Lifestyle

  • Looking good, kid: autumn style
    Friday, 27th August 2010
    Cute patterns and grown-up looks are both par for the course
    Zoe Strimpel
    WHEN I was a child in the US, back-to-school fashion (we didn’t have uniforms) was a matter of two new scrunchie hairbands and a new pair of spandex rose-patterned cycle shorts. Oh, and a side pony tail. These days, kids from middle class families are expected to be almost as fashionable as their parents. More so even, if the September launch of a babies and kids version of super-luxury online retailer Net a Porter, means anything. Your kids, from babies to teens, can wear Burberry, Dior, Prada and Armani. But whether you’re in the market for trendy togs or just plain fun for your kids,... [Read more]

  • What to wear in the sea
    Friday, 16th July 2010
    Ditch those baggy board shorts for something smarter
    Timothy Barber
    If you’re heading for the beach this summer, it doesn’t mean you have to look like a beach bum when you’re there. Those vast, baggy board shorts in garish patterns might be fine for a teenager but... [Read more]
  • WATCHES WITH ELEGANCE, SIMPLICITY AND HISTORY
    Friday, 16th July 2010
    IWC PORTUGUESE YACHT CLUB CHRONOGRAPH Perhaps now more than ever, clarity, simplicity and elegance are virtues in the world of watches. The chunky, look-at-me styles of the recent past have lost out... [Read more]
  • Retro styles and honey tones for stylish specs
    Friday, 16th July 2010
    Timothy Barber
    RETRO is a big theme in fashionable glasses at the moment as well as in swimming trunks. Like so much else, it’s partly to do with the influence that Mad Men has had on men’s style, with thick rimmed... [Read more]

  • Sizzle in your swimwear
    Friday, 9th July 2010
    The season’s cozzies flatter curves
    Zoe Strimpel
    IT was reported last week that women spend more on their swimwear than they do on their holidays. This either means that their holidays are very cheap or that their swimsuits are amazingly expensive... [Read more]
  • TREND WATCH: UNDERWEAR AS OUTWEAR
    Friday, 9th July 2010
    HOORAY: A BRA WITH STRAPS YOU ACTUALLY WANT TO FLAUNT
    ZOE STRIMPEL
    UNLESS you happen to have the figure of Kate Moss, going bra-free – or even strapless – is not usually an option. Fuller-chested women need proper bras, straps ‘n’ all. Problem is,when it comes... [Read more]
  • The classic, lightweight summer look
    Friday, 2nd July 2010
    Linen can be trad and contemporary
    Timothy Barber
    AMONG the less heralded achievements of the Victorians was the invention of the male linen suit – heavy wool was hardly the material in which to go lording it over the colonies. Still a summer staple... [Read more]
  • Put colour back in your pocket
    Friday, 2nd July 2010
    SINCE men everywhere fell under the spell of Don Draper, a neat white strip in the breast pocket has been a de rigueur suit accessory. It helped too that the crisp lines and white on grey tones... [Read more]
  • How to look sharp in shorts...
    Friday, 25th June 2010
    Men can add style to their summer look with the right pair, says Timothy Barber
    Timothy Barber
    FOR men, wearing shorts is potentially even more of a minefield than it is for women. In the 70s and 80s they were too short, in the 90s they became vast and billowing, and in the Noughties they... [Read more]
  • WEAR YOUR LEGS TO WORK, BUT CAREFULLY
    Friday, 25th June 2010
    SARA HOLLAMBY STYLE COUNSEL
    WEARING shorts to work in the hot weather seems like the perfect solution. Obviously you wouldn’t wear “short” shorts, but the “City” style shorts that are tailored with a cuff and come to just above... [Read more]
  • How to fill your pockets
    Monday, 14th June 2010
    Nothing says style quite like a subtly plush, richly crafted wallet
    Timothy Barber
    1 Aspinal of London billfold coin wallet, £59, www.aspinaloflondon.com 2 Mulberry zip around wallet, £165, www.mulberry.com 3 Louis Vuitton Utah leather cards and bill holder, £375, www.... [Read more]
  • TO VENT? OR JUST TO FLAP
    Monday, 14th June 2010
    Tim Barber
    Style Counsel CAMERON and Clegg may be just about succeeding in diverting attention away from their differences, but as any seasoned politico will know, it’s in the fine details that things get... [Read more]
  • MEN’S FASHION NEWS
