Lunch at Bistrot 51

Today I had a lunch meeting, not long ago I used to dread trying to fit a restaurant lunch into the working day.  Now the rarity (and time to think about locations, outfits and the trip to London) make it an absolute pleasure.  My lunch partner was in my old office mode of power suits, so anything too relaxed wouldn't have been right.  I wore this PU jacket from TK Maxx, only £24.99, but I'm not sure, I wasn't really hot but it sort of stuck to me all day and I was quite pleased to get it off when I got home.

 Coast skirt with a kick at the back, the pics are awful, but these skirts are a stretchy duchesse satin so they cling without getting wrinkly (I have them in a number of colours!)...

 And my new Rene Caovilla shoes, they have leather inners on the heel and the back of the shoe and are then lace trapped in plastic, they were an Ebay find in America and cost about £30 including postage rather than £600!

Every where I tried to book was full, recession, what recession?

Bistro 51 is just by Buckingham Palace...there is only one reason to go....

Their amazing 'Re-invented Fondue'.  The jug contains piping hot chocolate sauce that you poor over the chocolate ball, the ball melts and inside you find mini puddings, brownies, profiteroles and other mini puds to dip into the sauce, pure Willie Wonker magic!

What do you think of PU, shall I Ebay the jacket or wear something under it?
Do you have any memorable puds that are dinner party stealable?

Rene Caovilla...

Rene Caovilla shoes haven't made it to the mainstream like many other similarly priced brands.  They seem to be reserved for those who are totally uncompromising in their desire for footwear as art.  But everyone keeps fairly quiet about them, even though many a fashion editor may be Caovilla shod, they seem to want it to be a secret that is never known, like the perfect boutique hotel or the best restaurant in town.

There are no fakes available from China however hard you search and the manufacture is still 100% European and by hand.

The shoes are incredibly comfortable and very balanced and delicate, you need to hold a pair in your hand to  see the difference between the machine made mass produced and these that are all hand made.
Bearing in mind that I have the propensity to look like a drag queen with my rugby player shoulders and height, I'm always drawn to anything that counterbalances the possible presence of a Y chromosome.

This is the collection for this summer although to purchase online you need to visit here, but be warned the prices are not for the faint hearted! 

RC shoes never really date as they weren't ever 'fashion' to start with, just incredibly made beautiful fripperies!

The signature design is part of this incredible topiary feature...

 And yes, my fantasy Venetian home from home for the Carnival season would look just like this....

Minimalism is not the RC way....

Gold? Swarovski? jewels? can't have enough of them..

This is from Glamorous in Dubai (she's an RC fan the bag is from one of the collections) this is how I always seem to end up after a really big night out!!