Kicking those January Blues
Happy Blue Monday… a contradiction in itself, but I won’t let statistics and the media tell me to feel my most depressed on this one specific day!? I have happy days, I have productive days, I have lazy days, I have low days; they come and go in ebbs and flows, it’s called life. January is always seen as a month to start fresh, set new goals and almost repent for the fun you have had over the festive period. However I would like to share a different perspective on this seemingly dark, unwelcome month to help kick those blues.
I guess the simplest way of putting it, is to let yourself be. Depriving yourself of the things you love during these winter months is of course going to make you sad and depressed. Setting unrealistic goals which are unreachable will only result in disappointment and feelings of failure. Instead be kind to yourself by feeding the mind, body and soul with all the good stuff: take a bubble bath, read a good book, go for a walk in nature, buy a bunch of flowers, dress up in your favourite clothes, go grab a coffee from the drive-thru, have a glass of wine, indulge in a yummy bar of chocolate – whatever brings you pleasure in life. It’s important to strike a balance and get an abundance of nutrients during the winter, so make sure to maintain a healthy diet whilst treating yourself to these goodies too!
I like to come up with a list of intentions for the week ahead as opposed to solid goals and targets. These are usually things which focus on self-care to navigate my day and help nourish my future self. I want to be more present in my day, so aiming to do more meditation, reading and journaling on the daily is a must. Getting outside during daylight hours is always a mood booster and great for practicing complete presence in nature and appreciation for your surroundings.
So don’t be blue this Monday, simply write out a few weekly intentions and go do something today that brings you happiness and joy ❤
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!
