Chicago
A couple of weeks ago I went up to Chicago for the weekend. I stayed at the Public Hotel, which had dreamy all white interiors and was located just a short walk from the water. As you might expect, the weather in Chicago this time of the year is absolutely freezing.
A couple of weeks ago I went up to Chicago for the weekend. I stayed at the Public Hotel, which had dreamy all white interiors and was located just a short walk from the water. As you might expect, the weather in Chicago this time of the year is absolutely freezing. As a result I wrapped a scarf around my face enough times to cover just about everything but my eyes - a trick I highly recommend.
Wearing: Jigsaw coat, Muriee scarf, Mykita sunglasses, Gap bag, boot and jeans.
En Soie, Zurich
When you wander into En Soie you enter a magical little trove of treasures. The store is packed full of treats and is a bonafide Zurich gem. Since 1894 they've been producing handmade items, all designed in their atelier which is situated just up a cobblestoned road next to the store.
When you wander into En Soie you enter a magical little trove of treasures. The store is packed full of treats and is a bonafide Zurich gem. Since 1894 they've been producing handmade items, all designed in their atelier which is situated just up a cobblestoned road next to the store.
If you pop into the shop you'll find racks of quirky clothes, a wall covered in scarves, cosmetic pouches, table wear, shoes, jewelry and pretty much anything else you could desire. At the moment it's decked out in full on Christmas cheer - with a tree and a table laid out as if guests should be arriving any moment for a feast. The staff are super friendly and you might even spot the resident dog lurking about if you're lucky.
My favourite part though is a little secret situated at the back. The first few times I visited I didn't even notice it was there. There's a small staircase right next to the fitting rooms that goes down into a cellar. There you'll find a tiny little alcove filled from floor to ceiling with hand painted pottery. They've got everything you could need - checked dog bowls, plates, egg cups, massive vases and even adorable little ornaments shaped like sheep.
If you're ever in Zurich make sure to stop by En Soie, it's a must see in the city. Bypass the cheesy tourist shops and instead buy something special in here, you're sure to love it for years.
En Soie is located at Strehlgasse 26, Zurich 8001.
Portugal
Recently, I headed over to Portugal for a little holiday. It was my first time in the country and I had absolutely no idea what to expect. Our first stop was Lisbon where we stayed at the Heritage Avenida Liberdade Hotel. It's located right in the center of town on a street lined with lots of luxury shops (perfect for browsing on a lazy afternoon).
Recently, I headed over to Portugal for a little holiday. It was my first time in the country and I had absolutely no idea what to expect.
Our first stop was Lisbon where we stayed at the Heritage Avenida Liberdade Hotel. It's located right in the center of town on a street lined with lots of luxury shops (perfect for browsing on a lazy afternoon). On one of our days there I came down with a nasty stomach bug so spent the day in bed. Thankfully the hotel had a big selection of TV channels (including TLC - yey) and so I got to watch my ultimate favourite guilty pleasure show. Lisbon was a pretty great city to explore. Everything was super cheap (hello beer for €1.50). The food was really good - we had loads of fish and way too many pastel de nata (you've got to try it if you're ever in Portugal).
On one day we took a short train ride to the nearby town of Belem. While there we visited the Berardo Museum - a modern art museum filled with a seriously impressive collection. It's an absolute must see as, not only does it house some of the world's best artists, it's virtually empty and free. The best bit though is that there's a mist water feature outside which you can run through. Absolutely perfect and essential in the scorching Portuguese heat. While there we also stopped by the Jeronimos Monastery. Belem is right on the coast so if you get tired of sightseeing just snatch up some food and enjoy it in the park where you can soak up the beautiful views (that's what we did).
I wore a Paul & Joe Sister top covered in tiny blue lips, Acne jeans, Havaianas and Mykita sunglasses.
Our next stop was Cascais - a little beachside town located about 20 miles away from Lisbon. I'd definitely recommend it if you're looking to get away from the city and you want to spend a little time sticking your toes in the sand. We stayed at the super chic Onyria Marinha Hotel. It has a minimalist design aesthetic and all feels very zen. Unfortunately the pool was so enticing (it was salt water) that I had little motivation to leave the resort and go explore the town. When we did though I was intrigued by all the beautiful tiles on buildings that were verging on falling apart.
Overall I really enjoyed my time in Portugal. It has a very laid back atmosphere. You can get everywhere by taxi (the most you'll pay is €6 to get across town) which makes navigating easy and stress free. The food is delicious and the people are friendly. It's perfect if you're looking for a low cost getaway. It feels a bit foreign and exotic but is still really close by (if you're in Europe). If you haven't been yet, I'd definitely recommend it.
