Valentine’s Day – The Final Countdown

Posted on February 12, 2018 by fashion-mommy

Valentine’s Day/Galentine’s Day, whatever you may be celebrating, there are just a few days to go before you need that perfect gift for your loved one.

This is my final gift guide for Valentine’s 2018, with failsafe products that will earn you plenty of brownie points from your loved one. There is not a cute teddy, bunch of flowers or sickly looking chocolates anywhere in this guide.

Go shop!

ThatchFace Beard Oil

I love a product with a good story behind it, and ThatchFace beard oil certainly fits that bill. Set up in 2017 by Ben and Leanne Cleaver, the Thatchface beard oil uses a range of different oils and scents to create beard oils that are non synthetic and leave the beard feeling conditioned and moisturised. My husband Pete loves the Got Wood fragrance that draws on the scents of cedarwood, sandalwood, pine needle and a hint of lime to give a warm and masculine scent. The scent is not overpowering, but is fresh and pleasant, and the dropper style bottle means that you do not use more than you need, meaning it lasts for ages.

10% of the profit from the ThatchFace range goes to men’s cancer charities following Ben’s own fight with testicular cancer. If you buy this as a gift, either for Valentine’s Day, or just for a loved one to try, you can give this in the knowledge that it is also doing some good in the fight against Cancer.

Got Wood Beard Oil £11.99 Click to visit ThatchFace

Romantic Handbags from Chi Chi London

Let’s be honest, buying clothes for a loved one is a minefield, especially if you are not sure of their size. Buy too small and you could disappoint, buy too big and you may just hit a raw nerve. A solution could be a beautiful handbag like these from Chi Chi London. One size fits all, and they have such a romantic look, they are sure to delight any fashion lover.

See the full range here.

Chi Chi Cooper Bag
Was: £38.00Now: £30.00 Click to visit Chi Chi London

Chi Chi Pia Bag
Was: £35.00Now: £20.00 Click to visit Chi Chi London

Chi Chi Shiloh Bag
£32.00 Click to visit Chi Chi London

Say It With Flowers

Flowers are the most traditional, popular, and, let’s be honest, the most cliched gift to give on Valentine’s Day. But, this year, Selfridges are thinking outside the box when it comes to flowers, with flower fragrances and prints that allow you to give a bloom without a petal or sneeze in sight. You can say it with flowers in a way that will last long after you’ve put the real thing in the bin.

HAPPY SOCKS Floral-print slim-fit stretch-cotton trunks
£20.00 Click to visit Selfridges

PAUL SMITH Floral silk tie
£90.00 Click to visit Selfridges

FLORIS Rose and oud room fragrance 100ml
£25.00 Click to visit Selfridges

BOTTEGA
Bottega Pinot Noir Sparkling Brut Rosé glass pack 750ml
£36.99
Click to visit Selfridges

Valentine’s Gift Ideas For The Man In Your Life

Posted on January 20, 2018 by fashion-mommy

Looking for a Valentine’s day gift for the man in your life? Then step this way. Today I bring you a variety of gifts that should suit all tastes and price points, so whether you are looking for something smart to wear, a pampering gift of luxury, or something sexy for a Valentine’s Day thrill, there is something to suit every man here.

A classic Shirt from Avail London

A stylish, classic white shirt is a great gift idea, whether it is a new piece for the office, or an option for wearing on a night out. Avail London have a range of high quality shirts that come in a muscle fit, perfect for a man who takes a pride in his body and appearance. These slim fit shirts have a muscle fit stretch and a cool modern feel. I love classic white, which looks great with dark denim, but if you are looking for a more romantic look for Valentine’s day, you could opt for a pink option.

White Short Sleeve Muscle Fit Shirt £34.99 Click to visit Avail London

Light Pink Muscle Fit Shirt £34.99 Click to visit Avail London

Dobell Crimson Red Dupion Tie
£6.99 Click to visit Avail London

A gift for a designer lover from Mainline Menswear

If your loved one likes his labels, then a gift of designer menswear, or a product from a High quality label could be a good choice. Mainline Menswear stock everything for the discerning gent who loves his designer wear, from shirts, jumpers and jeans, to accessories, nightwear and shoes.

One of my key picks from Mainline is the Diesel Justin Julio pyjama set. It comes in a range of sizes from small to extra large, and, very important for a gift idea, the pyjamas come beautifully gift wrapped, making them perfect to present without the need of wrapping or a gift bag. The pyjamas themselves are stylish, soft and comfortable, basically a gift you can’t go wrong with. These are a brilliant choice for the man who loves to lounge, someone who works in a suit all day, comes home and just wants to Netflix and chill.

