MSH Backup

I don't know about you, but I always tend to forget just how tricky it is to second guess the weather at this time of the year. Granted, a rather unpredictable climate doesn't help- especially when you find yourself contending with torrential rain one minute and glorious spells of sunshine the next. Whilst I'm yet to have a rummage through my stash of winter woollies, recently I've been attempting to cling onto the last of the summer by reaching for some fair weather favourites:  Blouse- Zara  Trousers- ASOS  Shoes- Nike (via ASOS)  Bag- Oliver Bonas  You can never really go wrong with monochrome, especially during the transition between seasons. This blouse is an old favourite from Zara which I've had stashed away in my wardrobe for a fair few years now, and it's a really brilliant versatile basic which I'm sure I'll be hanging on to for many more years to come. These trousers from ASOS are another staple which I more or less live in- so much so that...

As well as the multitude of pop-up restaurants which populate London, temporary shops and exhibitions have also taken to springing up across the capital city too. The latest of which, launched last Friday, is situated in the heart of Mayfair and has been put together by Chanel in celebration of the launch of their new fragrance, Gabrielle Chanel. Incorporating an in-depth look at the inspiration behind the perfume as well as the unique olfactory experience of creating a new scent, the space has been curated to take you on a journey, from inception to the finished product: Inspired by Chanel's early life, this new fragrance incorporates orange blossom, jasmine, ylang ylang and the newly created Grasse tuberose- notes which are deconstructed throughout your journey across the space thanks to interactive scent stations and displays. Taking a detailed look at the early life of Gabrielle 'Coco' Chanel, the space has also been curated to incorporate lots of personal touches, such...

Now that we're headed towards autumn in earnest, I'm sure I'm not the only one reaching for some old fashion faithfuls. As the temperatures drop, it's always lovely to get reacquainted with those cosy casuals which wear so well throughout this transitional time of the year, and is a process which makes accepting that summer is over for another year just that little bit easier. As such, I've been rummaging through my wardrobe for some old favourites of late: Jumper- Oliver Bonas  Trousers- Zara  Shoes- Adidas (via Spartoo) Bag- Oliver Bonas  This jumper was something of a spur of the moment purchase which I made last winter, and it's an investment which I couldn't be happier with. Not only is it wonderfully comfortable but it's also great for adding a pop of colour and character to some of my more run of the mill basic buys, as well as being a real mood booster on dark, bleary eyed mornings. Here I teamed it with my Zara culottes- a late summer purchase f...

Another month down! This year is whizzing past in what feels like the blink of an eye- and once again I'm finding it hard to believe that we're here at the outset of another autumn. I'm hoping that summer is going to give us a parting gift of a few more weeks of sunshine yet- especially as I'm not quite ready to hibernate for the winter! The last month has been peppered with bits and pieces of activity here and there, but overall has been pretty quiet. I've been feeling quite ill over the last couple of weeks so am still trying to take things easy- especially as cold and flu season will be with us again in earnest soon! In an attempt to get energised and banish the bugs, I've been trying to spend as much time outside in the fresh air as possible: Blue skies- all too rare over the last month!/ Exploring Petersham Nurseries, Covent Garden /Visiting Borough Market/Bloomsbury wandering/Brilliant blooms/Country walks/A haul of fresh flowers from the garden/ Follies a...

Although I'm already mourning the end of another summer (why do they fly by so quickly?!), there's no denying that these transitional weeks which unfold as we ease our way towards autumn are pretty special too. I'm determined to make the most of the sunshine for as long as it sticks around, as well as dosing up on as much fresh air as possible before winter arrives in earnest. Commuting to and from London during the week means I'm always grateful for quiet weekends at home, and I've been making a concerted effort to enjoy more of my local surroundings of late- pulling on my trainers for some lovely weekend walks whilst the weather holds:  I usually run around these country paths, but there's a lot to be said for enjoying them at a more leisurely pace. I've always felt really lucky to be able to leave the city behind at the end of each day, and in all honesty I don't think I'd ever be able to live amidst that much hustle and bustle constantly. There...

As I touched on in my last outfit post, sometimes it's well worth investing in some solid everyday basics which you know you'll be able to reach for on repeat- especially during this tricky transitional period from summer to autumn. Regular readers will know that navy and white is a go-to combination for me, and it's definitely one which I've found myself more or less living in over recent weeks- pairing some old faithfuls with a new investment buy here and there: Blouse- COS  Trousers- ASOS  Shoes- New Look  Bag- Oliver Bonas You can't ever really go wrong with a simple white blouse, and this style from COS is a real favourite. The frill collar adds a lovely extra bit of detail, and is an addition which will make this perfect for layering under knits as autumn and winter unfold too. Here I paired it with my much-worn wide legged trousers from ASOS- a real cost-per-wear investment buy which I'm sure I'll be reaching for a lot more during the coming weeks too...

Whilst I've more or less settled into something of a solid everyday beauty routine over the last couple of years or so, it's always nice to switch things up every once in a while and try some new products. I don't usually tend to give into hype as far a new launches are concerned, but with the world and his wife buzzing about cult skincare sensation The Ordinary, I thought it was well worth seeing what all the hubbub was about for myself. A few weeks ago, I popped along to their newly opened Covent Garden store one lunchtime to find it absolutely packed- always a sign of a good thing- and got the lowdown on a selection of their essentials: Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5, Azelaic Acid Suspension, 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil, c/o The Ordinary. Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution purchased in-store. In the past, my skin has never really tended to get on all that well with anything too hard, particularly as it's a little on the sensitive side, so I was a little bit w...