shopping destination. Portugal

This was a busy summer. Not because I had a baby earlier this year, but because I decided to take advantage of my maternity leave as much as possible. Everyone said, travel before the baby starts moving, it will never get easier. Plus, when would I ever have this time, just me and this little person, to enjoy each other's company and get paid to do it? So hit the road we did. 

First stop was Italy. Then we went home, to San Diego. Back to England and in the car for 6.5 hours to get to Cornwall.  Then finally one last hurrah before heading back to work. I was off to Portugal for a girls (+ baby) trip, where we were heading to Lisbon and Porto. 

Olá Portugal! I had no expectations at all but honestly Lisbon and Porto were total gems. Lisbon was fantastic and I am planning to go back, hopefully sooner rather than later. Porto was interesting as it was a real intersection of old and new, I am still processing it, but we came across the best shopping I had seen in a long time. Apparently Bloomberg ran a piece just earlier this month claiming that Porto is a fashion and design destination. I couldn't agree more.

Three shops that we stumbled across that I would absolutely go out of my way to visit again. Clerigos In, an amazing shop in Passeio dos Clerigos, with eye wear plus a spattering of fashion and lifestyle pieces sprinkled in. Daily-Day carries fantastic local brands as well as their own in house brand and feels super of the moment. Finally  The Feeting Room which had great shoes for men and women with an added bonus of accessories, again for both sexes. 

Portugal, I am coming back for more. Até logo! 

Stuck on earrings.

I am still chomping at the bit to add some more earrings to my accessories drawer at the moment. Here is some perfect fodder to help inspire what I will be searching out over the next weeks/months. 

All images courtesy of visual optimism 

New obsession. Earrings.

Just like everyone else, I go through phases. I had been having a ring phase, and to be fair I am not completely out of it, but I am finding myself entering an earring phase at the moment. Enter the earrings that I am currently obsessing over for summer/fall. 

Pair any of these options, especially the larger ones, with a simple suit, sheath dress or pencil skirt and button down. Pull your hair back, and these sparklers will be the center of attention. 

Clockwise from the top left: Pamela Love via Catbird, $190; Hortense via Catbird, $910; Asos £6; Pilgrim via Asos, £9.99;  

Clockwise from the top left: Odette $90; Pilgrim via Asos, £12.99; Whistles £30; Katrine Kristensen £372 

Necklace too long? DIY solution

image courtesy of Visual Optimism 

This image from my Valentine's Day post got me thinking....

The bracelet reminded me of a necklace I have, and inspired me to think about exactly what I wanted that little gold chain to be. What I just knew it had the potential to be, in fact!

Lets not gloss over the fact that the bracelet feature is sheer perfection....back to the point...

The necklace I have was a bit too long, as I wanted something that sat just at my collar bone. While removing links was a real possibility the links were too small to do it on my own, and well I am just not too sure who to go to on the jewelry scene for things of this nature.  Solution?  A DIY inspiration, thank you Russian Vogue!  

So what do you do to make the slightly longer than wanted necklace the perfect length?  Why tie some knots in the chain, of course.

The look is perfect and I have ended up with the perfect length necklace. Basically just tie a knots roughly even distance apart in a chain, and voila! 

This would also work if you have a bracelet that is too big or a small necklace that you would rather wear as a bracelet.

Who knew The Work Look would be posting DIY solutions for office appropriate work wear, but there you have it. 

Happy hump day.  

A little something lovely for Valentine's Day

OK first, I am sorry, it was a longer break than I planned. First a design course, then moving house, then the holidays and then lots of changes on the job front. But, I am back and just in time to share the love, and honestly I couldn't be happier.

Whether you are using Valentine's Day as an excuse to buy yourself something nice or need a hint to drop to that special someone here are some perfectly gorgeous pieces.  After all it is the accessories that make any outfit complete and Valentine's Day is a perfect excuse to get yourself a little piece of pretty.

All images courtesy of VisualOptimism

Carrying your shoes to work...in style

It wasn't until after 30 that I started to become much more religious about commuting/office shoes. When I was younger there were times that I just wanted to show off my incredible kicks more than I cared about the pain of getting home in them. 

However, nowadays the pain outweighs the pleasure. I am much more practical in my older age and it doesn't hurt that in London I feel like no one would dare commute in anything other than flats. 

So carrying my shoes to work is now something I need to do on a fairly regular basis. If I won't be donning one of the two pairs of black pumps that live under my desk then I will have to bring my shoes with me. 

What that meant, up until last weekend, was that my shoes were getting tossed into a raggedy shoe bag that then made it into my purse. But then I stumbled upon this amazing brand, la cerise sur la gateau, and now my shoes arrive in style. A win win for all involved.  If the hot pink is a bit too much for you check out all their other options, which not only are great for carting your shoes into work but tucking away into your suitcase for all your chargers, or perhaps a bag to put your dirty laundry in while on those longer work trips. 

Office space

I dream of the day I have the corner office, mostly because then I will be able to add a bit more life to my desk. Sitting on a trading floor is certainly not the environment that fosters customization when it comes to your work space.

Until that day the corner office is mine I will just have to settle with upgrading my phone case and perhaps getting a nice pencil pouch or a pencil holder.  For the rest of you out there, here is some great stuff that are all fairly easy on the wallet.

Rifle Paper Co. $36

Little paper planes $18

Anthropologie £10

Anthropologie £20

Liberty £24.95

Anthropologie £28

Lberty £55 

Etsy $25

Kate Spade $24

Anthropologie £8

Rifle Paper Co $34

Anthropologie £20

Rifle Paper Co. $7

Hitchcock inspiration. Gets me everytime

This is the latest ad campaign from Watches of Switzerland, a luxury retailer of new and preowned swiss watches. This is their first ad campaign in 30 years and I have to say, well done chaps, well done.

I walk by the ads on the tube platforms and from the very moment I saw them they caught my attention. I love Hitchcock, and the Hitchock woman and the subtly of this campaign nails it on the head for me and makes me want to channel the same look (without the birds of course) for work. Inspiration is everywhere.

Bucket bags. The new 'it' shape

I remember bucket bags in the 80s. They remind me most of my Aunt, who always seemed to be on the cutting edge of everything fashionable. Last year I got the itch for those bucket bags from the 80s and got a vintage Dooney & Bourke, like this one here. At the time I didn't think there was any way to work one into my work look, but since then I have seen them spring up everywhere. 

Bucket bags may be the new it bag shape for the workplace. If nothing else it is nice to carry a bag with less sharp edges than any other bag in my closet.

Anya Hindmarch via Net-a-Porter, $1,200, Baggu via Need Supply, $140, Loewe via Net-a-Porter, $2,600, Asos £18, Saint Laurent £1,290, Mango $44.99, The Row via Barneys, £2,725, Gucci via , $1,450, Zara drawstring bag - no longer available, similar option here, $44.99

Timeless timepieces

I was invited to the launch of the newest women's watch line from Baume et Mercier, Promesse, earlier this week. It was a gorgeous London summer day, in the perfect setting, to learn a little more about the brand and their latest collection.

Personally I loved the simpler, steel pieces, my favorite was the two tone, which in person I think looked even more beautiful. My instagram shot here. Overall, the whole collection was timeless. For a time piece what I want is something that is truly timeless. A piece that works day, night, Monday through Friday and into the weekend.  All of these fit the bill, perfectly.