Style Birmingham Issue 37

FEBRUARY/MARCH 2014 ISSUE 37 £2.95 WHERE SOLD

VALENTINES ideas and treats inside

t h e n e x t g e n e r at i o n i n Fa s h i o n a b l e F o o d

e xclusive to all Fo o dm ark e ts an d o n l i n e at h a rv e y n i c h o l s.co m

“I don’t know who invented high heels, but all women owe him a lot!” Marilyn Monroe

ISSUE 37

C O N T E N TS STYLE WITH 007 Spring trends we went to Fashion Week so you didn’t have to...

012 The new, improved Mailbox we have a sneak peek at their plans for the future

014 Style chart new season must-haves and the hottest trends

016 Harvey Nichols does Valentine’s the Personal Shopping team pick the essential ingredients for a romantic night out

018 Style meets...Aldo Zilli the celeb chef talks food, family and having fun in Birmingham

020 Valentine’s gift guide be inspired by fab gift ideas from The Fort and Pavilions

037 Quick questions X Factor singer Relley C tells us of her future plans

040 Lucy loves Lucy Kite shares her love of yoga for stress-busting balance

STYLE FOR BEAUTY 034 Beauty news the new spring makeup is a breath of fresh air, full of pastel shades and romantic scent

036 Spring tresses we asked top salon Royston Blythe for the new season colour trends

039 Softer skin take extra care with these comforting skincare treats

STYLE FOR MEN

041 Denise van Outen the West End star opens up about new challenges for the new year

042 Style news plenty of spring trends and

STYLE FOR WOMEN

044 Valentine’s gifts show this page to your

024 Fashion news here’s how to start the new

045 New mood Lizzy Gardner rounds up spring’s

season in serious style

027 Day at the fair Ted Baker’s new spring collection bursts with rose prints and chic 1950s details 030 Blue mood transition into spring with cheerful accessories in classic blue and sunshine yellow

031 Label we love introducing the elegant new collection from Emporio Armani at The Mailbox

032 Vintage style Sarah Morris helps you to bag a bargain this spring

inspiration, from designers to high street

special someone for the best gift ever this year!

biggest menswear trends

048 Book reviews brilliant books for romantics... and anti-Valentine’s refuseniks!

049 Gadget geek the best juicer, stylish speakers and an iPad cushion we know you’ll love

STYLE SOCIAL 050 News round-up don’t plan your weekend until you’ve read our city news 052 Meet Matt Cardle the X Factor winner on his new album and what it’s like to work with a Spice Girl 053 On the town Tara Tomes shares a few tips on where to find Birmingham’s grown-up hangouts 054 Food and drink news we’ve got the perfect recipes for Valentine’s Day dinner and weekend brunch

056 Restaurant reviews eating out this week?

We’ve reviewed the best eateries in Birmingham

058 What’s on February calls for fun, so try these gigs, shows, musicals, exhibitions and more 062 Competition your chance to win big this winter issue 37

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ISSUE 37 p u b l i s h e d b y Publishing Ink Ltd. m a nag i n g d i r e c t o r Andrew Riley sa l e s m a nag e r Vanessa Allan e d i t o r Sarah Drew Jones CONTRIBUTORS

Philip Ellis Lucy Kite Sarah Morris Isabella Silvers Tara Tomes Abbey Hartley d e s i g n Mark Sargent, Damian Bennett p u b l i s h i n g i n k l t d. fifth floor white house 111 new street birmingham b2 4eu e m a i l info@publishingink.co.uk t e l e p h o n e +44(0) 121 631 6101

www.publishingink.co.uk facebook.com/StyleBirminghamMagazine twitter.com/stylebhammag

All information is correct at the time of going to press.

Please note that prices for items are subject to change so may vary from those mentioned contact individual stores for definitive pricing information. No part of this magazine may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, without prior permission. We make every effort to ensure that firms and organisations mentioned are reputable, however, we can give no guarantee that they will fulfil their obligations in all circumstances. Contributors’ opinions do not necessarily reflect those of the editor or of Publishing Ink Limited. Any material submitted is done so at the owner’s risk, and the company can take no responsibility for the safe storage or return of such material.

© publishing ink 2014

FRONT COVER IMAGE courtesy of House of Fraser spring 2014 collection

STYLE EXCLUSIVE

7

OM FR E TH AY NW RU

SPRING TRENDS

H e re’s your fro nt row seat at fashi on week: our edi t of the s i x s h arpest, sexi est tr end s for ss14

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style exclusive

BaCK TO BLACK

SUgaR PASTELS

Fashion’s latest surprise? Deepest, darkest, classic black is one of the new season’s hottest shades. more usually seen on the autumn/winter catwalks, black dominated the spring collections, on swimwear, accessories, eveningwear, suits and jackets. good news if you’ve got plenty already in your wardrobe: even better news if you want to rush out and snap up the new season take on this most reliably elegant - and flattering - of colours.

Everything has its balance and, to cancel out all that black, sugary ice-cream pastels popped up as a key factor in the new season collections. Designers from Donna Karan to Tory Burch threaded beautiful shades of palest pink, pistachio, baby blue and creamy primrose through their new lines, brightening up spring and bringing a Fifties vibe to dresses and ankle pants. We love the sugar pastels on hero pieces, such as leather moto jackets, brogues and vertiginous heels.

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style exclusive

SHAPEWEAR

LACE AND TEXTURE

Herve Leger led the pack on body-con a few years ago and now the label’s done it again, influencing collections all over the globe: we’ve seen pencil skirts that cling to curves, crop tops and bra-tops, corsets and dresses that celebrate a woman’s shape. This isn’t about flashing the flesh in super-high hemlines or too-tight tops: think Hollywood sirens such as Sofia Vergara and Salma Hayek, dressed to thrill in fabrics that skim and hug rather than cling and reveal.

A fun trend, this is all about playing with shapes and fabrics to add interest to your look. A lace panel or sleeve, daytime slub sequins, a mixture of wool and lightweight Chanel-inspired tweed, even a loose knitted sweater: the texture trend takes confidence but can look fashion-forward and striking. If it seems too much for you on clothes, try a fringed bag (a huge micro-trend for spring), appliquéd flowers and birds on shoes (a la Charlotte Olympia) and a lace trim on jackets and knitwear.

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style exclusive

PRINTS aND PATTERNS

FRILLS FLOUNCES aND PLEaTS

Our favourite trend, we love the sheer joy of clashing patterns and prints. Whether it’s an ikat swimsuit, a flash of tartan and check or a wild graphic print, the only rule is that there are no rules: juxtapose different patterns together (keeping accessories to a minimum) or dilute the look with one patterned piece teamed with skinny jeans and neutral tees. guaranteed to make an impression aND lift your mood. Try mixing different floral prints together for maximum style points...

Here’s your chance to channel ageless style icons grace Kelly, Sophia Loren and Elizabeth Taylor. Slim knife pleats and understated frills are a soft but popular trend for spring, and one which will spill over into summer for occasionwear.

Pretty pastels, defined waists, prom-style silhouettes and showstopping flourishes: this trend manages to be ladylike, demure, at the same time as sexy and so womanly. Just remember to keep the focus on the frills and not overwhelm the look with accessories, hair and makeup: let the trend take the limelight.

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CONTACT: +44 (0) 20 77 20 97 25 UK@THOMASSABO.COM

HOUSE OF FRASER I CORPORATION STREET SELFRIDGES BULLRING I UPPER MALL EAST BULLRING BULLRING SHOPPING CENTRE I UNIT SU 324, LEVEL 3 BIRMINGHAM WWW.THOMASSABO.COM

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style shopping

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style shopping

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coming soon AT

THE mAiLBoX

Th e c ity ’s mo s t luxu r i ous shoppi ng desti nati on unvei ls i t s plans for a new and i mproved l ook When The Mailbox first announced that it was to undergo a redevelopment, we were excited to see how it would look, and what would be on offer. Now work is underway, it’s exciting times for The Mailbox as it totally transforms Birmingham’s premier shopping and lifestyle destination to bring us the ultimate luxury retail experience.

The new Mailbox will be bigger, better and easier to get around. You’ll enjoy a relaxed sky-lit haven of elegance and innovation. And with a new line-up of leading brands, the new Mailbox will be the place for anyone in search of luxury shopping, dining and pampering.

Already signed up to open new stores? L.K. Bennett, Gieves & Hawkes, Jaeger and Castle Fine Art. And that’s in addition to a new 45,000sq ft Harvey Nichols signature store: lots more space, plenty more labels and luxury

brands to choose from and a sleek new look. The store is set to double in size!

whilst the Mailbox make-over is underway, it’s still very

There will also be a boutique cinema. Everyman Cinemas is launching in the Midlands for the first time. Everyman venues are famous for their premium approach to film watching. You can look forward to an exclusive range of carefully selected films at the three-screen venue and the very latest in digital projection, as well as luxurious sofa seating and a choice of fine wines and champagnes.... and ‘rustle-free food’! Everyman will also be screening special events, including live theatre and opera screenings.

Currently there is no access to Levels 3 and 5, so visitors

By the time work completes in 2015, space inside The Mailbox will transform into a fully enclosed, sky-lit mall.

Its elegant design, intelligent layout and unique range of top-name brands will make the new Mailbox a world-class destination for luxury shopping and lifestyle. However,

much business as usual. will need to use the Severn Street entrance to get between the Retail Side and the Canalside. Look out for the large open doors and the red lamp lighting up the Severn Street entrance.

While the redevelopment takes place, there are still plenty of reasons to visit The Mailbox. Harvey Nichols, Emporio Armani, Nicky Clarke, Toni & Guy and Malmaison will all remain open throughout, and you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to bars, restaurants, cafés and hotels...even the car park is still open and ready to valet your car while you shop and dine!

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STYLE EXPERT

THE

ST Y L E C H A R T

I f i t ’ s h o t, i t ’ s h e r e : t h e m u s t - h av e s w e ’ r e o b s e s s i n g a b ou t r i g h t n ow

1.

We loved this moto jacket as soon as we set eyes on it. Bold, for sure, but so fun and an instant mood-enhancer in these dark days of midwinter. Jacket, £65, River Island.

2.

3.

A few well-chosen pieces will see you make a seamless move from winter to spring. Team this gorgeous print kimono jacket with black sweaters now and white tees when the weather warms up: £79, Monsoon.

Yes, you’ve got to pare down the stuff you carry around, but is that a bad thing? Fashion’s love of micro bags shows no sign of ending: crossbody micro bag, £20 Next.

4.

Add a dash of style (and durability) to your iPhone 5 with this colour explosion case, £10, Accessorize.

5.

Primark’s new jewellery collection is catching the eye of fashion editors for its statement necklaces and unbelievable price points. This necklace would add interest to any plain t-shirt, and is just £5, in store late February.

6.

Beading and semi-precious stones are big jewellery news right now, but if your budget won’t stretch, try this pretty bracelet, £12.50 at Dorothy Perkins, as a weekday treat.

8.

7.

Pink: it’s not just for Valentine’s Day. Hot fuchsia is a key colour this spring, and a great way to add pop to your look. This tote is £65, from Linea at House of Fraser.

9.

February’s the time to invest in the hot trends for SS14. Block heel sandals are a fun and flirty microtrend: sandals, £75, Wallis.

Now that January detox is over, it’s time to hit the town again. These strappy heels, £55 at Miss Selfridge, will add style points to your Saturday.

10.

Too early for florals? Not if you want to snap up the cutest pieces before they disappear from the racks.

This rose patterned dress, £100, Debut at Debenhams, will work hard for you come summer.

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style expert

DATE NIGHT

p l a n n i n g a ro mantic Vale ntin e’s eveni ng? Her e , the tastemaker s of t he p ri vat e sho p p i n g te am at Harv ey Ni chols shar e the secr ets of the perf ec t dat e

JOHN PAUL MCGUIRK Valentine’s style: DSquared2 silk trimmed velvet tuxedo jacket, £975; Dolce & Gabbana cotton shirt, £240; Gucci tonal tie, £120; DSquared2 faded jeans, £270; and Mr Hare navy suede tassle-front loafer, £515.

Food of love: Edmund’s has built a reputation for serving some of the best food in the city – visit, and you’ll see why. Decorated in warm golden tones, it combines an intimate setting and excellent service with a great ambience. The perfect dish? That has to be deep fried Devon lobster and crab risotto.

Delicious!

