The Chosen Ones 0.5: The Jacquemus-esque Blazer, Barely-There Base and Bickering Housewives
Collage by Aylea Skye; Original Images by Aylea Skye @ayleaskye
Fashion
The Jacquemus-esque Blazer
Like most people across the globe coming out of some sort of COVID-19 induced hibernation – which condone a rotational wardrobe of sweatpants, tank tops and slippers – retrieving your usual sense of style can be a challenge. Just when I thought I’d completely lost mine and was more than happy to continue with the comfy clothing rut that I had become accustomed to over the spring, I spied a bold pink blazer hanging from the door of the bric-a-brac shop below my flat. On my way (and late) to a lunch, I made a mental note to stop by on the way home, if it hadn’t already been sold. Unfortunately the store was closed, but I it was on my mind. First thing the next morning (in sweatpants nonetheless) I went down to the store to discover it was a mere £7. The store owner felt it was perfect for me she dropped the price to just £5. And that £5 pink Jacquemus-esque blazer was the catalyst to reviving my pre-lockdown sense of style.
Beauty
Barely-There Base
Finding a lightweight, barely-there, yet affective base product is not an easy feat. Though there is an abundance of products on the market – from lightweight foundations and tinted moisturisers to BB creams – it’s difficult finding a formulation that feels like your skin, looks like your skin (but better) and won’t slip off after a few hours of wear, yet Chanel Beauty may have made that feat a little easier. The Les Beiges Water-Fresh Tint fulfils what its title would suggest; a water-fresh tint, that evens out the complexion with sheer but buildable coverage and lasts throughout the day. For a warm, natural glow layer it underneath the brand’s much-loved Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream.
Lifestyle
Vinyasa Flow
If a morning stretch is a nice way to start the day, morning vinyasa yoga is utopian. The smooth transitions of vinyasa practice are a slow and natural way to wake up the body, while encouraging mindfulness and setting the mood for good vibes all day. Yoga is also great for strengthening and toning the body, however for a push an additional ten minutes of pilates can target muscle groups for a lean, firm frame. The Nike Training app is great for short, focused workouts to accompany your morning stretch.
Culture
Housewives and Lessons on Love
Spending most of our days indoors can nurture good or bad habits, and I’m not ashamed to say that I’ve definitely acquired a fair amount of both. Let’s start with the good; Bell Hook’s 1999 tome, ‘All About Love: New Visions’ has revised my perceptions of love, extending my understanding of the ways that love could and should be practised, shared and received, within presenting love as an easy, superficial path to fulfilment. Now for the bad; The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills/New York (I’ve been switching between the two cities) has been the perfect antidote to lockdown boredom. I must say, the constant and consistent arguments are a little stress-inducing, however, the frivolous and trivial nature of the show renders ideal ‘trashy’ viewing.
Food
Morning Matcha
Acquiring healthy eating habits is one thing that many of us have tried to achieve with the slower pace that living in a pandemic makes necessary and one my quest I decided to replace my morning coffee with a good ole’ matcha latte, as matcha naturally contains, L-Theanine, which works against caffeine jitters and crash. The matcha of choice, JENKI Matcha – their ceremonial grade matcha is sourced from a family-run farm in Uji, Japan and is shade-grown, stone-ground for a creamy powder that’s packed with antioxidants, amino acid and chlorophyll. If you’re a matcha first-timer their Matcha Starter Set is perfect for mastering the perfect, authentic matcha.