Festive Fuzzy Feels
Merry Christmas babes! It’s certainly been an unusual one this year as we’ve all had to sacrifice celebrating with loved ones in order to stay safe during such uncertain times. Whilst plans have had to change and our usual festive traditions around this time of year have been scuppered, I decided it was all the more reason to embrace those jolly festive vibes and soak up the magic of Christmas.
Since early December I’ve been making my way through all the Christmas movies in an attempt to escape the reality of this mad world right now! On Christmas day itself I always like to watch The Snowman and Father Christmas to get me fully in the festive spirit and feeling like a kid again before the fun and games begin. Thankfully I am very lucky to be back home this year and blessed with the company of my closest family and boyfriend, who spoilt me rotten.
One of the more unusual traditions in our household at Christmas is my Dad’s pride and joy of barbecuing the turkey. I know, it sounds a little nuts on a cold winters day in England to be firing up the BBQ, but this is a super quick method of cooking the bird and produces the most succulent meat too.
To accompany our turkey dinner we did crispy roast potatoes, honey glazed carrots and parsnips, sweet red cabbage with apple, brussel sprouts sautéed with chestnuts, stuffing balls, lashings of gravy and my favourite for this time of year, bread sauce. It was quite the feast, so I could only manage some chocolates for pudding and of course a few glasses of Baileys later in the evening 😉
We had a wonderful day sharing our prezzies, listening to Christmas music, enjoying our drinks and indulging in all that yummy, naughty food. And I always like to dress up for the occasion, so this year it was a sixties style Topshop mini dress with long socks and my favourite Windsor Smith chelsea boots. Champagne coupe in hand, I was ready for a party at home!
Following a healthy helping of turkey and all the trimmings, soon enough I found myself changing back into PJs for the evening and excited to try on my new Victoria’s Secret set from Santa. Then when it comes to Boxing Day it’s all about stylish comfort, so I wore my new Stradivarius long split cotton skirt with a vest and my super cosy Zara polo knit arm warmer.
So whilst we haven’t been able to celebrate quite in the same way as we’re used to, it has most definitely made me more grateful than ever for my amazing family and friends. We may not be able to see our pals down the pub for a drink this Christmas, but I haven’t let that dampen my spirits and I’m optimistic that we’ll be back smiling in each other’s company before we know it.
In celebration of my good news, we stopped at the local pub for drinks to enjoy this beautiful summers evening from the pub garden. Of course the McLaren never fails to turn heads as we pull up and exit the car feeling like celebrities 😉
Soon enough it was Monday morning and time to get back on that work grind. It felt nice to be smartly dressed again in a crisp blue shirt paired with a suit skirt and classic court heels, a welcome change to trackie pants and leggings!
What a joy it was to be reunited with my friends and colleagues and such a relief to see that business is continuing to thrive at the Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire. I was of course exhausted by the end of the day as my mind and body aren’t used to those 8 hour shifts following extended time in Furlough. Nevertheless, I am extremely thankful for my job and lucky to be working again after such an unpredictable period worldwide.
With a lot of hairdressers in England all booked up for the next month or so, I opted for the highstreet chain Supercuts who are now only taking bookings 24 hours in advance on a first come first serve basis. I was really happy with the last cut I had there and their prices are so reasonable too – starting at £15.99 for a wash and cut.
The salon took all the necessary precautions in regards to PPE and as always the service was lovely. I had the same hairdresser as last time who was a pleasure to chat with whilst doing a fabulous job of my hair. As I don’t need any colour treatment for my naturally very blonde locks, the total cost for my cut was just £22.99, a fraction of the price a lot of professional salons would charge.
At first I thought it was a little shorter than I had envisioned as she had taken off a good 5 inches! However looking at it from the back and the side, it has so much more shape and volume now and it’s so much easier to style. She added some choppy layers all through the back and also shaped the front around my face which I’m loving.
I’ve never had so many compliments after a haircut and I’m enjoying having a play around with the different up-dos I can create now too. With my hair being on the thinner side, shorter styles have always given it more volume and also suits my heart shaped face.
I couldn’t wait to show off my fresh chop this weekend as we hit the pub and even went for our first meal out since restaurants re-opened. If you’re in need of a haircut ASAP post lockdown, I would highly recommend Supercuts given their efficient, cheap service which doesn’t compromise on quality.
I like to combine higher end pieces alongside high street fashion to create a unique and eclectic style. Simply adding a designer pair of shoes, classic Daniel Wellington watch or statement sunglasses can turn an otherwise basic outfit into something far more stylish.
Jewellery is also another important element when accessorising an outfit. My everyday pieces are gold or gold plated as it’s long lasting and compliments anything. A lot of these are from my favourite Portuguese jewellery brand CINCO, but mostly I shop my vintage jewellery in antique stores where you can find timeless designs which are also one of a kind.
This was one of my favourite looks from the shoot as it combines that classic feminine silhouette of the fitted blazer, paired with those masculine Grenson chunky boots and oversized sunnies from KENZO. I would call this power dressing as I felt like a boss woman in this smart yet sexy outfit.
Moving onto a more casual look, the backless white crop top, cute gingham hair scrunchy and old school Ray Bans completed this sports luxe combo. Comfortable and effortlessly cool, you can’t go wrong with this.
I’ve always been a lover of hats, so I jumped straight onto the baker boy trend when these came back around – I remember wearing those hats as a kid back in the millennium!
These little shoulder bags are another fashion which has come back around from the nineties. I think it’s fascinating how trends roll on round and we find ourselves digging back through our wardrobes or even wearing our parent’s vintage sunnies.
Just being unafraid to experiment outside of your comfort zone makes fashion fun and exciting. Whilst current trends come and go in a flash, having style is timeless and can turn the simplest of outfits into the most killer looks.
I had so much fun filming this spring look book and getting creative with alternative outfits for different occasions… now I can’t wait to walk out of lockdown in style!
Even working from home I still get that Friday feeling and treat myself to a glass of wine at the end of the day before winding down for the weekend. I also want to give my favourite clothes a little love as they aren’t getting their usual time out of the wardrobe at the moment!
With the sun shining and the BBQ out once again, I popped on this old but very cute Superdry dress along with my gorgeous Lack of Colours Australian rancher hat.
So even though we can’t currently go out and see our friends for a drink down the pub, it’s always such a mood booster to put on a nice outfit and arrange a virtual drinks meet up with friends and family. Then before we know it, we’ll be socialising and making memories with loved ones again very soon – something we won’t take for granted again!
Having gone to uni in Bournemouth, my friend used to visit Coast.Surf+Moto frequently and knew I’d love the stylish, quirky vibe of the place. Bringing together a fresh, wholesome all-day brunch menu as well as serving quality coffee, this cafe promotes a healthy living outdoor lifestyle.
The simple, sleek interiors featuring black window panels and bamboo lampshades, reflects coastal living with touches of Scandinavian character.
Located in Poole near to the South’s most popular beaches and harbours, their shop sells an eclectic mix of surf, skate and motorcycle products. After our leisurely lunch under the afternoon sun out in the courtyard, I enjoyed browsing the branded clothes and accessories before having a read of some of the contemporary books on offer.
Following our chilled afternoon at Coast.Surf+Moto cafe and shop, we made our way down to the beach to soak up the rest of the day’s sun…an essence of Aussie living in the UK!
Dani Aneka 