PETIT BATEAU AND CÉDRIC CHARLIER

Petit Bateau, which has previously collaborated with Carven (I have that beautiful navy collared dress) and Christian Lacroix, has just announced its latest designer collaboration - a partnership with Belgian designer and ex-Lanvin/ Cacharel Artistic Director Cédric Charlier for a new capsule collection launching in December just in time for Christmas, perfect for both parties and presents.

THE PERFECT SALAD SERVERS

I've been looking for salad spoons for ages.  Years.  Obviously I've had some (simple metal House of Fraser ones, which were perfectly acceptable but plain) and some bamboo ones my friend brought back from Thailand (lovely, but very fragile) but I've been looking for the perfect servers - a simple large spoon and a three or four prong fork with good, heavy-ish handles - since I worked on interiors magazines way back in 2010.

FRIDAY'S FFFFOUND: MILES DAVIS

Miles Davis hand 3, by Irving Penn, 1986

I love this photo, I've had it in my flat for years

OSTWALD HELGASON

One of the new designers added to The Outnet is Ostwald Helgason, the London-based designer duo by German-born Susanne Ostwald and Ingvar Helgason from Iceland, who established the brand in 2008, show at London Fashion Week and produce beautiful clothing made in Britain.  Hooray.

Colour-block twill dress

This sixties feel preppy shirt dress in royal purple and electric blue blended silk finished with a bright white collar is a winner. Think this is my favourite. 

The bold use of bright colours, eye-catching prints and luxe fabrics jazz up the modern silhouettes, clean lines and smart shirting and I'm smitten.  There are plenty of goodies on the site, but these four dresses are all up to 65% off.  Eeny, meeny, miny, moe...

Seventeen Make Up

Spending your pocket money on 17 cosmetics at Boots is a rite of passage for every British teenage girl, but that doesn't mean the brand should be left behind in your twenties and thirties.  I recently attended a press day to play with the new products and colours launching this autumn, along with the much-loved hero products and their make up bag essentials.

SPARKLE SPARKLE

I saw a photo of this sporty sequin dress by French brand Eleven Paris months ago when I was still in Paris, in mid-January - a magazine (I think it was Company's special Parisian issue my BFF brought over) featured it in a sports-inspired spread, despite it not being out yet.  I checked a couple of the Paris stores but it hadn't come in.  Then back in London, every time I walked down Carnaby Street I popped in to check if it was there, to no avail.  

I'd resigned to the fact it either wasn't put in production and they'd used a sample photo, it sold out quickly or I'd just missed it.  But I've just found it on ASOS.  In the sale.  Worth the wait after all!  The last thing I need is another sequin minidress, but when a piece covers so many of your favourite things: sequins, sports luxe, royal blue and black and white, who needs "need".

Eleven Paris Sequin Panel Dress

DILLY & WOLF

I am somewhat of a crisp monster.  Always have been, always will be.  When I heard about Dilly & Wolf, a new British brand set up by Ben Fogle and ex-M&S food product developer Annabel Vere Nicoll, making healthy, nutritious crisps, I made a mental note to try them all.  Handmade in the UK, baked instead of fried and using British ingredients, Dilly & Wolf uses unusual, global flavours chosen for their taste and texture as well as nutritional value and sustainability, by working with British farmers, producers and independent suppliers.

Featuring nutrient-rich ingredients, unrefined sugars and good fats, their guilt-free snacking comes in the form of British Pea, Wasabi Macadamia and Chilli Nusters (a Japanese-inspired hot and spicy nuts mix), Spicy Roasted British Pea, Onion & Chilli Nusters (clusters of Indian-inspired roasted nuts and protein-rich peas mixed with six spices), Sweet & Spicy Spelt & Chickpea (a moreish blend of chickpeas, grains and pulses mixed with fennel seeds) and, my favourite, Hebridean Sea Salt, Seaweed & Malt Vinegar Chisps (a malty, slightly salted virtuous blend of pulses and spelt).  Stock up on the tasty little 35g tubs at Selfridges.

