Winter Sun at Costa Del Cleethorpes

I feel the need to write a post in celebration of my home town after enduring numerous snide remarks and comments about the place where I spent the first 18 years of my life since moving down to Richmond.  Nobody chooses where they are born or the background they are born into but people can choose what they want to do with their lives with the right guidance and upbringing.  I had an idyllic childhood thanks to my parents and family and I have many nice memories of my hometown as a child.  I may have chosen to no longer live there but I still enjoy coming home for a visit and today was a perfect Cleethorpes Sunday.

The cold, crisp sea air mixed with the clear blue skies and a nice blast of sunshine provided my favourite weather combination as I wrapped up in a hat, scarf and coat with my favourite fashion accessory of sunglasses to add to the mix.  We headed down to Cleethorpes seafront to take in the sights and enjoyed the rare tranquility that the winter brings to the coastline before the daytrippers and holidaymakers start to arrive in their droves around Easter time.

Stepping out of the car, I heard the familiar choo choo of the toy steam train which ambles along the seafront from the Leisure Centre to the theme park ferrying young and old alike in a nostalgic voyage of excitement, and I was transported back to childhood memories of a heady mix of noise and steam combined with the chill slap of the wind on your face as the train chugs along the tracks offering tranquil and panamoramic views out to the North Sea.

 

We then headed to the boating lake which was busy with other locals taking advantage of the first signs of spring and walking their dogs and children around the man made lake full of ducks and geese as well as the odd fish.  The lake glistened in the winter sun and the tranquil atmosphere was occasionally interrupted by the echoing squawks of its residents waddling around its banks in hope of a few scraps of bread or bird feed thrown at them by children walking by.

We cut across to the back of the boating lake alongside the tracks of the steam train before heading onto the sand dunes to take in the views of the ferries and transporter ships taking their cargo across the North Sea to Holland and Scandanavia.  Out in the distance you can still see the old, disused forts that have stood empty for so many years despite constant speculation that they are about to be redeveloped into a hotel or a rehab unit or to hold asylum seekers.

It was at this point that I thought that I should stop and snap a few pictures of my outfit, much to my Father's embarrassment who informed me that on a scale of 1-10 of being self obsessed I currently sit at 8.99 (although refreshingly I am apparently marginally behind my brother!)

I am wearing:
Jeggings - Abercrombie and Fitch,
Boots - Ash
Coat - McQ by Alexander McQueen
Jumper and T-shirt - both H&M
Bag - Mulberry
Hat and Scarf - Anna's Boutique on Richmond Hill
Sunglasses - Miu Miu

Of course I couldn't resist getting in a cheeky little pose just to embarrass my Dad further infront of all the dog walkers!

I then stumbled across a piece of drift wood and just had to get in a couple of photos with the husband, by which point my Dad had walked away in embarrassment as my Mum took the photos....

This one was taken by Mum by mistake but looked so hilariously posed I couldn't resist fitting it in....

Finally we emerged onto the promenade, where I had to get in a shot of the beach, with the tide out, just to show you that Cleethorpes has one of the finest sand spaces in England...

 

I feel incredibly lucky to have been bought up in one of England's last quintessential seaside towns.  It may not have the glitz and the glam of London, the contacts of a Middle Class upbringing in Richmond or the cultured opportunities for music and the arts like Liverpool but it does have my family, my friends and my memories...as well as a pretty nice place for a Sunday stroll.

New nails!

My Mum and I enjoyed a little pamper session this morning and headed over to London Top Nails in good old Cleethorpes (from where I originally hale) to sort our bad nails out! My Mum's nails have not been looked after much at all of late and my neon gellish set had started to peel so we headed over to the salon to sort them out.

Mum went for a Shellac Red whilst I opted for a Shellac Glitter with silver tips...a great choice to wear for London Fashion Week which I will be attending later this week, I'm sure you'll agree.

Here are the results below:

All hail McQueen!

Here is a little outfit post for tonight. I'm heading out for dinner with my parents, husband and in-laws.

Here is what I am wearing:
Shirt - Zara
Scarf - Alexander McQueen
Trousers - Armani Exchange
Shoes - Alexander McQueen
Bag - Mulberry

J'adore Paris

I thought I'd share this with you from my old blog. A little trip to Paris I had last Easter, it was so good! I cannot wait to go back in August!

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A light hearted reflection of our day as high society ladies.

