WHEN IN DAR CHARKIA -Hilton Who??

Aladdin's hip hidden hide out in Marrakech! 


Have you ever wondered what it would feel like to live in the lap of luxury? Have you ever wondered what it would be like to wake up and smell the hint of saffron and mint mixed with the mild spice of sheer and utter relaxation? Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have your whole holiday taken care of before you even arrive at your destination? What would it feel like to stay somewhere where if feels as if you are in the comfort of your own home? What it would be like to have a room so unique that it makes Rosie Huntington Whitely look boring?

Well this is the place.

Dar Charkia is a hidden treasure in the heart of the bustling streets of Marrakech. Having only 6 rooms each has its own character and transports you into your own little world. The courtyard is refreshing melange of the orient peppered with colonial modernism.

Why not take tea on the roof looking over a labyrinth of roof tops, or take a dip in the plunge pool surrounded by floating tea lights, cool down by reading a book in the salon with an audience of Cameroon masks, the list could go on...

Marrakech has become a trendy hot spot and Riads are dotted around the city.
It is therefore hard to find a place with value, service and quality. Dar Charkia holds all these attributes plus more. It goes beyond the boundaries of customer service and its design highlights pure taste. The owners are so honest that they give you all the insiders tips to the city on arrival. So no need for any Aladdin moments, you are in safe hands!

The only point I would make is that you need to book now or else be disappointed- that you have to stay somewhere else!

Bugger the Marriott, we don't need the Sofitel, Hilton who? There is only one Dar Charkia and this is a must stay When in Marrakech!


I see a beautiful room, pretty flowers  too
I see mint tea  for me and you
And I think to myself what a wonderful Riad.



I see skies of blue and clouds of white
The brightness of day, and candles at night t
And I think to myself what a wonderful Riad.


For more information see:
www.darcharkia.com

WHEN IN RA- The Moma's answer to modern fashion

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No it's RA!

Living in Antwerp opened my eyes to a far greater world of fashion. Gaga's 'little monsters' really do exist and most of them reside in Antwerp.

I heard about RA from a friend in Berlin and didn't really understand what it was about. However down the most beautiful street in Antwerp, filled with antiques, relics of another time, art and artifacts, fragile pieces and timeless classics, is a store so out of this world, you start to believe in aliens.

RA is a concept store filled with fashion from known to independent designers from all walks of life and corners of every planet. RA leaves no stone unturned, it shows all things bright and beautiful.
Brands such as Richard Nicoll to Gareth Pugh, Antwerp's new faces and art installations.You wonder through a hall way and you enter a space filled with weird and wonderful things.

The store is more like a hub for those who study at the academy and want inspiration for their work. For others it a place where you go to be surprised, and for some it is just another one of those stores with rails of modern fads. However RA is a trend setter's paradise. If you want to be different then this is the place for you.

I am not going to sugar coat pricing, as it is a fact that you are paying well above your average shopping costs however, in RA's case you are not paying for the name, you are paying for the design and a design that no one else will have.

There is also a cafe/ restaurant filled with magazines and bunk-beds! Have a coffee whilst flicking through Vogue on the top bunk surrounded by pillows!

A personal story- I bought a tutu from this store- not just any tutu but a huge, stiff net with a mustard band around the waist. I wore it to a party with a body con black dress and metallic gold brogues. Was the most outlandish, crazy, over the top, beautiful item I have ever worn!

You have got to see this place When in Antwerp!









All things bright and beautiful,
All clothing great and small,
All things wierd and wonderful,
The store RA sells them all. 


For more info see:
Kloosterstraat 13
2000 Antwerp, Belgium

03 292 37 80

WHEN IN RENAISSANCE- Michelangelo's Sistine Chaple of Clothes

Jesus, Mary and JOSEPH?


We all hate the times when we walk into a store, pick something up, try it on and then realize that the price is more expensive then our rent! The bitter taste wells up in our mouths and you wish and pray to god that the extra zero on the tag is a type mistake.

However there are the times when you walk into a store and the price doesn't matter any more. The sheer beauty of pretty things takes over and you can't help but promise yourself to eat tined soup for the next month!

