Pandora Sykes Shares Her Fashion, Beauty & Lifestyle Favourites
1. The Brands To Watch
I'm really into the DTC middle market brands right now: Rise & Fall is excellent, ditto WNU. I also love POSSE, Ciao Lucia and Peony for summer, and St Agni, SIR and Leset year-round. I have my eye on Groes too. The brand I shop most from though is Reformation – it's just so wearable.
2. The Colour
Black, white, brown and red are mainstays in my wardrobe but I'm enjoying the odd bit of baby blue or aquamarine at the moment – and a very specific shade of pink.
3. The Trend
I am loving elasticated trousers. For smarter occasions, I like these brown silky ones from Rise & Fall and for days at home, I gravitate towards the cotton trousers from Leset.
4. The Campaign
Massimo Dutti's '90s campaign – featuring a CBK-esque model – dropped just after Love Story came out. It’s really smart timing.
5. The Saved Post
I don't tend to screenshot looks but I get a lot of styling ideas and discover new brands through Alison Bornstein, Anna Newton, Lucy Williams and Leandra Medine's newsletters. I recently bought a vintage YSL scarf off Etsy that was definitely Alison-inspired.
6. The Shopping List
A white Eres swimsuit on Vinted – they're great if you don't like a high cut – and a glass beaded belt from Sandra Alexandra.
7. The Last Buy
A vintage Christian Dior blazer with a little nipped waist for £70 and a silky black vintage Alberta Ferretti shirt with snap buttons for £22 – both from Vinted.
8. The Summer Find
I love this ME+EM t-shirt maxi dress – it has a nubbly towelling effect so you don't feel gross if you sweat in it. I've been cinching it in with western belts and it'll be brilliant for the beach. I'm also into the chocolate brown granddad shirt that Lucy Williams designed for WNU, worn open over a vest. And this Ciao Lucia crochet maxi kaftan – so beautiful, I can't wait to wear it on holiday.
9. The Affordable Hero
These Uniqlo shorts are the best – they bring them out every summer and I've built up a little collection. I find that while I love the look of jean shorts, I always reach for these. I'm also obsessed with FitFlop – I have really flat feet and they're the only open shoes that don't give me sore ankles. And this H&M dress is excellent – it looks like something on Net-a-Porter for ten times the price.
10. The Jewellery
I tend to wear the same pieces: huggies up my ear from Otiumberg with a larger gold pair from Sandra Alexandra in my lobes, a simple gold chain from Loren Stewart or a Foundrae medallion my husband gave me for my 30th. On my 'one day' wish list: a pair of Jessica McCormack gypset earrings. I wore them all up my ear to film the Rivals podcast and have never felt more sparkly.
11. The Everyday Combo
I always like high-waisted vintage jeans sourced by PIN Denim or tailored trousers by ME+EM, with a Rag & Bone or James Perse t-shirt and a leather jacket or blazer. That's my go-to. At home, it's elasticated trousers or Le Bon Shoppe's Balloon Pants with a Reformation cashmere crew-neck.
12. The Holiday Outfit
A black or white cotton dress – mini or maxi. Every summer I experiment with more interesting options and every summer I reach for those. This one from If Only If is exactly the kind of thing I gravitate towards.
13. The Shoe Pick
My Hereu fisherman sandals bought from Vinted a few summers ago, burgundy H&M ballet flats that hit slightly higher up the foot – an excellent affordable alternative to the Phoebe Philo ones – and Rothy's merino clogs, which are incredibly comfortable and machine washable.
14. The Beauty Hero
Terri Capon recently introduced me to By Ellie's brow mascara – it adds volume without looking laminated. I'm also very into Bobbi Brown's lipstick in ‘Crushed’, the perfect pinky, nude brown, and No7's Prime Forever Weightless Moisturiser – incredibly calming without feeling heavy or fragranced.
15. The Signature Scent
Escentric Molecules 01. I've worn it for about a decade – before that it was Santal 33 by Le Labo. I don't own any others.
16. The Make-Up Bag Musts
Merit concealer, Bobbi Brown lipstick in ‘Crushed’ and Merit’s Bronze Balm in ‘Clay’.
17. The Beauty Routine Upgrade
I recently learned from No7 research that over a third of women in the UK say a skincare routine brings happiness to their everyday life – which inspired me to be more consistent with my gua sha and body brush. I've also started using No7's Prime Forever SPF50 Primer. I was 39 when I learned to use primer, so the added sun protection is a bonus – and I can already see and feel a difference.
18. The Travel Wishlist
I turn 40 next year and I'm hoping to go back to Miami to celebrate. I spent one night there on my honeymoon and have been keen to return ever since – it has such brilliant vintage shopping and art.
19. The Dream Hotel
Bellevue Syrene in Sorrento is dreamy, as is Les Roches Rouges in the south of France. But the most special place I've ever stayed was Mukul in Nicaragua – on my honeymoon.
20. The In-Flight Essentials
If I'm travelling with my three small children: endless zippered packing cubes, and bags of snacks and pens. For me: Space NK travel pouches, a big cashmere scarf from Begg & Co, an XL Chilly's water bottle, Paramol tablets and earplugs. Not very glamorous!
21. The Next Trip
We’re going back to Comporta in July for our family holiday – my husband is half Portuguese and I love the wild beaches there. I'm also obsessed with Gomes deli and Jacari's for pizza.
22. The Restaurant Recommendation
I finally ate at Andrew Edmunds – a London stalwart – and loved it. I had scallops, pea soup and multiple pieces of the house bread.
23. The At-Home Favourite
Prawns, lots of veg, brown noodles with egg scrambled in at the end – scattered with peanuts and coriander when I have them. I also love a risotto: pea and chorizo, or squash and goat's cheese. I've just bought Emily English's So Good Express and have already folded down lots of pages.
24. The Go-To Coffee Spot
Sonora in Kensal Green – and it’s always a flat white. I weaned myself off oat milk this year, saving a princely 30p per order. Mainly I make them at home on my Sage Barista Touch, which I'm so attached to I've been known to take it with me when staying with family.
25. The Guilty Pleasure
In no particular order: Magnum ice cream cookie Bonbons, Tesco cheese balls, Lotus Biscoff from the jar, Co-op salt and vinegar crisps – and the one I most regret at 5am – Domino's pepperoni pizza.
26. The Current Read
Everyone should read A Private Man by Stephanie Sy-Quia – a debut novel that's absolutely stunning. I'm currently reading Elizabeth Strout's latest, The Things We Never Say, and it might just be my favourite of hers. I'm also working through Jess Gibson's debut short story collection The Good Eye, You've Changed by Benoit Denizet-Lewis, and The Make Believe – a memoir by former actor Hannah Murray about her time in a wellness cult.
27. The Podcast Queue
Slate's ICYMI on internet culture – try the episode on lip filler accent. Also Pop Culture Happy Hour from NPR and Top Comment on BBC Sounds, which recently did a fascinating episode on the origins of Clavicular.
28. The Binge-Watch
I'm obsessed with Your Friends & Neighbours on Apple TV+, and I'm recommending Season 2 of Beef on Netflix to everyone. I don't rewatch much – but my husband has SATC on most of the time, so that's essentially the soundtrack to my life.
29. The Playlist Vibe
I have sensory hypersensitivity so I rarely listen to music unless I'm with my kids. I rotate relaxing classical music and jazz playlists on YouTube, with a dash of Norah Jones.
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