WHISTLES SEQUIN TOP

A strong contender for Christmas day wear this year - a white sequin top from Whistles. 

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BEAUTY: CLINIQUE BLACK HONEY

 Just a quick post to mention my latest nail varnish obsession: Clinique Black Honey. I adore this shade - it's the perfect near black with a hint of wine. Anyone who has tried the lipstick in this shade will know it more than earns its cult status. 

I love a glossy black nail but being on the pale side, it just doesn't work for me. Somehow this shade is just perfection and I urge you to go out there and grab one for yourself post haste. 

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CHRISTMAS (AND BIRTHDAY) WISHLIST

I have been compiling my list for an embarrassingly long time. I take great pleasure every year in slowly adding this and that, taking items out, putting them back in, and so on until I'm left with my perfect collection for that year. 

The same things make their way on year in, year out, without fail (cashmere and new sheepskin slippers). I would have LOVED a cashmere dressing down (as per usual), but this little cable knit chap from Topshop will happily fit the bill until the time for cashmere loungewear is nigh. 

Luxe knitwear comes courtesy of Reiss and Whistles, perfect for cosying up in on Boxing day (layered over a white Whistles blouse and classic-wash Topshop Jamie jeans). 

I always keep one eye permanently on J.Crew's beautiful jewellery, and adding this classic statement necklace to my collection would make me very happy come Christmas day. A more subtle, yet just as wondrous piece of jewellery comes from Monica Vinader in the form of their perfect gold Siren engravable ring.

In terms of beauty, I would love to replace my fantastic (but aged) Shu Uemura eyelash curlers. Being something of a lip balm fiend, it would be very exciting to make the cult By Terry Baume de Rose one mine at last. I'm also keen to add some Aromatherapy Associates bath and shower oils to my bathroom cabinet for those days when my regular shower gel just doesn't cut the mustard. Candles always make lovely gifts. I first discovered Christian Tortu candles whilst on holiday in America and they smell beyond divine. As is mu tradition, I like to start a new perfume on Christmas day - this year I hope it'll be Jo Malone's Orange Blossom cologne.

I've noticed how silver oxfords feature regularly (and perfectly) in Olivia Palermo's wardrobe, and when I spotted these narrow and perfectly refined ones from J.Crew, I dropped some hefty hints to my man friend. He's not entirely on board with shoes that he can see his reflection in, but he seems willing to put his misgivings to one side in order to make me happy. 

Last, but not least, I've become mildly obsessed with coffee table books and would love to have all of the above on my coffee table, ready to be leafed through or simply sit ever so prettily in a stylish stack. And yes, I am a very late convert to the Rachel Zoe Project and love all things Zoe at the mo. Incidentally, the books would look great sitting next to this beautiful gold tray from Zara Home. 

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WHAT I WORE: WHISTLES DOWN COAT

I wore my new Whistles Frankie Down Fill Bomber to visit the deer in Richmond Park this weekend. I tell you, our last few visits to the park have been rather adrenaline-filled thanks to rutting season! There are huge dear behaving erratically all over the place and they have a tendency of popping up very suddenly just a few metres away from where you're strolling. This leads to me getting wide-eyed, a touch SAS-like and beating a retreat through the brush. In the above pictures I was keeping my beady eyes on them at all times in case they made any sudden moves in my direction. I was ready.

I digress. This is my new coat from Whistles which I adore. I've been on the hunt for a down coat since last year and have finally bitten the bullet and opted for this Whistles offering. I had always thought Uniqlo would deliver, but was frightfully disappointed when their down coat arrived on my doorstep. On me, it was nipped in at the waist and very long - not the thing at all. The fur trim, whilst detachable, was rather thin and limp. All in all, a bit sad. 

When I noticed this little fellow on the Whistles website, I acted swiftly and am very pleased I did. It's super warm and, as with so many Whistles pieces, is very luxe looking whilst remaining subtle and doing the job you want it to do. I find Whistles coats size quite large, so I got mine in a size 6. 

I'm wearing: Whistles down coat, Topshop Jamie jeans, Hunter wellies and Pure Collection cashmere gloves. 

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THE FRAGRANCE QUEST: BONPOINT

A new perfume has made its way into my collection! Eau de toilette Bonpoint. 
Now I know what you might be thinking - am I a mother? No. Does this matter? Not in the slightest. This perfume spoke to me and many others precisely because it fits well with people that love wearing a fragrance but don't want something overpowering and in your face, but something subtle and expensive smelling. It's the perfect every day scent. 
The blend of orange blossom, petitgrain and jasmine makes for such a gentle, elegant perfume. On me, I find it has that clean, crisp, ever so slightly masculine edge in amidst the florals. It's exactly this that I love in Jo Malone's Lime Basil and Mandarin cologne and attracts me to the classic Acqua di Parma scent. 
As if being a lovely perfume wasn't enough, it was so beautifully packaged and presented in a little pink dust bag. Perfection.

Eau de toilette Bonpoint 50ml £39

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THE FRAGRANCE QUEST

I kid you not, I have used the phrase 'perfume crisis' a shameful amount of times over the past few weeks. Frankly saying it just once is a tad shameful. 

I have always been very picky about my perfumes. I demand quite a lot from them. I shy away from strong, heady, smoky, rich perfumes, which serve only to make me feel a bit travel sick. Ideally I like my perfumes to be light (but with staying power), fresh, pretty, with a dash of complexity thrown in for good measure (and all wrapped up in a beautiful, simple bottle). I love the ritual of putting on perfume before leaving the house. It's such a perfectly chic finishing touch.

In the past I've definitely been guilty of buying perfumes that are decidedly not me, buying before trying because I've fallen for the hype, or the beautiful bottle, or knowing it has graced the pulse points of my sartorial heroes. Par example: I'd love to love Byredo's Gypsy Water or Bal D'Afrique, Frederic Malle's Carnal Flower, Kai, Diptyque's Ombre dans L'Eau, Jo Malone's Blackberry & Bay and everything by Le Labo... but I'd just be lying to myself (and making myself feel nauseous into the bargain). 

Up to now, my favourite perfumes (that are no longer in rotation) have been: 

Diptyque Eau de Lierre, Diptyque Eau Duelle, Jo Malone Wild Bluebell, Byredo Pulp

Still in rotation: 

Jo Malone Lime, Basil & Mandarin (for work) and Creed Love in White (spring/summer)

I think, if I'm honest, my ongoing quest for new perfect perfumes comes down to wanting a perfumes that are 'me', but also contain an aspirational element - 'the me I want to be'.  I think this is why I will most probably not be the sort of person who has one signature scent. I like to think I'll have a collection of signature scents, archiving different stages of my life and the development of my tastes. When I spritz perfumes I have previously worn, they enable me to take a trip down memory lane. When I stumble across a new scent, it is like turning over a crisp, fresh page. New perfumes feel full of possibilities. 

Given the close of summer, my beloved Love in White doesn't feel right for the new season, rendering me in a perfume-less rut! The quest is back on in earnest, and with any luck, the "crisis" will be over soon. 

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TOPSHOP BITS & BOBS

Topshop has 20% off for students at the moment so naturally I went a-hunting. Yes I'm still a student - as if those puffy eyes don't say "Taxation". I was very keen to seek out a grey angora hoody I've had my eye on, and a white graphic textured sweater. The latter is not entirely my typical style, but I just love something about it. To top it off, its incredibly comfy. Word to the wise - I sized up to achieve the look I was after. 

I also spotted a brilliant navy skirt - which my photos fail to do justice, but it's a lovely thick, luxurious fabric which I think will be pretty awesome when the festive season kicks in. 

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