The Powder Room

I've never been one to shell out for mani-pedis and all that jazz. although i find my unpainted nails something of an eyesore, i'm happy to varnish them myself, coating new layers over the days old chipped and bitten ones (who looks that closely anyway?). 17's Risky Red is a particular favourite, and Dragon's Blood by No.7. cheap and cheerful, i say (although Chanel do a fabulous London Bus red - £££ tho). what other colours could have such great names, eh? i think my nails look like little bright red buttons sitting on my fingers. still, happy as i am for a quick self administered brush up, i'm not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, and so on thursday night, despite the snow, i tottered along (in my lovely new forest green high heels by the much underrated ASH) to Columbia Road for the opening of The Powder Room, the first shop of the roaming Powderpuff girls. Up till now, this troupe of makeup artists and hairstylists clad in sexy pink 1950s dresses (a la Agent Provocateur girls) and jauntily placed black pill box hats have graced parties and lavish events, setting up shop to groom and preen revelers. in this new location, Columbia Road's weekend flower shoppers and knick-knack hunters can nip in for a quick spruce. super idea, i think. The shop is all 50s boudoir chic, with brightly lit vintage mirrors and dressing tables for hair styling; an apothecary's counter filled with beauty paraphernalia, on top of which sits one of those gorgeous ornately engraved old fashioned metal cash registers with the clicky buttons and a rounded ring to the clink of a sale going through; a loo with walls papered with adverts from the 1950s; and a central island stacked high with nail varnishes in every colour. i settled myself beside this, and drank elderflower gin cocktails from a pink tea cup while having my nails painted. really, how else is there to have a proper manicure?