January 8, 2012

Resolutions

There is something wonderful about that moment when the clocks tick over to 00.01 on January 1st and a new year begins. With a new calendar comes the prospect for new beginnings, a clean state, the prospect to fulfil grand plans and resolutions.

I’m not one for rigidly-restrictive resolutions, but I do like to take the opportunity of the changing year to pause, reflect on the year that has passed, and look towards how I wish the year ahead to take form. Whereas others hastily scribble these down the moment it hits New Year’s Day, I like to mull over my plans for a full week, and write my goals once one full week of the new year has passed. Continuing my tradition, these are a few of the bigger things I resolve to work on this year (I won’t bore you with my more practical little goals):

To continue to view the world through rose tinted glasses. To take the optimistic view of things, to worry less about that which I cannot control, to appreciate the small pleasures in life, and to actively seek out things which make me smile.

To be kind to my body. After a major health scare last year, I’ve vowed not to take my health for granted just because I’m young. I aim to get more sleep and work on reducing stress in my day job, eat healthily 90% of the time, get more exercise and drop a few pounds.

To actively spread loveliness. To practise random acts of kindness often, to do kind and romantic things for my loved ones, to send more hand-written thank you notes and ‘just because’ presents to make people smile, to dish out genuine smiles and spirit-boosting compliments everyday.

To make time for treasured moments. Enjoy daily ‘me’ time doing something I love, read more books, to be playful and go on picnics and lie in grassy fields watching the clouds float by in blue skies, to travel to several new places I am yet to explore.

Throughout January, I’ll share a few more of my favourite ways to get organised (from your wardrobe to your beauty cabinet) and to ensure 2012 is filled with as many charming pleasures as possible.

I’d love to hear what goals (tiny or momentous) you’re all setting for this year?

Love, Miss B xx

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January 1, 2012

New Year’s Eve

Oh, what a tremendously good year 2011 has been! From darting all over the world (Australia! Moscow! Berlin! New York! Scotland!), the humbling success of this blog, a wonderful summer filled with sunshine and simple pleasures, all kinds of thrilling fashion adventures, to my wonderful friends and loved ones, I feel rich with the joys the past year has brought. I think it’s important to remember and be grateful for the good things life brings, and it makes me smile to look back at all these lovely memories of the past year.

JANUARY

Escaping the Northern Hemisphere winter and seeing in the New Year in my homeland with loved ones, white sandy beaches, rolling vineyards, the sun on my back and as many souvenirs as my suitcase could contain. Afternoon tea and decadent chocolates in warm, sugary havens on gloomy London evenings. Fully embracing the preppy uniform after two years of living in Cambridge. Cosy hibernation indoors with piles of books, good music and pots of tea. Cambridge formals in grand college dining halls straight out of Hogwarts. Wintery weekend escapes to English manor houses.

FEBRUARY

A photo shoot for an exciting magazine feature. Birthday gifts and parties. So many of my fashion dreams coming true at Fashion Week – front rows, backstage, and everywhere in between at all my favourite shows set in the grandest of London locations. Willing the arrival of Spring.

MARCH

Winning my first major blog award as part of Red Magazine’s Red Hot Women ’20 Under 30′ Awards (a huge honour, to say the least!). Packing all my warmest clothes and shiniest belongings to be whisked off to Moscow by Mango for a whirlwind trip that fulfilled so many fantasies. A brief return home to repack my suitcases, and then it was off to Berlin with the Clever Boyfriend for grand architecture, remarkable history, flea market rummaging and cake tourism. Making new Easter traditions.

APRIL

London looking resplendent for the lovely fairytale Royal Wedding. Despite being diagnosed with a rather nasty life-threatening illness (all better now!) which forces me to slow down, the arrival of spring has me wanting to skip through fields, pick wildflowers, eat ice cream and wear nothing but pink. Walks along Southbank and climbing to the top of Primrose Hill for picnics in the sunshine with the most marvellous views of London. My first invite to Chanel HQ and some lovely new additions to my wardrobe.

MAY

Enjoying my enforced relaxation (doctor’s orders) by appreciating life’s simple pleasures: filling my home with fresh flowers from the market every week, bike rides down country lanes, blowing daffodils in the breeze, lying in fields in the sunshine watching fluffy clouds float past, picnics, a box of Laduree macarons and the taste of the first strawberries of the season. Remembering my Mother’s wisdom. A good dose of British pomp and ceremony at Trooping the Colour followed by afternoon tea at a palace. Discovering Cambridge speakeasy cocktail bars. Mulberry merriment. Bows on my toes.

