MeetMyAutumnFlowers&Fur

I was lucky to finding the last glimmer of remaining sun this afternoon (possibly in the whole of England) to snap this outfit as the champagne sheen of this dress really comes to life under the light. Today I've toughened up this vintage look with my trusty leather jacket (aka the one you can never remove from my shoulders) & my heeled booties to create a balanced Autumn day look for a lunch out with my Auntie. I think this dress would also be perfect for a candlelit dinner (talking about coming to life under lights) dressed up with strappy heels & bare legs, if I'm ever brave enough this time of the year. I'll get back to you on that one...

...White Fake Fur Stole - Miss Selfridge...

...Vintage Champagne Dress with Coral Flowers - Vintage (Retro Rehab)...

...Black Leather Heeled Booties - Clarks...

...Black Leather Jacket - Topshop...

...Black Leather Backpack - TK Maxx...

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MeetMyGiftGuideForTheModernMan

Gift buying for the opposite sex is always tricky, so I wanted to give a heads up ready for (get ready for the big C word)...Christmas. With my Man's Birthday falling in mid-September, I wanted to share with you a few gifts I got for him & some other items he is enjoying this month. Even though it is over 3 months away, Christmas is the next big event I will be gifting for, so gathering ideas all helps in the lead up to giving the perfect presents.

...For the Modern Gentleman...

Slowly gathering Gentlemanly items such as a leather briefcase & a sturdy umbrella, my man likes the classic things in life but with a different twist. So for his 23rd I decided to expand on the Gentleman theme by investing in a glass decanter (ready to be filled with his favourite Sailor Jerry's rum) & a squirrel printed shirt, a nod to one of his favourite animals & very fitting for this time of the year. Accompanied by a Peter Werth leather wallet which I luckily won in a giveaway ran by Hand Luggage Only Blog & Sean's latest literary purchase, all the components are here for the Modern Day Gentleman...

...Squirrel Print Shirt - Tucci...

...Glass Liqueur Decanter - eBay...

...'Guide for the Modern Gentleman' Book - Waterstones...

...Dark Brown Leather Wallet - Peter Werth, similar here...

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MeetMyAutumnCure

Being under the weather seems to be inevitable this time of the year, however a pain in the back is not what I was counting on! A wee sniffle or a sore throat is easy to deal with, however trying to support my back & stay active so it doesn't seize up is a little more tricky. So what cures darker evenings, a chill in the air & not feeling a hundred percent? Baking of course! Because baking (+ bananas) DOES cure everything...

Inspired by the autumnal feeling in the air, I wanted to create a homely bake (with only what I had in the cupboard) & stumbled over this wonderfully easy Banana Bread recipe by Sophie Dahl. Baked in a loaf tin, I lined mine with pleated baking parchment so when baked, I could fold the paper over itself & tie rustically with string to create a perfect individual package. Mine seemed to turn out a bit darker in colour than the recipe shows, so I would probably recommend turning the temperature down & just baking for a little while longer. Although my version did create a bite on the edges which complemented the soft banana centre nicely. So I'll leave it up to you!

Let me know your Banana Bread recipes!

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MeetMySwatch

I have always admired the Swatch brand, with their clearly identifiable style & reliable designs. I recently discovered their artist collaborations & special collections when Sean (Swatch employee & boyfriend) bought me their limited edition 'Flowerhead' watch, designed by Olaf Hayek. Admittedly, I had never heard of this artist before, but upon researching him I think I have falling in love (sorry Sean!), well with his illustrations anyway! Twisting arrangements of natural forms are painterly adorned to flawless figures, towering over their head like a mother nature's twist on Victorian wigs. The tainted colours he chooses are beautifully vibrant, almost built up then worn away, like these characters were actually Victorian & now have chrysanthemums stemming out of their vintage wigs & stalks fleeing the nest, bringing a sense of surreal serenity to the image. They are endearing yet sophisticated, the detail of his skill showing through his creative ingenuity. However, this skill shouldn't come as a surprise as he is classed as one of the most successful illustrators in the world, being featured in top publications & leading brands advertising campaigns.

Unfortunately, this limited edition watch is no longer for sale in store, but some can be found online if you look carefully & are willing to pay a little extra. Fortunately for me though, I have got mine firmly wrapped around my wrist...

...Lime Green Notebook, Ball-point Pen & Tote Bags - All Swatch...

...Olaf Hijak's Illustrations (from the top)...

...Jewellery Illustration for Spread Magazine, NY...

...Print for LUMAS Gallery...

...Jewellery Illustration for Spread Magazine, NY...

...Illustrative interpretation of Italian Fashion Brand Kristina Ti's Collection...

...La Lettura Magazine Cover...

...Illustration of The Great Egret for Audubon Magazine...

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