Lucie's Locket: Keepsakes

Letters to the Editor: Stationery Picks for 2015

I love sending and crafting letters; I love receiving letters, cards or anything in the post from loved ones.

It is not just about spending an inordinate amount of time perusing the many aisles of Paperchase looking at files and notebooks to occupy myself with. I love that the humble journal is now beautiful enough to look Instagram worthy on a coffee table, or an especially chic bedside table.

A wonderful example of this is one of my favourite Instagrammers & Stationers, Present & Correct.

Modern Stationery that is quirky and witty.

My favourite.

The shop and the website is AMAZING. Not only is it one of the most beautiful sites I have seen in while (go on, have a look) it is chock full of the best modern pieces of stationery you'll ever need.

I am particularly fond of the 'organise' section; it is perfect for the 'Type A' person who loves things to look handsomely organised.

As a lady who likes my life to be perfectly organised, I cannot underestimate the power of a good list. I always have a couple of notebooks and journals floating around my enormous handbag as each one has its own, special purpose. (One for shopping lists, one for my to do lists, and one for general thoughts musings and the occasional blog idea). One of my favourite notebook brands is Rifle Paper. This American stationer is perfect. The artwork is unique, beautiful and eye catching. My ultimate favourite is the Jardin Notebook.

This is my to do list notebook, it feels wonderfully decadent when writing out a list of mundane things to do. I always find it makes you feel a little better about doing grown up ~~boring~~ things if they are just that little bit prettier.

I tend to keep my journals colour/pattern coded. (fanciest for the most mundane things and it gets progressively less fancy for shopping lists. This one & This one are my favourite). If you want your notebooks to match these are my favourite (which are of course from Rifle Paper.)

Being so organised gives you time to write picture perfect letters to all and sundry. I fully accept that I am that annoying person who collates all addresses every year when I update my diary/address book (I'll get to that later)

I think a wonderful letter of correspondence needs to have a decent wax seal. It makes it seem all the more special.

I have an array of seals with different meanings.These are the ones I use the most.

A 'Fleur De Lys' for general correspondence & a 'Thank You' for thank you letters (obviously). These are from my go to calligraphy shop, Manuscript.

These are easy to personalise with colourful waxes. It takes 30 seconds to do and really does make all the difference!

The best place to get waxes that are cheap if you want to try can be found here. It's where I buy most of mine from.

All of this is pointless if you haven't a lovely pen to scribe your insane ramblings to your nearest and dearest. I do love a good pen. I am a ballpoint pen kind of lady, although if I were feeling that way inclined a Lamy Fountain Pen works wonders on nice heavyweight paper.

I have listed my favourite here:

This bad boy was first developed for use in space. Amazing. And it's GOLD. Sign me up for being a grown up! You can get this little beauty from here.

This is a pen similar to my the one my Mother owned, so I bought it too (sometimes, it's cool to emulate your mum!) it's classic, chic and oh-so-amazing! Get it from here.

This was my first 'grown up' fountain pen I used it sparingly (because my handwriting with a fountain pen can verge on the illegible) but loved it! Get it from here.

Now you've mastered the art or letter writing and to do lists, it's only right you makes sure every other facet of your life is organised with a good and reliable diary

(I think your beginning to understand why I need such a massive handbag).

I prefer the Week to view; you can check and update it quickly.

(L-R) Liberty, Moleskine, Smythson

(Now is the time to get your diaries, most of them are in the sale...win!!)

Diaries are amazing, practical and necessary. Sometimes your calendar on your phone will just not cut it; especially if you are making plans while on said phone.

My friends and I always have a 'diary moment' when we are out, planning our next outing together over drinks, for more drinks and dinner. It also helps plan your life, I have (an embarrassing admission) been known to not check my diary in the morning to find I am late for a work appointment not in the office or had planned a dinner in the evening and completely forgotten about, so it really is the accessory that screams 'grown up' the most. Punctuality.

So there you have it, my completely organised life laid bare. Now you understand why my bags have to be massive, and why I am nearly always on time. Like I said before, I am pretending to be a grown up!

Classic Coat Parade

The weather has finally turned. The wind and the biting cold are making it increasingly impossible for me to continue as I am. That can only mean one thing; it's time to bring out the jackets and coats.

The warming embrace of a coat when the wind is driving and the cold is bitter is a feeling that is indescribable. I'm a fan of a high collared, classic coat. Ones that will last a lifetime and look oh so fine that you'll want to keep them forever too.

