Travel: Postcards from LA

Travel: Cape Town

Josh and I have just returned from a sensational 9-day break in South Africa, where we spent the majority of the trip exploring the beautiful Cape Town. With beaches comprising of stunning (if a little cold) azure waters and white sands, picturesque mountain walks and drives, and bustling harbour-view restaurants, shops and bars; Cape Town really does have it all. Like most people we did have our reservations about safety before we arrived, but after spending half a day in the city these reservations quickly disappeared. Don’t get me wrong, you obviously have to keep your wits about you, but isn’t that true of any city? (London included!) 

We spent our days hiking up mountains, wandering about the Victoria & Alfred waterfront, relaxing on the warm sands of Clifton beach and Camps Bay, and enjoying the native and delicious South African wine (and a frozen daiquiri or two). I don’t think I’ve ever eaten as well as I did in the Western Cape and with a generous fillet steak and fresh lobster linguine costing the equivalent of about £6, there’s really no excuse not to. Of course we did try South Africa’s traditional cuisine of crocodile, springbok and ostrich, which you will find at the authentic Mama Africa cafe in the city centre.

Highlights from the trip included cocktails at Camps Bay (which at night looks even-more spectacular), views from Cape Town’s most iconic landmark – Table Mountain, and a day spent at Boulders Beach – home to thousands of wild African penguins. Other things not to miss include High Tea and the Mount Nelson Hotel (described as the “best tea in the world” by the UK Sunday Times) and the Cape of Good Hope, a nature reserve which lies at the tip of the Cape Peninsula.

For anyone considering visiting the city, I cannot recommend it enough. Cape Town has everything you need for any holiday whether it be a cultural city break or a relaxing beach vacation you’re after. It’s even great if you are looking for an adventurous get-away as there’s tonnes for adrenaline junkies too, including shark cage diving and bungee jumping.

I hope you don’t mind the mass of photos included in this post – there are just too many good ones to choose from and I would love to share as many as possible.

Happy Valentines Day

 

Travel: Postcards from Washington

Style: Suki Waterhouse

British model Suki Waterhouse is definitely someone I've been drawn to in recent months for style inspiration and someone I've been meaning to dedicate a post to for some time now. The twenty-year-old is known for being the face of Marks & Spencer lingerie and has also had experience in acting, starring alongside Agnes Deyn in movie Pusher. In more recent months you will have seen her fronting the latest Burberry campaign's, helping launch the brand's latest fragrance.

Her lively Instagram profile is a great source of inspirational (and enviable) photos from a number of events. While the numerous close ups showcase the best hair and beauty looks from the model who's style plays homage to the 60s mod era. 

Happy Halloween!

I just couldn’t resist showing you all a few snaps from last weekend’s Halloween Party. Me and a group of my friends dressed up in the full Addams Family attire (seriously, check out the effort from Cousin Itt!) I don’t think any of us spent much on our costumes, so it doesn’t have to empty your purse either. Maybe it’s too late for this year’s Halloween but it’s a good idea for next year’s celebrations if you’ve got a few friends who would like to join in the fun! 

Exhibition: Corrine Day – May the Circle Remain Unbroken

Image source: dazeddigital.com

Corrine Day – May the Circle Remain Unbroken Looking forward to visiting this exhibition next month which is currently taking place at the Gimpel Fils Gallery in London. May the Circle Remain Unbroken showcases a number of Day’s personal work, taken between 1987 and 1996 which often reference a grittier, realistic side of fashion. Day died three years ago of a brain tumour and the exhibition has been emotionally curated by Day’s husband Mark Szaszy and her best friend and muse Tara St Hill. I’ve always loved Corrine Day, often using her for references in my uni photography projects, and of course those iconic photos of Kate Moss for The Face magazine. To accompany the exhibition, a book of the same name is due to be published by Morel Books. The exhibition runs from 16th October – 23rd November. Find out more about it here.

Justin + Carly's Wedding

Last weekend I spent a few days in Sandwich, Kent for what was the most unique and creative wedding I’ve ever seen/attended. The wedding was that of Justin and Carly’s (my boyfriends brother and new sister-in-law). Neither of them have family in Kent but both fell in love with the venue as soon as they saw it.  And once seen it myself, I am not surprised why.

The venue, Preston Court, is close to Canterbury in Kent and features a large barn, genuine Victorian carousel and an island with a moat around for outdoor ceremonies. The weather was perfect, sunny and crisp - exactly what you hope for at the end of September, meaning the bride and groom could have an outdoor ceremony just like they’d hoped.

Carly looked absolutely stunning in a medieval-style gown with a low scoop neckline, an Art Deco buckle and a beautiful cut-out back trimmed with scalloped lace and finished with a vintage chain.

Although there was no colour scheme as such, a huge amount of time and effort had been spent collecting and making bits for the day. These included all the china used for the wedding breakfast, as well as the linen and old bottles and jars for the flowers. There were quirky touches everywhere you looked, with vintage handkerchiefs for ‘happy tears’ and a basket in the ladies’ toilets full of all the necessities needed for a long day: hairspray, deodorant, plasters, hair grips, transfer moustache tattoos?!

Even the first dance song choice was untraditional – a Katy B cover of UK garage song My Love (originally sung by Kele Le Roc).  Oh and they had a videographer flown in from Belgium to film their special day on a vintage-style grainy camera!

Honestly I cannot say enough how much I enjoyed the day - the photos below don’t do it enough justice, but please take a look.

Edinburgh

Josh and I spent last bank holiday weekend in Edinburgh as an early celebration for my birthday and a late one for Josh's. The whole weekend was incredible, with the Malmaison boutique hotel proving to be the perfect place to stay during our trip. We enjoyed the final two days of the renowned Fringe Festival, attempted to see the panda at Edinburgh Zoo (unfortunately we were unlucky this time), took an educated tour on the production of Scotch whiskey and of course visited the infamous castle. Would I go back to Edinburgh? In a heart beat!