Fashion

The Leather Blazer & YSL Coat

If you’ve read the first edition of ‘The Chosen Ones’ you’ll observe a recurring theme; leather outerwear is much-loved at The VogueCIEL, as is rummaging through the endless offerings on eBay, Vestiaire Collective and The Real Real to find the perfect piece. And on this occasion, the perfect piece was a fitted Joseph butter-soft leather blazer, that fits just right – tailored to fit the frame perfectly, but roomy enough to wear over knits. Along with this new edition is the coat of dreams; a black, tailored menswear coat by Saint Laurent coat – dated back to 2004 when Stefano Pilati was at the helm of the brand and it had not lost ‘Yves’. Though we’re approaching spring and it will be made redundant in the upcoming months, it’s been the coat of choice whenever the weather is fitting. Thrown over sweats or leggings and T-shirt, or a little black dress and heels, it’s masculine frame and considered tailoring lends any look an irreverant refinement.

Beauty

A Serum For Your Dull Skin Woes

Anti-aging skincare products are often neglected until a fine line or two begin to make an unwelcome appearance, but we all know that prevention is better than cure, and so why not introducing anti-aging products to your skincare roster prior to the appearance of the first wrinkle? Dior’s new Capture Totale Super Potent Serum is the weapon of choice at present. Infused with cell renewing floral-derived ‘mother cells’, it plumps and brightens the skin for a youthful radiant glow.

Lifestyle

Powders and Potions

With discussions of health being ubiquitous at present many people are looking to ways to increase their immunity, be that through a nutritous diet and/or supplements and ‘superfood’ powders. And speaking of ‘superfood’ powders, a few have become staples in my daily routine within the last few months. Sun Potion’s He Shou Wu, Glow Bar’s Yoni Moon Milk and Kala Health’s MSM are combined with hot, frothy milk for a morning substitute to a latte, while Natural Sources’ Wellness Formula and Marie Reynold's’ Coll Force are taken at night with a cup of fresh mint tea. This combination might seem a bit overindulgent, but it’s a great way to add additional wellness-boosting nutrients to one’s diet.

Culture

Not Just A Dating Show

The moment may have passed for this dating show, but it hijacked the time, conversation and thoughts of many people a few weeks ago; we’re talking about the Netflix series ‘Love Is Blind’ if you haven’t yet caught on. The premise of ‘blind dating’ resulting in a proposal and ultimately marraige, all within a six-week period was somewhat absorbing, but the drama, disarry and authentic romance that insued was undeniably gripping, and left millennials (the generation deemed the least romance inclined) both entertain, but also hopeful – if Lauren and Cameron could find unadultered love within 3 days of talking through a wall, maybe we can find it too. 

Food

Wholesome Bowls

There’s something instinctively comforting about a bowl of hearty, healthy and of course, delicous food. Starting with a base of rice or roasted potatoes (sweet or otherwise) and buildoing from there with vegetables, a source of protein and finishing off with a source or crunching topping of some sort, ‘wholesome bowls’ are the perfect lunch or dinner when working from; they’re easy to cook and assemble, nutritious and assorted. But in case you’re in need of inspiration, recipes will be coming soon.