Python bucket bag – Bally ‘Paula’

“I love you a million cheese pizzas” is what I imagine my Valentine’s Day note would read, if I ever managed to live through this ‘holiday’ without wringing my eyeballs out. That message of course, represents everlasting, spell-binding, Disney-grade love. Because duh, pizza. Sprinkle in some love you a thousand glazed-donuts, tacos, cheese-fries…etc into the equation, and it means tonight we’re probably going to get it on. Alas, for the sake of professionalism we went for another line on this Valentine’s love-story we shot for Bally, but coincidentally one I hear every morning: Good morning, my love. (I however, cannot confirm whether my husband says this to his breakfast bowl or to me.)

Mens stripe wallet & USB Keychain – Bally

Joking aside, this year my husband and I mark our tenth year together, and as much as we love to hate on the commercial holidays, when I look back it had really been a decade of very happy unValentine’s days, with nine Valentine’s days in the midst. The timing is perfect, even if the very notion of the ‘holiday’ induces a mini barf, and if there ever was a brand out there that I would work with to ‘celebrate’ the actual day, it’d be Bally. Nonpretentious, gluten-free, grown up sort of love. A modern relationship that is all about good design and functionality. And a few pink bags strewn around just for the fun of it all because you know, glazed-donuts. So here’s my Bally love story, produced and photog-assisted by the two favourite boys that make my life easier (Brian and Ben), and composed by yours truly.

Cotton shirt and suede skirt – Bally RTW

Bikini-top – Victoria’s Secret. Straw bag – H&M Home. Paleo – Tallulah & Hope. Necklace – Monica Vinader

“Well this is perfect”, I said – the minute we stepped into Soma Bay’s La Résidence des Cascades lobby – in a voice best sounding like my father. Then I gave my apple-scented e-cigarette a long drag and tottered around patting my beer belly. You see, my father’s a classic Korean middle-aged man who keeps an emergency golf club in his trunk – not for roadside mischief or helping the neighbour’s boy retrieve his basketball from under the car – but for practicing his downswings in the car park before the next meeting. One of the larger hotels on the Soma Bay strip, the Cascades, in its terracotta-orange walls and latticed-corridor goodness overlooks a vast 18-hole par-72 championship golf course. It’s dad heaven. Don’t ask me what those numbers mean because for the past fifteen years I’ve waved off golf lessons for club sandwiches.

Top – Mango. Leather shorts – H&M. Bag – L.K.Bennett Rosamund. Watch – Larsson & Jennings. Rings – Monica Vinader.

It’s a classic fly-and-flop destination, especially when drab-coloured midwinter skies of London is your origin and a fiery red sunset is the destination. For those who, like me, think ‘18-hole’ is something to do with a nice big donut, will probably choose to appreciate the abundant Egyptian sun, Red-by-name-but-very-blue Sea, and a rather vigorous (?) dip in the Thalasso-tonic Hydrotherapy pool. Also if you’re travelling with buddies like Carrie and Abi you may end up spending the whole afternoon horsing off in the pool with the entire hotel’s balconies as audience…

Stay tuned for Part 2!

Thalasso-tonic Hydrotherapy pool containing 830 m3 of sea water

Great for: family fun, golfing, and overflowing breakfast buffet.

Park & Cube was a guest of Soma Bay, all views and opinions are my own.

Hat – Hoss Intropia. Top – American Apparel. Floral shirt – Zara shirt worn as skirt.

The power of two is strong, see Daft Punk. And twins. Need I say more? Actually, maybe I should explain. There’s something intriguing about putting two wardrobe-classics together and finding a refreshing way of wearing them, but then again, why not – salt and pepper were always BFFs. (Although I imagine wearing boyfriend jeans under skinnies would be the equivalent of soy sauce and vanilla sugar…) This was all inspired by Clarins’ best-selling Double Serum, which is my new obsession and one neat product that carries two-formulas-in-one, literally in a sense there are two separate cylinders inside the tube, delivering a combination of the two essentials for skin: water-based and oil based formulas. It’s a godsend for someone with dry skin, and chronic laziness, who usually needs both functions yet can barely wash her face. Apply this same technique to style and I think it does a good job in covering up the fact that I’ve run around the flat yelling I HAVE NOTHING TO WEAR every morning since the turn of the year.
Here’s three simple ideas…

Photography: Mr Tripod

the power of two | TWO
Double shirting
This is a bit of a cheat I’ve been using for a couple of years now and the hubby hates me for it, but it’s best for slightly warmer weather or days working from home – unbutton the top three buttons of an oversized/mens shirt and slip it on like a skirt, then finish off by tying the arms around your waist. I usually tuck the sleeves in for a clean shape.
Tip: Don’t forget to iron the skirt-shirt to avoid looking like a hobo.

What’s your own go-to wardrobe classics and beauty essentials that work great in two’s when it comes to your style? (Don’t tell me it’s Tacos and Nachos because then I think I’ll be in love with you)