Tennis and Fine Jewellery - A Match Made in Heaven at the Launch of The Classique

Last Monday, tennis teamed up with Britain's finest jewellers Boodles, in honour of the launch of the region's upcoming and most exclusive tennis event, The Classique.

The inaugural Classique is the most exclusive event in the North West for 2011, combining world class tennis with superior hospitality, all set amongst the grandeur of De Vere Mottram Hall in Cheshire. Where tennis legends from around the globe will entertain you and your guests on a purpose built grass court, viewed from your own private box.

English mixed doubles champion and tennis legend Jeremy Bates, who will be playing the event in June, was on hand promoting and acting as host for the evening. Other tennis heavy weights so far confirmed to play at The Classique include; former French National Championship finalist, Cedric Pioline and former Wimbledon winner, Richard Krajicek.

Boodles' Manchester store was kitted out under a tennis theme, which went down a storm with the party go-ers, including innovative flower and tennis ball arrangements and even two male models in full tennis gear, which provided some additional eye candy alongside the jewellery for us female guests. Canapes were also very British and so tennis appropriate, in the form of rich little English cakes and scones, adding a traditional but delicious touch.

The lovely Boodles girls even invited us to pick out a piece of jewellery to wear for the evening from their infamous glass cabinets and we needed no further encouragement - the most fitting expression would be "kids in a candy shop." Jewellery highlights for the STYLE etc. team included a stunning, whimsical brooch from the Boodles Wonderland collection and a jaw-dropping emerald cocktail ring which racked up a price tag of £139,000! One for the wishlist perhaps girls?

To browse Boodles collection for yourself please visit: http://www.boodles.com/

The Classique will be taking place between Wednesday 8th June and Friday 10th June at De Vere Mottram Hall.

For more information about The Classique or to book a table visit: http://www.theclassique.co.uk/

The Black Swan Trends Part 2 - Pretty Ballerina

You may remember in previous blogs, STYLE etc. showed you how to get the "Black Swan" look for both day and night, now we show you how to recreate the softer, pretty ballerina look. This take on the trend is more feminine with sheer floaty fabrics that allow for plenty of movement and drama in pale shades perfect for Spring Summer!

If you have bags of cash to hand and are in the mood for splashing out, feast your eyes on our designer pick of the trend...

Designer:

Jimmy Choo leather ballerina flats, £195.
Lanvin cashmere and silk-blend shrug with crosage, £1,320.
Christian Louboutin Eden Peony satin clutch, £895.
Valentino Silk-organza strapless dress, £2,120.
Lee Angel gold-tone crystal chain necklace, £245.
(All available from NET-A-PORTER.com)

Or for ballerina style on a more affordable budget in this current economic climate, try our highstreet picks version of the trend...

Highstreet:

Rare** flower trim dress, (available at Topshop) £40.
Topshop clear nugget chain necklace, £30.
River Island white heart shaped bag, £24.99.
Topshop leg tie ballerina flats, £18.
Topshop fabric rose hairband, £7.50.

Get ready to pirouette your way through Spring Summer!

Success is Sugary Sweet at the Hey Little Cupcake! Launch

Last Thursday evening the STYLE etc. team were invited out for a sugar rush, to celebrate the opening of Manchester's latest new cupcakery Hey Little Cupcake!


Created by artistic soul Sarah Wilson, Hey Little Cupcake combines her love of baking with her passion for travelling, by creating a selection of treats inspired by places she has visited around the globe.

Cue launch night, we braved the baltic Manchester weather to walk up the store's rolled out and delightfully pink carpet, for an evening of cupcakes galore with cocktails courtesy of The Alchemist. On arrival we were given a tiny gold key and told - something so small left such a big impact and we were immediately enamoured. It is this sort of attention to detail where the Hey Little Cupcake! brand holds his strength and lies the key to their success (if you'll excuse the pun!) placing them leagues ahead of the compeition within the cult cupcake movement.

