It is not every day that you hear of a make-up brand gaining ‘iconic’ status but Cosmetics a la Carte is not an every day make up brand. Culture’s finest including Grace Jones, Debbie Harry and Ana Matronic have championed bespoke products designed by co-founder Lynne Sanders at their Battersea laboratory in London.

Perhaps this is why an exhibition seems not only worthwhile but necessary – celebrating 40 years of make-up innovation which has graced the pages of VOGUE, Marie Clare and ELLE as well as reaching out to trend led publications including Volt, Twenty6 and Tirade to name a few.

COLOUR AND CULTURE will be a vibrantly curated story of Cosmetics à la Carte’s spectacular history, including the first nude lipstick ordered by Princess Diana in the 1980’s, to bubblegum gloss and flush blush which Lady Gaga raved about.

The exhibition will be showcased in four parts:

PART I: MOTCOMB STREET – A HISTORY
PART II: BESPOKE BEAUTY
PART III: ICONIC MOMENTS
PART IV: THE CULTURE OF COLOUR

Guests will have their chance to try Cosmetics a la Carte products, whilst an expert make-up team will permanently be on hand to help.

The exhibition will also showcase exciting collaborative projects from some of London’s most inspiring artists and exhibition design including Alex Noble, Anna Lomax and Susan Dray.

‘Colour and Culture’ will be held at the Gallery Redchurch St in East London from May 21st – 26th.

The Gallery
50 Redchurch St  London E2 7DP

#COLOURANDCULTURE • @ALACARTELONDON •

]]> http://www.itsrudetostare.com/cosmetics-a-la-carte-colour-culture-exhibition/feed/ 0 http://www.itsrudetostare.com/tracks-of-the-week-a-return-to-sophistication/ http://www.itsrudetostare.com/tracks-of-the-week-a-return-to-sophistication/#comments Sun, 19 May 2013 07:46:12 +0000 Golden Lady http://www.itsrudetostare.com/?p=23067 Music is cyclical.

Psychedelia has made its return and disco is most definitely kicking up its heels again. Amidst all the retro noise however, simmers a quiet and very sophisticated return to the early 90′s, clip on earrings, shoulder pad baring era of breathy, synth pop, once dominated by the incomparable Sade.

So should this be the return of your favourite musical era, and you’ve just about flogged your Jessie Ware album to bits, here are some other rising stars that just may inspire you’re inner 90s chanteuse!

The unlikely duo is made up of George Craig: lead singer of popular British band One Night Only and the former face of Burberry, and Terry Edwards: a highly respected young chef, and a Mark Hix protégé formerly from Le Gavroche. The pair joined forces after bonding over a love and obsession with quality food, and exploring humorous ways to enjoy it.

They have created an exciting eight course tasting menu entitled Great British Classics to celebrate the culinary dishes England is famous for, whilst putting their own unique and sophisticated stamp on each offering.

The menu will consist of gourmet takes on traditional favourites such as “Ploughman’s Lunch”: A pressed terrine of ham hock and Lancashire cheese with pickled onions and soft boiled quails egg, “Fish and Chips”: A deep fried scallop served with mushy peas and potato crisps, or “A cup of Tea”: Earl Grey mousse with a rich tea chocolate biscuit.

Great British Classics is the fourth in the Check On series following sell-out successes Northern Invasion and Hen Party.

Tickets are limited and will be available for £55 a head

BOOK ASAP www.checkonpresents.com

Supper Club Schedule

Friday 24 and Saturday 25 May

Friday 31 May and Saturday 1 June

Friday 7 and Saturday 8 June 

Upon entry in to the Palm Courts, the hotel’s beautiful art deco lounge, you are greeted with the angelic sounds stemming from the in-house harpist, creating an indelible ambience for your experience.  My guest and I opted for the couches, and once seated the waiter brought us our Wild Blossom Champagne Cocktail  - Champagne topped off with an edible hibiscus flower soaked in syrup. Simply put, it was delicious. The wild hibiscus, that is.

As the cocktail soaked our palates, we then began engaging in the plethora of sandwiches and savouries that arrived at our table. They included; Poached Scottish salmon, cucumber and fennel crème fraiche served on a mini muffin with cucumber flowers; Orange blossom honey, wholegrain mustard roast ham, candied tomatoes and watercress on white bread; and Goat’s cheese, asparagus and lemon verbena tartlet with a soft boiled quail’s egg. Make sure to ask your astute waiter/waitress about the select ingredients, they’ll no doubt guide you on each piece. We couldn’t get over the asparagus and lemon verbena tartlet with a soft boiled quail’s egg; the pastry base alone deserves yearning.

