I was lucky enough to enjoy a lunch al fresco in Hanover Square this afternoon, alongside all the anorexics from vogue and long-haired city-boys. For most people on the 9-5, the last thing we want on our lunch break is to be disturbed by a sales pitch, so I was amazed at what Google managed to achieve from where they had set up in the centre of the square.

Beans bags, frisbees, ice lollies and exercise balls littered the grass and jolly Googlers meandered through the picnic-ers introducing them to the google maps application on their mobile phones. The number of people who happily allowed the Googler to join them on the grass and mess about their with their phone is a testament to the brand loyalty and benevolence that Google has accrued.

What made the stunt successful where the brand ambassadors. It is well known that Google treat their staff to daily array of workplace perks from games rooms to free drinks and chocolates and it seems to have paid off. The girl who came up to me had the confidence and dedication not found in hired event staff. Like Google itself, she was informative, laid back and to the point. And thanks to her, I can now locate the nearest Topshop at a moment's notice on my phone. A lunch-hour well spent.

Generally no more General Trading

Today it was revealed that the General Trading Company has gone into administration. This does not mean the shop that invented both the Sloane Ranger and the wedding list will be closing its doors, but it is a sign that the dreaded Credit Crunch is starting to take its toll.

I visited the shop recently and noticed a distinctive air of failure, similar to the one also currently hanging over Heals. Both shops have developed that lack-luster feeling that turn customers away quicker than you can say Closing Down Sale.

OBAMATRON ..........


You just can’t say no to some Tiki Tiki

It would appear that I have complete disregard for my golden rules, for yet again I’ve ended up south of the river. I keep south of the river friends, not because they're sligthly dim and good drinkers, but rather because I feel its like doing a good deed everyday, and one day the government will introduce some form of tax credit for us for putting up with them. This weekend, however, I have good reason – a good friend’s birthday.

We started at what must be one of the quaintest pubs in London, the Prince of Wales on Clever Square – a quiet conservation area seemingly detached from the modern world right by the permanently grid-locked Kennington Road. What makes this place different, it that in place of those stuffy private gardens you find in Kensington squares, here you find a gravel patch more akin to the those in dusty old French villages. But, again, instead of old men with guts the size of small planets, here you find a young crowd of city professionals playing petanque with their pint or G&T in their hand.



Like the gin and tonic, legendary nights are made in great pairings. We started with the calm Prince but upon last orders then moved onto the buzzing South London Pacific Bar – or to you and me – Tiki Tiki. Decked from head to toe in bamboo and Easter Island statues this place is so naff, it’s off the hook! Dancing, and crooning along, to Michael Jackson and the like, some very beautiful boys and girls drink down some of the best cocktails this side of the Channel – including the lethal lager-rita, a margherita in a tall glass topped off with a bottle of Sol. I’m a robust drinker, but even those floor me within minutes!

However, the best measure for determining a great bar – their policy on when to chuck people out. In this place, if you’re caught even blinking slowly you’re out, falling asleep practically leads to an outright ban! One bouncer was once overheard saying 'you're not coming in - you look too tired to party hard'. Now, I had been pre-warned of this ruthless policy, so knowing my susceptibility to the sleeps after one to many lager-ritas, I quietly toddled off home to the North whilst the sun crawled over the horizon.

Now all the upheaval of the move is over, I'm starting to get serious about the decorative, homely side of things. A friend gave me a couple of tomato plants and I'm nearly done putting up my wall decal. Just really want this now...



To go with my Banksy print (yes, I really am too cool for school!)

In striking comparison to Slough (see yesterday's post), photographer in the field and founder of the London Street Photography blog kindly stormed the Liberty Own Label store on Sloane Street on our behalf.



Given that - in my opinion - one of Liberty's weakest points is their own label, I'm not quite sure about this new venture. I do, however, 'get' that they evidently had the opportunity to have a presence on one of London's most des-res streets for luxury retailers, right next to one of their main competitors, Harvey Nichols, and they jumped at it. Makes excellent business sense.





It IS gorgeous and they've managed to maintain that art deco/ arts and crafts style of the flagship. Beautiful.

Come friendly bombs and fall on Slough...



Making Reading look quaint, Slough is the most depressing image of Britain I've yet encountered.



