Fruits of New York Shopping

I got these super cute make-up cases from DVF. I can finally get rid of my old, dirty and non-matching ones!

Another DVF found... It has a chain as well, which suits me as I find clutches without one a bit annoying to carry.

I saved the best till last... The most beautiful Chloe bag from Intermix! I'm so in love with it!

New York: Final Night Out and Spotting Michael Buble

We stupidly hadn't organised a table for dinner for last night early enough. It's not normally such an issue but it really is when it's ten of you. The only place we could get a table at was called Sam Bahri's Steakhouse in West Village. The hotel concierge swore that even though we hadn't heard of the place it was a great new restaurant and that we would definitely like it. When we got there we couldn't believe what we were seeing; the place looked like a Starbucks but empty of people! No atmosphere what so ever and literally two other diners in. We walked straight out. Luckily WM has a bit of game in a lot of restaurants so we managed to get a table in a local Italian across the road. We were all totally over dressed for the place but it turned out okay in the end. It was a typical casual Italian restaurant; fun service, lively and busy atmosphere and big portions of comfort food. I didn't choose my food very wisely so it wasn't great but I tasted others' dishes that were actually quite good. Later they started playing music right up my street; cheesy euro house! We ended up dancing around the table and then continuing the party in our hotel room with Mr W dj'ing on his iPad. Great last evening in New York but next time I'll be more organised and book places up well in advance.

Today we had breakfast in Balthazar and then went back to bed. We slept till midday and then it was time to pack up. We had a lovely lunch with K and C at our hotel and now we are waiting for a car to come and take us to Newark. Michael Buble is standing in the lobby in front of us! Quite a cute looking guy but not one I would have looked at twice had I not recogniced him. And now that I have recognised him I'm obviously acting cool and pretending that I haven't! Casually dressed in jeans and a duffel coat. As all celebrities seem to be he too is shorter than I would have imagined.

I'm sad to leave New York but happy to go home to Baby. I'm hoping to return here in the spring and then I want to add some uptown glamour into my stay, which was the only thing that was missing from my AMAZING weekend!

New York: Intermix, Cipriani and Bergdof Goodman

One word: Intermix! Why don't we have it in London? It's the coolest shop on the planet; it has all the best bits of brands like Helmut Lang, Rag&Bone, DVF, J Brand, Proenza Shoulder, A.L.C etc. They have quite a few of them in Manhattan and I've also been to one in Miami. Mr W and I headed there this morning and I ended up going "a little bit" crazy in there... I won't even list everything I bought as I'm embarrassed about the extent of it. Some pictures to follow though of course.

After my shopping extravaganza was time to go and meet friends for lunch in Cipriani on West Broadway. That must be in my top five fav lunch places. It's a great scene, great ambience and great food and I love the art they have in there. We had a table for 12 people so they had to seat us at the back but had we been a smaller group I would have asked to be at the front by the window or if the weather allows at an outside table on the street. Again we shared a lot of yummy starters and had our own mains. Love dining that way as you get to taste so many different dishes! I drank quite many bellinis, which are always good in any Cipriani.

With the help of the Bellinis we continued our shopping trip uptown at Bergdof Goodman. Even though downtown is super cool and who wouldn't love Soho and West Village, I have to admit that I'm a tiny bit more an uptown girl. Some people think it's boring in the Upper East but I think it's stunningly beautiful, a little bit more peaceful than in downtown and you have the park right next to you not to mention all the old school department stores (such as Bergdof Goodman) that I find so so glamorous and exciting. Whilst Mr W was shopping in the men's department I popped into womens'. It is a separate building and you have to cross the road to get there. When I got outside it was already getting dark. I just stood there on the side of the road and soaked up the atmosphere that all those bright lights and those thousands of people, cars and yellow taxis create.  I could have stood there for hours! There is something so magical and vibrant about that city. I obviously love London but I would jump at the chance to spend a year or two in New York. I visited the womens' shoe department and ended up with my first ever pair of Manolos... They are beautiful pointy toe stilettos in burgundy suede. Now I'm going to pull some of my new clothes on and head out yet again with Mr W and a bunch of friends.

 

New York: Catch

Last night we met all our friends at our hotel bar and then moved onto Catch in Meatpacking. Apparently it is "the hottest table in Manhattan" at the moment! That became obvious as we got there the place was heaving and the crowd was definitely cool. Like in all these super cool places we had to wait for our table for a while even though we had it booked. At this stage had it been just Mr W and I we would have probably walked out but as it was ten of us we knew we had no choice. When we finally got seated though we did have a fun evening. Food was phenomenally good seafood. It was a mix between Asian fusion and traditional seafood. Everything had so much flavour to it. We shared a lot of starters and in the end I had to cancel my main course as I was already so full! The restaurant was very noisy and although this didn't bother me - I was drunk enough - it had bothered some people in our group. The space was quite tight too so you had to navigate your way through the crowds. In other words the restaurant was definitely cool and happening and the food was superb but you would go there more for the scene than anything else. I also would say that this is not a place I would want to go with just one person. Afterwards we went to the club they had on a different floor. The club, contrary to expectations was the opposite of cool! Music was hip hop and crowd was bridge and tunnell. Say no more!

