Have you met our fantastic London contributor Amanda Woodward-Brown?
After spending six years working at marie claire magazine in Sydney, the now mother of two girls moved to London and landed a job at Net-A-Porter. She then went to work at NINE IN THE MIRROR, a very chic e-commerce store for the expectant mother. She recently joined the team at women’s footwear brand Rupert Sanderson as head of content and also contributes to The Grace Tales. Here, she shares what she’s loving this month from popcorn sweaters to eye oil…
VOTARY EYE OIL
My beauty routine is super minimal mainly because I rarely have a surplus of time to spend applying products. I love formulas which are speedy to use but deliver results. I was given Votary’s new intense eye oil at a launch for the beauty brand and I became an instant convert. It comes in a small tube with a rollerball so you simply glide it under each eye and pat it in. It contains gentle retinol so helps to eliminate fine lines but I especially like that it reduces puffiness under the eyes – a game changer when you have two children who (still!) wake up regularly in the night. Oh, and it’s made entirely from natural ingredients too. www.votary.co.uk
BERET BABES
I’ve always loved the jaunty look of a beret so I am thrilled that they are back. While I have been searching for the perfect design in cherry red or dusky pink it seems Violet has beaten me to the trend. She found the sweetest mini beret by La Coqueta Kids when we stopped in at Liberty on a recent trip to London. She picked out the cornflower blue but it also comes in other smart hues like burgundy and navy. #TwinningIsWinning www.lacoquetakids.com
CHANEL SS19
Pearl-studded brooches and black satin ribbons, could the hair at the Chanel show get any dreamier? I am going to dig out my old crystal Chanel brooch and attempt this at home. Image: @sammcknight1
EDWARD BULMER PAINTS
We are renovating our house and after weeks of stripping off endless layers of wallpaper, the bedrooms are finally plastered and ready to paint. While researching the perfect pink for Violet’s room I came across Edward Bulmer, an interior designer who has created a line of beautiful paints that are made entirely from natural ingredients. Not only are they only eco, ethical and toxic-free they’re extremely high quality, so a little goes a long way. He has even created a gorgeous nursery paint range specially formulated for children’s rooms in soothing pastel colours. Although my favourite shade is the divine Cuisse de Nymph blush pink (pictured). www.edwardbulmerpaint.co.uk
BUMBLE & AVA
There is such an amazing line-up of small labels creating stylish pieces for little ones, that wherever possible I try to shop from independent brands for childrenswear. My most recent discovery has been British brand Bumble & Ava. They have sweet, playful printed pieces for boys and girls with gorgeous detailing. Most importantly, it’s a label that’s striving to make a difference with each piece ethically made in Kenya under the World Trade Fair Organisation system. I have their cute vintage-inspired pyjamas on the girls’ Christmas list. www.bumbleandava.com
KITRI STUDIO
I was introduced to this cool London label by my colleague and have been stalking their site ever since. Created by a small design team in the British capital, it is my new go-to for affordable but high-quality pieces. The cuts are classic but there is always a playful twist – pencil skirts come in white vinyl with a statement pull zip while popcorn knits come in punchy brights. There is limited stock of each piece meaning that if you love something it’s best to invest quickly as items often sell out fast. www.kitristudio.com