#OOTD: 28.11.18

I fell for East London based brand Mother of Pearl hard over Fashion Week this season, not only because of their renown sustainable credentials, but also because this pyjama/jogger trouser/pearl lined shirt combo struck the perfect balance between casual and luxury – my sartorial happy place!

“I have a vision to make products that travel the minimum amount of miles, using the minimum amount of chemicals possible, and are socially responsible and organic,” says Amy Powney, Mother of Pearl’s creative director. Using only cotton and wool from ethical production methods (including minimised water consumption and zero toxins) Mother of Pearl’s feminine ruffles, use of faux pearl detailing and cooler than cool masculine silhouettes are well worth having on your radar (and in your wardrobe.)

Shop TLC’s Look…

Photography: Frances Davison

Hair: Taylor Taylor London

Nails: Sophie Gass

#OOTD: 17.10.18 (With Marks and Spencer)

Who doesn’t have a lil’soft spot for Marks & Spencer? Traditionally my go-to, one-stop-shop for underwear, roses, smoked salmon, commemorative tins of biscuits (don’t judge me) and Percy Pigs, it is now also the location I’ve found some of my favourite staple Autumn/Winter’18 wardrobe additions.

Over the years I’ve found some real little winners to wear from M&S (I think I bought the entire Alexa Chung collection, and the washable cashmere is always an ‘Add To Basket’ investment) but I’ve never seen the amount of wearable, on-trend (and affordable) fashion as I have found online and in-store this season.

As we’ve now officially come to the end of the longest summer EVER (the heating is on as I write…) I decided to style together some of my favourite new-season M&S separates, which each also tick many of the Fall’18 trends; Animal print, corduroy, berry tones and winter whites.

What I love most about this outfit (aside from the clear 1960’s Mary Quant, Chelsea vibes!) is that each one of my chosen pieces can be so easily integrated into my existing wardrobe, giving the items I already own the perfect refresh they need.

Shop TLC’s Look…

TLC Loves… M&S

In collaboration with Marks and Spencer
Photography: Frances Davison
Hair: Taylor Taylor London
Nails: Sophie Gass

Moon Hair Clip: Estee Rose

With thanks to Enrique the pug.

Making it Personal with Links of London

I’m not sure if there was something in the water last year, but I’ve had a recent rush of the most gorgeous god-children and other miniature cuties appear in my life!  Deciding what to buy them to celebrate their arrivals has been so much fun, and alongside an obligatory Sophie la Girafe, I decided to give them all some of their very own engraved treasure to welcome them into the world. 

I headed straight to Links of London, knowing they not only have a renowned selection of covetable, yet affordable, jewellery, but they also generously offer complimentary engraving.  From pens to pendants, watches and tie bars, Links of London is filled with copious amounts of personalised giftspiration and I was spoilt for choice.  

For the boys, I decided to get sterling silver cufflinks with their initials (can we take a moment to appreciate that I have a god-son called Lukas Axel… #FutureRockstar #JusSayin…) and for the girls I got gorgeous sterling silver and 18kt gold heart-shaped disc charms engraved with their names.  These hearts can be added to charm bracelets or worn alone on a necklace, and although these gifts might not be ones the children can immediately enjoy, they will feel all the more special and sentimental once they can. 

The pieces of jewellery I hold most dear are always completely unique to me, engraved with my name, or of those closest to me, personalised with meaningful dates, lyrics or sweet, ‘in joke’ phrases.  These pieces instantly become heirlooms, and the reason why I tend to veer towards this idea for presents for others, and ermmm, myself.  What?!  You didn’t think I was going to leave myself out of this equation, did you?!  Do you not know me at all by now?! 

With my sister living in New York, my mother living in Kenya, and with me living in London, I thought I would engrave us some matching Links of London friendship bracelets with each of our initials engraved on the cord's toggle. How sweet?! 

Now, purely for safety (slash, fashion) purposes, I decided I obviously needed to road test all three bracelets together... Which annoyingly, has now made me want more, as they are the perfect stacking bracelet...

Fear not, friends, I managed to behave.  Both my mother’s engraved 18kt Rose Gold Vermeil & Taupe Cord Mini Friendship Bracelet, and my sister's engraved 18kt Yellow Gold Vermeil & Ruby Red Mini Friendship Bracelet, were both dutifully wrapped up and sent to each of their far-flung destinations! Severe brownie points all round. 

Shop TLC's Look...

In collaboration with Links of London
Photography: Joseph Galvin
Hair: Taylor Taylor London
Nails: Sophie Gass

Go Your Own Way with Oris

Having spent most of my twenties not wearing a watch, or really even caring that much about the time in general (oh, sweet youth…) I have certainly upped my wrist game since hitting 30. Telling the time, and most importantly, being on time, aside, a great watch can really set the tone for your whole look, acting as both a style and personal character statement. 