Nolita
I took a taxi from JFK to Manhattan, all the while fearing for my life, and landed in the lobby of the über cool Nolitan Hotel. After checking in, I was asked if I'd like a glass of champagne - to which I replied, 'YESSSS.'
Why, hello there. Remember me? No, no, I didn't die. But thanks for all your e-mails and tweets asking me if I did. It's been a long time since we last spoke and I suppose I owe you a bit of an explanation for where I've been. Well, I went to America for quite a long time and only just recently got home. I did pack my laptop and had every intention of interacting with the world but when my eyes locked on those of my three little nieces and nephew I swore to not do any work and instead hurled myself down a rather dodgy slip-and-slide (you know, as you do). Can you blame me though? Rejecting the online world for an entire month is an amazing feat.
Anyway, let's rewind exactly one month to when I touched down in New York City.
I took a taxi from JFK to Manhattan, all the while fearing for my life, and landed in the lobby of the über cool Nolitan Hotel. After checking in, I was asked if I'd like a glass of champagne - to which I replied, 'YESSSS.' So there I was: squeezed onto the balcony of my hotel room overlooking a busy street, sipping on champagne and taking in the deafening (but glorious) sound of New York City traffic. Perfection.
I crawled onto the bed after exploring the wonders of the balcony and discovered that the sheets were the most indescribably soft things my skin had ever encountered. Honestly, they were amazing. I think the fibers were laced with cotton candy. That night we ventured around the corner to a little restaurant called Bread, as recommended by the hotel staff. It was delicious. Granted, my husband's eggplant parmigiana was way better than the meatballs I had... but still, it was well worth the visit.
The next morning we were feeling ambitious and full of life so decided to head down the street to 24 Hour Fitness where we engaged in a little early morning workout. On the way back, we stopped by The Butcher's Daughter for a little detoxifying juice. Much to my shock the little baby set me back $10 but, I've got to say, it was the best juice of my life.
Afterwards we headed out in search of food. I was craving eggs royale and after much wandering we finally stumbled into Cafe Select. It wasn't until we had already been seated that we noticed the bircher muesli on the menu and the Zurich themed posters on the wall... how, on earth, had we managed to come all the way from Switzerland and wind up in a Swiss themed restaurant on our first morning in New York? Oh well. The food was good and we enjoyed hissing over the hilarious exaggerated accents of the people at the table next to us. Post-breakfast we borrowed some bikes from the hotel (yes, they lend out bikes - so good) and we headed towards the Brooklyn Bridge. Through Chinatown we went and I promise I only screeched from fear of death once. It was an incredibly long and sweaty endeavour but the ride was, without a doubt, my favourite part of the entire trip to the city. If you're ever in town, man-up and ride a bike around. Just beware of impending traffic. There is obviously a lot of it.
We spent the rest of the afternoon wandering around Little Italy. I've only been to New York a handful of times but I've got to say this was my favourite area of the city I've ever stayed in. There are loads of awesome shops and restaurants to explore. The best part is that it doesn't feel too touristy at all and amazingly it isn't that crowded. Also, if you happen to be in the area and need a sugar rush you can always pop into the Little Cupcake Bakeshop on Prince Street for some yummy treats...
A massive thank you to the Nolitan Hotel for having us for a few days while we were in town. xx
Apsleys
Usually when I go to London I stay in the same place (Covent Garden) and eat at the same place (Byron). So, I thought maybe it was about time that I branch out a bit and try something different. You know, maybe venture east and take on the London Overground (I always thought it was the black hole of death but it turns out it's not so bad). This new adventure brought me to Dalston where I rested my head at the Avo Hotel. This unpretentious little gem was established in 2011, before which it was a post office, and is spread out over three floors. The rooms are compact and offer everything you could need, including dreamy views over the city's most iconic buildings. The best bit though has got to be the rainfall shower - I never wanted to step out of it. The walls are decked out in photographs by local artists and you can borrow DVD's for the hotel's ample collection. Most boutique hotels come with a hefty price tag but this isn't so with the Avo Hotel. Rooms start at just £79, so if you're looking for a well priced place to stay in London... well, look no further.
While in town I had the absolute joy of trying out Apsleys, a Heinz Beck restaurant that boasts its own Michelin Star. It's located at the grand Lanesborough Hotel in Knightsbridge and was well worth the trek across town. We had a (wait for it) seven course menu with wine for each chosen by the sommelier. To say we rolled out would be an understatement. You'd expect, with so many courses, for each to be tiny but this wasn't the case at all. Go to Apsleys and order the Carbonara Fagotelli, it will literally blow your mind. Each little piece of pasta is filled with a liquid concoction that oozes out as soon as you bite into it. When you receive it the waiter warms you against cutting each piece open with your knife because the contents will spill out. Instead, pop it into your mouth as one piece and enjoy as it bursts open. So delicious. I would go back simply for that single course alone, although all the others were delicious as well.