I have collated a list of my top three favourites, ones you will definitely want to keep forever and hand down as heirlooms & ones that are perfect and wonderfully on trend for AW14. I have styled these with classic looks so you are more than ready for the inevitable and unwelcome cold!

Classic Cocoon in Grey

Who doesn't love grey?!

I for one, am a massive fan of this colour, suitable for all seasons and all colours.

I love the cocoon shape to. It's effortlessly chic worn casually or formally.

Autumnal Spice Crop Coat

I like the colour of this coat. The colour was one of my picks from LFW. This high collar coat is perfect for wrapping up against the bracing cold and like the grey looks just as good with a pair of plimsolls as it does with a bad ass platform heel.

Classic Camel Coat

You really cannot go wrong with a classic camel coat. They are chic, timeless and can be worn with almost anything.

This would look amazing with an oversized shawl scarf, like this beauty from Zara, an equally classic white shirt and a pair of jeans. If you want to smarten this even more, throw on a pair of fancy, statement heels. To dress is down, throw on my favourite Superga plimsolls or these beauties, which are fast becoming my favourite.

So there you have it. Three Classic and on-trend coats, three separate looks (and more) to wear them with.
At least you can prepare for the cold in style!

Who doesn't love a tea party?

Whether it is in a café or even in a fancy hotel, you cannot beat a good cup of tea and a piece of cake. I am most fond of having my friends round, on the sofa of for a special occasion, like a Tuesday (yes it is a special occasion).

Having just moved into a place all on my own, I have become obsessed with hosting them. Lazy afternoons spent in the company of good friends with an unlimited pot of golden nectar, infinite crust less cucumber sandwiches and fondant fancies; easily heaven on earth.

So it goes without saying that I have been in search of the set for my new grown up abode. I have spent hours and hours lusting after, discounting, recounting and eventually purchasing sets fit for a languid afternoon spent gossiping.

For your own home, I would suggest doing the same thing. It is very rare that the first set you see will be the one you will be happiest with when you want to show off your best GBBO skills for your nearest and dearest. Go to charity shops; go to car boot sales, if you are a fan of all things industrial, Pinterest (on the whole) is an excellent place to find inspiration.

I am going to break down the essential, homeware components that I bought or had finally picked for my own home, to help you host your own perfect, languid tea parties (champagne is ~~necessary~~ optional)

Tea Sets

I am a fan of eclectic ceramics that tell a story. I am fanatical about a company who does this very well. Burleigh is a brand I have already declared my love for in a very early edition of my #WantItWednesday's. Its tableware is made for mixing and matching.

I am a big fan of the signature pattern ‘Calico’and based my tableware around it. My favourite piece from my set is the wonderfully quirky creamer. I LOVE this; if I am honest with myself, I bought this and decided to have a million tea parties. For the rest of my tableware, I have matched this with another classic pattern of theirs ‘Asiatic Pheasant’ in blue and plain white. A perfect combination for your teacups and saucers.

Cakes

Another essential component of a tea party is of course the cakes that accompany it. I am a big baker and presentation of said cakes is an important part of any respectable tea party (especially if the cakes themselves look a little too ‘homemade’ to shine on their own). I have become a collector of cake stands and cake plates and here are a few I am definitely lusting after.

For a few of you who want to branch out into master baker this is the best (and easiest) biscuit recipe and cake recipe I have found to date.

A good selection of pastry forks will always make these extra special. I think having the right cutlery for the occasion adds the extra grown up points the fifth glass of champagne removes. I have up-cycled for mine. I bought a bunch of mismatched pastry forks from a charity shop, spray-painted, and sealed the handles to match the rest of my awfully decadent gold cutlery which can be found here

Teapot

The final and of course most important aspect of a tea party is of course the tea and the teapot it comes in. I like my tea to be a strong caramel colour without sweetness (I am sweet enough – Sorry, I couldn't resist). The only way to make a perfect brew is in a Brown Betty ceramic pot.

These pots are an institution. Instantly recognisable, often imitated these pots are sturdy and beautiful. My pot is a wonderfully quirky lime green colour which retains heat and looks excellent in its handmade, hand-embroidered tea cosy from Poppy Treffry; a Cornish artisan crafter who makes you want to move to the country instantly and be the person who makes their own scones from scratch every morning, while simultaneously churning their own butter. You can get my teapot from here.

So there you have it… go out and be the best Nigella you can be and don’t forget the sandwiches! I am off to the shops; I have tea to brew and some crusts to cut off!

For The Love of White

Summer is FINALLY here and that can only mean one thing. White.

White skirts, shirts, jackets, plimsolls. All at the same time!

