Tuesday 31 July 2012

Damaris and Mimi Holliday AW12 Campaigns

It's been a tough couple of weeks for Liberty Ross (I never have liked uber awkward Kristen Stewart), so to pledge my allegiance to Team Liberty here's my sneak preview of the Damaris and Mimi Holliday AW12 Campaigns.  Regular readers will know that I've been the world's most dedicated fan to the two lingerie brands, from the moment I saw my first Damaris bra whilst working on the figleaves account.  Look out for haunting films, pop up shops and mouth watering lingerie.  


I love the cat ear lace eye masks which will be available to buy.


The ultimate lace body.  Note the ultra lux eyelash lace used along the neckline.


A super dreamy nude triangle bra.


And for Damaris, Liberty filmed Packing Heat for the label's campaign.  Seriously steamy, watch below x


Monday 30 July 2012

Going for Gold









Imagery - The Fancy, They All Hate Us, We Heart It, Girl Scene

Sunday 29 July 2012

Pass The Parcel

Day one of holiday - it's been blissfully hot.
Catching up on some blogging.

I had sisters birthday presents to wrap before I came out here, but no wrapping paper.  Conundrum.  Until I thought of using some shopping bags.


Step 1 - I cut a sheet out of a Topshop bag with a fabulous monochrome print



Step 2 - Scattered some stars I had so that they'd come spilling out when the present was unwrapped
(bikini by Topshop)



Step 3 - Wrote a little note on a swatch from a Primark bag


Step 4 - Piled the note on top of the present and bound with some bright yellow string - fabulous


Et voila.  The other sister had a touch of Chanel...a clear indicator of the what the present was.

My brother in law called me cheap, I just thought it was inventive.

Saturday 28 July 2012

Packing, packing, packing


The first layer.  I roll everything to avoid creasing.  Thank you to my housemate for lending me her bigger suitcase!  Gatwick, here I come x

Thursday 26 July 2012

Holiday A-Z

2 Sleeps and counting.  Portugal, here I come!  Two whole weeks of lounging, dining, tanning, playing, chatting........... ahhhh bliss.  This is my one holiday a year and I'm going to make it count.  For anyone else lucky enough to be jetting off on a break, here is my A-Z of heavenly holidaying.

A - Aeroplane
I am an aeroplane ADDICT.  I love airports, I love pilots, I love people watching, I love duty free, I love a plane blanket and I LOVE going to WH Smith pre-flight and stocking up on magazines and books.  


My dream plane blanket would be this cashmere treat from Brora, a snip at £389!  
In the meantime, I will have to make do with my HUGE beloved snow leopard print blanket found on the FLOOR in a Marks and Spencer sales frenzy.  


B - Big bag
The bigger the better.  Something fabulous to lug all your flight and beach essentials around in.  
This year I'll be taking this amazing tan oversized tote from Sacha London.
(I'm a lucky girl, it's not available 'till September!)  It's roomy, it's woven, it's got tassels, it's a no brainer.  
Visit www.sachalondon.co.uk come Autumn to purchase and in the meantime look 
at their handbags in Summery citrus shades.



C - Costumes
Swimming costumes, that is.  Back with a vengeance, the swimming costume is the thing to wear pool side.  I have a favourite from last year - pink leopard print (J.Lo esque) with a twisted strapless neckline but I'm also LUSTING over this Zimmerman beauty.  Grecian draping mixed with utility belt - perfection.



D - Dresses
Dresses are making up about 80% of my holiday wardrobe.  Easy to pack, breezy, effortless, perfect for day, ideal for nightfall.  Here are a just a few of my options.  

  

  


E - Eating out
One of my favourite thing about holidays.  The family together, eating, drinking, smoking, laughing.  My most anticipated night out?  A magical discovery last year - Gourmet Natural.  It's an Argentinian steak restaurant in a BREATHTAKING garden, where the impeccable staff start you off with a round of passion fruit mojito (which I quickly discovered are the elixir of sheer joy.)



F - Family
The best thing about my holiday - the fact that all 13 of us are together.  
Here's one of my favourite family snaps from last year - my niece Clemmie listening to Beyonce after a face painting session.  She looks like she's got a little halo.



