Collection launch!
My collection with Astrid & Miyu has launched!
THE WAIT IS OVER!
MY COLLECTION IS NOW LIVE!
So today is the launch of my jewellery collaboration with Astrid and Miyu! I've been so excited to announce this and overwhelmed by the support already from everyone. I had a launch event the other day and couldn't believe how many people turned up and loved the new collection.
I just wanted to say a message thank you to you guys and Astrid and Miyu for believing in me. Without you guys I wouldn't be here today doing what I love.
So the collection is called Charm Addiction - we based it on lucky charms and it revolves around the horse shoe, evil eye and the wishbone. We wanted to give it a modern twist and work on something that shows my style and personality. I really wanted to make sure we had a choker in the collection which is something different for Astrid & Miyu as they have never done one before. With the ear cuffs - I didn't want to miss out any ear jewellery but since I don't personally wear earrings I didn't feel comfortable putting out a product that I wouldn't wear. So the ear cuffs were the perfect solution! They are so comfortable and stay on the ear all day. I've had ones before where I could only wear them for 1-2 hours before my ears went red! I've been wearing the cuffs everyday and love them!
I really hope you guys love the collection! If you do get your hands on any pieces then please tweet me or tag me in any photos as I would love to see how you guys style them! Thank you again for your support guys! I love you all!
xoxo
Seychelles with Qatar airways
In December, I was invited to visit Seychelles by Qatar airways and the Seychelles tourism board as part of a new route introduced by Qatar airways.
Exploring Seychelles with Qatar airways
IMAGES BY ME
In December, I was invited to visit Seychelles by Qatar airways and the Seychelles tourism board as part of a new route introduced by Qatar airways. I jumped at the chance of course! Who wouldn't want to visit paradise? It was going to be a long flight to Seychelles but I was completely oblivious when I got onto the plane and slept away the nerves and time in business class. Thanks to the lovely guys at Qatar, I got to fly business class on route which stops over in Doha airport. I've only flown business class a few times and feel very blessed when I do. I sleep like a baby, eat till my heart is content and make new friends along the way. Unlike other airlines, Qatar airways really tailor to your every need. From dining whenever you want, pj's on board for the flight, a huge selection of movies and entertainment and even a lounge! By far my favourite airline to fly business class on - especially with the friendly and helpful staff on board.
We finally arrived in Seychelles 14 hours later and was greeted with such a beautiful celebration with music, dancers and local school kids welcoming us. Literally felt like royalty! I must point out though, this was a one off entrance as it was Qatar airways first flight back to the Seychelles in a few years! We also went to the Qatar airways party in the evening for the official launch of the new route!
Our first hotel we checked into was the H resort which offered this beautiful view from my room below. It was such a beautiful home away from home. I fell in love with the friendly staff, location, the food they had to offer and also the vibe of the hotel. With only 100 rooms on the resort it makes it such an intimate place to spend some quality time with a loved one. Next time though, I would definitely love to stay in the beach pool vila!
We headed off to explore the local market in the town, full of fresh fruit, fish, spices and clothes.
In the evening we were treated to dinner on the property at Seyshima. A Japanese infused restaurant with a bit of a twist. The open kitchen was such a breath of fresh air and watching the chefs (who were super entertaining) cook your dinner was another highlight of the trip. I ended up eating so much again that evening - no regrets.
We even visited the La Digue which had breath taking beaches. It was definitely one of my favourite places to visit and I could honestly stay there for days. Hidden in the palm trees and rocks was this beach. I've never seen the sea that blue before and I was in awe the whole time. It really was a little secret patch of paradise!There was even a coconut hut down the path which was perfect for a refreshing drink.
We also got to hung out and feed giant tortoises on the Island! I've never seen them this big before and they were such gentle giants.
Another activity I ended up loving was a helicopter ride of the the Seychelles Island. Believe me when I say I was speechless at what mother nature had created. It was also my first time in a helicopter and it was such an incredible experience. I would recommend doing this when you visit Seychelles! You get to see everything and even maybe some dolphins!
