#donna ida

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The Duchess of Edinburgh || blouse by Donna Ida

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Jean Queen

Donna Ida ON REVOLUTIONISING THE POP-UP SHOP AND FEELING HAPPIER THAN EVER

By Juliet Herd

Donna Ida, the indisputable ‘Jean Queen’ of London, is her usual effervescent self, talking excitedly about her business plans, house-hunting with husband Robert (affectionately known as Bobby Dazzler), and her quarantine baking exploits – she makes a mean banana cake. Yet, her mindset, she admits,…

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[adaniellelife]

One of the best things about moving to our forever house in Kent is the fact we are so close to the beach. Even on a cold, winter day like this, where the mist rolled in and made visibility poor, there’s a magic and calmness that just makes everything better. There is, however, a challenge though to loving the beach in winter, what to wear. I’m known for loving winter layers and country casuals, but sometimes you just want to wear something fun, yet still warm – so yet me present you with my go-to colourful winter beach style. 

My Winter Beach Style Guide

Colour Pop

First up, opt for colour, whether that’s a bright pink coat, a colour-pop scarf, just something to make you think of summer, I always feel that it is needed when visiting the seaside. For me, a bright coloured coat is the starting point of my winter beach style, and this oversized pink beauty from Missguided has definitely been my go-to coat this winter. The pastel hue also makes it great for clashing with other bright colours, try it with red or purple, or even other pastel shades like blue. 

All About Accessories

So, yes a coat is important to stay warm on the beach in winter, even on a calm, sunny day the chill can be real, but you can help yourself out with great accessories. In this look it’s all about the oversized scarf, I love feeling cosy and this blue ombre scarf from Primark, which FYI was less than £5, is perfect for that. It is super soft and super thick and trust me will keep you lovely and warm. I also love that when teamed with an oversized coat they kind of balance each other out so they aren’t OTT big. 

Dependant on the weather, how cold it is, I then normally opt for a bobble hat, my go-to during winter, and it’s another great way of adding a pop of colour to my look. However, with this look I just felt with the size of the coat and scarf a hat would have been a step too far, you wouldn’t have been able to recognise me!!! You can also add gloves, for me, this is the piece of winter fashion I can’t seem to get right as most gloves are kind of boring and I also have a habit of losing just one.

Denim

I always say, if in doubt, wear denim. It really is a go with anything kind of piece and come on don’t we all have tons of jeans in our wardrobes. For winter beach style, I love opting for a lighter wash, you know the ones you wear during sunnier months, these Donna Ida beauties are the perfect hue with this pink coat and blue scarf, and as they are designer they are slightly thicker so keep me nice and warm. 

Layers

All winter fashion, whether that is to the beach or not, is all about layering, especially when you are off exploring, I’m always getting too hot and then freezing within minutes, so opt for layers, so you can take off, or add on as needed. For me, this is helped by investing in heat-tech underlayers, I love ski thermals as they are super warm, thin and sit close to the body so they fit under most T-shirts. I also love fleece lined sweatshirts, rollneck knits and cosy cardigans. 

Finishing Touches

Add a personal touch to your look. This isn’t just for winter beach style, all outfits. There is a pressure I think lately to be very Instagram-uniformed, everyone is wearing the same trainers and carrying the same bag, but remember you can always add your own style to any outfit. My personal touch is with the bag, I love changing up my bags, and I love everything Cambridge Satchel Company bag and this mini Poppy is perfect for the beach, a bag is a chance to add a pop of colour, a neutral tone or even a cool print to a look.

There is also another personal touch to this look, I’ve given my trainers an update with Iphoria sneaker patches. I love anything that refreshes a piece in my wardrobe and these patches are super cute and easy to use. All you have to do is lace them on. It is as simple as that. I love these smiley ones but there are loads available from rainbows to hearts, lips and even flowers – just a cute idea to change up your look. 

What are your go-to winter beach style tips? 

