Tag Archives: london

A Month in Snapshots VII

1 Reply

I have had a bit of a blog hiatus lately, however I am back! …and what better way to come back than with my latest installment in my A Month in Snapshot; where I show you what I have been up to lately with a collated selection of iPhone ‘snapshots’ from my Instagram account (my username on there is @kaleidoscopeboy if you want to follow me on there).

A Month in Snapshots VII

From the first world problem of deciding what shoes to wear to a party (Louboutin won naturally), to hot chocolates on the King’s Road, drinks out on the town in Birmingham, Starbuck’s red cups, Charbonnel et Walker treats, strolls down Harborne high street, wearing a polyester bodysuit (only on Halloween ;) ), going to Cartier to buy my love ring, Friday nights drinking port, H&M’s Maison Martin Margiela collaboration, the delights of a wedding, espresso martinis, consuming far too much food at dinner parties, lunch reservations in town, cuddling in front of the fire in my favourite cashmere jumper, shopping until my wrists are sore from bags, toast the roast at Malmaison, Chanel’s Little Black Jacket exhibit at the Saatchi gallery, scoffing macaroons (always), afternoon tea at Hotel La Tour twice, cheeky catch ups over Moët in the Selfridges Birmingham gallery, spending time with my Grandma, skipping through leaves (okay not skipping, but I wanted to haha), reacquainting myself with my winter wardrobe, avoiding rain and just generally reminding myself why I love life.

I never thought I would say it but I am rather looking forward to Christmas. Yes the c-word! The festive bug has hit…

What have you been up to lately?

Lorien Loves Cartier’s Love Ring

6 Replies

I was in London Saturday to go to the Chanel Little Black Jacket exhibit at the Saatchi Gallery (do go before it is over!), to see a few friends and to buy my birthday present from my Mother (love you). You may remember from my ‘unobtainable wishlist‘ blog entry that I have a little bit of a thing (understatement) for Cartier’s Love collection, well I am a very lucky boy and for my birthday this year I got to get my own piece of the Cartier Love collection (not a bracelet – but one day, one day…). You can buy Cartier jewellery from Harrods, Selfridges and various different authorised dealers/concessions in London but to me a Cartier experience needs a Cartier boutique so I hopped off to Bond Street and what an experience it was – every store should ply you with complimentary champagne and chocolates.

Cartier was founded in 1847 by Louis-François Cartier in Paris and has since become one of the most famed jewellers of all time with warrants from Royal courts all across the world and a following quite like no other. Cartier is known for producing some of the most famous pieces of jewellery in history and creating the first practical wristwatch. The iconic Cartier Love bracelet was designed in 1969 by Aldo Cipullo and included the ‘o’ with a line through it motif – alluding to how the bracelet is locked closed (locking in the love) and reflecting the brand’s history with screw designs starting with the Santos watch. This bracelet sparked an entire collection and consequently the Cartier Love ring.

Allow me to introduce you to my Cartier Love ring in 18K yellow gold:

Cartier red shopping bag

Cartier box

Cartier ring box

Cartier Love ring in Cartier ring box

Cartier 18K yellow gold Love ring

Cartier 18K gold Love rings hallmarks

Cartier certificate of authenticity

Cartier cleaning kit

My Cartier 18K yellow gold Love ring

…and what a ring at that! I am very much in love with it and when I wear it I feel like a million pounds even though I am sat here writing this in my lounge pants (granted they are Calvin Klein). The ring itself is mesmerising and as far as I am concerned is the epitome of simplistic perfection. It is an icon of Cartier, an icon of love, a piece of art and a keepsake which I will always treasure.

A Month in Snapshots VI

Leave a reply

I am becoming increasing alarmed at how quickly this year is going; and even more alarmed that this is my sixth monthly snapshot post. The past few weeks it has noticeably become more Autumnal with leaves falling all about, the temperatures dropping slightly and for the first time in a long time it has been cold enough to dip into my knitwear and coats (much to my joy). We have also had a fair bit of rain (well I guess this IS England) – it seems I re-stocked up on Collonil just in time.


A month in snapshots VI

It was my birthday yesterday and I had a lovely meal at Fusion Brasserie in Worcestershire with my family – I really recommend it to any fans of Italian cuisine. I will be celebrating that a little more this weekend with more champagne and carnage no doubt… I would like to thank my friends and family for my birthday wishes, gifts and generally making my day rather pleasant.

