Shaken not Stirred

Well its not just Doris that’s been causing a stir this week, there’s been a fresh drop of oh so sumptuous Scotch & Soda in HQ. In contrast to the cruel mistress that had our hair plastered to our lippy, this seasonal shift is most definitely welcome…

A trip to WSd HQ is the perfect substitute to a holiday to the Bahamas thanks to this bomber jacket, which offers a touch of tropical paradise. The combination of leopard print sleeves and a botanical print body will transport you to the depths of an enchanted rainforest with every wear. Style a la Sarah and team with the Scotch & Soda white silky tee, Vero Moda biker seven pants (£44) and the Veja V10 Pekin Authentico kicks.

The magic garden vibe continues with this sheer floral shirt which will be the answer to your ‘jeans and a nice top’ dilemma. Don’t be put off by the slight opacity, just reduce the risqué factor and team with a Love Stories intimate bralette for a playfully printed piece that provides full coverage.

Scotch & Soda know how to do casual and the latest collection is a dream for laid-back weekend dressing. Take the French Tank Top that stands by its literal translation and goes with “absolutely” everything. The cotton racer back features the words ‘Tout a Tait” and offers the irresistibly classic combination of black and white stripes and a tantalising dash of red. A fabulous flat lay from our Maz proves how to take this versatile tank to the next level- simply team with the Love Stories Nash bra, your fave skinnies and the Moda in Pelle Chiara heels.

The pleated skirt is no longer a ‘trend’ but a firmly established sartorial savior. If you’ve been unsure about how to approach this brave new world of skirts then look no further than the gorgeous copper pleated midi from Scotch & Soda. Counteract the swish and shine of the metallic pleats with a cool sweat like the mini-artwork or basic sweater for a simple way to do ‘dressed up’ without being too much.

With such unpredictable weather, layering options are as crucial as ever. This printed dress is a worthy investment as it’s sure to take you through every season.  Team this silky number with a fine roll neck, opaques and Chelsea boots now for a spring look with guaranteed warmth. When the summer rolls around, all this needs is a pair of sandals and leisurely St Tropez lunches.

Every girl needs a reliable blazer and this printed drapey design will be your saviour for those days where there's a nip in the air but you want to dress for spring. 

Are you suitably swooning? The WSd angels are coveting all of these looks-with such an incredible palette of colors, graphics and prints, there’s a piece for every style. Pop into store to see the full collection!

Rachel x

An Angel's Surprise

It’s safe to say What Sarah did…knows how to do birthdays and I for one was the subject of some serious birthday pampering thanks to WSd angels Sarah and Maryanne. All I’d been told was that I had to be on the 10:36am train to Kings Cross and there would be fizz involved. Having got on the train one stop before me, Saz and Maz were easy to spot amid the bleary eyed Sunday morning commuters- one blonde beauty in oxblood leather and the other in a Carrie Bradshaw esque net skirt- a breath of fresh air on a grey morning. Oh and the pop of yellow from a Veuve Clicquot label was like a ray of sunshine. With croissants to soak up the fizz, I didn’t think the day could get any more fabulous…oh how wrong I was! 

We arrived at King’s Cross and headed for the nearest café for a much needed brew. Mid cuppa the surprise was revealed…a sumptuous merlot coloured bag was handed to me, etched with those swoon inducing rose gold words ‘Charlotte Tilbury’. OMG…I had an appointment at the flagship store of the ultimate make-up guru for an oh so fabulous make-up consultation.

 Right in the heart of bustling Covent Garden on the prestigious James Street is Charlotte Tilbury’s flagship store. Upstairs is all about fabulously fast make-up- women who know what they want and who are on a contouring mission. Downstairs is where the slower-paced magic happens and as I walked down the sweeping staircase I was transported into an Art Deco underworld of boudoir beauty. We had reached make-up mecca where the extensive amount of framed magazine covers adorning the walls showcase just a snippet of Tilbury’s work as a make-up artist to the stars. Before we knew it, the three of us had a glass of fizz in hand and were like kids in a sweet shop as our eyes darted between vintage trinkets, boudoir style dressing tables, and an elaborate feather centrepiece. We were in heaven.