After dark: Whether you’re looking to chill out with a cocktail or two or impress your date with a bottle of the finest bubbly, Nuvo ticks all the boxes. A boutique bar oozing elegance, it’s the place to see and be seen.

Romantic stop-over: A luxury hotel where you instantly feel relaxed is an essential requirement for me, and Malmasion fits the bill.

For the ultimate treat book into The Penny Black Suite.

KRISHMA PARMAR Valentine’s style: Elizabeth and James embellished dress, £360; Lola Rose Cornelia bangle, £40; Stark crystal python box clutch, £1,395; Tom Ford Sahara Noir EDP, £100 (50ml); Sophia Webster Coco satin pumps, £300.

Food of love: Discover a little taste of Italy at Fumo and, believe me, you’ll want to try everything on the menu. With impeccable service and laidback atmosphere, your date will certainly feel very special indeed.

After dark: Marco Pierre White’s... what’s not to love about being 25 floors high overlooking the city! The amazing views are complemented by the elegant décor and stylish cocktails.

Romantic stop-over: Chill out in Hotel du Vin’s Bubble Lounge, inspired by the famous Café Florian in Venice, before heading to one of the beautifullystyled luxury suites.

Just perfect!

• Products featured are available from Harvey Nichols either in store or via the new Click & Collect service. issue 37

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CHANGE THE WAY YOU PLAY MAKE FITNESS & RELAXATION YOUR FOCUS IN 2014 WITH EDGBASTON PRIORY CLUB If you join the Club before March 31st 2014 we will give you 50% off the entrance fee and a FREE coaching session with one of our Tennis, Squash or Lifestyle coaches.

But don’t deliberate for too long! There are only a limited number of membership places available.

So contact us today and quote EPC 2014 to arrange a tour.

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style social

STYLE MEETS...

ALDO ZILLI

t h e ce le b r i ty c h e f o n h is l ov e of fr esh food, far mer s’ mar kets, sweet p u d d i n g s and valenti ne’s day feasts!

For me, healthy eating is the name of the game.

This time of year many people are doing detox plans and following diets but my mantra is ‘less is more’ when it comes to food and alcohol all year round. It’s silly to cut back unnecessarily just at the start of the year. You should aim to eat healthily all through the year.

I’m a big lover of fish and vegetarian food. It’s hard to source a lot of different varieties of fresh fish

in February so I eat a lot of white meat and grains in winter. But I also like venison steaks and wild boar, and I even eat ostrich, which isn’t like chicken, as the popular misconception has it!

I cook at home on the weekends: I have no choice as my wife can’t cook very many dishes and my children are still small, so I’m always in the kitchen. I like to get the kids involved in cooking so we make pancakes together, or a little risotto, pasta and gnocchi or we bake cakes. It’s important for them to learn, and we grow vegetables in the garden and buy them from the local farmers’ market, too. We’re very lucky to live near some very nice farms.

People love to go out to dine for Valentine’s Day. It’s a fabulous night to eat out, especially as it’s a Friday this year. But more and more people are opting to stay in and cook. If you’re going to do this, my advice is to choose foods that you can share: things that you don’t normally make at home. Buy some fresh live lobsters, and splash out on oysters, and make a chocolate fondant. make an impression on your partner!

I came to Birmingham recently to cook at Fumo (the restaurant owned by San Carlo group with which aldo partners, picture

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above), and had a lot of fun. The style there is all about cicchetti (small plates of food to share) and it’s going really well: so much so, that we’re opening a new branch in Covent garden in april. St Valentine’s Day is probably the busiest night of the year in our restaurants. The sharing plates work perfectly for Valentine’s: some of the favourite dishes are risotto with oysters, asparagus, and strawberry tiramisu with white chocolate.

I don’t have favourite foods, as such. I do love my fish and I don’t eat a great deal of red meat any more for health reasons. If I were cooking for myself right now, I’d choose to bake some sea bass with herbs.

Unfortunately, I have a sweet tooth. I’m not very big on making desserts but I’m big on eating them!

Birmingham is thriving. The city’s in love with good food and great restaurants: lots of fantastic chefs are coming to the city and there’s The BBC good Food Show too, which is the best food show in the country. I first came to Birmingham 20 years ago but now it’s completely different, and has evolved into a happening city. Fumo is busy every night, and restaurants across the city are serving food from every nationality and it’s all very well-received.

Fumo is at 1 Waterloo Street, Birmingham. To book, call 0121 643 8979 or email fumo@sancarlo.co.uk

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style expert

FOR HER Pink D-G balcony lingerie set, £34, Debenhams

Luxury Double Dozen, £60, Autograph at M&S

Cushion, £19.99, Homesense Faux fur stole, £25, Miss Selfridge Bracelet, £12, River Island

Vera Wang Be Jeweled EDP 75ml, £54.50, The Perfume Shop

Chopping board, £6.99, Homesense

Floral iPad case, £18, Miss Selfridge

GIFTS OF LOVE

H e a d t o t h e f o r t s h o p p i n g pa r k f o r t h e s e g o r g e o u s g i f t s f o r y o u r s p e c i a l s o m e o n e t h i s Va l e n t i n e ’ s Day

FOR HIM

Paco Rabanne Invictus EDT 100ml, £56.50, The Perfume Shop

Bow tie and collar tips, £12, Topman

Desk globe, £59.99, Homesense

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Watch, £25, Topman

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THIS SEASON’S GREATEST HITS

NEXNEW R T ST IVE ORE R ISL S N AND OW + OPE N

READ OUR STORIES AT WWW.THEFORT.CO.UK FREE PARKING - J6 OF THE M6 All products were available at the time of production.

A TEA DRINKING EXPERIENCE

CHAR WALLAH AT

DON’T MISS BERT & GERT’S VINTAGE CRAFT MARKETS EVERY LAST FRIDAY AND SATURDAY OF THE MONTH!

PLUS EVANS.H&M.LAURA ASHLEY L’OCCITANE.M&S.MOSS.PHB WYSTERIA LANE AND A 700 SEAT FOOD LOFT

STYLE EXPERT

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Shoes, £35, Evans Hanging heart decorations, £2.99, Wysteria Lane

Limited Edition bra, £14, Marks & Spencer

Lace mask, £9.95, H&M Chiswick cushion, £14.40, Laura Ashley

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY F i n d t h e p e r f e c t p r e s e n t f o r you r s w e e t h e a r t at Pav i l i o n s

Glass decoration, £19.50, Marks & Spencer

Petal Soft Cream, limited edition 100ml, £18, L’Occitane

Love bird chocs, £1.99, Thorntons

Marcel Wanders cufflinks, £19.50, Marks & Spencer

• All products available at Pavilions

Cherry Rouge Beautifying Lotion 250ml, £20, L’Occitane Chocolate caramel hearts, £1, Thorntons issue 37

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STYLE WOMEN

FASH I O N N EWS

3 CUTE CROSSBODY BAGS

Spring’s style story is all about fresh pastels mixed with edgy accessories

Primark, £6

STEAL HER STYLE

Radley, £139

Accessorize, £29

lust T LIS

Kate Moss celebrated turning 40 by rocking a statement necklace that’s got fashionistas drooling. It’s vintage of course, but bag a similar edgy style at Bhs for just £10.

IN BROGUE

The new Langbury pastel brogue collection from Dune is utterly gorgeous and a steal at £69 per pair.

Now you can afford to get one in every shade...

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Earrings, £10, Topshop.

UNDERCOVER STORY

Fabulous lingerie isn’t just for Valentine’s.

Warm up winter by investing in a beautiful set that will lift your mood every morning. Ted Baker’s new B collection for Debenhams is full of silky floral delights, like this matching bra and briefs, £75.

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STYLE WOMEN

GO GRAPHIC

Taking a lead from Mary Katrantzou, the spring/summer runways were awash with graphic patterns and geometric prints. Directional and fun, the graphic trend works best on a dress, and luckily, the high street has plenty of options.

River Island, £60

Miss Selfridge, £39

EDITOR’S CHOICE Moto leather jacket, £195, Wallis

Juicy Couture watch, £125, Ernest Jones and Goldsmiths

Heels, £70, Office

NE W MO O D

Marks & Spencer’s latest collection has a highfashion, ladylike feel, distinctly influenced by the likes of Prada, Miu Miu and Victoria Beckham.

Model wears pieces from the Autograph collection: sunglasses, £15, boots, £45.

FLOWER GIRL The new SS14 collection has started to arrive at House of Fraser and it has a floral motif that’s quintessentially spring. We adore this embroidered sweater, £195

by McQ, floral prom dress, £115 by Untold, and bird print scarf, £30 by Dickins & Jones.

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House of fraser C o r p o r at i o n s t r e e t BirmingHam

House of fraser 318 oxford street London

House of fraser 2 union road nottingHam

House of fraser 244-250 new row teLford

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STYLE FASHION

DAY AT THE FAIR

T e d B a k e r’s n ew s p r i n g c o l l e c t i o n b u r s t s w i t h b l owsy r o s e p r i n t s , t w e e d j a c k e t s a n d c h i c 1 9 5 0 s d e ta i l s

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• See the full SS14 collection in-store now at Ted Baker Birmingham, and in the Ted Baker concessions in Selfridges and House of Fraser issue 37

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STYLE FASHION

Necklace, £15, Dorothy Perkins Leather bag, £99, M&S Yellow bag, £20, Miss Selfridge

Tote, £39.95, H&M

Earrings, £10.50, Topshop

BLUE MOOD

Satchel, £35, Red Herring at Debenhams

T r a n s i t i o n i n t o s p r i n g w i t h s o m e c h i c a n d c h e e r f u l ac c e s s o r i e s i n c l a s s i c b lu e a n d s u n s h i n e y e l l ow

Sunglasses, £12, Accessorize

Bracelet, £12, River Island

Necklace, £45, Monsoon

Rings, £5, Accessorize

Hi-tops in denim, £26, Next Boots, £115, Bertie at House of Fraser issue 37

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STYLE FASHION

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L ABEL WE LOVE e m p o r i o a r m a n i i s l o v e d f o r i t s c l e a n , ta i l o r e d l i n e s , e l e g a n t c o l o u r pa l e t t e a n d e xqu i s i t e ac c e s s o r i e s. t h e n ew s p r i n g c o l e l c t i o n h a s a l l t h i s a n d m o r e . . .

Painterly prints inspired by flower meadows, icy blues and timeless neutrals and hero accessories: these are the cornerstones of the new SS14 collection from glorious Emporio Armani.

You can be assured of wonderful tailoring, cut to flatter a woman’s figure but also to set new trends: the new shapes from Armani this season include slouchy one-button jackets and widecut ankle-length trousers, teamed with princess-collar blouses in gossamer-fine fabrics and Hepburn-style cropped jackets.

The look is polished to perfection. Investment buys include ankle boots and Mary Jane heels and a tapestry bowling bag that is as quirky as it is beautiful. These are pieces that will never date: add them to your wardrobe for an injection of style that’s quintessentially Italian, always understated and, this season, all about colour and shape.

Find the new collection at Emporio Armani in The Mailbox.

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style fashion

How to invest in

vintage jewellery Whe th e r fo r fun, s ty l e , l ove or i nvestment, vi ntage j ewel l ery i s a n e xc iting purc h ase . Sar ah Mor r i s shar es her expert a dv i c e When it comes to vintage jewellery, there are numerous reasons a person will choose to make a purchase. It may be that you want try wearing vintage for the first time and jewellery is a good way of doing that without going full throttle and wearing an item of pre-loved clothing. another reason is that it can be a very good investment.

Whatever your reason for investing in a piece of vintage or antique jewellery, there are ways to make sure you’re purchasing something original, valuable and of good quality.

Fellows & Sons Ltd, based in Birmingham, is one of the UK’s leading auction houses and specialises in a number of niche markets, one of which is vintage jewellery. I caught up with Louise Ludlam, who heads up the vintage jewellery department and has some very good advice on what to look out for: Can vintage jewellery be an investment?

“Yes, it can definitely be an investment. But you should always invest in something that you like and not just think of it as an investment. Fashions and popularity of items change, but art Deco pieces seem to have a very steady market and always prove popular. You may have to pay a little more to get your hands on it, but this should only increase in value if you were to sell it on again.

You don’t have to spend an absolute fortune, you can get beautiful 1920s silver and paste (manmade glass) jewellery for under £100 in our Vintage auction: a green and colourless paste brooch sold for £42 in our October auction last year.”

What are the benefits of vintage jewellery?