Nice, France
When I was in France I spent one day in Nice. The old town is beautiful with loads of winding little roads to explore. In the morning we hung out at the market - there were tons of flowers plus lots of food and paintings. One of my favourite parts of the city was seeing all the clothes hanging outside people's windows to dry.
France
Although leather baseball hats are currently all the rage, I'd just like to say that are actually really stupid. If it's hot the last thing you want to wear is a black freaking leather hat... when I stood in the sun my head was boiling. England, this trend was made for you.
There's nothing I love more than being swept off to a far away city...
Errr, I say that from my sofa where I've spent the last four days sitting on my tush nibbling on random bits of chocolate bunnies and staring at a TV. Did anyone else fall for the wonderfulness that is where me keys? Please, tell me I'm not alone. The most exciting thing I'd planned for this long holiday weekend was painting my nails and I haven't even managed to get that done. I promise, I'm not always quite this useless. The weather went all wintery a couple of day ago and I had no choice but to throw myself head-first into hibernation mode as soon as snow starting falling.
A couple of weeks ago I went to Paris to help celebrate the 20th anniversary of Disneyland Paris. As a total Disney nut I naturally jumped at the opportunity. Vienna International Hotels were the most wonderful hosts and I was super excited to go because my husband got to come along for the ride and Shini also came from London. We all stayed at the Dream Castle Hotel and, when we weren't spinning around on the teacups, saw a cabaret show, watched the Eiffel Tower glitter at midnight and spent a morning at Chateau Fontainebleau jumping on Marie Antoinette's bed (just kidding.. it was roped off). We got in earlier than anyone else and before lunch I managed to sneak in a run, a swim and spent half an hour in the sauna.
At Chateau Fontainebleau I just about keeled over - incredible beauty burst out of every bit of the building. The rooms were the epitome of anti-minimalism. Decadence and lavish embellishment were in mighty abundance... my white walls look grossly inadequate now.
This outfit is basically what I've been wearing non-stop recently. It has all my favorite things: Patouf jumper, 7 for all Mankind jeans, Mykita sunglasses, white Converse, Muriee cashmere scarf and Shini's leather hat (that I snuck out of her suitcase). Although leather baseball hats are currently all the rage, I'd just like to say that are actually really stupid. If it's hot the last thing you want to wear is a black freaking leather hat... when I stood in the sun my head was boiling. England, this trend was made for you.
I've never been that drawn to France but after this trip I'm aching to go back, even if it's just to visit L'ATMO again for lunch...
Massive thank you to Sabine and Vienna International Hotels for inviting me on the best press trip ever.
p.s. view more photos over on Facebook.
Disneyland, Paris
Cover me in bubble wrap and stick me in a box… I want to be shipped back to Disney. Some people like to launch into a philosophical discussion at the mere mention of Disney’s descent onto Europe. Would France have been a better place had Mickey and his theme park stuck to the sunny shores of the US?
Cover me in bubble wrap and stick me in a box... I want to be shipped back to Disney.
Some people like to launch into a philosophical discussion at the mere mention of Disney's descent onto Europe. Would France have been a better place had Mickey and his theme park stuck to the sunny shores of the US? Personally, I'd rather wear Minnie Mouse ears, eat pink food and ride on the teacups all day long than worry about those things. I literally could have stayed in that sunny park forever.
Riyka top
Thanks again to Vienna International Hotels for inviting me on the best press trip ever.
p.s. I wore a Riyka top, 7 for all Mankind jeans, Moxham taba bracelet and Converse... perfect for running between rides with Shini.
Teacup Postcard
I will never get too old for the teacups or for Disney. On my first day of Kindergarten I insisted on wearing a Minnie Mouse costume to school, complete with matching ears. For some reason my parents thought this behavior was permissible. I'm glad they did.
I will never get too old for the teacups or for Disney. On my first day of Kindergarten I insisted on wearing a Minnie Mouse costume to school, complete with matching ears. For some reason my parents thought this behavior was permissible. I'm glad they did.
Massive thank you to Vienna International Hotels for inviting me along to Paris to help celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Disneyland Paris.
Shini wears: floral top from Zara. I'm wearing: Riyka sweatshirt and Moxham taba bracelet.
