Fashion Daydreams: UK Fashion and Lifestyle Blog by Reena Rai

Moschino x H&M and Other High Street x Designer Collabs

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 15 Jan 2019 08:00:00 +0000

Disclosure: This post includes affiliate links which are marked with a *.

Let's rewind to 2007. It was a much simpler time, Brexit didn't exist, Trump was minding his business and the future was looking bright. I was in my final year at university carting hefty textbooks around while writing my dissertation. I studied Marketing and knew that I wanted to specialise in fashion so I wrote my dissertation about how high street stores are using branding as a form of competitive advantage. I was fascinated by the change in the high street and how retailers started to create really credible brands.

Looking back, it was an incredibly transformative time for the high street. We had the same high street brands but it was a very, very different landscape. It wasn't so much fast fashion as cheap fashion. The aim of the high street was to make trends accessible but this is in the age before social media and the resulting democratisation of fashion, so high street retailers were "taking inspiration" from luxury brands after their pieces hit the shop floor rather than as soon as they hit the runway.

The 90s were a much simpler time. If you wanted a new outfit, you would simply skip from shop to shop indiscriminately til you found what you were looking for. Trends were becoming accessible but they weren't slavishly followed. I remember a whole outfit from Topshop coming in at around £70, including shoes. From the early 00s, the high street started becoming increasingly competitive and retailers started to take their branding seriously in order to stand out from a very crowded high street environment.

I think one of the most interesting branding tactics that retailers have adopted is collaborating with designers and brands. Rather than taking heavy inspiration from luxury brands, retailers began directly working with them to create a collaborative, cut-price, accessible collection.

The first brand to pioneer this was H&M with their 2004 collaboration with Karl Lagerfeld. The collaboration was projected to be on sale for WEEKS rather than days but ended up selling out in a few hours. The interesting thing about this collab is that Uncle Karl was furious and vowed never to work with H&M again. The source of his anger? H&M produced the collection in limited quantities and he wanted his clothing to be accessible by thousands of people. Conversely, he also took exception to H&M making the collection available in larger sizes, stating "what I designed was fashion for slender and slim people". I used to be a huge fan of Karl Lagerfeld but disgusting stances like have turned me off.

H&M quickly followed up with collections with the likes of Madonna and Stella McCartney. Back then, the limited edition collections garnered press pick up and excitement but over time, they have morphed into a bigger beast. With celebrity endorsements and campaigns and star-studded pre-launch parties coupled with limited stock available in selected stores, no wonder there are crazy queues and a total frenzy once the collection is available.

I've focused quite a lot on H&M but it's worth calling out some of the other high street retailers, such as River Island and Uniqlo, who have used this tactic to varying degrees of success. Topshop is nearly as prolific as H&M. They have been sponsoring the British Fashion Council's NEWGEN initiative since 2001 and have a history of nurturing and supporting new design talent. Over the years, they have created capsule collections with NEWGEN alum including Christopher Kane, Mary Katrantzou and Ashish. Their latest collaboration is with 2017/2018 NEWGEN recipient Halpern, which I wore in my previous outfit post.

Though I was sceptical in the early years, I'm now highly invested in high street and designer collaborations. The quality has improved by leaps and bounds plus the likeness to the brand's mainline collection is always clear, some of the collections I've seen are as credible as the original luxury brand. But I don't buy into the unnecessary hype; the collab needs to be very special for me to invest the time and effort to obtain a piece. I'm very particular with the quality and I'm very fashion literate so something which looks like a low-quality knockoff just won't cut it.

I have to admit, when I heard about H&M's Moschino collaboration, I was pretty underwhelmed. I don't particularly rate Jeremy Scott's aesthetic and Moschino isn't a brand which really resonates with me. I didn't pay much attention to the teaser activity or pre-launch marketing but when I caught a glimpse of the rhinestone bralet, my interest was piqued. I ended up buying it on a whim along with a couple of other pieces and, to my surprise, the quality is incredible and I've worn it to death already. For this look, I channeled 90s grunge - rather than dressing it up, I prefer to dress it down with jeans, t-shirts and plaid shirts. I can tell it's going to become one of my go-to pieces for elevating basics.

What do you think of high street and designer collaborations?

Shirt* - Rails (gifted) | Bralet - Moschino x H&M | Jeans* - Topshop | Boots* - ASOS | Bag* - Alexander McQueenDisclosure: This post includes affiliate links which are marked with a *.

Photography by Kylie Eyra Portraits.

Hello 34!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 06 Jan 2019 08:00:00 +0000

I'm not a huge fan of celebrating my birthday. Not because I don't like growing older, it's because being a January baby is the *WORST*. It has always been difficult to celebrate my birthday because come January, everyone is broke, detoxing, suffering from the January blues, giving up alcohol or embracing Veganuary. I often let my birthday sneak by with a very lowkey celebration with a couple of friends. But since I turned 30, I've enjoyed celebrating and realised how important it is to talk about my age. In a world obsessed with youth, it feels like a rebellious act to be loud and proud of being a 30-something.

When I was younger, 30 felt ancient. As I've grown older, I've realised this is a total myth which is mostly maintained by the media. Rather than bucking the trend, the blogosphere has followed suit. It's seen as a 20-something's game and you often see ridiculous things like someone in their early 20s promoting anti-ageing creams because - God forbid - they actually have someone who age-appropriate who looks like their actual customer base in their campaign. What a revolutionary concept!

We live in a world where age equates beauty; you're at your most beautiful in the first flushes of youth after which your beauty fades each year. Well, I beg to differ. Each morning before I hastily apply my make up before rushing out of the door, I study my face. I see laughter lines around my mouth from giggling with my godson or that time in Capri when an old man started stripping on the table of a club (true story). I see little crinkles on the corners of my eyes from laughing so hard I can't breathe and from squinting at the sun while visiting somewhere beautiful. Tell me, what's more beautiful than seeing the signs of a life that has been lived fully? What's more captivating than signs of a happy, joy-filled life?

Years ago, a friend of mine made a beautiful analogy. He showed me a plain piece of paper and asked me to look at it, which I dutifully did. Plain, white, straight edges. He then screwed up the piece of paper and attempted to flattened it out and asked me to look at it again. It wasn't smooth and sleek anymore, instead, it was full of bumps and crinkles. He explained that the first sheet of paper looked perfect but it didn't make me feel anything. On the other hand, the second sheet was interesting, it told a story. Each crumple was like a line in a sonnet. He made me see that perfect gets boring very quickly but there's beauty in imperfection. The crumples and crinkles are intriguing, fascinating and draw you in. I thought it was such a lovely way to look at life, it really stuck with me and helped me to appreciate my wrinkles, stretch marks and scars as beautiful.

Truth be told, I rarely think about my age and I often forget how old I actually am. Occasionally someone will ask and I'll need to pause before answering. I don't see age as very important, most of the time I feel like I'm still 26 so when I answer and remind myself of how old I am, it comes as a bit of a shock that I'm actually 34!

I've really appreciated the last decade of my life and I've found a peace which you only really feel after you turn 30. I feel like I've unfolded into myself. I've spent a lot of time appreciating who I am and what makes me tick. It's almost like having a friendship with myself, peeling away a layer at a time and learning who I really am.

Each year feels like another exploration of who I am and it feels so glorious. Last year, I wrote about turning 33 and wanting to celebrate the fuck out of life. And over the last twelve months, I've had a riot. I visited 9 different countries during 13 trips abroad. I've had crazy nights out, done rum shots for breakfast with a tobacco farmer, hiked to picturesque waterfalls, stayed up to see the sun come up and added to my collection of laughter lines. I'm so grateful for the best 33rd year.

And what am I hoping for from my 34th? Well, I want to grow up. Stop procrastinating. Get on with it. I have a ton of things I need to tick off my list, they've been languishing there for quite a while. I'm gifted with great language skills but haven't been able to commit to learning any properly. I love photography but I'd rather watch Netflix than hone my craft. In a way, I want to go back to school this year...just with better shoes and school trips. Travel-wise, I want to continue venturing off the beaten path to lesser-known destinations like Uzbekistan and Namibia. Not bad for someone in their 30s, right?!

Top - Halpern x Topshop | Skirt - Halpern x Topshop | Shoes - Aquazzura

Photography by Kylie Eyra.

Happy New Year 2019!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 01 Jan 2019 08:00:00 +0000

Guys....we made it. Is it just me or has 2018 felt like a marathon? I usually feel like time has flown but when I look back on 2018, it was so bloody eventful! It was the year of #Beychella, celebrating love at the Royal Wedding, people inexplicably eating Tide Pods, declaring Wakanda Forever and of course, Cardi B throwing a shoe at Nicki Minaj. What. A. Year.

As the sun is setting on 2018 and I feel like we can all give ourselves a pat on the back for making it through an eventful year relatively unscathed. This time last year I posted a personal reflection on 2017 and what I'm hoping for 2018 and I wanted to undertake another personal reflection this year.

Work Life

As I wrote my post last year, I had instigated a catalyse of change. I had been unhappy in my job for months and in December, I decided to quit. I had no idea what I was going to do, I just knew that I was desperately unhappy with my current situation. Instead of feeling fear and uncertainty, I felt a wave of relief; I was ready to make room in my life for something much bigger.

And that is exactly what happened - I started my year landing a dream job working with influencers and over the last ten months I've really found my groove. My job is rewarding, challenging and has stretched my abilities but ultimately I feel like a butterfly that's emerged from a cocoon, spreading my wings and taking flight. I work with the most incredible, supportive team, I have the best boss ever and Monday has become a joy. I'm so blessed to be in the position I'm in and I'm grateful every day.

The lesson I learnt from this is to be fearless in protecting your happiness and do not be afraid to take a leap of faith. Life is short, way too short to be unhappy and we all owe it to yourselves to live our best lives. Don't be afraid to say goodbye and make room in your life for something better.

Blog Life

While my work life has been flourishing, my blog life feels like it's been resurrected. As a someone who is a part-time blogger, my working life and happiness has a direct impact on my blog - the more stressed and busy I am, the less I'm able to blog. This year has rekindled the joy and happiness in blogging, I've blogging pretty much weekly and been very consistent.

