Beauty: House of Rush & Gorkana event

Annie and I went to another great event this week at the House of Rush HQ in Piccadilly Circus. It was organized by Rush salons and Gorkana, and they pulled out all the stops! There were manicures, facials, lip beauty treatments, hair treatments, make up advice, food, drinks....the list goes on!

I personally had no idea that the Rush group had such an amazing flagship salon, and that they had a huge selection of beauty treatments available. The interior design is stunning, with hovering gold baroque mirrors and pretty silver chandeliers reflecting the light onto the big mirrors and windows through the entire floor.

The staff were so kind, fun and creative and Annie and I enjoyed ourselves so much we were the last ones to leave! I had an Oxygen facial, we ate strawberries and chocolate and drank champagne. I had a fun updo done by one of the sweet hair dressers whilst chatting about all the treatments available at the salon.

Visit their website for more details, but you can pretty much get anything done for an affordable price and with a quick appointment.

Beauty: The amazing Jergens body moisturizer

I have quite dry and sensitive skin, so have tried all sorts of body and face creams you can imagine! They are all absolutely amazing (Palmers, Nivea, Vaseline, Dove, E45, etc.) but I have just discovered another one!

The Jergens Ultra Healing Extra Dry Skin Body Moisturizer is something I will be buying again! This is the only body cream that has made my legs SO SO smooth and soft instantly, with a slight shine...this is what I liked the most about this cream.

For only £4.99 for 200ml, the specially created formula contains a blend of Vitamins C, E and B5. You can buy different sizes, so if you want a small one in your handbag it's also great for your hands.

Style: Fashion Illustrations

Fashion illustrations are just so beautiful, I can never get enough. One of the most talented artists out there is Mr. Hayden Williams, some images below. I secretly wish I could draw like this too...

Images taken from Google Images and various sources and from different artists

Desire: Maison Takuya card case

Maybe it's a little crazy and a little out there, but these Maison Takuya ostrich card cases are so pretty in all four colours. The designer even does leather accessories made from crocodile, alligator, stingray and shark skin - eek!!!!!

Sold in Harrods

London: Brick Lane gems

I spent the day today with my good friend Tania hanging around the Brick Lane area in east London. Those who live in London will all be flocking there for vintage bargains and tasty world food on the market lanes...but as any Londoner will admit, you will always discover new things no matter how many years you've lived here (6 years for me!).

After we had some delicious jerk chicken from the Jamaican food stand, we turned into some of the smaller streets off Brick Lane and discovered some great stores which I thought I'd share with you...

KITTY VALENTINE
Sunday Upmarket (Just off Hanbury Street)
Website & Etsy Shop

Beautiful pieces of art from this girl...as she says, she 'politely' defaces victorian photographs, faded lithographs and old postcards with pen and paint. Her prints are reasonably priced at around £10, and some that are in stunning frames around £24. She even takes personal commissions. The mix of the antique beauty of the Victorian images with the macabre drawings of birds, skulls, insects and nature are amazing - I want every piece!

Images taken from brand's Facebook and website

EMIN AND PAUL LONDON
44 Hanbury Street, E1 5JL
Website

I've never noticed this store before, I think it's new even though Emin and Paul started their design business in 2008. The store has a great selection of unusual but wearable designs so there is something there for everyone. The prices are quite reasonable, and they stock everything from jewelry, handbags and clothes. Most of the stuff is made in a studio in London, too, so you know you're getting great quality. Check out some of their stuff below, how cool is that coat?!

Images taken from brand's website

COMFORT STATION

22 Cheshire Street, E2 6EH

Website

Images from brand's website

I love finding new jewelry designers, even though I have nowhere to put it, wear it, and usually can't afford it! I've always said if I were to change careers that I would be a jewelry or lingerie designer, and thin, intricate, unique and vintage looking designs really inspire me.

This store has stunning interior design features, too. Vintage suitcases are used as shelves, and old books as wall display backgrounds for the jewelry. The pieces are all hand made by three designers in a London studio, and the gold and silver is all bought from the UK. My favourite pieces were the thin necklaces and rings with the inscribing of exact coordinates of a place named Hope in Devon and a place named Love, in the Bahamas. You can also buy antique music rolls with original boxes for £30 - would look amazing on a blank, long wall (I've looked on Ebay and they do come cheaper there, though).

PORCELAIN & RED VINTAGE SHOP

5 Cheshire Street, E2 6 ED

Website

Images from store's social media

Boy am I glad I found this brand new little vintage shop!! Everything is so beautiful, cute and pretty and it is obvious throughout that each piece of clothing has been hand picked. It's really refreshing to find a vintage store like this because wherever you go in East London the rails are just overpacked with things that re 90% not right! The girls are so friendly, old school Destiny's Child is blaring in the back and they even have a 'tailoring corner' where they can alter your shopping for you! I picked up so many things and everything looked great, in the end I bought a cool baggy polka dotted shirt which I'll be wearing with my skinny jeans and high heels. I don't suit shirts at all but vintage ones fit perfectly. Score!!

That's it for my little round up of the best London finds around Brick Lane...more posts to come soon about a cute and secret little area in Angel.