Thursday 31 December 2015

Caramel





As those of you who follow my Instagram will know I have had huge issues with my Mac over the past week and due to my lack of backing things up lost several unpublished shoots as well as past work.  Now though, thanks to my local IT shop I am back up and running just in time to race into 2016. 

It has finally started to get cold in the country and this Ede & Ravenscroft vintage camel coat is my favourite throw on.  My cosy, laid back holiday dressing has been spiced up with a few special Christmas presents including this stunning black and rose gold Cluse watch and a few rings from designer of the moment Amber Sceats.  I hope you also received some lovely gifts.

Coat - Ede & Ravenscroft - vintage / Shirt - New Look / Shoes - Zara (old) / Watch - Cluse


























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Wednesday 16 December 2015


With the festive season comes festive beauty treats and I am a magpie for anything nude and shimmery.  One of my favourite recent discoveries is the Make Me Beautiful collection by Next.  The brand has everything from pretty pallets to glossy lip colours and all in their signature clean silver packaging.

If you're looking for great gifts for fashion loving friends look no further.  I am already addicted to their silky velvet primer (£10) which is one of the best I've tried and the Cherry Red Chubby Stick (£8) which glides on beautifully and moisturises for soft lips.  The block bronzer (£8) is a handbag essential and a quick swish refreshes your look throughout the day.

Hop over to the Next website to see the full collection and pick up some treats for friends (or yourself).  Happy shopping.








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Monday 14 December 2015

RUST




The burnt rusty shades of the fallen leaves complement the continuation of the 70s trend perfectly.  The weather is just mild enough to still be wearing my favourite Dolce & Gabbana leather jacket with a few recent High St editions.

Cropped leather Jacket: Dolce & Gabbana (old) similar here
Bucket bag: Zara
Round glasses: Forever 21
Polo neck sweater: Primark
Cord lace up skirt: boohoo.com
Crocodile & suede boots: Office




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Wednesday 18 November 2015

WINTER BEAUTY MUST-HAVES






Which are the beauty products that I can't live without?  My must-haves are dependant on the weather, the season & where I am.  I have selected a few products that I adore to fill you in on.  Hopefully they will inspire you're winter beauty regime.  

My beauty look is natural with either a smoky eye or a red lip - never both.  I like a gentle base in the winter applied to a well moisturised dewy complexion.  These are products that I travel with and apply daily.  They work hard for their price tag and compete with the best.  Clinique's Smart Custom moisturiser is gentle while hydrating, brightening & strengthening the skin.  It leaves my skin plumped and fresh.   

I must have trialled at least twenty foundations over the past six months & again Clinique's a winner for delicate skin.  Their Superbalanced makeup is oil free, streak proof & contains antioxidants.  It looks really natural whilst giving enough coverage.  Top this off with my secret weapon of Clinique's chubby stick sculpting highlighter to give defined cheekbones.  

For an easy smoky eye that lasts I find L'Oreal's Super Liner Smokissime does the job perfectly.  It's sponge liner tip means drawing a line is simple and the product sets really quickly.  It then doesn't budge until you remove it at the end of the day.

My final beauty pleasure is a new edition thanks to the gorgeous guys at L'Occitane in the form of one of their two new fragrances.  This collaboration with french patisserie Pierre Herme produced a fresh, feminine fragrance that awakens your senses even at 5am when it's cold and dark.  You must try Jasmin Immortelle Neroli Eau de Toilette, it's delicious!




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Saturday 14 November 2015

Got the blues?



Need something to brighten your day?  These Valentino flats should do the trick.  Feminine cornflower blue and nude leather gets seriously punk'd up with silver eyelet and buckle detailing. Style with the simplest black jeans and a crisp white shirt.  Yes please.

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Thursday 12 November 2015

Love, Style, Life & L'Oreal




Who doesn't love a great book?  

