Filmed a little video at home and out running some errands this morning to capture the easy feeling of a Sunday morning at home.
Men’s Gucci loafers. I love how they are a bit chunkier than the women’s ones, and they look amazing with socks. I want to wear with both black and white socks, with black jeans and a long coat. VERY tempted indeed but trying to be a grown up and not shop for me so close to Christmas… but then again, shouldn’t we always have a Christmas present to ourselves? (please say yes)
A few weeks ago I did my first ever styling job for Daisy Jewellery. I was SO excited when they asked me, because it’s something new for me and I can’t tell you all how much I enjoyed it! The incredible girls at Daisy told me they had been mood-boarding for the shoot, and were pulling up lots of looks from me, so decided they may as well ask me to do it and bring my own clothes too! So that’s exactly what we did. Dani, the gorgeous model, looked amazing in everything, And styling someone up in my own clothes really got me inspired by my own wardrobe too. We styled a few collection, but the one I was most excited about was the basics collection, which will be available very soon. It’s, as the name suggests, a collection of basics that are perfect to mix and match and layer up. It got me thinking about how jewellery has become so important to my own style too (promise to do a collection video soon, just have to get the missing necklace out from behind the radiator, those who watch my vlogs will know what I am talking about there). All in all, it was an amazing day and I really wanted to share the photos on here, and also say a huge thank you to the Daisy girls for trusting me with this job!
Thursday 1st November
This post is sponsored by Jigsaw
Really excited to be working with one of my favourite brands, Jigsaw, who in my mind just excel at their winter collection every year. Long time readers will know I have many a winter coat from them that have stood the test of time for many seasons. This time I wanted to share some new knitwear; cardigans no less, which you all know are my current favourite thing. I have honestly been reaching for a cardigan everyday - sometimes to wear alone (as I have done with the red one here), other times to wear open underneath a jacket where you can’t really see it but it provides an extra layer of warmth in this cold weather, or sometimes over my shoulders in true chic grandma style. The red one here is the perfect one to be worn alone, it’s a great thickness to keep you warm enough (but would also look great with a white t-shirt worn underneath too, like I have done here with an old season Jigsaw cardigan that I still very much love). Also red is a colour I forget to wear, but always vow to try and wear more whenever I do, because it’s such a flattering one!
The second cardigan is this mohair number draped over my shoulders. This grey-ish/blue-ish number (which you can see properly here), is a cable knit cardigan, and unlike one I have already! I love the crew neck, especially when worn undone, and the dark buttons really give this a vintage nana feel that I love. I styled it here with a cashmere knit from Jigsaw. I am currently working on a Testing Basics for cashmere, and while I won’t be including Jigsaw in that as the were in the last one, I really do love their cashmere pieces. This knit has already been through the wash a few times and is still looking and fitting perfectly, so I would really recommend. Also styled here with some chinos which I am LOVING (see another way I styled them here) - such a good alternative to jeans that fit me so so well!
RED KNIT: c/o JIGSAW | BLACK CASHMERE: c/o JIGSAW | CARDIGAN ON SHOULDER: c/o JIGSAW | CHINOS: c/o JIGSAW
PHOTOS BY ISAAC MARLEY MORGAN
Because Paris is always a good idea.
Some current favourite music I have had on repeat recently. Something for every mood here!
Friday 26th October
So last week I bought myself some Church’s brogues. My most worn style of shoe are my loafers and my trainers, and I suppose these sort of sit between the two. Last Winter I bought my first pair of Church’s which were some chelesa boots and proved to be some of the best shoes I have ever bought. They wore in so well, and still look like new a year on after being worn so, so many times! I can’t recommend them enough and I really like how they have ticked off all I need in a black flat boot collection. So when wanting some flat shoes, I thought Church’s would be a good place to start, and bought these glossed leather brogues. They have been killer to break in, and have shredded my feet pretty badly, but after about four outings in them, they have finally broken in and softened loads. I love how they look, how classic they are and easy to style, and how chic they look with everything. If you can cope with a painful breaking in period, then i really recommend them! And go a size down if you can, Church’s do give a lot in my experience.
