MIMOSA AND PEARLS

I love it when the living space smells like fresh flowers, so I go for either citrus (Verveine form The White Company), pear or sweet pea (form Archipelago), wasabi pear (form Nest) or mimosa (from Diptyque) to freshen up the living room.

I piked up these gorgeous pearl place mats (above) and bowls on my trip to Asia and I can’t get enough od them. I love everything pearl! I’d probably have half a living room made of pearl and garnished with orchids, but I might have to live in Asia for that (Singapore dream here I come!).

xx Alice

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BEAUTY: SUN CARE

It’s still June, it’s still raining and I am still wearing cashmere and my winter coat. This is not how a good summer should be, so I am making a relatively last-minute decision to go on a break to Asia.

I know I still haven’t posted about the last time I went a few months back, but the three main things I learnt from the last time are: suncare, suncare and suncare. So I reached for the Space NK summer catalogue an InStyle’s Beauty Bible for some inspiration. They are my topgo-to places for skin care.  And here is a pick of the suncare that will be accompanying me to Asia:

• Love the smell of this herbal Jurlique herbal suncare
• This Chantecaille SPF 50 suncream feels so smooth and amazing on the skin, like a primer, and is completely oil-free.
• And when I need a top-up during the day, this completely sheer brush-on powder by Chantecaille goes on over makeup.
• And lastly, this absolute must by P20 that lasts all day, without sticking to things, smelling weird, looking white or streaky and doesn’t come off in the water.

xx Alice

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CINQUE TERRE: VERNAZZA

Second in the series of 5 posts aout the 5 towns of Cinque Terre I visited last year. Although famous for being the most beautiful of the Cinque Terre towns, in 2011 a massive landslide tore through the main street and the marine of this mountain-side town. When I visited, the  entire ground floor main street’s ground and first floors were gutted, with locals carrying out mud and plaster by the bucket load. The town is recovering, but it’s still incredibly beautiful.

It rained the entire day of my visit, but that made the sky and the views even more amazing. I climbed the side-streets to the top of the town and took the path up the mountain. These are some shots of what I found along the way.

xx Alice

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GREEN MILK TEA

I have drunk my way though my stockpile of several varieties of TWG and JING Tie Gun Yin. Tie Guan Yin. And now that I have a bit more time on my hands, I decided to venture out of my oolong comfort zone and experiment with some new recipes and flavours.

I was looking for something fruity, a bit floral, with a lot of flavour but at the same time really smooth. So here are a couple experiments with milk green tea, using TWG green tea blends , a JING tea pot, a Bodum press and these articles as inspiration (article 1 and article 2).

xx Alice

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FROM THE STUDIO: PORTFOLIO WEEK

It’s been a tough couple weeks: flu, surgery, recovery, final hand-in and assessments for the year and deadlines for some other work. But I’m back and I’m taking it one day at a time.

So while I’m getting better and attending the University of the Arts London’s summer shows, here is a peek at some of portfolio work:

GOING OUT: BLACK ON SUNDAY

It’s still freezing in London, so I am wearing the trousers, leather and a snood…in June.

Wearing: Jacket by Religion Clothing | Snood by American Apparel | Vintage wide-leg trousers | Slippers by Puma

xx Alice

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SOUTHBANK GREEN

Dressed in green, I took a walk down Southbank to explore culture, literature and the food festival.

Wearing: Perfume by Miller et Bertaux’ in #3 Green, green and green | Scarf by Hermes | Jumper and jeans by H&M | Boots by Prada

xx Alice

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LIVING SPACE

 Another huge hobby of ours is orchids. The shots above are of the green phaelonopsis in my living room, but I have orchids all around the house, even framed up on the walls (although most of them reside in the study, waiting to bloom and hoping not to die of overwatering).

xx Alice

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GOING OUT: COLUMBIA ROAD BLOOMS

No Sunday is complete without gorgeous early morning flowers. So the FORM 42 team went out to find some at Columbia Road, and here are a few shots of Olya instagraming the pretty.

xx Alice and Olya

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CINQUE TERRE: MANAROLA

Last year I went on a short trip to the absolutely incredible Cinque Terre. This is one of the first of a UNESCO World Heritage sites I have planned to visit, and all of the 5 Cinque Terre town as well as the surrounding mountains are UNESCO recognised for their natural beauty.

Although Manarola was not the forst Cinque Terre town I visited, nor was it the one I stayed it, but it was definitely the most beautiful. The tiny candy coloured houses of this small town are perched on a cliff above a little harbour. The first two shots in this post were taken in this harbour, where there waves crash over the most breathtakingly colourful rocks, threaded through with white all over. The main street is filled with ripe fruit and vegetables, freshly baked bread and the chatter of the lovely and welcoming locals. Looking up, the hills above are filled with green of vineyards, which I would be able to appreciate infinitely more if I wasn’t allergic to wine.

Stay tuned for a recap of my visits to Riomaggiore, Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza and Corniglia.

xx Alice

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