Diesel Justin Julio Pyjama Set Grey £65 Click to visit Mainline Menswear

A Scooter from Skates

Sometimes finding the right present for someone involves thinking outside the box. If your loved one is a bit of a fitness freak who is looking at ways to leave the car at home, then a foldable scooter could well be a great gift option. The JD Bug Classic Street 120 Scooter from Skates is a fab idea as it is lightweight, folds away so it can be stored easily and will fit into your boot, and can help you keep fit and active. Skates have a expansive range of scooters, skates and skateboards which could help you find a gift option to suit your loved one, and as they currently have a sale on, you might be able to find something at a bargain price.

Pampering Goods

Luxury pampering goods are so often focused on women, but Valentine’s day is the perfect time to pamper the man in your life too. If your other half does a heavy lifting job, or has pressures that make him struggle to unwind, Nelson’s Arnicare bath and massage balm could be a lovely gift, especially if you add an IOU for a massage too. The oil smells divine due to the scent of Lavender and Grapefruit essential oils , arnica is well known as a natural remedy for aches and pains, and, added to a bath, this can be a good way to relax as you wash away the stresses of the day.

Nelsons arnicare bath & massage balm costs £8.55 and is available from Boots and Amazon. www.arnicare.co.uk

Another luxurious gift idea is linked to shaving. Many men are now ditching the shaving lotion and returning to the traditional way of shaving through the use of shaving soap. Hayes Garden World are a leading supplier of garden furniture and accessories, but they also stock a range of items which make lovely gift ideas for both men and women. In their current offering they have a host of products from Arran Aromatics including the Lochranza shave stone and soap. This is a shaving soap that combines cedar and vetiver, with patchouli, bay and anise. It comes in a stunning stone bowl, and you can buy replacement soaps, making this a wonderfully stylish addition to his man shelf in the bathroom.

Arran Aromatics Lochranza Shave Stone & Soap £25 Click to visit Hayes Garden World

Something for the bedroom

Valentine’s Day is all about lovers, so a saucy, sexy gift could raise a smile (and a whole lot more) when you present it to your lover and loved one on February 14th. G-Strings to No Strings: A Modern Kama Sutra by award-winning French designer Ionna Vautrin is a hoot and could be the perfect cheeky gift idea. A fun, quirky little illustrated book, this is an update of the classic Kama Sutra, filled with quirky illustrations and very funny and modern titles (Better Together is the nod to Brexit I’m guessing). The ideas are playful and suggestive drawings and with Catwoman, Darth Vader and Princess Leia featured, it will answer every erotic fantasy.

If Ionna Vautrin’s book has wetted the appetite (ahem!) then why not give this as a gift along with One mixed pleasure condoms? ONE Mixed Pleasures condoms offer a variety of flavours and textures, making sure that any intimate encounter is memorable while keeping you protected. Available from Superdrug for £9.99 for six, each condom has a different style, from glow in the dark, to super studs, to vanish – which is an hyperthin design.

I’m guessing that these are another gift where an IOU would be greatly appeciated, and anticipated, and could certainly make your Valentine’s night a whole lot of fun.

Gifts for a football lover

If you have a football lover for a partner, and are looking for something unique, then a gift from the Art of Football could be the answer. The Art of Football creates beautiful images of iconic players, and famous moments from football, and in turn uses them on t-shirts, sweatshirts and art prints. They cover a range of teams, from the Premier League and Championship, to National teams and International teams. The artwork features modern heroes, from Olivier Giroud and his scorpion kick, to Messi and Ronaldo, to players from days past like Pele and WBA hero Jeff Astle.

These are truly unique and stunning, and would be treasured by any football fan.

Sting In The Tail – Tee
£25.00 Click to visit Art of Football

They Think It’s All Over – Print or Canvas
£9.99 Click to visit Art of Football

It’s Almost Christmas Jumper Time

Posted on November 12, 2017 by fashion-mommy

If I was to list my favourite things in no particular order, Christmas jumpers would definitely be in there somewhere. I have such fabulous memories of them, from watching Bridget Jones Diary for the first time and seeing the delectable Colin Firth in a knitted monstrosity, to the first time I met my brother-in-law, which just happened to be on Christmas Day, and that my first words to him were ‘nice Christmas jumper you have there.’ With my boy being a Christmas baby, a Christmas jumper is a must for him, although for a long time I resisted myself.

But now it seems that the humble Christmas jumper has become a bit of a national obsession, with Save the Children’s Christmas jumper day taking place each year to raise valuable funds for charity (this year’s Christmas jumper day takes place on Wednesday 13th December.) You can find a style to suit, with cute animal designs, football inspired jumpers, and my personal favourite, Christmas slogan jumpers.

I have compiled a list of some of this years favourite designs, including a couple from Arsenal FC modelled by the gorgeous Olivier Giroud, my ultimate man crush. There are also designs from M&Co, Marks and Spencer and Dorothy Perkins. Plus, if you really don’t do jumpers under any circumstances, Boden have very kindly created a stylish Christmas Breton which will look just fabulous with dark denim and a beany hat.

Whether you like your Christmas jumper to be subtle and sparkly, cute and cuddly, or festooned with a Prosecco theme, make sure you embrace your seasonal side on December 13th.