bananandlaces — The Collyer Twins

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A weekend in Portugal

Home sweet home, I say as we land at Lisbon airport, bright blue skies and warm temperatures on an unlikely Autumnal day.

Having spent our teenage years here from the ages of 14 to 18 there’s always a sense of nostalgia and excitement to come back to the place that shaped and influenced the critical years of growing up. We spent four years in a place called Cascais (a coastal resort town 30 kilometers west of Lisbon) and it’s always lovely to go back to see old friends, familiar places and how things have changed and progressed from when we lived there.

In the past couple of years Lisbon has been destined as one of Europe’s coolest capital, not only for it’s beautiful architecture and quaint cobbled streets but it’s trendy night life heaving with great roof top bars that boast incredible views of the city. The cuisine has to be one of our favourites and what I constantly crave after too many roast dinners and Haribos!

The typical Portuguese cuisine of bacalhau (dried cod) and fresh seafood is incredible, and whilst Lisbon has embraced its' traditional roots it has also adopted an experimental, modern and sophisticated cuisine that is affordable in it’s own right.

Our once unknown & humble little Portugal has transformed in recent years to a much sought after and talked about place amongst brits.

Now although Lisbon may be top of your list, we can’t stress how much more there is to see and do in Portugal! Below I’ve outline some great things to do in and out of Lisbon if you’re over for a very short flying visit!

TO STAY:

PENHA LONGA RESORT

What a beautiful hotel, located in 545-acre national park on the southern Sintra Mountains, we stayed here for a night in the executive suite that had views to die for. The luxurious hotel, sits amongst a nineteenth century palace, 27 golf holes set within historic ruins and a stunning Spa and Wellness centre. This has to be one of the most tranquil and serene spots I have ever been to! It’s perfect for a little rejuvenation and down time. Loanne and I spent the evening on our roof terrace sipping on wine whilst watching a sunset that could only be compared to that of an African safari sunset as the whole sky lit a blood red orange!

We had dinner at a place called Arola one of the 8 restaurants within the hotel, a contemporary twist to Spanish tapas with contrasting flavours and textures! If you go you must order the ‘Copa Catalana’ similar to a crème brulee but with a twist! It is hands down one of my favourite desserts.

DAY OUT:

SINTRA

This is where we rented an AirBnB this holiday. Forty minutes from Lisbon's main station (Rossio). It’s a time warped village located in lush, wooded hills surrounded by whimsical palaces that emanates an aura of mysticism and romanticism. Be sure to visit the beautiful ‘Palacio De Pena’ and 'Quinta da Regaleira' then afterwards stop off for a sweet Queijada at Casa Piriquita. If you're feeling adventurous get off the beaten track and explore the Sintra hills where witchcraft is rife! If you look hard enough you’ll come across sacrificial tombstones and red ribbon wrapped around trees where practices still occur. (Eerie)

BY NIGHT:

SKY BAR

The Sky bar is one of the best roof top bars in Lisbon and located on the roof of the Tivoli Avenida da Liberdade hotel with incredible cocktails, good vibes, live music and a panoramic view of Lisbon. Come here around 9/10pm for pre-drinks and make sure to ask the waiter to whip you up a pineapple Margarita, it’s not on the menu but they’ll do it if you ask and they are super scrumptious.

JNcQUOI

The latest contemporary restaurant to hit Lisbon, it’s comfort artisan food is modern and sophisticated just like the ambience and interior, the best feature is the dinosaur skeleton perfectly positioned in the middle of the restaurant, and don’t forget to head to the bathroom for a boogie where you’ll find a DJ spinning some tunes from a circular DJ booth! Cool or crazy, call it what you like… We loved it!

LUX

One of the best Clubs in Lisbon, especially for house music! The venue which is divided into a club space, bar and terrace, is known for its stunning waterside location and regular appearances from international DJ’s. If you love house music make the downstairs area your party place, we didn’t stop dancing for 3 hours straight when we went! Order the luxtinis, a personalised cocktail that is as sweet as can be!

BY DAY:

GUINCHO BEACH

This has to be my favourite beach in Portugal, not only because we spent most of our teen years on this beach surfing and sunbathing but it’s 800 meters of golden sand and shoreline is absolutely stunning and has the perfect surf and windsurf conditions. Be aware it’s very hit and miss in terms of wind! But when you have a calm day there is nothing more beautiful! It's 5km from Cascais and 33km from Lisbon.