The accompanying teas are a selection of traditional British, Oriental, herbal and fruit-infused teas – I opted for the Rooibos while my tea enthusiast companion went for the daring yet beautiful, Flowering Osmanthus.

After carefully taking our time with the warm, homemade plain and apple and raisin scones, served with lemon verbena curd (amazing!), clotted cream and seasonal preserves, we were presented a platter of floral pastries. Presented in such artful and exquisite style – so beautiful, my friend was hesitant in eating them.

Contents of said platter include: chocolate hanging basket with spiced Chai tea mousse and chocolate soil; a Honey orange blossom pain de gene with mango compote and edible honey bees; a Rosewater and raspberry mousse with crystallised rose petals on a rose macaroon and Pistachio and hazelnut chocolate financier “garden patch” with chocolate ladybird.  Presented on a marzipan gardening patch edged with a chocolate rockery and complete with the edible garden gnome centrepiece perched on a white chocolate toadstool. All of which are edible with the exception of a tiny pitchfork on the side of the Pistachio and hazelnut chocolate financier “garden patch” .

Amongst the afternoon teas on offer, the Sheraton Park Lane has created something rather unique in the market. And in speaking with the Pastry Chef, Sarah Hartnett, one gathers that there is a lot of emphasis on creativity and playfulness, while still keeping with the tradition and paying respectable homage to RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

IRTS: What was the last thing that made you stop and stare?

Pastry Chef, Sarah Hartnett: I was at The Square, in Berkeley Square, for a meeting and the chef invited us to sample the new menu, I was mesmerized and taken aback by the array of food on display. It was beautiful. It’s usually well made, and well presented food that does it for me.

 Flowering Afternoon Tea at The Park Lane Hotel

14^th May to 9^th June 2013

3pm-6pm on weekdays and 2pm-6pm at weekends

The Palm Court

 £45 per person; Bookings must be made in advance.

www.palmcourtlondon.co.uk

]]> http://www.itsrudetostare.com/bloomin-marvelous-flowering-afternoon-tea-at-the-park-lane-hotel-piccadilly/feed/ 0 http://www.itsrudetostare.com/night-at-the-museum-enjoy-three-days-of-culture-drinking-after-dark/ http://www.itsrudetostare.com/night-at-the-museum-enjoy-three-days-of-culture-drinking-after-dark/#comments Wed, 15 May 2013 12:08:55 +0000 Melissa http://www.itsrudetostare.com/?p=22933 No we’re not talking Ben Stiller frolicking with stuffed monkeys, Tyrannosaurus Rex skeletons and Robin Williams dressed as a colonel – this is much cooler. London and Paris among other European cities are putting on a night-time show like no other. This month museums around the UK and in Paris will be opening their doors after hours and hosting a special range of events to celebrate the Museums at Night festival.

In an adult’s only sleepover, Hampton Court Palace invites you to dine and sleep like a King for a night with private tours, a supper in the Privy kitchen and a royal sleepover. Or dig out your vintage gear and head to Brooklands Museum in Surrey, where they’ll be hosting a 1940s style party. The ‘Swingtime Dance Company’ will be there to teach you some swinging dance moves, there’ll also be a vintage cinema, vintage cars, 1940s style food and drink and the Sunbeam Dance Hall where you can party the night away to some classic tunes.

The London Transport Museum is offering Cocktail making workshops where you can pick up tips from expert mixologists and The Horniman Museum in South London is hosting a garden party where you can enjoy live music and interactive art to the sweet taste of gin cocktails.

Arguably London is at its best at night and it seems that there is nothing you can’t do in this city after the sun goes down. With a cocktail in hand, suddenly the prospect of becoming a culture vulture seems a lot more fun…

16^th – 18^th May
For more information on events around the UK visit:
culture24.org.uk

Forget ladies who lunch, it’s really all about Sunday special’s at W London in Leicester Square, London, with the launch of their new Sunday Brunch menu. No, this isn’t your average offering of  the brunch menu’s usual suspects, instead guests are treated to classic dishes re-imagined and given a right sprucing! Recover from those Wyld nights with this mellow, and mouthwatering, late morning/early afternoon spread, and we’re sure you’ll be sending us thank you notes for letting you in on this culinary gem.