G - Grooming
Pre holiday - mani, pedi, wax
Mid holiday - poolside DIY mani, poolside DIY facial
Post holiday - TAN MAINTENANCE!!! 


H - Holiday hair
The very best of hair.  Beachy waves, sun-given highlights, windswept plaits and an excuse to rock all your unworn hair accessories.  Silk scarves, corsages and ribbons are my favourites.



I - Ice cups
Glasses FULL of crushed ice - the ultimate chill out when the heat is causing you to melt.


J - Jungle Formula
Glamorous? No.  Essential? Absolutely.  
Insects love me, the little buggers.  This stuff is a god send.



K - Kaftans v Kimono
Usually it's all about the kaftan.  A glorious, floaty, chic kaftan flung over a bikini.  This year, however, I've got something else to toy with.  My GlamorousUK kimono, which looks wonderfully faded and vintage will look amazing teamed with swimwear, equally with an LBD for dinner.  But I've bought this Topshop kaftan too, just to create a little friendly competition.

 



L - Lemon juice
This features heavily on my holidays.  A squeeze to give an ice cold water a kick, a generous glug over a fresh salad for the healthiest dressig.  Mother nature's very own bleach gives my hair golden highlights too (an age old trick, but it does work!)  Maybe if I submerged the tips in it and sat in the sun I could master a natural dip dye?!

M - Magazines
Yep, my name is Charlotte and I'm a magazine junkie.  My family always books the holiday to happen just DAYS before the September issues come out much to my continual despair.  So I desperately try and discipline myself not to open any in the month of August, something that in my line  of work is virtually impossible.  My record number is 15 last year...they really messed with my suitcase weight.

M (number two) - Madonna
Cheeky I know, but I had to have a sequel to my first M.  'Holiday' is always the first song I listen to on a plane aywhere and The Immaculate Collection, once the soundtrack of my upbringing thanks to 3 older sisters in the 80's, is always my holiday record of choice.



N - Nails
Coral on toes, MAYBE a neon pink.  Fingers are interchangeable - Barry M, Rimmel, Essie, Chanel.  Anything bright.  One of my favourite parts of my holiday? Giving my sisters and mum pedicure treats.



O - Olympic hell
That's right.  I've perfectly timed my escape from London chaos.
I feel really quite smug about it.


P - Pool fun
Swimming after breakfast, splashing after lunch, dipping toes and lilo sleeps ANY time.



Q - Quiet
Blissful, trouble free quiet.


R - Reading
I'm going to re-read some favourite classics and invest in some new ones.

S - Sun!
The missing person of the British Summer until this week.


T - Tan, tan, TAN
Delph is my fail safe sun lotion.  I swear it helped me tan better last year but its mega protective too.



U - Umbrella ban
Won't be needing that contraption for a fortnight.



V - Villas
I like the villas in Portugal.  It's like you're driving round the set of The O.C.


W - Wedges
Mine are from Office - simple, and go with everything.



X - X-hausting pool games (sorry!)
with my nieces and nephew.  The picture below documents the only 20 minutes when the girls stayed totally still and quiet.  From that moment on, we asked the pool man to come back every day.



Y - Yoga
I've got my pink mat, I've got the early morning sun, I am good to do for daily sessions.  Of course if the mat takes up too much room in my suitcase, it will be substituted for shoes.

Z - Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz 
Napping whenever you want.  The ultimate indulgence.

Happy holidays! x

Tuesday 24 July 2012

Walking On Sunshine

My goodness....is that sun I see?!  Summer seems to be finally here after a miserable stint in Blighty.  So at last, I can post some sizzling Summer pics.  Two weeks in Portugal approaching fast, but just look how glorious our beloved capital is looking.  Makes me not want to leave.......well, almost.






'Tis the season for dip dyed hair


A bold bright nail instantly makes you feel summery.  
As I type this post, my finger nails are currently sporting Barry M's Block Orange.  








  
The prettiest of ice pops




Imagery - This Is Glamorous, We Heart It, They All Hate Us, Burberry, Street Style London, Rozanne Gold