The Real Elle Woods!

The Ladyboys of Bangkok: The Greatest Showgirls Tour 2019!

Monday, November 04, 2019

Time to get your glam on as the Lady boys are back in town and celebrating turning ‘21’ with The Greatest Showgirls Tour 2019!

Always a highlight of my social calendar this year will dazzle as The Lady boys of Bangkok transform into 16 of the most glamourous showgirls, adorned with crystals and sequins galore, to showcase tributes to some of our favourite divas including Kylie, Beyonce, J-Lo, Madonna, Whitney Houston and Rihanna.

Dreams will be stirred as audiences are served a smorgasbord of routines – from M People to Little Mix to the Pussycat Dolls. And this year the dazzling cast are joining by the UK’s only dwarf drag queen, Jamie John.

Always a night to dazzle and sparkle, this year’s line-up of routines are set to have me dancing and singing the night away as we are transported into this glamorous world, filled with extravagant costumes and dazzling routines, with lots of giggles too!

Tour promoter Binky Beaumont can’t wait to see the Lady boys ‘come of age’ in this latest production.

He said: “When artistic director Philip Gandey opened The Lady Boys of Bangkok at the Edinburgh Fringe in 1998, the success of the show was mind-blowing. After a few amazing years, demand was really high from other cities for us to bring this one-of-a-kind production to them as well.

“For its 21st year we are bringing audiences a show that is even more glitzy and glamourous, and we even have four new cast members! Every year there is a new theme, and ‘The Greatest Showgirls Tour’ allows us to celebrate our favourite divas.”

The Lady Boys wear over 400 impressive costumes in the show, and a full-time seamstress is employed to keep them all in check. But the Lady Boys of Bangkok isn’t all just about glamour. There’s side-splitting comedy, and plenty of audience participation.

With more songs and big-scale musical production numbers than you could point a perfumed glove at, The Lady Boys of Bangkok adds a splash of colour to the black-and-white normality of everyday life. And the entertainment of The Greatest Showgirls Tour soars from start to finish, with its complete celebration of individuality and pride.

Having been a regular attendee for years now I cannot wait to once again party the night away at the hottest ticket in town, The Ladyboys of Bangkok!

(Review to follow).

Coming to a town or city near you, Belfast dates are as follows: Saturday 2nd to Sunday 17th November 2019.

Monday to Thursdays - daily @ 7.30pm.
Fridays/Saturdays @ 7pm & 9pm.
Sundays @ 6pm.

Full tour dates and booking information at ladyboysofbangkok.co.uk.

Thanks to Ladyboys of Bangkok for all relevant press info and review invitation.

Defining Luxury: Decoding the World of Luxe!

Sunday, March 24, 2019

Luxury (NOUN):

1 A state of great comfort or elegance, especially when involving great expense.

1.1 count noun: An inessential, desirable item which is expensive or difficult to obtain.

1.2 in singular: A pleasure obtained only rarely.

"Luxury” is a term we hear all the time in modern society, but is often misunderstood. In today’s Instagram obsessed world it’s easy to get caught up in the hype of a designer or luxury product: suddenly everyone is talking about the latest "Must Have" items and we find ourselves seduced by the marketing of the brand and it’s aesthetics. In a world where a picture is worth a thousand words, we sometimes forget to appreciate the most important story of all……. The true value of what lies beneath the shiny surface of that belt, bag or dress you are lusting after.

Luxury by its very definition is rare, an item or experience that is exceptional, beyond our wildest expectations and as a result is revered and respected. However it’s so easy to get caught up in the hype of luxury, the power of marketing and the pressure to conform in our social media obsessed society. We see everyone with the logo belt or red soles, the bee trainer or the quilted bag and before you know it's value is defined by it's popularity and brand. We forget to look beyond that hype and consider what it is that actually makes it “luxurious”.

More than ever we are becoming a society that seeks to make socially conscious decisions when it comes to our purchases. From ethical sourcing of raw materials and production regimes, to fair pricing and sustainable purchases, we as consumers are wanting to make informed choices when it comes to our spending power. As someone who has been obsessed with designer fashion my whole life, every luxury purchase I have made has always been a considered one. Before I ever bought my first designer bag I knew all there was to know about it, from the leather used to make it, through to the custom made zips produced for it. For me that bag was more than just a label, it was a representation of the finest craftsmanship and skill, producing a true work of art that would be with me for a lifetime. The intrinsic value of luxury for me comes from an understanding, respect and appreciation for the exceptional skills required to create something rare and special.

As many of my regular readers will know, All too often we get so caught up in the prestige of a label and forget to look beyond it to fully appreciate what actually makes that dress, bag, or even a meal or cocktail so remarkable and worth it's price tag. With that idea in mind “Defining Luxury” was born. A monthly post on ‘The Real Elle Woods” where I examine the true meaning and value of modern luxury in today’s society.

I am often asked why I choose to spend my money on luxury fashion, fine restaurants and expensive cocktails (to name but a few of my vices) but it is my hope that these monthy posts will help to decipher the world of luxury and provide a glimpse into it’s true value and worth. It’s not just a red sole that makes a Christian Louboutin shoe so desirable, just as the double CC clasp we all recognise on a Chanel bag is only the starting point for why it has earned iconic status. Ever considered why a Patek Philippe watch is so expensive, well to understand that we need to discover what lies beneath those ticking hands. This is what “Defining Luxury” is all about, a journey of discovery, decoding the world of luxury and exploring why it is worth the price tag it commands. From fashion to lifestyle, every month we shall discover what goes into creating a luxury item, and the customer experience that goes alongside it.

My first post in the series will feature one of my favourite labels as I delve into the world of Olivier Rousteing’s “Balmain Army”, where I hope to give a glimpse into just what goes into bring his breath-taking designs to reality and sharing with you some of my favourite Balmain pieces from my wardrobe!

