The Watamu Turtle Pouch Launch and Competition

Last week, Elizabeth Scarlett founder Elizabeth Elsey and I celebrated the launch of our ‘Watamu Turtle Pouch’ at an intimate breakfast in the festively decorated private dining room at Balthazar London in the heart of Covent Garden. 

100% of the profit from our limited edition, intricately embroidered cotton, teal pouches (RRP. £25.00) go directly to the Local Ocean Conservation, a non profit organisation based in my home village of Watamu, back in Kenya.

Local Ocean are committed to the protection of critically endangered and threatened sea turtles and the preservation of Watamu’s spectacular Marine Park and Reserve. Having been lucky enough to help with several of their turtle releases, I can tell you first hand, nothing brings more joy than watching these beautiful beings healthily return back into the wild.

It was so great to see so many of my friends there to support my second ‘Buy To Give’ collaboration, and they all received their own ‘Watamu Turtle Pouch,’ which were filled with some of my other favourite ‘travel essentials,’ spoiling gifts from Jo Malone, Caudalie, Charlotte Tilbury, Spacemasks, ASOS Africa, and Sisley Paris.

Above (L-R):  With Venetia Falconer, Niomi Smart, Rosanna Falconer and Liv Purvis.

Above (L-R):  Nutritionist Zoe Stirling, Make-up artist Charlotte Cowen, presenter Venetia Falconer, and Matthew Williamson's Business Director, Rosanna Falconer.

Above (L-R):  With documentary photographer Freya Dowson, and wellness guru Jasmine Hemsley. 

Watch More Here... 

Watch out for the #TLCComp in the above vlog, for your chance to win your own Watamu Turtle Pouch filled with all my travel favourites (below).

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Photographs: Moeez Ali

With Thanks to Balthazar London

#TLCComp: LKB x Boyarde

Last year, L.K.Bennett asked British pop-artist Boyarde customise several of their Mariel cross-body bags with the striking initials of some of their favourite influencers, to be used as place settings at a press breakfast (below).  Errrm… Spoiling or what?!! An Instagram frenzy ensued over our green juices and granola, and L.K Bennett spent the next few weeks apologising to the stampede of disappointed customers who were unable to get their own bespoke, now iconic, Mariel bag. Until now...

L.K. Bennett has collaborated once more with Boyarde, who created a collection of the most distinctive and bright leather alphabet stickers (RRP. £19.00 each) to attach to your own Mariel Bag (RRP. £145.00), or well, anywhere. In fact, I currently have a ‘K’ sticker stuck onto my laptop and everyone keeps commenting on it. 

My sister was one of the aforementioned disappointed peeps, unable to get her hands on one of the original L.K.Bennett x Boyarde bags. Knowing this would make the best gift, I was so excited to get one of the new styles with personalised monogrammed stickers; a ‘CE’ for her, and a ‘W’ for her daughter Willow.  I obviously didn’t want to feel toooo left out (an annoyingly frequent and expensive issue I regularly face when buying gifts!) so grabbed myself the new Mariel Multi-Print Bag (RRP. £165.00) to bespoke too! 

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TLC LOVES LKB x BOYARDE...

And get your LKBxBoyarde Stickers HERE!

#TLCComp...

My friends at L.K.Bennett have SA-WEETLY offered one of my lucky readers a chance to win their own customised Mariel Bag (*colour subject to availability) with their Boyarde-designed initials ready to stick on. Head over to my Instagram ('thelondonchatter') for further details. I will be picking the winner on New Year’s Eve; A happy new bag for a Happy New Year!  

Good Luck!

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#TLCComp: Jess Collett Milliner Summer Illustrations

Everyone must know by now that I loves me a Jess Collett felt trilby, rendering me virtually unrecognisable in the Winter months without one firmly affixed to my head. With the London sunshine fiiiinally playing ball and putting its very own hat on, Jess’ summer styles, from her neon, pom pom adorned straw trilbies to her beyond creative, dramatic headpieces, are ready to take centre stage. Whether you have upcoming weddings, races, regattas or are simply heading to the beach, this Notting Hill Mad Hatter has got your back… or, you know, head!

