- Apr 9, 2025
- 5 min read
Updated: Nov 26, 2025
To see something that truly makes you happy is a rare and special thing. So when I caught the first glimpse of these chainmail beauties, I knew they were different.
In a world awash with replicas, it feels almost otherworldly to see these tall, structural luminaires, standing there with strength and charm, they are visions to my eye.
2.
Men’s clothes hold a certain appeal for me. I’ve been known, on occasion, to share a wardrobe with my husband, so there’s always a bit of incentive to invest in his side of things. A pretty stable stock option, which at the moment is hard to come by.
I also think men have it both incredibly easy and maddeningly hard when it comes to dressing. One iota of effort and you can look a million bucks, but the offerings can be, frankly, a little thin on the ground. So when I came across Itoh and their offerings I was struck buy the relaxed yet chic selection, yes their clothes are in india, but if you are willing to give it a go I'll be right behind you.
3.
As much as I crave difference, I find my head turning more and more towards the well-made and the understated. There’s a quiet beauty in thoughtful design, something that doesn’t age out, doesn’t shout for attention, but simply endures. Pilgrim House’s Weft collection strikes me as exactly that: cerebral, considered, and built to last.
Two Holiday Rentals
I found both of these through one of the major rental sites (which I’ll politely refrain from naming), but the real triumph is that I’ve tracked down the direct contacts,!meaning we can all sidestep that particularly troublesome corporation.
Cider House - This little beauty is where all my summer dreams reside. When do you ever find a house so perfectly put together, nestled in gardens that could make Constance Spry weep?
Liza Leopardi home in Torre del Greco, Campania, Italy- I recently shared this home on the Instagram and was promptly inundated with questions about how to book it. For some reason, I was reluctant to give the whole game away, but when the owner herself got in touch, I took it as a sign to pass on this slice of Italian perfection.
It’s the kind of place where I imagine writers like James Baldwin or Truman Capote spending spring, penning something quietly seminal. Perhaps that could be you. Not this summer, hideously booked up, but next spring? Boy oh boy, you’ll be halfway to a Pulitzer.
5.
For my greatest friends birthday I bought her a hat from Ilana Blumberg. She looked perfect in it. They are handmade to order and although I know we are hopefully edging out of hat weather, this is one for the hat box.
6.
Curtains – a troublesome beast. Essential, of course, but rarely easy to source or afford. We all dream of the finest fabric, a generous drop, and a graceful pull – right up until we’re handed the hefty bill. So I was rather impressed to come across Gotain, a new European company making quite a mark in the curtain world. I have not used them yet, but I have to say I have some pretty dodgy curtains up in my house so I could well do with a bit of a freshen up. Stay tuned.
7.
I recently spent a night in Paris, in a charming little hotel by the station. Charming in appearance, that is, it had potential. But when the station calls start blaring at 6am, charm wears thin.
When we checked in on Sunday and asked if there were any delightful bistros within walking distance (note to self, and to you: Paris essentially closes on a Sunday), the man behind the desk suggested we try the station. No sir, that is not what we had in mind.
That said, we were only there for one night and the price was right. But it’s always good to keep an eye out, and if I were staying any longer, I’d be booking into Pied à Terre Paris. These expertly designed apartments are dotted across the city and available for stays from just one night. Perfect for those looking to entertain, or simply escape the tannoy, during their Parisian sojourn.
8.
Until recently, I was drinking quite a hefty number of martinis, that particular nectar made up a sizeable portion of my happiness. Then I found out I was pregnant. The doctor strongly advised against continuing this pastime. A real stick in the mud.
But needs must, and I’ve taken to an incredibly quiet life, not a martini in sight.
Apart from this one.
If anything could tempt me back, it would be this beauty of a vessel. So sharp, so sophisticated, so steely.
9.
Catwood Design
I always enjoy coming across a new fabric company. Not that the market isn’t already well-stocked, but I like seeing a fresh offering, something not entirely out of the fabric playbook, but with a distinct twist. Catwood Design fits the bill perfectly, scratching that itch for a good dose of florals without veering too far into 1980s territory.
10.
Who doesn’t want to keep an eye out for antique textiles? There isn’t a soul alive whose heart wouldn’t soften at the sight of an 18th-century silk dress woven with delicate flowers, or a mid-19th-century shawl. Even if it’s not to own, it’s worth keeping up with all of Jenny Sargent’s latest finds.
11.
Meet Eve Chevra, an artist whose work sits somewhere between the poetic and the precise. She began her studies in scenography and costume design in Paris, but it was at the Strasbourg School of Decorative Arts, specifically, in the jewellery workshop, where her true practice took shape.
Eve’s creations are born out of deep, exploratory periods of research. She gathers the voices and knowledge of archaeologists, fishermen, biologists and others, weaving their worlds into objects that feel at once ancient and entirely new.
Last but by no means least
This isn’t just my recommendation – it comes via some of the chicest names in the industry. Think your Beata Heuman, your Ben Pentreath, your Benedict Foley -etc. This glamorous lot seem to decamp each year to a marvellous Alpine hotel. I don’t think I’m giving away any secrets – it was all there on the instagram.
Now, I’m firmly not a skier, but I am someone who loves the aesthetic of the Alps. So even if I’ve no intention of setting foot on a slope, I still want to be surrounded by mountains and tucked up somewhere beautiful. And this place? Just the ticket.
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