We moved onto a club called SL nearby. For some reason even though we don't even like this club we always end up in there! Crowd was obviously much younger than us and not much cooler than in Catch's club but the music was good. We had a great time dancing on the sofas and downing vodkas. Despite this I'm now ready for some more shopping!

New York: Downtown Shopping and Crosby Street Hotel Lunch

This morning C and I ended up staying downtown for our shopping whilst the boys stayed in bed (please note; not together...!!). We raided Michael Kors in Soho and DVF in Meatpacking. I concentrated in shoes and bags as I for once in my life think that I actually have enough clothes... After shopping we had hair appointments after which we returned to the hotel to have lunch. The Crosby Street Hotel Bar / Restaurant is a really cool but cosy place to hang out. It's busy enough at any time of the day and food was extremely good. I had a tuna tartar as my starter and I can honestly say that it was the best one I have ever had. After lunch it was nap time for everyone... I woke up an hour ago and am now ready to hit the town again! I better go downstairs to the bar to meet the crew.

Crosby Sreet Hotel Bar / Restaurant (pictures from their website)

New York: Morning Manhattan

I woke up to this view this morning. I've been up since 6am, always happens to me with the jet lag. I had the hotel breakfast, which was superb. Now off to Central Park for a walk before hitting Barney's for some serious shopping!

New York: Finally Here!

I am laying in bed in Crosby Street Hotel. I want to live in New York!! Please Mr W can we move our family over here? No we can't really as career wise it just wouldn't make much sense… Tonight we got in and out of JFK in record time; we were here at our hotel an hour after we touched down. Our hotel room is super amazing but the experience with Crosby Street Hotel didn't start so well when they didn't have the car we were expecting waiting for us in the terminal. We had a few drinks at the hotel bar downstairs with K and C and then moved onto The Lion to meet a bunch of other people. Afterwards we returned back to the hotel, this time to their "honesty bar", which I have pictured below. Some of our friends had some amazing news to tell us and I can't stop smiling for them. I'm going to bed now to prepare for some serious shopping tomorrow. Good night!

Flying High

I'm writing from somewhere over the Atlantic. We have about four hours to go before landing at JFK. I have watched all my remaining episodes of Gossip Girl and fallen even deeper in love with Blake Lively and her outfits… Yes I know I really am way too old to watch it but I can't help it! I have also read the new Harper's Bazaar. I adore the cover; Cindy, Naomi, Eva, Yasmin and Helena and they all just look so amazing. I still have Tatler, Vogue and Grazia to go plus Gina Ford's 'Toddler Years' book. They should keep me going for the remaining flight.

Saw Gillian Anderson at the check-in. She didn't look so much like X-Files but more like a very ordinary - but pretty and very petite - woman with, whom I assume was, her teenage daughter.

New York, New York

Four more hours at my work desk and then I'm off to New York! I can't wait! It has been a year since I was last there. I'm even looking forward to shopping in Heathrow Terminal 5 and having some quiet time on the flight. It's only Mr W and I going; Baby is staying with Mother In Law. When you have a child you start to appreciate how easy and even enjoyable flying is without them. We are in First Class thanks to British Airways American Express and all the miles we've accumulated using it. I packed really well this time - or at least I think that now, that could change when I get there and realise I've forgotten half the things - by pre-planning every outfit and writing them down on a list. So excited!

We will be staying in Crosby Street Hotel (pictures below are from their website). A new experience for me as I normally stay in Soho House. It looks lovely though so I'm looking forward to trying it out.

Wednesday's Net-A-Porter Wishlist Update

This jacket By Malene Birger would be perfect for work or for a weekend lunch out. At work I would wear it done up with black, fitted trousers and black accessories. At leisure I would wear it with a black cami underneath, black skinny jeans, black ankle boots and my big Celine bag, also black.

 I want this nightie by Mimi Holiday! Mr W will love it!

This jumper by Theysken's Theory is right up my street for hanging out on weekends. I would wear it with blue skinnies and nude flats. I would also wear this with fitted indigo flares and combine them with tan or nude high heeled boots.

This Roberto Cavalli is very me so that was an easy one to add to the Wishlist. Love everything about it; shape, lenght, material and colour. This I would wear with snakeskins shoes and a nude clutch to match although I have to say I do love these shoes Net-A-Porter has put it together with.