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Natalie Robinson, Celebrity Fashion Stylist and Founder of Style Icon.

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June 1, 2017

The Lifestyle Collective: The Launch of The HP Active Collection.

For those who do not know much about Polo dubbed ‘hockey on horseback,’ I suggest you hang onto your seats as the sport is becoming increasingly well known through the world of fashion. I have always perceived Polo to be rather exclusive and regal in essence due to its prominent association with British heritage and tradition. Evidently, Polo is influencing contemporary fashion which is, indirectly, paving the way for a modern and international revival of the sport highlighting the slogan “Authentically British. Absolutely International.” That said, on Thursday 18th May I attended the launch of HP Active which is the new collection from Hurlingham Polo 1875, the Hurlingham Polo Association’s new sporting and lifestyle brand and the first and only polo brand that is actively engaged with the sport. Along with the brand’s recently launched Essentials range, the HPA presented HP Active at the prestigious Ham Polo Club in Richmond.

HP Active Polo

There was a champagne reception upon arrival and an opportunity to meet the movers and shakers behind the launch of the collection including Simon Hawkins from The King of Games with whom HP Active has partnered and Fred Mannix, Hurlingham Polo 1875’s first brand ambassador. He is Canada’s highest ranked polo player with a handicap of 8 making him one of the best players in the world. Simon, Fred and another gentleman by the name of Jonathan provided me with insightful knowledge about the brand and its story. I honestly believe that every successful brand has a story to tell hence why HP Active has worldwide appeal. Not only does the HPA, from which HP Active stems, embrace core values of authenticity, integrity and unity the brand is registered as a, not for profit company. Over the past 14 years, it has donated £1.5 million to the Polo Charity which provides support for injured players, for the welfare of ponies and the career development of players in full-time education. Such a wonderful cause and one that encourages you to appreciate the sport even more.

Considering my lack of knowledge of the rules of the game, I was eager to watch the polo match which was part of the itinerary of activities taking place during the event. It was inspiring to see young players on the day including England team members Jack Richardson, ranked among the top four UK players – being the current youngest six-goaler and Tom Morley. HP Active appeals to a younger audience as well as a mature clientele who appreciate authentic and understated style. Overall, the brand conveys a positive message as it advocates general fitness among the younger generation, in particular, on and off the field, encourages a lifestyle balanced with good health and fitness throughout education and our daily routine be it walking, running or cycling to and from work. HP Active makes for a versatile ready-to-wear wardrobe and comfortability all-around especially for those who are physically active. The collection includes polo shirts, hoodies, jackets and gilets factoring in free and easy movement in regards to the generosity of cut and durability of the fabric. The latter includes ‘spandex for 4-way stretch and fit, one-piece underarm gussets for maximum reach and moisture management in the yarns to keep you cool and dry’ – indeed, a quality product made in Britain for a quality lifestyle anywhere in the world. Result!

HP Active Zip Polo

Fred Mannix – Brand Ambassador

Just before lunch, I channelled my inner Sunny Hale by attempting to hit a ball with a polo stick on a stationary wooden ‘horse.’ One of the young, professional players said: “I was a natural!” Feeling chuffed, I continued with confidence. In reality, I don’t think I have quite enough physical stamina to challenge anyone to a real game of Polo. Lastly, I had the pleasure of partaking in divot-stomping (perhaps, I should try to avoid three-inch heels next time!).

On the whole, I had such a pleasantly productive day and got to meet some pretty inspiring people in a stunning setting. Furthermore, I attended another polo match over the bank holiday weekend, in which Fred Mannix’s Sommelier team played against Monterosso in the Cartier Queen’s Cup 2017. Like a fine wine, as my knowledge of Polo has matured so has my taste for it!

Sommelier Vs Monterosso – Photo Credit: Ed Hands

“This is a unique opportunity to combine raising the profile of this exciting and glamorous sport, with the creation of a new lifestyle brand that like polo has authentically British roots together with a genuinely global reach.” Says Simon Hawkins.

“I’m honoured to represent them – the HPA is the spiritual home of Polo – and I’m delighted to represent a brand with so much heritage and tradition.” Says Fred Mannix.

