Forget about hot girl summer, because here at House of Coco, we’re foregoing trendy fast fashion finds and instead adopting a ‘Sustainable Wardrobe’ mantra instead.
Here are a few of our top eco-friendly shopping picks so you can maximise your trans-seasonal style while also minimising your carbon footprint.
Now that parks are the new restaurants and romance is strictly prohibited to the great outdoors, we’re finding new ways to ramp up our winter-walk style this Valentine’s Day.
If you still haven’t found THE gift for your beau, then our editors have hand-picked some timeless and functional pieces to impress even the most discerning outdoorsman.
Last year has been tough and with no end in sight for lockdown 3.0, the last thing we need is all the unnecessary pressure that Valentine’s Day brings. So, this year, instead of Valentine’s we’re showing our gratitude to all the girlfriends that have helped us survive a global pandemic.
We know how much all those boozy zoom calls, distanced park walks and late night Netflix Watch Parties matter, so what better way to say thank you than by treating your favourite gal pals to some of these ultra-stylish fashion finds this February?
While #TeamCoco may be hunkering down at home, we’re still on the hunt to find new ways to inspire you even in lockdown.
We know you’ve probably been living in pyjamas for the better part of three weeks (heck – so have we), but there’s also nothing wrong with dressing up and cosying up in style too. In fact, mindfulness experts say that dressing up at home (comfortably of course) can be just the trick to beating the Blue Monday blues.
So, whether you’re exploring new ways to create #stayathome content or just wanting to look like a human being on your next Zoom meeting, here’s a few of our favourite loungewear pieces to get you through lockdown 3.0 in style.
This holiday season, we’re rethinking the way we shop and celebrate. If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that we have to find ways to do things better, not just for each other but for future generations too.
So, to end a year like no other, we’ve curated a Christmas gift guide of luxury fashion finds that don’t just look good but also do good for the environment. Because truly great fashion, doesn’t have to cost the earth.
Fashion is all about self-expression, and we can’t think of a better way to kick off our eco-conscious guide with Ganit Goldstein’s 3D-printed collection. Goldstein makes one-of-a-kind pieces using repurposed factory waste, producing a collection that brings together art and sustainability in one stylish bundle. Is this the fashion of the future? We certainly think so.
We also love this printed jumpsuit from sustainable fashion brand OMNES and gold ring from carbon-neutral jewellery brand Pyrrha. Omnes’ goal is to avoid having any garments reach landfill and so receives high-marks for offering conscious wardrobe staples without sacrificing on style.
Yatay’s colourful ‘No More Plastics’ sneaker range was developed using sustainable materials and offers plenty of charm. For each trainer purchased, the brand plants a tree and has absorbed more than 55,000 kgs of CO2 since its launched. Yatay encourages customers to recycle old sneakers too, which is certainly a step in the right sustainable direction.
1. Refream Outfit made with recycled factory waste by Ganit Goldstein available for made to order at https://ganitgoldstein.com/
We are basically in love with everything at Arddun Store. Arddun opened in Harvey Nichols in August 2020 and offers a curated range of ethical and sustainable fashion, home, skincare, and accessories brands. We’re looking at this lovely matching set from Lonely Lingerie and this colourful throw pillow from Utopia Goods to spruce up our lockdown décor.
Living a conscious lifestyle goes beyond what you wear, but also how you take care of your wardrobe. The Lab Co. offers plant-based laundry products that are kind to skin and the environment, and we’re all for it!
Larq offers the world’s first self-cleaning water bottle and uses UV-C LED technology to neutralise 99.9999% of bacteria and we can’t think of a better COVID-era gift. Not to mention, the brand also does wonders to help end single-use plastics water bottles.
Pinko and British designer Patrick McDowell have teamed up to launch the ‘Reimagine’ collection, which features the brand’s signature glam aesthetic, albeit with a focus on sustainable and ethical design practices. The collection uses repurposed deadstock fabrics to help close the loop on fashion.
Mary Benson is another London designer who uses deadstock fabrics and offers a wonderfully charming range of clothes and accessories. The brand has also released a collection of customisable Christmas stockings for the holiday season and we are appropriately obsessed.