JUNE

Nesting and organising my new home. Trips to the English seaside with dear friends to soak up some sunshine, build sandcastles and collect seashells. Filling my basket with flowers and going for rides on my Pashley. Long, balmy Summer evenings. Punting on the Cam. Sitting on the grass eating mangoes in the sun. Falling a little bit more in love with Cambridge, so lovely in the summertime.

JULY

Enjoying all the loveliness of summer. Playing tourist in London. Avoiding unnecessary purchases by honing my wardrobe and enjoying my beloved Chanel treasures. Sunny Saturdays in Notting Hill – treasure hunting on Portobello Road, buying great armfuls of flowers and long, lazy brunches on Westbourne Grove. Riding vespas and enjoying gorgeous Italian models at a party with Dolce and Gabbana at Net-a-Porter HQ. Outdoor picnics on the banks of the Cam on long summer evenings.

AUGUST

Glorious London weekends – stays in grand hotels, feeding the swans in St James’ Park, waving to the Queen at Buckingham Palace, sitting on striped deckchairs in the sun in Green Park, walks down Piccadilly, window shopping on Bond Street, dinner dates, going to the theatre, and having breakfast at Laduree. Pearls, pastels and the last days of summer in secret Cambridge college gardens. Reading poetry on bridges as students float down the river on punts. Making time to be peaceful and linger in blissful repose.

SEPTEMBER

Picking blackberries from the hedgerows on walks in the country. My Father’s wisdom. Filling days off work with all manner of fun activities. Fashion Week swings around again and the Spring/Summer shows are a thrill to watch – Mulberry goes to the seaside, Christopher Kane goes back to the 90s, Erdem is a vision of Great Gatsby loveliness, Giles is a tour de force in the Royal Courts of Justice, and a sea of champagne awaits after the lovely Burberry show in Kensington Gardens. Buying the glittery shoes of my dreams at Miu Miu.

OCTOBER

Taking off to New York for a glorious two weeks. Picnics in Central Park. Flea Market treasure-hunting, adorable cafes, perfect boutiques & staying with my transatlantic soul sister in Brooklyn. Strolling Soho, walking the High Line and dreaming of living in a brownstone walkup in the West Village. The bright lights of Times Square and Broadway dreams. Golden leaves, prepsters, secret societies and ivy league grandeur on a trip to Yale. Trips to galleries, window-shopping, ladies who lunch and strolling the leafy streets of the Upper East Side. Buying souvenirs and treasures that make me smile. Giving thanks for the things I treasure. Making pumpkin pies to celebrate Halloween and the arrival of autumn. Winning my second major blog award at the Cosmopolitan Blog Awards.

NOVEMBER

Enjoying the joys of autumn with a weekend Staycation in Cambridge. Showing you all what a day in my life looks like. Festive cocktails and dressups with an entire rail of couture gowns at The Outnet. Hopping on a Eurostar and having a long weekend in Paris with a dear friend. Golden light and candy floss pink sunsets over the Seine. Pastries for breakfast, galleries at lunch, and strolling the tiny streets of Montmarte. The Christmas windows at Printemps. Literary cafes, vintage shopping, bookstores and walks along the Left Bank. The Chanel mothership on Rue Cambon. Buying French perfume, boxes of macarons, scented candles, silk blouses, jewels and other lovely Parisian souvenirs.

DECEMBER

Stella McCartney’s Christmas party, complete with the cast of Absolutely Fabulous, a Beatle and a Spice Girl, tables set with gingerbread and sparkly accessories. Hot chocolate and roasting chestnuts. A wintery trip to Scotland. Ice skating beneath Edinburgh Castle and nighttime ferris wheel rides. Ghost walks. The Nutcracker. The most exciting snow day in Cambridge during an unseasonably warm winter. Glittery nails everyday. Carollers at the Palace of Westminster echoing through the hallways as I work. Wintery walks along the Thames. The Christmas lights in London. The smell of gingerbread men and Ralph Lauren holiday candles filling my house. Christmas cheer with loved ones. Dressing up for the theatre. Ringing in the new year with a tea party, cocktails and lots of glitter.

Finally, to every single person who visits here each week, leaves lovely comments and tweets, sends me touching emails, and generally is so supportive of my little passion project that is A Girl, A Style, I simply cannot thank you enough for all your support. You make me smile every single day!

So whoever and wherever you are, I wish you a healthy, happy, sparkly and joyous New Year. Here’s to a wonderful 2012!

