Mother's Day around the World

United Kingdom , 18th March 2007

In the United Kingdom Mother's Day, or as it is sometimes known Mothering Sunday, falls on the fourth Sunday of Lent which is three weeks before Easter Sunday. Nowadays it is a celebration of our mothers but it's historical roots are somewhat different. Originating sometime around the 1500s it is believed...

Suzanne Ermann - a Fairy's fingers

The tale of the rising talent of Suzanne Ermann.

Suzanne Ermann's unique designs combine grace and glamour to delicately enhance the natural feminine beauty.

Suzannes early days at the renouned Parisian fashion school, Chambre Syndicale de la Couture, were marked by a sense of perfection, a true love of her work and the sense of art within it.

Her talent and skills were further enriched during years of training at household names such as Chantal Thomass, Chanel and Thierry Mugler after which she had become confident enough in her own capability to...

Burlesque really isn't so Burly?

Most people think "burlesque" is a seedy striptease by the average woman with a face full of make-up, (me included). However, recently, I watched a programme about the history and art of burlesque and I found it absolutely fascinating. Burlesque, when done properly, is elegant and glamorous and transforms the act of stripping into an art form.

Burlesque began in the 19th century British music hall and gradually became a little racier in the first half of the 20th century. Burlesque became very popular, with exponents wearing exotic lingerie and outrageous costumes, revealing as much of the female figure as possible without being overly vulgar. Hustles, bustles, nipple tassels (sounds painful!) and...     

The ‘not so' humble Swimsuit

Whether you call them bathing suits, bathers, swimsuits, swimming costumes or togs they are still an essential fashion accessory for any beach holiday.

Originally bathing in the nude was the norm but as society changed so did values. The swimsuit can trace it origins back two thousand years where public bathing was quite popular in ancient Greece among wealthy women. During the Roman era bathing became much more popular and widespread among both sexes and mosaics have been found in Sicily and again in Pompeii which show young Roman women clad in a ‘modern looking' bikini type garment.

Following the fall of the Roman Empire public bathing declined and it wasn't until the early...

The lengths a New York girl will go to!

One Mio Destino customer from New York City shares her Valentine's Day journey, as she endured being stranded in an East Coast snowstorm for over 9 hours between New York and DC airports wearing a tight fitting corset that she couldn't get off, all in the name of love...

"To surprise my sweetheart on Valentine's I bought a stunning black corset, stockings and suspender belt. I then put on all the gear and set off for the airport. I realized en route the corset was overly cinched, and it was starting to get uncomfortable. I'd had to have a friend tie it up for me...this corset was not a one person job! Just my luck, the entire East Coast was hit by a classic winter's storm and my flights were rerouted, meaning I was stuck between the NYC and DC airport for over 9 hours, (including a 2 ½ hour wait on the runway). I desperately wanted to loosen the corset, but it's not just anyone you can ask to help out!

Things just got worse as I...

A Slip, is the Slips, is a Slip?

Hopkinson, Carl Daniel
Professional Cricketer, Sussex C.C.C.

The following is a script of the interview with Carl on 21st February 2007.

Please tell me a little about yourself and your background?

I'm 25 yrs old and I signed on with Sussex in 2001 after my A levels and having attended Brighton College. I am an opening batsman.

Was cricket a passion from an early age and how were you introduced to it?

I have always loved the game and I owe a lot to my Dad who initially got me playing. I played for our village team and was put forth for trials in the under 11 division and then I gradually worked my way up playing with Sussex since...   

Sir John Soane's House & Museum

13 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London

An eclectic collection of artifacts ranging from sumptuous oil paintings by William Hogarth to Apulian vases from the 4th Century BC and housed in what must be one of the loveliest of museums - a real gem!

Soane was born in 1753, the son of a bricklayer eventually becoming one of England's greatest architects.

After Soanes appointment as Professor of Architecture at the Royal Academy in 1806 he began to arrange his books, casts and models in order that the students might have the benefit of easy access to them. He would open his house for the use of...  

'Yes Master' featured at London Fashion Week

'Yes Master' by the talented lingerie designer 'Igor Pacemski' was subject to a rigorous vetting process by the British Fashion Council where a product range was submited to a panel of BFC industry experts. They inspected the submited sample collection for design, quality, conceptual aspects as well as press visibility and stockist credibility.

The Vauxhaull Fashion Scout and the BFC felt that Yes Master represented the spirit of the moment, was of the highest quality, was very conceptual and that it should...

Valentine's Day Paris Competition Winner Announced

Congratulations to Helen from South West London who has won the Mio Destino Valentine's Day Weekend Trip for Two to Paris!

'Helen, bon voyage et bonnes vacances!' 

Thanks to 'Magenta Skies' for their sponsorship.