Mailbox Life Issue 1

MY MAILBOX In 2013, the Mailbox launched a vision to transform into a lifestyle destination like no other. We find out what the new Mailbox means for the whole of Birmingham.

A LIFE MADE BEAUTIFUL We talk to the creators of the new Life Made Beautiful campaign about luxury experiences, creating an exciting concept and a fashion film.

SIGNATURE SCENTS From rich and masculine Italian fragrances to sumptuous and musky floral aromas, we have your perfect match. Take our test to find the scent for you.

Welcome Welcome to Autumn/Winter at the new Mailbox! There is so much to be excited about this season. We have just celebrated the unveiling of our iconic Urban Room, which marked a major milestone in our two year redevelopment. Earlier this year Harvey Nichols relocated to the centre of the Mailbox and opened a stunning new concept store. We also welcomed the fabulous Everyman Cinema and independent bars and restaurants, Gas Street Social and Aluna. Inside the transformed new Mailbox we have a variety of new premium retailers, including Hugo Boss, Tommy Hilfiger, Daniel Footwear and Calvin Klein Underwear – it’s time to start making those Christmas wish lists. In this Autumn/Winter issue of Mailbox Life, you can expect a luxurious offering of new season fashion and beauty looks to get you ready for the winter season in style. Don’t miss our exclusive interview with the woman responsible for taking customer service to the next level of luxury and our one-toone with the man who helped to spearhead a change in the Mailbox’s retail offering.

For the stylish men amongst you, we have an edit of the new season must-haves to keep you looking good all winter long and beyond. If you are in need of a fragrance update, we have just the thing with our Signature Scents quiz to help you find your perfect match. If all of the above wasn’t already exciting enough, we are launching the new Mailbox app in early 2016! With a host of amazing features including access to our brand new Exclusive Club, offering a selection of bespoke offers and experiences, and so much more! Keep up to date on all our latest events and updates via our Twitter and Facebook pages. We hope you enjoy the new Mailbox Life magazine and toast the new season with us very soon.

Until then, happy shopping.

Stay up to date with everything Mailbox at mailboxlife.com FOLLOW US: facebook.com/mailboxlife twitter.com/mailboxlife instagram.com/mailboxlife

youtube.com/themailboxbham pinterest.com/mailboxlife plus.google.com/+mailboxbirmingham

OPENING TIMES: Monday – Saturday 10am – 7pm Sunday 11am – 5pm Bars & Restaurants: Monday – Sunday 10am – Late

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Contents Women

Beauty

06 Women’s Trend The hottest trends this season 12 Trend: How to Wear Feel sexy and smart in two trends 14 Retailer Spotlight A guide to the luxurious Harvey Nichols 18 Brand Focus A fashion spotlight on the new Tommy Hilfiger store at the Mailbox 20 Coats & Boots The search for this season’s perfect coat is finally over 24 Into The Woods The stylish way to layer up

60 For Your Eyes Only The founders of Eyeko on the perfect mascara 62 Colour Wash This season’s prettiest palette 68 Get The Look Achieve our beauty shoot look 69 Catwalk-Ready Hair How to get the perfect blow-dry 70 Party Hair Crush From elegant updos to glamourous waves 72 My Beauty Secrets Harvey Nichols staff share their beauty essentials

Men 35 The Edit: Must-haves Update your wardrobe with the best picks of the season 39 Trend Report Two trends you need to know this winter 41 The New Basics From office to off-duty, here are the must-haves 42 A Matter of Personal Style We talk to Style Concierge at Harvey Nichols 46 My Mailbox David Pardoe on the new Mailbox and what it means for Birmingham 50 Double Trouble We find out the secret to getting the perfect hair style 56 Signature Scent Take the test to find yours

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Life 74 Life News The latest from the Mailbox restaurants 76 A Touch Of Frost The spirits to take you through winter 77 Winter Cocktails Three of the best at the Mailbox 78 Something For Everyman The Everyman Cinema special 80 Winter Dishes The season’s most tempting dishes 84 The Ultimate Customer Experience Mailbox takes customer service to new heights 86 Life Made Beautiful The stunning new campaign 88 A Celebration to Remember The Mailbox unveiling

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Mailbox Life is created by RileyRaven • www.rileyraven.co.uk • hello@rileyraven.co.uk Editor-in-Chief Andrew Riley Creative Director Mike Raven Editor Elle Sixsmith Design Paige Goddard & Simon Konaszczuk Contributors Laura Smith, Kirtey Verma & Lucy Nichols

On The Cover: Caroline wears - Nicole Farhi oxblood drape dress, £595, fawn cardigan, £195, Gucci black wide-brimmed felt hat, £310, Isabel Marant suede slouch boots, £500. All available at Harvey Nichols

All information is correct at the time of going to press. Please note that prices for items are subject to change so may vary from those mentioned, contact individual stores for definitive pricing information. No part of this magazine may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, without prior permission. We make every effort to ensure that firms and organisations mentioned are reputable, however, we can give no guarantee that they will fulfil their obligations in all circumstances. Contributors’ opinions do not necessarily reflect those of the editor or of Mailbox Life. Any material submitted is done so at the owner’s risk, and the company can take no responsibility for the safe storage or return of such material.

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Boss

Women

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Jaeger jumper, £175 Jaeger drape neck dress, £299

Lola Rose bracelet, £45, Jaeger

Eddie Borgo bracelet, £240, Harvey Nichols

L.K.Bennett leather skirt, £395 Givenchy boots, £885, Harvey Nichols

NARS eyeshadow, £21, Harvey Nichols

PAIR WITH Jewellery with key military detailing – knots, hoops and locks look chic in silver and gold.

Jaeger bracelet, £30

McQueen crepe dress, £1,165,

Roland Mouret

Alexander

URBAN ARMY

Harvey Nichols

Spotted at Jason Wu and Roland Mouret, modern military is polished with a seductive edge – mix luxurious trench coats and hero accessories with leather separates DKNY wool coat, £650, Harvey Nichols

Alexander McQueen scarf, £165, Harvey Nichols

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Michael Kors satchel, £310, Daniel Footwear

Lulu Guinness clutch, £395, Daniel Footwear

Balmain ruffle dress, £1,280, Harvey Nichols Yves Saint Laurent palette, £42.50, Harvey Nichols

Charlotte Olympia sandals, £575, Harvey Nichols

Emilio de la Morena

Alice + Olivia lamé dress, £285, Harvey Nichols

PAIR WITH Bold jewellery. If all out eighties glam is going too far, just add chunky gold jewels to your look.

Christopher Kane dress, £850, Harvey Nichols

EIGHTIES DISCO

Katie Rowland 18kt gold-plated earrings, £220, Harvey Nichols

Saint Laurent and Balmain led the eighties revival – metallics, embellishments and gold look luxe with leather and velvet Stella McCartney bag, £550, Harvey Nichols

L.K.Bennett clutch, £275

Daniel court shoes, £139, Daniel Footwear Jaeger top, £99

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Lola Rose gold cuff bracelet, £75, Harvey Nichols

APM Monaco ear stud, £50, Harvey Nichols

Daniel lace-up shoes, £179, Daniel Footwear

PAIR WITH

Peter Pilotto jersey dress, £590, Harvey Nichols

L.K.Bennett

Pared-down jewellery and neutral accessories for a wearable take on the trend.

knit top, £155

L.K.Bennett midi skirt, £250

L.K.Bennett clutch, £295

Jonathan Saunders

GRAPHIC CONTENT

The most vibrant trend of the season – abstract monochrome prints and bold colour combinations will liven up your A/W15 wardrobe

Jaeger silk shirt, £150

L.K.Bennett court Aquazzura sandals, Harvey Nichols, £620

L.K.Bennett print dress, £125

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shoes,£180

PAIR WITH A cashmere knit over a lace dress and ankle boots for a simple daytime look.

Saint Laurent boots, £590, Harvey Nichols

Red Valentino cape, £690, Harvey Nichols

Jaeger cashmere jumper, £149

Amanda Wakeley

Jaeger lace knit dress, £175

Alice + Olivia sequinned top, £285, Harvey Nichols

Jaeger OPI nail lacquer

earrings, £25

£12.50, Harvey Nichols

DARK ROMANCE

Alexander McQueen lace dress, £1,400, Harvey Nichols

Jaeger wrap culottes, £199

Feminine and delicate, the Victoriana look is all in the detailing. Add elegance with lace, ruffles and bows Valentino shoulder bag, £1,375, Harvey Nichols

Jaeger capped pearl necklace, £85

Daniel suede cage sandals, £129, Daniel Footwear

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Charlotte Simone scarf, £299, Harvey Nichols

Joseph shearling coat, £1,575, Harvey Nichols

L.K.Bennett rabbit fur hat, £55 Stella McCartney faux fur bag, £660,

Joseph gilet, £625

Harvey Nichols

Harvey Nichols

PAIR WITH Leather for a chic and warm evening look with a contrast of luxurious fabrics.

Jaeger leather trousers, £699

Topshop Unique

FUZZY FEELING

Cosy up with A/W’s most covetable furry favourites. From bags and gilets to pom poms and coats – go for fur detailing and all over shearling

Tommy Hilfiger backpack, £320

L.K.Bennett sheepskin coat, £995

Marc Jacobs fur clutch, £665, Daniel Footwear

Sophie Hulme keyring, £150, Harvey Nichols

L.K.Bennett shearling coat, £895

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L.K.Bennett coat, £425

Isabel Marant high-waisted trousers, £185, Harvey Nichols

Joseph jumper, £345, Harvey Nichols

Amanda Wakeley

Tommy Hilfiger bag, £225

Vita Fede bracelet, £285, Harvey Nichols

PAIR WITH Polished accessories in pops of nude and pastel pink to liven a neutral look.

Jaeger sweater, £199 L.K.Bennett suede knee boots, £425

NATURAL SELECTION

Jaeger duster coat, £499

A cool tonal palette of luxury basics in sumptuous suede, cashmere and wool create a softer take on tailoring Olivia Burton watch, £135, Harvey Nichols

Jaeger wool trousers, £150

DKNY leather bag, £115, Daniel Footwear

Daniel suede knee high boots, £349, Daniel Footwear

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Jaeger lapel dress, £225

Vita Fede 24kt gold-plated earrings, £175, Harvey Nichols

Charlotte Olympia platform court shoes, £545, Daniel Footwear

Jaeger lapel jacket, £225

L.K.Bennett beaded clutch, £225

How To Wear Boss

The Tuxedo

Mirlo diamond bar necklace, £995, Harvey Nichols

Like a boss: remind everyone who’s in charge Smoking. Sexy. Stylish. Making a reappearance on all the catwalks this season, the tux is an eternal classic. Forget the dress, no other evening wear is quite as edgy or quite as cool.

Prove your femme fatale credentials and opt for a Jaeger evening blazer with a white blouse and unravelled bow tie á la Angelina Jolie. Feeling brave? Don’t be afraid to up the sex appeal ante on this androgynous look with a feminine lace bandeau, tailored trousers and chic, black suede pumps. Finish the look with a siren slick of red lipstick for that bombshell effect.

Dolce & Gabbana velvet bow tie, £125, Harvey Nichols

Boss

Stuart Weitzman glitter sandals, £298, Daniel Footwear

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L.K.Bennett gold button blazer, £295

Jaeger silk trousers, £150

L.K.Bennett haircalf flats, £225

Mirlo sapphire gold ring, £620, Harvey Nichols

Sportmax leopard felt coat, £805, Harvey Nichols

Animal print Jaeger bangle, £35

Go wild this season From top to toe, with blouses or boots, it’s easy to introduce staple animal prints to your wardrobe this season. Statement pieces like leopard print coats can be teamed with neutral colours to achieve an effortlessly chic look that stands out from the crowd.