“One of the best things about vintage and antique jewellery is the history of it. Some people don’t like

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the idea of wearing other people’s jewellery, but a great way to look at it is that you’re extending its life and adding to its history.

The best jewellery for this is Victorian memorial jewellery, which we have an extensive selection of in each Vintage auction. You often get personal inscriptions on the reverse and photographs or locks of hair within the item.

In terms of cost, a big benefit is that you can get such unique items at a fraction of the price of modern jewellery on the high street.”

What should you look out for when looking to purchase vintage jewellery?

“Before purchasing any item of vintage jewellery you must always check its condition. always try to view the item yourself, or if this is not possible, read the condition report of the item. We provide these for all our jewellery on our website.

Find an area that you like and are interested in, whether it’s memorial jewellery, art Deco jewellery, 1950s designer jewellery or Scandinavian enamel jewellery.

“Do your research: there’s so much information on the internet and some great books out there. go to antique and vintage fairs and talk to the stall holders; a lot of these people have been in the business for years and can provide you with some great nuggets of information and tips. See and handle as much of the jewellery as possible and you will get a feel for what’s good and what you like.”

What should you avoid?

“Look out for reproductions being sold as antiques and antique pieces that have been altered or added to. antique pieces often have repairs due to their age. as long as these repairs are done by professionals and to a high standard then the value of the piece will not be affected negatively. However, avoid a piece that has large blobs of lead solder all over it, bad repair work or additions, as all this ruins it.

“Looking at the back of a piece of jewellery can tell you just as much, if not more about it than the front.

By looking at the back you can see how well it is made. a reproduction piece will not have the same intricate quality of an antique piece - it may be poorly cast rather than handmade. You can see whether there have been any alterations or repairs that may not be seen from the front. also look for maker’s marks and hallmarks so you can age it accurately.

“Fellows hold six Vintage Jewellery & accessories auctions each year. Full colour catalogues provide full and accurate details of all items and can be viewed online on their website (fellows.co.uk). Sales can be viewed up to three weeks prior to the auction on the-saleroom.com where, should anything take your fancy, you can leave a commission bid or book a telephone line for the auction day. You can also go along in person to bid on the day.

“Of course if auctions aren’t for you, you can try the vintage stores in Birmingham – head to the Custard Factory for Urban Village and mr Bird’s Emporium, Cow Vintage along Digbeth High Street and even the odd charity shop will have an old gem from time to time. It’s also worth popping along to the Vintage Fair which is held every so often at The Custard Factory – this is always full of stalls offering all sorts of vintage clothing, jewellery and other accessories. Just be sure to take these tips along with you to make sure you’re getting the real deal.”

stylebirminghammag.com

Auctioneers & Valuers Upcoming auctions: February Watches & Jewellery, Thursday 6th Antique & Modern Jewellery, Thursday 13th Watches & Jewellery, Thursday 20th March Watches & Jewellery, Thursday 6th Antique & Modern Jewellery, Thursday 13th Vintage Jewellery & Accessories, Monday 24th Fellows Auctioneers 19 Augusta Street | Birmingham B18 6JA | 0121 212 2131 London Office (By Appointment) 2nd Floor |3 Queen Street | London W1J 5PA | 020 7127 4198

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STYLE BEAUTY

B E AUT Y N EWS

3

S k i n ca r e s av i o u r s , n e w s e a s o n m a k e u p, r o m a n t i c f r a g r a n c e a n d t h e p e r f e c t s h a d e s f o r na i l s

ROMANTIC SCENTS

Elie Saab Le Parfum EDP Intense 50ml, £59

Signorina EDP 50ml, £56, Salvatore Ferragamo

SMOOTH SKIN

CAT LOVES KORS

Jennifer Lawrence has looked amazing on the red carpet this awards season.

Her skincare secret? An intense facial mask, such as Clinique’s new Moisture Surge Overnight Mask, £29. Rich in algae extracts and antioxidants, leave it to sink in as you sleep for total radiance come morning.

Birmingham-born Cat Deeley is a self-confessed fan of American designer Michael Kors. Invest in his gorgeous new Lip Luster lipglosses, £21 each at House of Fraser.

PEARLY PRINCESS The new Opalescence collection from Clarins is all about a flattering, ethereal glow. The limited edition Face and Blush Powder, £30, makes you look like you’ve just had a week in a spa!

All available at House of Fraser

Roses de Chloé EDT 50ml, £52 Chloé

Tom Ford Nail Lacquer in Shameless, £26

Chanel Le Vernis in 605 Tapage £18

Givenchy Le Vernis in Rose Addiction, £15.50

YSL La Laque Couture in 48 Rose Scabiosa, and 49 Rouge Pablo, £18 each

LOVE NAILS These hot shades are perfect for Valentine’s Day.

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stylebirminghamMAG.com

STYLE BEAUTY

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WINTER SUN

BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL Bobbi Brown’s new spring Nude Glow Collection focuses on radiant skin and soft shades. The Sheer Lip Color, £19, comes in three rosy hues, and the Eye Palette, £35, sparkles with suit-anyone shades.

Complete with a sweep of Brightening Finishing Powder, £40, and add the Nail Polish, £11 in Ballet Pink for a pulled-together look.

The new Volume range from Trevor Sorbie instantly boosts dull and limp winter locks.

From £5.29 at Boots.

Are you off on a winter beach holiday? Get prepping now for the bikini.

Jo Parker, Spa Director at Champneys says: “My top tip is daily body brushing as it’s a great way to stimulate circulation, improve skin texture and banish cellulite.

Tone with a massage using the Mineral Detox Firming Hip & Thigh Gel, £10.”

Available at Boots.

BARGAIN BUY

E ST YL S

LOVE

tried & tested GLOW ON Gorgeous actress Sofia Vergara loves a beauty balm to perfect her skin. The new No7 Instant Illusions Rapid Radiance Balm is a top bargain at £17, giving skin an instant Photoshop effect.

It reflects light, leaving you looking luminous.

We got amazing results with the new Magnitone Pulsar cleansing system (£129, Boots). Use with your usual cleanser for vamped-up results: think of it as an electric toothbrush for your face and body. Skin was smoother, fine lines reduced and blemishes disappeared.

The Pulsar lifts out impurities and boost blood flow to skin, making you look fresher and younger.

Great for prepping your body for a spray tan too!

Nigella Lawson swears by them, and P Diddy tweeted a selfie sporting a pair: cult Japanese brand DHC’s Revitalizing Moisture Strips: Eyes are a quick fix for puffy, tired peepers. A pack of six is £6.95: dhcuk.co.uk

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STYLE BEAUTY

SPRING

TRESSES

New s e as o n, new l ook , why not a new hai r col our? We a s k e d th e e x pe rts at super-sal on Royston B lythe to talk us th roug h s pr i ng’s hottest col our tr end s Spring/summer 2014 will bring lighter variations on classic winter colours: at Royston Blythe we’re loving multi-dimensional hair that gives the illusion of the sun shining down! It’s a look that can be personalised to compliment each and every individual skin tone: the darker the skin, the more lightening required!

Here’s our pick of the best shades to sport this spring:

1. Ice queen Blondes ice out, silvery hues are set to be huge, working perfectly with pale and cool skin tones. Hair needs to be healthy, radiant and with body and movement to perfect the look. A good silver shampoo is essential to maximise the iced-out look and an intense weekly conditioning treatment such as Kerastase Nutritive Masque will create sleek and glossy tresses.

Added to the lightening effect is spring’s hottest colour, red. What’s key this season is condition and shine on your locks. Centre partings with a smooth, sleek mane have become a catwalk staple but essentially you still need body and movement rather than simply opting for your straighteners!

2. Rustic copper Deep and rustic copper is one of those red shades that’s set to make a stance this season. Clients are always surprised at just how enhancing copper can be.

As a rule, rustic copper works best with either pale skin tones or that wonderful sun-kissed olive skin. This is a high maintenance shade that will need plenty of TLC in between salon visits, and we would always recommend a good colour shampoo and conditioner such as Kerastase Reflection Bain Chroma Captive Shampoo to help lock the colour in and if possible a weekly colour enhancing treatment. The rustic copper look is all about depth and intensity: by opting for this colour you should prepare to be noticed.

• Find out more about Royston Blythe salons in both Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury at roystonblythe.co.uk, or by following them on twitter (twitter.co.uk/rbshrewsbury) or liking them on facebook (facebook.co.uk/roystonblythe).

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3. Deep burgundy This gorgeously resonant colour works best with an incredible glossy shine to harness the light for a truly vibrant result. Either deeply sun-kissed skin or dark olive complexions will complement rich deep burgundy locks impeccably. Slices of colour added through sections of the hair will create an elegant finish. The colour works well when combined with colour enhancing treatments and should always be finished with a spritz of shine spray!

4. Dark chestnut brown Chestnut brown with toning highlights is perfect for spring: its slightly sun-kissed feel will naturally warm up any complexion.

A warm dark brown base with either caramel or light auburn highlights frame the face, enhance the eyes and almost guarantee a healthy, shiny glow. This is a lower maintenance style that benefits from weekly shine treatments, occasional colour enhancing treatment and of course UVA and UVB protection, that will prevent the rich chestnut colour fading in the sun.

5. Lightening effects Soft and cool brown bases will lighten up with slices of cool mochas and warm blondes running through the hair.

This can create a really elegant, natural feel if we focus on the sections of the hair closest to the face. Again, a lower maintenance style, although essential that treatments and colour maintenance products are used to enhance the colour and shine.

stylebirminghamMAG.com stylebirminghamMAG

STYLE SOCIAL

QUICK QUESTIONS

RELLEY C

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Images courtesy of ITV

b i r m i n g ham’s ve ry own re lley c was catapulted i nto the li meli ght a n d ou r t v scr e e n s o n th e x fac to r. her e r elley talks exclusi vely ab out t he s how, i t s famous jud g es and her hopes for the futur e How would you sum up your X Factor experience?

Bit of a rollercoaster really: loads of highs, loads of lows.

I met so many amazing people including the panel.

Sharon Osborne and Louis Walsh took a particular liking to me and I feel if I’d been in their categories I’d probably have gone onto the live shows.

Favourite person on the show?

Dermot! He’s such a nice guy and down to earth and gives amazing hugs!

What sort of support did you receive from Birmingham?

Huge support! Even down to this day everybody still supports me. I get a lot more people coming to my shows and they're paid for which is great as I want to make a living out of what I love.

What did you think of Nicole and Mary J Blige?

Nicole is feisty! An amazing person. Nicole is lovely and a brilliant mentor, she does know what she’s talking about. I don’t really understand why she never chose me though, but Dermot said it was such a close call.

Is that really Nicole’s house in Antigua?

No, it was rented from a woman called Sharon whom we met.

Do you spend a huge amount of time with your mentor or is it far more structured than what we see?

The short amount of time the viewer sees is literally it.

You do whatever you’ve got to do on film then Nicole goes her way and we go ours. That’s how it is.

Do you think Simon will come back?

I hope so! I will only go back if Simon’s on.

What surprised you most about the show?

When I did my arena auditions, the one that didn’t go according to plan! I am very good at performing in front of large crowds, like 10,000 people at the Royal Albert Hall, so, I thought 4,000 people at Wembley Arena, yeah, I’ll fly through this. Then I get out there and it’s such a weird energy when you’re on that stage, people don’t know you and are judging you by first appearance. I didn’t do my best on that performance: I really felt the pressure.

What’s your greatest fear?

I don’t like moths and I don’t like blocked toilets either (as I work in a hotel) but then again who does?

What’s the trait you most deplore in yourself?

I don’t like my belly, I feel like a pig! I eat a lot, even when I’m not hungry. Oh, and my two little fingers don’t go together.

What’s your most treasured possession?

My cat, I love my little Leo, I treat him like a baby.

Will you audition again?

Yes, if Simon’s on the panel. But if I don’t get through a second time that’s it, I’ll do it on my own. But whatever happens, being on the show can open doors for you and work as a positive if you keep positive.

Musical influences?

Mary J Blige: Hannah and I were in tears when we met her, she’s the queen of R&B and soul. It was amazing to meet one of my biggest influences and idols. I love Lauren Hill too.

Favourite places in Birmingham?

I loved Gatecrasher New Year’s, when Disclosure played and I enjoy Coast to Coast when I go out to eat.

What are your plans for 2014?

I don’t want to be mainstream, I want to step outside the box. Carry on being myself, that goes for my music and my image.

