Urban Junkies London - Monday Februry 18, 2008

I once fell in love with a shop. It was a cavernous, minimalist, industrial space in São Paulo with a centrepiece comprising a medley of glass baubles suspended from the ceiling. Each glass bauble contained a single jelly shoe.

Intriguingly, to the side of the room was a wall with touchscreens leading to styles, colourways, sizes et al. Bingo! My Campana Brothers-designed orange day-glo stilettos were with me in a jiffy. I still love them to this day. In Vegas the other week you could buy anything Apple from a vending machine. And San Fran had some serious skin care lines in serious machines.

While in the Big Apple, where the 90s tech-innovator Prada once led, restaurants are following. Yes, that's right, the mean machines are spreading to the world of food and drink. The four-person gold and bronze (yuk) goat skin (yak) bar at Alain Ducasse's Adour at the St Regis Hotel, New York, has menus projected from the ceiling onto the bar. Choose your martinis by pressing your fingertips on the counter's surface. Blimey.

Meanwhile, here in London, the yummy Greenhouse in Mayfair is introducing wine tablets - computerised, interactive wine menus which you order directly from (sack the sommelier, anyone?).

All of which mark a decided upturn from Cynthia's cyber robot in London Bridge...

Melissa Shoes
Cynthia's Cyber Bar
The Greenhouse
Adour at the St Regis New York

by VG

South London talent, Don-E hits the Pigalle with his new album. 7pm. 215 Piccadilly, W1. £10-30.

Eva Weber leads this double -bill for LGBT history month The Rich Mix. 6:30pm. 35-47 Bethnal Green Rd, E1. Free.

Agatha Christie gets all who-dunnit with And Then There Were None at the Richmond Theatre. 7:45pm. The Green TW9. £16-25.

Hamish Stuart, formerly of the Average White Band has 606 Club all to himself. 90 Lots Rd, SW10. 7:30pm. £8.

Share in the sociopathy and hysteria of Fritz Lang's M at Café 1001. 9pm. 1 Dray Walk, E1. £3.

Students from the RAM play a haunting selection of work from Messaien. Southbank. 6pm. Belvedere Road, SE1.

Last chance to see: Rachel Howard at Haunch; Darren Almond & Marc Quinn at the White Cubes; Illuminations at the Tate Modern; and the Gagosian's Sacrificial Heart.

On\|Off SHOW REPORTS		BEST OF LFW		TODAY'S FEATURE
PARTY PICS		AROUND TOWN		SEEN & HEARD

On|Off PICK OF THE DAY: SPIJKERS EN SPIJKERS

What a delightful collection. The trompe l'oeil collar details, the tired capes and capelets, some sensational fabric combinations and beautiful details. The spotted chiffons in mauve or green on black forming tiny corselets were sweet and enhanced the silhouettes which were float and full without being ever lumpy or unflattering - which is not easy to achieve. There were some great combinations of a fluid and soft metallic fabric with the chiffon and plain satin which were beautifully judged. The finish of every garment was tip top with fluttering hems and the extremely well graded layers of gathering to the finale cape coats - one in poison green shot with black and the other on a dark black/pewter.

Report by Tony Glenville
Click here to read in full or click here for more show reports

MORE LFW PHOTOS

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Personal Shopping with Design Hotels™

Liberty, the leading destination store in London and Design Hotels™ are proud to announce this very special opportunity. Stay one night, or more, over a weekend in February and March at our hotels in London and enjoy the following benefits included in your stay: Breakfast, Bottle of Champagne on arrival, Late Check-Out, Added amenities, Personal Shopping experience at Liberty, 10% discount on purchases at Liberty and complimentary refreshments, alterations and delivery at Liberty.

design hotels™ - 147 hotels around the world, 40 countries, one source.

SEEN & HEARD
Don't have anything nice to say? Come sit by us.

Overheard
Queue for show at On|Off
“I keep forgetting to eat breakfast, and then thats it for the day - it's the only chance gone.”

Click here read in full. And do write in with your piece of gossip.

PARTY, AROUND TOWN & BACKSTAGE

Click here to see our party, street and backstage pics.

NOKIA 8800 ARTE / 8800 ARTE SAPPHIRE

Another stylish collaboration by Nokia; we love the weight of this handset (the serious hardware screams quality) and the Kruder and Dorfmeister ring tones don't hurt either. But the best functions have to be the tap-for-time and turn-to-mute options (for discreet timekeeping, and call screening), so no more meeting embarassments, then. The PPQ limited edition 'Remy' jewel encrusted dresses- inspired by the Art Sapphire - are an added bonus, too.

CHECK OUT WHAT OUR FRIENDS AT TOPSHOP HAVE BEEN UP TO THIS LFW.

Click here to read insider reports from the fash frontline.

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