Press For Champagne

I’m not all that into makeup.

I have my staples and I stick to them, so I don’t tend to go along to many beauty events or product launches… but this time my friend Lucy, who has her own blog, asked if I’d go along to a Tom Ford party.

If there’s anyone I’ll bend my rules for, it’s Tom Ford!

Oh, and she really sold me with the promise of supper afterwards.

I slipped into something warm and cosy, just the ticket to welcome Autumn back to London.

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And zipped off to The Connaught Hotel.

We met in the bar, where I’d been cornered by an eager and very thirsty American chap, keen to tell me all about his new tech startup.

Lucy arrived just in time to collar me and drag me upstairs to the party.

All of Mr Ford’s favourites were dotted around the rose blossom filled room. Candles burned, music played and girls chatted over glasses of icy bubbles.

We played with the products, smeared them and sniffed them while cheerful waiters drifted by with treats to tempt us.

The makeup artist skilfully showed us how it’s done, with the help of his model.

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He showed us how to create the perfect smokey eye with the TF pallets, how to use the contour duos (dark in the hollows of your cheeks and light across the cheekbones) and suggested which foundation might suit us best.

I have to say I was impressed with the foundation, I rarely wear any as I prefer a more natural look… but this glided on and didn’t feel cakey or heavy at all.

But my real favourite was the new Velvet Orchid scent.

I’m wearing it as I write, now actually. It’s sweet without being sickly and has a sort of deep sensuality to it. It’s very sexy.

After a few glasses of champagne we decided it was probably time for some food, or we’d all be dancing on the tables after the next one!

We left with beautifully packaged goodie bags, and made our way into Soho.

We took a booth at one of my favourite haunts, Bob Bob Ricard.

The decor is sumptuous and incredibly opulent. Like a cross between a gentleman’s club and a classic train.

Everything is wrapped in what looks like golden steel. The tables are marble, the seats are buttery soft leather and even the wallpaper is a one off.

We kicked off with cocktails at the bar.

Before sharing a few starters.

Being that they serve and English and Russian menu, we couldn’t help but start with caviar, blinis & sour cream.

Potato dumplings.

And tartare.

If you find you run dry, there’s a magic button.

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It summons a very excited waiter who’ll be happy to bring you some fizz!

The menu claims to be based on British comfort food.

I think it’s safe to say that our mains fit the bill.

^ If I drowned in truffle mash, I’d die happy.

Lucy plumped for the striped strawberry soufflé.

Mel went for a trio of creme brulees, and I went for the ultimate.

The king of all puddings.

The chocolate bomb.

Watch this!

Yep, a gold melting Death Star, filled with a sort of brownie sundae.

Brilliantly cool.

Although possibly not quite as cool as our choices in tech covers…

I absolutely love Bob Bob Ricard, and highly recommend a trip.

It’s not cheap so might be more of a special occasion place, but it’ll knock your socks off!

Book a booth and check out the new club downstairs on the weekends.