Relley’s new single, Bits & Pieces is released on Valentine’s Day

What or who is the greatest love of your life?

My cat! And my best friend Gina, she’s been with me since I was 6 years old supporting me with everything. And my dad.

If you could have anything what would it be?

Love to own my own car and house and know that I can support myself just through working in the music industry.

Do you have Nicole’s number in your phone?

No! Would I be here right now if I did?

What makes you unhappy?

People who don’t say excuse me! Rude, arrogant people.

One thing you could change about the experience?

Nothing. I went on there and wanted to be myself, so I’m happy I stayed true to that.

If you could be stuck in a lift with one celebrity who would it be and why?

Rylan Clarke. He shares the same surname as me and he is such a laugh: I love gay guys!

Is Gary Barlow as lovely in the flesh as he is on screen?

Yes, he’s really handsome, and a really good guy and knows what he’s talking about like Simon Cowell does.

Hopes and plans for the future?

To release an album and get my songs heard on the radio and get even more support from Birmingham.

To become a big star!

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STYLE HEALTH

10 WAYS

TO REVITALISE YOUR FITNESS GOALS

You’v e re ac h e d Fe b ruary and your new year fi tness r esoluti on s a re a lr e a dy flag g ing? We know j ust how you feel! B ut don’t des pa i r... help i s at hand The newly refurbished Edgbaston Priory Club offers a range of classes, courses and downright fabulous facilities in a stunning setting – just the sort of place you need to spice up your fitness regime!

Here are some of the ways you can add variety to your fitness life in 2014.

1

GIVE YOUR HEART A GOOD WORK OUT WITH CARDIO TENNIS You don’t need to know how to play tennis to take part in this fun tennis-inspired workout! It’s not about lobs, volleys, aces or smashes. It’s all about chasing the ball around the court for an hour, to music, having lots of fun and burning off calories in the process!

2 TAKE A SWIM OUTDOORS AND FEEL INVIGORATED

3

4

5

6

There’s nothing more revitalising than an outdoor swim in the bright sunshine on an ice-cold winter’s morning.

Edgbaston Priory Club’s heated indoor and outdoor pools, sauna, steam room and spa are open all year round. Swimming is an excellent training tool which can strengthen, tone and invigorate your entire body.

ROCK YOUR BODY INTO SHAPE Try out one of the Club’s new Body Rocker Fitness classes in the new exercise studio. Body Rocker Circuits combines cardio, strength and plyometric exercises whilst Body Rocker Abs Blast will tone and sculpt your abs in 30 minutes.

JOIN IN A SQUASHERCISE AND BURN OFF THOSE CALORIES Squashercise is a great way to burn lots of calories whilst learning the skills of squash. On average squashercise can burn between 600 and 800 calories in an hour compared to 400 and 500 calories on the running machine!

LET THE WATER TAKE THE STRAIN Enjoy aqua aerobics - a fun 45-minute workout in the heated indoor pool which involves all the exercises you might expect on dry land but with the added benefits you can only get from water. Water supports the body so it puts less strain on the joints and muscles. You are also less likely to get overheated in water which allows you to exercise for longer.

CYCLE YOUR WAY TO NEW FITNESS LEVELS Keiser cycling is a group fitness aerobic-based cycling

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class which combines a variety of hill climbs, sprints and pursuits on a stationary bike that delivers very good leg and cardiovascular workouts. It’s proving a very popular early morning work-out for all those city workers. You can also follow the class with a healthy high protein breakfast in the clubhouse to fuel the rest of your day!

7 LEARN TO PLAY RACQUETBALL

Racquetball is a great introduction to racket sport skills for anyone looking to get into squash or tennis. It is played on a regular squash court but uses a shorter racquet, which makes the ball easier to strike, and uses a larger ball which makes it more bouncy. All in all this makes the rallies last longer, giving players a better workout whilst having lots of fun!

OR

Set in 14 acres of sheltered landscaped grounds, five minutes from Birmingham’s city centre with free parking and a crèche, Edgbaston Priory Club is quite simply the perfect oasis to keep fit, play racquet sport, relax and unwind!

With family membership packages available and discounts on offer for students, under 30s and over 65s membership of Edgbaston Priory Club is one investment you can afford to make.

And if you join the Club before March 31 2014 you’ll receive 50 per cent off the joining fee and a FREE coaching session with one of the Club’s Tennis, Squash or Lifestyle coaches.

Simply quote Style 2014 What are you waiting for? Visit edgbastonpriory.com

THE ART OF TENNIS IN SIX 8 MASTER WEEKS Learn to play tennis in six weeks with Tennis Express - an active and dynamic introduction for beginner adult players, recommended by the International Tennis Federation as the best way to learn the game. Once you’ve mastered the techniques and learned the rules of the game you won’t look back!

9 BOX YOUR WAY BACK TO FITNESS

Incorporating elements from boxing training the Club’s boxing circuit classes build aerobic fitness, develop co-ordination and increase selfconfidence. A novel way to get rid of your stresses and strains!

FITNESS REGIME TAILORED FOR 10 AYOU. The Club offers a stunning new fitness suite, featuring the latest in premium strength and cardiovascular equipment, with panoramic views over the Club’s grounds. On your first visit, their experienced gym instructors will help you create a fitness programme especially for you and for an even more tailored approach, you can choose to work with one of their expert personal trainers who will develop a programme covering fitness training, nutrition, self-awareness, positive thinking and time management to help you achieve your personal goals.

Squashercise

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STYLE BEAUTY

Decleor Hydra Floral Multi-Protection Rich Cream, £39.50, is velvety and nourishing to all skin types

Melvita’s organic Argan Oil, can be used to comfort face, body and hair (£19.50, melvita.co.uk)

A great serum will bootcamp your skin into health: we love Vichy Idealia Life Serum, £29.50

SOFTER SKIN

Secret of a good night’s sleep? A soak in Elemis Jasmine & Rose Milk Bath, £42 (new in March)

C o l d Wi n t e r We at h e r A n d D r y C e n t r a l H e at i n g C o m b i n e T o Wa g e Wa r O n Yo u r S k i n . Ta k e E x t r a C a r e Wi t h T h e s e C o m f o r t i n g T r e at s

Bliss Triple Oxygen Ex-Glow-Sion Moisture Cream, £55, plumps out stress lines Sweep on Eve Lom’s TLC Cream, £55, to soothe super-dry skin at night

Model pic: BOBBI BROWN

Banish dark circles with Origins Dr Andrew Weil Dark Circle Minimiser, £32

Bobbi Brown Extra Repair Moisture Cream, £62.50 is lightweight but rich: perfect for winter

Uneven skin, rough texture? La Roche-Posay Redermic R, £29.50, leaves skin noticeably smoother

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STYLE BEAUTY

^ y s c e u v L Lo ^

...CHILLING IN WINTER

T e l ev i s i o n p r e s e n t e r a n d yo ga t e ac h e r L ucy K i t e o n t h e search for balance This morning after over-sleeping, spilling toothpaste on my top, sprinting to work and rummaging hopelessly in my Tardis bag for my ringing mobile I felt a surge of anger and the need to scream. You know the feeling?

Stress exists even when you’re a yoga person like me. Unless you remove yourself from the 21st century and have no bills to pay, family to deal with and nothing on your to do list, it’s safe to say tension is part of life. What’s most annoying is for many of us feeling uptight has become a default setting.

If you ever feel guilty doing nothing you’re probably in that category. That’s certainly why I started practising yoga in the first place, I just wanted to find a way to chill out and get back to the real me before stress took control.

So yoga doesn’t completely erase the bad stuff but I promise it really does work more than anything else I’ve tried. You can walk into a yoga session feeling rotten and leave feeling like a completely different person. You can feel angry when rummaging for your mobile, but you can nip it in the bud instantly.

But whether you’re a seasoned or wannabe yogi I wanted to share my thoughts on how to get the most out of it. I’m not saying this is the gospel but these ideas might just give you a shift in your outlook. Remember everything I talk about here will flow into your daily life too…

Unfortunately we still live in that ‘no pain, no gain’ culture which has a massive impact on the yoga world.

I watch so many people treating yoga like a hard-core gym work out, powering through postures with no thought. I’ve been to classes where I’m encouraged to push too far, to hold still in a static pose. For me this goes against everything I promote when I teach. I’m passionate about guiding my students to just let go. What happens with the competitive people who push too hard is they end up holding their

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breath: that’s a cue for your body to panic and freak out making you feel more on edge than ever.

You’ve got to go with the flow. Move around, look for the open spaces, breathe into the postures, and accept that one side of your body might feel different to the other. Forget any idea of the perfect posture: perfect is what you can do today. Feel soft, fluid, child-like and remind your body it’s playtime.

Do this on the mat and I promise amazing changes will take place in your life too! In fact, even if you don’t attend yoga classes the principles of yoga can help you. I am passionate about making yoga more accessible. Who says you have to go to a class three times a week? You are practising yoga if you make subtle changes and start incorporating them into your everyday life: that’s way

more important than getting into a headstand.

not be that new car or new pair of shoes!

Take a deep breath during your day and breathe out a little longer than normal. Learn to soften your body, even if you’re sat at your desk because you will become instantly more relaxed and at ease if you just look inwards, scan your body and acknowledge what’s happening right now.

3: You feel calm and more content.

You’ll also be confident and more able to cope thanks to the magic of your breath.

Yoga creates a strong happy you: that’s my mantra. Here’s my top five list of what else happens when you ‘yogify’ your life:

5: Your dreams will come true. You’ll become very positive and start to believe that anything can happen… and it just might!

1: You’ll glow. Seriously, people will comment and ask if you’ve been away, and they’ll also ask why you’re always smiling!

• Read Lucy’s latest blogs and find out more about her Strong Happy You philosophy, yoga and TV work at lucykite.co.uk

2: You’ll feel happy. You get to know yourself really well and understand what makes you happy. PS: It might

4. You’ll live in the moment. Yoga teaches you to press pause and make the most of now, rather than living in your past or future!

x x y Luc stylebirminghamMAG.com

style expert

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STYLE MEETS...

DENISE VAN OUTEN

E m bark ing o n h e r fir st ever tour and maki ng her debut a s a p lay w rig h t, De nis e Van Outen talks ab out new challenges, th e va lu e o f f r ie nd s h ip and h ow sli ppi ng i nto a onesi e i s her i dea of h eav en her co-writer, with Steve Anderson (songwriter, producer and collaborator for singers including Britney Spears, Westlife, Atomic Kitten, Kylie and Susan Boyle to name but a few) joining as Musical Supervisor.

“We all worked together on Rent: Remixed in 2007 and we’ve stayed friends. I’ve never put pen to paper this way before, but when I told Terry about my idea he loved it. Suddenly we found ourselves meeting up in a little coffee shop and working on a script.

Because the story was so firmly in my head the writing just flowed.”

A musical theatre star, radio and TV presenter, author and designer, Denise can now add playwright to her accomplishments.

Staring in Some Girl I Used to Know, the one-woman play with music that she has co-written, during a break in rehearsals she explains where the inspiration for the show came from.

“I absolutely loved doing Andrew Lloyd Webber’s [one-woman musical] Tell Me on a Sunday – well, I did once I got past being petrified of being on stage on my own,” she laughs. “I loved the way that the predominately female audience related to the character. I remember my mum and my auntie and their friends loving the film Shirley Valentine the same way – a whole generation of women understood Shirley and related to her. I hope that Some Girl I Used to Know will have that same kind of relevance.

“I’ve always been a girl’s girl and when we all get together my girlfriends and I often find ourselves reminiscing about the past and our first loves. That’s where the idea came from: I wondered what would happen if someone got back in

touch with their first love through social media. I wanted to explore the idea of a woman who thinks she can have it all, because there’s always a price to pay. And although my character is the opposite of Shirley Valentine in many ways, that sense of wanting something different is the common denominator.”

And so Stephanie Canworth was born.

A woman to envy, on the surface she has it all: a successful career, a doting husband and an established role as a media darling. But then a Facebook ‘poke’ from her first love propels her down memory lane. Suddenly there are question marks hovering over every aspect of her life. Should she follow her heart, or count her blessings and kick her nagging doubts firmly into the long grass with a Louboutin-shod foot?

“It is a bit like the film Sliding Doors in that respect and you wonder which one will she go through,” nods Denise, who, looking at least ten years younger, freely admits that the big 4-0 beckons this year.

“I suppose it’s about redefining what you want and revaluating what you have. It’s a show about feelings. You can’t take away feelings: you can’t just turn them off.”

