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Showing posts with label Brick Lane. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Brick Lane. Show all posts
Friday, 16 August 2013

This Week The Mice Have Mostly Been...

Another week has sped on by with absolutely no time to mourn holiday blues, our crazy routines are firmly back in place! Days lazing by the pool feel like a lifetime ago, well for the London Mice it does anyway... it's quite a different picture 5,995 miles away...! HK Mouse has been basking poolside with jaw-dropping views and stunning sunsets whilst we're battling the muggy / showery British weather and playing shoe roulette each day before work...flip flops or boots! 
 
I know which view I would opt for! 

 
When we haven't been day dreaming of another life, this week the Mice have mostly been...
 
Munching away for a joint birthday celebration at Back in 5 Minutes, on Brick Lane. If you aren't familiar with this restaurant then you're forgiven as it's slightly more discreet than your normal eatery! Brought to us by the team behind Disappearing Dining Club, Back in 5 Minutes is located in the equivalent of a clothes shop's stock room!
 
Make sure you head for the bagel shop end of Brick Lane, look out for number 224, and basically once you see the only store that hasn't shut up shop, you'll know you're there! Once inside you're led to a curtain at the back, behind which you will find the charming restaurant!
 
Image via www.disappearingdiningclub.co.uk
 
Think a candle-lit cubby, full to the brim of vintage mismatched crockery, old school chairs and tonnes of character and atmosphere. If you're after something quirky then this is your answer! 
 
We opted for the four course menu for £35 which included...a Grey Goose Le Fizz as round one, followed by a starter, main course and dessert - all of which you choose from three options. I opted for the sea bream to start, lamb rump, aubergine and cous cous with a harissa yogurt sauce followed by a scrumptious cheese board. Every course as good as the last with great care and expertise applied in terms of the mix of flavours, quality of ingredients and presentation.
 
Super tasty, unusual and a good choice if you want to impress or simply if you're bored with the same old options!  
 
Lusting after the gorgeous Stella McCartney pieces from her underwear range that I just happened to stumble across whilst doing my weekly ASOS peruse! If we're honest I think pretty much everyone has their everyday (usually M&S) underwear and then their more limited special pieces...which get far less wear than they should! 
 
The constant hand washing is a slight inconvenience, but as they say...beauty is pain! We have to be loyal to trusty M&S but there should always be a reason to splash out, if these aren't reason enough I don't know what is?!
 
Image via www.asos.com, Bra £65 & Knickers £35
 
Image via www.asos.com, Bra £42 & Knickers £21
 
Image via www.asos.com, Bra £95 & Knickers £55
 
Image via www.asos.com, Bra £85 & Knickers £24
 
Slathering on as much moisturiser as humanly possible in hope to eek out my tan and fight the scale skin that skinny jeans guarantee for a little longer! After treating my skin to hourly top-ups of suncream whilst on holiday, I think it is only fair to remain dedicated and at least continue with a morning and evening application. However when it comes to body moisturisers I am not easily pleased! It can't be too thin or too perfumed as this dries out your skin, but  also not too thick or slow drying as this is impractical for my efficient morning routine and lastly, because I'm applying it by the bucket-load, it can't be too expensive!
 
At last, I've found the one that ticks all the boxes...Korres Body Milk. A Greek brand which uses only natural ingredients, sourcing oils and herbal infusions locally and boasting eco-friendly production techniques using renewable energy! So you can merrily apply safe in the knowledge that your moisturiser is not only friendly to your skin, but also to the environment! 
 
We're currently obsessed with the Basil Lemon...
Image via www.korres.com
 
However check out the full range on the website as the likes of Vanilla Cinnamon, Fig or Bergamot Pear might take your fancy! If like me you'd rather spend a good hour smelling all the different options then head into Liberty London for the full range! 

While over in Hong Kong...

Figuring out ways to go out and stay dry as the rain hammers down UK-style... After last weekend was wall-to-wall sunchine and blue skies it was probably only fair that this week we got our fair share of rain. And when it rains in Hong Kong, it goes for it big time. This week a Typhoon 8 whipped through the harbour which meant all our offices closed for the day but also meant soggy stilettos for anyone brave enough to try to venture out. This weekend has long lie-ins and September Issues written all over it, but as the rain promises to hang around for the foreseeable future, I'm working out how to fill my diary with fun while dodging the downpours. Top of my list right now? Next Tuesday's Secret Walls Round 1....


 

We're talking: white walls, black markers and a tattoo artist and illustrator going head to head in the artiest battle that Hong Kong's ever seen... Sound intriguing? Snap up your tickets pronto, it's guaranteed to be a sell-out....

And that's it for another week! Happy Weekend!
x
The Mice




Tuesday, 24 April 2012

Typewriters & Teacups: East London's Best Vintage Home Shopping

East London, especially the Brick Lane area, is littered with the most amazing vintage furniture shops around. There is a real appetite and passion for vintage, shabby chic decor right now and there are no signs of this trend fading any time soon. It's not to everyone's liking but I personally love the quirks of the imperfections that come with each piece ... scratches, peeling paint, that rough round the edge look and feel. So much more appealing than opting for clinical IKEA clones. Treat your house as you treat your wardrobe - you wouldn't be seen dead wearing the same dress as another girl to a wedding so why invest in furniture that every other Tom, Dick and Harry has!


