Review of Park Plaza Westminster Bridge 4* hotel

Hello Chicas!

Over the weekend I stayed at the incredible Park Plaza Westminster bridge hotel and felt compelled to leave a review.

I know a lot of my readers come from overseas and I absolutely think this is THE hotel if you are coming for a London visit, long or short.

Location-wise, it's hands down the most most central you can find with the msot stunning views of all the land marks.  Placed in front of the London Eye and Big Ben, you truly see and feel the magic of London with these iconic views stretched in front of you.  Also, it means you can just walk to these sites, or even walk to Oxford Street too for shopping.  It is also just a 4 minute walk from the Westminster tube station or Padington.

At night you can really see the delight of the London Eye ad Big Ben illuminated

Cheeky Big Ben in the background!

What a view to wake up to!

On to the hotel itself:  I thought the restaruant and the bar on the first floor were really exceptional.  They are fabulous if you don't have time to leave the hotel as they boast the same famous views, as well as having a great glamorous feel to the bar (which is entry only on proof that you are staying at the hotel making it all the more exclusive.)  With a great cocktail list, or even just for a coffee in the morning I can't  recommend enough.

The restaurant Brasserie Joel was also excellent - a great selection of French cuisine to suit most tastes and fabulous for a steak.  We were a party of 12 and they had no problems with serving us all an excellent meal together which other restaurants would struggle  with.  I can't remember the name of the red wine we had, but it was exceptional too and made the meal.  All in all, for a restaurant within a hotel it was very good as I do not normally except a great quality from a restaurant based within a hotel!

Sorry for the stock photo of the rooms - I was too busy taking pictures of my views of London to remember  the room!"  The bed was super soft, extra large and one of the most comfortable I have ever slept in .  With a modern bathroom, small living room and huge windows with iconic views, it really is the best place to stay.  I have stayed  in so many London hotels but this is now top of my list and will be returned too for sure.

If you have the chance make sure to pay the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge hotel a visit

Lot of Love xx

Louis Mariette Hat to see the Queen

Wow! Things have been crazy!

Yesterday I went to Ascot to see the Bentley Motors Royal Windsor Club Final for the Guards Polo club.  Being held in Windsor Great Park it was the perfect setting for a glorious day.

I had never seen Polo before, and so this was a first time and totally doing it in style! Invited by my lovely friend and photographer GemRey, who took this great picture, it was definitely an exciting time to go!

At these events, fashion is everything, so I had to think long and hard what to wear for this formal summer wear occasion.

I choose to wear a burnt orange dress by the Italian brand Blugirl with some cute nude stiletto heeled sandals.  But truly the masterpiece was the gorgeous bespoke hat made by Milliner Louis Mariette who went with me to the polo.  A fantastic friend and so full of warmth and bubbling personality, it was a pleasure to wear one of his creations.

The hat I am wearing in the picture is called Clematis - blush. (RRP £730) and perfect for watching the polo.  This gorgeous side hat has an edgy feel to it with its golden spikes, but softened with its roses and swaroski.  I felt the part at the Polo and it was all down to the hat! And as Louis' site says: 'intensively attractive and stylish compliment to any outfit'.

Louis Mariette hat Clematis Blush

The whole day was incredible but got made even better by seeing the queen!  She attended to give the prizes and I LOVE the first photo as it is me taking a selfie getting the queen in the background (not in shot - how annoying!!)

I hope you enjoyed this post as it really was a truly special day

xxx Fiocco

OOTD Asos Black Mesh insert Maxi dress

Hey Dolls, 

I don't often post formal OOTDs on here but here's a goody.  It's called Black mesh insert maxi dress. It is a stunning dress perfect for formal occasions and was an absolute bargain from Asos.

Sooo drumroll on the price.... Just £17!  Can you believe it!?  Reduced from £25.99 and available here.

It's hard when youv'e got a formal occasion but you need a new dress.  I have several lovely formal dresses - did you see the melon coloured Alberta Ferretti dress?  But if you are with the same crowd it is often hard to repeat the same dress.  So, I had a little search on ASOS through their floor lengths and ended up getting two very similar ones.

