With Love From England - Thomas Lyte

I love Thomas Lyte... if you aren't familiar with them, they are a modern luxury brand that celebrate traditional craftsmanship and English heritage. 

The lifestyle brand specialise in exquisite leather goods ranging from purses, wallets, hand and travel bags to silverware and homeware. It's a beautiful collection that is timeless and classic.

Located in the Burlington Arcade, the brand is unique in the fact that it has a London based Leather Atelier and SilverSmith Workshop... it's great to see a brand that really champions Englishness and supports true artisans of the trade. 

My favourite piece in the leather collection is the fun leather wallet embossed with LOVE NOTES... Crafted from the finest bridle leather and lined with luxury silk, this stylish envelope is the perfect accessory. What's more, Thomas Lyte offer a personalisation service where you can emboss your initials or whatever you choose on your envelope to make it truly bespoke.

Price from £55 http://www.thomaslyte.com/

SUNO...

Having grown up in Kenya, I am immediately drawn to brands that have a link to Africa... although SUNO is a New York based womenswear label, it was established by Max Osterweis who sees Kenya as a second home! Most of his first collection was produced predominantly there and was in fact inspired by the post election violence that affected the country in 2008. 

It's great to see Kenyan artisans recognised, indeed heralded for their craftsmanship. It's strange although I am delighted, to see local traditional wear perceived as fashionable in the trend led capitals of the world... I associate the kanga material with white sandy beaches and local markets!

Since its inception, SUNO has also produced collections made in India and Peru and aims to offer a unique view of the luxury world in an accessible way. The styles are effortlessly chic, fresh and optimistic! It's a brand offering a unique aesthetic that it is as ethical as it is innovative. 

It's the perfect brand to shop from right now... the lively colours will definitely transport you into summer in style.

http://www.sunony.com/

Grey Goose & The New York Film Society

Grey Goose are renowned for their parties and last night was no exception. The vodka brand partnered with the New York Film Society for its 40th Chaplin Award Gala which paid tribute to the film career of Barbra Streisand.

Held at the Lincoln Centre in New York, the evening began with a Grey Goose cocktail reception where the lovely Joe McCanta created some delicious bespoke cocktails... The Rose Noir - consisting of Grey Goose Cherry Noir, rose syrup, fresh citrus and cardamom, garnished with a rose petal and a touch of gold!

Bill Clinton had the honour of presenting the award at the dinner... after which it was fun and games all round... Barbra Streisand was serenaded by Wynton Marsalis and Liza Minnelli and by Tony Bennett closed the show with the song, "Smile", fittingly a Charlie Chaplin song... or maybe it was thanks to the huge magnums of the brand's signature drink Grey Goose Le Fizz on the tables!!

A fantastic night attended by some of the industry greats - Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones, Ben Stiller, Pierce Brosnan and Jeremy Irons were all out in force.

greygoosetaste.com

Sophia Webster... I Salute You!

Full of character, playful and eye-catching... Sophia Webster, I have fallen in love with your collection! 

Hailed as the new rising star of the shoe world, Sophia's shoes are renowned for their femininity and simple lines combined with kaleidoscopic colour-ways. The designer, formerly an assistant at Nicholas Kirkwood, is making a huge impression with her latest collection that features hyper-real detailing and embellishment. 

Check out the lively light-hearted collection full of colour pops here http://www.net-a-porter.com/ 

Available as an exclusive for Net-A-Porter, the Vivi patent-trimmed leather sandals (pictured above) are my absolute favourite. From the bright pink bows, to the patent-leather accents and graphic checked trims, they will complete any outfit adding glamour and style. I love the juxtaposition of combining pretty pastel pinks with black and white... a confident shoe, but somehow subtle!
Go on... treat yourself... http://www.net-a-porter.com/product/351362 (£385)


I can't wait to see what's in store for the Autumn/Winter 2013 collection which Sophia describes as "a bit of Jackson Pollock meets Marie Antoinette," and "inspired by films like Edward Scissorhands and Clueless.” 

http://sophia-webster.com/

Neal's Yard... label love

When it comes to lotions and potions... like all girls, I am a sucker for anything that promises to make me feel and look better! It's only been in the past few years... as a result of the fine lines that are starting to appear and don't seem to fade ahhhh.... that I am more concerned about where I buy my products from and equally important, where these brands source their ingredients from.

