TLC Staycation: Soho Farmhouse with The Outnet

I have just returned from a glamorous night away from London with The Outnet at Soho Farmhouse in Oxfordshire. I’ve wanted to stay there for ages - and WHAT an evening to have gone and seen it in all its sunset glory! WowWowWeeWow! After some afternoon yoga, and a spoiling Cowshed pedicure, we donned out finest frocks from The Outnet (I wore the Kelly green Moya Twill midi dress from Emilia Wickstead) and headed for a decadent dinner in one of the Farmhouse barns…

One of the best parts of my job, is the time I get to spend with such brilliantly unique and interesting women, many of whom have become wonderful and supportive friends who I can laugh till I cry with (or at times, vice versa!) This wonderfully fun, and Picante de la Casa fuelled, evening with these major bombshells (all also dressed head to toe by The Outnet, naturally!) was such a great start to my 2019.

I always loved me a blue eyed boy (and a scrunchie!) As well as making this necessary hair accessory purchase at Alex Eagle’s beautifully curated concept shop, The Store, I also spied these gorgeous china trinket pots by London-based artist Fee Greening… BUT WHICH ONE SHOULD I GET?!

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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

Matthew Williamson's Belvoir Collection

In a wonderful attempt to coax the Spring sunshine out of hiding, Matthew Williamson’s ‘Gown Gang’ congregated at the palatial Kiping Sweet in Brown’s Hotel in Mayfair to play dress up in our favourite designer’s new Belvoir Collection. 

Matthew's opulent collection is inspired by Belvoir Castle and its beautiful interiors, with beautifully flowing countryside florals and eccentric patterns featuring monkeys and peacocks. 

After a breakfast feast comprising of acai bowls and chocolate dipped bananas (and apple pastries, which I admit, I ate four of – but they were REALLY REALLY TINY, people!) Charlotte Tilbury’s amazing team were on hand to give us all gorgeous make-overs. 

After each choosing one of the show stopping dresses to wear, and grabbing a pair of Cinderella worthy Jimmy Choo's, we braced the chilly streets of London for our multi-coloured Sun Dance (a little like a Rain Dance but with less stomping, and a lot more of our signature swooshing!)

Now, we don’t want to compleeeeetely take credit for the recent heavenly rays shining through the grey… But I don’t want to fully discount this theory either.  Jus’sayin.

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Photography:  Moeez Ali

Hair:  Secret Spa

Nails:  Sophie Gass

Tatler's Little Black Book Party with Polo Ralph Lauren

A few days before Tatler’s annual Little Black Book Party, I visited Polo Ralph Lauren’s gorgeous new Regent Street Store for a Styling Session with a Polo stylist.  Having an edit already curated for me in my changing room was amazing, and after a glass of champagne and a catch up with some of my fellow Polo Ralph Lauren-clad party goers, we were all interviewed on dating by Tatler’s Sophia Money-Coutts… 

Dressed head to toe in Polo Ralph Lauren I attended the party at the twinkly lit Ours Restaurant on the Old Brompton Road later that week.  Revellers (including Niomi Smart, the Watson to my Sherlock, below) enjoyed many a Beluga Vodka cocktail and maaaany a Gin Mare G&T…

Speaking of the vodka and the gin, thankfully all guests left with a pair of Polo Ralph Lauren sunglasses, which I’m sure proved all too necessary the next morning by everyone… Ouch!

Thank you Tatler for naming me, alongside Lady Violet and Lady Alice Manners, Oliver Proudlock and Tash Oakley, as one of the Best Dressed of the night (HERE).

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The Tembo Collection Launch at Bronte

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Last month I hosted a blogger’s breakfast at Bronte to launch The Tembo Collection (which I wrote about in detail HERE), my seven piece, Masai bead inspired bracelet collaboration with Auree Jewellery.

100% of all profits from the sales of these bracelets will go to For Rangers, a campaign in conjunction with Tusk, which directly helps the brave heroes on the front line of conservation in Africa, who risk their lives daily to protect elephants and other endangered wildlife from extinction.

Above:  With Will Carmichael, one of the founders of Auree Jewellery, outside Bronte on the Strand.

I knew the quickest and most effective way to to spread the good word far and wide, was to gather a group of my most talented digital buddies, and over a breakfast feast of pancakes and avocado on toast (natch), ask them for their help in raising some vital awareness.  Niomi Smart, Liv Purvis, Peony Lim, Emma Bates, Sarah Mikaela and Juliet Angus were amongst the 22 gorgeous ladies who arrived at Bronte, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, and ready to learn more about the collaboration and its goal. 

I knew, having previously visited Bronte for a breakfast meeting earlier in the year and fan-girled over the pretty pink Tom Dixon designed breakfast bar and copper light fixtures, that it was the exact place I wished to have the #TLCxAuree breakfast, and the team there could not have been more accommodating.

The tables were adorned with gorgeous wild flowers arranged by Maua London, and each guest had a personalised engraved bracelet waiting at their place, each with a calligraphy label by Sophia Vaughn. 