Lapping up every drop of lavishness I took my seat in a sumptuous velvet chair with a fabulous WSd angel perfectly poised either side of me. My make-up artist for the next hour was the gorgeous Silvia- an Italian beauty with fabulous corkscrew curls. I was handed an I-pad to scroll through shots of Charlotte’s 10 iconic looks and with the help of Saz and Maz I chose ‘The Uptown Girl’ which promised flawless skin, a perfect grey smoky eye and a sumptuous pinky peach lip.  

For the next 60 minutes we sipped fizz, giggled and hung on Silvia’s every word as she performed mesmerising make-up alchemy. I experienced the famous magic cream which flooded my skin with moisture and not only made it feel super plump but even gave me a somewhat dewy glow! The star of the uptown show was the luxury palette- ‘a beautiful quartet of champagne, oyster and smoky grey hues’. I’m a totally neutral kinda gal when it comes to eyes but the sweep of grey took me out of my comfort zone and into my sass zone. I loved the mesmerising combination of shades and the subtle dash of darkness meant this look was perfect for day to night.

With the final slick of ‘Bitch Perfect’ lipstick applied, the hour of pure unadulterated bliss had come to an end but the fun wasn’t over. As part of the makeover I was able to choose products to the equivalent value of the appointment. I was so astounded by their near-on miracle credentials just displayed to me during my makeover that I chose ‘Browlift’ and the ‘Retoucher Concealer’ as my treats of choice.

I walked out of Charlotte Tilbury with my two fabulous friends by my side, ready for the cobbled runway that awaited me. Said runway led us to a cosy corner of All Bar One where fizz was sipped and fish finger wraps were demolished. Bliss.

Birthday wishes really do come true at WSd…!

To book an appointment for your bestie visit www.charlottetilbury.com/uk/covent-garden-store.html

Rachel x

It's All About That Base

Ok so there’s definitely no denying that it’s really flippin cold. I had to admit defeat last week and buy a winter coat- something I probably should have invested in months ago but I’m feeling rather smug that I snapped mine up in the January sales and I’m pretty sure my investment will prove worthy for at least another couple of months before going away until next winter. Don’t get me wrong I’m not the kind of gal to be beaten by winter woe but with the current sub-zero temperatures hanging around, January has a high chance of turning us blue in a more literal sense! So whether you’re trying to update your current wardrobe without breaking the bank or you’re merely trying to stay warm, it really is all about that base.We all know the basics about layering on our top half but what about the bottom?

Up your layering game and pair your favorite dress with jeans or leggings to reinvigorate your staples. Style a la Sarah who took her go-to vintage dress and made it almost unrecognizable by teaming it with a pair of Vero Moda grey denim skinnies (£29) and the coolest of Veja kicks (£82). The trick to mastering this look is playing with proportions and the queen of style has just done that by adding an On the Rise (£70) sweat into the mix to create a flattering silhouette that works equally as well with heels as it does trainers.

A dress you might ordinarily keep exclusively for nights out can be converted into the perfect day look with the help of clever layering. The MINKPINK hustle dress (£58) has all the credentials of a night on the tiles but its cross over shaping is a magnet for the best of the base. Steal Sarah’s style and let the roll neck prove its worth once again to take this dress into the off-duty department. The addition of cut off skinny jeans adds practicality to that oh so sexy high slit and creates contrast against the more billowy skirt. Hudson Magee brogues (now £62) prove that a glittery dress can be at the centre of an androgynous look.

For a runway worthy look toughen up your denim layering with a pair of fishnets. Sarah chopped and sliced her Vero Moda 7 skinnies to offer a tantalising peep of grunge glam.

A slinky slip dress is probably on every girls  wish list in all its whimsical beauty, yet  the prospect of wearing it in anything other than our daydreams can seem a little daunting. Well, fear not and just slip it over a pair of jeans for a chic tomboy vibe. Try the Vero Moda Heather off-shoulder (£32) dress and skinnies and finish the look off with a pair of cool Veja 3 lock metallic kicks (£100) and a little leather jacket for the ultimate in versatile dressing.

These savvy style tips will not only save you a penny or two but will reignite your wardrobe staples and keep you cosy. Oh and any excuse to delay that leg wax is fine by us!

Happy layering beauties!

Rachel x