The Japanese beauty industry is well known for it’s innovation, with many products landing on ‘cult beauty buy’ lists around the world, and a selection of these become available at a premium online here in the west. So this time last year when I was preparing to travel to Japan, I researched the beauty products …
This weekend was the Chinese New Year, so I headed to Chinatown to celebrate the year of the dog with milk tea and red bean buns. (OK, so maybe not the most traditional for the Spring Festival, but they’re some of my favourite foods from when I visited China.)
Here are two ways I like to style cami dresses when the sun is shining but the temperature doesn’t match…
Turtlenecks are one of those clothing items I’ve always struggled with because as much as I liked them on other people, unless they were a chunky knit I didn’t really know what to do with them. Until now. Here are two ways that I’ve styled the same turtleneck…
Daily motivation is something I’ve struggled to find while staying so close to home for so many months, away from friends and colleagues, without the stimulation of new sights, sounds and smells, so I’ve set myself some goals to try to help with staying motivated – and one of them is to walk 100km this month. Art is also one of the things I miss the most with lockdowns, so walking 4 hours round trip in the freezing cold for this opportunity was a no brainer. Continue reading
Black Friday’s coming up. It’s the Friday after American Thanksgiving, which is always the fourth Thursday in November. And my favourite holiday as an adult because it brings together my whole family, without the stress of presents. (But I hate the history of the holiday – it’s truly embarrassing.) Growing up in America, just about … Continue reading
It’s no secret that I love a sample sale; like most of us I’ve been conditioned to love a good deal. And getting up to 95% off designer items feels like a win. But it’s easy to go overboard at these sales, buying for the “deal” and imaginary lifestyle. (How often do you *honestly* have … Continue reading
Knowing what tiny quality details to look for in garments is easy – once you know what you’re doing! I was lucky enough to learn by proximity: growing up, my mom was always sewing. She made her own clothing throughout her teenage years in the 1960s & 1970s, when I was a child she made … Continue reading
In October 2018 I decided to quit fast fashion. That year I placed 12 orders on ASOS, and in 2019 I placed just two: one order to try something on, the other to use up my vouchers. And I’m not even going there with my regular trips to Zara, Mango, Topshop, H&M, & Other Stories, … Continue reading
Let’s talk about vintage shopping “secrets”. Lately several of you have asked for my vintage shopping secrets to finding the “best” items. And I’m really sorry to say: I have none. I wish I did, but I don’t! Instead what I do have is an interest in vintage items, access to online marketplaces, access to … Continue reading
If like me you love your morning (and mid-morning, and mid-afternoon) coffee you’ll likely have noticed the increase in cafes offering single-use compostable cups for takeaway. And if you’re like me you thought: “This is awesome! Finally a guilt-free way to enjoy coffee on the go when I forget my re-usable cup!” But wait right … Continue reading
Holiday incoming! I’ve always wanted to travel around Europe by rail, and on 29th February we set of for that adventure! But how did it measure up in terms of time, money and CO2 compared to a plane holiday? Continue reading
Sustainability isn’t one size fits all. We all live different lives, in different places, with different levels of access, different finances, different needs and different responsibilities. What works and is realistic for one person could be totally unrealistic for another. Continue reading
Sometimes our assumptions about what is environmentally friendly don’t always stand up to scrutiny. For example, plastic and re-usable bags. Continue reading
Call me Katie 