bananandlaces — The Collyer Twins

Cosy nights by the fire, warm knits and slippers, constant supplies of warm teas, decorated Christmas trees and fairy lights, mounds of presents and lots of family time. This is how we’ll be spending our christmas this year! Contrary to the norm, this year we’ve decided to stay put and swap the tropical sunshine and warmer climates for a truly British, cold and wintery Christmas and you know what? So far we’re loving every minute of it!

Now if you know me and Jordan, there’s nothing we like more than a hot drink to warm up the palate and keep us toasty on a cold winters night and that’s exactly why we’ve linked up with one of our favourite tea brands this Christmas, Heath & Heather.

Heath & Heather is a herbal tea brand and infusion specialist. Their range of flavoured herbal teas are to die for and we haven’t stopped drinking them from the moment we discovered them. (PS the organic oriental chai and liquorice is an absolute fave of ours!)

Now me and Jordan try our best to live and lead a healthy lifestyle which aligns well with the brand as it embodies the traditional principles of growing natural and organic ingredients aiming to enhance the wellness and health of todays very modern population who lead busy and stressful lifestyles. (We know a few too may people who this applies to and even ourselves sometimes!)Their campaign ‘Me to the Power of Tea’ is all about exploring and restoring your ‘best self’ with their range of 100% natural infusions, each made using nature’s finest botanicals, herbs and roots! YUM!

So in alignment with the style of the campaign, we thought what better way to get in to the Christmas spirit and back in touch with nature than adventuring out and foraging for our very own Christmas tree and decorating it? And believe it or not, this is something me and Jordan have never done, seeing as it is currently our first Christmas living on our own! Exciting! So we decided to go down to ‘Pines and Needles’ in Shoreditch, a Christmas tree farm and go foraging for our very own Christmas tree!

Now, despite the freezing cold and the snow that began just as we had just left the house, we got really stuck in to exploring round ‘Pines and Needles’ looking for the perfect tree for our front room, and ended up finding an amazing one that fit perfectly in to our cosy living room space!

We spent the evening decorating it with our fave baubles whilst sipping on our delicious herbal tea, feeling more in the christmasy spirit than we had done for a long while!

Now for those that haven’t tried this incredible natural tea, NOW is your chance. We’ve worked alongside Heath & Heather to give you guys a chance to win an incredible luxury Christmas hamper :) Inside are a selection of Heath & Heather teas, organic light teas, delicious organic mince pies, an organic Christmas pudding, organic plum and cranberry chutney and a beautiful fresh mistletoe! What a hamper! This is an absolute fab Christmas pressie for yourself or if your feeling generous, a great Christmas gift for someone else.

All you need to do to enter is LIKE AND RETWEET our last photo on Twitter (of us sipping on our delicious Heath and & Heather teas!)

We will then announce a winner on Tuesday 19th December 2017 and will send this hamper over to you!

GOOD LUCK!

LifestyleCollyer TwinsDecember 17, 2017

A Hush Christmas

Christmas is a time for giving (and receiving of course) but nothing feels quite as good as seeing loved ones faces light up when they unwrap a gift you know they are going to love! For some people Christmas isn't all its cracked up to be, partly because you end up in even more debt than you started with as well as running the risk of your gifts being underappreciated. That is an incredibly scrooge attitude to have but we understand that keeping a close eye on those pennies is certainly on most people's minds, so, we've put together a very cute gift set with the help of Hush that won't break the bank account and that every best friend or sister will appreciate! I mean what's not to love about a lovely lacy bra & knickers set and a cute leather card holder that all falls under £60.

Buy the gift set here

LifestyleCollyer TwinsDecember 13, 2017

How we style Kurt Geiger

Now as many of you may have already gathered from our Instagram feed, we love a good ankle boot and of course, the colour black, so we were pretty chuffed when we heard a collaboration with Kurt Geiger was on the cards! King of leather boots and bags, sign us up!

Our first look includes these dreamy studded Dome boots , probably one of our fave choices from the collaboration. They really make an all black ensemble stand out and are super comfy!
Now the poppy tote bag, in all honesty, wouldn't normally be our first choice of bag, however on this occasion we thought we'd buy one that stands out more, seeing as all our other choices are black. It's quite 'out there' but it's practical and really will get those heads turning....Oh and it's faux fur, OBVIOUSLY!

Our second look is slightly more chic. Rocking the black Carvela slight ankle boots with the leather London tote. This is a great combo for a fancy lunch meeting or dinner date. Dress it up with a blazer and black trousers or keep it casual with a pair of denim jeans and a shirt. Done!

Our final look includes the Radar boots, the Tammy boots and the Leather Kensington bags .This is probably the dressiest look of them all, however in true Collyer Twins style, we've managed to give them that more laid back, casual vibe, pairing it with flared jeans, black culottes and blazers. These pieces however are perfect for a dressy night out on the town!

