Where to Eat & Drink in Glasgow

As I mentioned in my last post, I want to add a little lifestyle to my blog. I've been proud of being the only blogger in Scotland to solely focus on fashion, however after a few years you begin to run out of content ideas! I also started to realise that friends ask for my recommendations on things beyond fashion, including beauty products, TV shows and places to eat and drink.

After living in Glasgow for nine months, I thought it would be good to start off with my favourite bars, restaurants and cafes in this vibrant city. Although I still have a few on my list to visit, I feel like I got to know the city enough to make this little guide. If you haven't planned a trip to Glasgow, I hope it will tempt you!

For lunch or a sweet treat

I've been to Cup Tea Lounge on Renfield Street a few times and I seem to love it more with every visit. The Victorian interior (with original tiled features) is so stunning that you will want to get on Instagram immediately! Although it feels very decadent, the prices are surprisingly affordable. This combination, along with the delicious food makes this an extremely popular venue for a bite to eat. If you're visiting on a weekend I'd suggest that you book a table. 

Usually I'm quite decisive when looking at a menu, but Cup makes it a lot harder to choose! There are SIXTEEN different flavours of cupcakes and an even bigger selection of teas. I also really like the variety of sandwiches and toasties that are full of flavour. Just don't ask me which one to go for!

For casual drinks

Hillhead Bookclub in the West End is another impressive looking venue. It was originally a cinema, built in 1913 and it has maintained it's beautiful ceiling. I love the mixture of vintage furniture and the games area where you can play ping pong and retro computer games. Whenever I've visited this bar, there's always been a great atmosphere and good tunes thanks to their DJ talent. 

One night here that is still on my to-do list is Lady Balls Bingo, hosted by hilarious drag queens with a prize of £500. It's on at 9pm on the fourth Wednesday of every month. As for the drinks, they are known for their tasty cocktails. The majority of them are £6 - and a couple of mojito drinks are just £3! Cocktail drinking without the spending guilt is a pretty ideal night to me!

For Dinner

The Burger Quarter in the central location of St Vincent street will spoil you for choice if you're craving a yummy burger. You'll find Bread Meats Bread, Handmade Burger Co, Five Guys, and Gourmet Burger Kitchen (plus Byron is a couple of blocks away!) Everyone has their own favourites but mine personally is Handmade Burger Co because they have such a large variety of quality burgers and it's a nice restaurant too (pictured below). Some of of my friends prefer Bread Meats Bread though and I do love their caramelised sweet potato fries. You're most likely to wait in a queue for a table there so it's better to go elsewhere if you're absolutely starving!

For a big night out

I'm sure most Glaswegians will agree that if you're planning a big night out, Bath street is the perfect place to go. Lots of people rate Hummingbird and Bar Bloc as their favourites. I really like the lesser known Saint Judes which is a colourful and stylish bar that was fully revamped a year ago. If you're after delicious cocktails, you won't be disappointed. 

Bath street also has some fab clubs with excellent DJs. I love Bamboo and Kushion which both have more than one room so you have a choice of music genres. These clubs mostly attract students, but I don't let that put me off because the music is THAT good! 

For gay bars/clubs

Anyone who knows me, knows I love gay bars (despite being straight! It's all about the fun atmosphere). Merchant City is the area you should head to (in the centre of the city, where I used to live.) Polo Lounge is the biggest gay venue in Scotland. It has a spacious bar on the ground level and a couple of different rooms in the basement to suit a range of music tastes. Throughout the whole week there are drinks available for £1.50 so you can't argue with that! I also like Katie's Bar on John street, but most of my favourite nights in Glasgow have been at AXM. If you're a fan of RuPaul's Drag Race, you need to book tickets to see some of the show's most popular queens there. The local queens are amazing too, and you can see every Thursday at Trigger.

