A Spring In My Step With Boden

Fiiiinally… The blossom is starting to bloom, our arctic attire is beginning to shed its faux fur skin, and all our moods are joyously lifting as we all make way for SPRING. There’s no denying it, there are few better places to be in the world than England in the Spring, and I cannot wait to start wearing dresses sans tights and finally emancipating my (albeit, extremely white) ankles from their imprisoned UGG-state.

My style is known to be quite eclectic; one day I might look like a fourteen-year-old boy in baggy jeans and trainers, and then next be in a bright, sparkly gown with killer heels (“I’m a lady, don’t you know!”) The most important thing present in all my outfits, is that I feel comfortable, and also colour is key to me.  There is certainly no time like the Springy present to inject some colour into your wardrobe if you’ve been hibernating in black for the last five months. 

Boden has some great Spring pieces this season and I decided to style up some looks whilst hanging around my local Portobello ‘hood.  Let me know what you think...

For me, loose white jeans are synonymous with sunshine.  Liz Hurley likes’em skin tight, and this may scare off many without her bod (so all of us basically), but the more boyfriend-look, cropped jean works for most, and goes with practically everything (except coffee, red wine or black cats… all my favourite white-perils!)  Whilst buying some gooooorgeous flowers from Harper and Toms, I teamed the jeans with some basic white trainers (you really can’t go wrong) and a sunshine-friendly linen shirt which I only tucked in at the front giving a more relaxed vibe. Alongside the classic olive/tortoiseshell Sadie sunnies (such little winners, and a match for so many of their designer contemporaries) I wore a khaki jacket which has obvious appeals to my safari-loving self, but is also super versatile and will be a staple inter-seasonal cover up for me.

So light and easy to casually wear with jeans or tucked into a skirt for smarter uses, the unpredictable red and pink clash of this jumper was too good not to share with you (or immediately purchase myself!) Rainbow clashes were seen on many of the major SS’16 runways (Christopher Kane, Gucci, Balmain and Dries Van Noten to name a few) and this top is an easy way to emulate that trend.  I teamed the jumper with the previous same jeans and trainers, but added some dark pink Sadie sunglasses to compliment the look. 

You can take the girl outta Africa… It wasn’t going to take long was it? Growing up on the equator, my wardrobe is filled with olives, khakis and a pride of leopard prints, so this outfit has an obvious lure for me. This jumpsuit is not only flattering and chic, but can so easily be styled up or down, situation (and shoe height) dependent. I wore the jumpsuit to Pizza East Portobello with some bold African jewellery, tortoiseshell Sadie sunglasses and the most perfect, classic leopard-print flats which will work for city and beach alike this Spring/Summer. A bright clutch would be a welcome and contrasting addition.

This dress (also available in white) will be a huge hit for Boden this season. The style is totally classic but its heavier texture is far more luxe and warmer, than you would imagine which makes it perfect for smarter Spring events. Likewise, the tassled heels are also perfect for smarter occasions and come in a variety of colourways.  See you in the sunshine peeps! 

Photography: Eva K. Salvi

In Collaboration with BODEN

Swanky Lash & Brow Bar

I was recently invited to Swanky Lash & Brow Bar on the Portobello Road, one of two salons (the other being in Kensal Rise) owned by sisters Sophia Chrifi-Alaoui and Donia Chrifi-Alaoui.  Perfectly placed opposite some of my nearby Notting Hill faves (Pizza East PortobelloMeli Melo and Lowry and Baker) this vibrant and affordable salon is usually chockablock full of loyal regulars (I advise booking) and I could easily tell why… With a room full of talented beauticians and real characters, you would be hard pressed to find a more personable, chatty and buzzing environment to get pampered. 

 Arriving early (yes, this sometimes happens!) for my mani-pedi, a treatment Sienna Miller recently raved about to Vogue, I got my eyelashes tinted.  After this, Sneeha, one of Swanky’s more hilarious employees, suggested I also had my eyebrows threaded; a quick and relatively painless treatment I always seem to forget about yet find so effective.  I found it hard to keep still whilst listening to Sneeha’s amusing stories and jolly giggles but luckily the results revealed otherwise!  

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My manicure and pedicure was made far easier by Donia (above right) speedily helping me decide which colours to wear (a usually agonizing procedure for me and any poor technician waiting).  I went for ‘Tiki Tiki Laranga’ gel polish for my hands, and 'Where Did Suzi's Man-go’ from the latest SS’14 O.P.I range (above left) for my toes.  Two weeks down and both tips and toes are still going strong.  I have been hapilly able to show them off the last two weekends running; in Cornwall over Easter (below left wearing my Zara slides) and at a friend's wedding (below right wearing my Topshop jumpsuit, Zara SunglassesMonica Vinader stack rings, Astley Clarke locket and my customised Bags By M Book Clutch) and just in time for the sun to make a much-appreciated appearance.  
​Thank you Ladies, I'll see you again VERY soon!