ISSUE 11 OUT NOW!

Autumn’s arrived, as leaves falls and dark nights creep in, and with the AW10 catwalk trends unveiled, we wonder how our retail sector will fare this season?

To help shed some light and share her experience, WorkLife caught up with the nation’s favourite ‘Queen of Shops’, Mary Portas. Retail is worth £321bn to the UK economy and the existence of a strong and diverse independent sector on our high streets is essential to ensuring its continuing success. You can read the full interview and even have the chance to win a place on Mary’s new master class in this issue.

This issue is packed full of interesting business stories and inspiring entrepreneurs. Find out how a Manchester landlord is encouraging people to produce their own electricity and go carbon natural in We Like Your Style . We go Back to the Office with the Managing Director of a Cosmetic Surgery Clinic and urge you to ‘Lock Up Your Boss’ in aid of St. Ann’s Hospice in Social Entrepreneur.

I particularly want to give my special thanks to our LIFE guest editor, Siobhan Hanley. Siobhan is a successful entrepreneur herself after launching the Manchester Food and Drink Festival. Flip the magazine over as she brings you an exclusive interview with celebrity chef, Andrew Nutter, and look out for our Wedding Fashion Special.

Enjoy!

Anna-Louise
work@worklifemagazine.co.uk

Read the latest issue online at:
http://content.yudu.com/A1paua/WL11/

Hatton Promotions: A Night of Professional Boxing - Title Trial

This weekend WorkLife took a night off from the usual glamourous social and business event to enjoy an evening at the boxing, courtesy of Hatton Promotions. The event was held at the Castle Leisure Centre in Bury and featured a series of pre fights leading up to the main, all streamed live world wide via Hatton TV.

The first of many fights kicked off with a 6 Round Lightweight contest which was followed by the Middleweight contest, the Super Middleweight contest and finally the 4 Round Light Heavyweight contest. Entertainment during the intervals saw local Manchester band Coupe de Ville perform an experimental mix of hip hop and rock. Female modern dance group, eptly named the 'Dancing Girls', also later took to the stage, putting on a risque routine the Pussy Cat Dolls would have been proud of.

The main event saw the crowd and WorkLife's favourite, local bury boy Scott Quigg battle his opponent Argentinean Santiago Allione. Admittedly I'm a girl who neglects her sports and shamefully often cannot tell Ricky Hatton from Tiger Woods but even my ignorant eye could see there was something special about Quigg's fighting style. Quigg seemed to opt to be patient, keeping a level head throughout the match to slowly wear his opponent down then fire in blows when they were least expecting it.

The 3rd round was the pivotal turning point of the fight which saw Scott scoring a series of big punches before knocking out his opponent with a devestating final knock out shot in which Allione hit the floor and didnt recover, appointing Quigg winner of the Super-Bantamweight Belt.


Quigg showed he was a true professional sportsman, by returning to the centre of the ring to embrace his opponent and encourage the crowd to support his efforts, showing there were no hard feelings between him and Allione.

Words and images by Anna J. Westerman

Great Northern Ball Raises Over £62K for Retail Trust at the Point!

Senior figures in Northern retail gathered in Manchester for the Retail Trust Great Northern Ball on Thursday 23 September, raising a massive £62,000 - 63% more than last year’s figure - for Retail Trust, the only charity to look after the three million people in retail.


Find out more and read all about the fabulous ball in the next issue of WorkLife Magazine...

UGG Australia Private Shopping Event - A Stylish Birthday Party

UGG Australia Manchester recently teamed up with St. Francis House charity The Kirsty Club to celebrate Kirsty herself's 15th birthday party with a private shopping evening at their Manchester store.

The Kirsty Club aims to build a brighter future for Francis House Children’s Hospice, the charity which Diana, Princess of Wales, opened in 1991. The campaign is fronted by Kirsty Howard a truly inspirational young girl who battles her own illness on a daily basis.

Guests enjoyed champagne and a fun twist on canapes in the form of miniture birthday cupcakes, whilst browsing the UGG Autumn Winter 2010 collection with an exclusive sneak preview of upcoming styles. What was once thought of as a "love them or hate them" brand, UGG's have moved on into more subtle and classic styles, even venturing into toddlers and mens footwear. No longer are UGG's thought of as womens "comfort over style" guilty pleasures or the boot often seen on WAGs and teamed with Juicy Couture tracksuits. The new collection featured styles which at first glance may not be associated with the typical aesthetic of the UGG brand, ranging from moccasin slip ons to buckled biker boots.

The birthday girl and guest of honour spent the evening trying on her favourite pieces from the range, seemingly favouring the furry hot pink UGGs, while us WorkLife girls were coveting the pull on slouch boots and exclusive fur lined clogs. Hollyoaks actress Nicole Barber-Lane and Shameless actress Tina Malone also came along to show their support and oggle the shoes.


Kirsty was all smiles as she left with her chosen pair of UGG's courtesy of UGG Manchester, with the store also donating 15% of the evenings sales to The Kirsty Club.

