The Monthly Round-Up: December

It's a hefty one! 27 chic fashion finds under £25, favourite jeans and hair bows, 9 stylish gifts under £10, twixmas pyjamas,The Row via Zara, and I've shared my Christmas Wish List (just because)...

Dec 13, 2024

Hi! How are you? How has your week been? If you’re new around here - the warmest of welcomes to The Monthly Round-Up. So happy you’re here.
So have you finished your Christmas shopping? I have still done precisely zero if that makes anyone reading feel a little better? It’s not making me feel any better that’s for sure!!
So let’s get into this month’s favourites - there are lots! In fact, I think this is the meatiest post I have done to date. It’s around a ten minute read, so grab a cuppa/glass of something and make yourself comfortable…

Christmas garlands…

I have dabbled with Christmas garlands on and off over the years, but this year decided to got for a real one for the fireplace. It was beautiful, but expensive (and no, it wasn’t from Petersham Nurseries!). I added pretty (warm, obviously) fairy lights and it really did look gorgeous - I was so pleased with it. But after exactly one week, it was as dead as a dodo. I kid you not. And our fire (it was above, on the mantel) is artificial, and we virtually never have the setting on. So it couldn’t have been that. I was absolutely gutted. And pretty cross to be to honest. Anyway, the moral of this (admittedly very dull) story (for me at least) is that I will not be doing the real deal again. I dug out an old M&S faux garland from the attic and now have that one on the mantel instead. And yes, the real did look prettier (it was bigger and bushier), but honestly the difference is pretty minimal. Particularly once you’ve added lights. So I will be going faux from now on (not the tree though - the tree needs to be real), and I have found some really lovely ones (above). Plus, once you’ve bought it, you can just bring it out year after year. I am going to investigate The Suffolk Nest one (I want to try and replicate the ‘fuller’ look - they have lovely wreaths too.

My favourite hair bows ever…

One of my dearest friends, Amanda (we met in London - she’s Australian) designed the perfect hair bow with Papouelli a few years ago, and to this day is still my favourite one. I know this now more than ever, as I misplaced it and have wanted to wear it so many times, and really missed it. I have since located it in my office. Phew.
Amanda’s as picky about bows and ribbons as me, so she spent a lot of time getting it just right. And succeeded. It just looks like the most perfectly (but in a real, tied yourself way) tied ribbon that you’ve just casually added to your ponytail. Or with half your hair up, like Catherine Deneuve’s icon style in Belle du Jour (always one of my favourite hair references of all time). It comes in a whole range of (the most beautiful) colours, in the perfect double-sided velvet. You can also add monogramming - so lovely for a gift.

Watching…

So you probably already know that I am currently watching (and completely obsessed with) The Day of the Jackal (only one more episode to go!), and about to start on Black Doves, so this is a bit of a ‘wild card’ entry. My daughter, Tabitha (15 in January) watches Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and I kind of ‘half watch’ it when I’m working (right now!), and it’s REALLY funny!! I find it funny even just listening! High praise indeed. Anyway, we always struggle to find things that we all want to watch as a family (just us?), and I think this is a great one to watch with tweens/teens. Apparently it’s by the same people who made Superstore (also very funny - we all loved it).
You can find it on Netflix.

Toast racks or letter holders…

Flora Black vintage toast racks, from £35.00

My clever and super-creative friend Claire, founder of Flora Black once gave me the prettiest vintage toast tack as a birthday gift. Now whilst I can fully appreciate its charm (even though I rarely eat breakfast) she also told me that her mother always used to use them for letters, and I loved that idea so much. Plus I always love a multitasking product! So that’s what I use mine for.

Explore the rest of Claire’s online treasure trove here.

27 fashion finds under £25…

‘The Row’ at Zara…

The most The Row of bags, and perfect for chucking all your stuff in (yours, plus everyone else’s. It was also make the chicest ‘baby bag’ (hear me out!). I flatly refused to have a designated baby/nappy bag (I never know the difference?), even with double the crap to cart around (twins remember?). I had snapped up a blush pink slouchy leather Miu Miu number at the Prada sample sale (for £100!!!) when I was pregnant in 2009, and used it before, during and after the birth/buggy-pushing years. I guess this one being suede is perhaps not quite so ideal, but if you can find a reason to buy/use it, I would. I have also seen it IRL.
Thank you Annie and Elle for the share.

Non-Christmas Christmas pyjamas…

Top row: Mango | H&M | Deiji Studios | Honna
Bottom row: The Nap Co | M&S | Whistles | Derek Rose

I’m sure I’m not the only one who will be spending a lot of time in their pyjamas over the festive period. So better make them cosy and chic (and in-laws appropriate!). I always like to treat myself (and the kids) to a new pair for Christmas.

