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.

Shop the Gown Gang's Looks...

Photography:  Moeez Ali

Hair:  Secret Spa

Nails:  Sophie Gass

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.

Celebrating Matthew Williamson's Amazonia Collection

Last week I attended a dinner at Matthew Williamson’s Queen’s Park Studio for a dinner to celebrate his new Amazonian-themed collection. Well, I say dinner but it was certainly more of a tropical extravaganza. Hosted by Matthew’s right-hand girls (and party planner extraordinaires) Rosanna Falconer and Georgie Macintyre.  In the company of three parrots (yup, not even kidding) and a flurry of exotically dressed guests, I was served a delicious Balthazar London feast and waaaay too many glasses of NYEtimber bubbles amongst various wild and feathered figurines surrounding my plate! We were then adorably spoiled with mini meringue pies and jelly snakes served alongside our mint drunk from elegant vintage crockery.

The collection, inspired by the Amazon and the spiritual revelations and awakenings reportedly experienced from consuming ayahuasca, the enlightening drug shamans have used for centuries as a window into the soul and cure for illness and depression.  The typically vibrant Matthew Williamson prints contain beetles, monkeys, snakes and a lot of stunning, tropical flowers; mood lifting indeed!

TLC Loves Matthew Williamson's Amazonia Collection...

Above (L-R) Clockwise:  Raspberry Jungle Bloom Silk Chiffon Gathered Gown (RRP. £950.00), Mint Jungle Bloom Embroidered Flare Dress (RRP. £795.00), Raspberry Mother Amazon Silk Slip Dress (RRP. £295.00), Jungle Bloom Embroidered Halter Gown (RRP. £2,295.00), Lemon Jungle Bloom Silk Chiffon Gathered Gown (RRP. £950.00).  See the rest of the Amazonia Collection HERE.

Shop TLC's Look...

Above (L-R) Clockwise: Hourglass Cosmetics Illusion Hyaluronic Skin Tint (RRP. £45.00), Miss KG Audrina Silver Patent Mary Jane's (RRP. £50.00), Mulberry Aqua Green Mini Lily (RRP. £350.00), Raspberry Mother Amazon Silk Culottes (RRP. £275.00), Raspberry Mother Amazon Silk Top (RRP. £195.00), Givenchy Rouge Interdit Vinyl lipstick in 06 Rose Sulfureux (RRP.£24.00), Halcyon Days Gold Agama Bangle (RRP. £120.00)