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

Smythson's Kingly Collection

Smythson will take your ol'canvas bag and raise ya… Their new, light weight and butter-soft leather Kingly bags have launched and are fast making those now tatty canvas totes hanging in your kitchen quite redundant!  Easy to carry around and designed to be rolled and unfolded without losing its shape, this bag is my perfect, and most chic, handbag overflow solution! 

I always carry two bags; one large, one small.  During the day, whilst whizzing around London, the large bag carries my Rose Gold MacBook, Smythson 2017 Diary and umbrella, leaving room for that last minute 1/2 pint of milk, and some sort of unnecessary Portobello Market curiosity bought en route home.  The small cross-body carries the essentials I need quick access to; My orange Smythson's Mara Card Wallet which also holds my Oyster card, my iPhone 6 Plus, Lipstick (currently I’m pouting with Tom Ford's 'Bruised Plum'), mints and keys. If I go straight out after work, I check in the large bag and I'm all set with the small.  

Available in their signature Nile Blue, contemporary silver and classic black, you can even have your Kingly bag personalised with your name, or favourite motif... I went for a unicorn - how sweet?!

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Photography: Tommy Clarke

Hair: Clo & Flo

Nails: Sophie Gass

#OOTD: 19.03.17

I have been an avid fan of the British cashmere label Wyse London since their launch in 2014, even featuring them in my first ever column in Hello! Fashion Monthly.  Their unique, but totally wearable, cashmere is flattering, beyond soft, pretty affordable and most importantly, C.O.L.O.U.R.F.U.L. 

We all know one of my favourite colours is rainbow (‘rainbow-leopard’ to be specific…) and it just so happens, that amongst a love for stars and neon, Wyse London also shares my penchant for a bright, joyous, multi coloured stripe. Their charcoal grey, slouchy Ines Jumper (RRP. £180.00) and Lucie Loungers (RRP. £195.00) are now my GO TO outfit for hanging at home and for strolling around Portobello, and they're sure to become like a second skin on my upcoming skiing trip.  A winning combo of comfortable yet stylish, I challenge you to find something else as effortless and relaxed, yet wholly luxurious and fun.  

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Photographer:  Ella Sadika

Hair:  Ruuby App.  Nails:  Sophie Gass

#OOTD: 24.02.17 with Topshop

News that the skinny jean is ‘OVER’ is something I read year after year, yet fail to actually ever see any proof of.  As far as I can see, the looser, straighter, and flared trend-led designs are the ones which I see come and go, and despite being perhaps the least forgiving of denim fits, the faithful skinnies remain a classic, fail safe staple in all our wardrobes.  Seasonless, versatile, and undeniably cool (think Kate Moss in her rock’n’roll greys, or Olivia Palermo in her chic khakis…) the super skinnies triumph, time and time again, as the world’s favoured denim style.

Due to a broken wrist, with subsequent weeks wearing only the easiest to pull on baggy, boyfriend jeans, I was so excited, brace off and more mobile, to try on the new Topshop Jamie skinnies, one of Topshop’s latest updated Spring/Summer'17 denim styles.  Topshop has long been known for its iconic, yet brilliantly affordable array of jeans, and this season they have not let us down. 

This pair of Jamie’s ankle grazing length and light blue colour will be perfect for the sunnier months, and their slightly higher waist is super flattering and gives them a slightly vintage feel.

Currently Topshop sells a pair of jeans every 10 seconds globally, and at their flagship store on Oxford Street one pair is sold every minute!! It will not be difficult to imagine therefore, that come Springtime, Topshop’s new collection of nine jean styles, will also fly out of their stores.  Regardless of shape or occasion, and without having to spend a fortune, Topshop is THE destination for your every denim need (not to mention all the new summery tops and Spring-in-ma-step shoes you can also pair them with...)

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In Collaboration with Topshop

Photography: Ella Sadika

Hair: Ruuby App 

Nails: Sophie Gass

Valentine's Gift List 2017 - For Him

Let’s be honest, Valentine's Day should kinda be all about the ladies, but regardless of how much of a ‘lad’ your fella might be, there isn’t a chap in town that doesn’t appreciate a little sweet Valentine gesture.  So what to give our menfolk to show that we care too?!  Well, aside from the obvious (beer, food, socks, you...) here are a few little gift suggestions to spoil your beau.