Renaissance is a fashionista's party and everyone is invited.Rick Owens, Viktor and Rolf, Acne, Jill Sander, Jonathan Saunders and Joseph etc. As you can see your regular friday night in dinner party!

It is like walking into a museum of famous fashions- the huge spacious floor, showcasing the splash of colour from the rails. You are totally in awe of the size and choice.  A very exciting place for those who love the IN trends of the season. Located right next to the fashion Museum and academy, you have hit the fashion center of Antwerp.

Not only is it a store but a restaurant too, so why not have a bite and have a gander!

This is a must see When in Antwerp!


I'm just a working girl, oh baby, it's so cruel
But I'm still in love with RENAISSANCE, baby!
I'm just a working girl, oh baby, it's so cruel
But I'm still in love with RENAISSANCE, baby!

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh,
I'm in love with RENA -SSANCE, RENAI- SSSANCE


For more information:  
Nationalestraat 28-32
2000 Antwerp, Belgium

WHEN IN TOM'S DELI- It's DELIghtful, it's DELIcious, it's DELIovely!

Giving the word DELOVELY a whole new meaning!

London has so much choice. There is no limit to the different kinds of fun finds to discover in the city.

I love Sunday's during the spring in London. Cherry blossom in Notting Hill, wandering down to Portabello. A scene straight out of a movie. ( hint hint- nudge nudge!)

Down the beautiful street of Westbourne Grove, where ladies who brunch go to be seen, boutiques and little avenues of colourful building giving ' Made in Chelsea' a run for its money!!

Tom's Deli is a delightful little parlour, multicoloured, filled to the brim with delicious delicacies- reaching as far as the eye can see. You feel as if you have stepped back in time, to an old fashioned diner/cafe and trying to figure out from all the choice what to have from the menu! One of the best features of this Deli is that you are located next to Portabello Road, by the antique area. The crowded experience of Portabello on a Saturday can be tiresome so having an outlet like Tom's Deli is a great way to skip the hoards of people and have a tranquil coffee and cake whilst you watch the world go by.

Their brunch menu is brilliant- gourmet styled English breakfast, eggs Benedict and beacon with sourdough muffins. Tea cakes and tapas, biscuits and Biscotti - it's all there and beautifully displayed.

This is a must visit When in London

The day is young, the skies are clear
so if you want to go brunching dear
it's DELIghtful, it's DELIscious, it's DELImma, it's DELIux, it's DELIovely !!!

For more information:
226 Westbourne Grove

WHEN IN HOTOVELI- The Black Pearl of New York

Born to shop this way!

Brunching in the city in the summer is a terribly civilized past time which many New Yorkers love to take part of.

The West Village is an extremely picturesque area of New York, something out of Sex and the city. The scenes where Carrie wanders down the street in some bright coloured Manolo's, a great handbag and edgy skirt. However deep within the streets is a store which contains something dark, dangerous and extremely sexy.

Hotoveli is a beautiful store, simple yet filled with some exquisite pieces from Westwood, Yamamoto, Rick Owens, Lanvin etc.

It illustrates some of the best examples of high fashion designs, avant garde and beautifully constructed.

The store showcases the clothing through muted colours and the odd metallic and leather piece. You feel almost as if you have walked into New York's treasure chest, and somehow this must be kept secret. I can not help myself and tell you that this museum of beautiful pieces is a must see When In New York

No matter black, white or beige
Hotoveli makes style change 
It's on the right track baby
You will love it this way
Style are individual here
The store makes no mistakes
I'm on the right track baby
I was born to shop this way

For more info see:
271 West 4th Street New York 

WHEN IN THE PARADISE- Miss Havisham's London Pad!

The place they keep secret in Austin or Dickens!


When I find a restaurant that I really like, I tend to go back relatively often. I love my meat, I love my veg, I love my potatoes - I am happy.

On the corner of Kilburn road, is a dark and Gothic looking pub. London being notorious for its pub culture, you would expect that each pub would look relatively similar on the inside. Dark wooden bar, tables and chairs filling up the space and the VIP customer who resides at the end of the bar glugging down a pint.

