December in Pictures

Indulging in all my favourite wintery pursuits: nights at the ballet, ice skating and getting delightfully festive. Donning sparkles for a trip to The Nutcracker. Listening to the Rat Pack Christmas album on repeat. Westminster looking majestic after dark. Girl dates at Laduree. Playing in the Cambridge snow. Trips to my favourite Cambridge bookshop with this darling Lulu Guinness book clutch. Peeking in twinkly Christmas windows. London all dressed up for the holidays. Trips to Liberty for Christmas decorations, flowers and small pleasures. Hot chocolate and ice skating (and falling!) at the outdoor rink. Christmas movie marathons and mulled wine.

Window shopping in the beautifully glittering Burlington Arcade on Piccadilly. Suffering from a glitter nail polish addiction. Burning Diptyque’s Christmas spruce candle each night. Buying cheery bright flowers for my home. Valentino studs and sugary pastel lace loveliness on a trip to Bicester Village. My favourite festive party shoes (golden-heeled Chanel mary janes). Pink blooms and vintage Chanel parfum bottles on my windowsill. Sparkly jewels and snuggly sweaters.

Cambridge looking hauntingly beautiful as the church bells echo over the moonlight cobbled streets. Getting goosebumps sitting beside the choir at Christmas Eve Carols from Kings College. Christmas tree shopping and decking the halls (well, at least my tiny flat) with baubles and garlands. Chiswick brunch dates: earl grey tea icecream at Jamie Oliver’s Union Jacks and afternoon tea beside the fire at High Road House. Father Christmas gingerbread men from The Biscuiteers. Spending Christmas with my family in Chiswick. My Uncle’s magnificent feasts. Walks along the Thames to see the the mansions all dressed up for the season. Board game marathons. Presents. Family trips to the theatre. New Year’s Eve fireworks over the Thames. Celebrations.

I hope you all had a wonderful an festive December!

Love, Miss B xx

Glittering Festivities

Here in England, I’ve been in fully-fledged festive mode for the past week. Despite long hours in the office each day, I’ve been cramming in nightly playings of all my favourite festive tunes (Frank, Bing and Dean), having cosy Christmas movie marathons (It’s a Wonderful Life, Home Alone, Love Actually, A Muppet Christmas Carol…), ice skating (badly) at the outdoor rink, wearing glitter and sparkles with everything, and generally making the most of this wonderful time of the year.

Last weekend, I met up with some of my favourite blog friends for an all-day festive girl date. We began with shopping and the Christmas windows at Liberty (my favourite London department store), black cab rides in the rain, walks through the West End (amidst, inexplicably, thousands of chaps dressed as Santa), afternoon cocktails overlooking Trafalgar Square, dinner at the National Gallery and my very favourite Christmas tradition, the English National Ballet’s performance of The Nutcracker. As well as those festive rituals I already treasure each year, I love the English Christmas traditions I’m now making my own; the novelty Christmas jumper (which is simultaneously fun and hideously bad taste) – this bedazzled version is my 2012 version, mulled wine, and hearing the glorious choir sing carols from Kings College in Cambridge.

Now, I’m tucked inside my family’s place in London for a few nights of cosy laziness, too much of my Uncle’s good food, walks along the Thames and board game marathons until midnight.

And with that, I wish you all a very happy festive season (whatever you celebrate).

Wearing: Topshop crystal-embellished jumper, Uniqlo oxford shirt, Witchery skirt (old), Chanel shoes, 2.55 bag and crystal ring, Mimco necklace and clear bangle, Michael Kors Paris watch, Lulu Frost for J. Crew bracelet, bow hair clip from Tokyo, Chanel ‘Malice’ nail polish, Mac ‘Ruby Woo’ lipstick, the smile of an excited child at Christmas.

Love, Miss B xx

December Loves

1. Wearing: I’m currently feeling festive in daily combinations of sparkles, lace and snuggly knits. I’ve just added this Alice by Temperley lace dress (which after months of wanting, I finally nabbed on sale at MyWardrobe.com) to my wardrobe and have been wearing it with opaque tights and heels and tuxedo jackets until the return of summer means it is warm enough to wear it on it’s own.

2. Buying: I can’t get enough of Lulu Frost’s spectacular jewels at the moment, and have just added this necklace (in the white version) from her latest collection for J. Crew to my jewellery drawer.

3. On my wishlist: I simply adore my Charlotte Olympia Kitty heels, so much so that I’m contemplating a pair of the flats too. I can’t justify a second pair in black, but this burgundy velvet pair is too perfect for words and would add a dash of fun to everyday outfits.

4. Small pleasures: Things are hectic this week to say the least, so I’m so looking forward to a week of lie-ins and decadent laziness between Christmas and New Year. Whenever I put on a silk sleep mask (this version is so Holly Golightly-cute!), it means I’m serious about a looong sleep and not to be disturbed!

5. Sparkling: These tiny golden star earrings are festive, whimsical and fun, but cost less than a Christmas pudding. Yes please!

6. For my home: In lieu of a real Christmas tree, I’m burning Diptyque’s limited edition holiday spruce candle - which smells exactly like the real thing – each evening. It’s festivity in a (beautiful) jar!

7. Beauty note: Come December, only dark red or glittery nails will do (or, better yet, a combination of both of these). I’ve been wearing Deborah Lippmann‘s burgundy ‘Good Girl Gone Bad’ glitter polish constantly.

8. Play: Indulging in my favourite festive tradition and watching the English National Ballet’s performance of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker at the London Coliseum. Quite simply the loveliest way to spend a December evening!

9. Listening to: My Rat Pack Christmas album is on nightly rotation (apologies to all my neighbours); Frank, Dean and Sammy Davis are getting me in the festive mood…

10. Watching: This weekend we’re getting together with some friends for an all-day Christmas movie marathon (with a lunchtime trip to the outdoor ice rink thrown in for good measure). It’s all about The Holiday, A Muppet Christmas Carol, It’s a Wonderful Life, Scrooged, Elf, Love Actually and Miracle on 34th Street.

I’d love to hear what you’re all enjoying this month! Happy December lovelies.

Love, Miss B xx