Outfit 7:

White floral top |Zara
Denim shorts | Urban Outfitters

Outfit 8:

Blue bikini |Sea Folly Australia
New York Top | Topshop

Travel, LifestyleCollyer TwinsOctober 11, 2017

Poland - Reserved

Two weeks ago we were fortunate enough to have our first experience on a private jet! (Woohoo) We were taken out to Sopot, Poland with fashion brand 'Reserved' to celebrate their upcoming store launch on Oxford Street. It was a flying visit to learn more about the history of the brand and to get an exclusive preview of their amazing new collection ahead of the store opening.

For those of who don’t know, Reserved is Poland’s most famous fashion brand, a Polish fashion chain that offers trend led fast fashion for men, women and children. It is classed as an affordable Eastern European clothing retailer with similarities to H&M and Zara for its on-trend pieces. If you live in London, I'd be surprised if you hadn't come across their Autumn/ Winter 2017 Global campaign which is dotted round the city's underground, billboards and buses featuring the one and only Kate Moss. Their store is now open on Oxford Street and it's pretty beaut, so I would definitely recommend checking it out!

Whilst in Poland, we stayed in the luxurious five-star Grand hotel which is located at the seaside of the Gdansk Bay, in the heart of the town and next to the beach. Who knew that Poland had a beach, and a pretty lovely one to say the least?! Unfortunately we didn't get to explore Poland too much but we heard through the grapevine Sopot really is the place to be! Renound for its health spas, sandy beach and its long wooden pier that extends into the Bay of Gdańsk! Hopefully we'll get the chance to revisit Poland and if so, we'll make sure to explore the beautiful city and all it has to offer.

Travel, FashionCollyer TwinsSeptember 16, 2017

BoardMasters with Visa

Most of you probably know how much Loanne and I enjoy festivals, so when Visa invited us to experience Boardmasters festival as a VIP in luxury bell tents with surf lessons and a private flight experience over the picturesque Cornwall countryside we were ready to sign up straight away!

This year Visa was a sponsor of Boardmasters working with its partner, Square to bring up to 100% card acceptance to the festival for the first time in its 36-year history.

We arrived on Wednesday evening to our luxury bell tents complete with beds, duvets, electricity and charging facilities and to top that off every morning we pre-ordered breakfast - using contactless no less - from our tent, which was delivered right to us by our dedicated Visa butlers. A faraway cry from what we are used to at festivals, so it was an extremely pleasant surprise!

The festival grounds were spacious and location wise probably the most beautiful location in the UK for a festival. The music was great too and we were able to enjoy the most epic sunsets whilst dancing away to some incredible DJs amongst stretches of beautiful beach as a backdrop which made the experience even better.

During our 4 days we spent time wandering around the festival going on rides, eating the delicious food and drinks from the food trucks and bars. Visa provided us with a pre-paid debit card and a wearable to make simple transactions throughout our time there which made everything so much easier, time- efficient and allowed us to forget about money! Usually at festivals it’s such a pain to have to find the nearest cash machine and then walk around with loose coins and change in our bum bags, so being able to pay with a tap of the wrist or card was ideal.

We also had access to the Deck, Visa’s exclusive viewing platform, which offered the best seats in the house and its Visa Everywhere Lounge where we watched thousands of people dance along to Jamiroquai, what an amazing experience! On Friday, we watched some epic DJs and danced for 6 hours straight to Camelphat and Sonny Fodera which was certainly our highlight.

To top off the ultimate Boardmaster’s experience Visa organised a private flight experience where Loanne got to fly the plane over the festival, the views were breathtaking as we flew over the picturesque festival and stunning stretches of sandy beaches.

On our final day we had a 2 hour surf lesson which was so much fun, it was great to pick up the board again and surf some beginner-friendly waves.

Overall it was an incredible trip made so much more enjoyable with Visa. Although it was a very young crowd at the festival, the music and surroundings were stunning and definitely a festival we would recommend to music heads and those who love a breathtaking setting.

Lifestyle, TravelCollyer TwinsAugust 30, 2017

Paris: The Kooples x Puma

When we heard that two of our favourite brands The Kooples and Puma were doing a collaboration, excitement and curiosity took over and we couldn't wait to see what the two had dreamed up. They certainly didn't disappoint either, a Puma style sneaker combined with The Kooples' rock'n roll androgynous edge, the classic clyde design, reinterpreted in black & white and stamped with The Kooples' signature silver skull, classic, simple and super comfortable, just how we like it!

So to celebrate the launch of their new sneaker, we boarded the Eurostar to Paris with a suitcase packed to the brim of The Kooples gear ready to dance around in our new favourite sneaker (which by the way we've been wearing ever since we've received them.)

