Frederique

Biography

Find me on:

Going away

Tulum, a Boho-Chic Mexican Paradise

IMG_6038It may well be one of the most tired cliches in travel writing, but Tulum really does look like paradise on Earth: fine white sand lined with coconut trees, aquamarine water (with no sharks or other nasties), lush jungle, eco-trendy thatched huts and the most magnificent Mayan ruins spread out on the beach. Beautifully preserved, this magnificent resort -the jewel of the Mayan Riviera, well ahead of the more known, but definitely less appealing, Cancun and Playa del Carmen- combines unspoilt natural surroundings with a trendy, sophisticated edge, making one feels like a modern-day Robinson Crusoe: surrounded by nature at its best, but also -which is rather nice- spoilt with top-notch restaurants, trendy boutiques and a beautiful, stylish crowd. A place not to be missed, all the more that its unspoilt nature might not last for very much longer, as developers have started hijacking the jungle to build some dreaded “condos”… read more

Fashion

Temporary Jewellery Tattoos: 2015 Festival Must-Have

tattoosI don’t like tattoos, which probably puts me in the minority nowadays, when they seem to be every trendsetter’s must-have badge of style, whatever their age. For me, they mostly evoke the mermaid my Corsican grandfather wore on his arm -a remainder of his Army days-, a picture of military machismo with a touch of wrinkles. However, something I absolutely love -maybe a throwback from those transfer sheets’ childhood memories- are temporary jewellery tattoos. They’ve been around for a few years now -with Chanel starting the trend- but they’re multiplying now, with bound to be the accessory of Summer 2015. read more

In conversation with

Felix Buxton: Basement Jaxx’s Leader on a Blind Date

Ever wondered how life would be if you were blind? If so, London Without Limits, a new festival of sensory and sociable blindfolds events taking place from September to November 2014, might give you an insight into how people with sight loss experience some of London’s top pastimes. Working with the like of fashion designer Giles Deacon, musicians Felix Buxton from Basement Jaxx and beatboxing phenomenon Shlomo, and taking places in venues such as Novikov, Dans Le Noir and Gordon’s Gin Bar, the festival aims to raise awareness of the challenges blind young people face and to raise money for the Royal London Society for Blind People. Here, Felix Buxton, one half of electronic dance music chart topper Basement Jaxx, talks to Chic-Londres about his involvement in the charity. read more

Outings

Ten Expert Tips To Host the Best Dinner Party

Organising the perfect dinner party can seem daunting, especially for the inexperienced. Which is why Chic-Londres has asked hospitality expert Fred Sirieix -manager of Michelin-starred Galvin at Windows, co-host of Michel Roux’ Service show on BBC2 and now London’s first dedicated dinner party “concierge”- to give us his top 10 tips.

1. Choose elegant but plain crockery – patterns on your plates will only distract from your delicious food! A trick from the restaurant trade is to choose big white plates and ensure that they aren’t overfilled, to make food look its most appetising. read more

Beauty

The Drawing Room, a Very Chic Hair Salon

Fancy having your hair done in a gorgeous listed Georgian house by a celebrity hairdresser who’s tended to the likes of Cara Delevingne, Florence Welch or George Michael, while sipping a beautifully executed espresso Martini (or cappuccino for the more reasonable amongst you), in an intimate atmosphere that feels much more like a friend’s house than a hairdresser? Then, you’ll love newly opened -and very different- salon The Drawing Room, between the City and Shoreditch. Chic-Londres tried it and loved it. read more

Outings

Best of Halloween Parties on Saturday 26 October

Dark Circus’ Halloween Special This should be a really good one… Dark Circus -a costumed party mixing the themes of Belle Epoque and Circus- is already brilliant fun, and a bit of Halloween madness thrown into it should only help to make it even better. Taking place at the Grand Hall in St Pancras, this Halloween Special promises to take you to a dark, dreamy and depraved world of unbridled spectacle, with acts such as the burlesque trapeze temptress Empress Stah and the belly-dancing-sword-show fusion performances of Leah Debrincat. plus the usual DJs mix of electro-swing and old classics. Dress code: done your best circus and Belle Epoque inspired gowns, with a touch of scary thrown in. Tickets £20 at www.darkcircusparty.com read more

Other things

Lazarides New Exhibition: Morphing Brutality into Beauty

Frieze is upon us again, with its hordes of collecting millionaires, luxurious sponsors, glamorous parties and society beauties. For those seeking an antidote to what is arguably the best contemporary art fair in the world but also the most polished, Steve Lazarides -the man who brought Banksy to the world- has joined forces with the Vinyl Factory to present “Brutal”, where 16 of the most talented UK and US-based contemporary artists showcase dynamic installations, murals, film, animation, sound and dance interventions in a cavernous space below 180 The Strand. A not-for-the-faint-hearted exhibition that manages to transform the gruesome and the chilling into beautiful pieces of art. read more

Beauty

The Great Nail Detox: The Japanese Manicure and Pedicure at Nailberry

Located in the heart of Frog Valley, a short walk away from the Lycée Charles de Gaulle and the French Institute, Nailberry is in many ways the quintessential French neighbourhood salon, with a clientele that includes elegant mamans being pampered in between school runs and A-listers like Cathy Guetta, the vivacious wife of star DJ David Guetta. So far, so Gallic, although one of Nailberry’s star treatments is actually the Japanese manicure (and pedicure), a hard-to-find detox treatment that uses only natural products and leave your nails not only shiny like pearls, but also stronger. Pretty impressive… read more

Outings

Bar Chocolat: a Multi-Sensory Experimental Supperclub 11-16 September

It might not appeal to the hordes of skinny supermodels descending upon London for London Fashion Week, but Bar Chocolat should delight all chocolate lovers. A pop up space combining art installation, bar and restaurant, it opens for five days only in Covent Garden, with installation by Bompas & Parr and all kinds of lovely little details to please the eyes as well as taste buds.

