Dear Diary, Dear Frances

Shoes elevate me. 

Not only literally [at 5ft 3.5 inches I can do with all the elevation I can get], but emotionally too! A well made, well crafted shoe is the perfect finisher to any outfit. Ripped jeans? Polish it off with a pair of courts. Pencil Skirt? Throw on a pair of Mary Janes- the choices are endless! 

So what's a girl to do when the number of shoes, good & bad admittedly, are endless but we have, woe, but only two feet?

Well wasn't it Marilyn Monroe who put things in perspective for us? 

"Give a girl the right pair of shoes, and she can conquer the world"- Marilyn Monroe

Let's take it back to basics shall we- strong design aesthetics and respect for artisian details also known as Dear Frances. 

Dear Frances shoes are the product of creator, Jane Frances, who trained at the London College of Fashion and ModaPelle Academy in Milan- the best of London and Italy? Yes please!

My favourite from the collection? 

The AW14 Arch Boot...

Rock with a cape, leather pants and something sparkly

Whether you're looking for the perfect present for someone special or you just fancy treating yourself, definitely the latter in most cases, head over to Dear Frances now and pick up your AW14 shoe-style staple! 

Heaven Scent

It's getting closer to Christmas.

The lights have gone up, the smell of pine trees linger in the air and everyone's generally a lot cheerier for this time of year!

 As the palette of my wardrobe changes and my general look turns to a more wintery one, to avoid ever receiving perfume as a Christmas Present [never the way to go gentlemen!] I tend to mix up my scent prior to the holidays!

So what are my favourites for the season? 

Fresh as a daisy by day, Miss Dior Cherie never disappoints me. We all have that go to scent, despite season or occasion, and this is that for me! 

For the evening, My top pick has to be Velvet Orchid by Tom Ford. This little beauty of a bottle is a staple in my bag at the moment- whether I'm off to dinner with the girls or dancing the night away 

Love. Love. Love

I've been after the Burberry Cape with my initials on it- you know the one that SJP was rocking recently

Unfortunately, if your initials aren't SJP, CJD or OP [that is my ladies Sarah Jessica Parker, Cara Jocelyn Delevigne or Olivia Palermo there is little to no chance of you getting your initial embossed and rolling around like the caped crusader. [I know this from a heated phonecall I may or may not have had with a Burberry Sales Assistant] 

So if your looking for your Burberry fix, I'd definitely recommend the My Burberry perfume for a on-the-go type of spritz and spray

What's your seasonal fragrances of choice ladies & gents?

Date Night and Candle Light at The 1901 Restaurant

I'm a sucker for Romance.

You know that age old story? Boy meets Girl, Girl meets Boy, Boy surprises girl with a well thought out grand romantic gesture [or at least a few smooshy uploads on instagram] - you know that age old tale? So you can imagine my excitement to tell you all about my new found spot for a romantic evening.

But first things first, you've got to get the outfit right: 

The genius, New-York based designer Joseph Altuzarra has entered into a venture with Net-a-Porter to send the best of the big apple straight to us lovely Little Londoners-  shop your own version here 

Wear it with a pair of these bad boys available here and it's fair to say you'll leave your date floored for the evening... 

Now, back to date night...

Running slightly late, as usual, I arrived at the entrance of The Andaz Liverpool Street's 1901 Restaurant with my accomplice for the evening.

"Just this way madame..."

Now I'll let you into a little secret  but you've got to promise me you'll keep it to yourself! Deal? 

On the last Wednesday of every month, The 1901 restaurant becomes transformed with a sea of romantic candles that'll guarantee to give you that breathtaking moment with your loved one...

See what I mean? Stunning.

Gasps and Fluttery hearts later- we were seated. Hours of conversation, pondering over the extensive 350 bottle long wine list [ The 2010 Châteauneuf-du-Pape ‘Réserve’ will not disappoint] and oggling at the incredibly talented saxaphone player- we were ready to order. 

The menu is fabulous. Straight, to the point, no airs and graces- tell me what's in it so I can devour it [in a romantic, elegant and orderly fashion so not to appear anything less to my date ofcourse!] 

Crab for Starters and Beef Fillet for mains- it all sounded relatively simple... [ Mandatory Disclaimer- mood lighting is fabulous for the ambience not so much for the pictures...]

But don't let that fool you ladies and gentlemen, what arrives to your plate is a host of well thought out flavours and presentations that will undoubtedly be sure to leave you securing a reservation for your next visit before you even step a foot out of the door.

Struggling to breathe we scoured the dessert menu before deciding it wouldn't be as romantic to be rolled out of the restaurant [I'll most definitely start with dessert the next time- I had a pang of food envy from the table next to me as the dessert looked incredible!] 

Filled with what can only be described as wonderful memories from a lovely evening [well that and oodles of Mash Potatoes]- we were floored by the excellent food and service at 1901. 

But don't take my word for it... for your fix of delicious dining in a special setting you can find more details about the Andaz Candlelight's Evening here.