Website Review - Karen Millen and the Perfect Dress

I seem to be writing quite a lot about dresses at the moment, probably because this is the time of year for weddings, Ascot, Glyndebourne and chic sleeveless summer numbers, so it’s the other ‘dressy’ time of year, with Christmas being No 1, although is there a time of year when dresses aren’t the easiest option? I would say no, but then I’m a collector as some may have gathered.

Karen Millen is the kind of store (or online shop) you have to be careful about diving into if you’re anything above a size 12, maximum 14. Sorry, but there it is. And I said ‘careful’ guys, so don’t shoot me down in flames, please. I just don’t want people to be disappointed.

I recently bought a dress there which I wrote about before for my wonderful dinner at L’Arpege in Paris, the one I had huge trouble zipping myself into but, frankly, the dress wasn’t anything short of perfect, with a simple shape, enough stretch to do a good job of holding you in (provided you could get it done up in the first place) and subtle sexy details such as sheer panels (at the top) and a built-in corset, designed to help anyone go down a size, if not two. That was my first KM dress, and it definitely won’t be my last. It’s the one on the top left above.

The wonderful thing about Karen Millen is the amount of dress your money will get you, from full-on evening gowns at just under £300 to strappy short little numbers for well under £200. Compare those prices to the designer desirables we all lust after by Calvin Klein, DVF et al and you can have your dress and not feel anything like as guilty.

Black is always my colour of choice and don’t I get criticised for it?? I’m trying to mend my ways but I fear it’ll take a long time, after all, what could possibly make a girl happier than a seriously flattering Little Black Dress, or several in fact. I’ll attempt a subtle pattern from time to time but always revert to my black collection, from slim fitted long black lace (my favourite Glyndebourne dress) to ruffle edged or sleeveless jersey wrap. Girls understand these things. I’m not sure that men always do.

Speaking of Glyndebourne that season is almost on us again - my favourite of all - heralding the two hour car journey, the lugging of picnic things in long dresses from car to garden and the packing up afterwards (and having done picnics for endless regattas I’m an expert at all this, I promise you).

It also heralds the glorious gardens, the ha-ha, the lake, gallons of champagne and, most important of all, wonderful opera. And, if you’re lucky enough, as I am, to have a friend in backstage management, standing on the stage at the end of the opera. The whole excitement never fades, I’ve been going there since I was ten and I can’t wait to go again. Wishing my life away again here but roll on June!……………………………………………………

Web Hints - Black Background Websites

In the same way that I’m against over and unintelligent use of flash, I’m against black background websites in general, for several reasons.

They are harder to read, and therefore the overall usability is compromised

They are much more tiring to browse,

Pictures simply do not look as good as on a white background, because the black tends to suck up the colours

They are very hard to do well, and by well I mean extremely well.

There are without question some very beautiful black based sites (and some exceptionally expensive ones) but designing a black based website is another of those web designers’ paradises, where they can experiment at your expense, and it’s impossible to evaluate properly, if your site doesn’t do as well as you expect it to, the true reason unless you invest in a proxy server and some A/B testing which, let’s face it, is the only real way to get at the truth. Needless to say if you have a limited budget you’re unlikely to be going to do that, your black site will be an experiment, and you’ll be dipping your toes into water that may turn out to be a little bit too hot to handle.

I’m sure people are going to come back at me and tell me about all the successful black sites - please do. I always take a guide from the US, as they are the ‘tried and tested’ market, and with the exception of Abercrombie (where we really don’t care because we go to look at the pics and buy the tshirts and they could have a green or purple site and we’d still buy from them) and Abercrombie’s related websites, almost all the large US web stores have beautifully designed white based sites. Because they work best.

So if you’re thinking of having a website revamp, and your developer is over the moon about black, be very careful. It can work if you’re someone clever such as Debenhams, who simply use it as a frame, but be very, very careful if someone tries to persuade you to go the whole hog particularly if you don’t have oodles to spend. Give me a call before you commit, please.


Back to Sunday and apart from making two meringues I haven’t yet started and it’s forecast to rain and I have that tiny curl of panic starting. Nor have I made my friend's pesto and I have no doubt that if I get it wrong I'll be in trouble. Joke. I don’t panic - as long as there’s enough booze everyone will have a good time…………won’t they?

The daughter, in Oz, has had a wonderful time and is almost off to New Zealand. I gather that the backpacking days are over to her relief, and she’s planning to base herself (with her friend), at my friend’s house and will probably not budge, even if it’s suggested, until her flight home, when she expects me to meet her at 5am in the morning. No I’m not looking forward to that, but I am looking forward to seeing her after four months.



