Marie Claire X Emporio Armani

When beautiful clothes get together with a fabulously glossy magazine...

I recently popped along to a Marie Claire event at the gorgeous Emporio Armani shop in Glasgow to see the AW17 collection. A fabulous evening filled with lots of amazing fashion!

The Fashion Director of Marie Claire was there on the night to chat through her favourite pieces and to depart some of her style wisdom. She went over how to replicate the catwalk looks as models strutted their stuff. It was really great to see how items can be taken from the catwalk and worn every day. I also got the chance to chat to Jayne after the fashion show and she was just the loveliest lady. Of course she was dressed impeccably as well.

There was even a fashion illustrator creating prints of you wearing your favourite pieces - she was mesmerising to watch!

Emporio Armani is a world-renowned Italian fashion house and always been at the fore-front of high-fashion. Every season they march some amazing looks down the catwalk and the themes always make an impact. Armani always add their own individual stamp to the clothes and they're completed with a 'cool-girl' edge. The fashion brand is also known for touching on androgynous styles and Giorgio Armani made the trouser suit chic. It's all about 'elegance of the uncomplicated' and there's an understated confidence to the designs.

I mean I just fell completely head over heels for this red jacket - Santa are you there?

The event was organised by Marie Claire, one of the top women's magazines and the place to go for fashion and beauty advice, trends and tips and stylish updates. It began in France in 1937 before coming to the UK in 1941 and it's always been about inspiring women. It's a "worldwide icon and a compelling media destination that combines provocative features with outstanding fashion and beauty to inspire women who want to think smart and look amazing". It makes sense for them to support a brand that empowers women.

Armani was filled with luxurious clean-line blazers, stylish monochrome pieces with pops of red and touches of hot pink to add some vibrance to your outfit.

This bag!

The Glasgow store is really beautiful and is an amazing place to visit. Everything is presented in a beautiful and chic way and the clothes and accessories are just waiting to be admired.

Thanks so much for having me!

x x x 

Snapfish - Get Ready for 2018

Create your own personal calendar with Snapfish!

I received a code to make a free photo calendar and I loved exploring the new designs that Snapfish have! 

Snapfish is a wonderful little spot on the internet when you can turn beautiful photos into personalised items. And with Christmas coming up why not think about creating some amazingly thoughtful gifts! There's so many different things you can pop your photos on to - photo books, canvas prints, photo blankets, cushions, phone cases, mugs.... everything you could dream of and your bound to find the perfect present for anyone and everyone. 

I though, used Snapfish to create a really lovely calendar to keep me organised for next year.

There are so many options when it comes to designing your calendar and you can really make it your own. You can choose what size you want, what theme, what colours and there's all kinds of cute patterns and designs. Make yourself a cuppa and get settled in though it's easy to get lost in all the beautiful creations!

I'm a bit of an instagram addict so I was really pleased when I found the Instagram theme. Creating a calendar with all your instagram posts is a really lovely way to use the photos that you've collected. I picked images for each month from exactly the same time this year or last. It was a lovely way to collect memories and look back on adventures!

There are so many different designs, backgrounds and layouts to choose from and you can even add little stickers, as well as personalising dates - you'll never forget a birthday again!

I kept my design pretty simple with black and white. I wanted to keep it clean so that the photos would stand-out. But, there's so many colourful backgrounds that you can make it as bright and beautiful as you want!

The creation process is really easy as well. You just need to upload your photos, from your computer, Facebook and even Instagram, pick your layout and drop the image in where you want it. Snapfish is pretty clever as well and will tell you if the photo is too low-res for print so that you get the perfect picture. 

Get creating!

If you fancy designing your own personalised item or making your Christmas presents extra personal this year then you can get 40% off Snapfish with the code KIRSTEN40 - happy designing! 

x x x 

T2 - Joy 2 the Wild

This is simply the best time of year to cosy up with a cup of tea.

You might remember a little while ago I introduced you to the wondrous T2 and the amazing Scots Breakfast tea. But, did you know T2 is in actual fact the best place to start your Christmas shopping as their new Christmas collection is simply fabulous and perfect for any tea-lover.

