About The Velvet Runway
The Velvet Runway is an award-winning style, lifestyle, and travel destination for women who value elegance, intentional living, and timeless inspiration.
The Velvet Runway is a curated space where style meets substance — celebrating fashion, beauty, travel, wellness, and the art of living beautifully, with purpose and ease. Our mission is to provide practical tips, curated itineraries, and inspiration that elevate everyday experiences—whether you’re looking to explore new destinations, refresh your wardrobe, or simply find ways to enhance your daily life.
Created with a passion for exploration and discovery, our content is crafted to inspire and empower you in every journey you take, from the big adventures to the small moments of joy.
About The Velvet Runway : Elegance, intention, and timeless inspiration
From refined fashion and everyday wellness to chic travel guides, the blog celebrates beauty in all its forms. In 2025, it was named Best Travel & Lifestyle Blog – France by the LUXlife Magazine Travel & Tourism Awards and Best Style & Travel Blog – France by the Corporate Vision Global Business Awards.
Today, The Velvet Runway blends personal style, conscious beauty, inspired living, meaningful travel, and French culture into one elegant, thoughtful platform designed to uplift your everyday life.
This space isn’t just about beautiful places or polished outfits (although you’ll certainly find those!). It’s about living with intention, choosing quality over quantity, seeking connection over consumption, and embracing timeless style in all aspects of life.
Over time, this space has grown from a personal passion for style and travel (and a blog that only my family read!) into something truly special, and I want to ensure that what comes next is even more thoughtful and inspiring and feels authentic.
I believe style is more than just what you wear—it’s how you live—and I’m thrilled that The Velvet Runway has become a trusted space for readers seeking elevated inspiration across fashion, lifestyle, and travel. Whether you’re looking to refine your wardrobe, plan a stylish escape, or simply bring more beauty into your daily life, the blog offers curated content designed to inspire, inform, and delight.
The Story Behind the Name
For those who are curious about origins the name “The Velvet Runway” reflects the spirit of the site:
“Runway” for travel and exploration — the airport runway that leads to new horizons — but also the fashion runway for creativity, and personal expression.
“Velvet” for the touch of elegance, depth, and luxurious softness that I hope you feel in every story shared.
What You’ll Find on The Velvet Runway
The Velvet Runway is built on six content pillars—all rooted in a commitment to slow living, intentional choices, and elegance without excess. A seventh — My Spanish Life — is on the horizon, reflecting my growing cross-border life between France and Spain.
1. Style: Sustainable, Authentic and Refined
At the heart of The Velvet Runway is a deep appreciation for style that goes beyond the surface, and as a qualified personal stylist, I’m passionate about helping you dress with confidence, purpose and ease.
From effortlessly chic outfit inspiration to thoughtful reflections on personal image, fashion here is never just about what you wear—but how you wear it and what it says about your story.
Here, you’ll find guidance on creating a thoughtful wardrobe that works for your lifestyle, with an emphasis on sustainable fashion, capsule dressing, and versatile pieces worn well and worn often. Expect practical tips, seasonal edits, and style inspiration that goes beyond the trends.
Fashion features will focus on timeless, wearable pieces that exude elegance without chasing fleeting trends. With a blend of wardrobe staples, seasonal edits, and styling advice, I encourage you to cultivate a personal style that feels authentic, confident, and refined.
We are committed to sustainable style—exploring how to invest in quality, build an intentional wardrobe, and rewear pieces creatively and confidently.
2. Beauty: Effortless Ethical Elegance
Beauty is more than skin deep, but we also believe in rituals that uplift. This pillar focuses on conscious beauty—from skincare that supports your natural glow to minimalist makeup routines and beauty brands making a difference.
From clean skincare to everyday makeup staples, we focus on beauty that uplifts — ethically, sustainably, and effortlessly.
3. Lifestyle: Inspired Living
A beautiful life is one built on clarity, calm, and thoughtful choices and our lifestyle content is all about crafting a life that feels as beautiful as it looks. From mindful routines and wellness habits to ageing positively, elegant interior touches and personal rituals, you’ll find ideas to support health, balance, and intentionality—whether you’re at home or on the move.
