Where To Stay in Mykonos: (Part 1/2) - Rocabella Hotel

This week, myself, Charlotte (fellow blogger) and Jenny (normal non-blogger human and general cute person) took a little trip to the screensaver-worthy Greek island of Mykonos. If you follow me on Instagram (@arabellagolby) you will certainly know this because I have been bombarding you all with photos. We stayed in two beautiful locations, in two fabulous hotels, so I thought in the spirit of helpfulness I'd write up a review for each hotel, in case any of you (or any other internet people who stumble across this) are toying with making a trip or are on a hunt for accommodation. Also I took loads of photos and I kind of need an excuse to share them. Let's begin.

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The Hotel

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Perched on the coast, overlooking The Bay of Mykonos, sits the luxury Rocabella Hotel and Spa. A secluded but windy (hold on to your hat - literally, I'm looking at you Charlotte) paradise just 300 meters from Agios Stefanos beach, one of Mykonos' many idyllic shorelines. The views from the hotel are unlike anything I've seen before in real life, and certainly exceeded my expectations. The pool, restaurant and rooms all have unobscured views of the island of Rinia and the historic island of Delos, both surrounded by the unbelievably blue Aegean sea. I've drooled over screensaver-esque photos of Greece for a while - but I found being there almost too amazing to take in. I almost felt like 'this is literally so amazing I do not know how to react.' Looking back at the photos makes me feel even more grateful that I was able to experience it.  

Mykonos town (that instagrammable place with all the white buildings and blue shutters, innit) is just a 5 minute drive along the coast. For this, we utilised the hotel's complimentary shuttle bus service. 

The staff were friendly and attentive, greeting us with flutes of champagne on arrival. We were also informed that they are a very pet friendly hotel, which was simultaneously a happy surprise - because we all love animals, but also a shame as I didn't bring Teddy. (Although I'm not sure he'd have been impressed with Smoky, Rocabella's resident cat.) Not only that, if the scenery isn't relaxing enough, every guest is offered a complimentary 15 minute massage to enjoy during their stay, in either their room or by the pool. It's unsurprising that Rocabella has  929 reviews on trip advisor, with 830 of them rated 'excellent' and 75 'very good'.

- - - The Room: - - -
All of Rocabella's rooms are air conditioned. I repeat, all rooms are air conditioned. My first thought when booking a hotel in a hot country (as well as 'IS THERE WIFI?' - but that's relevant in all temperatures) is 'is there air-con?'.  I, like many others I'm sure, find it very difficult to sleep in heat, so when a hotel has air-con, I'm loving it. Even in non-hot countries I turn it right up, pile on all the blankets and bundle myself up like a sausage roll. Sorry global warming, I don't use hairspray so we'll call it even. 
Not only that, there is indeed free wi-fi (*choirs of angels sing*), a flat screen TV with satellite and an electric safe - which is always very important to me - I use it to store my passport/travel documents, extra money and general valuables etc. The room also comes with complimentary organic beauty products, coffee and a coffee maker, and a pillow menu. That's right, a pillow menu. With 5 options no less. If your pillow isn't to your exact liking - ring reception and they'll deliver an alternative pillow of your choice!
I was given one of the smaller suites, The Panoramic suite, which was absolutely fine and dandy, in fact more than I was expecting as it was just little old me sleeping there. I was already enamoured with the rustic but minimalistic aesthetic of the room filled with cute little details and the spacious, whitewashed stone bathroom - but then I was led out of the patio doors, up some stone steps and onto a rooftop balcony with panoramic views of the Bay of Mykonos and islands beyond (the reasoning behind the name 'Panoramic Suite' now became apparent) complete with it's own mini pool/jacuzzi, just for me. 
Overall, I would say that if you're looking for a serene, secluded spot for relaxation, complete with unrivalled views, Rocabella is your winner. If you're someone who enjoys lazing around by the pool, sipping a cocktail and having the occasional massage, you'll be in heaven. Not only that, but the short journey into town means that both exploration and secluded relaxation are both options when staying at Rocabella. Honestly, I'm much more of a get out and explore kind of person as I find it quite difficult to just do nothing (I can't even sit still without constantly wiggling a foot) but as Rocabella offers both options, it's the best of both worlds! 

*Please note: Accommodation kindly provided c/o Rocabella Hotel, but all opinions, as always, are my own.