This (see above) is the view that greets you as you exit Slough train station. They may as well re-name the town Tesco and be done with it!

Update! So, the wall decal I really wanted (see earlier post) was not in the colour I wanted, so I went for this...



Just got the get thing on the wall now!

INTRODUCING OBAMATRON - GUEST CONTRIBUTOR TO CAMILLA'S STORE

The Door to Narnia is at London Bridge

Now, I must admit, I am not the biggest fan of London south of the river – call me a snob, but along with ‘don’t dabble in heroin’ and ‘its always quicker to use the Victoria Line’, it is one of my golden rules. The other day, however, after a few too many caipirinhnas at La Perla, I ventured behind a simple black door beneath London Bridge station and found the entrance to a new subterranean world - Shunt.

Essentially an art-cum-night club run by an artist co-op to inspire those who want something a bit different for their Saturday night out. Most importantly though, its always evolving as each week will be curated by a different Shunt artist. Some will fill the space with nonstop entertainment, some will do next to nothing, fortunately the bar staff are more reliable.

At first it seems like entering into a lawyer’s office with its dark wood panelling and thick velvet drapes. As you walk on though, the luxurious fabrics slip down revealing bare brick, the light diminishes as the ceiling rises, and the air becomes heavy with damp. Before you know it, you’ve entered a warren of massive caverns, each one filled with something different – a bar, a theatre, an art installation, or a live band on stage. I half expected to stumble across some form of ultimate fighting match between Alexa Chung and Daisy Lowe, but instead we found vintage pacman - not the same but just as addictive

After freeing a decent bottle of Nicolas Feuillatte from behind the gigantic bar, we wandered from cave to cave following the eclectic crowd of Missoni maxis, Henry Holland Tee’s and Daks suits. Small groups sat round talking on the sofas, whilst others start to hit the dancefloor, all lit by hundreds and thousands of candles.

Now, it was at the point of discovering a dinner party parked on the back of a milkcart that things start to get a little hazy, and golden rule number four stepped in – black cab, always!

Word from across the pond says this is gonna be gooood...

Given that it's been perpetually chucking it down for the past week, something deep inside me wants these.... badly!

Aw, Fopp was so great!

How many times have I heard that now? And it's always followed by some know-all who says 'oh no, there's still one in Covent Garden', to which everyone breathes a communal sigh of relief.

So, what's wrong with HMV? Zavvi? Amazon? iTunes? Any of the thousands of other independent record stores? What made Fopp so freakin' special?

Well, for starters, it's cool. From the hard-wood floors, to the little staff recommendations, to focus on up-and-coming young bands, they're the retail equivalent of that funky, in-the-know-friend who was always a little out of your league. Contrasting heavily with Zavvi who utterly bombard you with choice, deals, loud music, big tv screens and absolutely no bias whatsoever. I mean, there's something wrong with a place who WON'T judge you for buying a McFly cd!

People everywhere are missing Fopp's laid back attitude to peddling music - the one high street chain that gave you time to browse, get into your groove and discover what rocked your boat. Here's hoping HMV, having brought back to life 8 Fopp stores, continue to return them to our streets.

This journal from Present and Correct is making me reconsider my Moleskine addiction...



Speaking of which, this laser engraving from Engrave is pretty incredible. Check out www.engraveyourtech.com for more wondrous laser techniques.

Exciting news Camilla's Store devotees (of which, I'm certain, there are literally thousands!)... I am pleased to announce that we are to have a guest contributor!

Obamatron will be sending word from the darker echelons of London life. As a champagne socialist, Obamatron will be going to great lengths to bring news and reviews from the London club and bar circuit, giving you all something to do once the shops have shut and the bad boys come out to play.

Check back soon for the first installment!

No fair!

Socially acceptable body hair, the better end of the pay gap and now this... wonderful e-tailing! Discovered two, predominantly male-orientated, websites this week both of which are beautifully curated and unique. Ok, so women are more demanding (we want wish lists, tell a friend opportunities and the chance to mainline one-click shopping straight into our veins), but must we forego aesthetics?

www.hermes.com is STUNNING. I especially like their store locater function, which takes an old concept and makes it theirs.

www.paulsmith.co.uk meanwhile understands how important tactility is in selling clothes. You can't actually touch the stuff, but there's so many photos you feel like you have.