For somewhere fancy

It doesn't get much fancier than The Corinthian in Glasgow, which is in the central location of Ingram street (my favourite street!) I've been lucky enough to go there twice - for a work night out and a press event. Both times I was blown away by the lavish interiors of the different rooms. There are five floors which include bars, conference rooms, a club and a casino. My favourite that I've discovered is The Flying Scotsman room (see below). I also really loved the music on a Saturday night which was well mixed chart music on the first floor and retro music on another floor. If you have enough cash to splash I would seriously recommend The Corinthian.

I hope you liked the sound of my selection and let me know if you have any other favourite venues in Glasgow.

Fashion & Lifestyle Websites You Need to Know

There is no denying that the age of the internet has completely changed the way we consume content as well as our shopping habits. As much as I still love physical magazines, I'm now becoming more hooked on online magazines. They offer daily updates, multimedia and usually they won't cost you a penny!

It's great keeping up to date with fashion news and browsing online stores, however sometimes you just want to be inspired. Blogs are great for that, but there are also plenty of websites that feature influencers who aren't normally as accessible. Insight into these tastemakers' lives can help shape our own lifestyle choices. You might want to read a book recommended by an actor you admire or find out what your style icon's top tips are for vintage shopping. 

I've compiled a list of my three favourite websites which offer copious amounts of inspiration. I hope you like them as much as I do!

Semaine.com

I was introduced to Semaine on Sunday during a talk at Edinburgh International Fashion Festival. One of the panelists was Semaine's co-founder Michelle Lu, and she explained the online magazine-meets-concept store. Every week, the website features a new tastemaker - who have so far included burlesque icon Dita Von Teese, fashion designer Bella Freud and the band Say Lou Lou. You can delve into their worlds and discover many different aspects of their lifestyles, from their sense of fashion to their favourite hotels or beauty products. If you're lusting after any of the featured items, you can simply click onto it and purchase straight away. 

Semaine's content is beautifully curated, with photography that captures the tastemaker's aesthetics so well. If you're a Girls fan then you should watch the video of Jemima Kirke and I'd also recommend listening to sex anthropologist/erotic jewellery designer Betony Vernon's podcast. 

dressr.co.uk

I came across DRESSR soon after it launched last year, as the founder Jessica Vince is an Instagram friend of mine. After working at Grazia for several years as the Digital Editor, she launched her own online business like a total girlboss. The concept is so simple but so relevant to the way we make purchasing decisions these days. Most of us swoon over outfits worn by our Insta-crushes, but we don't usually know where we can buy what they're wearing. The team behind DRESSR curate an edit of top fashion influencers, with links to items in their latest Instagram pictures. You'd be surprised at how many celebrities wear high-street brands! 

You can either scroll through the feed for some styling inspiration or use the search options for a particular style, occasion or celebrity. Some of the most recent fashion influencers featured include Suki Waterhouse, Rita Ora and Olivia Palermo. Once you've checked out DRESSR it could easily become one of your go-to websites for some major fashion inspiration.

thecoveteur.com

You may already know of the American lifestyle website The Coveteur, as it was launched back in 2011. Originally, The Coveteur focused on exploring the homes and wardrobes of individuals who have a covetable personal style. It was one of the only ways you could get behind-the-scenes insight into influencers lives before the likes of Snapchat. Now the website has expanded into other areas of captivating content such as health and travel.

I've always really admired the photography in the 'closet' section of the website which captures interior details and wardrobe highlights. Having a peek at Coco Chanel's apartment and Grace Coddington's home is an absolute must!

These websites are actually making me consider branching out with by content beyond fashion. I'm thinking of adding city guides, beauty and home interiors although it's a little scary after focusing on fashion for six years! What do you think?

Blossom Print

Trousers - Nobody's Child

Top - Zara

Clutch - Katie Loxton

Sandals - Topshop

Necklace - Forever 21

Photography by Ellie Morag

After telling you about the fab new brand Nobody's Child a couple of months ago (catch up here if you missed it) I am finally sharing with you my first purchase. These trousers have been one of my go-to pieces when the sun has been out or when I've been to an evening event where I'm unsure of the dress code. They are in between casual and dressy and go well with either these sandals or my leather sneakers. 

