Romping Around

I have a massive weakness for jumpsuits........but I've just realised that they're good 'ol fashioned rompers!! They are just so easy to throw on. Be careful though as you don't want to look like a 50 year old masquerading as a toddler!I think this one by Sea NY ticks all the right boxes, I love it!! No need to think about what goes with what... just pop it on and your outfit is complete. Especially great for me as I tend to be always running out of time in the morning.

My other massive LOVE right now is trainers, high-tops especially (never thought I'd say that)!
I just can't resist them, the wackier, the better.  Give me silver, glitter, gold and ponyskin any day! This is where Philippe Model comes in; great shapes and luxe finishes, these are not your average gym shoe! When you are as busy as I am you need something comfortable and practical... but really that's not why I buy them! My fave feature is the concealed heel, my Philippe Model Tropez Bassa trainers give me an extra 2 inches!

If you think jumpsuits and trainers just aren't for you, I challenge you to give it a try, you might like it!

WHAT I WORE... 
Romper - Sea | Trainers - Philippe Model (available in ANNA) | Bag - Leon and Harper | Watch - Daniel Wellington

How to do leopard without looking like Bet Lynch...

Carven, Vanessa Bruno, Balmain, Sportmax

Leopard print is a trend that never really goes out of fashion but for AW14 it takes centre stage. It was seen all over the catwalks at fashion week, also it was present in nearly every showroom I visited. I embrace animal print but some of my blonde peers can end up feeling a bit like Bet Lynch! There are loads of ways to wear leopard from top to toe, you don't have to wear it all at once...

1. MALENE BIRGER, Cameliu Cardi, £295 (available in ANNA stores) / 2. PHILIPPE MODEL, Slip on Pony, £249 / 3. TOPSHOP, Pony Duffel Bag,  £38 / 4. WHISTLES, Bella Tyler Animal Dress, £155 / 5. ZARA, Weave Printed Top, £29.99 / 6. ELIZABETH & JAMES, Cynnie Mini Bag, £399 / 7. HOBBS, Ellen Slipper, £110 / 8. SEA, Leopard Pants, £285

My fave leopard print pieces are pictured above. A top tip in negotiating the leopard print mine-field is to choose pieces in modern cuts and styles, sporty shapes are great, such as Zara's simple tee. I'm loving the sportier side to leopard print that is around this season, it's really wearable. My Philippe Model trainers haven't come off my feet since I bought them, they seem to go with everything and are incredibly comfortable.

Grey-scale leopard prints are also a great way into the trend and are much subtler and easy to pull off. Whistles muted grey dress creates the perfect silhouette with it's well placed ruching and the stripy leopard pattern elongates the body, a great little number for a wedding or event.

For the leopard phobics, dip your toe into the trend with leopard accessory, there are a wealth of pony printed leopards out there which are fab for adding a bit of fun to you outfit.

When styling your leopard print I recommend keeping the rest of you outfit pared down, minimal and mixing tonal shades to give a classy look. Below is how I would style my choice leopard picks.

ZARA, Weave Printed Top, £29.99 + WHISTLES, Silk Track Pants, £135 + WHISTLES, Daria Lace-up Trainer, £135 + ANYA HINDMARCH, Maxi Zip Satchel, £795

WHISTLES, Bella Tyler Animal Dress, £155 + TOPSHOP, Raff Metal Toe Sandals, £68 + & OTHER STORIES, Layered Clutch, £55 + MONICA VINADER, Atlantis Cocktail Earrings, £240

SEA, Leopard Pants, £285 + MALENE BIRGER, Tikko Silk Vest, £155 + FRENCH CONNECTION, Neinke Bag, £50 + ZARA, Mesh Court Shoe, £49

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.