Postcard From Moscow

It’s so strange to think that just last week I was in Moscow; it now feels like an entire world away. I can unquestionably say it was one of the most interesting, exotic adventures I’ve ever had (and the fact that I was whisked there for a mere 48 hours by the lovely people at Mango only made it seem all the more thrilling). From the imposing red walls of The Kremlin, to St Basil’s cathedral looming over Red Square (which was like a Disney Castle meets Dracula on speed), from the incredible history to the continuing Communist-era bleakness, from the sight of Red Square’s illuminated buildings bathed in moonlight – the sound of church bells and heels on cobbles as men in heavy coats and Cossack hats walked past made me feel as though I was in one of Flemming’s James Bond novels – and the way the richness of the city made me want to abandon any nods to minimalism in favour of crimson lips, high heels, a blazer frosted with no less than 30 lapel brooches and messy ballerina buns.

So, for those who have never been to Russia and perhaps never will, here is a glimpse of this strange and wonderful city through my eyes.

Top – bottom: St Basil’s Cathedral, cherry blossoms in the GUM shopping complex, a view of the Kremlin’s walls, Red Square church, the magnificently excessive crown jewels in the Kremlin armoury museum, Red Square by nightfall, dinner in the legendary Cafe Pushkin, my own sartorial excesses, Red Square

Love, Miss B xx

Briony was in Moscow as a guest of Mango

In the Bag: Russian Edition

Since everyone seems to love these posts so much, it seemed only appropriate to do one in Moscow.

Regular readers may recall that when I had my Chanel 2.55 bag stolen last year, one of the reasons I was so distraught was that it had travelled the world with me & thus had enormous sentimental value – one of my lucky travel talismans, if you like. So when I replaced dear Chanel on my trip back to Australia at Christmas time, I was thrilled to have my favourite globetrotting accessory back again (I just pretend it’s the very same bag, and erase the whole robbery affair from my memory). The only downside to travelling with Chanel? As she’s so small (by my standards anyway – I like to cart everything I might possibly need in a day, ever, around with me), there’s no room for anything but the essentials.

So what’s are my Moscow essentials? Passport and roubles (police can stop you in the street and demand to see your identification at any time in Russia, so don’t be caught without it), sweet little matryoscka dolls I picked up around Red Square as souvenirs, my good luck charm (a tiny little golden budha inside a silk pouch, picked up at a temple in Tokyo), spare jewels (always to be found in my bag), Chanel’s ‘Vendetta’ polish and, because it felt entirely appropriate to wear red lipstick at all times in Moscow, neon red Mac ‘Impassioned’ lipstick for day and Chanel’s ‘Fatale’ for night.

So, what’s in your bag?

Love, Miss B xx

Briony was in Moscow as a guest of Mango

Mango in Moscow: The Spring/Summer ’11 Show

As those who follow me on Twitter will know, on Wednesday evening I was thrilled to find myself in Russia for the Mango Spring/Summer ’11 fashion show.* To celebrate their enormous expansion plans this year (they are set to open in excess of a new store each day, with Russia and China firmly in their sights), Mango marked the occasion with a big soiree in Moscow to showcase the collection that’s about to hit stores. Set in a huge, grand atrium just off Red Square, with equal parts beautiful clothes and beautiful people (we sat directly opposite Olivia Palermo and her boyfriend), the production (never mind the location!) just about outdid all the shows on the official London Fashion Week circuit.

I know that on here I mostly go on about Chanel and Mulberry and afternoon tea at ludicrously expensive places around London, as though I’m some kind of aristocrat who’s the goddaughter of Marc Jacobs. But as I am sadly neither (and instead fund my expensive designer habit with a normal political advisor’s salary), I scour the high street as much as Bond Street for fantastic everyday pieces to mix with the fruits of said expensive designer habit. And amongst a sea of chains with dubious quality control and ethics, Mango stands out as one of the best. While you won’t find any groundbreakingly new looks in here, they do excellent ‘inspired by’ versions of the best looks of the runway circuit, translated in a wearable way. More importantly, the quality is excellent for the price you’ll pay, and they have remarkable ethics (it’s still a family-owned company, and it shows in their super-happy HQ team, whom I met in Moscow). Next time you find yourself on the hight street, do go and have a peek; I was particularly enamoured with the white linen blazers, the chiffon maxi skirts, the floaty blush-hued dresses (just made for long summer days spent picnicking in the Cambridge countryside and floating down the river on a punt with a basket of strawberries), the boxy leather bags (incredible quality for the price).

And as for the soiree itself? It really was the most spectacular night. After the show, we sipped (probably too many) mojitos and scoffed macarons as a swing band** played, and afterwards decided to forgo our car back to the hotel so that we could take one last stroll through Red Square - simply spectacular illuminated at night – back to our hotel.

So tell me, do you have any go-to stores on the high street?

Love, Miss B xx

* And yes, jumping on a plane and being whisked off to Moscow for 48 hours for a fashion show felt just as exotic and exciting as it sounds…
** Two words which always put a smile on my face

Briony was thrilled to be in Moscow as a guest of Mango