Team a spotted shirt with a leather skirt and metallic pumps, for a vibrant style straight off the runway.

Alternatively, add a modern edge by teaming a loose dress with a leopard print coat. If you want to introduce animal prints in a more subtle way, accessorise accordingly. A pair of leopard print courts or a clutch can easily elevate your look.

Stella McCartney leopard print tote, £680, Harvey Nichols Larsson & Jennings gold-plated watch, £225, Harvey Nichols

Marc Jacobs leopard mini case, £50, Daniel Footwear

Jaeger print trousers, £150

Jaeger leather pencil skirt, £350 Jaeger silk print blouse, £150 Isabel Marant leopard print trainers, £295,

Nicole Miller

Harvey Nichols

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The Harvey Nichols Experience

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At the forefront of luxury, the state-of-the-art Harvey Nichols store at the Mailbox takes the shopping and dining experience to the next level. The concept of the store is so groundbreaking that it’s now the blueprint for all future Harvey Nichols. With more than 200 luxury brands across fashion, beauty, food and wine, you’ll truly be spoilt for choice

Plush Interior Designed by Virgile + Partners, the department store was created to have the ambience of a five-star hotel.

‘The brief was to create a store that would respond to today’s customer expectations, (and to) provide a stage to display the best-edit of product in an environment that was innovative, evolutionary and offered our customers an unrivalled luxury experience’, says Harvey Nichols Group Marketing and Creative Director Shadi Halliwell.

The store’s design concept is ‘controlled disruption’. With no tight hard walkways, the open-plan layout allows you to move freely and explore the beautiful pieces in your own time.

Cleverly, everything is on one floor so you can shop, discover beauty brands and book in for treatments, all in one place. The décor is a luxurious palette of contrasting textures and materials with mannequins made from a unique variety of stone and metal. The entrance is another stand-out feature, composed of an impressive 2,500 LED lights – you really feel as though you are walking into an exclusive Hollywood party.

Shoes glorious shoes!

Tech-Savvy

Tweet all about it

Often we complain about malfunctioning technology ruining our shopping experiences but thankfully, that’s not the case at Harvey Nichols. Outfit dilemmas are solved with the help of the 360-degree mirror in the Style Concierge suite, which videos you to ensure you know how you look from all angles. You’ll know exactly how your outfit looks and all without straining your neck in the process – result! Forget queuing at the till; all transactions are done on pads, so you can pay and have your purchases wrapped and bagged while you’re still in the changing room.

Make use of the Style Concierge team who can arrange in-store hair and makeup appointments and look after your bags too. All customers can enjoy the

complimentary VIP experience thanks to expert stylists who can make sure your wardrobe is up-to-date with this season’s trends. They’ll do the hard work for you, bringing you a selection of pieces and will even do the giftwrapping and arrange home delivery.

Download the Rewards app and get the VIP treatment with invitations to exclusive, members-only sales and events, and complimentary samples.

Enjoy a choice of indulgent experiences every three months, including an express pedicure and dinner for two, or you can simply choose vouchers to spend instead. As you know, points mean prizes, points unlock higher levels and even better rewards. Top-level members can enjoy express alterations, express returns, secret sales and a stylist at home.

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Delicious Dining If you’re overwhelmed by the sheer fabulousness of the store, take a break at Harvey Nichols Restaurant and Bar. Slide into a leather banquet booth and enjoy a mouth-watering menu curated by Michelin-starred local chef Glynn Purnell. As with the store, the dining experience is personal too with hospitality director Marion Carpentier saying, ‘It’s all-day dining. There are no rules. We are about premium, casual dining and if you want eggs or porridge at 3pm you can have it.’ We love their fillet steak served on a salt-block that’s heated to 400 degrees, infusing flavour and cooking the meat to perfection.

Redefining the parameters of traditions, Harvey Nichols offers innovative cocktail creations and unique flavour combinations that pay homage to the culture of Birmingham. We love the Basil Swizzle, a beautifully crisp sloe gin cocktail. For a more artistic tipple, go for the Daquiri Blossom – a modern take on a classic Daquiri made with Havana Club 3-year-old spiced rum, Southeast Asian kalamansi juice and jasmine extract syrup served with an apple blossom ice ball. It sounds so heavenly we never want to leave – and you don’t have to; the bar is open until 12:30am on Saturday and Sunday.

Luxurious Beauty Hit the Beauty Services area to enjoy facials, massages and makeovers from experts at Crème de la Mer, Yves Saint Laurent and Lancôme. Treat yourself

Relax at the plush bar

to a choice of polish, acrylic extensions, gel treatments or nail art at Shavata Nail Bar. Enter the privacy and tranquility of Beyond MediSpa and choose from a range of medical aesthetic procedures for face and body, in the safe hands of a full-time doctor. Your complimentary consultation begins with a Visia Skincare Analysis that uses UV light to create 3D images of your face, measuring skin conditions, revealing wrinkles, UV spots and red areas.

Whilst this might sound daunting, the Visia Skincare Analysis helps to decide where to target treatment and, most importantly, map the incredible results over time!

Treat yourself to some retail therapy

If you fancy a quick pick-me-up you can tame your mane in just 30 minutes at the new Hershesons Blow-Dry Bar. It offers a fast and simple choice of 12 current hair looks, just sink into the pristine white chairs and let your professional stylist work their magic.

Whether you want to shop, dine, pamper or simply explore the luxurious surroundings, there’s truly something for everyone.

The Style Concierge Experience

Private dining made easy

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In need of the perfect outfit for an event or a complete wardrobe overhaul? The Harvey Nichols Style Concierge service takes personal shopping to a new level of luxury. And the best thing of all? Not only do you have a personal stylist at your beck and call, it’s completely free!

For us, shopping for the perfect outfit tends to become a high-stress workout. We are always short of time, and running from shop to shop wading through racks of clothes whilst fighting off the crowds is rarely a pleasurable

experience. So when we were introduced to Style Concierge, the bespoke styling service located in Harvey Nichols, we had to give it a go. The complimentary service is available to all customers, and allows you to enjoy a one to one consultation in a private suite whilst a stylist helps you create the perfect look for your occasion.

Upon arriving at the Style Concierge, having booked instore, (you can also book online and over the phone) we are greeted by Barry, our stylist for the session, and led into a plush lounge. We are offered refreshments and made to feel comfortable. The lounge is out of the way of the shop floor so instantly feels intimate and very exclusive.

When Barry returns we talk through what we are looking for, our favourite brands, and he takes down sizes. It’s also possible to have your hair and make-up done to get a better idea of how the finished outfit will look. Barry booked us in for a complimentary session with Estée Lauder and a “wavy gravy” blow-dry with the in-store team at Hershesons.

Hair tamed and looking polished it’s time to head out onto the shop floor with Barry, but you can happily relax in the Style Concierge Lounge while your stylist pulls together a selection of choices.

Barry immediately picks out two jumpsuits, one a clean cut design and the other with embellishment detailing; both are perfect. Wanting to look elegant but not in an all-out glamour party dress, this was the perfect alternative. Next, to

Hydrafacial at Beyond Medispa, Harvey Nichols It’s the latest beauty treatment loved by the A List and now it’s available in Harvey Nichols. Lisa Piddington puts the revolutionary HydraFacial to the test

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shoes and accessories and he picks out some key pieces that match perfectly with the outfit.

You can even feel the luxury in the changing rooms – they are spacious and comfortable with some seriously impressive new technology. The ‘does my bum look big in this’ dilemma is solved with the state of the art 360-degree digital mirror with slo-mo camera, which allows you to record your twirl and see your entire outfit. There’s a ‘modesty cupboard’ which means your stylist can pass your clothes to you without the embarrassment of seeing you in your underwear, there’s even a charger if your phone needs a battery boost.

If you’re after a bespoke stressfree shopping experience with expert advice and added luxury, this is definitely for you.

ike many women, I don’t get the time to truly look after my skin. So when I was offered the very latest HydraFacial™ at the newly opened Beyond MediSpa Birmingham, I have to admit to being excited. It’s the treatment loved by celebrities including Beyonce, Kate Winslet, Cameron Diaz and Paris Hilton... Now there’s a select crowd to be ‘in’ with.

The Medispa is situated on the mezzanine level of Harvey Nichols and there’s a definite air of calm away from the designer delights below. I was instantly put at ease, led into one of the peaceful treatment rooms and, after a health questionnaire, it was time to lie back and think of great looking skin.

The HydraFacial™ uses revolutionary, non-invasive skin-resurfacing technology to deliver nutrients and antioxidants; while a vacuum-based tip removes impurities to dramatically increases the hydration of your skin.

Infrared LED light is used to reduce redness and further stimulate collagen.

It sounds complicated, but basically this powerhouse procedure detoxes, exfoliates, brightens, hydrates and then rejuvenates all in less than an hour.

It’s not uncomfortable and at times I did find myself nodding off a little. It’s clinically proven too, even a couple of weeks later I’m still experiencing the benefits.

The HyrdaFacial™ takes approximately 60 minutes and prices start from £130.

A course of six is recommended after which the results can be improved and maintained with regular visits.

The procedure is suitable for all skin types and can also be customised to safely and effectively address specific concerns and anti-ageing issues.

Customers can book a complimentary 60-minute consultation with the Beyond MediSpa team at Harvey Nichols to discuss specific needs and to create a personalised treatment plan.

For more details contact 0121 616 6014 or visit the clinic in store.

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Preppy Perfect The Mailbox welcomes luxury label Tommy Hilfiger to the Urban Room and to celebrate we take a look at how the world-renowned lifestyle brand has defined preppy all-American cool Tommy Hilfiger is open Mon - Sat 10am - 7pm and Sun 11am - 5pm. Find them on Level 2.

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ailed as the original go-to for American preppy styles, Tommy Hilfiger started life in the 1970s with a chain of 10 stores in upstate New York. In 1985, the label’s American-born designer launched a £1.8 million ad campaign that proclaimed him as one of ‘Four Great American Menswear Designers’, along with Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren. By 1990 sales had topped £15 million, and by the mid-1990s Tommy Hilfiger had a celebrity following that numbered the likes of Snoop Doggy Dog, Britney Spears, and The Rolling Stones. Hilfiger was named Menswear Designer of the Year by the Council of Fashion Designers of America in 1995, and today his fashion empire encompasses fragrances, sportswear, accessories, and footwear, and is worth more than £240 million a year.

Classic and cool, with a twist

Aimed at a confident career woman who likes to look and feel good, Tommy Hilfiger epitomises classic American cool, with a refreshing twist. The brand’s signature red, white and blue colour palette features every year, while other lines focus on a changing palette of seasonal colours. A relaxed, fun aesthetic sees details like rolled-up jeans and cuffs bring pieces down to earth, and collections are intended for every day, taking the wearer from the weekend to work and on to the evening. Linings are finished in luxurious materials such as silk, and attention to detail is paramount.

American sportswear for A/W15

A/W15 nods to American sportswear with a youth-centric collection and a punchy athletic edge – think varsity sweatshirts in faux fur, silky baseball jackets with helmet and star badges, pleated miniskirts, and v-neck sweater dresses.

And for those not looking to make a sporting reference, there are ivory shearling coats, alpaca capes, and white leather trousers.

A beautiful brand showcase

As the ultimate location for Tommy Hilfiger’s second UK concept store, the Mailbox offers the perfect synergy of a beautiful brand showcase and an ideal access point to both new and existing Tommy Hilfiger customers.

Nestled alongside brands such as Armani Collezioni (Opening 2016) and the Harvey Nichols concept store, the newly renovated Mailbox makes shopping effortless and luxurious. The Mailbox’s Urban Room flows directly into the store’s stylish and cutting-edge interior and the store frontage makes it easy and more inviting to wander in. The store showcases a

carefully selected edit of Tommy Hilfiger’s top-end collections, including ready-to-wear, footwear and accessories.

