Summer ready in sustainable Belize gingham...
With a basket whose only current role in life is to carry my M&S Fruit Sherbets from one room to the next...
ALSO… Wihelmina Garcia’s Gold Daisy necklace is giving me aaaall the instant pick-me-up joy feels
In the 1980’s there were an estimated 1.2 million elephants in Africa, and the latest survey shows there are now around 400,000... A shocking demise which has occurred in my own lifetime, and the result of savage poaching and human/wildlife conflict. On this most poignant of Earth Days, I am sat here wondering; How many more years will I be visiting these innocent, orphaned victims?
Despite some recent gains in elephant conservation, the worry now is, that with the sudden, unexpected standstill in African tourism (an industry that provides millions of jobs, and sees large percentages of their costs go back into local communities and wildlife protection) a spike in poaching is likely expected with vital incomes being lost, and safeguarding wildlife becoming harder and more dangerous; Threatened and endangered animals may become the additional casualties of the pandemic.
Conservation groups are now calling on finance ministers to make the protection of nature a cornerstone of their Covid 19 economic recovery plans; Our most precious wildlife cannot rely on tourism and donations alone anymore - We need governmental commitment to both planet and wildlife preservation!!
Also - Please don’t cancel your safari, just postpone it... It is money you will never invest better - and it goes a long way to preserving, protecting and supporting some of our world’s most special ecosystems, wildlife, and people.
Head over to my friend’s pages at Ol Malo, House in the Wild and The Safari Collection for some travel inspo, to Space for Giants to join their #AHealthyEarth campaign, and to my sister, Claire Eastwood, an African travel expert, to get planning your future African adventures!
Then and Now: Both pictures were taken at the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (major shout out to the full 80’s commitment of scrunchie AND terry toweling shorts... Strong!)
Verified Pajama Party; Silk Pyjamas are the real ‘Going Out-Out’ of Lockdown Looks...!
Ridley London are donating 100% of the profits from their gorgeous new loungewear collection to Re-Engage UK, helping provide a support network for many of the UK’s vulnerable elderly living alone in isolation during the Coronavirus crisis.
Self Distancing/Timering... 💙
My pals at Chinti and Parker are donating 100% of the profits from their Anni Heart Collection to Meals for the NHS, a not for profit initiative who partner with local restaurants to ensure our frontline heroes get the delicious and nourishing food they need to tackle their arduous 18-hour, life-saving shifts... #HelpOurHeroes
I love to highlight small, sustainable British brands that I truly love - and wear; After living in my throw-on linen With Nothing Underneath boyfriend-style shirt allllll last summer (which so many of you consistently enquired about), I’m finding their recently launched brushed-cotton design just as useful, and sooo cosy... Basically, they are my everyday wardrobe staples, whether I’m spending the day in town, on the beach, or in bed (don’t judge, it’s cold out there...)
Not only does this brand source all its organic material from the Better Cotton Initiative and use plastic-free packaging, but despite being a small company, after seeing a surge in orders after the Duchess of Sussex wore one of their cotton designs to visit the Luminary Bakery, my friend Pip Durell (WNU’s founder), made a generous donation to this London-based social enterprise that supports disadvantaged women, as a way to pay it forward.... Jolly good shirts by a jolly good egg
Photographer: Rosalind Alcazar
I’m really relieved the members of the House of Commons Commission have decided that the proposed £500,000 needed to get Big Ben to chime in Brexit on January 31st, is money that would (obviously) be better spent elsewhere... Namely, the NHS - something we need to protect and prioritise with all our might, because you never know how much you rely upon it, until suddenly, you’re really bloody relying upon it.
8 days ago, I arrived at the hospital my mother had been brought to... We are still sitting tight in ICU, and taking each day, with their varying complications and long words, as they come, but I was totally blown away by the rapid response of the emergency services - the paramedics even came to check on me at the end of their shift, despite, I imagine, having had pretty exhausting days themselves. Similarly, the nursing staff, despite being run-ragged on their long shifts in a desperately underfunded arena, have been consistently compassionate, skilled and reassuring. These everyday heroes, deserving of our raised voices of support, see hundreds of people every week, but their faces are the ones that stay with us forever.
