A trip to New York has long been on my bucket list and I’m super excited to be going there for the first time with my boyfriend next week. As soon as we booked the trip I couldn’t wait to get outfit planning and using Pinterest to create my mood board of NYC iconic aesthetic, delicious foodie inspo and of course cool street style.
I was in my element filming this vlog as I got to layout all of the clothes and accessories I want to take to New York, as well as try on some cute fall fits I had envisioned in my mind, before sorting them into my trusty packing cubes and slotting them into my suitcase. Needless to say, organising and planning makes me very happy indeed and when it comes to styling and having fun with fashion, NYC really is the perfect place for it. I hope this vlog inspires you for your own autumn wardrobe and gives you some useful tips for when it comes to packing for a city break. Next time I see you guys we’ll be in New York, so be sure to subscribe to see the NYC Diaries on my channel here soon ❤
Having opened earlier this year, The Third Monkey is a new independently owned gastropub and cocktail bar located in the heart of Farnham. So on Saturday we went for a pre-dinner aperitif on their picturesque terrace to welcome in the long back holiday weekend.
Despite the clouds coming over for sunset, the setting was still lovely with views of Farnham church and a buzzing atmosphere as the bar and restaurant filled up on a weekend evening.
I wore my low back leopard print body from Zara with a pair of flared white Mango jeans, my Sol Concept ruffle mules from Bali and the cutest square hard shell evening bag from Amazon.
This bag is giving Cult Gia vibes and one of the waitresses even complimented me on it; what a winner bargain purchase!
With an extensive wine list I couldn’t resist a glass of vino, so I chose a Vermentino white from Puglia Italy which was deliciously crisp, mineral and refreshing.
My boyfriend went for an unusual tropical style cocktail made of coconut tequila, lychee, pisco and pandan. It was nice but not quite up to standard for its £16 price tag.
I was making dinner at home but my boyfriend was peckish, so he ordered the buttermilk chicken, house hot sauce and chive crème fraiche. A tasty dish and beautifully presented, but at £9 it was a very small portion and could’ve been served with some sort of garnish or small salad.
There were lots of couples on date night and girlfriends out for drinks which made for a perfectly chill yet buzzing atmosphere.
The decor inside was very aesthetic too with the glamorous upstairs cocktail bar complete with an opulent chandelier feature over the stairs.
We enjoyed our experience at The Third Monkey but it would seem they are still finding their feet with their standard of service and the quality of the food and cocktails.
We would be keen to go again in the winter season to experience their downstairs restaurant which was giving cool London or New York cosmopolitan vibes.
If you live in the area The Third Monkey is one to add to the list for a special date night or glam cocktails with the girls – https://thirdmonkeyfarnham.com/#menus
Following a month full of busy weekends hosting guests and attending other social events, this Saturday we could finally enjoy a romantic date night just us two. Me and my boyfriend love a nice dinner out so I booked Megan’s On West Street in Farnham, a cute spot for a romantic evening together.
It was the perfect opportunity to debut my new Zara black halter neck top with gold detail, paired with Stradivarius straight leg jeans and my Next khaki mule heels.
To complete the look I wore my oversized vintage Jaegar blazer and this gorgeous East-West style baguette handbag, another new piece in my wardrobe from H&M.
Farnham is such a picturesque town with pretty corners perfect for street style photos; cue my boyfriend being the best Instagram hubby getting all my good angles!
I love the aesthetic interiors at Megan’s giving Mediterranean chic vibes and there’s always a wonderfully buzzing atmosphere in the restaurant on a weekend.
For food I opted for the chicken avocado salad whilst my boyfriend had the chicken thigh kebab plate. We shared some charred broccoli, blistered padron peppers of course and ordered a side of their date bbq dip which is a delicious twist on the traditional recipe.
We finished the night with cocktails at The Luxe, a newer cocktail bar and restaurant in Farnham tucked away in the Lion and Lamb Yard. With ornate interiors and plush seating, they offer a very different dining experience with fun themed events such as MaMa Mia nights and bottomless brunches with live music.
I had a classic Tommy’s Margarita and my boyfriend chose the Lychee Martini. Well made cocktails, lovely service and lavish interiors for that elevated experience, a fabulous spot for a night cap or two.
Nothing makes me happier than a charming old school date night with my love ❤
Before we left for our two months in Bali, my beloved little brown convertible Mini Cooper sadly packed in and so it was time for a new car. I was keen to get another Mini Cooper but upgrade to a sport without a soft top, given the roof leaking issues that caused electrical faults on my old car.
Searching on Auto Trader there were lots of Mini Coopers out there, however I am very particular when it comes to the colour and aesthetics of my car. My preference is muted tones but with a little something different, so the moon grey shade with black bonnet stripes and the stylish Union Jack rear lights was just my vibe.
From the John Cooper Works range inspired by the Minis racetrack heritage, she has a lot of power and looks extra sporty with the spoiler and two exhausts in the middle. I purchased her from a private seller through Auto Trader which meant I got a really good deal on the price. The previous owners had looked after the car well and being made in 2018 with only 26,000 miles on the clock, it was a brilliant find.
