Monday 5 September 2016

Sophia's Choice



As soon as I saw a pair of Sophia Webster shoes, I knew they were for me – bright, colourful with a witty, fun approach to design. I knew that if I were a shoe designer, I would create similar styles.

But I’m not a shoe designer – I’m a copywriter, so I settled for working hard, saving my wages and starting my own collection of Sophia Webster heels, these ones, so far:




Olivia

Jessica


As soon as I saw I saw the #Pimpmycoco competition, I knew I had to enter. Hosted on Instagram, Sophia Webster provided a blank template of her popular Coco style, for her loyal fans to customise. I printed off about 10 copies and got busy with my Sharpies and highlighters. A sneaky lunchbreak doodle at work, a scribble in front of the telly and before I knew it, I had amassed quite the collection! I posted all of them on Instagram but had a feeling when I did it that one pair stood out against the rest, my Neon Leopard design:



You can see my other designs over on Instagram.


I followed the competition avidly – there were so many amazing entries – Sophia's fans were really going to town. It was such a fun, creative outlet and I thought it was lovely how all the fans supported each other with comments and likes.

Then one day, my friend Becky texted me – she had seen on Snapchat that I had made it to the final of the competition. I was amazed, given the standard and sheer volume of entries (there were over 1000). Wow, that was exciting. But that was nothing compared to the day I was in an Uber home, after a long photoshoot and got an Instagram notification saying I had WON with a video you can watch here. 

There was no other feeling like it, and now I am excitedly awaiting the arrival of my very own pair of custom-made Neon Leopard heels, designed by me and made by the Sophia Webster studio.


Big love and thanks to everyone who supported me, I’ll show you all a photo of the shoes when they arrive.

Friday 5 August 2016

Going Potty with Camille Walala and Ted Baker



“I painted a pot last Thursday and it was so much fun.” Not necessarily a sentence you’d expect from an outgoing young(ish) person, but I genuinely mean it!

Ted Baker has started hosting free events on Thursday nights, to celebrate their latest collection, the artistically titled ‘Colour by Numbers’.

I was excited to attend and was especially intrigued to meet Camille Walala – I pass her building in Old Street every day and love its bright colours so much. It makes me sad that it is now being covered up with advertising – but at least you can still see the edges of Camille’s work!

So, we set up and started painting our sizable pots. We used stencils, free-styled, masked. It was so fun and very satisfying to see the paint sink into the pot – it dried really quickly. And there was prosecco, which helped our creativity flow quite nicely.


If we struggled, Camille was more than happy to offer some guidance and inspiration. The pots all looked great, and we got a quick run-through of the new collection while they were drying. I can’t recommend Ted Baker events enough, you can see a full list of their future plans here.



Some inspiration was provided 



Such great colours


Such tasty fizz!


Charlotte Cameron displays her pot


There were some great pots


I show my pot to Camille Walala!


The new Ted Baker 'Colour by Numbers' collection


Loved these shoes


More pot painting


My finished pot 

Wednesday 3 August 2016

Hox on the Locks



I’ve long been a fan of The Hoxton Hotel and when my lovely friends Jaime and Jason hosted their wedding reception in the Hoxton Apartment, it made me like it even more.

I started following Hoxtown to stay up to date with all their news and events and it was here that I saw a competition that was begging to be entered.

To mark the 1st birthday of The Hoxton, Amsterdam, the Hoxton ‘jumped ship’ for two weeks to a Regents canal boat here in London. The competition prize was a stay on this boat – I won! A few Wednesdays ago, I eagerly packed my bags and invited my friend Laurel.

Before heading to the boat, we enjoyed a delicious dinner in the Hoxton Hotel (‘Hoxton on Solid Ground'). The food there is so great -  sometimes naughty, always hearty. I had a fabulous piece of cod with samphire. We walked off supper and headed to the boat which was moored in Gainsborough Wharf in Haggerston. It was furnished similarly to the hotel with beautiful linen wallpaper and the sort of muted, stylish accessories a bright-colour-lover like myself imagines for her future, far more sophisticated self.

The boat had a projector, but after a big dinner, it was all we could do to stay awake for deck-side champagne (a hard life, I know) before snuggling in to the amazingly comfy bed.

In the morning, I happily worked ‘from boat’, enjoying my little breakfast in the sun. It really floated my boat.


I mean, I don’t really want the extra competition, but Hoxtown are always offering cool prizes like this – so make sure you check the site – you have to be in it to win it, after all.


















Wednesday 13 July 2016

Noir Mood



If his crappy excuse for 'summer' is getting you down, I suggest a swift trip to the Howard Griffin Gallery in Shoreditch. They will be showing work by Thierry Noir until 31st December, 2016. Noir was the first person to paint the Berlin wall.

Go and get yourself some colour therapy, then maybe a holiday. 

189 Shoreditch High Street
London E1 6HU






Tuesday 12 July 2016

Redemption at Last



Vegan, sugar-free, wheat-free, alcohol free? Surely Shoreditch-based restaurant Redemption must also be fun-free? Nearing breaking point on my diet wagon, I decided to give them the benefit of the doubt and headed there for a mid-week dinner with a similarly well-intentioned friend. 

