TLC's Valentine's Wish List feat. Missoma

As a renown magpie, regularly adorning myself in sparkly British designs and shiny vintage treasures, I was thrilled to be asked by Missoma to choose my favourite piece of their jewellery for their Valentine's Gift Guide. Although picking just one design was hard, I imagine as hard as choosing a favourite child, there was one particular piece which shot out, like an arrow through the heart...  If you're clever boys, this last minute treat could win you some serrrrious brownie points! 

"Who needs red roses when you can have rose gold?! Yup, that's the line I'm taking this Valentines Day, and the Missoma diamond arrow bracelet, worn stacked or alone, is high up on my wish list. Don't say I didn't give you fair warning fellas..."  

Note to the Menfolk:  If she's told you she hates Valentine's Day, that it's a cheesy, naff occasion that is not worth celebrating... She's lying.  Panicking now?! Run Menfolk Ruuuun (to the shops...) 

Above (Clockwise) L-R:  Jess Collet Ash Trilby (RRP. £240.00), Choux à la Crème Greeting Card (RRP. £3.50), Village England's Mini Cranleigh Crossbody Bag (RRP. £128.00), L’Amour Trinket Tray (RRP. £10.00), Escentric Molecules 01 (RRP. £66.00)

Above (Clockwise) L-R:  Mermaid Perfume (RRP. £36.00), Deliciously Ella (RRP. £20.00), Peas in a Pod Socks (RRP. £3.00), Larsson and Jennings Gold-Plated Watch (RRP. £220.00), China Book Vase (RRP. £26.00), Naughty Little Card Shop Valentine’s Card (RRP. £3.00)

J&M Davidson's 30th Anniversary

I recently attended the most beautiful of dinners at the Connaught in celebration of J&M Davidson's 30th anniversary.  I knew my evening was to be a special one when my invitation arrived in the form of a limited edition, silver clutch bag (which I carried on the night).  The dinner was co-hosted by John and Monique Davidson and Tanya Ling, an illustrator who has a long history with the husband and wife team. 

Tanya Ling's unique, illustrated menus and name cards were stunningly placed amongst the most elegant of Wild at Heart flowers by Nikki Tibbles. Just BEAUTIFUL!! 

John and Monique Davidson launched J&M Davidson in 1984 from their home in Chiswick.  Now a global British brand with a French twist, their constantly evolving collections include covetable handbags, handcrafted belts, clothing and knitwear, all available online or from their colourful Notting Hill store.  

SHOP TLC's LOOK:

Above L-R (Clockwise):  Louisa Preskett and Katy Wickremesinge, Bip Ling, Katie Readman with Amy Williams and Alice Naylor-Leyland, Pandora Sykes.  Below:  "But first...." with Katie Readman and Bip Ling.

Below:  Some of J&M Davidson's current collection.  I am eyeing up their Medieval Blue Carnival bag – but the canary yellow drawstring one will no doubt be a SS’15 must have!

Topshop's Personal Shopping Experience

I was recently asked to visit Topshop's Personal Shopping area at their Oxford Street branch for an utterly spoiling A/W'14 wee spree.  I know... My job does not suck.  I have always seen their amazing flagship store as the ultimate grown up girl's sweetie shop, and I can eeeeasily spend hours wandering aimlessly admits all the season's newest styles, frequently finding things I never EVEN knew I needed, but OBVIOUSLY cannot live without!  On this particular occasion however,  knowing I only had a one hour appointment in my more than luxurious fitting room, I had done some research and online prep, enabling me to whizz around the shop like a Topshop ninja, pinpointing the items I wanted to try on.  One of the brilliant personal shoppers was on hand back to help change any sizes for me and help search for alternative styles if the ones I chose didn't suit me.  As a result, I managed to put together three very different looks (much of which is now in the sale, so be quick!) in record time - especially for me!  

Topshop's Personal Shopping is a complimentary service offered in eight of their stores.  Various different appointments can be made, catering to your specific styling needs, and if short on time, or in dire need of a quick wardrobe update, I really recommend booking yourself one HERE. 

