Dolce & Gabbana unveils their Christmas Tree Design for Claridge's Hotel

Last Tuesday I had the pleasure of spending the evening at  Claridge's – my favourite London hotel – to celebrate the unveiling of this year's Christmas tree designed by Dolce & Gabbana. As you might expect, this is no ordinary tree. The two designers brought the flavour of their native Sicily using 450 hand-painted Italian baubles depicting images of the sun, citrus groves, almond blossom and prickly pears. The base stood out particularly thanks to the 30 hand-crafted Sicilian Pupi of Medieval inspiration. Colour was obviously the other big focus of the design, especially greens, red, yellows and blues, which finished off the beautiful tree that will stand at Claridge's foyer for the holidays.
Dolce & Gabbana always bring out the coolest guests in town and this was no exception. Stefano Gabbana looked so happy as he greeted muse David Gandy, Heva Herzigova, icon Joan Collins and heartthrobs Thom Evans and Oliver Cheshire – all very appropriately outfitted in their best attire by the designers.
I had the best time walking around the stunning building and enjoying the Christmas vibe (and the awesome nibbles) while the super stylish guests chatted away. Make sure you stop by Claridge's this Christmas!

David Gandy and Stefano Gabbana with Eva Herzigova

Sam Webb, Andrew Cooper, Isaac Ferry, Tara Ferry and Oliver Cheshire

James Cook with Poppy Delevigne and Joan Collins

Oliver Cheshire, Thom Evans and Laura Bailey

I am not Frank.

Courtesy of Dolce & Gabbana / Fashion, Frankly

My Stay at The Standard High Line NYC

If you follow me on Instagram or Twitter you will probably have figured out by now that I recently went on a trip to NYC. It was my first time in the city and I was taking my younger sister as a treat so I wanted a perfectly rounded experience. And that id why I decided to stay at The Standard High Line, which just happens to be the coolest hotel in town and one of the hotspots in the city during fashion week. The hotel opened in 2009 in the Meatpacking District and was expressly to match the architectural style of the area. Some of its most characteristic features are the big windows that give every room in the entire hotel a fresh and open vibe and the High Line, an old railway-turned-park stretching 3 miles that extends across from beneath the pillars of the building.
I stayed at a Superior King room, which offers one the hotel's signature views along with a small living space perfect for catching up with emails or enjoying the views with a coffee. I don't remember sleeping as well as I did on our bedroom bed or ever feeling so at home at a hotel. The interior design is unfussy, clean and has Scandinavian vibes.
Hard as we tried, it was almost impossible to resist having breakfast at the Standard Grill. Whether you like a good old American breakfast or something more continental, there is no better place to enjoy my favourite meal of the day. I personally recommend the pancakes and French toast. It is also a great spot to grab a casual lunch. The space is stunning, with a relaxed slightly French flavour and very nice staff.
We also paid a visit to the amazing roof terrace, which is totally laid-back during the day and turns into a trendy place for drinks in the evening. The same goes for the Boom Boom Room, the iconic round orange bar at the top of the building and Le Bain, which turns into a high-end club on weekend evenings.
Everyone from the receptionists to the concierge and all the waiters are extremely nice and helpful but also laid-back and quite cool. Always keen on giving you tips on what to do or where to go in the city. I simply can't recommend The Standard High Line enough!

Clockwise from top left: The amazing view from my room, Pancake heaven for my first breakfast,

Burgers & fries for dinner, the night view from my room.

The French-flavoured outside decor of The Standard Grill, The inside of my room, View of the 'Plaza' from above,

The roof terrace, The amazing living-room area of one of the suites, The Standard Grill from the inside.

A night out at the Boom Boom Room, A delicious Daiquiri at the Top of the Standard,

Lunch at the Standard Grill and the fun salt and pepper holders.