I love the elegance of this racer neck dress and it has a stunning back which is a bit of a T style.  The material isn't the most expensive, but hey, what do you expect for £17!  It also has a thigh length split and looks perfect with heels in any colour.  It has a thin mesh see-through panel under the bust which I just love.

But I also bought a second dress which I didn't wear....and I love it more but it's a tad too short and was also another bargain at £25. (ps I'm 5 foot 10 so a floor length dress is a little tricky).  This one was a Club L racer front dress - but it is just too short and unforgiving because of its mermaid bottom.  I didn't have the heart to turn it back though....perhaps I'll wear it one day with no heels?

Love my LBD from ASOS

What do you think?  I think it was a fabulous buy for such a good price and a great way to wear a new outfit perfect for the occasion without breaking the bank!

Fiocco xxx

One of the problems of being a makeup junkie

Hello my Lovlies!

I have a small confession - I am a huge makeup junkie - and theres nothing that makes me as mad as expensive makeup that has nasty packaging. The number of times I've bought products or brands purely because of their products.  Chanel is my personal favorite as it looks just as sleek and new after 6 months just by giving the packaging a once over with a makeup wipe.  On the other hand, you have NARS - I love their products, but man I can't stand the rubber packaging which gets so dirty.

So here's where the extent of my snobbery can be seen - with YSL. I love their sleek look perspex plastic and gold lids with their trademark label.  Unfortunately though, after a few months of rough and tumble in my makeup bag they can end up looking like the one on the right!  And I can't bare it.  It's kills my soul.  And it means I purchase new ones!

The nasty chipped gold lid looks so cheap even though it was 75% full! I felt like I was forced to buy a new one just so it had that beautiful new feel again.  There's no point having a beautiful YSL lipgloss if it ends up looking like like the one one on the right... I mean come on!

Are you girls with me on this one, or am I completely unreasonable!?!?!  I mean it's still 3/4 full but I can't stand its nasty appearance!  

Oh dear - I need a life. But hopefully you makeup junkies understand!

x
xx fiocco bianco
x

Autumn Look: Zara quilted Jacket & Moschino Bag

Hello!

Today has been really Autumnal here in London.  It's only mid August and it's already freezing.  Long gone are the shorts and skirts, so its back to jeans and jackets.

I've dragged out of the closet my Zara quilted jacket that I bought last Christmas.  It's a really dark green with brown detailing which I think is perfect for these Autumnal days.  It keeps the chill off but still wraps you up warm when it gets colder at night.  This seasons Zara quilted jacket (available here)  is beautiful too, but this season is in navy blue and black.

I've matched it with my new Moschino bag (available here) which seems to spruce up any outfit.  Even if my hair is completely wild.

Hope you like it!

What are your Autumn staples???

xx

Business Fashion

Morning Ladies!

I know a lot of you ladies like me have to hit up the office most days and its hard to dress formally and fashionably too! But here's my go to on how to look fashionable chic at work!

I'll usually put on something like the following:

Outfit:

Topshop Gray Blazer with 3/4 rouched sleeves similar here

Topshop short sleeve lace crop top available here

Benetton high waisted gray pencil skirt

Toms flats 

Accessories:
Moschino SS13 leather bag available here

Makeup - Benefit the POREfessional primer, YSL la teint touche eclait foundation b50, Bobbi Brown bronzer in golden light, Benefit blush in Dallas, Dior Show mascara in BlackOut, Lord and Berry smudgeable eyeliner in smoke, Stila Lip Glaze in raspberry

And thats it, hope you like it!!

Kisses from London!! x

Lazy Sunday and Pink Lipgloss

Hello!  It's a Sunday, and about to pop out into London to enjoy the bank holiday!  So I've gone for a super laid back look as today is all about chilling. 

I went for - Beach look hair (bumble and bumble surf spray), faded jeans, hoodie and subtle makeup.  Oh, and then some neon pink lipgloss by YSL to make it pop!

Clothes: hoodie - Jack Wills this season, jeans - Guess Letitia skinny jeans,

Makeup - Benefit playstick, MAC magically cool liquid powder in Truth and light, Diorshow mascara, urban decay 24/7 black eye pencil, YSL pink liploss in golden fuscia 4