It's safe to say Seychelles was magical. Even though I didn't spend a lot of time there it gives me an excuse to go back and visit. Hopefully with Oli next time - he would love the food! I met the most amazing and down to earth people and it was really one of the best trips to date. Here to more travelling this year, to more friendships and exploring what the world has to offer. Again, thank you so much to Qatar Airways and the Seychelles tourism board for welcoming us with a smile - I'm very grateful to of been able to experience the island. I can't wait to be back!
Disclaimer - This trip was part of a press trip and I was kindly invited along with Qatar Airways. All thoughts are my own.
My own jewellery collection
A fitting collaboration
Launching a collaboration with Astrid & Miyu
Images by me
Images taken on Panasonic Lumix LX100
Wearing Silver block hand chain
So for the past few months, I've had keep a pretty big secret from you guys and I can finally tell you a bit about it more today! I am collaborating with my favourite jewellery brand Astrid & Miyu
to design a collection of my own! I've never done anything like this before so it was a shock and I'm still pinching myself each day. I've been wearing Astrid & Miyu since the brand started and have been obsessed with their designs, philosophy and thankful for their support everyday.
I met up with Astrid & Miyu founder Connie and the team to start discussing our collaboration and started to create a mood board. Pinterest definitely came in handy! I was really drawn into minimal and laid back vibes - so LA was a great focus point with how I wanted to bring to life my vision and designs. I love how LA girls have this effortless 'it-girl' vibe and love how they wear their jewellery. I was really inspired by girls like Erin Wasson, Bella Hadid, Kendal Jenner and my friends on the west coast.
I was also inspired by old Hollywood, eyes and art deco pieces. We came up with some imagery that would help us progress onto the actual design stage and I worked closely with Dian - their designer to create some amazing pieces which you can mix and match together or wear them on its own! We mixed in my LA inspiration with Astrid & Miyu's Nordic and Japanese aesthetics as well. I seriously can't wait for you guys to see the pieces and for the launch! Keep an eye out for the launch date soon, I will definitely be updating you guys through out the weeks as I can talk about it now!
Casual in trench
Took my new Nike Lunarcharge out to Kanazawa with me and decided to give them a test as we spent the whole day on foot exploring the city.
OOTD
IMAGES BY JOEL MCLOUGHLIN
Zara pleated culottes
Danielle Wellington watch
Off White tee
MDG necklace
Took my new Nike Lunarcharge out to Kanazawa with me and decided to give them a test as we spent the whole day on foot exploring the city. Of course no shock they were as comfy as ever. Ever since I wore them on the shoot with Nike I was hooked! They moulded to my feet perfectly and having a cushioned sole was a dream for my little feet. You can get yours here
Photos taken on Panasonic Lumix LX100 by Joel
Disclaimer - This post was not sponsored. Just love the shoes!
NIKE LUNARCHARGE
So here is the sneak peak of the Nike Lunarcharge!
Images taken by Nike
So here is the sneak peak of the Nike Lunarcharge! Inspired by the world's epicenters, the Lunarcharge aesthetic strikes a balance between versatility and originality.
I was asked to style the trainers in 2 different outfits that I would wear on my day around London during meetings and shoots. With coming to London a lot and heading to meetings mostly on foot - I love how the Lunarcharge delivered all day comfort for my on the go life style. Especially in a city that is always fast pace - you need footwear that is going to give you maximum comfort all day long. Another feature I love on these Lunarcharge sneakers are the adaptable, sock-like upper that wraps your foot in softness which gives your foot the support you need. For outfit 1, I went for a tailored coat and some vintage levi's. A perfect smart casual combo that is fit for any meeting. The second outfit was perfect for a shoot day. Normally travelling to a shoot early in the morning I opt for something really simple and moveable. I leave the house with minimal make up, leave my hair undone and normally pop on an all black outfit. The khaki pair really made it pop and added some depth to the outfit! You can check out more colour ways here.
I've also done a mini look book showing you guys how else I would style these sneakers. You can view it HERE
This post was in collaboration with Nike
Gucci dupes
The best market find!
Styling the best market find...
IMAGES BY GALLUCKS
Gucci dupes from market SIMILAR HERE
Vintage levis SIMILAR
Celine bag
Something super laid back but so well put together about wearing all denim. I've mixed in some textures of leather and faux fur into this outfit too and it just all complimented each other so well. I'm so obsessed with my market find from Thailand! These Gucci dupes were only £18 and were the last pair left in my size! I've been wanting the real pair for the while now but don't like the though of wearing real fur - also I've been saving for my house so haven't bought a high end piece for my wardrobe in a long while. I'm also obsessed with this came duo top that I found on ASOS!