Styled here with:
Rouje Jeans (c/o) | Stories Blue Knit (c/o)
Chloe Jacket (c/o) | Toteme Trousers (old)
Jisgaw Blazer (c/o) | Stories Overshirt (c/o) | Toteme Jeans (c/o)
Thursday 25th October
I now have an office!!! I can’t tell you how life changing this is for me. I know that sounds very dramatic but please bare with me here. Working at home is an amazing privilege, but it can mean you quickly loose any split between your work and life balance. Which is something I really felt the effects of in my old flat - where I worked and lived all in one room. It means your work is always in the corner of your eye, even when you’re trying not to work. The main reason I moved was to find somewhere with two bedrooms so I could have a separate room for an office, and honestly it’s one of the best decisions I have ever made. To be able to shut my work away at the end of the day, or not even go near it at all on a weekend, has made me so much more efficient and productive. So I turned the little space in the back of my flat into my dream office. I moved the silver chest that was once a TV stand in here, it’s now full to the brim with film photos. On there I have my old bedside table lamp, some prints, and Angel figurine, a White Company candle and some matches to light it with. I hung my Tropea print in here which I love so much, bought in the plant which is still limping along despite how neglected it is by me! My desk was gifted to me from La Redoute, I built it myself which I am quite proud of as it was far from simple. I loveeee how it looks so much. The desk chair is my dad’s old desk chair, it’s a little low but I am sitting on several cushions right now to make it work!! All in all, I am obsessed. The desk is already full of papers and mess, because I work in mess always, but it’s amazing to be able to shut that away at the end of the day!
DESK: c/o LA REDOUTE (Currently on sale)
PHOTOS BY ISAAC MARLEY MORGAN
Welcome to Light of My Life; an ongoing story about me trying to find some table lamps. Important stuff, I know. It’s been a journey of twists and turns thus far. With trips made in high hopes to Oka, only to be disappointed. To finding, and purchasing, the dream vintage ones online - only to get a call from the retailer to say that the lamps had been bought in store the same day so were no longer available. That was the low point in the journey, and I was convinced I would have to live my life in perpetual darkness. Then, just as thought there was no hope, I threw caution and budget to the wind and checked the Conran Shop. And here we are, I think I have found the dream lamps. No, they are not the dream price, but desperate times call for desperate measures so I may just have to order them. Stay tuned for Light Of My Life Part III, hopefully it’ll be full of good news.
Feeling fancy in this look, which is like my dream Autumn evening outfit! Mixing old pieces in my wardrobe with some new ones here too. The skirt is Mango from about 18 months ago which still stands as one of those too-good-to-be-true high street finds that I bought in Madrid. The knit and boots are the new pieces, both sent to me from Stories. I will be honest and say I am not feeling the high neck knit as much this season, i think most of my looks will be crew necked, so I doubt I will welcome many more than this one into the collection. I love how it looks, and maybe as it gets colder my tune will change in favour of practicality, but at the moment a high neck is feeling restrictive and far less comfortable than I ever remember it being (aside from a skinny turtleneck). Anyway despite all that I do like how this looks with this outfit. The boots are of course the star of the show. You can wear them like this, or slouched down a bit as they do on the website. I thought they would be a more wrinkly/soft material than they are and that they would fall down naturally, but they really don’t - if you squish them down, they stay there, if you pull them up, they stay there too! Get your normal size but bare in mind they have a wide fit, so thick socks will be a must if you have thin feet!
BOOTS: c/o & OTHER STORIES | KNIT: c/o & OTHER STORIES | SKIRT: MANGO
PHOTOS BY ISAAC MARLEY MORGAN
So last week was a big’un for me career wise! I signed with Next Management, not in model capacity, but for my blog and all that good stuff. Having management has been a huge decision for me and one I have considered over the past year. I have gotten so used to running all of this myself and having full control over everything, which is really hard to give up in any way. But after feeling as though I had hit a glass ceiling, and also the capacity of what I could manage on my own, I knew i needed some help along the way to keep things growing and to keep me having enough time to work creatively too. So I reached out to Next to arrange a meeting, as I love how fashion focused they are in their management, and the rest is now history! I promise nothing is going to change for you guys on here, this isn’t suddenly going to become awash with sponsored content, I am just going to be having some help on working on those projects I have worked on for years now.
So it’s all hugely exciting, and I can’t wait to see what this brings for my blog and my business. I wouldn’t be in this position without you all reading along here, so thank you so much for that, I hope you all know how endlessly grateful I am of you all.
xxx
Photos by Jakub Koziel
Been collaging away again and loving it!! Isaac took these photos of at home last weekend and they’re some of my faves we have worked on together yet. These jeans are new in from Rouje and if I am honest I am not wild about them, the fit is nice but very similar to the Weekday Voyage which come in at a much lower price point. One thing I do recommend for the higher price tag is this top. It’s actually a body and is the best fit ever, and has been washing really really well (I have worn it loads since it arrived). This sort of combo always makes me feel like Steve Jobs, but the minimalism of it is always so effortlessly stylish.
Anyway I have been in a major down spell recently that I couldn’t see a way out of for weeks. This blog redsign and your lovely words of encouragement on it has given me a new lease of life, I am so focused on this right now and it feels really good. I have so many ideas of what I want to post, and am loving just sitting down and really quickly sharing things with you guys just because I feel like it. It’s been very fashion focused recently but I promise some variation in that will be coming soon!
