Even in the heat of the summer I am a real jeans girl... so wearing jeans with fully installed air conditioning?! Errrrrm... Perfect!
Topshop jeans are hard to beat, with a consistently up to date range of styles and accessible prices, and I am loving wearing their MOTO Pretty Bleached Ripped Hayden Jeans. Boyfriend in style with very of the moment distressed and shredded rip detailing, they are relaxed and cool. Real COOL.
RRP. £45.00
Bec Astley Clarke recently hosted a very sleek, ‘Thomas Crown Affair’ inspired summer party in the newly built Serpentine Sackler Gallery’s Magazine Restaurant. Whilst sipping on Marmalade Martinis and (very) Tipsy Tea Cocktails, six suited and booted men in bowler hats stole (albeit only momentarily) the cases of Astley Clarke’s fine jewellery we had all previously been oogling.
Above L-R (Clockwise): Sienna Miller and Savannah Miller with their mother Jo, Martha Ward with India Langdon, designer Matthew Williamson with our host Bec Astley Clarke,Kelly Eastwood also with Bec. Below L-R: With Sienna Miller, Jemma Powell, Kelly Eastwood, Zoë Jordan and Beatrice Savoretti.
The below video shows off the really fun evening perfectly... I think I woke up in that hat!
Below: The London Chatter appearing on Harpers Bazaar and Tatler online...
I am totally in LOVE this Heart Pocket Striped T'Shirt from Chinti and Parker... Why exactly? Errrrrm, did I not mention the awesome combination of two of my favourite things? Breton style nautical stripes (a la Audrey) and hearts. This soft, 100% cotton, 3/4 length sleeve top is now on SALE (*wahoooo!) HERE at Iris Fashion.
it would be rude not to really...
Photography: Ross Ferguson. Make Up: Charlotte Cowen. Jewellery: Monica Vinader
I was recently invited by Zoë Jordan (left), the designer worn and loved by all the coolest of cats, to Chelsea’s Rossetti Studiosfor a shopping evening in support of The Amber Foundation, a residential centre aiming to reduce the level of unemployment amongst the 17-30 year old age group.
Whilst chatting with friends and enjoying DJ Miss G’s set, I virtually drooled over the SS’14 'Pretty Vandals' collection. Inspired by the 90’s, Zoë beautifully balances graffiti prints and perforated leather alongside a palette of elegant water colour pastels. I was particularly drawn the citron neon garments, which set against Miranda Donovan’s graffiti themed art installations, looked amazing.
US Vogue contributor Sarah Mower interviewed both a past and a present resident of Amber. Amber’s residential centres offer disadvantaged young people a fresh start and a chance to build their confidence and gain practical skills and qualifications which can lead to full time employment and more secure futures. Kara and Natalie were both extremely honest about their experiences and were a real testament to Amber’s success.
Above L-R (Clockwise): Beatrice Savoretti (wearing Zoë Jordan), Margot Molinari andJemma Powell, artist Miranda Donovan, Katy ickremesinghe with Kelly Eastwood.
Above: With designer Zoë Jordan, wearing a vintage silk shirt from Budapest with my Mulberry Bryn handbag in Flame. Below: With musician Jack Savoretti.
To help transform young lives please donate to The Amber Foundation HERE.
Launching in 2012, Salt Resort Wear was the UK’s first resort wear boutique and is consistently home to every girl’s dream summer wardrobe… mine included! Brim full, all year round, with the ultimate in luxury ready-to-wear summer clothes and accessories, Salt Resort Wear is the one-stop destination for any glamorous vacation or staycation shopping. Based on Walton Street, one of West London’s more exclusive streets, this beautiful boutique stocks a strict edit of covetable labels (including TLC faves, Mara Hoffman and Matthew Williamson) all of which will have you eagerly saving up this summer, to pack/squish into your suitcase alongside your SPF.
As a professional sun-seeker (growing up in Africa, it will come as no surprise that during the grizzly winter months I take any opportunity to travel in search of sunnier climes!) I am excited to announce that I will be doing some work with Salt Resort Wear this year. I will be sharing with you TLC’s shopping edits from the boutique and several beautiful, summery fashion stories I hope will inspire your own upcoming tropical fun in the sun.
My first Salt Resort Wear ‘challenge,’ so to speak, was to put together my two favourite#SaltSummer outfits from in store to coincide with the boutique’s current competion...