    Monday, 14th June 2010
    TIMOTHY BARBER
    CITY GETS GIEVES AND HAWKES Anyone walking through Leadenhall Market recently should have noticed the arrival of the spectacularly swanky new shop from Savile Row tailoring institution Gieves &... [Read more]
  • Be inspired by the nautical look
    Friday, 4th June 2010
    Dress for the yacht, terrace or beach
    Zoe Strimpel and Timothy Barber
    1 Stripey blue and white dress, Lacoste, £130, www.lacoste.com 2 Sacha shell bracelet, Lola Rose, £65, www.lolarose.co.uk 3 Crystal detail sandals, Giuseppe Zanotti, £720, www.netaporter.com 4 Big... [Read more]
  • POLISH UP FOR PEEP-TOE SEASON
    Friday, 4th June 2010
    Sara Hollamby Style Counsel THIS weekend I’m thinking close friends, glass of rose, tantalizing aromas from the barbie, bare shoulders, and a scent of roses – could it be a more perfect English... [Read more]
  • Cocktail hats for Ascot... and every other day
    Friday, 21st May 2010
    A young designer tells Zoe Strimpel why the right cap can help you hold your head high
    Zoe Strimpel
    CHANCES are, when you meet Sahar Freemantle you will be slightly stopped in your tracks. Not only is she a striking combination of an Iranian mother and English father (hence the name), she will... [Read more]
  • Understated and ineffably English
    Friday, 21st May 2010
    There’s no need to mess with the classic morning suit style
    Timothy Barber
    WHETHER it’s for Ascot or a wedding, wearing a morning suit is a chance for a chap to look at his ineffable best – it should never be seen as a chore. There’s a reason why morning dress is perhaps... [Read more]
  • The doyenne of British fashion talks Ascot style
    Friday, 14th May 2010
    Amanda Wakeley tells Zoe Strimpel how to look fab at the races – and beyond
    Zoe Strimpel
    GOD knows how I’ll manage to be in heels for Ascot,” says Amanda Wakeley, OBE for services to British fashion, savvy businesswoman and recent recipient of knee surgery following daredevil skiing.... [Read more]
  • Watches to wear in Monaco this weekend
    Friday, 14th May 2010
    Timothy Barber
    THE worlds of motor racing and stylish watches have always been a natural fit. Glamour and prestige, advanced engineering and pinpoint timing are their shared values, not to mention the fact that... [Read more]
  • The girl that’s helping City ladies sparkle
    Friday, 7th May 2010
    Lauren Adriana is on a mission to transform British women’s relationship with jewellery. It’s all about confidence
    Zoe Strimpel
    LAUREN Adriana could have taken the easy route of gliding, It-Girl style, through her twenties. At 24, she is fashion aristocracy, being the grand-daughter of designer Paul Smith and the child of... [Read more]
  • Ladies’ watches go sporty for summer
    Friday, 30th April 2010
    The new season of feminine time pieces celebrates functionality over bling
    Zoe Strimpel
    THE boom-time days of watches looking more like rainbow-jewelled bling machines than time-pieces are over. At Basel this year, ladies’ watches had more focus and discipline, and tended to be either... [Read more]
  • DANGERS OF CASUAL-WEAR WORKPLACE
    Friday, 30th April 2010
    Sara Hollamby Style Counsel THE term “business casual” is adopted by many large corporations in the City as a description of their dress code. Yet the “business” bit of the term often gets forgotten... [Read more]
  • WHY YELLOW AIN’T GREAT FOR WHITE
    Friday, 23rd April 2010
    Sara Hollamby Style Counsel BLAME his party’s colour, but Nick Clegg has demonstrated a fondness for yellow ties in recent months, the result being that he tends to look rather washed out. Yellow is... [Read more]
  • Know your Derbys from your Oxfords
    Friday, 23rd April 2010
    Make an investment in your image with classic English footwear
    Timothy Barber
    WHILE it’s tempting for a chap to slink to work each day in the same tatty lace-ups he’s owned for years, a pair of fine, handmade English shoes is a worthwhile investment for any City gent worth his... [Read more]
  • Add some colour to last year’s togs
    Friday, 16th April 2010
    Sara Hollamby Style Counsel DESPITE the chilly wind, it’s time to do your spring-wear change-over. Say cheerio to your clothes for six months or so, and bring out your spring and summer colours – it... [Read more]
  • HOW TO JAZZ UP LAST SUMMER’S WARDROBE