Cutest crackers…

I first discovered Ink & Honey a few years ago, when the founder, Sarah kindly offered to create a Christmas tree bauble for each of my children, featuring a hand-drawn illustration and their name on. They are so special, and they have pride of place on our tree every year. This year she has created bespoke crackers and sent me a set, and I honesty couldn’t love them more. You can get names or illustrations of family members/friends. So sweet! She is still (just) taking orders for Christmas if you fancy a set. But you’ll need to be quick!

Just dropped….

I popped into M&S on Wednesday (to return some school shirts that I had found, still in the packet in a dark corner of my son’s bedroom, only to be informed that as I had purchased them 108 days ago, they were unable to accept the return. The shame! And in case you’re wondering, I am currently constantly buying new school shirts for Marlow because he’s suddenly turned into the Incredible Hulk, and it literally bursting out of all his clothes!!) and this coat literally stopped me in my tracks. Firstly because it looked so expensive!! I mean, personally, I’m not in the market for a white coat of any description (except possibly a plastic, wipe-clean one?), but this is a gorgeous one. It made me instantly think of Cameron Diaz’s impractical-but-so-chic wardrobe in The Holiday. Anyway, check it out when you’re next in the store. It’s giving chic, luxe, expensive (non-London Underground) vibes.

Cosy mittens…

Left to right:
De Savory | Navygrey | Maxmara | Accessorize

I’m loving this trend of (chic, adult) mittens on strings. And you’ll never lose one!

Heaven Scent…

I was kindly send some products to try from Grove England, and this handwash is next level. The smell is gorgeous (but subtle, which I love).

My most-asked-about (and most worn - I’m even wearing them now!) jeans …

Sézane Brut Sexy jeans, £95.00

I literally live in these jeans (I have the grey and the bleach and the grey washes). I would say they’re kind of slim/straight hybrid, which I love - perfect with ankle boots and ballet flats (my staples). They are super-tight when you first try them on (well mine were anyway!), but stick with the right size and they will be perfect I promise. Isn’t that often the way with favourite jeans that fit perfectly?

The chicest gift for a lovely friend…

I mean, anything Chanel right? For me, for the packacging alone. The chicest stocking filler ever.

The gift for the man who has everything (as long as one of them is a car)…

**Estove Ice Scraper with Glove, Amazon**

Thank you Hannah for the recco. How genius is this! I want one!! (but not really if anyone family members are reading) This one actually comes in a pack of two, so keep one in the car, and have one spare.
And apparently (because I checked) they are still useful even the recipient has a flashy car. So there you go.

9 under £10…

For you? For them? Just nine lovely things that are £10.00 or less. Small price tag, big style points.

Wreathing…

**La Redoute faux eucalyptus wreath, £21.25**

This wreath might mot look particularly chic or exciting (far from it in fact), but I bought it last year to hang on the door of the office and it actually looked really pretty! I just added a pale pink velvet ribbon. It’s not huge, and it’s pretty low-key, but it definitely looks really lovely. And it’s up again this year!

Cute take-you-anywhere evening bag…

Just as fab with jeans as a dress/tuxe suit…

December Home Hits…

From left:
Graham & Green Ikat tray table | H&M Frill-trim duvet set | Zara Home linen lampshades | La Redoute armchair | Zara Home mirror

Five things I’m loving for the home right now.

Wardrobe Edit…

Paid subscribers already know about this (and if you fancy upgrading to paid to find all the info, you can read the post here) - I am going to be coming to someone’s home (and their nominated friend’s) in January to help them with a wardrobe edit. This offer closes at midnight tonight, so if you want to be in with a chance of ‘winning’ this rare opportunity (I don’t officially do this anymore), here’s a reminder of what you need to do…

1. You need to be a paid subscriber.
2. Choose a friend that you would like to nominate and share the wardrobe edit with (don’t worry, I will come to both your homes, and edit both your wardrobes).
3. The chosen friend must then subscribe to Douceur Diaries (they don’t have to become a paid subscriber, as long as they subscribe).
4. Leave a comment under this post (not the one you’re reading now), with your nominated friend’s name. Or you can message me privately if you prefer.
5. I will chose a ‘pair’ at random and notify them directly.

*I’m afraid this will only be open to subscribers based in England this time (sorry - logistics!).

Christmas Wish Listing…

If ‘anyone’s’ interested? You might even want to forward this onto someone who you think might need a little inspiration if we share the same taste?

That’s a wrap. Phew! See you next time!

ps: a friend recently recommended these cloths for cleaning glasses, and I have to admit, they’re brilliant. I know, such a granny-ish ps!

pps: if you enjoyed this post, please do ‘like’ with a heart, comment or share - it’s hugely appreciated and really does help with my posts being seen on Substack. xx

ppps: thank you to everyone who voted for which dress I should wear to the ballet (last night - Cinderella at The Royal Opera House. Just magical. The costumes in particular were mind-blowingly beautiful). I went for this one in the end. I decided it would be the one I would wear the most in the future, as I didn’t want to choose one to wear just for one night/event (as tempting as that can be). I am going to add a black velvet ribbon to the waistband for its next outing.