Blogger Weddings: Cherry Blossom Girl

I have to admit that I kinda overdosed on 'weddings' earlier this year, so I haven't posted anything since. I'm able to look at inspiration again after a break, so up next in my Blogger Wedding series is Alix from The Cherry Blossom Girl!

Alix is a classic French beauty, and her wedding set in a picturesque small village in France was relaxed and natural. There was no shortage of stylish guests with fellow blogger Louise from Pandora as bridesmaid (wearing a floral garland, of course), and Betty from Le Blog de Betty in attendance.

Alix's dress by Romanian designer Maria Lucia Hohan was very classic and chic (perhaps more so than I would have imagined it to be), as were her simple silver Dior heels. She added a modern twist to her classic bridal look with a tulle cape that tied around her neck in a big pink bow that brought to life the dress.

I love the pastel accents of macaroons and coloured balloons - big impact that can be done on a small budget. See more Blogger Wedding posts here. NHG x

 

Crunchy Autumn Leaves

The secret garden is looking pretty special at the moment. In fact, the whole of Little Venice is looking special! The leaves have well and truly turned, and the ground is covered in lovely crunchy autumn leaves. The below is what I would call my staple autumn "work outfit", and I've been wearing it once per week throughout October.

As I work for Hunter, I now am the proud owner of one too many pairs of wellies. My current favourite pair are definitely my Original Tall boots in a matte black. They are chic and practical at the same time - what everyone needs in the Northern Hemisphere. NHG x

Outfit details: Reiss Leopard print coat (old), ASOS colour block skater dress, Hunter Original Tall wellies.

The art of relaxation

When I was younger I was a self-confessed stress head who would work myself up into a right mess. Maybe it's living in London which throws non-stop challenges your way (if you get passed the "unlucky stick" in this city you better run and hide), but in the past few years I have developed the ability to completely switch off from my everyday life.

I have a bad habit of literally not sitting still when I am home and can be found running around doing "stuff" (much to Mr Porter's bemusement), but when I travel I much prefer to visit quiet locations, preferably in the sunshine and just RELAX.

Here are my tips for relaxing:

• Burn your favourite candle - In summer I like beachy, floral fragrances like mimosa, while in winter I prefer the smell of fig or musky fragrances.
• Create scent memories when you are holiday by taking a travel size candle (Diptyque do these) and feel like you're on holiday when you burn the candle in your own home.
• Soak your worries away in a bath, preferably with as many bubbles as possible. Apply a moisturising facial mask (I like Nuxe's Masque Crème Fraîche) and scrub yourself from head to toe with something that smells good enough to eat.
• Afterwards, slather yourself in beautiful body oil (Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse or Neom Organic Body Oil are my current favourites).
• Give yourself a manicure or pedicure. Once you own the right tools a manicure shouldn't set you back the £20 it costs professionally...pretty nails always make me feel better.  
• Take a yoga or meditation class. There is one particular pose in my yoga class that literally gives you a rush of endorphins (must ask what it is - for now, you'll just have to trust me).
• Bury yourself in a good book - I'm currently reading 'Paris to the Moon' as recommended by Hannah from Capture the Castle.
• Get away to the countryside. I'm currently planning a weekend trip to The Pig in the New Forest. The city can be suffocating at the best of times...
• Take a cat nap - I have a particularly bad habit of doing this on a Sunday afternoon and then I can never sleep on a Sunday night but at the time, it feels so good.
• Get a massage - sites like Wahanda mean that getting one doesn't need to cost the earth. This past weekend I had a great deep tissue massage at Ten Pilates.

All photos from my recent stay at Les Rosées in Mougins, France. NHG x

Boucle Coat

I'm a bit mad for boucle this autumn and lucky for me, Zara is somewhat of a shrine to the trend. Forget spending £300 on that Etoile by Isabel Marant jacket and bag yourself a Zara version for a third of the price. This black and white boucle jacket has speckles of red through it and is lovely and oversized - the perfect way to cozy up this autumn. See it online here. NHG x

Outfit details: Zara boucle jacket, Sass & Bide grey marle t-shirt (not shown), COS wool 3/4 trousers, Zara wedges, Vintage leather clutch. 

Khaki Shirt

Autumn calls for a change in the colours featured in my wardrobe. Gone are an abundance of pink and brights, and in are black (and more black), plums, purples and navy blue. For some reason I haven't really worn much khaki green in recent years, but after spotting this fab shirt from Iris & Ink at The Outnet (£85), I added one straight to my wish list.

