Arena Gold Cup Outfit Inspo

This weekend it's The Arena Gold Cup so I'm off to Berkshire for The Day Job. It's usually arctic-ly cold where the only warmth can be gleaned from loudly cheering on the teams before retiring to the Clubhouse. I need some sartorial inspiration so I look chic but not chilly. 

There's always a great party afterwards run by a greater guy called Roy Prisk – get your tickets here

Credit where credit's due: They All Hate Us & Google images

Good Relations

The Phone Book Interviews

What's the best thing about a passport? Is it simply the ticket to somewhere exotic and away from the humdrum? Is it the document of freedom? Is it the annoying wallet of information you turn the house upside down for after putting it in a safe place?

The passport, I think, is the key to possibility. With that in your hand – horrendous photo obligatory as only assholes pose for passport snaps – you never know who you're going to meet and who you'll click with on your travels.

One such person I was fortunate to meet across the pond is Kelly Downey. She's basically the pin up for what all PR women should look and work like. As well as helping me with editorial copy and info for The Day Job she can also be relied upon for a little pick me up mid-afternoon email as our Gloucestershire/Palm Beach, Florida working days align. 

She kindly agreed to put fingers to key pad as one of my Phone Book Interviews.

Job Title: Director of Palm Beach for Shamin Abas Public Relations

Job Description:  SAPR is a dynamic boutique PR agency with roots in Palm Beach, New York City and the Hamptons. We manage a variety of clients across the luxury lifestyle industry, with a particular focus on fashion, beauty, high-profile business CEOs and the niche sport of polo. Clients include shoe designer Sam Edelman, legendary supermodel Veronica Webb, polo player Nic Roldan, blinc cosmetics and advertising powerhouse Zimmerman Advertising, among others. We additionally handle the PR, sponsorships, event planning and execution for the Bridgehampton Polo Club, Greenwich Polo Club and the High Goal All-Star Polo Challenge. 

The Big Break:  I worked for many years as a news reporter and producer for CBS affiliates in Michigan and Florida. After spending one too many Friday nights chasing an ambulance, I moved to the PR world – and never looked back! 

I do this job for... The fun of it!  (Okay, also for the paycheck.) But, there are very few people who wake up excited for what the day might bring. I’m one of those people! 

I couldn't get through the working week without... My fabulous team! That, and coffee – lots of it.  Late night events = a major caffeine habit.

Who inspires you? My mother has inspired me since day one. Her work ethic is what pushes me every day to succeed. Shamin Abas has taught me everything I know about the industry and I always strive to represent her company positively. And Beyonce. Have you SEEN her recent documentary? It brought tears to my eyeballs.

Which moments are most rewarding? Landing a dream story for one of my clients.

What attributes are vital for success? Being fearless. You need to have the ability to tell a client no. Because they aren’t always right. 

What essentials do you carry in your handbag? I currently have 83 lip glosses or lip sticks in my bag. I’m a goo hoarder. Okay, kidding, but I do probably have about a dozen. I’m also always stocked with business cards. You never know who you’re going to meet out and about. 

Describe Palm Beach in 3 words: Sun. Luxury. Fabulous.

Best bar in Palm Beach? Buccan for the food and atmosphere. Cuchina for late night shenanigans.

And in Wellington? The Players Club is the only place to be during polo season – especially on Sunday nights after the match. The after party at International Polo Club moves to The Players Club and spills over well into wee hours of the morning. Always fantastic people watching as you get to see top polo players and some of the most elite equestrian riders in the world getting a little naughty.

Words of wisdom?  “When I leave this world, I’ll leave no regrets.”

Best professional advice? Learn to say no. 

The most unusual adventure you've had recently? We recently hosted the first ever equestrian event on Palm Beach at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Club. The crew from Extra was on hand, along with writers from the Wall Street Journal and all of the South Florida press. It was a challenge to juggle interviews with Mr. Trump, Melania Trump, singer Casadee Pope, Georgina Bloomberg, and all of the top riders – all set against the dramatic backdrop of a show jumping ring on the Intracoastal.  We managed to survive – trying to look as glamorous as possible – in the near 90-degree heat. [All sounds too Jilly Cooper for  words to me!]

The last time you were shy or scared? I was recently petrified to do the maid-of-honor speech at my best friend’s wedding. It wasn’t that I was scared to speak in front of a crowd, I just wanted to do her justice. Of course, a few glasses of champagne helped with that…it usually does!

The Head's Up: Continuing to grow with the company, adding to our stellar list of clientele and expanding polo’s footprint in the States. 

The Plug: Our upcoming High Goal All-Star Polo Challenge, captained by Facundo Pieres and Nic Roldan. Hello! Hanging around some extremely good-looking polo players is just part of the job...! 