Words by Anna J. Westerman

Harvey Nichols Manchester A/W 10 Fashion Show

Harvey Nichol's A/W 10 Fashion Show took place this Wednesday evening at the historic landmark Manchester Cathedral. The gothic grandeur of the monumental building coupled with the muted backdrop of September drizzle, gave off the perfect ambience for an Autumn Winter show.

The evening was hosted by jewellery queen Susan Caplan, the founder and director of the UK's leading vintage jewellers 'Susan Caplan Vintage Collection', who took to the catwalk to start the show for the eagerly awaiting and fashion hungry guests.

Harvey Nichol's catwalk presented Manchester's fashion concious with an array of key trends from the new upcoming season. The models stomped the runway to the mixed melodies of DJ Xander, while the showcased trends consisted of; New Simplicity, Asymmetry, Glamour and English Heritage. Menswear looks for Autumn/Winter were also showcased via the themes ‘Baby its cold outside’, Country Gent and ‘Interview with a Vampire’. The haute couture included a range of designers from Roberto Cavalli, Lanvin, Versace to Pinko Fagottino.

Styling wise the models hair was attended to by experts at barn//it at Urban Retreat, while the Harvey Nichol's team of Estee Lauder make up artists worked their magic creating their ‘Blue Dahlia’ look; a perfect compliment to this seasons trends. Closing the show was a show stopping Pucci number; a double layered, blue halter dress reminiscent of some dark and whimsical mermaid that drew gasps and saw jaws drop.

Special guests attending the event included Coronation Street actresses Helen Flanagan, and Brooke Vincent, while Melissa Walton of Hollyoaks and Kirsty Leigh Porter from Emmerdale were also spotted on the front row.

The evening was fashion-tastic whilst supportive of a good cause with £10 from every ticket being donated to the Manchester Cathedral Development Trust. The charity helps to maintain the building itself as well as support the homeless and offer grants to underprivileged children.

Once the catwalk had ended, guests full of haute fashion inspiration braved the weather and cobblestones of Manchester once more to head back to the Harvey Nichols store for after show drinks and shop the instore collections, credit card in hand.

Words by Anna J. Westerman

Kilian Hennessy: Heaven for the Nose

WorkLife were very lucky to recently have met the fabulous Kilian Hennessy, the renowned perfumier.


Kilian is heir to a long line of cognac-makers that were pioneers in luxury, the grandson of the founder of The LVMH Group, Kilian has decided to take up the torch of family tradition. Kilian has trained with some of the most distinguished of Perfume Houses such as Dior, McQueen and Armarni before launching his very unique and luxurious brand in 2007.

The latest collection, stocked exclusively at Harvey Nichols, is named “Arabian Nights” and it does not fail to impress, maintaining high level of decadence throughout. The collection is made up of 7 fragrances with poetic names such as Beyond Love, Love and Tears, and Straight to Heaven. Absinthe, Mediterranean Jasmine, Turkish Rose and Rose of Grasse are just some of the exotic scents used to infuse these fabulous creations.

It is Kilian's attention to detail, however that really sets him apart to other Perfume Houses. This is down to the hand painted, 5 times black lacquered wooden boxes and hand stitched satin, in which the fragrance is presented. These are not items you could possibly throw away, which is Kilian’s belief in what a luxury item should be, something that permanently takes centre stage on your dressing table.

Words by Marianne Kinsella

Launch of Alex Gerrard's Fashion Show for Forever Unique

Leading WAG and OK! columnist Alex Gerrard recently teamed up with favourite high street fashion brand Forever Unique, to design a 16 piece collection exclusively for the brand.

In collaboration with OK! magazine, thursday night marked the launch of the 2010 range. The red carpet was rolled out and the paparazzi were at the ready for what was sure to be a celeb studded evening. Manchester’s Barton Arcade was unrecognisable at being transformed into an amazing catwalk space, while the after party was held at the Arcade's exclusive Circle Club.

Guests were treated to a champagne and canapé fuelled reception until being ushered to their seats for the evenings host, English fashion model Alex Leigh, to kick off the show. Showing their support, the front row was littered with fellow WAGs to famous TV faces and personalities from the cast of Hollyoaks, Coronation Street and Big Brother guests. Appearances were also made by Liz Mclaren, Blue's Anthony Costa and Strictly's Jason Gardner.

With Alex Gearrard's penchant for fashion being well known throughout the media, expectations were high and she did not disappoint. Alex’s collection consisted of a range of casual and evening wear and featured two distinct looks; ‘Alex Glam’ and 'Alex Rock'. Sophisticated glamour was the key theme for her more glam pieces, seen through body concious silhouettes coupled with statement ruffles in lux silky fabrics. Channeling that rock vibe, Alex incorporated fur gillets and tailored military style jackets within the mix of embellished sequin evening dresses, conveying the funky, rock chick look perfectly.