Written by @StyleIconNat | The Lifestyle Collective – “A Unique Expression of A Creative Power” | Images by Ed Hands & Keith Bishop Associates

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May 26, 2017

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The Lifestyle Collective: The Official Launch of Greenport Kitchen

Do you like the sound of getting your teeth into a brisket burger made from 100% Red Tractor British Beef, grilled over coal for an authentic taste? Perhaps a vegetarian meal sounds more appealing to you. If so, a traditional Margarita or a tantalising spinach and mushroom pizza may satisfy your appetite. There are many choices at the Greenport Kitchen of which I had the pleasure of attending the launch on Thursday 1st June. Situated on the quieter side of Waterloo Road, the Greenport Kitchen is away from the immediate congestion outside Waterloo station which allows for a more peaceful walk beyond The Cut.

Greenport Kitchen

Greenport Kitchen – Burger Cooking

Upon arrival, I received a warm welcome, a glass of bubbly and then I was introduced to the Greenport Kitchen team. Senior Sous Chef, Daniel Marsh gave me a personal tour of the kitchen. Guests in attendance could select anything from the menu compliments of Daniel. I felt absolutely chuffed. I opted for the mouth-watering ‘Super Chopped Salad’ consisting of lettuce, cucumber, tomato, kale, broccoli, beetroot, spinach and toasted seeds – An excellent choice for those who prefer a lighter option. What I liked about the menu, in particular, was the selection of meat, seafood and vegetarian dishes. I was hoping to find calamari on the menu, being a pescatarian, and knowing it is a popular choice. Nonetheless, I think it is important to try different dishes to avoid monotony hence a dynamic menu allows for a change of ‘foodie’ habits. There was a buffet of scrumptious small eats including fried chicken, mini burgers (although I haven’t eaten meat for months!) slices of margarita pizza, fried cauliflower coated in sesame seeds for which I opted and enjoyed. There was a healthy balance on the menu overall – and not just fried food. That said, the Greenport Kitchen concept is influenced by American tradition by offering a menu of all-American favourites crafted from high-quality British and Italian ingredients.

Super Chopped Salad

Greenport Kitchen – Mussels

Greenport Kitchen – Padron Peppers

Greenport Kitchen – Margarita

The decor is modern with a contemporary open kitchen where Cotswold free range chickens, that are slow grown naturally, looked too good to eat on a Rotisserie to ensure optimal flavour. The venue itself is spacious, airy and welcomes a sufficient amount of natural light factoring in that ‘feel-good’ element. Let me not forget the beverage menu featuring sodas and shakes and hand-picked craft beers from the US along with a lemon Meringue pie which was on display as a teaser of course.

Lemon Meringue Pie & Root Beer

Greenport Kitchen – Interior

My guests and I had a good catch-up while experiencing quality hospitality. The experience was made even more memorable by Anthony Fletcher, Group Executive Chef. Not only did he treat us to shots of cherry coke (does Kill Bill spring to mind?) which went down rather well with our food, he escorted me into the lounge area of the Hampton by Hilton London. I had not the faintest idea the Greenport Kitchen was part of the hotel let alone called Assado previously, a Portuguese-inspired restaurant. The restaurant originally opened in 2014. Previous owner, Cyrus Todiwala reportedly said in an interview “Assado is used for breakfast in the morning and it has been difficult for people to understand that it is also somewhere they can have lunch and dinner…” On that note, Anthony Fletcher is now “delighted to show visitors what Greenport Kitchen Waterloo is all about. Highlights for food lovers include 6oz burgers made from 100 percent British beef, grilled over flaming coals in a Kamado Joe Grill for that authentic American feel.”

Written by @StyleIconNat | The Lifestyle Collective – “A Unique Expression of A Creative Power” | Photography @golleyslaterlondon.

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April 11, 2017

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The Lifestyle Collective: The Breakthrough Product of the 21st Century.

