INSPIRATION SCRAPBOOK #1: GRACE KELLY

I sometimes forget that this blog should be a place for me to record little bits here and there that inspire me as I go along. I've decided to start this little section in order to document these things in order for this space to truly act as my personal pin board. 

We watched Grace of Monaco this weekend. Whilst the film itself wasn't fantastical, I loved the introduction to Grace Kelly and have loved reading more about the Princess and movie star and pouring over beautiful pictures like these above.

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Let's all just take a moment to bask in the beauty that is Valentino.....

Ok - phew. I could stare at them all day.  

I have been eBaying like a demon for quite some time in order to make these little studded beauties mine. 

I always had my heart set on the classic black flats with nude (either patent or matte) but when I went to visit them my heart wasn't set aflutter. Very bad sign. 

It was only after seeing these burgundy ones on the beautiful Laura Fantacci that I set my cap at the same style in this wonderfully autumnal hue. (I also had the best experience with FarFetch - my pair came courtesy of a boutique in Vienna in two days flat). 

I cannot WAIT to wear them. An utterly classic shoe that I'll treasure for years to come.

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It is no secret I love a good weekend. Don't we all! I've noticed during a casual peruse of my Instagram feed that I pretty much do the same sort of thing every weekend, if at all possible.  

A perfect weekend for me starts with a fun Friday evening at the pub (followed, in an ideal world, by Chinese food). On Saturday morning it's off to Wireless Bootcamp on Richmond Green to work it all off. On the way home I buy hydrangeas from the flower stall before having sourdough and a smoothie or a smoked salmon and avocado brunch and heading to Richmond park to hang with the deer. (I say hang. I lose my shit when they get too close.)

Add in some window shopping or actual shopping, or a tart or two in Richmond Hill Bakery, amaretto sours or meal out on Saturday night and a lazy Sunday with some sort of roast and all the boxes are ticked. By Sunday night I'm ready (almost) to start the working week - counting the days until I can do it all again. 

Weekends pictures from my Instagram (gonewiththefashion). 

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HOLIDAY PACKING: ANNUAL TRIP TO GREECE

HURRAH it is that time of year again. The summer may be drawing to a close in the UK, but I'm packing up my bags and heading to Greece. I'll only be there for a few nights, but I'm ridiculously excited. Sea, retsina, food, swimming, sleeping. Oh it's just TOO GOOD! 

I'm aiming to pack light. I always pack far too much and never wear it all. This year I am forcing the issue by travelling with a carry on only. I basically spend all day in swimwear and cover ups, so am relying on my usual swimwear plus a new navy bikini and tie dye cold-shoulder cover up from Accessorize. 

By evening I want to be relaxed and breezy so am packing Duccio Venturi flats and classic navy Havaianas, this Oysho jumpsuit, ASOS lace wrap midi and a crinkle Topshop bardot top to wear with laid back denim (for a touch of Mama Mia - standard) . I'll accessorise with gold jewellery and this new bead necklace from Zara Simon's collection for Accessorize. 

Make up is pared back. I'll be using RMS Living Luminizer and Lip Shine in Sacred, protecting my hair with Pureology's Hydrate range and going fully Greek with Diptyque Philosykos fragrance. 

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WEEKENDS

Since starting my new job, I've developed a new found appreciation for weekends. For a good few years now I've had to have my nose in multiple books all weekend and it's an utter delight that they now stretch out before me on a friday, so full of promise. 

Thus far I've enjoyed a couple of days in the country, strolling along the South Bank and on to the Matisse exhibition, a spree in Bicester Village and supper in Oxford and, of course, being at home in Richmond. 

This sunday, bacon baguettes eaten, we arrived in the park just in time to see the London Surrey Road Race peloton whizz past. We were then forced to set up camp under one of the park's cafe roofs until the remnants of Bertha's thundery showers passed by. 

We slowly meandered home (I say slowly, because I did my first ever Wireless Bootcamp on Richmond Green this Saturday. To say I was feeling it would be an understatement!). On our way home we happened across King Henry's Mound Telescope, which gives a perfect 10 mile view of St Paul's through the park. Who knew?!

I wore: J.Crew parka, Whistles tee, Topshop ripped jeans, Converses.

Lovely food, red wine and a good film await. Happy weekend! 

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WISH LIST: MANSUR GAVRIEL

Currently lusting after this deliciously simple leather tote by Mansur Gavriel. I'm due to start a new job soon and this would just be the chicest thing going. 

Mansur Gavriel Small Tote in Black. 

Photo credits: Mansur Gavriel and The Telegraph.