I've really worked on honing my skills and working on time management so I can prioritise my passion. I'm proud that I've kept up with my blogging schedule and I'm talking about real issues that matter rather than not using my platform for good. I hope that I come across as a real, relatable person who experiences ups and downs in life rather than just showcasing a "perfect" life. I respect content creators who have the vision and discipline to create inspirational content but this year I realised that being genuine and relatable are important values for me. I'm just trying to live my best, authentic life :)

Personal Life

And lastly...onto my personal life. I'm going to cut to the chase and hold my hands up. I gave myself a year off from dating and it's been glorious. I ended 2017 a little heartbroken so I wanted to give myself time to heal. This is something I really believe in, I really need to process my thoughts and feelings to consolidate a situation rather than jumping feet first into the dating pool. For me, the best way to get over someone is not to get under someone else!

One of the hardest parts of the healing process is trying to open up to someone new and allowing yourself to be vulnerable. Over summer I did just that. I started seeing someone long-distance...I wouldn't really call this dating but I guess because of the distance it felt like a "safe" way to test whether I was ready. And...I kinda was. It was nice to be in a relationship and share some beautiful moments, it was good while it lasted but ultimately I decided that it wasn't meant to be.

So I end the year single, as I started the year, but I'm much wiser and more in tune with myself. I don't believe in regretting relationships, each one helps you grow as a person and realise what you are and aren't looking for.

I realised I'm looking for an equal, someone to love me as I am but appreciate my potential and challenge me to be bigger/better. Someone who supports my dreams as a multi-hyphenate. I also need to be someone who loves travel as much as I do, someone who wants to explore the world and has a curiosity about our planet as well as the bravery to embrace new experiences, cultures and people. That is what I love about travelling, getting under the skin of a place rather than just seeing the sites. Will I settle down this year? Who knows, but I sure as hell won't settle for less than I deserve.

2019

And so, onto 2019. I'm not one for dramatic "new year, new me" declarations, we don't need to redesign ourselves because we're pretty good as we are. I've realised that the only person I need to be in competition with is myself. I just want to be better, learn more, give more and grow. I don't really believe in resolutions per se, as long as I live those values and continue to challenge myself this year, I'm happy. But there are a couple of things I want to work towards this year and I'm sharing in the interest of accountability!

- Rebrand the blog (!)
- Rekindle my passion for photography
- Learn a new language
- Travel to 5 new countries
- Start working with a charity

What are you hoping for in 2019?

Top - Zara | Trousers - Daily Paper | Belt - Off White | Bag - Off White | Shoes - Miss Selfridge (old)

Photography by Kylie Eyra.

Merry Christmas 2018

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 24 Dec 2018 08:00:00 +0000

The parties are done, the out of office is on and the only thing left to do is put your feet up for Christmas!

This year, I gave myself a big, early gift - a plane ticket to Cuba. I'm currently gearing up for a big festival in a tiny little town to celebrate Christmas Eve before slipping away to an island to soak up the sun on a beach. I'm incredibly grateful to past Reena for having the intuition to book a trip away, the last few weeks have been quite tough and a blissful day by the beach is exactly what I needed for Christmas. Travel is such a tonic, rejuvenating, inspiring and relaxing all in one.

Anyway, enough about me! I hope you have a wonderful Christmas, whether you're celebrating it or not. Whatever you have planned, I hope it's restful and you manage to disconnect even for a little while. Prioritise yourself and your mental health during the festive season.

I hope you have a blessed day.

Lots of love,
Reena
x

Dress - Warehouse x Ashish | Heels - Gianvito Rossi (similar)

Photography by Kylie Eyra.

Guide to Conscious and Ethical Sale Shopping

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 17 Dec 2018 01:16:00 +0000

Once upon a time, I lived for sale shopping. A total fashion fiend, the thought of topping up my wardrobe for *gasp* up to 50% off was alluring. I'd wake up bright eyed and bushy tailed on Boxing Day to drive to the local shopping centre to scoop up an entire new wardrobe. It became a ritual and my family, slowly stirring after a post-Christmas lie in, would wait for me to return home to see the spoils from the early morning hunt.

My attitude is very different now, partly due to working in fashion and partly because the world is becoming more environmentally conscious. When I worked in fashion, I learned about how retailers would utilise discounts and sales to boost trade and that certain pieces are produced at a lower cost and bought in specifically for the sale period. Ever spot anything hanging on a sale rail that you haven't seen all season? It's probably a sale piece. Suddenly a discounted dress doesn't seem so appealing.

The behind-the-scenes knowledge is interesting but the real change for me came when I started becoming increasingly conscious about consumption. I'm so glad that as a society we're becoming aware of the effects of our collective actions on the planet and the people living in it. Plastic has rightly become a dirty word with plastic straw bans and plastic bag surcharges. The effects on the oceans and sealife are devastating. I've also researched into the human cost of fast fashion. It really makes you question what you buy and whether you really need to shop.

I've cut down in my personal consumption hugely in the last few years. I never have, and never will, do a haul video or post. But...realistically, we do still need to shop. There's a huge middle ground between over-consumption and conscious consumption and it's really important to reach a balance. Cutting down and consuming more consciously is a great step to take. So instead of sharing a list of products that you absolutely should buy, I wanted to share some tips to shop the sales more ethically:

1. Ask yourself if you would you buy it if it was full price? It's easy to get seduced by a saving but a bargain is only a bargain if you value the piece in the first place.
2. Shop classic pieces. You will get much more longevity from a classic rollneck than a seasonal piece.
3. Buy better quality - not fast fashion. I try to steer clear of fast fashion retailers if I can but mid-tier or designer brands are expensive. During the sales, I like to invest in quality pieces which will last longer and I'll cherish for years to come.
4. Carry some tote bags to avoid using plastic or paper bags. We've all got a ton around the house, it's time to put to good use!
5. Check out this list of ethical shops and retailers.

And if you're making space in your wardrobe for a couple of new additions, think about where your clothes are going. I stopped throwing away clothes years ago. I tend to take clothes and unused makeup to my local charity shop. I sell designer pieces on Vestiaire Collective, Depop or eBay are also good options. I also wrote a Black Friday post about how to prepare for the sales and snap up exactly what you want.

I hope you found this guide useful. I'd love to hear your tips in the comments below.

Jumper - H&M (past season) | Skirt - Topshop | Heels - Nicholas Kirkwood (past season) | Ring - Saint Laurent (past season)

Photography by Kylie Eyra.

Hola, Cuba!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 13 Dec 2018 08:00:00 +0000

I feel like I've been talking about this non-stop for the last week or so but just in case you missed it, I'm currently on a plane on the way to sunny Cuba! I'm spending the next three weeks here, exploring everywhere from Havana to Baracoa via Santiago, Cienfuegos, Remedios, Cayo Santa Maria and Vinales.

I remember shooting this look months ago in a car park in Peckham. I've never been to Cuba before but the cool turquoise and zingy yellow just screamed "Havana" to me. I feel so blessed that just a few months later, I'll be seeing Cuba for myself and spending Christmas and New Year exploring a new country.

The internet situation is a little ropey to say the least but you *should* be able to keep up to date with my adventures on Instagram and I have a weekly post going live every Monday.

Reena
x

Christmas Party Dress Edit 2018

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 10 Dec 2018 08:00:00 +0000

It's time to get your glad rags on, Christmas party season is upon us. For someone who gleefully gives parties, clubs and large gathering a swerve for the majority of the year, I'm surprisingly eager and enthusiastic about the festivities. Everything from group dinners to work parties and black tie balls are a great excuse to shrug off the boyfriend jeans and oversized jumpers and into something a little more fun. I've rounded up my edit of the BEST Christmas party dresses on the high street.

Dress - Warehouse x Ashish | Heels - Gianvito Rossi (similar)

Photography by Kylie Eyra.

Why You Should Be Kind To Yourself This Festive Season

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 04 Dec 2018 08:00:00 +0000

Ah, December. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...the John Lewis advert, presents, parties Rudolf and all of the fun and festivities! Even if you're not a huge fan of Christmas itself, I think everyone enjoys letting loose at the end of the year. Unless you're a content creator, that is. Rather than seeing this month as a home run, this time of year seems to exacerbate stress and guilt over all of the things you have left to achieve by the end of the year.

I've noticed a fair few tweets on my timeline panicking about only having 20-odd days left to achieve a never-ending list of blog posts, shoots, campaigns and content. I've said it many times before but being a content creator is a graft. Especially if you're a 'weekend creator' who also works fulltime. I don't know about you but I feel like I'm in a constant state of juggling my ever-growing to-do list and feeling wracked with guilt about all the things I haven't done yet.

But enough is enough. Instead of letting anxiety and my inner critic rule and spending the last few weeks of the year burning out trying to achieve everything I set out to do, I’m going to sit back and give myself props for everything I HAVE achieved this year. It’s not very British to admit this but I’ve been working my ass off this year and I have some amazing achievements under my belt. I’ve also seen some of my favourite bloggers working their socks off to achieve incredible things, whether it’s winning awards, working on amazing campaigns, writing books or simply upping their blog game. So why are we beating ourselves up instead of celebrating our successes? Why let a handful of outstanding items taint all of the things we've worked hard to achieve?

It's hard to focus on what you have achieved and celebrate your success as we live in a society of overachieving and trying to have it all. We wear “stress” and “busy” as a badge of honour. I'm slowly learning that busy ≠ good. Instead of aiming for a life which is bursting at the seams, we should allow ourselves time to pause and celebrate each step towards a goal rather than ticking something off the list only to move straight to the next task. If you don't stop to appreciate your work, you won't find happiness, contentment or joy in what you do.

This doesn't mean stop setting yourself goals or dial down your ambition, it's just being realistic about your goals and being able to hit pause without being wracked with guilt. I put together a couple of tips to tick off a couple of projects on your to-do list while keeping your sanity over the festive season:

Set goals...but be realistic. Would you rather do things or do them well?
Prioritise your mental health. Giving yourself an evening, day or even week off when you need it will do you the world of good.
Remind yourself what you've already achieved this year.

My most important piece of advice is: give yourself time to let your hair down. Be kind to yourself, take the pressure off and let yourself have fun.

Co-ord - Missguided | Coat - Max Mara | Bag - Miu Miu | Heels - ASOS (similar)

Photography by Kylie Eyra.