When walking into the Paradise, you have walked into Miss Havisham's house from Great Expectations. And boy oh boy did Dickens leave out that she has style!

Rustic white painted floor boards, book cases from floor to ceiling, vintage bird cages hanging at all levels, old paintings of nobles and noblewomen, stuffed animals decked out in costume jewelery, mis -matched tables and chairs, vine leaves and roses, candles and neon lights.

From a pub/bar to a restaurant to a live venue and karaoke bar, this is every socialites PARADISE.

It is such a refreshing feeling to find a place which has such an individual style yet serves beautifully prepared food. English inspired cuisine with a modern gastro pub twist.

Oh, I've been to Nice and the isle of Greece 
when I sipped champagne on a yacht 
I moved like Harlow in Monte Carlo 
and showed them what I've got 
I've eaten sticky toffee pudding,  
rib eye steak with pepper sauce, chips and peas
I've been to PARADISE, it's the only place for me... 
 
This is a must visit When in London.

For more information see:
19 Kilburn Lane
Kensal Green, 
London, W10 4 AE

WHEN IN LOVE ADORNED - Hold me, touch me, oh please Adorn me!

Love Adorn me from my head to my toes! 

I believe that the most unsuspecting shops tend to be the most interesting. When I'm not looking for anything I tend to find everything. One boiling hot day milling around the soho area, I wondered into a shop to cool down. Unknown to me, I had just walked into Hell's angles jewlery box. The most ecclectic mix of jewlery, vintage, modern, avant garde, strange, stunning, rings that cover your whole hand, semi precious stones, chains and horns, spikes and studs, ...the list could go on.

Like a craftsman's workshop, Love adorned has put all their 'love' into making the experience within the store so unique and individual.
Every niche is special.

You can't help yourself but gaze around the store for a while before trying anything on. There is so much to see and soon you find your self picking' this one , or that one , oh and don't forget this too!'

The rustic and ethical beauty of the store and choice is outstanding. You will find one off pieces that gives your style that extra flair and makes you feel as if you could get on your Harley Davidson and ride off
into the sunset decked out in stunning designs!

This is a must see When in New York

I came from the people, they need to adore me
So LOVE ADORN me from my head to my toes
I need to be dazzling, I want to be Rainbow High
They must have excitement, and so must I




for more information: 

269 Elizabeth Street, New York, NY, 10012

When in Please Don't Tell- New York's answer to the Chamber of Secrets !

Wingardio LevioBAR !!! 

I recently went to see the final Harry Potter movie. I am a bit of a fantasy fanatic. I love the concept that a shabby old boot could be a port key to another world or throwing dust into the air is another form of transportation. However unknown to me this world actually exists.

Down the bustling street of St Marks in New York, filled with Asian food places and tattoo parlours, bars and all sorts of creatures of the night, there is a simple hot dog shop called Crif Dog. Now I know what you are thinking. What does a hot dog shop have to do with Harry Potter? And why would I write about a hot dog restaurant on a fashion oriented blog?

Within this hot dog parlour, to the left hand side, is a phone box. You enter the phone box one by one, and you dial the number 1. Nothing happens. You stand in the booth, door shut trying to understand what is the point of standing in a hot dog restaurant in a phone booth. Suddenly out of nowhere, the back of the phone booth opens and you enter a new world.

A world of low ceilings, and wooden walls, stuffed animals and a glowing bar. You have entered Please Don't Tell bar. A bar which is everyones secret.

The Phone Box

The cocktails are as interesting as your entrance. A melange of flavours, colours and textures.

Only a certain amount of people are allowed in the bar at one time so you need to book in advance, however the planning is well worth the  effort as you feel like a VIP or in my case VIWW ( a very important wannabe wizard!)

This is a must visit When in New York!

For more information:
Please Don't Tell
113 St. Marks Pl. , New York, NY 10009

WHEN IN CREATURES OF COMFORT - Something fashion CREATURES can not resist!

 I am a creature who takes comfort in such a store!