A happier day by the sea…
Photography: Ollie Ali
I couldn’t actually believe my luck when Bentley asked if I wanted to take one of their first ever SUV’s for a spin in the countryside… And neither could my Father, who’s excitement when the Bentayga arrived on his doorstop was wildly contagious (even my one-year old nephew Zac was clapping!) The timing could not have been better; My sister was over visiting from NYC with her family, and my parents were over from Kenya, so a TLC Staycation to the countryside was clearly in order…
We all know that when it comes to the British countryside, you struggle to pick a more picturesque area to visit than the Cotswolds, which is only an easy ninety mins outside of London. I had been wanting to stay at Daylesford Farm for many moons, and it just so happens that one of their beautifully chic converted farmhouses, The Wood House, has three bedrooms and could fit all the fam (providing I shared a room and bed with my jet-lagged, four-year old niece Willow… and if you watched my Instastories from that week, you’ll know just how that went…!)
Retaining many of their original features, the self-catered cottages are just a minute’s walk from the iconic Daylesford Farm Shop, restaurant, café and Bamford Haybarn Spa, and really allow you the chance to disconnect, relax, sleep (if not sharing a bed with a jet-lagged, singing niece) and enjoy some lovely family time and country air.
On arrival we received a generous welcome pack which included Daylesford tea, coffee, sugar, Daylesford red wine, gin and a selection of savory treats. The fridge was stocked with Daylesford Organic milk, butter and eggs, fresh bread from the bakery and chilled bottles of Daylesford rosé (my favourite) and white wine. Gorgeous fresh flowers were also left for us in the kitchen, and the bathrooms all had miniature Bamford products… All heavenly touches.
Had we stayed longer, we definitely would have enrolled in some of the cookery classes and floristry workshops, but we were more than occupied with our dreamy treatments at the Bamford Haybarn Spa (I fell utterly in love with the Bamford products, and subsequently bought both the Refining Exfoliator and Balancing Tonic used during my facial) and… oh yeah, eating, because my sweet Lord, the fooooood...!
Daylesford is one of the most pioneering farms in the UK and Carole Bamford has won more than 60 national and international awards for its delicious food and sustainable practices. The farm grows over 300 varieties of seasonal organic fruit, vegetables and herbs, and we bought a lot of their delicious soups, jams and chutneys to take over, having really enjoyed them during our stay.
Driving the Bentayga to Gloucestershire was a total joy – not only is it clearly stylish and a real eye-turner, but it is so, so comfortable and smooth to drive. It was also great to have with us on the farm, as we could zip around the muddy terrain confidently, visiting both all the new born baby lambs and my old school friend, Leonora Bamford who lives nearby.
After two wonderful nights we packed half the Farm Shop’s produce into the boot, to reluctantly head home, and yes, I allowed (lol) my (chomping at the bit) Father to drive the Bentayga back. We’ll be back Daylesford (ummmm, in the Bentayga, please Bentley? Pretty please?!)
In Partnership with Bentley
The London Chatter was kindly hosted by Daylesford
Given our acute awareness of how the linear fashion model of buying, wearing and quickly discarding clothes so negatively impacts both people and planet, there is an increased demand from customers for greater transparency in the fashion supply chain. I for one, am really making a more conscious effort to buy from, and champion ethical and sustainable British designers, and one such brand that has recently come on to my radar, happily just in time for the summer, is Farleigh io, and their stunning ready-to-wear collection of hand-drawn printed mini’s and maxi dresses.
Created for free-spirited women of all ages and sizes, each of Farleigh io’s ethically made, romantic designs look just as great with heels or wedges at a wedding, as they do with a pair of Veja trainers at a festival.
Brilliantly, Farleigh io doesn’t believe in large seasonal drops, instead choosing to slowly add one new design to her beautiful collection each month, with the aim of you treasuring that considered purchase for a long time. The dresses are not only brought to life by local London seamstresses and pattern printers, but also, for every design sold, a tree is planted in Zambia to help offset any carbon emissions made during its creation… Aaaaall the wonderful sunshine feels!
