by Chrissy Iley The world’s greatest sommelier, Gerard Bassett, once told me he saw wines as pieces of music. When he tasted a Chablis for instance he saw its light crispness as a piece of Mozart. I’ve often wondered what certain songs … [Read more...]
CALIFORNIA WORKOUTS: BEST U STUDIO
by Chrissy Iley I passed the Best U Studio (bestustudio.com) many times wondering if I should ever enter. The board outside tells of combining dance, barre and pilates in a fun filled workout. Their website promises a longer, leaner, … [Read more...]
ACRO CATS: THE CAT CIRCUS
by Chrissy Iley I have heard the expression so many times, ‘That was so difficult, it was like herding cats’. Meaning impossible. Dogs want to please, so they do tricks, even complicated ones, just because they want to be told, ‘Good … [Read more...]
WEST HOLLYWOOD: SALON BENJAMIN
by Chrissy Iley I was traumatised when the John Frieda LA salon closed down. It was such a beautiful space with a lovely pool as its centrepiece – it has now been taken over by The Olsens as a Row flagship store. Before John Frieda Neil … [Read more...]
THE MURAD SPA, CALIFORNIA
As we pull up at the Murad Spa in Manhattan Beach, California, it’s almost as if we are in Disneyland, the Disneyland of skin therapy. It’s a happy, happy place. You are ushered into a relaxation room and given cucumber water. You are given a … [Read more...]
Kristen Stewart Goes to College
After a list of ruefully dumb decisions involving (or more importantly not involving) R-Patz, K-Stew has decided to get back to the books. Although college doesn't directly improve our moral compasses - Kristen Stewart is rumoured to have enrolled in … [Read more...]
Victoria Beckham: Hiking in Hollywood
Ah the Hollywood Hills. Doubtless why the residents are so taut, tanned and toned. All that up-hill cardio in the heat and blazing sunshine. And this morning Victoria Beckham added her name to the roster of celebs (Jessica Alba, a whole host of … [Read more...]
Yasmin Sewell Brings the Beach to London
Oft-papped fashion maven and style consultant, Yasmin Sewell, in collaboration with Paper Mache Tigers, has made an ambitious endeavor to bring the sunny beaches of California to London - in fashion terms of course. The pop-up store titled 'Beach in … [Read more...]
Joshua Tree, California
by Chrissy Iley For a long time I thought there was only one Joshua Tree: the one that appeared on the cover of the U2 album. It never occurred to me that there was a desert and a park where there were Joshua trees. They are rather nice, … [Read more...]
Pici Enoteca
by Chrissy Iley There’s a new breed of Beverly Hills restaurant that both manages to be chichi and cosy, and Pici Enoteca covers this area perfectly …. It is a small intimate space on South Beverly Drive. A little more neighbourhood than some of … [Read more...]
Laurel Hardware
by Chrissy Iley When I first moved to West Hollywood there were certain stores on Santa Monica Boulevard that were straight out of the 1950s. They were homespun, cute. When I was renovating, one of the stores I visited most was Laurel Hardware. It … [Read more...]