The Kooples has always been a brand Loanne and I have loved. The brands Parisian charm combined with British heritage cool makes it an iconic brand like no other. Added to which their genius campaigns of using 'pairs' and 'couples' is a sure winner for us!

We hadn't visited Paris for a year so it was lovely to come back and visit the city of love although the weather was a little hit and miss. We were lucky enough to meet the founders of The Kooples: three brothers - Alexandre, Laurent and Raphaël Elicha, who are all seriously the epitome of cool and all oozing charisma & charm, the perfect Kooples ambassadors!

We had a bit of time before the party to take a few snaps around the Parisian streets. Loanne and I decided to go for two different looks, I chose the more feminine & flirty look which comprised of a daisy shirt and skirt. (Yes, it looks like a dress but they are actually two separates! ) Whereas Loanne went for the more androgynous, cool look by wearing navy blue trousers with velvet detailing, a simple white Kooples t-shirt and a black blazer with the white clyde trainers.

We've decided to include a few more snaps of us repping The Kooples. The black and white stills you may recognise from our recent shoot with Vogue Germany and the final photo when we spent last Christmas in Mauritius. Our Kooples items sure have travelled the globe with us, the pieces are so timeless and chic that you can wear them anywhere and at any time!

We can't wait to discover their next collaboration and to continue filling our wardrobe with more of their dreamy items!

Fashion, Lifestyle, TravelCollyer TwinsJune 14, 2017

Mallorca: A midweek wonder

What better way to spend a midweek than escaping the doom and gloom of London and jetting off to the beautiful, sunny island of Mallorca for a couple of days?

We went out with womenswear HUSH to showcase their new summer collection and were also joined by some other amazing bloggers, Liv Purvis, Lizzie Hadfield, Hannah Crosskey and Carlie Tasker. Now, for those that aren’t familiar with the brand, it is perfect for any summer getaway. Think relaxed, comfortable yet stylish. Perfect for beach cover-ups, bohemian linen shirts and flowy dinner dresses on a warm summers evening. We now have our holiday wardrobe sorted!

Our stay was spent in a beautiful boutique hotel , Hotel Cala Sant Vicenç which is close to Pollenca on Mallorca’s North West Coast. With just 38 bedrooms, each room has a balcony with views across the village to the sea or over the lovely outdoor swimming pool and lush gardens towards the rugged mountain scenery. They recently re-opened in April and after a whole redesign and refurb, the new contemporary look is luxurious, combining the best of local tradition and culture.

Cala Sant Vicenc is a beautiful secluded resort village, just a 45 minute drive north from the countries capital , ‘Palma’ , where the majority of the population reside. But at this time of year, there are few tourists and it’s pretty peaceful, making it perfect for us to explore the place at our own free will. The location of the hotel is stunning. A few minutes walk and you're surrounded by these lush little coves with the most beautiful turquoise and transparent water. I was shocked at how crystal clear the water was. Now, in most cases, we’d be the first to jump in, but at the this time of year the water is still a bit chilly so we resorted in staying on land and topping up the tans. ( Slightly regretting this now, looking back at how inviting the water looks in these photos!)

Although we only stayed for a couple of days, we managed to squeeze enough in to give you a few recommendations and ‘Must- do’s’ if you ever plan to visit Cala San Vicenc or Pollenca. I’m going back a few more times this summer for weddings, and I literally can’t wait!

1. Take a trip to Pollenca - Pollenca is a 15 minute drive from Cala San Vicenc. It is an ancient town of attractive narrow streets and an impressive main square, lined with cafés, restaurants and bars. It has a rich history and beautiful churches and art galleries too, if you're interested in that kind of thing! We had a lovely, very well cultured tour guide, who showed us round the cute cobbled streets and talked to us about the history and culture of Pollenca.

2. Go cycling - Cycling is huge in Cala San Vicenc, so much so that the hotel had it's own cycling concierge which was extremely handy! You also see more cyclists than you do cars and they all seem to be given right of way. Power to the cyclists, is all I say! So on Wednesday morning the hotel arranged a lovely guide who led us all the way to Puerto Pollensa. This was about a 25 minute cycle but it was so beautiful. Cycling with the sun on our faces, we passed such stunning scenery and rode past picturesque orange and olive groves. A part of the way is on the main road, but again, don’t be scared as cyclists are pretty much given right of way! I felt safe the whole time. If your cycling to Puerto Pollenca, make sure to go on a Wednesday as this is then the market is on which is well worth a visit.