I spent yesterday morning at online designer jewellery retailer Astley Clarke, interviewing Bec Clarke for a newsletter and, er, inevitably browsing. Silly me I walked in there not expecting to shop and walked out with a very pretty pair of earrings and only half the information I was after, so I’ll be catching up by email. I have the little blue box beside me on my desk. Oh what it is to be a shopaholic - although I have to confess that the ones I fell in love with first nearly made me faint when I learnt the price (and they’re so much prettier than the picture, as they’re moonstone and shimmery) and the diamond Forget-me-not ring…………………………. anyway I restrained myself and didn’t do too much damage, and I'm going to save my new earrings for my next trip away.

Beauty Review - Best Foot Forward - Jessica Nails - John and Ginger

It's that time of year again, when if you haven’t already, any minute now you’re going to be shedding your tights, hold-ups, stockings or socks and baring your feet to the world in your favourite pair of sandals.

For those who don’t bother during the winter months this can be a tricky time that probably nothing but a fast schlep to the nearest beauty salon (or hours with a good salt scrub and file) will sort, and I have to say I have no sympathy here - I have to see my feet all year round, so I want them looking as good as they can be at all times. Forget anyone else, this is solely (sorry) for me.

To my mind there is one brand of polish that wins hands down every time (Jessica), one quick dry (Seche Vite)believe me, it’s the best) and any number of scrubs and files that will do the rest, scented or otherwise.



And on to the question of colour. This season nude is the new black (rouge noir, anyone?) or mint green, about which I’ve written in the past but seem to have been outvoted. Mint green toenails? Er…. no thanks. I think these are two of the most unflattering colours anyone could choose, however ‘now’. Having for years gone down the purple/deep plum route I seem to have undergone a sea change towards shimmering pale ‘blush’ which I find extraordinary. I thought I knew myself so well. Apparently not.

So it’s with happiness that I greet Jessica’s new Daydream collection for Spring 2010, which includes three shades of shimmering pale from palest lilac to very pale coral (although including hot pink, orange and the aforesaid mint). Also hard to resist, from both the colour and name point of view, is the Burlesque Beauty collection, which includes Gorgeous Garter Belt, Ruffled Bottoms and Sexy Siren - I’m assuming someone there has a good sense of humour………………………………………..

Jessica isn’t all that easy to find online - you can buy it at Look Fantastic, which is one of my all time favourite beauty stores, and also at John and Ginger, and that essential bottle of Seche Vite at HQ Hair (as well as Look Fantastic). If you haven’t already got buffing then now’s the time, an emergency sandal wearing occasion has to be round the next corner.

I’m trying to conduct a poll on Twitter at the moment on the subject of men and pedicures. Only one comment so far so I’m going to wait for some more. Come along! Either way, and obviously I’m not talking about nail polish here (or am I?) they need to look after their feet as well. Ok ok, quick subject change.


I seem to have invited rather a lot of people for lunch this Sunday (as I usually do on the Bank Holiday weekend) and I will be cook, though hopefully not bottle washer, and I think I may have talked one son into coming down, although he almost certainly won’t help. So if I go quiet, you’ll know I’m poaching salmon and making meringues. A friend has thoughtfully given me the recipe for an essential pesto to go with the salmon (as well as the mayonnaise I always make), by famous chef Wolfgang Puck - if I could get him to come and make too it that would be even better - I just hope I get it right…………………………………..

Website Review - Jigsaw Online

Jigsaw is one of those brands that’s been around for a long while, that we (or certainly I) tend to dip in an out of, and that I have to confess, until this spring, I have been dipping out more than in.

All brands go through good and bad seasons inevitably, change of designers, trying to re-invent ‘the brand look’ and other factors come into play and usually over-inspiration clouds the original, probably successful, brand message and the customer goes somewhere else in search of what she always expected to find.

Because Jigsaw is now available at my local House of Fraser in High Wycombe, where I inevitably have a browse on my way to do something more prosaic in town, I stopped to have a good look a couple of weeks ago, and if my pockets were as deep as I would like them to be I would have invested a great deal. As it was I came out with several items (inevitably).



The look is idiosyncratically Jigsaw, with a wide (every so slightly sludgy) colour palette and separates to put together within it but some of the pieces stand out a mile to me, the navy jacquard shift dress I wrote about earlier this week, the pale mint green casual jacket (which is so much nicer than the pic) the perfectly shaped camisoles and t-shirts and the lovely soft and draped knits.