Denise has two right hand men on the project: she’s thrilled to have enlisted multi-talented Terry Ronald (songwriter, vocalist, producer and the awardwinning author of the novel Becoming Nancy) as

Though it’s a play with a musical soundtrack rooted in the ‘80s and ‘90s, don’t, however, expect to hear Denise belting out Stock, Aitken and Waterman’s back catalogue. “It’s not a musical, but I do think that good pop, lyrically, is really well written. I wrote this long list of personal favourites and sent it to Steve. I have very eclectic taste and there were some that were so cheesy that he just laughed at them, but we’ve ended up with some brilliant songs that really work with our story.”

And from the sound of things some songs have been dramatically re-imagined. I mean, Sonia’s You’ll Never Stop Me from Loving You as a ballad? “Yes, really,” she giggles. “I knew it could work, but Steve needed persuading. He said he’d give it a go and when he rang me the next day he had to admit that he was pleased with what he’d done. We’ve put our own twist on songs that people will know and that they will hopefully like.”

Admitting that initially the project caused her terrible butterflies, a try-out run last year at Leicester’s Curve Theatre reassured Denise that fretfulness was quite unnecessary. The feedback was terrific and a tour was immediately put together.

“I did the Strictly arena tour last year, but that was dancing in the day and partying (I won’t lie, it was carnage!) at night. But even though I have been offered tours

before this will be my first. Taking a show that I am so passionate about around the country is very exciting for me.”

Denise is especially chuffed about performing in Birmingham and Wolverhampton. “I am especially looking forward to it as lots of my really close girlfriends live in the area and so I’ll be able to see them. Some of them have never seen me in a show before – well, it’s ridiculously expensive to travel to London to go to the theatre, isn’t it? – but with me being at their local theatres they can come and see me and the show.”

Although she jokingly puts her ability to juggle numerous commitments down to “lots of planning and lack of sleep”, Denise admits that she is very careful about managing her schedule in order to achieve a healthy balance. As for down time, Denise insists that she and her toddler daughter Betsy love nothing more than a cosy Sunday snuggle on the couch in front of a Disney movie. “Cooking a big roast, meal planning, sorting out school uniform – that’s down time for me these days and I love it,” she grins.

And don’t be surprised if you see Denise out jogging or at your local sports centre at various dates on the tour. Sport Relief is a charity she has long supported. “I don’t know yet what I will be doing for them in March, but I expect I’ll be getting into training for something!”

Talking of support, Denise credits her girlfriends as providing her with fantastic back-up. “They are part of my family,” she says, suddenly quieter. “I wouldn’t have got through life without them. We look after each other.”

With a milestone birthday looming and with the benefit of experience, what sage advice does Miss Van Outen have when it comes to personal fulfilment? Her response is quick, and sounds like it might be personally tried and tested. “Follow your instincts and listen to yourself.

We’re all guilty of listening too much to other people, so be fearless. Oh, and laugh whenever you can, throw in some jazz hands and have a few cocktails!”

• For more details visit SomeGirlIUsedToKnow. com. Denise has signed up for the Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Games Swimathon. To find out more about events near you visit sportrelief.com

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STYLE MEN

ST Y L E N E WS A burst of colour, cool accessories and new spring trends: it’s all here...

Oud Wood decanter, 250ml, £320, Tom Ford at Selfridges

TWO TO TRY Perfect Valentine’s gift or just a way of cheering yourself up on a bleak winter workday? You decide...

Czech & Speake Cuba Cologne spray, £80, Harvey Nichols

BARGAIN BUY Set of two friendship bracelets, £12, Topman

WAIST NO MORE Waistcoats: perfect for hiding those post-holiday season pounds, and luckily on-trend right now, too.

Invest in a waistcoat that has an English heritage look – tweed, pinstripe, perhaps a lapel – and you’ll find it quickly becomes a staple. This one is from J

by Jasper Conran, £45 at Debenhams.

YLE

S E V LO ST

When Star Trek actor Chris Pine turned up to the London premiere of new film Jack Ryan sporting a tweed suit and handkerchief, the sales of pocket squares started to climb. Get the look with this dandy paisley one, £35 from New & Lingwood at House of Fraser.

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Jacket, £50, River Island

STAR STYLE

stylebirminghamMAG.com

style men

EDITOR’S

CHOICE Harris tweed holdall, £149, Marks & Spencer

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GOT THE BLUES

Winter may be meh to the power of ten, but there’s no need to succumb to the blues...unless, that is, it’s the new blue accessories that were all over the menswear spring/summer 2014 catwalks. This blue satchel is £210 by Ted Baker at House of Fraser.

Psycho Bunny polo shirt, £85, Harvey Nichols

Paul Smith cufflinks, £70, Harvey Nichols

DSquared2 sweatshirt, £210

SOFT SHOE Suede is the name of the game for spring shoes at Dune: add a colourful trim and a classic British brogue or desert boot styling, and we spy a new trend.

Shoes £75, boots £69, both Dune.

R E DR T ALE

Moncler quilted gilet, £445

BEST OF BRITISH Moncler quilted gilet, £445

Marks & Spencer’s new Best of British range brings a Savile Row vibe to affordable suiting and formalwear. It’s also got a few fantastic standout pieces this spring, including this mac, £249, and brogues £299.

Fashion’s hottest colour is a menswear favourite for S/S14. Harvey Nichols is ahead of the curve with these heroes new in store.

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Chocolate, £26, Hotel Chocolat in Bullring

style fashion

Multi boxer short set, £29, Bjorn Borg at House of Fraser

Sweater, £27.50, M&S

Marks & Spencer

VALENTINE’S GIFTS

FOR MEN Drop some hints about these style-led t r e at s a n d g e t w h at y o u r e a l ly wa n t o n F e b r ua r y 1 4 . . .

Sunglasses, £15, Next

Headphones, £49.99, Superdry

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Pink silk tie, £40, Corsivo at House of Fraser

Multi-stripe pyjamas, £127, Paul Smith, House of Fraser

Armani EDP, £38.50, The Perfume Shop

Silk pocket squares, £25 each, Corsivo at House of Fraser

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STYLE MEN

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THE NEW MOOD

Fa shio n s ty lis t Liz z y Gar dner r ep orts from the runways wi t h a round -up o f spr i ng’s bi ggest menswear tr end s It’s pretty easy to sum up the mood of the spring collections – tonal, relaxed, and effortlessly modern. The sharp tailoring that has become synonymous with the catwalks of London, Paris and Milan has a whole new fluid feel with loose, weightless blazers and wide, languid trousers. This new style of tailoring had a casual air to it, predominantly delivered in a tonal spectrum of the season’s key hue: blue.

Despite the somewhat subdued palette of spring (namely dusty blues, soft greys, and white, with a few splashes of fuchsia and green thrown in), the use of luxurious lightweight silks and linens

created a look that was beautifully wearable and compellingly covetable.

ankle skimming trousers exposed bare ankles with leather loafers completing the look.

At Casely-Hayford, Givenchy and Jil Sander, tailoring was influenced by urban sports with references to skateboarding, surfing and basketball. Shorts of varying lengths and volumes were everywhere with designers once again attempting to reinvent the Bermuda short.

In fashion, as in life, for every rule there is an exception...or two. At Haider Ackerman, opulent jewel tone fabrics and sumptuous layering defied the simplistic mood of the season.

Silk was prominent throughout creating a collection that set the bar for the modern day dandy. While at Saint Laurent the look was more quintessential rock star with a collection consisting of skinny cigarette pants, patent leather and motorcycle jackets.

Retro is another key theme on the runways. At Bottega Veneta, Thomas Maier’s Fifties inspired collection consisted of grey flannel suiting offset with monochromatic patterns and open collars.

At Miharaya Suhiro and Burberry Prorsum

See stylist Lizzy’s work at lizzygardner.com

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STYLE MEN

1 Banbury Suit £1249.95 – navy, brown and green check wool & cashmere suit in a single breasted one button notch lapelled style. As with all of our clothes the suit is limited to a maximum of ten garments.

3 Stratford Suit £1649.95 – green camouflage patterned Wool Suit in a single breasted two button notch lapelled style. This limited edition garment is fully canvassed, with the fabric being woven and finished in England exclusively for Clements & Church.

2 Mayfair II Raincoat £1299.95 – pale blue cotton raincoat in a single breasted three button notch lapelled style. Perfect for both smart and casual looks, this piece is essential for the modern gentleman.

CLEMENTS & CHURCH T r e at your g e ntle man thi s Valenti ne’s Day to these li mit ed e d itio n ac c e s s o rie s a nd beauti fully cr af ted gi f ts made f rom the fi nest mater i als 5.

7.

4.

6.

4. Peebles umbrella, £249.95 With a striped canopy, this umbrella was handmade in Italy, the only country left in the Western world that still manufactures by hand.

The shaft and handle are made from a single piece of mallaca wood, making it virtually unbreakable. 5. Malvern belt, £109.95 One size fits all so there’s no need to worry about measurements. This high quality belt was made in England with real leather. 6. Sutton cufflinks, £89.95 These round floral cufflinks came from Birmingham’s famous jewellery quarter. Only 25 have been made, and the enamel on each was applied and polished by hand. 7. Carter gloves, £169.94 These limited edition gloves are only available at Clements & Church. They were made in England from suede and calf leather, creating gloves with a cashmere lining.

• To see the entire Clements & Church collection, visit clementsandchurch.co.uk issue 37

stylebirminghamMAG.com

22 Church Street Birmingham B3 2NP

www.clementsandchurch.co.uk

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style living

LOVE STORIES

P hi lip E llis rev iews the best b ooks for l over s, romanti cs. ..a n d Va lenti ne’s r efuseni ks

The AnTi-VAlenTine’s Book CluB A Kiss Before Dying by Ira Levin (Corsair)

If romantic reads aren’t your cup of tea, then a Kiss Before Dying is the book for you; in fact, it will probably put you off dating for life. The seemingly perfect boyfriend plans to kill his sweetheart, and the reader is trapped in his headspace for the first section of the novel, helpless and unable to intervene. Levin continued to skewer modern relationships in his later satire The Stepford Wives, but what makes his breakout novel so chilling is the simplicity and realism of its murder plot.

Enduring Love by Ian McEwan (Vintage) There’s nothing less romantic than being the object of unwanted affection. Such is the predicament of Joe Rose, whose fate becomes entangled with that of loner Jed Parry after they both try to save a child in a freak balloon accident. at first, Jed seems harmless; a little strange, perhaps. But he soon ingratiates himself into every aspect of Joe’s life, and it becomes clear that he is obsessed. Eventually, Joe is driven to the brink of madness, and becomes equally fixated on getting rid of Jed, once and for all...

Horns by Joe Hill (William Morrow) Ig Perrish has been an outcast in his hometown ever since his beloved girlfriend merrin was murdered. He is innocent of the crime, but everyone thinks he is guilty, even his own family. Having hit rock bottom, Ig awakes from a night of heavy drinking to find a pair of devilish horns growing inexplicably from his forehead. These horns grant him the power to see the deepest, darkest secrets of the people around him. The only logical course of action, Ig concludes, is to wreak havoc on the town that has demonised him – and catch merrin’s killer in the process.

Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist (St Martin’s Griffin) The innocent first love between two youngsters at the core of this novel, but the only gooey bits involve blood, and lots of it. Oskar is bullied at school and often ignored by his mother, so he is delighted when he finds a friend in Eli, the odd little girl who has just moved in next door. But Eli is no ordinary child, and Oskar is soon drawn into her terrifying world. Let the Right One In was the horror debut of John ajvide Lindqvist, who has since been hailed as Sweden’s answer to Stephen King. Definitely one to read with the lights on.

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“What follows is a tale that spans centuries, defies genres, and might just break your heart” The Fault In Our Stars by John Green (Penguin) “Terminally ill kids fall in love” sounds like it should be the tagline for a Nicholas Spark weepie, right? Wrong. In green’s capable hands, the story of Hazel and augustus unfolds with considerable humour. These aren’t cardboard cut-outs from the misery section of the bookshop; they are living, breathing teenagers who jump off the page, whether they are helping a friend get revenge on his ex, or jetting off to amsterdam to track down a reclusive author. It’s likely that you’ll end up crying anyway, but that’s just the price of admission.

The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson (Canongate) This little-known gem of a book opens with a traumatic car accident which leaves the handsome young protagonist disfigured. He is visited in hospital by marianne Engel, a troubled sculptress who believes that they have met before – several hundred years ago. What follows is a tale that spans centuries, defies genres, and might just break your heart.

