Last week we decided to escape and visit Dubai (as anyone who follows my Instagram here will already know, sorry) and after a day relaxing by the pool at Four Seasons DIFC we went up to their rooftop bar for drinks before meeting some friends. Dubai is a lot more "dressy" than London, so I used it as an excuse to wear a dress I'd been saving for wedding season for the occasion. 

Before I bang on about how much I love this dress, I really must mention the bar. The hotel has only just opened so it's a bit of a hidden gem, if anyone lives in Dubai I really recommend paying it a visit. We were there on Friday night and it was nicely busy; not too packed but full enough to give it credit that it's becoming a place to be. Details here. I had my first Aperol of the year (I now benchmark the start of summer with this occasion) and happily paraded around the terrace in my Dress Of Dreams.

It really is a bit special, I spied it at their press day ages ago and was determined to get my hands on it. I love that it's high street, it oozes designer quality and reminds me of much more expensive brands like Self Portrait and Vilshenko with the lace detailing. I'm usually not one for floral prints, but somehow the blue makes it less girly and more doable for me. Find it here, and it also comes as a two piece with a top here and skirt here (the skirt is firmly on the wish list, imagine it with a black shirt and pumps!?).

I paired it with my favourite suede pumps (which are currently 30% off here) which I've had since the start of the year. The yellow matches perfectly, and they're super comfortable - at home I wear them with jeans and a tee all the time! I am so impressed with Karen Millen's offering for this season, I'd never have thought so many dresses would be on my must have list. Here are a few more that can't be missed (below, turn off your ad blocker to see the content, or click the links beneath).

lace neck maxi dress / lime lazer cut dress / multi coloured lace dress / navy lace dress / tweed dress

Hope you managed to enjoy the UK sunshine this past weekend, can't believe we're back to rain already!

A huge part of me thinks its a little bit wrong that there is a day to tell someone you love them, as if it excuses you for the other 364 (or 365 this year). But being a Scrooge about Valentines Day is almost as cliche as roses and chocolates these days, so I've decided to meet romance in the middle and buy a present that isn't all that traditional. Mr Porter asked me to put together my choices for best gifts on the day, so I killed two birds with one stone and bought mine at the same time (easily done when their new in section is so good).

You could easily pass the site off as just being clothes, but no. I'm very pleased that they stock Perricone MD as since asking if it will "sort his face out" half of my pot has disappeared - and it's the best night moisturiser in the world, ever. Secondly, they stock Tom Ford fragrances. If you follow me on Instagram (here if you don't) then you'll have seen that I went to a dinner with a brand a couple of weeks ago with a bunch of girlfriends. It was to celebrate their new SS16 beauty collection, but Rose and I were transfixed with this fragrance. As Rose says Oud Wood "is so good I want to have sex with it." So, buy it for your boyfriend, husband, commute-crush, or anything you have a remote inclination of doing physical activity with. Lastly on the beauty front, I really recommend REN Skincare's 1 Minute Facial here; perfect for the guy who is beginning to realise skincare isn't the devil, but can't be bothered to spend much time doing it...

My other half doesn't want for much, or so he says - put Mr Porter in front of him with a budget to spend and it vanishes in seconds. Their content is bang on - this piece about "manssential wardrobe pieces" is an excellent starting block. Quite a few pieces were subtly (read: not subtle in the slightest) highlighted: Newish name Officine Generale was frequently dropped in, this white shirt and this blue one are clearly on the wish list. Other favourites were a J Crew chambray top and a pair of Rayban Wayfarers.

Forgetting what he says he wants, I want him in Common Projects trainers. I am obsessed with them, to the point I realised I'd gone off piste on the way to a meeting the other day because I was following a man wearing them (to see if they were CP ones - promise). They just ooze cool - if he won't wear them I may have to replace him with someone who will... Seriously. These are my favourites, or these, or these.

Whatever you're doing this weekend, I hope it's a good one. I'll be embracing my Welsh side and going down to Cardiff for the rugby on Saturday - so Sunday will most likely be spent in bed with tea and the papers. With a boy who wears Common Projects trainers...