Rule Britannia

Getting suitably excited about the Jubilee? Of course you are! Here's the ultimate Brit Girl, Kate Moss looking awesome in the Hope and Glory shoot for October '08 Vogue. Lookin' smokin' Mrs Hince. But then you had Mario Testino behind the point n shoot so if he can't make you look fan-tab-ulous then who can?

Credit where credit's due: Hope & Glory by Mario Testino, Vogue October 2008

Great Memories

This just popped up on my news feed. Reminding me of some amazing times in Miami last month. Love to all my Magic City friends. Besos X

Making Tracks

I had yesterday off so Tuesday is my Monday and all which that entails. Lifting my mood with this little scat.

Suits you Sir

MINT Polo in the Park is just around the corner and some great friends of mine are pulling the whole thing together to ensure anyone heading to the Hurlingham Club for the weekend of the 8th, 9th & 10th of June will be perfectly spoilt. To be honest, my criteria of event attendance was sealed with the promise of Veuve Clicquot – simple pleasures, if not simple tastes. 

Naturally with a London-based event, the fashion stakes are going to shoot up a monkey or two and the odds are that many of the ladies are regular fixtures on the Best Dressed Lists already. They're already going to know what little number they'll wriggle themselves into for the (hopefully) sunny weekend. 

What about the gentleman though? Unfortunately I haven't had a chance to get to Polo in the Park in previous years, but judging by pictures, the guys go all out. Considering I'm used to polo where filthy white jeans, an Abercrombie & Fitch t-shirt and a beanie are de riguer, the thought of any guy actually making a sartorial effort is quite bewildering. 

Looking for some inspiration for the male attendees out there, I came across a great blog, Men's Style Pro. The author, Sabir Peele has got some series style goin' on! And of course the INCREDIBLE blog from Scott Schuman, The Sartorialist should be part of your morning routine, like showering, shaving and... sitting down to breakfast. I definitely recommend these two places for a little WTF DO I WEAR? panic aversion. Also, it may be obvious, but double click over to GQ too. 

If it's all a bit too much for you, then rest assured the perfect uniform usually involves a pair of Persol Steve McQueen tortoiseshell sunnies, a Rolex and an ironed shirt. Oh and a Credit Card. Nach.

To get the fashion cogs working...

Gorgeous Gatsby

"I hope she'll be a fool — that's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool . . . You see, I think everything's terrible anyhow . . . And I know. I've been everywhere and seen everything and done everything."

Well I don't wish to be a fool. I'm desperate to go everywhere and see everything. But I'll start small and just see the new Gatsby. It has a SERIOUS amount to live up to as the Redford/Farrow original is just perfect, but the trailer holds a lot of promise. And it's directed by that artist of light, Baz Luhrmann - I ADORE HIM! (Well maybe not that Australia epic, but it did have Hugh Jackman to get me through the tedium). Watch it and revel in the splendour. Oh and read Fitzgerald's book – it's heart breaking!

"They were careless people, Tom and Daisy — they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money of their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made."  

Still. But Life

I'm slightly behind the curve on this one, but I've recently fallen in love with Manchester born, Mark Demsteader's work. His figurative drawings are to die for. Soulful yet showcasing his incredible technical ability, his work seems to focus on the subject's wants and regrets. His sitters always look pensive, almost pining for something. Or someone. The subjects are left wanting. You're left knowing that the artist isn't revealing the entire story. 'Natalie' is my favourite muse of his, but he's also done some beautiful pieces of Emma Watson too. 

Check out his website here or try and catch an exhibition next month at Panter & Hall, St James's.

Radio Silence

So sorry that the blog posts have been slim to none; life has been manic. But in a good way. 

Here's an exceptionally cool song to tide you over – but I'll be back to full blogging duty later today.

Unto the Breach

Just nipping off down to Cowdray Park in Sussex to see an American team take on 'Our Boys' in the St Regis Test Match. The last time the teams either side of the pond met was back in 2009 when they were playing for the prestigious Westchester Cup, a magnificent historical trophy. I hate to be so smug, but the English won and I was lucky enough to be there to revel in their victory. Next year, the Americans are coming over to challenge our title and so today is a little precursor. Expect fireworks!