Unlucky for me, the Iris & Ink version sold out when I went to purchase (it's now back in stock), so I was pleased to find this Zara version in store as a substitute and for less than half the price! NHG x

Outfit details: Zara khaki green shirt (£29.99), River Island leopard print skirt (old), A.P.C trench coat, ASH Jalouse boots, Mulberry leopard necklace and Mulberry Bayswater bag.

Whistles Drop Waist Dress

I am very much obsessed with dresses that nip in at the waist. They suit my body shape, and I feel comfortable in something that doesn't cling to my bottom half. I noticed recently that although I have this style in different fabrics and prints, I really need to explore with different shapes.

Enter the drop waist dress. This dress is a straight cut with a flared skirt that sits below your hips and you must abide by a certain styling rule when wearing: HEELS.

Without heels this dress looks god awful and does nothing for your shape (unless you are straight up and down and super skinny and tall that is). Add a pair of heels and it ain't so bad. I'm still not 100% convinced and probably won't buy another dress in this shape, but it's nice to mix it up for a change.

What do you think about the new drop waist styles that are in stores for AW12? Yay or nay? NHG x

Outfit details: Whistles red drop waist dress, Vintage leather clutch, M&S leopard print heels (old), Uniqlo heat-tech opaque tights, House of Harlow necklace. 

My Travel Make-up

I am known for taking kilos and kilos of cosmetics and make-up with me when I travel. It's particularly a problem when I go home to Melbourne to visit because it's always summer, and I feel pressure to look 'made up' (nothing worse than someone commenting how pale and unhealthy you look from London life).

Earlier this year when I was impatiently waiting for a work flight home to London, I decided to sort out my travel make-up kit to ensure that it was as minimal as possible. I decided to buy the Lancome Absolu Voyage Complete Make-Up Palette which comes with 6 eye-shadows, 3 lipsticks, concealer, blush, powder, mascara, lip liner, eye liner and a number of small brushes (slides out from the bottom of this double decker palette).

I've already used up the mascara (Lancome's Virtuose mascara) which was nice, so have replaced it with a sample of Benefit's Bad Girl Lash instead.  I also ditched the eyeliner pencil for my own Revlon Colourstay crayon which I've been using for at least 10 years (I hate pencils!) and I never leave the house without MAC's eyebrow crayon in Lingering. It's amazing.

My 'summer' foundation was Bourjois's Healthy Mix as recommended by Lisa Eldridge. It's light and luminous and I really love it! Definitely worth giving a try.

Do you travel light or do you take half your bathroom like me? NHG x

Win a pair of Ray-Ban Clubmasters

I have owned my Chanel sunglasses since December 2008. I clearly remember purchasing them as I was at Heathrow on my way home to Melbourne and "accidentally" dropped in to Chanel...although it was an impulse purchase, they've been one of my best purchases and are still in perfect condition.

Recently I decided that I quite fancied a new pair of designer sunglasses and had my eye on a pair of Ray-Ban Clubmasters, so I was thrilled when Sunglasses Shop offered a pair for both me and one of my readers!

To enter, all you need to do is 'like' Sunglasses Shop on Facebook using the entry form below. The winner will be able to choose a pair of Ray-Ban Clubmasters worth £113 in the colour of your choice. See them here.

Competition closes on Saturday 20 October and Sunglasses Shop ship internationally, so all of my Australian (very jealous of your impending summer!), American and European readers are welcome to enter. Good luck! NHG x
a Rafflecopter giveaway  
Outfit details: Reiss leopard print coat, COS black skinny jeans, Zara neon necklace, Topshop denim shirt, Ray-Ban Clubmasters in Tortoise.

Mougins

I first featured this Sandro dress last year but it's one of my absolute favourites, so thought why not again?

I love the way that it looks like it's a skirt and chambray shirt even through it's actually a dress. It's just so easy to throw on and I always just add black tights if the weather is cooler to match back with the black waistband. 

That's what I love about Sandro...their pieces are made to be easily worn. You just thrown them on and instantly feel feminine and pulled together. NHG x

You can see Sandro's AW12 collection here (I have quite a few dresses on my wish list...!)

P.S If you ever visit Mougins in France I highly recommend Le Petit Fouet - their simple, quality French dishes are perfection.