Love, Miss B xx

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December 29, 2011

Beauty: The Glittery Manicure (to Brighten Grey Days)

I recently did an easy tutorial for glittery nails over on The Glitter Guide, but as it has been such a constant in my winter beauty regime thus fur, it makes sense that I share one on here too. On grey and wintery days or during the holidays when you want your fingers to look as pretty as the decorations on the tree and the fireworks in the sky, there is nothing quite like the glint of glittery nails peeking out from a coat.

Get experimenting with the adorable glitter polishes that much to our delight are everywhere at the moment (I love those by Essie, OPI and Deborah Lippmann), and just have fun – no one ever said glitter should be serious!

Here’s how to do it yourself:

1. Clean and file nails. This means shape, buff and push back cuticles. (When wearing glitter always keep nails short, neat and rounded so the look stays cute and classy and never verges into trashy territory.) Apply a clear base coat to protect your nails and give the polish a surface to adhere to.

2. Choose your colors. All you need is one of your favorite nail polish colors and a fun glittery polish to go on top. Color combinations that either match (such as pink glitter on baby pink, silver glitter on dove grey) or compliment (rainbow glitter on red or burgundy, or pastel glitter with different sorbet colors are happy combinations) look best.

3. Twinkle and shine. Apply two coats of the solid colour as a base coat (in this case I used the lovely lavender Nails Inc ‘Cambridge’ – named after the city I live/love - though any pastel will do). With your glitter polish you can either do a simple glittery topcoat (one or two coats depending on how dense you want the glitter), a dense glitter (three to four coats for a super razzle-dazzle effect – you can skip the base color if going for this look), dots, stripes, or a combination of anything that takes your fancy. To get the ombre effect I’ve done here (using Essie’s darling pink ‘A Cut Above’), remove the excess from the brush then just paint the glitter on the tips, bringing it down slightly towards the centre of the nail with whatever is left for a gradual fade effect (I did coats this way so the look was more obvious). Don’t worry about being too perfect – it will look like a lovely sprinkling of loose glitter however you paint it on.

4. Maintain. Seal with a top coat to make everything smooth (this will also make your polish last longer). If you get a few tiny chips after a day or two, the beauty of glitter polish is that you can easily patch up the area with a teeny bit of base colour and glitter topcoat without anyone noticing.

5. Remove: Several people have asked me how to remove glitter (it is notoriously stubborn, though as it does tend to last a few days more than regular polish alone, it all evens out in the end in terms of removal time), and I’ve found that filling the cap of your nailpolish remover (or a little glass dish) with remover solution and soaking each nail in there for about 30 seconds to a minute helps it just slide off.

What is your favourite quick beauty fix to help brighten grey days?

Love, Miss B xx

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December 24, 2011

Christmas Joy

It is Christmas Eve here in London, and I could not be filled with more joy. After weeks of working up a frenzy in the political day job, it feels utterly glorious to have at last collapsed into the giant marshmallow-squishy sofa at my English family’s place right beside the big Christmas tree (complete with pine smell, fairy lights and vintage ornaments from generations of the family) as the lights of West London twinkle outside behind me.

Although Christmas as an expat will always evoke bittersweet nostalgic memories of loved ones who are either no longer here (my darling Mama) or on the other side of the world in Australia, there is something so very exciting about a northern hemisphere Christmas. Whereas in Australia Christmas, falling in the midst of the Southern Hemisphere summer, was always celebrated with lunch and cocktails and games in the garden outside, here I can happily indulge all the Christmas traditions that, due to the heat, one simply can’t enjoy with quite the same enthusiasm in Australia.

And so I plan to spend the next few days doing the following in as high a dose as possible (in no particular order): sitting beside the fireplace with the scent of Christmas candles burning, baking gingerbread men and roasting chestnuts, eating chocolate for breakfast (because Christmas is the only time, aside from Easter, when this is permissible behaviour as a grownup), going for long walks along the Thames to avoid a state of food-induced coma, going to watch the Nutcracker and the great British pantomime with the family, wearing all the sparkles in my wardrobe, attempting to work my way through my stack of as yet unread magazines, and cramming in as many Christmas movies (the cheesier and more childlike, the better) as the family and Clever Boyfriend will possibly allow me.

So, to each and every one of you, whether you celebrate Christmas or another equally precious set of traditions, I send you love and joy and good wishes from London. I am so very grateful for all your kindness and support and sweet comments, tweets and emails which make me smile every single day of the year.

Love, Miss B xx

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December 17, 2011

Giveaway: A Little Ralph Lauren Holiday Cheer

The most divine package landed on my desk yesterday morning; the utterly charming and lovely Ralph Lauren (the undisputed Godfather of that polished glamour I love so much) sent me over a couple of his ‘Holiday’ candles to put a great big smile on my face and instantly get me in the festive spirit.

