The Monthly Round-Up: September

What I'm wearing, watching, reading, eating, listening to, using on my hair, sleeping in/on, wish-listing. Plus 24 pairs of stylish winter boots for every budget, non-surgical sofa facelifts...

Sep 06, 2024

Hi
How are you? How has your week been? We made it to Friday! Phew. And if you’re new around here - the warmest welcome!
Let’s get into this month’s favourites - there are quite a few…

Style Crush…

Charlotte Rampling
One of my all-time favourites. A muse to Helmut Newton and Yves Saint Laurent, Charlotte Rampling’s trademark style during the seventies was (and still is) the subtle reworking of masculine classics. She always brought a feminine, subtle sexiness to androgynous shapes and silhouettes. Timeless sex appeal is not an easy one to pull off. I am still obsessed with her and her style now. She is just so cool. I also love that she’s aged gracefully and beautifully. A true style and feminist icon..

*Fun fact: I went to school (when I lived in Paris) with her son. Let’s just say, when it came to the school productions (which he was always in), her arrival caused quite the ripple amongst the dads. And yes, he was very good looking, and yes, everyone fancied him.

Get The Look with…

Striped shirts
Velvet blazers and trousers
Denim jumpsuits
High waisted straight leg jeans (dark)
Silk shirts
Wide-leg tailored trousers
Chic, classic shoulder bag
Oversized, square glasses

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For The Home…

**Handwoven Rattan Food Serving Basket With Cover**

I couldn't resist this (it’s not a great picture by the way). It’s the shape - it’s so cute. And if it also keeps the flies (or in our case, our cats) off the food, well then that’s a bonus. Mine is on its way.

Wearing…

Chiffon Dresses & Boots
All I want to wear for autumn is long chiffon dresses and tall boots (just throw an oversized blazer/coat over when it gets colder). It’s a super-simple styling formula, but one I’m loving and excited about wearing soon.

Brand I’m Loving…

Bemz
Now this is seriously cool and clever. If your (Ikea) sofa is looking a bit tired, or you just fancy a change, but don’t want to shell out on a new one, this is a brilliant option. Give your sofa a little makeover that will transform your furniture beyond all recognition. Choose from a premium curation of fabrics, colours and prints to create covers that are entirely you. You can choose up to five free fabric swatches to help you decide which cover to order. Bemz can also create bespoke covers for your garden furniture. I am definitely looking into this next year (fingers crossed I actually get to use my garden more than twice in 2025!).
My personal favourites are Simply Linen in Rosenträd Light (this looks almost identical to my grandparents’ sofa, many moons ago), Recycled Linen Block Stripe in Sun Yellow, Recycled Linen in Natural, Recycled Linen Micro Stripe in Dark Blue/Natural, and of course the Recycled Linen Block Stripe in Soft Red. I’m already manifesting to give our Italy sofa a little (non-surgical) facelift.

Also Wearing…

Barn Jackets
”An informal style of jacket originally designed for doing rough work outside, made of strong material that protects the wearer against rain, often brown or black in colour, and with a layer of warm material inside: The candidate swapped his grey suit and tie for khakis and a barn coat.”

This is the (low-key, off-duty) jacket of the season, so expect to see them everywhere - scrap that, they’re already everywhere. Think of it as the obvious update/upgrade from everybody’s favourite khaki army/cargo jacket - the chuck-it-over-pretty-much-everything jacket that we all need. It also happens to be the perfect jacket for ‘right now’ - the always tricky to navigate, not-cold-enough-for-a-winter-coat-yet weather. And sometimes I want something more relaxed than my stoical standby (and much loved) blazers. So count me in on this one.
Now here’s a funny story for you - it’s about Tom (my boyfriend, and father of my children), a barn jacket and Brandy Mellville (aka Hellville). So my daughter, Tabitha first discovered Brandy Mellville (IRL) in October 2022, when she was 12. The four of us took a Sunday trip en famille to the Kings Road, so she could visit the store (for the first time), then afterwards we headed for pizza at Made in Italy (their pizzas are seriously delicious if you haven’t been - we love it there). Anyway, back in Brandy - Tabs thought she had died and gone to heaven (for anyone not familiar, Brandy M is like crack for certain tween/teen girls - they literally can’t get enough of it). We split up in the store - me and Tabs, Tom and Marlow. Then suddenly Tabs started staring at something in the middle distance, her mouth open in shock and disbelief. Confused, I followed her gaze, only to see Tom, across the store, TRYING ON a Brandy Melville jacket! Oh my God. Tabs was MORTIFIED. I just burst out laughing (I know). Oh, and again, for those lucky enough not to be in the Brandy world, the clothes only come in one size (yes really - don’t get me started), and depending on the item, are either teeny-tiny (think Sylvanian Families tiny), or baggy and oversized (Tom’s jacket was, thankfully, in the latter category, lol) - think baby tees and baggy trackie bottoms, or huge oversized sweatshirts with teeny-tiny skirts/shorts - that’s the vibe… Not only was Tom wearing a jacket in a tween/teen girls’ clothing store, he was preening and pouting in the mirror wearing a jacket in tween/teen girl’s clothing store. Tom was seriously into this jacket. It’s worth pointing out, Tom has zero embarrassment genes. Like, literally zero. Anyway, I had to admit (reluctantly), it was indeed a cool jacket, and it did look good on him. Plus, I have literally dined out on this story ever since (most people think it’s an actual joke), so it’s more than paid dividends - cost per laugh etc. As Tom pointed out at the time, it’s just a copy of the classic Carlhartt chore jacket (there’s a women’s version too), a style he always loved and worn. So the jacket came home with us, and he’s worn it ever since. In fact, he was wearing it just yesterday. So to give Tom his due, he was waaaaaaay ahead of the curve on this one. And the story will never not be funny (in our immediate family at least - you probably had to be there, sorry).
Here are some more options you might like (the Dôen and the H&M are two of my faves)…