This is a collection not to be missed. Unfortunately for me I have to walk past it every time I go to High Wycombe (well I don’t actually have to, but I seem to, if you know what I mean). It looks as if this is going to be a very expensive summer…………


The daughter in Oz has actually said that she’s looking forward to coming home. Wow! I think I should be celebrating although the thought of all that washing and mess and noise ever so slightly horrifies me. I’ve got used to the peace and quiet with both sons being firmly rooted oop north and only getting in touch when they want something.

I was at the IMRG Fashion Retailer event on Wednesday focusing on the use of Rich Media within retail e-commerce sites, and I’m going to be handing on some of those gems next week - it was unexpectedly fascinating. Yesterday was lunch with my diamond expert friend at Franco’s in Jermyn Street, currently one of my two favourite restaurants, along with Keith Goddard’s 101 Pimlico Road - Franco’s having the edge because they play Winnie the Pooh in the Ladies (well they may play it in the men’s room as well, of course, but I wouldn’t know - I wonder what they do play in there).

Anyway, lunch was great and Mark Walker of Ice Cool Diamonds a laugh a minute as always. Unfortunately we didn’t discuss my favourite stones (well why would we?), other than him telling me of the amazing bespoke rings he’s creating at the moment, at which point I started to go green with envy so he quickly changed the subject. If anyone wants to know anything about diamonds (the serious ones) he’s your man and well worth spending time with, you can ask him about his 1200 cc BMW motorbike as well, his other passion other than diamonds. Last year I ended up having to take Mark to Glyndebourne having lost a bet - I resisted betting on anything yesterday. And no, we didn’t go by bike……………

The Perfect Dress Collection………………………………………..

If you look at any of the major online boutiques you'll find that 'Dresses' heads the category list and for good reason, because they're the best selling item carried, usually. As any self respecting dress collector knows, dresses are perfect for just about any occasion (ok ok forget the sporting occasions and days when only a great pair of jeans will do), I mean anything from smart casual to business smart, to smart dinners to glammed up evenings.


I became a collector several years ago and have never looked back. Dresses for meetings, dresses for dinners and dresses for Glyndebourne, they're all just waiting to be pulled out of my cupboard - excellent confidence builders (most of the time) and great in winter with boots, or summer with sandals, they answer pretty well every dressed-up need.

Dresses are the hardest item of clothing to buy online because they have to fit from shoulder to hem, although with the onslaught (or should I say return?) of jersey, silk or otherwise in the stores and in all its wondrous styles, this is no longer quite such a problem. The most important thing of all is that they flatter, and to make sure of that you have to really know your own style very well and whether you prefer classic shifts to grown-up sexy glamour. Then once you've worked out what works best for you you can collect to your heart's content.

Of course one of the major difficulties of getting it right is that then it does become all too easy and you just have to spot something and it leaps right into your shopping cart (or to the till, depending on how you're shopping).

I've had a scout round the stores both online and off (well I would, wouldn't I?) and come up with six favourites which rank high on my personal wearability scale.

Nicole Farhi's graphic red sleeveless rose printed dress

Jigsaw's midnight blue shift dress

Lotta Stensson's draped purple jersey maxi dress

Diane von Furstenberg's Justin brown and white printed wrap

Diane von Furstenberg's sleeveless black ruched dress

Vivienne Westwood Anglomania printed halterneck dress

Now this little collection, I reckon, would take you from summer work and right on down to your next vacation in the South of France, with perhaps a little less emphasis on work and more on the relaxing side of things so for good measure I'll add in Coast’s perfect black and white printed fixed wrap dress (and it is, I know, because I've tried it on), which would carry me through any extra meetings on the way. By the way if this is sold out on Coast's own website you'll find it also at Selfridges.com where the pic is much better as well.

Website Review - Selfridges Online………………………….

So we're all sitting here with champagne glasses in hands and big smiles on our faces because at last Selfridges has launched its brand spanking new transactional website..........I for one am delighted because without a doubt it's my favourite UK department store. It's where I always park my car when I'm stupid enough to drive into London, eat sushi at Yo! when I'm in a hurry or with one of my kids, get my make-up done at Trish McEvoy and shop for pretty well everything when I'm in funds, and dream-shop when I'm not.

I have to confess that the Home Page confused me at first as do some of the navigational aspects of the site. I also found the 'Brand Rooms' concept difficult to grasp, as I wasn't always sure if I was looking for 'Designer' or 'Contemporary’, and couldn't a brand be both at the same time? I’d always rather select by Designer/Brand, or type of garment/product, and I suspect that most people are the same. Just a word of advice, if you do know the brand you’re looking for within a category, click to Brands Online in the drop down menu and go from there, it’s by far the simplest thing to do.