Womenswear takes the spotlight at the front of the store, and women’s collections take centre stage throughout with intuitive displays ensuring easy navigation.

Tailormade customer service

At Tommy Hilfiger, service is second-to-none and every customer is treated to individual, bespoke attention. From assisting with finding the perfect item for a special occasion to tailoring an entire wardrobe to a customer’s lifestyle, assistants are highly experienced and provide outstanding, one-to-one service.

Timeless designs that are made to last

The brand’s capsule collections are accessible to all as they’re arranged in red, white and blue colour palettes, seasonal lines, and a chambray blue that is included in the range every year. All lines play with patterns, fabrics and Stephanie cuts, and the current season boot, £225 features plenty of boyfriend and oversized fits. Pieces are effortless to wear and suit all shapes and sizes, with wardrobe staples such as down puffa coats, throw-on denim, and a camel trench coat that is always a bestseller. Prices range from £80 to £400 for premium Colour block investment pieces. From 100% cape, £135 silk dresses to smart leather accessories, Tommy Hilfiger’s designs are iconic classics that are both timeless and Dora loafer, £140 made to last year after year.

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Daniel black boots, £199, Daniel Footwear

L.K.Bennett blue ankle boots, £250

L.K.Bennett stripe coat, £350

STYLE TIP Take a walk on the wild side and pair a leopard print coat with ankle boots for a twist on your usual winter look.

Print leopard print coat, £765, Harvey Nichols

£805, Harvey Nichols

Tommy Hilfiger ankle boots, £170

J.W. Anderson

Diane Von Furstenberg

Sportmax checked coat,

The Edit

Coats and Boots From block brights and subtle prints to luxurious textures and cool tonals, this season’s coats deliver a bold statement. Team with kneehigh, biker, heeled and ankle boots to match L.K.Bennett dogtooth coat, £350

STYLE TIP

L.K.Bennett black

L.K.Bennett suede boots, £275

Pair form with function in these suede ankle boots which are guaranteed to impress.

ankle boots, £295

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Isabel Marant jacket, £275, Harvey Nichols

Daniel navy boots, £229, Daniel footwear

Bold

Red Valentino coat, £595, Harvey Nichols

Michael Kors boots, £220, Daniel Footwear

STYLE TIP

Opt for a bold, block colour coat this season and pair with heeled boots for added excitement.

Jaeger folded lapel coat, £350

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DKNY cobalt blue coat, £790, Harvey Nichols

Daniel black boots, £199, Daniel Footwear L.K.Bennett yellow coat, £425

STYLE TIP

L.K.Bennett glitter ankle boots, £325

L.K.Bennett red coat, £425

Sportmax orange coat, £805, Harvey Nichols

Look distinctive and make a fashion statement with a bold red coat.

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STYLE TIP

A mohair coat is the must-have piece for every wardrobe this season. Providing warmth and versatility, what more could you ask for?

Daniel leather boots, £149, Daniel Footwear Michael Kors cape, £275, Harvey Nichols

Dom Goor shearling coat, £1,705, Harvey Nichols

J.W. Anderson

Kenzo wool blend coat, £505 Harvey Nichols

Texture

Saint Laurent Paris studded boots,

Jaeger alpaca duster coat, £499

£845, Harvey Nichols

Jaeger puffer jacket, £199

STYLE TIP

Topshop Unique

Pair urban biker boots with a textured coat to put a modern spin on your outfit.

Valentino studded boots, £880, Harvey Nichols

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DKNY faux fur gilet, £270, Harvey Nichols

STYLE TIP

Instantly elevate a camel coat with a pop of colour in a versatile pair of L.K.Bennett mulberry knee boots.

Jaeger funnel neck coat, £299

Amanda Wakeley

L.K.Bennett suede boots, £325

Jaeger suede coat, £499 Joseph wool wrap coat, £1,830, Harvey Nichols

STYLE TIP

Neutral

A match for everything in your wardrobe, what could be more of an investment than a pair of black knee-high boots?

Givenchy chain wellington boots, £275, Harvey Nichols

Vince grey coat, £685, Harvey Nichols Jaeger sliced collar coat, £499

Givenchy fold-over boots, £1,450, Harvey Nichols

Paul Smith Black ivory coat, £500, Harvey Nichols

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Isabel Marant cable knit jumper, £355 Nicole Farhi sleeveless draped top, £250 Rossetta Getty flared wool skirt, £660 Loeffler Randall calf hair satchel, £540

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Into The Woods Photography: Mike Raven, Styling: Lizzy Gardner, Make-up: Lanc么me at Harvey Nichols, Hair: Craig Curtis at Nicky Clarke, Model: Caroline at Bookings Models. All clothing available from Harvey Nichols, Mailbox

Nicole Farhi draped dress, £595, silk top, £295 Isabel Marant sleeveless wool jacket, £385 Missoma gemstone bracelet, £95

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Joseph sleeveless crepe dress, £295, and knitted jumper dress, £345 Isabel Marant suede slouch boots, £500 Eddie Borgo pearl rings, £115

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Joseph jumper dress, £225 Stella McCartney flatforms with gold chain, £300 Eddie Borgo 5 finger ring, £185

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Vince drape coat, £630 Nicole Farhi draped dress, £595 Missoma pendent, £150, and gold evil eye bracelet, £90

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Nicole Farhi drape dress, £595, Fawn cardigan, £195 Gucci wide-brimmed felt hat, £310 Isabel Marant suede slouch boots, £500 Stylist’s own belt

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Sportmax check coat, £1410 Nicole Farhi draped dress, £595 Givenchy wedge ankle boot, £1125

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Men

Lee Roach

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The Edit The must-haves for a man about town this season

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The Parka Stray away from khaki, and make a statement in this bright yellow Tommy Hilfiger parka. In honour of Hilfiger’s brand of American cool, it features generous pockets and a detachable faux fur hood. Combined with a cosy, cable knit jumper, this padded parka serves as the perfect transition into winter. With a matte finish and a classic design, it is a smart choice for every lover of the great outdoors and a definite style staple for the cold months ahead.

Tommy Hilfiger statement yellow parka, ÂŁ330

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2 Gieves and Hawkes garment carrier, ÂŁ795

The Carrier Practical and polished, this monogrammed Gieves and Hawkes garment carrier proves true style extends to the little features. The perfect combination of soft black wool, leather and flannel, this bag is the ideal choice for your clothes. Whether you are going to a special event or on a weekend away, this is an accessory that complements any look.

Boss hat and scarf set, ÂŁ105, Hugo Boss

The Knits

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With a luxurious texture, this duo catches the eye with the originality of its design and understated elegance.

This hat and scarf set promises the Hugo Boss level of sophistication. Made from 100% wool, the stylish pattern enhances your look without distraction.

Pair with a long, black coat to achieve a particularly dapper effect. Alternatively, team with a navy tailored jacket and leather boots for an instant style update.

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The Case

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The must-have accessory for the busy man, this navy, practical document case delivers a beautiful aesthetic with the faultless quality you would expect from Gieves & Hawkes. Crafted from 100% calf leather, the monogrammed case allows you to stay organised and exudes elegance as you travel to and from different meetings. Whether it holds your tablet, notepad or stationery, it effortlessly combines soft grey flannel lining and brass fittings to present a masterful statement.

Gieves & Hawkes leather navy case, £695

5 The Tailored Coat Look sharp and cut the figure of a well-tailored gentleman in this cool, camel coat. With classic, notched lapels and flap pockets, this wool blend coat ensures a truly sophisticated silhouette. The clean lines and slim shape provide ample room to layer over smart suits and casual sweaters. An impeccable option for winter dressing, don’t settle for anything less than a perfect fit.

Tiger of Sweden camel wool coat, £435, Harvey Nichols

Buscemi leather hi-tops, £560, Harvey Nichols

The Casual Shoe

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Take inspiration from the Italians with these Buscemi trainers. Handcrafted from durable full-grain leather and featuring gold detailing, these trainers are made in Italy, in the same factory that produces Chanel. Rock these with jeans or jogging bottoms to stand out from the crowd.

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Tommy Hilfiger the roll neck, £125

The Roll Neck

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Knitwear doesn’t need to be complicated. Stay warm this winter in this irresistibly soft, grey woolen sweater from Tommy Hilfiger. Casual yet inviting, with a simple textured pattern and ribbed roll neck to lock in warmth for comfortable off-duty dressing. Pair it with a clean-lined coat and chinos and confidently venture out into the cold. Alternatively, for an appropriate workwear style, dress it up with a navy blazer and dark grey trousers in place of a shirt.

Boss leather shoes, £300, Hugo Boss

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The Smart Boot Shoes can either make or break an outfit and the craftsmanship of this pair is flawless. Choose these versatile leather desert boots from Hugo Boss to complement your Winter wardrobe. During the week, partner with a slim fit suit and at the weekend, team with a thick jumper and beige chinos. Complete your look with these lace-ups and deliver the right impression, wherever you are.

Hugo leather trainers, £199, Hugo Boss

Etxebarria

Acqua di Parma Colonia Essenza cologne, £60 (50ml), Harvey Nichols

Dolce & Gabbana T-shirt, £300, Harvey Nichols

Alexander McQueen T-shirt, £185, Harvey Nichols

Haculla bomber jacket, £295, Harvey Nichols God’s Masterful Children jeans, £180, Harvey Nichols

HOW TO WEAR

MONOCHROME Alexander McQueen backpack, £360, Harvey Nichols

Never underestimate the power of black and white. While most rules are made to be broken, the cardinal rule of monochrome always triumphs in style. This season they provide a cool alternative for those who are not ready to embrace brighter hues. For sports luxe, look to brands like Balmain and McQueen for T-shirts with bold graphics and paneling.

Givenchy shell jacket, £835, Harvey Nichols

Boss dinner jacket, £430, Hugo Boss

Alexander McQueen scarf, £165, Harvey Nichols

Gieves & Hawkes portfolio briefcase, £1,195

Boss silk knitted tie, £105, Hugo Boss

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Briston clubmaster watch, £215, Harvey Nichols

Tommy Hilfiger bobby blazer, £355

Ede & Ravenscroft

Boss leather jacket, £630, Hugo Boss

Boss sweater, £280, Hugo Boss

Hugo parka, £500, Hugo Boss

Dolce & Gabbana cable-knit jumper, £575, Harvey Nichols

HOW TO WEAR

Tommy Hilfiger dalton boots, £130

Tiger of Sweden jacket, £360, Harvey Nichols

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HERITAGE Winter is coming. With that, the opportunity to layer up and embrace the great outdoors is all the more inviting. Heritage sees the return to a country look with a contemporary edge.

Whilst the traditional image of British heritage has roots in plaids, khakis and hunting jackets, this season there is a strong focus on outerwear with a mix of leather and tweed.

Keep it cool and team a roll neck knit with a tweed blazer.

The finishing touch? A dash of Creed Green Irish Tweed cologne.

Creed Green Irish Tweed EDT, £160 (75ml), Harvey Nichols

Gucci holdall £930, Harvey Nichols

Tommy Hilfiger striped jumper, £150

Grenson brogue boots, £235, Harvey Nichols

The New Basics 1

From office to off-duty, here’s how to stay stylish whatever the season

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A Matter Of Personal Style Matching exceptional service with styling expertise, the Harvey Nichols Style Concierge service certainly takes the legwork out of shopping. It’s like having your very own fashion insider, someone who isn’t loyal to any one brand but instead can offer an edit of the season to find the perfect outfit for you. Every little detail is considered, from light refreshments through to gift-wrapping and home delivery, making it a truly luxurious experience from start to finish. And what’s more, it’s complimentary!