Pilatus, Switzerland
This weekend I ran off to Lucern and spent half an hour in a cable car going up to Pilatus. I'm not normally phased by heights but it felt a little unnatural being up that high. Standing on the edge looking down, with nothing but a rickety old wooden railing standing between me and and a 7,000ft drop, was enough to get my legs shaking and my tummy feeling a little queasy.
This weekend I ran off to Lucern and spent half an hour in a cable car going up to Pilatus. I'm not normally phased by heights but it felt a little unnatural being up that high. Standing on the edge looking down, with nothing but a rickety old wooden railing standing between me and and a 7,000ft drop, was enough to get my legs shaking and my tummy feeling a little queasy. It was gorgeous but I was pretty happy when we made it back down in one piece. The headline of 'Swiss cable car plummets to death' was definitely reeling in my mind at one point...
Wearing: Element Wella jacket c/o Element, Retro Super Future Lucia sunglasses, M&S jumper, YSL arty ring, True Religion Joey jeans and converse.
Fielding Hotel, London
uring fashion week I got to stay at the Fielding Hotel for a week. It's tucked away between Drury Lane and Bow Street on a pedestrian only road called Broad Court. As far as central London goes, you couldn't ask for a more ideal location - it's right in the center of Covent Garden. It was perfect for fashion week and put me smack-dab in the middle of all the shows.
During fashion week I got to stay at the Fielding Hotel for a week. It's tucked away between Drury Lane and Bow Street on a pedestrian only road called Broad Court. As far as central London goes, you couldn't ask for a more ideal location - it's right in the center of Covent Garden. It was perfect for fashion week and put me smack-dab in the middle of all the shows. This meant I could fall out of bed at 8:30am, get a coffee from Starbucks, and still be at Somerset House at 9am. Seriously, I couldn't have been happier. Plus, Zara was just around the corner - which saved me one morning when I had a horrendous outfit crisis.
But, let's get down to the nitty gritty. Besides the great location, does the Fielding Hotel have anything to offer? As with all things, the website solidified my first impression. If I'm honest, it didn't make a great one. But, when I arrived the hotel didn't look at all like the photos - it's bright and welcoming with incredibly friendly staff and great quality rooms. For example, my room (number 16) was big and super comfortable - with two flat screen TVs, a massive bed and plenty of closet space. I had stairs leading to a separate sitting room, two desks and a lush bathroom with the most irresistible rainfall shower. The hotel has recently been given a makeover - so don't be fooled by the pictures on the website. The truth is, the Fielding Hotel has a whole lot more to offer than what first meets the eye...
A massive thank you to Chris for having me and to everyone at the hotel who was so welcoming, despite seeing me in my slightly ravished fashion week state. Thanks also to Kit for helping with the photos. Dress by Natar Georgiou.
eBay in Stockholm
Last week I was invited out to Stockholm for eBay's autumn/winter advertising shoot. Yeah, I was surprised at first too... eBay do advertising shoots?
Last week I was invited out to Stockholm for eBay's autumn/winter advertising shoot. Yeah, I was surprised at first too... eBay do advertising shoots?
From the pages of Vogue to the walls of the underground - I remember seeing the images from last year everywhere. I wasn't really sure what they were all about though. Turns out there's a little outlet tucked within the pages of eBay that offers new products from high street brands at up to 70% off - this is the direction that eBay are moving. Don't worry, they wont be getting rid of 99p vintage bargains anytime soon. It's just an addition to what they have already become known and loved for.
Sara Dunn did the most incredible job at styling the shoot. Why do I always think I need to buy brand new pieces from designer shops to create great outfits? She used last season's pieces and still managed to create inspiring looks. Besides just playing with all the accessories, I also presented a behind the scenes video that will be available to view later this month...
Massive thank you to Rachel for inviting me out and Daniel for being the ultimate chef.
Rough Luxe
'A little bit of luxury in a rough part of London. A little bit of rough in a luxurious London.' The Rough Luxe Hotel, situated near St Pancras station, is an absolute gem. Not only are the rooms immaculate and enchanting, the overall experience will make you question how you think about hotels.
'A little bit of luxury in a rough part of London. A little bit of rough in a luxurious London.'
The Rough Luxe Hotel, situated near St Pancras station, is an absolute gem. Not only are the rooms immaculate and enchanting, the overall experience will make you question how you think about hotels. It's a B&B by all counts but leaves you feeling as though you've visited the home of a far-flung family friend, rather than a luxury hotel in central London.
Each of the ten rooms, in this Grade II listed building, are entirely unique in design. The site was renovated in 2008 by Rabih Hage, layers of wallpaper and paint were partially stripped away leaving behind a mosaic created from the historic remains of contrasting textures and fabrics. While the hotel doesn't boast a large selection of amenities (you wont find a spa, gym or even television in your room) it does deliver exceedingly well on other accounts - notably, hospitality.