Last Saturday was all about the catchphrases for my friend Joanne and I.  Catchphrase number 1 ‘dress to impress’, catchphrase number 2 ‘it’s all about the confiance’.

Following our two mantras we dressed ourselves up in our Sunday finest - for myself, a little black dress, leopard print Louboutin’s and matching scarf and a Whistles hat - and off we went to enjoy our journée parfaite à Paris!

Outside La Duree

We started our ‘journée de rêve’ in La Durée with a café crème and a croissant for me, a hot chocolate and some macaroons for my friend.  We left in high spirits, but somewhat disappointed, the waitress was not up to the standards we’d have expected for such a high end establishment and we decided that this famous Parisian eaterie has become a victim of its own success as hordes of Japanese tourists flooded the tiny inside space, taking photos of anything and everything they could.

With our stomachs lined we started the walk along the shops in the area of Rue Saint Honoré, our first stop naturally being a French stalwart fashion brand, Christian Dior.  As we kept saying to ourselves ‘it’s all about the confidence’ à la Samantha Brick (the running joke of the day), we strutted inside and were immediately pounced upon by a demure shop assistant encouraging us to try on the spoils.  Never one to pass up on an opportunity, we were shown to the most luxurious fitting room we had ever seen - in fact it was not one room but two complete with numerous mirrors, flattering lighting and an expensive looking couch (which we had much fun messing about on with our camera when the shop assistant’s back was turned).  We’d told her I was looking for an outfit for a wedding and she came back with some gorgeous heels and a silk dress which I tried on and fell in love with.  At an eye watering 4000 euros for the two items we told her that we wanted to explore more of the Parisian shops before making a decision and hastily and carefully put the clothes back before we had a chance to spoil them.

The stunning silk Dior dress and tan Dior platforms

Moving on, we headed to Longchamp to purchase a handbag and had a little mooch in Miu Miu, Chanel and Maje before heading to our number one, highly anticipated destination…Christian Louboutin.  Unlike my previous visit where I pretty much waltzed in, had the shop to myself and tried on half the shoes before purchasing, this time we had to queue for an annoyingly long twenty minutes before we were allowed to enter.  Nervous with excitement my friend (with a little persuasion from myself) decided it was time to ‘pop her cherry’ and chose the most stunning pair of Nude Pigalle’s as her first ever Louboutin purchase.  Off we trotted, her elated with her purchase, me a little jealous that I wasn’t able to buy a pair for myself (but it always gives me a good excuse for a return visit).

The tastiest Champagne and apple cocktail at the Ritz

Having spent a good few hours walking in heels by this time (and having ruined a pair of Louboutin’s by scraping all the red off the sole walking around Paris) we sneakily stopped in a shop doorway and changed into flats to start our descent to Place Vendome with one thing on our mind…champagne to celebrate the Louboutin purchase.  Just before we stepped into the famous square we quickly changed back into our heels and strutted across to the Ritz, with such pizazz that even Victoria Beckham would have been envious of us, and were welcomed into the Ritz accordingly. 

We enjoyed the jealous looks of our waitress as my friend examined her Louboutin shoes just as much as we enjoyed our Champagne cocktail and nibbles and spent the next hour pondering how we might afford to live such a lifestyle day in day out.  Unfortunately neither my friend nor I were blessed with the goddess like looks of Samantha Brick and despite secretly hoping we’d receive a bottle of Dom Perignon sent to the table by some handsome George Clooney lookalike we had to accept that our time living the high life was drawing to an end. We settled the bill ourselves and left, looking back longingly over our shoulders at the day we had left behind.

My talented friend Jo, translator and writer.

Enjoying my time as a high society lady!

Back to reality and we hopped on the metro over to the Rush bar where we met the Liverpool French Branch supporters club, ordered a Corona and a JD and coke and cheered on our team in the good old northern way we are accustomed to.  Just as much fun, apart from another draw from the mediocre Liverpool side that seems to be ruining many an afternoon for Liverpool fans worldwide at the moment.

We finished the day with a pizza and, feeling exhausted, headed back to my friend’s apartment to watch a film.  Unfortunately, upon arrival I realised that I had left my iPhone in the Pizza restaurant but the nice and honest French waiter had put it behind the bar for me so we trekked back across the city to pick it up.  It may have been 11.00 at night but we finally decided we had had our Samantha Brick moment (obviously we were so good looking the waiter decided he could not possibly steal the phone from us)….well maybe not!

