Social icons

Thursday 31 May 2012

Ladurée: 150th Birthday Celebrations in Hong Kong

From raspberry to rose, coffee to caramel, lemon to liquorice with cherry blossom and strawberry poppy in between, Ladurée offers every conceivable flavour in crispy, crumbly, meringuey macaron form.  These small pieces of macaron perfection are a bit of a 3BM weakness... no trip to Paris is complete without a trip to Ladurée Royale the cosy little salon de thé on Rue Royale which dates back to 1862.  After a hard afternoon's shopping, nothing beats a couple of macarons and a cup of Ladurée hot chocolate (thick, velvety and rich - decadence in a cup...).  And even after all that sugar we never leave without being laden down with at least five pale pistachio green, beribboned boxes... A girl should always be prepared for a macaron emergency!

So when I was invited to the Hong Kong leg of Ladurée's 150th Birthday celebrations and the launch of the brand new Ladurée pop-up store in Lane Crawford, I couldn't RSVP quickly enough... 



I headed across to the Canton Road Lane Crawford yesterday evening, ran the  perilous gauntlet of the sprawling shoe department (I can happily confirm there were no shoe acquiring accidents but not without the exercise of extreme willpower...) and arrived at the Blitz Cafe craving raspberry macarons.  I was immediately handed a mimosa and pointed in the direction of table packed with beautifully wrapped boxes and scented candles under glass domes.  All very lovely but there was one glaring omission.  Where on earth were the macarons?  There were a couple of display towers of the pastel-hued discs, but where were the trays heaving with sugary goodness??  Nowhere, that is where.

Despite the distinct lack of macarons, there was a wealth of Ladurée products on offer from scented candles to room sprays and body cream to macaron print umbrellas.  Each smells delicious (although a couple are a bit too sickly for me) and is beautifully packaged - these are the candles and bath products that would adorn the home of this season's Louis Vuitton girl.  Still no macarons though...







A couple of mimosas and a lot of browsing later I jumped back on the Star Ferry and headed back to the island.  Which turned out to be a mistake of Pretty Woman shopgirl proportions - BIG, HUGE.  I have it on good authority that moments after I left the macarons were wheeled out.  Typical!           

Ladurée home products are available at the Canton Road and IFC Lane Crawfords for a limited period - get them before they're gone, just don't expect any macarons... 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Wednesday 30 May 2012

We're all drunk on Jubilee Juice...Hic!

It's hump Wednesday which means only two more early work wake-ups until we hit the all time Jubilee high! With a four-day weekend fast approaching (sorry non-UK blog buds, don't mean to brag...), could we be anymore excited??? Well yes... the highstreet, web and magazines are full to the brim with ways to make this weekend extra special and one to remember! See our fav Jubilee finds below...


With Britons set to spend (according to the Daily Mail online) a whopping £823 million celebrating the Jubilee this weekend, what better way of getting involved in the action than with a bottle of champers! Moet & Chandon has launched an exclusive Diamond Jubilee Cuvee in honour of Her Maj! The champagne has a Royal history don't you know - Moet & Chandon has held the Royal Warrant since Queen Victoria recognised the quality of the champagne back in 1893. With that in mind it would be plain rude not to indulge over the celebratory weekend - come on, get sloshed with the Bad Mice, you know you want to! Available from various stores including Waitrose, Selfridges and Fortnum & Mason. 


Image via www.thedrinksbusiness.com

Embrace your crafty side by making your own Rob Ryan bunting. If like us you LOVE everything Rob Ryan related, then you're going to jump for joy when you hear that the talented artist has created a bespoke British bunting design especially for Stylist magazine. The perfect addition to any street or garden party! Go DIY crazy! 

Images via www.stylist.co.uk

The British sandwich chain, Pret a Manger has come over all Jubilee dizzy! Not only have they launched three British classics in honour of the Queen; coronation chicken sandwich; Pret bakewell tart; ceylon blend of tea BUT they are also offering customers the chance to eat for free this week! Today I popped into the Queensway store on my lunch break and the cashier produced 3 giant playing cards from underneath the counter. He asked me to pick one of the cards and show him. He then muddled the cards up and challenged me to try and pick the same card for my chance to walk away with my cheapest Pret item free of charge. What a spiffing idea, as the queen would say! Get yourself down there pronto and try your luck! 

Image via www.pret.com


Tuesday 29 May 2012

Mice Advice: iPad Cases


We haven't mice adviced for ages but you'll be pleased to hear that the requests have been flooding in recently so we've got our helpful hats on and will be bringing lots of Mice Advice to you in the next couple of weeks...  First up, we've received an iPad related dilemma from one our 3BM blog buds, Ellie. As always we're here to help... 

'@3BadMice Lovely mice, I need an iPad cover - can you help?! I am quite likely to throw it about a bit so it'll need to be protective. Quite like the ones that have a built-in stand but willing to sacrifice functionality for something fun...'

