What I Love Now | Designer, Beauty, Fashion & Soft Luxury After Healing

Some people collect memories.

I collect handbags, perfumes, makeup and the stories attached to them.

And despite everything life has thrown at me — addiction, healing, reinvention and growing up — some things have never changed.

I still love beauty.

I still love fashion.

I still get excited by a perfect lipstick, a beautiful perfume bottle or opening designer packaging.

But something has changed.

The woman enjoying these things now is softer than she used to be.

There was a time when beauty felt like armour.

When makeup could hide exhaustion.

When fashion sometimes helped me look healthier than I felt.

Now?

It feels different.

More honest.

More ritual than disguise.

And perhaps that is why I enjoy it more than ever.

Because I still love the same things.

I just love them for different reasons now.

⸻

Still in Love With Louis Vuitton

I am still in love with Louis Vuitton.

My first designer handbag came from my mum.

It was a birthday gift — a Louis Vuitton bag that I had wanted so badly.

I remember opening the box and feeling genuinely overwhelmed with happiness.

There is something about your first designer purchase that stays with you.

Not because of the label alone.

But because of what it represents at that moment in your life.

To me, it felt glamorous.

Sophisticated.

Like a little piece of the glossy magazine world I had admired growing up.

That bag followed me through so many chapters of my life.

Different countries.

Different relationships.

Different versions of myself.

And somehow, it is still in incredible condition.

It has never even been cleaned professionally.

Yet after everything I have put it through, it still looks beautiful.

I sometimes think that says something about Louis Vuitton itself.

The craftsmanship.

The longevity.

The fact that some luxury pieces are designed not just to be fashionable, but to last.

And maybe that is partly why I still love designer fashion now.

Not always for status.

But for quality.

For nostalgia.

For the memories attached to certain pieces.

Because sometimes a handbag becomes more than a handbag.

It becomes part of your story.

And for my recent birthday, Louis Vuitton found its way back into my life again.

This time, it was the pink Inside Out bag.

And I completely fell in love with it.

There is something nostalgic about receiving a Louis Vuitton bag for me now.

It takes me straight back to that first birthday gift from my mum and the excitement I felt opening that box.

Some things never really leave you.

Fashion can be like that.

Certain brands, pieces or memories stay attached to different chapters of our lives.

For me, it is soft luxury.

Something beautiful that feels personal.

A piece I know I will carry through another chapter of my life, just like I did with my first Louis Vuitton.

⸻

Jewellery, Memories & Tiffany

When it comes to jewellery, there is one brand I have always adored.

Tiffany.

And honestly, I still do.

Some brands come and go in your life.

But Tiffany has stayed with me.

I have been wearing Tiffany necklaces since I was younger.

And, like many of my favourite things, that love is tied to memories with my mum.

I remember one particular Mother’s Day when I took my mum out for fish and chips in the Harrods food court.

And afterwards, she bought me two Tiffany necklaces.

I still remember that day.

Not just because of the jewellery.

But because of the moment itself.

The fish and chips.

Walking through Harrods together.

And the feeling attached to it all.

There is something instantly recognisable about Tiffany.

Of course there is the little blue box.

But it is also the elegance of the pieces themselves.

Simple.

Classic.

Timeless.

I have always loved jewellery that feels wearable rather than untouchable.

Pieces you can actually live in.

And Tiffany has always felt like that to me.

I still wear Tiffany necklaces now.

And I love that some jewellery becomes attached to memories and different chapters of your life.

Because jewellery is never really just jewellery.

It carries stories.

People.

Moments.

And for me, Tiffany will always feel connected to beauty, nostalgia and memories with my mum.

Some pieces sparkle.

But others stay with you forever.

⸻

Perfume, Memory & The Airport Discovery

I have always loved perfume.

And I think that started with my mum.

My mum collected perfume bottles.

Not just a few.

Hundreds.

She had an entire cabinet filled with them.

So many that eventually they spilled beyond the cabinet and ended up carefully stored in bags too.

There were over one hundred perfume bottles altogether.

And growing up, I was fascinated by them.

Of course we loved how they smelt.

But it was never only about the fragrance.

It was also about the bottles.

The glamour of them.

The design.

The way they sat lined up like little pieces of art.

Perfume felt luxurious to me long before I understood luxury.

Almost magical.

Like each bottle belonged to a different mood or version of yourself.

When I was younger, my favourites were J’adore, Nina Ricci, Chloé, Chanel and Giorgio Armani.

Those were the perfumes I remember loving growing up.