    Friday, 16th April 2010
    1 Hobbs Siena woven belt in lime, £49, at John Lewis, www.johnlewis.com 2 Jennifer Ouellette Norma sequined knot head band, £56.20, www.netaporter.com 3 Top Shop Leather Trim Aviators, £15, www.... [Read more]
  • April showers mean that it’s time to belt up
    Friday, 9th April 2010
    Lightweight coats for the spring can be elegant and stylish
    Timothy Barber
    EARLY spring can introduce a bit of a style conundrum for men. It’s too warm for a bulky overcoat, but if you revert to your suit jacket and a brolly you’ll feel the pinch on a windy day or in the... [Read more]
  • JEANS ARE FIT FOR THE RITZ SO SPLASH OUT
    Friday, 9th April 2010
    Style Counsel
    Sara Hollamby
    JEANS are cool – just ask the Ritz, which recently relaxed its dress code to allow denim into its dining room. But buying jeans is a minefield. There are so many choices – boyfriend, skinny, tapered... [Read more]
  • ALSO OUT THIS WEEKEND
    Friday, 19th March 2010
    PREVIEWS
    FILM OLD DOGS Comedy with John Travolta and Robin Williams as execs forced to look after kids. MY LAST FIVE GIRLFRIENDS Brit rom com adapted from Alain de Botton book. Yes, really. THE SCOUTING BOOK... [Read more]
  • Knitwear for the neck
    Friday, 19th March 2010
    Well-dressed gents are reviving the old-fashioned style of knitted ties
    Timothy Barber
    NOT very long ago, knitted ties were seen as pretty much a no-go area for anyone other than the fustiest of ageing academics, but no more. The the skinny tie trend – initially a casual look, but... [Read more]
  • If you want to shake a leg, fake your tan
    Friday, 19th March 2010
    In the City, even with brown legs, you should always wear tights, but at least you know they look bronzed underneath
    Sara Hollamby
    I CAN’T wait to get out of tights and trousers, so when the sun came out this week I had dreams of going bare legged – rather prematurely I fear. Bare legs in spring when it’s not quite warm enough... [Read more]
  • Be inspired by these luscious Oscar dresses
    Tuesday, 9th March 2010
    The red carpet offers frock ideas aplenty for ordinary women
    Zoe Strimpel
    THE problem with the Oscars is that the razzle dazzle of the red carpet fizzles all too quickly once everyone is indoors and the awards actually start up. The speeches often go on too long and say... [Read more]
  • All hail the queen of Savile Row
    Monday, 8th March 2010
    The most senior woman in London tailoring tells Zoe Strimpel why she loves her new job
    Zoe Strimpel
    KATHRYN Sargent is the first female master cutter on Savile Row. This is the most senior role at any bespoke suit-maker, the person responsible for meeting the client, sizing them up and making the... [Read more]
  • London’s new power couple
    Friday, 5th March 2010
    Zoe Strimpel meets the two women behind Mayfair’s most elegant shop
    Zoe Strimpel
    THE day I meet Carolina Herrera and her business partner and daughter, also called Carolina Herrera, I am foolishly wearing trainers. It is the wrong choice. Not because they are in any way snooty,... [Read more]
  • Treat yourself to a top tote
    Friday, 5th March 2010
    Gorgeous, bright bags are always in
    Zoe Strimpel
    1 Ostrich leather duffel bag, William &?Son, £2650, www.williamandson.com 2 Daria drawstring tote, Mulberry, £795, www.mulberry.com 3 Fabien bag, Jimmy Choo, £925, www.jimmychoo.com 4 Tate... [Read more]
  • MEN: GO AND GET MEASURED
    Friday, 5th March 2010
    Sara Hollamby Style Counsel A SHARP suit is an important investment – get it right, and it makes you feel so good that it’s worth the hefty price tag. A quality suit should last many years and make... [Read more]
  • Fashion week is far from pointless
    Friday, 26th February 2010
    The shocking clothes and social whirl all serve a purpose with a bottom line
    Zoe Strimpel
    ANOTHER fashion week has finished and London has gone back to its (slightly) less glamorous self. The international circus of celebrity will return to wherever it came from for the six-month hiatus... [Read more]
  • Putting a spin on humble sneakers
    Friday, 26th February 2010
    Sneakers say a lot about you, so choose with care
    Jeremy Hazlehurst
    THEY’RE a funny thing, trainers. They are as much a part of a man’s functional wardrobe as jeans, but unlike jeans, they are also very expressive. Hip Camden Converse wearers are a different tribe to... [Read more]