I immediately fell in love with Neal's Yard Remedies, where I discovered that the brand is based on the premise that health and beauty should be more natural and less synthetic. Using only the finest ingredients, their products are sourced from organic farms and are a more natural way to improve health and well being. 

You only have to walk past the doors of one of their shops to be hit by an instant delicious soothing smell... whether from their heavenly room diffusers or burning candles whose scents are matched in an array of aromatherapy oils, room sprays, body lotions, hair care and gift sets.  

High on the fumes of essentials oils, I bought the 'Balancing Reed Room Diffuser', which transformed my bathroom into my very own spa... I loved it! However the one criticism I had was that it only lasted approximately three weeks.

I also bought the 'Soothing Bath Oil' with hints of lavender, geranium and bergamot, which is meant to help relax body and mind... and am pleased to say, it lived up to its name! It's quite a thick texture, almost syrupy, so really feels like you are treating your skin. 

And finally... I recently discovered that they offer a range of therapies ranging from acupressure and ayurveda, to craniosacral therapy... not quite sure what that involves yet... but I am desperate to try one of the therapies as I am a big advocate of holistic treatments.

It's very refreshing to be able to buy products from a brand whose philosophy I truly believe in and so would recommend visiting one of the stores if you  haven't already done so.

http://www.nealsyardremedies.com/

Perfect for the weekend...

If you're looking for something fun and creative to do this weekend, I'd recommend booking an appointment at Rachel Vosper's gorgeous boutique. Rachel is one of the UK's leading Candle Chandlers having worked in the industry for over a decade designing and creating bespoke candle collections for an array of high-end boutiques both in the UK and internationally.

Rachel offers a candle making course which will provide you with the basic skills to create a candle in an etched glass container along with a selection of fragranced decorations, which you will be able to take home at the end of the session. 

The bespoke session kicks off with a glass of complimentary champagne and then you will be able to choose your own fragrance from the library... you can even bring your own vessel to fill if you have a particular preference or want to make a truly unique candle for yourself or perfect as a gift!

Situated in the heart of Belgravia... it's definitely worth treating yourself to a visit and indulging in creating the most delicious candles... mine still smells heavenly months later... I went for the Echinacea fragrance... 

Booking is essential 020 7235 9666.

rachelvosper.com

GEOX & GEOX DESIGNED BY PATRICK COX AUTUMN/ WINTER PRESS DAY

On Tuesday, footwear and apparel brand Geox held their press day to showcase their Autumn/ Winter 2013 collections and the third season collaboration with iconic shoe designer Patrick Cox.

The showroom, which has to have one of the best office views with the Shard, the Gherkin, St Pauls, all in sightline, was amass with a huge selection of shoes in various styles and colours guarded closely by Patrick's two British bulldogs Caeser and Brutus. 

The collections catering for stylish contemporary women and men (and not forgetting the children's range),  featured  innovative combinations of materials and textures including camouflage and animal prints to create a collection that perfectly compliments the brand’s apparel range. 

My favourite part was of course the women's collection which was characterised into three different themes: Heritage, Romance and Cosmic Light.

Taking inspiration from its heritage, the collection sees casual, cool styles, which are well suited for the outdoors created across a range of colours and textures ranging from shiny calfskin and glossy patent leather to rich suede. Camouflage features prominently this season adding an abstract dimension to loafers, wedge ankle boots and high top sneakers in autumnal tones of browns, rusts and dark greens.

In contrast to the bold statement pieces in the collection, GEOX introduces a softer colour palette this autumn with a section of subdued pastel hues with tones of blush pink, hazelnut, light beige and pearl gray with the occasional flash of dark lobster red. Suede, calf and goatskin boots, mid stack-heeled loafers and high top sneakers enriched with quilted details and studs, are key products in the core  'romance' collection.

Reminiscent of the sixties Space Age era where black ruled pierced with acid yellows, luminous greens and violets, GEOX reintroduce 'cosmic light' colours. The play on proportions is evident as ballerina shoes are adorned with gold-bordered buckles and pumps have high stack-heels. Python, zebra and leopard prints bring the retro glamour to life across the playful collection.

It was a beautifully presented press day and the best bit... colour coordinated macaroons (matching the three prominent colours in the collection) were included in the gift bag along with a bottle of Prosecco from GEOX's very own vineyard.

uk.geox.com