72 Hours In Marbella; My Chic Holiday Wardrobe Edit

For our weekend in Marbella, I packed with one goal in mind: effortless elegance. I wanted every look to feel timeless, sophisticated and chic, mixing high street finds with investment designer accessories to create outfits that felt elevated without trying too hard.

Between sun-drenched mornings, leisurely lunches, golden hour strolls and elegant dinners, every outfit becomes part of the experience. So here’s everything I wore over three days in Marbella.

Day One Fit: Puerto Banús

For our first day strolling around Puerto Banús, I leaned into the white wash aesthetic with an all white fit.

Starting with my favourite white miniskirt from Zara, I paired it with this white silk tie front top and a contrasting brown bikini top beneath.

My Dior sliders and Marc Jacobs tote added some interest to an otherwise minimal look.

And to complete the fit I wore my new Monday Swim brown structured bucket hat, a cute but chic finishing touch.

This is the kind of outfit that looks just as good wandering around Puerto Banús as it does stopping for lunch overlooking the yachts.

Evening One: Dinner at Zellij

For our Friday evening at Forum, the aesthetic was effortlessly cool with a side of Friday night fun.

This called for my Las Lulas crochet tassel crop top with flared sleeves which I bought in Tulum and gives serious cool girl energy.

My butter yellow ruffle mini shorts from ASOS also fitted the brief perfectly.

To complement the ruffles and tassels I wore my Sol Concept ruffle mule heels and also matched the shorts with my butter yellow Topshop handbag.

Gold shell jewellery from Seaside Stories Bali added a final flourish of sparkle, essential for fun Marbella nights.

Day Two: Old Town Opulence

Exploring Marbella’s charming Old Town called for something feminine but practical.

Cobbled streets, hidden courtyards and flower-filled alleyways deserve an outfit that feels romantic while still keeping you cool in the Mediterranean sunshine.

Starting with the hat, my Lack Of Colours rancher was ideal for keeping the sun off my face whilst looking super stylish.

This gorgeous patterned swimsuit in a vivd blue and white colour-way felt very fitting for the occasion, whilst pretty floral themed gold jewellery added to the Old Town feminine aesthetic.

Paired with my Levi dark was denim shorts and Dune brown flip-flops, the outfit was practical yet polished and considered.

My basket bag from Southbeach seemed the obvious choice to complete this charming Old Town look.

Evening Two: Dinner at La Petite Maison

With dinner reservations at one of Marbella’s top restaurants overlooking the Mediterranean at sunset, I opted for my most glamorous fit of the trip for Saturday night.

Leaning into the white wash aesthetic again, I wore this exquisite white mini dress with bow details from Zara.

Having purchased my new Valentino sparkler heels at a designer vintage store called Deja Vu Vintage earlier that day, I had to debut them and this felt like the right moment.

Pearl jewellery from By Alona and Heaven Mayhem complimented the dress perfectly and added another touch of glam.

And nothing says quiet luxury like my gorgeous Polene handbag.

I decided to put my hair up into a French twist to take this look to another level of sophistication and elegance.

Simple yet considered and polished; nothing overly trend-led, just classic pieces that I’ll still love years from now.

Day Three: Cruising on the Med

Our final full day was spent out on the water with a private boat trip on the Mediterranean ocean.

My blue gingham print bikini was the starting point for this beach day look.

I paired it with my cargo mini skirt from Bali and a cotton Daisy Street white tie front cap sleeve top.

Classic khaki Birkenstocks were my sandal of choice and it was time for another outing in my Monday Swim brown bucket hat.

Cute starfish jewellery were the ultimate accessories for a day on the water.

Comfortable enough for exploring but elevated enough to feel put together in every photo.

Evening Three: Dinner at Nota Blu Brasserie

For our final evening, I wore one of my favourite looks of the trip.

Elegant, classy and perfect for our last sunset dinner, my new Monday Swim maxi dress was the moment for Sunday evening golden hour.

I kept accessories minimal with my By Alona pearl chain necklace, Heaven Mayhem gold shell earrings, a pair of nude thong kitten heels from ASOS, and my Polene handbag.

It was the kind of outfit that doesn’t rely on bold prints or loud details, it simply lets beautiful tailoring, quality fabrics and thoughtful styling do all the talking.

A pair of statement cat-eye YSL sunglasses were the finishing touch to this effortlessly chic look.