The Lover’s Dictionary by David Levithan (Fourth Estate) an entire relationship plays out in the form of dictionary

definitions in this unconventional novel. The entries are in turn funny (“candid, adj. most times, when I’m having sex, I’d rather be reading”), insightful (“fabrication, n. In my online profile, I had lied about my age”), and ultimately heartwrenching (“breach, n. I didn’t want to know who he was, or what you did, or that it didn’t mean anything”). Will these two nameless lovers make it work in the end? You’ll surprise yourself with how much you want to get to Z. Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin (Black Swan) Encompassing nine novels across no less than five decades, Tales of the City is the continuing story of the tangled and often tragic love lives of the residents of 28 Barbary Lane, an apartment building in San Francisco. Tales of the City originated as a serial in the 1970s and was considered controversial at the time for the frank portrayal and sexual diversity of its characters. The appeal of the series is in its accessibility; readers are sure to find a character they relate to, whether it is naïve country girl turned career woman mary ann, lovelorn gay man michael, or their inimitable landlady anna madrigal.

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STYLE TECH

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GADGET GEEK

WAT E R M U S I C

Why have boring old black speakers

PERFECT JUICE There are juicers, then there’s the new Philips Viva

when you can have ones that look

Collection Juicer. It’s the Rolls-Royce of the juicer

like mini fountains? These are like

market: extracting up to 2 litres of juice in one go, with

a Vegas water-and-light show, in

almost no mess. No more scrubbing and swearing after

miniature. When the music plays the

you’ve made your healthy juice: the clever sieve makes

speakers jump into life with jets of

it easier to remove tricky fibres caught in the mesh and

water illuminated by bright multi-

the pulp container is positioned right under the sieve

coloured LEDs, creating a fascinating

to collect all of the pulp for quick disposal. Once you’re

effect. The water actually bounces to

finished, the entire machine can be easily dissembled

the music like your very own Bellagio

and all removable parts put in the dishwasher, ready for

fountains! Available for £39.95 from

the next round. Ideal for winter detoxing, or anyone who

the Red5 store in Bullring.

wants to build more fresh fruit and veg into their diet.

The Philips Viva Collection Juicer is available at John Lewis and Argos for £79.95.

B EHIND THE WHEEL This miniature replica of the incredible Lamborghini Aventador doesn’t have a 6.5 litre V12 engine or a top speed of 217mph but it does have some great computer mouse spec. With an accurate combination of 1000 to 1750 dpi resolution and a BlueEye engine, you won’t lose the delicate movements needed for gaming and Photoshop, amongst other things.

Fully functioning front and rear lights bring the wireless 2.4GHz computer mouse to life. A low battery indicator gives you a heads up when you’re running low on fuel and a built in auto shut off will save any remaining power you have left.

Located on the underbelly of the Lamborghini is a storable receiver slot, ideal for when you are on the go. Find it at the Red5 store in Bullring, £39.95.

IN COMFORT Brilliant though iPads are, they can be a pain to hold while

COF F E E T I M E

you swipe, type, read and browse. Wave goodbye to arm-

Sleek, chic and unbeatable quality: the

freeze and wrist ache with the new iCushion. Specially

DeLonghi Scultura coffee machine crafts

designed to combat what doctors are calling iPad Hand and

perfect coffee every time and comes with

iPad Shoulder, the iCushion from Mobiletoyz.co.uk takes

everything you’ll need to make fresh espressos,

the strain from your neck and shoulders by supporting your

rich lattes and frothy cappuccinos. There’s also

tablet on a comfy cushion. Made of velvet or silk, this nifty

a hot water function for tea drinkers and the

new invention comes in lots of colours and is compatible with

beautiful gloss finish has a cool designer look.

the Apple iPad, Samsung Galaxy Tab, Google Nexus and

It’s £200 at Debenhams.

most other tablets. From £24.95, mobiletoyz.co.uk

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STYLE SOCIAL

NE W S ROU NDU P All the news from around the city

Third off Hair Services at Francesco

TIPSY MARMALADE PANCAKE Celebrate Shrove Tuesday on March 4 with a boozy British twist on the classic pancake. Forget the traditional squeeze of lemon and sprinkle of sugar, try Chase Distillery’s double gold winning Marmalade Vodka. With a RRP of £35 and available to purchase from Waitrose, Harvey Nichols and other independent retailers, your pancakes will never be the same again! Gold Star Verzon Country House Hotel in Herefordshire has created a delicious pancake recipe using local ingredients and Chase Marmalade Vodka. Enjoy!

method

ingredients For the pancakes: 150g plain flour 325ml milk 2 eggs 30g melted butter 2 tsp caster sugar Marmalade to decorate

nache: For the ga colate

e cho 200g whit ble cream 250ml dou e Marmalad 30ml Chase a k d Vo nge Zest of 1 ora late co o Melted ch rate co e d to

1. Sift flour over the eggs in a large bowl until there are no lumps.

2. Add milk gradually whilst continuing to whisk until smooth.

3. Melt the butter in a pan and add to the batter along with the sugar. Leave to rest whilst making the ganache.

Beat the winter blues with this fabulous discount from the Francesco Group. The salon in Birmingham’s House of Fraser is offering a third off all hair services during February to new clients, including AfroCaribbean treatments.

Call Francesco on 0121 233 1113 to book an appointment stating the Style Birmingham offer.

Go on, treat yourself!

Film Bug Returns to Birmingham

For the third year running, Colmore Business District has teamed up with Flatpack Film Festival to present Film Bug. This miniature festival of film will take place across Birmingham from March 20-23, with screenings of a variety of movies as well as a number of live events, including musical entertainment. The full Film Bug programme will be released in late February. Visit flatpackfestival.org.uk and colmorebusinessdistrict.com for updates.

4. Add cream, Chase Marmalade Vodka and orange zest to a pan and slowly bring to the boil not letting the cream catch.

5. Once the mixture reaches a boil, pour it over the white chocolate. Whisk until smooth, creamy and chocolate is melted. Leave to cool slightly.

6. Heat a non-stick pan on a moderate heat, adding a knob of butter.

7. Pour batter mix into the pan, covering it evenly.

8. After 30 seconds, ease the pancake away from the edge of the pan, it should come away easily and be golden brown underneath.

9. Flip the pancake in the pan and cook for another 20 seconds. Remove from pan and repeat with more batter to make more pancakes.

10. Spoon some of the ganache into the pancake and roll. Top with melted chocolate and a spoonful of marmalade.

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STYLE SOCIAL

Birmingham International Fashion Week 2014

One of Birmingham’s biggest fashion events is returning to the city from February 28-March 1. With its launch being a huge success last year, 2014’s installment is set to be even bigger and better. High-end fashion and accessories will be showcased as well as designers and brands.

Fashionistas in attendance will also be able to catch runway shows and a glimpse of fashion industry professionals. If that isn’t enough, emerging artists and DJs perform throughout the night. The event will take place at Birmingham City Banqueting Suite, where tickets are £22 and available to purchase from bhmfashionweek.com

Hometown Honour for Jeff Lynne

Jeff Lynne, who shot to fame as the front man and co-founder of Electric Light Orchestra, will be honoured with a star on Birmingham’s Walk of Stars in March. The Brummie rock hero will join fellow musicians Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi and Roy Wood in having a star displayed on Broad Street. Jeff’s career has been a roaring success. He has written and produced 26 top 40 hits in the UK and worked alongside some of the biggest names in music including Paul McCartney and George Harrison. Jeff is still succeeding in the music industry today. One of the latest songs he has written features in the film, American Hustle, which won Best Motion Picture in January at the Golden Globes. The Shard End producer and composer will be awarded with his commemorative star at a private ceremony, held in the city’s new Library of Birmingham on March 13.

Birmingham Goes Red for National Heart Month

2.6 million people in the UK are living with coronary heart disease.

National Heart Month aims to raise awareness of this widespread health risk. The British Heart Foundation urges us to recognise the importance of a healthy heart throughout February. So if you see unusual amounts of dyed red hair or red clothes around the city, you know why!

Visit bhf.org.uk for more information on how you can get involved.

St Patrick’s Day Festival and Parade

On March 16, Birmingham’s St Patrick’s Day Parade returns to Digbeth for the 19th year.

Since 1996, this unmistakably Irish event has brought a range of ethnicities and communities together, to create a fantastic and fun day out for all the family. That’s not all you can get involved with. There are many festivities leading up to the parade. The Old Crown is hosting Irish nights from March 10-11 with free entry. The Anchor Irish Ale Festival will take place on March 13, followed by an evening of Irish myth story telling at The Spotted Dog on March 14.

Visit stpatricksbirmingham.com for more event details.

New Photography Show Comes to NEC

The Photography Show opens its doors for the first time from March 1-4 at Birmingham’s NEC. Whether you’re a professional photographer, passionate for the field or have never picked up a camera before, this live event claims to offer something for everyone.

There will be a studio with intimate sessions discussing different techniques, as well as a live stage where industry professionals will give step-by-step advice. A catwalk will also be present for the opportunity to get up close and personal with fashion, portrait and wedding photography. Tickets are £13 and available to purchase from photographyshow.com

Love is in the Air

From February 7-14, it’s Marriage Week in the UK. There’s no better way to celebrate Valentine’s Day. As part of this national event, there will be a Guinness World Record attempt for the most marriage vows being reaffirmed in one day. Let’s do our bit for Birmingham! So to all the married love birds out there, clear your diaries for 5.15pm on February 8 and head to Living Stones Christian Centre, St Paul’s Church or St Chad’s Cathedral to renew your wedding vows. Who said romance was dead?

To register, fill in a form at marriage-week.org.uk

University of Birmingham Launch LGBT History Month

A launch extravaganza for Lesbian Gay Bisexual Trans History Month will be at Elgar Concert Hall on February 7 from 7.30pm-9pm. University of Birmingham will host an evening of celebration, music and laughter. Tickets are £5 and must be booked. Visit lgbthistorymonth.org.uk for more information.

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style social

FIVE MINUTES WITH…

MATT CARDLE

M at t Ca r d l e b ro k e th e X Fac tor mould when he won the r eali ty show bac k i n 2 0 10. S i n ce th e n, th e s ing e r-s ongwr i ter has r eleased thr ee success f u l a l b u m s a n d t our e d th e c ountry. He re , M att talks candi dly ab out r elati on s hi p s, m a k i n g mus ic and bei ng i n bed wi th a Spi ce Gi r l So what’s new on your third album, Porcelain?

There’s lots different on there. For one, the sentiment of the whole album is different, as the first album was a lot to do with something personal that happened to me. The second album was completely about the break-up with my ex-girlfriend, so it was very melancholy at times. But with Porcelain, it’s about getting on and getting over my ex. I’ve been writing with a whole new bunch of people and producers, like Brian mcKnight who’s a huge R’n’B artist in the States, so it’s a really diverse album.

Does the title of the album have any significance?

ever had. Obviously the bands I had beforehand were going great, but X Factor was the break I needed.

You’ve worked with Danni Minogue, performed with Rihanna and now released a single with Mel C; who else would you love to work with?

Wow, I can’t possibly say! I didn’t plan any of this; everything’s just been going my way, so I’m just going to carry on not planning anything.

What’s been the most surreal experience of your career so far?

I don’t know, lying on a bed with a Spice girl shooting a video, that was quite surreal, standing on stage singing a duet with Rihanna, walking into a studio and suddenly Jack Black’s there tapping you on the shoulder to say congratulations. It’s all a bit odd!

The sentiment of the song itself is classic what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, with a twist. Porcelain is a precious material, but what it comes from is the mud, the clay. You take something raw, dirty and horrible and then you put that through a really horrific process, the fire (which is what I called my second album, about the breakdown of my relationship), and then it comes out as porcelain. at the end of the chorus, the lyrics go ‘now you’ve come through the fire/ and that makes you porcelain’. It’s the idea that all the horrible things that happen to you in life that you think you can’t bear, these are things that make you who you are.

Who are you listening to right now?

I’m really into London grammar at the moment and I just bought Eminem’s new album, which is absolutely amazing.

Are you excited to be coming back to Birmingham?

I am, I love my Birmingham fans. Everything we’ve done out there has been great; the tours, the fireworks, the 02 academy... it’s all been great.

Tell us about the process of writing and recording the album. How does it all come together?