Shop til you drop (literally)!

Spotted this article in Retail Week, '100 Shops to visit before you die', which makes me feel like there are, surely, more important things to worry about as we strut and fret our hour upon the stage....

http://www.retail-week.com/Fashion/2008/06/100_shops_you_must_visit_2008.html?emailafriend=182220622

Love, love, loving these beautiful wall decals from www.supernice.co.uk

The world's your catwalk.

I call it ‘The Sartorialist’ effect – your average London street is regularly trumping the stores as the go-to place for up-to-the-minute fashion as more and more people step out in style. Thanks to street photography blogs such as The Sartorialist, it is now necessary to be ‘camera ready’ even when you pop out for milk. Walking the streets in one of Europe’s most fashion-forward Capitals, I have really begun to notice trends on the street weeks or even months before they hit the magazines. For the absolute best in cutting edge fashion, I’m fortunately just young enough and girly enough to get away with goggling at the Camden Girls School girls who regularly achieve unbelievable heights of fashion before 8.45am. Incredible. For my work wardrobe, I ride the Piccadilly line between 9 and 10 am to get the best mix of executive and luxury sales assistant garb. For Men’s fashion, nothing beats Soho Square at lunch time, when all the drama development execs emerge in classic geek-chic attire. So, instead of keeping your head stuck in a book over lunch in the park, try a bit of people watching – it’s a cheaper fashion hit than that £4.75 copy of Vogue, trust me!


The world’s your catwalk.

Apologies - Camilla's Store has been terribly overlooked this week due to a combination of moving house and long days looking out for Queen M. Posting will resume as normal next week and I'm hoping to get lots of interesting stuff up over the weekend!

Hell yeah! Loving it!!!!

THE THREE PAGES OF MAN. PART II. Dating.

I can't just be me who feels like the summer sun brings all the great-looking people onto the streets. They were probably around all the rest of the year as well, but hot days make for better clothes, glowing skin and a happy demeanor - all adding to their gorgeousness. And, when two gorgeous people get together, it only makes sense that they should do it somewhere rather fabulous too. So, here's the Camilla's Store guide to some of London's best date restaurants.

THE FIRST DATE
Ping Pong, now with dim sum restaurants dotted all over London from Great Marlborough Street to Hampstead, is fantastic. It's buzzy, cool, well-priced, and full of other hot young things doing their thing. Like Wagamama, much of the seating is communal or - in the case of their Soho branch - rings round the edge of the mezzanine, meaning you sit next to each other. The whole ordering process - done by ticking a list - makes a great ice breaker and the slight foreignness means that you can always talk about deep fried tofu if things start to go sour.



THE SECOND DATE
It's time to find out whether it's gonna be 'just friends' or 'happily ever after', so how apt to go Fish! in Borough Market. If you're there for dinner, the slight eeriness of the closed market makes a perfect opportunity for a spot of light hand holding. Success or failure during this bold step can be almost instantly relieved from intensity by the upbeat atmosphere of the restaurant which also allows you to play things either way. If it's looking bleak you can discuss the future of London's markets over a lemon sole, but if all's well you can share oysters and a glass of bubbly.

CLOSING THE DEAL
If you're gonna put the moves on a girl, do it at Julie's Wine Bar. Julie's is classic, classy and very discreet. Book ahead and you can get your own curtained booth, or be softly romantic with a table in the conservatory which is lit with fairy lights. Expensive enough both to make her feel special and to let her know you're serious.

THE MORNING AFTER
The father of a friend of mine once wistfully commented, "I no longer have the need for a full english in the morning", so while we are still young, it's well worth girding your loins for a hearty breakfast to make up for all the other shenanigans your loins have been involved in the previous night. Providores on Marylebone High Street does a smashing breakfast with a french toast that beats them all. Its location - with Regent's Park at the top, and Oxford Street at the bottom - makes 'going your seperate ways' a lot easier to handle.