Shop the look:

Studded Boots - Kurt Geiger
Poppy Tote Bags - Kurt Geiger

Shop the look:

Black leather bag | Kurt Geiger

Black boots | Kurt Geiger

Shop the look:

Black bags | Kurt Geiger

Gold studded boots | Kurt Geiger

Black heels | Kurt Geiger

Now, if you don't usually shop at Kurt Geiger or haven't thought of buying your bags there before, well now is the time more than ever. This christmas they're collaborating with 'Save The Children' so any time someone buys the iconic and best-selling leather kensington handbag, (as seen above )10% of that will go to the amazing charity!

Go on guys, do something good this christmas... buy a Kurt Geiger bag :)

Collyer TwinsNovember 28, 2017

Black Friday Baby

So it's that time of year again when the sales go CRAZY, websites go crashing, the old scrooges finally whip out out their credit cards and shopaholics spend their every second scouring the internet for the best sales around.

We've put together a comprehensive wish-list of outfits we're currently scurrying to get our hands on during the sale and links for you to purchase them too using the discount codes shown!

Get shopping' ya filthy animals :)

Winter coats:

Shop the look:

ASOS: 20% off everything
CODE WIN20.
VALID 23-28TH

TOPSHOP: 50% off everything.
VALID UNTIL 27th

REISS: 30% off selected lines

MATCHES FASHION: 50% off Fall/Winter styles

Leather Jackets:

Shop the look:

TOPSHOP: up to 50% off everything

ALL SAINTS: 30% off everything

MATCHES FASHION: Up to 70% off sales

SHOPBOP UK:
Up to 75% off sales items
Up to 30% off full price items
CODE: MORE17

Jewellery:

Shop the look:

MISSOMA: Gold Horn Pendant
     25% OFF SITE

MISSOMA: Mini fang necklace
   25% OFF SITE

MISSOMA Coin Hoops
   25% OFF SITE

MISSOMA: Roman Coin necklace
25% OFF SITE

Jeans glorious Jeans:

Shop the look:

WEEKDAY

NE T A PORTER- up to 50% off

TOPSHOP: 50% off everything

URBAN OUTFITTERS-

Cosey trackie bottoms:

Shop the look:

TOPSHOP- 50% off everything

PRETTY LITTLE THING - 30% off everything
CODE: ITSON
VALID UNTIL 23RD

NET A PORTER - up to 50% off

WHISTLES - 25% OFF

ENJOY!

FashionCollyer TwinsNovember 22, 2017

Hotel Can Mostatxins

Last week Loanne and I took a 4 day trip to the north of Majorca to stay at the gorgeous Hotel Can Mostatxins. Anyone looking for a beautiful and relaxing getaway bursting with culture, history & rustic beauty should look no further than here! Below we have listed things to do, see, where to eat and stay if you ever fancy heading to Alcudia, which we highly recommend!

TO STAY

Nestled in the old town of Alcudia, which hides behind medieval walls and the ancient roman ruins, this time-warped village with it’s narrow streets and colourful houses has a real authenticity to it and the hotel is at the heart of it all.

Upon arrival to the hotel we were greeted by Peter Markham, the hotel manager, who made us feel immediately so welcome,( he was so lovely that we ended up having a delicious meal with him on the first night at an amazing pizzeria called Osteria El Patio down the road.)

The eight bedroom boutique hotel has that real sense of a family-run business with its friendly staff and lobby that has a ‘make your self at home’ policy with a fridge of refreshments and snacks. Of course for Loanne and I this was heaven!

The hotel which dates back to the late XVth century has been transformed from a typical majorcan manor house to a ‘designer’ hotel yet still retains it’s gothic features with stone walls and archways. The best and most iconic feature of the hotel is where the jacuzzi is situated between two huge stone walls, a real architectural masterpiece!

Our room was cute, unassuming and gothic-like contrasted to the modern state of the art furnishings, which is echoed throughout the entire hotel. We were welcomed with a bottle of champagne and a lovely welcome note, how about that for hospitality!

Now if that wasn’t enough to convince you, next year they are adding new hotels to the group following the refurbishment of the house next door, which will open in June 2018 called Hotel Can Mostatxins : Frare and then a third Hotel will open in January 2019 in Selva, called Hotel Can Mostatxins : Estelrich. We can't wait to go back to experience the other two!

To EAT

La Llonja

Situated on the old fishing port of Port Polenca, no wonder it has the most exquisite fresh fish caught in the region. This seriously was the most mouth-watering meal we had whilst in Majorca and needless to say the panoramic views of the bay made for a very romantic set up. The perfect couples spot! If you venture here make sure to order the cod fillet with light garlic sauce and the salad with apricots and roasted carrots. Those with a sweet tooth must get the creme brûlée, it's to die for!

The Wineside

A small family run business, this unpretentious tapas gastrobar is the perfect spot for all those seafood and raw fish lovers! All its produce is sourced locally and it’s menu that changes weekly is ideal for sharing. Order the local ’Hey Babe’ wine it’s delicious and order a few dishes each as the portions aren’t huge. For dessert order the bannoffee pie, it literally melts in your mouth.