As you may remember I organised a competition to find an illustrator to create some backgrounds for some of Jess’ most event-worthy pieces.  Thank you to every one for your wonderful submissions, I’m thrilled to announce Parisian illustrator Habile Buston has won a Jess Collett made-to-measure summer trilby worth £220.00 after designing these fabulous and vibrant interpretations of my impending summer fun! 

Make Up: Charlotte Cowen
Dresses: Matthew Williamson Archive. 
Photographer: Janie Airey

#TLCCOMP: #MYMV Wishlist

It’s certainly no secret how much I LOVE Monica Vinader jewellery, and I was thrilled when they asked me to create my own ‘Wish List’ in time for Christmas this year.  Narrowing down their sparkles and jewels is always a difficult task, but this year the coloured gems with rose gold really stood out for me.  I love wearing bright clothes and accessories, but even if you are into wearing black everrrrything (errrm… do you work in fashion by any chance?!) this is a great way to incorporate some more colourful accents into your look. 

To be in with a chance of winning £500.00 worth of Monica Vinader jewellery, create your own wish list and share it on your Twitter or Instagram tagging @MonicaVinader and #MYMV.  

See HERE for more details. T&C’s apply. 

TLC LOVES... Monica Vinader

#TLCOMP: My Sparkling Wish with Swarovski

Supermodel Miranda Kerr has collaborated with Swarovski and created a spirited collection of jewellery, each piece infused with a beautiful meaning just in time to share ‘My Sparkling Wish’ for this Christmas.  

The symbols Miranda has designed are all extremely sweet and there is definitely something which will resonate with everyone in the collection.  For me, the rose toned wings caught my eye.  It made me think of strength, of guardian Angels and the quote, ‘Angels can fly because they take themselves lightly’ came to my mind.  Regardless of how stressful a time I am having, this necklace can serve as a constant reminder of how I can get through any tough situation with some deep ol’breathing and by remembering that maybe, hopefully, there is some sort of higher power at work who’s got my back!

My rose gold toned necklace has been easily incorporated into my my wardrobe, and given its versatile elegance, it takes me from day to night with real ease, allowing me to sparkle all day long with its layered, pretty wings, regardless what I'm wearing. 

Aside from jewellery, SWAROVSKI would love to hear your sparkling wish for a loved one.  Follow @SwarovskiUK on Twitter and tweet your Christmas wish for a loved one using the hashtag #MySparklingWish and tagging @SwarovskiUK, for a chance to win a SWAROVSKI Christmas Hamper, including baubles, shimmer tea lights and pieces from the Miranda Kerr collection.  T&C apply. Good Luck!!

View Miranda Kerr's entire collection designed with SWAROVSKI HERE.

Photography:  Ella Sadika

Created in collaboration with SWAROVSKI.

#TLCComp: The London Chatter and Wahanda's #BookYourselfieFabulous

This week, I've teamed up with the lovely peeps at Wahanda to give away five of these SENSATIONAL inflatable flamingos which I had the pleasure of splashing around with recently!  Lets face it, these pink pals of mine have been THE summer accessory of 2015, so to win one of your own, AND a £50.00 Wahanda voucher, make sure to follow both of our accounts on Instagram and tag your best summer selfies with ‘#‎BookYourselfieFabulous’ for a chance to win! Good Luck everyone!

FACT:  A flock of flamingos are known as a FLAMBOYANCE!

Speaking of the summer, I am a huge advocate of fake tanning!  Not only do I loathe lying bored and baking in the sunshine, I am utterly paranoiac about sun damage and skin cancer. Having been raised on the equator, in Kenya, I annoyingly already have the inevitable brown patches on certain areas of my face, so love to arrive on holiday already tanned (accompanied by a vat of Factor 30, another of Factor 50 and a beautiful, big sun hat!)  Lots of people are nervous about fake tan, especially spray tans, worrying about the oh-so well documented ‘orange effect,’ or ruining white bed sheets, so I asked Wahanda Editorial Director Liz Hambleton to talk first time tanners through the ins and the outs of a summer leg's spray tan...

