Style Archives - Page 5 of 14 - Mr. Salt and Pepper

Empire City

17th April 2018

New York, New York.

A few weeks ago, Renata and I flew to New York to wine, dine and have an absolute blast! *pardy non-stop* We spent 7 days scouting the Big Apple and eating our body weight in pizza on pizza, whilst having zero crust to give. *postpones beach body goals for next year*

This was my second time visiting the New York City. My first time was way back in 2011 when I was still studying in Cambridge. I was this young (and naive) 20-year-old, dreaming of living in a big city like New York. *channels his inner-Carrie Bradshaw* From tall buildings to quirky diners, every corner of this city left me inspired for years to come. Therefore, I knew that I’ll be back there one day… and I was!

However, 7 years later and I see myself constantly comparing New York to London. Even though both cities have their own charm but London’s been severely growing on me in recent years such that I can’t see myself living anywhere else but in the Big Smoke. *London boy at heart* Oh, and, I miss my cosy little bed in Fitzrovia, butter melting on my crumpets and breakfast tea brewing to the Gods!

Shades of Mine.

On this particular day, I was scouting about the Upper East Side in hopes of accidentally bumping into Blair Waldorf. *xoxo, Gossip Girl* I picked up my new favourite Emporio Armani sunglasses which I discovered at the Sunglasses Shop a while ago. Their new collection features a matte rose gold frame with gold mirrored lenses. My gal Victoria (@philorose) was super jel of those because her current Instagram feed is serving some serious role gold vibes. Therefore, she’s on a mission to collect as many rose gold items as possible. *hides his shades in a Philorose-free place*

To complete this shady look, I’ve decided to serve my signature London boy realness. I paired a single-breasted summer mac from Burton with a short-sleeve shirt with feather details to bring out the right colour of the jacket. I’m also stoked to finally take my favourite pair of Converse boots out for a play. You’re definitely going to see more of those babies in my summer #ootd posts. Yay!

What do you think of this look? Would you wear any of these items?

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Thanks to Sunglasses Shop and Burton for gifting these items. However, all views expressed here are my own!

#sunglassesshop #sgsbloggers #emporioarmani

Grooming / Style

Skin Deep

23rd March 2018

All my friends and work colleagues know that I lead a very busy lifestyle. *busy bee* From running influencer campaigns during the week to shooting content for my blog over the weekend – things can get pretty hectic, to say the least! Therefore, I have to have the best skincare products out there in order to look the part.

In this blog post, I’ve decided to show you some of my favourite products in men’s skincare department. From anti-shine moisturisers to detoxifying clay masks to PRP treatments. All of this seems like a lot of work but I’m here to guide in the right direction. Are you ready?! *yasss* Let’s get into it!

Oil-control Skincare Essentials.

If you’ve been following my blog for quite some time, you probably know that I have a very oily skin. *heats up the frying pan* For me, it’s an on-going process of finding new products that help me combat shine and breakouts.

Recently, I’ve been using a face wash and a mattifying moisturiser from Clinique for Men. These products are very lightweight and they absorb into the skin very smoothly. The formula is designed to control oil levels giving that matte and shine-free look. I use face wash twice daily and apply moisturiser in the morning for an all-day freshness.

Urban Detox.

My skin is challenged to take a stressful beating in this tough big city environment. Every day, my pores get clogged like they never see the light of day. *yikes* Therefore, I use products like Power Pore Anti-Shine & Pore Treatment and Urban Blue Detox Clay Mask from The Lab Series twice a week to keep those nasty blackheads at bay. *girl, bye* Also, the Power Lifting Serum helps fight against the visible effects of gravity and pollution. The serum increases the rate of surface cell renewal for a younger looking skin. *aims to look mid-twenties forever*

This year, I’ve noticed a growing trend in anti-pollution skincare products. Most notably, a Daily Detox Serum from QMS Medicosmetics. It is known to address skin damage caused by pollutants in the atmosphere. *it’s a cruel world out there, you know* So, I apply the serum every morning to make my skin look bright and smooth for the day to come!

Taking Skincare to the Next Level…

I’m a firm believer in maintenance over a quick fix because life is a journey and you have to keep consistently working on it. Therefore, you have to work on preventing rather than fixing something when it’s too late. Am I right?!

Several months ago, I had my first PRP treatment because I wanted to try something new using my own natural resources. I used the plasma of my own blood to regenerate my weakened cells during this one of a kind procedure. After my first treatment, I’ve noticed some of the fine lines soften and my skin overall looking fresher and more hydrated than it has in years!

