Keep it stylish to keep dry September 14, 2009 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 managed the leap from functional to stylish with its WWI invention of the trench coat – a piece of military-wear so snazzy it remains a [...]
A SUIT IT’S OKAY TO SPLIT September 14, 2009 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 working week in a “business casual” environment. I like the idea of a separate jacket with co-ordinating trousers or skirt in [...]
OUT OF OFFICE September 14, 2009 KURT & SIDWhat would have happened if Kurt Cobain and Sid Vicious had ever met? Probably the mother of all hard drugs blow-outs, but writer Roy Smiles looks for something more meaningful in this look at fame, addiction and rock music. On the cusp of his famous shotgun suicide at his home in Seattle, Nirvana-frontman [...]
In Paris, foie gras has been replaced by spelt September 14, 2009 Coeur de JardinPlaza Athenee25 Avenue Montaigne75008Tel: (33) 15367 6665FOOD SERVICEATMOSPHERECost per person without wine: €95 FRENCH food is all about fat: fatty saucisson, foie gras, Roquefort and creme brulee. At least that’s what I thought, until I had lunch at Coeur de Jardin, the outdoor restaurant at the opulent Plaza Athenee hotel, located in the [...]
THREE OTHER HEALTHY RESTAURANTS September 14, 2009 SAF152-154 Curtain Rd, EC2A 3AT. Tel: 020 7613 0007London’s chicest vegan restaurant (it calls itself a “botanical” for crying out loud) is for hipsters, not hippies. A rainbow of juices, cocktails and organic and biodynamic wine accompany food like courgette pad thai, nut cheeses, mushroom stews, parsnip sushi and beetroot ravioli. Cleansing options include kale [...]
EC sees Euro area growing September 14, 2009 THE Eurozone is coming out of recession thanks to monetary and fiscal stimuli, the European Commission (EC) said yesterday in its interim forecast. But its outlook for the rest of the year remained gloomy as unemployment reached a 10-year high and industrial production disappointed. The EC still expects GDP in the Eurozone to contract by [...]
Lack of supply lifts house prices as mortgage lending increases September 14, 2009 HOUSE prices rose in August for the first time in two years, new data from the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)showed yesterday, providing further evidence that activity in the housing market is improving. The seasonally-adjusted net balance of surveyors reporting rising rather than falling prices over the quarter to August turned positive with a [...]
Moody’s sees more pain for British banks September 14, 2009 BRITAIN’S banking crisis is far from over, credit ratings agency Moody’s said yesterday, with adverse macroeconomic conditions likely to weigh on their profitability for months to come. In its new UK Banking System Outlook, Moody’s signalled continuing pain for beleaguered British lenders, due to the likelihood that unemployment will rise, forcing struggling borrowers to default [...]
Kentz set to bid for more LNG work at Gorgon September 14, 2009 KENTZ, the Irish oil and gas group, said yesterday it would bid for more contracts at the Gorgon liquefied natural gas (LNG) mining project, and saw its first-half profits rise 10 per cent. Chief executive Hugh O’Donnell said the firm would put up between $400m (£241m) and $500m for the contracts at Gorgon, a project [...]
WHAT IS THE OUTLOOK FOR KENTZ? September 14, 2009 KEITH MORRIS EVOLUTIONKentz’s focus on engineering and construction in growth areas continues to impress. Improving margins on flat revenue, a 38 per cent increase in the backlog this year and larger cash reserves all point to strong profits growth underpinned by good visibility.MALCOLM GRAHAM-WOOD HANSONWESTHOUSEKentz delivered the goods in the first half and with a [...]