The store itself not only churns out endless variations of mouth-watering cupcakes, but also doubles as an art gallery showcasing a series of artwork under the cute, girly and of course cupcake theme. Stepping into the store can only be described as stepping into every girls dream - the charmingly adorable decor, abundance of pastel shades and hot pink chess board flooring resulted in a welcome "cute overdose."

As expected, the range of cupcakes on offer were a sensation with flavours differing from anything from chocholate sponge, topped with mounds of Smarties, choc chips, marshmellows and Malteasers with 'Rocky Road,' to the more exclusive signature pieces with the 'New Yorker,' aptly named as inspired by Sarah's travels. On the drinks side, The Alchemist also held their own doing an amazing job on the gorgeous cocktails, which were embellished with brightly coloured flower petals encased in the drinks floating ice cubes - a talking point on their own!


We arrived eager for a sugar fix and we were not dissapointed, leaving with our sweet tooths considerably matched after many cries of "Oh go on, one more cant hurt..."

Forget those diets, unbutton those jeans top buttons and check out Hey Little Cupcake! if you dare!

Hey Little Cupcake! is located on Little Quay Street, Spinningfields. For more info on the brand visit: www.heylittlecupcake.co.uk

Post by Anna J. Westerman

Harvey Nichols Spring/Summer '11 Fashion Show

Thursday the 10th Feb marked an exciting date in any Manchester fashionistas calendar. The date when the fashion gliterratti of Manchester gathered together for Harvey Nichol's Spring/Summer '11 Fashion Show, held at one of the city's most impressive landmarks and cultural hot spots; the Manchester Art Gallery.


The evening was hosted by Lanvin clad, TV reporter Elaine Wilcox of Granada Television, who kicked off the show for the fashion hungry guests - who after suffering so much dreary cold and wet Manchester weather, were eagerly awaiting some Spring/Summer inspiration! From DJ Xander's cue, models took stomping to the runway presenting the fashion concious of Manchester with an array of key trends from the upcoming season.

Of the 10 showcased trends that filtered down the runway, the highlights included:

Sportsluxe, an everyday, casual style that although is easily wearable is not lacking in the fashion stakes, where soft grey marl track pants and sweat tops are accessorised with practical but cool Casio watches and dressed up with an oversized Balenciaga leather shoulder bag for a tougher edge.


Swim Club showcased Matthew Williamson beach perfect batik prints, alongside coral floor length styles where the lack of clothes was made up for in accessories, with platform wedges all the better for keeping sand off those freshly mannicured toes, larger than life canvas beach bags and oversized sunglasses.


Seventies Sophistication saw a flurry of exotic prints with an abundance of Roberto Cavalli maxi dresses and sheer kaftans floating down the runway teamed with metallic clutch bags, turning models into human gilded butterflies. The show ended with the rightly named Rainbow Nation - think Joseph and his Technicolour Dreamcoat goes Haute Couture, leaving guests so dazzled by neon colour hues it was enough to make anyone reach for their designer shades to shield their eyes.


Styling wise, the models hair was attended to by experts at Urban Retreat and Barn//it at Harvey Nichols and nails were buffed and polished by Leighton Denny, while the fingers of the Harvey Nichol's NARS team worked their magic on the models makeup.


Special guests attending the event included Emily Jagielka, Carly Cole, Jane Given, Winonah De Jong and Sophie Anderson, who all attended to show their support and get an eyeful of the fashion on offer.



Not only wardrobe inspiring and potentially bank balance damaging, the evening was also supportive of a good cause with £10 from every ticket purchases being donated to Manchester Art Gallery, helping support their varied and valuable Art Projects.

Once the catwalk had ended, guests were invited to head back to the Harvey Nichols store with credit cards at the ready, for complimentary after show drinks and the chance to shop the show. VIP guests were even chauffeured there via London Red Bus and treated to a meal in the Harvey Nichols Second Floor Restaurant.

Hello sunshine!