The mice have digested the challenge, dressed the options up in shining armour and here they are ready to come to the rescue...! For starters, here are a couple of statement stand-up options to consider...

Pantone iPad2 case - £59.99
Well we all love a pop of Pantone colour in our life so my first suggestion is going to be a protective standing book option from the one and only Pantone. Available in classic black, dove grey, ruby red and ocean blue. 




Images via www.londongraphics.co.uk


Pricey but gorgeous!  We're green with envy over any fashionista who can afford this snazzy iPad coat!  Made from croc-print calf skin with secure press stud tab fastener, this case is practically perfect in every way as Mary Poppins would say!


Smythson peridot green iPad case - £162 reduced from £325

Up next a bit of a bargain... this Smythson doesn't act as a stand but HK Mouse has it in blue and she can confirm that it's great for people prone to bashing their iPad about a bit (she's very clumsy).  Beautiful leather, gorgeous colour and it comes complete with handy pockets to stash business cards, shopping lists and other bits and bobs.  



www.mywardrobe.com

A couple on the more practical, functional side...

One for the boys, this sturdy Hard Graft felt and leather case rolls into a nifty stand.  The perfect present for your boyfriend - gift it and then steal it back on those days that you're rocking an androgynous vibe...


Images via: www.hardgraft.com

Daycraft iPad Pocket - HKD279 (just over £22)
Hong Kong based, Daycraft focuses on getting you organised or at least getting you looking organised... Co-ordinate your iPad case to your diary, your notebook and your document wallet and look chic and put together at all times (even if the opposite's true in reality).  The sleek simple pockets come in a range of colours which co-ordinate with their host of other stationery products and Daycraft offers free worldwide shipping.

Image via: www.daycraft.com.hk

Moving away from the practical and focusing on just plain fun and fabulous...

Look on the bright side of life with this zesty embossed iPad case. By day this item will protect all evil from your pride of joy and by night it doubles up as a chic clutch. When cost per wear comes into the equation it means this beauty is near enough free...!


www.mywardrobe.com

Opt for a subtle sugar-coloured envelope style pouch. Available in sky blue and a pretty pink, this style come complete with silk lining and a magnetic fastener. 


www.selfridges.com 

Angel Jackson Python Ipad Case - £150
The Mice are a little Angel Jackson obsessed!  A quick glance at this slice of snakey, turquoise gorgeousness and its pretty easy to see why!  Angel Jackson also carry a range of clutches that are just the right size to house your iPad - the perfect excuse to add to your handbag collection...

image via: www.urbanoutfitters.co.uk

DIY Neon iPad Case - Free(ish!)
We always love a DIY option especially when it looks this good!  If you have the time and patience, Swell Mayde has a very easy to follow DIY case/clutch design for you!  Dig out your needle and thread, get all crafty and feel all smug domestic goddess when the compliments roll in...


Images via: www.swellmayde.com


Monday 28 May 2012

Cannes 2012: Sorting the Belle from the Bof...


The 65th annual Cannes Film Festival drew to a close yesterday also bringing to a close the non-stop parade of frothy couture gowns and priceless jewellery.  Twelve days packed with premieres, parties and photo calls means hundreds of dresses, stilettos and clutch bags adorning A-listers, fashionistas, models, socialites and anyone else who could blag their way in...

We've pored over the photos of every last detail so without further ado we bring you the 3BM picks of the Belle and the Bof....

The Belle

Erin Wasson in Antonio Beradi

We loved Rosie Huntington-Whitely in Antonio Beradi at the Elle Style Awards and if its possible, we love this sleeveless, red and white version even more.



Image via: www.harpersbazaar.com

Jessica Chastain in Gucci


She was a little it and miss during awards season but she was back on top form
at Cannes, especially in this nude, seqinned Gucci, our favourite Jessica 
Chastain look since the Oscars.

Image via: www.stylist.co.uk

Eva Longoria in Marchesa


Just fairytale beautiful.


Image via: www.marieclaire.com


Natasha Poly in Emilio Pucci

The stunning Russian model topped our best dressed list a number of times 
over the twelve days, our favourite look was this sleek, simple Pucci though.

Image via: www.stylist.co.uk


Jessica Chastain in Armani Prive


More red carpet perfection from Chastrain, this time Hollywood siren style.


Image via: www.harpersbazaar.com


Nicole Kidman in Lanvin

Classic but with a twist.  Adore the colour, love the beautiful back.

Image via: www.marieclaire.com

étoile d'or de la mode - Diane Kruger


Flawless all week - Diane Kruger gets our Cannes fashion gold star (please 
excuse our French if the above is wrong, we did German at school...actually 
as Kruger's German, maybe she'd prefer a mode goldenen stern anyway...)


