Tag: cool

NYC Diaries; Date Night At TAO Uptown

November 2, 2025

During our week in New York we were keen to try different cuisines and on the Monday night, I had a craving for some Asian food. So after a quick look to see what was in the area, we found a popular Asian-fusion restaurant called TAO, just a five minute walk from our hotel.

I wore this Topshop playsuit which was giving classy Asian inspired vibes paired with nude heels, my velvet green Sandro handbag, and a small silk scarf thrown around my neck to complete the look.

We made an 8pm reservation and arrived a little early to enjoy some pre-dinner cocktails at the bar.

I ordered the TAO martini which was super sweet in taste and looked very aesthetic with the three raspberries for garnish.

We were then shown to our table in the main restaurant where we were seated at a booth with a view of the iconic sixteen foot tall Buddha statue.

I was excited to have some sushi and so I opted for the special crispy tuna roll which was delightful.

My boyfriend ordered the orange chicken which was more like sweet and sour, the sticky pork ribs, a side of rice and we shared a side of wok fried greens too.

Everything was delicious but safe to say we over ordered as the portions were very large; we should’ve known being in America!

It was only when I was watching an old Sex & The City episode the following week at home, that I realised Carrie Bradshaw and her friends attended the opening of TAO Uptown in season 4 episode 3.

We also happened to watch the movie Hitch when we got back from NYC and we spotted the TAO restaurant again as the location they filmed the speed dating scene. It would seem you’re never far from a famous location or celeb when in New York City!

It was a fabulous evening at TAO Uptown and a fun spot for date night with its lavish interiors, ultra trendy vibe and scrumptious Asian inspired menu. I’d recommend trying TAO if you’re in the city, just be sure to make a reservation in advance as this popular spot books up quick – https://taogroup.com/venues/tao-uptown-new-york/

NYC Diaries; Sunday On Fifth

October 12, 2025

When in New York shopping on Fifth Avenue is a must and with our hotel just around the corner, it was the first thing on our agenda on day one of our trip.

I had the perfect outfit planned for our first outing in New York featuring my killer new boots.

I paired my suede mini skirt from Bershka with a high-neck cream singlet from Pull & Bear, then completed the look with a classic baker boy hat, my sand suede long boots and my trusty Coach monogram handbag with the cross body strap.

With it being the end of September the weather was still quite warm particularly on our first day, so a jacket wasn’t even needed.

Our first stop was a cafe called Scoop which we found on a quieter street just of Fifth Avenue to grab a bite to eat for breakfast.

We shared a yoghurt with granola, some watermelon, a coffee and a freshly made smoothie we could have blended with our choice of ingredients.

There was a lovely little courtyard with seating called Paley Park right next to the cafe where we sat and enjoyed our brekky.

It was like an oasis nestled amongst the city with a gorgeous water feature wall and lots of trees looking glorious in the sunshine.

We then walked further up Fifth Avenue and got some fabulous photos of me crossing the street with the hustle and bustle of the city around me.

There were lots of stores to browse and there was some great pieces in Zara, but I wanted to buy from places we don’t have in the UK, so I found myself picking up lots of bits at Aritzia.

I tried on this awesome vegan leather oversized bomber in a deep chocolate brown, but I didn’t get it as I was looking for a similar style but in a suede material.

An impulse purchase was this gorgeous shift dress which was giving Carrie Bradshaw vibes and I simply couldn’t resist.

The athleisure wear in Aritzia is also really nice, so I got this dark green sports top with the flattering white border detail.

The dress was $149 and the sports top $40 which I thought was a good price for the quality of these pieces.

I couldn’t not have a look in Victoria’s Secret and they were doing five panties for $25 dollars, so naturally I had to stock up on some cute undies.

Coach was another must visit store for me and the flagship one on Fifth Avenue is quite impressive, they even had a dinosaur statue made of handbag cuttings.

I’ve always loved the Tabby style and so this one in the dark animal print caught my eye.

I was very tempted as this would make a brilliant statement winter handbag, however I was saving myself for a Polene bag I’ve had on my wishlist for ages and they have a store in SoHo New York.

After well over ten thousand steps in my high heel boots, we were ready to head back to the hotel for a rest and some lunch.

The evening before we also made a stop outside Tiffany’s on Fifth Avenue because I was wearing my Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly inspired dress and had to get a photo outside the store where Breakfast at Tiffany’s was filmed.

I’m a big Hepburn fan and love her in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, so this was a special moment for me ❤

We only touched the surface of the shops on Fifth, but we’d done enough shopping for one day and I was super happy with my purchases. Being just on the doorstep of our hotel, we were going to be visiting Fifth Avenue a number of times during our trip and I wasn’t mad about it!