Sustainability at The Velvet Runway extends beyond the wardrobe. We believe that a truly elegant lifestyle is one rooted in intention and balance, which includes thoughtful choices at home and in everyday living. From championing eco-conscious exteriors and interiors to sharing tips on reducing waste and embracing mindfulness we will encourage you to create beautiful, lasting spaces that reflect both personal style and a respect for the planet. It’s about living well—with less, but better.
4. Travel: Connection, Not Consumption
Travel has long been part of The Velvet Runway’s identity. After years of offering bespoke travel planning services, in 2025 I’ve chosen to step back and focus instead on sharing travel itineraries, stories, and tips from my personal experiences. This shift reflects a deeper commitment to sustainable, soulful travel—celebrating the joy of discovery, supporting local communities, and creating memories that connect us to the world, rather than just consuming it.
From French villages to Canadian national parks, from boutique stays to slow coastal escapes, travel here focuses on connection — with people, places, and ourselves.
Travel content on The Velvet Runway is designed for the discerning explorer—someone who seeks not just destinations, but experiences. From romantic city breaks and quiet coastal escapes to cultural deep-dives and boutique hotel reviews, every post is crafted to inspire travel that’s meaningful and stylish.
We’re passionate about traveling in a way that respects local cultures, supports independent businesses, preserves the beauty of the destinations we love, and encourages meaningful journeys that leave a lighter footprint—because true luxury lies in connection, not excess.
5. My French Life — Stories, Style, Culture, and Everyday Inspiration
After more than thirty years living in France (having arrived for “one year” and never quite leaving), France has shaped everything from my aesthetic to my values. My French Life is a window into our life in France — from style and beauty to culture, rituals, and daily inspiration (seen through the eyes of a mother and daughter).
My French Life offers a closer, more intimate look at:
- French Style
- everyday life and cultural rituals
- French Beauty and Pharmacy
- French Food and Drink
- French Travel and Destinations
- French Hotels and Restaurants
- Life In and Around Paris
6. Blogging Tips — A New Chapter
After almost a decade of blogging — with successes, mistakes, pivots, awards, and a complete reshaping of my direction — it felt important to share this journey with other writers and creators.
The Blogging Tips category offers honest insights, lessons learned, guidance on creating sustainable content, and support for bloggers who want to build something meaningful in a world that is rapidly changing. Expect insights on content creation, authenticity, SEO-friendly storytelling, creativity, and long-term growth.
Soon to Come: My Spanish Life (Pillar Seven — in progress)
Three years ago, my family and I found a small haven in the south of Spain — a place that has since become a second home. We now spend three to four months a year there, travelling by car from northern France — always choosing a new route, discovering new villages, and uncovering hotels and landscapes that deserve to be shared.
Inspired by sun-washed days, Andalusian charm, and the art of slowing down, My Spanish Life will include:
- Destinations to discover in Spain from sleepy villages to cosmopolitan cities
- Hotel and Restaurant Recommendations
- life in and around Estepona
- the Andalusian approach to slow, joyful living
It will unfold gently, just as life in Spain does.
Our Values: Rooted in Sustainability
At the heart of The Velvet Runway is a belief in living beautifully—with care. Whether it’s choosing garments that last, traveling mindfully, or supporting brands with purpose, everything shared here is designed to encourage a more sustainable, authentic, and elegant way of life.
Sustainable Style – We believe that style should be timeless, not trend-driven. With a background as a qualified personal stylist, I focus on helping you build a curated wardrobe that feels both elegant and effortless—centered on investment pieces, capsule collections, and versatile staples you’ll wear for years. Sustainability here means choosing quality over quantity, embracing what you already own, and finding joy in the art of re-wear.
Natural Beauty – Beauty is an extension of our values—and our wellbeing. Here, you’ll discover clean, cruelty-free beauty, minimalist routines, and wellness-focused self-care that puts your skin and the planet first. From refillable packaging to plant-based ingredients and ethical sourcing, every product spotlighted is chosen with intention. We’ll also celebrate the best of French beauty, blending iconic brands with under-the-radar finds that embody craftsmanship, purity, and timeless appeal.
