London Black Book

Doutzen Kroes (born January 23, 1985 in Eastermar, the Netherlands) is a Dutch model and currently one of the Victoria’s Secret Angels.

Doutzen has been one of the world’s top ten highest paid models in the past years and in May 2009 Forbes named Kroes fifth again in the list of the World’s 15 Top- Earning Supermodels.

Kroes has been featured on the covers of Time, Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Seventeen, Elle, Marie Claire, Glamour, W, Avantgarde, Dazed & Confused and Numéro. She also appears regularly in the Victoria’s Secret catalog and walked the runway of the company’s fashion show in 2005, 2006, 2008 and 2009.

Kroes’s campaigns include Gucci, Tommy Hilfiger, Escada, Dolce & Gabbana, Valentino, Versace, Hugo Boss, Guerlain, Bottega Veneta, De Beers, Escada, GAP, Gianfranco Ferre, and Neiman Marcus. She has walked in numerous shows, including Bottega Veneta, Christian Dior, Christian Lacroix, Dolce & Gabbana, Dsquared2 Fendi, Jean Paul Gaultier, John Galliano,Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs, Roberto Cavalli, Valentino, and Versace.

Voluptuous French beauty Laetitia Casta was discovered by a photographer while she on a family holiday at the age of 15.

Since then Casta has come a very long way – Casta was the official face of L’Oréal, Dior, and Chanel. She was featured in Guess? Jeans, Tommy Hilfiger, Miu Miu and XOXO ad campaigns.

Casta has appeared on over 100 magazine covers including Victoria’s Secret catalogs, ELLE magazine, and Vogue magazine. She also appeared in three consecutive Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issues, Rolling Stone, and a Pirelli Calendar.

Does this woman need any more proof for her hotness?

She is now the face of Ralph Lauren’s newest fragrance, Notorious.

Miranda May Kerr (born 20 April 1983) is an Australian model best known as one of the Victoria’s Secret Angels since mid-2007. She is the first Australian to participate in the Victoria’s Secret campaign.

Kerr began modeling in the fashion industry in her early teens after winning a 1997 Australian nationwide model search at the age of 14.

Following her success with Maybelline in the USA in 2006, Kerr became the first Australian model to be offered a contract with Victoria’s Secret in 2007, replacing Gisele Bündchen.

In late 2007, Kerr began dating actor Orlando Bloom – they are still together as we speak.

We have all heard about the terrible earthquake in Haiti, there is an opportunity for us to help those far less fortunate then us. Please click here if you would like to give a donation, learn more and help out.

Just when you thought “a notebook is a notebook…they’re all the same” – ha! no they’re not…we bring you the extraordinary “rite in the rain” series of stationary…

This all-weather writing paper is so fabulously English it just makes me want to drink watered-down-tea and gaze out the window into the pouring rain…or maybe I could sit outside and get soaking wet I make myself some notes in my all-weather-notebook?

It is apparently generally categorised as a tactical/military product – whatever that may mean…

You can different page patterns, sizes, spiral, hard bound…whatever you like…not to forget a range of colours too – anything your heart could possibly desire for some great outdoor-drenched-note-taking!

And forget mere weather conditions, even for those amongst us looking to do some note-taking under water there is a notebook – the dura rite series which is “…synthetic paper created for use in extreme conditions. It is actually waterproof and can be used under water.”

But bless them – the people over at Rite in in the Rain are very passionate about their little books and even have a section on their site for reviews and cool stories you have on your Rite in the Rain experiences – from all over the world:

If this map is anything to go by – Rite in the Rain is a raging success from Alaska to Madagascar and back!

A fabulous idea just struck me out of the blue :) the “international beauties” series. Every week we pick a different country and feature an absolutely gorgeous women it is known for!

Let’s start things off with the one and only Mrs. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan…

It is hard to believe that this stunningly gorgeous woman, fondly known as Ash or Aish to her many fans, is now 36 years old already. The 1994 Miss World continues to be a model and actress and married into the Bachchan family not too long ago.

With contracts with Swiss Luxury Brand Longines, Lux, Coca-Cola and more, Ash need not worry too much about losing her contract as the Indian face of L’Oreal…why did this happen?

Mrs. Rai-Bachchan refused to be the face of a ‘skin lightening cream’ by L’Oreal – She said that she didn’t want to promote a fairness cream especially in India where one’s skin colour is such a big issue. She will never promote a product that discriminates on the basis of one’s skin colour.

A big up for Aishwarya for standing firm on this even though it cost her millions to do so – skin lightening creams are too dangerous and too popular across Asia and leave many aspiring young girls with skin diseases, deformities, scars and depigmentation patches.

Who says you can’t have beauty AND brains AND a heart!

Christmas 2009 is over and we’re all feeling totally stuffed from lots of yummy food…slightly slow from (waaaay) too many drinks…we’ve loved the mulled wine and all the desserts…

Aaaand, what else to do while we prepare for New Year’s Eve than shop the first of the fashion SALES?!

