RIBBON BELTS, STRIPES AND A DOSE OF PAUL & SHARK

The summer polo season finally closes with Global Port Polo Cup and Paul and Shark Polo Cup at the grand and well-manicured 6-hectare Enrique Zobel field.

With a touch of formality - long flowy dresses that suggest the wind on the grasslands and pale blue, red, pink and white linen trousers paired with their favorite suede gommino’s, espadrilles, penny loafers and K. Jacques, were a favorite worn by the spectators. 

Aside from Last Sunday’s match between Santi Elizalde’s team black and Sonny Borromeo’s team white, experience still triumphed over promise and Elizalde’s team took the laurels for the day. 

On a lighter note, please save outlandish toppers for dia de los muertos and the Kentucky Derby. Can we all just look like Nacho Figueras?!

My usual penny loafers, bespoke navy trousers, J. Crew shirt and Ralph Lauren Ribbon belt

Myself with Ingrid Chua, Alexander Catoire and Aidan Sullivan

BEN ROBSON – SAVING ELEPHANTS FOR FASHION

Love Brand & Co., the prestigious beachwear company, recently announced Ben Robson’s continued commitment as the face of Love Brand & Co. for this year’s Spring Summer 14 Campaign. 

British Actor, Ben Robson in Saville Row's Dege & Skinner

Following his vision, “Fashion for the love of elephants”, a movement popularly known as ‘Trunks for Trunks’, Oliver Tomalin, the eco-conscious entrepreneur and director of Love Brand & Co., directed this year’s photo shoot and campaign held at the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, the world’s most successful orphan-elephant rescue and rehabilitation center in Nairobi, Kenya.

Last year up to 36,000 elephants were killed for their ivory. 1 life lost every 15 minutes. At the current rate of poaching African Elephants could face extinction in the wild by 2025.

“I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to engage with these magnificent creatures in such close proximity in their own surroundings. It is something I will never forget and made it even harder to understand how people could possibly bring any harm to any of them”,said Robson. “Since this experience, it has really brought to life the great work that both the DSWT and Love Brand & Co. are striving for in Elephant conservation, and I am glad to be a part of it”, he added.

For Tomalin,“To see the orphans again was amazing. I remembered some of them well from my last visit, so it was great to see them looking well and to also learn that others I met before have now moved out of the orphanage onto the next stage of their careful reintroduction to the wild. It's very motivating. I am so pleased to support this remarkable charity and it is very special to witness first-hand the elephant lives being saved”.

The striking images of Love Brand & Co.’s new campaign transmit the complete concept of the British label in single images. Showing the collection of state-of-the-art swimwear with the animal the products and brand endeavours to save, all conveyed by emerging British acting talent, heartthrob and elephant lover, Ben Robson.

The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is one of the three Charity Partners Love Brand & Co. is supporting through its lifestyle in aid of endangered wildlife concept.

BUY, SUPPORT!

Love Brand & Co. donates 5 % of its sales to elephant charities Elephant Family, The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and Tusk Trust, raising key awareness and funds for vital elephant conservation projects. Love Brand & Co. has over 150 stockists across 45 countries and opened its Flagship Boutique in London last year.

IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO BE WELL DRESSED IN CHEAP SHOES

Social responsibility and because life is too short for ugly shoes. Seriously! Taking inspiration from both traditional British footwear and military uniforms, Centre Commercial finally reveals a line of elegant footwear, a version of the iconic Derbys and Richelieus.

Handcrafted in a family workshop in Brazil, Centre Commercial uses ecologically chrome-free tanned leather from acacia tree extracts, and organic cotton, which helps reduce pollution in waters used by tanneries.

Dope and more reason to grab a pair, Centre Commercial are the first shoes with crepe soles made from 100% Amazonian rubber and guess what, the Amazon is the only place on earth where rubber trees grow in the wild.

ON A FLAT NOTE AND MOVING IN

Ok, so I have not been actively posting for a while, mostly due to the fact that I've been pretty occupied at work and yes, my sister and I just moved in to our new flat. Over the past 60 days after Nonno’s departure (our beloved Schnauzer), we decided to look for a new and bigger space to transfer, should we get a replacement (probably another schnauzer). 

Honestly, moving is an exciting and stressful venture packed with mixed emotions and oftentimes a few surprises - the joy of having brand new flooring,  newly painted walls in crisp white, and yes, everything is fresh and clean. 

(My rattan love seat paired with hampton-inspired striped throw, vintage Anton from Chrysara Nest, Diptyque to keep our flat smelling realling good, my vintage water jar lamp and mom's shell tassels and coffee table. More photos HERE)

Moving to a new space also means moving only what you really need and want. Start fresh, so why clutter up your surroundings with unnecessary items? I have given out ½ of my wardrobe for new ones, gave our building guard 6 pairs of old brogues and lace-ups and threw 7 years worth of DETAILS, Esquire, GQ and Vanity Fair - we (I) seriously just had to let go.

Though I was told by a friend to always keep an eye on the market for dual-purpose furniture that offer extra space like a Murphy bed or an ottoman cum storage, I refuse to listen (I honestly think it’s hideous!).  I have always been logical when decorating. Like fashion, both share similar design principles when creating furnishings in a space or an ensemble of clothing like determining a focal point, creating the silhouette, balancing proportion and details.

It’s all about accessorizing the basics and the things you love – neutral couch, 4 panels of drapes for that much added drama and of course, lamps!

Also, there should always be a connection between materials and the story. Hah! I should just shup up and continue decorating.