T2 have just launched their new Christmas nature-inspired campaign - Joy 2 the Wild - and as they say "It's time to reignite our relationship with nature". The Australian tea company see winter as the perfect time to reconnect with the natural world "celebrating the hidden flavours, patterns and rhythms found in the outside world". The beautiful collection has a real emphasis on the beauty of nature and it's wonderfully refreshing for this time of year.

T2 has literally every type of tea you can imagine and the new collection is just divine.

There's CHRISTMAS BREAKFAST which is filled with festive flavours, the classic gingerbread with a hint of vanilla. The amazing MULLED WINE MAGIC which just tastes like Christmas evenings in the cold. It's really aromatic and has the perfect touch of spice. One of my favourites was also the CHOC MOLTEN MARVEL an absolute treat in a tea-cup that keeps you toasty with its indulgent pudding-like notes.

As always the amazing tea-ware also had me creating a mental wish-list for Santa.

I was lucky enough to be treated to a LUNA NIGHTS STARFISH SKY TEA FOR ONE - so adorable and the perfect gift to find under the tree.

The cute little teapot is perfect for one and you can keep the adorable little tea-cup that comes as part of it filled up with delicious tea. The most amazing present for tea-lovers. The sweet pattern is described as having "sea anemones dance alongside starfish patterns under the night sky". How dreamy does that sound?! It even has a tea strainer in the pot and makes the loveliest gift to keep you cosy on chilly winters afternoons.

Of course all the tea-ware is just beautiful.

They've added to their already fabulous offering with collections like DANCING MAGNOLIA which takes inspiration from the "geometric marvels found in nature" and it also come in five colour combinations that you can mix and match. I think the LUSCIOUS is just gorgeous and is definitely going to be written on my list for Santa. It's all green goodness with jungle print and white poppies. There's also the MOON DANCE and DAZED AND DAZZLED that are just as fantastic.

Even the teaspoons are the best thing ever!

I'm still completely in love with T2 it's a really enchanting place and it feels like you've stepped into a tea-themed fairytale every time you step into the shop. Making a cup of T2 tea takes a little more time, it's indulgent and you feel like you're spoiling yourself giving yourself ten minutes to treat yourself and enjoy the most delicious cup of tea.

Thanks so much to T2 for having me - now pop the kettle on!

x x x 

A Weekend in Paris: Versailles

The most luxurious garden I've ever been to...

I've been dreaming about going to the Palace of Versailles for a very long time. The name just conjures magical images of opulence from a bygone era, a lavish lifestyle that really belongs in storybooks. The legendary destination is somewhere that truly belongs in dreams. When we popped over to Paris for a long weekend in September Versailles was top of the itinerary.

The Palace is just a short walk from the train station and as everyone approaches the golden gates there's definitely a twinkle of excitement in the air and the Palace appears in all its grandeur.

It really is an amazing place. It's over-the-top opulence and grandeur and is fabulously lavish. As Royal chateaus go this one is pretty unbeatable. There's just something magic about it and you're filled with mystical promise as you peer through the golden gates.

The building dates back to the 11th century, when it was a slightly more modest affair, with the expansion beginning in 1661 and lasting 40 years. The King was adamant that every detail was correct and that the house that he built was unrivalled and to say its extravagant is somewhat of an understatement.

Even though the house did take my breath away without a doubt my favourite part was the gardens. Even when I was in the house I found myself peeking out of the windows so excited to get outside and start exploring.

The gardens are vast, I mean they're just huge. There's around 400 sculptures, 50 fountains, 200,000 trees and 210,000 flowers planted annually. I've never been anywhere like it and there's just nothing to compare.

We were lucky enough to visit on a beautiful sunny day and spent hours just wandering. It's a place where you're happy to get lost, stumbling across different treasures at every turn. It's a fairytale and it kind of reminds me of that scene in Alice in Wonderland where she's in the Queen of Hearts garden.

It really is monumental and also so luxurious. Classical music is playing throughout and fountains erupt with musical shows. There's manicured lawns, hidden passageways, corners that tell stories and huge open spaces and after years of work it's said that the gardens have been almost fully restored to how they would have looked in the time of King Louis XIV.

This is a place to explore in bewilderment. It's a dreamworld which whispers stories of the past and delights you at every turn.

We spent all day there, but I'm already dreaming about going back...

x x x