Follow @SaltOfficial on instagram and tag your favourite summer look with #SaltSummer to be entered into winning £1000 to spend in store or online. This amazing competition, whose winner will be the talk of the beach, is running until the end of July so quick, get ‘grammin!
Above Left: Admist all the tribal prints and sparkles I was particularly taken with these Cutler and Gross Intercast Multilayer White Mirror Lens (RRP. £340.00) sunnies.
Above: I loved the K Jacques sandals available in Turqouise with Zebra Print (RRP. £215.00) and Neon Pink with Snake Print (RRP. £195.00).
Above: The London Chatter's #SALTSUMMER Look One...
Basta Surf 's White Martinique Dress (RRP. £250.00 £125.00), Matthew Williamson for Linda Farrow's Neon Yellow Acetate Sunglasses (RRP. £238.00 £119.00), K Jaques' Turquoise Sandals with Zebra Print (RRP. £215.00), Venessa Arizaga's 'Lady Aloha Bracelet'(RRP. £55.00), Marie Sole Amore's Neon Pink Stone Sintch Bracelet(RRP. £18.00), Koku's Alexia Beauty Bag With White Palm (RRP. £86.00) and Eugenia Kim's Gabriella Hat with Bird Motif (RRP. £265.00).
Above: The London Chatter's #SALTSUMMER Look Two...
Mara Hoffman's Embroidered Maxi Dress in Cosmic Fountain (RRP. £476.00), Eugenia Kim Lillian Hat with Black Band (RRP. £250.00), Salt Resort Wear Pink/Yellow/Blue Beach Bag currently available in store (RRP. £40.00), bracelets both as before.
Which is your favouite look out of the two?
Salt Resort Wear
69 Walton Street, SW3 2HT
www.saltresortwear.com
At school some of my friends were renown for their sporting prowess, their academic superiority, or their ethereal choral charms… Me? Aside from an obvious flair for the dramatics, I was pretty revered for my (…drumroll) Friendship Bracelet making skills… Oh yes, take that you long-limbed netballers! I was always making my school pals Friendship Bracelets in their favourite colours and if they managed to keep them hidden from all the matron’s eagle eyes, all desperate to confiscate anything which might allow your uniform some colour of charisma, they were enjoyed for a long while.
You have to imagine my joy when I realised Monica Vinader sold Friendship Bracelets. Obviously far more chic, coveted and long lasting than any of my childhood creations, these bracelets still have friendship at their core and make the perfect presents.
A large group of my girlfriends (which includes the beautiful Charlotte and Jessica, above enjoying smoothies at Moosh with me) have spent the last year marking our birthdays and friendships by giving each other colourful statement Fiji bracelets, which we had engraved with our initials or names (a complimentary service offered in store).
Available in silver, gold vermeil and rose-gold vermeil, and offered in a variety of adjustable and colourful cords, with a rainbow assortment of gems symbolizing different meanings (pink for love, turquoise for peace, nude for calm, etc) if so wanted, the three designs (Fuji, Bali and Esencia) can be worn alone or mixed and layered up together.
Below: There are some more expensive and elegant diamond chain bracelets now also available which are slightly more evening-dress appropriate, and I am particularly loving the recent festival and Ibiza-friendly fluoro additions which really pop in the sunshine.
All Monica Vinader Friendship Bracelets are available in store and online HERE.
Make Up: Charlotte Cowen
Photography: Ross Ferguson
My Necklace and Stacking Rings: Monica Vinader
My tangerine bespoke Lined Notebook (from RRP. £55.00): Noble Macmillan
My Chinti and Parker Star Sweater (RRP. £350.00) and Jerome Dreyfus Igor Bag (RRP. £490.00) both available at Iris Fashion Boutique
I was recently invited, alongside a bevy of London beauties, to an exclusive VIP jewellery lunch to toast Astley Clarke’s new Fine Jewellery collection. Hosted by Bec Astely Clarke (above with Poppy Delevingne) and chef Marcus Wareing (above with Bec) we dined in The Salon Private Dining Room at the sparkly new ‘Marcus’ restaurant at The Berkeley.
Above Clockwise (R-L): Bec Astley Clarke hosting Chloe Delevingne, Zoe Jordan, PoppyDelevingne and Tori Cook, Jemma Powell and Beatrice Savoretti, Tori Cook and Poppy Delevingne, Marissa Montgomery. Below: Smooches with my school pal Sienna Miller.
