When woman&home meet someone with envy-inducing style, we can't help but ask what they really love and where to find it.
Marie Louise Pumfrey wears a lot of hats in her professional realm. As well as having a decades-long career in fashion PR, the communications expert is also an Instagram coach and fashion influencer.
If you're dying to know the secrets behind her chic aesthetic, look no further. Here are the things Marie Louise really loves.
Three places I really love to shop
- Zara—On-trend, affordable fashion that Marie Louise really loves from $5.33/£3.99
- Net a Porter—Her favorite place to bag a bargain in the sales from $33.40/£25
- Celtic & Co—A stunning small brand that she totally loves from $82/£46
1. The Skincare I really love
The product I buy over and over is the Pixi Glow Tonic which cleanses, exfoliates, and brightens my face in an instant. I’m not one for lengthy nighttime skincare routines and this is a quick and effective solution for when you just need to flop into bed. I’m a long-time fan of Pixi, as the products are paraben-free and not tested in animals.
2. The kitchenware I really love
I love my Aga! Over ten years ago, my husband got a company bonus and he offered to buy me an Aga, which has always been on my wish list. Both my mother and sister-in-law have one, and their homely, cozy kitchens are just heaven.
So we bought a refurbished one for about a third of the price of a new one and I went on an Aga cookery course to understand how to use it properly. Our spacious open plan kitchen and sitting room are now toasty warm and I make the best bone broths and roasts.
3. What accessory I really love
My most special piece of jewelry is a chunky gold chain bracelet I inherited from my grandmother which has a gold medallion coin of Pope John Paul II. I always wear it for important meetings for luck and live in fear that one day it will fall off and I’ll lose it. It’s very precious.
4. What gadget I really love
My iphone! I couldn’t live without this both for personal and work. I’m a fashion PR and also a fashion influencer on Instagram and am continually on this powerful social media app.
I use it for all my content creation and it allows me to work on the hoof too. Plus thanks to the Find Friends app, I can keep an eye on my children, and husband’s whereabouts, 24/7!
5. Where I really love to escape
It has to be the 7 Pines Resort in Ibiza which I recently went to for a few days. This cliff top luxury spa hotel has everything. Incredible food, amazing views, great yoga plus exceptional beauty treatments.
6. What haircare item I really love
I’ve been recently reunited with the Charles Worthington products which I used to be a fan of, twenty years ago. Their Thicker and Fuller range is excellent for fine hair and I’m obsessed with the Densifying Conditioner which adds a natural weight, making my hair feel and look fuller.
7. The affordable fashion label I really love to wear
I work with the sustainable fashion brand Aspiga which is a gorgeous high quality, affordable independent label to look at. I’m currently living in their teal cord trouser suits which gets so much love whenever I’m out in it.
It’s perfect for all the press appointments I’m doing now we are out of lockdown and just such an easy chic look to throw on in the morning.
8. What fragrance I really love
I love the British brand Noble Isle, which is a fine fragrance collection of the best scented candles, hand soaps, and lotions. I always have one of their candles burning on my desk, which is currently the kitchen table.
My favorite fragrance is the Scots Pine which has a mix of violet, heather, and cedarwood. Their handwashes and hand creams are great too. We are currently using the Whiskey and Water collection set and am excited to try out their Christmas collection and the new Fireside Glow fragrance
9. What app I really love
This has to be Instagram. It’s been a game-changer for my business and social life. As a fashion PR, its become a key platform for all the brands I work with and is totally free. So many people have launched new careers on the back of it and I’ve seen incredible business success. For me personally, I’ve spent time building my profile as a fashion influencer and have made loads of new friends, worked with some great businesses, and creatively am continually challenged and learning.
10. What I really love to drink at parties
Sadly I have little tolerance for alcohol, although I do love it!
My favorite cocktail is a Singapore Sling and I really love Cherry Brandy. For something less powerful, I love Prosecco or Cremant.
11. What I really love to buy myself as a treat
New lingerie! I love a beautiful matching set and my favorite brand is Wacoal. They have the prettiest lace bras and matching briefs. They have the best bras and their products give me the most flattering shape and I also think, good lingerie is key to creating a strong look.
My current favorite is their lace plunge bra which I have in charcoal but at the weekend you will find me in one of their bralettes which I wear for a good box-set binge in front of the telly at the weekend.
12. What I really love to update my home decor with
I recently bought a new mirror to go above the mantlepiece in our sitting room. I went for an industrial look. It has 5 metal panels and makes quite a statement. I found it at La Redoute which has a great homes collection
13. What books I really love reading
I’ve been in the same book club for over 15 years. We all became friends when our kids were at school and have met every month or so ever since.
One book we recently read, The Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe, is about the Sackler family and their roles in the stories of Valium, Oxycontin, and the opioid crisis.
It’s a massive book and when I first got it my heart sunk as I really didn’t think I could get through it. Fortunately, I was on a holiday for a few days and was able to devour it. It's extremely well written and informative. A shocking real-life story that everyone should read.
About Marie Louise Pumfrey
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