As we tend to wear watches more frequently than any other accessory, investing in a time piece you really love feels pretty justifiable, given the eventual ‘cost per wear’ (a little formula not taught at school, but one I use far more regularly than the Pythagorean theorem…) and amidst an influx of smart watches and new technology flooding the market, I am even more appreciative of traditional, beautifully crafted and charismatic watches which can be passed down from generation to generation. 

This summer I discovered Oris, the luxury Swiss watch brand renowned for their distinctive, 100% mechanical designs. Founded in Holstein, Switzerland, in 1904, the independent company launched a standalone concept store on London’s fashionable South Molton Street, which gives British customers a chance to explore the brand, its rich watchmaking heritage and ultimately to ‘Go Your Own Way,’ by finding your perfect watch. 

One of the highlights at the pop-up, for this history geek at least, is the Oris mini museum, featuring classic pieces from throughout the brand’s 114 years.  The latest collections are also on display, and of course available to buy or pre-order, and my eyes definitely fell upon the Artelier Grand Lune Date Diamond Automatic Watch (now, try saying THAT several times in a row…)

To me, this watch is both classic but also wonderfully modern, and although embellished with beautiful diamonds and sapphire crystal, in keeping with my day-to-day style and work, it doesn’t feel too ostentatious or feminine, due to the bigger dial size and deep, midnight blue sustainable leather strap.

The distinctive and decorative large moon and series of twinkling, reflective stars add a really special and almost poetic touch to the watch and one that truly had me at hello (or should I say, grüezi…) 

Passionate about our earth and wildlife, what was of obvious interest to me, is the brand’s #ChangeForTheBetter campaign, and their continuous, and active support of non-profit organisations that protect endangered species and conserve threatened habitats. This year Oris started using sustainably sourced and produced leather straps, which appeared in the company’s classic collection of Artelier watches, such as the one I chose to wear.  Knowing that the watch I chose to wear has been so ethically created makes this particular collection even more charming and covetable, and although also available in stainless steel, I can imagine the leather strap will age really beautifully over time, telling unique stories from each owner’s wear, and I find that really enchanting. 

‘This is both an elegant, feminine piece of watch design, and a wonderful example of Oris’s watchmaking abilities,’ said Oris Chairman Ulrich W. Herzog. ‘The new Oris-developed Calibre 763 is the latest in a long line of Oris innovations and brings the traditional ‘grande lune’ complication into orbit for stylish women who are looking for an attractively priced Swiss Made watch.’ 

In collaboration with Oris
Photography: Frances Davison
Hair: Taylor Taylor London
Nails: Sophie Gass

Links of London's Royal Ascot Collection

In just under a week, one of the most fashionable events in the entire British social calendar commences; Royal Ascot.  Founded by Queen Anne in 1711, the four-day racing festival has become a pageantry filled national institution, one where both the horses and the elaborate hats in attendance share focus and press. 

With a strict dress code, Royal Ascot is synonymous with sartorial elegance, thus, whilst inevitably enjoying a lil’flutter on the GG’s, it’s always the elaborate hats which have my eyes on stalks each year. Underneath all the silk flowers and high-fashion head toppers however, it is just as important to make sure your jewellery is just as on point (to point).    

Luckily for the attendees, and all race aficionados in general, for the second year running, Links of London are back in the saddle as the official jewellery license holder at Royal Ascot. The much-loved British jewellers and have once more designed a stylish, racing-inspired collection that will not only complete your look, but will be treasured by its owners for many more years to come.   

Amongst the specially crafted diamond necklaces, colourful charms, and engravable cufflinks for the often-overlooked gentlemen, I decided my favourite pieces from the Links of London Ascot Collection were the Horseshoe designs.

Simple in style, with an obvious nod to horse racing, the delicate chain bracelets, pendants, rings, earrings and adjustable cuffs available in sterling silver, yellow gold vermeil and 18k rose gold, are utterly timeless.  

I’m hoping that by wearing some of this collection I will have some luck at the races, and beyond…    

Shop TLC's Look...

Hats: Jess Collett Milliner
Seville Dress: Tephi
I'm a Goddess Jumpsuit:  Bozena Jankowska
Bag: Baraboux

In collaboration with Links of London
Photography: Joseph Galvin
Hair: Taylor Taylor London
Nails: Sophie Gass

BA&SH After Hours: I Do Yoga & Drink Tequila...

I have long since been a fan of ba&sh, the French fashion brand which allows us to access that effortless Parisian style we all covet, with a welcome twist of California cool, on our very own British high streets. 

Season after season, their never-out-of-style, fresh and floaty bohemian aesthetic, with its touch of rock and roll, urban chic, is the direct result of a beautiful friendship between Barbara Boccara and Sharon Krief.  Fifteen years ago these life-long, joined-at-the-hip besties decided to create the now hugely popular lifestyle brand, filled with feminine and timeless wardrobe must-haves fit for any occasion.  