Diane Kruger in Vivienne Westwood

Image via: www.harpersbazaar.com

Diane Kruger in Giambattista Valli

Image via: www.marieclaire.com

Diane Kruger in Balmain

Image via: www.marieclaire.com

Diane Kruger in Jason Wu

Image via: www.mirror.co.uk

Diane Kruger in Versus

Image via: www.harpersbazaar.com

Diane Kruger in Chanel

Image via: www.marieclaire.com

Diane Kruger in Nina Ricci

Image via: www.marieclaire.com

Diane Kruger in Christian Dior

Image via: www.huffingtonpost.com

The Bof

Kim Kardashian in Balmain

While we love a bit of Balmain, the padded shoulders, the beading and the silhouette do nothing for Kim's curves leaving her looking stocky rather than slinky.  And those boots?  A bizarre choice even if she had amazonian pins.  This is also a piece that we've seen on countless other stars before including Zoe Saldana and Alessandra Ambrosio.  Copycatting seemed to be the reality star's dressing strategy for the week, the day before she trotted up the red carpet in this Balmain number, Kim donned a Pucci look identical to Gwyneth Paltrow's Emmys outfit.  While there's no denying Kim has a fantastic body, she has a very different frame to the Saldanas and Paltrows of this world. We'd suggest that borrowing looks from Sophia Verdana may garner better results and more favourable comparisons in future...



Image via: www.harpersbazaar.com

Berenice Bejo in Prada

Berenice is one of those stars that we always hold out such high hopes for but so often she just seems to get it all a bit wrong.  Her Oscars look was lacking, her Golden Globes look was fine but safe and her SAGs look was uninspiring and forgettable (I just had to Google it to remind myself...).  Sadly her Cannes red carpet appearances continued in the same vein.  This Prada look took it to the next level though, definitely memorable for all the wrong reasons.  The colours, the cut, the fit - it all just jars.  We want to grab the top of the gown and yank it up a few inches, the hem's too long, the bodice sits too low and the panelling creates hips that she doesn't have.  Our final grumble?  Her hair.  We're all for relaxed glamour but this just looks messy and reminds us of the "party hair" we used to create when we were six by sleeping in our plaits...

Image via: www.harpersbazaar.com

Kate Upton in Louis Vuitton


There's one thing that you have to say for Kate, she tries.  Quite how she's made an appearance at the biggest events this year, from the Met Gala to the Vanity Fair Oscars Party, is a little baffling.  But Kate Upton is definitely trying very hard to make Kate Upton happen.  Begged, borrowed or blagged invitation in hand, the swimmer's red carpet looks are often pretty questionable and this Louis Vuitton dress was no exception.  the velvet latticed puffball look complete with matching eighties, bouffy hair is just too Dynasty fancy dress.  Ten points for effort though Kate.   


Image via: www.marieclaire.com



Sunday 27 May 2012

All In a Flap: The Great Gatsby Trailer

If you haven't seen it yet, click the play button immediately.  If you've already seen it, click the play button again.

It's not out for another seven whole months but anticipation is already reaching fever pitch.  Baz Luhrmann's silver screen adaptation of the 1925 F. Scott Fitzgerald classic, The Great Gatsby has us all in a spin and so far we've only seen the two and a half minute trailer...

A blur of Jay-Z & Kanye West; chinking martini glasses & glittering city lights; Leonardo DiCaprio & Carrey Mulligan; excess & debauchery.... the sneak peak of the film is making us hyper excited for West Egg epic love and tragedy this Christmas.  We adore the book and have such high hopes for the film, don't let us down Baz... 


Saturday 26 May 2012

Who Wore It Better: Kardashion vs Paltrow in Pucci

Kim Kardashian's arrival at P Diddy's yacht party at Cannes this week, was distinctly de ja vu... the bling, the bum, the hoodie clad Kanye and the exact same Emilio Pucci top and skirt that Gwyneth Paltrow wore to the Emmys last September.  The black beaded, rib-cage exposing Peter Dundas pieces were shown in the Pucci SS12 collection last autumn.

Image via: www.style.com

Gwyneth nabbed the pieces last year a week in advance of their runway debut in Milan.  Pairing the slim skirt and cropped-top with unfussy, straight hair and simple jewellery, Gwyneth drew a collective gasp when she stepped out onto the Emmys' red carpet.  The mum of two added a mesh panel between the top and skirt which drew mixed reviews but there was no denying that the days of sugar pink, prom-queen Ralph Lauren were long gone, Paltrow's stylista transformation was complete.  




Images via: www.instyle.com, www.stylite.com and www.dailymail.co.uk

This week in Cannes, Kim ditched the mesh panel and went with a smaller slither of midriff than Gwyneth.  Sweeping her hair back in a sleek ponytail and adding large drop earrings, the reality star definitely gave the Pucci look a dash of Kardashian glam.  





Images via: www.mirror.co.uk and www.gossiprocks.com

Who wore it better?  Both looked incredible but we think Gwyneth just edges it.  The sleek shape and high neck is just more suited to Gwyneth's boyish frame that Kim's killer curves.  We love that KK's channelling a more sophisticated look than usual though, we want to see her in Gwyneth's Tom Ford caped Oscars look next week please...