IDA by Donna Ida

I recently attended Donna Ida's press day to preview her new IDA SS13 collection which is a capsule collection of denim jeans that every woman should have in her wardrobe.

Donna describes her new collection as: "A collection of true-waisted tailored jeans,a little bit lady, a little bit rock n roll and a lot of chic." I couldn't agree more.

Buying a fabulous fitting pair of has been on my 'to do' list for months now. In summer, I visited Selfridges' denim floor and left empty handed, frustrated at both their boiling hot change rooms and the ridiculous prices of the J.Brand jeans that I wanted. At the moment I only have black skinny leg jeans which I purchase from COS, and I desperately want to find a good blue pair of jeans that won't break the bank!

Donna's new denim collection launches in store and online soon and I have my eye on either a pair of Ivy skinny leg jeans in Bright Vintage (£150) or the Audrey ankle grazing jeans in Noir (£160).

I will keep you posted which pair I choose! You can pre-order the collection here. NHG x

Top row (left to right: Mabel in Strawberry, Ivy in Bright Vintage, Ivy in Noir

Bottom row (left to right): Audrey in Noir, Ivy in Kaledescope, Frenchie in Ink

Jemima Vine Edie Slippers

It is no secret that I'm obsessed with flat shoes (see some of my collection here). My latest find is Jemima Vine, a new footwear brand founded by Jennifer Markham, a fellow Melburnian living in London.

I first met Jennifer on Twitter when she shared her experience of doing the 'Life in the UK' test with me, and soon discovered that she was in the midst of launching Jemima Vine after quitting her fast-paced city job. I instantly fell in love with her 'Edie Smoking Slipper' - a cross between a ballet flat and a slipper shoe and met up with Jennifer to see the collection shortly after. 

I've been a fan of wearing a pop of leopard print over the past few years, so I choose the Edie Snake Slipper to mix things up. After wearing the slippers a few times, I can tell you that they are the most comfortable flats I own. They have been crafted in Spain using high quality leathers and feature a specialist cushion shoe that offers the kind of support that ballet flats don't. They are game changers for women needing a pair of sophisticated (and comfortable) flats - trust me!

Available in navy, red and snakeskin, the slippers are great value at only £149, and I can't wait for the new Spring/Summer collection to purchase another pair! NHG x

Shop Jemima Vine here.

Outfit details: Louise Dungate slouch hat, Topshop oxblood wool coat with leather trim (old, similar here), Whistles leather jacket, Sandro colbolt blue/grey wool dress, Uniqlo heattech tights, Marc by Marc Jacobs 'Too hot to handle' tote, House of Harlow necklace (old), and Jemima Vine Edie Snake Slipper. 

Style Inspiration: Rose Gold Leather

During winter all I care about is being warm and comfortable, so as soon as I start to spot spring/summer trends that I like, I'm forward planning rather than thinking about the chilly weather we have in front of us for the next 3 months.

I spotted this Asos Metallic leather skirt last week and while I was deciding whether to purchase, I started to spot the trend on Australian bloggers who are about to head into summer. I love the fresh take on leather skirt/shorts in this gorgeous rose gold colour that has previously been reserved for accessories and in particular, watches. 

I have bought it to wear with white t-shirts come spring, and may even pair it back with black in the mean time. NHG x

Shop the look here.

Photos (clockwise): Asos Metallic leather skate skirt, MinkPink leather shorts (image via Watermelon Crush) and Michael Lo Sordo metallic skirt (image via Confident Liar) 

Orwell + Austen Cashmere

Last weekend I went a little pink crazy with my outfit (despite saying I need to lay-off the pink recently!). I had a crazy busy day/night that warranted a warm, yet pulled together outfit, so I went for cashmere on cashmere in this bright 'happy' colour.

This outfit took me from breakfast at The Botantist followed by the Little Black Jacket exhibition at Saatchi Gallery, late lunch (and coffee) at Workshop in Farringdon, followed Bonfire Night celebrations in the Secret Garden, a group dinner at The Summer House and finally, an after-party at our flat. I basically didn't move from the couch on Sunday to recover from exhaustion, but at least the outfit lasted all day.

The scarf is by new British designer Orwell + Austen who create beautiful 100% cashmere scarves in modern prints. They can also create a bespoke scarf for you - the ultimate luxurious gift to a loved one (or yourself). NHG x

Outfit details: Orwell + Austen cashmere scarf in Hot Pink Leo, Iris & Ink at The Outnet cashmere jumper, H&M necklace, COS coated black jeans. 

NHG Beauty: Wahanda

As I mentioned in my recent 'Art of Relaxation' post, I strongly believe in regular massage to not only keep stress at bay, but also for general well being. It's now essential for me to have a regular chiropractor/deep tissue massage session in order to not feel uncomfortable sitting at my desk all day long.

I was recently invited to try a massage in Fulham with health and beauty website, Wahanda who feature a huge amount of London massage offers on their website.

If you're not familiar with Wahanda, they are the largest online health, beauty and wellness marketplace. The site allows you to book beauty, well being and health treatments at over 250,000 venues with exclusive offers of up to 50% off a wide range of services such as manicures, spa days, fitness, massages and more.

With a general massage in London costing £60 + it's definitely worth checking out their site (you can sort by postcode to find a service near you) before you pay full price. You can visit their site here. NHG x

Photos from a recent trip to Herb House spa at Lime Wood hotel in the New Forest.