The Edit: Over The Knee Boots

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 28 Nov 2018 08:00:00 +0000

Ah, autumn, why you so pretty? The falling golden leaves, the twinkling Christmas lights, the cosy nights in, it's the prettiest of the four seasons by far. There's a huge tree outside my bedroom window and one of my favourite things is watching the leaves turn from crisp green to deep amber then fall from the branches. It reminds me of this quote, "The trees are about to show us how beautiful it is to let dead things go". I see it as an annual reminder to that what's gone is gone and to stop looking back.

Pretty leaves and deep meanings aside, one of my favourite signs of autumn are over the knee boots. After fashion week has gone, I secretly wish for the temperature to drop just a little so I can justify wearing my OTK boots. They're a relatively recent addition to my winter arsenal, I bought a pair of pink satin over the knee boots last year and followed this up with a show-stopping sequin pair. I also wrote about the downside to wearing OTK boots on the blog too. Spoiler: The only downside is men's inability to act like a normal, respectful human being around a woman who wears over the knee boots!

Despite the catcalling and unwanted male attention, I still love OTK boots. I bought this snakeskin pair a couple of months ago from Mango and I've worn them to death. I always feel powerful, sassy and confident when I wear OTK boots. They're real "fuck you boots". It's amazing how a simple pair of boots can transform your whole attitude. Also...I prefer to style my boots with something oversized and comfy which is ideal for this time of year. I have a huge collection of jumper dresses which I just throw on with the boots. Easy!

Cardigan - Lasula | Dress - LNA | Boots - Mango

Photography by Kylie Eyra.

I wanted to share an edit of my favourite OTK from the high street. As much as I love designer boots from the likes of Stuart Weitzman, my winter boots always get wrecked due to the weather so I think the high street is your best bet. *contains affiliate links*

Five Shopping Hacks for Black Friday 2018

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 21 Nov 2018 08:00:00 +0000

Unless you've been unplugged and put in rice for the last few days, you'll know that Black Friday is fast approaching. This year, retailers have really doubled down on their adoption of the American custom. Black Friday is traditionally celebrated a day after Thanksgiving, retailers kick off the Christmas shopping season with a day of discounts to encourage people to get spending. This year, UK retailers are starting early and extending discounts for a couple of days...which means you should absolutely NOT shop until your favourite shops are on sale.

The words 'Black Friday' conjure up scrum-like images of shoppers clambering over each other for a bargain and fist fights over a flatscreen tv. It all seems very uncivilised, the best way to make the most of Black Friday is with a cup of tea in front of your laptop. I'm sharing my five shopping hacks to help you get the most out of Black Friday, without missing out on what you really need:

1. Make a list
It's so easy to get carried away during the sales and end up with things that you will never wear or use. I can hold my hands up to that, I once bought a pink sequin skirt in a flurry of sale shopping! Whether you're getting a headstart on Christmas gifts or treating yourself, it's best to make a list. I prefer to keep it quite broad to start with. For example, I know that I want to buy a book and some grooming products for my brother, but I'll find the exact products as I browse.

If you're treating yourself, give my wardrobe a once-over to see if there is anything that you're missing. I'm keeping my eye out for black cowboy boots, lightweight oversized jumpers and dresses for wearing with OTK boots. Having a broad idea helps to narrow down what you're looking for without completely restricting you.

2. Have a reccy
Once you have a list in mind, have a reccy to find the exact products ahead of Black Friday. This way, you can get straight down to business as soon as the sale goes live. You can add products to your wishlist, add it to your bookmarks or save to your Pinterest board.

3. Set a budget
Ok I'm in 'mum mode' but it's important to set a budget so you don't go too crazy. Find a 20% off code for that Saint Laurent bag that you've had your eye on all season might seem like a sign from the shopping Gods but do you want to blow your budget on one piece when Christmas is just around the corner. I set a budget for each person I'm buying a Christmas gift for as well as myself! This will also help to stop you from getting swept up into 'sale mania' and buying just because something has been reduced.

4. Stalk your faves
Now that you have a list of what you're after, some products that you must have and a budget, all you need to know is when the sales are starting. If you haven't already, sign up to email newsletters and follow them on social media so you don't miss the sale announcement.

5. Block out some time
This might seem a little extreme but I usually block out some shopping time in my diary to make sure I can go through my list and pick up the items I really need. Ok...want. Whether it's an early morning scout over a cuppa, a quick lunchtime peruse or an evening browse, set some time aside to check whether the pieces you're after are on sale and snap them up before it's too late!

Oh the cardinal rule of sale shopping - if you didn't want it full price, it's not a bargain. Don't let the sales trick you into buying something unnecessarily just because it's cheap!

Here are a list of retailers and their discounts:

Selfridges - up to 20% off

French Connection - up to 50% off - ends Monday 26th Nov

Topshop - up to 50% off everything - ends Monday 26th Nov

Miss Pap - up to 50% off - Friday 23rd Nov/Monday 26th Nov

Boohoo - up to 50% off everything - Thursday 22nd Nov to Monday 26th Nov

Nastygal - 50% off everything excl. sale - ends Monday 26th Nov. Enter OHSNAP at checkout.

NA-KD - 25% off everything - ends Monday 26th Nov

Beauty Bay - up to 30% off - ends Monday 26th Nov

Monica Vinader - 30% off everything - ends Monday 26th Nov

Happy #WorldKindnessDay

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 13 Nov 2018 08:00:00 +0000

Did you know today is World Kindness Day? Celebrated annually on 13th November, World Kindness Day seeks to make the world a better place by promoting good deeds, pledging acts of kindness and focusing on positive power. In a world that seems to be ruled by division with an increase in racism, sexism, misogyny, homophobia, transphobia and general hate, it's more important than ever to practice kindness to yourself and others. Love trumps hate and all of that.

Global politics aside, kindness is also necessary on a macro level. In a world ruled by instant gratification through social media likes and expendable human interactions via a series of never-ending left and right swipes, kindness and compassion often take a backseat. We all become hardened by pain and suffering, both our own and what we see in the world. The thing is, humans are made for love, community and connection. Love, kindness and compassion are what will heal us individually and collectively.

I really believe in being kind to others. love that warm, glowy feeling that you get from being kind to someone else, whether that's buying someone a cup of tea, offering my seat to someone who looks like they need it on the tube or buying a random gift for someone for no reason. Being kind keeps me humble and makes me feel more connected to the world by putting someone else's needs and happiness above my own.

I'm also a huge advocate of being kind to yourself, also known as self-care. I love that this concept has become mainstream and the guilt associated with putting your needs first have been dispelled. Every time I feel pangs of guilt for prioritising my needs, I remind myself that "you cannot pour from an empty cup". If you look after yourself, you're able to look after many others. I wrote about resilience and self-care earlier this year and shared some tips for coping with hard times.

But today is all about being kind to others so I wanted to share five quick and easy ways to be kind:

1. Compliment someone

You know that warm, fuzzy glow you get when you receive a genuine compliment? It feels just as good to give compliments too. I feel like this is something Brits don't do often enough. I've been making more of an effort to give compliments to friends, colleagues and even strangers and it feels so nice to bring a little happiness to someone - it could make all the difference, especially if someone is having a bad day or feeling down.

2. Say thank you

I'm sure that you've seen that social media post about expressing gratitude instead of apologising - saying 'thank you for waiting' if you're late to meet someone instead of apologising for being late. This is a really simple, powerful way of reframing your mind to seek out the positives in life. Saying thank you shows someone that you acknowledge them and value their time and effort.

3. Give a gift

Giving a little gift is such a lovely way of showing someone you appreciate someone. It doesn't have to be expensive or elaborate, picking up their favourite chocolate or a little token of appreciation.

4. Buy a hot drink, meal or space in a shelter for a homeless person

Simply stopping to buy a hot drink, something to eat or offering to pay for a night or two in a shelter can make a huge difference to someone in need. You can also contract Street Link who may be able to offer assistance.

5. Donate to charity

A super quick and easy way to be kind no matter where you are is to donate to a charity. I always donate to Cancer Research as my mum has cancer but there are so many deserving charities like NSPCC and DEC, who are currently collecting for the Indonesia tsunami appeal.

I'd love to hear how you practised kindness today so let me know in the comments section.

Cardigan - Nasty Gal | Jeans - GRLFRND | Heels - Reserved | Bag- Chloe | Hat and belt - vintage

Shot by Kylie Eyra.

How To Run A Blog While Working Full Time

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 06 Nov 2018 08:00:00 +0000

I always describe blogging while working full-time as a rollercoaster. When it's good, I feel like superwoman for bossing my day job while pursuing my passion. But when it's bad, I feel overwhelmed and like my side hustle is a burden rather than a passion project that brings me fulfilment.

Last September, I was definitely going through a bad patch. Between launching a global brand during the day and trying to plan for London Fashion Week, writing and shoot blog content during the evenings and weekends, I was utterly exhausted. Nevermind trying to keep in touch with friends, remembering to eat, wanting to exercise and needing to sleep too! I had too many plates spinning in the air and I felt like I wasn't spinning any of them well.

I tweeted about how I felt and was overwhelmed by the number of people who shared similar experiences. After some reassuring Twitter chats and realising that I was far from alone, I planned to write a blog post about the challenges of working full-time and blogging as a side hustle...but it's taken a whole year to finally put pen to paper. Ah, the joys of having too much to do and too little time to do it in!

I've been working full-time whilst blogging for a decade. There was a time when I used to blog every single day after finishing work, after attending events, after meeting friends for dinner. I was averaging about four hours sleep a night, it was utterly exhausting and not rewarding in the slightest. Sometimes I was simply writing words for the sake of writing words. I was uninspired and grew to resent blogging. The crazy thing is, no one put this pressure on me. I put it on myself.

Kenzie from Lemonade Lies can sympathise with the effect of putting too much pressure on yourself, stating "there are so many ways you can do both [working full-time and blogging] efficiently, just don't burn the wick at both ends because it can make you resent things. If push came to shove most would give up their blog over employment so make sure you keep your love and passion for it and do what works for you".

I soon realised blogging daily while working full-time was completely unsustainable and stopped putting unnecessary pressure on myself. Actually, I took the pressure off completely by taking a little haitus from blogging. I felt so demotivated and needed time to figure out whether I still loved blogging and what I was doing it for.

