It has been pouring all week. It's been so miserable, grey, cold and windy that you pretty much do everything in your power to avoid going out. I mean I like rain, I have nothing against it. I suppose the only thing getting me is the greyness! That's awful.

Also by the look of this post, I think event the FT's editors have not on a very happy mood this week. Oh dear.

We were re-watching the Voice earlier today and there were two competitors singing James Morrison and Nelly Furtado's Broken Strings and they sang it so well that I had to youtube it an hour later. To be completely honest, I have never been a massive fan of this song, but after hearing it today it somehow sounded good.

Even though the owner of Luis Vuitton bags, Dior perfumes and Dom Pérginon champagne LVMH (Luis Vuitton Möet Hennessy) group has reported a 14 per cent rise in sales due to a good first quarter on a like-to-like basis in the US and Asia markets, the group has given a warning to its European market area. Slightly surprising give the slowdown of China's economic growth for instance. LVMH is the world's biggest luxory group by sales is headed by Bernard Arnault. According to Arnault, the luxury groups concentration on retailing towards tourists trough airport spots of Sephora and DFS helped them to increase sales with 20 per cent over the last quarter in 2011. LVMH is active in five different sectors; wines&spirits, fashion&leather goods, perfumes&cosmetics, watches&jewellery, and selective retailing.

DFS group (down town gallerias, airports shops and others) is one of the world's leading luxury retailer catering to the travelling public, and owned by the LVMH group. The groups headquarters locate in Hong Kong, whereas global financial and information technology centre being in Singapore. The luxury group offers hence off-and on-airport shopping environments where buyers can find established and rising luxury brand products including Cartier, Channel, Gucci, Luis Vuitton, Tiffany, Michael Kors, Tory Burch and many more. Also, special events such as champagne receptions, fashion shows and watch and leather making demonstrations are held regularly.

Needless to say customer loyalty is a key for making LVMH and DFS types of groups to work. Hence, promises such as 100% WorldWide Guarantee, personal shopping services, currency exchange, multilingual staff and comfortable seating areas have to be given.

Aquascutum

Starting first as a high quality menswear shop in Regent Street in 1853, became known as the first British firm ever managing to produce raincoats with wool linen (hence the name Aquascutum which means 'water shield' in Latin). All ranks of solders used the Aquascutum waterproof fabrics in Crimean War as well as trench coats in both of the World Wars. Also, especially royals and politicians  such as King Edward  VII, the Price of Wales, the Queen Mother, Winston Churchill, Lady Thatcher and many more have favoured Aquascutum's clothes, which made the clothing brand to receive a royal warrant after the wars. Now, however, the company has reported to collapse into administration due to high levels of debt putting 250 jobs at risk, which could have affected its parent company Jaeger's operations unless the owner Harold Tillman had not sold it to a private equity entrepreneur Jon Moulton some years ago.

News read from FT

 

That red- brown- beige combination looks especially good today

Hei.

The weather has been lovely for the past week or so. Even thought you could say that I am a positive and smily person in general, it is no surprise that sun shine does still add that extra shot of good mood on anyone’s days. I love the feeling when you finish work and walk towards the tube station and the sun is still high and the weather is warm and full of springy smells. Everything looks much prettier too when the nature is full of colours in all shapes and forms. People smile and hence look happier and better. It is that exciting atmosphere that fills the air.  

The best little things in my days are often very simple. Today’s mood boosters were almost all work related. I had a good training day in the morning outside the office. In the afternoon I adopted a tiger (yes you read correctly, I adopted a wildlife Tiger through WWF) for £3. His name is Hans.  After lunch time I had a very good cup of Earl Grey with milk – the combination tasted beautiful! A note to myself, I have to purchase a pack of Earl Grey next time I go food shopping.  I had received an email from my ex work colleague which made me happy as he wished me good luck with my new job and was just asking how I have been settled in. I thought that was lovely of him. Then three minutes before finishing work I had a quick chat with my lovely saviours  Miia and Niklas from work –it was way too brief,  I need to suggest them going for a drink soon, not this weekend as my dad is coming to town tomorrow  but maybe the week after that. Then on my way to home from the tube station I bumped into Matt.  Matt’s hair looked different –shorter, groomed and very good. Or maybe he was wearing a new pair of shades? I don’t know what it was, but there was something about him that was different. Another note to myself, pay Matt a compliment once he gets back home. Then came just home and had a simple M&S coconut chicken noodle salad for dinner. Ready-made-food that’s BAD I know, but this one was alright. Liked the mangos in it.  Third note to myself, maybe I could also buy mangos on my next food shop. 

I can't tell you how lovely it has been back home. I have really enjoyded it. I haven't necessarily slept enought, but it has been alrigh as catching up with your dearest and nearest gives you so much positive energy back that it feels like you don't even need that much sleep.

Mum and I had a very efficient shop today. An  hour and I managed to get myself

 

Remember when I wrote about the loafers with tassels that I was determined to acquire this spring. Well the determination has clearly paid off, as I got this pair three weeks ago. These cream colour patent loafers were  my birthday present to myself :D

The Fabergé Big Egg Hunt 2012


I have wanted to write a post about this since the egg hunt started. The idea behind the Big Egg Hunt is to raise £2 million for Elephant Family and Action for Children charities. There are 209 uniquely crafted eggs hidden around 12 zones central London this Easter and people are encouraged to find all of them. See the video below.





After the Sunday 1st of April, all the eggs will be moved to Covent Garden where people can see all the eggs together. Then eggs are being auctioned to raise funds for the Elephant Family and Action for Children charities.

                                                      My personal favourite  Fabergés being