Style in the heat

I have to admit that I prefer Winter Dressing. I do. But one of the joys of being a clothes designer is that I can design clothes that work well for my age and figure. Clothes that flatter, feel comfortable and are well cut to make the best of those parts that may comfortably be put on display in the heat.

Like most of us, I have "issues" with aspects of myself and feel that I am shown to my best advantage in Winter. Summer begs thinking about waistlines, arms and ankles for me. Parts of my body that at any other time I pay no attention to but come Summer I am exasperated by.

You may have other parts of your body that require thought, hiding, manipulating or concession and this piece is put together to guide you through the physical minefield of Style in the Heat.

The Simple Dress is a statement. It is. In white it has a very classical look which can be dressed up or down. In black it is sexier and layers really well.

The Long Side Split top is good both on a flatter bosom and a fuller one. It is cut so that it makes the most of the arms and the neckline. Easy to wear over crisp linen trousers.

The Flared Shirt is still one of the most popular pieces. Black or white it is classically stylish and easy to wear. The transparency of the linen works really well in this piece.

For the beach, the Sleeveless Dress is perfect unless you have a larger bust. Then it gets a bit missish, school Marm kind of thing. But on a flatter chest it is really comfortable and flattering.

Over skirts and trousers, the Sleeveless T shirt is a classic. Wide shoulder bands make it kind to arms.

The Annick Dress is comfortable, relaxed and easy for the Summer. It doubles as a great coat to throw over a shift dress or pair of jeans, hiding the parts that you may want to hide like the waist etc.

I wore the Indian Dress in flowery torquoise at the school fair last weekend. It has a great feeling to it. Cool, comfortable and rather hippyish in a 70's way. I had a whole lot of customers all coming to try them on!

The Button Dress is good for the summer for those who like the more classical approach. Good for shawls, too, and it works over the summer gagra as well as linen trousers.

The Long Silk Kaftan is for wafting about in wearing excellent jewellery. The sleeves are fabulous: loose and wide and the look is rather glamorous, I find. The kaftans layer well, with a contrasting colour beneath.

And finally the Short A line top is just fabulous. It has been largely ignored. I am not sure why, but it feels great and works over skirts and trousers in a rather raunchy way. Good for a cleavage.

Have fun looking and do call if you have questions. 020 7701 9269. The shop is by appointment, in Camberwell. SE5 7LZ

 

 

Brigitte Singh on Sale

I have decided to put a 50% reduction on some of the Brigitte Singh stock for the next two weeks.

As far as I can tell I have everything in stock (!). You can get a good idea of the sizes by who is wearing it in the picture. If it is Kate it will be around a size 10, if me, then around a size 16. But there are variations in the fit of different pieces and as much as possible I have put the approximate sizings.

There are some really exquisite pieces here and as there is not the same level of passing trade in my shop now that I am in my house it is all just sitting, unseen, on shelves and longs to be worn in the heat of the summer.

Blouses, Jackets, Waistcoats, Coats... utterly beautiful pieces that work well for Summer. Flowers, stripes, all hand printed and divinely stitched.

Remember that it needs a cold wash in gentle soap. No tumble dry. Any questions, call 020 7701 9269. If I am out it diverts to a mobile.

 

Devotion News

Experience the Kundalini in Camden.

The class at Alchemy are doing well. Every Wednesday at 2.30pm for an 90 minutes I am teaching on the Kundalini. Come and join me.

The India trip I have finally organised myself for the Yoga and Shopping trip to Jaipur.

The dates are not set, but it will be around the 12th of October. The Jaipur Festival starts on the 15th and there are lots of wonderful events happening at the same time so Jaipur really comes alive.

My plan is for 5 days. Kundalini yoga at 7am for an hour. (Do not worry if you have never done it before. I am easy with newcomers) A delicious breakfast followed by shopping. Lunch either in the hotel garden or in Jaipur then an afternoon adventure: sightseeing or similar. This will be followed by an evening meditation, drinks and supper.

I can be flexible, I frequently am, about changing plans. Jaipur Time, even Indian Time, is a curious beast and can be shortened and stretched according to need. Shopping can be gloriously fascinating, and if you do not get what you want, equally frustrating. Food there is delicious, and no jabs are needed in terms of health.

Some places will require cars to go to, others will be tuk tuks or rickshaws. The trip from the Delhi Airport is long and boring and best slept through, about 5 hours of motorway in a very Indian sense: camels and tractors, goats and sadhus all making their merry way the wrong way down the road. I switch off and read, sleep or watch movies on my iTouch.

The hotel is lovely. Calm and quiet, run by a family who really are very kind. It is where I always stay. The food is good and it is well placed for moving around Jaipur.

Hotel, food and shopping is all up to you, financially. I will charge £350 per person for my time and experience. This will be payable in advance so I can book everything.

So I propose that if you are interested in coming I need to hear from you. Flights are best by Virgin. If we can all accumulate one date then it is easy to organise cars. If you want to go on from Jaipur to other cities and experiences in India I can advise you.

 

Summer Dhal

Although I love salads, there comes a point when I need something more filling just for energy.

This Summer Dhal is light and delicious. My children love it and whenever I make for a big lunch it there are endless demands for the recipe. You will need Moong Dhal, which is the small split mung beans, to make the best taste but if you cannot find these then split yellow peas or Channa Dhal will work, too.