Mindful Living – A beautiful life starts with what you intentionally invite into it. From slow routines to thoughtful interiors, The Velvet Runway champions a lifestyle rooted in clarity, calm, and connection. Expect features on wellness, seasonal rituals, home inspiration, and purposeful living—all designed to bring more depth and presence to your everyday. Whether it’s reducing waste, choosing quality home essentials, or creating calming, purposeful spaces, we believe in living beautifully—with less, but better.
Conscious Travel – Travel is at the heart of our story—but we believe in exploring the world responsibly. Travel isn’t just about where you go—it’s about how you engage with the world. After years of designing bespoke luxury journeys, I’m shifting toward something more grounded: travel that favors connection over consumption. Through curated itineraries, cultural insights, and practical tips, we’ll explore how to travel with curiosity, care, and a lighter footprint—while still seeking beauty and meaning in every journey. True luxury lies in connection, not excess—and our goal is to inspire journeys that are as enriching as they are respectful to the people and places we visit.
Sustainability, for us, is not a rulebook but an approach to life: living beautifully with care, and choosing “less, but better”.
Meet the Editors
About Julia Rees — Founder & Editor-in-Chief
I’m Julia — stylist, writer, traveller, and the heart behind The Velvet Runway. I was born in the UK but I have lived in France for the last thirty years, so I guess I’ve acquired the “French touch”. I love fashion and travelling whenever and wherever I can.
I moved to France as a young woman without speaking the language, planning a temporary adventure. It evolved into a lifelong home, a place where I discovered my voice, my style, and the slow, intentional way of living that now underpins this blog.
Both my daughters were raised in France and now both live in Paris. My youngest daughter, Hannah Rees, has recently become a Senior Editor on the blog and I hope that you will enjoy her articles about French Style and Living in Paris.
My professional path has been anything but linear: I have a Master’s degree in Pathology, followed by a 15 year career in Finance, where analytical clarity became second nature, then transitioned to teaching in France for over a decade, before qualifying as a personal stylist in 2016 and a life coach and certified travel advisor in 2020.
Each chapter has shaped how I see the world — analytical yet creative, structured yet intuitive, grounded yet curious.
Throughout all of these chapters, two passions have remained constant: style and travel. They are how I make sense of the world — through details, stories, and moments that connect us.
I created The Velvet Runway in 2015 as a small personal project. Nearly a decade later, it has grown into a home for meaningful inspiration — a place where I share everything from French-inspired style and conscious beauty to mindful living and curated travel experiences.
Though I’ve stepped away from offering bespoke travel planning services, travel remains close to my heart. Going forward, I’ll be sharing curated itineraries, travel stories, and helpful tips from my personal experiences—always with a strong emphasis on sustainable travel.
Today, I divide my time between France and Spain, drawing inspiration from both cultures. My mission is simple: to empower women to live beautifully — with confidence, intention, and a refined sense of self.
Hannah Rees — Senior Editor
Hannah Rees is a writer based in Paris. She divides her time between completing her second novel, writing songs on her guitar, and creating fashion pieces for private clients. With a strong foundation in fashion design, she draws inspiration from houses such as Prada, Lemaire, House of Marlow, Saint Laurent, and Stella McCartney.
An avid traveller who dreams of exploring Iceland, Hannah brings a creative, poetic voice to The Velvet Runway’s cultural and fashion stories.
Join the Journey
However you found our site, I hope you will take a little time to browse and that you will leave feeling inspired.
The Velvet Runway is more than a blog—it’s a shared journey. A place to explore, to escape, to reconnect with what matters, and to rediscover elegance in both the extraordinary and the everyday. Whether you’re planning your next trip, refining your wardrobe, or simply seeking a dose of inspiration, this is a space to slow down, savor, and reconnect with what makes life feel elegant and intentional.
I’m thrilled to have you as part of our community and am excited to be a part of your journey. Dive into our guides, explore our tips, and let’s discover all the ways we can make life a bit more stylish, adventurous, and meaningful—together!
So take your time, wander through the pages, and I hope you leave feeling inspired to live — and dress, and travel — with beauty, intention, and joy.
Here’s to continued inspiration, elevated experiences, and the beauty of the journey. x
Look good, feel good, live your best life 🙂
With love,
