Coco Chanel: The Legend and the Life review

If you're looking for a last-minute Christmas present for a fashion-loving friend, you can't go wrong with Justine Picardie's captivating biography of legendary French fashion designer Coco Chanel.

Full of glorious images, thrilling tales of passionate love affairs and a well-researched account of Chanel's rise to the top, and the battles she faced along the way, this book has put Coco firmly on my list of my female heroes.

Read my review here.

Charity Christmas cards

Of course we all know that sending Christmas cards isn't considered very eco-friendly, but if you're a little bit obsessed with greetings cards, as I am, choosing charity Christmas cards helps to ease the guilt. My favourite this year are these vintage designs from Scope - just £2.99 for ten!

Tea cosy

I don't drink tea that often, but somehow I've managed to acquire more than one woman's fair share of tea sets and tea pots. They make for great kitsch decoration and I now feel like a proper hostess when people pop round. Milk and sugar everyone?

Rose print tea set - £4, Shelter, George Street

Tea set - £4, Sussex Beacon, St James' Street

1960S coffee pot - wedding present, floral tea pot - 99p Age Concern, St James' Street

1950s striped coffee set - 10 Euros, Amsterdam

Art Deco tea cup and saucer - £2.99, Ebay

Red metal teapot - £2, Shelter, Westen Road, coffee cup, part of above set

White metal teapot - wedding present

Brighton Open Houses - Cross Street

What better way than to spend a Sunday afternoon in the run-up to Christmas than visiting some of the Open Houses currently displaying art and gifts from local creative talent in our area.


Much more enjoyable than trudging down Western Road (when was the last time you were given complimentary mulled wine and snacks while browsing in Churchill Square?) these are the perfect places to pick up unique Christmas gifts, decorations and cards, or even just a little treat for yourself.

My nearest Open House is just round the corner on Cross Street, Hove, a wooden panelled workshop space used for mosaic and jewellery-making classes.

Cosy and kitsch, the studio is jam-packed with gorgeous handmade crafts including mosaic artwork, bunting, cards, jewellery, prints, brooches, pocket mirrors, leather purses, soft-toy animals, fabric pin boards and much more. Plenty to pour over while your generous hosts pour you another mulled wine...

To find your nearest Open House, visit the Artists Open Houses website.