Jazmine from Jazzabelle's Diary also admitted that motivation is something she struggles with, as she works in social media and marketing for her job, the last thing she wants to do in her downtime is...social media, writing and marketing! She told me "lacking motivation can be frustrating, as I would love to post more, however right now the most important thing in my life is maintaining a healthy work/life balance, and if that means spending less time on my blog, then that's something I'm happy to do."

After taking a little sabbatical, I came to the realisation that I really love blogging - the creativity, writing, connecting with people around the world and sharing my perspective. I just didn't like putting myself under a ton of pressure and losing my passion and motivation. This was a real lightbulb moment for me. I decided to figure out how to pursue my passion without killing myself in the process.

Over the last couple of years, I've reached a happy medium where I aim to blog once a week. If I don't manage to find the time, I'm ok with that - and hope you are too! Sometimes I still struggle to find a balance but 80% of the time I have it down. The key has been being smart with my time and realistic with what I promise myself I will deliver.

Laura from Lelore also struggles with finding the time to manage working and blogging side-by-side but she maximises her commuting time to "keep on top of emails and social media, and also to schedule tweets. I tend to do the majority of my writing and photo editing at the weekend so that if work gets a bit hectic during the week my content is still ready to go".

After finding a healthy work/blog balance and renewing my passion for my side hustle, I wanted to share five tips which have really helped me.

1. Create an achievable plan

When I was blogging every day, I had no one to blame but myself. When I took a step back and looked at what I wanted to achieve through blogging, it was storytelling and communicating. My goal was not to be a one-woman content factory! I cut down to blogging once a week as I felt it was achievable but still pushed me to create blog content with a regular schedule. I also set boundaries for Instagram content, aiming to post once a day.

2. Embrace the power of lists

Now that you have a plan, it's easier to figure out how and when you're going to create your content. Sarah from Sarah Jayne Potter's top tip for managing her time efficiently is "a lot of lists!! I also now don't promise coverage or blogs asap. I set dates and deadlines and give myself enough breathing space to be able to take photos, do the write-up and still manage to have a social life! If I get ideas on the go, I make sure I document it on my phone so I don't forget."

3. Become a time management ninja

With a plan in hand and a list of tasks to whizz through, the next step is finding the time. After working all day, I protect my evenings as my sacred time - to catch up with friends, work out or just potter around my flat. I would rather carve out some time at the weekend to do my blog-work and allow myself some time to decompress in the evenings.

I shoot my blog images once a month, packing a little suitcase of outfits to shoot all in one go rather than trying to shoot weekly. This really helps me plan ahead as my images must have cohesion with my written content. Planning a month in advance helps to capture all of my ideas so that when I sit down to write, I have a rough outline of what I want to cover.

Instagram content is much trickier. I'm just not very interesting Monday-Friday and it's dark by the time I finish work so I can't capture any content during the week. To remedy this, I create content during the weekend that I can post throughout the week. In the depths of winter, it's easier to shoot IG content on Saturday and Sunday morning and write blog content in the evening.

4. Automate as much as possible

I'm a huge advocate of scheduling content. Being a blogger is more than just writing and posting to a blog, you have to think about Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest too. Wordpress and Blogger both have in-product scheduling which makes queuing up blog content super easy, though I rarely have more than the next blog post ready to go.

There are a number of different tools available to schedule tweets on Twitter but I prefer Hootsuite. I first started using it years ago when I managed social media for brands so it feels intuitive to use. I use it to schedule tweets promoting my blog posts throughout the day but I prefer using the app to actually use Twitter and engage with my community.

I personally don't like or trust the in-product scheduling on Instagram. On more than a couple of occasions, I've been logged out of the app and all of my scheduled posts have disappeared. I have recently started using Planoly to schedule IG posts. It's an official Instagram partner and you can add a location and tag accounts in your image. It allows you to save groups of hashtags to upload to your images. You can also drag and drop images to see how your feed looks to make sure you're happy with your grid.

Now, I know Pinterest is a tricky platform for some bloggers but I really love it both for inspiration and driving traffic to my blog. I only have 3k followers but my monthly views are currently 85k! I've achieved this by pinning little and often, that's the key to seeing growth. I use Tailwind to schedule my Pins however, they have recently launched an in-product scheduler which I'm going to use now.

5. Blog support system

Last but not least, I find it super important to have a blog support system. This is a mixture of blogger and non-blogger friends who I can vent to or turn to for comfort. With all the planning and will in the world, it's still very difficult to manage to blog alongside a full-time job. Blogging is a graft and a hell of a lot goes on behind the scenes. Make sure you have plenty of people to both cheer you on and pick you up when you're down. This is true of life as much as it's true of blogging.

And there you go, my top tips to balance your work/blog/life balance. I'd love to hear your tips so leave a comment below!

Suit - River Island, top - Mango, heels - No.21

Photography by Adorngirl.

Afternoon Tea at Corinthia Hotel, London

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 02 Nov 2018 08:00:00 +0000

My experience was gifted by Hotels. com, but all views are my own.

One of my favourite things about living in London is afternoon tea. There is something deliciously indulgent about spending an entire afternoon nibbling on little finger sandwiches, scones and cakes while sipping a beautiful tea. And last Sunday, I did just that at Corinthia Hotel, one of the most beautiful hotels in Westminster.

The setting

Situated in Westminster, Corinthia Hotel is just a hop and a skip away from Trafalgar Square and Embankment. The Afternoon Tea is held in the aptly-named Crystal Moon Lounge, complete with an exquisite Baccarat chandelier illuminating the room. The atmosphere feels chilled and intimate. I loved the mellow music being played on a Steinway piano.

The Tea

As a non-coffee drinker, I feel like I'm somewhat of a tea connoisseur so I was pleased to see an extensive tea menu, ranging from exclusive blends and classic black teas through to green and white teas. I opted for the Formosa oolong, which has a rich flavour and a soft orchid scent.

The Sandwiches

Although I have a huge sweet tooth, I absolutely adore the savoury segment of afternoon tea. There is something incredibly British about cucumber sandwiches with the crusts cut off! Alongside cucumber, radish and cream cheese and the egg mayo with truffle and watercress, alongside two additional vegetarian sandwiches especially for me.

The Sweets

Next up were the scones. Both plain and sultana scones were served in smart, white boxes to keep them toasty warm. They were accompanied by Cornish clotted cream, strawberry jam and rhubarb and tonka bean jam, which had a delicate cinnamon flavour.

Just as I was starting to feel a little full, a stunning antique champagne trolley pulled up to our table, laden with the prettiest pastries and cakes. I felt it was my duty to try as many as possible, my favourites were the lemon yuzu and coconut eclair and the 72% Araguani chocolate cassis & fig pot. Oh and the lemon drizzle cake. And the raspberry and elderflower tartlet. Ok, fine, it was all delicious!

The Verdict

This is definitely one of my favourite afternoon teas in London. The Crystal Moon Lounge is the perfect spot to while away a couple of hours underneath a twinkling Baccarat chandelier, feasting on a delectable spread.

The afternoon tea at Corinthia Hotel is priced at £45 per person (or £55 with a glass of Laurent-Perrier Brut Champagne, and £65 with a glass of Laurent-Perrier Rosé Champagne).

AW18 Trend: Animal Print

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 16 Oct 2018 07:00:00 +0000

Last month, I wrote that brown is a HUGE trend this season and shared my tips on how to style the notoriously tricky hue. The popularity of brown is partially due to leopard print also being a big trend for AW18. I only gave it the briefest of mentions because I had this post up my sleeve, dedicated to leopard print, snakeskin, zebra print and every other animal print under the sun! The AW18 runway embraced it's wild side and the high street swiftly followed suit.

Leopard print started emerging as an early autumn/winter favourite back in August as pieces started dropping on the high street. I let out an audible cheer and picked up this cheeky little flamenco skirt from Nasty Gal as well as some satin wide-leg trousers. See, I fall into the bold camp of people who declare that leopard print is a neutral. I have a couple of pairs of leopard print shoes which I have worn every season for at least 4 years...they're being held together by the skin of their teeth and the skill of my cobbler! I'm seeing this season as an opportunity to stock up on one of my wardrobe staples.

This season isn't *just* about leopard print though, so don't fear if it's not your favourite print. While the likes of Dolce & Gabbana and Max Mara embraced the print in a BIG way, Tom Ford opted for a punchy red leopard print and I've seen a handful of pieces inspired by his collection on the high street. Meanwhile, plenty of brands including Balenciaga, Victoria Beckham and Isabel Marant favoured snakeskin, faux python, zebra print and every other print imaginable. This has, of course, hit the high street, with Zara betting heavily on snakeskin and other high street stores dabbling in a range of different prints.

I absolutely adore leopard print. For some reason, it makes me feel extra ballsy and fearless. I get that it might not be for everyone though, it's an acquired taste. I've outlined three different ways you can embrace animal prints:

1. Accessorise
This is best for people who want to dip their toe into the world of leopard print without fully committing. A pair of shoes, bag or even a belt can give a subtle nod to the trend without being too overwhelming.

2. Half/half
If you're feeling slightly braver, pair a leopard print piece with true neutrals, as I did for this look. I opted for a white top, black heels and a basket bag and let my leopard print do the talking.

3. Head to toe
For a look that's straight off the runway, embrace a print from head-to-toe. I think this is going to be my favourite way to wear animal print as we head into AW18, though more likely to be snakeskin rather than leopard print as I've spotted SO many people in leopard print at the moment!

Are you going to give animal print a try this season? If you need some inspiration, check out my Pinterest board.

Top - Mebuar | Skirt - Nasty Gal | Heels - Aquazzura | Bag - Missy Empire (similar) | Necklace - Astley Clarke

Photography by Adorngirl.

The Eye of the Tiger

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 09 Oct 2018 07:00:00 +0000

* My necklace was gifted by Astley Clarke but my opinions are independent*

Though my jewellery style is understated and a little minimalist now, I definitely used to embrace the more-is-more stance. In the early days of my blog, I was a jewellery magpie and alternated between stacking on rings, heaping on bracelets and piling on necklaces. I think it must hark back to my childhood. I have very vivid memories of walking over to my mum's wardrobe as a child, pulling out a huge bag of necklaces and layering one on top of the other until I resembled my idol. Mr T in case you were wondering...it was the Eighties!

