With that in mind, as I make my way back from Switzerland, I thought I’d share my heatwave survival guide with you all…
In case there’s a few handy recommendations in here somewhere for you!
Though I’d be the first to admit that early twenties Lydia opted for the lowest form of sun protection, nowadays, only factor 50 will do. For me, nothing comes close to La Roche-Posay Anthelios SPF 50. It’s lightweight, smells divine and is anything but greasy. If like me, you find that certain areas of your body burn more easily than others (hello top lip!), I also swear by the Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Targeted Sun Defense Stick SPF50. It’s great for adding an extra layer of protection on all of the bits that catch you out!
When it comes to dressing in a heatwave, baggy is best. With that in mind, anything sleeveless in a smock style gets my vote. This week, I plan to wear a number of the dresses that I shared in this Amazon dress haul last fortnight. Not only do they tick the flattering and fashionable boxes… but they’re also priced so well that if you happen to get accidental sun cream marks on them, though it might be a tad disappointing, it won’t ruin your day!
As for footwear, I shared my favourite flats and sandals for summer here. You won’t catch me wearing heels when the weather’s this hot so hopefully this round up helps!
When the sun burns down, I’m always keen to protect my face and head from direct sunlight. With that in mind, a timeless straw bota always works well. I found this one from Imogen’s Imagination on Etsy a few weeks back – with multiple ribbon options, you can tailor it to suit your individual style.
When it comes to sunglasses, I always look for glasses with good quality lenses so that my eyes are protected from the sun’s glare. This year, I invested in these beauties from Celine – practically a bargain when I actually work out cost per wear!
I know, I know, I’m a broken record but if you thought I raved about this water bottle on an average day in spring, you can only imagine how much I love it when we’re in the midst of a heatwave. Because I’m on the go so much at the moment, it encourages me to stay hydrated at all times and importantly, ensures that my water stays ice cold too. The girls in the office also love our giant ice cube spheres. Popped in to a glass with an espresso poured over it, simply top up with cold water (or milk) and you have an iced coffee to hand.
Though we’re fortunate enough to have air con in our bedroom (hands down one of the best decisions we made during phase one of the renovation), the rest of the house can get seriously warm. With that in mind, our desk fans come into their own each summer. Though the one we’ve had for years is no longer available, you can find a similar model here. It makes the world of difference when there’s no escape from the heat.
Though I will always be grateful for extended periods of summer sunshine, I can’t help but worry about fur babies (big and small) at this time of year. At home, we use these cooling mats for Porter and Berkeley, keep curtains drawn and always make sure that all three fur babies have access to water at all times. We also avoid taking the sausages out for walks in the heat of the day and wouldn’t dream of leaving them in the car for any period of time.
If you see any dogs in distress in car parks / beaches etc… please ask the supermarket/life guards to do an urgent call out on the tannoy. Failing that, call the RSPCA, explain the situation and follow their advice.
There’s a reason why the majority of Europe take siestas after lunch so don’t beat yourself up if you feel sluggish at points!
We’re not designed to power through extreme heat so if you don’t feel like you’re yourself at the moment or are getting frustrated that you don’t have as much energy as normal, trust me, I’m sure that I’ll be feeling the same way! (The chances are the rest of the country will be feeling the same way too!)
PS. My outfit in the main picture can be found here!
Hosting a very special breakfast for my girls in honour of @princestrust and @thebrilliantbreakfast to raise money to help young women turn their lives around through work, education and training. A donation of £5 can enable a woman to simply travel to an interview which could go on to change her life forever so I would absolutely love it if you would join me in hosting your own Brilliant Breakfast between the 9th and 15th October, whether it’s simply coffee with a close friend, or encouraging your entire office to get involved, the funds raised will go towards helping young women, aged 11-30 create better futures for themselves.
And thank you to my angel @hello.petal.flowers for giving her time and creative flare to bring my vision for the breakfast to life, of course you don’t have to go with florals like me, but if that’s something you enjoy this is the perfect opportunity to throw a lovely breakfast with your girlfriends with a cause that will help so many other women, front and centre!
Ad Because being old fashioned is always fashionable
Such an honour to drive to @goodwoodrevival with the @astonmartin team in the iconic DB5 to celebrate 110 years of the brand and 60 years of the DB5.
Outfit
Dress @dior
Hat @aavelleofficial
Gloves @cornelia_james
Jewellery @garrard
Ad I felt like a princess and I know my caption should probably be more cool than that but then 10 year old in me wins every time.
Thank you so much @secretspauk @beautypie @officialntas @bellepr_ @milla
@nickandrewsphoto @lensaction
Ad Blush dreams at the National Television Awards with @secretspauk wearing @milla such a wonderful evening!
Ad a dream come true few days in Norfolk & Stamford with the @fairfaxandfavor team meeting so many of you and immersing myself in the beautiful brand. Full video is on my YouTube
Wearing
The Beatrice blazer, Buckingham bag and Molton belt all from @fairfaxandfavor
Paid partnership
The oldest English retailer of fragrance and still to this day is family owned. The @florislondon flagship on Jermyn Street was a real treat to experience recently. I purchased their Together Fragrance Customisation as a double gift for both Ali and I. I gave my overall thoughts on the experience in a recent YouTube video but overall we would highly reccomend! It was an incredible experience and I will continue to repurchase my custom fragrance for many years to come no doubt.