The beautiful SAPR offices, The Fish Bowl

Sunday Browsing

I'm currently having a Sunday browse of the street style pictures from the global fashion weeks; lazily easing myself into the day from my incredibly indulgent seat in bed with a little fashion reverie. The only thing which would complete this cosy picture would be a tall black coffee. 

Starbucks, do you deliver? 

WHERE is this jacket from? Someone PLEASE tell me!

Credit where credit's due: Refinery 29, Vogue & Stylist

The Kooples Love Affair Continued

For all you shivering around London today, jangling with Pro Plus and too much coffee after a month on the fashion road, I hope you're looking like this latest Kooples lookbook.

Don't struggle with the avant grade outfits of Paris nor fiddle with the pulled together ensembles of New York. Relax. This is London. And we love nothing more than the bed head hair and the shirt untucked look of the nonchalant fashion person. The only accessory you really need is a sense of humour. Put the pouts away.

Anti Valentine's

What? Valentine's Day? Had you not heard? Did you studiously ignore the memo covered in kisses with the faint scent of eau de roses? You hadn't had the constant pink-love-heart-kiss-a-bloody-puppy barrage of ....what would you call it... what is that word? Oh yes, that's it: crap. 

Before anyone starts trolling (you know you've really made it when you've got haters) and calling me a crone-like, barren old cynic (you probably wouldn't be far off), I don't dislike the day because of any tantrum-type "well if I'm not getting cards professing undying love, then the whole world can't have it (or be getting It) either" feelings. I just don't think that there should be so much hyperbole over one day.

Surely if you adore someone, you show them that you do on a regular basis? You can't wear your fat pants all year round and only pull out the Agent Provocateur on some baltic evening in February. You don't store up your trip to your favourite, shadows like velvet, wine like silk, food like nectar restaurant for the one mid-week night when you're guaranteed not to be able to get the alcove seat? You don't really only think of candle light and flowers and jewellery and silly love notes scribbled on the back of cigarette packets for one day a year, do you? 

God, DO you? 

Then that is the infinitely more worrying situation. 

Don't worry if the Post Man rocks up with only brown-enveloped bills and a better-luck-next-time sympathy smile. Don't panic-lie when a colleague asks you what flowers you got from a mystery man. Do not break down in piteous (and pitying) sobs on the Tube/in the car/on your boss' shoulder because even your Mum hasn't bothered this year. That goes for you boys too. 

Valentine's Day, the 14th of February is NOT the only day for romance. Rainbows and champagne and sex happens every other day of 2013. So relax.

Incidentally, if anyone is penning me a Valentine's card, the only words I want are dirty ones. Just like this February weather. 

If you are looking for the romantic Anti Valentine's Lonely Hearts Club movie-athon then I suggest:

• Casablanca ("Here's lookin' at you kid" and Ingrid Bergman looking cool in the heat and amongst the Nazis)
• The Thomas Crown Affair (The original one. With Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway being unmentionable with the chess set)
• Gone with the Wind (Clark Gable was made to be Rhett Butler and "not give a damn")
• The Fabulous Baker Boys (Pffeifer spilling out of her red dress and wreathing atop a grand piano and Jeff Bridges being the eternal f*** up we all want to save)

Piece of Cake

So tomorrow, Pancake Day, Shrove Tuesday. The party kick off to Lent. The serenade to that one naughty thing that you really love. Sounds frickin' awful.

Tut, tut all you want, but I don't think I'm giving anything up. Naturally I have far too many vices to knock on the head so for me to turn from Rhianna to Taylor Swift would require a 180 of gigantic proportions and a bad mood for the next 40 days. 

So rather than give something up, I'm going to start something. 

The "Yes" attitude. "Yes" to the gym, spinning, 10 extra sit ups in the morning. "Yes" to religiously writing the novel. "Yes" to making an effort with old friends. "Yes" to being brave.

I don't think I can go as far as saying "Yes" to literally everything – I know what my friends are like and I think a tag line like that could get me in to some serious trouble – but there's too much negativity flying about me at the moment and I'm going to do something about it. 

After all it's only 40 days and then I can go back to being cynical and saying "No"...

I will be off to a pancake party tomorrow night, armed with lemon and sugar – which sounds like the first few bars of a cocktail tune if ever I heard one – and prepared to flip some batter skywards. Or maybe I'll wait 'til they land on my plate? I don't think I've got the action right, best leave it to the experts; the kitchen is the natural habitat for tossers anyway, right? Sorry, obvious gag. 

For an easy-to-do-don't-have-to-spend-half-the-day-preparing recipe head to my friend's blog, My Boiled Egg and Soldiers, here. 

Credit where credit's due: Here