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Eating…

Get Baked
Founded by Rich Myers, Get Baked are known for their utterly indulgent and unique desserts, and have amassed a sizeable global following of cake enthusiasts. Bertha, their latest creation, is the sister to their legendary (viral) ‘Bruce’ cake that has had customers queuing from dawn hoping to get their hands on a slice.
Perhaps even more indulgent than the famous – and enormous – Bruce, this exclusive whole Bertha cake has been crafted in collaboration with Fortnum’s and boasts a staggering 24 layers of luscious dark chocolate sponge interwoven with rich, gooey milk and dark chocolate ganache.
You can buy it by the slice (for a cool £13.00) from Fortnum’s, so that’s what we’re doing after school today.

Slow Horses, Season 4
I literally cannot wait to watch this (tonight’s the night - I’m going in!) It’s one of the best things on TV. The end.
Available to watch it on Apple TV

Sleeping In/Under…

Broderie Anglaise Ruffle Duvet Cover and Pillowcase Set

The prettiest bedding on the high street and my bed.

Just Because…

Keeping those summer vibes alive with a gorgeous gold charm necklace.

Following…

@larissamills
I have been following Larissa on Insta for a while now. I just love her style; the fact she’s a similar age to me; and that’s she’s just really cool. I love how she puts her outfits together - she’s so clever with layering, but always completely effortless. She’s also one of the few people on Instagram that does GRWM videos that don’t make my toes curl. Sorry, just being honest - they’re generally not for me.

Winter Boots Edit…

Arket | 2. Ba&sh | 3. Chloé | 4. Chloé | 5. Khaite | 6. Ba&sh | 7. Isabel Marant |
8. Mango | 9. Ba&sh | 10.Chloé | 11. Khaite| 12. Paris Texas | 13. Arket |
14. Shoe The Bear | 15. Flattered | 16. H&M | 17. Isabel Marant | 18. Chloé |
19. H&M | 20. Khaite | 21. John Lewis | 22. H&M | 23. Mint Velvet | 24. Arket

A little Douceur preview for you - this edit will be up on the site next week. All my favourite styles of boots, for every size of budget. And you probably don’t need me to tell you that you can’t leave it too late to snag a pair.

Listening To…

Uncanny
This is on my To Listen list (thanks for the recommendation Kim). From ghostly phantoms to UFOs, Danny Robins investigates real-life stories of paranormal encounters. Spooky.

I also have to mention the episode of How To Fail With Elizabeth Day, with Dawn French. She talks so movingly about the death of her father, infertility and the decision to adopt (I loved the bit about Jennifer Saunders and Ade Edmondson being interviewed by social services).

Using On My Hair…

From left: Hair By Sam McKnight Nourishing Shampoo, Conditioner, Treatment Mask

From left: Beauty Pie Healthy Hydration shampoo, Healthy Hydration Conditioner

Excited to try these just-launched hair new products from Hair By Sam McKnight and Beauty Pie. I have hear great things about both. I shall report back next month (I am very picky about my hair and what I put on it).

Bowtastic…

I know, I know, but just hear me out. I just want this bow on my front door (and/or possibly on my tree too) come 1st December, and I know this means buying it sooner rather than later. You gotta do what you gotta do, right? Having said that, if I see another box of mince pies (Taste The Difference or otherwise) in Sainsbury’s, I might scream.

The Last…

Garden designer and ex-model, Cali Rand shares her lasts here.

Thanks so much for reading. See you next time when I’ll be sharing the time I had to fly to New York to style a style icon. The only time I have ever been starstruck (and embarrassingly, tongue-tied) with a celebrity.

ps: these boots.

pps: Maison M have reduced many of their gorgeous dresses. I have this one (from last summer) and wear it so much. I love it with gold ballet flats. I also love it in the slate.

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