Lifestyle

  • 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 too little, there are all those unglamorous, more minor awards (I don’t know about you, but I struggle to sit with rapt attention while the nominees for Best Sound Mixing and Best Live Action Short Film are called out) and by the time the exciting prizes (and exciting winners) are announced, I am generally asleep. Or I would be, but for the fashion. The dresses at the Oscars are more riveting a... [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]
  • 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]
  • 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]
  • 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]
  • 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]
  • 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]
  • 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]
  • 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]
  • 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]
  • 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]
  • 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]
  • 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]
  • OUT OF OFFICE
    Friday, 30th October 2009
    TIMOTHY BARBER
    LE MISANTHROPE IN THE CITYThe buzz in theatreland may be all about Keira Knightley’s forthcoming appearance in a production of Moliere’s French farce, Le Misanthrope, but the Bridewell... [Read more]
  • KEEP YOUR OUTFITS FOR WORK AND FOR HOME SEPARATE
    Friday, 30th October 2009
    Sara HollambyStyle Counsel THERE’S nothing quite like that Friday night feeling. Coming home from a hard week’s work, changing out of your suit into your jeans and an old cardi and... [Read more]
  • Far more than just a pretty face
    Friday, 30th October 2009
    Timothy Barber picks the latest watches for the discerning gent
    Timothy Barber
    BAUME & MERCIERHampton Square Magnum Chrono, £5,395Swiss watchmaker Baume & Mercier specialises in elegant modern timepieces, though this square watch is a step into something a bit... [Read more]
  • Goodbye to the pinstripe: City boys embrace a subtler style
    Friday, 23rd October 2009
    Whether you're buying your suit off the peg or having it made, choosing the right fabric and pattern is key
    Timothy Barber
    THE pinstripe might be the fashion statement for which the City is best known, but it’s not a statement people are making too stridently this winter. A couple of years ago, when markets, banks... [Read more]
  • BEWARE BAD COLLARS
    Friday, 23rd October 2009
    Sara HollambyStyle Counsel More and more men are discarding their ties at work. You may feel more comfortable, but business casual can too easily become “business untidy” if you’re... [Read more]
  • Big is beautiful
    Monday, 19th October 2009
    Boxy, soft, glossy or casual, tote bags are one stylish way to carry your stuff
    Zoe Strimpel
    Westbourne Tote, Radley, £250Character in a bag.www.radley.co.uk Leather Studded Tote, Miu Miu, £920Bang on trend with the studs, but understated.www.netaporter.com Eton Bag, Aspinal... [Read more]
  • How to make a mammoth style statement
    Friday, 9th October 2009
    Cufflinks made from a fossil fragment are one way to stand out from the run-of-the-mill City crowd, writes Jeremy Hazlehurst
    Jeremy Hazlehurst
    IN THESE sartorially dismal times, when white shirts and grey suits are the name of the game in the Square Mile, a man has to be subtle with those little flourishes that add a bit of pizzazz to his... [Read more]
  • TIME TO USHER IN AUTUMN WARDROBE
    Friday, 9th October 2009
    SARA HOLLAMBY STYLE COUNSEL
    EVEN though we’re still having some warm sunny days, the sartorial summer is officially over. Its very tempting to get the last few wears of that summery dress while the sun is still shining,... [Read more]
  • OUT OF OFFICE
    Friday, 9th October 2009
    ZOE STRIMPEL
    MAHARAJA AT THE V&AThink thrones, gem-encrusted weapons, Rolls Royces – such were the trappings of the Maharajas that ruled from the collapse of the Mughal empire in the early 18th century... [Read more]
  • She came in as a scruffbag and left ready to conquer Goldman's
    Monday, 5th October 2009
    A new service provides invaluable advice on dressing for job interviews,
    ZOE STRIMPEL
    AT LAST, after a hideous year, firms are hiring again.  But to stand out from the crowd stampeding back to the job market, you’ll need to do everything in your power to look the part.... [Read more]
  • TIPS DRESSING TO IMPRESS
    Monday, 5th October 2009
    If your budget is limited, choose key items from seasons past that can be brought up to date with simple alterations – a brilliant way to spend less on must-have pieces. “Add a pair of... [Read more]
  • Fashion shoot
    Friday, 2nd October 2009
    Look stylish on the moors with a modern take on tradition, writes Timothy Barber
    Timothy Barber
    MEN’S KHAKI CHECK FUNNEL NECK COAT, VIYELLA£329www.austinread.co.uk, 01845 579 135 MEN’S HACKING JACKET, WILLIAM & SON£445www.williamandson.com, 0207 7493 8385 WOMEN... [Read more]
  • ALWAYS ADD A BIT OF COLOUR
    Friday, 2nd October 2009
    SARA HOLLAMBY STYLE COUNSEL
    SARA HOLLAMBY
    TWO weeks after London Fashion Week, I am still thinking about all the styles that the fashionistas in attendance wore. Well, 98 per cent of the trendy young things wore black from top to toe, and... [Read more]
  • Suiting gets serious in the City as retro styles return
    Friday, 25th September 2009
    In tough times it pays to go classic, with just a twist of colour
    Jeremy Hazlehurst