I love beautiful scented candles more than almost any other small luxury for the home, and this one is amongst the best I’ve ever tried. The fragrant cocktail of pine needles, redcurrants, cinnamon and juniper berries is almost indescribably lovely, and it has instantly infused me with festive joy more than any of the mince pies and Rat Pack Christmas tunes I’ve been gorging on all week. And as if by some Christmas miracle, it started snowing outside my window here in Cambridge just after I lit it. I can’t tell you how much it filled me with glee to awake this morning to the sight of a fluffy layer of white icing on the ground and a house that smelt of Christmas. How’s that for a magical holiday candle?

And because I adore you all so much and want someone else to have a little of Ralph Lauren’s holiday cheer (I can’t promise it will bring you snow, but I am sure one smell of this will make you feel instantly happy and festive), I’m going to give one of the these away.

To enter, just leave a comment here or send me an email telling me why you’d like to win. For extra brownie points (though I’m by no means going to be bossy about and insist you do anything), follow A Girl, A Style via your preferred methods (Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram (on iPhone/iPad) or Bloglovin‘), and Ralph Lauren’s Facebook page. Be sure to include your email address so that I can contact you if you win. And so that I can try my very best to get it to the winner in time for Christmas day, last entries by 11am Monday morning GMT. 

Thank you Ralph Lauren for the holiday cheer!

Love, Miss B xx

Update: Thank you to all who entered, and congratulations to Barbara on winning!

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December 13, 2011

Paris: The Chanel Christmas Windows at Printemps

This year, Chanel have taken over the entire storefront of Printemps, that grand dame of the Parisian department stores on Boulevard Haussmann, for Christmas.

And given my adoration for all things Chanel, it was a given that a visit to the grand department store would go straight to the top of my Parisian ‘To Do’ list when I found myself in Paris the week after the unveiling of the windows.

And oh, what a fantastical vision these holiday windows are!

Within each of the 12 windows, Karl Lagerfeld has brought to life twelve miniature Chanel worlds – one for each of his favourite places (one can presume).

Some, such as those dedicated to Paris (where miniature Karl Lagerfelds swing from Parisian landmarks playing photographer extraodinaire) and Moscow (where tiny ballerinas leap and twirl and pirouette to the soundtrack of the Ballet Ruses) just invite passers-by to press their noses against the window to see the puppet show unfold. Others, like the Tokyo (Thunderbirds–esque puppets sailing past the Japanese skyscrapers in futuristic flying cars) and Los Angeles (where Pan Am pilots smooch the primping trolly dollies) will simply make you giggle out loud.

Each of the others were new manifestations of past collections, with some my favourite items brought back from the archives. There were treasures nestled beneath a giant red dragon in the Shanghai window (I could barely pull myself away from the sequinned Chanel takeaway noodle boxes, jade dragon brooches and China doll bags), an ode to glam rock Brittania (where bags were adorned with the Union Jack), Scandanavian deer merrily wearing jewels around their necks, and scenes from a grand Ventian ball (complete with fine china, glittering frog princes and a giant crystal chandelier).

So if I make one request of you all before the year is out, it is this: should you find yourself in Paris before Christmas (a happy thought in itself), then do go to Printemps, if only to press your nose against the magical Chanel windows!

Do you love Christmas windows too? Where are your favourite holiday windows this year?

Love, Miss B xx

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December 6, 2011

Beauty: Winter Beauty Swaps

As the last of the autumn leaves fall from the trees and the skies turn grey for the wintery months, it is only logical that just as our wardrobe changes, so too do our beauty needs. For while some things are appropriate year round (impeccable grooming, drinking more water), most things in our beauty routine can benefit from a little seasonal tweak here and there. So if you haven’t already, these are a few of the best seasonal beauty switches you can make in your routine:

Skincare: Skin has a rather unwelcome tendency to be dull and lifeless in winter. Give it a helping hand by sloughing away dull skin twice a week with a gentle exfoliant, switching to a slightly richer face and eye cream than you would normally use in the summer months and, if you can manage it, adding a radiance-boosting serum for day (I love Caudalie’s Vinoperfect serum) and a vitamin-packed hydrating oil or treatment for night time a couple of times a week – either alone or beneath your face cream. As is usually the case, I personally swear by Aesop for all of the above (I used to have sensitive and irritated skin in winter, but they put a stop to that), but their Damascan Rose Face Treatment and Parlsey Seed Facial Cleanser (with lactic acid which acts as a gentle exfoliant every time you use it) are particularly excellent.

