Softly, softly on Sloane Square

It's often East London that gets the credit for being the go-to place for Fashionistas. Reading street style blogs and designer bios anyone would think that Shoreditch was the centre of the style universe. Yet, Fulham is replete with fashion history. It's the home of Laura Ashley. The World's End was (and still is) the venue for Vivienne Westwood's iconic first shop (with that kooky Alice in Wonderland outside clock that spins round and round). And last week, we were delighted to learn from charismatic Brora founder Victoria Stapleton, that Fulham was the scene of her first studio also!

Sojourn in Fulham aside - although we do like to fly the home flag - Victoria's story is both interesting and inspiring. Not only is she a prime example of a successful female entreprenur, she's effortlessly elegant in a wonderfully cool and casual way, very articulate and engaging and crucially, a passionate supporter of keeping things British and supporting those who help her run her business. Born and bred in Cumbria, Victoria started her relationship with the Hunters of Brora Mill in Scotland when her father saved it from administrators in 1990. The mill had for a long time provided tweed to some many of the world's iconic luxury brands, from Burberry to Hackett to Chanel, and provided work to several generations of local families. Breaking away in 1993, Victoria established Brora as a mail-order Cashmere business. She opened her first studio in Fulham and the rest is history - she now owns over 10 shops around the country and has been nominated for many a Businesswoman of the Year award too! Almost all her wares are Made in Britain (the kids' woolies are all handknitted in Scotland) and she has sourced her cashmere from many of the same Mongolian herds for years. She uses only the finest threads for her cashmere, and employs traditional methods like teasles to give it that soft brushed effect. Continuing the heritage theme, many of Brora's 40s-inspired tea dresses and non-wool products use reworked Liberty prints from the archives, re-dyed to fit in with that season's palette so that all the collection can be worked effortlessly together. If you like a bit of ethical luxury, Brora is a go to brand.

Below is the AW Brora palette: I love the Periwinkle, Mulberry, Pigeon and Murano colours.

We visited Brora's second Chelsea store (the first opened further up the Kings Road in 1995) last week to listen to Victoria speak about the Brora story and to preview the Autumn/Winter collection. In the impeccably laid out, bright and airy Sloane Square venue we were treated to canapes and Prosecco (lucky us!) and spent the best part of two hours swooning over the impossibly soft cashmeres, mohair knits and the very chic accessories line (new in the past year or so). I hadn't realised Brora did a line in accessories, and my goodness do they do them well! They're fun, on trend, everyday chic classics, and my personal favourites were the beautiful snakeskin belts, brown felt fedora and black buckle boots.

There's something luxurious, covet-able yet hugely homely and comforting about cashmere. It's not something I own a lot of, but money-permitting I'd spend all winter in it if I could. I found myself lusting after a beautiful Aran knit charcoal grey jumper and a fun black-and-blue mohair knit sweater - both of which are now at the top of my Christmas wish-list.

Brora's Sloane Square store can be found at 6-8 Symons Street, Chelsea, SW3 2TJ

The A/W is available for purchase now

Made in.. The Botanist - Perfect for People Watching.

If you're in the Sloane Square area, and in the market for a mean cocktail, The Botanist has for a long time been your go to place. The bar is always doing a booming trade, as elegantly dressed professionals (for some reason everyone seems to be in a dress or a suit) spill out on to the street sip their Bellinis and Cosmopolitans and watch the (sophisticated) hordes go by. The prime Sloane Square positions makes it popular with bankers and Chelsea socialites (indeed we saw two of the girls from Made in Chelsea dithering outside, having filmed a scene at nearby Tiffany) but there is a vibrant older crowd there enjoying themselves too.

The Botanist treads the line well between elegance and modern sophistication. True to its name, there are stunning bouquets of flowers dotted around and the bar is a grand silver affair. Whilst there is a restaurant area attached, the main reason people come here is for the creative cocktail menu with it's mix of Botanist originals and twists on old favourites.

They weren't cheap (cocktails are £9 upwards) but we were impressed with our Empire Collins and Original Singapore Sling. The barman took the time to mix everything properly, and the garnish was fresh, simple and modern.

There is a lively atmosphere at The Botanist, but due to its popularity and lack of outdoor space (drinkers spill onto small marked areas on the Sloane Square pavement), unless you're there for a quick drink and some serious people watching you'd be wise to arrive early. And if you are there for some people watching... boy have you come to the right place! As well as our Made In Chelsea sighting, the sartorial choices of our fellow drinkers (several in floor length gowns) were definitely worth the trip, as well as a classic "banker moment" in which a Ferrari roared up outside while some model-type tried her best to catch everyone's attention as she got inside. Despite this description, the place feels surprisingly unpretentious. This is probably due to the huge age range of our fellow drinks. On the whole, everyone seemed to be kicking back and unwinding with a good drink in hand - even those in the evening gowns!