    PINK shorts, fox-fur capes and metallic trousers might be what passes for menswear at London Fashion Week, but in the real world things are very different. In the City at the moment, the fashion... [Read more]
  • Vitamin cocktails and mango soup: fashion food hits London
    Monday, 21st September 2009
    The capital is abuzz with cocktails, dinner menus and afternoon teas that pay tribute to London Fashion Week
    ZOE STRIMPEL
    LULU GUINNESS DESIGNER TEA The Metropolitan Hotel, home of the original London Nobu, is delivering its fashion week offering in typical high style. Enter the Lulu Guinness designed “afternoon... [Read more]
  • WATCH THOSE LEGGINGS
    Friday, 18th September 2009
    Sara Hollamby Style CounselI WAS walking round my town’s centre the other day, and saw at least two young (ish) women wearing leggings with a strap top, that went down to to the waist. In other... [Read more]
  • How to wear the 80s to work
    Friday, 18th September 2009
    Sequins and ankle boots: it's the dawn of an old era
    Zoe Strimpel
    LONDON FashionWeek begins today and with it, the unofficial start to autumn and autumnal dressing.Yes, the catwalks will be full of next season’s spring/summer clothes, but they can still serve... [Read more]
  • Keep it stylish to keep dry
    Tuesday, 15th September 2009
    It's time to bring out a British style classic, the raincoat
    Timothy Barber
    WITH autumnal showers looming, a natty raincoat is an essential part of every self-respecting gent’s wardrobe – and it’s an item as British as a Savile Row suit. Burberry first... [Read more]
  • A SUIT IT'S OKAY TO SPLIT
    Tuesday, 15th September 2009
    Sara Hollamby Style Counsel
    MY female clients continually ask me advice on how to look smart and professional enough for important meetings, which they have to attend almost daily, yet casual enough to fit in with a hard... [Read more]
  • MAKING HOLS EASY
    Friday, 4th September 2009
    Sara HollambyStyle Counsel HAVING just come back from a blissful two-week break on a beach in the sun, I’ve washed and ironed all my beach holiday clothes. It dawned on me that year after year... [Read more]
  • Kate's smart move
    Friday, 4th September 2009
    Smarten up in a sharp, bright jacket
    Zoe Strimpel
    KATE Moss’s latest collection for Top Shop has hit the ground running, as usual. But among the most sought- after pieces are her jackets, ranging from a sexy striped blazer (above) to a Russian... [Read more]
  • Down to earth style
    Friday, 21st August 2009
    Flat shoes are far from frumpy. In fact, they're fashion's new darlings
    Catherine Slattery
    WHAT a coincidence. Two weeks after the Trade Union Congress declared high heels a menace to health in the workplace, flat shoes have surged to the fore as the must-have fashion accessory for fall.... [Read more]
  • Breaking the Speedo limit
    Friday, 14th August 2009
    Unless your dad's in them, tight trunks are a woman's best friend
    Zoe Strimpel
    HATS off to Alton Towers for banning Speedos. If only the same spirit had been present in the pools and beaches I frequented as a child on holiday with my family. The now-famous French swimming pool... [Read more]
  • Pumping it up for the summer
    Friday, 7th August 2009
    The plimsoll has been resurrected
    Timothy Barber
    THE tricky question of what footwear a chap should sport with his shorts raises its head every summer, and never gets properly resolved (though there’s one iron rule – leave those socks... [Read more]
  • DRESSES IN THE OFFICE
    Friday, 17th July 2009
    Sara HollambyStyle Counsel IWAS talking to a friend the other day about wearing dresses at the office – are they suitable and high-powered enough for the City? Dresses are certainly very... [Read more]
  • The lady with the power of heeling
    Friday, 17th July 2009
    Olga Berluti makes some of the finest gentlemen's shoes around
    Timothy Barber
    FOR more than a century, we have been heeling exceptional people,” says Olga Berluti, doyenne of the bespoke shoe business and maker of some of the most sought-after men’s footwear around... [Read more]
  • HOW TO BE A BEACH BABE WITH EASE
    Friday, 10th July 2009
    Sara HollambyStyle CounselIT’S so easy for all sense of style to get washed away in the waves on holiday, when you’re hot and sticky and covered in a fine layer of salt, sand and pink... [Read more]
  • Bringing summer to the office
    Friday, 10th July 2009
    Follow a few simple hot weather fashion rules for work
    Zoe Strimpel
    IT’S a question that bothers all professional ladies in the summer months. How can we dress in a summery way but also appropriately for work? Summer dresses are a world of potential... [Read more]
  • Covering up in style
    Friday, 3rd July 2009
    There's nothing like feeling 100 per cent confident when you're in your swimsuit. The right kaftan will help
    ZoeStrimpel
    GOING to the beach is a whole fashion experience. Think you can get away with your swimsuit and an old T-shirt or sundress? No way. The sun, sand, sea or pool call for a lot more. Leaving aside totes... [Read more]
  • TALKING OF MEN'S SHIRTS...
    Friday, 3rd July 2009
    Sara Hollamby Style Counsel
    Sara Hollamby Style Counsel WHAT is the most important item of clothing a man could wear for work? Well in my opinion, it’s not necessarily his suit, although good quality tailoring is vital... [Read more]
  • Brighter SHADES
    Thursday, 2nd July 2009
    Aviators are where it's at this summer, with a bit of added colour
    Timothy Barber
    WHEN aviator shades came back into fashion a few years ago, there was more than a whiff of retro about them. It was either about nailing that Donnie Brasco look from the Seventies, or the mirror-... [Read more]