R-Rated | New Year Leanings and Favourites
Stuff that's sparking joy this January...
Hello from 2025. New Year, same old me.
I’m trying to take January slow this year. Less hitting the ground running, more of a gentle stroll/crawl back into routine and productivity. Making soup, staying warm, minimal makeup and lots of TV while trying to get my life, head and house in order for the year ahead. So far we’ve had mole checks, a boiler service, a car service and we’re still hoovering up pine needles from every orifice of the house.
We kicked off the year with a his and hers head cold after hosting friends at home for new year’s eve, with slow-cooked lamb and a huge tiramisu on the menu - a first for me - and it turned out so good. I used this recipe and did it in this huge bowl which made it even more a showpiece.
I wore the Susamusa dress! This dress got a lot of wear over Christmas - you can kind of just toggle the undies you put underneath to suite the evel of demure you want to be. Boy shorts and balcony bra for that insouciant French vibe; cheeky thong and triangle for a sexier NYE vibe. I mean if you can’t in your own home where can you. I also love this bandeau under it and you could do a bandeau mini dress so it’s even more classic LBD.
Style Leanings
It’s less January blues, more January purples right now. I’ve been seeing it everywhere and far from running the other way, I’m into it. From Phoebe Lettice’s violet Dior saddle bag and Jess Grave’s lilac Phoebe Philo tote, to Elizabeth Benz’s purple penchants on Tiktok, I’m not alone. I’m not one to shy away from purple (most recently these velvet trousers) but right now I’m especially feeling this slightly softer, dirtier tone like this tee. Looks amazing with chocolate brown and rusty red tones. I got this suit recently too ripe and ready for some sunshine at the end of the month.
Accessories-wise, I feel like I’m constantly drawn towards the ornate, the vintage and the classically feminine right now, but in that decadent glamorous kind of way. Think Rose on The Titanic. I went to see Nosferatu the other day and all that dark, gothic femininity (minus the rats and vampire) really correlated with this mood. Every Sophie Buhai piece has that old school glamour that still feels apt for modern it girls and these chandeliers are the latest addition to my collection. They feel like something you might have been handed down from your great grandma who lived an illustrious life in Rome.
Speaking of future heirlooms, I got my dream pinky ring pre-Christmas that I’ve been dying to share with you. Starling really kindly offered me a bespoke piece and after falling for their modern take on the Toi et Moi ring, I asked about doing something similar with yellow stones to match a detail on my engagement ring. They sourced some amazing yellow sapphires for me and sized it perfectly to me… It’s instantly become one of those ‘feel naked without it’ pieces that I get a kick out of seeing everyday.
This necklace is haunting me right now and has that similarly vintage, Grey Gardens-esque vibe to it; definitely very tempting. I’ve seen some good vintage options like this too. Two favourite new instagrams to follow are Merci C’est Vintage and Ophelia’s Flowers, both of which source and sell very chic art deco style accessories. The former introduced me to Emanuele Pantanella toucan clutches which I can’t stop thinking about - the prices are fine art level and out of my league but great inspo. Similar leanings are happening with everyday bags; I saw this on SOTT the other day and was struck by how much I was struck by it. So simple and classic, and much more structured than what I’d normally be drawn to. Likewise all of my Vinted saves seem to be vintage nylon and leather Gucci bamboo bucket bags.
Every year December lulls me into a false sense of security and then like magic by the firsty week of January I’m reminded what freezing truly feels like. It’s officially cold in London. Shearling, cashmere and thermals are now part of my daily uniform. This jacket is a cosy new addition from a brand new to me. I like layering a knitted tank over a thermal base layer to stay cosy without feeling like the abominable snowman or melting when you’re going in and out of shops or the tube. I’m really enjoying v-necks over white tees and have done for the last six months or so. Maybe a v-neck tee next… I feel them coming.
Another cold weather staple is this By Malene Birger coat, or lovingly known by me as my monster coat. It’s as warm as it looks and very Dr Zhivago while at it. This is an old style but this new one by the brand is gorgeous too.