Photos by Isaac Marley Morgan
Writing something I never really thought I would… but I bought some leggings. Of course it was Toteme that made me do it. I have been reaching for slightly skinnier jeans as of recent, and generally pining for tighter fitting trousers. So these Toteme leggings fit the bill - I will style with big coats and boots like the Toteme lookbooks, but also with big wool blazers and trainers/loafers with big knitwear or white t-shirts. Really excited for them to arrive and will of course share my styling with you as soon as they arrive. I got them in a Small which has now sold out, but you can put your email in for restock info.
17th October 2018
Some photos at home yesterday evening, all taken on my iPhone. Wearing some new in comfy clothes from American Vintage (especially obsessed with the shorts). I worked sort of late (the funny rolls on the desk is 120mm film if you’re wondering), and whenever I work late I always make myself a drink. Sometimes late on is when I get very inspired, and having a drink sometimes helps that too… but never more than one!! Tonight’s drink of choice was a G&T. I am also hooked on Narcos at the moment, I can’t believe I haven’t watched it sooner. I am hooked!!!! It’s brilliant and because it’s got subtitles I actually have to sit and watch and concentrate and not scroll through my phone. After that I had a bath and face wash etc etc. My current evening skincare is consisting of Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish, and then either an oil or moisturiser - my faves are Embryolisse, Aurelia and Pai. I have also been using a Vitamin C serum and a retinol twice a week but I want to do a full post all about that very soon!
16th October 2018
I have been working on a Testing Basics for Wool Jackets which will be with you very, very soon. One of them is this Weekday number I shot with Isaac on Saturday. I wore it all weekend long, and don’t want to give away too much of the video, but I love it. It was really warm on Saturday so I wore it with my old favourite Reformation mini skirt, a black t-shirt from Weekday, and my Veja trainers which I love and have just about broken in because they really did rub at first. Also wearing the Sophie Hulme bolt bag that they very kindly sent to me - I am going to do a review on this next week because I have really been loving it and would really recommend it!!
Also, thanks for all the amazing comments in the CHAT section so far, I am loving checking in on there and reading your comments and getting involved - please keep them coming.
JACKET: WEEKDAY
SHOES: VEJA
SKIRT: REFORMATION (similar linked here)
T-SHIRT: WEEKDAY
BAG: SOPHIE HULME
PHOTOS BY ISAAC MARLEY MORGAN
I got this amazing handbag from Vestiaire with a voucher they sent me last week and I am obsessed. I just happened to find it on the first page when I was quickly browsing and ordered it straight away. It’s in such amazing condition and feels like the perfect nod to the Dior bag trend we are seeing everywhere, but in a way that is much more ‘me’. I love the Dior charm, because it’s a bit of extra glam but isn’t too in your face at all, and this is the first patent bag I have and feels way more posh and polished than other ones. Also the shoulder strap is the perfect length too, you all know I am such a big fan of a cross body bag, but there is something very chic about walking around with a bag on your shoulder and it makes me feel very posh!
Some iPhone photos from last Sunday. I spent the morning at home watching Four Weddings And A Funeral (for the first time ever, I am ashamed to say), before heading out for a roast with Laura. We had a good catch up and I enlisted her photo-taking skills, she always snaps the best Insta content for me. I then spent the evening in my comfies working and finishing Killing Eve on TV, if you haven’t watched it you must, it was amazing!
I was wearing Levi’s Authorised Vintage Jeans, Raey Jacket I am obsessed with, Toteme shirt, Uniqlo T-Shirt and my vintage Dior Bag
This post is sponsored by Hush.
Taking a little step back in time today with Hush and some 70s inspiration styling. I wouldn’t say there is one era that inspires my look more than the rest; sometimes I love the 70s for the hairstyles, the 90s for the bra-less looks, and the era we are in right now. I would say my style is an amalgamation of lots of different eras. I like that though, because it always feel like my take on something - like the looks I have here, they are inspired by, but not completely replicating, 1970s style.
The luxe velvet and emerald green of the blazer, cut longline and tailored just how I like (as we all know very well), styled with a simple white tee, some straight leg jeans and some gold jewellery. Despite having such an extensive blazer collection, this is actually the first velvet blazer I have ever had and I love it, I think it’ll be the perfect evening piece for the Autumn. I also don’t have any other jackets in this colour and now want lots more because it is so flattering!
Secondly, something girly for me. This black dress and these pointed flats are such a chic combination that would definitely work for a workwear option too. You guys know I am a fan of a smart flat shoe, but it is normally a loafer and not something as feminine as this! But, I am loving how these shoes look, and while I have gone for it and the girly vibes with his black dress, I think they would look amazing with baggy jeans and a t-shirt.