Body: Yes, you may hidden beneath layers of cashmere, but parched skin is never pretty. Make exfoliation and hydration your bathroom mantra. Twice a week in the shower, scrub all over (I use either Aesop Geranium Leaf Body Scrub or Kiehl’s Creme de Corps Body Polish squeezed on a loofah glove) then douse yourself in a rich body cream or a heavenly-scented body oil from neck to toe (I adore Lierac Huile Sensorielle). Make sure you stay hydrated the rest of the time too (I’m personally in favour of a moisturiser with a hint of self tan so that I don’t look ghostly pale, but on others this can just look unnatural, so use whatever you love).
Fragrance note: Unless you are strictly loyal to a single signature fragrance, don’t forget to change your fragrance with the seasons. I’ve just brought out my favourite cold-weather scents, Stella McCartney Parfum (I love the new floral bottles) and Diptyque L’Ombre Dan L’Eau – both deep, warm rosy florals which feel luxurious on a cold morning.

Makeup: Now is the time to switch your candy brights and sweet pastels for something with a little more oomph. I’m normally a dolly pink cheeks and nude lip kind of girl, but at the moment I’m addicted to the way a deep red lipstick (at the moment, Chanel’s Rouge Allure in 71 Fatale is my favourite – a deep burgundy red), a plum metallic shadow (Chanel’s Illusion D’Ombre mousse shadow pot in Ebloui, which makes my eyes look so green) and a warm, glowy complexion look against a dark wintery palette.

For eyes: go for plummy or bronzey metallic shadows blended all across the eyelid, or stay simple with a bold flick of liquid eyeliner and fluttery lashes. Don’t forget the waterproof mascara and eyeliner if there’s a downpour outside!
For lips: swap your candy brights or pale nudes for a deep red (don’t be shy – the effect it has on a drab grey day is addictive!). Go for lipstick over gloss, and make lip balm your best friend (wind-chapped lips are never pretty).
For cheeks: keep your complexion warm and glowy with a touch of luminescent highlighter along the cheekbones and a sweep of coral or plummy blush. If you have dry skin, you may also want to try switching from a powder blush to a cream or gel version.
For nails: Whereas in summer I was addicted to sugary pastels and neon reds, now it has to be either deep plummy shades, metallics, or glittery sparkle (which makes even the greyest day fun and twinkly). Don’t forget to keep polish neat, as chipped polish is harder to hide when you’re wearing dark burgundy.

Which seasonal beauty swaps will you be making?

Love, Miss B xx

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December 3, 2011

Souvenirs de Paris

Heavenly scented treasures from Diptyque and Annick Goutal; the obligatory mini Eiffel Towers (which I will dot around the house beside candles and atop books)

Today is an enforced lazy day (as in; breakfast at 11, a refusal to leave the house all day, and lounging around in silk pyjamas with endless pots of tea), so I’m delighting in finally unpacking my souvenirs from Paris. After a trip, it always seems to take me a full week to unpack – partly out of busyness, but also because I want to delay the gratification of having brought home new treasures from my journey abroad.

Even though I was only in Paris for a long weekend, and I didn’t set aside any time specifically for shopping, I still managed to sneak plenty of wonderful souvenirs into my Lulu Guinness case. Here are a few of my favourite Parisian momentos:

Fleur d’Oranger candle (I will re-use the porcelain holder afterwards), Marie Antoinette tea and a jewel-like box of macarons from Laduree; vintage postcard and a menu from Cafe de Flore (which I may have snuck into my bag in exchange for a large tip)

French perfumes, beauty and gorgeous scented candles: I love the beauty hall at Le Bon Marche or the tiny perfumeries around Le Marais district (I always make a point to stop by Diptyque, Annick Goutal and L’Artisan Parfumeur when I’m here). Don’t forget to visit a French pharmacy for excellent beauty products that are mostly unavailable (or significantly more expensive) elsewhere.

Gourmand delights: A trip by Laduree (for a box of macarons, a coffret of tea and a scented candle), Pierre Herme (heavenly artisanal desserts, wonderfully adventurous macaron flavours, and gorgeous jams), and the department store food halls (I always stock up on chocolate and tins of orange blossom pastilles) is a must.

Vintage treasures: Rummage around the Parisian flea markets (Le Puces is the best) or the little stalls that line the Left Bank of the Seine. This time, I collected turn of the century hand-coloured postcards (I determinedly hunt these down in each of my favourite cities), old books at Shakespeare & Co, and a vintage Chanel military badge and early No. 5 bottle.