Just recently, I attended a presentation to learn about a new product which created a bit of a stir amongst fashion and beauty influencers during London Fashion Week AW17. What is more enticing than an invite to discover the breakthrough product of the 21st Century? There is an abundance of beauty products on the market, but which one(s) remain a cut above the rest? Having felt intrigued by the idea of finding a new product to incorporate into my general health regime, I headed to The Eagle in Notting Hill for an exclusive presentation. In retrospect, this was a wise move considering my journey from East to West in the morning. A trek? Yes, it was indeed but one that led to the discovery of Laminine . In a fast-paced working environment or if you are constantly on the go, in general, Laminine could be the much-needed fix missing in your life. As a blogger and stylist, sometimes I have little time to sleep. Early morning starts through to networking in the evening is the story of my life at the moment hence why I often feel drained during the day. We owe it to ourselves to eat healthily and keep fit for our general wellbeing but taking the right supplements can also help to boost our energy levels. Laminine is a product that provides essential nutrition to the body feeding the body essential amino acids. A pot of Laminine contains 30 capsules. According to Camilla May and Katie Cookson, who hosted the presentation, the dosage protocol is to “load your system with Laminine for the first month.” During week one, for example, it is recommended to take one capsule a day. Week two – two capsules a day through to week four when the dosage increases to two capsules in the morning and two in the afternoon. It is imperative to drink more water than usual in the first week to help your system in any detoxifying.

Laminine

It has been a week since I included Laminine in my healthy diet. Although a month is required, I think, to see any results in full form I have noticed subtle differences in the way I feel. After a few hours of taking Laminine for the first time, I felt more alert. Usually, I am up around 5 am during the week. By 9 am the tiredness kicks in, a little, so I find drinking lots of water helps to combat my fatigue. Nonetheless, I felt surprisingly more awake around 9 am on the first day of taking Laminine. Since then, I have been taking one capsule a day until week two when I will increase my dosage to two capsules a day as recommended. According to the Journal of Natural Health Solutions, it turns out that there are critical nutrients from the white of an egg – fertilised hen’s eggs that have a considerable amount of health benefits in the human body. The resulting extract, from the process of withdrawing such nutrients from egg white, is called Pese (for proto-embryonic stage extract) which forms the basis of Laminine.

Laminine

Laminine has other benefits including memory enhancement due to containing amino acids glutamine and glycine. I can understand why I felt more alert when taking Lamine as two other amino acids in Laminine: leucine and isoleucine, participate in critical brain functions and help you to stay more alert and focused in addition to stimulating neurotransmitter serotonin, which contributes to maintaining a positive mood. Subsequently, this could help those who suffer from depression. I learned so much in one morning having satisfied my morning appetite with more useful knowledge as opposed to a full English! On that note, I would recommend Laminine to anyone who is not adverse to taking nutritional supplements daily. Although no side effects have been reported, Laminine may be unsuitable for people with egg or fish allergies. I was also given Lamiderm to test; a high-performance bio-serum that leaves my skin feeling soft and rejuvenated throughout the day since using it.

Written by @Styleiconnat | The Lifestyle Collective “A Unique Expression of A Creative Power” | Images My Own | www.discover9.co.uk

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March 18, 2017

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The Lifestyle Collective: The Benefits of Micro Pigmentation

On the eve of Saturday, 25, February 2017 more than 450 guests joined Ronan and Storm Keating for the annual Emeralds & Ivy Ball, which took place at the Battersea Evolution Centre. The ball, which is now in its 11th year, has raised more than £7 million, since it had begun, in 2006, to support the Marie Keating Foundation and Cancer Research UK’s Cancer Awareness Roadshow.

I wanted to look fabulous for this event, so I went all out concerning hair, makeup, and nails. It was that time again to get pampered at Cucumba – Poland Street. It had been a while since I visited this beauty hotspot, more commonly known as The Urban Pit-stop. I had a pedicure and shellac treatment having opted for two colours as part of the latter – ‘Anticipation’ and ‘Dangerous’ which were combined together. It was suggested to book the first appointment for my treatments one of which I had not experienced before. My eyebrows were out of shape, so they were in desperate need of a tidy especially for a black-tie ball with expected Vips and high-profile celebrities due to attend. One of Cucumba’s leading beauty therapists, Shere Khodaie, informed me about a semi-permanent make-up treatment called Micro Pigmentation when she threaded my eyebrows once before. I have been threading my eyebrows for years which you have to commit to every four weeks, at least. Shere, who is also the founder of Sol World of Beauty, specialises in micro pigmentation and micro blading. I took her advice on board. She shared a few tips in regards to the benefits of having Micro Pigmentation. For one, I would not need to thread my eyebrows so frequently which, in the long run, would save me time and money. Furthermore, my eyebrows would have a semi-permanent shape according to my personal preference. Considering there were more pros than cons to having this treatment, the time felt right to give Micro Pigmentation a try. The treatment lasts around two hours – the other reason why we commenced the appointment early. To avoid falling asleep during my treatment, I ordered two cappuccinos on route to Cucumba – one for Shere and me (without any cream on top to remain healthy and to keep the calories off in preparation for The Emeralds & Ivy Ball). After a brief catch-up, we were ready to begin the procedure.