Aligne is a contemporary eco-label that offers well-made basics that are made ethically and transparently, making for the perfect guilt-free Christmas gift.
We’re also dreaming of Jewellers Loupe’s range of fair-trade jewellery pieces, particularly this Trust double-band stacking ring with a Rose Quartz gemstone. Jewellers Loupe is s West Yorkshire-based jewellery brand that offers wonderfully timeless pieces at affordable price points.
Yardley London is celebrating its 250th anniversary this year and we think their colourful, plastic-free gift sets, featuring 95% natural-origin products, make for the perfect stocking fillers.
Finally, we don’t go anywhere without our beloved Dr. PawPaw multipurpose balms this winter (or any winter for that matter). So this year, we’re upgrading our Dr. PawPaw gear with the brand’s new ‘Prep & Party’ Set.
It feels like 2020 has been going on forever, so what better way to mark the (near)end of a stressful year – and signal the beginning of the holiday season — by treating yourself with some of these stylish (yet totally functional) fashion finds?
After all, according to the much-awaited John Lewis Christmas advert, it’s all about giving a little love this holiday season; and we think that giving yourself a little love is worth shouting about too.
Nothing says mood-booster more than long outdoor walks, or pumping living room workouts, so why not do it in style? We’re obsessing over DKNY’s contemporary activewear range for our online spin class and putting on some trusty Dr. Martens for our one-hour of daily exercise.
8. Green Cashmere Scarf by Victoria Ragna available https://victoriaragna.com/
These days loungewear is everything, and this printed set from Amazon is ticking all the right cosy boxes. We’re also loving this statement throw from Missoni home and perfectly autumnal trench from Lalo Cardigans. Not to mention, this brilliant Missoma Advent Calendar – because wouldn’t you rather have bling instead of excess sugar this Christmas?
We are certainly Indulging in a luxurious sleep in this slinky metallic slip by La Perla. We’re also making our home look and smell like a five-star luxury boutique hotel with Acqua di Parma and Diptyque’s home fragrances, and this glam ice bucket by Jonathan Adler. If you’re really looking to splash out – we’re dreaming of Piaget’s 30th anniversary gold bangle – for a self-care present that is as timeless as it is desirable.
Tis the season for online (Christmas)shopping and if like many, you’re scrolling along countless websites and still stuck on what to get your beau this Christmas, then our Fashion Editor Hannah Tan-Gillies has got you covered.
Let’s face it – men are EXTREMELY hard to shop for. Lucky for you – these top Christmas gift picks are so good that you really can’t go wrong. This season, we’ve set our sights on cosy, functional and timeless pieces that will certainly carry your man through the lockdown winter in style.
We are loving these handsome knitted pieces from Turnbull & Asser, Calvin Klein and Lock & Co hatters, which will certainly elevate any man’s cold-weather wardrobe. We also rate Spoke London’s ‘Bulletproof’ trousers, which are made with technical, breathable, and water-repellent fabrics; and Stubble & Co’s sleek yet extremely functional Backpack. Levi’s Made Crafted line also offers plenty of style in elevated denim pieces — that are also sustainably made. All perfect for a cold-winter dog-walk or a socially-distanced getaway in the Lake District.
We’re also looking ahead beyond lockdown and investing in this stylish Globe Trotter case, which will undoubtedly add some style points to your next and very well-deserved holiday.
Oh – and if you’re looking to really give your partner a treat – then these watches from Victorinox and Breitling will certainly do the trick. Happy shopping!
#TeamCoco Editor-in-Chief Laura Bartlett and Fashion Editor Hannah Tan-Gillies were whisked away for a stylish afternoon filled with plenty of laughs and pre-loved designer duds with fabulous ladies of The Pod Online. Here’s what went down during their Fantastic Afternoon with The Pod Online.
Founded by the incredible Cat and Alex, who bring together decades of luxury retail experience, The Pod Online is a North-Yorkshire-based personal styling service that offers the very best curation of pre-loved designer goods.
In addition to their impeccable personal styling services, Cat and Alex also help women detox their wardrobes by offering fashion advice and streamlining their collections. They also offer private personal styling parties, where you can gather your girl squad for a day of trying on various designer clothes over some bubbles. We honestly can’t think of a better way to spend an afternoon.