It’s always easy to find fault with a brand new website, particularly one as vast as this one is, but there are a huge number of things right here that will revolutionise our online department store shopping (in the UK at least) and make all the other contenders look carefully to their laurels. Launching at this time when online retail is so well established here originally looked tardy, but now looks quite clever, apart from the wheel re-invention issues.

Firstly the product range is superb, from fashion, to beauty, to homewares, and from a fashion point of view I have no doubt will, once the full offer is up, be very hard to beat (other than all time favourite Net-a-Porter, of course).

Although the choices are without a doubt confusing and I hope that they’ll be modified, once you’re in buying mode it couldn’t be easier. The pictures are very clear, the information and descriptions are excellent, and the channel through to placing an order couldn’t be simpler.

Don’t be surprised that there aren’t as many brands as you would expect - this is a brand new site, after all, and we are all, as customers, going to be testing it for a while. Don’t be surprised, either, if within a very short space of time Selfridges.com has taken over a high proportion of luxury shopping on the web. I’m fully expecting that.

I, inevitably, placed an order quite fast (is any one surprised), and it arrived within a day although I hadn’t specified express delivery. Such a shame, it was too big and is now winging its way back to them. I’ll definitely be ordering again.

Simply the Smartest Laptop Bag in Town...............

The problem with most laptops is that, for a female, they're usually too large to fit in your handbag and whatever you carry them in they become heavy after a while, no matter how much weight lifting you've been doing recently.

Going up and down on the train to London for meetings regularly with my trusty friend, and also swimming every time I go to London presented lots of problems. Combining laptop and swimming things and hurling the whole lot onto my shoulder, plus handbag, just wasn't an option - I do this too often and don't want to end up with one shoulder higher than the other, after all.

So I decided to find the ultimate wheeled laptop bag. Oh yes, you've all seen them on the station platform, but elegant they are not, and I wanted to look elegant as well. No point in carring a gorgeous Longchamp handbag if you've one of those nasty nylon wheeled bags trailing behind you now is there?

Eventually, and after a long and pretty well global search I discovered Knomo, and have never looked back. Their Sierra quilted wheeled bag is tiny, extremely smart, tough and has room for the lot and goes with me everywhere from poolside to meeting. It has been universally admired.

There are lots of other bags to choose from here - the prices aren't cheap but then these are luxury laptop (and sports, and luggage) bags for luxury lovers. Mine is worth every penny.

The daughter, still out in Oz, but shortly on her way to New Zealand, has just asked me to book her a massage at the hotel (yes I did say hotel) she'll be staying at tomorrow evening for a friend's birthday. 'Call them' she instructed me. Australia? She's there, for goodness sake! Luckily I'm rushing back to London immediately. 'Do it yourself' I said. I wonder if she will.......

Website Review - Kenneth Cole New York at House of Fraser.........

Stupidly, because the sun came out for a short while a couple of days ago, I thought I would write about sundresses. Much too early of course. So I've turned my attentions to a great US brand that is hardly ever seen over here, although much of the collection is now available at House of Fraser.

Kenneth Cole is another of those designer brands to be found in every mall and major shopping street in the US, but for some reason hasn't until now made it properly over the pond and even now the quirky, contemporary atmosphere is lacking. Go to the US, walk into one of the somewhat darkly lit grey/black stores and you can tell immediately who the clothes and accessories are aimed at - essentially the young, modern New Yorker, who doesn't want to spend a fortune but expects quality, excellence of design and a versatile, minimal wardrobe that will take them anywhere.

When you view the collection at House of Fraser you won't immediately get the impact that you do in the stores because the collection is with so many other brands, so take a look online at Kenneth Cole - the US site where it's worth spending a moment to get the overall feel, and then take advantage of the great styling (and the fact that most of the items are discounted at HoF), have a browse and you may well find something you love.


My daughter is now waiting for me to book her tickets to stay with our friends in New Zealand, lucky girl, where she'll be going on a boat trip to Marlborough Sounds and generally wonderfully entertained. There's a great story behind our having these friends, which involves my son bringing their son (totally unexpectedly) home to live with us for a while having rescued him while on his gap year. Luckily we all got on, as a 6'4" rugby player you don't get on with could be somewhat difficult if he was living in your home.

Tomorrow it's back to London and my fortnightly meeting (ahem) at the Wolseley. Can't wait!

Beauty Review - Tanning Moisturisers - Your Daily Bronze.....

There is a feeling, particularly today and in the UK at least, that spring is finally round the corner (please note this is said in hushed tones as it will probably snow tomorrow).