I write the songs and then, depending on how much of that is worth going on the album, we put the music down. We get in the studio, get the bass guitar down, get the drums down, all of that, then produce the record. Then I go on tour and see which ones the fans love the most.

What have you got planned for coming up next after this tour? Have you been writing new material?

Yeah, I’m back in the studio, well my house is the studio at the moment, so I’m always in there. It’s what I do, I live and breathe. I’m always writing, always creating. But I’m going to have a little break between now and the next album.

Three years after your win, how do you now feel about The X Factor?

Porcelain is out now. Catch Matt on his UK tour at 02 Academy, Birmingham on April 12.

Tickets available at ticketweb.co.uk

It’s been the biggest stepping stone I’ve

Inte rvi ew by Isabel l a Silvers issue 36

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ON THE TOWN

Ta r a To me s c e rtainly k nows the best place for a party... or chi c c o c ktail . He re , s he shar es a few ti p s on wher e to find B irming h am’s grown-up hangouts I didn’t make any New Year resolutions this year. Unfortunately, I was in the minority and quite a few friends signed up to ‘Dry January’.

Thankfully, it’s now February and I’ve got my social circle back, so it’s time to get back into Birmingham’s drinking scene.

Malmaison

My days of Jagerbombs are long over. Luckily, some of B-Town’s nightspots are offering us grown-ups a little more than loud music and cheap shots.

Malmaison is undoubtedly one of the city’s best hotels and I love a visit to the bar for some fine Champagne, good food and the odd celeb spot. Even better, Mal has now launched ‘Bubble Time’ and every Friday, Birmingham’s elite can enjoy a fizztastic start to the weekend. There’s always a reason to celebrate and Mal has become a hot-spot after a week of hard work. If you fancy getting dressed up but not sharing a dancefloor with teenagers, Bubble Time should definitely be on your Friday night hitlist.

If your budget doesn’t quite stretch to Champagne, then you need to check out one of the city’s hidden gems, Loki Wine. Based in Great Western Arcade, this takes wine selling to a whole new level. Visit floppy-haired wine expert Phil Innes for an exciting tour around the world of grapes. This is a fave hangout for me and my

friends, mostly because we’ve loaded our Loki Taste Cards to the max so we can try every type of wine they have.

I did a Birmingham Wine School eight-week course last year so I like to pretend I’m a bit of an expert.

I’m definitely not but at least Loki lets me try plenty of wines so I can pretend I’m a well-travelled connoisseur. Don’t be mistaken and think that Loki is a bar; it’s essentially a wine merchant but is a very cool and intimate apres-work hangout if you’re not quite up for a big night out.

Birmingham is all about hidden gems.

Another fab addition to the night scene is a Scandinavian-inspired bar called Norjske, based just over the road from Simpsons, in Edgbaston.

It feels a bit out of the way but is definitely worth the five-minute taxi ride from the city centre... plus, it’s not too well-known yet (except now by you, dear Style Birmingham reader) so it has a nice vibe without being too packed. It opened just before Christmas as a ‘pop-up’ bar but the city has fully embraced it and last month saw it re-open as a permanent fixture. I’ve been waiting for a place with a bit of character to come to the city and Norjske is the first of what I hope will be many. Again, another intimate watering hole, they’ve got a fun drinks list that I’m currently working my way through. Come and join me!

Now, it isn’t all about drinking: another of my favourite places to go is Fleet Street Kitchen. Part of the Summerrow offering (run by the same people who look after Apres and Mechu) FSK is the perfect place to go if you fancy a nice meal with some great wine. I’m a big fan of steak so the Barbacoa Grill is my idea of heaven... what more could you want from a night out than a rare fillet and bottle of Malbec? FSK is where Bluu - one of my all-time favourite places to dance - once was so it makes me even happier that as well as a restaurant, there’s a bar and dancefloor downstairs. They even have live music every Friday so a nice way to get your dancing shoes on.

Speaking of dancing, this city is now home to a fabulous Members’ Club. La Cache opened

last month, much to the delight of Birmingham’s glitterati and footballer community. Hidden away in Edgbaston, this is one for those of you carrying a gold card and driving a Baby Bentley, so don’t get too excited unless that’s you! In the manner of London’s more exclusive bars, La Cache is the city’s attempt to offer the rich and famous somewhere more private to go.

It’s hidden away in Edgbaston and has five rooms of pure glamour, featuring furniture designed by the super-talented and Birmingham-based Mr

Fleet Street Kitchen

McQueen. The launch party really was a red carpet affair; the Champagne was flowing and a ‘who’s who’ of the city was in attendance. If that wasn’t enough to make us all pay the annual membership fee, then the glittery wallpaper certainly had me sold. With my ‘grown up’ partying habit in full swing, La Cache is my new favourite place to re-live my youth (I am only 27, before you ask), drink fine wines, and do it without fear of being thrown up on by an 18 year old outside a kebab shop afterwards.

Although I hope I don’t have to see too many women squeezing themselves into bandeaux dresses in there... I’m a little bored of that look, ladies.

So, if you’ve served your time on Broad Street and given up most of your Friday nights to Brindleyplace, join me in embracing some of the city’s hot-spots built for adults who aren’t quite ready to hang up their drinking shoes!

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STYLE SOCIAL

FOOD & DRINK N E WS

CHEAT SHEET No time to bake?

Cheat with Marks & Spencer’s yummy mini cupcakes: a box of nine is £3.99.

KISSMOPOLITAN COCKTAIL Serves: 2 Preparation time: 5 minutes Cooking time: 20 minutes

SWEET CHILLI BEETROOT AND POTATO MASH SERVED WITH STEAK With its hot pink colour and fiery beetroot kick, this lavish mash recipe won’t fail to impress, especially when served up with fillet steak and fresh green veg. It’s a great winter warmer, whether indulging alone or sharing with friends... and the pink hue makes it a romantic Valentine’s dinner!

You’ll need: 400g mashing potatoes 4 sweet chilli cooked beetroot 2 fillet steaks 1tsp olive oil 4 tbsp crème fraiche Salt and pepper Serve with: 100g Tenderstem broccoli, steamed and tossed in lemon juice and olive oil

What to do: Peel the potatoes and cut each into eight. Put them into a large pan of salted water and bring to the boil. Simmer for 10 minutes until the potatoes are tender.

While the potatoes cook, chop the beetroot into quarters and season the steaks.

Heat the oil in a non-stick frying pan and when it’s very hot cook the steaks for 3-4 minutes on each side (longer if you want them well done). When the steaks are cooked to your liking, put them on a warm plate and set aside to rest.

Once the potatoes are just tender add the beetroot to the water and simmer for 2 minutes longer. Drain the water away and add the crème fraiche to the pan. Mash everything together well until you have a smooth pink mash. Season to taste. Slice the steak and serve with a dollop of mash and the steamed Tenderstem. Pour any meat juices over.

• Find more beetroot recipes at lovebeetroot.co.uk

E ST YL LOVES issue 37

The spirits world’s alternative to diamonds?

Silver Rocks Vodka! It’s a premium, clean Polish vodka that oozes elegance. Find it at Drink Supermarket (drinksupermarket.com) for £26.89 for 70cl.

Try the romantic Kissmopolitan at Ginger’s Bar @ Purnell’s Bistro on Newhall Street, or mix it yourself at home for Valentine’s Day

Ingredients: 35ml vanilla pod infused vodka

Methodology:

20ml Cherry Marnier

Chill your martini glass. Then add all of your ingredients to a mixing tin. Shake and fine strain into glass then garnish.

20ml cranberry juice 1 squeezed lime wedge Garnish: scorched orange heart

BOOK SHELF Superfood Smoothies: 100 Delicious, Energizing & Nutrient-dense Recipes by Los Angeles nutritionist Julie Morris (£10.99, Sterling) offers oodles of healthy inspiration.

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The new Elderflower Pressé Light from Belvoir Fruit Farms has 30 per cent less sugar than the original version: £2.39, supermarkets.

Serves: 4 Preparation time: 10 minutes Cooking time: 10 minutes

SUNDAY BRUNCH

This toasted sourdough with grilled asparagus, smoked salmon and poached eggs is the perfect winter weekend indulgence

You’ll need: 2 bundles of British asparagus trimmed 4 large British Lion free-range eggs 4 thick slices sourdough bread 100g smoked Scottish salmon Zest of 1 lemon Small bunch of dill chopped

What to do: 1. Preheat the oven to a low heat 2. Put a medium sized pan of salted water on to boil, add a splash of vinegar.

3. Put a griddle pan on to heat, when it starts to smoke, start grilling the asparagus. You may need to cook this in two or three batches depending on the size of your griddle. It will only take a couple of minutes for the asparagus to be cooked. Once all of the asparagus is cooked, season and set aside in the warm oven.

4. By now the water should be boiling. Crack the eggs one at a time carefully into the water. They will take a couple of minutes to cook.

Salt and cracked black pepper

5. Start toasting the slices of sourdough.

Extra virgin olive oil for drizzling

7. Divide the toasted sourdough between 4 warm plates, then top with the smoked salmon, asparagus and a poached egg.

Finish with lemon zest, dill, cracked pepper and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.

6. Remove the eggs from the water.

CUT DOWN For those trying to lower their sugar intake, the new all-natural reduced sugar jams from Streamline will be a godsend. Packed with fruit, they come in a range of flavours, from blackcurrant to apricot and marmalade: in supermarkets now, from £1.45.

Serves: 6-8 Preparation time: 20 minutes plus 4 hours to freeze

EASY VALENTINE’S DAY

ICE-CREAM

Spoil loved ones with this easy dessert that looks as though hours of preparation are behind it. Taking just 20 minutes to prepare and four hours to freeze with no whisking required, there’ll be plenty of time left to get ready for a romantic night in.

You’ll need: 500ml good quality custard 400ml double cream lightly whipped 1 vanilla pod, split 500g Viva strawberries 4tbsp caster sugar

What to do: In a bowl, fold together the custard, the whipped cream and the vanilla seeds scrapped from the pod. Take 400g of strawberries, and blitz together with the sugar. Stir into the custard mix. Chop the rest of the strawberries, and add to the mix, folding through.

Line a 1 litre loaf tin with cling film and pour the mixture in. Freeze for a minimum of four hours. When ready to serve, take out of the freezer 10 minutes before you want to eat, and serve with some more fresh strawberries and a sprig of mint.

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STYLE GOES COAST TO COAST C oa st to C oast i s a new Ame r ica n-s t y l e ba r a n d r es tau r a n t s it uate d at th e e dg e of B r i ndleyplace , l o o k in g ou t ov er t h e c it y en d of B roa d S tre e t On entering the bar anyone who has spent any time across the pond will be instantly transported back there: the decor has lots of warm colours, dark woods and ambient lighting, combining to give that all-American vibe.

My dining companion and I were greeted promptly on arrival and opted to have a glass of Prosecco in the spacious bar area before being shown to our table. Once seated a very friendly and enthusiastic waitress appeared to introduce herself and hand over menus.

The menu in the main is a mix of burgers, pizza, pasta, fajitas and salads. My friend opted for slow baked ribs as a starter whilst I decided to save myself for the main course as I’d heard the portions are on the large side and wanted to be able to squeeze in a dessert, although I was tempted for a moment or two by the calamari. The ribs arrived with barbecue sauce and homemade coleslaw made with red cabbage which had rendered it a light shade of lilac...quirky looking yet wonderfully crunchy and tasty! The meat was so tender and tasty and came

away from the bone without any tearing or tussling.

Next, to the main course, where the chicken fajita arrived hot and sizzling: a whole chicken breast cooked with fajita seasoning and coated in Coast to Coast’s signature barbecue sauce, all served with onions, peppers, cheese, salsa, sour cream and warm tortillas. I decided to go Stateside and opt for a cheeseburger (it should be noted the burgers are made from corn-fed Aberdeen Angus Beef) which arrived beautifully garnished, served on a very fresh looking bun, along with half and half fries (half straw fries and half sweet potato chips which were served up in a miniature aluminium bucket). All very delicious and I particularly loved the sweet potato chips.

We decided we could manage a dessert between us and opted for the chocolate brownie after our waitress’ personal recommendation. This was served with both fresh cream and ice cream and completed our dining experience wonderfully.

I cannot finish this review without making special mention of the service. The staff is both attentive and enthusiastic

without being overbearing... here are staff that appear motivated and happy in their work and this translates as excellent service for the customer, an all too often missing ingredient in many eateries these days.

