While the English may be rushing to visit the new Westfield complex, Kuala Lumpur is busy adding even more extravagant shops to their prestigious mall, Pavilion.  This time it’s none other than Prada and set over two floors with three entrances, it seems to be making our giant Westfield look humble.

Designed by Robert Baciocchi, the architect behind many a Prada store, the space which is set across 336 square meters, is made of backlit aluminium sections.  Baciocchi doesn’t end it here however, with alternate titanium and bronze finishing and a black marble stairway in a casing of bronzed mirrors, Prada has certainly reflected the extravagance of their product with their design.

The store will hold not only clothing but accessories, handbags and footwear for both men and women; and with at last a comfortable waiting area of Saddiano furniture in the women’s area and dark brown velvet seats and rosewood furniture in the men’s area, it seems that for once both sexes will be equally entertained in the shopping expedition.

When Style.com let slip a rumour about Madonna starring in the Vuitton Spring 09 campaign in November, no-one would have anticipated such a fast turn-around – not with simultaneous divorce proceedings, anyway. But yet again Madonna has proved herself to be beyond human capability, and churned out another killer fashion shoot to add to her many lists of accomplishments.

The shoot, compromising of six images set in a smokey Parisian cafe, depict Madonna showing off her enviable toned physique, modelling an orange feathered skirt as worn by Jessica Stam on the Vuitton runway. Creative director Marc Jacobs has taken the fashion house down a new path by breaking with their usual go-to photographers, Mert Alas and Marcus Piggot, instead choosing to go with fashion world favourite Steven Meisel, who created Madonna’s infamous book, Sex. Jacobs was inspired to use the pop legend after seeing her in concert, and cinched the deal with a casual text, to which she swiftly replied, “I’d love to”. He said, “What fascinates me the most about her is her never-ending energy, and the idea of becoming and changing. She’s an artist who’s unafraid to use her voice”. And in true Madonna style, these new images will surely grant her yet another lease of celebrity life.

Some men (lets start on a traditional and somewhat sexist note) choose to take a first date to a flashy, overpriced venue; perhaps a hotel bar, a staggeringly expensive restaurant possibly filled with bankers, their dates and all of their respective pinstriped friends. While impressive this is not always the ideal way to romance your chosen paramour. Beach Blanket Babylon, although ostentatious in dcor, is a fantastical place full of mysterious passages and dark nooks to seduce your date. And it is worth the money.

The roaring lions head, as you walk in, is magnificent; the lighting emitted from the candelabras on every table is bewitching and parking your behind on one of their grand, baroque chairs makes you feel as though you should nip to the loos, draw on a carefully placed beauty spot and return sporting a white wig; the whole feel of this restaurant/bar is lustrous, evocative and deeply, deeply satisfying.

And even when I set my martini glass down on one of their pristine white table cloths leaving a perfect blackcurrant ring (to my horror) the staff were so generous, even cracking a joke or two, that they seemed impervious to my embarrassment at having run off at first. A gracious person should of course always admit their wrongdoings. I, on the other hand was too tanked up on beautifully concocted Martinis to realise my fault and in turn their gracious response. At this point I should mention that the cocktails at this joint are delicious and expertly made, La Vie en Rose is a particular favourite but there is a long list to choose from.

Can this place do no wrong I hear you ask? It did strike me as a little smaller than I was expecting, this meant that the crowd at the bar spilled unwittingly into the dining area. Saturday nights are obviously heaving with young professionals on dates or looking for one. No depressing credit crunch effect here.

If you want to be smart, come here on a date, make sure it is a cold night and reserve the delightful table for two next to the fire upstairs, move to the bar after titillating conversation over your meal. Your date will soon be quivering in your arms. And if the conversation starts to ebb away, well there is always the elaborate decor to gaze at instead.

Beach Blanket Babylon West
45 Ledbury Road, Notting Hill, W11 2AA (020 7229 2907)

Average cost First course £12, Mains £20.

What to order? Start with the smoked salmon potato pancake with salmon caviar and sour cream, then try the fillet of beef with garlic sauted spinach and roast tomato and green peppercorn sauce for pudding red wine poached pear with crme fresh and shortbread.

Tipples Go for the Jimmy Choo Martini with green apples and vodka or house cocktail: the porn star martini, a classic blend of vanilla vodka and passion fruit with a shot of champagne on the side.

Spotted Naomi Campbell, Tom Ford and Mario Testino are having their Christmas parties here.

To end her European Tour, Roisin Murphy, formally of Moloko, threw a celebrity filled party.  Co-hosted with top stylists Kabir and Leo Belicha, Murphy chose the Soho private member’s club Bureau, for the finale.  Continuing with her red themed tour, the venue was completely transformed into a red boudoir for the occasion. 

The night included music from Mr and Mrs Smith, Jerry Bouthier and Murphy’s producer Seiji and there was an abundance of industry faces.  While Mischa Barton, Pixie Geldolf and Anouk Lepere were all in their signature styles, Murphy managed to hold the crown for style icon.  Wearing a baby doll dress with purple graphic print by Armand Basi, she showed the reason why she has managed to carve a name for herself as the queen of kook.

Jack Wills has officially grown up. The recent launch of sister brand Aubin & WIlls, aimed at an older, “graduate” market, has seen stores pop up in Wimbledon, Brighton and Edinburgh, with the promise of more in the pipeline. The stores follow in their predecessors’ footsteps, drawing on founder Peter Wills’ obsession with all things heritage.

Jack Wills established itself in 1999 as the UK’s answer to Abercrombie & Fitch, offering a comfortably casual yet stylish aesthetic. Aubin & Wills sees the company step up its use of luxurious fabrics in more classic, plainer pieces, whilst adding a line of homewares to its lexicon. Having captured the hearts of affluent teenagers across the nation, the company is now playing on the trend of recent years for designer loungewear for its new postgrad audience.  Juicy may have revolutionised the tracksuit, but Aubin & Wills succeeds in making the look much more refined. Take the essence of nostalgic student days, when dress codes were irrelevant and trend-following negotiable, and indulge in a new style of snuggly cashmere luxury as as our fabulously British temperatures plummet and the festive season awakens.

www.aubinandwills.com