The Polo Magazine coverage of The Westchester, Spring 2009

The Latest Luv

Luv AJ Designer Amanda Thomas launched her jewellery line at just 16 when the entire line was picked up by a buyer at Fred Segal. Now, I want to pick up every piece of jewellery she designs!

Yes, I'll have one of everything Amanda.

Next pay day, these earrings are MINE. All mine

Credit where credit's due: Luv AJ Lookbook shot by Claire Thomas, Creative Director: Amanda Thomas, Stylist: Jessica Currie

The Audis

So the Audi Polo Awards at Coworth Park were serious fun! 

As it's always scheduled in for mid-May, it hits the beginning of the season and really kicks off the high goal polo scene for the UK. It's also one of the only occasions when literally everyone is in one location so you get to gossip with friends, do your number on the big networking cheese and eye up Facundo Pieres (Google him. W.O.W). 

There's also lots of Pommery floating around and, with Audi giving you a ride home in one of the chauffeur-driven Q7s, you can indulge as much as you like. Yippee! I'm still waiting on images, but here's a break down of the results for my polo readers!

The Pommery Most Outstanding Lady Player: Lucy Taylor

The Avios Most Promising Young Player: Ollie Cudmore

The Tally Ho Most Outstanding Medium Handicapped Player: 

Facundo Sola

The Julius Baer Victor Ludorum Winners: Apache, Four Quarters & Black Bears

The Julius Baer Young Player Award: Jack Richardson

The Apes Hill Most Outstanding High Goal Team: Zacara

The Outstanding Contribution to World Polo Award: Jim Gilmore 

[NB: I actually shed a tear during his speech and had to give myself a talking to]

The Lifetime Achievement Awards: Jim Haigh & Alec Harper

The ROyal Salute Most Outstanding High Goal Patron: Lyndon Lea

The Audi Most Outstanding British Player: James Beim

The Most Outstanding High Goal Player: Sebastian Merlos

Bravo everyone!

Candid Camera

A VERY quick snapshot taken by C R-B in my bomb-has-it-it room before the Audi Polo Awards last night. INCREDIBLE evening; such a giggle and so amazing to see so many friends. Full low down to follow. Besos X

The Day Job

Today is a good day. It's the day when all the hard work, stress of deadlines, interviewees going MIA and photographers not acknowledging my stalker-esque emails comes 

to fruition; The Polo Magazine is out! And this issue may be one of my favourites yet. 

From an interview with top US polo player and model, Nic Roldan to coverage of some of the world's biggest polo tournaments via some seriously beautiful photography and 

a rather gushing review on the St Regis Bal Harbour and Miami in general, this is one totally rad read! If I may so very modestly mention?

For a little bit of shameless self promotion, here's a sneak peek...

Aline Coquelle's gorgeous shot of the World Number One, Adolfo Cambiaso. This photographer totally deserves her own post, she is brilliant!

Aline's shot of Facundo Pieres after winning the Argentine Open. Pure Emotion

Beautiful shots from the US Open by LILA PHOTO

Your 'Must Read' at polo, at the beach, in bed, on your commute...

Credit where credit's due: Chiun-Kai Shih, Aline Coquelle, LILA PHOTO & The Polo Magazine

If John Ford Shot Lookbooks...

Having grown up almost exclusively on Hollywood's Great Westerns with a drawling John Wayne as the Duke to Maureen O'Hara's Duchess, this lookbook from Bona Drag – a gorgeous online boutique that literally stocks all that is covetable – is Stunning. 

PS: Bona Drag means 'nice outfit' in polari, a secret language used by the gay culture in 60's London. Did you know that? Me neither. Check out more about the very chi chi girls behind this site here. Very cool

Credit where credit's due: Harper Smith featuring Kelley Ash via Bona Drag via Because I'm Addicted