French fashions: Most of my favourite French brands (Carven, Sandro, Maje, Isabel Marant, Petite Bateau) are naturally much cheaper  in Paris. But I also love discovering new (to me) French designers that are yet to arrive across the Channel. This time, I learned of Claudie Pierlot – an old French house that is now being led by the sisters who design for Sandro and Maje respectively. I love the French coquette -meets-each chic vibe, and picked up an adorable ivory silk peplum-waisted top which I can’t wait to wear. I also love to buy French silk lingerie (Chantal Thomass, Princesse Tam Tam and Mimi Holliday are fun), a tiny jewel (usually a brooch) from Chanel to add to my collection, and a copy of Vogue Paris at the Eurostar terminal (the funnest way to use up my Euros).

Vintage treasures, Chanel brooch, Claudie Pierlot sillk bow top and beautiful silk lingerie

What do you love to souvenir when you travel? Do you have any favourite Parisian treats?

Love, Miss B xx

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November 30, 2011

iPad Primping: My Top Apps & Stella McCartney Case

Although I got myself an iPad two months ago, I’ve only just started to bond with it (whereas normal people can’t wait to rip their new purchases out of the packaging, I let them sit there for weeks until I have time to figure out how to really make it mine). It took me ages to settle on a cover for it, but now I love my new Stella McCartney Falabella case (which looks downright cool, rather than boring and techy). And I’ve been going a little bit nuts in the Apple store, downloading all manner of fun and games. My favourite thus far is Stella’s World, which unlike so many other designer brand apps (which can be flat and boring) is interactive and substantial.

All of this is making my bedtime blogging and Sunday morning lounging in bed a lot less clunky (for some reason the Clever Boyfriend is never very amused when my laptop slides of my lap and whacks him in the head), which can only be a good thing.I’d love to know what the more techy amongst you are playing with and find fun or helpful. But in the meatime, here’s my guide to the best of what I’ve come across thus far.

Miss B’s Top 10 apps (for iPhone and iPad):

Instagram – I am shamlessly addicted to Instagram (so much so that Glitter Guide listed me as one of their Top 10 People to Follow). It’s sort of like Twitter, but just for photos. I love getting glimpses into other people’s daily lives, and the cool filters make all your photos prettier (it’s what I use to make the photo collages you sometimes see on my posts).
Stella McCartney’s World – This is my favourite fashion brand app. You can watch the runway show, see behind the scenes of campaigns, play interactive fun and games that made me smile out loud, and see intimate family portraits from Linda McCartney’s photography archive (I love the ones of the Beatles in their heyday).
Elle Collections – Unlike most of the other ipad versions of magazines, this one is completely free. You can flick through the Editor’s trends and accessories picks for the season, see and watch the whole runway collections for the top shows in each city, and go behind the scenes at Fashion Week.
Mulberry - Given my love for Mulberry, of course I was going to like this. But the blog, catwalk shows and behind the scenes action are adorable.
Net-a-Porter - This site is my financial undoing, but mostly I use the app to see what’s new and read the weekly magazine and Editor’s tips.
Tweetdeck for iphone and HootSuite for ipad – The only way I use Twitter now, as it enables you to sort the people you follow into lists and categories. Super handy if you follow a zillion people like me and want to keep track of them all.
WordPress – For blogging on the go.
Asos – Shop the latest items and read the snazzy monthly magazine.
TimeOut London – I’d be a bit lost in London without Time Out; it is always filling me in on what’s happening, where to eat, where to go and what to do.
The Times – Mostly so I can read the Sunday Times Style in bed without having to leave the house to buy it when it’s cold outside.

Do you have a gadget or favourite gadget or app I should try?

Love, Miss B xx

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November 23, 2011

Paris: Strolling the Left Bank

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Love, Miss B xx

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November 23, 2011

Beauty: Made-to-Measure Cleansing

A lot of you have asked that I feature tips on essential beauty routines, as well as the more complicated and fun things (of which there will be plenty). And because nothing will work without good skin as your starting point, it only makes sense to start with the most basic of basics: cleansing.

Recently, I was shocked to discover that so many of my girlfriends (whom I’ve always just presumed have the beauty routine down pat) are utterly clueless when it comes to a basic skincare routine; some wash their face with bars of soap or shower gel, another exfoliates with a scratchy loofah glove (please don’t ever do this!). I’ve taken it upon myself to re-educate them (after all, not everyone spent their early 20s loitering at beauty counters, reading every lifestyle magazine and pouncing on strangers with flawless skin to share their tips as I did…), and each one is having a beauty revelation on the improvement proper cleansing makes. Because even if we think we can skip proper cleansing while our skin is naturally young and well-behaved, I promise you will reap the benefits of a good routine later on.