  My Winter Beach Style: Missguided – Pink Oversized Boucle Coat **Top tip – size down, it is very oversized** // Donna Ida – Jeans // Cambridge Satchel Company – Mini Poppy Bag (c/o) // Primark – Scarf // La Redoute – Trainers (c/o) // Iphoria – Smiley Sneaker Patches (c/o) // Ray-Ban – Glasses (c/o) // 

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My Winter Beach Style Guide - featuring @missguided @CamSatchelCo @donnaidadenim & @iphoriaworld One of the best things about moving to our forever house in Kent is the fact we are so close to the beach.

[adaniellelife]

Autumn is one of my favourite times to get outdoors, you get to see all the pretty colour, it’s generally dry, if not a little on the chilly side, but overall pleasant, it’s kind of perfect dog walking weather. Falcon obviously doesn’t care about such weather concerns, he wants to get out no matter what the weather, so when Millets got in touch to kit me out for one of our future dog walks I jumped at the chance, yep no shivering for me. 

First up for any walk in the UK you need a good coat, and this Peter Storm Down Frost Jacket, with its 90/10 duck down insulation is super cosy, and for added warmth the pockets are lined with a special fabric that acts as a handwarmer, and its water repellent outer will also see off the rain, so this jacket will see you through autumn into winter with ease. The other great thing I love about this jacket is the weight, it is super lightweight and will go over most outfits, so can be easily grabbed on the way out when Falcon is very eager to get going. 

Next up for a comfortable walk has to be footwear. In the summer I generally get away with using trainers, but add in a little mud and they can be easily ruin, and they don’t exactly keep your feet warm do they. So, for longer walks I opt for walking boots, however, my ones, which I’ve had for over 10 years, were getting a little tired and worn out, last time I wore them my feet were soaked, so before the winter really hits us I thought a new pair were in order. Millets has a great choice but I really liked the look of the Brasher Country Trekker Walking Boots, aimed for generally dog walking to more adventurous walking trails, everything I need in a boot, plus when I tried them on they were so comfortable and easy to get on, always a bonus. 

Other outfit tips, wear layers, you will be surprised by how warm or cold you might get, I love the stripy tops from Joules, pack a hat and a pair of gloves, I have put together a great bobble hat collection since Falcon joined the family, normally it is a given for all outdoor activity come October but it was so warm on this warm that I left it in my bag. But my biggest tip is to make sure you are comfortable so always try on your coat over layers and your boots with the right socks. It can really spoil a walk when your gear isn’t comfortable.

3 great dog walks in Kent & East Sussex

Since we moved to Kent finding cool spots to walk Falcon has been a top priority, this dog needs a lot of exercise, and varied walks, so we’ve been doing a little exploring the past few months, and I’ve found three great spots to go on a dog walk that will have your dog snoozing in front of the fire when you get home.

White Cliffs of Dover

I still can’t believe I’ve never done this walk before, I’ve only ever seen the white cliffs of Dover from a ferry when I was a teenager. But trust me this National Trust walk, up to the Victorian lighthouse and back is a great dog walk, the views are amazing, and you can enjoy a cuppa and a cake in the middle to keep your strength up at the cute tearoom, which is served in bone china teapots and cups. You can also go up the lighthouse and see the amazing view of the boats in the channel, you just have to take it in turns as no dogs allowed. 

Bedgebury National Pinetum

The National Pinetum has one of the world’s finest conifer collections and has a great circular walk that’s perfect for seeing all the amazing trees and wildlife, and in the autumn there is a special autumn trail pointing out all the wonderful trees that change colour. There is much more than just dog walks here, the forest also has special cycle and riding trails, as well as a Go Ape. Top tip, make up a flask of tea before the walk and a few nibbles and take a seat overlooking the lake, especially in autumn the colours are amazing reflecting in the water. 