3. Hit up the market in Puerto Pollenca - The market takes place every Wednesday in Puerto Pollenca and here you can find everything from fresh fruits, olives and produce to amazing local hand-made arts and crafts and jewellery. And if you don’t fancy shopping, go sit in a cute cafe by the water and sip on a freshly squeezed orange juice. It's that time of season too, so they taste divine!

4. Visit a vineyard and go wine tasting - If you’re anything like us, nothing beats a nice glass of rose in the sun and a glass of red wine with dinner. There are a few vineyards located around Pollenca, so when we got the chance to visit one (organised by the hotel) we were pretty chuffed! We tried a variety of different roses and some lovely mature red wines. An afternoon very well spent!

5. Visit the Hotel Illa d'Or - This wellness and Spa hotel, located in Puerto Pollenca was founded in 1929 and is a stunning, white washed modern hotel with traditional touches. We were given a lovely tour of some of the rooms which have incredible views of the beach. The best part was dining at their outdoor restaurant located on the port over the water. If you like lots of courses and exquisite fine dining, then this is definitely a place for you!

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Travel, FashionCollyer TwinsMay 7, 2017Favourites

Hollywood Dreamers

Hollywood, home to the rich, famous and endless dreamers. Need I say anymore, this place was literally the BOMB and just how you've got it pictured in your head... The never ending palm trees, the pristine streets of Hollywood and the continuous stream of immaculate people walking down every street corner... Yes, it's as real as the movies.

For the majority of our visit we stayed right in the hub of West Hollywood in a gorgeous AirBnB only 10 minutes from Melrose & Sunset Blvd.

The first weekend we arrived we took a quick whirlwind trip down to Palm Springs to experience the parties happening around Coachella (those who saw our Instagram stories would have seen it was an epic/ mental 24 hours! )

When we ventured back to West Hollywood we spent most of our days exploring, mingling and indulging in all that American cuisine has to offer. Yes, we consumed our body weight in american candy, nachos and the obligatory 'In 'n' Out' burgers as well as every cocktail under the sun! (Delish!)

Below we've compiled a small list of stand out places that we loved and would highly recommend checking out if you're ever in La la land.

The Warwick - If you're looking for a big night out look no further than the Warwick on Sunset Blvd, part cocktail lounge part Hollywood club. A space suited to bottle/table service but with an edgy/ rustic feel to it.. Go on a Wednesday, it's when most industry people go so more of a scenester crowd, if you're into that...

Zinque - The perfect brunch spot with a super cute outdoor patio (make sure you sit outside if the weather holds up) the interior is equally as gorgeous with a really cool vibe. If you're going for brekkie I'd recommend the egg white fritata bowl. The burger however looks sensational!

Soho House - You have to be a member to come here, but if you get the chance it's worth a visit not only for a cheeky cocktail and some celeb spotting but also the bathrooms have the most insane views of LA! You could easily spend the day here as it has a cinema room, roof garden and an intimate club room! That's you're Friday night sorted!

Sugar Fish - The best sushi you will find in LA no doubt! I never liked tuna sashimi until I came here. It's an intimate & modest space where all focus lies purely on the tastebuds! Service is fab and the staff are super friendly. Make sure you get the 'Trust Me' platter, it's a mix of maki rolls, sashimi and sushi cones and the perfect amount if you're hungry.

Pink Taco - Teeeeequilaaa! As Mexico as their neighbour it's no doubt that the food is the real deal here and also why the locals go crazy for it! This place is a quirky and vibey spot. Not only are the Margaritas delicious, the shrimp fajitas are some of the best I've tried. tip: Don't fill up on the endless nachos they bring you when you arrive!

Malibu - The city west of L.A., If you're looking for a beach day, Malibu is you're place. Also perfect for a spot of surfing, beware though the water is icy so be sure to take a wetsuit! It's definitely one of the prettiest beaches and known for it's surrounding celebrity homes! Keep you're eyes peeled for Anthony Hopkins. ;)

Melrose Avenue - The cutest place with some adorable boutiques and fashionable juicery's! Make sure you go to the 'liquid juice bar' and order the 'nutty professor.' OMG you haven't lived until you try this smoothie. For all you fashionistas make sure you take a trip to fashion store Reformation (this is what clothing dreams are made of.) It's pricey but worth every penny. Afterwards head to 'Carrera cafe' for a pastry and coffee. (Insta worthy for sure!)

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Travel, FashionCollyer TwinsApril 28, 2017favourites