I was very pleasantly surprised - my alcohol-free cocktail was really fresh and delicious, as was my veggie sushi. The Bliss Balls were very tasty too. It's perfect for the times when you're desperately trying to be 'good' without being a hermit. After all it's no good being all thin and clean-eating when there's nobody else around!

Pop in and experience it for yourself - your body will thank you for it.

Redemption Shoreditch
320 Old Street
EC1V 9DR 
















Friday 3 June 2016

Summer Styling: the 70's


I recently had a shag.

Not THAT, smutty, I had a haircut, 'the shag'.

I love it - it makes me feel all Freja Beha Ericsson and 70's and that. But there is a problem: my clothes don't match my image anymore, they're not retro enough. I think these pieces by New Look, Paige and Monki will help.




New Look jacket in my signature leopard




My new Paige top with a Kit Heath necklace from yonks ago


The full outfit - the jeans are also by Paige, bell-bottoms, let's bring them back for their unbeatable hip-balancing qualities alone.


My new fave Monki sandals, you need a good, solid heel with any kind of flare.




I think this Monki is so convincing, great for piercing commitment-phobes like me!









Wednesday 1 June 2016

Copenhagen City Break



When I told friends I was off to Copenhagen for a mini break, the recommendations for restaurants, activities and places to stay came flying in. As it turned out, Copenhagen is popular for very good reasons – and it’s an easy city to fall in love with – clean streets, gorgeous, friendly people and healthy transport (over half the population ride bikes to get to work).

I’ve been to Stockholm before, so felt fairly prepared, but yes, this wonderfulness comes with a fairly hefty price tag, and although flights and accommodation were more than reasonable, what I class as ‘fun activities’ such as dining out and drinking were much pricier than London, so we ended up spending quite a bit. I don’t regret it at all though, because we had an absolutely incredible time and got a tantalizing taste of how great Scandi life can be.


Here’s a city guide to help you with your Copenhagen trip.




A STYLISH GUIDE TO COPENHAGEN


THINGS TO DO

Before you do anything else, buy yourself some booze at the airport. But not too much of it. We made this unnecessarily expensive mistake.

Get bikes! It’s really the only way to travel. We got ours from Copenhagen Tourist Info in the main train station. They were cheaper than the city ones.

Tivoli Gardens was amazing – an incredibly stylish amusement park where you can easily stay the whole day. The gift shop was excellent, the rides included a nice variety of high up and blood-curling and calm relaxation.

Hang out by Copenhagen Harbour. You can also swim there if it’s not too cold – so nice. Havnefronten Islands Brygge T23713189

Visit Christiania, the city’s hippie hang-out. I didn’t enjoy it at night (sure it was fine, but it felt dodge) but during the day it was really fun – live music and a full gathering of the city’s hot young things.

Go shopping in Prag, an awesome haven of vintage, reasonably-priced clothes and accessories. I got some excellent parrot and chandelier earrings. It was hard for the boyf to drag me out.

Louisiana, an art gallery about an hour and a half out of town is meant to be incredible but we ran out of time! Next time.


PLACES TO STAY

We stayed in Frederiksberg– posh, suburban and quiet, without being too far from the action. We stayed in this AirBnB – such a lovely flat, thanks Julie! It was right next to a Lidl so we stocked up for cheap breakfasts and snacks.

These places all came recommended by friends but were fully booked when we wanted them:



My mates Lynne and Neil stayed in this AirBnB and loved it. 



FOOD

Radio – a fabulous restaurant run by a chef who used to work at NOMA. You choose from a narrow selection of dishes. Each one was more exceptional than the last - you really can’t go wrong. Try not to stare at the waiter

Pate Pate – gorgeous food in the trendy Fiskebaren area. Get oysters and the Burrata if it’s still on the menu

Hansens Gamle Familiehave – nice traditional food, hearty fare with a home-cooked vibe

Granola – we didn’t make it here, sadly, but it comes highly recommended by everyone who’s been

Kadeau – another recommendation we sadly didn’t have time for – a 20-course tasting menu dinner


DRINKS AND GOING OUT

Salon 39 – exceptional cocktails. I had one that was basically a very adult icecream and another, which was like a lemony, biscuit-coated dream…

Kødbyens Fiskebar – trendy fun, big tyre tables, great cocktails

Tivoli Gardens is open until midnight and it’s so pretty. There are bars inside. They have fireworks which you can see outside of the gates too.




Sunny Tivoli Gardens


An amazing fairytale journey through the world of Hans Cristian Andersen


Loved this light


Even the bar was gorgeous


Giraffes coming out of mirrors - what more could you need?


Liked this guy


Caught the fireworks!


Amazing food in Radio


More amazing food in Radio


Great bikes


My new fave shop


Chilling on Copenhagen Harbour in my BHS cossie, vintage jewellery and Ray Bans.