The day may be over but the memories will live with us until the next time we decide to live the high life! Vive la vie!

Chic and Seek

I have mentioned numerous times of my love for Vintage Rose, a shop on Richmond Hill that sells second hand designer wears and gives a slice of the profits to the original owner of the items.  Thus far I have picked up a Sonia by Sonia Rykiel Trench, some Alexander McQueen shoes and yesterday an Alexander McQueen coat as well as having to painfully avoid the place over certain items as I have suffered 6 months of frugality in the hangover of the big move down South and my wedding.  This period of suffering is nearly over however, and just at the right time a new love has entered my life.

A friend's sister has just started working for the website www.chicandseek.com and told me I had to check it out.  Funnily enough upon entering the website I remembered reading an article in a magazine or newspaper about this site when it was a start up business and I have already visited the site in its early days. When I first visited this site a few years ago I was of the mindset that I only wanted to buy designer items brand new, but a few years down the line and I have a completely different outlook on the whole 'vintage' trend and I think it is even more exciting to be able to buy one off pieces that others may not be wearing and work them into the current season's trends.  Furthermore, there are also items on here that are this season or transcends seasons such as the Mulsberry Bayswater and, now that I own a mixture of new and vintage items, I can only see the benefit in buying good quality, second hand pieces at a more affordable price.  I say more affordable but some of the items on the website (such as the Hermes, Birkins) are in no way 'affordable' but offer you the chance at owning a piece of fashion that may not be accessible to you by normal means.

Here are a selection of my favourite items currently listed on the site:

At an eye-watering £18, 500 there is no way I could ever afford this Ostrich  skin blue Kelly Birkin but I am sure you will all agree this is a rare fashion find to die for!

These tan leather Louboutin's are in my size, in excellent condition and a bargain at only £215.  If you are going to purchase red soles second hand make sure you see a picture of the underneath.  If you are buying pre-worn Louboutin's you have to accept that there will be wear on the red soles but you can always get them repainted (I don't know where in the UK but I had a pair I'd ruined done in Las Vegas and they looked new again!)

These Prada black leather gloves are an absolute steal at £70 and also affordable if you want to own a piece of Miuccia's fashion brand without breaking the bank.

And finally...if this Marc By Marc Jacobs purse (£50) is still available on payday next week it will be mine as I need a new purse that won't break the bank! Don't be getting in there before me!!

This website is great if you are just a bargain hunter looking for a fashion fix or even better if you live somewhere where these kind of things are not particularly accessible!  Check it out at www.chicandseek.com

Wintry Richmond and Alexander McQueen

Today was a wondrous winter's day in Richmond and another occasion where I felt like I had walked into a Dickension novel.  We were up and out early for a walk around Richmond Park after I completed my morning workout tabata training (11 minutes of mountain climbers, 20 seconds on 40 seconds off).  Below is the view of Richmond Gardens opposite my flat. It looked beautiful and was so nice to see families sledging down the hill, it always makes me feel so lucky that I live here.

After the walk, I was starving but it was only 10.00 am and I had to wait until half 11 for my first feed so I threw on a Pashmina and headed down the hill to see if I could try on the Alexander McQueen coat that I had been eyeing up in the window of Vintage Rose for the past two weeks...

I am wearing: Tesco headband / HnM Snood / Pasmina from John Lewis / Lusso London Cashmere gloves / Armani exchange leather and cotton trousers / Ash biker boots / Topshop jumper and Longchamp handbag.

       

Alas it fitted and what's more they knocked a further £25 off for me, making it a steal compared to what it should have been full price! The pictures of it are above, I cannot wait to wear it out!!

I then headed over to Hampton Wick near Kingston to get my nails done and immediately felt a lot better for it.  There is nothing worse than having chipped nail varnish, especially when it's gel and you just want to peel it off (something my manicurist told me off for, oops!)

OPI GEL, You don't know Jacques

I have really struggled to avoid caffeine today.  It's so cold, exactly the sort of afternoon for coffee and a cake! I've had to really push through and stick with the peppermint tea when all I really want to do is head to a coffee shop and have a big mug of coffee and a piece of chocolate cake!!  I did weigh myself this morning though (which is apparently not allowed, so my scales have now had the battery taken out of them by my husband) and I am 3lbs down in 5 days which is a great incentive to push through! Just another half a stone to go until I'm back at my wedding weight!!