I was really excited to be given the opportunity to help spread the good word about ba&sh’s first yoga capsule collection, a collaboration with Ana Hart, a young brand co-designed by interior designer and yogini Amanda Ibgui, and her former yoga teacher and mentor Rachel Novetsky. 

On the first properly sunny day of the year, surrounded by show-stopping, instagram-worthy blossom trees in a nearby private Notting Hill garden (all so very "Whoopsie Daisy," Richard Curtis), I wore some of the pieces to a Jivamukti yoga class with the fabulous Dannii Jordana from the famed Sangye Yoga School.

Wearing the ba&sh x Ana Hart Romy Jumpsuit. 

The perfect balance of ba&sh’s natural fabrics and feminine styles, alongside the technical support of Ana Hart’s designs, has made for a unique, contemporary and super soft collection with a deliciously cheeky edge.  In fact, the hero t’shirt I wore might just sum up ba&sh in une nutshell; 'I do yoga and drink tequila.' 

Above:  Wearing the ba&sh x Ana Hart Kloe leggings and Moove T'shirt.

Above:  Wearing the ba&sh x Ana Hart Moti T'shirt.

This capsule collection is created for women that love to keep fit and healthy, but also like to have a little (or a lotta) fun… Ladies who balance out their green juices with their cocktails and their warrior poses with their table dancing… Which sounds an awful lot like many of my friends!

Speaking of my friends… I was thrilled when ba&sh invited a group of my nearest and dearest along to a special ‘After Hours’ drinks party at my local Westbourne Grove store, where I introduced them to not only the new yoga capsule collection, but also to the latest ba&sh Spring/Summer’18 designs. 

Above:  Hosting my friends wearing the ethereal, metallic Pipa Dress.

As suspected, it didn’t take my buddies long to get well acquainted with the stunning ba&sh designs (or some of the first rosé of the summer), and most predictably, shopping bags were soon filled with some seriously enviable wardrobe additions. 

Complimentary hugs were issued with every ba&sh purchase... 

Soon after we piled into cars which took us to a private apartment on Golborne Road, my favourite road in my neighbourhood, where a sumptuous vegetarian feast and a plethora of cocktails awaited us, beside an edit of my favourite ba&sh Spring/Summer’18 pieces.  

Each of my guests also found gifts from the ba&sh x Ana Hart yoga collection on their seats, and took home posies which made up the beautiful bouquets around the room. 

The entire night felt dreamy; like a birthday celebration (or in my case, a 'Kellybration') where you got to enjoy all the feels without having to turn another dreaded year older…!  I loved seeing so many of my girlfriends and my energy and love levels were sooooaring (more hugs, anyone?! Anyone?!!)

Merci ba&sh for such a spoiling evening. xx

In collaboration with ba&sh
Yoga Photography: Frances Davison
Catering and Floristry: The Hill Food Company
Hair: Taylor Taylor London
Nails: Sophie Gass

Chinti and Parker x Women for Women International

My lovely friends at Chinti and Parker joined forces earlier this year with Women for Women International and model Arizona Muse to create a really special, limited-edition collection of cashmere which sees 100% of the profit go towards supporting survivors of war living in some of the world’s most dangerous places.  An ode-to-sisterhood, and the perfect statement Spring coverup, what's not to LOVE?! 

Stronger Women = Stronger Nations.  

Shop TLC's Style...

Photography:  Frances Davison

Hair: Taylor Taylor London

Nails: Sophie Gass

OOTD: 30.04.18

I read in the paper yesterday that this week our capital looks set to be ‘battered by torrential rain and gales,’ with warnings of potential flooding. Sooooo, that’s a pretty big ‘no’ to Spring then, right?!  At a time where I should be perusing the pastels in my wardrobe, I’m leaning heavily back towards the cashmere. 

One colour I particularly feel weathers (for want of a better word) this unpredictable time of year well, is olive.  Olive is one of the most versatile colours you can wear, being both cool and casual, whilst also being a while lot more forgiving than the predictable summer khaki options that are currently available en masse on every one of our high streets.

This show stopper of a trench coat is by the wonderfully talented Huishan Zhang, who I have long been a huge fan of.  Combining both his Eastern heritage and Western design skills, the coat’s olive scallops are both powerful, yet pretty.

Worn with my high-waisted/wide-legged H&M black trousers, stripey Day Birger turtle neck (yup, back to those… Brrrrr…), my Jerome Dreyfuss circular bag, my Swedish Hasbeen’s clogs and my And Other Stories Sunglasses (a girl can hope…!) I am feeling as Springy as I possibly can right now!  Even if I’m not loving this weather, this coat?! Olive you longtime…

Shop TLC's Look...

