MSH Backup

As it looks like temperatures are set to soar again this weekend and into the next week, once again I’m gearing up for battling the heat and readying an arsenal of easy-to-wear wardrobe heroes which are warm weather ready but which are also comfortable enough to style for work. I feel like if I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times, but given that we’re not really used to such prolonged summers, I’m close to exhausting my go-to heatwave options. Having said that, having hit a bit of a wardrobe wall, I’ve had the perfect opportunity to have a rummage through some older pieces which have been languishing on their hangers for far too long, remixing them with some new favourites for fuss-free summer style solutions:     Tee- Marks and Spencer  Trousers- Warehouse  Shoes- Zara  Bag- Cath Kidston  Sunglasses- Ray-Ban c/o John Lewis    I picked up these Warehouse trousers a fair few years ago, and if I’m honest I’m surprised that they still fit!...

And here we are again! With a slight break in the heatwave, I’m making the most of ploughing through all of those little jobs which have seemed like far too much effort over the last few weeks, as well as having a bit of a wardrobe regroup so that I’m fully prepared as and when the temperatures start to rocket again. As you might expect, for the last month or so I’ve been proactively seeking out shade, as well as maximising the cold setting on the shower- if anyone has any top tips for conquering the warm weather please send them my way! Heatwave aside, the last few weeks have been punctuated by lots of lovely goings on, including my first trip to Devon!  Independence Day at Balthazar/South London sunset/ RHS Hampton /Sunshine yellow/RAF 100!/St. Paul's in the sun/ New Glossier favourites /A fresh Kitri buy/Local wandering/Sunday reading/Green shoots/A new addition to my desk from Rifle Paper Co./Door goals/Dreamy Devon/Dune conquering/Another stunning sunset Idyllic or what?! Need...

Phew! Now that the heatwave seems to be on hold, I'm starting to feel a bit less fuzzy! Looking ahead, it doesn't look like the respite is going to last for all that long, but for the time being at least I'm making the most of things being at a normal temperature again to regather a selection of summer beauty heroes which have been making things slightly more bearable over the last few weeks:  I'm a big fan of the Kiehl's hand salve as a year-round hero, but when I popped into store a few weeks ago I was introduced to this new Richly Hydrating Lavender version, which has become a firm favourite since I picked it up. Lightly scented, it's formulated with Shea Butter and Vitamin E so is perfect for hydrating hands and feeling fresh on the go- the lavender scent is one which I always associate with summer thanks to the flowers which burst into bloom in the garden at this time of the year, so it's lovely to have a slice of it ready to go when I'm on the move...

As I touched on in my last post, navigating what to wear in this prolonged heatwave can be something of a minefield, particularly if you’re trying to balance keeping cool with work appropriate attire. As well as rummaging through my wardrobe (and in the process finding things I’ve not worn in five years or so!), I’ve made some strategic investments over the last month or so- snapping up pieces which are ideal for this weather whilst still leaning towards the smarter side of the style spectrum: Dress- Arket  Sunglasses- Ray Ban (c/o John Lewis)  Bag- Cath Kidston  Shoes- Zara  I spied this dress in Arket way back at the start of the summer and it’s one of those pieces which I’ve been contemplating picking up ever since. I had a feeling that I might have missed the boat completely after it sold out online, but luckily it was still in stock in the Covent Garden branch, so last payday I took the plunge and snapped it up. It’s already well and truly proving to be a real i...

With our summer already having lasted so much longer than the average, I’m sure that I’m not alone in having hit something of a style stalemate. Don’t get me wrong, seeing the sunshine more frequently is fantastic, as well as being a brilliant mood booster, but I’m struggling to get to grips with what to wear day after day in the warm weather. Whilst I’ve got a selection of staples, there’s a serious vacuum in my wardrobe for summer essentials- which might explain why I’ve found myself making some spur-of-the moment purchases to bridge the gap between now and the inevitable cooldown. Having shopped around a lot over the last few weeks, I’ve fallen hook, line and sinker for Kitri’s effortless cool:    Eliana Striped Dress, £145/St Paul de Vence Tee, £45/Phoenix Floral Dress, £145/Black Ribbed Tee, £35/Dominique Linen Blazer, £145 How gorgeous is this striped dress? Made with summer holidays and effortless dressing in mind, it’s one of those real investment buys which you know w...

With this heatwave seeming to be here for the foreseeable future, I’m sure that I’m not the only one who has been rummaging around in my wardrobe for a selection of weather-appropriate things to wear. It’s one thing to be at home during a heatwave, where various combinations of shorts, smocks and, in my case, pyjamas, are the perfect options for keeping cool, but mastering warm weather officewear is another matter entirely. Needless to say, whilst I’ve been avoiding lingering in direct sunlight for too long, I’ve also been puzzling out a series of outfits for current temperatures: Kimono- Oasis Top- ASOS Trousers- Espirit (via ASOS)  Shoes- Gap  Bag- Cath Kidston  Sunglasses- Ray-Ban (c/o John Lewis) I’ll always be eternally indebted to whichever deity of sale shopping was smiling on me the day that I came across this kimono from Oasis- the only one left in the entire store, and for under £10 too! It’s one of those perennial pieces of perfection which I find myself reachi...

Just over a week or so ago, Mum and I made our annual pilgrimage to Hampton Court Palace Flower Show. Whilst an absolute shambles on the trains made it a bit touch-and-go as to whether we’d get there at all or not, luckily we made it after jumping in the car- and treated ourselves to a blissfully air-conditioned taxi home. Although visiting the flower show is a regular fixture now, it’s still a really special experience, especially when it incorporates a leisurely boat journey across the river:    This year’s show felt busier than I think I’ve ever known it before, and although the heat made it pretty hard-going at times, I’ve learnt from experience that pacing myself is essential. As well as some really inspiring show gardens, this year I really enjoyed the addition of the grown your own element- with exhibitors including Borough Market showcasing green growing and all of the most fruitful edible plants. It goes without saying that the Floral Marquee is always a highlight too...