I am going to have a power nap now to stave off the hunger pains before doing the second workout and having dinner followed by a movie off sky box office...detoxing is so not rock 'n' roll!

Bracing myself for the weekend!

Woohoo! I have made it through 5 (pretty stressful) days at work on the detox plan and this weekend is the first big test.  After the week I've had the first thing I would normally do is crack open a bottle of red or some of the fizzy stuff and go out for dinner but not tonight!!

I'm tired, achy and in a bit of a grump at the moment (having to abstain from alcohol when I know everyone else is in the pub!) but I am also proud that I have completed 5 days and I am digging my heels in to push through.  Not even the fact that I had psyched myself up to buy the Alexander McQueen coat in the window of the vintage shop on my street and it was shut due to snow can tempt me to fall off the wagon.  Besides, there's always tomorrow!

If this coat is in my size I am treating myself to it tomorrow morning (The McQueen on the right, not the Chanel!)

So tonight, I'm going to have a nice bath and relax and enjoy the fact that tomorrow I don't have to set my alarm for 5.30! In fact, I am going to set it for 8,30 and then head to the gym before going to get my nails done with a friend. I cannot wait!

The view from the School Terrace at 11.00 am 

After a full eight hours of snow, I donned my hunter wellies and trekked home along the river.  I could really feel my calves as I walked up Richmond Hill for the last stretch home but school to my house is exactly 40 minutes which fitted in nicely with the 40 minute of low intensity exercise as instructed on the plan.

Here's to a weekend of self-discipline and strong resolve!!

Christmas 2012

Christmas and New Year 2012 saw a fantastic end to a fantastic year and I thought I would share with you a few of the things on my list which were very kindly bought for me:


Ash Studded Biker Boots
I am going to be living in my Ash Studded Biker Boots for the next few months until summer. I have posted about them so many times and been lusting after them for 18 months now so I was over the moon to finally receive them...even better they were an 'after Christmas present' and we managed to get them 50% off from Think Bubbles in Cleethorpes which has made them an even better purchase!!

Beauty and Makeup Products

My dressing table is looking full again thanks to my generous parents and in-laws who have spoilt me with an array of products.  I was down to using testers before Christmas and was living in hope I would be restocked at Christmas but did not expect to be this spoilt!!

My favourites are:

L'Oreal Professional Vitamin Color Shampoo and Conditioner/L'Oreal Mythic Oil

Finally I have found a good shampoo and conditioner that not only smells salon fresh but also makes my hair feel and look healthy.  I've swapped onto this as I have just changed hair colour and I am hoping it will help make my colour last the 7 weeks I am going to have to go before I next get back up North to get my colour done again.

The mythic oil is really good for keeping your hair in a good condition, particularly if you dye it a lot like I do mine.








Clarins for all my facial washes/cleansers/moisturisers

I cannot get enough of Clarin's at the moment. I use their day and night creams, their facial washes, scrubs and masks as well as their body exfoliants. I've now got the Bath and Shower Concentrate to try too! Personally, I think it is definitely worth the expenditure on good beauty products to maintain healthy and glowing skin.  What's the point in spending lots of money on clothes if you are not looking after the body you are putting them in?

Sanctuary and Soap and Glory Body Scrubs

I am the easiest person in the world to buy Christmas presents for...if in doubt just get me Soap and Glory or Sanctuary products.  I swear by both of these body scrubs and recommend either for regular use, especially if like me you can't afford to splurge on Clarin's or Laura Mercier all the time.  Personally I prefer the Sanctuary one as it is just like rubbing pure salt all over your body and the result is silky. smooth skin.  However, I also know plenty of people that prefer the Soap and Glory scrub so go with whatever suits you best.








Mac Fluidline Eye liner and Laura Mercier Compact

I've used this eyeliner exclusively for about three years now and would be very reluctant to switch to anything else.  It gives a bold definition to the eyes and can be used both above and below the eyes for dramatic effect.  This is my first ever piece of Laura Mercier makeup and I love it, in fact my new years resolution is to buy and experiment with more of her range.

Alexander McQueen Scarf

Finally I finish with this Alexander McQueen scarf my husband bought me as a surprise gift on Christmas Day. I have wanted one for years and I was so surprised he remembered as I had not mentioned it for quite a while!! I love the colour he chose, it goes with everything!

My favourite shops of 2012

As 2012 draws to an end I thought I would share with you some of my favourite fashion finds of the year...