A Week In The Big Apple

October 5, 2025

After a weekend back in the English countryside, we are still on a high from our fabulous holiday exploring the very best of the one and only, City of New York.

It really is a city packed with so much to do and although we ticked a lot off our list of things to see, we’re already wanting to go back to experience more of this awesome concrete jungle.

Our hotel for the duration of our vacation was The Park Lane Hotel located on the very South end of Central Park.

The location was ideal as we were in the centre of the city with the beautiful green expanse of Central Park on our doorstep.

Darling Rooftop bar sits on the very top of the hotel where we enjoyed a specular breakfast on the Monday morning of our stay.

Like everything in New York the breakfast buffet came at a pricey cost of $75 per person, but with this experience only open to hotel guests, we couldn’t pass up this incredible opportunity.

We also dined in their A La Carte restaurant Calvert’s on Sunday evening as everywhere else nearby was closing early that night.

I had the asparagus radish chickpea salad and my boyfriend had a tomato ragu pasta. Both dishes were delicious complimented with friendly service, something we discovered was unfortunately not always guaranteed even at the most premium restaurants in the city.

Our room was a good size with a super comfy bed, stylish interiors and a cool city view.

I especially liked the stylish bathroom with striped tiling.

Overall we were very pleased with our stay at Park Lane Hotel and would recommend to anyone visiting New York for the first time wanting to be amongst the hustle and bustle of the city.

We packed a lot into our seven days in NYC and made some incredible memories together whilst taking in the spectacle of The Big Apple.

With such a brilliant list of things to share including famous landmarks, iconic photo spots, scenic rooftop bars and our favourite restaurants, I thought I’d focus separately on each area we visited and what we did there in a series of posts called ‘The NYC Diaries’.

So be sure to subscribe to my blog to get notified for a very exciting series of posts to come about our trip of dreams to New York City ❤

My New Mini Sport; John Cooper Works Model

March 30, 2025

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 ❤

Colour of the Season; Chocolate Brown

October 27, 2024

Cosy season is here which means the winter wardrobe is back so I can say hello again to my favourite chunky knits, fun faux fur coats and beloved collection of boots for all occasions.

I’ve always been a lover of all shades of browns from lighter camel and tan tones, to deeper rich hues and even maroon. So you can imagine my delight when the Autumn/Winter 24 runways displayed a luscious palette of delicious brown hues throughout many collections, reflected in the fashion week street style too.

A recent order from ASOS reflects my current obsession for earthy tones with this stone coloured maxi cardigan, a deep dark brown backless long sleeve top by Stradivarius, and this stylish button through peplum waistcoat in a classic brown stripe fabric.

I styled my new long cardigan by ASOS Design with a pair of khaki Jamie jeans by Topshop, a striped bandeau top from H&M and this cute chocolate brown knitted beret from Urban Outfitters a few years ago; a chic accessory which will never go out of style.

Another new addition to my wardrobe recently was also this oversized rich brown knitted vest featuring statement gold buttons and large front pockets, super handy for popping my phone in too.

I channeled my inner country cowgirl with a pair of brown cowboy boots from Stradivarius tucked into a pair of high waisted dark wash ripped jeans by Abercrombie & Fitch. A simple outfit combo which nods to the current trends but tailored to my personal style.

We’re even seeing chocolate brown replacing black interiors as it pairs perfectly with so many neutral tones and creates a cosy vibe for spaces inside the home. Needless to say, chocolate brown is here to stay as the go-to neutral shade, elevating even the simplest of outfits to give your look that effortless, cool girl aesthetic ❤

Cala D’Or; Mallorca Project Vibes

September 25, 2022

Ahead of our holiday to Mallorca, I did my usual research on the area and found the popular hotspots on the food and drink scene using Instagram. With a number of fabulous looking restaurants and bars with great reviews in the town and marina, we were spoilt for choice.

On our first trip into town to do a spot of shopping and explore the area, we stopped off at this super chic cafe/bar called Noir.

I had planned to order a coffee to pick me up after all the shopping, but with it being a Friday arvo I couldn’t resist a cheeky Espresso Martini… and when you’re on holiday cocktails are a given, right!?

With such stylish, tasteful interiors and old school tunes playing from the bar, Noir was the perfect little spot to sit out in the sunshine and soak up the Spanish town atmosphere.

The town of Cala D’Or was a different picture by night, as the quiet streets we’d walked by day came alive and the bars packed out with locals and tourists alike.

I had on my list to tryout this vibrant bar Lola. With its Bali inspired beach style interiors and live DJ playing every night until the early hours, this was just my vibe for a cocktail date with the boyfriend.

As the drinks kept flowing and even the shots lined up too, soon we found ourselves at Club Tiempo for a drunken dance before we called it a night.