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WHAT I WORE: RELAXED WEEKEND

An easy, breezy, casual outfit. I'm wearing: Whistles Alice slim boyfriend jeans, Topshop thin knit jumper (old), Russell & Bromley ballet flats, Zara necklace, Bijoux by Desi F gold necklace and Essie "Clambake" on my nails. 

ORANGE, OAT & SULTANA COOKIES

I had the such a lovely, peaceful sunday today. When I woke up the sun was shining (for a freakin' change) and after a quick cruise of Pinterest with breakfast I became obsessed with the idea of baking cookies. I eventually settled upon a Leith's recipe I found on BBC Good Food and trotted off to the shops to stock up on the necessaries. 

After a quick run (and a quick near collapse at the end) I made eggs for lunch and, after a bit of work,  set about making the cookies. They were/are DELICIOUS (I managed not to eat all 18...). The coconut makes for a macaroon-ish texture, the chopped walnuts offer up perfect crunch. The perfect accompaniment to a ginormous cup of Earl Grey. 

Granted - I bet the American cookies wouldn't invite my cookies to eat lunch at their table, but the taste and texture more than make up for their outward appearance. 

You'll need:

100g butter

1 egg

50g mashed ripe banana

1tsp vanilla extract

100g light brown soft sugar (I used muscavado)

1/2 tsp grated orange zest (I accidentally used zest of a whole orange - to excellent effect!)

100g wholemeal flour 

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp baking powder

100g rolled oats

25g desiccated coconut

50g chopped walnuts

75g sultanas or chocolate chips

You'll find the method over on the BBC Good Food website here.

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THE SKIRT THAT NEARLY GOT AWAY

If you're familiar with my instagram, you may have noticed me considering this skirt in a Topshop changing room recently. Reduced to a mere £20, (£20!!) I was very tempted. But to me the skirt felt like a very festive purchase - exactly the kind of thing I hanker after during Christmas party season. With summer approaching (and my upcoming trip to Canada) I felt like spending even a pound on non-summery things was money poorly spent. 

But every single time I went into my local Topshop I went to see if 'my' skirt was still there waiting for me. I'd make sure all the sequins were sitting in the right direction, then be on my merry way - ready to check in with it in a few days. And then... one dark, dark day... it had gone. I felt an utter fool for my lack skills in spotting an out of season opportunity, packing it away and revelling in my brilliant foresight come winter. 

A couple of days later, I came across it hidden in the Buy It Now (or lose it forever) section. No doubt some crafty so and so and shoved it there in the hope no-one would notice its sale tag. I made it mine only moments later. 

So - in the wardrobe it goes. I'll pull it out later in the year and we can all marvel once again at my bargain hunting skillz. 

I'm wearing: Cos grey jumper (incidentally the best jumper I've ever found to wear with skirts/over dresses), Topshop sequin pencil skirt and Topshop black heels.

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For our anniversary supper at the weekend I wore: a Sandro gold sequin jacket (similar here and here), Topshop Jamie Jeans, Whistles sculptured blouse and Isabel Marant Dicker boots, with Clinique Black Honey on my nails. 

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This weekend we headed to The New Forest for a night - going for a leisurely stroll during the day and picking up a new throw in Beaulieu before heading to The Pig in Brockenhurst where we watched Freaky Friday with a bottle of bubbles and then headed downstairs for cocktails and supper. 

We've been to The Pig once before and decided to return for our six year anniversary. The rooms are so beautiful and cosy and chic, the service is warm, relaxed and friendly and the hotel itself is perfection. 

Alas, the one downside was that the restaurant has sadly changed a bit since our last visit. We absolutely LOVED the food a couple of years ago. There was enormous attention to detail, the menu was exciting and the food was utterly delicious. Memorably so, desperate-to-back-so.

The atmosphere of the dining room was unchanged but to be brutally honest, we were disappointed with the food. It's gone more pub-grub (steak, ham hock, some incredibly unnecessary deep frying of supposedly "literally picked that day" greens) which is fine... if you know that's what you're getting. We had a table at 8pm but, after waiting to be served for quite a while (our waitress was very apologetic), my boyfriend's first and second menu choices had already sold out.
The Pig describes itself as 'a restaurant with rooms' and I think on our last visit, it really felt like it was. This time, it felt like the emphasis had shifted away from the food and the kitchen garden - even though the rest of the hotel remained just as perfect as we remembered.

Despite all this, we did still have such a brilliant stay and I'd absolutely go back in a heartbeat (but maybe have just the one course in the dining room and focus more on the cocktails). 

For our walk I wore: my boyfriend's Uniqlo down coat, Topshop Jamie Jeans and Hunter Wellington boots. 

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