Thankfully, my magpie eye has gotten more refined over the years. My approach to jewellery is now carefully curated. I don't buy often but when I do add a new piece to my collection, it's meaningful to me and treasured. I don't really follow jewellery trends as I prefer my pieces to be timeless and classic rather than disposable.

The one aspect of jewellery which still catches my eye is the use of crystals. I'm a huge fan of Ayurveda and have been studying it for the past year - it's an ancient science of life which focuses on mind, body and wellness. Modern day 'healing crystals' have their roots in the Vedic sciences, which state that each type of crystal is endowed with its own frequency which influences humans in different ways.

This choker from Astley Clarke initially caught my eye because of its beautifully simple design. When I realised the deep amber stone was a tiger's eye crystal, I needed to find out more about it. In Ayurveda, it is used to attract more luck into your life. It is connected to the Solar Plexus Chakra, Third Eye Chakra and Crown Chakra - essentially linking your 'gut feeling' to the vision your third eye sees. The result is stability, focus, confidence and courage. It challenges anxiety, fear and negative emotions while having a positive, grounding energy. It also looks really pretty and glows like a sunset when I wear it.

For the last couple of months, I've worn my tiger's eye choker nearly every day. Whether you believe in the healing power of crystals and the Vedic sciences or not, it's a gorgeous piece of jewellery which I absolutely adore. Every time I put it on, I feel special and for me, that's what jewellery is all about. Do you have a piece of jewellery which has a story behind it?

Necklace - Astley Clarke *gifted*

Photography by Adorngirl.

London Fashion Week SS19

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 19 Sep 2018 07:00:00 +0000

I have to admit, I'm really sad that London Fashion Week is over. This has been the best season for a long time for a couple of reasons. It was great to see ethical fashion adopted by a number of designers and tie-ins with charities and alliances dedicated to sustainability.

Also, for the first time in a long time, I actually had fun at fashion week. Usually, my schedule is packed so I barely have time to even drink a gulp of water or the sheer volume of people plus the stress triggers my anxiety awfully. This season I had a busy-but-manageable schedule and spent time with fashion friends who I usually only see at shows.

Johnstons of Elgin
I balance LFW while working full-time, so my fashion week kicked off post-6pm at the Johnston's of Elgin presentation. Held at the beautiful Waldorf Astoria, the presentation felt more like a party with the great and the good of the fashion world clustered in intimate groups clutching a glass of champagne and taking in the beautiful presentation which took centre stage.

Well known for knitwear and their sumptuous AW collections, I was intrigued to see what they had up their sleeve for the summer season. As it happens, Johnston's of Elgin do summer as well as they do winter, with zesty yellows and cobalt blues taking centre stage. Fluid silhouettes in the finest, lightweight cashmere silks and cottons felt airy and slightly Grecian.

I can't write up the collection without mentioning sustainability - Johnston's of Elgin helped to fund and launch the Sustainable Fibre Alliance so the materials used are sustainably sourced.

Fyodor Golan
Fyodor Podgorny and Golan Frydman have their eyes on the ocean. Their SS19 collection is inspired by everything ocean-related, from surfers and castaways to the beauty of the ocean itself. The collection is a clash of beautiful gowns with sequin scales and fluid silhouettes as well as commercial pieces with bold stripes and oversized flower prints.

Why the fascination with the ocean? This season, the boys teamed up with Plastic Oceans UK, the first UK charity to focus on plastic pollution in the oceans. The brand is known for their sustainable approach to fashion and they have eliminated the use of plastics from their collection and also promote the use of recycled and sustainable materials.

Clio Peppiatt
Inspired by John Water's cult film Female Trouble, Clio Peppiatt's SS19 collection is a riot of tinsel hues and surrealist influences which explore the idea of unattainable beauty. The collection felt like a half-shot of tequila with its chocolate box tones layered over rich taffetas, snakeskin and lizard skin, all adorned with Swarovski crystals.

Markus Lupfer
Like Fyodor Golan, Markus Lupfer was also inspired by the ocean. His SS19 collection takes us on a trip to the seaside, through a whimsical, pastel-hued lens. His collection features pretty icecream shades and swathes of frothy tulle. Light-weight, airy fabrics & a healthy sprinkle of sequins = the most beautiful spring collection.

Jiri Kalfar
Is there anything more glamorous than a collection inspired by Studio 54?! Jiri Kalfar is channelling the luxe excess of the 70s with the very topical concept of conscious consumption. The collection is based around zero waste patterns, recycled sequins and uses absolutely no leather or fur. I’m so glad to see conscious fashion gaining momentum in London.

Zeynep Kartal
My final show on Saturday was red carpet favourite, Zeynep Kartal. Zeynep’s collections are always dramatic & extra, for SS19 she was inspired by her Turkish roots and an ornate 13-pronged Chelengk diamond jewel gifted to Lord Nelson from Sultan Selim III of Turkey in 1798. Decadent, extravagant and majestic, just how red carpet dresses should be.

FH Christensen
FH Christensen is a new discovery at LFW, designer Farzaneh’s SS19 collection is an extravagant ode to old-school glamour. Red carpet ready gowns and super fun cocktail dresses in ethical and sustainable silks and Duchesse satin with beautiful, exquisite beading, all made in London. I can’t wait to see what she has in store for next season too!

Simon Mo
Like many designers showing at LFW this season, Simon Mo’s inspiration comes from the ocean and more specifically the impact of pollution and plastics. The collection is inspired by Sinbad the Sailor, the collection features vintage scuba suits with exaggerated proportions, soft gauze skirts inspired by ocean waves and retro marine elements. A true celebration of the beauty of the ocean.

AuCarre
One of the finalists of Fashion Scout's Ones To Watch award, AuCarre is a beautiful brand which celebrates feminine power. Founded by twin sisters Erini and Dimitra, the brand's SS19 collection is inspired by feminine surrealism and features hard drawn digital prints, technical knits and layers of tulle.

What was your favourite show of the season?

How to Wear Brown This Season

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 04 Sep 2018 07:30:00 +0000

When I worked in fashion I learnt something very important: for most designers, Pre-Collections are more important than Main. In between spring/summer and autumn/winter, the majority of brands release a pre-collection, which is like a little preview that hits stores around December and July just before the main collection drops. This is what you should be paying attention to if you want to spot the commercial pieces and to get a preview of what's to come.

I worked for a huge luxury department store for years and the buyers always invested heavily in Pre, so I paid attention and got an early indication of what trends were being picked up and gaining traction. While I saw what has been shown on the runway 6 months earlier, I learned to always scope out stores early to help plan which trends I'm going to focus on for rest the season.

And what have I seen for AW18? Pantone might be touting ultraviolet as the colour of the year but this season is an undeniable ode to brown. Chocolate, cocoa, chestnut, walnut, coffee....brown. The two trends which have emerged triumphant already are the seventies and leopard print/animal print, both of which lean heavily on one of fashion's most overlooked hues. Brown is really the new black!

Brown was seen at the likes of Rochas, Gucci, Etro, Dior and Fendi as well as Chloe, who embraced the awkward hue with open arms. Chloe always draws inspiration from the Seventies but AW18 is literally like stepping back in time, Natacha Ramsay-Levi's collection features a muted, earthy palette and details including billowing silk shirt dresses and blouses, retro prints and chunky gold jewels. Coupled with the current craze for classic logo pieces from Fendi and Vuitton, it's no surprise that brown has been picked up heavily by the high street.

The colour brown tends to be a bit controversial in fashion. It gets a bad rap for being boring, bland, ugly and difficult to wear. I have to admit, when I started seeing it appear on the runway and in store windows, I did have flashbacks to my uniform for the Brownies! My primary school uniform had a similar colour palette too and neither were a good look.

Despite these two traumatising incidents(!) I'm open to embracing brown this season. I'm a huge fan of leopard print, for me it's a neutral, so my autumn/winter wardrobe will naturally skew towards brown and caramel shades. As for the Seventies, I'm more likely to adopt a couple of nods like fringing or flowing silhouettes rather than a full-on throwback look.

I like the challenge of wearing brown, like Miuccia Prada who stated, "Brown is a colour that no one likes, so of course I like it because it's difficult". There's something very satisfying about getting out of your comfort zone and challenging yourself. Earlier this year I wrote about the dress that pulled me out of my style rut and I feel like embracing brown can shake up my winter wardrobe in a similar way too.

Intrigued by brown and want to give it a whirl? Here are my top five tips for wearing brown this season:

1. Stay true to your style

This is THE most important piece of style advice and is applicable for any trend and any season. If you're really not comfortable in brown or the Seventies trend or leopard print, simply don't wear it. I have to admit that the Seventies aren't my favourite trend, so I found this dress which is actually a nod to the Eighties (another huge AW18 trend) and it is much more me than some of the Chloe-esque pieces I spotted on the high street.

2. Try a subtle nod

If top-to-toe brown is daunting, try gently dipping your toe in the trend rather than diving in head first. Brown and leather go hand-in-hand so try some accessories. I've also seen some lovely brown knits and tweed blazers.

3. Keep it fun

Brown feels a *serious* hue. It conjures up images of librarians or my GCSE physics teacher, Mr Clark Maxwell. Brown definitely needs some fun, slightly whimsical or playful elements. That's why I paired this dress with pink fluffy mules, after trying on a pair of silver court shoes it just felt flat but the fun of the fluff perfectly offset the seriousness of brown.

4. Don't forget the accessories

Brown is one of those shades which looks utterly delicious against gold. Like a fun or whimsical twist, I will definitely be piling on the jewels when I wear brown. For me, the combo of brown and gold adds a more luxury element and elevates the whole look. I wore layered necklaces through spring/summer in winter I want to pile on the rings and maybe throw on a waist belt.

5. Accent shades

Brown is actually a super versatile hue to wear, especially when you pair it with jewel tones like emerald greens, sapphire blues and warm yellow. The overall look is rich, sumptuous and slightly reminiscent of a box of Quality Street! My finishing touch to my look was my little Miu Miu clutch, the shade contrasts beautifully with the deep brown dress and the gold chain detailing gives it a luxe edge.

Dress - Zara | Shoes - Topshop (past season) | Bag - Miu Miu (past season)

Photography by Adorngirl.

