Coffee morning, Carnaby Street

Matt is a Fine Art foundation student at UAL. His hat is Christys', and his scarf and coat are from House of Fraser.

Shinola

My heart may well have skipped a beat when I happened upon the Shinola store on Newburgh Street. There, in the window of this quaint shop, was one of the most beautiful bicycles I had laid eyes on. And surrounding it, a collection of handsome watches and leather accessories in brown, orange and green. I knew I had found a brand I might just fall in love with.

Originating from Detroit, USA, Shinola maintains a distinctively American quality. The premium leathers come in simple yet strong colours, and the products appear meticulously crafted, albeit still with that raw element one often finds with leather goods. More obvious indicators are the leather baseballs and basketballs, leather sleeved varsity jackets, and not to mention the American flag neatly folded atop a shelf.

Although not a colour I normally take a fancying to, I was drawn to the orange leather in Shinola's collection for its bold and warming colour, especially in this wintry December. I took a particular shine to their iPad envelope - handcrafted, a classic design in supple leather, and quite simply a beautiful and practical accessory I am certain will look even better with age. (If only we all did!)

Ultimately however, my favourite colour is green, thus I also find myself leaning towards the Runwell watch with a green leather strap and black face. Recently listed by the Telegraph as one of the top 20 affordable watches to wear this season, it really is a fine timepiece. As are all the Shinola watches, I might add. Would it be too hopeful to expect one in my Christmas stocking? 

 

13 Newburgh Street, London, W1F 7RS (next to Carnaby Street) - or see the collection at: www.shinola.co.uk

Gin up!

Someone was doing their homework properly when I was invited to a gin distillery with Virgin Experience Days. A comprehensive tour complete with tastings - how could I say no to such a tantalising offer? Neither could my friends and self-proclaimed gin fiends, Maddy and Georgia, who I nominated to join me on this special trip into East London. Christmas had most definitely come early.

East London Liquor Company certainly put the "gin" into a Virgin Experience Day (sorry, that was dreadful) by guiding liquor-lovers around their distillery, set in an old glue factory at Bow Wharf. The tour, led by founder and all-round spirit connoisseur Alex Wolport, took us through the distilling process, to bottling and labelling, and finally onto tasting the company's creations in a beautifully rustic bar, which, alongside the distillery's bottle shop, offers a choice of fine spirits from around the world. I thought it charming to meet somebody as greatly passionate as they are knowledgeable about their craft, and the finished products reflect as such.

For an afternoon in East London, it was a gin-lover's dream - although sipping neat gins at room temperature came with some reluctance, it has to be said! (Especially when Maddy went to compare a taster of Tanqueray No.10, and... well, her face says it all.) As the sky darkened outside and the tour came to an end, Maddy, Georgia and I grabbed the tonic and stayed on for a round of drinks. It was delightfully intimate sipping on delicious G&Ts and wearing our cosiest Christmas jumpers.