Two weeks into 2025 and I’ve already ticked something off my bucket list: a visit to the Natural History Museum.
With it came a delightful little day trip to London, filled with some of my favourite things: museums, Japanese food, book shopping, and, of course, time spent with my love. Making the most of our time spent together by getting out and exploring new places, or returning to tried and tested favourites, makes my heart so full, and I already can’t wait for our next trip down to the big smoke.
WHAT’S INSPIRED ME THIS WEEK
As a fashion designer, and general creative type, I am constantly seeking inspiration wherever I am, and these posts are a way to document what has ignited something within me this past week. Whether its artwork I’ve seen online, photography that moved me, or a collection of colour in nature that kick-started a creative idea in my head, I’ll be sharing four ideas that have brought me joy in the past seven days.
R. READING
I’ve read my first classic of the year: Emma by Jane Austen.
I actually initially started this book last year, but found myself struggling to get into it, so put it down – which is something I very, very rarely do.
However, this time I found myself feeling quite the opposite – I absolutely couldn’t put it down! It may be due to the fact that I was diving back in at the most juiciest part of the story, as I headed into Vol III, but I was absolutely hooked.
I love the gossip-like nature of Emma that makes you feel so immersed in the comings and goings of Highbury, and all the drama that comes with that. It’s my favourite Jane Austen book that I’ve read so far!
E. EDUCATING
This week I visited the Natural History Museum for the first time. As someone who somewhat frequently visits the V&A I have always watched the Natural History Museum from a distance, thinking ‘I really ought to go in there one of these days’ – and that’s exactly what I did this weekend!
I was committed to visiting at some point in 2025, so had added some photos of the museum to my yearly vision board, which is where my darling boyfriend Ben spotted it. So, as a surprise to celebrate us being together for six months, he planned a day to London to go to the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition and visit the museum.
The exhibition, though it was incredibly busy, was full of such wonderful photographs, I dread to think how long some of them took to capture.
P. PLAYING
I’m a big fan of Clare Press’ podcast: The Wardrobe Crisis. I leave every episode with a head overflowing with thoughts, but I felt even more thoughtful than usual after listening to one of her most recent episodes all about garment workers in Bangladesh.
In episode 228 Clare chats to Shafiq Hassan, owner of Echotex, a garment manufacturing business based in Bangladesh.
He spoke through what action he had taken to improve and protect the lives of his garment workers across Bangladesh, and delved into the reality of providing a living wage vs ensuring that workers have sufficient facilities and benefits.
This episode has truly made me reevaluate how I view this discussion, and highlighted how it’s not such a black and white debate as I once thought it was.
If you are in the sustainable fashion space, or simply want to know more about this topic, then I’d 1000% recommend.
O. OBSESSING OVER
This is a constant obsession, and one I’ve had since the age of fourteen, but this week’s obsession has to be Pinterest.
As a freelance designer I often use it to pin ideas for future collections, collate trend information, and make moodboards. Whilst getting on with all that this week I had a little think about how grateful I am for having a place to quickly and easily pin my ideas so wanted to shout-out Pinterest in this week’s post.
If you haven’t already you can check out my Pinterest here.
R. RECOMMENDING
I can’t really take credit for this recommendation as it was Ben who originally showed it to me, but I simply have to share our favourite Japanese spot in Kensington.
A stone’s throw from the museums Tombo is our go-to for authentic, and delicious, Japanese food in London.
I get the Tokyo Classic poke bowl, whilst Ben usually gets the Osaka Fire. This time however he switched it up and went for the chicken katsu curry, which he also said was delicious.
I highly recommend finishing off your meal with a Tokyo sundae, piled high with matcha-flavoured delights.
T. TREATING MYSELF TO
Whilst in London we visited the giant Foyles on Charing Cross Road for our favourite thing – a good old mooch around a book shop; and with five floors of books you could be mooching for hours!
I’ve had my eye on Orbital by Samantha Harvey for quite some time, so I decided to treat myself to a new book whilst meandering around Foyles.
I’ve already started it so no doubt there will be a review in next week’s post!
Love Chloe x