Why Your Own Platform Is Your Most Powerful Channel As A Content Creator

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 28 Aug 2018 07:30:00 +0000

Back in 2008, I started this blog and began to call myself a blogger in a somewhat sheepish manner - this was in the early days of blogging when no one really knew what a blog was. Explaining that you had a website where you wrote about fashion and took pictures of yourself with a self-timer in your bedroom felt a bit weird but over time, blogging started becoming mainstream and "acceptable". What started as a few dozen people carving out a little corner of the internet for themselves quickly turned into a blogging army of thousands in the UK.

It's been incredible to see the industry evolve over the years. What started off as a little hobby or passion project has evolved into fully formed businesses and a profitable industry. In turn, the term blogger has filtered out and was replaced with influencer or content creator. I prefer the latter as we are now creating content across multiple platforms - full posts on the blog with horizontal images, square images and witty captions for Instagram, snippets of everyday life for Twitter, engaging videos for YouTube and inspo/mood boards for Pinterest. A stark contrast to the days of self-shooting in your bedroom with bad lighting and zero editing!

Instagram is undoubtedly one of the key channels for creators, so much so that many have either given up their blog to focus on Instagram or completely skipped starting a blog in fave of IG. As longer captions and galleries started to become popular, blogs started so seem a little redundant - what's the point in creating long read content when Instagram posts are quicker and easier? IG is also the first port of call for everything, from doing a quick background check on a potential Bumble date to discovering a new brand; your Instagram profile is your new business card.

However, focusing solely on Instagram puts all of your eggs in one basket and you're limited to the whims of the algorithm, which we all know is as fickle as the weather. I was an early adopter of Instagram, back in the days when it was a fun channel full of Valencia-filtered snapshots of real life. As it evolved into a super important, super filtered channel, I was slow to react and grow my following. I'm now stuck in a weird IG void, full of creators who are putting out good content, using hashtags and engaging with their audience but seeing zero pay off. Growth is slow or non-existent and I'm constantly having to chop and change my strategy as the algorithm changes all while watching people who I know use bots to grow. It's a little disheartening, to say the least!

Last year, I wrote a post on why I've decided to ignore the numbers and enjoy Instagram as a platform. It was liberating. And in the 12 months since I wrote that post, I've accepted that I'm never going to be a super influencer...and that's totally fine with me. I don't want to give up my life just to have a high number of followers. I want to enjoy my life and live it while sharing some moments online rather than planning my life around creating content to fit a certain aesthetic.

Take travel for example, I'm super passionate about travelling to exciting destinations and sharing that with my audience but I'd rather enjoy where I am, immerse myself in the culture and create memories rather than slavishly trying to create the perfect moment. Recently, I visited Paris and while I dressed down in kicks, oversized tees and cycling shorts I saw other influencers in tutus clutching a bunch of helium balloons by the banks of the Seine. It seemed ludicrous to go to an incredibly beautiful city with an impractical wardrobe just to capture a shot and filter in a pink sky and Photoshop out all of the people in the background. That's when I realised that I just don't care enough to devote my entire life to a platform that makes me jump through ridiculous hoops and doesn't reward my hard work.

Rather than being discouraged completely, I decided to reframe and focus on what I can impact - my own platform. The beauty of having your own platform is that you are in control. No one can tell me what content to put together, what I can write or what I can wear. I can do what I like on my platform and the work I put in pays off because the goal posts aren't constantly shifting.

As a weekend creator, I have had to prioritise where I spend my time and while I've been posting weekly content to my blog consistently for over a year and posting to Instagram nearly daily, I've ignored the maintenance and upkeep of my blog. I'm not 100% happy with my blog platform and branding and I've totally neglected the SEO side. In hindsight, it seems crazy that I've ignored the nuts and bolts of a platform that I have control and ownership over! If I'm not happy with the performance, I can work at it and my changes make a difference, I'm not a slave to bi-weekly algorithm changes. Any tweaks I make to the site or copy is evident immediately while any SEO effects will be seen within weeks.

So what am I actually working on?

Have a blog-first mentality

I touched on this when I shared my blogging goals for the rest of 2018. I'm concentrating on creating authentic, meaningful content which resonates with my audience. I'm shifting my focus so that my blog is at the core of my content creation strategy and other channels follow the message and content of my blog. This means creating the content I want to and carving out my own aesthetic rather than following social media trends - you certainly won't catch me posing outside of Peggy Porschen!

I'm working on creating an editorial calendar I actually want to stick to. I've created several in the past but my renewed focus has crystalised that I need to put my blog at the centre of my plans. I'm hoping planning my content further out will help evolve my blog content and create a consistent voice.

Optimising my blog's SEO

In the short-term, I'm working on SEO to help more people find my blog. I have already set up Google Analytics and Search Console to make sure Google knows my site exists. But SEO is more than just ticking a couple of boxes, you need to continually optimise your site and content to ensure you rank for the relevant keywords.

As I neglected my blog maintenance for so long, I started with a deadlink audit and discovered I had over 500 dead links on my blog! Dead links are essentially sites that I have referenced and linked to in old posts which now do not work - this is usually where I've linked to an old product, brand, site or blog which no longer exists. This negatively impacts SEO as one of the ways Google rank websites is by crawling their links, a high number of dead links can stop search engine spiders from crawling your site and indexing it...which is bad.

I have now removed the dead links and archived some very out of date posts. The next step is to make sure my existing posts are optimised for the correct keywords. Tools like Moz Keyword Explorer and KeywordTool.IO are invaluable for researching keywords which have high search volumes but little competition - it's much more effective to go after these longtail keywords rather than broad keywords which have high competition. These keyword terms need to be worked into the title of my posts as well as the first paragraph. They also need to be factored into images, which need to have descriptive alt tags and keywords.

Rebranding my blog

I started my blog a decade ago and I've tweaked the branding over the years but I've been itching to completely overhaul my blog for a long time. The name and current look and feel don't really resonate with me anymore, I've grown so much as a person over the last ten years and it feels like there is a disconnect between me and my blog. I've started this task in earnest but metaphorically stripping my blog back to its bare bones to put it back together is a process that is taking time and I want to get it right. I can't wait to finalise my plans and share the brand new blog with you soon!

Are you shifting your focus onto your own platform? Is blogging relevant still? What content do you like to see?

Dress - ASOS | Heels - Nicholas Kirkwood

Photography by Adorngirl.

Ethical Fashion & The Instagram Brands You Need To Know

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 21 Aug 2018 07:30:00 +0000

Despite working in luxury fashion for years, I'm a huge advocate of affordable fashion. I love how stores like Topshop, New Look and H&M democratise fashion and trends; you don't have to spend a lot to look a million bucks. Although I splurge on designer pieces from time to time, I still love the accessibility and affordability of the high street, I even wrote my dissertation on how high street stores use branding as a form of competitive advantage.

However, like many, I've become increasingly conscious of consumption and my shopping habits. Working in the industry for so long, I've realised that affordability comes at a price and I'm not completely comfortable with the human cost of my £10 bargains.

The first time my eyes were opened to the ugly side of fashion was in 2013 when the Rana Plaza garment factory in Bangladesh collapsed. Over 1,100 workers were killed and unions called it a "mass industrial homicide". The tragedy highlighted the unsafe and illegal conditions that garment workers endure for pitiful pay. Bangladeshi garment workers are paid the lowest wage globally yet nearly 5 million people are employed in the industry. In the five years since, an alliance and an accord have been put together to try to protect workers. Nearly 100,000 violations were identified but reinforcing the regulations is very hit and miss.

Last year, it came to light that one of the factories that makes clothes for Zara hadn't paid workers for months. It came to light as customers discovered notes desperate notes into the pockets of the clothes they had sewn. The factory also supplied clothes to Next and Mango but workers targeted Zara as the majority of clothing was for them. Zara owner Amancio Ortega is the 5th richest man in the world.

Though not exclusively an issue limited to the high street, fast fashion retailers perpetuate the issue with low prices and high turnover of stock, resulting in a constant demand and the prioritisation of profit above ethics. As a consumer and knowing what I know about the industry, I'm conscious of the choices I make and I'm now trying to avoid buying clothes unnecessarily. As Vivienne Westwood herself said "Buy less. Choose well. Make it last. Quality, not quantity. Everybody's buying far too many clothes.".

I acknowledge that this isn't easy, particularly as a fashion content creator. The pressure to always wear the newest, hottest piece is crazy. I touched upon the issue in a previous post where I discussed repeating outfits and the state of blogging. Instead of turning to high street stores, I'm trying to find independent brands who are less likely to exploit their garment workers.

Last year I wrote about Instagram being my favourite place to discover brands and that's exactly where I discovered this top by British-based designer Olivia Rose. I can't quite remember where I found her but I instantly fell in love with the piece, clicked through to her profile and hit the follow button. I then discovered that Olivia set up her label just last year and she handmakes each piece to order in limited quantities with fabrics sourced in the UK.

I simply had to buy one of her pieces. But instead of that instant gratification of an impulse purchase which quickly fades away, I patiently waited a couple of weeks for Olivia to cut, sew and ship my top along with a handwritten note. The excitement of opening that parcel hasn't gone away, I adore my beautiful top and I've worn it to death already. I smile every time I slip it on, something I've never gotten from a Zara top. I'm already planning my next purchase, which I'm sure I'll treasure too.

Along with Olivia's gorgeous brand, I'm really into these brands which I also discovered on IG:
Esthe
Orseund Iris
Rat and Boa
I am Gia
Mebuar
Daily Paper
With Jean
The Posse

Photography by Adorngirl.

The Five Denim Brands To Buy Right Now

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 07 Aug 2018 07:30:00 +0000

I want you to come on a little journey back in time with me. As a kid growing up with a brother and two step-brothers, I was a huge tomboy. You were more likely to catch me climbing up a tree than having a tea party with my teddies. As I entered my teens, I became interested in makeup and skincare but the tomboy traits definitely stayed put. Jeans were all I wore and they were pretty much my style signature, so much so that my young and impressionable niece only wanted to wear jeans or denim skirts because that's all she saw her favourite auntie wearing.

