Jo Malone Blue Agava & Cacao and Wood Sage & Sea Salt

Jo Malone is a perennial favourite - the stylish glass bottles and the achingly cool black and white boxes alone are enough to get many people reaching for their purses and wallets, let alone the fragrances within. Whilst I love their branding, their product itself never appealed to me - until now.

I'm the kind of girl that's drawn to the musky, deeper, vanilla and chocolate end of the fragrance scale. I've worn the same perfume - this Dior Addict - for ten years (with Jean-Paul Gaultier's Classique and Coco Chanel Noir as backups) but after dropping into Jo Malone with my mum at the weekend, I wouldn't mind adding to my collection.

After chatting to Kate about our likes and dislikes, lots of spritzing of the various perfumes, and me practically biting her hand off at one particular perfume, she sat us down to give us a complimentary hand massage. Unlike most other perfumes on the market, Jo Malone's are built to standalone or to be layered on top of each other in a whole manner of different combinations.

Using a combination of the shower gel, body creme and the perfume itself, she layered their newest fragrance Wood Sage & Sea Salt (which, unsurprisingly, is in the 'Woody' family) with their Blue Agava & Cacoa (underneath the 'Floral' family but is undeniably chocolatey) and it just sang. The intense top notes cooled down to a sexy, sultry clean but cocoa scent that lingered well in to the evening.

It's the perfect grown up combination that can be dialled down for daytime or amped up for evening wear. And I think these two may just have been added to my 'If anybody wants to buy me something for Valentine's Day list...'

Although I am also hanging on for the launch of their limited edition Rock The Ages perfumes - five fragrances set to different period of British history. I like the sound of the Tudor Rose & Amber and the Birch & Black Pepper but will just have to wait until the 19 February to find out.

What I'm Wearing: September

Transition seasons are the best, aren't they? When it comes to the weather in London, I'm like Goldilocks - I like it not too hot, not too cold, but just right. Don't get me wrong, I love baking in the heat of high summer or dashing around in the snow but when you've got places to be the extremes of the seasons make dressing that little bit harder. So September's a good month for me - chill enough for my wardrobe staples of jumpers and boots to be acceptable. 

I wore this combination on a date to the zoo. I know, I know, it looks a little bit basic, right? But it's all in the touches - lacy bra (unseen, obviously), lacy cami, lots of gold rings and necklaces and a slick of Lady Danger or Relentlessly Red. Sunglasses and a desire to stroke (almost) every animal totally optional.

Blackstreet

No surprises here. It may be summer but I'm still sticking to my one true love of black, whatever the weather. We're planning a night on the opposite side of town this weekend which calls for some serious style. I can't get enough of this black duster at the moment (although it does make me feel a little like Neo from The Matrix when standing on the tube platform) but coupled with a playsuit, some chunky heeled sandals and a slick of Prepare For Pleasure, I think I'll be just fine.

Summer dressing #2

Okay, so stripes aren't exactly groundbreaking for summer (just as florals aren't anything new for spring) but I can't help but be drawn to classic Breton to take me through those bare leg days and those 'oh god I still need tights' days. 

With a sweep of orangey-red Mac's Lady Danger, and some chunky heeled sandals (mine are a little bigger than these), go-to tortoiseshell sunglasses (these Persols are to die for) and pinned up and back hair (think Brigitte or Jean) this is one of those chic little basic outfits that I can just throw on and yet it works just about everywhere.

Summer dressing #1

It's the age-old problem: how does someone whose entire wardrobe is devoid of colour dress for summer? Rather than jump into pastels or brights (I just haven't found a shade I like yet...crazy, right?!) I've been pulling on 'colour' in the form of grey. Open-toed flatforms lift the outfit a little away from wintry boots (although mine aren't Whistles, but a girl can dream) and a girl can never have too much gold on her fingers.

I've been buying into the orange lips trend for months but have recently replaced my Lady Danger love for dark purple in the form of Mac's Currant and Rebel. Not particularly summery, I'll agree, but with bright skin and freckles and lashings of mascara the look is surprisingly sophisticated without delving too far down the gothic path. White nails finish everything off (I haven't worn anything else for a year now, I'm far too attached) and I'm able to just about get away with making monochrome my summer thing too.

Nars Sheer Matte Foundation: Mont Blanc

I remember the first time I ever wore foundation. I was fifteen, sitting in a family friend's kitchen whilst she was teaching me how to apply it with a sponge. It was the Max Factor Colour Adapt foundation and I can remember her explaining all about T zones and blending. Sure, I'd worn mascara and lipsticks and coloured lipbalm for years, and spent many an hour experimenting with very bright eyeshadows in one of my mum's Liz Earle palettes, but this make up masterclass was for a special occasion: the leavers' ball.