On that note, let me share with you my winning selection of vintage stores that deserve a visit...


1. Grenier is a gorgeous little vintage shop I am drawn to each time I walk along Bethnal Green Road. The window display is always so inviting and charming with a mish mash of chairs, apple crate storage boxes and retro suitcases.  Plus if you're after a quick buck, they also buy-in vintage trinkets (provided they're in good nick) and give you cash in hand - easier than eBay!





Grenier
146 Bethnal Green Road
London
E2 6DG
020 7790 7379 / 07720 890393

Opening hours: 
Monday to Saturday: 12:00 - 19:00
Wednesday closed
Sunday: 10:00 - 19:00


2. If you're into quirky interior finds, Type is the shop for you! Selling a whole host of unusual items such as retro cameras up-cycled into quirky lamps, vintage typewriters with a story to tell and hand-painted crockery so beautiful that it should only be admired from a distance and NOT touched! Browsers can also enjoy a cup of freshly roasted coffee whilst they peruse the eclectic stock - my idea of the perfect Sunday! I've also read that there is a back room that at present is being transformed into a secret bookshop for friends, family and people in the know ... how very Shoreditch of them!




Type
138 Bethnal Green Road
London
E2 6DG
020 3489 7644


3. The next on the list is Blitz, known as East London's vintage department store! It's pretty massive spanning across five rooms and like Type, it also serves great Italian coffee and provides plenty of room to kick back and rest those shopping tired tootsies! Selling everything from vintage fashion, old-school cooler than cool Swatch watches, to to-die-for homeware interior goodies! When I visited last weekend the lighting selection was really rather impressive, take a peek at my images below and see for yourself...! I actually later learnt that Le Grenier (above) also supplies Blitz with items. Winner winner chicken dinner!






Blitz 
55-59 Handbury Street
London
E1 5JP
020 7377 0730

4. 2nd Time Around is just a hop, skip and a jump from Mile End tube station. Shabby inside and out, but full to the brim with vintage treasures ... granny lamps complete with retro fringing, gorgeous chunky wall mirrors, ornate dressing tables and china trinkets that would have your Auntie Pearl squealing with glee! Reasonably priced items that will transform your house in a jiffy...




2nd Time Around
218 Bow Common Lane,
Mile End, 
London.
E3 4AU
020 8980 2842

Take your pick you won't be disappointed, however if I were you I would block out an afternoon and fill it with a mosey around all four!  Happy shopping!


Monday, 23 April 2012

London Street Style on Brick Lane cont...

Back again with more Brick Lane style and photography taken by the lovely Dan Wong. Take it away you trendy Londoners... 

Name: Laura Tarbox
Age: 26
Location: Whitechapel 
Occupation: A Brand Strategy Consultant at Interbrand London 




Laura's outfit...
Cardie: Topshop, Ankle boots: Topshop, Bag: Vintage, Scarf: A vintage find from Sheffield, Sunglasses: A stall on Brick Lane, Necklaces: Vietnam and Miss Selfridge

Love Laura's fashion-forward relaxed style. Her look isn't out there crazy, guys and gals would get it but it's those little flickers of individuality that made her stand out from the Brick Lane crowd ... her neon socks that brilliantly match the orange door behind her, her chunky ghetto-like gold jewellery and her paisley scarf that provides the perfect pop of colour to her outfit. I'm digging her leopard studded boots too - so cute! 



Wednesday, 18 April 2012

London Street Style on Brick Lane...

I set out with my good friend and talented photographer Dan Wong last Sunday for a mosey down Brick Lane and a spot of fashion spying.  Brick Lane is home to some of the most creative, daring and out there individuals, some of whom totally rock their look and others that perhaps fall a little short of the rocking. We were on the look out for the fash pack, and here's a few of our firm favourites. Big thanks to Dan for capturing the fashionistas so beautifully.


Name: Mathis Contaret
Age: 20
Location: Hackney (originally from Paris)
Occupation: A barman at the Brompton Bar & Grill




Mathis' outfit...
Jacket: Vintage, Necklaces: Topman, ASOS and Creator, Shoes: Zara, Gloves: From a Paris store 

I love Mathis' bold style and his cheeky smile in these shots.  We reckon it has EVERYTHING to do with his edgy electric blue jacket. But it's not only the boys who can rock this look, oh no! Check out the super hot Amanda Seyfried in this H&M number (from the recently launched Conscious Initiative Line) - twinnies or what?!

Image via www.anythinghollywood.com

-------------------------------------------------

Name: Beth Buxton
Age: 31
Occupation: Fashion Stylist (www.bethbuxton.com



Beth's outfit...
Everything's vintage apart from her ankle boots which are from Topshop

It's not only 3BM who reckon this gal has serious style, Vogue and Elle spotted Beth at Glastonbury last year and we must say that even in the festival mud, she looks every inch the vintage superstar that she did on Brick Lane last weekend...

Images via www.vogue.co.uk and www.elle.com 

More Brick Lane London Street Style to come soon so stay tuned!