Photography:  Joseph Galvin

Hair:  Taylor Taylor London

Nails:  Sophie Gass

My Colour Consultation with Farrow and Ball

If you, like me, have ever felt totally overwhelmed by paint charts, spent far too much money and too much time testing various (and usually pretty identical) colours on your walls, ordered the wrong amounts, or just simply got the choices so completely wrong and had to end up repainting entirely… Then, breathe easy folks… Farrow and Ball have got you!

Having experienced the aforementioned paint frustrations more times than I wish to remember, I was determined that my boyfriend, whilst coming to the end of a long and tiring house renovation, was not to have this last and final hurdle be a stressful one.  Although we both had some ideas for what colours we thought might work on each floor and room (mine perhaps being the less subtle of preferences, unshockingly…) I suggested we get a Farrow and Ball in-home colour consultation to give us both some guidance and some peace of mind on this frequently daunting mission!

Within one hour of Scott our colour consultant arriving at the house, during which time he speedily analysed both the structural detailing and lighting plan of the house, and listened patiently to our haphazard thoughts, he had brilliantly helped us devise an entire paint scheme to fit both the house and our lifestyle using some of the 132 beautifully rich Farrow and Ball shades.  

We decided on Farrow and Ball's Green Smoke for the hallway (above), using Strong White for the skirting boards and doors.  In a room that is used more as a walk way than a living space, you can afford to be a little bit more dramatic and daring with your choices.

To compliment the Green Smoke, we chose Farrow and Ball's French Grey, which we moved into halfway up the stairwell at a natural divide, and then throughout the sitting room. This is a particularly calming colour, and it has a really chic feel to it.

We decided on painting some of the kitchen cabinetry in Farrow and Ball's Smoke Green, which once more created a real synergy and flow between each floor.  

Whether you're veering towards the subtle or the statement, the Farrow and Ball consultants understand the particular way each paint responds to light throughout the day, and which colours and textures combine to achieve the perfect, unique scheme for your home. 

Scott's advice was decidedly helpful when deciding on the master bathroom colours, as the light changes so dramatically in there throughout the day. We chose Inchyra Blue for the cabinets, which is inspired by dramatic skies (much like the usual view from the bathroom window!) which when contrasted with Farrow and Ball's Cornforth White, a magically versatile grey'ish tone, and the bathroom's dark wooden floors and herringbone white marble, creates a wonderfully intimate space. 

Following up from our consultation with Scott, we received a colour fan deck with our choices and the all-important quantities of paint required to complete each room. During a time when our minds were already pickled with light switch and cabinetry handle decisions (the last few months of last year were beyond rock'n'roll, can you tell?!), having this expert and invaluable help from Farrow and Ball, and being able to confidently make our paint order, took a huge weight of our shoulders, and is worth the investment many times over! 

Now, if only Farrow and Ball did carpet consulations…

In collaboration with Farrow and Ball

Photography: Ella Sadika

Hair:  Taylor Taylor London

Nails:  Sophie Gass

Thomas Sabo's Generation Charm Club

From the Babylonians to Queen Victoria, the collecting and wearing of charms to commemorate milestones and honour cherished memories has been one of the most enduring of jewelry styles. When I was at school (alongside the Babylonians, it now feels!) all the coolest of cats in my class had charm bracelets dripping with trinkets; the Eiffel Tower, precious sparkly dogs reminding them of their own… Fast forward just a feeeeew years this chaaarming trend is back with a bang.

Today, Thomas Sabo launches their Generation Charm Club, releasing an abundance of chic, beautifully detailed charms which can easily clip on to our existing Thomas Sabo necklaces and bracelets. I was amazed at the variety available and was excited to pick pieces and that were unique only to me.   

What I really love about these charms is how easily you can switch up the combinations of what you wear, depending on how you feel.  Whether you want to wear just one, or many charms together, or in this maximalist magpie's case, layer up a few chains of differing lengths with several charms together, for a bohemian, 70's feel.  

I was particularly drawn to the more celestial Thomas Sabo charms, immediately gravitating towards the moons, stars and zodiac charms (although, should I really be advertising that I'm a Scorpio?!)  The Vintage Moon and Star pendant, combined with the Star Mother of Pearl pendant reminded me of stargazing on my rooftop back at home in Watamu, Kenya. 

Although I only prefer to wear mostly yellow gold, the current trend is to mix your metals, and I can really see myself embracing this idea through incorporating some silver and rose gold charms.

I obviously had to have a charm of my initial (love me a 'K' anything!) and with a trip to Joshua Tree coming up next month, I feel I might commemorate this with a gold cactus charm... Watch this space! 

Shop TLC's Look...

In collaboration with Thomas Sabo
Photography: Ella Sadika
Hair: Taylor Taylor London  
Nails: Sophie Gass