I also love my new clutch bag which my best friend Kate gave me for my birthday. You can't really make out the gold writing from photos, but it says 'Pretty in Pink'. I had seen an Instagram photo a while back which Kate had taken of the whole collection. They have lots of pretty colours with cute phrases like 'Bag of Tricks' and 'Hello Lovely'. After telling Kate my favourite (not hard for her to guess since I'm crazy for pink) she remembered and kindly sent me one in the post. I really do have the most thoughtful friends!

I hope you all have a lovely weekend. I'm off to see Kim Chi from RuPaul's Drag Race who has such incredibly creative looks. If you want to see what she wears on Saturday then you can now follow me on Snapchat by searching for LovefromLouLou. 

Flower Power

Photography by Ellie Morag

Dress - Mango (c/o House of Fraser)

Sandals - Topshop

Choker - Forever 21

Cuff - Maybury

It feels like summer has arrived early in Scotland and we've all been making the most of it! I've been having my lunch breaks outside, sunbathed whenever I get the chance and last weekend I had my first BBQ of the year. It also makes me so happy when I can wear all my summer clothes. Although I wear floral prints all year round, I usually opt for brighter florals on sunny days. This colourful dress caught my eye recently as I love the sixties style print. 

I have to admit that I made a styling boo-boo wearing the dress for the first time. I had completely forgotten after ordering it online that it's an off-the-shoulder dress! As a perfectionist, this almost makes me want to re-shoot, but Ellie has done such a fab job with the photography that I wouldn't dare!

We shot these pictures in Edinburgh's pretty Dean Village and the Gallery of Modern Art. I love how the tiles in the ladies room match my dress so well!

If you're on the look out for the perfect summer dress then there's a lovely selection you can browse here. Hopefully we can get a lot of wear out of them this season if the sun keeps being good to us!

Your5 Fashion Consultation at Silverburn

It's been seven months since I moved to Glasgow and I'm still having fun discovering all of the best places to shop. Last weekend I finally checked out Silverburn shopping centre as I was invited to their Your5 event. 

I had been really looking forward to having my fashion consultation as I was interested in hearing a top stylist's opinion on what I would suit. During the consultation, she took me around 5 sections based on this season's wardrobe staples: The Shirt, The Jacket, The Trouser, The Sneaker and The Silk. Each area displayed a rail of hand-picked clothes from a wide variety of brands which could be found in the mall. 

I'm a huge fan of silk and Your5 showed that there's a fab range of silk pieces for SS16.

I bumped into the lovely Tatyana of Lafotka.com

My stylist talked me through the current season's key styles, from boxy jackets to colourful trainers. She also helped me select the best pieces to suit my style and taste. Naturally, I was drawn towards all of the beautiful prints, however my stylist convinced me that I should try adding some simple shirts to my wardrobe. I also loved the selection of cropped trousers. After receiving a Silverburn voucher in my goodie bag, I went straight to Topshop to buy this chic pair of wide-leg trousers below. The crinkly material is so unusual and I like that I could wear them casually with trainers, then dress them up in the evening with a pair of heels.

Strip Pleat Trousers - Topshop

Here are my other top picks from my consultation:

Links - Bomber jacket | Striped shirt | Converse Sneakers | Floral top

If you haven't been to Glasgow's Silverburn shopping centre yet then I'd really recommend you do as it's huge and there are so many great stores inside.

Let me know what you think of my top picks!

The Wedding Guest Edit

Dress - Zara

Bag - Debenhams

Headpiece - Accessorize

One of the things that are great about weddings is that it gives you a reason to dress up! When else would I wear this gorgeous headpiece? The only tricky part is that there are so many unwritten rules to dressing for a wedding. You're not supposed to wear white, dresses shouldn't be too short, jackets should be smart, handbags are typically tiny - it's not just the bride who puts in lots of time and effort into perfecting her look! 

Florals are always a good option, and if dresses aren't your thing then the two-piece below is an equally stylish alternative.

