CULTURE: SO EXCITED TO SEE YSL LE FILM

After reading Alicia Drake’s The Beautiful Fall (book about the rivalry between designers Yves Saint Laurent and Karl Lagerfeld) about 6 years ago, I have wanted to watch this movie; YSL Le Film! You know when you read a book and you visualise ab-solu-tely-ev-ery-thing that’s happening on the page? Yeah that!

The bits that I was most enamoured by were the bits about Mr YSL’s life (his trips to Marrakech, his nights in Studio 54, etc) now I know this is not The Beautiful Fall on screen, but it will be an exciting insight into Yves Saint Laurent’s life as a rising fashion designer. The film, due out in France early 2014, is heavily endorsed by Pierre Bergé (co-founder of Yves Saint Laurent’s fashion house, long term business partner, and Yves’s former life partner).

We get to watch (Pierre Niney as) him designing his most iconic pieces, defying the critics, and take a dip into his life behind closed doors.

A-still-from-the-new-Yves-Saint-Laurent-movie-2014

PERFECT PERFUMES FOR CHRISTMAS

We’ve taken the liberty of sniffing out the best fragrances to give for Christmas this year. They don’t just look amazing under the tree, they also look perfect decorating the Christmas tree!

VIKTOR & ROLF FLOWERBOMB LIMITED EDITION £76

Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb has had a makeover for Christmas 2011. The Limited Edition metallic fuchsia bottle is so festive, and doubles up perfectly as a Christmas tree decoration with it’s array of ribbons! From the very first smell, Flowerbomb EdP diffuses its bewitching notes: sambac jasmine, centifolia rose and catleya orchid, warmed by sensual patchouli and benzoin.

KIM KARDASHIAN £29.50, PERFUME SHOP

This fragrance is the perfect fragrance for the powerful woman that knows what she wants. A beautiful blend of feminine and sensual notes, featuring Pink Jasmine, Tuberose, and Gardenia. The debut fragrance captures the many sides of Kim’s personality and glamorous style.

YVES SAINT LAURENT, RIVE GAUCHE POUR HOMME £52.50; OPIUM £79.50

The perfect scent for a woman to give to her beau this Christmas. Everything a man can dream of being, everything a woman wants from a man. The fragrance is classical, yet has a spirit of independence. The woody fern notes have an unbridled sensuality, with a blend of: cloves, vetiver, patchouli and rosemary.

A classic fragrance from the seventies, it captured the mood of the time. A warm oriental fragrance, the overtly sensual side of the Yves Saint Laurent perfume masterpiece is less assertive in the Eau de Toilette, but only a little. With a swoon of mandarin and bergamot notes, deepened by myrrh, jasmin, carnation and amber.

MAISON MARTIN MARGIELA (UNTITLED) £87

Another makeover for Christmas 2011, Maison Martin Margiela (untitled) Limited Edition retains its minimalistic look but dipped in silver is kicked up a notch. Although described as a perfume, the fragrance is intended to be unisex, and is based on green floral notes with scents of albanum, boxwood, mastic, incense and bitter orange.

BOSS BOTTLED £37 BOSS ORANGE MAN £35

Boss Bottled, the original HUGO BOSS fragrance for men. Fresh, sharp and very masculine, it still hasn’t lost it’s appeal. With notes of apple, geranium, cinnamon, and sensual woody notes.

I defy anyone to dislike this fragrance, BOSS Orange Man is the newest fragrance for men from Hugo Boss and is full of energy and character. With notes of frankincense, Szechuan pepper, apple, coriander and vanilla bean.

SEX AND THE CITY FRAGRANCES £15

Wilkinson has an exclusive launch of two SATC fragrances that capture NYC’s energy. Developed by the top perfumers behind Hugo Boss, Tommy Hilfiger and Bobbi Brown,’Sex and the City’ perfume is feminine and soft with a subtle touch of passion fruit. ‘Sex and the City by Night’ is the equivalent of your LBD, a captivating, luxurious and powdery essence that has been developed by jasmine, sandalwood and tonka beans.

RITUALS NO.06 GREEN VETIVER + BERGAMOT; SANDAL WOOD + WILD ROSE £34.90 EA

Fresh earthy tones of a mountain forest inspired the perfumer Vincent Schaller to create perfume No. 06. The citrusy fresh top notes of Bergamot meet with the deep mysterious woody aromas of Green Vetiver.

A flirtatious blend to inspire passion with floral notes of Wild Rose and the rich, creamy, earthy notes of Sandal Wood evoking sensuality and romance. Woody, spicy and elegant at the same time.

VERSACE YELLOW DIAMOND £39.99, PERFUME SHOP

The fragrance unveils like a burst of light, gleaming and glistening. The crystalline luminosity of citron from Diamante the generous freshness of a pear sorbet fused amongst sparkling notes of bergamot and dynamic accents of neroli. The rare elegance of orange blossom shines through the light of freesia and mimosa and the natural transparency of nymphea. The sensuality of ambery woods the sunny and vibrant character of palo santo wood the refined presence of musk.

CHANEL LES EXCLUSIFS – JERSEY

Chanel Jersey is a wonderfully clean fragrance, every woman would love to open something  Chanel on Christmas day and this is the perfect addition to any perfume wardrobe. With hints of lavender, wrapped in white musk and set off with a touch of vanilla, it gives form to a new olfactory design. Comfortable and sensual on the skin, like beautiful Jersey by CHANEL.

GHOST £32.50

This understated and feminine fragrance was launched in 1999 from the British design house of Tanya Sarne. Light and fresh, Ghost is an avalanche of white flowers accented with the warm peachiness of ambrette seeds. A soft powdery fragrance that’s perfect all year round.

The tree used in shoot and all decorations are from one stop family store Wilkinson.

What would you like to open up on Christmas day?

Menswear A/W 2011

Menswear A/W 2011 had delicious slices of what we want to see our men in next A/W. The Film Noir/ Humphrey Bogart’s 2011 update from Lanvin was lush, Dior Homme gave us greys and blacks in classic shapes with two tone lapels and voluminous man capes. The Queen of layers, levels and details Ann Demeulemeester added colour, print, and gauntlets to her monochrome palette, while Raf Simons gave us pops of colour, knee length jackets and long sweaters. Acne went ankle length with coats and trousers alike, with pops of muted purples, blues and greens.

ACNE

LANVIN

RAF SIMONS

YIGAL AZROUËL

ANN DEMEULEMEESTER

DIOR HOMME

3.1 PHILLIP LIM

MIHARAYASUHIRO

YVES SAINT LAURENT

KENZO

HERMES