🔖 Little Black Book #6
Indulgences of a Woman About Town.
Welcome back to The Navigation’s Little Black Book column! Part diary, part directory, here I share a monthly dose of insights and recommendations - not with the intention of sending you out to spend hordes of cash, but to encourage you to spend mindfully, whether that be money, time or energy. And give you a little more insight into what this Valleys girl is up to in the big smoke.
👗 Wearing
So the boots are back from Timpson, in pristine condition, and I’m finally back in my go-to ‘uniform’ for the season: thick tights under long boots and a just-above-the-knee skirt, with a polo neck jumper over another layer or two, plus a scarf for good measure.
Over the years, I have collected these basic plain knit jumpers with pretty cuff details from Zara in at least seven colours, and they are still going strong. Are they the best quality the high street can offer? Perhaps not. But they are versatile, work as an over or under layer, and never really date. What more do you want from a basic knit?
What I have also been wearing a lot of this month though are these wide-leg Uniqlo trousers. First picked up in a sort of mink colour on a post-brunch-with-the-gals whim back in the spring, I fancied them even though they are totally not my usual style (honestly I’m just not cool enough to pull off this kind of thing). Luckily encouraging friends led to it being a purchase I have not come to regret; quite the opposite in fact given that I went back this month and got a slightly newer version (now with back pockets) in black.
They are perfect for WFH, being a very comfy trouser but with a heavy fall that lets them hint at smart, while being easy to wear with trainers or chunky flat boots for a lunch time stroll or a post-work trip to the supermarket for dinnertime goods. Can also recommend for long train journeys, general lounging, and even a bit of at-home yoga. They wash well too. A steal at £24.90.
💄 Applying
Autumn has settled in and I am applying copious amounts of hand cream. I've got bottles dotted around the flat, on my desk, in any and every tote or handbag, including a mini bottle of Palmer's Cocoa Butter - a tiny bit of which works wonders and smells divine.
For the visage, something that has become a year-round favourite, but I think works even better through this season as an extra bit of soothing for the skin before applying make up - enter the Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base. I discovered this gloriously citrus-scented balm back last year when having make-up done for a wonderful day of bridesmaiding (thank you Tayla!) and it went straight on my Christmas list. I’ve used it throughout the year for special occasions, or when I want/need my make up to last well all day, as it acts as a great primer. A little goes a long way with this too, so there’s plenty left in the pot as the seasonal soirées ramp up.
🎁 Gifting
Gifts this month have included You Are Only Just Beginning, a book I was given for my birthday this year, and shared my enjoyment of in an earlier issue, which I have now bought for another friend who I thought would love it equally as much. There's also been thank you gifts of the chocolate variety, and Hotel Chocolate offer sweet boxes with perfect messaging.
I'm also, of course, dabbling in Christmas shopping. While I won't divulge any purchases here, as inquisitive recipients-to-be may be reading, things I'm thinking about to inform my gifting, which might be useful for you too, include:
What do they really want that they'd never buy themselves?
What's a premium version of something they use all the time?
What's something they've shown an interest in this year that a gift can help them explore more next year?
Is there a seasonal treat they might like that tastes all the more delicious at Christmas?
Is there a random gadget that's actually going to be a practical help rather than end up forgotten in a drawer?
Not all gifts are created equal in the eyes of the beholder. Some people will think every scented candle is the best treat they could receive. Others will see it as quite literally burning money. (I'm in the former camp, in case you're wondering). Some people love a new pair of slippers every Christmas, while others can make a single pair last for years. (Here, I am the latter). I think guiding principles will always apply, but don’t forget to be intentional and personal too.
