Tennis anyone?

It's just 2 days after the Pacific Life Open final and I'm not sure what to do with myself. For the past 10 days I have been basking in the sun at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, watching what has been the best batch of matches this tennis fan has seen in all of the four years I've been attending the tournament.

Every year around this time we don our tennis whites, varsity stripes and seersucker; and we dutifully dedicate 8-10 hours a day to watch the best players in the world battle it out for a whale trophy (Pacific Life's mascot/logo) and a nice chunk of change.

I won't pretend to be unbiased. I've not attended the US Open, Roland Garros or Wimbledon. I could not imagine commuting from New York City out to Queens in the heat and humidity of the summer (for the US Open) or battling the tube to get to Wimbledon. Yes I am a tennis fan, but you won't catch me at those other events. I prefer the bliss of Indian Wells in March. The weather is great. The venue is beautifully nestled in the desert with stunning mountain views and the layout of the grounds is so visitor friendly. It's like being on vacation - and for some people who travel in for the tournament, it is an actual holiday. I can't recommend it highly enough.

www.pacificlifeopen.com

London Fashion Week

Fresh off the catwalk from London Fashion Week... and there so much to shout about. Hannah Martin and JW Anderson's collective show at Twosee in Covent Garden kicked off the week on Sunday. It was a jam packed affair with live window models decked out in JW Anderson's "The Rattle Bag" menswear collection and a showroom floor, carpeted in green grass (of the real, living variety!), showcasing Hannah Martin's exquisite jewellery and JW Anderson's Russian-esque knitwear, felt trousers and coats.

Hannah Martin recently launched a sterling silver collection, entitled 'H'. The signature piece of which is a massive sterling, stud ring in a sinister setting. Hannah's original two, solid-gold collections are enough to make any jewellery lover giddy. Every piece is tough, sexy and like nothing else. Visit www.hannahmartin.com to see more.

JW Anderson's leather neck pieces, brooches and giant resin globe insect rings are among my fave finds. The collection utilizes anatomical references (leather vertebrae necklace), sea creatures (crab brooches, lobster neck piece) and real insects (in resin globes). www.j-w-anderson.com

Amanda Wakeley's A/W 08 show on Monday afternoon previewed a stunning array of coats (a-line, cowl collar, belted), deep v-neck drapey tunics, tulle ruffles and lots and lots of beautiful color (emerald green, eggplant). The detail on the dresses was so exciting, I had to have a go at sketching it: pewter metal pailettes; chain mail-like adornments; low, draped backs; and - my favorite of all favorites - incredible straps (criss cross back, stretched across a draped back). You've got to see it to enjoy it properly.

I love Christoforos Kotentos' new collection. For fall it's dark and theatrical: lots of fabulous gothic detail. www.chrisoforoskotentos.com

Richard Sorger is another new obsession. His beaded frocks and tunics are easy to wear and fierce! The rope tie, skeleton/bones and hand print designs are all so amazing. It will be hard to choose! www.richardsorger.com

In general, I came away with 3 inspirations: feathers, aubergine (the color, not the vegetable) and scarves. I'll be rocking all three this fall.

The best place to start: at the beginning

I travel. I shop. I hunt for good things. It's fun. I have kept notebooks, folders and computer files full of hotels I've stayed in (or want to one day) and shops I've shopped in - hoping that at some point I might bust them out and use them constructively. It's a twisted pleasure that I get out of sharing info that I have had the most fun compiling. So now, I blog. And I share.

London: my European home away from home. How anyone can still afford to go there with the exchange rate as it is, is beyond me... but we do and we like it. We like it very much.

Some recent London things to rave about:

Hannah Martin - Tough jewellery to die for. I am obsessed with both her (she's a blast) and her amazing jewellery. www.hannah-martin.com

Taqueria - The BEST Mexican food in London. It's completely authentic and yummy. Check them out at 139-143 Westbourne Grove W11.

The Shop at Bluebird - When it comes to alternatives to the large department stores like Selfridges (which is brilliant in its own right), The Shop at Bluebird takes the cake. They carry the most amazing lines - all in a cool space - and on the best strolling/shopping street in London (in my humble opinion). Find them at 350 Kings Road SW3.

Chutney Mary - My fave Indian restaurant. Lovely atmosphere and super inventive food. www.chutneymary.com

Sweet Pea (77 Gloucester Ave, Primrose Hill) Every piece in the lovely little shop is beautiful. The pieces are delicate and fairy-like with gemstones strung on fine gold chain and on earrings that glitter. I am an absolute Sweet Pea loyalist.

Spitalfields Market - a Sunday morning ritual. If you don't visit the East End, then you're missing out on some great restaurants (the Indian Restaurants on Brick Lane are reason enough to make the trek there) and a classic part of London. The market is in a historical old market building built in 1887. There you can find fresh baked bread and sweets and all sorts of unique clothing, art and things you just won't find in a shop. While you're there, you must find the "Mr Coffee - he's so frothy" espresso cart. Yes, it really says that on the cart. The guys make the most excellent strong coffee. The market is under construction currently, but it's still worth a trip. www.visitspitalfields.com
After Spitalfields, stroll over to the Sunday UpMarket just down the street. It's rapidly becoming my new fave. www.sundayupmarket.co.uk

Three shops right in Covent Garden that I always hit: Poste Mistress 61-63 Monmouth St, Coco de Mer 23 Monmouth St., and Maharishi 19A Floral St. Poste Mistress has the shoes you need. Coco de Mer has the racy, sexy lingerie. Maharishi has the embroidered cargo trousers that you will want to buy in every style and color... and then you will live in them every day. www.emaharishi.com

Soho Hotel - There are so many great hotels in London. It is hard to choose just one. They all have their merits, but the Soho Hotel is my current fave. It's right in the heart of Soho and it is exquisitely cool. Run by the Firmdale Hotels group, the Soho is one of the newer of the bunch, but all are all highly recommended. www.firmdale.com

... And yes, do go to Top Shop (the big one at Oxford Circus) it is as good as everyone says it is.