I love to eat out, food is one of my preferred indulgences. I eat out quite a lot particularly on the weekends and the past few weeks have been no different. Particular dining highlights in the past month include; Fusion Brasserie (as mentioned above) in Worcestershire, Bodega in Birmingham (an old favourite!), Sabai Sabai in Harborne (great value tasty Thai cuisine), Hummus Bros in Soho (a unique concept based around you guessed it; hummus), The Orrery in Marylebone (I loved the dressed dorset crab and parfait foie gras) and Hotel La Tour‘s restaurant Aalto in Birmingham (the char-grilled pork chop is sublime).

Now for my adventures lately… where to begin? Of course the usual debauched nights out in London and Birmingham, gin flowing, champagne bubbling, steak at 5 am, avoiding the rain and having a gossip whilst soaking up culture in The National Gallery, shopping along Sloane Street and Knightsbridge, inspirational comments on toilet doors in nightclubs, frowing at Style Birmingham Live with Shopping in Birmingham (and it’s MANY after parties), catch ups over Moët Rosé with one of my best friends, further adventures at BMAG, discussing french and etymology with a certain someone, going to see The Perks of Being a Wallflower in cinema (really recommend), drinking champs with excellent company at Mile High in Marco Pierre White Birmingham’s Laurent Perrier bar, running around Birmingham in Louboutins, having tea in an Edwardian tea room and just generally loving life.

There is a change in the air and it is a good one…

So tell me what have you been up to lately then? Comment below!

A Month in Snapshots V

Leave a reply

Has it really been five months since I first started doing these monthly snapshot posts? Apparently so… It is fascinating how so much can change in five months and how much everything despite this manages to stay the same – for better or worse I suppose. This month I have tried to push myself out of my comfort zone a lot more than usual and the results have been mixed however the experience priceless. One thing I have definitely realised is despite the highs and lows life is truly beautiful.

A Month in Snapshots V

I have cavorted around Madrid in the sunshine drowning myself in gin, tasted wine and port at Loki in Birmingham, spent far too many nights out in central London, enjoyed late summer sun with champagne and friends, replaced morning coffee with espresso martinis and eggs benedict at Bank Birmingham, stayed in a hotel resembling a mental institution, found myself on the Kings Road quite a lot, been to the touring Pharaoh: King of Egypt exhibition at BMAG, leisurely walked around Notting Hill playing at being a tourist (such a beautiful part of London), got nostalgic over ice cream, saw far too many sunrises (not from waking up early either), been told the life story of far too many taxi drivers, danced in a nightclub ‘pool’ in my pants, clambered over scaffolding at ridiculous A.M., found myself far too excited over truffles in the Harrods’ confectionary hall, cuddled up in bed on colder evenings wrapped in cashmere with my Kindle and chocolates and met a lot of new wonderful people.

So what have you been up to the past month?

Yves Saint Laurent YSL logo tshirt

4 Replies

There has been a lot of confusion lately with Yves Saint Laurent rebranding and the new Saint Laurent Paris identity. From what I have read YSL are not abandoning Yves Saint Laurent, or the YSL logo. It is the prêt-à-porter collections from the fashion super brand that will be in the name of Saint Laurent Paris, the rest will retain Yves Saint Laurent and the iconic logo devised by Adolphe Mouron Cassandre in 1961.

My friend took me into the Yves Saint Laurent store on Sloane Street when I was shopping in London the other weekend (the sales assistants were great). He wanted to look at the bags, mean while I was distracted by the scarves. One of the Python wallets caught my friends eye and whilst I was waiting for him a certain tshirt caught my eye. Needless to say he left the store with his new wallet, me with my new tshirt.

Yves Saint Laurent, Made in Italy clothes tag

The tshirt is plain black with the YSL logo on it in black velvet. They had various different combinations including a black YSL on a white tshirt (which was a bit much for me personally) and even a long sleeved version. The black on black is a lot more subtle and is not instantly obvious and the velvet texture gives it a luxurious edge. Black on black is almost sexy and sensual at the same time. The tshirt is fitted in a flattering way and has definitely short listed itself into being one of my going out pieces.