“Defining Luxury” will be officially launching at the end of March, featuring in depth reviews and interviews from some of the best names in the luxury sector and I cannot wait to share this world with you all!

All photography by Adrian Quinn Photography.

OOTD Diaries! Boho Style and FASHIONWEEK Dreams!

Friday, October 12, 2018

OOTD Diaries : Harness your inner Firehorse!

Wednesday, August 22, 2018

People often ask why I like to buy designer goods, some believe it’s for the kudos of being seen to wear designer labels, or that I have “more money than sense”! But those reasons couldn’t be farther from the truth, in fact it’s the opposite, every substantial purchase is always considered. For me the choice to buy from a designer label stems directly from my love and appreciation of premium quality and craftsmanship. From the initial design process, to the finest artisans using premium materials to skilfully create the final product, this is where the real value lies in an exceptional designer piece. It’s value should never be attributed to a flashy name, but rather it’s should be discovered through an appreciation of the heritage, quality and skill required to create such an exquisitely made piece.

We all know established labels like Hermès or Chanel but for me the most exciting labels to wear are from the emerging sector, not only does it support our future designers but more often than not you are purchasing a treasured item that has a certain level of exclusivity, a hidden jem if you will, that will set you apart from the rest of the fashion set. I am so happy to say that I recently discovered such a jem, in the form of “Firehorse Fashion”.

Founded by Finella Devitt, her dream was to build a UK-based luxury accessories brand that focused on creating wearable works of art by emerging designers using only the very finest of British craftsmanship to create something truly special.

At the very core of Firehorse is Finella’s attention to detail, spending many months sourcing only the finest silk satin, woven in the traditional silk-producing villages of China where generations of farming families plant and nurture mulberry trees to produce the finest silk cocoons, and in turn, the finest silk thread.

The silk satin is then transported to Macclesfield, a city whose silk heritage spans four centuries where expert artisans create each beautiful scarf. The silk is washed in local limestone infused waters to enhance it’s beautiful lustre, while the designs are then printed using a digital technique that ensures the print is as beautiful on the reverse as it is on the front. The hem is then gently hand rolled and is exquisitely finished with hundreds of individual hand sown stitches. The artistry of finishing a scarf in this way has to be seen to be appreciated and creates a beautiful structure and drape to the scarf as it is worn.

These kind of details may not seem important to some, but for someone who appreciates luxury to the extent that I do, each of these elements work together to produce a scarf at the finest level of quality. For their first collection Firehorse partnered with four inspirational British artists and textile designers to create twelve limited designs that perfectly capture the free spirited and creative nature of the Firehorse customer.

As I browsed through each of the scarves on their website I found myself immediately drawn to one of Rachel Parker’s designs, “Mirror”. It’s strong vibrant jewel like colour tones capturing my eye and my heart too! A perfect juxtaposition between colourful femininity and geometric patterns, it’s design captures a strong contemporary feel but retains an artisan feel to its look. I knew immediately that it’s warm pink and purple tones, contrasted by blues, vibrant oranges and cool teals would work perfectly with my chic and stylish wardrobe, adding intrigue and romanticism to any ensemble.

I was truly blown away when I first received my Firehorse “Mirror” scarf, and each time I wear it I feel so special wearing something so beautifully made. A Firehorse scarf is so much more than just a scarf, it represents the finest skill and artistry, a heritage piece that can be passed down from one generation to another. A true work of art to be admired, loved and most of all worn with happiness!

For my first outfit I decided to take a super tailored black suit and give it a fashion edge by adding my Firehorse "Mirror" scarf to the look, tying it in a fun and funky asymmetric bow to give it a playful and flirtatious edge. I believe the clothes we wear should reflect our personalities and the strong, vibrant colours of scarf perfectly reflect my own sense of empowerment. As a women who isn’t afraid to take on the world on my terms, my looks are always effortlessly chic, sophisticated and most of all individual. The "Mirror" scarf perfectly encapsulates this!

However just as a mirror shows many reflections, the same can be said of a personality. Like most people my personality is a myriad of facets and this is also reflected in my sense of style. My second outfit whilst chic, also shows my playful side, colour blocking a vibrant indigo with a zesty orange to create a mischievous feel to an otherwise perfectly coordinated look. Fun but chic, flirtatious and elegant, this outfit probably best describes me as a person and my "Mirror" scarf perfectly brought together all the colours the look together!

With such a versatile design I loved styling two completely different outfits to reflect the myriad of ways to rock my Firehorse scarf! We think of silk satin as a delicate and precious material, but the silk is of such exceptional quality that you really can play with it, twisting and tying the fabric without worrying if it will snag or crease, another example of why quality is so important!

It was such a pleasure to collaborate with Finella and Firehorse, a company that truly embodies all the qualities that make luxury pieces so special and covetable. I cannot believe that I get to own such an exceptional scarf and I am proud to be able to call myself a "Firehorse Lady".

I am also extremely excited to share with you all an exclusive discount code for anyone else who has fallen in love with Firehorse as much as I have!

The code will give you 15% off any purchase from the Firehorse website.

Just enter the code LOULOU15 at the checkout!

Firehorse Fashion:

Click HERE.

"Mirror" by Rachel Parker:

Click HERE.

(T&C's apply: Discount is set up to run for 4 weeks from Tuesday 21st Aug (6am) to Monday 17th Sept (midnight) - 15% off entire order, one use per customer.)

Photographs: Adrian Quinn Photography.

The Ladyboys of Bangkok: The Greatest Showgirls Tour 2019!

Defining Luxury: Decoding the World of Luxe!

OOTD Diaries! Boho Style and FASHIONWEEK Dreams!

OOTD Diaries : Harness your inner Firehorse!

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