  • NO KILLER HEELS FOR ME
    Friday, 26th February 2010
    Sara Hollamby
    SKY-high heels were everywhere at Fashion Week, elongating the models even more for the catwalk. But what about the rest of us? I’ve been trying to walk around in some of these vertiginous shoes sold... [Read more]
  • Why the City’s women are going bespoke
    Friday, 19th February 2010
    Made-to-measure tailoring is the best way to look sharp and feel good
    Zoe Strimpel
    SAVILE Row is a male-dominated environment, but women are increasingly alive to the joys of getting something that fits them – and only them ?– rather than making do with off-the-peg clothes. There’s... [Read more]
  • HOW TO TAKE TEN YEARS OFF
    Friday, 19th February 2010
    Sara Hollamby
    I HAD a very pleasant shopping experience yesterday. On my way to check out the new spring businesswear, Claire on the Clinique counter sidetracked me by offering me a “lip consultation”. Well, this... [Read more]
  • RED DRESSES IN FOR SPRING
    Monday, 15th February 2010
    Sara Hollamby Style Counsel
    LAST Friday was “wear red day” in the States, in support of the American Heart Association. Here in London, although red is a huge colour for spring, there appears to be some trepidation amongst City... [Read more]
  • The return of the plain white shirt
    Monday, 15th February 2010
    The starting point for the classic suited look has become cool again, says Timothy Barber
    Timothy Barber
    THE white shirt is to men what the little black dress is to women – it goes with anything, can be extremely formal or stylishly casual, and everyone has one. In fact, every chap should have several,... [Read more]
  • Suits with the kecks factor
    Friday, 29th January 2010
    When it comes to women’s work wear, the trouser suit gets a bad press, but if you get it right it can be fabulous
    Zoe Strimpel
    FOR all its strengths, the trouser suit does not have the glamorous reputation of its older but sexier sister, the skirt suit. But if you’re the sort of woman who prefers to have her legs warmly... [Read more]
  • GET MOISTURE IN THAT SKIN
    Friday, 29th January 2010
    Sara Hollamby
    Sara Hollamby Style Counsel I’M so pleased the snow is finally on its way out, not because of the commuting chaos it caused, or because I’m bored with my “really warm” clothes. No, it’s because the... [Read more]
  • OUT OF OFFICE
    Friday, 29th January 2010
    ZOE STRIMPEL
    MOHI MATAL’S SPICE MASTERCLASS Learn to know your cumin from your garam masala at Holborn restaurant Moti Mahal’s spice-blending masterclasses, where you will be taught by head chef Anirudh Arora how... [Read more]
  • COSY AND TOUGH IS THE KEY FOR WINTER BOOTS
    Friday, 15th January 2010
    Sara Hollamby Style Counsel IT’S not until you get extreme weather like this that you suddenly realise how totally useless your best fashion boots are for outside wear. With this amount of snow and... [Read more]
  • Learn to make the most of your neckwear
    Friday, 15th January 2010
    Your tie is every bit as important as your suit and shirt, and the right knot is vital to looking sharp
    Jeremy Hazlehurst
    WHEN you get up in the morning and blearily pull a tie around your neck, you might be forgiven if all you care about is tying it in such way that it stays on and doesn’t make you look like a... [Read more]
  • Getting to the BOTTOM of ladies’ underwear
    Friday, 18th December 2009
    Buying a partner lingerie for Christmas can be every man’s nightmare, but a little help goes a long way
    Ben Griffiths
    You know the feeling. It’s two days before Christmas and there is a creeping sense of dread threatening to ruin your festive spirit. So far seasonal cheer has extended to quaffing too many glasses of... [Read more]
  • Say pants to those dull boxers
    Friday, 18th December 2009
    Fun patterns and loud colours mean men shouldn’t have to settle for boring undies anymore
    Paul Smith Striped boxer shorts Price: £30 www.paulsmith.com Ted Baker Soball printed trunks Price: £18 www.tedbaker.com Topman Turquoise bright check trunks Price: £6 www.topman.com Calvin Klein... [Read more]
  • MEN: IT’S TIME TO SAY YES TO THOSE MOOBS
    Friday, 18th December 2009