Post-Christmas sales are on. It’s freezing cold outside. I don’t really want to leave the warm and comfy house…so where do I make the best of the sales? Haaa – ONLINE of course!

Here are the first things to catch my eye so far:

This See by Chloe is the ideal size for day-to-day use and the smattering of snakeskin gives it a chic edge. Now at 30% OFF at my-wardrobe.com.

This Michael by Michael Kors cream bag shouts ‘winter luxe’ and is gorgeous teamed with soft mohairs and angoras. Mirror the bag with louche slouch style and neutral colours. Now at 50% OFF at my-wardrobe.com.

When you’re on duty, organisation is key to ensure your day runs smoothly, and with this Anya Hindmarch bag at 30% OFF there is no need to sacrifice style. The colouring of the tri bag means it compliments your working wardrobe perfectly – get it now at my-wardrobe.com!

Ever since Tiger Woods slammed his SUV into a fire hydrant outside his main gate the endless details of all his extra-marital affairs have been bursting out of every media channel.

Brief Summary:
14 mistresses (so far) during 5 year marriage to Elin Nordegren
2 of these porn actresses
2 others of these hookers
2 (at least) ‘party hostesses’ most of them semi-long-term affairs – some even starting before he got married
2 potential tiger-baby-mamas
3 private residences, no-one-knows-how-many-hotels-in-how-many-places
1 private yacht called ‘Privacy’ – where Woods and mistress Rachel Uchitel are rumoured to be apparently hanging out at the moment

(Tiger Woods mistress Rachel Uchitel in image above)

Gatorade, TAG Heuer, Gilette drop sponsorship deals – Puma is trying to sign Elin Nordegren…

Reactions are soooo typically She Thinks/ He Thinks. Where I (the girl) work its an all-female team/ floor/ building – not a single soul has the slightest pity, appreciation of sporting skills, understanding or any sort of positive response whatsoever in general for Mr. Woods…

Personally I do find it very hard to believe that Elin had no clue at all all this time – seriously?!?! reaaallly?!?!

Anyway – speak to The Boy and we get the all male reaction of “ugh, I don’t want hear about that” or “he is still one of the best sportsmen ever”…

Why is that us girlies can’t seperate a good sportsman and businessman for the sex-addicted-drug-habit-supporting-serial-cheater?

Why is it that for us it is so absolute that Tiger can in no possible way ever be worth mentioning in any sort of positive light ever?

Why is it that guys seem to be able to do this effortlessly? What is better? What is correct? Who is right?

(Tiger Woods’ wife Elin Nordegren in image above – it is speculated the Swedish model may soon be leaving for greener pastures)

So on (most) Wednesdays the Boy and I have this movie thing – each alternating week its one person’s choice and that person pays for everything and the other person shuts up and joins.

This was the solution we came to after we realised there was no way we would ever ever ever want to go to the same movie at the same time…he dragged me into District 9 (which I ended up loving) and I dragged him into Fame (which was as expected a total disaster) so yeah – works pretty well too actually!

Anyway, a couple of weeks ago it was my turn and there seemed to be seriously nothing on that I’d even remotely want to watch. Then I was at the HMV on Oxford Street and was buying a sh*tload of Wong Kar-Wai DVDs when the girl behind the counter asked me if  I’d seen the new Asian movie called ‘Thirst’ yet…I hadn’t even head of it. So when I discovered it was playing at the Rio in Dalston, it obviously had to be the movie of the week.

This Korean movie’s original title is ‘Bajkwi’ and it the latest from crazy creative director Chan Wook-Park (the director of Old Boy).

This movie is very much a one of a kind and the briefest of summaries (as on imdb) puts it together as: Sang-hyun, a priest working for a hospital, selflessly volunteers for a secret vaccine development project intended to eradicate a deadly virus. However, the virus eventually takes over the priest. He nearly dies, but makes a miraculous recovery by an accidental transfusion of vampire blood. He realizes his sole reason for living: the pleasures of the flesh.

Was there any way I could have expected what the movie delivered?

no.

Was it messy and bloody and scary?

yes, quite a few times.

Was it surprising?

yes. at least by the time the Catholic priest hang the victims upside down to drip bleed into buckets in the bath tub, I was surprised.

Was it the average vampire action?

no – more.

Did I think it was worth the money and time spent?

yes – definitely different enough and well made enough to be worth the time and money, even when you don’t understand Korean, the effect works.

Would I buy the DVD?

no – worth a one off in a cinema, but doubt I’d curl up on the sofa for a dvd night with this.

Why do I think I liked it though I hate vampire movies?

probably ’cause it is actually a love story as well – a totally warped, crazy, twisted, mad one yes – but still a love story. beyond all the blood-sucking and neck-breaking and general vampire gore, there is a streak of love and sacrifice that is pretty unique for a vampire movie.

Is it a must-see for Asian cinema fans?

definitely!