Since then, I've been through countless bottles of drug store foundations but never found one that gave me what I wanted so I started looking at higher end make up offerings...and well, I'm not having much luck on finding a favourite yet either. I've tried Estee Lauder's Double Wear in two different shades but found them both pulling towards the orange end of the scale. Mac Studio Fix wasn't a bad alternative, offering a polished finish without the mask like feel, and I thought I'd hit the mark with Illamasqua's Rich Liquid but wasn't a huge fan of the squeezy bottle and it's tendency to look a bit heavy, even with a light hand.

So I turned to the beauty bloggers and, after lots of scouring, took myself off to get matched at the NARS counter at Selfridges. A Wednesday evening, it was surprisingly busy and it took far too long to get someone to come and speak to me. I explained to Angelo that whilst my skin's good (a little dry at time), I prefer a medium+ matte coverage when it comes to foundation and I need something that'll take me from day to night.

What I'm Wearing: Valentine's edition

Valentine's Day - you either love it or you hate it. All the schmaltz and frippery, people queueing up for their last-minute buying of cards and flowers at the station (yes really) and the constant one-upness of gift buying. Or you're totally into it - why not spoil your loved one with that bottle of champagne and those fancy chocolates?

Me, I'm single so I'm leaning slightly towards the first camp this year. I'm in no way a Scrooge about it - I love seeing everyone's happy faces as they're marching around armed with bouquets and cheeky little bags BUT I'm definitely the kind of girl who believes that love's for life, not just for February.

My ex and I did the kind of things some people save for Valentine's Day on a regular basis. We'd frequently consume too much champagne, go out for steak (or stay in and cook it) and cocktails and we didn't have the 'so close to the next couple you're practically a part of their relationship' vibes.

Today I'm at work (unlike half of London, judging by the empty tubes this morning) and this is the outfit I'm wearing. My wardrobe is strictly monochrome on the best of days and I'm not likely to start prancing around in a pale dress like the Lady of Shallot any time soon. So instead I've vamped it up with leather, lashes and lipstick and working the loveless vibe.

What I'm Wearing Today

I'm heading back home to Sussex later today with the lightest of bags. Unsurprisingly, all the clothes that are packed are black. In fact, I rarely wear colour (much to the chagrin of my housemates) but instead add the occasional pop of colour.

Today is all about a satin shirt dress, toughened up with a leather jacket and legs for days from these boots, Mac Pink Nouveau and a flash of ever-popular tartan. Here's to the weekend.

Illamasqua Hydra Veil

I love this weather; the clear skies and crisp air that leaves your breath frosting behind you and being able to wrap up in a million layers and a thick, chunky scarf. But what's not loving it as much is my skin.

I'm really lucky with my skin, it's what's described as 'normal' most of the year with very few breakouts and even rarer blemishes. But this weather has been drying it out, and coupled with my love of matte foundations, my everyday Liz Earle moisturiser just isn't enough to keep my skin looking as healthy as it should be. So I've stepped it up a notch and invested in Illamasqua's Hydra Veil.

I first heard about it last year when I fancied a payday treat after a wander down to the South Bank. I came away with the Skin Base foundation, Masquara and the new Sculpturing Power Duo (all of which have glowing reviews) but had been intrigued by the strange gel-like primer make-up artist Helena applied first of all. I'd never seen anything like it.

So last week, I went back to Selfridges for another treat and headed straight for this. In the signature monochrome packaging, this is unlike anything you've probably seen before. It's a clear gel-like formula that is designed to act as a primer, setting your base whilst simultaneously hydrating. Having used the miniature spoon to scoop up the perfect amount, the gel glides on to the skin in a cooling, hydrating sweep that'll be really refreshing in the summer. Colourless, it produces a flawless complexion and an immaculate finish with that slight touch of inner glow.

Applying foundation over the top is a dream. The hydrated, smooth finish means less pulling and wear on the skin and helps to really set the foundation without it looking cakey. For someone that likes the mattest of matte finishes, I wasn't sure if this was going to make me look too dewy - but in fact, it just gives that slight lift on these wintry days, and it's perfectly complemented by the Sculpting Power Duo for those contoured cheekbones.

At £27.00 for 30ml, it's not the cheapest of primers but it works wonders in the winter and it gives you that little bit extra love that even Benefit's Porefessional can't deliver.

Second photo from Glamour

Jo Loves

Whilst we were tripping round the prettier side of town, we decided to check out Jo Loves, the new offering from parfumiere extraordinaire, Jo Malone. After selling the brand Jo Malone to Estee Lauder back in 1999, Jo moved to America to undergo treatment, before travelling around the world and deciding that she really missed formulating fragrances. She returned to London and set up shop a stone's throw away from the florist she worked at as a teenager, a short walk from Sloane Square on the very pretty Elizabeth Street. 

