chocolate orange martini

Chocolatey April it is and I have found the perfect treat… oooh lovely!

Girls, this amazing cocktail is most delicious thing for Easter and may be not as many calories as it should be… yep, its a Snow Leopard Chocolate and Orange martini (snowleopardvodka.co.uk). 

Snow leopard is made from spelt grain from Poland, which because of its husk doesn’t need pesticides to grow. It’s incredibly rich and drinkable and boasts fans like Stella McCartney, Vivienne Westwood, the royal family and moi! And in case you were wondering how you do it, just lace a martini glass with chocolate (Green and Blacks of course) and pop into the freezer. Then, in a shaker with cubed ice, mix: 

10mls triple sec
20 mls chocolate liquor
15mls of Gomme
50mls of Snow Leopard vodka 

You can buy Snow Leopard in Waitrose but you can drink it everywhere in central London. 

And so to fashion. April heralds another pop up shop in Carnaby Street. Organised by EJF, at 57 Carnaby Street, it stocks Goodone , who I adore from her great trackie bum collaboration days. There’s also a couple of others: EJF, Katharine Hamnett, Beyond Skin, From Somewhere, Veja, Lowie, Monkey jeans and Pants to Poverty. 

Ooh, I just discovered the most glorious shop at Brompton Cross in Knightsbridge, 242, Brompton Road. Its been there for like a year, and is called  Few and Far, (fewandfar.net). It has the most fabulous hand made cloths by Raag in India, fantastic slippers from Morocco, hand made and vegetable tanned leather belts from Brighton, and Gudrun & Gudrun (shop.gudrungudrun.com). They are one of the fantastic team of Faroe designers who showcased in London last year, here at last! They also stock amazing one off pieces of furniture and homewear. The staff are excellent and will offer you a coffee and take you through the whole collection knowledgably and with love. 

Does Gav at THTC, (thtc.co.uk), ever stop?! Whisper has it that he has just finished a collaboration with Beatbox Legend, Beardyman, the two time UK Beatbox Champion with over three million downloads to his name. I guess the answer to that is NO he doesn’t! Well not until all mankind have been made environmentalists through their fashion choices. I like my tees snug but this one in white is so cool, I’ll just have to wear with my new tailored jeans from Laundrymaid exclusive to potassiumstore.co.uk. 

I saw Outsider’s summer collection at Clerkenwell last week at sample prices – lovely coral reds in block colouring, and classic shapes. I was so gutted I hadn’t known about it before. To let you, my shop loving mates, in on the act, the bargains were incredulous… Seeing my distress Noorin promised to let me into a big secret – she will selling her autumn/winter collection at an amazing 40% off on line in April (outsiderfashion.com) – and guess what’s up for sale? That amazing LBD. Yes I know it’s just too much like a miracle at that price to pass by! And you might have noticed from our catwalk preview AW10 black is back! EVERYWHERE. 

All of you who know me know that my summer favourite has got to be the play suit. Its versatility knows no bounds - you can wear from boardroom to nightclub. Nancy Dee, (nancydee.co.uk), just happens to possess one of the most flattering playsuits ever. My other favourite has got to be the Choolips one (choolips.com) from Ghana. In fact Annette is launching a ‘make your own dress’.  You send in your measurements, choose your fabric and watch it literally take shape. Get to know the person who is making it and then rejoice in its perfect fit. 

Also Toms (tomsshoes.com) are now stocking a new wedge style and have got loads of events lined up for their day without shoes event on 8 April. Just in case you weren’t aware, for every single pair of Toms shoes purchased, Toms give a pair to a child in need, One for One. 

Guess I will see you all at UKAWARE at the Daisy Green catwalk on the 17 April.. .it starts at 10.30… punctually… 

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Lupe Castro is a leading ethical stylist. Check out her website at ethicalheaven.com