Prince of Wales Check, Ruffle Blouse & Prada Baroque - Brunch at The Ivy Chelsea Garden

Top: River Island. Trousers: River Island. Bag: Zara (old). Hat: H&M (old - alternative here). Shoes: M&S (sold out - alternative here) - - -
Hello hello!
A few quick outfit snaps for you today, taken pre-brunch at The Ivy Chelsea Garden, by my friend Bianca. I feel it's almost become a tradition for me to show you my food; an outfit and an aesthetically pleasing plate of less than healthy food is what I seem to be providing as of late. 
It was a beautiful Sunday here in The UK, a day that felt like the last of summer. Although the weather was calling out for a pretty, floaty dress, I, not being one to resist a good pair of tailored trousers, couldn't help but begin my transitional A/W dressing. These Prince of Wales check trousers have been hanging on my rail, calling out to me. I'm longing to reintroduce my frilly shirts, pussybow blouses, suit trousers and capes to the outside world- so, I met myself halfway and decided upon this frilly halter neck blouse from River Island. It's probably one of my most worn pieces as of late, and I've found it to be extremely versatile. I wore it tirelessly on my recent trip to Brighton and it suited both my day and evening wear. 
I've also become quite enamoured with this dramatic, floppy straw hat, bought from H&M a few years ago now. For me, it just adds the right amount of interest to what might've been a rather plain and simple outfit.
I've also become a bit obsessed with photographing things on attractively-surfaced steps. Is that weird? Probably. I shared a photo in that vein on Instagram and it went down rather well, so I'm thinking of turning it into a regular thing; #StuffOnSteps - a la my pre-existing #DoorAppreciation. I'm probably thinking too far into this. I'd say I need a hobby, but this is pretty much it. 
Are you looking forward to Autumn? Are you stocking up on new pieces already?

English Pear & Freesia - My First Foray into Jo Malone Fragrances

Jo Malone English Pear & Freesia
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About 6 weeks ago I made my first foray into the world of Jo Malone fragrances - technically referred to as unisex colognes. I'd seen the 'Peony & Blush Suede' scent floating around in numerous instagram flatlays and found myself having two main thoughts; 1) I love peonies, I'm sure I'll love that one! and 2) ...what on earth does 'Blush Suede' smell of?! I decided that frankly, even after much research - ordering online would be too much of a risk when one of the main, advertised components of the scent was something I didn't know of or recognise. 
So, I headed into the Covent Garden store - which was very pretty indeed, as are all Jo Malone shops,  and what I can only describe as a sniffing session. I had a system, similar I'm sure to most peoples; spray the scents onto the little pieces of cardboard and place them in front of their matching bottles so as not to get confused. Despite this, I still got confused. There was a lot of 'wait.. which one did I pick up with my left hand again?' However, I'd like to enthusiastically point out that this was no fault of the store or the arrangement of the fragrances themselves, which are all very, very organised. It's just my brain that isn't very organised.
After said sniffing session, I came to the conclusion that although I did like the much-talked-about Peony & Blush Suede - but I felt it was more the buzzword 'peony' and it's established popularity that was attracting me to it, rather than it actually being my favourite scent. I settled on (or rather, my nose settled on) English Pear & Freesia, described on the Jo Malone website as 'the essence of autumn'. 

Jo Malone says...
'The essence of autumn. The sensuous freshness of just-ripe pears is wrapped in a bouquet of white freesias, and mellowed by amber, patchouli and woods. Luscious and golden.'
Top Note: King William Pears Heart Note: Freesia Base Note: Patchouli (Yes, like me I imagine you're asking yourself 'what's Patchouli?' Well, apparently it's a 'sensuously deep, woody note that enhances the longevity of the fragrance' - well, there we have it.)

I say...

I wanted to use this fragrance for a reasonable length of time before sharing my thoughts on it, as we all know that in the first week or so of using a new fragrance, it's much more noticeable as our noses aren't familiar with it. However, even now, after using the scent 2/3 times a week for 6 weeks or so, I still notice pleasant little wafts of it all throughout the day. So, in terms of lasting power - I'd give it a very high rating. It certainly doesn't wear off, and speaking for my nose personally - it hasn't become overfamiliar and boring. I also really like the simplistic, elegant bottle. The smaller bottle in particular (the one I purchased) is perfectly sized for popping in even a small handbag. 

Overall, I'm impressed with the product. Jo Malone is a brand I really like - I already own a couple of their candles, which impressed me equally in terms of how far the scent travelled through my house and then lingered afterwards. So, the 'colognes' certainly haven't disappointed me. 