So unless you're an all-out avid sun-lover and are off to the Maldives tomorrow to top up your tan, there's the thought of suddenly having to bare arms and legs that are far whiter than you'd like them to be. Going for an all-out fake tan now might be a bit extreme, and can you really be bothered? So what's the solution?

I hate being whiter than white at any time of year, who knows when you're going to want to wear a sleeveless LBD to a special dinner for goodness sake? Preparation has to be the name of the game.

Many of the daily moisturising bronzers on the market, unless they are premium brand, have the usual fake tanning product problems of fragrance (or lack of it) and colour. I have one total favourite which, unfortunately, is the most expensive, but I would use year round with no hesitation, and a second which is stronger, not quite so gorgeous to use but very good in any case. My third here I haven't actually tried, but I am told reliably it's excellent.

If you possibly can go for No 1. You won't regret it.

1. Shiseido Daily Bronze - the one to use all year round, almost unfragranced, sheer emulsion giving a very light, even colour.

2. Clarins Radiance-Plus Golden Glow Body Lotion - again more of a moisturiser than a self tanner with a soft, non fake-tan fragrance but a stronger colour than the Shiseido, so you have to be more careful about unevenness - the colour is very real and builds up quickly.

3. St Tropez Everyday Gradual Tan - A hydrating daily moisturiser with a touch of tan.

Two of the products here can be found at the excellent Feel Unique, where normally you can find discounts of up to one third of premium brands, and the Shiseido at John Lewis, however I have also bought this at a discount from Feel Unique, so keep checking back. Their service is excellent, the range huge and the discounts are well worth having.

I've always traditionally been a sun worshipper, although more and more I realise that to preserve my skin this isn't such a great idea - the excellent thing about these products is that you feel good from the get-go of summer, and the urge to get out there and toast is nothing like so strong. It takes a bit of work and determination to build up a beautifully moisturised colour before the sun really comes out (and you need to exfoliate as well), but it's well worth it.

NEWSFLASH: Newsletters will be starting again next week at http://www.thesiteguide.com now my developer problems are fixed so make sure you're signed up. We have two Vente-Privee Vouchers to give away.

Leaving the Door Open.....................................

If you're anything at all like me, you will, probably quite recently, have used the words 'I will never buy from you again/use your service again/ask you anything again' and, also if you're anything like me, you may have had to grovel, in a grown-up way of course, and go back because, for one reason or another, you have to.

I do seem to write quite a lot about service, but actually this was not how this post started out. It started by my reading a post by a freelance writer about rejection.......................and leaving the door open, which I though was so right, and rarely stated, that I would take it one stage further here.

I've been lucky enough to have been published (in book terms) seven times. And a saying I particularly like, which goes 'luck is where preparation meets oppportunity' by Roman philosopher Senecca, works very well, although the kind of luck you need to get published also includes finding an agent (because he or she has got out of bed on the right side on the day your manuscript appeared) and publisher (ditto). And if you haven't been lucky enough to get an agent to take you on you probably won't find a publisher, because most publishers won't consider you without an agent.

Any writer will tell that the teeth gritting needed to deal with the 99.9 out of 100 rejections is not personality building but totally dire, the temptation to go back and yell 'but you didn't even turn the first page' is huge (or something far far ruder) when in fact what you need to do is respond cheerfully (hah!) and politely (!) and say 'I'm sorry you didn't like this, but please bear me in mind for future projects', thus leaving the door open, and hoping that they will remember your name when it crops up again, and not remember the rejection slip.

The other problem with slamming the door shut, in pretty well all businesses, not just publishing, is that people move around, and that person you just shouted at (ok that was me, not you) may well appear in another life and will remember you. Badly.

I've learnt over time, and I often don't succeed, to try and hold back the frustration and anger and leave the door open hoping that people will come back and trial and error has shown me that frequently they do. Now will that person at O2 speak to me again after I shouted at him yesterday because my Blackberry stopped receiving calls? Hmmmm I very much doubt it. Luckily, almost certainly, I won't get him again today.


I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter, my two sons managed to make it home, one totally unexpectedly and the honeymoon was brief, as it always is when they're both at home but one has gone back up to Edinburgh and the other will follow this week.

The daughter's still out in Oz having an amazing time and will not want to come home.

I'm lunching later this week with my diamond expert friend Mark Walker who knows more about my favourite stones than I've had hot dinners, and has some incredible stories to tell of designing crowns for goddesses in Indian temples and wearing a cloak made for Mahatma Ghandi. That will be Friday. Have a great week.