Friday 30 September 2016

London Fashion Weekend - AW16 trends



I was lucky enough to attend this year's London Fashion Weekend at the Saatchi Gallery in Chelsea along with fellow blogger friend Steph Canham. We even got front row seats at the Avenue 32 trend fashion show! It was my first ever London Fashion Week show, so I was super excited to experience it all.

The Chelsea location


We left home bright and early to get to London in good time. It was a lovely and sunny day even though it was the end of September, so I was really grateful that the weather was on our side. London Fashion Weekend was held at the iconic Saatchi Gallery in Chelsea this year which was a fantastic and central location. This year's designer tote bags were limited edition and designed by Sophia Webster. I love the tote bag with it's pink and peacock design and will definitely be using it again.



Upcoming AW16 trends


The online retailer Avenue 32 trend show was at 12pm and we had front row seats which was great as it allows you to see all of the styles and outfit close up. The trends that were showcased included a velvet affair, new look lace and winter florals. The velvet pieces were stunning and caught my eye instantly. Velvet is going to be a key trend this winter, so look out for velvet pieces in both day and night outfits. Florals on darker colours are going to be huge this autumn/winter as this is a great transitional statement from summer to autumn. Similarly, the lace trend is both sexy and pretty and great for the winter party season.


The shopping

After the show, it was time for a pick me up at the pop-up Pommery Champagne Bar. Following that was some time to explore the designer fashion on offer and see key pieces from jewellery, shoes, make-up and designer clothing. London Fashion Weekend is a great place to discover new and upcoming designer brands, as well as take a look at your classic favourites.

A long day as a fashion blogger spotting the latest trends means that rest is required at the end of the day. We had dinner in the beautiful The Ivy Chelsea Garden on the King's Road afterwards. It was delicious and much needed. Overall, this year's LFW was a great event and I really enjoyed seeing all of the upcoming fashion trends.

Watch my latest video on my YouTube channel where I vlog my LFW experience!



Did you see any of the trends at this year's LFW? What was your favourite?   

Monday 26 September 2016

A luxury stay at the Ox Pasture Hall Hotel

Above photo taken by Kirstie Melville


I have always wanted to visit Yorkshire as I've never ventured into the North East of England before, but I had heard such good things about it. I went to stay at the Ox Pasture Hall Hotel* which is a luxury Scarborough hotel in a fantastic location for exploring the area. Ox Pasture Hall Hotel is a beautiful country house hotel located just outside of Scarborough, making it the perfect place for a relaxing and tranquil break.

The hotel is known as one of the finest luxury hotels in Yorkshire. I stayed in one of their luxury suites called the Richmond Suite, which overlooked a lovely courtyard as well as having a fantastic view of the North Yorkshire Moors. The room was so spacious and the decor made it feel so homely and relaxing. The Richmond Suite had a lounge area, a luxury bathroom with two hand wash basins, a large bath tub and a walk-in shower. I took my friend and fellow blogger Kirstie along, so we had two luxury twin beds. The whole suite was absolutely stunning and we felt like it was more of an apartment than a hotel room!




There were plenty of other facilities to make your feel at home at the Ox Pasture Hall Hotel. The hotel lounge was one of my favourite areas in the hotel, with a huge fireplace and comfortable luxury sofas to relax on. We had a cup of tea in the lounge area just before checking in, which was a really nice way to make you feel at home.

After some taking some fashion photos with Kirstie and exploring the grounds and the gorgeous courtyards, we had dinner at the hotel restaurant. We were offered a bottle of bubbly which went down nicely with the delicious three course meal we had. For starters I opted for the mushroom soup which was so tasty and warming in the Autumn season. I had a lovely goat's cheese gnocchi for my main meal - a dish that was not actually on the menu, but one that was very kindly offered to me as another option. Finally for my dessert, I ordered the milk chocolate tart which nicely finished the delicious evening meal. Once I had finished my long hot soak in the bath, I was ready for bed and slept really well in the comfortable sheets.




Following a good night's sleep in the comfy bed, I headed down to breakfast which included a buffet with cereals, fruit and pastries as well as cooked breakfast options. I ordered a cooked breakfast with scrambled eggs, toast, mushrooms, tomato and hash browns. This was the perfect way to start the morning ahead of a day exploring York.



The Ox Pasture Hall Hotel really is the perfect location to explore the Scarborough coast and York. I really enjoyed walking around Scarborough as it has the perfect seaside town feel and was bustling with shops, cafes and plenty of cake and fudge makers. There's also a great view of Scarborough Castle which you can see from the beach. The castle is one of the major attractions in Scarborough, with a stunning view over the Yorkshire coastline. It was a lovely hot and sunny day, so the beach was very busy, however it was great to see the atmosphere and take in the calming sea view.