We went behind the scenes to meet two of the Style Concierge team – Lewis Pittaway and Barry De Lacy – to find out more about this most stylish of shopping experiences and discover their own personal styling secrets.

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‘My favourite brand at the moment has to be Balenciaga’

Lewis So, how does the Style Concierge service work?

It’s the ultimate five-star customer experience.

Perhaps you’ve got a big event coming up, or maybe you’re looking for the key season must-haves, you simply make an appointment online. After chatting with the client, we get an idea of what they like, or what items they may already have in their wardrobe, and then we can select outfits that we think they will love.

When they come into store, they are invited into our Style Concierge suite so we can build a profile with them. They can then sit back, enjoy complimentary refreshments, catch up on emails or read a magazine while we handpick items for them; alternatively we can take them onto the shop floor with us to show them our recommendations. It’s all about making our customer feel the most comfortable.

Describe your own personal style?

I’m quite laid-back but I do have a quirky side.

I get a lot of my inspiration from the likes of GQ and Esquire and I like playing with different colour combinations, mixing an elegant blazer with a daring pair of trousers. My style adapts to how I feel from one day to the next – today I’ve dressed quite urban with Balenciaga jeans but tomorrow I’ll probably wear a smarter blazer with a white shirt and burgundy three-quarter length trousers. My favourite brand at the moment has to be Balenciaga, the AW15 collections really represent what I love most about men’s fashion.

What is your favourite item in your wardrobe?

It would have to be a vintage leather jacket that my grandad gave me. It’s black with sheepskin around the collar and he used to wear it when he was my age. It goes with absolutely everything!

What are your top menswear trends this season?

Menswear trends always tend to have a very strong urban influence, so slouchy T-shirts, bomber jackets and hi-tops are a key look. I also love the military trend, with khaki coats, knits and lace-up boots.

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Barry What are you wearing today?

I’m a big fan of cropped trousers for men – relaxed tailoring means you look smart but still feel very comfortable, so I’ve teamed Neil Barrett ankle-grazers with Paul Smith brogues, a Dolce and Gabbana white shirt and a watch by one of my favourite accessory brands Unknown.

Tell us about your role in the Style Concierge team?

I’m one of the Stylists so my role is to advise customers on how to wear the season’s trends, introduce them to new labels and show them which pieces work with which. As well as the service in store we can offer house appointments where we take a selection of items along to a client’s home. This gives us the chance to show them how to style our choices with their current wardrobe.

What does your style say about you?

I guess it says I’m quite different and that I like to stand out from the norm.

I love contemporary street wear from brands such as Givenchy and Balenciaga but I would say trainers really steal my heart! I style my outfits around them and I own quite a few pairs of Yeezys, Louboutins and Balenciagas. I also invest in bomber jackets – my favourites this season are from Alpha Industry, very cool and very urban.

Has your style changed since you started working at Harvey Nichols?

Absolutely, but then how could it not when you work with the very best brands in the industry day in, day out! I am far more daring when it comes to what I wear and I would happily try on something that I would never have even looked at before. We like to be fearlessly stylish!

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My Mailbox: David Pardoe In 2013, the Mailbox launched a vision to create a new luxury lifestyle experience with a plan to completely transform the Mailbox

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he new vision has been shaped by extensive customer feedback and focus groups, guiding the creation of a haven for pampering, relaxation and premium shopping. At the helm of the redevelopment is David Pardoe, who helped to spearhead a change in the retail offering. Here, he tells us how the Mailbox has become a lifestyle destination like no other.

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‘We are the biggest mixed-use building outside of London’ What does your job at the Mailbox entail?

It’s a very varied role. First of all, my background is in retail and I have worked in department stores all of my life. I work with the retailers and help them achieve their business objectives and maximize their sales.

In my role as Head of Marketing it’s all about executing the agreed marketing plan we have as well as liaising with the media, whether that’s print or radio. The biggest part of my role is tenant engagement; I’m the first port of contact for all of our occupiers here including the restaurants, office workers and retail.

How long have you worked at the Mailbox?

I’ve worked at the Mailbox for eight years this December. I’ve seen a lot of changes over the years, but I think the Mailbox has always been iconic in the city. Before the refurbishment, some people saw the retail offering at the Mailbox as a little empty so the retail side of things has been the most challenging aspect. We took this on board, and when the owners decided to invest in the new Mailbox, it was the retail side that most investment went into. An agreement with Harvey Nichols to move to the heart of the Mailbox meant that the front was much more let-able for new stores, as opposed to having Harvey Nichols at the front where people would visit Harvey Nichols and then leave.

Tell us about the new stores…

What we wanted to do was to create a point of difference from the rest of the city, and that’s why brands like Hugo Boss and Armani were so keen to trade with us. It was about introducing 48

new big brands like Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger but also looking at regional independent brands to create an exciting retail experience. I think customers want to see things a little bit different instead of going to a high street where you just see the same names. We are combining international brands with more local independents and we have got more to come.

Daniel Footwear and the Urban Room

How would you say the customer experience has changed?

What we will now have is a more complete retail offer with many more stores. The stores are like boutiques, offering a great personal service that you wouldn’t be able to get anywhere else in the city. But the variety of the stores is going to be so much better than it was before. The new Harvey Nichols store is just amazing and I

think it really takes retail to a new level in terms of the theatre, décor and the innovative use of new digital technology. You can go into the fitting rooms there and take a photo of your outfit on the 360-degree digital mirror and tweet it to your family and friends. I think in terms of the customer experience, it gives us a real opportunity to offer a more personal service due to the nature of our stores. I think when you visit our fabulous shops, restaurants and bars, as well as our hair salons and the cinema, we are much more than a shopping experience; we are a lifestyle destination.

What would you say were the aims of the new design and do you think everything has been achieved?

The aim of the redesign was to create a cool, innovative space with a varied, luxurious offering and I certainly think that has been achieved. I think the Urban Room in practice looks better than the computer generated images; we wanted to create this beautiful space where people would just relax

also about improving the customer circulation in the Mailbox and that’s something we have addressed by moving our escalators and also introducing a way-finding scheme. It’s a bit different but we have had great feedback, and at the Mailbox we try and do things that no-one has ever done before.

For me, the biggest change was Harvey Nichols. By moving, it has created this ground-breaking new department store, so different to any of their existing stores, and it’s now the blueprint for all future stores. It’s not just a real jewel in the crown for the Mailbox, it’s also a real jewel in the crown for Birmingham.

Above: The new entrance to Harvey Nichols. Below: The new Mailbox roof and Calvin Klein Underwear store

and dwell with us. The more time people spend here, the more people will use our facilities – the shops, restaurants and bars.

The Urban Room on the upper floor has folding doors. They are always open during the daytime to create the feel of an airport departure lounge environment, which I think is a really good concept. We also have the opportunity to close the doors after shop hours so we can hold some great city and Mailbox events. There aren’t many destinations in the UK that can do that, but it’s something you see a lot more in other European countries where you see shopping destinations actually re-inventing themselves to have other uses.

What would you say was the most significant stage of the redevelopment?

I think the roof was a major milestone in the development because it’s what customers had requested. Everyone said to us, ‘We love the Mailbox but I wish it had a roof!’ But I think it was

What do you think the redevelopment means for the whole of the city?

It’s just fabulous; Birmingham is now a world-class city. The retail offering in Birmingham is absolutely fantastic. Birmingham now has five big department stores within five minutes of each other. There is no other city in the UK outside London to have that.

The new Mailbox fits in so well in so well with the new city centre, with great connectivity to New Street Station as we are very close to the entrance. What we try to achieve is a really creative experience for our guests; having the roof does create a beautiful Urban Room. This means customers can shop with us without trying to dodge the rain. It looks like a really incredible space, which complements other retail attractions in the city. We are aimed at a discerning customer, having brands like Harvey Nichols, Hugo Boss and Tommy Hilfiger.

In effect, there are eight things you can do with us: park, shop, be pampered, dine, stay, live, work, and go to our brilliant new Everyman Cinema.

For us it’s about dwell time and guests spending time in the Mailbox and using all of the facilities, whether they are shopping with us, parking with us or having a great meal then going to the cinema. We are the biggest mixed-use building outside of London; only the Shard is bigger.

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The Textured Fringe For mid-length hair it’s all about weight. Keeping your hair heavier on top with a choppy cut will ensure you have lots to play with. Clean tapered sides ensure you’re on trend. For a relaxed daytime look, work label.men Deconstructor (£11.95) through from the roots to the tips of your hair, layering as you go.

Double TONI&GUY Essensuals share the secret to the perfect hairstyle... It’s versatile 50

The Clean Quiff This cut lets you mix it up when it comes to styling. For a polished clean quiff, spray label.men Thickening Tonic (£10.95) into the roots and blow-dry your hair back using your fingers to tease the hair into place. Use a small amout of label. men Deconstructor (£11.95) for a matt hold without the clumps.

Trouble Hair: Chad James at TONI&GUY Essensuals Make-up: Jessica Wigley & Sarah Hunston Models: Elliot, Jack and Jordan at Alan Sharman Agency MAILBOXLIFE.COM

The 90’s Revival This winter bring out your inner 90’s child. For shorter hair a thinner, sharper cut brings crisp lines and choppy weight. Keeping the length shorter all over makes this style perfect for the guy on the move.

Blow-dry your hair forwards and work label.men Max Wax (£11.95) all over, allowing separation in the fringe.

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The Short and Slick The sharp nature of this cut lends itself perfectly to a classic side slicked style. Take inspiration from E.tautz at LC:M - using a comb, add a side parting and work in label.men Sculpting Pomade (£11.50) sweeping the hair to the side. You’ll get hold and shine in seconds.

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The Free Curl Gone are the days when curly, out of control hair left you reaching for the nearest hat.

Embrace curls by forcing them into the spotlight. A tapered skin-fade to the sides of your hair will mean they get the attention they deserve. Use label.men Grooming Cream (ÂŁ10.50) to separate individual curls and add to height with gradual thickness.

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The Loose Weighted Fringe To tame those locks, start by applying a small amount of label.m Protein Spray (ÂŁ14.25) all over. Using straighteners on a medium-high heat, begin to softly iron out sections of curls leaving them to overlap as you go. Once finished, use a small amount of label.men Grooming Cream (ÂŁ10.50) to add greater separation and weight to your new waves.

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Floral

Oriental 1

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Dolce & Gabbana

Prada

LM Parfum

Salvatore Ferragamo

Tom Ford Acqua di Parma

The One Gentleman

Amber Pour Homme

Ambre Muscadin

White Mimosa

Velvet Orchid

Colonia

Perfect for the sophisticated man, this fragrance has luxurious aromas of grapefruit, lavender and smooth vanilla.

100ml, £64.

The ever first men’s fragrance

by Prada is an Oriental scent with rich amber.

Elegant, with strong base notes.

100ml, £63.50.

This decadent fragrance boasts rare exotic notes including Mount Atlas cedar, jasmine and orange blossom.

100ml, £135.

Part of the Tuscan Scent range, an Oriental floral fragrance, with sweet mandarin, white mimosa and vanilla notes.

75ml, £175.

Tom Ford’s Velvet Orchid is a rich, musky floral scent, with warming accords of deep myrrh and peru balsam.

100ml, £105.

New to floral?

Colonia is a great place to start.

An aromatic and masculine take on jasmine, lavender, rose and citrus.

180ml, £107.

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Find Your Fragrance Match Wood

From rich and masculine Italian fragrances, to sumptuous and musky, floral aromas – find your perfect scent with Harvey Nichols

Leather

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DSquared2

Tom Ford

Marc Jacobs

Trussardi

Bottega Veneta

Chanel

He Wood

Tobacco Vanille

Bang

My Land

Pour Homme Extrême

Antaeus Pour Homme

Go all natural with He Wood. This musky scent from the Caten twins boasts notes of amber, cedar and warming violet.