The specialists at YouGlo have a wide variety of treatments available. From facials to fillers, there’s something for everybody. So, I’m looking forward to my next consultation because I’m on a quest for maintaining my charming beauty. *wink*

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Thanks to Justina Navickaite (@itsjustinesjournal) for taking these pictures. Check out her latest blog post here.

Life / Style

Mama’s Boy

8th March 2018

My Best Friend!

As you can probably tell from the title of this blog post, the most important human of my existence is my dear Mother! *shocker, not really* I’ve been best friends with my Mum since day one. From building sand castles on the beach to kicking out her party guests on Saturday nights, our strong connection was always something that helped us to overcome all obstacles in life. *yasss, mama*

So, with that said… I would like to thank my Mum for putting up with me for so many years and for loving me unconditionally. You are the only one who fully understands me and knows me better than I know myself. Happy Mother’s Day! *scrolls down to see the last-minute gift guide*

This year, I’ve decided to spoil my favourite human with some very thoughtful gifts, which I found at Debenhams. From elegant fragrances to scented candles, there are so many cool things to choose from. Therefore, I selected my top picks for you to get some inspiration from. *buys all five items because they are too good to miss*

So, without further distraction, here’s the list of 5 things you SHOULD get your mum this Marvellous Mother’s Day:

A dressing gown – an irresistibly soft dressing gown would make any Mum extremely happy. I got her one in a super smooth island fleece material, which feels cosy and looks elegant too. *fancy pants* From £45.
A scented candle – it might be the end of long wintery nights but scented candles are always a good choice – at any time of the year. Luckily, my mum is obsessed with candles and always has one burning at home. So, I ordered a Sweet Mandarin & Grapefruit candle from Baylis & Harding. It comes in a stylish gift box, which perfectly matches her insatiable taste and lively personality. £8.
A night cream – ever since I moved to London, good skincare regiment has become a vital part of my everyday life. So, when I go back home, I always bring some of my favourite skincare product for my Mum to try. Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Oil is the one because it works really well. The product replenishes the skin overnight with moisture and recovers radiance, making it smoother, softer and younger looking the following day. £33.
Eau de perfum – the luxury, glamour, and sophistication of New York… in a Tiffany & Co. perfume bottle?! Yes, that’s right! We may not have breakfast at Tiffany’s but at least she’ll smell like The It Girl with this signature scent from the top jewellery brand. From £52.
A handbag – last but not least, this shopper bag from Dorthy Perkins will make a perfect addition to my mum’s extensive handbag collection. I think it’s time to ditch that over-the-shoulder purse and go for something more practical. Mum, do you agree?! *hint hint* From £10.

What do you think of this last-minute Mother’s Day gift guide? Would you get any of these items for your Mum? Let me know in the comments section below!

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Thanks to Debenhams for sponsoring this post. However, all views expressed here are my own and does not reflect those of the sponsor.

Life / Style

Confidence Boost

28th February 2018

Sabotaged By My Inner-Saboteur.

One of my biggest regrets in life was having fear of trying. I held myself back from pursuing my dreams for so many years because I wasn’t confident enough to overcome that fear. We often get sabotaged by our inner-saboteurs and for some reason, they creep on us when we are most vulnerable.

When I moved to the UK almost 9 years ago, I somehow lost my way. I was going through a complicated relationship where I masked those negative feeling by going to parties. One party after another and I saw myself going through life like a sloth trapped in a bamboo tree. Years went by and my ambitions drifted away from me because I forgot the reason why I started it all.

It was like this until mid-2016 when I started to grab life by its balls. I realised I couldn’t change my past but I can learn from my mistakes and use that to my advantage (a.k.a. turning negatives into positives). *ding ding ding* After a while, I discovered my idols and followed their footsteps to success. I invested in my craft, spent months creating things and the rest is magic. *throws glitter in the air*

So, ask yourself… What do you really want? Go beyond the obvious one or the one that you think you want but not sure about. What gets your heart pumping and scares the crap out of you at the same time? Yes, THAT is what I’m talking about! That is your heart’s deepest desire. Take some time to go through all the reasons why you “can’t” or “shouldn’t” go there and start your journey towards it!

Taking Control of My Self-Confidence.