“Tanned legs look better. Fact. They also make you feel better. Another fact.  If you’ve yet to do the big summer reveal (we’re into August people so don’t leave it too much longer!) then a spray tan could be exactly what you need to get those legs out.  And yes, you could just slap on a few applications of gradual tanner in the comfort (and privacy) of your own bathroom but there’s something about a professional spray tan that goes a whole lot further. How so, you ask?  A) A professional job makes you feel slimmer, fitter and more toned – instantly. B) Clever contouring can add definition and shape to your legs and C) Your skin feels softer, smoother and way more supple.  You also don’t have to mess around with tanning mitts, wayward patches and trying to reach awkward spots that only a lifelong yogi could dream of reaching.  Interested? Then read on for the six facts you need to arm yourself with before spraying up for summer…

1)   Don’t shave or wax your legs before having a spray tan.  The colour can settle in the open pores and create a strange spotted effect.  Do it at least 48 hours beforehand to avoid any trace of dotted leg syndrome…
2)   A little Vaseline on your brows, hairline, lashes and even your nails can reduce any tan grabbing and staining on area that really don’t need a tan!
3)    Moisturise at your peril.  Turn up for your tan with clean, freshly showered (ideally) skin to allow the formula to develop as it’s designed to. Throw another product into the mix and things could get ugly!
4)   Wait at least 8 hours before showering if you can.  Many salons say you can shower sooner but in our experience the longer you leave it the longer lasting the tan.
5)   Don’t be afraid to exfoliate; a nightly buff in the shower will actually freshen your faux glow and help it wear off evenly. Most spray tan brands offer their own exfoliators that will work well with your tan. 
6)   Top up your tan and take the edge off any blemishes, marks or bruises on your legs with an illuminating, bronzing product. We love Charlotte Tilbury Supermodel Body, £45.”
 
Find your perfect spray tan at www.wahanda.com

And now you have your spray tan and inflatable flamingo sorted, don't forget your sun cream and sun hat!!

#TLCCOMP: Calling All Illustrators!

I have made no secret of how much I adore Jess Collett’s amazing creations.  In fact, a friend commented how she barely recognised me at a dinner recently as I was Jess Collett hat-less, a rarity now that I own not one, but TWO JC trilbys! With Summer coming up (one hopes!) and with it, special opportunities to adorn fantastical headwear designs to varying fancaaaay events, I decided to collaborate with Jess on this creative wee project, allowing us both to shine some light on a new artistic talent in the process.  I have four photographs (below) of me, with makeup by Charlotte Cowen, donning some more than gawwwgeous Matthew Williamson frocks alongside four of Jess’ amazing summer-sunshine-appropriate designs and I am looking for an equally talented illustrator to create the summery scenes (the races, a regatta, a wedding and an Ibizan sojourn) for me to be placed amongst.  The chosen artwork will be represented on both Jess and my websites and our social media platforms, and each artist will receive a stunning, bespoke Jess Collett summer trilby (similar to the one below worth £220.00).  Share this post with your most creative friends! 

Below:  The Wedding Guest:  We are looking for an image representing real excitement and celebration on the dance floor!  (Azure Chiffon Embroidered Asymmetric Gown: Now £1,095.00, my beloved Giselle Suede Strappy Sandals: Now £175.00). 

Below:  Regatta Fun:  We are looking for this image to show me perhaps noticing a gorgeous boater or sailor!  (Hibiscus Flower Silk Ruffle Trim Dress: Now £445.00, Giselle Suede Strappy Sandals: Now £175.00).

Below:  A Day at the Races: Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose... We are looking for this piece to show horses having whizzed by, with clearly my chosen horse lagging behind! #ComeOnDoverMoveYourBloomingArrrse... (Evening Palm Lace Feather Dress in cream: Now £1,495.00).

Below:  Ibizan Sunset:  We'd love this picture to show me walking onto a sailboat, yacht or on a beach on the sunniest of days! (Beach Palm Print Gown: Now £245.00, Sunglasses: Grey Oversized Curved Cat Eye Sunglasses £200.00)

Please send all submissions to hello@thelondonchatter.com by the end of next week - Good Luck!