Now something I do find tricky to style, but always love on other people, the midi skirt. I don’t know what it is I find hard about them, because a mini skirt I can style up all day long, but something below the knee and I suddenly struggle. But, here is my attempt(s), and I am pretty pleased with it! Trainers are a must I think if you are going casual, and I love the colour of these ones for autumn, and not surprisingly I have kept everything else simple. The oversized black knit (softest thing ever, Hush do the most incredible knitwear), and the plain white t-shirt for something more warm-weather friendly. I would also love to give this look a go with a skinny turtleneck, because I love how the t-shirt looks tucked in, but love the high neck of the knit with the longer length of the skirt.
And as a final note on this one, I recommend going one or even two sizes down with this skirt as the sizing comes up a little large, but every other piece in the post is true to size.
Ordered these lamps from Pamono last week only to get a phone call today to say they are no longer available!! Back to the lamp drawing board, but these really have set the bar high and, and also narrowed down the search - 1970s style for sure. Pamono is one of my current fave places to browse for hours, especially the exceptional section, which really is exceptional.
Friday 5th October 2018
Had a long weekend in Tropea with my family and it was amazing. I hadn’t seen Luigi in over a year so it was amazing to see him, and as always we ate so much amazing food, sunbathed and started on the Aperol around midday everyday. Couldn’t have been any better - and I always love the photos I manage to shoot while I am there. I just did one roll of film this time and here it is for you guys!
This post is sponsored by Maje
Those of you who watch my YouTube channel will already be familiar with this amazing skirt. I was singing it’s praises for managing to be that micro length I love, while keeping your dignity safe with a little hidden nylon shorts that lurk underneath. With the check print and wool fabric, despite flashing your legs to the world, this really does feel like a very transitional-appropriate piece. Especially when teamed with some knitwear like this v-neck number. Which may be the perfect black knit for winter, an item I think we will agree as being a wardrobe essential. I don’t actually have a chunky v-neck black knit, and due to my laziness when it comes to hand washing knits, its essential I have a few options in the wardrobe while they slowly all build up in my wash basket.
I do think it’s safe to say the star of the show in this look are the trainers. My love for the chunky trainer trend has, up until now, mostly been inspired by slightly more classic takes on it ala Princess Diana. My New Balance dad trainers haven’t really left my feet since I got them, and it opened my eyes into the world of the ugly trainer in a different way. While I not quite ready to embrace the multi-coloured ones, a chunky style in all white seemed to strike the perfect balance between feeling ‘on trend’ and classic. The thing that always put me off this style is partly how heavy I imagine them to be, like I would spend my days shuffling around Notting Hill with ever growing leg muscles due to the sheer weight of them. Thankfully these are very light so I can stick to gliding around (wishing I was that elegant and didn’t manage to trip up at least once a day). I think I am going to embrace these as much as possible with bare legs while I can, they are undoubtedly flattering on bare legs - and also don’t be put off if you have big feet, I am a UK 7 and gladly embrace a chunky shoe all the time!
Having a few down days at the moment so I thought I would share some things I am doing to try and help;
Sleep as much as possible. Someone once told me that you heal so much in your sleep and it’s always stuck with me. When I am down I always try to make sure I am having early nights, and most importantly avoiding drinking too much which always ruins my sleep quality.
Work lots, it’s my biggest distraction always. Work has been sort of stressful lately but aside from a couple of meltdowns I am really enjoying it all, and enjoying how busy it is. I try to let my work fill my mind as much as I can.
But also, contrary to that last point, I am trying to make my new home my happy place and enjoy being here even if I am sad. Which has meant it has to be more than just my office, so I am trying to have evenings in on the sofa watching TV, even if I can only manage 30 mins of sitting still and relaxing, it’s better than nothing. I am finding I am looking forward to the moment I get to sit and chill too, I am just not good at sustaining it.
Look forward to things. I am thinking of taking another solo trip next month, it will be almost a year since my last one, so it seems a good time. I think where my head is at right now it could be the best idea and really inspire me again, or the worst idea and I just regret leaving home - I am willing to take the risk with it though! So hopefully I will be stateside again soon!
Listen to Future Islands. That cures everything.
Read Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur, there is a reason people quote it so much, some of those pages really stick with you.
Exercise, when you don’t feel like it, it always makes me feel so much better and clears my head a little bit.
Remember self care doesn’t have to mean putting on a face mask (I blame YouTube for making me think that self care is all about candles around a bathtub), for me it has meant speaking to friends lots, writing down all my thoughts, trying to be mindful and have control over my thoughts too, and balancing between business and downtime. I haven’t gone near a face mask once.