Which is your favourite look?  I'd be lying if I didn't say the light up trainers...!  Thank you Topshop xx

The A/W'14 Sale Edit

If the weather is looking far too miserable outside, and you've eaten too many Quality Streets and mince pies over Christmas to even contemplate heaving your way to the shops to hit the sales, fear not!  I recommend enjoying the below, edited selection of beautious bargains whilst remaining firmly curled up on the sofa, ipad and hot tea (and by hot tea I mean mulled wine, hey, 'tis STILL the season after all!)  And remember, it's not what you're spending, it's what you're saving, right?!  Those Sophia Webster heels ar literally calling to me!!  Hover over the items you like for direct links... Enjoy! 

Hello, World!

All HE Wants For Christmas 2014

With all the chaos and mad panic arising on every twinkly-lit highstreet, finding a present for those lucky menfolk in your life can prove both tricky and super stressful.  Rather than resorting to making IOU voucher booklets (Ha! That ol'chestnut!) here is some TLC giftspiration which may make life a liiiittle easier over the next week or so...

Hover over the items for direct links - Enjoy!

All She Wants For Christmas (in her stocking...) 2014

Regardless of your age, NOTHING beats waking up to a stocking at the end of you bed (... or in mine and my sister's case; stockings strewn across the floor, having already been opened around 4am, having stumbled back from some annual, terribly civilised Christmas drinks on the beach with friends...) If I have been a good girl this year (which, to be fair, is still under some debate), I hope to discover some of these little treats waiting for me (early!) Christmas morning... 

Hover over the items for their direct links - Enjoy! 

All She Wants For Christmas 2014

We all know that most men fear, dread and loooathe shopping, so rather than ‘accidentally’ flambéing him instead of the Christmas Pudding this year, as thanks for that last minute, delightfully flammable red underwear he left for you under the tree (“but it’s festive!”) may I suggest you help the poor fella out this year by kindly leaving this page open on his desktop…?!  Warning... If someone else doesn't buy you some goodies off this list, you'll definitely end up buying yourself some (and that's ok, right?!)

Hover over the items for their direct links... Enjoy!

Hello There: Full Disclosure

Or should that be 'Well Helloooooo There: Full Disclosure?!' I was really thrilled to be asked to curate an edit of TLC's top picks from the newest go-to lingerie and sleepwear haven, Full Disclosure.  Housing (or should that be bedrooming?!) an enticing mixture of stunningly lacy and racy lingerie sets and corsets, beautiful and flirtatious playsuits and baby-dolls, elegant silk robes and suspenders, all from both well known and loved names to some new and exciting brands I too have just discovered.  I mean, seriously, forget Lapland, THIS is where you want your Santa-Baby to visit en route to your Christmas stockings... 

Check out the TLC edit HERE and if no one else will, go and spoil yourself!

Cyber Weekend: The ASOS Edit

The first time I ever heard of ‘Black Friday’ was at an American friend’s Thanksgiving lunch last year in Primrose Hill.  The Americans around the table seemed anxious they were missing out on the following day’s incredible sales and offers back in the US.  If you're still a little lost, 'Black Friday' was a phrase coined by the Philadelphia police in the 1950's after the chaos caused by shoppers flocking to the high streets after Thanksgiving to begin their Christmas shopping.  With stores keen to get as many people through their doors as possible, offers galoooore began, and a tradition born. 

Like Starbucks, David Hasslehoff and Cronuts, Black Friday has also now arrived on our British shores.   Thankfully however, in 2014 we don’t all have to panic, elbows at the ready to brave Oxford Street or Westfield, as plenty of online shops and boutiques are also offering some incredible deals this 'Cyber Weekend' (you couldn't make this up!)  ASOS are amazingly offering 20% off ALL their products ALL weekend... Just LOVE those guys!  So, to spare you hours of trawling their site, I took one for the team and selflessly put together this edit for y’all… Just hover on the items you like for prices and click.  Yes, that’s right, you can also be thankful for me this weekend Pilgrims!   

DISCOUNT CODE:  CYBERWKND20

'Inside Rolls Royce' - A trip to the Goodwood Factory

I cannot tell you just how excited I was (and just HOW jealous my poor father was!) to be invited to explore the Rolls-Royce factory in Goodwood, ahead of their exciting exhibition, ‘Inside Rolls-Royce,’ that opens to the public at the Saatchi Gallery tomorrow.  