Camber Sands

Falcon loves going to the beach and getting wet in the sea, well that is until a seagull comes too close, he can be a big scaried cat. During the summer months dogs aren’t allowed on the lovely sandy section of Camber Sands but from October 1 until April dogs can roam where ever they want, so no more trekking across pebbly beaches. It is a great stretch of beach, with sand dunes and lots of space for a crazy puppy like Falcon to run around. I love going just before the sun goes down as the sunsets from the beach are spectacular to see.

Do you have a go-to dog walking style?

My Style: Millets – Peter Storm – Down Frost Jacket (c/o) // Millets – Brasher – Country Trekker Walking Boots (c/o) // Donna Ida – Jeans // Joules – Stripy Top // 

      Getting outdoors with Falcon with my new gear from @millets_online #mymillets Autumn is one of my favourite times to get outdoors, you get to see all the pretty colour, it's generally dry, if not a little on the chilly side, but overall pleasant, it's kind of perfect dog walking weather.

[adaniellelife]

There are things I love about all seasons, in winter I dream of snow, lots of snow, in spring I love seeing all the new blooms, and in summer, you can’t go wrong with a day filled with sunshine and clear blue skies, but there’s something special with autumn and all its colours. I love it when the leaves start changing and that’s even more exciting this autumn as I get to see it from a whole new garden and county. Don’t get me wrong, Cambridge and the surrounding area is divine, so pretty, but I do think Kent might be the spot for great autumn colour. Everywhere I turn there are trees turning red and gold and there are lots of great spots for a long walk in leafy spots dusted with crunchy leaves, one of the best noises ever, I love doing a shuffle in a pile of leaves.

But it is more than just colourful leaves, you get to go pumpkin picking, have conker contests, collect acorns and pinecones to decorate the house, light the fire for the first time since last winter, and there’s something special about an autumn sunset,  I just love those early evenings finishing with beautiful skies bursting with pink and turquoise, which is always made better with a giant mug of hot chocolate topped with marshmallows.

So, I thought to celebrate the autumn love, I’d share the things I love.

An autumn walk

I can do long walks in the countryside all year round, but in autumn it’s chilly yes, but not so much that you can’t feel your toes, so makes for a perfect time to get outdoors and embrace all the autumnal scenes. For me, I love a National Trust place, they always deliver such autumnal goodness, with tree-lined driveways that make you feel you could be in the Hamptons, to grand houses with red leaves trialing around the front, and I love that you can follow up that lovely crisp walk with a cuppa and a slice of cake. 

Pumpkin picking

I’m not really one for Halloween, you won’t see me doing any scary make-up tuturials anytime soon, but I can’t deny the fun in finding the perfect, or unperfect pumpkin, as I do love the ones with a little personality. Kind of a new tradition here, but this was my second year in a row at a pumpkin patch and this year was better than ever. I’m lucky, Kent has a number of great locations, I went to Pumpkin Moon and I wasn’t disappointed, there were so many pumpkins, all different sizes and colours it was a challenge to just leave with one wheelbarrow full. 

Want inspiration on what to do with your pumpkins? You need to check out this fabulous post from my pal Debs at Bang on Style – painted pumpkins are so cool and less messy than carving.

Fireworks night

Regular readers will know what a big deal my husband makes of firework night, he loves putting on a display, and I love it even more now as it always feels like I get anniversary fireworks, as we got married on November 4. It’s one of those occassions where you can whip up a big batch of chilli, invite friends round, get out the fancy hot chocolate, those giant marshmallows to toast around the fire pit, and to wrap up warm to ooh and aah at the pretty fireworks. I love how my husband researches fireworks, he puts together a schedule and he makes it such a fun evening. This year I’m just hoping my kitchen is done enough to host some friends.  

Go Apple Picking

There’s nothing better than getting your fruit and vegetables from the source, even better when you pick them yourself, and in Kent, named the Garden of England, there are lots of cute farms, and I love that some even come with corn mazes. Plus, when you’ve picked all those apples you get to go home and do some cooking. What could be better than making a fruit pie or crumble? The only question is do you top with custard or ice-cream? It’s always an on-going discussion in our house.

