FAIIINT

Toil

Style

Fashion blogger Stephanie of FAIIINT wearing cotton wrap dress, Toilworn silver jewellery and Kurt Geiger Saturn lace up boots. All black dark fashion street style outfit. Fashion blogger Stephanie of FAIIINT wearing Toilworn silver vertebra and skull rings. All black dark style outfit details. Fashion blogger Stephanie of FAIIINT wearing Toilworn silver luna landing labradorite moon necklace. All black dark style outfit details. Fashion blogger Stephanie of FAIIINT wearing Toilworn silver single and double skull ring. All black dark style outfit details. Fashion blogger Stephanie of FAIIINT wearing cotton wrap dress, Toilworn silver luna landing labradorite moon necklace. All black dark style outfit details. Fashion blogger Stephanie of FAIIINT wearing Toilworn silver vertebra ring and labradorite moon necklace. All black dark style outfit details. Fashion blogger Stephanie of FAIIINT wearing cotton wrap dress, Toilworn silver jewellery. Portrait all black outfit details.

Wrap Dress brought at market in Chiang Mai / Toilworn Labradorite ‘Luna Landing’ Necklace /
Toilworn Single & Double Skull Rings / Toilworn ‘Fortitude’ Vertebra Ring / Kurt Geiger ‘Saturn’ Lace Up Boots

I picked this simple little dress up one evening whilst browsing the night market in Chiang Mai. The shape caught my eye as we walked past, and then I spotted this black one in amongst all the colours and prints. It’s made from this lovely crinkly, raw cotton and you can see from the construction inside that it’s hand made. For a tiny ฿200 (about £4) I couldn’t say no and it became my go to dress in the sticky Thai heat.

Toilworn started life as The Windigo, but as the brand has grown this name no longer seemed to reflect the feeling it aimed to evoke through its pieces. Thea’s beautifully bold pieces have been on my radar for quite some time now, ever since I first laid eyes on the arrowhead pendant and became instantly enamoured. Made from solid silver, everything is so pleasantly weighty, especially the chunky rings. They feel substantial and tough, but have an undoubtedly feminine edge too. The vertebra ring had become one of my newest favourites, though it’s no surprise I was so drawn to it when it’s like a bone shaped mini weapon for my finger! I definitely feel a little fiercer whenever I’m wearing it.

Toilworn will be officially launching soon with its new online store, but in the meantime, get a sneak peek over on the brands Instagram.

Angkor Wat

Adventure

Pink purple sunrise at Angkor Wat temple complex Siem Reap Cambodia. Crowd with mobile phones in the dark waiting for sunrise at Angkor Wat temple complex Siem Reap Cambodia.

Angkor Wat has been somewhere I’ve longed to visit ever since I was a child. It always seemed like such an enchanting place, brimming with history and the promise of adventure. I dreamt of getting lost in its corridors, peering through windows, running my hands along pillars and carvings, and wondering what sights this ancient place must have witnessed over its lifetime.

I hadn’t been able to sleep that night, but it didn’t matter, the excitement of knowing I was finally going to see the sun rise over Angkor Wat had already kicked in and taken over. We set off from our hotel at 5am and headed into the night as our taxi driver sped off towards the site. Once we arrived we stumbled through the pitch black across the main bridge, guided by the light of the hundreds of phones and torches in front of us. As we approached, my eyes began to adjust and I could just make out the distinctive shape of the five towers in the distance. We settled ourselves in front of the reflection pool, and waited for morning to break.

The sky was very overcast that morning, and I admit I felt a twinge of sadness when I realised I wasn’t going to see one of those magnificent sunrises I’d seen in all of those travel photos I’d poured over. Instead, a hazy lilac pink wash enveloped us as the sky gradually faded from black. It wasn’t what I had pictured for all of those years, but the dusky colours and soft early morning light gave it a magical, otherworldly quality.
 