Photos taken on Panasonic Lumix LX100 by Gallucks
The autumn statement coat
Fell in love with this statement coat from Suncoo so I wore it pretty much everywhere last week!
The autumn coat
IMAGES BY JESSICA HOGAN
Fell in love with this statement coat from Suncoo so I wore it pretty much everywhere last week! I got so many compliments when I wore it and I'm so excited to style it in many more ways. Kept it super simple in all black as well of course!
Connecting with POP by Stella McCartney
With Christmas coming up, it's time to reflect on the important things in life, family, friends.
Get your POP by Stella McCartney here
With Christmas coming up, it's time to reflect on the important things in life, family, friends. I'm so glad to be surrounded by family close and far and friends from here and across the pond. Unfortunately, this year will be a little different as my best friend is currently traveling around the world and I won't be seeing her until next year! I'm so happy and excited to see her grow though - into such an adventurous woman and taking everything by storm. Not having her here 5 minutes away from me is actually pretty difficult as we've been friends for 14 years. So to keep her 'near' me at times I wear the fragrance POP by Stella McCartney - it really reminds me of her! I remember growing up and getting ready to go out and we would share the same scent. Over the summer we both grew to love this new scent and bonded over it. Brings back such fun memories that we both made over the summer that I've even sent her the travel size bottle too so she can take it around the world!
POP by Stella McCartney is such a fun, floral and adventurous scent. Every girl needs it in her perfume collection. I love how their ethos is all about women empowerment and being independent. Spraying some POP by Stella McCartney into your life to kick start the journey of finding yourself and coming into your own. Especially with Christmas coming up, why not add it to your wish list?! Share this buy now link with your loved ones to let them know what you want for Christmas!
Do you guys have a scent that triggers a wonderful or adventurous memory? I'd love to hear them below!
This post was in collaboration with Stella McCartney and Shopstyle
Love Lace
Strolling around Athens in this lacey combo made me so happy.
This delicate lace top is perfect for date night
IMAGES BY OLIVER TAYLOR
NEXT layered vest top
Miss Pap skinnies
New Look heels
Celine bag
Strolling around Athens in this lacey combo made me so happy. Once I put this on I couldn't of been in a better mood. Don't you just love it when a piece of clothing gives you that major confident boost? Its been a while since that has happened and it just made me over the moon.
Taken on Panasonic Lumix LX100 by Oliver Taylor
“ I just paired it with my go to ripped skinnies and heels out for dinner. Keeping it minimal and kinda smart casual! ”
Athens city guide!
I got to finally visit the beautiful city of Athens and as soon as I got back, I couldn't wait to put together a guide for you all! Athens has definitely become one of my favourite cities to visit - Oli & I can't wait to go back! We decided not to use any maps but instead just wondered around and explore the city. I quickly made sense of where we were and we stumbled across some amazing restaurants and shops! Athens definitely live up to my expectations but surprised me at how 'young' the vibe of the city really is! There were so many young people around and so much nightlife to satisfy your needs! With having spent only 3 days there - I've put together the main hotspots we went to/did!
How to get there
I suggest looking on Aegean Airline's website to search for flights. We traveled with them and was surprised at how roomy the seats were and that we were served a meal! (It was only a 4 hour flight!) The site is really straight forward and you can see which month you can grab a bargain flight. October - November is the perfect time to visit as the weather is a tad cooler (still hot for us brits) and the city is in off peak season which is great for grabbing some awesome hotel & flight deals! They also fly directly to Athens from London 3 times a day! You can search for flights here.
Where to stay
For the first 2 days of the trip we stayed at the newly opened Electra Metropolis Athens. This hotel is in such a perfect location - being a street down from Ermou street (famous for its shopping) and about a 15 minute walk up to Acropolis. It's also surrounded by great restaurants and cafes but also serves great room service too! Oh, we can't forget the view! We ended up staying in the Acropolis Suite & it really was one of the best views I could possible asked for. There was enough space in the room and a large marble bathroom which was a dream! You can see it in my vlog here.