Hover and click on the items for their direct links...

Above:  Frangipani shirts, inspired by travels around the world and ancient block printing, manage to make the boys (and the girls that go on to steal them) stand out from the crowd whilst not looking too garish. There is a pattern for everyone and an occasion for them all.  Check out their new linen designs too.

Valentine's Gift List 2017 - For Her

I feel sorry for Valentine’s Day, a rather sweet day of the year that gets an enormous amount of flack. Each year you can see it merrily approaching, brim-full of romance and possibilities, with a kick in its heel, glistening heart emoji-eyes, and a pink, oh so very pink, trail of fairy dust (or perhaps Gwyneth’s Goop-recommended Sex Dust?) in its wake… All to be met by an anxiety-ridden, Hallmark-hating, eye-rolling audience of cynics, all heading for the hills to hide, regardless of their relationship status. 

Now, I get it, if you’re single this can be a day, frequently fuelled by a bottle of dry white Lady Petrol, where you feel continuously reminded of your current lack of love, and if you’re in a relationship you can feel immense pressure to perform like some lame love monkey whilst spending a ludicrous amount of money. 

However, in Valentine’s defence, I think it can also be seen as a day where we all can take a little Time Out from our frequently monotonous daily routines, and pay a little extra attention to one another, or friends, and even ourselves... Sometimes we sadly do need a reason, or a day each year, to remind us to do that. 

Spending a lot of money is not mandatory, as a little imagination and thought can easily be just as spoiling; some of the most memorable moments can involve the simplest of gestures and just some designated time to hang out. I am however, always asked each year for Valentine’s gift suggestions from panic stricken men, SOOO gentlemen, here are a few ideas guaranteed to put a smile on all those pretty faces, without a naff teddy bear or flammable set of red underwear in sight (don’t worry Ladies, I got yo’backs too…) 

Hover and click on the items for their direct links...

Above:  Jo Malone’s Valentine’s Day denim designed gift box is beyond dreamy.  The sets, which contain a 100ml bottle of Jo Malone Red Roses (a scent inspired by seven of the world’s finest roses) set amongst freshly cut blooms from florist Philippa Craddock, is available from Selfridges until Feb 14th (RRP. £130.00).

"The fire and excitement may be gone now that we don't go out there and sing them anymore, but the ring of fire still burns around you and I, keeping our love hotter than a pepper sprout."

Johnny Cash to June Carter Cash

"I don't know how to tell you just how much I miss you. I love you till my heart could burst. All I love, all I want, all I need is you—forever. I want to be just where you are and be just what you want me to be. I know it's lousy of me to be so late so often, and I promise to try a million times harder, I promise."  

Marilyn Monroe to Joe DiMaggio

Above:  'Buy to Give' this Valentine’s Day by not only spoiling your loved one with jewellery, but also directly helping to fight against ivory poaching. Every purchase from The Tembo Collection, a collection of seven Masai bead inspired bracelets I designed with Auree Jewellery, sees 100% of the profit go to For Rangers, a campaign in conjunction with Tusk that helps the heroes on the front line of conservation in their fight against elephant poaching across Africa.  (RRP. £50.00 - £140.00)

"So My Lumps... You’re off, by God! I can barely believe it since I am so unaccustomed to anybody leaving me. But reflectively I wonder why nobody did so before. All I care about—honest to God—is that you are happy and I don’t much care who you’ll find happiness with. I mean as long as he’s a friendly bloke and treats you nice and kind. If he doesn’t I’ll come at him with a hammer and clinker. God’s eye may be on the sparrow but my eye will always be on you. Never forget your strange virtues. Never forget that underneath that veneer of raucous language is a remarkable and puritanical LADY. I am a smashing bore and why you’ve stuck by me so long is an indication of your loyalty. I shall miss you with passion and wild regret."