Alex herself was looking show stopping in on of her own designs the 'Aisha' dress; a one shouldered LBD with subtle feather detailing to the bodice that oozed glamour and sophistication.

Alex’s stunning 16-piece collection for Forever Unique is now available online as well as at Liverpool's Boudoir Boutique.

Words and images by Anna J. Westerman

The Launch of Dining Destinations: 'A Vintage Soirée'

Tuesday night marked the launch of 'Dining Destinations' a new and exciting business venture, bringing together Rejuvenate Events and NoChintz, concerned with creating dining experiences as unique as you are!

The event was held at Urban Splash's Albert Mill, in an empty shell space which was temporarily made over for the night into an interior designs dream with the help of the creative minds of Lucy and Natalie of NoChintz.

The theme of the evening seemed to be an eclectic mix of whimsy, enchantment and a touch of glamour with a champagne reception and "cocktail" dress code. The focal point was without a doubt the set dining table which was expertly scattered with vintage and antique inspired crockery and trinkets, making for a scene so charming it looked striaght out of a fairy tale.

Collaborations for the event included Camilla of Lucile Lingerie who acted as the main sponsor and David and the Riverford Organic team, award winning distributers of organic home grown veg. Riverford's Chef Jill Weatherburn was also on hand to prepare a delectable three course meal for the diners pleasure.

Championing fresh veg with exciting ways to integrate it into your daily meals, Jill's courses consisted of roasted red pepper soup with a side of soft homemade bread for starters. For the mains a selection of innovative salads were served, stirring up a taste sensation through juxtapositions tying in crisp, crunchy textures with soft and sweet with savoury. Perhaps the dish with the most interesting use of veg was dessert which included chocolate beetroot brownies; a suprisingly delicious match! In terms of entertainment, guests were treated to the vocals of up and coming songstress Mirren Leask throughout the night as she crooned soulful jazz while they dined by candle light.


Keeping in with the spirit of organic dining, each guest left with a goodie bag of Riverford Organic vegetables to further inspire and motivate healthy eating, ensuring the guests needed no further encouragement to cook up a storm in their own kitchens!

All in all the evening was a huge success, with diners leaving both satisfied and excited for future Dining Destinations "unique dining experiences", which are sure to only become more adventurous and creative as the brand develops. Watch this space!

For more information about Riverford Organic and details on ordering your own veg box striaght to your door visit:
www.riverford.co.uk

Words and images by Anna J. Westerman

Mercedes-Benz: 'An Evening of Style'

In an event organised by the WorkLife/Rejuvenate team, Mercedes-Benz Manchester Central played host to an evening of pampering, style and all round networking for ‘Ladies Night’.

In a Hollywood esque reception, the red carpet was rolled out, the champers and wine were on ice in abundance and the event was adorned with the sort of cars most people can only ever hope to lust over in a James Bond film. The star attraction was without a doubt the Mercedes-Benz SLS which sat in its place of honour beside the red carpet, enabling guests to easily pose for pics both in it and alongside it allowing them to feel like real bond girls for the night!

Guests were invited to feast on exotic canapes whilst enjoying the vocals of jazz and soul singer Jessica Tansey, as well as a mountain of irresistible cupcakes from Cupcake Palace which were such a hit with the guests you had to fight "handbags at dawn" style to secure one for yourself!

Throughout the evening various experts were on hand to entertain the guests with the likes of Elite Fitness delivering fitness and health advice while Castlefield Clinic and Spa divulged guests in a series of mini treatments from skincare and makeup to massages. The boys from Manchesters favourite Brasilian restaurant Bem Brasil were also on hand giving you the choice of enjoying brasil’s national drink, the Caipirinha cocktail, which was so yummy but not for the faint hearted (or easily intoxicated) or alternatively sample a creation of your own in a cocktail masterclass!

Providing a spot of retail therepy, Miglio designer jewellery presented a selection of stylish but contempary statement pieces, while unique fashion brand DivaLilly offered self indulgence with a difference with their range of eco friendly handbags. With the handbags being created from used car parts and recycled materials the bags were a big novelty and talking point amongst the party goers! Popular fashion label Forever Unique, a favourite go to of celebritys, were also generous enough to loan out dresses to the WorkLife/Rejuvenate team as well as some of the girls from Mercedes to 'model' for the event.

The evening was nicely wrapped up with a charitable raffle to raise money for St Francis House. Prizes included anything from a hardcore exercise class courtesy of Elite Fitness to dining out at Hilton. As if the guests werent spoilt enough, each was also treated to a goodie bag full to the brim with amazing vouchers and deals as well as fun freebies in the form of Gloven kitchen accessories!

As a girl who would previously naively describe my own car as simply "a black one" whenever asked what i owned, i definitely left the event with a new found appreciation for the style and beauty of cars (as well as an inevitable unhealthy lust for a Mercedes)

Read more about the event in the next issue of WorkLife magazine.

Words and images by Anna J. Westerman