Not only were we spoiled with lots of bubbles and a delicious lunch (quail with a raddichio and pine nut salad, followed by salmon with buttermilk and faaaar too many chocolate truffles!) we were sent home with Marcus’ cook book and a beautiful rose gold Astley Clarke locket which had been personally engraved for all us girlies whilst we dined.
Above Right: I decided (after much anxious deliberation!) to get the title of DG and my favourite song ('Just One Look' by Doris Troy) engraved on the back of my locket (cheesy?!) and I love it so much I haven’t taken it off since! Thank you Bec and Marcus for such a wonderfully gorgeous afternoon! Astley Clarke lockets available HERE.
Above: With my great friend Jemma Powell. I accessorised my Topshop shirt and bold print Zara trousers with Wilbur and Gussie's Orange Bee Edith Clutch (RRP. £180.00).
Above: Featuring in Grazia magazine alongside Poppy Delevingne, Chloe Delevingne,Sienna Miller and Jemma Powell. #TheChainGang
Designed in 2005 and named after his wife, the Ralph Lauren ‘Soft Ricky’ handbag is one of the label’s most iconic and popular pieces. To celebrate its success, Ralph Lauren’s giant ‘Ricky’ bag, that took a month to create and measures 1.8m high and 1.5m wide (so maybe juuuust big enough to fit all my stuff in!) begun its world tour last September, travelling to New York, Tokyo, Paris and now… LONDON. Yes, that’s right, the ‘Ricky’ has landed at the Ralph Lauren New Bond Street store and I paid homage to the XXL accessory last week while it held court at Ralph Lauren and Vogue’s fun, cocktail-fueled shopping event in support of the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.
Above: Accessorising my Zara top, shoes and statement necklace, and my new H&M embellished scuba skirt (available in store, RRP. £39.99) with my grandmother's aquamarine cocktail ring and my Lulu Guinness lips clutch (available HERE, RRP. £325.00) which I momentarily swapped for a gorgeous, coral-orange 'Soft Ricky.'
Above: Bag smoochin' with super stylist Martha Ward. Below: My great buddy DJ Izzy Lawrence and the delicious, rainbow-coloured Ricky bag biscuits to take home.
Below: The multi-coloured Ralph Lauren 'Soft Ricky' bags available HERE (RRP. £1750.00)
#OneInEveryColourPleaseRalph!
I’ve been enjoying my sky blue Rubberized Effect Sunglasses from Zara (above, on the way to pick up the keys to my new HOUSE – hence, the shocked/excited/confused look!) ever since the sun put his hat on, albeit briefly, earlier this year. Although now sold out, Zara have just brought out this sea green pair (below right) which are just as awesome and affordable. A summer must have methinks. Available HERE (RRP. £15.99).
Above: I was utterly spoiled at Christmas when DG bought me a pair of gorgeous Olivia von Halle silk Coco Pyjamas (RRP. £330.00). Unfortunately however, all my other pyjamas now pail into insignificance and I only want to wear these silk ones (...high maintenance much?! Yup.)
Olivia von Halle launched her own luxury nightwear brand in 2011, inspired by the silk pyjamas Coco Chaneland her contemporaries wore in the 1920’s. The beautifully cut pyjamas in an array of stunning prints are now a firm fashionista favourite and are available in over thirty stockists including Harrods and Net-a-Porter. You can even get them monogrammed These should be high on every girl's wish list - Trust me!
"Why have cotton... When you can have (OvH) silk...!"
Below: Olivia von Halle's AW'14 collection inspired by Tsarist Russia in the early 20th Century. Oliva has said, "on a trip to Moscow I was captivated by the extraordinary opulence of the buildings and the way a new generation of women such as Mira Duma and Lena Perminova were putting a chic modern spin on traditional Russian style."
Oh, and another thing: Olivia got married in 2008 wearing a pink skin-tight catsuit (awesome) and has a dog called Bathtub (who I am mildly obsessed with on Instagram!)
Olivia Von Halle, Olivia von Halle Silk Pyjamas, Silk Pyjamas, Harrods, Net-a-Porter, The London Chatter, Tsarist Russia, Opulent,Sleep Wear, Silk Sleepwear
