Mediamarmalade

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  • THERAPY

    THERAPY

    . WESTFIELDS  .

    . Topshop Snake PU Sweater £48 . Reiss Aline Leather Mini £175 . Zara White Leather Heel £79.99 . 

    . Reiss Navarre Shorts £125 . H&M Leather Sandals £49.99 . Topshop Leather Tshirt £42 

    . Aspinal Marlebone Mini Handbag £595 . Topshop Fedora £22 .

    London is renown for it’s shopping, Oxford Street, Covent Garden, Bond Street, Mayfair & The Kings Road are all hot spots for clothes lovers ready to splash a few dime on the latest must haves or spend a few hours gazing adoringly into beautiful window displays & catwalk esque clothing boutiques. London is destination shop. Having been to a lot of countries around the world, and quite natually on every trip dabbled in a spot of shopping, I still have to give credit to our very own London, which truly does offer anything and everything you could want. Vintage. Boutique. High Street. Designer. Couture. Grunge … what else? We’ve got it.

    But as a londoner, embracing these manic streets when I’m in need of some serious retail therapy is a huge task in itself, strolling the streets of London for a spot of shopping is much like being a mouse lost in a stampede of jungle cats. It can be a minefield and a nightmare. If like me, you indulge in a spot of retail therapy to unwind, then these hot spots will not be your destination of choice for said R&R time. Thankfully London decided to go one step (well actually two steps) better in the form of Westfield London (and Westfield Stratford) … gone are the days of fighting tourists to make your way along the high street, battling with gaggles of teens for the shop entrance, and trying to find your way around a busy store which feels as frighteningly manic as a children’s party. Oh, and hasten I add … carry all those shopping bags home on a sweaty and inhumanely claustrophobic tube (I do love London really). No, those days are gone my friend. These days I pop in my little beetle, drive a few short miles down the road, park up in a lovely car park and indulge in hours of madness free retail therapy.

    Westfield has every shop under the sun (and the moon) right on your door steps, no legging it round the city to dash from Mulberry on Bond Street, to Topshop on Oxford Street to French Connection in Covent Garden. Westfield has it all under one roof. Amen.

    Anyway … as a result of my incomprehensibly (and extremely unhealthy) stressful work and general life situation right now (so stressful in fact that I suffered from a 24 hour migraine this week which resulted in serious sickness – seriously shocking & worrying I know), I decided it was about time I dedicated a couple of hours to ‘me’. Blackberry & life OFF … retail therapy being the only agenda for the dedicated hours. I headed to the sanctuary that is Westfields and dedicated 3 hours to pure retail … it was heavenly. Slightly expensive (but so are therapists right?) but totally rewarding too (I got some serious gems). And if that’s not good enough, I also bumped into Mark Wright whilst purchasing the skirt featured above in Reiss. A sanctuary indeed.

    The items featured in the collage above are all my favourite bits from my therapy … I even treated myself to the Reiss skirt & Topshop reptile jumper with a voucher I received. And suddenly the world feels right again!

  • TOO FACED

    TOO FACED

    . FULL VOLUME LASHES .
    If i were to ever be stranded on a desert island with only one makeup product as my companion, that companion would be mascara. A lot of people probably couldn’t live without foundation or something of the like, but for me mascara is king. Being quite fair headed my eyelashes are naturally quite fair without lashings of mascara and I always feel a little washed out without it.

     

    My preferred mascara is ‘They’re Real’ by Benefit, it gives me a full black coverage, a good curl and a lengthening thats hard to live without. I’ve been using ‘They’re Real’ for years now and tend to stick to it because it does the job … but I am always open to trying new things and I currently have a few mascara’s waiting to be tried and tested. My Eyeko products were a Christmas gift i’m waiting to use and have heard fab things about (I blogged about them here) and I also have an Elizabeth Earl and Smashbox mascara awaiting use … but my newest addition is this Too Faced Lash Injection mascara which I was kindly sent by ASOS beauty.
    I’ve not tried Too Faced products before, but the name of the product sells it in immediately, after all isn’t a ‘lash injection’ what we’re all really after with our mascara? This product is also a mini mascara which is ideal for my handbag, I tend to carry a few beauty essentials around in my handbag (Chanel Chance, Benefit Flawless Powder, Chanel Rouge Alure Lipstick & lots of lip seals too) and this Mascara will be the perfect product to upgrade my makeup post work into the evening.
    Have you tried Too Faced before? What’s your favourite mascara to use?
  • BLOSSOM

    BLOSSOM

    . SPRING COLOURS .
    Today my spirits have lifted (significantly), today is my last day in work for a week as i’m off skiing in Val for our annual trip. I’m not sure i’ve ever needed a week off work quite so much as this, it’s been a stressful few weeks resulting in migraines and sickness … so a week away in the snow (and hopefully sun) with nothing to worry about apart from getting back from Le Folie Douce after a few beers without falling over!! To make things even perkier, Spring really is looking like it’s hear to stay …
    . Mint Velvet Print Trousers . Pure Collection Cashmere Sweater . Marks & Spencer Boyfriend Coat .