My Marbella Style Formula

When packing for a destination like Marbella, I always come back to the same styling principles:

  • Stick to a neutral colour palette that mixes effortlessly.
  • Invest in timeless designer accessories that elevate even the simplest of outfits.
  • Balance affordable high street fashion with luxury investment pieces.
  • Accessorise with fun and aesthetic holiday jewellery to bring simple day looks to life.
  • Prioritise outfits you’ll genuinely feel confident wearing rather than chasing trends.

I truly believe style isn’t about wearing head-to-toe designer labels. Some of my favourite outfits combine an affordable dress with a luxury handbag, classic sandals and high quality jewellery. It’s that mix that creates a chic aesthetic whilst keeping your wardrobe versatile and wearable.

The endless luxury, beautiful architecture and picturesque golden hour moments, make it impossible not to embrace timeless style and sophisticated glamour when dressing in Marbella ❤

Date Night; The Guildford Townhouse & The Ivy Asia

If you’ve been here for a while, you know that I love getting dressed up in a cute outfit and going on a fancy little date night with my boyfriend. So this Saturday night we booked one of our favourite spots for a romantic dinner complete with all the vibes and also tried a new bar for pre-dinner cocktails.

For the occasion I wore my white Zara miniskirt, asymmetric gold ring detail taupe coloured top, Next square toe nude mule heels, my By Alona pearl necklace and an ASOS khaki oversized clutch bag to complete the look.

It was another warm summers evening so I wore my Miu Miu statement sunglasses for the short walk to the bar and didn’t need a jacket all evening.

First stop was The Guilford Townhouse which has recently been taken over and renovated by the Coppa Club chain. We headed up to their rooftop where you’ll find The Burton Bar, a cocktail bar with style, substance and lively evening energy.

My cocktail of choice was a classic Margarita and we enjoyed our drinks in front of the glamorous feature bar in the super comfy, plush sofa seating.

It wasn’t too busy at 7pm, but I imagine it’s the kind of place that’s more popular later in the evening when the DJ sets start at about 9pm. With its elegant interiors inspired by the 1920s art deco style, this was the perfect setting to enjoy a cocktail and set the vibes for night ahead.

Our reservation at The Ivy Asia was at 8:15pm, so we made the short walk up Guildford Highstreet to Castle Street where the Ivy is located. My heels might have been quite high, but I swear by the Next forever comfort range which are always the comfiest and easiest to walk in heels.

Every inch of The Ivy Asia decor is exquisite and so beautifully aesthetic, even the bathrooms are a must visit when you’re there.

The restaurant was buzzing on a Saturday night with a live DJ and even a live electric violinist walking around the restaurant floor to entertain guests, how brilliant!

Whilst the gorgeous emerald green luminous flooring might grab your attention first, never forget to look up at the wonderful ceiling murals and pretty cherry blossom flowers overhead.

Having been quite a few times to The Ivy Asia now, we had a good idea of what we wanted and one thing that was top of our list, was the golden aromatic half duck traditionally served with the pancakes and all the condiments including hoisin sauce.

I had to have a plate of their fresh house-made sushi so I opted for the spicy tuna sesame roll.

The cucumber peanut chilli coriander lime salad was also a must for me and it didn’t disappoint. The creamy nutty sauce combines so well with the fresh crunch of the cucumber, whilst the chilli adds a subtle hint of spice.

My boyfriend also ordered the chilli noodles, wok fried greens and Gochujang glazed chicken which he really rated and remembered as another highlight from our last visit.

We ordered well and savoured every bite of our delectable Asian spread.

Needless to say we didn’t hold back and definitely over ordered, so we took our leftovers home in the fanciest doggy bag I’ve ever seen, how adorable!

The Ivy Asia is always such a brilliant option for all occasions from date nights and girly dinners, to birthday parties and celebrations, vibes are on point and the food is divine.

To find your closest Ivy Asia and experience all the fun and glamour for yourself, checkout their website here.

Monaco Diaries; Fine Wining & Dining

Monaco is the epitome of sophistication and class when it comes to wining and dining and we were keen to experience some of the most famous and highly rated hotspots. Here is a brief review of the restaurants and bars we had the pleasure of trying during our long weekend in Monte-Carlo.