If you're thinking of picking a fragrance up for yourself, I'd really recommend you go and have  a sniffing session of your own and pick your favourite!

A Day at Downton Abbey

Dress: The Jetset Diaries via ASOS (currently sold out, similar-ish here). Bag: c/o Radley. Shoes: Kurt Geiger. Earrings: Dior.

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I've recently come to the conclusion that my mother and I are actually a pair of 70 year old, National Trust property loving pensioners. There's nothing we like more than exploring a grand Stately Home and its gardens, identifying the flowers in the borders as we go, and if there's an afternoon tea on offer - we'll be on that like a seagull on a chip. I remember being embarrassed by my love of National Trust properties when I was in my teens - it's not really considered to be the 'coolest' of interests. But now, as an adult - naturally I've grown in confidence and don't care so much what others think -  I'm letting my love run wild and my mother and I are working our way through a list of properties to visit.

If you're a fan, or even vaguely familiar with the TV programme Downton Abbey, you'll probably recognise this location (it's not actually a National Trust property - it's privately owned). It is in fact, Highclere Castle, the country seat of the Earl of Carnarvon, and a Jacobethan style Grade 1 listed Stately Home surrounded by 5,000 acres of land. It's beautifully gothic and unlike any other building I've ever seen, and as mega fans of Downton Abbey, my mother and I had this outing (complete with afternoon tea) booked since February. We were that keen. My expectations were exceeded in the beauty of the property, both inside and out. However I was a little disappointed that photography is not permitted inside the building itself - although I understand why, it is someone's actual home of course - in some of the bedrooms you could even see half-drunk glasses of water sitting on the bedside tables!

In regards to my outfit, it was a warm but dull day, so I opted for this rather nautical number by The Jetset Diaries. I love how flouncy the ruffle is, but also the fact that it's made out of a very casual, thin material which makes it feel more daytime appropriate. It also has a very unique little cut-out in the back which I forgot to photograph in my excitement. I paired the blue striped dress with my Hepburn bag from Radley, which is inspired by the lady herself; Audrey Hepburn. The bag was created to emulate her iconic elegance - polished, simplistic and stylish. 

Do you like a good stately home? I'd love to hear any recommendations! 

Pastels, Lace & #DoorAppreciation (feat. me!)

Bag: c/o Radley. (now in the sale in lots of colour variations!) Top: ASOS. Trousers: Topshop. Shoes: Kurt Geiger. Hat: H&M.
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Good evening!
Now, prepare for a rather obnoxious amount of pink.
After discovering this sweet little location whilst scouting for my #doorappreciation 'series' on Instagram a couple of months ago (yes, I scout doors. I am not ashamed) I thought it'd be the perfect pastel location to shoot a summery look. So, when this adorable little pastel yellow Radley number arrived, I couldn't think of a better location! Granted, black lace isn't the most summery of choices... but I reasoned that the colour of the bag evened things out in the multi-colour V. monochrome stakes.  I can be very lazy when it comes to mixing up bags, and more often than not I just want to throw in that day's lipstick choice and get out of the house. However, I was really surprised at how deep and spacious the bag's main compartment is - I felt strangely liberated all day. I didn't ask myself the usual  'can I tetris-style stuff my make up bag, sunglasses, keys and wallet into this tiny space?' question. It all fit in perfectly, and I think I've found my new favourite summer bag.

Ruffles, Strawberry Tarts & Audrey Hepburn

Top: Zara (sold out, similar here). Skirt: Zara (sold out, similar here). Sunglasses: Miu Miu. Shoes: c/o Topshop.
A super quick outfit post today; I was recently invited to The National Portrait Gallery for a private blogger viewing of the new Audrey Hepburn 'Portraits of an Icon' exhibition, followed by an obligatory trip to Laduree for sweet treats and one of their perfectly-sized cappuccinos (I then went for afternoon tea with Radley to celebrate the release of their 'Hepburn' bag collection - very fitting, but more on that in a later post!) If you're someone who's interested in fashion, film or of course just the lady herself, I'd absolutely urge you to go and take a look. Many of the photographs were sourced directly from Audrey's family and have never before been seen by the public or used in the media, and range from behind the scenes shots of her acting, images of her early training as a ballerina (her size 7 ballet shoes are displayed in a case!) and even her later charity work. I'm aware it sounds rather silly, but I sort of forget that she had long and rich life either side of the iconic Audrey that we all see in our minds when we think of her. I've never before imagined her as a child or a mature woman, and it was truly fascinating to see.