Independent Boutiques:

Despite now living in London and being able to find a large amount of the brands sold in these independent outlets, I would still rather travel and visit these shops than head to Harrods, it's much more personal and I love a good natter with the people that work there.  I am looking forward to searching all the nooks and crannies of London to discover some more hidden gems I can fall in love with. I think it is important to support independent traders so if you can check out these places below:

Rumpus Resort Beachwear, Wilmslow, Cheshire. http://www.rumpusresort.com/
Even if I am unable to make it back up to the North West before I go to Barcelona in June, I will be ordering all of my swimwear online from this fantastic beachwear shop on the outskirts of Manchester.  Stocking a range of well known swimwear from Vix and Missoni to Melissa Odabash, the staff are friendly and knowledgeable and if you are lucky you may even be treated to a glass of champagne whilst you are trying on their fabulous spoils.

Vix Bikini and Kaftan and Melissa Odabash Hat from Rumpus Resort

The Style Clinic, Allerton Road, Liverpool. http://www.styleclinic.co.uk/
This friendly and on trend boutique in the heart of Liverpool's Mossley Hill is great for unusual and edgy wear.  It stocks a range of smaller brands such as 18 and East and Ella Luna (my two favourites) as well as being a big stockist of Ash footwear (I have some of their wedged trainers and am hoping Santa will deliver some of their studded biker boots - well one can dream).  Follow them on Twitter @style_clinic and you may get some good offers on their stock.

Ash Studded Biker Boots available at both Style Clinic and Think Bubbles

Think Bubbles, Cleethorpes (no website but they are on Facebook).
Situated on Cleethorpes seafront this designer boutique is now stocking a range of labels that all the trendsetters in East London are going mad for due to their buyer being based in Shoreditch.  Marc Cain is still their biggest seller but if you are looking for a younger, more affordable look check out their stock of Wildfox, The Pretty Dress Company and MinkPink.  You can also find a range of this season's favourite platform boots by Jeffrey Campbell as well as Ash Footwear, previously mentioned above. They also stock a range of designer childrenswear (my favourite being their Baby Dior collection which is to die for)!


Sonia Rykiel Trench from Vintage Rose in Richmond and Jeffrey Campbell boots from Think Bubbles, Cleethorpes

Vintage Rose, Richmond Hill, Richmond (no website).
This fabulous designer vintage shop has given me some fantastic bargains from a Sonia Rykiel trench for a mere £65 and an amazing pair of Alexander McQueen heels at a fifth of the cost of their original £600 price tag.  You have to search regularly to grab a bargain and when you see something you like in your size consider it fate and snap it up immediately.  Currently in their window at the moment are a stunning pair of John Galliano heels, Louboutins and a tweed Chanel jacket for just £450.  It really is a label whore on a budget's treasure chest.

International Labels:

Cop Copine. http://www.cop-copine.com/
Chic, timeless, structured, classic, quality cuts are what spring to mind when thinking about this label.  Their clothes are all monochrome and are guaranteed to make you look and feel fabulous.  Their designers are Japanese but the brand is French and the fusion of these influences create a fabulous look.

Maje.
Keeping with my love for all things French, Maje is the home to my favourite purchases of 2012 in the yellow cape dress and jewellery I purchased for a wedding earlier in the year.  Although I stocked up in Lille and Paris there are plenty of stores splattered around London as well as being stocked on www.net-a-porter.com.  I guarantee you won't be disappointed with their collections.

High Street:

Zara and River Island remained my favourite High Street go to places this year.  Zara has a range of high end looks at affordable prices and River Island is the best for summer dresses at ridiculously cheap prices.  Of course when times are really hard and you still need a fashion fix Primark and H&M never disappoint.

A selection of dresses from Zara and River Island with my Maje cape dress at the top

Winter Red

Today I was feeling extra festive as we went for a walk in Suffolk thanks to this Winter Red Coat from H&M! I love it!! It is also the same colour as my new Lusso London Cashmere gloves which I also am loving! Just a shame I've gained some festive pounds and I'm starting to have a belly resembling that of that famous old man who also likes to wear red! Ho ho ho! Back in the gym big time tomorrow!!


I am wearing:

Coat - H&M
Gloves - Lusso London
Trousers - Armani Exchange
Wedged Trainers - Topshop
Sunglasses - Miu Miu

Alexander Du'Bel Launch

On Sunday evening I was invited to attend the launch of a new lifestyle company from the Alexander Du'Bel group at The West End's top cabaret venue, Circus. 