Post by Anna J. Westerman

Valentines Special and Launch of the CLS-Class at Mercedes Benz Manchester

Last Thursday evening Mercedes-Benz Central played host to an exclusive Valentines special at their Manchester Showroom, in conjunction with the unveiling of their new CLS-Class!


Being greeated on arrival by a champagne and drinks reception, guests were invited to browse the abundance of Valentines gifts and goodies on offer to put them and their significant other in the mood for the big day. Jazz and soul singer Jessica Tansey entertained with her vocal talents whilst the guests enjoyed a range of light canapés including strawberrys dipped in chocolate and a tray of oysters to arouse and tantilate the senses!

The variety of experts on hand throughout the evening to cater to all things Valentines included; the stunning latest range from Lucile Lingerie, providing gift inspiration for all those wives and girlfriends, an exquisite collection of jewellery from Midas Jewellers, as well as skincare from Gentry Groomers. There were treats aplenty with Valentines themed, red glitter cupcakes from Frase des Boise and luxorious chocs courtesy of boutique chocolatiars, The Chocolate. In terms of fashion, the latest designs by designers Fatz K and Merabi by Nadine were on offer at their Pop Up Boutique stand, which was a booming success with party-goers not able to get enough of the Manchester designers innovative bespoke pieces!

Cheese tasting was available with a fab cheese board from The Cheese Hamlet, whilst French vineyard Tour de Belfort allowed guests to meet the wine maker and educate them in the art of wine tasting! Bang & Olufsen were also on hand with the latest gadgets, whilst experts from Castlefield Clinic talked skincare. Party-goers even had the chance to top up their mannicures or get a full nail makeover from Trevor Sorbie Nails.

Mercedes treated the guests to a short clip of the CLS in action before it was promptly unveiled at 8pm sharp, causing quite a stir being driven into the showroom much to the suprise of the the excited party-goers, who crowded round to get a better look for themselves. The CLS-Class follows in its predecessor’s footsteps, with it’s bold, innovative styling and luxurious interior complimented by the latest technology. It is sure to make for a truely unique driving experience and is perhaps one to add to your own Valentines wish-list if you’re looking to treat yourself or your loved one to something a little more impressive than the traditional flowers and chocolates...

The evening was nicely round up with a raffle with guests being invited to try their luck, with the prizes up for grabs being the chance to win a 2 night stay at the Hilton and a romantic, 5 star weekend for two at the Feversham Hotel & Verbana Spa in Yorkshire, courtesy of Perception Sales & Marketing.


The evening was a roaring sucess, with guests leaving filled with inspiration and ideas for the upcoming Valentines Day and in the mood for romance.

The Rejuvenate team would also like to say a special thanks to our star students Rebecca, Nick, Ariel and Tina who were a huge help on the night!

His & Her Valentines Day Picks

With Valentines Day just around the corner and fast approaching, what better time is there to splash out on your other half and show them you care?

Forget the traditional abut uninspirational gifts of lingerie and chocolates, forget the flowers or worse yet - the delightfully cute but tacky "i love you" keyring. This year why not think outside the (heart shaped) box and opt for something that will really make them smile.

Show them some amore with STYLE etc's Valentines Picks, to make shopping just that little bit easier...

For Her:


Smythson "Be Mine" leather notebook, £35.
Mulberry Oversized Alexa bag, £914.
Marc by Marc Jacobs Wildheart iPhone cover, £30.
Givenchy Nightingale purse, £275.
Topshop ridged stone ring, £10.
Solange Azagury-Partridge hot lips silver ring, £990.
Markus Lupfer lips tee, £75.
Topshop Dusty pink knotted sandal, £70.

For Him:


Roberts Revival D60 DAB radio, £150.
Alexander McQueen skull print scarf, £225.
Mason Martin Margiela wallet, £245.
Duchamp garland crystal cufflinks, £120.
Launer luxury card case, £60.
Nixon wire 8mm earbuds, £30.
Veuve Clicquot Rosé Sakura ice jacket 375ml, £54.99.