On a more civilised evening out, we went for a scenic date night at the Marina.

We found a lovely restaurant overlooking the harbour where we enjoyed a delicious dinner for two.

I couldn’t come to Spain and not have a traditional seafood paella and this didn’t disappoint, it was absolutely divine and just the refuel I needed following a day out on the water swimming and cliff jumping.

My boyfriend had a gorgeous cut of fillet steak with dauphinoise potatoes and we shared a salad too. Simple food done well, delicious!

There were lots of other places in town which we didn’t get time to visit, but I’m sure we’ll be back again soon as we loved the beautiful town of Cala D’Or. What I came to realise was these trendy cafes, bars and restaurants including Noir, Lola and Restaurant Different were all linked via an Instagram account called Mallorca Projects. They are a collective of openminded people promoting their passion for that dreamy life in a small Spanish town on the golden coast.

Having now visited these places myself I can see the attraction and why they have such a big following. Mallorca Projects is an awesome, eclectic vibe of lifestyle art and I’m here for it ❤

Dani’s Daily Edit; My Passion Project

January 22, 2021

I’ve always been a busy bee and found it hard to not be doing something that gets my brain working, those creative juices flowing, or my body active and exerted physically. Even as a kid I remember asking my older sister to set me tasks and activities (often related to animals at this stage in life), then into my teenage years I would love scrapbooking and collecting magazine cutouts to make collages and inspire my fashion designs.

Later in life my focus became dancing and performing, a passion which kept me occupied every evening after school and took me on to train professionally in my degree at dance college in London. Inevitably I saw lockdown as an opportunity to get my teeth stuck into some new projects, the initial one being my YouTube fitness channel back in the summer. Now we find ourselves in lockdown 3.0 and with the new year upon us, so I decided to launch a fresh Instagram page devoted to my love for all things style and fashion – @danisdailyedit

With my wonderful wardrobe which I’ve fondly built and curated over the years, I thought it was time to show my clothes some love and embark on this fun little project. Not to mention we have nowhere to flaunt our newest garments at the moment, so its also a great excuse to get dressed up everyday and not hold back from experimentation out of my comfort zone.

I enjoy styling my pieces in different ways and revamping the old with the new as we continue to see trends come back around. Take this old tartan fleece skirt I had from years ago, worn simply with a modern square neck top, sheer tights and boot heels, this look channels that 90s chic yet minimalist style.

I continue to seek inspiration from magazines, blogs, Pinterest and Instagram as well as iconic film characters. After watching the new Wonder Woman 1984 movie, I was in awe of Diana Prince’s spin on 80s fashion. From an era of power dressing and bold silhouettes, Wonder Woman herself shows us how its done with tailored flares and collared shirt layered with a belted waistcoat and oversized blazer. Hair slicked back, sleeves rolled up, hands in pockets; we know this woman means business! I too certainly felt the power when recreating this killer look.

Of course there are times when I prefer to keep things a little more casual and comfier for those days spent at home and running errands. You can never go wrong with a pair of ripped boyfriend jeans paired with a baseball jumper, sneakers and a classic cap – ideal for bad hair days 😉

I tend to keep my look simple yet cool and chic. Quality jeans in a few different fits are a must in my wardrobe as I feel most comfortable in trousers. However a basic maxi skirt or dress is also essential for achieving cool girl vibes with minimal effort, but maximum comfort.

I should note at this point that yes, I do own far too many clothes and perhaps it’s time to streamline my staple pieces using a capsule wardrobe approach. I do admit though, I find this very tricky as I’ve collected some of my most unique items from various resources such as when I lived in Australia, numerous holidays abroad or vintage markets in London. I like my pieces to have a story to tell and bring me the joy of when I first purchased or got gifted them.

Alongside the fashion I’ve also been inserting snippets of my jewellery, accessories and interiors on the daily edit. I want my aesthetic to reflect my creative mind influenced by the eclectic, exciting life I’ve led so far. This is where style and fashion prove themselves as separate entities; fashion is for a time, style is for life.

I believe each day we put together an outfit, we almost embody a new persona depending on the fit, shape, length, material, colour etc. Whilst I’m more likely to choose my default ripped skinny jeans and chunky boots with a tee layered under an oversized shirt, I like to mix it up and feel a bit more feminine occasionally too, in a cute dress or fitted cigarette pants and smart blazer.

It’s always super exciting and motivating to get started on something new, I can barely help myself thinking of the next outfit post. I like a challenge and this definitely keeps me on my toes as I aim to post every single day, even if I am just wearing sweats and a hoody or workout gear!

Dani’s Daily Edit may be young, but I like to think this little passion project is an expression of my past and present self in the language of fashion.