Micro Pigmentation – Set up

First of all, Shere applied lidocaine cream to each eyebrow before the treatment to make the treated areas numb. This application is advisable if you are more susceptible to pain, not that the treatment was painful in any way, but rather, you may experience a mild feeling of discomfort. Shere then covered each eyebrow with cling film which she then removed after 20-minutes. To shape my eyebrows to my preferred style, Shere used a Provoc eyeliner in black. At this stage, it is important to be specific about the eyebrow shape you desire to make any necessary changes immediately. If not, once the procedure takes place it may be difficult for the therapist to revert to the original shape. Once I inspected my eyebrows fully to ensure I was happy with their enhancement, Shere and I felt confident to proceed to the next stage. For the latter, Shere used a 3-needle cartridge which was soaked, initially, into jet-black ink by BioTouch.

Micro Pigmentation 3-Needle Cartridge

Mico Pigment Cosmetic Colour

The ink was matched to my eyebrow colour so as to achieve the most natural look as possible. The Micro Pigmentation procedure itself involves micro hair-strokes applied to each eyebrow using a very fine blade to deposit the most suitable micro pigment cosmetic colour into the epidermis. It takes approximately 20-minutes to treat each eyebrow. Shere consistently applied cream throughout the treatment to increase the numbing effect. At one point, Shere added a drop of red micro pigment to the black ink. I proceeded to ask why out of curiosity. Shere explained this was necessary to make the ink jet black albeit seeming dark enough. At this point, I was worried my eyebrows would look too dark. My features are quite soft, so I wanted well-defined eyebrows to compliment my features not giant caterpillars to draw attention to themselves.

Once the procedure was over, Shere added more cream. My initial reaction was of surprise when I looked into the mirror. I did not recognise my face due to my eyebrows having stood out so prominently. I thought they looked too dark at first (perhaps not like caterpillars – a slight exaggeration) but distinctive in a way that would take a bit of time to become accustomed. Shere explained that my eyebrows would naturally look darker after the treatment due to the micro pigment being fresh which needs about 72 hours to settle properly. Therefore, I could not apply any makeup on the treated areas to prevent infection. The results were immediate and last 12-18 months. I experienced no swelling or pain during or after the treatment. My eyebrows had looked freshly made by the time I got home. I felt like I was channeling my inner Cara Delevinge. I then messaged Shere to say I was happy with my new ‘statement’ eyebrows because they framed my face well. It was just a matter of time before I fully appreciated the transformation.

The Emeralds & Ivy Ball, Battersea Evolution Centre

Shere took immense care when carrying out the procedure ensuring I felt comfortable. My top-up is due in a few weeks. Only one top-up is required to make any final adjustments to the treated areas and to help maintain the colour. Apparently, 10 to 15% of drawn strokes disappear after the first treatment so if hair-strokes have faded too much it is advisable to have a top-up 4-5 weeks after the initial treatment. The maintenance treatments also depend on an individual’s skin type and lifestyle. Nonetheless, the treatment lasts 12-18 months. That said, Micro Pigmentation is worth every penny. It may set you back £400 at first, but in the long run, you would have made a worthwhile investment. I have a special promo code for all my readers. If you quote #satisfactionguaranteed20, you will receive 20% off all treatments at Cucumba until the end of April 2017.

Shere made my first Micro Pigmentation experience one to remember.

“Micro Pigmentation encourages hair to grow back if you have weak hair follicles. It gives a nice shape” says Shere.

Ultimately, Shere helped me to achieve my desired goal which was to stand out with conviction at The Emeralds and Ivy Ball. Such a great event in support of two amazing causes: Cancer Research UK and the Marie Keating Foundation.

Written by @StyleIconNat | The Lifestyle Collective – “A Unique Expression of A Creative Power” | Photo Credit: Nils Jorgensen – Rex Features | Other Images Sourced from Pinterest