Girl In The Pretty Dress

Last month we had a short family trip up to Scotland - back to my favourite area on the west coast. We'd decided to travel with 3 dogs in tow so were limited on options for where to stay but struck it lucky with a beautiful rented cottage on the Ardmaddy Estate . We weren't quite so lucky with the weather (having arrived in the lead up to 'Storm Desmond') but we made the most of the few moments that the sunshine managed to break through the clouds. The Ardmaddy estate is only a few miles from the Isle of Seil - which gave us the perfect opportunity to explore this ruggedly beautiful island.

A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to be invited to preview the F&F Spring/Summer collection in London. If you're a fairly frequent visitor to this blog you'll know that I'm a big fan of the F&F brand and have featured a fair few of their pieces in the past - so I was naturally curious about their latest collection. On a chilly, rainy November day in London, the collection was a breath of fresh air and has already got me thinking about my summer hols next year. The collection as a whole was heavily influenced by the idea of travel. The lookbook collection underpinned this by featuring linens and a nautical theme, interspersed with some corals, while the other collections all took inspiration from a different part of the globe (my favourite of which was 'Latin Rose'). Delicate fabrics with intricate florals and watercolour inspired designs were interspersed with slightly heavier fabrics which leant themselves to the ongoing trend for 70s nostalgia. The ...

One of my favourite purchases this year (and by no coincidence, one of my favourite outfit posts) was this fabulous canary-yellow vintage skirt . I was bitten by the vintage bug and I've been seeking out vintage sales ever since so I thought I'd share what I've learned so far... 1) Vintage shopping can be a tall shoppers heaven. The added length of yester-year's dresses/skirts makes them perfect for those of us who are long and leggy. (Waist-height can still be tricky but it's amazing what you can find if you're prepared to rummage through the rails.) It's also the perfect way to nail throw-back fashions like the current 70's trends. 2) It's about more than just the clothes. It's a costume-jewellery paradise (I've never seen so many sparkly things in one place) and perfect if you're looking for a one-off piece of furniture. 3) It pays to think about your underwear in advance of your shopping expedition. Most vintage sales have...

Waddesdon Manor is a former Rothschild home located in Buckinghamshire. I've visited a lot of National Trust properties this year, but this has to be the most opulent of them all. It's so large I couldn't fit the entire building in one photograph, and it takes 15 minutes to walk from the car park to the property (they run a shuttle service for those less inclined to hike across the fields). It was designed by a French architect in the style of a french chateau and used as a weekend home. The family are still involved in the upkeep of the property and the charitable works associated with the estate (including the aviary which has a role in the conservation of endangered tropical birds). Inside the house is filled with all kinds of curiosities - including the Elephant Automatron I've included in this post. (It's also currently playing host to several art exhibitions/installations - my favourite of which were the paintings by Francesco Guardi, an artist who cap...

I was walking down The Strand in London recently when something caught my eye... It had the words 'Louis Vuitton' and 'free' on it so I had to investigate further! What followed was a wonderful walk through the Louis Vuitton A/W 15 collection and the opportunity to see how it intertwines with the history of the brand. In their own words: "Series 3 is a stand alone exhibition showcasing a designer and his creative process and influences. Far more than a simple collection it is a stream of consciousness, dreams and self-reflexive journeys. Inside a designers mind, muses intertwine with cherished memories and visions of new shapes, cuts and meticulous craftmanship. He sits between the past he embraced and the future. The designer's careful thoughts pair with a delicate artisanal touch: a new moment of excellence born in this union. "Series 3" retraces Nicolas Ghesquiere  Autumn/Winter 2015/2016 collection for Louis Vuitton. "Series 3" is a s...