A flourish of colour amongst the magnolia stone, the shop is a riot of red with huge blossoms in the window and if there's anything to be said about Jo, it's that her branding's definitely on point. Inside, the set up is fairly standard with glass shelves groaning under the bottles of perfumes, candles, body lotion and gift boxes. My mum's a big fan of Jo Malone's Wild Fig and Cassis perfume so we were on the hunt for a future favourite here.

We were taken through the 11 perfumes on offer by one of the lovely girls. She explained that Jo herself is the nose so puts together perfumes that she finds appealing - with some of her fragrances containing almost 200 different essences to get them to that 'just right' stage. If I'm honest, I struggle to get on with the classic Jo Malone fragrances so I didn't know what to expect from Jo Loves. I prefer musky, sensual perfumes with lingering base notes of vanilla, sandalwood or tonka bean so the floral notes of Malone and Loves is just too overpowering for me.

Nevertheless, I was pleasantly surprised by the Green Orange and Coriander combination that was spicy and sexy at the same time. Despite the name, it's actually quite warm with black pepper and smooth with oakmoss rather than overpoweringly citrussy. It would have been a potential contender for the future, but the staying power was much shorter than expected. After a couple of hours wear on my wrist, it had unfortunately reduced to something a little powdery - this is probably down to the ratio of alcohol and essence within the perfume. At £95 for 100ml I expected a little more staying power but maybe the others fared better?

My mum narrowed her choice down to Pink Vetiver which draws on Jo's scent memories of France and A Shot of Oud Over Mango, with Middle Eastern heritage. Less floral than some of the other fragrances, they still pack quite the punch. We left the shop to head for lunch with possible intentions to come back but the lack of staying power meant that the new fragrances didn't quite tear my mum away from her Wild Fig and Cassis classic.

Jo Loves is in its first year, and the shop's only been open six weeks, so I'm looking forward to seeing what the future brings for the brand that's close to everyone's hearts.

Mac Divine Night: Prepare for Pleasure

We've been pretty busy at work recently, with a big reshuffle and projects picking up after the standard summer lull. My boss went to New York City last week to see some of our American clients and picked us each up a little something to say thanks.

My treat was the limited edition Divine Night lipstick in Prepare for Pleasure. A vibrant cremesheen red, it glides on with the perfect amount of shimmer (coming from someone who veers heavily towards the matte end of the market). Other bloggers have described it as a magenta-blue toned red but on me, it comes up on the slightly more orangey side of the spectrum. This works quite well as I'm porcelain pale, green eyed and blonde haired so it makes this little gem perfect for everyday wear.

The Divine Night Holiday Collection is exclusive to America, with five lipstick shades and a host of treats, with gorgeous gold packaging. My shade's now sold out but I've got my eye on the four others in the family. Now, if only I knew someone going back to the US.

All black, all white

Jumpsuits may not be necessarily be convenient or weather-appropriate but they make for great layering. I finally picked up the jumpsuit I've been coveting for months (although seemingly it's now out of stock everywhere), and like to layer a textured tee over the top, slip into some boots and shrug on whatever jacket or coat is nearest.

As a girl whose wardrobe is almost strictly monochrome, this is my go-to outfit of the moment and takes me from work to evening in a quick slick of lipstick. After many years of wanting it, I think I'm going to give in and get my hands on Lime Crime's Velvetine for the perfect matte pout.

Le Volume de Chanel

I always have at least one book on the go - I'll read before I go to bed, before I get up in the morning, on the train/tube to work, on the tube/train home from work - you name it, it'll be tucked into my bag. Last week, though, it ceremoniously got left behind so to fill the void, I picked up the go-to Stylist and flipped through onto the Chanel mascara giveaway. The first 30,000 people to respond would be sent a sample of the new Le Volume de Chanel*, so I gave it a shot and found it sitting on the doormat early Saturday morning.

Predictably, the packaging is top-notch simplicity, sleek and monochrome. A generous sample size, the wand is on the larger end of the scale, described as a 'snowflake' brush with alternate longer and shorter bristles. Application is quick, easy and rewarding - giving me length I'd forgotten I had, with a dark colour pay-off. I applied two coats just to be sure and was pleased with the result - for someone who's been wearing false eyelashes everyday for the past six months, this was a pleasant surprise.

There's no fragrance which I was slightly disappointed with (I love YSL's Effet Faux Cils Shocking and Lancome's Hypnose mascaras for their fragrance) and the staying power is average - doesn't rub off too easily but it's a lot easier to remove than Benefit's They're Real! (another long standing favourite).