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After speaking to everyone about the campaign, and why it one so close to my heart, I showed everyone a short video (below) that I knew would speak volumes louder than I could ever convey. 

“The statistics are unbearable, over a thousand rangers have been killed in the line of duty since 2003. By joining forces with Auree Jewellery and The London Chatter we hope to make a difference, raising funds to ensure that rangers are enabled with good-quality equipment, training and general welfare, including support for the families of rangers killed or injured in the line of duty. These are the men that are risking their lives to save Africa’s iconic species – it is dangerous, tough and thankless work and we must do all we can to help them.”  Sam Taylor, Founder of For Rangers.

By buying these bracelets (£50.00 - £140.00) you will directly be helping to protect elephants across Africa… Now THAT is some guilt free shopping, people! 

www.aureejewellery.com

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(Click on the items for direct links)

Photography:  Ella Sadika

Matthew Williamson x LikeToKnow.it Summer Party

If there are two things we all know Matthew Williamson excels at, it’s making beautiful dresses and throwing faaaabulous parties. Upon returning from New York last week, I attended a summer party thrown by Matthew and the President and Co-Founder of RewardStyle and LIKEtoKNOW.it, Amber Venz Box.

Held at the heavenly Clifton Nurseries, amidst great music, bongo drums and mahoosive bubbles (yup!) we celebrated Matthew’s high-summer 2016 collection, Mirage. Three exclusive #MWxLTK looks (each ready to shop via. Instagram that night) were also revealed that night, amongst the tropical flowers and tropical cocktails, worn by myself, Donia Ciobanu and Rosie Fortescue (below).

Below:  Marbilicous with Matthew's Artistic Director Georgie Macintyre and Business Director Rosanna Falconer.  Rowan Lewis' amazing floral installation was like being inside a floral piñata!

The evening ended in a lot of multi-coloured swooshing on the dance floor, the mass devouring of marbled chocolate and the releasing of hundreds of British butterflies into the wilds of Clifton Nurseries. FANTASTICAL.

Above (L-R):  Talking Heads with MW by some of his collection, with Venetia Falconer and Niomi Smart.

Above:  Where there be a giraffe, there be a Kelly!  #YouCanTakeTheGirlOuttaAfrica....

Above/Below:  Forever Blowing Bubbles with Venetia Falconer.

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TLC Loves.... Matthew Williamson's Mirage

The Launch of Matthew Williamson for Duresta

Being invited to a veritable ‘Lock In’ at Harrods by Matthew Williamson is one thing, but it’s utterly next level to also have your outfit personally chosen by the designer himself...

In celebration of his vibrant first furniture collaboration with Nottingham-based sofa manufacturers Duresta, Matthew, knowing I not only LOVE orange (it's my happy colour) but frequently ‘wear the trousers’ amongst his ‘Gown Gang’ (aka: his flamboyance of feathery super fans), dressed me in one of my favourite MW outfits to date; archive coral trousers and an exotically printed Tangerine Parrot Wing Cowl Neck Shirt from his latest, much coveted, Amazonia collection.

The furniture collection includes five brightly coloured velvet upholstery ranges and several unique occasional pieces (including side tables with flamingo legs, no less!)  As to be expected, there is some serious colour which would, without fail, add some drama and opulent flare to your home.

“Making my first line of furniture with Duresta has been a passion project; it’s been a real journey to see the pieces come to life over the past year.”  

Matthew Williamson.

There was a wonderful mix of glamorous guests all perching on the bold turquoise and fuchsia sofas, from Lindsay Lohan (above, with Matthew) to Plum Sykes, but as we're both Instagram-addicts, it was Maureen, Matthew’s ultra charming and glam mother, who I enjoyed speaking to the most!

Above:  MW and Venetia Falconer. Below:  With MW's Business Director, my bud, Rosanna Falconer. 

Duresta for Matthew Williamson is available exclusively in-store at Harrods on the Third Floor.

Joined by MORE of the #GownGang team; Gabriela Fones, Anisa Soijka and Niomi Smart. 

Below:  After dying in bed for over a week, my ghostly corpse was revived and made MW party-ready with the help of a spa-maaaazing Bliss Spa Triple Oxygen Facial, "Princess-Belle-Meets-Alicia-Vikander-At-The-Oscars-Hair pleeease" by Tatiana Karelina and lots of spoiling new Tom Ford makeup... #ItTakesAVillage.

TLC LOVES: MATTHEW WILLIAMSON'S AMAZONIA COLLECTION...

ABOVE (CLOCKWISE) R-L:  Tangerine Parrot Wing Cowl Neck Blouse, Mint Mother Amazon Silk Slip Dress, Blue Mother Amazon Silk Asymmetric Dress, Raspberry Marble Nature Silk Dress, Tom Ford Traceless Foundation Stick, Rainbow Snake Silk Palazzo Jumpsuit, Tom Ford Lipstick in Plum Lush, Bliss Triple Oxygen Energising Vitamin C Day Cream.