Circus is one of my favourite venues in London; the cocktails are punchy, the food delicious and the entertainment never fails to amaze me.  In fact, the last time I was there, as part of the audience in a cooking programme to be aired on BBC3 in the new year, I left convinced that when the episode is shown it will contain far too many shots of me gazing up, open mouthed at the gymnasts performing on our table.


One of the acts from the launch night party

The free champagne was already flowing when we arrived and, never one to turn down a glass of bubbly, it wasn't long before I had raised a glass and was mingling amongst the trendy West End crowd of footballers, dancers and models that had turned out for the launch of this interesting, members only lifestyle club.

Alexander Du'Bel lifestyle allows members access to exclusive offers on high end luxury brands such as Bang and Olufson as well as its Travel Service offering exclusive deals on luxury, worldwide resorts and bespoke VIP packages to Vegas.  Perhaps what makes this exclusive membership different to other lifestyle companies out there at the moment is the links it has with various charities and a percentage of each membership is donated directly to the charities it supports.

Managing Director Damian Batt took to the stage to welcome his guests and explain a little about the vision he had when setting up the company.  He also welcomed on stage a representative from one of the charities, a hospice based in Oxfordshire, that he is supporting.
 

Managing Director Damian Batt
delivering his speech.

It is nice to see a young footballer with the foresight of thinking about life after football and his vision and drive are likely to be the driving forces behind the company's impending success. 

Damian spoke with passion about the charitable links of his company as well as his desire to provide his members with a high quality, bespoke service befitting of their lifestyles.  He certainly succeeded in creating a professional and high quality launch night whilst the first edition of the ADL magazine offered a promising taste of what is to come as the company grows and develops.  The magazine contains a variety of lifestyle articles from health and fitness tips by a personal trainer to reviews on the latest gadgets hitting the world of technology, not to mention an interview with one of Britain's most current and in demand artists, Paloma Faith.



After the last act of the night but before the over indulance of the free champagne started to make me feel woozy, my husband and I made a discreet exit to avoid being persuaded to join the after party at Whisky Mist, knowing that despite the temptation to carry on the festivities, it was back to the day job on Monday and teaching teenagers with a champagne hangover is not the most enjoyable way to spend a day!

Thank you Alexander Du'Bel and Circus for a fabulous night and I wish you every success with your new venture.

Pollen Street Social Club

I've been a little quiet on my blog of late for a number of reasons. Firstly, I have been working pretty long hours and so have not had time to write about much and secondly, because I have been working such long hours I have not really been doing anything interesting to write about. My husband and I have also decided it is about time we should start thinking about getting on the property ladder and so have been trying to save rather than splurge, easier said than done when you live somewhere with so much choice in terms of places to shop, eat, drink and entertain oneself!

We did however have the chance a couple of weeks ago to meet some friends for dinner at the Pollen Street Social Club just off Regent's Street in Mayfair. For any foodies out there, Pollen Street Social Club is the flagship restaurant of leading chef Jason Atherton, the ex-Gordon Ramsey employee who oversaw the opening of Maze and his restuarant offers an exclusive à la carte dining experience at equally exclusive prices.

Of course, a new dress had to be on the menu in order to enjoy our evening out and, having spent the last few weeks eyeing up the dresses in the window of Cop Copine on Richmond Hill every evening on the way home from work, I thought a new LBD would be perfect for a night out dining in Mayfair.  As I have previously mentioned (I cannot remember whether on here or Twitter), I have been really impressed by the quality of material and cut of the clothes I have seen and their French/Japanese influences are pretty evident when you see the quality and structure of their clothes.  I tried on a few dresses but decided on one with a halter neck detail that went over the body of the dress and would do a good job of carefully disguising any bloating that may occur after enjoying a large meal and a few glasses of champagne! 



Dress: Cop Copine / Necklace and Earrings: Maje / Opaque Cashmere Tights: Marks and Spencers / Rings: From Qatar’s Souk / Bracelet: H&M / Watch: Gucci / Shoes: Christian Louboutin Bianca’s



I teamed the dress with some Maje jewellery, which I am still so glad I purchased in Lille earlier this year and my wedding shoes as I don’t have many an opportunity to wear them at the moment. I absolutely loved the outfit and I think I will wear the same for a press launch I am attending next week, although I may swap the Loubs for my Jeffrey Campbell sparkle boots.





