January Loves

Buying: I still have a thing for floral pants, and these perfect Rag & Bone pants – which will take me through to Spring, Summer and beyond – are set to be my next investment piece.

Beauty note: In England at least, January is notoriously the greyest month; nothing very exciting happens, the temperatures hover around zero, and everyone is too busy attempting to stick to their resolutions to have much fun. I’ve been making a point of countering the dull skies as best as I can, if only in the beauty stakes. A healthy dap of illuminator on the cheekbones (I would be lost without Benefit High Beam) and a pop of pink lipstick and I’m instantly more radiant (even if the skies are not).

For the home: I love a month-long New Year organising session! I’ve been sorting out my wardrobe, de-cluttering my space & making a concerted effort to be more organised. My endless ‘to do’ lists are a lot prettier with this Rifle Paper notepad.

Sparkling: I just adore whimsical golden charms, and this Kate Spade bracelet is too darling for words!

Wearing: Leopard print pumps seem to possess that elusive magic wardrobe power: the ability to work with almost any outfit. Mine (seen here) are from Kurt Geiger, but as they’re proving to be such a wardrobe staple I’m thinking of upgrading to one of these perfect versions from J. Crew or Christian Louboutin (swoon!).

On my wishlist: It’s my birthday in a few weeks, so I’m thinking of buying myself this classic + chic blush pink quilted Miu Miu clutch as a present to myself (one should always buy themselves a birthday present, in my book!)

Small pleasures: I like my underwear to be decadently beautiful, and I’ve been partaking in a big re-stocking of my lingerie drawer; out with anything that is tired, uncomfortable or unflattering and in with a big pile of beautiful new Elle McPherson, Stella McCartney and Agent Provocateur sale finds. I love these sweet Stella McCartney days of the week knickers from here or here

Watching: Grace Kelly and Cary Grant in How to Catch a Thief and dreaming of diamonds and the French Riviera circa 1955 (oh, if only life could always look this chic!)

Listening to: Let’s face it: getting out of bed when it’s still dark and cold outside can feel like one hefty challenge each day (or is that just me?). But daily playlists of Motown whilst I’m getting ready help me feel a lot perkier each morning!

Play: In preparation for my second trip to Morocco this weekend, I’ve been swotting up on my Wallpaper Guide to Marrakech. I am absurdly excited for a few days of sunshine, camel rides, wonderful food, the exotic smells and colours and the hubbub of the souks!

What are you most enjoying this month?

Love, Miss B xx

July Loves

A few of the things I adore this month:

1. Wearing: I had this Carven pinafore dress (just like a toddler’s pinafore for grown-ups) on my wishlist for months, and picked it up on sale at Net-a-Porter. It’s already a firm favourite; being worn with silk blouses and tshirts and pearls and bow heels.

2. Sparkling: This J. Crew crystal necklace which seems to go with everything and makes each outfit more sparkly, and these fun lolly-pink gem earrings (a bargain at ASOS) to add a touch or 50s glamour to an otherwise plain outfit.

3. Watching: The London Olympic Games kick of this week, and I’ll be at the opening ceremony (cheering on one of my best friends in the world, who is a volunteer performer).

4. Buying: These too-silly-to-pass-up Olympics souvenir knickers from Stella McCartney are far better than any other Olympic paraphernalia I’ve come across.

5. Small luxuries: Care packages from home that contain confetti, hand-written letters and all my Australian favourites (Australian Vogue, Frankie, Haighs chocolates, dried peaches and Cadbury black forest bars). Thank you Wee Birdy for sending me some Australian love!

6. Playing: Treasure-hunting at Portobello Road market, pottering around Notting Hill in the sunshine and brunching with dear friends.

7. Beauty note: Nars Copacabana illuminator stick to make me glow as though I’ve just come back from somewhere far more exotic.

8. On my wishlist: This blush pink ‘Emma’ clutch from Kate Spade quite simply needs to come and live with me. A Jane Austen novel that is actually a bag? I can’t resist!

9. Listening to: The sunshine has (at long last!) come out to play in England. So I’m going on cycle rides all over Cambridge with the sounds of my favourite French pop in my ears (Brigitte Bardot, Nouvelle Vague, Vanessa Paradis, Francoise Hardy). Ooh la la!

