Month: October 2020

Fall Fashion; Sweater-vest Season

October 25, 2020

As we adjust to the autumnal weather and cloudier days during fall, I always get so excited to dig back into my wardrobe for those timeless knits and my favourite cosy coats. This season has seen a throwback to the 90s as the oversized sweater-vest becomes the style staple for layering this fall.

It would seem the sweater-vest is truly having its day again as trending fashionistas across social media show us how its done.

I remember the days my older sister would wear these with a hipster denim skirt and gold hoop earrings – super 90s kid vibes! Or even for those F.r.i.e.n.d.s fans out there, how could we forget Chandler’s knitted vest obsession!?

Now the way to wear the trusty sweater-vest is layered with an oversized shirt paired with a short skirt and chunky military or chelsea boots. Accessorising with a statement necklace and show-stopping knee high boots could take this look to new levels of sophistication.

After a root around my own wardrobe I was thrilled to find I still had a few of these old-school vests, so it was time to give them some love once again. I pulled together a cute outfit using this oversized knit from Zara, along with a man’s check shirt from Zara, layered over a little shift dress – again from Zara!

This combo is the easiest throw together outfit for fall 2020 and is sure to score you style inspo points instantly with minimal effort. Who knew channelling those Grandad vibes would be such a fashion statement!?

Monday Night Tipple; Sky Bar at The Aviator

October 13, 2020

Good evening babes! I’ve kicked off this week in style, as my boyfriend and I decided to go for cocktails at our new favourite local bar to bust those Monday blues.

Working in hospitality means I am on shift most weekends, so my time off tends to be early to midweek. Whilst I do love my weekends and socialising with friends, in the current climate it’s actually a blessing to be going out in the week, as places are quieter and tend to have good deals on too.

With our local pub The Oatsheaf offering 50% off mains this week, we decided to head there for dinner before indulging in a late night tipple at the Sky Bar.

Situated in the The Aviator hotel right next to Farnborough Airport, this local gem is always a treat to visit with its super luxurious decor and decedent cocktails to match.

The glamorous, relaxing lounge bar situated on the first floor overlooking the runway, sets the scene for stunning cocktails with a view.

From the timeless classics to bespoke signature creations, there’s always something new to try from the ever-changing vast drinks menu. On this occasion, I opted for a show stopping smoked whiskey and chilli infused short cocktail served in a glass dome containing actual smoke!

With tangy notes of mango and passionfruit, this was the perfect sweet tipple to end my night on. I’m also obsessed with these gorgeous embossed tumblers along with the gold platform coaster mine was presented upon.

So there we have it, a slightly more boujee Monday evening than I would usually allow myself, but I guess this is like my Saturday night and a well deserved treat following work over the weekend. And with the current state of affairs leaving us all in limbo at the moment, there’s all the more reason to soak up these little moments of joy to lift our spirits.

Borough Market Brunching

October 5, 2020

Strolling around the markets before indulging in a late brunch is my idea of the perfect Saturday scenario in London. As one of the oldest wholesale markets located in the historic buildings of Southwark, Borough Market is a foodie’s heaven with over 100 vendors offering fresh produce, imported foods and freshly made dishes from all corners of the world.

With its vibrant, buzzing atmosphere attracting an eclectic crowd of locals and tourists, it’s a wonderful experience perusing the maze of stalls as the aromas of delicious meals, baked goods and freshly ground coffee infuse the air.

Arriving at 12pm on a weekend, it was heaving and neighbouring pubs were already pulling pints for those early birds! We however hadn’t even had our morning coffee yet, so were keen to find a good little spot still serving brunch.

We stumbled upon a cafe Stoney Street by 26 Grains with the perfect corner for us to sit back and watch the market madness from afar. In fact the cafe’s original site in Neal’s Yard, is a favourite of mine serving up seasonal, wholesome dishes, including some epic twists on the average porridge bowl.

I was a lot happier once I finally had my coffee in hand and food on its way! The simple, striped back aesthetic of the cafe interiors alongside their rustic crockery, echoes the 26 Grains goal to serve up quality, everyday food and drinks.

My autumnal bowl of apple and ginger compote, cardamom granola, Northiam dairy yoghurt and maple was perfect for a chilly fall afternoon and just like having a desert for brekky 🙂 The scrambled eggs on house rye bread topped with Ogleshield cheese which my boyfriend had was excellent too. You can tell how fresh the eggs are when they are so orange like that.

We sat and sipped our coffees as the hustle and bustle of the market continued to thrive. Fuelled up and ready for the day, soon it was time to hit the shops of Oxford Street. However I underestimated the drop in temperature that weekend as I tried to clasp onto the end of summer and decided to wear a skirt, brrrr!

Wondering the market was the perfect way to kick off our weekend in the city – we even spotted a couple from our favourite reality TV series Made in Chelsea. Needless to say, Borough Market is a trendy place to be seen and a must-visit as one of London’s most historical events in such an iconic location.

Oxo Tower; Champagne Sunshine Showers

October 1, 2020

What would a romantic city break be without some super fancy wining and dining? So for our first evening in London I booked us into the Oxo Tower Brasserie upon recommendation from my Dad, who has held a number of work functions there and claims it to be one of the best views of Southbank and the city.

We arrived nice and early for our reservation at 6pm and treated to a welcome drink of champagne on the house upon arrival.

How lucky we were that the skies cleared and the most magnificent golden hour of sunshine showered the skies and glistened upon the city.

The Brasserie menu had a lot to offer serving up the finest of British cuisine alongside an extensive wine list. In fact it is part of the Harvey Nichols franchise, so I knew food would be top standard.

I opted for the Josper grilled spatchcock chicken, chimichurri, autumn vegetable slaw and maple glazed pancetta, whilst my boyfriend went for a classic Rib eye steak, green peppercorn sauce, mushroom pâté and green leaf salad.

To accompany the meal we had some potato wedges and tender stem broccoli and to drink we shared a carafe of French red wine, the perfect pairing to our meaty dishes.

Our meal was just exquisite and we both agreed it to be some of the best food we’d ever tasted! Service was absolutely impeccable too and my wine glass was never more than half empty – thanks waiter 😉

We stayed to finish our drinks and soak up those final few moments of sunset, before leaving to attend our post dinner cocktails at the Four Seasons.

I have to put the evening up there as one of the most beautiful dinners I’ve ever had. From the picture perfect setting as golden hour hues painted the London skyline, to the delicious food and wonderful service we were treated to, it was truly magical. A spacial thanks to the Oxo Tower Brasserie for taking such good care of us and ensuring our experience was so special.