So because cleansing can be a tricky thing (there are so many products to choose from), here id my guide to deciphering the main contenders you want on your bathroom shelf (ideally, choose one from each category):

1. Basic Cleansers: These are your everyday wonders. Use them each morning and after makeup removal (if applicable) in the evening. Normal to oily/combination skin types call go for a gel version, dry and sensitive for milk or creamy versions. Frothy, foam cleansers should generally be avoided because, except in very few situations, they are extremely harsh and will sap your skin of its lovely nutrients. I have used Aesop’s Fabulous Face Cleanser (my absolute favourite which has done wonders for my previously sensitive skin) every day for years and years, but also rotate with Jurlique (who do an excellent range of gentle cleansers for all skintypes), Nuxe and lately Clarins - all of which are all super.

2. Oil and Balm Cleansers: I only introduced these into my routine a year ago but oh, what a difference they make! Contrary to belief, oil cleansers will not make your skin oily. On the contrary; they are incredibly balancing and softening – hydrating dry skin, calming sensitive skin, and sorting out oily skin. Use them either alone once a day or before your regular cleanser to melt away makeup (because oil attracts oil, nothing gets off heavy makeup like an oil or balm cleanser). To use, massage half a teaspoon onto dry skin for a minute before gradually adding water (just wet your hands and massage in) until it transforms into a milk and washes away completely. I adore RMK (fantastic cult Japanese beauty brand – they were way ahead in the oil cleansing stakes) for their delicious balm (smells like rose petals) and oil cleansers, as well as my trusty Aesop for their Parsley Seed Cleansing Oil.

3. Makeup Removers: Anyone who wears makeup needs one of these (basic cleansers won’t do the job well enough, leaving you with clogged pores or sensitised skin). Choose either a makeup wipe or a cotton pad soaked in a removal solution. I swear by Aesop’s Remove (lasts forever, and because it contains only three natural ingredients, it is one of the few products of its kind that won’t irritate sensitive skin or sting delicate eyelids) to get all my eye makeup off. If you wear rather a lot of makeup which you don’t want ending up all over your wash cloths, then makeup wipes are also your friend (I currently have Nivea versions living in my bathroom – no need to spend much money here as it’s going straight in the bin after doing its job, so the only criteria is that it’s as gentle as possible). Just please don’t rely on wipes alone – they only exist to take makeup off, not do any cleansing.

Top Cleansing Tips:

  • Cleanse for longer than you think: whereas most of us wash it off after 10 seconds, try doing it for 1 full minute and notice the improvement in your skin clarity within a week or so.
  • Particularly when using an oil or balm, give your skin a good massage with the product to boost circulation and blood flow (which in turn improves cell turnover and brightness)
  • Go for products which are as gentle as possible and avoid nasty mineral oils (otherwise known as parabens or petroleum), strong chemical fragrances and skin-stripping detergents (ie. anything which foams a lot).

Do you have a cleansing routine or a favourite product? Don’t forget to keep your Beauty Wednesday questions and requests coming!

Love, Miss B xx

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November 21, 2011

31 Rue Cambon

I must confess, I’m struggling to function today after getting home from a weekend in Paris at 2:30 this morning (thanks to a delayed Eurostar). For now, I’m happily swathed in cashmere and consolling  myself with the blissful memories of a weekend spent strolling the cobbled streets of Paris.

Until I can string a proper sentence together, I’ll leave you with this glimpse of my usual pilgramage to The Mothership (ie. Chanel HQ at 31 Rue Cambon). I’ve spoken before of my tradition of marking special moments and happy travels with little treasures as souvenirs of my trip, so I just couldn’t go to Paris without a visit to Chanel.

Wearing: Chanel bag, necklace and sunglasses; vintage crystal necklace; Jersey Pearl necklace; French Connection Breton top; H&M hair bowDo you have a place you have to visit whenever you go to a favourite city?

P.S. I can’t wait to share a new Parisian discovery – a little gem of a shop on the Left Bank that is a veritable treasure trove of vintage Chanel and Hermes archive pieces. More on that soon.

Love, Miss B xx

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November 18, 2011

Cambridge: Hotel du Vin

For our Cambridge Staycation, the Clever Boyfriend and I checked into the charming Hotel du Vin. Although I’d passed this Cambridge institution many a time, thinking how warm and twinkly and iniviting it looked on dark evenings, I’d never actually set foot inside. But what a gem it is! Set in a former Cambridge University building (which in part dates back to the city’s mediaeval origins) right in the centre of town, it feels so perfectly ‘Cambridge’ with it’s dim, cosy rooms and stone-fronted facade.