Elegant.

Feminine.

Classic.

Each one felt different.

Some felt soft and romantic.

Others felt glamorous and timeless.

And that was what I loved about perfume even then.

It was never just about smelling nice.

It was about mood.

Identity.

And choosing how you wanted to feel that day.

For years, those perfumes stayed my favourites.

But then life introduced me to something completely different.

During COVID, I found myself stuck in an airport in South Korea for three days.

It felt surreal.

The world had slowed down and airports, usually full of movement and excitement, suddenly felt suspended in time.

So I did what many beauty lovers probably would have done.

I wandered.

And I tried perfume.

Lots of it.

I remember spraying different scents, passing time more than anything.

And then I found something that completely stopped me.

Tom Ford Fabulous.

This perfume felt like it belonged on an entirely different level.

I had never smelt anything quite like it.

Rich.

Confident.

Comforting but bold at the same time.

And what I loved most was that it was unisex.

I have always liked the idea that fragrance should not have rules attached to it.

Some scents simply speak to you.

For me, this one did.

I still remember seeing the Tom Ford bottle sitting there in the South Korean airport.

The label caught my attention immediately.

F*cking Fabulous.

Bold.

A little rebellious.

Impossible to ignore.

That was how I first saw it.

And honestly, when I wear Tom Ford Fabulous, I feel exactly what the label says.

Fabulous.

But it is not the only perfume I have fallen in love with.

I was also gifted Charlotte Tilbury Love Potion.

And I absolutely fell in love with that too.

What I love about both fragrances is their staying power.

Because there is nothing worse than perfume disappearing within an hour.

But these two?

They stay.

They linger.

And somehow become part of you throughout the day.

The Tom Ford is remarkable.

To me, it is just incredibly seductive.

Rich.

Confident.

Bold.

And the Charlotte Tilbury Love Potion has that same addictive quality that keeps you going back for another spray.

For me, perfume has never just been about smelling nice.

It is about mood.

Confidence.

And how it makes you feel.

And these two perfumes do exactly that.

⸻

London Winters & Canadian Goose

It was only when I moved to London that I discovered Canadian Goose.

And honestly, I was introduced to it with what sounded less like a jacket recommendation and more like an Arctic survival story.

Someone told me they had worn their Canadian Goose jacket and jumped into freezing cold water and somehow still felt protected from the cold.

At the time, I remember thinking either this jacket is miraculous or Londoners have completely lost their minds.

But naturally, I was intrigued.

London winter has a way of humbling you very quickly.

The kind of cold that finds its way through absolutely everything and makes you question every fashion choice you have ever made.

So I tried one on.

And suddenly I understood the obsession.

It did not feel like wearing a normal coat.

It felt like stepping inside central heating.

I really wanted one after that.

And I was lucky enough to receive one as a Christmas present.

I absolutely love it.

The difference was immediate.

I barely noticed the temperature wearing it.

Warm.

Comfortable.

Protective.

And genuinely incredible.

And honestly, after wearing one, you start questioning every coat you owned before.

At that point you almost want to ask — what even is a fake Canadian Goose?

Because you really do have to try it to believe it.

To understand how something can feel fashionable but also genuinely protect you against bitter cold temperatures.

Sometimes fashion comes with hype.

But every now and then, something actually does exactly what people say it does.

For me, Canadian Goose was one of those things.

It was not just fashion.

It was survival with good branding.

⸻

What’s In My Makeup Bag

The majority of the products in my makeup bag are MAC and Charlotte Tilbury.

And honestly, that says a lot about my beauty personality.

I like products that are reliable.

Classic.

And that actually do what they promise.

Because over the years, I have learnt that the products which stay in your makeup bag are usually the ones that genuinely work.

Now let’s talk about my makeup bag.

Because this is where things get serious.

One thing I swear by are my MAC makeup brushes.

They are incredible.

I have had brushes from different brands over the years, but there is something about MAC brushes that makes makeup feel easier to apply.

Softer.

More precise.

More professional.

Good brushes really do make a difference.

And MAC understood that long before social media beauty tutorials existed.

When it comes to foundation, I will admit something.

I have not committed to just one.

In fact, I have four different foundations sitting in my drawer.

And honestly, foundation is one of the hardest beauty products to get right.

Too heavy and it feels uncomfortable.

Too light and you spend the day wondering where it disappeared to.

My top favourites right now are Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless and Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Wear.

Both give beautiful, full coverage.

The kind of coverage that makes you feel polished and put together.

