Audrey

On Tuesday night I had the pleasure of introducing Roman Holiday at the Primrose Hill Film Club. The Primrose Hill Film Club is a great community run project that shows world and classic cinema and offers to showcase short films by local film makers. It was a great honour for me to introduce Roman Holiday as Audrey Hepburn has always been my style icon.

Audrey was born to a Dutch mother and an English father in 1929. She began acting after failing to reach her dream of becoming a ballet dancer.  She was brought to the worlds attention after appearing in Roman Holiday for which she won an Oscar.

After appearing in American vogue and becoming Givenchy's muse the world embraced her and recognised her unique beauty. Audrey believed that her iconic style came from Mr Givenchy and never recognised the beauty that came from with in her. She believed her feet and ears too big and the rest of her too flat!! But she was obviously wrong about that! Hepburn became the worlds most adored style icon, AND she has just been voted Britain's most stylish icon of all time....22 years after her death!

Her iconic image is replicated all over the world by all sorts of women, her uniform cropped Capri pants, flat ballet shoes and LBD's are still best selling items in fashion stores today. But I believe like Mr Givenchy that beauty and style come from within the person. You cannot buy style. Audrey Hepburn had beauty everywhere. Her voice was soft and mesmerising, her eyes were always expressive and dancing and her personality was playful and forever child like. She said of Hubert de Givenchy, ' his are the only clothes in which I am myself. He is far more than a couturier, he is a creator of personality!' How true this is, I always say to my clients, if you feel comfortable and confident you will look and feel beautiful, however beautiful clothes WILL NOT make you feel beautiful and confident!!

 Audrey will always be our style icon.

Saloni, £195

Joseph, £205

French Sole, £90

My Top Summer Reads

I love reading, I can totally lose myself in a book, I'm not a big fan of the kindle but I do appreciate that is very portable. It’s great when you're older as you don’t have to wear glasses, you just make the font bigger… I’ll be on three words a line soon! Also, I can have a sneaky read while RP snores beside me (due to the lit screen). Holiday reading is my idea of heaven; sunshine, sunbed and a good book! So here are a few of my favourite reads now that the holiday season is upon us!

Elephant Moon by John Sweeney

I bought this book as it is based on an incredible true story about the journey through Burma by orphans during WW2 and the bond between them and a herd of elephants. I found it gripping and very readable and I was totally amazed by not only the story and the outcome but the intelligence of the elephants and children. An easy read, perfect for holidays. 

I am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes

I always love a good thriller… and wow this is a bloody good page turner! A fast moving spy thriller based on the smallpox virus and the devastation that this could cause in the wrong hands. Scary food for thought! 

My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante

My brilliant friend gave me this book, it’s about close friendship, rivalry and the mutual influence of two young girls growing up in naples. It portrays the girl’s friendship and the community they come from. It’s both realistic and illuminating, just like Fi my brilliant friend who gave it to me! It’s part of a trilogy (I haven’t read the others yet).

The Turning Point by Freya North

I am going to recommend this even though I haven't read it yet, one of our stores is mentioned in it! The publisher very kindly sent me a copy. It is based in North Norfolk and my love of North Norfolk is so strong that I am sure I will love it, I can’t wait to start it! Tissues at the ready! It will be interesting as I don’t normally read love stories…

One last must read is We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler. Please read this, believe me it's heart breaking and hilarious!

Summer Beauty

I thought I'd share a couple of beauty secrets with you as recently friends and clients have been complimenting me on the condition of my skin, Sally at Beach Beauty in Camden is the key! 

I've never really been one for loads of maintenance but these three things I think are essential if you have the time (and cash flow)- 

1. Manicure

2. Facial

3. Hair

I hate having scruffy chipped nails so a quick 'shape and paint' in between full manicures is a good money saver.  I use Rachel (07841408589) at Home, Rachel is a travelling beauty therapist who is not only fantastic at all treatments but also gives the best massage RP has ever had! 

If you prefer a salon then Beach Beauty (Camden) is the place.  Sally does the most amazing facials, she not only has fabulous state of the art anti ageing machines but she also has 'magic' fingers!  I let her work her magic and use whatever she thinks necessary.  Here I am having an Environ Facial using her newest equipment, it feels a bit weird but it works and the results are great, I recommend 1 a month, £70 well worth it in my view.

I also have just started to put some lights in my hair.  Reaching 50 I decided, with Stacy (at The Salon, Bond Street) my colourist, that it was time to soften the colour around my face... love it!

WHAT I WORE...

Blazer - Sea NY (find similar here) | Boiler Suit - Sea NY | Shoes - Sam Edelman | Bag - from a collection at Fenwicks (find similar here)

Pastels

Spring is here so I've embraced the season with pastels even though it continues to rain!  I feel fresh and summery and I'm still managing to keep warm. I've teamed my Velvet pink sweat with these uber trendy Levi's 501 CT jeans, these are a season 'must have' if you can get them, they sell like hot cakes!! 

I bought this By Malene Birger coat last year for a wedding, worn with a cream dress it looked elegant and smart but I love the fact that I can now wear it dressed down with jeans, that's what I call economising!!  Mango does a similar one for a fraction of the price.

You can't go wrong with a Grenson brogue!

As you know by now I love to accessorise, this scarf works well with pastels or navy, also it's a lovely sarong on holiday! 

My lovely friend gave me the Balenciaga cuff, a real treat for my 50th!

WHAT I WORE...

Coat - By Malene Birger (find similar here) | Sweat - Velvet (available at ANNA) | Necklace - L'atelier Clandestin (available at ANNA) | Jeans - Levi's | Shoes - Grensons | Scarf - ANNA | Cuff- Balenciaga 

A Juicy Snapshot

Beetroot concoction 

Can you imagine how surprised I was when RP, my husband, suggested a week in Portugal at a JUICE retreat.... blimey I really thought he'd gone mad!

But to my delight we went, climbed the mountain, had colonics, drank the juice, got the t-shirts (and the books) AND most importantly came away feeling fabulous!

The day for me began at 6.20am with a swim in the lake with Janet, the most wonderful yoga teacher. Followed by yoga, a hike ( RP joined me at this point) and on our return we were greeted with our first juice of the day.... and wow this tasted good! All this and it was only 10.30am!! Then... exercise, juice, yoga, rest, juice, colonic, yoga, soup and bed!!

This was a hard but a fantastic week that energised me, cleansed me and really made me think about the home I live in.... my body!  

All photos taken at Jason Vale's Juicy Oasis, Portugal.

The lake 

6.30am - mental swim in an ice bucket

Hiking through the Portuguese mountains

Morning fix - shot of ginger

Relaxing in the hot tub

Towel and basket we were given for the week

The exercise platform

The Funky Fresh Juice Book by Jason Vale, a kitchen must!