Wondering around, flickering in and out of stores, feeling very New Yorkerish and sipping on a iced coffee. What a picturesque scene. I am a creature who enjoys in the comforts of everyday finds. But O! what light in yonder window breaks?! Tis a shop! A very intriguing shop!



I was not sure whether I was walking into a retail environment or whether I had walked into someones living room however that didn't phase me as what a wonderful living room it was! Little cubby holes of unique pieces, unusual accessories and amazing shoes!

Located in the notorious soho, Creatures of Comforts is a boutique concept store for fashion hunters who enjoy being different.

I wasn't expecting to buy but when I heard 50 % off everything a light bulb when off in my head and the fashion beast within lept out and before I knew it I had a pair of shoes by the till and my hand had extended over the desk with a credit card. ( I have no control over these things- The condition is called Mustbuyenitis!- its quite common in women)

The styles are simple, yet elegant and have a modern twist. I would recommend when looking in such a store, to pick out the most avant garde piece and pair it with something classic. This way you can re invent your wardrobe without feeling as if you have gone completely Gaga. Imagine pairing a Bernhard Wilhelm dress with a classic lightweight raincoat. Mixing the old with the new - taking inspiration from the past and making it current. This is the recipe for style success when looking through the beautiful rails of clothes in Creatures of Comfort.

Fish gotta swim and birds gotta fly

I gotta have some new clothes

Or I  might just die

cant help lovin creature of comforts style

205 Mulberry street

New York, NY 10012

See for more info: http://shop.creaturesofcomfort.us/

WHEN IN DAMARIS-BUST a fashionable move!

Mimi Holliday

The Bend and Snap of Lingerie 


You all know the saying beauty does not only come from the outside- it's what on the inside that counts.

Well if you are decked out with sensual, sexy undies of course you look gorgeous on the inside too!

I love Agent Provocateur however come on- they don't cover anything. Yes yes yes, I know its sexy, but when you need that little bit of support in that region then you are going to need more than a piece of chiffon and hair pin to hold them up!

Damaris and Mimi Holliday is the most gorgeous underwear line that incorporates fashion and practicality. I Know! Who would of known that could exist in this industry!! I have always said in fashion - 'Pain is your friend' however lets face it,  you need to be comfortable to feel great in your clothes.

Damaris - Collaboration Roksanda Ilincic 

It is one of these brands online that I keep going back to just to see what beautiful creations they come up with next.

Mimi Holliday being the fast fashion orientated lingerie - bright colours and every style under the sun and  Damaris as her alter ego showcasing delicate silhouettes and beautiful fabrics to make you feel great for a reasonable price. Bugger La Perla, who needs M&S granny panties, bring on beautiful bras and knickers!!


Feel fabulous When in Damaris !

See www.damaris.co.uk for more information

WHEN IN COS- It's BeCOS your worth it!

Recipe for great fashion success! 


Take a bit of Jill Sander, sprinkle a bit or Marni, whip it up with some Alexander Wang a dollop of Helmut Lang, some Celine frosting and top it with high street prices and you have COS.

H&M's second brand it is my first stop on the high street. I have said many a times that I shall live and die in this brand. It is one of a kind. It posses such simple style yet you are at the cutting edge of fashion. With clever merchandising you are also drawn to buying full outfits- Yey! Lucky credit card!

I think when I go through my wardrobe about 50% of it contains COS clothing. Let's be realistic, we don't all have disposable income at the tips of fashion hungry fingertips and therefore we don't own the latest YSL shoes or this seasons Dries Van Noten coat however COS allows us to look and feel like we have spent a thousand of pounds when really we have only spent 100.

I love flipping through high fashion magazines and 'oooing' and 'ahhing' at the beautiful clothes and then realizing I have bought something so similar for a fraction of the price.

However the best part of COS is the fact that even though it is high street and therefore accessible to the masses it still looks so unique on each individual.



O COS Shall I compare thee to a summers day
Thou art most lovely and most trendy
Rough economic times do shake the darling wallets of many
but thy eternal fashion shall not fade! 


You are in for a serious fashion treat When in COS.