Amy Hall Luxury Knitwear

As soon as late Autumn hits, I am all about snugly knits in quality wool or cashmere fabrics. I often see fab prints or styles on the high street that are simply ruined by the nasty fabric used, which I think is such a shame.

I understand it comes down to cost*, but I've had wool and cashmere jumpers that have lasted the past three seasons, so it really should be quality over quantity.

The good news is that 'Campaign for Wool' seems to be growing in momentum each year, and there are quite a few talented young independent designers creating lovely pieces using wool in the UK.

Amy Hall is one such designer specialising in handcrafted knitwear, with each piece being designed and made in Dalston, East London. Her collection is stocked both in her online store and at Wolf & Badger in Notting Hill, and includes luxe knitted clothing and accessories, as well as leather belts to give scarves a whole new look. I love the whole collection! NHG x

Outfit details: Amy Hall Tikaani scarf, Amy Hall  Nini beanie, Amy Hall Suka leather belt, Twenty8Twelve wool/cashmere long cardigan (old), COS coated black jeans, Belstaff biker boots and Marc by Marc Jacobs 'Too Hot to Handle' tote.

* COS make 100% wool pieces at high street prices in Europe and Country Road does the same in Australia.

NHG Beauty: My Anti-Ageing Routine

When I turned 28 I started to switched up my skincare routine to include preventative anti-aging products. I suffered from breakouts and acne during my teens and early 20's, so I'm not exactly impressed that my skin has started to lose elasticity already, and want to do all I can to keep my skin looking fresh.

One of my preventative beauty procedures has included skin peels. In the past 3 years I have had quite a few mild to medium peels including Cosmedix Timeless peels, a Vi peel (medium strength - not recommended for women under 30) and Glycolic Peels (which work best in series of six). I was recently invited by Dr Maigaelle Moulene to visit her new clinic in Notting Hill for a peel and discussion on anti-ageing.

Firstly, there are two types of skin ageing - intrinsic ageing which is largely due to genetics, and extrinsic ageing due to external factors affecting your skin like photodamage from sun exposure, smoking, alcohol and pollution. As we age, our skin is affected by both types of ageing but extrinsic ageing can be prevented and there are ways to delay the ageing process.

Dr Moulene's anti-ageing tips 
* A strong sunscreen is the most important factor in prevention. It is the most effective way of keep our skin young. I recommend Kiehl's Daily UV Defence SPF 50+.

* Vitamin A has been used for decades for the treatment of acne, and it was coincidentally found to improve skin texture, tone and wrinkles. Retinol, a vitamin A derivative, exfoliates the dead superficial layers of skin and increase cell turnover. If used over years, it was found to increase collagen and elastin production and improve the organisation of these molecules in the dermis. I'm currently using Avibon Vitamin A cream (available at French Pharmacies).

* Vitamin C is a well known anti-oxidant which is crucial in the production of collagen. Scientists finally found a stable Vitamin C molecule, L-ascorbic acid, which when applied to the skin mops up free radicals which are the cause of collagen and elastin breakdown. It is also photoprotective, and protects the skin against the harmful effects of the sun. I recommend Kiehl's Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution.

* Vitamin E is another anti-oxidant and when combined with Vitamin C potentiates its effect. 

* Alpha Hydroxy acids, specifically glycolic acid, are fruit acids which exfoliates dead skin by breaking the bonds between the dead layers of skin and the fresher younger cells, revealing younger, fresher skin. It also increases cell turnover. I'm currently using Skinmedica 15% AHA/BHA Cream.

For more information or to book a skin care consultation you can contact Dr Maigaelle Moulene here.

Pictured (L to R): Kiehl's Daily UV Defence SPF 50+, La Roche-Posay Cicaplast (Pro-Recovery Skincare for skin peels), Kiehl's Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution, ESPA 24-Hour Replenishing Eye Moisturiser, Skinmedica 15% AHA/BHA Cream.

Kate Spade X Garance Dore

I spotted this Kate Spade X Garance Dore jumper awhile back when the range first launched, but didn't think it was worth trying to get my hands on the limited edition pieces. Turns out that I was in luck when I visited the new Kate Spade store at Westfield London a few weekends ago, and managed to get my mitts on the last one in the UK.

Feeling chuffed with myself, I decided to wear it on my day trip to Cambridge recently to visit Briony. Cambridge is every bit as lovely as Briony communicates through her blog, and you can't help but be in awe of the old worldliness feel to the city. I have to admit I was a tad jealous that my university experience wasn't exactly all historical colleges and preppy academics. My university was an ultra-modern new building plonked on an old airfield on the outskirts of Melbourne. Us 'media types' got sent out to the middle of nowhere where the newly introduced degrees were taught... I couldn't have had a different experience if I tried!

Anyway, I digress. Back to the point of this post - the jumper. It's going to be a winter staple, I can feel it in my freezing cold bones! NHG x

Outfit details: Kate Spade X Garance Dore 'Joie de Vive' jumper, Whistles black wool coat (old), Topshop denim shirt (old), DKNY leather trim leggings, Belstaff biker boots, Louise Dungate slouch wool hat and Marc by Marc Jacobs 'Too hot to handle' tote. 

Photos of me by Briony Whitehouse from A Girl, A Style.