We’re on a bit of a shoe thing today but this news is too juicy to pass up. The super-swanky Liberty, one of our favourite department stores, has unveiled its new Shoe Boutique earlier this month, which is laid out like an opulent boudoir. Shoppers will find a pair of Vivienne Westwood shoes perched on a dining table, or some Alaia shoes suspended from the ceiling. All of the shoes are displayed like works of art in a setting which includes plenty of chaise longues, mirrors and chandeliers- there is also a garden room. Designers carried include YSL, Alexander McQueen, Giuseppe Zannoti, Prada, Stella McCartney, Chloe and more. The Shoe Boutique is on the 2nd Floor, East Gallery and Atrium. Liberty, Regent Street, London W1B 5AH.

Whistles has always been one of those high street shops I never bothered to go into, because the clothes always looked a little too frilly and mumsy for my taste. But with new creative director Jane Shepherdson (ex Top Shop brand direcotr) at the helm, the brand is getting a makeover. The new Whistles collection looks more sophisticated and polished. We liked the look of this black key hole dress (£125) as well as the sharply tailored military pea coats (£195). The new collection of silky blouses looks chic without being sweet, and the range of silky tops (around £45 each) would look great paired with skinny jeans.

If you love supermodels, sand, sun and sea, check out the collection of Mario Testino’s work at the Phillips de Pury & Company's London galleries. Called “Obsessed by You,” the exhibition runs until 26 July 2008 and features plenty of pics on view and also for sale. So if you want your own pics of Kate Moss or Amber Valetta frolicking on a beach, get there now.  Phillips de Pury & Company, Howick Place London SW1P 1BB, UK. Phone: +44 20 7318 4023.

If you’re in Oslo (and summer is a great time to be there), then check out the fab boutique Freudian Kicks which opened a few months ago. Located in the Quaderaturet section, which has lots of museums, art galleries and boutiques, this independent store carries a mix of clothing and accessories. A lot of it is street-inspired, and plenty of Scandinavian designers are carried. Expect to find J Brand jeans, American Apparel, Gaspard Yurkievich and Sneaky Steve for cool trainers.  Freudian Kicks, Prinsensgate 10B, 0152 Oslo. Phone: + 47 22 42 93 00.

Bond excitement is reaching fever pitch this summer. The new Bond film trailer can be seen online here, and Penguin has just released a newly redesigned set of Bond books- along with a new Bond novel written by Sebastian Faulks. This summer, London’s Imperial War Museum will exhibit “For Your Eyes Only: Ian Fleming and James Bond”, and to really soak up the Bond feeling, Rocco Forte’s Brown’s Hotel is offering The Ian Fleming Centenary stay. So what’s the connection between Brown’s and Bond? It makes an appearance in ‘Icebreaker’ and the stylish Donovan Bar offers a wide range of decadent Bond cocktails.  A few of the Fleming Centenary package highlights include: overnight accommodation in a luxurious room or suite; two tickets to “For Your Eyes Only: Ian Fleming and James Bond” at the Imperial War Museum London; two Bond cocktails in The Donovan Bar, and a hard-back copy of Sebastian Faulks new James Bond Novel. The package starts at £315 and is available until 28 December 2008. For more information call 0800 988 4040. Brown’s Hotel, Albemarle Street, London W1S 4BP. Phone:  +44 (0)20 7493 6020.

Fans of quirky design duo Viktor & Rolf should head down to the Barbican for the just-opened “The House of Viktor & Rolf.” This exhibit showcases the history of the fashion house, from their days as students at the Academy of Arts in Arnhem, to the brand today. The exhibit, which runs through 21 September, also touches on their collaboration with H&M and the opening of their funky 'upside down' store in Milan in 2005. Workshops include doll-making and how to make the perfect scent, and Viktor & Rolf have also taken over the Barbican’s gift shop, which is sticked with limited edition scarves, perfumes and books.

Last summer when Whole Foods opened in South Kensington, I, like every other American in town, dashed over during the opening weekend to gawk at the 300 varieties of fruit and veg and buy some meat from a counter which seemed to stretch for miles. But I have to confess I have never been back, as it’s simply not in a convenient place for me. But Whole Foods could be seeing some fierce competition from Food Inc, which is opening this month in the newly refurbished Whiteleys shopping centre in Bayswater. The 6300 square foot space was created by the founders of Harvey Nichols food markets, so you know it’s going to be good. There will be a grocery, deli, cheese counter, plenty of wine and a fishmonger. And psss: Whiteley’s will also have an outpost of All Star Lanes bowling! Food Inc, 151, Queensway, Bayswater, London UK W2 4YN. Phone: 44 (0) 207 792 6020.

Finding decent maternity clothes – which don’t cost the earth- is never easy. Most of what is out there is completely frumpy or covered in overly cute things like bows and ribbons. If you didn’t wear that kind of stuff before, why on earth would you start wearing it when pregnant? One item of clothing that is a godsend during the days when you are too big for your own clothes but not big enough for maternity wear is a belly band. It’s essentially a soft, stretchy band that fits around your waist, allowing you to wear your regular jeans or skirts unzipped. It also discreetly covers your bump, so you can keep on wearing your regular shirts. While lots of companies sell them, Isabella Oliver has a lovely two pack (you get one black and one white) for £30, and the packaging is divine. The company is mail-order only, and ships in the US and the UK.

When it comes to decorating my own house, I can be a bit of a wimp about colour. Yes, I like bright colours like pink and turquoise... I just don't want to be surrounded by them. That’s why wall decals are so fab. You can inject a bit of colour into a room without committing to painting an entire wall, say, lime green- and it's not permanent. The Columbia-road based Supernice stocks an amazing range of wall stickers. I love the look of their wall animals (pictured), crafted from vintage wallpaper, for £45. Supernice also stocks a huge range from Blik graphics, which ran the gamut from Japanese-inspired prints to Keith Haring graphics and robots. Online shopping is also available. Supernice Limited, 106 Columbia Rd, London, E2 7RG. Phone: 0207 6133890.

If you’re looking to plan a few days in Istanbul shoppping and eating before heading off to one of Turkey's glorious beaches, check into the new W Istanbul. The hotel is the W’s first foray into Europe, and is located in the trendy Besiktas area, which counts Chloe, Vertu, Bottega Veneta and Marc Jacobs as its neighbours. The 134 guest rooms are divided into Wonderful, Spectacular, Fabulous, and Mega, with the grand daddy of them all being the Extreme Wow suite, which is 1830 square feet of over-the-topness. For chilling out, there is Jean-Georges Spice Market restaurant, a fitness center, and Sip for cocktails. W Hotel Istanbul, Suleyman Seba Cad No: 22, Akaretler, Besiktas, Istanbul, Turkey. Phone: (90)(212) 381 2121.