The more I drive her around the more I love my new little whip which is certainly a big upgrade on my old 2011 Cooper. Now that I’m thirty it’s out with my baby Bambino, and in with my classy Lady Luna Cooper S ❤
A few months back I was thrilled to hear news of a wine bar opening in our village. Auriol Wines in Hartley Wintney has been an established wine shop for over 25 years and following a refurbishment, last month they reopened their doors as a wine bar too.
We couldn’t wait to try our new local, so we visited a few weeks back and tried their taster flight – three different wines of your choice to taste for £10.
Some pretzels and fresh bread with olive oil and balsamic was the perfect pairing to sample our wines.
They’ve done a great job of turning the shop into a classy little wine bar complete with quirky yet tasteful interiors, creating a cosy and friendly atmosphere.
This weekend we were back again to try yet more wine and sample one of their delicious looking cheese and charcuterie boards. We opted for the medium platter of four cheeses and meats served with crackers, pretzels, grapes, rocket and chutney.
All of their cheeses are locally sourced and were divine, my favourite was the Heckfield. Portion size was very generous and our bottle of Australian Grenache red wine was a wonderful pairing to the assortment of different cheeses.
We’ve been waiting years for our village to open a wine bar as it’s the ideal location and plenty of customers on the doorstep, business will thrive there no doubt.
The team at Auriol Wines have done a fantastic job of transforming the shop into a lovely wine bar locals will love. I know I’ll be visiting on the regular for date nights and my weekend wine fix with the girl gang ❤
Parisian street fashion is famous for its simple yet chic approach to dressing. Sleek silhouettes and effortless basics paired with one or two statement pieces, is the fuss-free formula for that timeless French style.
For our first day strolling the streets of Paris, I wore a pair of classic white skinny jeans from Topshop, a puff sleeve floral red blouse from Abercrombie & Fitch and plaited jackfruit ASOS sliders, accessorised with a subtle pearl anklet and a white beret of course.
Saturday evening we headed to the Moulin Rouge so I dressed for the occasion in my over the knee boots, white Zara skirt-shorts, black Zara ruffle strap square-neck crop and gingham baker boy. So cliche but such a vibe for the Moulin Rouge, c’est bon!
For another day exploring Paris, I opted for comfort with my Grenson boots, camel flare smart trousers from H&M, striped bandeau and statement tortoiseshell cat eye sunnies. Blue and white stripes are such a French classic and paired perfectly with that polished camel tone, il est parfait!
Sundown drinks before dinner we headed down to our hotel courtyard for a charcuterie and vino. I wore my H&M camel flare trousers again, white bone corset bandeau and vintage Prada heels, complete with a cute silk neck scarf to finish that feminine French look.
On our final night in Paris we had to experience the Eiffel Tower lit up by night, so we headed into the centre of the city for dinner. I felt tres chic in my oversized vintage Jaeger green blazer to keep off that evening breeze.
I just love dressing up and embracing the style of the city I am visiting by taking inspiration from the locals themselves. Paris still stands to this day as one of the most classy, chicest fashion capitals of the world…tres tres chic ❤
Needless to say, Miss Hepburn is the epitome of timeless style, grace and beauty. I became infatuated with Audrey Hepburn’s captivating screen presence when I first watched her running around New York in one of her most famous roles as Holly Golightly in Breakfast At Tiffany’s. Only Audrey could depict an otherwise frivolous, superficial character with such charismatic charm.
Having collected numerous coffee table books and reading up about her childhood and background, I’ve become obsessed in the humble story of Audrey Hepburn. From deprived war child to Hollywood icon of the century, her journey to stardom was not an easy road, but certainly proof of her unique talent and enchanting demure.
Her catalogue of blockbuster movies is extensive and in each film she never fails to bring with her that Hepburn sparkle. No wonder she was picked out back in her early career on stage as the ‘chorus girl with the eyes’.
A new Friday evening tradition has been to sit down with my mum and watch a different Audrey Hepburn movie each week, accompanied with a glass of wine or G&T to see in the weekend of course 😉 In fact a few years ago we had a glorious day in London together attending the Audrey Hepburn: Portraits of an Icon exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery, I was in my element!
Week one of our marathon we began with the classic Breakfast At Tiffany‘s, followed by Roman Holiday and last Friday Sabrina. With each movie comes a fabulous array of outfits as Hepburn found herself collaborating with world famous designers throughout her career, in particular the French designer Givenchy. This show stopping gown worn as Sabrina is a personal favourite of mine – isn’t it just breath-taking!?
Away from the screen Hepburn dressed a little more casual, but nevertheless maintaining that effortless class and elegance. She was the trend-setter for timeless fashion and she remains a style icon to this day.
I love recreating her off-duty minimalistic, but equally chic looks. So in honour of this Friday’s movie I went all Audrey in a pair of cropped cargo pants, an oversized tied shirt to accentuate the feminine silhouette, little neckerchief scarf and a pair of mules. Simple yet classy and always stylish.
Miss Hepburn will forever and always be my icon for all that she achieved and gave back to the world with her movies, fashion and even her devotion to UNICEF in later life; a true to testament to her beautiful soul beyond that pretty face, she certainly was an angel ❤
Dani Aneka 