100ml, £61.

We love the Private Collection’s spicy Tobacco Vanille – sweet vanilla meets cacao and tobacco leaf.

50ml, £145.

Marc Jacob’s Bang was created for the modern man; stand out with notes of sea wood and spicy fragrant pepper.

50ml, £41.

Classic, elegant and oozing with Italian sophistication.

Woody and leathery aromas meet zesty citrus top notes.

100ml, £73.

The first fragrance for men by Bottega Veneta, it’s ultramasculine and intensely rugged yet sensual.

90ml, £68.

Antaeus of Ancient Greek mythology means that this Chanel fragrance is for the heroic and strong man.

100ml, £65.

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Take The Scent Test Who is your man crush?

Tom Hardy

Johnny Depp

Where would you prefer to holiday?

What is your favourite cuisine?

Paris

Ita

lia n T hai

Rome

What film genre do you prefer?

Action

What is your ideal date?

Comedy

Levis Wine by the fire

What is your tipple of choice?

Pint

WOOD

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What is the key piece in your wardrobe?

Bourbon

LEATHER

Picnic in the park

A well tailored suit

How would you describe yourself?

Sweet

FLORAL

Spicy

ORIENTAL

Boss

Beauty

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For Your Eyes Only Eyeko co-founder Nina Leykind talks Alexa Chung, 60s flicks and why we all need a ‘mascara wardrobe’

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f you could pick one model to be involved in creating your new beauty look, we’re pretty sure Alexa Chung would be high up your list. So for top British beauty brand Eyeko, it was a ‘no-brainer’ to collaborate with fellow Brit Alexa.

Since then, the brand’s stock has soared, so where else could Eyeko set up its first Birmingham base than in the Mailbox’s very own Harvey Nichols?!

Established in 1999 by husband and wife team Nina and Max Leykind, Eyeko sets itself apart from its fellow beauty brands by just focusing on one thing and doing it really well; in this case it’s all about the eyes. As Nina explains, ‘We re-invented mascara by packaging it in a zero-waste squeeze tube to ensure it never dries out, and set about educating consumers that one size doesn’t fit all.’ Now available in exclusive stores in over 25 countries, Eyeko has become the go-to make-up brand for creating red carpet and catwalk looks for the likes of Isabel Marant and Frost French.

Eyeko’s leap from niche British brand to global beauty power player was cemented in 2013 when Alexa Chung came on board as Creative Consultant, but how did this Brit power partnership come about? ‘Alexa had been a long-time fan of the brand before we even met and was devoted to our Skinny Liquid Eyeliner pen – and still is,’ explains Nina.

‘When we met her by chance and thanked her for the many press mentions, she was full of ideas of what we could do and even began doodling eyes and product names on

her napkin. After that was a no-brainer to start working together!’ Unlike many celebrity endorsements, Alexa is not only the face of Eyeko but three years on plays a key part in developing the range. As Nina concludes, ‘Alexa is now very much embedded in our brand DNA.’ For Eyeko the partnership was perfect as it also complemented their ongoing obsession with the 1960s beauty aesthetic, part of Alexa’s signature look. The brand is synonymous with cat eyes, sixties flicks and luscious lashes – no coincidence given this era inspired Nina and Max when developing the range. ‘Of course Alexa is our muse and together we share a love of icons like Francoise Hardy, Jane Birkin, Anna Karina and of course Audrey Hepburn and Brigitte Bardot!’ says Nina.

Alexa isn’t the brand’s only celebrity fan – the products have become firm favourites with top make-up artists globally. ‘We have been incredibly fortunate to have found favour with so many top make-up artists who naturally recommend products to their clients, which has garnered a huge celebrity fan base for us,’ admits Nina. ‘Word of mouth is key and when artists like Kay Montano and Lisa Eldridge cite your products as musthaves, both professionally and personally, and use them on the likes of Thandie Newton, Kerry Washington and Margot Robbie, it certainly helps drive the message that Eyeko is the go-to brand for eyes!’

The Eyeko beauty power duo are credited with coining the

‘Alexa is now very much embedded in our brand DNA’

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Eyeko’s Top Tips For Perfect Lashes: Co-founders Max Leykind and Nina Leykind with Alexa Chung

Of course we couldn’t let one of the world’s top beauty moguls escape without getting Nina’s top beauty tips…

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Out with the old, in with the new Remember to buy a new mascara every 4 to 6 months and throw out the old one. Eyeko mascaras last for ages because of our unique squeezy tubes – there’s no waste as you can squeeze out every last drop and they never dry up so people tend to hold onto them for a lot longer. However, it is advisable for hygiene reasons to replace your mascara regularly.

term ‘mascara wardrobing’. If, like us, you need a bit of ‘help’ with this concept, Nina helpfully defines this as the process of ‘using more than one mascara to create your ideal lash look.’ For those of us that have stuck to one tried and tested mascara for years this is a revolutionary approach, and Nina and Max didn’t stop there. Their fifteen years of expertise also culminated in another world first – Eyeko Bespoke Mascara, custom-made for each individual’s eyes.

This personalised mascara service ‘Bespoke’ is unique to Eyeko. Three years in the making, the process involved refining products, innovating packaging and brushes and training a team of ‘Mascara Editors’ who will advise and prescribe the perfect mascara custom-made for your eyes during a consultation. The process was recently described as ‘life-changing’ by the Financial Times – yes really.

Whether it’s full-bodied dramatic lashes you’re after, or a more natural daytime flutter, Eyeko’s Editors will advise and prescribe your perfect custom-made mascara while you wait. ‘We will ensure your lashes are matched with the perfect brush, combined with a formula that meets your lash needs and desires created from a choice of over 100 combinations to help you find the perfect one,’ explains Nina. Handily, each Bespoke Mascara is made on the spot and the finished product comes in a monogrammed, luxe box complete with exclusive lash comb – nice things definitely come in small packages.

Word to the wise, with Christmas looming the brand also does a lovely little range of make-up bags printed with clever eye-based puns: ‘Eye want it all’ or ‘Look me in the eyeliner and say that’ anyone?! With Eyeko seemingly conquering the beauty world one lash at a time it won’t be long before we’re all wondering how we ever coped before our very own lash stylist came along…

The Eyeko range is now available exclusively at Beyond Beauty at Harvey Nichols Birmingham.

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It’s all about brows to wow The most common mistakes are made with brows, which is why we’ve introduced a new fail-safe product, Eyeko Brow Magic Brow Boost, that contains fibres to build up brows for an incredibly natural, believable brow look that looks like you’re not wearing any product! It’s flying out of stores as everyone wants bigger, bolder brows now.

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Wash and go Make sure you wipe the brush clean before you first apply a brand new mascara. That way you get a feel for the brush and how much to load up for maximum effect, minimum flick back!

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1 Sport waterproof eyeliner, £15 2 Rock out & lash out mascara, £20 3 Sport waterproof mascara, £18 All available at Harvey Nichols

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Colour Wash From frosty metallics to lilac liner — take inspiration from this season’s prettiest palette

Model: Chelsea Killarney at Alan Sharman Agency Make-up: Harvey Nichols Skin: Dermalogica at Harvey Nichols Clothing: Harvey Nichols 62

Illuminating Cheeks

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Red Valentino eyelet-embellished organza dress, ÂŁ910

Pastel Pink Eyes

Alice + Olivia silk top, ÂŁ155

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Kenzo cotton shirt dress, ÂŁ355

Frosty Metallics

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Extreme Eyeliner

Roland Mouret wool crepe dress, ÂŁ855

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Pop Colour Lips

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Jill Jill Stuart crepe jumpsuit, £295

Yves Saint Laurent Blush Volupté 4

Yves Saint Laurent

Baby Doll, £33

Rouge Volupté

1 Colour Pop Lips

Rose Asarine, £26

2 Extreme Eyeliner

This bright lip is more elegant than dramatic so opt for raspberry shades. For a pop of colour, start lining the lips then gently shade in using the pencil for lasting power. Fill in with YSL Rouge Volupté Rose Asarine with a lip brush for a precise colour. Gently tap Nars illuminator onto the centre of the lips to create fullness.

Opt for bright pastels for a striking yet playful look. Using YSL blush volupté 4 Baby Doll palette, drag the brush upwards at the outer corner, in a cat-eye shape. Then using a peach hue, re-draw the line for a more vivid tone. Gently tap a purple glitter over the top of the eyeliner for a luminous finish.

Estée Lauder Sumptuous Extreme Mascara, £24

Nars Hot Sand Illuminator, £23

3 Illuminating Cheeks

Colour Wash

Get The Look With Harvey Nichols

The art of creating luminous highlights, rather than bright cheeks, is all down to application. Prime the skin for a dewy finish with YSL Blurring + Illuminating Fluid Gel Primer, and gently buff foundation over the top. Highlight the skin on the light-catching areas (brow bone, under the eyes and the bridge of the nose). Lightly swirl a peachy pink blusher from the top of your cheek bone to the apples of the cheeks.

Yves Saint Laurent Blurring + Illuminating Fluid Gel Primer, £29.50

Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat Lumiere, £25 Nars Dual Intensity Blush Fervor, £30 Crème de la Mer The Mist, £55

5 Frosty Metallics

Start off with a damp eyeshadow brush for a more intense colour. Gently pat the darkest colour into the middle of your eyelids, and blend into the corner creases in circular motions. Use the palest silver shade and blend into the inner corner.

Then using an angled brush in the darkest shade, gently line the lower lash-line in a Lancôme Hypnôse cat-eye shape.

Palette Drama, £38

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4 Pastel Pink Eyes

Pastel pink hues can brighten the eyes and create a healthy complexion when Nars Dual Intensity Eye applied lightly. Using a pale pink Shadow Andromeda, £21 eyeshadow, sweep your brush across all shades and blend into the centre of your eyelid.

Work out from the centre and buff into corners for a light wash of colour.

Yves Saint Laurent Souffle D’eclat Loose Powder, £38

Catwalk Ready Hair in Minutes Top hair stylist Luke Hersheson has contributed to Vogue, worked on campaigns for Missoni and Armani and created iconic looks for Claudia Schiffer and Keira Knightley

Now open in the Mailbox’s Harvey Nichols, it’s a very big deal for Luke Hersheson; this is his first blowdry bar outside of London. With the party season coming it’s perfect timing, but just what makes the Luke Hersheon blow-dry experience so special?

Styling since he was 18, for Luke, Creative Director of Hersheson salons and products, the answer is simple: ‘We just give women the hair we know they want’. The blow-dry bars certainly offer choice, with customers able to choose from a menu of 12 different looks. ‘The reason we invented the blow-dry bar was because we always felt that you couldn’t get cool, catwalk hair in regular salons because salons tend to give out one standard blowdry,’ explains Luke. ‘But there are so many ranges of different textures and looks and people want access to the hair they see in magazines, and regular salons were not delivering on that.

Our blow-dry bars have a menu of different looks, which also gets rid of the problem of people trying to explain what they want to their hairdresser.’

The new concept also offers value, pitched at a more accessible price and lasting from between four days to a week depending on your hair type.

Their most famous look is the ‘wavy gravy’ which has been a staple in the collection since 2002, but the bar aims to be fresh and trend-led with a couple of new looks coming out in November and December just in time for Christmas. For Luke though, it’s not just

about the blow-dry; the cut is also key. ‘It’s really important that you have a bit of a haircut going on to help you sustain that volume,’ he explains. ‘If people have one length hair you can do a great blow-dry but it won’t last long, so you need a few layers or a little bit of layering on the ends just to give it some shape.’

