In The Diary: Hotel Gotham

Hotel Gotham Review

Last week I blogged about the Next Lingerie event that took place in Manchester Arndale. After being fitted for some gorge bras by the Next team, us bloggers were treated to a slap up meal at Hotel Gotham... If you haven't heard of this place, where have you been!?! It's a stunning, Private Members club, restaurant and hotel located on Manchester's King Street... This luxury dining room, is set in a unique location with an epic view over the city's rooftops.

If you're heading to Hotel Gotham, a uniformed Bellboy will escort you up the lift and into the decadent dining room. Once there, ask for a table near one of the arched windows and settle down for an evening of luxury, fine food and excellent service...

We chose from a set menu which included plates such as goats cheese salad, Manchester tart and Posh Fish n Chips!


The Food:

My starter was the Gotham Stock with artisanal breads. To be honest, I was a bit surprised when an empty bowl with chilli flakes was placed in front of me, as this totally wasn't what I was expecting!! However, a waiter kindly came along shortly after and filled my bowl with my very own jug of piping hot soup. On the menu was Butternut Squash and it was extremely tasty.

This was followed by a very delicious chicken and chips (although I have to admit I was a bit jealous of some of the other Bloggers Fish and Chips - it looked AMAZING!) My dish came with goji berry puree, red chicory and scorched cucumber. Not your usual, chicken and chips!

At this point, we were all rather full, but couldn't resist the final course... Warm rhubarb and pistachio bakewell, complete with clotted cream.


Hotel Gotham Review
Hotel Gotham Review
Hotel Gotham Review
Hotel Gotham Review
Hotel Gotham Review
Hotel Gotham Review

Have you heard of Hotel Gotham before?

Which course would you most want to try if you went?



OOTD: Glasto Style

Glastonbury Festival Style

Everywhere I've looked recently, it's been ALL about Glasto! I love a good music festival... There's nothing better than live music. It's so cool to see which acts are headlining each year, but also the festival style trends! And so begins, what I would like to call "Festival Week" on Rock On Holly! Festivals seem to be getting such hype nowadays, that the boho, hippy, quirky style is hitting the high street - and not just for campers! So over my next few posts I want to put together some festival style outfits for inspo.

Todays look is pure GLASTO vibin'! If you're heading to a festival this Summer, let me talk you through what I think are the essentials of a good #OOTD

1. Layers: You just never know what the weather's going to be like at a festival, so my advice would be to layer up! Even if it's a hot day and you want to get your legs out, an oversized shirt is great for throwing on when it gets cool at night. During the day you can tie it round your waist for extra cool points ;-)


2. A Hat: Yup, come rain or shine, by day 3 of a festival you're probably reaching the limit on how much Dry Shampoo is gonna help you... So unless you can scrape that greasy mop into a top knot, a hat is a necessity!! Straw Hats, Fedoras, trilbys are all standard choices. For something a little different, why not try a bucket hat?! 


3. Bag it up! A decent bag for your bits of make up, phone and money is definitely required. But you don't want to be lugging around your best Michael Kors tote while Tinie Tempah's yelling for you to get low. I'd recommend keeping your hands free with a bum bag or cross body bag.

4. Comfy Shoes: You're going to be out an about, walking, dancing, raving and more for about 72 hours non stop!! So you're feed are going to need to be able to keep up. Wellies are all good and well. But if the weather's good, go for some colourful pumps! The ones I'm wearing in this post are Vans from Spartoo are super comfy
. They come in loads of funky colours and styles - fab for festival fun.

Hawaiian Floral Bucket Hat - By Vans on ASOS
Striped Tie Front Playsuit - Celeblook*
Camouflage shirt - River Island
Cross Body Rubber Bag - By Liquorish on ASOS
Orange Slip-On Vans - Spartoo via Fashionchick*


Glastonbury Festival Style
Glastonbury Festival Style
Glastonbury Festival Style - Vans

Glastonbury Festival Style
Glastonbury Festival Style
Glastonbury Festival Style - Vans Hat


Glastonbury Festival Style
Glastonbury Festival Style - Celeblook Jumpsuit
Glastonbury Festival Style - Celeblook Jumpsuit

Glastonbury Festival Style

Are you going to any Festivals this year?

If you have any tips for festival styling, do leave them below...



OOTD: How To Wear White To A Wedding

How to Wear White To A Wedding


Wearing White to a Wedding... It's like the ULTIMATE no-no, isn't it? And yet, come Summer / Wedding season, the shops are full with lovely floaty dresses that are ALL white!!? What's a girl to do?

Well, if you really, really have your eye on something, but don't want to break Wedding-Etiquette, here are my top tips on how to wear white to a Wedding:


1. Add in another colour! It's a no brainer! White, can be the main colour, but choose a dress with a black hem, or a bit of detail to mix it up.
2. Accessorise. A printed clutch or colourful shoes can add colour where there is no colour! If you know what I mean... Eg, If you look at the images where I am holding my patterned clutch in front of me, your eye thinks that the outfit is yellow, black and white, when really, it's largely white. Sneaky!

3. Check with the bride - if you're really not sure, or you don't know the bride that well, then it really is best to be safe than sorry!

I recently went to a Wedding where the bride wore a goooorgeous, long blue dress, so she was actively encouraging people to wear white! :-)

Outfit:

Checked Top - Marks and Spencer via Fashionchick
Skirt - Primark
Silver Heels - Zara (similar!)
Printed Zip Top Clutch Bag - Next
Leather Bangle - Reiss
How to Wear White To A Wedding
How to Wear White To A Wedding
How to Wear White To A Wedding
How to Wear White To A Wedding
How to Wear White To A Wedding
How to Wear White To A Wedding
How to Wear White To A Wedding
How to Wear White To A Wedding

Would you dare to wear white to a wedding!? Or have you seen any instances where it went down badly!?