Floral co-ord - ASOS

Bird print dress - Louche

If you don't like having the tops of your arms on show or you just want to add some glamour to a simple dress then you could opt for a beaded jacket.

Embellished jacket - Miss Selfridge

Necklace - Zara

Blazers are a good choice of jacket and this soft tailored style below is so chic and modern.

Porcelain necklace - And Mary

Soft tailored blazer - Topshop

If you're looking for lace then Zara has plenty of beautiful styles to choose from. 

Lace two-piece - Zara

Crown headband - ASOS

Wearing heels through the day to night can be a killer for our feet. Luckily this season there are a few alternatives to stilettos from low sling-back shoes to block heel sandals.

Clutch bag - Accessorize

Block heel sandals - New Look

Have you got any weddings coming up that you're preparing for? Hopefully this can give you a little inspiration!

Off-the-Shoulder Styling Ideas

One of my favourite trends this season has got to be the off-the-shoulder top. It's a fun and flirty look which can be worn from day to night. If you're wondering what to pack for your summer holiday then I'd suggest this as it's great for revealing your sun-kissed skin! 

I've come up with two outfit ideas to style a cropped off-the-shoulder top. My main tip would be to pair it with either culottes for a chic look or channel this season's bohemian trend with a high-waisted floaty skirt. 

Top - Alexander McQueen

Skirt - Dolce & Gabbana

Sunglasses - Ellery

Bag - Charlotte Olympia

Bangles - Aurelie Bidermann 

Shoes - Alexandre Birman

The neckline of this top should be the main focus so there's no need to add a necklace. Instead, opt for bangles or drop earrings. I love the stacked bangles above which add to the glamour of my first outfit, inspired by Dolce & Gabbana's SS16 collection.

Top - Alexander McQueen

Culottes - Alice + Olivia

Belt - Dolce & Gabbana

Bag - M2malletier

Earrings - Elise Dray

Shoes - Sophia Webster

Since this style of top is so feminine, accessories such as cat-eye sunglasses and clutch bags are a great way to complete the look. I'm coveting the Sophia Webster sandals above which make an exciting addition to the monochrome separates.

Let me know what you think of these styling sets. Have you added this must-have piece to your wardrobe yet?

Babe of a Bomber Jacket

Bomber jacket - H&M Trend

T-shirt - Zara

Jeans - BDG at Urban Outfitters

Boots - Topshop

Bracelet - Forever 21

Handbag - H&M

The bomber jacket has to be my hero piece for SS16. In fact, it has been for the past couple of summers. Last year I bought an over-sized satin bomber jacket in lilac and the year before that I couldn't stop wearing my light-weight floral one. 

This season every store on the high street is offering their own versions. I feel like I've found the champion of them all though! The floral embroidery on the back is so unique and I love the combination of gold, navy and pink. The stripes down the arms and ribbed trims add a sporty element to the oriental design. It has all the elements of this season's bomber jacket in one so it's no wonder it sold out so quickly!

Thanks again to Sophie Pellegrini for taking these photos for me in a lovely part of Glasgow's West End. You can see all the beautiful editorials she's shot here.

Seventies Tile Print

Dress - Zara

Handbag - Forever21

Boots - Topshop

Hat - Brora

This is the outfit I wore to Edinburgh Fashion Week earlier in the month. I love the retro print of my dress with the mixture of dark green, blue and rust. It's also a great transitional piece as it's made from a warm felt material. Shout out to my blogging gal Katie who coincidentally also wore a bell-sleeved printed dress to the event! 

I don't have a huge handbag collection, but whenever I do get one I become a little obsessed with it! This one reminds me of the Faye shoulder bag by Chloe (there was a chain to attach to the hoop too but I prefer it without!) 

Thank you to the fabulous photographer Sophie Pellegrini who took these photos in the West End of Glasgow. I've been a fan of Sophie's work for a while so it was such a pleasure to collaborate with her. She's shot for a number of cool online magazines so make sure you check out her website here.