MSH Backup

Of all of the little luxuries in life, there are few which, for me at least, feel like more of a treat than getting my nails done. I’m not the most proficient with paining them myself, and as someone who was truly terrible at art when I was at school, I’ve realised that no matter how hard I try, anything paint related and I are more or less destined not to get on! My lack of ambidexterity aside, having a professional manicure is a lovely way of treating myself, especially as it offers the opportunity to escape from the office too- two birds, one stone etc. Sadly, I recently discovered that my salon of choice (Cheeky in High Holborn) has closed down, so I’ve since kept a beady eye peeled for an alter native. Stepping into the breach, a destination which I visited for the first time last week- Skinny Dip London’s Nail Club: With decor this on trend, it’s hard to see how you can go wrong, right? Amidst a cosy millennial pink salon which occupies the downstairs of the Skinny Dip store in C...

Now that it looks like spring is (at last!), well and truly sprung, I'm sure I'm not the only one who is eagerly switching things up in the style stakes and injecting some new energy into my everyday wardrobe. I've always been instinctively drawn to bright hues and summer styles, and a few weeks ago happened upon a new purchase which is already proving to be a real investment buy: Blouse- Marks and Spencer Jumper- Marks and Spencer Jeans- Weekday (via ASOS) Shoes- c/o Boden Bag- Skinny Dip London I spotted this blouse from Marks and Spencer online a little while back, and added it to my bag more or less straight away. I'd originally been intending to stash it away in my suitcase for my holiday, but it's already had a few outings- thanks to the glorious sunshine we had a few weeks ago. It's wonderfully lightweight so lends itself perfectly to layering, and I love the pom pom details too. Definitely a design which I'm sure I'll be living in over the summer...

As I've touched on on a few occasions in the past, as I've grown older I've become a lot more focused on collecting a wardrobe full of piece which I know I'll wear time and time again, rather than the trend-led styles which I used to pick up on impulse in my teens. These are the sort of staples which tend to form the crux of my day to day wardrobe, and which I'm pleased to report are still going strong after several years- including this colour block style: Coat- & Other Stories  Tunic- Zara  Trousers- ASOS  Shoes- Adidas (via Surfdome)  Bag- Skinny Dip London I picked up this tunic from Zara about three years or so ago, and it's a real perennial favourite. The contrasting colours lend it a really smart edge, and the longer line is great for switching up silhouettes too- for some reason I always feel that little bit taller when I've got a longer top on! Here I teamed it with my much love wide-legged trousers from Zara and & Other Stories trench coat-...

There are few style staples which are more synonymous with spring than the humble trench coat, are there? I've had a handful which have come and gone from my wardrobe since I was a teenager, but there's no denying that as far as classic pieces go, it's well at the top of the 'essentials' list. Whilst I've got a cropped style from Whistles which has been with me since I turned 21, this year I was on the hunt for a new, longer line design with a slightly more relaxed feel- and happened across the perfect purchase from & Other Stories:  Coat- & Other Stories  Top- Zara  Trousers- ASOS  Shoes- c/o Boden Bag- Skinny Dip London Sunglasees- Ray Ban c/o John Lewis Regular readers will know that I'm a big fan of & Other Stories, and, after spotting this coat in store a few weeks ago, I snapped it up on the spot. It's the perfect essential with which to bridge the gap in seasons, and versatile enough to style in plenty of different combinations. The lo...

Happy April! Whilst I can't quite get my head around the fact that we're already four months into 2017, it's lovely to embrace the arrival of spring after so long. As I type this, I'm looking out at a blue sky and celebrating the fact that the lighter evenings have given me a much needed boost of energy- it's amazing what a spurt of sunshine can do isn't it?! With spring in mind, I've been embracing a slightly more mellow colour palette in my wardrobe over the last few weeks- whilst (of course!) keeping things practical in anticipation of those April showers... Jacket- Zara  Top- Zara  Trousers- ASOS  Shoes- c/o Boden  Bag- Skinny Dip London Co-ordination claxon! Out of habit I tend to always veer towards black and navy hues for work wear, but teaming these grey pieces has definitely helped to inject a fresh feel into my weekday wardrobe! These trousers and this top are staples which I've posted about on plenty of occasions in the past, but this jacket i...

I don't know about you, but as I've grown older (and tried to downsize my wardrobe!), I've become a real fan of fuss free dressing. Practicality always wins out in my book these days, particularly when it comes to pulling together a selection of go-to staples which I know will work in almost any combination. Whilst I'm still a long way away from mastering anything near what could be classified as a capsule wardrobe, over the last few months I've been regularly reaching for a selection of essentials on a really regular basis: Coat- Marks and Spencer  Blouse- Zara  Trousers- ASOS  Trainers- c/o Boden  Bag- Skinnydip London  You can't ever really go wrong with basic block colours, can you? This coat has been a regular fixture in my wardrobe for a fair few years now, and it's a staple which I always find myself digging out at this time of the year- a real investment buy! Speaking of staples, I more or less live in these trousers from ASOS- especially as I'm ...

Well, it seems that spring has finally sprung, doesn't it?! After a glorious day on Saturday (followed somewhat predictably by a showery Sunday!), I'm hedging my bets that this is the start of the new season proper, and I'm sure I'm not the only one who is ecstatic to see the back of the winter for another year. Here's to the evenings drawing out, spring blooms popping up left, right and centre in the garden, as well as the opportunity to embrace some new wardrobe wonders, with a suitably seasonal combination of colours: Coat- c/o Boden  Jumper- & Other Stories  Trousers- ASOS  Trainers- c/o Boden  Bag- Skinny Dip London This pink coat from Boden has become a regular fixture on these pages of late, and it's one of those great pieces which feels like a real breath of fresh air, especially at this time of the year- particularly as the colour is a real mood booster too. Here I co-ordinated it with a recent purchase in the shape of this jumper from & Other S...

Sometimes all that it takes to help in rediscovering some old style favourites is a good old fashioned clear out. Whilst I'm yet to tackle a full (and long overdue) dissection of my wardrobe, I've been having intermittent rummages over the last couple of weeks, primarily motivated by an need to seek out some much needed insulation! In so doing, I happened across an old favourite, and one which I've really enjoyed switching up and styling of late: Coat- Topshop  Top- ASOS  Trousers- ASOS  Shoes- Adidas (via Surfdome)  Bag- Skinnydip London I picked up this bold blue coat in the January sales a fair few years ago now, and it's a classic which I'm really happy to have rediscovered, especially as the pop of statement colour is a wonderful diversion to a lot of the darker hues which tend to dominate my wardrobe at this time of the year. On a practical note, the oversized fit is perfect for me as I've been bundling up rather a lot, and anything which resembles a blank...

Just when you think you've gone and mastered understanding the Great British weather, along comes another freezing cold snap to well and truly remind you never to cast a clout until May is out! I have to confess that I'd been more than a little eager to pack away my winter woollies for another year, so I suppose I only have myself to blame in respect of feeling a tad under prepared for yet another spell of beyond the Wall weather. Whilst I've been reluctant to bundle up in my usual go-to pieces, I've snapped up some new essentials instead- teaming them with some old favourites in the process of combatting the cold: Coat- Vintage  Jumper- Marks and Spencer  Skirt- New Look (via ASOS)  Shoes- Converse  Bag- Skinnydip London Part polar explorer, part Dolores Umbridge, this combination is one which was governed by practicality as much as an attempt to inject a splash of spring colour to a dreary January day. London in the last few weeks has resembled something akin to a ...