An epically sprawling, yet peaceful structure designed in 2003 by Nicholas Grimshaw (who also designed the Eden Project), the factory is a brilliant, natural extension of it’s environment, invisible from the road and air, with a roof made of living plants and plenty of natural light pouring into each and every room.  

Upon entering the building, you are immediately met with co-founder Henry Royce’s moto displayed across the entrance; 'Take the best that exists and make it better: when it does not exist, design it,' - advice still very much adhered by the current designers and engineers at Goodwood. 

After a quick lunch and presentation from Marc Mielau (right), the Head of Marketing at Rolls-Royce, where we heard lots more about the upcoming exhibition but also about the luxury car company’s history, we set off in our beige Rolls-Royce attire (less Burberry, more biology GCSE lab coat!) to commence le grand tour.  

With 1500 employees, 20 Rolls-Royce cars are made each day in what I saw to be the most immaculate of factories.  On utterly pristine white floors (no grease or oil in sight!) each Ghost and Wraith (the more girl friendly of all the designs) go through 16 stations for 45 minutes a time, and the Phantoms (enormous!!) have 11 stations, each lasting for 2 hours a time.   It seemed an almost surgical process, as I witnessed incredible amounts of precision and care taken at each stop along the long assembly line.

Below (L-R):  What goes on (factory) tour... With Kit Lee, Ella Catliff and Charlie May.

With so much to see, and such little time, our more than wonderful guide June thankfully knew her audience, so we spent less time having the inner workings of all the car engines explained to us, and FAR more time spent in the design arena...

With cars well known for their heritage, as well as their sleek and ever-evolving design, detail is everything at Rolls-Royce.  Forever pushing boundaries, there is no challenge too small for this company to tackle for their clients and it was fascinating hearing some of the more particular bespoke requests!  

From hand painted stripes on cars (performed in the factory using squirrel haired brushes by a single artisan and his steady hand – WOW! Imagine THAT pressure?!) and customized, non traditional paint jobs (once to match a lady’s much-loved red setter dog, another her pink Chanel lipstick - above!) to hand stitched embroidery, in-built microwaves (for hand towels, duh!), champagne chillers (naturally!), detailed wood, diamond (yup!) and mother of pearl door (below left) designs and twinkly lit, fibre-optic star light head liners (below right). This factory really can, rather effortlessly, make your every fantasy car wish come true!

Above:  Large, super soft and colourful leather hides hang, ready to be stretched, then traced and eventually lazer cut in particular patterns for various car seats.  

I did not find it particularly surprising, given the absolute treasures inside, to find that as our tour finished there was a giant rainbow outside, its end landing at the exact foot of the factory...

After the tour I was allowed to take a Rolls-Royce out for a wee test drive… It's a tough job buuuut...

Below (L-R):  My (brave) passengers/Charlie's Angels for the afternoon; Camila Carril and Sarah Mikaela.

Driving through the beautiful countryside roads of Sussex in quite possibly the PIMPEST car possible was pretty extraordinary!  I was a little nervous at first, although smaller and sportier than the Ghost and the Phantom, the Wraith is still considerably bigger (and just a taaaad more expensive) than the lil’bumper car I roll around town in!  Soon, I was completely in the swing of things and only wished the drive had lasted longer (or my family, who were terribly worried for the CAR’s safety) had seen me! 

After such an amazing afternoon, I am really looking forward to attending the ‘Inside Rolls-Royce’ exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery later this week, ahead of its world tour.  With complimentary entry, the public can expect a multi-sensory journey, spread across nine rooms, giving an amazing insight into the world-renowned engineering, design, craftsmanship and remarkable lengths required to create the world’s pinnacle super-luxury car.  I am particularly excited to visit the room where you can, for a brief time, transform into the iconic Spirit of Ecstasy (the ethereal statuette that adorns the front of every Rolls-Royce) on a video wall in a beautiful light particle animation.

‘Inside Rolls Royce’ at the Saatchi Gallery: 13 November until 16 November.