Go candle crazy

During the summer I only really light candles when I’m in the bath, come autumn, they are everywhere, I love them so much, and I have special autumnal scents that I bring out each year that I just adore and they make the house feel so homely. Best evenings are when the open fire is roaring and the candles are all twinkling and I’m settling into a movie marathon. Just pure bliss. 

Jump in a pile of leaves

One final autumn love, just because you can jump around in a pile of leaves. Trust me, this is the best feeling, just forget what’s on your to-do list, and give yourself a moment to be silly. Falcon and I do this on a daily basis at the moment in the garden and it’s such a fun feeling it just makes me laugh and smile so much.

What do you love doing in autumn?

My Autumn Style: Gap – Jumper // Donna Ida – Jeans // JustFab – Boots (c/o) // Cambridge Satchel Company – ‘Poppy’ Bag (c/o) //

                  Things I Love About Autumn There are things I love about all seasons, in winter I dream of snow, lots of snow, in spring I love seeing all the new blooms, and in summer, you can't go wrong with a day filled with sunshine and clear blue skies, but there's something special with autumn and all its colours.

[adaniellelife]

Even though I’ve lived in a village for the past eight years I still kind of still see myself as a city dweller, but saying all that I’ve always found a lot of pleasure, enjoyment and a sense of happiness about escaping to the great outdoors. There’s a freedom about talking a walk through the woods, wandering through open countryside, or taking a relaxing stroll down the seafront, and I try as time allows to get outdoors as much as possible, I really do believe that it’s good for my wellbeing.

The only thing about the great outdoors is that weather-appropriate clothing can sometimes be a little disappointing, I like khaki but not all the time, so it so nice to see the launch of Lighthouse Clothing, which combines quality with vibrant hues and great attention to detail. If you are a fan of Joules and Boden you will love the philosophy of Lighthouse Clothing, which is aiming to encourage the “wanderer, sea lover and the great adventurer in us all” with its great range of waterproof jackets and coats.

When it comes to walking I do love a slightly shorter coat, which is why the Bluejay Short Waterproof Jacket appealed, I was also impressed to see that it was highly waterproof, breathable and windproof, perfect for discovering the great outdoors, as well as the curved hem that is super flattering. This style coat comes in two colourways, marine polka dot or seagrass, which is what I went for, this green colour is perfect and it looks great in the textured fabric.

I have, to be honest, yes I was gifted this jacket and top, but hey I wouldn’t feature it if I didn’t enjoy wearing it, the quality wasn’t incredible, and I didn’t believe that you guys would want to hear about it, but I can tell you that I was super impressed with this brand, quality is needed for coats to embrace the outdoors, but it was also the details of the clothing that won me over. I love the cotton lining, the optional cuff turnbacks, and the nautical style drawcords.

Now that puppy Falcon has come into my life I can well imagine that this green Lighthouse Clothing jacket will be getting a lot of use over the next few months on our little adventures. 

Have you been looking for colourful outdoors clothing? 

My Outdoors Style: Bluejay Short Waterproof Jacket, Lighthouse Clothing (c/o) // Haven Cotton Sweater, Lighthouse Clothing (c/o) // Jeans, Donna Ida // Trainers, Diadora // Sunglasses, Lensway (c/o) //

Enjoying The Great Outdoors With @lighthousestyle Even though I've lived in a village for the past eight years I still kind of still see myself as a city dweller, but saying all that I've always found a lot of pleasure, enjoyment and a sense of happiness about escaping to the great outdoors.

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[adaniellelife]

Donna Ida: The Ultimate Denim Boutique

In love with my new @donnaidadenim Rizzo's in Mash - I'm so on #TeamHigh

I’m a denim lover, I think my husband might say addict, and up until a few years ago I found it one of the most stressful shopping experiences, well until I discovered Donna Ida.

There is something about a wall of denim that excites me, the choices, the styles, the various hues of blue, but with all that excitement comes stress at all the options, and that is why shopping at Donna Ida really is…

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