LIFE: MOODY BEACH DAY

 

A few photos from a visit to the Saunton beach in Devon at the weekend. I've always been very in favour of going out for a brisk walk regardless of the weather. If you've got a good coat and can bundle up warm, then off we go! The weather on the coast was rather extreme this weekend, but it calmed down enough during the day on Sunday to go for a walk - there were even a few surfers and kite surfers surprisingly!

I borrowed my boyfriend's North Face puffer jacket which is the ultimate warm outdoors jacket (I just can't bring myself to buy myself one when there are much prettier things I could spend my dollar on). The Hunters are mine though, as is the Warehouse grey knit hat with fur bobble. 

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WHAT I WORE: J.CREW OXFORDS

Yes I've got them out again. Can you tell they're my favourite new things? Here I am on the weekend at my parents' house in Devon. I wore this to a casual evening out at a local restaurant. I'm wearing: Topshop Jamie jeans, Whistles sculptured blouse, Reiss Fontaine cardigan, J.Crew silver oxfords and J.Crew earrings. 

A word on the cardigan - it is rather divine and in the sale now. Beautifully soft, cosy and fluffy (without the fluff getting on everything in sight), yet still smart and chic. A true winner. 

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SPOILS OF THE FESTIVE SEASON

I'll admit that I could have been a little more prompt with my Christmas/Birthday present post, but when the norovirus is one of your Christmas presents, things tend to get a bit delayed! Boxing day morning onwards was rather sadly wiped out - my planned birthday tea at Sketch had to be called off and our trip to The Pig in the New Forest too. But I'm sure we'll find another day to go so I can't be too blue about it all!

And anyway, how blue could I be with lots of beautiful presents to stare at from my sickbed. I've picked out a few of my favourites: J.Crew silver brogues, new coffee table books for my little book stack, Jo Malone cologne (Orange Blossom this time!), an array of candles from Christian Tortu, Diptyque and Space NK and beautiful J.Crew costume jewellery:

 

I hope you had a lovely Christmas and New Year! Here's to 2014!

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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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