Early morning light sunrise at Angkor Wat temple complex Siem Reap Cambodia. Steps at Angkor Wat temple complex Siem Reap Cambodia. Monkey eating fruit at Angkor Wat temple complex Siem Reap Cambodia. Angkor Wat temple complex Siem Reap Cambodia. Detail of carvings at Angkor Wat temple complex Siem Reap Cambodia. Angkor Wat temple complex Siem Reap Cambodia. Angkor Wat temple complex Siem Reap Cambodia. Angkor Wat temple complex Siem Reap Cambodia. Angkor Wat temple complex Siem Reap Cambodia. Angkor Wat temple complex Siem Reap Cambodia. Stones labeled for renovation Angkor Wat temple complex Siem Reap Cambodia. Angkor Wat temple complex Siem Reap Cambodia. Details of carvings female dancers at Angkor Wat temple complex Siem Reap Cambodia. Monk at Angkor Wat temple complex Siem Reap Cambodia. Doorways at Angkor Wat temple complex Siem Reap Cambodia. Close up detail of carving inscription Khmer script at Angkor Wat temple complex Siem Reap Cambodia. Headless buddha statues at Angkor Wat temple complex Siem Reap Cambodia. Doorway Angkor Wat temple complex Siem Reap Cambodia. Man with horse at Angkor Wat temple complex Siem Reap Cambodia. Hot Air Ballon over Angkor Wat temple complex Siem Reap Cambodia.

Despite the number of people crowded around the pool as the sun rose, once we were inside the temple it felt much more relaxed. This is in part because a lot of people leave after the sunrise and return later in the day, but also because of the size of the site. I knew Angkor Wat was a huge complex, but I don’t think you can truly realise quite how vast it is until you’re standing there.

I went off by myself to explore as Nat stayed by the shrine, and whilst walking through the corridors there were moments where it felt like I had the place all to myself. I stopped to take a break and sat down on top of a platform by one set of stairs, as I looked out across the grounds I couldn’t see or hear a single other person. It was so peaceful and one of my favourite moments, one I remember telling myself to really drink in and savour.

The site itself was everything I had imagined. I felt like a child again as I stood in complete awe, viewing the same sights I’d devoured photos of through my own eyes. We spent most of the morning there, but I could honestly have stayed all day. It really deserves at least half a day to properly appreciate.

Arura

Style

Dark style fashion blogger Stephanie of FAIIINT wearing Arura cable knit t-shirt jumper, H&M skirt, Rick Owens wedge boots. All black street style outfit. Dark style fashion blogger Stephanie of FAIIINT wearing Arura cable knit t-shirt jumper. Street style outfit details. Dark style fashion blogger Stephanie of FAIIINT wearing Arura cable knit t-shirt jumper, H&M skirt, Rick Owens twill drape jacket, Rick Owens wedge boots. All black street style outfit. Dark style fashion blogger Stephanie of FAIIINT wearing Rick Owens black leather wedge boots. All black street style outfit details. Dark style fashion blogger Stephanie of FAIIINT wearing Arura cable knit t-shirt jumper, H&M skirt, Rick Owens twill drape jacket, Rick Owens wedge boots. All black street style outfit.

Arura ‘Sofiya’ Cable Knit Tee * / Rick Owens Twill Jacket / H&M Skirt / Le Lou Ula Necklace / Rick Owens Wedges / Bracher Emden Bag

Arura is a newly launched luxury knitwear brand based in Leicester. Their pieces are made in the UK, crafted from the finest quality yarns and produced in limited numbers, making these real forever pieces. Leicester has a long and rich history of knitwear production, so it’s really wonderful to see a new label emerge here and breathe new life into this sadly dwindling scene in the city.

This ‘Sofiya’ tee is knitted from the softest charcoal merino wool and features a unique geometric cable knit pattern to the front. I don’t think I’ve ever owned a short sleeved jumper before, but I definitely feel like I’ve been missing out now. It’s perfect for this inbetween kind of weather we’re having right now, where I can never seem to decide if I’m too cold or too warm. It’s also ridiculously snuggly, with a tight but comfy fit, which makes it feel like I’m in a cozy little cocoon that I never want to take off.