The dinner at The Pollen Street Social Club was delicious.  Unfortunately for my figure I can never resist homemade bread and butter which were served before the starter, for which I had Cornish crab salad, avocado, wood sorrel ice, crab toastie.  It was a taste sensation, the ‘wood sorrel ice’ gave the avocado an unusual texture as it was so cold but it totally worked.  If you’ve ever had a meal where weeks later you are still thinking about the taste of something then you know it is good! For main I went for the roasted red mullet with Spanish prawn rice, cockles and samphire.  I had never tried red mullet before and it is quite a strong flavour but the Spanish prawn rice complimented it nicely.  My husband and his friend shared the 1kg of beef with duck fat chips and his wife decided on the roasted sea bass with celeriac truffle.

1kg of beef with duck fat chips

After the main courses were finished we were invited over to the bar for dessert where we were given a number of tasters to try, from lime cheesecake sorbet to little petit fours straight out of the oven.  I shared the cheese board for dessert whilst the other couple shared the 70% chocolate ganache.  We were then invited for a tour of the kitchen which, whilst spotlessly clean was ridiculously hot and I didn’t want to risk my makeup melting on my face so made a pretty hasty exit.  Not before being shown a truffle the size of a small rock but worth over £600!  It never ceases to amaze me how something which is grated over your food can cost the same as a precious metal, but people are obviously willing to pay for it!!



Red Mullet with Prawn and Cockles

I think, possibly the best thing about moving to London so far has been the fantastic choice of restaurants here that come in all shapes and sizes and for all budgets.  Although The Pollen Street Social Club definitely would be classed as a rare treat for us, next week we are trying out somewhere with a fantastic reputation at a price that won’t break the bank.  I’ll blog about it once we’ve been so watch this space.

 

 

Bespoke Bridal

Please find below a copy of the guest post I wrote for Bridal blog http://itsahardlifebeingloved.blogspot.co.uk/  Bridal Blogs are great ways to get ideas for weddings and Chloe, the writer of this particular blog, is not only getting married herself but has also set up her own company as a wedding planner.

The post below has been copied from her blog. Please check her blog out on the link above, it's fantastic.

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I'm super excited to introduce a truly fabulous post written by one of the most fashionable people I know. So it only seems fitting that this piece is all about a bespoke designer. Everyone, please welcome Musing Fantasist....

It was two years ago this month when, on the 10/10/10 I stepped out of the shower of the quaint boutique hotel in the lake district where we had spent the weekend, and found my then boyfriend now husband sat on the balcony with what looked like a wrapped up shoe box. As it was not a special occasion and my husband does not normally present me with wrapped up gifts on a Sunday morning for no reason, I wondered if this could be the moment I had been waiting over five years for but couldn’t quite work out why the wrapped up shoe box. The confusion subsided when I ripped off the wrapping paper to reveal the famous brown box synonymous with my favourite shoe designer M. Christian Louboutin and I knew that this proposal was going to be so special and so me. Inside the box were the most beautiful pair of ivory, snakeskin, Bianca Louboutins (if you haven’t guessed by now, I am something of a shoe obsessive) and inside the shoes gleamed a stunning one carat, square cut platinum ring.

Since that moment I have spent the past two years (until my wedding day this summer on 04/08/12) submerged in a world of wedding wondrousness and when a friend pointed me in the direction of my ex-classmates blog, I quickly became an addict and now feel extremely honoured to write this guest post. I don’t want to spend this article recounting tales of what was, ultimately, the best day of my life, but instead tell a tale of a very modern relationship, formed and developed through Twitter, a social-networking medium that can have an array of advantages for wedding planning and beyond if you look in the right places.

It was May 2011 and my wedding plans were well underway when I first met designer Kirsty Doyle at a hot yoga session organised by Justine Mills, owner of the boutique Cricket in Liverpool, where my stunning Louboutin shoes had come from. I started to follow her on Twitter and, after her mentioning in the changing rooms one week, that she was about to spend her Saturday doing some fittings for some bespoke clients, I decided to send her a tweet asking if she specifically did mother of the bride outfits. It turns out she did and, although this bespoke bridal aspect of her business was in the early stages of growth, she had started to be approached by a number of bridal party guests for outfits for their loved ones’ big days. I knew this would be the perfect option for my mum, who always likes to do something a bit different, as well as solving her problem of finding something to fit her ultra-petite frame.

