Valentines Gift Guide 2016

Once again ladies, I am here to save those darling men in your lives from making any highly-flammable lingerie or petrol station-bought floral disasters… You’re welcome!  

Gents - Hover over the images for the direct links... This LITERALLY couldn't be ANY simpler! Good Luck. 

As an aside, if anyone happens to be secretly in love with me, NOW would be the time to holler y'all... ;)

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Above (L-R):  I don't have pierced ears, but if I did, I'd be hoping for these...  Missoma Gold and Pink Tourmaline Arc Jackets (RRP. £130.00), Missoma Gold and Diamond Bolt Hoop Earrings (£225.00)

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Above:  Woo and Wow your lady with Nikki Tibbles Wild at Heart's STUNNING Pimlico Bouquet (RRP. £85.00), a beautiful mix of pink roses and spray roses, clematis and anemones.

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Above:  A personalised, tailor made Garment Bag (£175.00) from bespoke womenswear label Tephi would make the chicest luggage for that roooomantic weekend away he’s booked… #NoPressureLads.

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Below:  Sick of wearing your heart on your sleeves?  Try moving it to your jeans... These Christopher Kane Love Heart Boyfriend Jeans (RRP. £845.00) are BEYOND cute. Yes please. 

Below:  Star crossed lovers?!  Smythson are taking an astrological approach to Valentine’s Day this year, with their ‘Written in the Stars’ campaign.  Until February 14th you can have any of your gorgeous purchases (over £175.00) personalised with a particular star sign motif.  given a complimentary personalisation service.  Despite being a Scorpio, I recently had my super sleek red Mara Leather Card Holder stamped with a Lion symbol… Nothing against my sign, but lions beat creepy crawlies!

Below:  Launching just in time for Valentine's Day, these stackable, rose gold  Diamond Alphabet Pendants (RRP. £150.00) from Monica Vinader would make the most perfect, sparkling pressie.

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Below:  If champagne and choccies are not your thing (FYI we prooobably wouldn’t be friends, but I digress...) then maybe your fella can spoil you with Imbibery London’s Valentine’s Day Mylk six pack of limited edition cold pressed juice (RRP. £32.00).  It's actually very delicious!

The L.K. Bennett Social Skirt

I love wearing a mid-length, full skirt on evenings out in London. Aside from feeling automatically chic, the silhouette of the skirt is ultimately forgiving and flattering, hiding a multitude of sins; a win win! 

L.K Bennett’s beautiful array of ‘social skirts’ came to my attention earlier this year. Being oh-so-luckily frequently invited to some oh-so-faaancaaay evening events, I quite regularly and naturally gravitate to one of these characterful skirts.  Given the shape has a classic 1950’s aesthetic, the skirt could possibly come across in rather a prim way.  I like to therefore modernise the look, and make sure to keep it youthful, by wearing them with a flash of midriff, a slouchy cashmere jumper, or a little rocky t’shirt, with the highest of heels as an obvious necessity! The overall look is subsequently low-key and relaxed, but still omits a real hot to trot glamour for an evening out.

Having been inspired by many of the looks I admired over London Fashion Week, I decided to style up my L.K. Bennett Kenton Skirt (now on sale!) in the day time,  and have a little wander, with the fantastic photographer Ella Sadika, around my beyond colourful Notting Hill ‘hood. 

I decided to wear the Kenton Skirt with a Chinti and Parker cashmere top, a Nathalie Trad clutch (a total work of art) and some pink Sunday Somewhere sunnies.  I have literally not taken my L.K. Bennett black and rose gold Sally Platform Ankle Strap Courts off since I got them, and this day was no different...

An easy and more comfortable day time alternative to heels would be a pair of brogues (I like the LKB ballerina pink Elga Saffiano Leather Brogues) or a pair of boots (like the blue LKB Keri Knee High Boots) for when it gets chillier - a look I really love and will definitely be trying out more this fast approaching Autumn.  

Shop TLC's Look...

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Below:  L.K. Bennett’s range of elegant social skirts come in a variety of textures, dramatic prints and fabrics, and there is definitely a style suitable for everyone's taste.  Check out the amazing mulberry Delfine Leather Skirt, an online exclusive which is in extraordinarily high demand. 

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Credit Buy: Wilbur & Gussie Edith Clutch Bags

I have long been a fan of Wilbur & Gussie’s eye-catching clutch bags.  Using modern prints and vintage jewelled brooches, on a range of textiles designed in-house, Wilbur & Gussie’s designs have become synonymous with British wit and elegance, and a firm fixture in my wardrobe.  To celebrate the company’s new flagship store in London’s Marylebone earlier this year, I was spoilingly asked to pick a new clutch bag… The choice was overwhelming!  Entering the new shop is like diving into a large box of Quality Streets; so bright... so colourful... which one to pick... WHICH ONE TO PICKKK??!!

I eventually decided to go for the Edith Orange Bee Clutch, one I have had my be(e)ady eye on for a while!  I get so many compliments whenever I take her on the town and it is now, amongst some of it’s other pretty pals, in the sale! Hurry…  

RRP. £90.00 (in sale)

Debit Buy: Chinti and Parker Heart Pocket T-Shirt at Iris Fashion

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...

RRP. £85.00 £60.00

Photography:  Ross Ferguson.  Make Up:  Charlotte Cowen.  Jewellery:  Monica Vinader

Monica Vinader's Friendship Bracelets

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

Hello There: Chinti and Parker

Cousins Anna Singh and Rachael Wood launched Chinti and Parker in October 2009 with one clear mission: to create beautiful, ethically made garments that value style on par with substance.  Loved by all the cool cats, including Alexa Chung, Kate Bosworthand Olivia Palermo, Chinti and Parker super-soft cashmere is available in an array of block colours and fun prints which provide the building blocks for the perfect capsule winter wardrobe.  Actress, lifestyle guru and all round TLC fave Gwyneth Paltrow also recently collaborated with the label after discovering the brand on a shoot, creating two exclusive jumpers for her Goop website.  I have picked out a few of my favourite items from the current collection – effortless, beautiful jumpers and a statement neon pink pom pom scarf and bobble hat that have my name ALL over them.  I do LOVE a pom pom. 

Above (Clockwise) L-R: Bobble Scarf (Grey Marl) - RRP. £125.00, Bobble Hat (Grey and Neon Pink Bobble) - RRP. £70.00, Contrast Cuff Sweater (Oatmeal) – RRP. £295.00, Heart Pocket Cardigan (Grey) – RRP. £295.00,  Contrast Cuff Sweater (Grey) - RRP. £295.00