Check out my last OOTD post where I give tips on how to wear black to a Wedding! xx



In The Diary: Next Lingerie

Next Lingerie Event

UNDERWEAR. Do you know what size you are?

No, I don't mean what size are you wearing RIGHT NOW... I mean, do you really know what size you are? Like, when was the last time you got measured?

Around 90% of us are wearing the wrong size bra. But, lucky for you, Next have just launched their gorge new lingerie and alongside this, a bra fitting service. Note that that says Bra Fitting and not Bra Measuring? Yup, Next are doing away with the old tape measures and sizing, they can fit you into the correct bra just from looking at you! (Not in a creepy way). Things like, straps, band width and how you fit your cups, can all add up to your perfect bra fit!

Last week I headed over to the launch of Next's new lingerie collection at Manchester Arndale, and got some top tips from celeb stylist, Martine Alexander on how underwear can change your life!

1. Underwear is SO important, when Martine is dressing any of her clients, she always starts from the bottom up. And that means good lingerie.

2. The correct underwear can completely change your shape. It can pull you upright to reveal your waist, enhance curves or even minimise them if you wish!

3. Choose the correct style for you! Next have a range of designs that include, Plunge, Bandeau, Non-wire and Balcony. Check out their Bra Shape Guide to see which one will suit you most. I LOVE that there is a Holly bra! Yey! Scroll down to see which bra I chose from the collection!

So, let's check out in store...


Next Lingerie Event
Next Lingerie Event - cupcakes
Next Lingerie Event - BloggersNext Lingerie
Next Lingerie Event - Longline Bra
Next Lingerie Event - Balcony Bra


Next Lingerie Event

As you can see, the colours are styles are so pretty and girly - perfect for Summer.

I chose the Carrie bra as it was my "Perfect Fit" and I loved the longline band that's so on trend right now.

My fave things about the range: It's really not that expensive! Bras start from £10 which I think is quite decent as they are clearly high quality. They also go up to a size G in some styles (with more designs coming in Autumn / Winter)

What so you think of what you've seen so far? Tempted to go get fitted?!



OOTD: Wearing Black To A Wedding

Wear Black to A Wedding - M&Co Jumpsuit

Would you wear black to a Wedding??

A couple of years ago, my boyfriend and I were going to a fabulous wedding and one of the guests attending was, I dunno, a kinda celebrity in the Sporting World I guess? (I didn't really know...!!). Anyways Graham (my boyf) was all shocked and flabbergasted when he heard that the date of this sporty celeb, was going to be wearing black to the Wedding. Literally, from the guy who couldn't care less about clothes, there was shock all over his face like, You just don't do that!!? Do you?


Well, yes in my opinion. Why not? Black fits perfectly well at every other occasion, why not at a Wedding? Here's my top tips on How To Wear Black To A Wedding:

1. Flash the flesh! Not in a Pretty Woman kinda way, obvs! But go for a strappy style or simple bandeau neckline, get your arms or legs out to avoid looking too sombre.
2. Add a tan. Black looks great with a tan in Summer! Super chic!
3. Add some glamour with your accessories!

When M&Co asked me to put together a look for Summer Wedding, this culotte jumpsuit* was literally the first thing that caught my eye. Despite being black (not the most obvious Summery choice) here's why I love it:

1. It's a classic elegant shape
2. Culottes are totes on trend right now
3. The loose, fitting culottes are great for a hot day -  and will also get me through a big Wedding dinner!

I wanted to go for quite a dramatic look, to take my jumpsuit out of the office and onto the dancefloor... So I added some killer heels - these lace up beauty's are from Fashionchick*. I'm not usually big on headwear at Weddings, so this bow headband with lace veil is a modern take on the traditional fascinator!


Wear Black to A Wedding - M&Co JumpsuitWear Black to A Wedding - M&Co Jumpsuit
Wear Black to A Wedding - M&Co Jumpsuit
Wear Black to A Wedding - ASOS headband

This Veiled Bow Headband is by Rock N Rose and is just the epitome of Hollywood glamour for me! You can imagine a 40's filmstar wearing something like this with a big white fur... (Note to self, buy white fur). This one I nabbed off ASOS when there was a discount on, as the headband should have been £36.

Wear Black to A Wedding - M&Co Jumpsuit
Wear Black to A Wedding - M&Co JumpsuitWear Black to A Wedding - M&Co Jumpsuit
Wear Black to A Wedding - Ti Sento

With a simple outfit, I think it's nice to add a little drama with the accessories!

This elegant, gilded bangle is from Ti Sento* - and what better brand to pick to complete my chic, black look than a classic Italian design? I'm such a fan! They have a store in Manchester's Trafford Centre (very convenient!!) so if you're around, do go in for a nosey... They have a mix of timeless and flamboyant pieces which is very Italian! LOVE.

The boxy bag is a vintage pieces that my mum picked up for my recently. It looks SO elegant, and is finished in silk, which is just beautiful!


Wear Black to A Wedding - ASOS headband
Wear Black to A Wedding - M&Co Jumpsuit
Wear Black to A Wedding - M&Co Jumpsuit
Wear Black to A Wedding - M&Co Jumpsuit

Would you wear black to a Wedding? I'm interested to know!

Have a look at M&Co's full range of Wedding Guest dresses, if you're not ready to go all-black, they do have some lovely floral outfits and maxi dresses.

On Wednesday I'll be showing how it IS possible to wear white to a Wedding, so do check that out at 7pm!