     

    This is an outfit I wore the other weekend whilst jase and I were pottering around Kew Gardens lapping up the sunshine. It’s not fully embracing the sunshine (e.g. i’m not quit embracing strappy & getting my pins out yet) because let’s face it … it’s actually still quite cold, but nonetheless i’m embracing some more spring colours & channeling a few seasonal trends (cue the white-ish coat & print trousers).
    Cigarette trousers are actually my latest obsession, i’ve probably tried on about 2,500 pairs in an attempt to find the perfect fitting pair. Needless to say, beyond this pair from Mint Velvet which I got from the John Lewis shoot (and absolutely love) and my trusty leopard print French Connection trousers from last year, I haven’t been overly successful in finding a pair of new season trousers which work on me.

    I’m desperate to find a pair of non print cigarette trousers in a spring colour (yellow, mint, white, cream etc) but unfortunately of all the ones i’ve tried none seem to suit my figure (i look like a stuffed sausage in them … sob). I’ve spotted a pair (two in fact – these & these) in Topshop which I really love and am desperate to try on … fingers crossed they fit.

    What trends or styles are you coveting this spring? Are you a fan of the cigarette trouser look?

  • ROUGE NOIR

    ROUGE NOIR

    . SPRING OFFICE CHIC .
    Sometimes there’s nothing that an all black outfit can’t deliver. Whether it be the desire to be unseen and low key, or the ambition of looking stand out and chic … black can do it all. I myself am somewhere in the middle of these two extremities in todays outfit post. Mixing a bold, statement leather dress with a low key, understated black suede gilet. This is my favourite kind of outfit combination … a contradiction at it’s upmost.

    . Second Female Dress . Zara Gilet & Leather Moccasins .

    This style of outfit has been a real ‘go to’ of mine lately, when I feel the need to dress for an occasion  (work meetings, dinner date etc) but want a security blanket of comfort to keep me warm and more low key. I love how this gilet instantly gives any look a more laid back and effortless touch & it’s just so comfy and warm to wear too. I team it endlessly with my tartan scarf – both of which were Christmas presents. The dress is a little leather number from Second Female and has become my number one ‘smart work wear’ outfit, it channels the leather trend in a more work professional and chic way.  This look sums up my current workwear vibe quite well in fact.
    Whats your work wear style? How would you style down leather for a more casual look? 

  • SANCTUARY

    SANCTUARY

    . TAKING TIME  .

    I’ve been having a busy old time of late, juggling seriously stressful and high pressure demands at work, coping with some sad family news with my Great Nana passing away & also my little old blog too feeling ever so demanding. I push myself very hard as i’ve mentioned in previous posts i’ve written and it seems that there’s only so much my body can take … having had a build up of intense work stress over the last couple of days it finally hit boiling point yesterday when I got one of my terrible migraines & ended up being sick & effectively passing out. I’m on the mend which is the good news … but it’s been a rather intense 24hours so for today I’m keeping things low key on the blog with this little spring picture. Seeing all the flowers and blossoms blooming makes me happy.

  • A JUXTAPOSING TALE

    A JUXTAPOSING TALE

    . SPRING OFFICE CHIC .
    Today’s blog title is a bit of a juxtaposition I appreciate, but my current workwear style is becoming just that. My workwear (and weekend wear to be honest) of late has become a slight contradiction, styling feminine, fitted garments with oversized, structured almost masculine outerwear. My structured pinstripe boyfriend coat which i blogged here, is a fine example of this – i’ve been wearing it non stop to work with chic dresses or a fitted leather pencil skirt … creating some kind of masculine Vs. feminine style off. I personally am loving the juxtaposing styles & think it creates a really chic & attractive, powerful and professional look.

    . Reiss 1971 Soul Coat . Topshop Leather Skirt  & Print Clutch. Whistles Cobalt Blue Sweater . Zara Patent Moccasins .

    This outfit is another look of the same vain, albeit this time the pink coat takes this look far more to the feminine side of the scale than masculine, but my Reiss coat is another example of the masculine cut. I love wearing this coat (as well as my other more structured or oversized boyfriend cut coats) as it makes me feel super smart & sophisticated, and looks brilliant styled with an uber feminine outfit underneath. This time I styled the coat with my reptile leather Topshop skirt & Whistles sweater – creating a more laid back feminine outfit. The coat transforms the look into something work ready & adds an element of professionalism to the look.

    Are you a fan of the masculine style of coats currently populating our high street? What do you think of this look?