As well as my Santosh beanie I linked above, these two hats have been on rotation. Given it’s Swedish heritage, it’s no surprise Toteme rules when it comes to staying warm. And I gave the Rise & Fall hood a go after seeing it on a friend recently and it really is great. So much thicker than other hoods/snoods and it doesn’t constantly fall back off my head.
Watch List
Surprise surprise, I’ve watched a lot of shows recently. January might not be everyone’s favourite month but the TV is best it is all year and I’m not even touching on the obvious musts like Gavin and Stacey The Finale (it was perfect) and The Traitors (3 episodes a week isn’t enough)… Counting down the days until I get myself to see Babygirl too.
The Agency - We are nearly through this A-list CIA drama centring around Michael Fassbender’s character returning from a 6 year undercover operation in Ethiopia, leaving his lover behind amidst political turmoil and entering an operational storm back home. Amazing cast (Richard Gere, Jeffrey Wright, Jodie Turner-Smith) and I like that’s it’s centred around the CIA base in London for something a bit different. And maybe this is showing my naivety but I really think it’s kind of realistic too compared to the more Bond style depictions of agents. As Fassbender’s character says, ‘No glamour. No exploding watch. I believe there's one type of agent: The insane.”
Cra - We binged this Irish language crime drama after Christmas and it’s ideal cold, winter night viewing. The landscape is bleak and unforgiving, the family and community secrets are deeply buried and there’s a body that’s just been found in a bog on the moor.
Juror Number 2 - This Clint Eastwood morality courtroom drama felt like one long anxious fever dream but one that you can’t look away from.
The Apprentice - Sebastian Stan nails the brief as a young, hungry Donald Trump, learning his trade from ruthless, outspoken attorney Roy Cohn. The whole movie reads a bit like a Greek myth, watching the student become the maniacal master or more aptly, narcissus fall head first into his own reflection. One of my favourite characters ended up being Melania who I went on a google deep dive of after. Loved the depiction of New York in its dirty, crime-ridden downturn of the 1970s too - the hedonistic, capitalist centre of the world is a character in its own right.
Somebody Somewhere - Much-needed light relief from all the crime and politics viewing, this small, fairly under-the-radar comedy drama centres around the friendship between 40 somethings Sam and Joel in rural Kansas. It touches on grief, family, addiction and not being where you thought you’d be by a certain age. It’s very funny and warm all while being beautifully unremarkable which makes it even more feel-good. Honestly one of our favourites TV discoveries of late - you can’t help but fall in love with all of these characters in just a couple of episodes.
Drinking
Genuinely swapped my Yorkshire Tea for Spill and not planning on going back. It tastes better and more importantly, it’s better for the people growing and producing the leaves that goes into it (they’re paid 50% more than normal fairtrade tea). Plus I love the refillable tin on my counter and you can even have it on subscription so you never run out.
Beauty Bits
There are peaks and there are troughs and winter is my annual trough. So anything that kids me and others into thinking I’m doing ok are my best friend and worth sharing. I’ve added a lot of ilia and Violette FR to my makeup bag lately. The Bisou lip jelly is perennially in my bag now - a bit of colour and glossy hydration that you can’t possibly mess up without a mirror in the back of a cab. Same goes for this blush complete with brush. I’m loving these lip crayons too for a more defined but really soft lip. Ilia do amazing brow pencils too. The colours (soft brown for me) are perfect and they’re so fine and dainty you can be extra precise for those subtle fill-ins needed between appointments.
I’ve added in this serum to my morning routine lately. Just helps liven thighs up a bit and is helping with the redness and general winter sad face. I think Zelens as a whole is one of those well-established but never one to sleep on brands. I apply it straight after my favourite vitamin C (it’s pricey but I really, really like this one along with the one I always recommend from Skinceuticals) which is a daily non-negotiable all year round. I’m back on this moisturiser too which is the only one that saves my face amidst daily cold dog walks at this time of year.