CHELSEA GIRL

Brazilian model Amanda Wellsh is in the September issue of Vogue Australia wearing 60s-inspired AW14 fashion from the likes of Saint Laurent, Gucci and Louis Vuitton.  The 1960s has always been my favourite style decade and I like these playful looks with minidresses, patent leather boots, shaggy fur and animal print, with winged eyeliner and heavy fringe.  Oh, and that Miu Miu dress. Photographed by Sebastian Kim, hair by Bok-Hee and make-up by Benjamin Puckey.

FRIDAY'S FFFFOUND: DREAMY

AGENT PROVOCATEUR FATALE FRAGRANCE

I recently attended the launch for Agent Provocateur's new fragrance Fatale, a seductive eau de parfum which smells good enough to eat and exudes old school glamour.  The British lingerie brand has been creating perfumes for over a decade now and their latest is my favourite.  

AQUA KYOTO

I've been to Aqua, the fifth floor restaurant/ bar just behind Oxford Circus, many times for drinks on their fabulous rooftop terrace, but went for dinner for the first time last week. It comprises two restaurants and a bar; the cocktail bar Aqua Spirit, the Spanish Aqua Nuevo and the Japanese Aqua Kyoto. We went for the latter to try out the new Vitamin D menu, which didn't disappoint.

mackerel, tuna and salmon sashimi 

FRIDAY'S FFFFOUND: FLAMINGOS

flamingo = probably my favourite bird. Controversial, I know.

SUMMER SHOWERS

Hello, summer showers - what am I saying - summer storms.  Back in London after 12 days in the States, I missed the RideLondon-Surrey 100 (I was gutted when I realised I'd got a place, as last year was fantastic - although less gutted when I saw the flash floods which spoiled Sunday's ride and reduced it from the planned 100 mile route to 86) and thought I'd missed the tropical storm I'd seen on my social feeds had been battering the UK for the previous few days, but no. Still plenty of rain today...

BUCKLEY LONDON

Buckley London is a British jewellery brand, founded by Adrian Buckley (the man behind the Attwood & Sawyer and Bouton brands as well) in 1989, with the aim to manufacture good quality costume jewellery at good prices - one which it's achieved, having won the 'Best Costume Jewellery' award at the UK Jewellery Awards four times.

All the pieces are designed in the UK using 18k gold plating, classic pearls, Austrian crystal and diamond-style clear cubic zirconia stones.  I've got the art deco-style rhodium-plated Martha bangle and matching ring, handset with glittering, brilliant-cut pave crystals and surrounded by millgrain detailing. They're now in the summer sale, and there are plenty of pretty pieces in the new collection too - take a look for an affordable way to add a touch of elegance to everyday outfit.

JULY INSTAGRAM PHOTOS

July was a fantastic whirlwind month.  I went to beautiful Provence for a few days over the Bastille Day weekend for some poolside-relaxing and cycling, hosted my mama for her birthday weekend, hit up plenty of press shows and went up to Yorkshire for The Tour de France Grand Depart going through the Dales. The crowds were fantastique!

1. pearls and neon florals 2. love these exposed bulb tripod lamps from Heal's 3. wandering around Saint-Rémy-de-Provence taking way too many photos of shabby chic shutters 4. exquisite red lipstick from Hourglass at the Urban Retreat press day 5. wearing more neon florals (they're a summer must!) 6. midnight blue sequin gown by TFNC at the House of Fraser press day 7. pretty Vaison-la-Romaine 8. rosé and macarons at Ladurée with my Mama on her birthday 9. doing the #womens100 100km bike ride with Rapha

1. new to my perfume line-up: Prada Candy eau de parfum 2. vintage Easy Riders shirt 3. watching the TdF going through Ilkley 4. blue leather Kate Spade bag 5. first run in over a year, along Regent's Canal (I had to stop running a couple of years ago due to a knee injury, but it's holding up OK now!) 6. the view from the beautiful Bastide la Combe in Provence 7. English National Ballet's superb Coppelia at the Coliseum 8. climbing Mont Ventoux 9. fresh flowers

Follow me on Instagram at emmalouiselayla

FRIDAY'S FFFFOUND: CHICAGO

What's up, Chi-town?!  I'm visiting the midwest for the first time,visiting two new states,

spending a week in Chicago then heading down to Indianapolis for a friend's wedding. BRB.