Guess what? Self-confidence is not genetic and you don’t have to be reliant on others to increase it. *shook* If you believe you’re not good enough, don’t worry because that can be changed over time. So, here are my 15 daily actions to help boost your self-confidence:

Groom yourself. This might seems like an obvious one but getting into a daily skincare regiment can make such a difference in a long run.
Dress nicely. Try on many things and see what looks nice on you. Retail therapy also contributes to your overall wellbeing… Except for your credit card. *oops*
Eat well. It all comes from within, you know!
Change the way you think about yourself. All of us have a mental picture of ourselves and that determines how confident we are in ourselves. Therefore, if it’s not a good one – Facetune it! Try to find out why you see yourself that way and fix it.
Think positive. And kill your inner-saboteur! *scrolls up and reads the first paragraph again*
Get to know yourself. Start listening to your thoughts and write them down. Analyse everything. What are your limitations? Find ways to overcome those too.
Be kind and generous. Like the saying… What goes around, comes around. So, be good to everyone, especially to yourself! *aha*
Know your principles and live by them. Sometimes you have to go back to your roots to find the true meaning of life.
Focus on solutions. Rather than problems.
Increase your competence. It takes time to become competent in something. Therefore, study and practice every day.
Set daily goals and achieve them. Start small then work your way up. I used to fail miserably by making goals that are hard to achieve. Now, I make small goals so I can achieve them quickly. That makes my life a better place!
Change a habit. No, not a drastic one like quitting alcohol or cigarettes. Instead, focus on a small one and change it. For instance, I struggle to wake up in the morning for the gym. So, I set my alarm an hour early and put my phone somewhere where it forces me to get out of bed. *cancels his gym membership*
Exercise. Your body is a temple, so keep building it.
- Still got that bit of bulge you can’t shift or something else you’re desperate to change? Why not think about a bit of professional help in achieving the flawless finish you deserve?
Always be prepared. I often find it hard to be confident when I don’t think I’ll do well in something. So, I spend some time preparing for it because life is full of tests.
Keep your space tidy. This one tends to work for me really well because it’s something I can easily keep under control.

What do you think of this list? Would you follow any of these steps? Let me know in the comments!

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Biker Leather Jacket (similar) | Rose Gold Watch With Silver Dial and Brown Leather Strap | Brioche Stitch Sweater | Checked Trousers With Zips | Lace Up Shoes In Black Leather With Creeper Sole

Thanks to Jesus Agudo (@jesusagudotm) for taking these amazing pics!

Style

Precision And Fluidity

22nd February 2018

Seaham in Red.

Another London Fashion Week has come to an end. *whew* It feels like it’s been just a couple of weeks since the last one but here we are again, celebrating 5 days of killer fashions from all over the world. My weekend was packed with endless burger brunches, blogger hangouts and fancy INTO lounges to name a few. Therefore, I’m super excited to finally take it easy and have some me-time for the next few days. *puts on a kettle and binge-watches YouTube videos*

In a great tradition of my own fashion week trends, I decided to wear red again! *yay* But this time, I ditched the skirt and went for a designer bag instead. *feels all grown up*

I’ve been collaborating with John Smedley for quite some time but never had a chance to showcase it on my blog… until now! Their SS18 knits have a very distinct contemporary appeal to it which perfectly compliments my existing spring/summer wardrobe.

In this shoot, I paired John Smedley’s Seaham knit with my favourite loose carrot-fit trousers and black leather shoes. Seaham knit is remarkably soft to wear on the skin because it’s made from the finest Sea Island Cotton. John Smedley has over 230 years of experience, crafting some of the best knitwear pieces in the industry. So, it was an obvious choice to go for this fashion week.

To finish off this look, I picked up my brand new tote bag from Aspinal of London. This black leather bag perfectly fits my whole life in it… and then some!

What do you think of this look? Would you wear any of these pieces? Please do let me know in the comments section below!

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Thanks to John Smedley and Aspinal of London for gifting these items.

Photo credit: Mervin Kaye

Style

Empire City

New York, New York.

Shades of Mine.

SHOP THIS LOOK

Skin Deep

Oil-control Skincare Essentials.

Urban Detox.

Taking Skincare to the Next Level…

SHOP THE POST

Mama’s Boy

My Best Friend!

So, without further distraction, here’s the list of 5 things you SHOULD get your mum this Marvellous Mother’s Day:

SHOP THIS POST

Confidence Boost

Sabotaged By My Inner-Saboteur.

Taking Control of My Self-Confidence.

Precision And Fluidity

Seaham in Red.

SHOP THIS LOOK

skirmy