NYE

Happy New Year!  Wishing you a brilliant, sparkling 2019 x

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

It's the week before Christmas, and no one can say it's too soon to feel festive now.  Nice and early on 6 December, we went to our nearest Pines and Needles and walked back with a 7 foot Nordmann fir tree, fired up the Bublé, started simmering mulled wine and unpacked the decs.  This year, we're embracing the more is more approach, with controversial tinsel, mixed metallics and a rainbow of baubles. Pile it on.

Christmas Gift Guide For Him

10 more sleeps 'til Christmas!  Befitting the most last minute gift-buyers, here are a few present ideas in case you're still looking for the men in your life...

from left to right:
1. the modern yet retro VQ Hepburn DAB digital radio, available in lots of colours - we have it in cream and love it
2. MALIN + GOETZ Vitamin E Face Moisturiser: light, calming formulation and chic packaging (and you get to use it too)

3. Sony Playstation Classic Console to relive his youth

4. the smart, compact, BPA-free and environmentally-friendly A5 memobottle, which fits inside any briefcase

5. the festive, marzipan-y Amande exquisite scented candle from Diptyque

6. sterling silver & mother of pearl Aspinal of London cufflinks

7. a wardrobe staple: Hugo Boss carmello smooth leather belt

8. Paul Smith socks - I think I've bought Julien socks as a stocking filler every year

9. the energising Bushukan shower gel (can't go wrong with Molton Brown, and this is on my bro's wishlist every year)

10. compulsory festive knitwear: wool & cotton Lacoste jumper (not just for Christmas: can be worn all winter & on ski trips too!)

11. An unsung British design icon: the Stanley classic flask in classic green, for keeping warm on wintry walks

browse other Christmas features

Warsaw

Business travel can be a pain, with early starts, back to back meetings and uninspired boardroom lunches, but I try to make the most out of work trips whilst I don't have a family to rush back to.  When I worked for a sailing clothing brand, we used to attend regattas on the south coast and go down early to explore, staying at little B&B's, having dinner at the freshest seafood restaurants, and waking up to run along the beach before a day's sailing.  During my time at a French fashion brand, I spent the first six months living in Paris and when I went back each month, I always visited one of my favourite brasseries, even if it was just for a quick glass of champagne with my book before the Eurostar home.  I made a weekend of meetings in New York and Los Angeles, and did the same last autumn on a work trip to Warsaw, going a couple of days early to visit the places I loved when we went in 2013, and discover some new favourites.







I stayed at the central five star Sofitel Warsaw Victoria, swimming in its gorgeous, glowing pool each morning before grabbing breakfast and wandering around the city's parks and pretty streets listening to music, taking photos of old buildings (one of my favourite pastimes) and adding to my collection of hand-painted blue and white Polish crockery.

I visited the massive outdoor flea market, Bazar na Kole, bought an antique crystal milk jug, and revelled in the joys of solo travel (most people wouldn't have wanted to spend 3 hours outside trawling vintage treasures in the freezing cold!) before warming up with some rosol soup.  I ate plenty of pierogis (no trip to Poland is complete without at least 12), went for a fantastic four course tasting menu for lunch at the beautiful Rozbrat 20, and a six course tasting menu for dinner at the traditional Brasserie Warszawska, followed by a nightcap at the cool Kieliszki Na Próżnej wine bar.  Food in Poland is excellent.  I visited the Fryderyk Chopin Museum housed in the stately Ostrogski Palace to learn more about my favourite classical composer, and went to an excellent Chopin recital held in the historic Dean’s Palace concert hall in the pretty Old Town.  Add Warsaw to your list if you haven't already been: interesting architecture, a colourful history, lots of green spaces, great shopping and good, cheap food.

browse more Poland features & travel posts

Christmas Gift Guide For Her

How are you getting on with your Christmas shopping?  In case you're still looking, here are some chic gift ideas for the leading ladies in your life, which I either have and love, or are on my own wishlist...

from left to right:

1. the dreamiest pinky, golden, shimmering eyeshadows: Charlotte Tilbury's Stars in Your Eyes palette

2. for anyone who hasn't read it yet: the relatable, witty Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton

3. Penhaligon's sparkling Luna eau de toilette (is there a better gift than fragrance? This is one of my faves)

4. the super-fast and sleek NuMe signature hair dryer (best I've ever had)

5. the engravable, sapphire-set Astley Clarke gold signet ring (comes in silver and rose gold too)

6. the Luna mini 2 facial cleanser from Foreo, available in six colours

7. the wardrobe essential: classic long black leather gloves from Jaeger

8. for a touch of prep: J.Crew pearl and crystal earrings

9. simple black satin LingaDore chemise from UK Lingerie

10. my favourite scented candle discovery of the year: Rue Saint Honoré by Astier de Villatte

11. for the coloured glass lover: San Miguel blue recycled glass vase

12. green and gold trinket box from John Lewis, perfect for the hallway console tables
13. delicious Tariette chocolate dusted roasted hazelnuts (check out their French gourmet hampers too)

browse other Christmas features

Christmas Party Inspo

festive editorial featuring Amanda Wellsh for Vogue Spain, December 2015