I love white as colour choice in the summer. Maybe it's Wimbledon, maybe it's cooling, to be honest, I'm not sure; it's just awesome.

It is suitable for nearly all skin tones (if you are paler; opt for a cream or off white, it will warm you up) if you add colour even better!

As a summer colour it does cheer you up, make you feel clean and light and helps others around you to do the same.

I would suggest loading up on arm candy; lots of bracelets, a 'frying pan' watch, friendship bracelets and enamel bracelets.

Here's my pick of the best:

(Olivia Burton Watch, Marc Jacobs Bangles, Links of London Friendship Bracelet)

Oversized shirts work well with box pleated skirts.

If you're a bit conscious of an 'all white' ensemble chuck on a navy or black oversized or boyfriend blazer to break it up.

Casual flats work best with this look, here are my pick of the bunch:

(Superga, Vans, Converse)

However a good, cool loafer or brogue would be just as chic.

(Russell & Bromley, ASOS)

Go on, step into white. You'll feel great with a glass of champagne and your strawberries and cream!

All looks found here.

Head-scarves

I have been wearing a headscarf for years. It's a nice, fashionable and easy way to dress your hair when you've not the time (or can't be bothered) to do your hair.

Slap a bit of red lipstick on and you can have a roaring night on the town, pair it with my new obsession, (dungarees) and you've an easy outfit for lunch or shopping.

You can wrap your hair with any scarf (as long as it is square) and you're on to an easy winner.

it's as simple as 1), 2) & 3)

1) Lay out your scarf

2) Fold in half (stop here if you want the turban look

3) fold again and wrap away (use bobby pins to secure)

It can be done with short hair, long hair, in essence everyone can do and make it look amazing.

Go on, buy yourselves a couple of vintage scarves. They can be found at most vintage shops, Charity Shops or Ebay get to wrapping! You know you want to!

Rimmel Exaggerate Eye-Liner

I am not really one to talk about make up. I wear it. A lot of it, but that something I've acquired from years of adolescent meanderings through the beauty aisles at Boots; being overwhelmed and getting a copy of Girl Talk or Sugar, trying whatever they had on the front and either liking it or buying it in all the shades or hating it and leaving it to fester in my draw.

Each cosmetic reacts differently to an individual and so I would never feel comfortable telling you to buy one. I wear the same face, day in. Day out. Not because I don't love make up; but because I know what I like and it's taken me years to get here. (And I'm also a little lazy)

And then there is eye-liner.

That's a completely different story altogether.

I am an eye-liner fiend. It goes on everyday, all day. I can honestly say I've worn it everyday for at least the last five years, even when I've not left the house. I know I'm not the only one. I can spot a fellow fiend, even when I'm bleary eyed half way across a packed District line at half 7 in the morning. We're a family. I cannot get enough of it. I feel more self conscious if I wore a negligée on a Winter's day in the middle of Oxford Street. My love for eye-liner is real. Like most things in my life I want it to look amazing, make me fabulous and be easy.

I always favour the felt tip liner (ALWAYS liquid on the top, Kohl on the bottom, in a shade blacker than my soul) as I can put that on with ease when I've not the time (AKA hungover/still asleep/dead/running for the tube) and I know it'll look good.

I used to re-apply at least twice a day, because the lack lustre matte made me feel sad, dried out and my cat's eye would start to flake and flag.

This was all before I found this it's now 4 in the afternoon and my beautiful eyes look just as they did at 7 this morning. Glossy, in place and FLAWLESS. This is waterproof. Actually waterproof and it comes off easily enough with a regular face wipe. It's just amazing.

I have tried all (and I mean ALL at great expense) felt tip liners and I have never fallen so hard and so fast for one. It's SUPER cheap too. So if you fancy jazzing it up with a brown or a navy eye-shadow (two of my favourite shades sartorially & cosmetically) you can splurge and get a nail polish (or twenty) and you've not broken the bank. COMPLETE WIN.

Fellow fiends, this is a call to arms, get it right now, your mornings will thank you!

Dungarees

I am not sure if I am being influenced by the resurgence of grunge into the mainstream (aka Tumblr), my need for it to be summer RIGHT now or by my longing to be a small child (puddles are the best). I know one thing is certain.

I want a pair of dungarees.

They are much more versatile than I had initially thought when the idea had guiltily crept into my consciousness. They can be easily dressed up or dressed down and you've a myriad of ways to make them feminine without being twee or looking like you're redecorating your bedroom.

I have styled one pair of dungarees, four ways to help you make up your mind.

As if you ever needed convincing!