Even as a uni student in the '00s, my jeans were practically superglued on. But I graduated from high street finds to proper denim brands. I became somewhat of a connoisseur. I'd find out what brands my favourite celebrities were wearing via magazines or forums (remember those?) and hunt them down on eBay. My favourite brands back then were Paper Denim & Cloth, True Religion and Seven For All Mankind. eBay was the only place I could afford to buy my brands at a reasonable price, it was about 50% cheaper than RRP so I became an expert at working out my size based on fit and measurement details and my attention to detail for spotting fakes was almost obsessive. I was basically the Hercule Poirot of denim shopping.

During a very short stint in a telemarketing job during the uni holidays, I even helped a colleague hunt down half a dozen pairs of jeans on eBay after she asked for recommendations because she loved my jeans so much. Looking back, I really should have charged a commission for my personal shopping services!

Eventually, as with all love affairs, I eventually grew tired of denim. Partly because fashion started to move away from denim which dominated the industry in the '00s and partly due to work dress codes. Working in a professional environment meant that sometimes jeans were outlawed at work. I spent nearly 4 years working at Harrods, jeans (and sneakers) were absolutely not allowed in the office, even though denim was seeing a resurgence and premium denim brands were once again super desirable. This is around the time Vetements created their controversial $1,000 jeans! But I just didn't see the point in investing in a pair of jeans if I wasn't allowed to wear them for 42 hours of the week.

This changed last year as I said goodbye to the world's most famous luxury department store and hello to a new role in the sneaker world. Jeans and kicks were back on the menu. I started to dip my toe back into the world of denim, first starting with some high street favourites. Topshop jeans are a fashion editor staple so I bought a couple of classic pairs then picked up a couple of pairs from the likes of Zara and Whistles.

Fast-forward a year and my familiar denim-obsessive ways are back. I've fallen in love with denim again and willing to invest in a decent pair which lasts - as great as high street jeans are, they always end up losing their shape and are rarely made of good quality, rigid denim. While the likes of Paper Denim and 7FAM are still around, there are SO many new brands I'm like a kid in a candy store. A well-informed kid with Google at her fingertips and an appetite to learn before making a very well informed decision. But this time, instead of just sharing my knowledge with a colleague, I'm going to share my top five denim brands to buy right now!

GRLFRND

Launched in SS16, GRLFRND was founded by the team at Revolve. The jeans are designed and made in LA and the brand features 10 key silhouettes. I really like the range of silhouettes, washes and details of each pair. They are also the brand I'm wearing in this shoot. I'm wearing the Karolina, which basically makes your ass look incredible. I went for a classic blue wash but hunted down the permanently sold-out style which has a little slash under the buttcheek. Because I'm a little cheeky like that.

RE/DONE

Describing itself as a movement, RE/DONE was founded by Sean Barron and Jamie Mazur with the aim of keeping heritage brands relevant and creating sustainable fashion as well as focusing on individuality. What does this mean in practice? They take vintage Levi's and repurpose them, hence the name. Jeans are taken apart at the seams and put back together again in a new silhouette so needless to say each pair is unique.

Levi's

I know you know Levi's but this wouldn't be a list of denim brands that you need in your life without the grand dame. Founded way back in 1853 in California, Levi's are a classic symbol of All-American style. I recently rediscovered Levi's when I was on the hunt for the perfect pair of denim shorts. Exasperated by high street brands which made my booty look as flat as a pancake, I popped into Levi's. I shimmied into a pair which the sales assistant recommended and I'm pretty sure I heard angels singing when I pulled up the zipper and buttoned the fly. My butt looked pert, round and perfectly peachy. Sold. They are the best pair of denim shorts I have ever owned.

AGOLDE

AGOLDE is a recently relaunched 90s denim brand founded by Jerome Dahan, the king of denim who also founded 7FAM and Citizens of Humanity. They also put a contemporary twist on classic denim styles, using fabrics sources from around the world and developed in LA. As with most 90s brands, the vibe is very irreverent, anti-fashion and slightly rebellious.

Frame

The founders of Frame, Erik Torstensson and Jens Grede, are actually in the branding game - they co-founded superstar brand agency Saturday and have no designer credentials. This didn't stop them from conquering the denim world though, Frame is one of the fastest growing denim brands in the world. With supermodel fans such as Karlie Kloss and Lara Stone, it's no surprise that their jeans are perfect for that nonchalant, model off-duty look.

Bodysuit - Missy Empire | Jeans - GRLFRND | Heels - Topshop

Photography by Adorngirl.

The Reason Why I Travel

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 31 Jul 2018 07:00:00 +0000

As soon as I saw these pics, they just screamed HAVANA to me. The deep turquoise contrasts beautifully with the zingy yellow of my dress and it just makes me daydream of warmer climes...even though it was shot in a stairwell in Peckham!

I haven't actually been to Havana (yet) but its visuals provide such a strong reference point, from the art nouveau and art deco architecture, vibrant colours and super cool classic cars. It's definitely high on my list of places to travel along with....well, everywhere.

You may have noticed on the blog and on social that I'm a bit of a moving target. Travel is one of my main passions, along with fashion and food. On average, I tend to travel somewhere once a month. Often short-haul trips to Europe along with a couple of trips to far-flung destinations a couple of times a year. It sounds decadent but exploring the globe is important to me and its something that I prioritise, much like people prioritise Chanel handbags or a new car. I guess I fit the millennial stereotype of preferring experiences to things. Every time I travel, I learn and grow as I discover a new place and a different culture. I go in with my eyes wide open and my arms flung wide, ready to embrace the new and broaden my experience.

I know I'm very blessed to be able to travel and I'm so grateful that I have the opportunity to. I was bitten by the bug young, my parents would take us away as much as possible as kids, first to places in the UK like Cornwall, Loch Ness and the Welsh countryside and then to places like Florida or Australia to visit my family there. As I grew older, I took weekend breaks to Europe when I could afford to and explored places like Barcelona, Budapest and Marrakesh.

I would call these trips holidays as opposed to travelling. To me, there's a distinct difference - a holiday is just popping somewhere, enjoying it but not straying too far from the well-trodden tourist track whereas travelling is a much more intoxicating experience. It's peeling the layers back and really feeling a place, connecting with the people and immersing yourself in its culture. It's venturing off into the far corners and away from the well-beaten paths. Sometimes it means stepping out of your comfort zone but that's often where the magic begins.

Like most modern voyages of self-discovery, my transition from holidaying to travelling starts with heartbreak. Four years ago I walked away from an abusive relationship and that little act of braveness has changed my life in more ways than I could have ever imagined. While I didn't experience physical abuse, the emotional and psychological abuse became so intense it nearly broke me. Isolated from my friends and practically a prisoner in my own home, I wasn't even a shell of my former self. I barely existed. Everything had been stripped away from me, I switched my emotions off and I was like a ghost.

When I walked away, the relief wasn't immediate. I felt numb for a long time, I guess I had gotten used to not feeling anything. Slowly I began returning to the 'old me'. The colour came back. I learned to smile, to go out and live without crippling fear and anxiety. Sometimes while I was having dinner or drinks with friends, I'd have silent moments where I was so thankful I had the freedom to go out that I nearly cried.

As the months passed, I realised that that relationship nearly killed me and I counted my blessings for escaping. I was determined to live, to make each day count. I relished my freedom and I felt like I could do anything I wanted. Life felt limitless. On a whim, I booked a flight. To Cambodia. In two weeks' time. I'd never been away on my own. I'd never been to Asia. I didn't even own a backpack. But I'll be damned if any of that was going to hold me back.

That trip to Cambodia was life-changing. Arriving with a newly purchased backpack and no idea where I was staying that night, I decided to fully embrace whatever came my way and live the fuck out of life. Over the next 2 weeks were like nothing I've experienced before. From waking up before sunrise to visit temples alone at sunrise in Siem Reap to drinking rooftop cocktails from a teapot with new friends in Phnom Penh, I was living joyfully, revelling in the cultural riches of this amazing new land. As each experience unfolded, I fell further and further in love with this beautiful country, with travelling and with myself.

Since then I've travelled to some incredible places including Vietnam, Malaysia, Bali, Myanmar, Kenya and Zanzibar. But Cambodia will forever hold a special place in my heart. It's a beautiful country with a rich, tragic history and the most wonderful people you could hope to meet on your travels. It's also the place where I pieced myself back together after being ripped to shreds. It felt almost like hitting the reset button, except I was stronger, wiser and more worldly than the 'old me'. It had such a profound effect on me that even now, four years on, I still feel a huge rush of emotions when I talk about it. It healed me in a way I never thought possible.

Sometimes the most unusual catalyst can propel you to unexpected places and sometimes you can find yourself in places that you've never been before. I'm so grateful that I had the opportunity to explore the globe and discover a little more of myself in each place that I've travelled to.

Dress - Topshop | Shoes (similar) - ASOS

Photography by Adorngirl.

Life Update

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 19 Jul 2018 07:00:00 +0000

Nine flights, seven beaches, four cities and one broken suitcase later and an epic two month period of crazy travel has finally drawn to a close. Even for a self-confessed travel junkie, that was a LOT of time in the sky and exploring different places. I've never missed London (or my bed) so much in my life! Now that the dust has settled, I wanted to write another quick life update, reflecting on my travels and the perils or practically living on planes!

After two long trips to San Francisco, I feel like I can call the city home. Not home-home like London but a second home. The second trip felt comfortable and familiar, like shrugging on a cosy old jumper. I knew the lay of the land, made a plan to hit up my favourite restaurants and really hit the ground running. As a traveller, I'm forever torn between wanting to explore new places and returning to old favourites. Sometimes it's nice to come back to a place which feels familiar.

In between my trips to the west coast, I also spent time on the east coast, returning to New York for the third time before heading off to a wedding in North Carolina and a week of blissful sunshine, pristine beaches and of course rum punch in Barbados.

Although that all sounds dreamy, it was actually very draining to constantly be on the go and living out of a suitcase for the most part. Sometimes I'd wake up not knowing where I was and my body clock was all over the place. I also ended up getting very sick on my return to London, I think my body had just given up by that point and knew it was "ok" to break down as I was finally back home.

I've been in London for 6 weeks now but only really feel like I'm starting to enjoy it now as I spent so long in bed. Bed rest and antibiotics really do work wonders! And now, thankfully, I'm back on my feet and looking forward to not leaving the country for about a month. I'm really looking forward to spending London in my city, soaking up the unbelievable sunshine we've been blessed with and getting my life back on track. Back to the gym, back to cooking and definitely back to weekly blog posts, which I've really been missing!

