Kindred Fashion

Usually, when I’m prepping for a trip to London, my outfits are a big deal. London is such a fashionable city and there is a lot to consider in terms of comfort, style and practicality. When visiting London whether it’s a day trip or visiting for a couple of days, I am always wanting to look my best but be comfortable at the same time. Today’s look is something I would certainly wear when visiting the big smoke in Autumn and Winter.

Comfy Shoes

Whether you are taking the tube or even a taxi, you’ll most likely be on your feet quite a lot. Comfy shoes are always a good idea. Five-inch heels are probably not a good shout. Opt for some boots or trainers. I’ve got my over the knee boots by Duo Boots. They are custom made to my calf size but they are extremely comfortable and I think they look pretty stylish. I’d also recommend carrying some plasters with you just in case!

Practical Handbag

I’ve been into London so many times and whilst it’s such a great city it’s important to remember to stay safe and be aware of everything going on around you. My Mum has always told me to wear a practical handbag; something with a zip to protect your belongings and ideally a bag with a long strap to wear cross body and close to you. My Selma Handbag from Michael Kors is a great choice as it’s big enough to fit my camera and other essentials as well as having a cross body strap!

Statement Jacket

I find that your jacket or coat can really make your outfit. When I’m outfit planning, it’s the one thing I can never decide on. You don’t want to be too hot or cold. I usually find that in London if you are travelling on the tube a lot and going round the shops, you can get so hot and bothered. For today’s London look, I’ve chosen my Faux Fur Jayley jacket which would be perfect for the cooler months. In Spring/Summer, a leather jacket would be a good option!

Always Carry an Umbrella

London’s weather can be pretty unpredictable. There again, the weather in the UK as a whole is very unpredictable. My advice for this is simple; always carry an umbrella. This is one of my essentials for heading to London – It’s always good to have one handy if the heaven’s open!

Faux Fur Jacket* – Jayley London at ASOS

Jumper – New Look

Joni Jeans – Topshop

Selma Handbag – Michael Kors

Boots* – Ted & Muffy

What would you wear if you were visiting London?

Christmas time is my favourite time of the year for dressing up, you’ve got lot’s of parties and get together’s. It’s the perfect excuse for a new festive outfit. At the very least, I always love having two new dresses; one for Christmas Day and one for New Year’s Eve. This year, I’ve got this gorgeous berry number from Chi Chi Clothing. They have such a stunning Christmas range this year and it’s right up my alley with lot’s of full skirts, lace and embroidery.

Once again, Chi Chi has managed to make me feel like a princess in this dress.The festive season is the perfect time to go all out and wear a big tulle skirt, you may as well add a tiara too! I paired the dress with my Lulu Guinness Lips Clutch bag which I only ever seen to get out at Christmas. It’s such an adorable bag and a classic style by Lulu. I also dug out my old silver heels from New Look which is another item that always makes an appearance around Christmas.

Dress* – Chi Chi Clothing

Clutch Bag – Lulu Guinness

Heels – New Look

Earrings – Topshop

I’ve got a couple more festive looks coming your way, so keep your eyes peeled. I’d love to hear if you’ve got any parties this festive season. Do you dress up around Christmas?

Happy Saturday! I hope everyone is having a lovely weekend so far. I’m currently getting ready for the Blogger’s Blog Awards which are taking place in Leeds this afternoon.

I’m super excited to share today’s post with you. You might have realised by now that I’m a massive fan of the brand Closet London. I do love dressing up in a pretty dress, so their designs are totally down my alley. Last weekend, I wore this gorgeous black and red dress from their Paisley Park collection and I think it was love at first sight. Red isn’t usually a colour I would be drawn to but I quite like it now. I paired the dress with my new Zara bag which I picked up in Paris. The little-embellished bug on the complements the colours of my dress perfectly.

Dress* – Closet London

Bag – Zara

Shoes – Primark

Sunglasses* – Ralph Lauren at Sunglasses Shop

Headband* – Glitzy Secrets

iPhone case* – Go Case

I thought I’d also share a snap (ironically stood next to a telephone box) of my new phone case from Go Case. As I’m a massive Disney fan, I couldn’t resist this Mary Poppins phone case. It’s practically perfect in every way – ha! They have a huge variety of cases from Pretty Little Liars, Game of Thrones and Friends themed cases.