Wearing: Farleigh io’s Hazel Dress
Featuring: Puffin the Pup
It was 2009 and Sienna, still at the top of her boho game, was wearing a pair of Russell and Bromley slouchy, studded brown suede biker boots with everything from skinny jeans to floaty dresses... And we ALL wanted a pair. The boots sold out three times before I finally managed to get my lil’mitts on a pair, but they were well and truly worth the wait. This was my first introduction to the much-loved British brand, and similar to Russell and Bromley’s other classic styles, all known for their famed Italian craftsmanship, my boots were seriously hardwearing, accessibly stylish and incredibly versatile… I wore them for years.
With important conversations currently happening within the fashion industry, in regard to our planet, I feel we should all now be far more conscious with our clothing consumption, and make sure each item we purchase is one we intend to wear a lot and for a long time. This is why I was particularly excited to partner with Russell and Bromley and share with you some of my favourite styles from their current SS’19 collection, because I really believe their classic styles, however fashionable, have real wardrobe longevity.
Several of the new designs caught my eye, and I love the chic caramel tones which flow through the collection, and the laser-cut bucket handbags really stand out. I eventually decided however, that the Trickle Sandals, the Impulse Courts and the Rafferty bag were my must-haves for when the sunshine finally puts his hat back on, and choices that will be just as useful this summer, as the next.
I was immediately drawn to the wonderfully chic mule style leather Trickle Sandals, with their decorative ring trim. This classic tan style will easily take me from day to night in the city this Summer, yet also making for the perfect holiday companions. Unlike many other on-trend summer shoes available on the high street, I feel that this particular pair of slides are also a real investment, as year in and year out, this iconic shape will never go out of style.
The Rafferty, to me, screams summer. Crafted from luxurious natural raffia fabric, this practical, and surprisingly affordable, top-handled ‘grab bag’ will be paired with both my floaty summer dresses, and linen trousers alike; a real sunny, everyday staple.
The other pair of stylish, yet investment-worthy, shoes I am eager to wear on the upcoming (we hope!) sunnier days, are the Impulse sling back courts. There is something both gorgeously nostalgic about this style, with their brown crocodile printed leather, yet also contemporary, with their more modern, covered block heel. Perfect for work, and my smarter meetings, these flattering shoes can be worn with both dresses and trousers, well into October (before my ankles go back into hibernation…)
In Partnership with Russell and Bromley
Photography: Joseph Galvin
Hair and Make Up: Secret Spa London
Clothing: Chinti and Parker
We are amidst the largest period of species extinction in the last 60 million years. Shocking, in the last 50 years alone, the populations of all mammals, birds, reptiles and fish have fallen by an average of 60%…
With today being Earth Day, I thought I might talk a little more about some of my long legged friends back in Kenya. What many people don’t know, is that the wild animals living around the Safari Collection’s famous Giraffe Manor hotel are part of the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife’s vital breeding programme for the Rothschild Giraffe, one of the three sub-species of giraffe found in Kenya. All nine sub-species of giraffe across Africa are fighting a ‘silent extinction,’ being overshadowed in the press by other endangered animals. There are approx 500,000 wild elephant left in Africa for instance, whilst there are only 90,000 giraffe!!!! I was so shocked and saddened to hear this statistic. Similar to elephant, giraffe populations have suffered dramatically from illegal hunting, habitat loss and human/wildlife conflict, and the Rothschild, in particular, have really struggled.
However, due in big part to the amazing work of the AFEW, the Rothschild population in Kenya has increased from 80 to 800 individuals in the last 30 years, with 50 of those giraffe being the babies of breeding pairs reintroduced back into the wild from the Manor’s neighbouring Giraffe Centre. My heart hurts at the thought of a world without these beautiful long lashed and even longer legged giants, and the moments spent with them are never lost on me
“You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make...” Dr. Jane Goodall.
In my opinion, every damn day should be Earth Day... 🌍 #ExtinctionIsForever