BREAKING UP

She's clingy, she hates your friends and you did the dirty with hers - it's time to move on and you have two exit strategies. No.1: If your risk assessment of the break-up conversation suggests you're going to require some serious damage control, pick a place that's crowded, noisy and that you don't mind never going to again - this puts you ahead of the game when the screaming starts. The Sanderson Long Bar has the anonymity of an international hotel, the bullish crowds of Fitzrovia and hard liquor on tap.
Alternatively, plump for option No.2: This option is expensive but just look at it as a pay-off to get you out of a sticky situation. Book a corner table at Simpsons, silently chop your way through the meat trolly then, as the sticky toffee pudding arrives, deliver your missive. With a hushed voice insist that there does not have to be a 'vulgar scene'. You will not be popular, but the Simpson doormen will be the epitome of charm and ensure she is safely escorted into a taxi home. Well-handled!

Coming up this weekend...

The best date restaurants in London! What Brits really think about shopping malls, why genius doesn't cut it in the world of work and the woman making member's only clubs look cool!

Two great Guardian articles I want to flag up today.

This one is all about older, female bloggers. I'm not part of the former category (just yet!), but I was interested to read about how women respond to the predominantly geeky and male world of computers, blogs, html etc.

http://lifeandhealth.guardian.co.uk/women/story/0,,2285382,00.html

And Charlie Brooker makes some great observations about branding and product placement in his article, featured in today's G2.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/jun/16/television.advertising



And, finally MARY QUEEN OF SHOPS IS ON TONIGHT AT 9PM ON BBC2!!!!!!

Take years off your dog with the Puppy Cut



Apparently it's not just us humans who get paranoid about their fading looks - I recently heard about a pooch parlour that specialises in the 'puppy cut'. The cut trims a dog's hair right back to the soft fur at the base, making it look younger and more puppy-like. Hilarious

Home sweet home



What with moving at the end of the month, I can feel myself starting to get incredibly uptight and obsessive-compulsive. Endless folding and daily trips up to the attic to 'check' on my various boxes of belongings are generally signs that I'm about to uproot and move on yet again.

Fortunately, however, this time I'm moving into possibly the most gorgeous little flat with some pretty gorgeous little people so my OCD is manifesting itself in thoughts about decoration, home accessories and glamourous cleaning products. Yes, GLAMOUROUS!...

Noticed these Maison Belle detergenets in the window of Heal's - Design Sponge says they smell divine! While Daylesford Organics do a very chic line in surface cleansers!




For LIke Ever poster from www.vllg.com

Food porn or eater's wives?

A step too far, Marks and Spencer. A step too far! Oozing poached eggs? Ok. Melting chocolate puddings? Fine. But burgers stuffed with gorgonzola cheese? No freaking way. Sexy food cinematography can no longer suggest that M&S is not one of the worst offenders when it comes to junk food on the high street. I've been noticing for a while the sheer volume of mayonnaise, custard and cream that so many of their products are choc full of, and yet I've always maintained that their fruit and veg selection is second to none. Now, however, I'm starting to think that this is not just food, this is M&S high-priced, intensely calorific crap for the over-worked masses.

THE THREE PAGES OF MAN. PART I: MAN LOVE

The old epigram 'men want to be them, women want to date them' rings most true for this motely crew. Everyone's got to have a hero - be they 28 or 78, you could do a lot worse than to take a leaf out of these guys little black books!

The come-back kid. Robert Downey Jr is the self-titled 'posterboy for pharmaceutical mismanagement', yet these days seems to be very much back in the game with summer blockbuster Iron Man. I've had my eye on him since Only You - it's the puppy eyes!



The Legend. Those who know me will also know why I think Hunter S. Thompson would actually need his own blog for me to explain just what a dude he is. To choose one quote would do him a huge disservice, to know him only for Fear and Loathing - an even greater one. The Rum Diary, Hell's Angels, On the Campaign Trail..... Absolutely number 1 on the fantasy dinner party list.



The All-Rounder. Tom, tom, tom... you can literally do no wrong. He is an inspired designer, a shrewd businessman, effortlessly charming and fantastically gorgeous. After his considerable stint at the helm of Gucci, Tom opened his ultra-chic, eponymous store in NY last year and brought unabashed opulence and debauched decadence to the metro-sexual male. He is quoted as claiming to be his own muse - and can you really blame him?



