Happy Afternoon Tea Week!  To celebrate this fabulous week, I was invited over to the luxurious Belmond Cadogan Hotel to experience their Matthew Williamson themed afternoon tea, showcasing the new luxury loose leaf teas from Newby Teas.  Having indulged in many an afternoon tea in my time (I'm British, after all), I thought I couldn't possibly discover a more luxurious afternoon tea in London.  I was wrong.  Located close to Knightsbridge and in the heart of Chelsea, the five-star hotel offers the afternoon tea in their lounge area; an intimate space filled with natural light and warm tones.  Seated by the window and with a glass of champagne immediately placed in my hand, I prepared myself for the artistic afternoon tea that was soon to follow...

So, my current situation?  I'm writing this from a cosy corner of a pub-restaurant in Chiswick wearing a long-sleeved top and neaaarly about ready to also wrap myself up in the jumper I'd brought along with me.  You see, I'm afraid it's time.  It's time to think about your Autumn wardrobe.  I'm sorry, I know, you've only just got back from frolicking in the sun and you're staring at your screen with disbelief right now.  But trust me, it's time.  Edits have started appearing both on and offline, catwalks have given us insight far in advance and via working for Farfetch, I've seen chunky knit jumpers and knitted maxi dresses making their way to the New In section over the past couple of weeks.  Funnily enough, although I'm a Summer baby at heart, Autumn is actually my favourite season with regard to styling.  The opportunities to look as though you've just returned from your country house estate are endless; stylish suits become an option once more and on colder days you can even whip out your ankle boots again.  But something that doesn't change?  Sunglasses.  They're just as stylish in Autumn as they have been in Spring and Summer....

The wonderful thing about living in London, is that there's always something new to stumble across - and that's just in your borough!  Travel a little further in any direction and you're guaranteed to experience something for the first time.  Since moving to London five months ago, I've squashed as much into my calendar as possible, and yet still l've only found myself in the London Bridge area once or twice.  On a warm weekday evening and with no schedule in mind, I clicked my high heels across London to start exploring, ready to put together the latest in the Chic Girl's Guide series.  I wasn't staying in the area, but should you be, make sure to head to Hotels.com to discover a London Bridge Hotel that will put you in the ideal location for all of your exploring!

I've got to say, thanks to the sun and general chilled-out summer vibes, I'm feeling pretty relaxed.  But similar to how the training takes place before the race, self-care is best practiced before you burn out.  Considering we're at the heart of summer, blankets and warm comfort food are due to take a backseat.  But there are still plenty of options to help you unwind and get into that 'holiday mindset'.  My latest discovery?  Essential oils.  The introduction was made by Simply Earth, a company bringing natural products to your home via 'easy recipes, honest prices and products that work'.  Better yet, they offer a monthly subscription service, bringing four essential oils to your doorstep each month alongside natural ingredients and fun extras, enabling you to make six natural recipes.  The service is sooo popular, they completely sold out this month - and having played around with a box myself, I'm not surprised...

Forty-eight hours later and I'd be posting this exactly one year since sharing my last Chic Girl Guide. Coincidence?  Probably, but also... faaaaate.   It's safe to say that project gathered a few centimetres of dust last year... but it's back!  And what greater way to return to the series than with one of the most popular, artistic and all-round fabulous cities of Europe?  Heartbreakingly, Amsterdam is more often than not referenced mainly for its Red Light District and 'coffee' shops, but it has so much more to offer.  Thankfully, being in a relationship with a Dutch man has not only provided me with a whole newfound love of cheese, but also a dedicated private tour of the Netherlands' capital.  Yay!  Having already visited and seen some of the most well-known sites such as Anne Frank's house and the Rijksmuseum, I had two keywords in mind this time while enjoying a weekend escape: beauty and history.  So, with these two keywords in mind, read on for a chic girl's guide to exploring all that Amsterdam has to offer!