Expect the lavish and luxurious surroundings of W London, ­Leicester Square, London, and kick back on one of their super comfy sofas in their glitzy lounge. We loved the idea of the W becoming a home from home – we were invited to take off our shoes, slip on your very own custom designed slippers, and relax whilst listening to some tunes (oldies and goodies, mixed in with some new stuff) spun by hot resident DJ Anna Greenwood, (of Guilty Pleasures). The vibe was very chilled and the staff managed to simultaneously be attentive, friendly and approachable.

So, was the food up to par? Having gone with no real expectations we can safely say W brought it when it comes to flavour and overall presentation! With a full menu, cleverly devised by Head Chef Peter Lloyd, which includes traditional breakfast dishes and Sunday lunch staples such as hearty Roast Beef with Yorkshire Pudding and Seasonal Vegetables; an indulgent Smoked Haddock and Salmon Scotch Egg (and I’m not a lover of eggs point blank period but I could have ate ten of these bad boys!); and creamy Truffle Macaroni Cheese. Yes I know, saliva-inducing menu… Wash down those delights with bottomless Bloody Marys. Available all afternoon, the cocktail can either be served traditionally, mixed with vodka, or as Red Snapper featuring a refreshing London gin. 

To top off the meal guests are invited to indulge their inner child and get stuck into a retro sweet stall full of space invaders, sherbert sticks, cola bottles and popping candy. Then veg out in the luxe 39 seater screening room, while watching sitcom favourites like Ab Fab and New Girl – beats being hungover and laid out on the sofa at home.

W Does Brunch runs every Sunday,12pm-5pm, from 5th May 2013. £25 per person. For more information or to book, visit www.wlondon.co.uk or call 0207 758 1060.

One of my favourite Spring/Summer ’13 shows was Burberry Prorsum, and their parade of metallics down the catwalk!  So for the March/April ’13 edition of Essential Homme Magazine, I couldn’t resist featuring this standout collection in my editorial.

This shoot was one of my most fun – photographed in the surreal location which is Callooh Callay Shoreditch.  Our model walked through its secret wardrobe doors and into a colourful fantasy… we hope you enjoy this visual feast!

STYLIST’S TIP – as for metallics and wearability?  Check the Emporio Armani sandals (image ten) for a more understated option (extra style points for tassels!).  I’d also recommend the Burberry Prorsum iPad cases.

Essential Homme Magazine, March/April 2013, ‘Welcome to the Funhouse’: featuring Dior, Prada, Maison Martin Margiela, Hermes, Fendi, Kenzo, Gucci, Emporio Armani & Burberry Prorsum.  Photography by Jennifer Endom; Grooming by Kenny Leung; Model, Paolo Gallardo from Select.  Available at Artwords bookstore, or purchase HERE.

Styled by Marika Page

www.marikapage.com

Burgers are something of a staple food for me – if there’s a burger on the menu, you can bet your pennies on me ordering one. But gourmet pub burgers on this side of the pond have very little in common with the real American diner burgers, and when it comes to flipping the best 5 Guys are a sure favourite in the competition. I’m not usually the one to sing my braises to fast food brands, but …

A favourite of Barack Obama, 5 Guys has numerous burger joints in the U.S. and Canada, and now they are about the plant their seed in Europe with U.K being the first on their target list. 5 Guys is launching Covent Garden this summer.

Have you heard about ME London’s Suite ME? You can stare at and snoop down at the Suite ME from the Radio Rooftop, located on the 9th & 10th floors, the two-level Suite ME offers 99 sqm of exceptionally well-considered personal space with breathtaking views of the London Eye, Houses of Parliament, Trafalgar Square and River Thames from both the suite. The corner tower is topped by a glass viewing area – a contemporary reinterpretation of the Edwardian-style dome roof – that houses the living space for Suite ME. A stylish private lounge and a separate dining room equipped with BOSE Dome Home Cinema encapsulates the lavish surroundings, complimented by a design led bedroom and elevated chill-out area.

There are currently ME Hotels in Madrid, Barcelona, Cancun, Cabo and ME Vienna at the end of in 2013!!! Watch this space….

www.melia.com