Having not forayed much into the Chanel make up range, I was pleased that the mascara lives up to the brand's hype. Of course, Chanel's high-end reputation means prices are higher than your average drugstore brand - but of course, for those saving the pennies, there's Chanel-owned Bourjois - mid-range products at drugstore prices.

What I'm Wearing This Weekend (WIWTW)

Having lived in London for almost six years now (jeez, how time flies) and shuttling down on the train to visit my friends and family fairly regularly, I'm slowly perfecting the art of packing. During uni, I used to heave massive suitcases around - having to practically throw them up and down the stairs at tube stations - and then I somehow managed to fit everything I needed for a weekend at home in a tote bag. Yes, really. This year, I've been doing just fine with a weekender from Zara Man (that looks a little like this, but was under a third of the price) that fits all my essentials (straighteners, shoes, coats, laptops and even bottles of wine, etc) around a capsule wardrobe.

This weekend, I'm heading home to see my parents, catch up with friends and meet a new baby. As always, I'm heading home straight from work today and heading straight back into work on Monday morning, and so I adapt my work-wear for weekend-wear to make things work for different occasions (work, cocktails, baby holding - you name it).

What I'm wearing today

I'm not a big trouser wearer - I bought my first pair of jeans in six years last year - but this week, on somewhat of a whim, I ended up buying four pairs of trousers, including these fab 'seven-eighths length' polka dot ones above (chilly ankles!). Today, I've teamed them with a black chiffon tshirt (from Zara, rather than the Topshop one shown above), my trusty boots (I don't wear flats anymore) and a camel blazer. My go-to Zara bag and many rings make their stalwart appearance, and I've been loving bright peach/coral lips this week. With my trademark smokey eyes and messy hair, I've been channelling Brigitte Bardot. (Outfit completed with Illamasqua's Fragile (my review here).)

What I'm wearing this weekend

I fell in love with another polka dot dress but wasn't so sure on the price tag. I picked up the one above this week and whilst it looks a little mumsy, the length definitely isn't, and as a fit it's a dupe for the smock. I plan to wear this tomorrow for previously-mentioned babyholding duties and then seeing my mum. Whilst weekends are definitely meant for relaxing, it doesn't mean my wardrobe has to - you won't be seeing any joggers here, I'm afraid!

Illamasqua I'mPerfection

The Illamasqua I'mPerfection collection is all about 'standing up and showing the world what makes you perfectly imperfect'. There are sixteen products in the collection - including powder and blusher duos, a brilliantly fluoro lipstick 'Immodest' and a lipgloss in Pantone-colour-of-the-year emerald, 'Shoot'. But what really caught my eye, right from a snapshot on the internet to seeing the collection in Selfridges, were the five limited edition nail polishes. Taking their influence from nature, the mottled egg-shell shades are an all-in-one flip on the glitter polish trend. I chose the blue - Fragile - (although was very tempted by the nude and dusky pinks) and couldn't wait to get it on. 

Illamasqua I'mPerfection in Fragile - £14.50

I'm in two minds about this nail polish: I'm absolutely smitten with the colour, the effect and how it looks on my (pale, pale) skin... However, it has near-to-no staying power and I've found myself reapplying every day. Within a couple of hours of its first application (two coats over a base coat, topped with a top coat), all ten nails had chipped quite dramatically. And its happened on the two other applications since. 

For a nail polish retailing at £14.50 a pop, I was a little disappointed. I adore the aesthetic but with its chipping disposition and its higher-than-average price tag, its made me think twice about snatching up the other shades I was coveting. 

Chanel Coco Noir

Chanel's Coco has always been a huge part of my childhood - its distinctive fragrance instantly takes me back to my childhood, watching my mum get ready for many a glamorous evening. It filled the house long after my parents had left and I was in bed, under the watchful eye of a babysitter. 

I was lucky enough to be given the newest addition to the Coco family yesterday...and I'm already in love with it. The packaging is equally seductive as its scent - grapefruit and bergamot topnotes, rose and jasmine and patchouli middle notes and a sandalwood, tonka bean and white musk base - and I've been fawning over the jet-black bottle ever since I unwrapped the perfectly pristine Chanel bag.

Chanel Coco Noir(*) is available at Selfridges for £75.00 for 50ml

I'm definitely not one for sweet or florals - my signature perfume being the original Dior Addict - and so Coco Noir is right up my street. The fragrance has real lasting power, with the different notes    giving way to each other as the day progresses. Whilst Coco may lack No. 5's-bottle-sold-every-five-seconds prowess, its little sister Noir definitely makes up for it with sultry, seductive sex appeal.