My favourite chocolate cake recipe

ok, ok, I know; no one but me cares for recipes like this one. It is nothing more but a sophisticated 'devil's food cake'. But it's just the christmas feeling I get whenever this recipe pops up on my laptop screen, that makes it so addictive. Besides, I always blame the endorphin that comes with this chocolate beauty. But we all know chocolate makes us feel good. It's just that this one does it in one hell of a way!

For the recipe, go to:

http://www.nigella.com/recipes/view/old-fashioned-chocolate-cake-119

IN HER SHOES

Oh yes they did! Believe it or not, Rachel Bilson -a true fashion icon- and shoe god Steve Madden have created a line of shoes together for Shoe Mint. From red velvet to leopard, and from studs to ankle straps; the line really is something to add to my (already neverending) christmas wishlist. Though I am quite skeptic about 'like us on facebook and win shoes' campaigns, you should try! Who knows, maybe you'll be the one to get away with a few pairs, for free!

PS: my second column will come out this month again, i'll keep you posted!

DUTCH VOGUE

I was already wondering; where the hell is our own, dutch vogue?! Even men have their own (yes, there is a men's vogue) and so do A LOT of countries all over the world. If you have done your homework and kept track of fashion news the past couple of days, you would have noticed Fiona Hering (columnist for Glamour) talking about her new job as a columnist for Vogue! This gives us evidence that an actual dutch vogue will come, yay! Karin Swerink, who was glamour's chief-editor, will take place in vogue's board as well, as chief-editor! The question when you can acually dribble over the magazine, remains unknown for now! I guess meanwhile,  patience, lots of twilight and christmas diners will keep us entertained.....
Can't wait!
XOXO

Louise Roe tips: how NOT to be a plain jane

Oh lord. This is one lady that has everything I want. Incredible style? Check. Good looking boyfriend? Check. Writer's job? Check. Right now, I am obsessing over her new MTV make-over show: Plain Jane. The thing is: who doesn't seem like a plain jane next to this long-legged and well-educated TV goddess? Though I should be watching the plain janes' mile-stones and fashion fiascos, I cannot seem to take my eyes/ears of Roe's british accent, her skyhigh heels and her eye catching dresses. Each time, the shows revolves around Roe, swinging her magic want and abacadabra: a lady is born!
Her five tips to avoid becoming a Plain Jane, make perfect new years resolutions, though buying just one dress is probably not something I can promise......her tips (love them!):

1. Look in the mirror naked. To dress your body, you need to know your body, and few of us are aware what specific shape we are. Are you top heavy? Apple? Pear? Column or hourglass? Wherever your flesh goes in and out, there are garments in the mall designed to specifically suit your shape. ‘Will it work on my figure,’ should be your first thought when shopping, as opposed to being distracted by trend, color, price, fabric or which celebrity last wore it in the gossip magazines.

2. Buy the boy a drink. Women rarely buy the first drink, and chances are he’ll be flattered. Don’t be an aggressive cougar about it, but casually offering a beer to the guy you’ve got your eye on is a refreshing change from the usual motion of waiting for him make the first move.

3. Learn to walk in high heels. Practice makes perfect, and platforms or wedges are the easiest to balance in. Heels make you stand up straighter, they’re slimming, and they really make a difference to the silhouette and attitude you give off when you enter a room, trust me!

4. Buy a red dress. If you’re single. You’re statistically more likely to be chatted up if you’re in red. I’d go for a one-shoulder shape, it’s elegant and chic and shows just enough skin to tickle a boy’s fancy.

5. Re-organise your closet. We only wear about a quarter of the clothes we own, mainy because our wardrobes are such a mess. Most things are lost and ignored in a messy bundle at the back. So get everything out on the bed, be objective about whether that decade-old little black dress could be updated with some new accessories or by a nip and tuck from the tailor. Color-coordinate the rest and split everything into winter and summer, too.

(These are from Roe's blog: http://www.louiseroe.com/)

Love, 

noor

MY COLUMN IN (NEW) MAGAZINE 'FASHIONISTA'

MY COLUMN IN (NEW) MAGAZINE 'FASHIONISTA'

LONDON: DOs and DONTs

It was about a month ago, that the money I had saved was urgently calling my name to spend it. As I am a sucker for shopping, I agreed. London was waiting for me. And especially when christmas is in sight, there is something about (no, not Mary) London. Why? Maybe because christmas lights are draped above the streets. Maybe because I cannot reject christmas sales such as Boxing Day. Or maybe, because the christmas-department in Harrods is so big, I walked three rounds looking for the exit and I was eventually brought outside by a security guy.

DOs
- Old Spitalfields market: Brick lane East London. Second hand Shakespeare and Dickens, homemade english sponge cakes, fur, up and coming designer clothes; need I say more?

- Portobello Road: Notting Hill. Walk in the beatles' footsteps, eat a red velvet cupcake at hummingbird bakery, visit the bookstore from the movie Notting Hill (warning: it is now a shoeshop, unfortunately), and the market on sunday is great!

- Topshop Brompton Road: one that is pretty quiet compared to others (like oxford street)

- exhibitions at Victoria & Albert museum (south kensington): very inspiring, is all I can say (see a gorilla made out of NEEDLES,below). It is my favourite museum in London, but of course Tate Modern, the design museum, British museum, the tower of london, etc. are also quite fascinating!

- the Seven Dial streets; just like the nine streets in amsterdam, except there are seven. Very cute lunchcafes and boutiques. Try: SNOG, a trendy yoghurt and topping place. And there is a candy store that has EVERY sort of candy you like. Makes me feel like I am seven again. Candy cakes is filled with cakes, pies and cupcakesl if you are a sweet tooth like me of course.

- Camden town: northern London. I can't seem to find words to describe this part of london. A lot of vintage, mixed with punk, markets and tourists. A whole lot of everything actually, but it is definetely somewhere you can spend your afternoon.

- Harrods: you cannot leave London without having seen harrods.
- Lay back, eat scones, drink tea: have a high tea at Dean Street Townhouse 69 (dean street, 15 pond pp). Quite fancy, but I guess that's what high tea is all about.
- Yauatscha dimsum&sushi: broadwickstreet Soho. You might bump into someone famous while picking up their famous cookies or having dinner. Very, very nice (not sounding like Borad)

- DO a night of theatre: but DONT be as stupid as I am by thinking you'll do that on sunday, because all shows are all week except sunday!