MSH Backup

‪On Wednesday morning I was lucky enough to attend a very special preview of Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams at the V&A, the first fashion exhibition to take place in their recently opened Sainsbury Gallery, and the largest design exhibition at the museum since their stunning Alexander McQueen retrospective in 2015. Charting the journey of the label from inception, to the explosion of the New Look in 1947, through a succession of artistic directors to the present, the exhibition explores both the heritage and influence of the brand across a series of meticulously curated displays. Through a series of stunning couture clothing, intricate objects and archive pieces, the exhibition immerses visitors in all things Dior from start to finish, across a multitude of contrasting aesthetics and attitudes:‬ ‪ ‬  Drawn from an array of collections all over the world, as well as the V&A’s own archive, the exhibition encompasses over 500 objects from across the tenures of D...

So, here we are at the end of January- we made it! For some inexplicable reason, this month seems to last about a hundred times as long as any other, but it always feels like an achievement when you get to the end- a five week marathon of early morning alarms, cold weather and a seemingly neverending wait until payday. As well as all of the above, the start of any new year can always be a little bit overwhelming, especially if you're spinning lots of plates at once, are generally feeling a little bit run down or are as deflated as a blow-up snowman after the excitement and seemingly never-ending series of meetups during the festive season.  Whilst I'm not a believer in Blue Monday or any of the other general 'new year, new you' nonsense which this month in particular is synonymous with, January is a toughie for a lot of different reasons for me, but more particularly because it's a month which features a few anniversaries of family members passing away, including so...

Whilst there's still a distinct chilly feel in the air, the promise of spring is there too- especially as I'm pleased to report that I've got some snowdrops growing in the garden! Hooray! Looking ahead to spring (my favourite season!), I'm really keen to invest sensibly in some pieces which can be styled more sustainably from season to season, as well as items which present excellent value on the cost-per-wear from too. Window shopping around, there's a lovely little crop of bits and pieces which I've got bookmarked: Oversized Wool Blend Plaid Overshirt, £159, & Other Stories/Alda Pink Mug, £15, Oliver Bonas/Selma Sweatshirt, £150, Mother of Pearl/Kennedy Cross Body Bag, £39.50, Oliver Bonas/3D Bee Earrings, £45, Olivia Burton/Indigo Denim Jacket, £165, Toast/New Balance Fuelcore Running Trainer, £58, Free People/Botanical Signet Ring, £108, Free People/Mock Neck Sweater, £35, & Other Stories This wool button up coat from & Other Stories is perfectio...

Since the start of the year, and especially now that this cold snap has really taken hold, I’ve given my daily skincare routine a little bit of an overhaul. At this stage of the game, I’m only making minor changes, just to add a bit of a boost as and when I need it, and also allowing myself the option to test a few new products here and there. As such, my current combination of favourites is definitely helping with the battle against winter skin: I’ve been after roller for my face for a little while now and was lucky enough to receive one for Christmas. It’s Rose Quartz and so far I’m getting on really well with it, and am finding that using it as recommended in the evenings pays real dividends in terms of reducing redness and calming my skin down after a long day- it also came in extremely handy when I had the worst flu-induced headache at the start of the year! I’ve recently switched my cleansers around a little bit too, and am having a break from Oskia’s Renaissance Cleansing Gel in...

If there’s one thing which Christmas guarantees, it’s the promise of a perfume shaped present under the tree. There’s something about getting a fragrance as a gift which makes it all the more meaningful, especially if it gives you the opportunity to sample something new for the first time- a real luxury if you, like me, tend to be a creature of pure repurchasing habit! Since the end of December, I’ve been very happily using a new favourite which I’ve been wanting to sample for ages- Gucci’s Bloom:  As well as being housed in a beautiful bottle (pink goals!), this Eau de Parfum incorporates a bounty of beautiful floral notes including jasmine and tuberose, and is wonderfully delicate whilst still being punchy enough to last all day. It’s been a while since I’ve sampled a new scent, but this is one which I’m really glad to have discovered, and which has already become a firm favourite- I can’t wait to give it a spritz during the spring and into summer!  Have you sampled any new ...

