Editors

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

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

Beauty

Interview with Lyn Harris, the Most French of English Perfumers

Perfumer Lyn Harris (44), who trained in Paris and Grasse, founded company Miller Harris in 2000. Through her signature style, which combines her British love of nature with a sophisticated French touch, she has reinvented artisanal English perfumery and attracted clients such as Madonna, Sophia Coppola and Kristin Scott-Thomas. In France, she was commissioned to create a signature perfume for upmarket department store Le Bon Marché as well as a bespoke perfume for singer Jane Birkin. She lives in Primrose Hill with her French partner and their son. read more

Chic-Londres Loves...

Julia Cameron’s Headpieces: the Perfect Party Accessory

Since meeting Julia Cameron at a party in Notting Hill last June, Chic-Londres has become a massive fan of her exquisite headpieces- worn since then on many occasions. And while the young philosophy graduate is only just 25, we wouldn’t be surprised if she goes on to become a household name: well, it’s not every day that an up-and-coming designer sees pieces of her debut collection worn by the likes of Keira Knightley… Clearly, talent runs in the family: her great-great grandmother, Julia Margaret Cameron, made a name for herself as one of the first female photographers- her portrait of Darwin still adorns the back of every £10 notes and her pioneering work will be shown at a massive exhibition at the V&A in 2015. A rather good omen if there was one…

From feathers to flowers to lace to metals, headpieces are having a massive fashion moment, having suddenly become a staple at every party or festival. And why shouldn’t they? Flattering, original and glamorous, they can dress up any outfit and are super fun to wear.

And while Julia Cameron’s exquisite creations are delicate and chic, they’re still stunning enough to be noticed for all the right reasons. Handmade in India from gold, silver and natural stones, the nine styles are inspired by Grecian goddesses, medieval beauties and 1920’s flapper girls, and despite their vintage-y look, are definitely very “now”. read more