I don’t know about you, but I couldn’t wait to read French Women Don’t Get Fat when it was first published. The book, written by former Veuve Clicquot CEO Mireille Guiliano, is smart, funny, and direct, and reveals some of the secrets of why our counterparts across the pond always manage to look infinitely chicer and slimmer while still indulging in life’s great pleasures, like wine, cheese, chocolate and a good roast. Their secret? No, it’s not down to genes (although it does help).
What Guiliano recommends is a sensible approach, where instead of punishing ourselves through diets and eating fake food, we should enjoy what we want – in moderation – and with pleasure.

There aren't too many people who can get away with calling body scrubs and lotions “nectar for your body” but somehow it works when its Raymond Blanc saying it. Maybe it's the French accent, or just his genuine enthusiasm for seeking the very best ingredients, whether it's an exotic mushroom or a type of olive oil to be used in his upcoming range of organic body products.

Let's face it. The traditional guidebook is dead. They're thick, clunky and the information is often out of date, and hardly ever appeals to the upmarket traveller. That's where Nota Bene comes in. Savvy travellers looking for opinionated tips on where to stay, what to do and where to eat sign themselves up for a subscription to the slim books, which have covered destinations from Paris, London and New York, to Aspen, Phuket and the Yucatan. (The books are not available in bookstores). Every selection is hand-picked and always stylish. After all, the Nota Bene motto is "If in doubt, opt for the Four Seasons." Upcoming books will cover the Amalfi Coast, Moscow, Rajasthan, Berlin, and Hong Kong. Nota Bene, which means “Take note” in Latin, is the brainchild of London-based Anthony Lassman (who is also starring in an ad campaign for Julius Baer private wealth management). Lassman sat down with iTravel iShop at the always glamorous Berkeley Hotel to talk shop.

You've fallen in love with the signature handbags, and you might fall in love with the Ferragamo family's cabernets and brunellos, too. Salvatore Ferragamo, grandson to the esteemed Italian footwear designer, has been busy expanding the Ferragamo family brand portfolio into the wine industry and agro-tourism with Il Borro. The estate is part of the portfolio of the family's luxury holdings, including the fashion and accessories business, four hotels in Florence (including the Hotel Lungarno and Nautor Swan, a yacht-building company).

Although you may not have heard of Alison Chow, chic Londoners have certainly heard of the shop that she co-owns with Sophie Oliver, Coco Ribbon. This girlie-girl boutique in Notting Hill resembles a boudoir, with plenty of chandeliers, Venetian mirrors and painted furniture. Coco Ribbon stocks Sass & Bide, Collete Dinnigan, Jasmin di Milo, and Alice Temperley but everything in the store is for sale so if you like that hand painted display table, it can be yours. Coco Ribbon is also famous for its “Panty Postman” service where you can sign up for a year's supply of knickers to be delivered to you (apparently the life expectancy of a pair of pants is three months, who knew?). Coco Ribbon also sells its own range of cashmere and accessories like gold compacts and butterfly garlands. No wonder celebrities like Sienna Miller, Jools Oliver and Elizabeth Jagger are all fans of the store.

Writers love to tell us that the journey is the destination, but when you're crammed in an economy seat on a long-haul flight sandwiched between a screaming baby and a chatty person, you'd give anything to make the journey shorter. One person making journeys a million times more comfortable is Dave Spurlock, the founder of EOS Airlines. EOS flies between New York's JFK and London's Stansted Airport on a fleet of  757 planes which have been reconfigured to have just 48 business-class seats. Each passenger gets a whopping 21 square feet of space per person and seats fully recline to form a 6-foot 6-inch bed. In flight, guests are pampered with a four course gourmet meal, blankets, a turn down service with chocolates, and Bose noise-cancellation headphones. Best of all, passengers can arrive at the airport 45 minutes before departure to maximize their time.

There aren't too many designers who like to cartwheel down the runway after a show (can you imagine Armani or Valentino doing this?) Then again, Betsey Johnson isn't like any other designer. Betsey's personality is just as colourful and exuberant as her clothing, and her personal life attracts as much ink as her collections. The ultimate rock chick, she lived in the Chelsea Hotel in the late '60s and was part of Andy Warhol's factory scene. Edie Sedgwick was her house model. She designed costumes for "Ciao, Manhattan," made velvet suits for the Velvet Underground and was married to John Cale.

Looking for some expert advice on Tuscany? Then pick up a copy of Barbara Milo Ohrbach's latest tome, “Dreaming of Tuscany” (Rizzoli). This intrepid traveller has written over 20 best-selling lifestyle books, and has a lifetime of travel and shopping experience. Ohrbach started her career as a fashion industry executive, which kickstarted her passion for art and antiques. She and her husband, Mel, later opened a small Manhattan shop to sell off years of accumulated collections. The shop, Cherchez, was an immediate success and led to the publication of Ohrbach's first book, the now classic “The Scented Room” in 1986.

In “Dreaming of Tuscany,” Ohrbach reveals where to find the perfect hilltowns, splendid palazzos, rustic farmhouses, luxurious hotels and fabulous shops. This book is Ohrbach's little black book of secret discoveries and favourite spots around Tuscany, and includes her top picks for gardens, the best cooking schools, and a guide to Florence as well.

When most people graduate from university, they never see their thesis again- or want to. That's not the case with Ashleigh Verrier. When the 25-year old graduated from Parsons School of Design two years ago, Saks Fifth Avenue bought her entire thesis collection, plus a limited production run.

Some people like to claim that they are born to shop, but Mandi Norwood really means it. Norwood is the founding editor of the American magazine of SHOP Etc., which is devoted entirely to shopping. A style maven in her own right, Norwood counts Jean Shrimpton as her style icon but can't resist the occasional snowglobe or high street bargain from Miss Selfridge or Oasis.