Be sure to bookmark these picks and show them to your other halves for a Valentines gift thats truely special! Or better yet - just treat yourself!

Umbro Modern England Launches at Harvey Nichols

Thursday 3rd February 2011, saw the launch of the new Umbro Modern England range in an evening of cocktails and canapes, held at Harvey Nichol's Manchester store.


Hosted by XFM DJ Gareth Brooks, the event was attended by Manchester's VIPs with familiar faces from TV favourite Hollyoaks, and even an appearance from Manchester City and England goalkeeper Joe Hart, who came along to get a first glimpse of the range. Hart commented; “It was great to see the new Modern England collection up close and to understand Saville’s thinking behind the pattern that is on both the England home kit and this new range.” Umbro Industries winners Mind on Fire were also on hand to provide live music throughout the night.

Modern England is a capsule collection of menswear, routed in football and inspired by a diverse modern English culture. Taking elements from the recently launched England Home Kit, Modern England features the signature graphic, created by iconic graphic designer Peter Saville, of different interpretations of the classic St George’s Cross symbol. The pattern is displayed through the repetition of four different coloured crosses. The traditional red cross graphic is present alongside blue and green colour additions, colours present in the official England team crest. A new addition of a purple cross is a blend of the red and blue colours to represent England and its vibrant, multi cultural layers.

Three styles of essential t-shirts feature various cross print formations on basic colours of black, white and blue to enhance the bright colours of the graphic. A classic addition is a smart polo shirt in the collection colours, featuring the England team crest on the pocket and a long sleeve crew neck sweater in white and navy features the all over cross print and a lightweight jacket in the new colour addition of dahlia, is this seasons throw-on essential.


The evening included an exclusive Q&A session with Peter Saville himself, giving guests the chance to hear the inspiration behind the unique collection. Introducing the range, Saville spoke about the inspiration which lead to the creation of the signature St George’s Cross pattern that features on each piece. The pattern is displayed through the repetition of four different coloured crosses.


Commenting on the graphic design print, Saville said: “Both the nation and the fans themselves are more diverse than ever before – whether that’s differences in politics, religion, ethnicity, fashions, music and art. The landscape of England has shifted dramatically over the past couple of decades and we are now one of the most culturally diverse nations in the world. Football is a language that everyone can relate to and the new England home kit provided the perfect canvas to reflect what England looks like today. The reality of modern England is expressed in this pattern as it reclaims the St George’s cross to positively represent our contemporary society.”

Modern England is noww available exclusively in the UK at Harvey Nichols stores Nationwide. RRP: T-Shirts from £40, Sweat Shirts from £70, and Jackets from £115

J Brand Jeans: An Education in Denim

The STYLE etc. girls recently got an education in denim from the girls from celeb favourite J Brand Jeans...

Founded in 2004 by Jeff Rudes, J Brand set out to create classic and sophisticated jeans with an emphasis on fit, timeless products and the inspiration to make a woman look and feel beautiful in her jeans. Through this mission, J Brand has achieved a winning combination of style, comfort and sexiness in their denim.


Held in the personal shopping department of Harvey Nichols, the talk was lead by Kristen Gross of J Brand. Kristen informed us the key to J Brand's success lies within the fact the jeans appeal to a wide range of different ages and body shapes. Although the brand only offer 4 core bodys and 3 fashion styles, each style comes in an abundance of washes in sizes 23-32. The jeans dont appeal to customers as merely a fashion trend, but rather as a classic staple but versatile pair of jeans that allow you to dress up or dress down to tie into your own personal style. They are subdued and sophisticated rather than being overly trendy as compared with other denim brands.

Kristen informed us their skinny jean style is their most popular core body. Great for warmer weather with sandals and a tee and even ideal for Autumn/Winter when boots become the footwear of choice to battle the colder weather. J Brand's skinnys hug calves all the way down, allowing them to easily tuck into boots with no fuss and no awkward bunching - any girl that has every attempted to stuff a boot cut jean into a narrow boot will know what I'm talking about.

