Necklace Layering

People always comment on my necklaces... probably because I wear so many... and I often get asked where I get them from. The necklaces that I wear all the time have built up over the years and all have sentimental meaning to me, they are like my talismans and I don't feel dressed without them!

Most of my necklaces come from my favourite jeweller Annoushka, she makes beautiful fine jewellery that's glamorous but also highly wearable. The bumblebee and the heart were both presents from my husband. The most recent addition to my Annoushka collection was my Love Diamonds Dragonfly pendant, matching earrings and ring, a gift for my 50th Birthday... I haven't take it off since I got it!

My dog tag and ring are by a US based jeweller called Heather Moore, she creates highly personalised fine jewellery. They have the names of those precious to me and commemorative dates engraved, you can choose your own font, size placement, type of metal and even add little diamonds or charms. I would highly recommend Heather Moore if you are looking to create something truly personal and a unique.

Annoushka Love Diamonds Dragonfly Collection

Depending on what I am wearing that day I will mix and match my fine jewellery with fashion forward costume jewellery... I am a magpie for anything sparkly so have an extensive collection.

The Bedroom

I am often asked about my home and how it is styled, I find interiors quite challenging as I am constantly trying to change but I always end up sticking to my original ideas!

I changed my bedroom recently, it started with these wonderful reclaimed shutters that I saw on a fabulous website, Retrouvius.  When I took my builder, John Treacy to see them he agreed that he would 'give it a go!' And hey presto... the French chateaux window shutters became my new wardrobe doors!  

I had American shutters on my windows before so obviously they had to go, (otherwise we would have shutter overload) and in came a blind.  I chose this fabric from The Cloth Shop to soften the room and to bring in some colour.  I love florals, so this was perfect.

I'm a very tidy person so I never leave my bed unmade and I'm slightly anal about how it looks, we have 8 pillows!! Drives my husband mad but hey ho, it looks good!  I got the bed throw from The White Company, it was half price in the sale!!

My friend and interior designer, Katie, Adventures in Living, found the wallpaper for me, it looks so real, even close up!

My bathroom is actually no longer a bathroom as we took the bath out and put the chaise long that my mother gave me in its place.  I don't know about you but we no longer languish in the bathtub, no time for soaking anymore, it's all about the shower!

The floor tiles came from Terrazzo Tiles, I saw them originally in The Cowshed Spa in Primrose Hill and thought, yup got to have those!!

My chandelier was a little more challenging, took me ages to find the right one but eventually I found this one at Tann Rokka also in Primrose Hill, my advise, save time, look locally first!

So this has whetted my appetite to do the rest of the house... John, ready?

Bieler's Soup

The original healing soup, this is something that you should drink all the time, it cleans and revitalises your body. I drink it hot or cold at all times of the day. I make it every third day and keep it in a glass jug in my fridge, I encourage all of my family members to drink it regularly. 

Here is a rough guide as I never weigh or measure anything, but this combination works for me:

RECIPE

3 stalks of celery

3 firm courgettes

2 handfuls of string beans

1 large handful of curly parsley

METHOD

Chop everything up, put in a saucepan cover with water and steam for about 7 minutes. Vegetables must be crisp and tender, do not over cook. Blend together in a liquidiser, the resulting soup should be grass green.

This is a drink that I swear by, mainly due to the remarkable recovery my son made after being very poorly in American nearly 20 years ago. If anyone has the time or inclination order, ‘Food is your best Medicine’ by Henri G. Bieler on Amazon. I swear by this doctor.

The Beach Party Invite

Picture the scene you're at a party trying to be glamorous, sexy and confident…now imagine trying to do this in a bikini! Sound daunting? Well this was my predicament when invited to a friends Hen Do in Ibiza, I had a month to get beach body ready….

STEP 1: EXERCISE

Yoga is already a daily activity for me, it is brilliant for toning and strengthening everything, no one realises how strong you can get from doing yoga. I swear by my local Fierce Grace Studio in Primrose Hill…hardcore yoga!