After checking out of the hotel, we decided to explore York for the day on our way home. I've never been to York before but it's one of those places I've always wanted to visit. From the moment I arrived in the city, the stunning architecture and streets were breathtaking. We visited the famous York Minster - one of the most iconic and beautiful cathedrals. Other key attractions included Monk Bar and the Treasurer's House.




We had lunch at Ask Italian which is in the Grand Assembly Rooms - a very beautiful and well decorated building which has been converted into one of the best Italian restaurants. Then it was time for some obligatory shopping around the cobbled streets of York. One of the most striking shops was The Yorkshire Soap Company. As soon as I walked in, the table full of slices of soaps (made to look like cake slices) caught my eye, along with the bright chandeliers. The shop was so nicely decorated and I bought some gifts to take back home with me.


If you're looking for a short break in the UK, I would definitely recommend visiting Scarborough and staying at the Ox Pasture Hall Hotel. It's a great place to stay for your Yorkshire break, and within easy reach of Scarborough and York. Thank you to the lovely staff at Ox Pasture Hall Hotel for looking after me and ensuring that my stay was exceptional.


*The Ox Pasture Hall Hotel kindly offered me a one night stay with dinner and breakfast so that I could write a review of the hotel. All views are honest and my own as always.

Monday 19 September 2016

How to style the classic polka dot dress for daytime



Wearing a classic polka dot dress is one of my all time favourite looks. It makes me feel so feminine and looks timeless and elegant. This particular polka dot dress is one of my favourites to wear in the day, for both work or even a weekend day out. Here's how I wear this particular outfit for a day out.



Choose a comfortable pair of shoes


I decided to choose these super comfortable white shoes from New Look as the white brings out the colour of the polka dots and looks so put together. I recommend flat shoes for a long day out so that my feet don't get too tired.


Match your accessories


I always say that accessories are key to any outfit. In this look I decided to wear my Valentino sunglasses, DKNY handbag and Hugo Boss watch. I invest carefully in designer pieces to ensure they will match with any outfit or colour, as wearing them with high street clothes makes any look stand out. 




Hair and make up


I like wearing make up but I never wear too much of it, so a simple make up look works absolutely fine for a daytime look. In terms of hair, I decided to have a blow dry that day so my hair was looking extra glam and bouncy. The curls and volume in your hair compliment the polka dot dress perfectly. It brings out the classic and timeless look. 

How do you like to style the classic polka dot dress? 

Polka dot dress - New Look
Sunglasses - Valentino
Watch - Hugo Boss
Handbag - DKNY
Shoes - New Look 
Blow dry by Rush Hair 

Monday 12 September 2016

Tiffany & Co timeless jewellery



It's been exactly five years since I was in New York. It was one of the most amazing experiences and still my favourite city in the world. Known as "the city where dreams are made" it's an inspiring place where there's nothing you can't do (to quote the famous Alicia Keys)!

A special souvenir 


As a souvenir and something special for me to remember that first trip to the Big Apple, I bought an iconic Tiffany & Co silver necklace which I have wanted for a very long time. Simple yet elegant, this necklace can be styled with anything that I wear and is one of those timeless designer pieces that brightens up your outfit. 

Back to the Big Apple 


I'm ready for my next trip to New York as I think I'm due another trip. But for now I have my memories, photographs and special souvenirs to look back on.



Details 



This Tiffany & Co silver necklace heart is engraved with the address of the world famous jewellers on Fifth Avenue in New York. 


Do you have any jewellery from Tiffany & Co? What is your favourite piece?

Monday 5 September 2016

How to style a lace dress



With Autumn fast approaching and Christmas parties not being far off either, wearing lace will be becoming more popular in the coming months. For me, it's a personal favourite all year round and I wanted to share my tips for how to style the classic lace dress. 

Picking the right dress


Choosing a lace dress that you feel most comfortable is key. There's so many styles to choose from, including spaghetti strap, strapless and even dresses with short sleeves like the one I'm wearing. I also find it useful to check the material underneath the actual lace is good quality. There would be nothing worse than the material ripping open and your skin being revealed underneath the lace!

Accessories are essential 


With black lace, it can look rather bare without any jewellery or accessories to accompany the outfit. For that reason, I always recommend picking key pieces to style the dress with. In this outfit I have chosen a pair of pearl earrings, my Hugo Boss watch and my DKNY handbag. 

Picking the right shoes 


I have always believed that shoes finish any outfit. For an evening out, pair your lace dress with some classic black heels but keep them subtle and not too overpowering, as this will detract from the lace design. The shoes I'm wearing have a small Jewel on them but this simply adds a bit of sparkle.

Do you have any lace dresses? How do you like to style a classic lace dress?

Lace dress - New Look
Watch - Hugo Boss
Handbag - DKNY
Shoes - New Look