Coast to Coast appears to already be making its mark on the city. We ate on a Tuesday in early January and the restaurant was very busy. It is the perfect place for casual fun dining with friends: the food is American fast food style but with added care and attention to taste and detail. The bill was in the region of £40 excluding drinks so not the cheapest but certainly good value for the quality.

When you dine here make sure you sample the delightful cocktail menu: something I plan to do on my next visit!

9 Brindleyplace, Broad Street 0121 643 5708

VALENTINE’S AT THE LOFT LOUNGE This chic spot on Bromsgrove Street has a choice of special Valentine’s Day menus. Choose two courses for £19.95 or three for £24.95: you’ll enjoy a glass of Prosecco each, with both options.

The food? You’ll be spoilt for choice. Starters include sauteed scallops with a mushroom and spinach sauce and artichoke salad with beef carpaccio served with a baby caper dressing. Mains include pan fried pork medallions with balsamic glaze, served with chantenay carrots, baby leeks and rosemary roasted Jersey royals, and Thai-style marinated tuna steak, with courgette ribbons, sesame pak choi and fragrant rice. Indulge yourself with a rich pudding: chocolate, pistachio and nougat semi freddo served with strawberries or peach melba cheesecake, served with raspberry coulis.

• The Loft Lounge, 143 Bromsgrove Street, Birmingham: to book, call 0121 622 2444 or email contact@theloftlounge.co.uk

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T’S WHA

. . .

N O

ta k e a l o o k at o u r p i c k o f t h e b e s t m u s i c , t h e at r e a n d e v e n t s i n t h e c i t y. E d i t e d b y A b b e y H a r t l e y

AZ E ALIA BANKS 02 Academy Birmingham, March 27 Azealia Banks will be coming to Birmingham in March to celebrate the release of her much-anticipated debut album, Broke with Expensive Taste. Last summer, the American rapper and singer made a string of festival appearances across the UK, performing at T in the Park, Reading, Leeds and London’s Lovebox. This was all in addition to Azealia becoming the most shared artist online via the BBC’s official website, after her slot at Glastonbury 2013. Tickets are £20.35 and available to purchase from gigsandtours.com

K AT Y P E RRY LG Arena, May 13-14 Global superstar, Katy Perry, is returning to the UK in May with The Prismatic World Tour. Her latest album, Prism, reached number one in the UK and its lead single, Roar, hasn’t done too badly either with selling more than five million copies worldwide. Those who attend a UK show are in for another treat, as Icona Pop are Katy’s special guests!

This Swedish pop duo had one of the biggest hits of 2013 with I Love It. Don’t miss out on this starstudded event. Tickets are from £45.45 to £83.20 and available to purchase from ticketmaster.co.uk

DR AKE NIA, March 20-21 The Grammy Award winning rapper is coming to the city in March with his Would You Like A Tour?

Since 2009, Drake has sold more than five million albums worldwide and had 12 number one singles.

Previously, he quietly crafted songs for artists including Alicia Keys, Jamie Foxx and Trey Songz, which shot him to fame. Ticket prices start at £45.95 and can be purchased at ticketmaster.co.uk

BE YO NC É LG Arena, February 23-24 Queen Bey returns to the UK for The Mrs Carter World Tour! After the unexpected release of her fifth album, Beyoncé is hotter than ever. With 14 brand new songs on her latest record, the American diva is sure to perform some recent tracks alongside her classic hits such as Crazy in Love and Single Ladies. It’s a night not to be missed! Ticket prices start at £61.20 and are available to purchase from ticketmaster.co.uk

I N T H E MO OD FOR SOME T H I NG MUSICAL? O u r p i c k o f t h e b e s t g i g s i n t ow n

M IC HAE L BUBLÉ NIA, March 12-13

JAS O N D ERU LO NIA, March 22 The wait is nearly over for Jason Derulo fans, as the American superstar brings his biggest ever UK and Ireland tour to Birmingham. Since his previous tour, scheduled for February 2012, was cancelled due to a serious neck injury, Jason has gone on to have a UK number one hit single with Talk Dirty. The performer has also sold 26 million tracks worldwide alongside 700 million views on his YouTube channel. Ticket prices start at £32.05 and can be purchased from ticketmaster.co.uk

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Canadian-born singer, Michael Bublé, has taken the world by storm in recent years. His 2007 album, Call Me Irresponsible, has sold five million copies worldwide reaching number one in the US, UK and Australia, as well as across Europe. Michael’s latest album, To Be Loved, debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, becoming his fourth consecutive number one album in the chart. The global superstar will now be performing in Birmingham featuring his singles Home, Haven’t Met You Yet and Crazy Love. Ticket prices start at £56.45 and are available from ticketmaster.co.uk

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sinG i n ’ i n t He R a i n Birmingham Hippodrome, March 18-April 5 Straight from the West End, this iconic musical is heading to Birmingham Hippodrome’s stage.

Singin’ in the Rain tells the story of the first Hollywood musical, when the silver screen found its voice and left silent movies behind.

Packed full of charm, comedy, romance and glamour, Singin’ in the Rain gives you everything you hope for in a hit musical. Tickets are from £19 to £42 and available to purchase from birminghamhippodrometickets.com

bRo Ke n dRe am boats and P e t t ic oats New Alexandra Theatre, March 24-29 This West End sell out sensation is coming to Birmingham! Dreamboats and Petticoats feature some of the greatest songs of the rock’n’roll era, inspired by the seven smash hit multi-million selling albums of the same name. Tickets are from £15.40 to £38.90 and available to purchase from atgtickets.com

MAC Theatre, February 12-13 Motionhouse, the UK’s leading dance theatre company, is marking this year with a second season of Broken. This spectacular production erupts on stage combining athleticism with gravity-defying dance, alongside intricate digital imagery and original music. Catch the adrenaline-fuelled performance at the MAC Theatre in February. Tickets are £20 and available to purchase from macarts.co.uk

Ru ssell HowaR d: wo ndeR b ox Ke RRy Go dl i m an : live Glee Club Birmingham,

DRAMA Q UEEN

O u r p i c k o f t h e b e s t at t h e t h e at r e

March 14 Star of Live at the Apollo and Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow brings her stand-up show to Glee Club Birmingham in March. Last year, Kerry supported Micky Flanagan on tour, but in 2014 she’s touring as the headline act! Tickets are £12 and available to purchase from glee.co.uk/birmingham

LG Arena, 21-22 March The British comedian is bringing his Wonderbox stand-up tour to the city this year. Russell’s last arena tour in 2011, titled Right Here Right Now, sold out within days and had new dates added twice. Wonderbox is expected to provide just as many laughs!

Tickets are £30.95 and available to purchase from ticketmaster.co.uk

F iddle R o n t He Ro o F Birmingham Hippodrome, March 11-15 One of the most popular and beloved stage musicals has a brand new production directed

by Strictly Come Dancing’s Craig Revel Horwood. Fiddler on the Roof is amongst Broadway’s longest-running musicals of all time. This latest production captures all emotions from laughter to sadness and is filled with instantly recognizable songs including Matchmaker Matchmaker, If I Were a Rich Man and Sunrise Sunset. Tickets are from £15 to £37 and available to purchase from birminghamhippodrometickets.com

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DRU M & BASS AWARDS 2014 The Institute, March 1

C RU FTS NEC, March 6-9 The ideal event for dog lovers! Crufts is the biggest celebration of the UK’s most popular pet. It’s a show stopping family day out with more than 200 stands offering treats for you and your furry friend. You’ll also get to see some of the 22,000 dogs that strive for the title of Crufts Best in Show. To add to this, there’s a chance to meet, greet and discover more than 200 different breeds. Ticket prices begin at £16.50 and are available to purchase from crufts.org.uk

MOS E L E Y A RTS MARKE T Birmingham Cathedral grounds, March 28 This March, talented designers and makers head to the city to present unique handmade products.

Photography, illustration, textiles and goods made with glass and wood, will fill the grounds of Birmingham Cathedral on Colmore Row between 9am and 5.30pm.

Visit colmorebusinessdistrict.com for more information.

This awards show is now in its 8th year and has been dubbed as the greatest drum and bass event on the planet. Fans of this genre need to buy their tickets quickly as last year’s show completely sold out! There is no bigger celebration of drum and bass than this. Tickets are £36 and available to purchase from theticketsellers.co.uk

THE COMEDY HUT The Custard Factory Theatre, March 5

O U T AND ABO U T

Lucky Devil Media has teamed up with The Custard Factory to launch a monthly comedy night for Birmingham. The Comedy Hut’s first show will include Joe Lycett, star of 8 out of 10 Cats, Mock the Week and Never Mind the Buzzcocks. Other comedians will be announced leading up to the event. There are only 100 places available for this intimate gig.

Tickets are £8 and can be purchased from wegottickets.com

Our pick of the best events

S E WING F O R P LE AS U RE NEC, March 20-23 This sewing and embroidery exhibition is one not to be missed by you DIY fashionistas out there!

It is the ultimate knitting, stitching and beading show offering the very latest supplies and innovations in the stitching world, including dressmaking and home styling ideas. Tickets are £10 and available to purchase from sewingshow.co.uk

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stylebirminghamMAG.com

Do you have a young family?

Then why not download the Primary Times West Midlands app for -

Di Win th sne tic el y k at On ets es I t t i ce o ss in ue !

• What’s on listings • Activity ideas for the school holidays • Interesting and informative articles • Competitions and prizes ... and much more

Available to download FREE in the App store or via Google Play

‘UNMISSABLE’ Sunday Express 2013

‘CATCH IT IF YOU CAN’ Observer 2013

‘GO SEE THIS SHOW AND BE STUNNED BY GENIUS’ Telegraph 2013

3 WEEKS 1 – 19 APRIL 2014 WEST SIDE STORY

Based on a conception by JEROME ROBBINS

0844 871 3011*

atgtickets.com/birmingham* *

bkg fees apply

Book by ARTHUR LAURENTS

Music by LEONARD BERNSTEIN

Originally produced on Broadway by Robert E. Griffith and Harold S. Prince by arrangement with Roger L. Stevens

Lyrics by STEPHEN SONDHEIM Entire original production directed and choreographed by

JEROME ROBBINS

!

N I W

A PAIR OF TICKETS TO SEE THE

BACKSTREET BOYS BACKSTREET BOYS have announced details of

Tickets are available to buy online through

received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on

their 2014 UK headline arena tour, as part of the

www.aeglive.co.uk

April 22, 2013.

Nick Carter, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell, AJ

Announcing the UK dates, the band said:

worldwide promotion of their new album ‘In A World Like This’. Commencing at The LG Arena in Birmingham on 26th March and culminating at Manchester Phones 4u Arena, the dates see them visit some of the UK’s biggest arenas including

McLean and Kevin Richardson, together as the Backstreet Boys, are this year celebrating their 20th anniversary. Formed in Orlando, Florida

“Last time we were in the UK we were living in a house together recording our album, which was

in 1993, they are the most successful boy band in

incredible. Our last UK shows were with New Kids

music history. The group have sold over 130 million

On The Block and we had a fantastic time - the

Last in the UK for the triumphant ‘NKOTBSB’ 2011

records worldwide, with globally successful and

reaction was out of this world. We can’t wait to come

tour, the band return with Kevin Richardson –

recognized hits including ‘I Want It That Way’,

back and blow you away with our own full headline

marking these dates as the first they have done with

‘Everybody (Backstreets Back)’ and ‘As Long As

show. We’re really excited for our UK fans to see us

all original members in nearly 10 years.

You Love Me’, In recognition of their success, they

again as a five-piece. The original Backstreet’s back!”

London’s O2 Arena.

To be in with a chance of winning a pair of tickets to see the Backstreet Boys at the LG Arena on Wednesday March 26, 2014 enter online at stylebirminghamMAG.com Competition closes: Wednesday, March 19 2014. See online for terms and conditions.

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Still open, still luxurious, as we build you a better Mailbox.

Product featured: Giuseppe Zanotti Leather Ankle Boots, Harvey Nichols, £585.00

Bar Epernay • Bar Estilo • Bar Room Bar • Café Rouge • Caffe Gusto • Côte Brasserie • Gourmet Burger Kitchen Harvey Nichols Espresso Café • Harvey Nichols Perrier Jouët Champagne Bar • Malmaison Brasserie Miller & Carter • Nando’s • Pennyblacks • Pizza Express • Red Peppers • Strada • The Oriental • Zizzi • Ramada Hotel