Another day, another cleanser. I honestly think it’s become my life mission to try every single cleanser out there. Whilst I do have some firm favourites, I’ll be most likely writing a round-up post soon, I’m very much open to trying new ones. CeraVe is a brand that I have wanted to try for ages, these products have taken the skincare world by storm. It’s affordable, the bottles are huge and everyone raves about the cleanser. Obviously, I was intrigued.

When it comes to skin care, hydrating products are a key factor for me. So when I was looking at the CeraVe products on the Notino website, I came across their vast collection of cleansers from foaming, hydrating and smoothing cleansers. I decided to go for the hydrating one which contains 3 essential ceramides and hyaluronic acid.Although it sounds quite a full-on ingrediant, it essentially locks in all the moisture on the top layer of skin making the product really hydrating.

As I said before the CeraVe products are super affordable and although you can pick up a smaller bottle mine is the 473ml one which is rather huge. You get so much product for your money. The packaging isn’t fancy or anything but it’s simple and says what it does with the cleanser dispensed via a pump. The cleanser is fragrance-free and a couple of pumps will do the job for cleansing the face and removing make-up. Personally, I double cleanse on an evening and would use an oil-based cleanser first but even using this on its own, it does an amazing job of removing make-up including around the eyes and all the gunk on my face.

After use, my face is left feeling smooth and really hydrated. Compared to other cleansers I’ve used recently, this one is actually a little more hydrating and is something that impressed me. According to the website, the cleanser also has MVE Technology. This is supposed to gradually release hydrating ingredients throughout the next 24 hours. I’m not too sure whether I noticed this but overall, I found using the cleanser pretty hydrating on the skin. It’s definitely a cleanser in which I really enjoyed using and will continue to use in the future.

Have you used any CeraVe products before?

I can’t quite believe it’s now been five years of living with Stefan and nearly four since we bought our own house. We still have so much to do with the house, but it’s been a fun ride making it ours. Moving into a new home is exciting — that blank canvas feeling, the fresh start, the Pinterest boards overflowing with inspiration. But once the boxes are unpacked and the novelty fades, reality hits: you’re missing a few key items that make everyday living smoother, cleaner, and just a bit more stylish.

I was kindly gifted a few items from SONGMICS, which has a range of excellent homeware bits. These are certainly items that I wish I had from day one.

Let’s be honest — few things are less glamorous than a bin, but few are more used. The dual pedal rubbish bin has quickly become one of those “why didn’t I get this sooner?” items. With two separate compartments, it makes recycling effortless and keeps the kitchen looking sleek and tidy. It’s certainly an upgrade from the standard plastic bin we had. It makes recycling so much easier to have two compartments to sort them.
No more juggling multiple bins or running to the garage with recyclables — just a quick tap of the pedal and everything is sorted. Plus, the minimalist design blends in beautifully with any décor style, from modern to farmhouse chic. The bin even came with some rubbish bags, which I thought was a great touch. As you can see from the images, Walter is even a fan of the bin. Who knew a rubbish bin could cause so much excitement?

Whether you’re short on wardrobe space or just need somewhere to hang tomorrow’s outfit, a good clothing rack on wheels is a total game-changer. It’s one of those essentials you don’t realise you need until laundry day — when the backs of your chairs are covered in shirts and dresses.
A simple, sturdy rack not only keeps your clothes organised and fresh but can also double as a design feature. Think of it as functional décor — hang your favourite pieces, add a woven basket beneath for storage, and you’ve got a minimalist moment worthy of a magazine spread. I found having a clothing rail like this super helpful when packing for trips. I can pull outfits together and visualise how they look more clearly. I still need to figure out where it lives in the house, but I think over the next couple of months, I’m keeping my bridal era outfits on it!

When you move into a new place, it’s easy to focus on the big-ticket items — the sofa, the bed, the TV. But it’s the practical, everyday pieces that truly make a house a home.
A clever dual waste bin and a versatile clothes rack might not sound like showstoppers, but trust me: once you have them, you’ll wonder how you ever managed without.