• CF Beauty

    Beauty trend: Autumnal berry shades

    From Jo Malone’s new hedgerow inspired blackberry and bay fragrance, to the stunning Violet Underground make-up collection from Tom Pecheux at Estee Lauder (think claret, violet and mauve shades in high gloss and metallic finishes) – this season has gone berry. Be it dark winey cassis or bold raspberry pinks,…

  • Style

    Velvet sneakers: a Friday bargain

    I have tried a pair of these on more times than I can remember: It goes something like this: I stand nose pressed against the glass of Emma Hope’s boutique on Westbourne Grove, drawn like a magpie to the jewel coloured, silk velvet plimsolls. I sidle in, trying to act…

  • CF Style - Style

    My treasured Liberty bag

    My Liberty tooled patent leather maxi bag isn’t a new purchase, but a seasonal favourite that signals the switch to my autumn wardrobe. She’s been tucked up in her dust bag all summer but as the first leaves drop, out she comes: Each year I fall in love with her…

  • CF Beauty

    Back to beauty basics…

    As a beauty editor, it is part of the job description to chase new trends and report back on the latest/greatest releases from the big brands, while uncovering niche companies that deserve championing. However, as the season’s change, I’ve been reaching for some ol’ favourites in the skincare department, that…

  • CF Family

    Autumnal style for little boys

    It’s not just my wardrobe that needs updating this month, Country Bebe is celebrating his first birthday coupled with a huge growth spurt. As you can see from our shopping list below, CB can usually be found sporting stripes, navy, red/orange and the odd intarsia animal. I like to mix…

  • CF Style

    Cycling with babies

    Great photo huh? So there has been rather a lot of debate, of the heated variety, about whether Country Bebe should get a seat on the back of my bike. We have a National Trust owned parkland that runs for 1.5 miles along by the river, linking our house to…

  • CF Style

    Object of Desire: Keep Calm Gallery

    I wrote this post back in spring about how, despite running out of wall space ages ago, I can’t stop buying artwork. Well, stick it in a black frame and colour me happy, I’ve just bought another two prints to add to the stack. This one is for the OH…

  • CF Beauty

    New make-up brand Wild about Beauty launches

    I got these puppies in the post this week; a sample a of the new make-up collection, Wild about Beauty, from Louise Redknapp and her pal/make-up artist Kim Jacob. First up, I love the goth, dark aubergine packaging with silver embossed handwriting and beautiful black illustrations of various fauna. It’s…

  • CF Beauty

    My new £2 hair hero product

    I nipped into Boots for a mega dose of Echinacea (my first winter cold is in full flow) and came out with this £2 leave-in hair conditioner from Vitapointe. £2! I grant you, it isn’t the more glamorous looking of products, but boy does it work. Since getting my hair…

  • CF Style

    My new set of wheels

    She’s a beaut huh? I just stopped on my way back from the shop to take this snap. The Italian, rather romantically, got me an original 1970 Raleigh Caprice for my birthday, a grown-up version of my very first bike in the early 80s. It’s even in the same metallic…

  • CF Eats

    CF Review: The Railway, Honiton

    When everyone from your mother to the Devon Twitterati (Kirstie Allsopp included) mention a ‘great little pub doing modern Italian food up a side street in Honiton’, you know you need to pay a visit. Only 8 miles from our front door we finally nipped over for my birthday dinner…