French-Inspired Living, Wherever You Are
Welcome back to the Velvet Runway and this feature about Creating a Cosy Living Room: The Art of Comfort and French-Inspired Living. A welcoming living room is about much more than choosing the right sofa or finding the perfect colour scheme. It is about creating a space where people feel instantly at ease — somewhere …
Welcome back to The Velvet Runway and this feature about Black Friday 2026: A Guide to Shopping Smarter and more Thoughtfully, with practical tips and my favourite retailers for style, beauty, jewellery and home. As the festive season approaches, Black Friday is a good opportunity to start thinking about Christmas gifts, find a few thoughtful …
Welcome back to The Velvet Runway and this feature where we are delving into the A to Z of French Food: Letter L – Local Legends & Lasting Traditions. There’s something about the letter L that brings to mind layers and lovely scents, and invites us to dive in. Indeed, it’s easy to imagine leisurely …
The Art of Elegance is often associated with the way we dress, the places we visit or the things we surround ourselves with. We picture beautifully tailored clothes, a thoughtfully arranged home, a leisurely lunch in the sunshine or a life that seems to move at a gentler pace. And while these things can certainly …
Welcome back to The Velvet Runway and this feature where we are delving into the A to Z of French Food: Letter K – Kitchen Classics & Keeping Traditions. The letter K is unusual in French, but it’s surprisingly common in the regional languages of Brittany and Alsace. The letter K is strong looking, and …
Welcome back to The Velvet Runway, where we are exploring Why September Is the New January: The French Art of La Rentrée. Everyone talks about January as though it is the great moment for a reset. New year, new you. A new version of ourselves, preferably healthier, more organised and considerably more productive than the …
If you’ve ever wondered Why France Slows Down in August and so many shops, businesses and even entire villages seem quieter, the answer lies in one of France’s oldest and most cherished traditions: les grandes vacances. When I first moved to France over thirty years ago, one of the biggest surprises wasn’t the food, the …
Welcome back to The Velvet Runway and this feature where we are delving into the A to Z of French Food: Letter J – Joie de Vivre & Joyful Flavours. The letter J is full of everyday French favourites, from iconic sandwiches and slow-cooked classics to timeless culinary techniques, regional wines, and delicious pastries. In …
Welcome back to The Velvet Runway and this feature where we are delving into the A to Z of French Food: Letter I – Island Indulgences & Iconic French Favourites. The letter I brings with it the idea of an island somewhere in the sun, the air warm with vanilla and caramel, and that’s because …
Welcome back to the Velvet Runway. In this summer wellness guide, I’m sharing simple French-inspired rituals to help you create a gentler seasonal reset. As nature all around us shifts with the days getting longer and the air getting warmer, it seems to nudge us to reconnect with ourselves as well. But there’s not need …
Welcome back to The Velvet Runway and this feature where we are delving into A to Z of French Food: Letter H – Hors-d’œuvres & Humble French Classics. When exploring French food beginning with the letter H, it quickly becomes clear that this quiet letter has far more flavour than first expected. From comforting family …