For the beans:
500gms Moong Dhal washed thoroughly
2 Teaspoons of Turmeric
A dessert spoon of ghee (clarified butter) or Sunflower oil
A heavy based pan with all the above ingredients and 3" of water to cover.
Bring to a gentle boil. Scoop off the bubbly foam once and let simmer for 45minutes to 1 hour. It needs to become soupy rather than you be able to identify individual beans. Stir occasionally during cooking to prevent it all sticking.

Once the Dhal is cooked, set it aside.

To temper the oil:
Black mustard seeds 2 dessert spoons
Cumin seeds 1 dessert spoon
Curry leaves fresh or dry, 15-20
Desiccated coconut 4 table spoons
Freshly chopped tomatoes 6
Sunflower oil or ghee 5 tablespoons
Freshly chopped coriander
Salt and sugar to season
For the flavouring of the dhal you do need oil or ghee and a decent amount of it.

Heat the oil in a frying pan and add the seeds. Swirl them around and be careful not to get splattered if they get too hot and pop. Add the curry leaves and after a minute, the coconut. Give it a quick stir and pour if straight into the dal.

Add the chopped tomatoes and stir. Season to taste. A large teaspoon of sugar is sufficient and salt as you like it. Just before serving add the coriander. This is great with rice and a crispy salad, toasted pitta bread and yoghurt with chopped onion and cucumber.

For more Summer recipes do look at the Sacred Chef DVDs.

 

Summer beauty tips

Continuing the theme of Style in the Heat, I am often asked what make up I use, what hair products, etc. Twice last week it was suggested I put a list together and so here it is. (Some of you may already know this: I was an international Make Up artist for 20 years, working in film, fashion and advertising. )

Firstly, make sure that in your bathroom the mirror is not side lit. There is nothing that will depress you more, or make you look like a witch, than being side lit. Either buy a light to go above the mirror or move it so you are lit front on by full on light, be it daylight or artificial from slightly above.

I do keep my make up really simple, I always have. I mainly buy from the Garden Pharmacy. They have a good, clear website and give great offers: The buy one get two and a small bag free type of thing that always works well if travelling.

Foundation, I only wear if being photographed so I am of no help here. I have always disliked the feeling intensely. But if you have a tendency to red skin try cutting ginger, chillies, rose anything and coffee out of your diet. All of these stimulate the redness in the cheeks.

Mascara… the only one is Lancome. Not the waterproof, but their jet black mascaras are the best. No question. There is quite a range but they are all good. Also Lancome do the easiest eyebrow pencils. Not one that needs sharpening, but a twist up one that looks really natural. I always use a small brush on my eyebrows after applying to give the most natural feeling.

Eyebrow glue is useful. It comes like a mascara and keeps the brows looking tidy and horizontal. Messed up eyebrows or drooping hairs here always look awful. There are expensive options, but No 7 from Boots is also good.

Cheeks, I do nothing at all. It always look fake, but a little lipstick gently rubbed onto the bone below the outer edge of the eyebrow lifts the whole face. Make sure it is gently rubbed in.

Lips…. My favourite is the MAC, make up mac not computer mac, matt red lipstick. It is a fabulous colour, lasts well, does not taste of melons or chocolate and never bleeds out. If your lipstick does tends to bleed out use a good lip liner which you then lightly powder with a translucent powder before applying your lipstick. This makes a barrier. If, once you have powdered, you look like an 18th century dandy, apply a folded damp tissue to absorb the excess powder. Just press it onto the skin, no dragging. Sadly the website is appalling so you have to go to a Mac Boutique. My favourite is the one off Carnaby Street. The staff are usually awful but the lipstick is worth the effort.

The Yves St Laurent Touche Eclat is good if you feel tired, old or need a lift. It is a translucent under eye lift. Do apply it in good light, and the best finger for dabbing it is the ring finger. Why? No idea…

I have just bought myself the most marvellous thing, an epilator. If you spend time and money on waxing and have no fear of a little pain this is an excellent purchase. I bought mine on Amazon and it works wet or dry, easy for bikini line or legs and has a darling little light for if I get lost on the way up my shins!

To take off my make up I use Galatea, again by Lancome. Easy, effective and lasts for ever. I then wash with warm water and a face flannel from Peter Jones, one of those gorgeous dark blue thick ones that do not show any residual make up remains!

Moisturiser… here I turn into a Princess. I love, love, love Santa Maria Di Novella moisturiser, the Idralia. In the cold of winter is use their Neige moisturiser. I also use their body cream for my legs, have a ceramic pomegranate perfuming my bedroom and use their bath salts. Unashamedly luxurious. They have a very dinky shop in Walton Street. No functioning website, Damme! But be positive, it saves you a fortune...

Tweezers, the best are Tweezerman. No question.

Babyliss Ceramic tongs from Peter Jones are just fabulous. They heat instantly, curl well and the curl lasts for hours.

Hairspray is an interesting one. I used to be a Punk in the 70's and used a lot of Elnett. Funny, I still love it and it is fabulous. If you want fabulous full hair, once you have tonged or curled it, turn your head upside down and spray into your hair from below, lifting up from the roots and spraying into the mass of it. Wait 30 seconds to a minute then throw your hair back and come up. Re-arrange the styling and go. It should last well and have good body.

And being a creature of habit, my hair has been cut by the same man for 25 years: Pedro at Stephen Way in Bond Street... Brilliant, totally brilliant.

What fun....... I love the smell of make up packaging. I always have