The Recap - Jan 2025

All the things I’ve been indulging in, learning, lusting after and grateful for this month.

The Recap! …

…My top ten each month. Everything I’ve been wearing, listening to, been motivated by, what has given me comfort. The things I’ve been indulging in, learning, lusting after and grateful for. This month I chat about getting up in the cold and donning lycra (and why I can’t wait to do it) the most exciting projects on the horizon, our big house move, finding an answer that’s already there (philosophical), slowing down, and a pictorial representation of the inside of my imagination.

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1- Wearing -

The Uniform. As in, the uniform according to the three rules which make dressing-well-a-no-brainer, set out in this article.

Here are some of the looks featured there:

Or you could just read it here:

The Stalf Uniform

Chocolate Check has me in its grip just recently- I think it’s because we’re well into our last roll of this fabric. I have the Dungas, but the Work Trousers also have my heart.

2- Soundtrack - May Ninth by Khruangbin

Ironic perhaps, given the song title, but this was the soundtrack to my January. When I hear this song I think of crisp, misty mornings, frost on the grass and slow, lazy weekends at home, toasting in front of a red hot fire.

3- Motivator - Biking in the freezing cold with the kids.

I have a new love. It involves getting up early in the cold, donning lycra and scaling hills and muddy tracks with my fiancé and two boys. In fact, it’s a love for the whole family- we all chuck ourselves down the hills- last month even in snow and ice!

We take a bag full of snacks/lunch and hit the café for cream-topped hot chocolates, post-trail.

So far, we’ve stuck to the blue runs, but Valentine (my youngest) has tried his hand at sections of red (and Sam’s been a pro for years on a black run) so we’re slooowly working our way up the tiers.

I’m relishing the fact that I’m at the point with my young family where we can all get collective enjoyment, relish (and exercise) from an activity we do together. There’s something magical about realising you’re living out a moment that you once fantasised about. Mountain biking is our new fave, and my god do I want to jump out of bed on a Sunday morning and go!

4- Comfort - There is such a wealth of excitement coming up for me this year. It’s like a big, happy mind-hug whenever I think about all the amazing things on the horizon.

We have a Spring launch mere weeks away, a big Stalf birthday party celebration on the cards (hello London Pop-Up!) the most delicious dress I think I’ve EVER designed, I get married (TWICE!) we’re moving house AND plenty of adventuring is on the cards with my gorgeous family.

This is the first year in a long, old while that I have felt really ready for everything and I’m brimful with a determination like never before. LET’S GO!

5- View - Sunset on our new terrace.

Building a house has been quite an experience. Of course, I’m excited about all the wonderful spaces we’ve created inside… but most of all, when I imagine myself in this new place, in my mind’s eye I’m always, ALWAYS stood on the terrace, taking in this view (enjoy our chat in the background of the vid!)

For the record, this is how glorious the paddock is in early and late Summer…