Home Additions
My main focus lately has been (almost) finishing my micro home office… I’m so nearly there, just some window treatments to tweak and a piece of art to hang. It really is tiny so trying to maximise storage while still having space to turn around has been no mean feat but I think we got there. One of my main regrets of our renovation is quickly becoming not applying for planning permission to extend this first floor bedroom and/or making this and the bathroom next to it into a bigger bedroom with smaller ensuite rather than having a larger bathroom with bath… There are still lots of pros to what we have but food for thought if any of you are in the early stages.
Block House Build made the joinery which includes a wardrobe and a desk with pocket doors and a sliding laptop station so a chair can prop under it. I wanted to be able to shut off work when needed or adapt the spaace in the future if the room needed to be a bedroom. And yes that radiator is adorable I know. It’s from The Radiator Co like the rest of the rads in our house - teeny tiny to fit under the window and allow the wardrobes to open. I will admit, it’s smaller than I thought it would be haha but I couldn’t wait for a custom size!
I think the thing I’ve had most questions about in the office is the box files. I’m pretty chuffed with them so I get it. I got them from Harris and Jones and you can custom choose colours and labelling for whatver you want. So helpful for keeping on top of filing and organising. I also got the pink linen box files (I love pink on red) and these marbled desk tidies which I have downstairs. The larger printed storage boxes with the red tabs I got from Cutter Brooks which is now no more sadly but Harris and Jones have some really similar ones to these too. The Jemma Lewis marbles are my favourites.
A couple of extra worthy mentions I’ve loved lately. I’m a cotton sheet girl through and through (sorry linen) and got these from Rebecca Udall before Christmas and am so pleased with them. The piped edges reminds me of hotel stays like The Bowery in New York and they have that super-soft, sateen finish. My husband treated me to the Matilda Goad ice bucket for Christmas and it’s already one of my favourites things in our house. It’s so pleasing I have to stop myself just cradling it round the house.
January Escape
We just got back from Limewood in Hampshire. It was my 3rd, maybe 4th, time there and I’m reminded every time that it really is my favourite UK escape (full disclosure, we were very kindly hosted but under no obligation to write it up or share on here). It’s cosy (Susie Atkinson did the interiors), the service is the friendliest and best I’ve come across in the UK (Soho House and Heckfield really can’t compete I’m afraid) and the spa and treatments on offer tick every box for a quick reset. It doesn’t have that ‘it’ status and scene lots of the Cotswolds and Somerset hotels do and is even better for that reason. When I want to properly get away and switch off, I don’t want to be bumping into everyone from London. We took Finn (dogs are allowed in some rooms and all the grounds but not the hotel itself) and went on long walks through the New Forest, read by the log fire in our room and slowly simmered ourselves in the hydrotherapy pools. The food’s great (breakfast in the scullery with the fire roaring especially) and they have have an amazing cocktail list with not 1, but 2 pages of 0% options. The food and drink in the healthy, veggie-focused spa restaurant Raw and Cured is properly nutritious and delicious too so you can make the whole stay as health-focused or indulgent as you want. A dreamy stay from start to finish - can’t recommend enough for a reboot.
Reading
I’ve just finished Pet by Catherine Chidgey. Set between 1984 and 2017 in New Zealand, it follows Justine who, aged 12 in a small town and in the wake of her mother dying, falls under the spell of enigmatic and charming young teacher Mrs Price. Everyone wants to be Mrs Price’s ‘pet’ and she’s definitely not shy of picking favourites… Things in the class start to go missing (pens, keepsakes, gloves) and rumours around the identity of the thief becomes the central focus for Justine’s class, slowly unravelling everything she knows to be true. It’s got that nostalgic, coming-of-age core but is dark and unsettling, touching on themes of racisim, sexism and coercive control. It has that knife-edge feeling that keeps you guessing - a great twisty, psychological thriller that’s actually brilliantly well written too.
Until next time, Lxxx
‘Struck by how struck I was’ is just perfect. Opened approximately 72,937 tabs as always 💛
The linen vs cotton sheets debate has been occupying so much of my brain over the Christmas break as I consider new bedding. This was the final conclusion I needed.
Can never get enough of house inspo from you! Xx