After arriving, I inadvertently launched a defense on how the hotel ought to create a Twitter account to the manager, Leo Rabelo. He aptly nodded and seemed interested, though not too overwhelmingly keen. The next morning I woke to find a tweet from the newly established @stayroughluxe stating that I'd have to try the homemade baba ghanoush later that day. I tottered downstairs to congratulate Leo on his newly found place in the world of social media and found myself captivated by the breakfast. Freshly squeezed juice, croissants, delicious bread, jams, eggs, porridge, and really good coffee... I could have stayed in that garden all day. Needless to say, the temptation of Lebanese food was too good to resist so later that afternoon I returned with Laurel to take Leo up on his offer. Countless hours later and we were still all sitting in the garden drinking wine and discussing the deep complexities of life (and Leo's dog's website). The best part? This wasn't any sort of special treatment. All the guests I saw were making themselves at home - a few girls were even up late making noodles in the kitchen.
Rough Luxe Hotel is located at 1 Birkenhead Street, London. Rooms start at £177
Big thanks to Laurel for having taken a few of these photos. Also, thank you Leo and Antonio for welcoming me to the world of Rough Luxe. I'm officially hooked.
Keystone Crescent
Spending a week in London with LA photographer Laurel Dailey was absolute bliss. We met last year on a little project for Quiksilver and she kindly made the trip back out to the UK to shoot my friend's wedding. We discovered this little gem of a street, called Keystone Crescent, thanks to a midnight stroll with our wonderful host Leo from the Rough Luxe.
Spending a week in London with LA photographer Laurel Dailey was absolute bliss. We met last year on a little project for Quiksilver and she kindly made the trip back out to the UK to shoot my friend's wedding. We discovered this little gem of a street, called Keystone Crescent, thanks to a midnight stroll with our wonderful host Leo from the Rough Luxe. The next morning we ventured back out to see it in the daylight with ice-cream cones from McDonald's. It's the quaintest English street set in the heart of bustling London... but on closer inspection it shows the mark of recent times. Oversized CCTV cameras, graffiti, a Chinese take away shop plus heaps of tv antennas and wires sit beside old fashioned mailboxes and pretty potted flowers. That's London for you.
Wearing: M Missoni bouclé coat (via My-Wardrobe), Cutler and Gross sunglasses & Philippe Audibert bracelet (via Monnier Frères), 7 for all Mankind skinny jeans and Wanted Carlton leopard loafers.
Gramercy Park
Stepping inside the Gramercy Park Hotel is akin to being transported to an entirely separate world. A world dissimilar to ones own, where all is still and grand yet rooted in a Bohemian subculture that harks back to years past. It's as if you're Alice and you've just tumbled down the rabbit hole.
Stepping inside the Gramercy Park Hotel is akin to being transported to an entirely separate world. A world dissimilar to ones own, where all is still and grand yet rooted in a Bohemian subculture that harks back to years past. It's as if you're Alice and you've just tumbled down the rabbit hole. It is simultaneously surreal, dark, and comforting - a perfected combination of elements that leaves you wishing you could stay forever wrapped in its allure.
Established in 1925, the hotel has a varied past. Humphrey Bogart married his first wife at the hotel, the Kennedy family stayed on the second floor for several months, and during the Great Depression Babe Ruth often frequented the bar. In 1958 the hotel was bought by Herbert Weissberg, prices dropped and the location embraced a more bohemian character. In the 1970s Bob Marley and Bob Dylan frequently visited. Everyone from Madonna to David Bowie have made the hotel their home.
After Weissberg's death in 2003 the hotel was sold to Ian Schrager. Co-founder of Studio 54 and often credited with co-creating the Boutique Hotel genre, it was under Schrager that the hotel was renovated in collaboration with artist Julian Schnabel. Today the hotel hosts a vast collection of 20th century masterpieces. Original works of art by Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Damien Hirst, Richard Prince and Keith Haring line the walls and make the viewer feel as if art is being democratized in front of them. Stand in your bedroom slippers, sip a cocktail in the Rose Bar, and be inspired by the vast wealth of paintings that sit all around you.
The Gramercy Park Hotel is such an enchanting place to stay that you'll struggle to leave. While there I didn't have the slightest interest in venturing out into the city. I could have spent all morning on the roof top terrace sipping lattes or lying in the Japanese soaking bath. Just next to the hotel is Gramercy Park. It's the only private park in New York but as a resident of the hotel you'll be granted access. My only regret is that I stayed for just one night.
Gramercy Park Hotel is located at 2 Lexington Avenue, New York. Rooms start at $345