There's no doubt that January can be a real struggle- both in terms of the post-Christmas lull which it inevitably brings with it, and also financially. Whether it's bridging the longer-than-usual gap between paydays or attempting to save a little bit of money as part of a drive towards being a little bit thriftier, the start of the year has somehow become synonymous with the tightening of a collective belt. January can also be one of the hardest windows to get through in terms of motivation- making cutting out those little luxuries just that bit harder. With that in mind, I've pulled together a list of things to help pep up the start of the year which don't cost the earth, but which will definitely help in terms of mood boosting:   - Get out in the fresh air This is one of the easiest January hacks out there- and doesn't cost a penny. Pulling on your trainers and getting outside is a really great way to beat the start of year blues, even if it's only for half a...

Without a doubt, the biggest event of last year for me was finally getting my painful periods sorted out. I've posted all about getting my undiagnosed ovarian cyst removed here , and, eight months later, I'm still figuring out exactly how recovery works- and very much taking one day at a time. Although my surgery wasn't open, it took a lot longer than originally anticipated, and I've been quite surprised at just how long it's taken my body to get back to feeling normal- needless to say, it definitely hasn't been a speedy springing back into action. I still get quite tired, and twinges now and then are very much still a thing- as are the four scars on my abdomen which are fading very slowly. Being forced to take things easy wasn't something which I'd necessarily factored into my plan for recovery- especially as I thought I'd be in and out of hospital within an afternoon to start with- but one of the toughest things since last April has been getting ba...

Starting a fresh year can be a pretty overwhelming prospect, especially if you, like me, still have a to-do list as long as your arm leftover from the tail end of 2018. Try as I might, I couldn't quite find the time (or, more accurately, the energy!) to drill down into some of the more serious life admin which I'd resolved to crack at the start of the year, but- and let's be honest about this- who wants to be filing pension paperwork at the weekend?! Whilst the middle of winter is definitely not the most motivating of times to try and make any radical changes in your life, I'm convinced that tackling things in small steps is the best, and most manageable way ahead, so have drawn up a list of organisation hacks for the new year which I hope will come in handy over the next couple of months: - Diarise Thoroughly boring unless you're a born bullet journaller, but getting those important dates in your diary makes a massive difference to getting on top of things. I know ...

December certainly flew by in an absolute flash, didn't it?! To be honest, I really struggled to keep track of time towards Christmas Day- and although I only had a small window of time away from work, it was definitely much needed after a very hectic month, and indeed a whirlwind of year too. December kicked off with my birthday, and featured lots of lovely highlights along the way: A birthday treat to myself from Alex Monroe at Liberty/Blooms still going strong in the garden/The best tree in town at Somerset House/Stunning sunset/Strong wreath game/Writing cards/More wreath goals /The most Instagrammed place in London?/Festive afternoon tea at Dominique Anse l/Bloom and Wild flowers/A year-end snap/New favourites from Estee Lauder and Oliver Bonas All in all a month which absolutely flew by but which featured lots of fun activities- and lots of festive favourites too! I'm not too sure what January has in store as I've deliberately kept my weekends fairly free to concentra...

The start of the year, again! Time flies, doesn't it?! To be honest, the pre-Christmas weeks have all sort of merged into one in my very tired mind, but here we are again with the first few working days of 2019 under our belts- and a whole new year of potential ahead of us. I've got a fair few posts planned and scheduled already, and am really keen to get these pages redesigned at some point too- watch this space! Anyway, before I get ahead of myself, here's a little look back at my last outfit snap of the last year: Dress- Whistles (via John Lewis) Coat- c/o Very  Shoes- Gap This dress from Whistles is perhaps one of my canniest recent purchases, and a piece which I'm really chuffed to have snapped up during those Black Friday sales with 20% off- winner! The style and print instantly caught my eye and I'm really happy with how it looks on too- as well as being a really easy smart option, it probably goes without saying that I love the opportunites for swishing whic...

Now that the New Year is here, I’m sure that I’m not alone in thinking about which resolutions to make for the forthcoming twelve months. Whilst I’ve always been a bit reluctant to commit to making lists in the past, I’m having a good muse on what the next year has in store and what I would like to get out of it. As I get to grips with making plans, I’ve got a stash of new beauty bits primed and ready- because starting a new year with some fresh favourites is a sure way to kick things off on the right note:  At the start of December, I took the plunge and treated myself to the full sized pot of Tata Harper’s Resurfacing Mask after getting on really well with a sample size last summer. Although it’s definitely teetering towards the luxury end of what I’d be prepared to spend on skincare, it really is worth it, especially as it offers a really gentle option for exfoliating skin- and at this time of year that’s something more necessary than normal. Another new addition to my daily rou...