on rare European finds, such as London-based glittery Aruna Seth's pumps on www.arunaseth.com...

Ankar Sweden is Sweden's answer to London bespoken tailoring and Norway's Moods of Norway, WWW.ANKARSWEDEN.COM... 

You can do all that and shop on eBay for authentic sales and knock-down discounts on iPads at today's eBay's "Buy in Bliss" at Westwood's W Hotel's Bliss Spa.

Pick one, pick two, shoot...pick three at eBay's "Buy in Bliss" where you can shop on an iPad while patiently waiting in the Lounge...

While you shop and browse, you can make your hot cocoa or tea with a mini pitcher of honey, select some nibbles, or for the holidays, Bliss generously set up a tray of peppermint stick, a bowl of hot cocoa mix, and thermos of hot water, and mugs where you can mix in scoops of hot cocoa, pour in some hot water, then stir the mix all in with a peppermint stick.

Once your appointment is ready, you can take your iPad and your mug of peppermint hot cocoa to your waiting room.

Inside the spa room, you can shop while getting a "Sooth Your Stocking Stuffers" Foot Massage, and/or a mini "A Pedicure for Your Mistletoe" for a complete foot prep or top it off with a "We Wish You a Merry Manicure."

Whatever combo you do pick, you finished your shopping at a steeper discount on eBay without a bruise or broken bones, in a soothing atmosphere, the foot massage rubbed the knots out of your soles (or soul) then your finger tips and toes are all decorated in twinkly nail polish tinsel.

Recharge and done, you can use the holidays for the most important person in the world...yourself.

Hanz de Fuko for Movember and the Dads

By Laura Medina

Whether handsome, hipster Hollywood dads are raving about the ease of Hanz de Fuko's Quicksand pomade for easy molding and grip and standing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARhXPf4Ypqs

...or demostration of Sponge Wax, as above and in this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7reAAM31Tc&feature=bf_prev&list=PLD2B0E70B2E2D385E,  Hanz de Fuko Haircare is strong as it is organic.

Because of that, they's really supportive for Movemember.

If you want healthy, guilt-free hair, give Hanz de Fuko a try and watch this video, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ns0AodlxCOk then start rubbing and tufting.

http://www.hanzdefuko.com is where you can his products or at the Private Room in Beverly Hills.

November is for "Movember" Men's Health Month

By Laura Medina

We all know last month, October, was Breast Cancer Month.

Now, we're more concerned about stuffing our faces, on Thanksgiving, so we have enough fuel to stand in-line overnight so we can fight the crowds for knock-down discounts on Black Friday.

What most folks are forgetting is the new tradition..."Movember"...otherwise known as Men's Health Month.  What started out as Prostate and Testicle Cancer Awareness Month, has morphed into bringing awareness to health problems affecting men in general.  Modeling on the sociable Breast Cancer Month, Movember practitioners hold heart pressure screenings in barbershops.  They grow mustaches to bring awareness of men's health to the uninformed.

Their female counterparts wear necklaces with mustaches emblems to show their support. 

For the ladies, Dinair, the spray-on foundation company, is tossing in 10 mustache stencils and filling in their makeup compressors with dark foundation so you can spray on your "Movember" mustache.

Whether you’re feeling like a slick bandit, a charming Frenchmen or Hollywood’s Gable, Dinair has more than 10 styles for you to choose from.

Prices range from $6 - $32 for stencil and airbrush makeup kit begins at $29.99.

You can order your "Movember" mustache kit at www.airbrushmakeup.com.

Use the youtube guide in how to spray on your "Movember" mustache,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtPGjCsX8Hc&feature=youtu.be



You can learn more about Men's Health Care Month and get involved by visiting www.movember.com.

Expect more Movember or Dude-awareness awareness this week and later until the first day of December.

Don't forget the guys.

Target Teaming Up with Neiman Marcus for the Holidays

By Laura Medina

We all gotta thank Target for its generosity in forming our habit...ok, our addiction...to their limited edition designer collaborations.  Once in a lifetime moments that have us rushing our nearest Target or crashing its website in a nanosecond.  Some collections cause riots and fear in employees.

Fear not, fellow Target junkies.  In the spirit of holiday spirit of giving and giving back, the stellar constellation of established design legends, such as: Diane von Furstenburg, Carolina Herrea, Oscar de la Renta, Judith Leiber, Lela Rose, Marc Jacobs, Tracy Reese, and Robert Rodriguez, supported by the young, emerging vanguards of fashion: Alice + Olivia, Band of Outsiders, Brian Atwood, Derek Lam, Marchesa, Prabal Gurung, Proenza Schouler, rag & bone, Rodarte, Skaist-Taylor, Thom Browne, and Tory Burch, are teaming up with Target, through Neiman Marcus, to raise funds up to $1 Million for the Council of Fashion Designers of America.  The profits from this rare collaboration will fund and finance future generations of American fashion designers.

Alrighty...let's get to the heart of the matter...top shelf designer-quality clothes at mass-market prices.

What is really great for the holidays, you can obtain these goodies at Target stores, if those are the only things you have in your local area, or at Neiman Marcus, where the lucky few will get a kick at paying under $200 for established designer names...and they're fresh.  These items will be available on these stores' online sites, Target.com and NeimanMarcus.com as well.

This is the list of what will be the most desirable.  Thom Browne's white-piped, navy blazer.   Rag & Bones sweaters that comes with its an accompanying bar set and flask.  People can finally afford a Robert Rodriguez top or/and dress.  The same can be said for Lela Rose.  Moms..and dads can deck the halls with little dresses from Marchesa and Jason Wu.  Fur hat and vest by Skaist-Levy, Marc Jacobs scarf and Prabal Gurung's cape can easily top off exising wardrobes at Neiman Marcus quality at Target prices.

There are more than clothes here. This rare collaboration offers other top-shelf lifestyle and home decor options such as keepsake boxes, a bike, luggage, and a yoga mat.

Ever dream of owning a Judith Leiber but have nightmares about the price?  The Target/Neiman Marcus fairies banish that.  Starting December 1st, you can own a Judith Lieber mirror compact for under $100.

The all-encompassing Diane von Furstenberg gives you a peace of mind through her yoga mat then a keepsake/jewelry box for memories.  Alice + Olivia's bike and carry-on, roll-on luggage are the true girl-on-the-go.  Derek Lam's leopard-print slippers and skateboard are for all the young dudes.  Also for the young dudes or dudettes, Rag & Bones' bar set and flask.  Brian Atwood is the easiest to please with the classic combination of studded sunglasses in rose-colored lenses with a pair of studded, black leather gloves.

'Tis is the holiday where there is everything for everyone for every budget.

This rare high-low fashion cosmic bang will occur, around the corner, on December 1st.