Charlotte Tilbury gives that almost filtered, airbrushed finish.

While Lancôme gives coverage without feeling heavy or mask-like.

And honestly?

I love both.

When it comes to mascara, I am loyal to Benefit.

I absolutely love Benefit mascara.

And I have to be honest.

I no longer get eyelash extensions.

Not strip lashes.

I mean the salon lashes that need topping up every two to three weeks.

For me, they became too high maintenance.

I struggled to find an eyelash place that I genuinely loved and could keep returning to.

And there is nothing worse than when lashes start turning sideways, falling unevenly or suddenly developing a personality of their own.

So eventually, I gave them up.

And honestly?

I do not miss the maintenance.

Benefit mascara gives me exactly what I want.

Length.

Volume.

And lashes that still feel like mine.

When it comes to bronzer, I have always loved Benefit Hoola.

It is one of those products that became a classic for a reason.

But recently I have been introduced to NARS bronzing powder.

And I actually love it.

It blends beautifully and gives that gorgeous bronzed finish.

When it comes to blush, I am not loyal to just one.

I alternate between Charlotte Tilbury, MAC and Benefit blushes.

Each gives something slightly different.

Some days I want soft and glowy.

Other days I want more colour and definition.

Charlotte Tilbury feels soft and polished.

MAC has those dependable classics I always return to.

And Benefit brings that playful, fresh-faced glow.

Because blush, for me, is one of those products that brings life back into the face.

Another product I genuinely cannot stop using is Got2B Glued — the yellow one.

For brows?

Incredible.

I have had my eyebrows tattooed multiple times over the years and now love brushing up and showing off my natural brow hairs using this.

The hold is amazing.

For eyeliner, I love the Clinique Quickliner Intense Black.

Mainly because life is complicated enough without sharpening eyeliner pencils.

You simply twist it and go.

Easy.

Practical.

And intensely black.

For setting spray, the best I have ever used is Urban Decay All Nighter.

Honestly, this deserves its own fan club.

It keeps makeup in place for hours.

Just remember to shake it before spraying.

I also recently switched my highlighter.

I used to use MAC, but now I am loving Benefit Cookie highlighter.

I discovered it in an airport — which strangely seems to be where some of my favourite beauty discoveries happen.

It is beautiful.

Glowy without looking glittery.

Soft but noticeable.

The kind of highlighter that catches the light without wearing you first.

And the other day, I bought something that felt strangely nostalgic.

A Dior black eyeshadow.

Black eyeshadow was something I used to wear when I was younger.

And recently, I came across old photographs of myself wearing it.

Seeing those photos inspired me.

Not in a wanting-to-go-back kind of way.

But more out of curiosity.

A reminder that beauty changes with us.

So I decided to try it again.

This time with my natural brown eyes and the version of me I am now.

And honestly?

I love it.

It felt familiar but different at the same time.

Like revisiting an old beauty habit with softer eyes and a different perspective.

Because sometimes beauty is not only about discovering new products.

Sometimes it is about rediscovering old ones too.

And when it comes to eyeshadow palettes, my favourite has to be Modern Renaissance by Anastasia Beverly Hills.

The shades are timeless.

Romantic.

And the sort of colours I find myself reaching for again and again.

When it comes to lipsticks, I definitely have a favourite.

And that has to be the MAC Locked Kiss Ink lipstick.

I absolutely love it.

I have a favourite shade that I keep returning to.

And honestly, once I found it, it became difficult to replace.

What I love most is how well it stays on.

Because there is nothing more disappointing than carefully applying lipstick only for it to disappear after one drink or meal.

This lipstick does exactly what the name promises.

It lasts.

And the best part?

It is completely kiss-proof.

Which is exactly why I love it.

No constant checking.

No endless reapplying.

Just colour that stays where it is supposed to.

Because trends come and go.

But a really good makeup bag?

That becomes part of your identity.

Writing this post reminded me of something.

Healing did not take away the things I loved.

If anything, it made me appreciate them more.

I still love designer handbags.

Perfume.

Jewellery.

Makeup.

And the small luxuries that make life feel softer and more exciting.

But now I experience them differently.

Not as armour.

Not as something to hide behind.

But as part of the rituals I genuinely enjoy.

Because beauty, for me, has never been only about appearances.

It has always been connected to memories.

My mum.

Harrods.

Perfume bottles lined up in cabinets.

Airports.

London winters.

Old photographs.

And little discoveries that somehow stay with you.

Some things become more than products.

They become part of your story.