After pre-ordering mega blogger and illustrator Garance Dore's  'Love X Style X Life' back in the summer I was excited to have it dropped through the letter box.  Garance also sent me a beautiful box of her favourite L'Oreal products after entering a competition for the book's launch.  I'll let you know shortly if I love them as much as her.  Congrats GD x
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Sunday 1 November 2015

Carine Roitfeld x Uniqlo













Yes, Carine Roitfeld is one of my biggest style icons and yes, I made sure I was around to shop her collection with Uniqlo the minute it launched.  Carine, in my opinion, is completely fabulous and constantly inspires my wardrobe choices.  The former model, writer and editor-in-chief of Vogue Paris first started to inspire my style at 22 when I look my first job in fashion in London and stocked up on black blazers.  Since then the blazer collection has grown as have the silk shirts, crisp white mens shirts and black leather mini skirts.  

Carine's collection for High St brand Uniqlo launched this week with a beautiful edit of boiled wool blazers, long-line silk printed shirts, classic pinstripe suits and neckerchiefs.  I made a few purchases and refrained from shoving the whole collection into a basket!  This long-line, 100% silk, camouflage print blouse is one of my favourite pieces and works with jeans and a lace bra or for work with a blazer and leather trousers.  

If you're super quick you may fine the odd piece still online or in their Regent St store.


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Saturday 31 October 2015

Wishing away



Well it's that time of year again.  Selfridges have launched their Christmas windows along with half of the High St and the pumpkin spiced lattes are sat at my desk far too often.  If you need some ideas on what you buy for your fashionable friends or want ideas for your own presents then this may just help.  If Father Christmas could bring me anything here's what I'd love...


My scent.  I adore everything by Jo Malone and the brand makes perfect presents.  If you stock up early they have beautiful Christmas packaging to make your gift extra special.  The dregs of my bottle are being used sparingly whilst hoping that someone splashes out for Christmas.


A classic!  And if you haven't already stocked up then the CK label should be on your fashion wish list.  I love the classic tees to pair with a dressy blazer.


This Australian brand is one of my favourites and I could fill my whole wish list from their site.  If you sign up to their emails at the moment they will give you a ten dollar gift card.  They will ship your treats to the UK no problem.  Order early as the delivery takes longer being from Australia.


These new moisturising tinted lip balms are perfect for that post Christmas blues when the weather turns cold.  This Jupon Mulbery is the prettiest shade of plum.  They are good secret santa gifts too.


A perfect mix of ladylike pearl and minimally chunky.  All this bracelet needs is a chunky oversized jumper.

No explanation needed.  Look at how beautiful this is!  The nude collection has a mix of beautiful everyday shades that you will never want to take off.


This oversized velvet blazer is so Parisian it hurts. Throw over a white tee with black jeans forever and ever.


Coach is the brand of the moment and there is not one item I'm not coveting right now.  This silver found items necklace is bring back the charm thing in a BIG way.  In love!








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Monday 26 October 2015

Bomb!




Autumn is the time of year when my skin just freaks out.  All summer it's been glowing and blemish free (with the exception on the odd dull hangover treatment) and now 'boom', My skin literally hates me!  It hates the cold, it hates the heating and it hates the harsh wind.  My slap-it-on summer skincare regime just isn't going to cut it.  

A few weeks ago Time Bomb Skincare sent me over a few of their favourite products.  The brands main focus is to 'stop time on ageing' for women of all ages.  With their products protecting against loss of moisture, oil and collagen I decided to give them a go.  

I test out a LOT of skincare products and most are pretty nice.  Some products I really like and occasionally I try some that I adore.  The following products from Time Bomb I definately adore.  I was instantly impressed by how great my skin felt and within a week it was almost completely back on track.  I tried out the Take off time cleanser, the Complexion cocktail with a shot of Chlorophyll and the Powerball intensive moisturiser.  

Now regular readers will probably know my skin as well as I do however for those of you who don't here's a quick update to ensure the products that I recommend are right for you too.  I'd tick the 'Normal to Dry' box.  I suffer from slight dryness in the winter and get the odd blemish and a bit of redness.  I don't have any oily areas however my skin doesn't seem to like serums and these can create more blemishes.