Created by the new Belgian chocolate liquor Bailey’s Chocolat Luxe, the pop up art exhibition/bar/restaurant coincides with London Fashion Week to offer sophisticated londoners a week-long immersive experience in Covent Garden. Fashionable names like food architects (a category onto themselves) Bompas & Parr and stylist Petra Storrs, who has created costumes for Lady Gaga and Paloma Faith, have been drawn in to create a multi-sensory space which is chic and rather fun. read more

Outings

Dark Circus Party: Belle Epoque Joins the Dark Side

Fancy a masked ball which is a little bit risqué? Then Dark Circus might appeal to your taste. This new lavish party invites its guests to step over the dark side, with provocative acts provided by Torture Garden, the world’s biggest fetish club, but without becoming completely engulfed in the shadows. A perfect balance between mainstream and niche, for those who might enjoy something fun and a bit different, between Belle Epoque and the Dark Side…

The Concept A collaboration between Bourne & Hollingsworth -purveyors of the Blitz and Prohibition parties- and Torture Garden -the world’s largest fetish club. Mixing the themes of Belle Epoque and Circus -in the vein of Tod Browning’s Hollywood classic Freaks (for the film buffs amongst you), it offers a heady combination of glamour and subversion. Not dissimilar from The Box, the famous New York and London nightclub famous for its provocative acts, the idea behind Dark Circus is to bridge the gap between mainstream and niche, by offering an experience that is surreal and subversive, but without being scary or strange. As a masked ball, it indulges the thrill of disguise with sequins and inventive costumes rather than rubber, latex and chains: very Eyes Wide Shut, but without the sex! read more

Chic-Londres Loves...

Great Mobile Massage Services

There’s no shortage of massage therapists in London. However, like hairdressers, there might be plenty, but it’s sometimes difficult to find the right one: experts in massages that relieve stress but are also really efficient at fighting muscle or joints pain, who present well, are on time and don’t feel compelled to chat the whole time. Chic-Londres has tested some of those mobile services offering massages and lists below its two favourites. Ultimate luxury: no need to go to them, as they will come to your house to dispense their therapy. read more

Outings

Polo Goes Electro: Groove Armada and Pete Tong at the Westchester Cup

It might well be the after party of the season: Groove Armada and Pete Tong will play headline DJ sets at the Boujis after-party, following the Audi International Polo at Guards Polo Club, near Windsor, on Sunday 28 July 2013. Superstylin!

What A party organised by South Ken’s private club Boujis, featuring sets by Groove Armada, one of the most commercially successful act of the London’s electro scene, and by DJ legend and Radio 1 presenter Pete Tong, who brought house music to the Ibiza and London party scene.

When and where On Sunday 28 July, from 6pm to 11pm, following the challenge between England and the USA on the field for the Westchester Cup, polo’s oldest international trophy, which will take place on the manicured ground of the Guards Polo Club, near Windsor. read more

Chic-Londres Loves...

Märta Larsson: Raw -but Sophisticated- Jewellery that Rocks

I first fall in love with my friend Märta’s jewellery last summer, when I noticed her wearing one of the most extraordinary rings I ever saw: a huge raw amethyst encaged in dainty wired gold. At the time, Märta -a former ballet dancer from Lapland who also composes and sings for her band Streetly Electrix- was contemplating creating her own line. One year on, she has just done that, with the very recent launch of her own eponymous brand, a stunning collection of earrings, necklaces and bracelets which combine unpolished, raw stones with delicate silver and gold.

The stones Märta uses might be raw and unpolished, but it doesn’t prevent her creations from being highly sophisticated.

She sources pyrite, calcite, amethyst, black tourmaline, clear quartz and red agate from South Africa, Brazil and Uruguay, and encases them with gold plated brass, silver and gold filled wires, which give them a delicate, feminine edge.

They are all made to order in London and hand crafted by Märta herself, with the added benefit that they are all unique, as no stones are ever completely similar. read more

Roland Mouret

Long has gone the time when London was all about buying cashmere in Harrods and criticizing the food: in contrast, Chic-Londres offers the perfect tool to discover this city in the 21st Century.

Nicole Farhi

I wholeheartedly recommend Chic-Londres, which is full of amusing stories and interesting addresses in London.

Ben Elliot

Frédérique might be French but she also is a true Londoner: Chic-Londres is insightful, elegant and fun.

Mourad Mazouz

I always savour every new feature that is published on Chic-Londres and pass it on around- that makes me a “chic type” as well and I quite enjoy it.

– Mourad Mazouz | Restaurateur behind Momo and Sketch

Vanessa Branson

Chic-Londres enriches your London experience, with personal insights of what to do and where to go rather than the usual commercial drivel of other magazines and sites.

– Vanessa Branson | Art Patron