Luke also cites a great cut as his best tip for achieving volume with celebrity clients like Sienna Miller and Keira Knightley. ‘For Sienna it’s about a great haircut; I cut her hair off last year and the style does a lot of the work,’ says Luke. ‘Keira is the same, as she has it cut round the face which gives it that lift and volume, automatically meaning you don’t have to do too much work on the blow-dry.’ Essentially it’s a ratio game – the better the haircut, the easier it is to maintain or gain volume by doing less.

For Luke, common blow-drying mistakes normally involve using the wrong product or tools (they use special Hersheson brushes that work up to ten blow-dries a day). But he also recommends watching good Youtube videos (also check out hershesons.com), and not over blow-drying from wet as it’s best to rough dry your hair with your hands first. And if you only have ten minutes in the morning? ‘The best tip I have always used is to tip your hair upside down and spray with a fine hair spray, then blast your hair with a hair dryer while your head’s upside down,’ reveals Luke. ‘When you flick your hair back you will get a lot of body instantly.’

Sounds simple enough, but we’ll still be booking into the blow-dry bar for a date with the masters.

Half and Half

Super Wavy

Smooth Wavy

Classic

MAILBOXLIFE.COM

Party Hair Crush From Hollywood waves to elegant updos, channel your favourite party hairstyle this season as Chad James at TONI&GUY Essensuals shows us how

The Bombshell You can’t help but be a little in awe of Rosie Huntington-Whitley. Her signature glossy beach waves, which almost always fall effortlessly over one shoulder, look polished and timeless — an endless source of inspiration for women everywhere. But whilst she’s kept her hairstyle more or less the same since her early Victoria’s Secret days, she went through quite a dramatic transformation late last year when her go-to stylist of over ten years, George Northwood, restyled her long hair into a choppy mid-length bob — and a few months later went a step further with a markedly shorter chinskimming cut. Rosie is in the process of growing out her bob and has being using hair extensions to regain her signature do.

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GET THE LOOK The key to Rosie’s classic waves is volume. ‘Apply label.m Blow Out Spray through damp hair to add body and give texture to tousled curls. To create the wave through the ends, use a curling tong through the mid-length of the hair to the ends, and curl away from the face. Finish the look with label.m Hairspray for hold,’ recommends James.

Glamour Goddess Sexy and straight with tons of volume is model-of-themoment Gigi Hadid’s go-to style for everyday glamour.

Whether she’s been up all night partying with supermodel bestie friends Kendall Jenner or Cara Delevingne, or strutting on the Balmain catwalk, her hair manages to look cameraready wherever she is. Gigi never fails to give us hair envy and her Bardot-esque 60s bouffant hairdo at this year’s VMAs was no exception.

GET THE LOOK ‘To achieve Gigi’s slicked-back style, start by prepping the hair with label.m Blow Out Spray whilst damp. Then, blow-dry the hair back towards the nape of the neck with a paddle brush for volume. When the hair is dry, section it out horizontally and smooth over each section with straighteners. Finish off the look with label.m Hold and Gloss for a sheer shine and great hold,’ says James.

The Rebel It’s no secret that Kristen Stewart likes to switch up her hairstyle from time to time.

From the tousled auburn waves of her Twilight years, to a punky shag dyed black, and her most recent drastic chop, a cool pixie cut — she’s done it all. Going for a crop not only looks striking and draws attention to your features, but it can also dramatically reduce styling time in the morning and makes it easier to maintain volume.

Vintage Queen An effortlessly chic updo is the ultimate in elegance and will instantly update your party look, a trick that Kate Winslet has clearly mastered. If you are after a glamourous style for an event or are simply tired of wearing your hair down, then an updo is the perfect solution.

This particular retro style that Kate regularly sports on the red carpet takes inspiration from Hollywood’s Grace Kelly, and will beautifully showcase a smokey eye or bold lip.

GET THE LOOK ‘For Kristen’s stylish crop with attitude, spritz damp hair with a protecting spray and tip the head upside down and blow-dry. Take a pea-sized amount of label.m Soft Wax and sweep across the sides of the hair for a sleek look. Then use label.m Texturising Volume Spray at the top of the hair to create volume and height for the textured quiff,’ advises James.

GET THE LOOK For an Oscar-worthy hairstyle like Kate’s, part the hair as desired.

‘For longer hair, bring together the last four inches of hair and plait and secure with a band. Holding the bottom of the plait, roll the hair around until it is tucked neatly into the nape of the neck and pin and place into position. To keep your style in place, spray label.m Conditioning Hairspray liberally, then finish with a final spritz of label.m Shine Mist for glossy-looking hair,’ says James.

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My Beauty Secret Harvey Nichols staff share their ultimate beauty must-haves

DRYING LOTION ‘I love this brand because it helps create beautiful skin from the beginning, understanding your skin type and exactly what your skin needs. The Drying Lotion is KATIE AT BEYOND BEAUTY my absolute favourite. It’s an acne-healing astringent that reduces bacteria and it’s a much milder anti-acne formula than a lot of products on the market.’

Mario Badescu Drying Lotion, £15

CUSTOM COVER DROPS ‘This product allows you to customise any liquid foundation and achieve the level of coverage that you desire. The drops feature ‘flash fusion technology’, so as soon as you drop it into your foundation, TOM AT COVER FX it leaves behind pure pigment. It ensures both full coverage and a smooth application.’

Cover FX Custom Cover Drops, £36

SISLEŸA GLOBAL ANTI-AGE DAY AND NIGHT CREAM ‘Sisley products offer supreme anti-ageing.

A particular favourite is the Sisieÿa Global Anti-Age Day and Night Cream. It is made up of natural potent antiageing ingredients which KAREN AT SISLEY leave skin feeling firmer and more radiant. It is my daily go-to as it makes my skin feel incredible.’

Sisley Sisieÿa Global Anti-ageing Day and Night Cream, £269.90

MOISTURIZING SOFT CREAM ‘These products help to renew and refine skin. My favourite product is the original moisturising cream with minerals, vitamins and sea kelp LAURA AT CREME DE LA MER to help smooth and moisturise. Warm it in your hands and press into your face and neck.’

Creme De La Mer Moisturizing Soft Cream, £200

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DREAMSKIN ‘If you’ve ever wanted flawless skin in an instant then Dior’s Dreamskin is ideal. It is a skin corrector that corrects the skin’s flaws including dark spots, redness KELLY AT DIOR and wrinkles. The product works deep into the skin to give immediate and long-lasting effects. I use it for a more dewy and radiant finish.’

Dior Capture Totale Dreamskin, £79

ANTIOXIDANT HYDRAMIST ‘This Antioxidant Hydramist is my handbag essential. The multiaction mist boosts hydration and fights off signs of ageing. I use it when I go on holiday because it shields and protects skin. It is EMILY AT DERMALOGICA a cocktail of antioxidants which deliver flash firming effects whilst cleansing the skin.’

Dermalogica Antioxidant HydraMist, £36.90

NEW DIMENSION SHAPE + SCULPT FACE KIT ‘I love the New Dimension Shape + Sculpt Face Kit as it is perfect for adding definition and contouring.

The all-in-one duo is JIANGMUNO YU AT ESTEE LAUDER mistake-proof for every skin tone and it allows you to easily highlight, define and sculpt like an expert.’

Estee Lauder New Dimension Shape + Sculpt Face Kit, £34

STYLE FINAL FIX HAIRSPRAY ‘I am a big fan of GHD hair products, they are so versatile.

Spritz on, smooth over, look fabulous. My favourite product is the Style Final Fix Hairspray; it helps achieve the perfect look KAL AT BEYOND BEAUTY with a firm yet flexible hold. It is humidity resistant as well; one mist over your finished style will help keep it in place, whatever the weather.’

GHD Style Final Fix Hairspray, £11

Life MAILBOXLIFE.COM

Life News Topnotch Tips from Miller and Carter Steakhouse

Take a Peek into Bar Epernay

Looking to recreate the best steak in Birmingham? Your search is over. Having just been named England’s Best Sirloin Steak 2015 by the English Beef and Lamb Executive, where else to get advice than from Miller and Carter Steakhouse? The Head Chef reveals all the tricks of the trade Look for Quality Cuts: Miller and Carter use nationally sourced prime breeds in order to achieve the succulent steak they have won awards for. Ask your local butcher about different breeds and try out different tastes and textures, you may be surprised at what you find.

Mature the Meat: You’ve heard about it but you may not be sure about what it actually means. Known to professionals as ‘blooming’, this allows the meat to mature, breathing in oxygen and allowing you to recreate that satisfying restaurant feel.

Straight for the Knife: When buying, take note of how the meat is cut. Don’t be afraid to ask the butcher about the difference between sirloin and fillets. Chances are, it will make all the difference 74

Make sure you head to Bar Epernay this season for a spot of afternoon tea.With a selection of finger sandwiches, scones, macaroons and a glass of champagne, you can eat, drink and relax in style. If you decide to stay for dinner, tempting starts include baked onion soup with smoked cheddar and sourdough bread and cured salmon with creme fraiche.

For your main, choose from a vegetarian halloumi burger, macaroni and cheese or succulent cuts of Scotch ribeye steak. For dessert, embrace the particularly enticing warm chocolate and cherry sundae, perfect for cold winter nights.

when it comes to cooking.

Whether you like it rare or well done, different cuts have recommended cooking times. According to the Head Chef, fillets are more delectable when rare as it adds to their succulent tenderness.

Experiment with Flavour: Be bold and switch up your regular seasonings and sauces to achieve interesting new flavours.

More importantly, the meat should be generously seasoned and oiled before being placed in a hot griddle pan. Lock in all those flavours and sizzle away!

Finally, don’t be afraid to add that finishing touch. You may not be sure about it, but the perfect steak can be complemented by a delicate peppercorn sauce.

Alight at Aluna this Christmas Ignite your senses at Aluna this Christmas with a tempting three course dinner. For traditionalists, the roast turkey dinner with all the trimmings is a great choice. If you’re after something a little spicier, start with the salt chilli squid and pair it with the vegetable massaman curry. Indulge your sweet tooth and try the delicious mint chocolate truffle or the white chocolate profiteroles. With so much choice at your fingertips, and at just £26.95 per person, it is impossible to go wrong.

J.W. Anderson Reinvents Classic Coke Bottle Exclusive to Harvey Nichols, fashion designer J.W. Anderson has collaborated with Diet Coke to deliver a cool, new twist to the iconic brand. Not only is J.W. Anderson the designer of the moment, his latest collaboration follows in the footsteps of international fashion greats including Marc Jacobs, Karl Lagerfeld and Jean Paul Gaultier. Having taken inspiration from his latest catwalk collection, J.W. Anderson introduces his signature style to the classic bottle, as well as releasing a new notebook and collector’s box set. As the bottle is only priced at £1.95, you’ll get a piece of the catwalk for a tenth of the price. The only twist? It’s all limited edition.

Spend Christmas at Café Rouge

A Winter Wonderland at Gas Street Social

Gas Street Social will be bringing Aspen to the Mailbox for the month of December, transforming into a decadent Alpine lodge. Think cosy ski chalets, pine trees, life sized reindeers, antlers and twinkling lights, and you’ll get an idea of what the Gas Street Social team have planned for their first Christmas. The Après ski frolics will be accompanied by delicious winter specials such as cheese fondue, washed down with spiced mulled cider, fragrant warm gluhwein and chilled continental beer. Don’t forget to check out what the mixologists have planned, paddles of shots flavoured with mince pies, After Eight mints and eggnog to really get those Christmas parties underway!

This Christmas, dine at Café Rouge with three courses of Parisian perfection for just £19.95.