My favourite of the three products is the Take off time cleansing cream.  This cleanser is soft and moisturising yet contains professional dermatological grade crystals that gently lift away that clinging top layer of skin.  It feels like a very light scrub.  I use it all over even to remove eye make-up and have has no irritation.  It's brilliant.  Just rub gently into damp skin and then remove with a muslin cloth.  

The second product is really unusual and leaves my skin feeling fresh and hydrated.  I have only been using the Complexion cocktail with a shot of Chlorophyll for a week and am already noticing the results.  This liquid gel like product detoxes, soothes and smoothes skin that looks rough, dry, uneven, broken-out due to stress, pollutants and unhealthy diets.  It's easy to apply as you just pop a bit on your hands and rub in.  The cocktail smells delicious.

Finally the Powerball intensive moisturiser is light yet rich.  It soaks in perfectly and leaves skin soft and fresh.  Even though it is intensive the cream is light enough to use morning and night and doesn't leave skin greasy.  Thank you Time Bomb for sorting my winter skin early.  I think I have found my staples. 











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Sunday 25 October 2015


I'm a firm believer that you can never have too many delicate lace bras and this beautiful sports inspired beauty confirms that nicely.  Just add your husbands fresh white shirt and a collection of dainty necklaces and you're good to go. 

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Saturday 24 October 2015

Backgammon



Dipping into a big seasonal trend is an easy way to update your wardrobe.  However if you're anything like me you will shy away from the larger price tags on these pieces.  Boredom is the main reason I end up avoiding prints and bold styles after too many mistakes in the past resulting in wardrobe tantrums.  

Read any editorial and a 70s print shirt is in its top five seasonal must haves.  A boxy, oversized fit steers it away from the trend and creates a fresher silhouette.  I adore this silky tile print shirt that reminds me of a backgammon board I owned as a child.  I'm not sure I ever considered it a great print at the time and in fact I'm not sure I ever fully understood how to play either.  If you're still undecided about over the knee boots then these suede look low block heel beauts should convince you.  Perfect over jeans or with a shift dress and only £35! They will fly.  







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Thursday 22 October 2015

Warm light





Leather vs pleather trousers is a serious debate.  Pleather has itself some pretty good features and benefits. Firstly the cost.  Who hasn't purchased a pair of Zara's skinny pleather leggings for under thirty pounds and wondered 'How do they do this?'  Then there's the fact that the material usually has some stretch which improves the fit.  

But leather.  That butter soft, cow scented black delight.  It may stretch in time and never fit properly again.  It may also cost a small fortune.  But I love it.  My recent favourite is the sporty jogger style with its slightly loose fitting leg and tapered ankle.  For easy morning dressing simply grab trousers, throw on a classic white shirt and add a blazer or knit depending on the weather.  Easy peasy.

Leather trousers by Maje/Shirt by Urban Outfitters/Knit by Zara





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Friday 16 October 2015

Weekend wearing


Weekend clothing should be comfortable, a little laid back but by no means less stylish than your weekday wardrobe. As the days are getting shorter, darker and colder we have to re-think those go-to outfits that have got us by all summer. Stocking up on those essential, classic pieces now means that later in the year you can refresh a look cheaply and easily. A classic shirt looks as good with flares as it does under a dress or with a check mini shirt. A pair of beautiful black boots can be styled with cropped trousers or a midi to show a little leg and create a modern silhouette. Check out my favourite pieces to take you throughout the Winter and beyond. 




I adore the monochrome contrast cuff and collar detail on this Equipment shirt.  Keep colours running throughout your outfit for a slimline look.  Indigo or Navy are nice alternatives to black.




Higher leg ankle boots are having a moment and create a lean, long leg. The simple buckle detail and block heel means these Jones boots are as good for work as they are for a pub lunch.  If paring with paler colours add in a black belt or mini bag to balance out the look.




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