J Brand has an unmistakable signature look of no branding on the jeans with clean pockets - pocket placement is key when looking for a good pair of jeans. It is this timeless and effortless style that keeps the customer coming back again and again. This signature look is also ideal for the current economy where cutting back and saving money is a necessity. As the style of the jeans doesn't change much from season to season, customers dont feel the pressure to have to buy as much into the brand to still be part of the J Brand look.

I was made jeans guinea pig for the afternoon and was forced to try on most pairs and let me just say; when it comes to J Brand - believe the hype. The jeans are so comfortable whilst being high quality denim and keeping great shape. I fell in love with every pair, a bad sign for the old bank account.

J Brand is also the creator of the highly sought after and talked bout Houlihan cargo pants - a jean so coveted you'll need a waiting list to bag a pair! The Houlihan pant has been worn by everyone whos anyone, from Jessica Alba, Rachel Bilson, Kate Bosworth and Pop Princess Rihanna to name but a few.


The Houlihan is the brands most influential jean to date and the must have item of the moment, so versatile it looks good with flats for casual days, heels for evening and suits a variety of age ranges. Young girls wear them tight and skinny, while older women can also get in on the Houlihan action by wearing them loose with flip flops and a long cardi.

If all this wasnt enough, the brand also offer maternity range Mama J, which is available is most of the popular core bodys, as well as a mens line launched in 2008, of masculine modern basics with a vintage sensibility and classic craftsmanship.

J Brand is featured in over 2000 specialty stores and luxury retailers in over 20 countries worldwide!

For more information on the brand visit:
http://www.jbrandjeans.com/

P.S Heres another tip from Kristen Gross herself... Flares will be huge for Spring/Summer so raid your wardrobes, dust off your stored away pairs and give them a practise run before the season hits!

Post by Anna J. Westerman

Spring/Summer at Harvey Nichols

Yesterday the STYLE etc. team headed down to Harvey Nichols Manchester where we were invited to an exclusive sneak peak of Harvey Nichols Spring Summer '11 Collections...

Headed by Harvey Nichols' personal shopping manager Ben Maxfield, the preview also included the fabulous new S/S 11 trends that will be showcased at Harvey Nick's own amazing fashion show, held in the Manchester Art Gallery on February 10th! Ben's top picks included Christopher Kane space/galaxy print dresses and tees (which this fashion lover in particular has been drooling over for quite some time) soft nudes and blush colour hues from See by Chloe, romantic lace meets cruise wear from Dolce & Gabanna, beautifully draped Roberto Cavalli exotic print maxis, and a chunky statement skull ring so oversized you could barely lift your hand to sip your champers, courtesy of McQueen - who else?!


To sum it up, it seems trendwise get ready for shorts - possibly a no brainer for Spring/Summer but whether they be high waist or low waist, or in soft nudes or tough leather, shorts will be huge and one of the key garments of the season along with blouses. Nautical is always a reocurring trend whenever the warmer weather comes into play and so its presence this Spring/Summer is no suprise. However, this season nautical is all grown up, more tailored and more mature. Along with this, shield your eyes for bold, exotic prints that will turn you into a human butterfly, rompers and playsuits, capri pants, nude tones and 70's glamour.

Shoes will be kept platform and in cant-make-up-their-mind colours tones of soft, barely there nudes vs. neon and in your face colour popping hues (check out the electric blue Louboutins!) As for bags, think smart leather in classic, vintage-esque practical styles - look to Alexa Chung for this one, she has the classic, British heritage style in the bag. To achieve this you cant go wrong with a Mulberry, a Marni or a Celine on your arm to carry you (and your daily handbag essentials) through the season.

If there was ever an excuse to go shopping. now is the time!

Post by Anna J. Westerman