For the last 2 nights, we stayed at the NEW HOTEL. It's part of the DESIGN HOTEL group (they create beautiful architecture around the world!) so you know you're in for a treat! We stayed in the standard room which had plenty of space & a private balcony. The bed was super comfy and not bad for location too! It's about 5 minute walk from Electra Metropolis Athens & is about a 5 minute walk into Plaka. My favourite part of town! Full of souvenir shops, cafes, art stores and restaurants!
Image courtesy of Yes Hotels
What to do
I suggest you leave your map at the room & explore the city only on foot! It's the best way to meet the locals, get to know the city and get lost in it's beautiful culture. Head into Plaka, this is my favourite part of town! It literally makes you feel like you're walking around a greek island! Some restaurants are hidden but those are the best ones. You can find some amazing vintage bargains too along with your classic souvenir pieces. My favourite is that you have so many little stores selling olive oil, greek honey, olives and of course baklavas to take home! Every corner is such a photo perfect moment so don't forget to charge your camera and snap away!
Hike up to Acropolis
We thought it would be a trek but it only took us 15 minutes to hike up there. Along the way were small souvenir shops which we stopped and wondered around. We also grabbed some ice cream as a little treat to ourselves & it was the freshest ice cream I've ever eaten. Be sure to grab the pistachio or coconut one! Once at Acropolis, grab your ticket and head up. The best time to visit is either early morning or after lunch time! We unfortunately went around 10.30am and had to que about 30 minutes to get tickets. You can either opt for the €20 ticket which just lets you into Acropolis and the theatre or the €30 ticket which lets you into all the monuments. Take in the view every step of the way and admire the ruins!
GO SHOPPING
You can pretty much spend hours on Ermou street looking through the shops, grabbing a coffee at a cafe and even a huge pretzel! They have such a great selection of stores and it really is one of the best places to shop! I picked up some bits from H&M (they had such great stock of everything) and Bershka but there are also Pull & Bear, Zara & H&M and Sephora too!
Take the Bohemian tales of the city tour with Urban Adventures
Far from the usual boring historical tours - Urban Adventures focuses on the modern twists the city has to offer. This tour was more focused on street art which was so interesting & you get to walk around and know the city. Highly recommend you do this on the 1st evening if you have time. Especially if you have never been to Athens before. We were taken to all the art hotspots and bars only known to locals. Definitely make sure your camera is all charged up for all the photo ops too!
Where to eat
MOMA CAFE, Monastiraki - Be sure to try out their pizzas! We went for the Greek pizza and Moma pizza. It was really filling and all ingredients were really fresh. We chowed down with some homemade lemonade as well! Their desserts sounded good too but we were stuffed so didn't get a chance to try any.
New Art lounge, New hotel
We went for dinner on our first night there. Such a beautiful space on the roof top with great views of Athens. You can even see Acropolis as well. The food was delicious and quality was superb. I went for the seafood linguini and Oli went for the steak. Also try out their signature cocktails over looking the breath taking view!
OTTO Restaurant
This was our favourite restaurant we went to. Everything from the decor to service and food was incredible. The menu was really fun and interesting, combining a lot of ingredients that sounds like they wouldn't go together to the presentation. We had a great tasting menu with a few cocktails and it was genuinely the best way to end the trip. I'm hoping we get to go back and we are planning on bringing a load of friends too! I recommend the casserole and the beef marinated in coffee! But anything on the menu is to die for!
Diogenes, Plaka
We stumbled upon this place on our first night of walking around Plaka. The atmosphere was super chilled but lively. With the place being such a big restaurant it filled up pretty quick with lots of couples, families and friends. The menu was easy to read and I went for the shrimp linguini (love a good pasta dish!). I think this was the best linguini I've had on the trip. The size of the shrimps on my plate were huge and there was a big enough portion to make me not want dessert!
Six Dogs
A go to place for the locals. This quirky little hidden gem is picture perfect and different from any other bars I've been to in Athens. Having the setting out doors and through an underground entrance is pretty interesting! You have the try the frozen cappuccino! They also serve food as well! Definitely a must stop whenever you are in Athens!
So I hope you guys enjoyed my guide to Athens! I can't wait to go back & hopefully be able to visit the islands too! Any more questions just leave them below! Thank you to Discover Greece for making this trip possible!