The Older Man. Like a fine brie, Jack seems only to get better with age. He has been rocking Hollywood since he stole the show in Easy Rider, then shot to fame in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Ever one for the ladies, Jon Stewart even quipped at this year's Oscar ceremony that there were 'two pregnant women here tonight at the Oscars—then again, obviously the night is still young. And Jack is here!'.



The funny guy. Dane Cook is barely known on these shores but over the pond, his comedy album sits at the top of the charts and, back in 2006, he became the second comedian ever to sell out Madison Square Garden, where he performed his 'Rough Around The Edges' tour in the round to 20,000 people.



Coming up.... Part 2: The great date guide to restaurants!

Is Mary the new Ramsay?

The new season of Mary Queen of Shops aired last night, earning over 3m viewers!! Ramsay better watch out because Mary's heels look somewhat sharper than his kitchen knives!

Woo hoo! I knew August had a purpose this year! New Frat Pack movie, Tropic Thunder out soon!



Ha ha ha ha ha. Best ending!

Objects of Desire

Two sites definitely worth checking back to every few weeks are Retrouvius and Re-Found Objects. Retrouvius has carved an interesting niche for itself by bringing reclamation to the web. At the moment they have a whole load of Ercol chairs salvaged from a convent! And, for when we all get seriously wealthy, they also do interior design!

On a much more humble note, I can indulge my new penchant for poached eggs with these cute poachers from Re-Found for just £5 each!

Cool idea

Available at www.luflux.com.

Coming soon to Camilla's Store...

THE THREE PAGES OF MAN!

A men's guide to fashion, style, heroes, and the best 'date' restaurants in town!

Sex and The City Movie just an excuse for female binge drinking

What is it with the British? Literally, any excuse and we're cracking open a bottle. This week Boris imposed his drinking ban on the London Underground. Unlike the French, who would have started torching things and gone on strike, the British viewed it as an excuse for a massive knees-up and began celebrating the joys of being paralytic on a cramped tube with abandon. Monday's papers showed delirious toffs in full evening dress brandishing bottles of champers, while everyone felt very pleased with themselves for giving the old liberty a jolly good send off.



Last night a friend and I went to see Sex and The City Movie at the Hampstead Everyman. I anticipated the place to be filled with smart north Londoners, explaining how they were there purely for the post-modern irony of it. Quite the contrary - it was like a scene from a Lambrini commercial. Everywhere, groups of women in Carrie-esque corsages and sparkly berets were clapping, squeaking and knocking back the white wine. As the film began you could literally hear the gush of oestrogen filling the air combined with the congratulatory chink of wine glasses.

We may not be as fun-loving as the Spanish, or as laid back as the Dutch, but Britain really stands out in Europe as a nation of people hell bent on pulling together, staying positive and making the best of the given situation. Four of you, one of me, I make that Pimms O'clock!

For my new flat!? In purple though, me thinks.



Oh, and can I have a table full of these Emeco 1006 'Navy' chairs too please?

Tickle me Pink

Went to check out the White Shirt Bar at Thomas Pink on Jermyn Street today. Its black, chic area jars slightly with the more traditional English surroundings of the rest of the shop, but the concept is brilliant!

Umm, Summer? It is June now.

Confused.

This girl is on both The Sartorialist and in today's G2 magazine. Same girls, apparently the same photo, yet different photographers!?

Sart, either you're commissioning out your work or The Guardian needs to start doing its own research.



(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhArgnSs_llKD4zeqfbW_en3V723-9hxfbNH1U2tVojhgwh3MQEmaQLO7uLVMimiKAgk9Kcq6OqByi15Zw1r2FwhoIFNlTiZlu3Nlvz32suJAlq9o52oNZNbP4LN7W0bpYml-u1Sw/s1600-h/5308Fayweb.jpg)

La Nouvelle Vague



Sacre bleu! The re-release of Jules et Jim is making me feel very rive gauche. Oh, to slip down sun-drench cobbled streets, puffing seductively on a Gitanes cigarette held loosely between fingers painted a vivid red and flecked with crumbs from the morning's croissant. To muse reflectively on Sartre, sip l'eau menthe, and spend the afternoon going on strike and faire l'amour.

Apologies for the lack of posts yesterday - Camilla's Store was out flat hunting! More posts later on today!