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  • MY FIRST

    MY FIRST

    . DESIGNER WISHLIST .
    Bags are a real passion point of mine, i’ve been obsessed with them since I was a toddler (my mum used to call me the bag lady as I’d toddle around collecting all the bags in my sight up), this obsession hasn’t seized but instead blossomed. Bags are a passion of mine and something I’ve actually begun collecting (i like to call it a collection as it helps justify the sheer volume of and money spent on my bags) for the last 6 – 8 years. Prior to my 19th birthday my bag collection consisted mainly of affordable high street bags, my only designer piece was a faux Chloe bag which my friend picked me up in Thailand when I was 17 (she new how much I loved Chloe). My first designer hand bag was in fact a gift, from my dad, and was this cute tan leather mulberry shoulder bag, an item which despite being 7 years old, still to this day is one of my favourites.
    Thats the thing with designer bags, expensive as they may be, they’re classics & they’re quality. That means that each one is an investment, a collectable that if well looked after will only grow in value & appeal. Vintage bags are the new thang and being handed down a vintage Chanel (or any other designer piece) from a relative is just the dream … so that’s how I justify my collection of expensive bags. One day i’ll pass them down and share my collection of beautiful pieces.
    . YSL Sac De Jour . Phillip Lim 3.1 Pashley . YSL Monogramme Tassel Bag . Chanel Boy Bag . Chanel Timeless Bag . 
    Whether it’s a psychological trick to justify my handbag hedonism and conspicuous consumption or not … i love hand bags and I work bloody hard, so treating myself to a new little number is something I like to do every now and then (I’ve treated myself to a few after promotions at work). My collection to date largely features Mulberry as it’s a brand I grew up admiring and one who’s collections season on season I fell in love with. I think I’ve invested in 5 or 6 Mulberry items now (My shoulder bag above, The Emmy, The Bayswater, The Holly & a cute pink Mulberry clutch too), but there’s always been one bag I’ve wanted and a bag that I hope to soon invest in. The Chanel Timeless.
    It’s a bag thats so classic it’s chic beyond belief, sophisticated and stunning in design and a bag that 60 years later is still well adored and lusted after. An investment piece to say the least. Since I first started wanting the bag it’s gone from c. £1.5k new to c.£3.5k new … a sign of it’s established appeal. Whilst now a days I love the Chanel Boy bag in equal measures, the timeless / 2.5 is the one i’ve always dreamed of, and hope one day soon to finally take the leap and bay.
    But whist I talk myself into diverting my house deposit savings onto a Chanel bag, i’m also collating a wish list of slightly more affordable designer bags which are all currently grappling to be my next purchase. The Phillip Lim 3.1 Pashley Satchel, the YSL Classic Monogram bag and the YSL Sac De Jour are all competing to join my collection.
    Which would you pick? 
  • FAIL SAFE

    FAIL SAFE

    . GINGER AND WHITES .
    It feels like a long time since I blogged about a breakfast dish, but let’s be honest most my brunch recipes are some variation of the same kinda thing (salmon and eggs anyone?). I can’t help it, but I just love smoked salmon and scrambled eggs, I order it to some degree of variation every time I go out or make my own brunch.
    My favourite combos include a staple scrambled eggs & smoked salmon combo with any  / all of the following: potato farls, avocado, spinach or grilled cherry tomatoes, asparagus makes a good combo too (I blogged this dish here). I love a toasted bagel with egg mayo & smoked salmon (this was a recipe I stole from a cute cafe in Islington and blogged about here), eggs royal (Covent Garden Hotel & Duck and Waffle do a fab version of this), poached eggs on toast with salmon (I blogged a healthy poached eggs recipe here) and of course The Breakfast Clubs infamous ‘Huevos Al Benny’ (a mexican twist on my favourite dish). I’ve tried every combination and a zillion hot spots in London (my recommendations being Dean St Townhouse, Covent Garden Hotel, Duck & Waffle, Kopapa, The Breakfast Club, Bills, Table, Aisa De Cuba, Riding House Cafe, Caravan & Ottelinghi’s …. the list could go on).
    Basically I love brunch and I especially love eggs & salmon. So it’s probably no surprise that when I spent the day exploring Hampstead Heath (did you see my ‘Explorers’ post here?) that I spent a good few hours tasting the local delicacies in Ginger and White. You can probably guess what I ordered …
    What’s your favourite brunch recipes? Do you have any good breakfast recipes in London I should try?
  • THOSE THAT MADE IT

    THOSE THAT MADE IT

    . WHAT KATIE ATE COOKBOOK .
    Whilst no blogger probably set out with the ambition of becoming hugely successful and internationally renowned, a few have done just that. It’s amazing how blogging has become a platform for incredibly successful entrepreneurs, not only in just fashion and style but also in food, parenting, interior design, photography. I seek inspiration from those that have transferred what most likely started out as a simple hobby, into a full time, well paying (Youth millionaires are being bred out of youtube like nobodies business) career, their own business, their own fortune made from a drop of passion and a ton of dedication. 

    I think it’s incredible how far bloggers have come, from designing ranges for fashion stores, becoming internationally recognised for their style & sense of fashion, launching their blogs as full time websites earning millions from revenue and collaborations, or even releasing successful books documenting their work. There have been a number of blogger books over the last few years, but one that I invested in recently (and thoroughly recommend) is ‘What Kate Ate’, a recipe book released by food blogger Katie Quinn Davies. Despite being a fashion (and lifestyle) blogger myself, I actually read a lot of food blogs – the recipes and photography inspire me no end, and I can spend hours browsing through the archives. What Katie Ate was a more recent find of mine & in a moment of frivolousness I decided to buy the book – it’s a stunning hardback, full of seriously tasty recipes and the most beautiful photography. I’m so glad I picked it up & can’t wait to get trying some of the recipes.

    Have you bought into any blogger books? Do you recommend any for me to try next?