Even before I met Kirsty, I was aware of her reputation as an up and coming designer in Liverpool and had spent many a Saturday browsing the shop she used to have in Liverpool 1 showcasing her latest range of designs. I knew that she favoured bright colours, good quality fabrics (specifically silk) and bold, sleek cuts that gave her clothes a distinctly recognisable quality for those who, like me, have an unhealthy interest in fashion. When I mentioned to friends that I was thinking of asking her to make my mum’s 'mother of the bride' outfit, they filled me in on her background which made my decision for me; she was the perfect candidate to make my mum feel special.

Kirsty started out selling customised t-shirts on Liverpool’s Great Homer Street Market before being chosen to compete in Sky One’s first series of Project Catwalk. Not only was Kirsty given the opportunity to work and network with some of fashions most prominent designers and figures, she also went on to win the show and have a feature in UK’s Elle magazine. From there, Kirsty’s career has gone from strength to strength with her clothes being stocked in Liverpool’s flagship boutique Cricket before the opening of her own store in Liverpool One. Kirsty has developed her brand into an ultra-modern enterprise, with the removal of her high street presence in favour of her website and a move into the bespoke market which has blossomed incredibly over the last 12 months into a thriving bridal business. Kirsty still does her normal ready to wear clothing line, Kiki by Kirsty Doyle which can be found on her website Kirsty Doyle but it is really her bespoke service for bridal parties (mother of both the bride and groom), bridesmaids and more recently, brides which are really becoming her flagship designs.

Two months after the initial tweet was sent, and many more Twitter conversations later, my mother made the two and a half hour drive from where she lives in Grimsby to Liverpool to meet with Kirsty at her studio. My mum and I had spent time doing a bit of research into what kind of style she wanted and came to the studio armed with photos and magazine cuttings to show Kirsty. Together, the three of us pieced together an idea of what we wanted and before long the basic outline of a design had come together. At this point my mother still had no idea as to what colour she was going to choose and so Kirsty pulled out a large range of sample colours and offered numerous colour combinations for my mum to choose from. Meeting one complete and both my mother and I were excited to leave Kirsty to produce a mock-up of the dress for my mum to try on at our next session. A few weeks later we were back in Liverpool, this time to try on the design Kirsty had come up with after our brainstorming session, enabling us to have a visual idea of what the outfit was going to look like. The sample design was not in the same colour or material as the final piece but gave us an idea of how the final design would fit together, enabling us to play around with bits that we weren't completely happy with.

This time we added a peplum to the bottom of the dress, another exciting feature to the outfit, suggested by Kirsty and quickly put together whilst mum stood modelling the design. Things so far were looking good!

For the third meeting, Kirsty actually visited my flat for the unveiling and first fitting of the final piece. It looked fantastic, however, my mum had shrunk even more since her original measurements were taken and a few alterations were needed, as well as the three of us deciding that the collar detail on the jacket should be stiffer and the peplum should be more defined. Kirsty went away again and, after a fourth and final visit, mum’s outfit was ready to be taken away.

Nearly twelve months after our original meeting, mum put on her outfit to watch me walk down the aisle, she looked absolutely stunning and received many compliments on the day. Furthermore, having the opportunity for my mum and I to meet regularly and bond over the development of her outfit was great and now the wedding is over we are both somewhat bereft at that fact she no longer has an excuse to visit me regularly (especially as I have since moved to Richmond which is even further away).

The advantages of going bespoke are endless and after enjoying the experience of creating the mother of the bride outfit so much, I was actually a little jealous that I had not gone for a bespoke gown myself. By this point I had already ordered and paid for my gown but I have excitedly followed Kirsty’s expansion into bridal designs over the past 12 months.

If you are looking for a personal and unique experience, where you can collaborate with a professional designer to produce the dress of your dreams, feel like a princess whilst indulging in the numerous appointments and fittings to fit the dress perfectly to your figure, whilst safe in the knowledge that no one else anywhere in the world will be wearing your wedding dress then bespoke really does win hands down. Another advantage with this choice of wedding dress is that you can give the designer your budget and they can (hopefully) try and work to it, giving you a designer experience suitable for your pocket.

If you would like to enquire to Kirsty about her Bespoke Bridal service then either follow her on Twitter or sign up to her website here - (there is a promotion on at the moment where if you sign up to her newsletter you get a £100 voucher towards your bespoke outfit!).

Good luck to all you fabulous brides currently planning your own day of your dreams, I only wish I could go back and do it all again!