After a day spent pretending to be tourist in Cambridge, we dressed up and went for a dinner date in the hotel’s bistro (classic, French-influenced dishes and the most enormous servings). We stopped for a cocktail in the wonderfully dim, labyrinth cellar bar which felt rather how you’d imagine an aristocrat’s wine cellar should feel; more varieties of wine than one could fathom, a cigar supply and big squishy leather couches hiding in private nooks that feel like the setting for smoky late night conversations between the city’s intellectuals. But afterwards, struck by a wave of nostalgia, I was powerless against the lure of the dark library (which reminded me of my father’s old study); fully stocked with old leather-bound books and boardgames. There, as we ate our dessert (me: a sublime dark chocolate tart, him: a bowl of autumn fruit sorbets made that day), the Clever Boyfriend and I spent at what felt like hours playing games of Cluedo around the fireplace into the small hours of the evening.

And in that, I found a new favourite Cambridge haunt, for I can think of few better ways to spend a dark Cambridge evening that lingering in cellar bars and playing games in a library.

Have you discovered any new gems in your city lately? I’d love to hear about them if so!

Love, Miss B xx

Hotel du Vin, 15-19 Trumpington Street  Cambridge. Briony was a happy guest of the hotel.

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November 15, 2011

The Cambridge Staycation

A couple of weekends ago, the Clever Boyfriend and I were both tired, run-down and in much need of a some quality relaxation. But given I had just returned from two weeks in New York (which immediately followed Fashion Week madness) and he is a mere month from finishing a PhD, a far-flung trip made no sense. And so, we indulged in perhaps the most decadent of all holidays: The Staycation.

The Staycation’s luxury derives from the fact that it is perhaps so unnecessary  (after all, no one needs to stay in a hotel in their own city), but that is also precisely it’s charm. I’m not going to deny the fact that it was rather lovely to take a £5 cab ride to get to our destination (rather than the usual long-haul flight), but more than that, it is so wonderful to get a whole new outlook on your own city and see your home through the eyes of a tourist.

As we have now been living in Cambridge for nearly three years (my, how time has flown!), I was starting to get too used to the curiosities and sights I used to gape at in open-mouthed amazement (this really is one of the most wonderful places in the world, after all). And so on Saturday morning, we checked in to the hotel, went for brunch, then crammed in all our favourite Cambridge things. We went punting on the river (for the best views in all the city), sat on the banks of the Cam and happily people-watched and preppy students floated up the river, gazed at old Italian masterpieces in the Fitzwilliam Museum (an English treasure), kissed under falling autumn leaves, walked along the backs and wove through ancient colleges (remembered just how beautiful they are), rummaged in tiny second-hand bookstores up cobbled alleyways and had afternoon tea in a place we’d always been meaning to try. In the evening, we dressed up for dinner and went out for a proper date that lasted into the small hours.

The next day, we went for a long walk through the wild meadows beside the river to the tiny village of Granchester for tea in an apple orchard, a place so idyllic that Lord Byron composed poems about it, and Virginia Woolf would while away afternoons there during her Cambridge years. As we made our way back to the hotel, I caught the sounds of the Kings College choir floating on the Autumn breeze from the magnificent chapel building (King Henry VIII’s monument of love to Anne Boleyn). As I looked up at that wondrous sight, it was easy to remember just how much I love living in this place filled with so much special history and beauty.

Staycation Tips:

  • Treat it as you would a holiday in any other location. If you normally cram in as much sight-seeing as you can, then do this. If you normally lie around a spa and spend 5 hours reading in a bathrobe, do this instead.
  • When out ‘exploring’ your city, do only fun, wonderful and luxurious things a visitor to your home might do. Do not get distracted by errands (ie. don’t pop to the chemist to pick up toothpaste ‘because you’re passing’), and see only those people you would want to take away on holiday with you.
  • Pack your favourite things; clothes that make you feel fabulous, your most luxurious toiletries, a gorgeous scented candle, a book you’ve been dying to read, gorgeous lingerie, etc.
  • Stay in the best accommodation (whether it be a charming B&B in the countryside, a palatial manner or a luxurious city hotel) you can afford. If you’re staying in a mouldy room with grey carpets, it won’t feel like a holiday and you might as well have stayed at home. This is about luxury.

Do you ever indulge in ‘staycations’? I’d love to know how you would spend the perfect weekend in your city.

Love, Miss B xx

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