Black & White Mango

Finally got my hands on this Mango top after seeing it online and trying but failing to get it in time for Mexico from in store. I have a bit of thing for embroidery come summer and this is my favourite addition of late.

Took these at home a few weeks ago on the last few shots of a roll of film from holiday. Only to discover it was black and white rather than colour.... Didn't really do justice to the turquoise Tulum water either. Oh well. Promise to be in technicolour next time. 

Buy it here.

The One Piece

I don't think I've worn a swim suit since my early teens, when a simple speedo costume was the go-to for obligatory school swimming lessons. Maybe it's down to the unpredicatable nature of the British summer or just being that one year older, but this summer the one piece is suddenly really appealing. I'm talking about those simple, classic shapes that feel a little bit 90s and a little bit 60s all at once, with spaghetti straps, low-backs or strapless necklines for an end result Herb Ritts or Slim Aarons would be proud of. I love the idea of wearing high-waisted denim shorts over the top of them too.

I remember watching Mon Pere ce Heros when I was about twelve and falling for her yellow costume but never quite managed to find just the right replica. I'm not sure yellow will be making an appearance this time round but a new hunt is ongoing, starting with my current favourites below;

 Zimmerman / Free People / Prism / Norma Kamali

Summer Beauty

Winter and high summer are the two times a year I invest in a few new products to try and stave off the inevitable straw-like, discoloured hair and parched skin that both seasons tend to bring. Plus, having a bit of tan or even just the odd freckle after a winter of pale, grey skin calls for a welcome makeup bag update too.

I find dealing with partially coloured hair a constant battle as you have two different textures to deal with (anyone with ballyage or ombre hair will know what I'm talking about!) and after my recent trip to Mexico with salt showers for a week, the ends of my hair are in need of some serious of TLC. I've heard great things about Living Proof and this Restore mask is meant to work miracles. I'm also tempted to go for the Restore Recovery Regimen programme for an intensive 5 week blitz.  I've always avoided Bumble & Bumble's surf spray for fear of it drying out my flyaway hair completely but the shampoo and conditioner take on it sound much more doable and just right in terms on the end result. I learnt the hard way many years ago about the perils of not looking after blonde hair in the sun (and spent the next year trying to rebuild my quite literally broken locks) so a protective spray is always a must for me and this one by Phyto is pretty good value compared to lots of other boutique brands. 

In terms of make up, the summer for me means much less makeup and pretty much only at night so just a couple of new additions are on my radar. I bought Bobbi Brown shimmer bricks for my mum and sister as presents recently and have been hankering after one for myself ever since and Charlie of My Little Eye recently got me onto these Nars lip pencils. This shade would totally wash me out in the winter but looks just the right shade of 90s on holiday. 

And last but not least, the most indulgent want on the list is Estee Lauder's Bronze Goddess Body Oil which is basically summer in a bottle. Working as both a fragrance and moisturizer in the evening, it smells amazing and succeeds in making anywhere feel like an exotic escape.  But be warned, the entire Bronze Goddess range seems to sell out by July every year so get in there sooner rather than later.

Summer Flats

Summer sandals are always a tricky one for me. I never quite find 'the' pair and, always believing the perfect ones are out there somewhere, I somehow wind up in September still without said sandals,  kicking around in my threadbare espadrilles once again.

So I may have found the perfect solution in these pointed summer flats; simple, versatile, no-need for fussing around with pedicures and no potential pitfalls with the likes of unflattering ankle straps. I've been coveting the infamous Jenni Kayne D'Orsay flats for months but this suede version by Chinese Laundry are a budget-friendly option I'll be testing the water with.

Get them from Javari here.

Sold on Birkenstocks

Birkenstocks have done something of 180 ever since Phoebe Philo sent furry updates on the orthopedic staple down the runway for Celine S/S 2013. And while they may still be the marmite of footwear, I for one am totally sold on them. Especially good when teamed with baggy rolled-up jeans and a pair of brown ankles (read Kate Moss in her The Face glory days).

My favourites are the black two-strap ones here. 

Note: Thanks to Studded Hearts for the Bassike look book pictures (middle two) that only served to cement my 'yes' to Birkenstocks.

 

A Short Story

With my Mexico trip just around the corner (1 week and counting), all my attention has turned to shorts, sandals, swimwear and every thing else that would inappropriately summery in London right now.

I always wish I was a bit more a dress person, especially on holiday, but I'm slowly coming to realise that as hard as I try, separates always feel a bit more me. Thus shorts are a real staple for me on holiday with at least seven pairs making it into my suitcase (light-packing is not one of my strong points) when headed for the beach.

And these four beauties are my current favourites. The black Ksubi cut-offs are a nice update on my faithful blue Levis, while the Zara and Iro pairs need nothing more than a simple white tee which sits very well with the no-effort-required mantra I seem to employ as soon as I touch down in the sun. 

Clockwise from bottom left:

Ksubi

Rag & Bone Jean

Iro

Zara

Bandana Print

I always love a bandana paisley print so it's little surprise that this silk shirt by Insight is one of my favourite recent finds.

I bought mine from ASOS but looks like it might be selling out fast so you can also get if from Revolve and Planet Blue.

It's Time

 

I've subconsciously stopped wearing my gold Michael Kors chronograph watch recently. I think mainly because yellow gold next to sallow winter skin is never that appealing, and partly due to the gold just feeling a bit 'much' of late. 

I've always been drawn to two-tone metal watches and was originally looking for a gun metal/rose-gold combination prior to buying my MK gold one, but failed to find one that ticked the boxes for both looks and price. 

Well, it looks like Mr. Kors read my mind on this one, with yet another covetable, affordable watch to hanker after. Time* for an update me thinks.

Get it here from ASOS.  

Just leave one for me.... 

*Apologies for the toe-curling puns. The lowest form of wit, or so I'm frequently told, and yet so hard to avoid/resist.

Convert

After much coveting and indecision, I finally bought a pair of New Balance.... and they subsequently stayed in the box for a good few weeks while I ummed and ahhed whether a black ankle boot person could make the transition into trainers. I’m a real amateur when it comes to trainers. The only ones I've ever really worn are converse and a fairly dodgy pair of white hi-top Reebok Classics while at university.

So I grappled with the New Balance for a while with the intention of returning them until one morning I saw said box, had an urge to wear them and without thinking too much, I did. And I haven’t really taken them off since. They've quite literally put a spring in my step and are really aiding my pre-spring resolution to walk more, rather than hopping on the nearest bus/tube/taxi.

I won’t be relegating my ankle boots to the back of my wardrobe just yet (read, I doubt I’ll ever deem my collection complete), but these definitely have me converted.

New Balance 410

 Khaki Shirt - Urban Outfitters
  T-shirt – Urban Outfitters 

Belt – Olive 

Leather jacket - Whistles

jeans - Zara 

Ph. by James Wright