Without sounding too much of a cliché, it’s not an exaggeration to say that Cat and Alex have a ‘passion for fashion’ which breathes life and joy into everything they do. The Pod Online makes personal shopping fun and does away with the oftentimes intimidating pretence of luxury shopping.
#TeamCoco Editor-in-Chief Laura Bartlett and Fashion Editor Hannah Tan-Gillies are two very different women, each one with a very distinctive personal style. Both #TeamCoco babes approached the experience with completely different perspectives – but left it feeling more confident, more stylish, and 100% more fabulous.
Editor-in-Chief Laura Bartlett
If I’m completely honest, I was really apprehensive and nervous about spending a day with Cat and Alex, purely on the basis that I have spent my entire adult life believing that designer clothes wouldn’t fit me. Having honed in on my personal style over the years and as someone who falls into the ‘plus size’ category, I wouldn’t have believed you if you’d have told me I would be walking away from this day with a Balmain dress feeling better than I had in a long time.
The whole day was way more fun than I anticipated and the selection of clothes that had been pre-selected was so me! Not only did I walk away with a bag full of designer buys, but my confidence was through the roof and I hadn’t laughed like that in a long time. Meeting Cat and Alex was a breath of fresh air, not once did I feel outside of my comfort zone and walking away with a Strenesse Cape and Malene Birger was just the icing on the cake.
Fashion Editor Hannah Tan-Gillies
I’ve always embraced fashion and I think my personal style is quite unique. I love taking lots of fashion risks and can’t resist a statement piece. I always like to incorporate something ‘unusual’ or ‘unexpected’ into my looks, like a crazy printed coat, or a massive hat, mixing and matching various textures, prints and silhouettes.
Coming to the experience, I honestly didn’t think that Cat and Alex could pinpoint my style as perfectly as they did — and just based on an Insta-stalk too! They prepared six outfits for me, and without a shadow of a doubt, I would have put all those outfits together myself if given the chance.
We started off with a couple of casual day looks featuring a Victoria Beckham top and some biker boots, and then a Whistles trench coat, Loewe bag and Jimmy Choo combo. Both looks were easy to put together and would not be out of place in my existing wardrobe, yet also offered up an elegant yet understated perspective to my style.
Cat and Alex then ramped up the style-ante and put me in a blue printed Peter Pilotto shift dress and Miu Miu heels which was a perfect date-night ensemble. They followed this with a stand-out deep green floral printed Megan Parker coat and Dolce & Gabbana shirt combo – which was my absolute favourite look of the day.
Next up, was a more glamorous bohemian dress and fur-vest look, matched with an oversized hat from Lack of Colour and ACNE boots. As an added flourish, Cat and Alex styled the printed dress over a turtleneck – which is one of my go-to autumn style hacks. My final look was all about comfort and cosiness and featured a dark pullover with some olive green Axel Arigato trainers.
Six looks, six completely different styles, six different versions of me — and The Pod Online absolutely nailed them all. Safe to say I came home with armfuls of pre-loved designer pieces that I now cannot live without.
So if you’re feeling inspired and planning to conquer table mountain, or just lounge by the Silo Hotel’s very own rooftop pool; then your outfits should definitely match the occasion. Our suggestion? Embrace classic khakis and contemporary earth tones – for a safari look that is as fierce as the wildlife.
Khaki Gabriela Hat by Misaharada available at www.misaharada.com
Leopard print bodysuit by Longchamp available at longchamp.com
The backstory to Adalù Swimwear is exciting and heartwarming! Valeria Donati who owns Adalù, launched her swimwear company in order to design and produce beautiful Italian surfwear that would be both adventurous and contemporary. Valeria wanted to have her designs ‘made in Italy’ as there was a lack of Italian surfwear across the industry, and she knew the world would welcome Italian-made swimwear.
The heartwarming side to Valeria’s story is that she used both of her maternal and paternal grandmother’s first names (Ada and Luciana) and joined them together to produce her exciting brand Adalù.
People all over the world associate excellent quality Italian made products with the best of the best, and Valeria makes sure that all her swimwear is made in Italy, so that she is following in the traditions and heritage of world-famous designers who believe that Italian materials are the cream of the crop.