TO DO

Alcudia Market

The local Alcudian market is open on Tuesday and Sunday mornings. It’s the best way to enjoy the local culture and all it has to offer, the narrow streets inside the city wall fills up with stalls selling locally produced fruit and vegetables, shoes, bags and souvenirs. They have the cutest souvenir shops that sell everything from gold compasses to old school vintage globes.

Ponderosa bar at Playa de Muro

Ponderosa beach bar has the Ibiza vibe down to a T, situated on Playa de Muro beach, it’s white washed walls and tables and live DJ acts makes for the perfect chilled, atmosphere. The food is fresh and delicious but the vibe and atmosphere is even better. After your meal you can step out onto the beach and go for a dip at Playa de Muro which boasts an incredible landscape. Tip: It's obligatory to try the lemon pie pot, a unique twist on combining a number of different ingredients to make up the flavours of a lemon pie.

Outfit 6:

Yellow strap top | NewLook
Stripey Trousers | Topshop

TravelCollyer TwinsOctober 30, 2017

Our Favourite Autumnal Accessories

Autumn is well and truly upon us and to be honest we’re extremely happy about it. No…not about the colder days and darker nights but instead for the cozy knits and endless layers of clothing.

We both agree that during the winter, it’s not always the easiest to maintain a glamorous look when jeans, wooly knits and jackets prevail but one thing that can give you that edge is accessorising your outfits, whether that’s a cute pendant, stacks of rings or a statement clutch.

This month we’ve linked up with the accessories brand, Accessorize, in order to style up our autumn looks with some of our new, favourite pieces!

For us, Autumn and winter are always busy in terms of parties, DJing and events, so it’s important for us to pick looks and pieces that we can wear in the day but that are also versatile enough to wear at night , dressed up with our favourite party outfits! The smaller clutch bags in the Accessorise collection alongside their jewellery (which can be layered and stacked for a more glamorous look) are the perfect additions to achieve this.

As most of you know, we love our simple jewellery and it’s rare to see us rocking bold statement pieces very often, so we chose some of Accessorize’s rings that match our style perfectly. Super simple stacking rings both in gold and silver which pair amazingly with any type of colour of outfit. Both of us normally wear gold however Accessorise have some amazing silver rings so I personally thought I’d change it up a bit and rock the silver, where Jordan has stuck with her staple gold. Perfect for both a casual day out shopping or a fancy evening dinner party. You just can’t go wrong with these simple, stacking rings.

One thing you’ll always see us wearing with any outfit (even pyjamas sometimes) are pendants, and this season, Accessorize have some super cute ones we just had to get our hands on. A few that we are obsessed with at the moment are those with stars and moons on. We’re absolutely loving this pattern at the moment, which you’ll probably gather by the two matching clutches we’re wearing as well, both covered in gold stars. And… if that wasn’t enough, we also chose matching style berets. Stars galore! Talking of berets….there does seem to be a resurgence of the beret this season and we’re loving it. French, elegant and sassy! We both recently changed up our hairstyles for the winter, and there’s nothing like a cute hat to accentuate them. ‘Beret nice indeed!’

As well as the starry clutch bags we also chose a couple of cute over the shoulder navy, furry body bags which again are perfect for both the day and night and you can release the strap on them for a perfectly party ready clutch. We both wore them last week on a cheeky shopping spree around Notting Hill and wore them the same evening when out Djing in Camden at Oktoberfest. Transitional or what!

Talking about Djing, I’m sure other female DJs out there would agree, the last thing you want to be worrying about when playing to a crowd of hundreds of people, is lugging around a huge bag with you and having to faff around with all your unnecessary items lost amongst a jumble of mess. (Maybe we speak for ourselves here in regards to the jumble of mess!) A small bag is the the perfect choice when heading to play your music at a set. If you’re like us, we only DJ off USB’s now, which makes things a lot easier and a lot lighter. So having a small cute clutch bag or an off the shoulder bag to simply chuck your USBs, phone and money in, is literally all you need! Hence why we’ve chosen a few from Accessorise this season. Not only stylish but super practical! Where do the headphones go then? I hear you say… Just around our necks….We’re cool like that ;)

Now I'm not sure about you guys but we always find jewellery boxes hard to keep our dainty necklaces and pendants in, so draping them over decorative cocktail glasses seems rather fitting and stops the necklaces from knotting, it also looks pretty cute, bonus.

We’ve included a variety of casual day-time and smarter evening wear shots amongst our images to illustrate the transitional nature of the Accessorise pieces we’ve chosen this Autumn. We’ve already been wearing these pieces constantly: Come day, come night, come lunch dates, come dinner parties, come shopping sprees, come DJ gigs, you name it, these pieces are a perfect match for all of these occasions. All we can say is, thank god the stigma attached to wearing the same clothes isn’t attached to wearing the same accessories, if so, we’d be guilty of some serious fashion faux pas!

FashionCollyer TwinsOctober 25, 2017