    Jeremy Hazlehurst Style Counsel FOR men, there are sure-fire signs that you are getting older. You start getting an urge to ruffle the hair of young boys. Everybody in the England football team is... [Read more]
  • HOW TO ROCK A SHORT SKIRT IN THE CITY
    Friday, 4th December 2009
    Sara HollambyStyle CounselI FIND it scary when the hemlines go up, short skirts filter into the City, and anyone over 45 questions whether they should go with it, or sink into Nora Battyness. ... [Read more]
  • Winter warmers with a touch of luxe
    Friday, 4th December 2009
    Sumptuous fabrics and clever design are everywhere this winter. Welcome to the new cosy
    Zoe Strimpel
    Mohair-blend tartan shawl, Vivienne Westwood Red Label, £330www.netaporter.com Two-tone horizontal cashmere Stole, Denis Colomb, £485 ww.netaporter.com Crochet knit lurex shawl, Missoni... [Read more]
  • EARN YOUR STRIPES
    Friday, 4th December 2009
    Club ties are essential for the well dressed gent
    Timothy Barber
    1. Austin Reed, £35www.austinreed.com 2. Thomas Pink £55www.thomaspink.com 3. Brooks Brothers £59www.brooksbrothers.com 4. Simon Carter £49www.simoncarter.net 5. Gieves &... [Read more]
  • Festive fashion should be sexy and smart
    Friday, 27th November 2009
    Let your hair down with dresses that say "party time", but tastefully
    Zoe Strimpel
    METALLIC JACQUARD DRESS, OSCAR DE LA RENTA£230www.netaporter.com LINEAR EMBELLISHED SHOULDER DRESS, WAREHOUSE£80www.johnlewis.com SPACE STRAP FRILL DRESS, TOPSHOP£70www.topshop.com... [Read more]
  • POWER-DRESS LIKE A LADY
    Friday, 27th November 2009
    Sara HollambyStyle Counsel THANKS to a 19th century decree, Parisian women are – apparently – banned from wearing trousers, because it says that women should not dress like men. Maybe... [Read more]
  • WHY MAGIC KNICKERS RULE
    Friday, 20th November 2009
    Sara Hollamby Style Counsel
    THERE are some fabulous sweater dresses around at the moment which are smart and cosy, easy and comfortable to wear, and which would be ideal for wearing to the office.  However, for most women... [Read more]
  • Back to BLACK
    Friday, 20th November 2009
    When it comes to shoes, conservatism is the thing
    Jeremy Hazlehurst
    AFEW years ago a friend of mine walked into a restaurant, only for the chap he was meeting to point at his shoes and gasp: “Brown!” For many in the City, shoes were traditionally black.... [Read more]
  • Off-piste style for the slopes
    Friday, 13th November 2009
    There's no point skiing in the Alps if you don't look the part
    Zoe Strimpel
    SKI season’s here and while it’s the quality of the snow that counts (of course), it’s also important to look the part. You don’t want to be caught out in frumpy, worn out... [Read more]
  • Make a stylish statement with this season's winter coats
    Friday, 13th November 2009
    Be chic when you wrap up for the cold
    Zoe Strimpel
    JOHN Lewis today announced some shocking news – sales of winter coats have shot up as a result of the current cold snap. Once you’ve recovered from this mind-bending news, you may realise... [Read more]
  • EMBRACE YOUR TIES, CHAPS
    Friday, 13th November 2009
    Sara HollambyStyle Counsel IF women wore ties, I’d be first in line. They are the male equivalent of jewellery and scarves but possibly with even more attitude. Men often say to me: “Oh... [Read more]
  • Family time or fun in the sun for Xmas?
    Wednesday, 11th November 2009
    VEXED IN THE CITYSOLVING YOUR RECESSION PROBLEMS DEAR VEXED: I’ve been with my new girlfriend for six months and I’m absolutely mad about her. I planned to take her away for a surprise... [Read more]
  • Character & colour
    Wednesday, 11th November 2009
    Timothy Barber picks some classic overcoats and striking scarves for winter in the City
    Timothy Barber
    CHOOSING an overcoat is a serious business. Likely to be the most substantial item in your wardrobe, your outer shell in winter needs to speak of your character and integrity as much as your fashion... [Read more]
  • What lies beneath
    Tuesday, 10th November 2009
    Does wearing sexy underwear improve performance at work?
    ZOE STRIMPEL
    WHEN rumour broke that law firm Clifford Chance’s female employees were being given a £90 allowance to buy fresh knickers after all-nighters at the office, our first thought, perhaps... [Read more]