One of the best things about being away for so long is really appreciating the life I've built at home and being able to see it with fresh eyes. I've got a renewed focus and I've even set some goals for the rest of 2018. It's so good to be back!

Reena
x

Dress - ASOS | Heels - Aquazzura

Photography by Adorngirl.

Thoughts on ageing from a 30+ blogger

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 05 Jul 2018 07:22:00 +0000

There's nothing like approaching a birthday to make you stop in your tracks and take stock of your life. I'm a little sad that I wasn't actively blogging when I was approaching my 30th birthday as it's a huge milestone that I would have liked to have documented, but I feel like I made up for it six months ago when I shared my thoughts about my non-milestone 33rd birthday and how I'm looking forward to celebrating the shit out of life. I'm fast approaching my next half-birthday and while I'm wondering where the hell the last 6 months have flown, I'm also contemplating getting older and society's obsession with age.

I touched on the topic of ageing and how society's perception pivots once you hit 30 in my previous post and I think it deserves its own blog post. My twenties were a blur and I feel like I only started coming into my own after I reached 30 and to me, it still feels young - with all going well I'm only *a third* of my way through my life. Yet the media is full of lists of things you should 'tick off' before you hit 30, presumably after that you're confined to a zimmer frame and unable to go bungee jumping or even do an epic road trip!

The blogosphere isn't much different from mainstream media. If I see one more post on about turning 29 and fearing "the big 3-0", I'm going to...realistically not do anything aside from not click the link but it's nauseating and further perpetuates this irrational fear of one more rotation around the sun. Blogging started out as the antithesis to the narrow beauty ideals that traditional media perpetuates but here we are, with 25-year-olds partnering with antiaging brands lamenting turning 30.

I was overjoyed when the amazing Hayley Hall set up Thirty Plus, an inclusive blogger collective aimed at championing bloggers of ALL ages and interests. This is what the world needs more of; to see that your time on earth doesn't zap your worth, it increases it. It disproportionately affects women too. Women are taught that their age is a taboo subject and to worry about an imaginary clock tick-tick-ticking away while men are able to continue getting older without worrying that their age might affect their attractiveness, sexuality, career or how the world perceives them.

My final thoughts on ageing? I feel prettier and more confident than I ever did during my "prime", despite the media trying their hardest to make me feel the opposite. As I've stumbled, made mistakes, grown and learnt, I have become a better human being and a more valuable member of society. I have discovered topics which are important to be, such as diversity, and have pivoted my blog content to reflect this instead of just focusing on what I'm wearing or have been gifted. The most profound change for me, as I've aged, has been on the inside. Youth is a gift of nature but age is a work of art.

Top - River Island | Jeans - Topshop | Belt - Off White | Trainers - Fila

Photography by Adorngirl.

Setting Blogger Goals

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 14 Jun 2018 07:00:00 +0000

Ok, I need to admit something. I'm really shit at setting goals. Not to toot my own horn but I have accomplished a lot in my 33 years on Earth but it always seems to be a happy coincidence as a result of hard work and reacting well to situations rather than meticulously planning where I want to be and working towards it. But after a couple of years of floating a little aimlessly, I'm coming around to the idea of setting goals and giving myself homework.

Don't get me wrong, winging it has served me well for years. I graduated with a 2:1 from a great business school, became a director of an agency at 27, worked with the most prestigious brands in the world and I'm currently in my dream job.

Aside from work, I've travelled a hell of a lot. Thirty-five countries at the last count. And this little blog, which I set up on a whim one evening from my bedroom at my parent's house in the Hampshire countryside over patchy wifi has done so well over the last decade. It's introduced me to some incredible people who I now call friends and bought so many collaborations with brands my way. One of the things I'm proudest of is being part of the British Fashion Council's Blogger Panel, fashion and supporting emerging designers are close to my heart and to have a nod of approval from the BFC was a true 'pinch me' moment.

As I've grown older, I've become more focused on what it is that I want and also how precious life is. This is why I want to focus on setting myself goals, to take my long-term vision and turn it into short-term motivation. Having a huge goal can be inspiring but daunting, I often don't know where to start. But having a clearly defined vision helps to break down the smaller steps required to achieve that big goal. And each step forward is measured progress.

So, what are my actual goals for the rest of 2018? I'm going to share what I have set out for my blog rather than my whole life:

- Consistency. Working full time and blogging in my spare time means that focus on my blog flexes with the time I have available. I've fallen out of love with blogging, not had time and beaten myself up for being a "bad blogger". But over since 2017, I've found my groove and rediscovered the joy of writing and creating content. I want to be more consistent and write one post a week and also be more consistent about sharing my writing on social media.

- Create authentic, meaningful content. Over the last year, I've really learned the impact of using my voice. My most popular posts have been the ones where I talk about my experience as a British Indian woman or talk about the pressure bloggers face. I want to keep creating content which resonates with my audience, makes a difference and is authentic to my values.

- Grow my socials. I don't have a set goal of reaching 10k followers on Instagram because IG changes the goalposts on a bi-weekly basis and we all see the effects of this - follower numbers yo-yo-ing up and down and wildly inconsistent engagement. While I do want to grow my following, I don't want to be a slave to exact numbers and get upset with each setback. If I lose 15 followers overnight, I'm not going to worry about it too much as long as my overall number is growing monthly.

- Continue to support young designers. I have been attending London Fashion Week for 8 years and Paris for 2 years. While the big-ticket shows are fun, what I love the most is discovering new designers before they have hit the big time. There's something so exciting about seeing raw talent and using my platform to support them. Fashion is a tough industry and I think it's so important to nurture young design talent.

- Continue talks with young people. One unexpected opportunity which has come my way is giving talks to young people who are in college. In the last seven months, I've given two talks and it's been so rewarding. Talking about everything from my career journey to stress, dating and social media, I feel so fortunate to be able to share my journey to inspire the younger generations. I really enjoy doing these talks and want to do two more before the end of the year.

What are your goals for the rest of the year?

Tshirt - H&M | Skirt - Topshop | Heels - Aquazzura

Photography by Adorngirl.

Five Ways to Deal With Stress Positively

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 25 May 2018 07:30:00 +0000

What a whirlwind life has been! In my previous post, I shared exciting news about my day job and shared that I will be travelling to the US a fair bit over the next couple of months. My first trip, a two-week stint in San Francisco, is over and I have two more trips to gear myself up for. But in the meantime, I have three days to prepare for a huge work event where I will be hosting a panel discussion. What's that saying, no rest for the wicked?!

I'm not complaining, I actually relish a busy, stressful life. Being a Londoner, it seems to be the norm to be rushed off your feet rather than having a quiet life. But busy shouldn't be worn as a badge of honour. I love having a full plate and travelling but that doesn't negate the toll it's going to take on my body an mind. I'm really feeling the effects of jetlag and honestly, everything is feeling like a struggle. Waking up in the morning is a struggle, being able to fall asleep is a battle, there aren't enough hours in the day to do everything, where did all that laundry come from and do my friends even remember who I am?!

Sometimes it feels like life is stacked against you and you're fighting against the world. At times like this, it's easy to react negatively. I can hold my hands up to reacting to stress by becoming irritable, short-tempered and snappy; I'm sure everyone reading this can attest to indulging in that behaviour. It's a natural reaction but I've realised it's so counter-productive and only serves to produce a cloud of negativity. Instead, I'm trying to be conscious about how I react to stress. I realised that we can't necessarily control the amount of stress in our lives but we can control our reactions to it and I've been retraining my brain to unlearn those negative knee-jerk reactions and reacting more positively.

You know what, it has made a huge difference in my stress levels, my mindset and my overall happiness. I can honestly say that despite being hella tired, stressed and a little grouchy, I'm the happiest I have been for a long time. I attribute a lot of this down to shifting my mindset. I'm always one to spread good vibes so I wanted to share my top five ways to shift your mindset and deal with stress in a more positive way:

1. Switch off
When life is stressful, it is totally fine to withdraw slightly and take time for yourself. Cancel plans, take a raincheck on the gym, do what you need to do but put yourself first. Sometimes downsizing your obligations can be incredibly liberating and necessary. As an introvert, I actually *need* time alone to process and it's taken me a while to realise this is okay.

2. Focus on solutions
It can be really easy to indulge and wallow in stress. I've definitely worn stress as a badge of honour and focused on how stressed I am instead of trying to fix it. But why waste that energy focusing on the problem rather than the solution? Instead of stressing about being wide awake till 3 am and waking up knackered after just 4 hours of sleep, I've focused on finding a solution - baths, sleep sprays, reading, sleep tea. I'm still jetlagged but I'm feeling better with each passing day because I realised I have the power to change my situation. I feel positive as I've taken ownership of my problem and taken steps to fix the situation.

3. Reframe
I learnt to reframe from a wonderful therapist I saw a few years ago. Instead of dwelling on a problem or situation, we worked on reframing my mindset to think positively. This is helpful because some situations simply can't be resolved and I found that acknowledging that the issue is bigger than you can be freeing. It allows you to focus on the positive things and express gratitude. Expressing gratitude actually improves your psychological health by reducing toxic emotions. This tiny shift in my mindset has been extremely useful in dealing with the big stuff, like my mum's cancer or being made redundant.

4. Random acts of kindness
Sometimes when you're most in need, the best thing to do is give. When you're feeling down or stressed, sometimes you need to be an agent of change and be the good you wish to see in the world. I try to practice kindness every day, especially when I'm down as it cheers me up and it's empowering to see that you can positively impact someone else's life. Whether it's offering someone your seat on the tube or giving your Deliveroo driver a hefty tip, try doing something nice for someone.

5. Meditate
I'm a huge advocate of the benefits of meditation. It can help quiet your mind, give focus or clarity and help with healing. Recently, I've been far too exhausted to meditate "properly" so I've been turning to meditation music to help me find my centre. I found tons on YouTube which are set at various frequencies to help your body heal. I found this one useful to cleanse any anxiety, this one for healing and promoting positive energy and I pop this on when I'm sleeping as it's 6 hours long. I always wake up feeling much more refreshed.

I hope my tips have helped!

Bodysuit - T by Alexander Wang| Camo pants - Missguided | Heels - Brian Atwood | Belt - Off White Jewellery - Topshop

Photography by Adorngirl