Fierce Grace yoga class

Spinning is a recent addition to my get skinny quick regime and I can’t recommend these classes highly enough. I first tried out spinning at Soulcycle in LA, disco on a bike, wow! I was beyond excitement a couple of months ago when I discovered Psycle! This is a carefully choreographed full body work out on a bicycle. The founder, Tim Weeks, not only works you to your limit but also introduces you to new music. I LOVE THIS!

Psycle lobby

Psycle class

STEP 2: PREPARE TO BARE

A good skincare regime becomes more and more important the older you get and the body should not be neglected in this! A beauty tip a friend gave me once was....Body brushing, hurts like hell but worth it for very soft skin. When you reach 50 you definitely need Goe Oil to keep the crepey skin at bay! Suffer it, it’s worth it!

Goe Oil and body brush

A good fake tan will give you the confidence of a week in the sun on the first day of your holiday. A manicure and pedicure are essential for on beach glamour, go for shellac on the toes, it lasts for 3 weeks without chipping. I recommend choosing a pale pink, it will go with anything and enhance your bronzed bod. I get all of my beauty treatments done by Rachel (07841408589), a fab, london based travelling beautician, which is great when you are time poor! She will even pop a tent up in your bedroom to spray tan you!

STEP 4: WHAT TO WEAR? 

Melissa Odabash is the goddess of swimwear, I buy one of her pieces every season and they wear so well! My top tip when buying a swimwear is buy it when you come back! That way you have a tan and everything looks fab! I always go for a triangle bikini, I find this is the best shape for me as it balances my sporty shoulders and my small tits. For the curvier lady Melissa Odabash one pieces are great, my fave is the Ischia swimsuit featuring heavy ruching to hide any wobbly bits and a triangle in the middle to slim and elongate the torso.

Melissa Odabash, Miami triangle bikini - top £90, bottoms £90

Melissa Odabash, Ischia halterneck swimsuit, £186

The icing on the cake in your beach body arsenal is the cover-up. Playsuits are always fun in the sun, this one by Velvet is in my overnight bag for Ibiza! For something with a bit more coverage try One Season's cotton beach toga.  It has a Grecian feel and a flattering empire line tie. 

Velvet, Bielle tie-dye playsuit, £175

One Season, Beach toga, £135

STEP 4: TAKE TO THE BEACH!

Remember, carry yourself with confidence! If you feel confident you will look it too, and nothing is more sexy than confidence!

The Nightmare Spring/Summer Event

Even though summer invites always allow for  plenty of time to shop I can’t believe how tricky it is to find the perfect outfit for more formal occasions - even for me with my own shops!!  So much protocol and so many dilemmas - shoes, sleeves, jackets, weather … anyway … here are a few suggestions that I hope will make it easier for you!

Personally I think you can wear trousers - I’ll be wearing these cream tuxedo trousers and a white shirt to a friend’s wedding later this month ... it’s a day to evening event so this pale coat by Malene Birger ticks all the boxes. In the evening I will swap the coat for this luscious printed skull wrap and statement jewellery. Heels by Lucy Choi are essential!

Coat: Malene Birger, Fiurica coat, £379, Shirt: Malene Birger, Popsi shirt, £165. Trousers: Malene Birger, Tuxedo trouser  (Available in ANNA stores). Shoes: Lucy Choi, Aster Glitter, £195. Bracelet: 5 Octobre, Betim Bangle, £95. Necklace: 5 Octobre, Sam necklace, £255.

Scarf: 360 Sweater, Skull cashmere scarf, (Available in ANNA stores). Bracelet: 5 Octobre, Betim Bangle, £95. Necklace: 5 Octobre, Sam necklace, £255. 

I think sleeveless is ok too, depending on how comfortable you are with your own arms and remember outfits always look better when you feel confident in them. This Saloni dress is a fave of mine - I particularly like print in the summer - I feel pretty and feminine - not something I‘m used to!  If sleeveless is a step too far add a light summer jacket - this one by Zara is great for layering over sleeveless in dresses in the summer. If pretty prints are too much for you then go for an understated animal print - I think this one by DVF is perfect for any do.

Saloni, Aspara knee length dress, £289

Zara, Jacket with buckle collar, £79

Diane Von Fustenberg, Prita shirt dress, £311