Yves Saint Laurent YSL logo tshirt

The Kooples shirt with a lambskin collar

9 Replies

I am one for detail when it comes to garments and it is quite often the little details that really attract me to a piece. Lately I have particularly found myself liking subtle leather accents, and I fell in love with a shirt from The Kooples which has a leather collar. The Kooples is a very French brand with a distinctively British rock and roll vibe to it. It is a perfect style union resulting in chic basics with flare and sprinklings of attitude.

Me wearing my The Kooples shirt with lambskin collar

The lambskin collar is detachable so you can wash the shirt. I feel the soft grey collar spices up the classic white shirt, I love traditionally classic pieces with contemporary luxurious twists and this is such a piece. I also love how the cuff buttons resemble cuff links and have a subtle crest design printed on them. The shirt has a great cut which probably would have reflected in the photograph more had I made the effort of ironing it before wearing it oops… The Kooples are teamed up with Norton & Sons of Savile Row who design the cuts for them.

The cuff on my The Kooples shirt

The label on my The Kooples shirt

I got it in The Kooples sale (which is still on going) when I was shopping in Chelsea the other weekend. The staff in The Kooples are really helpful, I initially tried on a Medium (it was all they had) in the King’s Road store however it was too big – fortunately they checked their stock database, phoned up, and reserved one for me in the Kensington High Street store which was not too far away so I skipped along.

Getting casual with Sandro

2 Replies

I am not shy in admitting that casual dressing is not a forte of mine. It does not come naturally, and is something I have to work at. I am much more formal in my dress, however lately I have made quite the effort, and my casual wardrobe is coming on leaps, and bounds. When I do casual I tend to go more for casual luxe as opposed to a more “urban” style.

Today I went shopping on the King’s Road so I decided to try, and dress a little more casual than usual. I am quite pleased with the result! My friend actually said to me, “You look so West London”, regarding what I was wearing today – I have yet to decide if that is a good, or bad thing…

I wore my new Sandro top with Nudie jeans, my Car Shoe tasselled driving shoes, and accessorised with my Tom Ford sunglasses as we actually had a dry sunny day for a change (England I’ve not forgiven you for the lack of a summer just because today was nice by the way).

Tom Ford sunglasses, Sandro top, Nudie jeans and Car Shoe driving shoes

Excuse the photographs I am tired from the weekend, and trying to pose so that you can see the elbow patch detailing of the Sandro top was not quite as easy as I anticipated (oh, and the fact I cannot take a decent photograph of myself period).


Getting casual with Sandro

Getting casual with Sandro

At first I did not know entirely how I felt about this Sandro top. When I tried it on in Harvey Nichols Knightsbridge although liking it I was not completely sold (it did not help the fitting room lighting was horrendous!) however on it’s first outing a love affair began. It is a perfect slouchy casual top for down days, and times when you just want a spot of casual luxury. This soft cotton top is slightly sheer but not in a way that is indecent. I actually rather like that it is so light as I get hot ever so easily, and it gives you that comfortable feeling that you are not wearing anything at all whilst preserving your modesty (would be great for layering!). The contrast stitching on the top instantly adds to it, and gives it an expensive casual look. The top also has elbow pads which are brushed goatskin. Sandro is a Parisian brand that is great for chic basics, and understated staples. I can see this top becoming one of my favourite casual go to pieces, I will definitely be paying more attention to Sandro in future.

A Month in Snapshots III

Leave a reply

That time again already? Apparently so! I cannot believe how quickly this year is going. So this is my edit of the past month in Instagram snapshots – as always feel free to follow me on Instagram (my username on there is kaleidoscopeboy).


A Month in Snapshots III

This month I have made the effort to be more spontaneous, and I have said ‘yes’ when I perhaps before would have said ‘no’. There is something about being outside your comfort zone, and just going for things that I feel develops you as a person. Biting the bullet, and just going for it once in a while really makes you feel alive.

A lot of last minute trips to London town, frolics in Paris, Givenchy moments, running around in Jimmy Choos, Lovebox festival, scoffing my face at Ladurée, cocktails in Birmingham with one of my best friends, watching the sun set on the balcony at home, champagne at Dean Street Townhouse, adventures in Knightsbridge, Bayswater, drinks in Pimlico, lunch, and breakfast in Clapham, moments in Notting Hill and fun in Fulham (I like to mix it up), catch ups at Euston with a certain blonde, dinner at Malmaison Birmingham, and many exciting things on the horizon.

