firststreet denisse

Fashion is such an art. Deciding what to wear each day could easily be compared to a highly important equation. You’ve got function combining with style, daily attitude and trends, not to mention the external factors like weather and occasion that come into play. No wonder picking out our clothes each morning is such a major decision. At least for me it is. Thank goodness we have magazines, blogs, celeb style and Pinterest to inspire us. They’re like our rulebooks… But sometimes it’s good to break the rules. It’s a bit like being in a room with a big red button that says don’t push . What do you want to do? Push it of course. Thankfully breaking these fashion rules probably won’t have dire consequences [although I can’t say the same for any red buttons]. At its core, fashion has always been about pushing the envelope, trying new things and altering the status quo, so with that in mind check out the fashion rules I think were made to be broken… Black & Navy: Never The Two Shall Meet...

When it comes to planning the ultimate European break the same cities always roll off the tongue; Paris, Barcelona, Rome, London, Berlin… Yes these places offer a plethora of sights and experiences and aren’t to be missed, but I think you’ll find if you delve a little further, there are some lesser-known gems that offer truly genuine cultural experiences you’re sure to remember for a lifetime. Check out the places that I may not have initially heard of but now I'm so glad I did... Naxos - Greece When to go:  Summer How long to stay:  3-4 days A lesser known Greek Island, Naxos conveniently lies between tourist hotspots Mykonos and Santorini, so it’s certainly worthy of a stop along the way. Home to arguably the friendliest people in Europe, Naxos also boasts some truly picturesque beaches; just outside the main town, Agios Prokopios’s crystal waters easily rival those of the Maldives. With ancient ruins and the highest peak in the Greek Cyclades that was believed to be the bir...

Barbican is an interesting little pocket of London; positively buzzing Monday - Friday with handsome fellows in suits, pubs for after-work drinks and skyscrapers housing much of the financial industry, yet it turns into a bit of a ghost town on weekends. However, that doesn't mean it should be forgotten. I got word that an Italian favourite with the locals is Enoteca Rabezzana . Tucked away just behind Smithfield market, they've just launched their new menu so I thought I ought to go and take it for a spin. Not forgetting to take my new bag along for the ride as well. [Told you, obsessed.] My beautiful Italian friend joined me which seemed highly appropriate as she's obviously an expert, not to mention she ordered for us, sounding so exotic as she spoke to the waitress in Italian. It's a language I really want to learn, particularly considering my grandfather was Italian. As she told me "enoteca" actually means a place specialising in wine. You can see that it...

It’s official, autumn has struck. But to be fair summer really only lasted about a week here in the English capital so it’s not like I should be surprised… It’s definitely that time of year where one needs to shift from a summer wardrobe to an autumn one. Already I’ve felt the need to stock up on the essentials like jeans, knitwear and ankle boots. My most coveted new season purchase? This robe coat. Robe Coat  (so popular it seems to be selling out and restocking online each day, try in store if you need) // Cami // Jeans // Shoes It’s everything I’ve been lusting after. If it came in black I’d also buy that one in a second. It’s so cosy with a wrap-style that looks equally stylish when open. The wool-blend is so lush and I can’t get enough of the oatmeal shade. Last weekend when the wind whipped up I took it for a spin around London. I think it fits in perfectly don’t you? Like any day in London, the heavens decided to open at one point but we just worked with the rain and embr...

Friday night in London and I found myself in Covent Garden with a cheeky little invite to London's favourite Asian cookery school; School of Wok , for a supper club. For those of you non-city-dwellers who may not have been to a Supper Club before, allow me to elaborate. It's an evening where like-minded foodies get together to share a table and some food, while the chef pops in and out to discuss the meals with you. I guess you could say it's like a homey restaurant. You know I love food and cooking (probably in equal measures) so it seemed like the perfect way to spend my evening. Dinner kicked off at 7pm so we arrived early and took a spin around Covent Garden Square to see the Heartbeat balloon art installation beforehand. All 100,000 of them. It's really beautiful, so definitely pop down to see it before it finishes at the end of the month. By then our tummies were grumbling so we strolled back through the streets towards dinner. Dress  (surprisingly inexpensive con...

Since living in London I’ve been lucky enough to do a serious amount of travel , a lot of which has actually been solo. You don’t have to be brave, in fact I wouldn’t say I’m that brave of a person, but I am determined, so when I want to visit a city and I can’t find someone to go with me I’m not just going to not go!... People often ask me what it’s like to travel by myself, saying that they’re not brave enough to try it. I think they’re envisaging candlelit dinners alone with people staring at them, going 24 hours without talking to anyone and getting lost in the wilderness i.e., a foreign city. Honestly it’s not so. I have to say the worst thing I find about travelling alone is not having someone to help me take photos! Selfies are a struggle so I'm always approaching strangers and praying they don't run away with my camera!… Over the past 14 months I’ve definitely learnt a few things along the way. Here are my tips for travelling solo… Make your trip 2 – 3 days This is espe...