Lingerie, Lingerie, Lingerie

"How to Marry a Millionaire" by Gilda and Pearl

They say it’s not what's on the outside but on the inside that counts and Lingerie PR have certainly taken this to heart. Lady Chartwell was thrilled to be invited to a press day at Lingerie PR's new showroom last week, mainly because one can never spend too much time with the lovely Sherece, Emily, Primrose and Emma but also because it meant a chance to get up close and personal with new and future lines of irresistible lingerie.

After the gorgeous Lingerie Française exhibition we got a taste for lace that was wholly satisfied by contemporary classic brand Gilda and Pearl. Dainty, delicate yet wearable designs in luxe fabrics this brand is perfectly suited for the lady who has perfected the art of class from top to toe. In particular the aptly named 'How to Marry a Millionaire' caught our eye with its demure blush pink silk but flirtatious contrast lace overlay, an understated but powerful player for the boudoir.

For adorable everyday lingerie that’s guaranteed to put a smile on tour face whenever you remember you've got it on, Affinitas and Parfait are the brands to look out for: candy colours and pretty little detailing combine to make these pieces oh so feminine and fun.

Retro glamour is always in style and two of Lingerie PR's brands have it down to a tee: Tatu Couture's alluring designs are made for unleashing your inner temptress and giving those of us less adventurous girls the chance to see their skin transformed by classic tattoo designs. Mesh, straps and lace - black of course - and body contouring cuts make for a truly tantalising collection from the fledgling brand; on the flip side of retro glamour, Dentelle emulates the cheeky pin-up that has come to be known as one of the most iconic images of femininity with longline bralets and high-waisted knickers, the secret weapons of hourglass girls looking to flaunt their best assets.

A few too many cupcakes, a lot of lingerie talk and a good few hours later and it was time to say goodbye to the gorgeous collections and girls at Lingerie PR - make sure to keep an eye out for their SS13 lines in the new year! You owe it to your inside image.

By Maddie Saunders

B-Soho: post-work eclectic-chic venue

Darlings, have you decided yet, how you are spending your Friday night? I was lucky enough the other day, to be invited to B-Soho just after they had opened and I must say it was fab!
You don’t usually hear of a venue that boasts both pizza and cocktails as specialities of theirs but that’s exactly what B-Soho has put out there for the Soho crowd to feast upon. Despite the midweek evening and its fledgling status on the Soho scene the place is packed full of young professionals fresh out of their 9-to-5s. The exposed brickwork and gentle lighting in the underground restaurant makes for an intimate and casual atmosphere with its facile-chic patrons emphasising the mashed-up style. After taking our seats and chatting with hands-on Primrose and Sam from Joriwhite PR over wine and an antipasto of cured meats, cheese and rustic flat bread, it was time to sample the culinary results of a team trained by Neopolitan pizza-pro Raffaele Medaglia. I went for the healthier option and chose the Vegetariana pizza topped with a medley of Mediterranean vegetables. Fresh toppings and a truly authentic tasting soft base made for a highly palatable and delightfully light dinner before I ventured upstairs to the bar to sample a cocktail from B-Soho’s extensive and quirky cocktail menu. I went for a flamboyant mix of “Herradura Blanco infused with Lady Grey tea, laced with apricot conserve, shaken up with white wine, pressed apple, lemon, a cheeky hint of absinthe and served on the rocks” - called the Prescott’s Punch. This truly was a whirlwind of sweetness that pleasantly nipped the back of my throat.  
To top off the evening we were treated to a live acoustic set to accompany our cocktails and seal B-Soho’s status as one of the new places on the scene to kick back and mentally file away the day’s work with authentic eats and grown-up thirst quenchers. Perfect for a Friday night dinner before embarking on a LadyChartwell Friday clubbing adventure.

By Guest Blogger: Maddie Saunders

Lady Chartwell meets Grey Goose - by appointment

If taste is a science, then flavour is an art form and Grey Goose has exquisitely mastered both for its Taste by Appointment event. Chartwell were cordially invited to just one of the events being held across London at Gordon Ramsay’s Bread Street Kitchen, an understated venue that works a certain industrial chic. Greeted upon arrival by a Grey Goose Le Fizz concoction to cleanse the palette before the taste tests, also offered round were a selection of canapés to represent the five different areas of taste. Joe from Grey Goose, an enthused and passionate bartender spoke to the room in fantastic detail about the research that the brand have been doing with the Reading University Taste institute to really understand the experience of taste, aroma and flavour. Once the room had participated in a blind experiment to demonstrate taste, trolleys were brought out with Grey Goose Original, La Poire and L’Orange as well as a host of other popular and unusual mixers and guests were invited to experiment with different mixtures to find their taste. All these experiments culminated in the crown of the evening, the personal, bespoke Grey Goose cocktail. The dapper Joe who had spoken so passionately about the sensation of taste mixed each guest his or her own unique cocktail specifically taking into account their preferences and their usual drink of choice. The outcome for Chartwell was exquisite with Joe creating a Grey Goose and ginger ale cocktail with coriander, fresh ginger and ground black pepper muddled in as well as a dash of white grapefruit juice and a host of other finishing touches. A cocktail that suitably reflected the evening with Grey Goose: refreshing, unusual yet unsurprisingly refined.
Explore your own taste with GreyGoose Masterclasses here: http://www.greygoosetaste.com/

By Maddie Saunders - guest blogging for Chartwell Magazine.