Travel Diary | Thailand part 2

Before I completely move on from all things sun, sea and sand (sob) I'm here with the second half of my Thailand travel diary.

For week two of our trip we headed south towards the island of Koh Phi Phi. It's difficult to put into words how incredible this place is although one thing I will say is that from my travels back in 2008 this is honestly the only island I can remember clearly, and I think that says something.  

We stayed at PP Charlie Beach Resort which was located on the opposite side of the island from the dock and boasts an awesome infinity pool. The beach views from there were simply breathtaking with curved limestone walls that enclosed the water from the wider sea - stunning. Laying on the beach, stumbling across random tree swings, getting lost on a view point hike, exploring the shops and enjoying the infamous 'buckets' were just a few things we got up to on the island. If you love a good beach party then this is your island. At night, the beach completely comes alive with bars blaring their music and fire throwers showing off their skills. I could've happily stayed on this island for weeks. For anyone that is planning a trip to Thailand with just a few stops I highly recommend you include this on your itinerary.

 

On our final full day we headed out on a booze cruise to visit top spots including the famous Maya Bay (as seen in the movie The Beach ft. Leonardo DiCaprio) and Monkey Beach. One thing I would say is that the boat we were taken out on was very small and quite crammed. Definitely not your typical 'booze cruise' as there's not enough room to even muster a dance move but after getting over our initial disappointment we had the most amazing day. A personal highlight was the spot we visited to enjoy the sunset. I'm a self-confessed sunset addict and crave a few sunsets on any given holiday and it has to be said that this was the best I've ever experienced. After docking up in an enclosed cove that was surrounded by limestone walls, we squeezed onto canoes and sailed out to sea to watch the sun disappear for another day.  At that moment I was in my version of heaven and it's a memory I'll never forget. Cheesy. But true.

Phuket was the last stop of our trip and where we spent our three final days before the mammoth trip home. We stayed at the Baan Laimai Beach Resort which was drop dead gorgeous. We were completely stunned at how pretty and classy the hotel was - especially when you compare it with some of our other hotels that were the same price. 

I was really sick the entire time we were on the island which unfortunately spoiled our time there. We did however manage to enjoy a few things with a 20 minute stint on one of the jet skis and an hours horse ride along one of the beaches - something I've always wanted to do. We never managed to make it out to any bars or clubs but did have a walk through the strip one night and all I can say is WAOW. This really was something to be seen. Wild bars, ping pong shows being offered at every turn and ladyboys showing off their goods in the windows of clubs are just a few of the things I remember seeing. I'm sure it would have been such a laugh and if I ever go back I for sure will be experiencing a Patong night out. 

 

With no holiday on the horizon I'm getting some serious sun withdrawals. Glasgow, you better provide a cracking summer this year....

XoXo

Building the perfect capsule wardrobe

A few weeks ago I was invited along to a style workshop at the amazing new creative workspace that is The Lifestyle Lab. The concept was created by the lovely Victoria Martin Style and is already becoming a hot spot for cool events and launches - watch this space, quite literally.

Presented by Victoria, we were taken on a journey to the perfect capsule wardrobe. The what you need, what to invest in, working with trends and what to just straight up avoid. With a background in personal styling Victoria's pretty dang awesome at this stuff and I left feeling ready to give my wardrobe a much needed re-fresh. I've been going through a bit of a love-hate relationship with my clothes so the event couldn't have came at a better time. I've always thought I was pretty good at knowing what looks good and what doesn't but my shopping habits don't often lend themselves the way they should. Impulse buying is a weakness of mine. Anyone else? So, now feeling a little more knowledgeable in how to shop stylishly I'm living by a few wardrobe mantras. Here's just a few ways that I'm planning to nail a killer wardrobe that Olivia Palermo would be proud of.

Simple isn't boring
I'm finally starting to move away from this but growing up I only ever purchased statement pieces. I'm now realising the importance of a basic - a plain white tee, a pair of good jeans, a tailored blazer or simple flats. Quality is also crucial in basics. It can be SO hard to spend the good portion of £50 on a basic t-shirt but I'm now realising the difference this makes on the way it hangs on your body, how it washes and it's overall look.

Inject a little colour
It's so easy to lean towards an all black wardrobe to look chic with minimal effort but fashioning a little colour into an outfit really shows your style credentials. One blogger who pulls off colour perfectly is Sincerely Jules - her style is still incredibly effortless yet chic. Accessories are also another brilliant way to rock colour. Think colourful jewelled earrings, a statement bag or even bright nails.

Play with texture
Another thing I've really started to consider when purchasing clothes is the variety of materials I have in my wardrobe. Contrary to the previous mantra, wearing the one colour (whether that's grey, black, white or blue) can be undeniably stylish however texture is key to nailing this look. Wearing top to toe black cotton can be a little uninteresting but mixing it up with a different material such as leather or silk brings a whole other dimension to an #OOTD.

This is just a few thoughts but definitely a good starting point. In terms of purchases, here's a few that are on my #NeedsMust shopping list:

• A white blazer - I have a black blazer that I've worn religiously for the last two years and it's the perfect piece to smarten up any look. I'm hoping the white will be a nice alternative and give a really fresh look to my outfits, especially with spring / summer on its way. 
• A good pair of jeans - now, when I say good jeans what I really mean is 'proper'. I.e. ones that are made with denim as opposed to a mix of cotton and elastan. I still love stretch denim jeans but want a pair that look straight outta the 90s. Perhaps in a better fit.
• A Breton top - my love for the striped top grows every day and I'm needing a new edition to my wardrobe.  I'm not too fussy on the style but it just needs to be something that fits / hangs really well. 
• An oversized shirt - although it might look like there's already one of those in my closet based on the above pictures this was actually a steal from The Boy's wardrobe. Yes, I could steal his any time I wanted but I'd prefer to find one of my own that's the perfect balance of oversized yet flattering. I've heard a lot of good things about the men's shirts at Gap so planning on picking one up there during their next sale. 

So, again, just a few of the things I'm hoping to pick up in my next shopping spree.

Cardigan - Zara (similar)

Shirt - stolen from The Boy

Belt - Moschino

Jeans - Zara (similar)

Shoes - Next (similar)

If you have any fashion staples that you absolutely live by I'd love to hear about it.

XoXo