10. For my home: Throwing open the windows and filling my house with warm breezes, cut flowers and the smell of fresh basil growing on my windowsill.

I’d love to hear what’s making you smile this month!

Love, Miss B xx

Beauty: How to Build a Fragrance Wardrobe

I’m often asked the question: ‘how to I go about building a collection of fragrances?’ In short, there is no simple answer because fragrance is so deeply personal (and what is right for me will certainly not be right for everyone).

I have a great admiration for those women who are able to pull off the single signature fragrance and make it completely their own, but I’m somewhat more schizophrenic in my olfactory tastes. If, like me, you like the idea of having a wardrobe of fragrances, then this is how I go about it:

1. Embark on a fragrance treasure hunt. Whenever you pass by a department store beauty hall, beauty boutique, duty free counter or while on your travels, have a sniff of the bottles which you like the look of (this isn’t as shallow as it sounds; fragrance developers invest a huge amount in ensuring the bottle symbolises the mood of the scent inside). Try a few on a card and spray your favourite on your wrist (it will smell different as it reacts with your own ph levels).Light/summery scents, L-R: Annick Goutal Petite Cherie, Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau so Fresh, Chanel Les Exclusifs Gardenia, Margiela Untitled L’Eau, Annick Goutal Petite Cherie, Stella McCartney Lily, Marc Jacobs Daisy.

2. Follow your instincts. Try and ignore the hype of million dollar marketing campaigns when choosing one to buy. The only thing that really matters is: do you smell gorgeous when you wear this fragrance? Does it complement your tastes? Also ensure you try everything a few times before you buy it. Try those you love on your skin and check it again a few days later (we react differently to scents depending on our moods and hormones, so you want one you’ll always enjoy).

3. Make it special. We attach more memories to scent than any other sense. Make fragrance-buying a special occasion; do it in a place you love, when you’re in a good mood, or when you’re on a particularly wonderful holiday so that you always associate their smell with good feelings. It may sound silly, but it really works!Warm/wintery scents, L-R: Diptyqye L’Ombre dans L’eau, Stella McCartney Stella (limited edition print bottle), Jean Paul Gaultier Classique (limited edition bottle), Marc Jacobs Marc Jacobs, Chanel Les Exclusifs Gardenia, Stella McCartney Stella (limited edition print bottle).

4. Match your moods. I prefer to have several different scents to call upon, depending on the season, my mood, the time of day, and the occasion. By way of example: for the first days of Spring, I want something light, pretty and floral which echoes the optimism that rings in the air at this time of year (Margiela’s Untitled or Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau so Fresh have been on rotation the past few weeks); warm summer days to be spent lazing on the grassy banks of the River Cam call for something sweet and fresh (Annick Goutal Petite Cherie, Marc Jacobs Daisy); and for winter or evenings, only something warm and comforting will do (Stella McCartney Stella or Diptyque L’Ombre dans L’Eau). When I’m in the office, I call on clean, sophisticated scents (Marc Jacobs original or Stella McCartney Lily fit this bill), and when I’m feeling nostalgic or sad, I’ll seek solace in a precious spritz from the bottle of my Mother’s Jean Peal Gaultier (which was her fragrance signature and which to me always smells chic and pretty and like her warm hugs).

5. Find your signature. Even once you’ve built a collection you adore, there is something to be said for finding your failsafe favourite; your ‘signature scent’ if you will. This will be the one you reach for time and time again (in any number of situations), and which triggers an immediate sensory response whenever you spray it on. In case you’re wondering, mine is Marc Jacobs’ original scent; I distinctly remember the first time I sprayed it on, for I instantly (even irrationally) felt like a better, more appealing version of myself. The first day I tried it was a wonderful day filled with happy moments, and it’s accompanied me on so many glorious holidays, travels and special occasions ever since that it is now bound up with feelings of happiness and loveliness and fills me with a flicker of joy whenever I wear it.

I don’t know about you, but I think every woman should find a scent that makes them feel like a knockout version of themselves!Do you have a wardrobe of perfumes? I’d love to know what your favourites are!

Love, Miss B xx