By Suzanne Delahunty
There used to be a time when you could repeat wear outfits at different occasions with different crowds without fear of having the offending repeat outfit identified as such. Enter the age of social media and we are now faced with a world where every outfit can end up on Instagram, seen by most people you know, thereby immediately outing itself and limiting its ability to dazzle and amaze a new crowd at some future event. Continue reading “Master the Art of the Repeat Wear”
I only started skiing a few years ago, which explains why I will forever be an intermediate skier. Starting skiing as an adult is hard. I’m constantly thinking about whether my travel insurance will cover me if I have some kind of accident. The result is I ski far too cautiously to ever make any seriously good progress.
Nevertheless, I have progressed to a point when I can pretty much tackle most ski runs (with varying degrees of style and technique). And I now love my ski trip holidays more than anything. Apres ski has a lot to do with it.
Looking back, I can see the seriously steep learning curve I went through to get to this stage, and it wasn’t all on the slopes. Knowing what to pack for a ski trip the first few times was a bit of a dilemma and I had to ask around to find out what I needed to take to wear on the slopes. Continue reading “Packing for a Ski Trip for First Timers”
Finding elegant but laid back accommodation in Byron Bay isn’t easy to do. Thankfully, there’s Atlantic Byron Bay, which embodies an elevated experience of the essence of Byron. I’ve stayed at Atlantic the last few times I’ve visited Byron, and it has come to feel a bit like a home away from home. Continue reading “Atlantic Byron Bay – Accommodation Review”
Today’s inspiring guest on Freedom Hunters is Lucy Beard. Originally from South Africa, Lucy started her career as a lawyer in London city law firms, followed by several years as an in-house lawyer for the UK’s largest commercial TV producer and broadcaster, ITV. She then spent two years as general manager of the broadcast technology company, SDN. It was during a grown up gap year of travelling around Europe that Lucy and her husband Leigh, also a lawyer, were struck with the idea of starting a gin distillery.
This led the two back to their native South Africa, where they started up Hope on Hopkins, Cape Town’s first artisanal gin distillery. Continue reading “Freedom Hunters Episode 5: Lucy Beard”
It’s at this time of year when my thoughts optimistically leap forward in time, only by a few months mind you, to a more cheerful time. A happier time. A time when I can start liking my clothes again. It’s called spring.
It’s also at this time of year that the shops are replete with the prettiest, dreamiest spring dresses. So even though it is arctic outside, I can live out my fantasies of al fresco brunching, eating ice cream with friends and picnicking with abandon, at least in the shops.
A good spring dress is one that is multi-functional, thereby giving you far more joy-per-wear, while reducing your cost-per-wear. Here’s my guide to buying the perfect spring dress. Continue reading “A Guide to Shopping for the Perfect Spring Dress”
I love nothing more than heading back to my hometown of Melbourne in the Australian summer time. Not only do I get to escape the northern hemisphere winter, but I get to experience the best of Melbourne when its beautiful locals are chilled, suntanned and glowing.
Better than that, I get to experience Melbourne’s food and drink scene, preferably al fresco. Melbourne is famous for its world-class dining scene, award-winning chefs and leading edge cuisine. On my last trip my time was limited to only a week, during which I tried to fit in meeting with family and friends, shopping at my favourite Aussie designer boutiques, stocking up on Bonds undies, getting up to Sydney for a flying visit mid-week and getting in my morning walk around Melbourne’s Tan track each day. So my Melbourne dining was limited but outstanding.
Here’s a shortlist from my Melbourne dining extravaganza, where I went and what I highly recommend: Continue reading “My Melbourne Dining Diary”
I’m not one to go for trends generally (there have been exceptions though, I’m only human). But overall, I try to avoid them. There’s no point investing in a piece that will look dated a year later.
On the other hand there are styles that come and go over the years. And the frequency at which they come and go makes me wonder whether they should be categorised as trends, or rather as a “look” that you can bring back into your repertoire at any time you like.
Western style, of the likes that you see popping up on cat walks, the internet and in real life at the moment, is one such style that I’m toying with. Is it a perennial look?
Ask anyone who went to Byron Bay 15 to 20 years ago, and they’ll all tell you how much Byron has changed in the intervening years. Byron Bay is the original Australian bohemian, spiritual beachside siren town that draws hippies, creative types and free-thinkers to its palm-tree lined streets, lush hinterland and white sandy beaches.
With that has come the backpackers and the tourists. But the authentic free spirit of Byron remains, and can still be tapped into and enjoyed today.
On my recent trip back to Byron Bay, I set out to re-discover exactly what made me fall in love with this sun-soaked haven all those years ago when I first visited. What I found was a down-to-earth and forward thinking community of people who are passionate about food, fashion and a lifestyle that is unique to this part of the world. Here’s my diary of places I ate, drank, slept, lazed, unwound, shopped and discovered… Continue reading “My Byron Bay Diary”
In episode 4 of Freedom Hunters, I welcome Bola Marquis founder of Okun, an African inspired beachwear brand that is stocked in the likes of Browns, Matches and Mr. Porter.
Bola was born in Senegal, and grew up between Nigeria and the UK, before settling in London. He started out his career in IT programme management in industries such as oil and gas, travel and advertising. However, it was his creative flair and entrepreneurial spirit that led him to leave it behind (although not entirely), to start up his hugely successful beachwear brand, Okun. Continue reading “Freedom Hunters Episode 4: Bola Marquis”
I recently wrote about about the small steps we can all take to make our fashion habits more ethical and sustainable. One of them was to develop a capsule wardrobe. I promised a more detailed post on that my very topic – and here it is.
There are a lot of different interpretations of what a capsule wardrobe is, so I’ve developed my own take on it: it’s purpose, the benefits, what it consists of and how to develop your own capsule wardrobe. Continue reading “The Capsule Wardrobe”