Galaxy Book Club

Last month we were sent a couple of books to review from the Galaxy Book Club, we asked for two copies of the same book so we could have a Freak Deluxe Book Club (if only for a couple of weeks).

Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger was our book of choice, we couldn’t go wrong with the follow up to such a successful debut novel (The Time-Traveler’s Wife), or so we thought.

Her Fearful Symmetry starts well, it’s always a good start when something big happens withing the first two pages. Elspeth Noblin dies of leukaemia age 44, her lover Robert is left to clear up her belongings in the flat that she has left to her (annoying) 20yr old nieces from Chicago. Elspeth is somehow confined to her flat, on the edge of Highgate Cemetery as a ghost.

For the most part Her Fearful Symmetry is more a book about twins and the bonds that tie them. Elspeth’s twin nieces are the daughters of Elspeth’s twin sister Edie. An independent person might find the nieces incredibly annoying, they’re almost 21yrs old, have fairly “normal” parents, yet stick to each other like glue, dress the same, live a fairly sheltered life and behave like they are 7yrs old.

Quite a way into the book, nothing really “fearful” has happened, apart from the fact that the flat back onto a cemetery. Maybe it’s the fact that the twins look so alike, and resemble their dead aunt so much that her lover may want to stalk them. For half of the book, you’re constantly thinking “is the aunt really the mother and the mother the aunt?” and “what happened between the adult twins for them not to have spoken for nearly 20yrs?”

With The Time-Traveler’s Wife it feels as though Niffenegger was writing a “What if?” and going with the flow; with Her Fearful Symmetry it feels like she was writing a book for film with each and every little detail written down from sewing a dress to every detail of a journey on the tube.

If you have big ideals about moving to the Big Smoke, and enjoy stories about love, loss, and obsession then this is the book for you. We’re going to buy some more promotional packets of Galaxy chocolate to see if we can get Lisa Jewell’s novel The Truth About Melody Browne.

The Galaxy Book Club runs until the 21st May 2011. Make sure you enter, books and Galaxy chocolate are made to go together!

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Elin Kling <3 H&M

Stockholm has long been a fashion capital to the fashion savvy. What with some of the top fashion blogs in the blogosphere coming from Sweden, it makes perfect sense that Swedish high street brand H&M would have it’s first blogger collaboration with Elin Kling.

This marks the first time the major retailer has teamed up with a fashion blogger. H&M is popular for its collaborations between its budget-conscious brand and haute couture designers, such as Viktor & Rolf, Matthew Williamson, Karl Lagerfeld, Stella McCartney, Commes des Garçons, and most recent Lanvin.

The 11 piece collection designed by the Swedish blogger includes modern and simple designs in an airy, all-white collection with accents of blush pink and gray pieces with bohemian influences. The details are discrete, such as the un-even hem on the washed leather-jacket, the hidden chain at the neckline on one of the dresses, and the raw edge on the wide pants. The balance between the hard, tough and sculptural, and the soft, draped and feminine suits both H&M and Elin perfectly.

Not a hugely exciting line but we don’t think it will be going off trend anytime soon. Unfortunately those of us who don’t live in Sweden or aren’t hop/skipping/jumping over there anytime soon won’t be able to get our hands on it – not even online! The line launches on February 3rd 2011 in 10 selected stores, with 10% of sales being donated to UNICEF.

Let’s see if they do one blogger per “fashion city”…

Post Party Season Pampering

We here at Freak Deluxe never take the time out to treat ourselves, the only time off we have is when we’re sleeping and we don’t even get enough of that. So it was lovely to get out to Chelsea just before Christmas for a navigated tour of all the best spots to hit for the perfect “me time”.

Chelsea is the new hot spot for a bit of R&R, head to toe treatments from some of the top beauty brands. From the hidden treatment rooms in Peter Jones, and the tranquil underground treatment rooms in Liz Earle, to the hair and metrospa at Richard Ward.

We were treated to a facial in the Lancôme treatment room in Peter Jones, the therapist tests the hydration level of your skin prior to treatment to specifically target what products to use. The bag, wrinkle, and jowl areas were all massaged to perfection to prevent them making an appearance in the near future.

Liz Earle in the Duke of York Square gave us a guided tour of their underground treatment area. All of the rooms are named after Bays on the Isle of Wight (where the company is based), down there you can enjoy bespoke facials and massages.

Not only is it a New Year, it’s also a New Decade! One of our resolutions will definitely be to treat ourselves to regular trips down to the King’s Road for a treatment or three.

J. Mendel Pre AW 2011

J. Mendel’s pre AW 2011 collection is the perfect mix of “menswear” and womenswear, light delicate dresses paired with fur covered structured outerwear. Heir to the grand furrier throne Gilles Mendel certainly didn’t disappoint. (more…)

Burberry Prorsum Pre AW2011

The pièce de résistance for us (well there were two, we can’t help being indecisive) was the black on black trench with fur covered collar and 1/2 sleeve. The leather belt and OTK boots sealed the deal. Also the black on black jacket with full length skirt with pleated detail on the hem was divine, Mortitia (Addams Family) does Burberry.
The menswear was a little more relaxed with sweaters, cardigans and tweed jackets teamed with straight leg trousers and brogues.
The exception to the rule was the black tux and patent brogues.