Start with the warm, crumbed Camembert served with a redcurrant and cranberry sauce.

Follow the festive feel with a salmon fillet decorated with all of the trimmings. For dessert, the choice is endless. Chocolate lovers should attempt the triple chocolate fondant with chocolate ice cream and warm chocolate sauce. If the thought of all that chocolate is all too much, tempt the taste buds with a crème brûlée au whisky.

Bon appétit!

The Tastemaker Mark Walsh, Head Chef at Harvey Nichols Restaurant takes time out of his busy kitchen to share his passion for innovative cooking What attracted you to work as a chef?

I grew up in Larne, Northern Ireland, in a real catering family – my dad was a chef, my mum worked front of house and my granny was head cook for the Lord of Antrim. We moved to York when I was teenager and I started working shifts in a pub kitchen making French cuisine that I’d never heard of but it seemed like the most natural thing to me. Since then I’ve had the privilege of being trained by chefs who have worked at The Savoy, Claridges and the Ritz, chefs who really understand how food works.

What’s the best meal you’ve ever had? The finest meal I’ve eaten would probably be at Fera at Claridges, followed in close second by Roscoff Restaurant in Belfast’s Linenhall. But the best meal I remember was my dad’s eggs for breakfast – three boiled eggs, salt and a knob of butter.

What are your passions when it comes to food? I’ve always been intrigued by how the classic dishes came about and I’ve been collecting old cook books for years. I love reading the different styles – for example, the 1960’s versions of Le Repertoire de la Cuisine and La Rousse Gastronomic have no method as such so you need to have a greater understanding of food. When I was training I was told what to do and when but never how, so I had to figure out how ingredients worked together.

That’s why I love cooking – there may be new trends and fads but you still need to understand the basics.

Try Harvey Nichols Restaurant’s new menu now!

Call 0121 616 6028 or book online at harveynichols.com/restaurant/birmingham-dining

MAILBOXLIFE.COM

A Touch Of Frost Whether it’s limited edition whiskey, hand-crafted gin or flavoured vodka, Harvey Nichols has the spirit to get you through the cold in style

Prucia plum liqueur, £36.50, De Kuyper lychee liqueur, £29, Absolut Elyx vodka, £46, Monkey 47 schwarzwald dry gin, £46, Haig Club whiskey, £45, Edgerton original pink gin, £36, The Botanist 22, £16.75, Chase rhubarb vodka, £21. All available at Harvey Nichols Wine shop

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Winter Wonders Here are the cocktails you’ll want to warm up to this season

SALTED CARAMEL FLIP

BLACKBERRY SIDECAR

CHRISTMAS CRÈME

Available at Harvey Nichols there’s no messing around with this cocktail.

It’s a unique take on the classic Egg Nog recipe and it’s the perfect drink to while away cold winter nights.

Available at Aluna this seasonal potion has a warming brandy base spirit with deep and intense dark berry flavours. Say hello to your new favourite winter cocktail.

Available at Malmaison Christmas Crème is the perfect cocktail for Christmas with flavours of orange, rosemary and cinnamon blending with the sweet structure of vanilla vodka.

Ingredients: 25ml Kraken Spiced Rum 25ml Orange liqueur Splash of milk 1 egg Dash of cream Dash of butter-infused salted caramel syrup Grated nutmeg

Ingredients: 37.5ml Remy Martin Cognac 15ml Crème De Mure liqueur 15ml Lemon juice 15ml Cointreau A small handful of blackberries

Ingredients: 25ml Grand Marnier 25ml Stolichnaya Vanilla Russian Vodka 12.5ml Cinnamon syrup A pinch of cinnamon 50ml Double cream Rosemary stick Orange peel

Method: Mix Kraken Spiced Rum and orange liqueur in a shaker, and then lengthen with milk, cream and the egg.

Sweeten to your preferred taste with butter-infused salted caramel syrup.

Garnish the frothy top with a healthy dose of grated nutmeg to finish.

Method: In a Boston glass, add the handful of blackberries, Remy Martin Cognac and Crème De Mure liqueur and muddle. Next, add a splash of lemon juice with Cointreau and cubed ice then shake vigorously for 10-15 seconds. Discard the crushed ice and double strain the liquid into the glass. Lastly, add more blackberries for a garnish.

Method: Add Grand Marnier, Stolichnaya Vanilla Russian Vodka, cinnamon syrup and double cream. Shake well then double strain into a chilled coupe glass.

Finish with a sprinkle of cinnamon on the top. Garnish with a rosemary stick and orange peel.

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Something For Everyman (And Woman) Forget long queues, uncomfortable chairs and tasteless food — the next generation of super-cinema is here at the Mailbox

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perfect date night spot or after-work hangout, the glamorous Everyman Cinema oozes style and charm. So what makes Everyman so special? Unlike anything else in the UK, the independent boutique Everyman Cinema is the first to open in the Midlands and the first to deliver a premium cinema experience, beyond just films.

With three screening rooms, state of the art digital projectors and clear focus on a superior level of luxury, it’s a refreshing alternative to your usual multiplex. Cramped chairs are replaced with plush velvet armchairs and sofas, and boring cinema snacks are gone in favour of tempting gourmet treats. Their specialty is the Everyman signature burger with 28 day aged Aberdeen Angus beef in a glazed brioche bun, topped with a red onion pickle and your cheese of choice. There are also gourmet pizzas, hot dogs, sides and savoury snacks including marinated olives and honey roasted cashew nuts. Eat in the restaurant or have your food delivered directly to your seat through their waiter service. The venue also boasts a fully licensed bar with fine wines, champagne, beer and cocktails; there’s even a private bar for its largest screen.

Film fans can enjoy a specially-curated programme with box office favourites alongside cool independents.

Watch in style

Richard Linford, Manager at Everyman Mailbox, tells us how to make going to the cinema special every time Tell me about the Everyman experience...Everyman offers a unique and authentic experience with a focus on hospitality. Our cinemas house a mixture of seating from individual armchairs, cosy upholstered sofas and reclining leather chairs, to club suite couples’ sofas complete with foot rests.

More than just a cinema

We believe you are not just buying a ticket to see a film, you’re buying the Everyman experience, which I promise you is like no other. Most people who try it once can’t resist coming back.

What can customers get from Everyman that they can’t get from other cinemas? In addition to enjoying the film of your choice on a cosy sofa, each of our venues offer a delicious selection of gourmet food and beverages which can be delivered straight to your seat upon request — we feel that sets us apart from your local multiplex.

Tell us about your food offering …

Everyman Mailbox offers a mouthwatering selection of food and drink including hand-thrown pizzas, our signature Spielburgers and antipasti sharing platters. Our chefs are often whipping up exciting new twists on our classic menu – we’ve had Quentin Tarantino themed hotdogs (The Reservoir HotDog) and a Black Forest Sundae, so keep your eyes peeled for more.

How do you decide on which films to show? Our programmers have a very discerning eye and look to screen a real range of films at our venues, from smaller independent films to the slickest blockbuster of the moment. For instance, we have the new James Bond film Spectre on at present but in a few weeks time we will be introducing an incredible new documentary, Listen to Me Marlon, via our new initiative, Everyman Collection, where we hope to bring

Fresh from the kitchen

smaller films like this to a much bigger, broader audience.

Why did Everyman decide to come to Birmingham, and why did they choose the Mailbox? It’s a gorgeous city that is constantly improving, expanding and reinventing itself and it has such a bright buzzing social life. We felt we could add to that, providing a little haven of cinematic luxury. We made sure we had a cosy and inviting bar too, so even if you’re not catching a film, you can enjoy a few post-work drinks with us in a stylish, relaxed environment. The Mailbox prides itself on being a premier shopping and lifestyle destination. We believe the people who walk through our doors are guaranteed to enjoy visiting an Everyman cinema; they’re looking for luxury, style, comfort and something a little bit special and we certainly deliver on that. It was beautifully timed with the Mailbox’s revamp and stunning new look.

For more information on Everyman Cinemas and to book tickets, visit mailboxlife.com/ everyman-cinema

MAILBOXLIFE.COM

Winter Dishes From flavourful pumpkin broths to meaty ragùs, discover the season’s most tempting offerings at the Mailbox

Thai Spiced Pumpkin Broth With Orzo Pasta Make the most of the colder months and start your meal with this warming dish from the Autumn Prixe Fixe menu. This sweet Thai-inspired broth with just a touch of spice makes for a satisfying appetizer.

Roast North Atlantic Cod Forestiere, Crushed Heritage Potatoes, Mushrooms, Capers & Anchovy Dressing Pan-fried cod with a beautifully crisp skin is meaty yet light with a pleasant hint of vinegar. The potatoes, mushrooms and tomatoes bring a herby rustic flavour.

The dish is perfectly balanced with a salty sharpness courtesy of the anchovies.

Chez Mal, Autumn Prixe Fixe menu, £16 for the Roast North Atlantic Cod, £8 for the Thai Spiced Pumpkin broth 80

Honey and Fennel-Glazed Duck Breast, Red Cabbage, & Scorched Broccoli Taken from the new Autumn/Winter menu, we love the succulent duck with a sweet, crisp honey-glazed skin. It perfectly complements the red cabbage, crunchy broccoli and delicious duck fat flavoured crackers and makes for a truly mouth-watering combination. Simple yet decadent, the new seasonal menu is a must-try for all discerning foodies.

Harvey Nichols, All Day Dining, £15

Wild Boar Ragù Pappardelle with Red Wine, Garlic & Tomatoes, Pappardelle Pasta & Grana Padano Indulge your carb craving with this hearty dish. The rich, deeply aromatic red wine ragù is combined with tender strips of wild boar, which retains a satisfyingly chunky texture. Well-seasoned, the touch of chilli gives a sharp kick and enhances the meatiness of the dish.

There’s a reason why this is a winter favourite amongst Italians. Just finish with a full-bodied red wine.

Zizzi, Main menu, £10.95

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Roast Wood Pigeon Raised Pie with Seasonal Vegetables This wholesome pie is the perfect antidote to those cold winter evenings. Rich in flavour and texture yet surprisingly light, the game fused with sweet red wine gravy and sharp blackberry is a match made in heaven.

Alongside the crisp pie is more pigeon; lightly cooked and pink in colour, it has an extra meaty taste which perfectly complements the creamy potato and pak choi.

Bar Epernay, A La Carte menu, £15

Rump of Lamb with Roasted Peppers, New Potatoes, Carrots, Butternut Squash, Red Onion & Veal Jus Savour every mouthful of this moreish classic. Full-flavoured tender lamb is nice and pink and slow-cooked until falls apart in your mouth. The crunchy root veg accompanied by the sweet tasting red veal with just a hint of rosemary gives the dish a beautiful rustic flavour – all you need is a hunk of crusty bread to mop up the lovely juice.

Cote, A La Carte menu, £13.95

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Boeuf Bourguignon, SlowCooked Beef in Red Wine with Smoked Bacon, Mushrooms, Baby Onion, Green Beans, Carrots & Herb Mash Comfort food at its very best – if this doesn’t satisfy you, then nothing will. The beef is cooked to perfection and falls apart as you cut into it. Mushrooms melt as soon as they hit the tongue and the rich, fruity red wine sauce is devilishly indulgent; you’ll want to soak up every last bit.

Café Rouge, Main menu, £14

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The Ultimate Customer Experience Since 2013, the Mailbox has undergone a complete revamp – transforming itself into Birmingham’s premium lifestyle destination. Here we talk to the woman responsible for taking customer service to the next level and launching the Mailbox technology and app, coming early 2016

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n an exclusive interview with Mailbox Life, Samantha Robinson, Head of Brand and Customer Engagement at Milligan, co-owner of the Mailbox, tells us how she has created a new standard of customer experience – more personal, more luxurious and unlike anything the city has ever seen.