What I wore to Lovebox

1 Reply

So festival season is in full swing, and I went to Lovebox on Sunday. I finally had an excuse to wear my Givenchy Rottweiler tshirt, here is what I wore it with (apologies to anyone on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook who may have seen the picture already):


What I wore to Lovebox 2012

Sunglasses: Mykita
Tshirt: Givenchy
Shorts: Burberry Brit
Wellies: Hunter

For me festival wear is about two things; practicality, and fun. Statement tshirts, and sunglasses are spot on. Kneevage is the new cleavage, or so I have decided (saying that I saw a lot of horrendous sights in far too short short shorts; which is really not a thing)! I actually bought the hood that attaches to my Barbour waxed jacket in case it rained – however I did not even need it in the end.

It was a very good thing that the sun was out so I could wear my Mykita sunglasses – I had a rather late night before Lovebox (it’s funny how another bottle of champagne at nearly 2.30 am seems perfectly reasonable at the time). I was originally going to wear my Tom Ford sunglasses however I decided that my Mykita are much more fun to wear for the occasion.

The Burberry Brit shorts are one of the pairs I bought for when I went to Spain earlier this year. I opted for my Hunter wellies in case it was muddy – fortunately that was not the case; however I would rather be safe than ruin a pair of beloved shoes.

What do you wear to festivals? Are you going to any this year?

Reiss UK

Christian Louboutin Mens Harvanana Velvet Spike Loafer

17 Replies

Most love affairs begin with champagne, this love affair began with a box. Well actually it did not quite begin with a box, it began with me running around London (in Gucci loafers may I add – I do not recommend it), phoning stores (do any actually answer their phones?), and finding it a complete ballache to source the shoes I wanted. Christian Louboutins due to their exclusive nature are notoriously hard to get, well the men’s Christian Louboutins even more so – particularly the hot styles. Sold out everywhere online pretty much save in silly sizes (and most of the time you cannot just order online, you have to place a request, and phone up), sold out at the Christian Louboutin store, and thanks to me sold out at Browns except in silly sizes also. I am fairly certain I have one of the last few pairs available in London, if not the world… I was determined to get these shoes; what Lorien wants Lorien will do anything to get (Lorien is now typing in third person eek).

Christian Louboutin shoe box

Now onto the contents of the box! So let me introduce you to the newest member of my shoe collection; my Christian Louboutin Harvanana velvet spiked loafers. I have lost my Louboutin virginity finally, this is my first pair (hopefully not my last); I have finally joined the great ranks of the red soled people (red lacquered soles make me want to squeal in excitement). Is there some kind of initiation ceremony, or is it like my Jimmy Choos in that I sold my soul to the devil as soon as I put them on? Man Louboutins tend to be quite an acquired taste as they are a little fashion forward, and take a certain aplomb to pull off (unless you’re Kanye West).

My Christian Louboutin velvet spiked loafers

Christian Louboutin Mens Harvanana velvet spike slippers

As I said they are quite an acquired taste but I think they are incredible. I seem to have quite a penchant for ridiculous footwear anyway. The juxtaposition of the velvet slipper, and the patent stud tip is great, and the detailing on the insignia/crest (CL for Christian Louboutin) is beautiful. The detailing is very ornate, and I love the grosgrain piping bordering which brings the gold metal studs into the shoe perfectly. It is a regal velvet slipper with a big twist of attitude. The spikes add a complete new dimension to an other wise classic shoe, and are reminiscent of Christian Louboutin’s iconic Rollerboy.


The spiked stud detailing on my Christian Louboutins

Christian Louboutin red soles

Bottom of my Christian Louboutin loafers

Inside of the Christian Louboutin slipper

They may cost a small fortune but as far as I am concerned they are worth it. The quality, and craftsmanship is high – but more importantly they bring a smile to my face. Christian Louboutins are hand made in Italy. The inside of the loafer is velvet, and they are extremely comfortable to wear. Not that such an insignificant factor as comfort would stop me wearing such beautiful shoes haha. I love how they look with my Nudie black raw denim jeans. I am definitely looking forward to wearing these shoes out somewhere.


Christian Louboutin Harvanana spike velvet loafers on

Wearing my Christian Louboutins

So what do you think? Are you a fan of Christian Louboutin? Do you own a pair, or want a pair? Tell me about it!