And gifts don't always have to be physical of course. A subscription to the Substack publication of an author someone really enjoys reading, or that focuses on a niche they are interested in, could be the unexpected gift that keeps on giving. A newsletter is for life (or, at least a year) not just for Christmas. You're not just paying for great writing, but for a community too; I have met some wonderful and interesting people through being part of memberships like
’s and ’s. Perhaps have a think about where your giftee could find value in the curious corners of this platform…Other non-physical gifts, depending on the persuasion of your recipient, could include a charity donation in their name for a cause close to their heart, an online course for them to learn from, or - a random and surprising gift I got my partner in one of our early rounds of gift giving - a plot of land that gives them the title of Lord/Lady while helping to preserve historical sites!
For a more traditional gift guide, take a look at a few I shared in an earlier post.
To this I would also now add
’s gifting list shared this week (and not only because she referenced my writing in close succession to that of the one and only !).🥗 Eating
Quiet on the restaurant visits this month, but I did enjoy a wonderful catch up with friends over hearty food and wine at Little Georgia. The khachapuri, a type of traditional bread that’s a meal in itself, is a favourite of my partner's (though we've only been once before) and was pretty much the sole reason he elected we go back and take more people.
The menu is traditional, and everything is cooked fresh (the server looked mortified when someone asked whether they prepare the bread in advance to heat up later). With dumplings, beans, tenderly cooked meat and well-seasoned sauces, paired with intriguing artwork and an old-school pub-like bar, it's a bit of a different vibe to your usual weeknight dinner, and well-worth a visit if you're in the area (and/or willing to walk about 10 minutes from Kings Cross).
🎭 Visiting
The last week of October, after I'd shared my Sunday update in the Little Black Book, was an eventful one, with visits to the Poetry Pharmacy on Oxford Street, the Conduit Club for an evening with Bernardine Evaristo and the team at The Circle NGO, plus a trip to the Allbright Townhouse with the Trouble Club to hear Lotte Bowser talk about her book, Bittersweet. A big week for feeling inspired and galvanised by incredible women, and making connections in new ways by not being afraid to weed into the deep and messy topics.
Which, as it happens, was a feeling not dissimilar to the vibe I experienced just last weekend at the Creative Unblocking retreat with
, in the majestical mountains of Brecon. I was there, not as a guest, but to support the smooth running of a beautiful weekend alongside , the star behind retreats. It was nevertheless an unforgettable experience in all the ways you might imagine. Having taken myself on a different kind of retreat just a few months ago, it was nice to be on the flip side, and help create the kind of exceptional weekend that the women joining us deserved.Hello to all of you who are now also very welcome readers of
! 👋🏻Emma's write up offering a peek into the weekend really captures the ethos of community that experiences like this are all about.
Elsewhere in life, my partner and I have also been visiting a lot of properties this month, as we start exploring the possibility of ‘getting on the property ladder’ - a phrase that feels so at odds with what I am about in so many ways, and yet I still feel drawn to the prospect of having somewhere to call my own.
I am contemplating sharing more of this journey through the coming months on
, as I am sure there will be ups and downs galore, and as a millennial, home ownership (or lack of) feels like one of the most complex things we must navigate.Do let me know if you'd be interested in hearing more on this front, and feel free to share any of your own tips for the process too!
Thank you as always for being here (increasingly more of you, which is so lovely!) and wishing you a wonderful Sunday x
If you liked this issue and would like to show some support without a paid subscription, a Ko-fi coffee is always appreciated.☕
Loved this week’s recs, Lauren. My gosh you have been busy!
And if you feel comfortable I’d love to read about your property hunt. I bought my flat with my sister two years ago and the best bit of advice someone gave me was to celebrate every single milestone because the process is long and often sometimes quite testing and you’ll look back and wish you had enjoyed the process more.
So we would grab a drink on a way home from another depressing viewing to cheers to the sad damp properties we’d ruled out, did a dance in the kitchen every time we got another response on a query from the solicitor and raise our mugs of tea each time we built a new bit of furniture.
Given I’m also property hunting, in London town, ai feel it is imperative that we meet and compare notes regularly…to ease the pain if nothing else! Love this post and thanks for the lovely mention x