Tell us about your role in the redevelopment of the Mailbox?

My role is quite simply to demonstrate to customers that this is a very exciting new era for the Mailbox. The role covers everything from creating a stronger brand to enhancing the customer journey. I also work closely with the team to ensure our tenants create an exciting experience for our visitors. From retail and lifestyle to technology – it’s about enhancing customer service at every level.

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Can you sum up your vision for the Mailbox?

We want the Mailbox to offer the ultimate luxury customer experience in Birmingham. We saw a very visible gap for that in the city centre. Mailbox, for me, is the destination for the more discerning customer who wants to be away from the crowds and high street.

You held focus groups with customers, what was the outcome of those?

The focus groups were fascinating. The customers said they were really proud of the building and we found that there was a real love and an emotional attachment to the Mailbox. I remember one lady saying something that stuck with me: ‘I get to the bottom of the steps and see this iconic building and then I walk up the steps, and my heart sinks, because this should be so much better’, so of course we had to change that. What they wanted most of all was a haven, away from the madness and big crowds, with a mix of established brands and unique independents that are not found anywhere else in the region. Not only that, they wanted a reason to come back to the city’s centre and shop.

button–from planning lunch and booking an appointment with your stylist to building your fashion wish lists. The problem with most shopping centre apps is that they are just a gateway, so if you want to book a restaurant you will be directed to the restaurant’s site. It’s not a seamless experience, so we have integrated with partners so that everything you want from the Mailbox will be in that one app, including membership to our new loyalty scheme packed with money can’t buy offers.

What will the Urban Room do in particular?

The Urban Room for me is like a 5-star hotel experience with its beautiful furniture. It’s a place to see and be seen, but it’s also a place to dwell and take in the setting. The Urban Room is a haven for our target audience and added benefits such as the soon to be launched super–enhanced WiFi, will let them sit with their iPad and plan the rest of their visit to the Mailbox.

Do you think physical shops are losing out to the internet and online shopping?

I find it very hard to imagine a society without physical shops.

Not enough people think about the convergence of the physical and digital and the opportunities that brings to retail settings. You just have to look at the way people behave when they are in a physical space, interacting with their digital tools, and that is only going to increase in the future.

‘Birmingham has become a really exciting city’

How do you think your vision is panning out?

We set a vision for the ultimate luxury customer experience and it’s already exceeding our expectations. For example, the beauty of the Urban Room is that anyone walking into that space will be seriously impressed. I think the new Harvey Nichols flagship store is even better than I had imagined and I’m pretty sure it’s exceeded the customers’ expectations as well. I think people were getting fed up of having to go further afield to shop for more premium brands and to get that all–inclusive experience, but now you can get it all in the Mailbox.

What can we expect from the new technology at the Mailbox?

We’re trying to innovate the entire customer journey, so to put that into context, the shopping centre is no longer just a physical building, it’s a social brand with on and offline experiences. We want people to be able sit and plan what they want from their Mailbox experience at the click of a

Has your opinion of Birmingham changed since you first came here?

It’s changed massively. Let’s be frank, there is a lot of negativity towards Birmingham from people in London.

I personally underestimated how much we would be pitching the city as well as the Mailbox. Having said that, it has changed a huge amount since 2011 and I think we have an exciting vision to pitch with the transformation that’s still going on. Over the past six months there have been a lot of businesses relocating from London to Birmingham because you get much more for your money, Birmingham has become a really exciting city.

MAILBOXLIFE.COM

A Life Made Beautiful

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Products featured provided by Harvey Nichols

With a beautiful new Urban Room and so many exciting new retailers on offer, the newly transformed Mailbox is something to celebrate.

We are granted access all areas to the new Life Made Beautiful launch campaign. Here we talk to the creators about the stunning new Mailbox and the inspiration behind the concept

As Creative Director at Cogent Elliot your role must be varied?

Cogent Elliott is a full service agency, working on TV commercials and press adverts all the way through to social media, online activity and PR. My job role is to look after the creative output of the agency, and make sure the work measures up to clients’ goals and is stimulating to customers. I also direct TV commercials, which is by far the best bit of my job. Our days are long but we’re doing things that are fun and enjoyable so it’s never boring.

How did you come up with the concept Life Made Beautiful?

We come up with several concepts when we present to the client, but this one particularly resonated with the Mailbox because I think it’s the truth.

The thought of Life Made Beautiful was born out of the fact that whatever you do within the Mailbox is going to enhance your life in some way.

Whether you’re having a facial, going for a meal or going to see a film – it’s all about an enhanced style and ultimately, a unique and superior

experience to anything you’d get anywhere else. The building and the environment that visitors will experience has been transformed too. The Mailbox itself has been made beautiful like never before.

The imagery we have produced is quite surreal and takes inspiration from the world of theatre and dance. If you look at the stage, it’s a heightened interpretation of reality with dance expressing movement in the most beautiful way possible. It fits perfectly with the idea that the new Mailbox will deliver a premium experience. Harvey Nichols was a wonderful location for the fashion film as it’s at the heart of the Mailbox and looks like a stage in its own right.

What do you think of new Mailbox?

I think it’s incredible. We were really excited about doing this project.

From its glass-roofed Urban Room, home to some of retail’s top brands, through to the innovative Everyman Cinema, the new Mailbox has truly set itself apart from the rest and is simply stunning. I’m from the area and I feel very proud to be part of the project and associated with the Mailbox’s transformation. In the end, the only way is to judge for yourself and pay a visit. You won’t be disappointed.

Because there’s no doubt in my mind that the new Mailbox gives this vibrant, confident city the luxury shopping experience it deserves.

Dance Made Beautiful Responsible for choregraphing the launch campaign; Creative Director of Rosie Kay Dance Company talks about creating a fashion film and the perfect dance How did you go about creating the fashion film for Life Made Beautiful?

It was a really great concept and I got the tone of it straight away. We decided on two kinds of scenes that had very different atmospheres; one was the tango which had a sexy and dramatic vibe and the other was the classical ballet which had an almost magical feel and went perfectly with the tagline.

The idea behind the fashion film was that if you caught someone‘s eye it would be a glance and you’d move on. In our film, the dancers see each other and have this moment of beautiful dance and then carry on again. It’s that idea that suddenly in that moment, life becomes something extraordinary and beautiful like a dance.

Stills from the Life Made Beautiful film

I

n an exclusive look behind the scenes, we speak to Richard Payne, Creative Director at Cogent Elliott and Director of Life Made Beautiful about luxury experiences and creating an exciting concept.

MAILBOXLIFE.COM

A Celebration to Remember Style seekers and luxury lovers flocked to the opening of the fabulous new Mailbox to witness it make its mark as the most soughtafter shopping and lifestyle destination in Birmingham. Here’s a look back at the highlights from the city’s most stylish event of the year

Glasses of Champagne in hand, visitors enjoyed the sheer luxury of their surroundings whilst listening to live music from Birmingham Conservatoire and performances from acclaimed choreographer Rosie Kay and her dancers.

The breathtakingly beautiful Urban Room marks the start of a new era for the Mailbox. It is without doubt the centrepiece and it marks the biggest milestone to date in its history. Designed by Stirling Prize winning architects, Stanton Williams, the skylit space is a beautiful area for shoppers to enjoy during the day and an impressive

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destination for Birmingham’s events after retail hours.

The Urban Room is home to a lineup of luxury retailers including BOSS, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Gieves & Hawkes, LK Bennett and Daniel Footwear. Armani Collezioni and Jaeger are set to open at the Mailbox in early 2016 alongside Kitchen Gallery and a host of other high-end retail, food and beverage brands.

Friday night was made beautiful at the Mailbox with the first independent cocktail trail, giving visitors the perfect excuse to enjoy a drink on the canal side. Guests also tried their luck at winning a trip

to Paris thanks to Côte Brasserie by taking a snap with our ‘Say Beautiful’ sign, and there was the introduction of some 100 spontaneous ‘Beautiful Moments’ to surprise visitors and ensure a memorable night out.

Then followed a thriving opening weekend jam-packed with exciting events and surprise moments.

The Mailbox Sessions showcased everything that the new Mailbox has to offer – from fashion to beauty and pampering; art and cinema to food and drink. Complimentary panel discussions from a team of experts, including Grazia’s fashion editor Hannah Almassi, and fashion blogger Bip Ling took place alongside demonstrations on the main stage area.

The £50 million redevelopment has also seen Harvey Nichols relocate to the heart of the Mailbox and open a remarkable new 45,000 sq ft concept store, in addition to attracting a premium leisure offer, including luxury cinema operator Everyman Cinemas, and independent bars and restaurants Gas Street Social and Aluna.

Castle Fine Art also have a new flagship gallery specialising in original, hand signed limited edition works and they are joined by a host of other established names at the Mailbox including TONI&GUY, Nicky Clarke and the destination’s popular bars, restaurants and hotels, Malmaison and Ramada.

Premium male fashion brand East Club and designer children’s boutique, Cloudo Kids, will be opening exclusive pop-up stores and they will be joined by a host of luxury brands opening early in the New Year.

The transformation of the Mailbox by owners, Brockton Capital and Milligan Retail, began in 2013 and has seen a complete reinvention of the retail environment. The new vision has been shaped by extensive customer feedback and focus groups, guiding the creation of a haven for luxury shopping in the region, and offering a unique collection of international and national brands alongside high-end independents and designer pop-up retailers.

Come and see the Mailbox soon to experience the transformation and we’re sure you will agree that there is no finer luxury shopping, dining, staying or entertainment experience around.

MAILBOXLIFE.COM

Directory DINING

LEISURE

STAY

ALUNA

ARMANI COLLEZIONI

MALMAISON

BAR EPERNAY

BBC TOURS

RAMADA

BAR ESTILO

BBC PUBLIC SPACE 0121 567 6767

PAMPER

CAFÉ ROGUE

BOSS

BEYOND MEDISPA*

CHEZ MAL

CASTLE FINE ART

HERSHESONS BLOW DRY BAR*

CÔTE BRASSERIE

CALVIN KLEIN UNDERWEAR

0121 616 6021

0121 631 1587

GAS STREET SOCIAL

0121 643 0131

0121 633 4009

0121 633 9987 0121 632 1430

0121 643 3443 0121 665 6437 0121 246 5001

COMING SOON 0370 901 122

0121 632 6010 0121 633 0015

0121 643 0362

CLOUDO KIDS

GOURMET BURGER KITCHEN

DANIEL FOOTWEAR

0121 632 1430

0121 643 9344

0121 616 6014

NICKY CLARKE TONI&GUY ESSENSUALS

0121 643 8369

0121 643 3311

0121 633 8564

EAST CLUB

HARVEY NICHOLS BAR & RESTAURANT

EVERYMAN CINEMA

SHAVATA BROW STUDIO*

0121 616 6028

GIEVES & HAWKES

MILLER AND CARTER 0121 643 7738

NANDOS

0121 643 5123

PENNYBLACKS 0121 632 1460

PIZZA EXPRESS 0121 643 4016

RED PEPPERS 0121 643 4202

STRADA

0121 643 7279

ZIZZI

0121 632 1333

90

0871 906 9060 0121 399 0221

0121 616 6021

*Beauty services at Harvey Nichols

HARVEY NICHOLS 0121 616 6000

H20 CAR VALETING 0845 0177 701

JAEGER

OPENING HOURS

L.K. BENNETT

Standard store opening hours are below but individual stores may vary.

COMING SOON 0121 634 3156

TESCO EXPRESS 0121 695 9540

Monday – Saturday 10am – 7pm Sunday 11am – 5pm

TOMMY HILFIGER 0121 643 8060

Bars & Restaurants Opening Hours.

Monday – Sunday 10am – Late