Richard Burton to Elizabeth Taylor 

"My mouth hasn’t shut up about you since you kissed it. The idea that you may kiss it again is stuck in my brain, which hasn’t stopped thinking about you since well before any kiss. And now the prospect of those kisses seems to wind me like when you slip on the stairs and one of the steps hits you in the middle of the back. The notion of them continuing for what is traditionally terrifying forever excites me to an unfamiliar degree."  

Alex Turner to Alexa Chung

ABOVE:  Treat someone special to a rooooomantic stay at the swoonsome Artist Residence in London's Pimlico. To celebrate Valentine's Day, this eclectic townhouse, my fave home away from home, is offering champagne and choccies on arrival, late checkout and a free room upgrade, all for £50 on top of their usual room rates between 10.02.17 - 05.03.17. (T&C's apply, subject to availability.)

#OOTD: 18.01.17

I do love an eclectic mix, but this particular concoction of leopard print, cashmere, pink and brocade might just be up there as one of my favourite clothing cocktails to date. 

I immediately fell in love with this woollen ASOS coat and the contrast of its powerful leopard print faux fur alongside the lady like dusky pink is elegantly eye-catching.  I have always loved Shrimps coats, and one day I willllll have one, but this one is so affordable (especially now, in the sale) and I’m mostly wearing it paired with complimentary berry colours and neutrals.  These plum coloured Donna Ida dungarees worn under an oatmeal cashmere Chinti and Parker ‘Good Girl’ jumper (now also in the sale) definitely let the leopard print details of the coat do all the talking/growling.

I’m wearing these brocade ASOS Hena Heels as much as I can, day or night, and even with some plain black socks if too chilly (which let's face it, it is!)  These have to be the most comfortable heels, and made from the most monarchical of textiles, there is something so brilliantly grand about them.  

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Photography: Ella Sadika

HAWT: Sienna Miller in Gucci

Hawt = A late 1940's and early 1950's acronym for "Having A Wonderful Time."
Now the word is used on the internet as slang for something reeeeally hot.

Last week Sienna Miller lit up the red carpet like a beautiful ray of sunshine in her fantastical Gucci Lampshade Dress.  Alessandro Michele’s oversized detailing and bold colours once again stole the show at the premiere of Sienna’s latest film, Live By Night, a prohibition era crime thriller directed by Ben Affleck, which I can't wait to see. This icy blue, layered tulle gown, very different from Sienna’s minimalist Golden Globes ensemble, was full of character, wonderfully clashing with its icicle like golden sequins and her red power pout.  This magical look gets an almighty big Red Carpet High Five from TLC; un fashion triomphe.

Below:  'Live by Night' (out in cinemas NOW)

Shop Sienna's Look...

#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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#OOTD: 27.12.16

Launching her label in 2011, after studying at London College of Fashion and travelling the world as a model, Hayley Menzies’ unique designs have since become synonymous with the eccentric, yet effortlessness style associated with the Portobello girl. Fun, fluffy and most importantly, environmentally conscious, London-based Hayley Menzies’ knitwear uses ethically sourced materials from Europe, and every item is handmade using the finest Italian yarns. 

It was Hayley’s charcoal coloured, leopard print Elgin Poncho trimmed with super soft, cotton-candy coloured shearling (now in the sale: RRP. £213.00) that grabbed my eye. Not only am I also a huge leopard print fan (‘you can take the girl outta Africa…’) but as a Portobello gal myself, I just HAD to have this stand-out, cosy winter warmer.

I love wearing my poncho as a snuggly alternative to a coat, worn here over my Donna Ida Eliza Dungarees and grey Kurt Geiger Ladbrook Trainers (also now in the sale.)  This poncho is also the most perfect post Christmas cover-up, hiding a multitude of sins (and Quality Streets...!) 

Elgin Poncho in Dusky Pink (RRP. Reduced from £355.00 to £213.00)

I’m also very keen to get my mitts on, and into, a pair of Hayley’s Long Elgin Paw Warmers (now also in the sale reduced from RRP. £80.00 £48.00) to match my poncho!  I do so love a fellow crazy cat lady!

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Photography: Ella Sadika