*Cafe De Paris

For 150 years, it has been the beating heart of Monaco. Standing proudly on the Place du Casino, the Café De Paris Monte-Carlo is one of the legends of the Principality. An iconic brasserie where celebrities and artists, locals and visitors alike enjoy meeting up at any time of the day, whatever the occasion, to enjoy the art of living, a coffee, something sweet, or a meal to share.

We enjoyed an aperitif at the spectacular feature bar before being seated at our cosy booth table for dinner.

The opulent interiors give art deco vibes and the rich red and gold tones add to the grandeur of the main dining room.

I had a classic Caesar salad with prawns and a side of mixed vegetables; simple yet delicious.

My boyfriend had the roast farmhouse chicken served with vegetables and baby new potatoes.

Everything was exquisite and the service impeccable as you’d expect, a 10/10 fabulous experience at the famous Cafe De Paris Monte-Carlo.

We also went back for a coffee and cake overlooking the Monte-Carlo square on a sunny Sunday afternoon and it was delightful.

*Neptune

Located on Monaco’s Larvotto Beach in a chic and relaxed atmosphere, Neptune offers a creative menu of Mediterranean flavours.

We dined al fresco on the Saturday evening surrounded by palm trees and fairy lights with a live DJ too, making for the perfect date night vibes.

To start we shared the ham and cheese croquettes which were just divine.

For main course I opted for the grilled octopus in a rich marinara sauce served on top of a crisp potato rosti, a deliciously different and tasty dish.

It was an old favourite for my boyfriend, the margarita pizza topped with sun-dried tomatoes, burrata and basil. Service was superb and the chilled al fresco atmosphere made for ideal date night scenes.

*Song Qi

On our final night we were craving a different cuisine, so we found Song Qi Chinese which looked luxurious with it’s beautiful interiors featuring silky green banquettes and flower walls.

Opening in 2014 and born from the gastronomic passion of Riccardo Giraudi, the goal of Song Qi is to provide Monte-Carlo a modern fine dining Chinese restaurant.

For entrées we shared the duck lettuce wraps and a smoked chicken hot and sour soup.

The stir-fried shiitake mushrooms and vegetables in a Piri Piri sauce was my choice for main, whilst my boyfriend had the chicken Kung Po with cashew nut and chillis and we shared a portion of jasmine rice.

Despite the spicy heat of our dishes, it was all exquisite and by far the best Chinese food we’ve had for a long time.

*Amazonica

Moving onto bars, we went to Amazonica upon recommendation from a friend as well as lots of hype about it online.

On a Friday night it was very busy, but we managed to get a table for drinks on the rooftop with a view of the Monte-Carlo skyline.

We ordered three fun cocktails including a smokey mojito, a classic espresso martini and the star of the show, a sweet concoction served in this awesome jaguar head.

Whilst the cocktails were tasty and the vibes on point for a Friday night, unfortunately we had to vacate our table after an hour and just to stand at the bar. I would recommend making a reservation beforehand to avoid this situation, but otherwise it’s a very cool and trendy place with aesthetic interiors.

*Buddah Bar

An exotic and chic venue at the heart of Monte Carlo, Buddha Bar is the trendiest restaurant-bar-lounge in the heart of Monaco. This establishment offers a decor inspired by the Garnier Opera House in Paris, with a subtle mixture of gilded mouldings, ancient sculptures and a colonial Asian setting.

We found ourselves here on the Saturday night following our dinner at Neptune for night cap cocktails. I went super spicy whilst my boyfriend chose a sweet cocktail.

Sat at the main bar area with the giant buddha statue overlooking us, this is another fabulous spot for drinks which echoes that old school money sophistication and glamour of Monaco.

*Le Note Bleue

During our first stroll down to the beach front, we stopped at Le Note Bleue for an afternoon drink in the glorious sunshine. I’d seen online this was a highly rated spot and we got talking to a local couple there with their dog who said it’s their favourite restaurant in the area.

With the French Riviera style white umbrellas and palms decorating the terrace seating, it’s the most picturesque setting for an afternoon lunch or drink on the beach.

So that’s my roundup of the best restaurants and bars we tried whilst in Monaco and there’s no denying the excellent standard of gastronomy; what else would you expect from the land of the rich and wealthy!?

Cheers to a weekend of the chicest wining and dining experiences in Monaco ❤

Monday Night Tipple; Sky Bar at The Aviator

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.