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Day 3 LFW AW2013

Fashion Week • LFW

I was just mad about this skirt when I saw it first.It’s just a really special piece. I wanted to wear it in a less obvious way, so I went with this denim jacket to knock it back a bit. Still in flats, but these flats are just so fabulous who wouldn’t want to wear them. I love them. Please excuse the little ankle bandage, but there came a point during LFW when I realised… a) If I didn’t look after my ankle it would make Paris impossible and b) People thought I was trying to develop a pimp walk with a lame limp!

Shoes Manolo Blahnik, Skirt Tibi (gifted), Shirt The White Shirt Company (gifted), Denim Jacket vintage Levis (from Portobello Market, Fur trim Ebay, Silk Scarf Hermes and Bag Chanel.

Photos by Peter Navey

Food

Fig Parcels

Meat • Nibbles • Party Planning • Savoury • Starters

These little gems are one of my go-to recipe. I thought of the recipe on a whim really when I had the things in the fridge and it just seemed to make sense. Having cooked parma ham on the top of tarts I knew that it would make a delicious crisp case for the sweet and creamy centre. I like to serve these as a starter with a rocket salad or with the cheese course. They also re-heat well so make a couple spare and have one for lunch the next day.

Set the oven to 180ºC (200ºC for non fan ovens).
Cut the stalk off the fig and then slice 2/3 of the the way down the fig in a cross shape.
Pull these four sections apart a little to make room for the cheese.
Lay out two slices of Parma ham to make a cross shape and place the cut fig in the middle.
Stuff as much cheese in as you can manage, honestly the more the better, but try and keep it all inside the fig. I use my fingers and a teaspoon to do this.
Sprinkle a pinch of salt and pepper on the top.
Bring the inner slice of ham together around the Fig to make a little parcel, then do the same with the second layer. Keep the spare ham collected in a bunch so that you can tie string around.
Its easier to use a slightly longer piece of string then you need then cut the ends off, I go around twice, but try not to be too tight, when cooked the ham with shrink and then you might not be able to get the string off to eat it! I also add a little sprig of thyme to each piece of string to add flavour and a decorative touch.
Bake the wrapped figs for 20mins or until they look crisp and a little browned.
I like to just remove the string and then allow my guests to put their own honey on top.

If your a vegi

If you want to make the vegetarian version just replace the ham with a square piece of baking paper.

Fashion

Day 2 LFW AW2013

Fashion Week • LFW

Another LFW day, another flat shoe. In a funny way (obviously setting aside the horrible pain of walking around fashion week on a sprained ankle) it was fun to have to wear flats. I felt like it challenged me a bit, outfit and attitude wise. I realised I do tend to depend on heels to feel fashionie and chic. I think it was an important lesson to remind myself that some of the chicest women I have ever known (my mother included) have been predominately flat wearers. It’s just not practical for everyone to be tottering around in 5 inch heels. I once read a piece that discussed the problem of the growing heel. I fully agreed with the astute writer, that while the 4inch heel ruled, one could run around town in heels all day, but at stilettos rose in style and heights to 5 then 6 inch needle heels, it just wasn’t possible to live in those shoes in the same way. I hope my outfits this fashion month with inspire you to bring out the classic flat pump once more with pride for a special event. Are you a heels girl? Or do you think flats can’t be beaten? I would love to know which side of the fence you sit on, or if like me you love to jump from team to team!