We surfed into Valeria’s life for an afternoon of questions about her life and her swimwear brand for our House of Coco Magazine #WomenWorldwide online series.
Q. HOC. We know that you are a passionate surfer through and through, at what point did you leave the surfboard behind for a drawing board and head into designing surfwear?
A. Valeria. From the very start of my surfing experience I felt the necessity to wear something both comfortable and feminine. I just didn’t find the right swimwear for surfing so I decided to try and create one by myself. Since I learned sewing with a friend of mine, and thanks to the help of my mother who is a great sewer and crochet maker, I made my first surf one-piece long-sleeved suit. Then I tried it while surfing and all my surfer friends just felt in love and asked me to make one for them. So it started, Adalù.
Q. HOC. Once you started designing your swimwear collections, did you always know that you would name your business Adalù?
A. Valeria. At first I didn’t know what to call it. When it was the time to think about my business name I wanted to dedicate it to my grandmas as they are everything in my life, and all that I do is down to what they thought me. Ada & Luciana are so important to me, and that is why I named my company Adalù, as it’s inspired by them.
Q. HOC. At Adalù you have a full range of swimwear: from beachwear and fitness wear, to surf gear and accessories? Can you tell us the difference between your beachwear costumes and your surfwear costumes?
A. Valeria. Adalù is focused on surfwear costumes which are properly made for women with water attitudes in mind, so that they are comfortable and it feels like they are wearing as a second skin on their body, embracing all type of silhouettes accompanying them in any kind of water sports, such as surf, windsurf, kite surf or wake board. I decided then to complete the collections with also a line in bikini’s that is perfect for sports but also nice to wear in any kind of beach life experience. They are both made with the same lycra which is 100% made in Italy and top quality. This year I started using an eco-lycra which is made from recycled nylon yarn recovered from the ocean and from landfills, improving the eco-sustainability of my brand.
Q. HOC. Do you have a personal favourite from any of your current collections?
A. Valeria. This year my favorite costumes are the ones from the Mediterraneo collection, which I found perfect to wear both inside and outside the water. I love to wear the Mediterraneo bikinis on the beach while playing beach volley, and I have found that the Mediterraneo one pieces are perfect for surfing or stand up paddling.
Q. HOC. Where do you sell most of your swimwear, is it mainly Italy, across Europe, or elsewhere, and do you have a best selling item that sells out quicker than any other?
A. Valeria. Luckily Adalù is doing very good worldwide. The Japanese market is the best at the moment, but also in Italy my designs are very appreciated, which makes me very happy. The best sellers are the Mezzaluna and the American models that’s why I replace them each year with different patterns and colors.
Q. HOC. How do you market your brand differently to other independent swimwear designers?
A. Valeria. I’m focused on eco sustainability. I try to make the smaller impact possible, so no plastic packaging and all created and produced with low pollution impact.
Q. HOC. What has been the biggest learning curve since you launched Adalù?
A. Valeria. I faced many difficulties as normally happens with small companies. Each time I get into a problem, I see it as a challenge to overcome and to help me grow from a business stance. Luckily I learn a lot of lessons everyday and it is something that makes me happy, as it because it means that I’m growing daily step by step.
Q. HOC. What was the best piece of advice you were given before you launched your online swimwear company?
A. Valeria. Many people who own businesses come from families who do a similar job, it wasn’t like this for me, but my biggest luck was to have the trust of my parents who believed in me and have always supported me, telling me to do what makes me happy and to follow my dreams. This was the best advice ever.
Q. HOC. What advice would you offer someone who is embarking on a career designing swimwear, or any form of fashion?
A. Valeria. First of all to focus on their idea. It is important to havea clear and realistic project in mind, and just follow their heart.
Q. HOC. As you are busy running a successful business these days, can we ask – do you still have time to visit the beach and surf?
A. Valeria. Surfing is a real passion for me and it gives me lot of energy and it helps to push my creativity forward. So, I manage to find the time to do it whenever possible, and I have become very good in scheduling my day without overlooking any surf sessions. I wake up very early, and also I become very productive after sports activities.
For more information visit www.adalu.it Check socials for @adalubikini.
Thank you for sharing your interesting business story for House of Coco Magazine’s Women Worldwide series.