PR & Marketing
My Claire & The City blog delves into the modern world in order to inspire debate about our culture. You’ll find topical features and interviews with those making waves in the industry plus my personal how-to guides and London tips and career advice.
Interview with Fashion Director, Stylist & Author Alexandra Fullerton
If you follow Alexandra Fullerton on Instagram, you’ll know she could give Carrie Bradshaw a run for her money in the fashion stakes with her catchy hashtag #thedailyshoe designed to highlight her favourite heels, flats and everything in between. About Alexandra Fullerton I’ve know Alex since her...
EXCLUSIVE – Lorna Luxe x In The Style Interview
Hold onto your Dior Saddle Bags, stop what you're doing and set the countdown clock to 11th February because influencer Lorna Luxe is about to land her first ever collection. Lorna Luxe x In The Style promises to be a momentous day in the fash calendar as the Instagram-ista touches down with her...
Marketing for Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day is more than a day of love, it is a money making, heart shaped, pink hued business. Apparently more than 22 million Brits - like practically all of us - spending an estimated £1 billion in 2018 on the 14th February. With that in mind, let’s delve into why and where Valentine’s Day...
Interview with Bonnie Rakhit The Style Traveller
The face that launched a thousand trips; Bonnie Rakhit is THE Style Traveller. Bonnie is a London-based former fashion editor who has worked for titles including Sunday Times Style and Grazia. Our paths crossed when Bonnie was fashion editor at British ELLE, back when blogging was a brave new...
Marketing Ideas for Christmas -PR and social media tips for the festive season
Tis the season to be jolly! Welcome to Christmas my friends. If you are new to marketing, it is time to burst your Christmas bubble…(and not just that Santa is fictional)…because in marketing the festive season lasts all yearrrrr round. Yep, by the time it arrives, you will be lucky if the sight...
Marketing ideas for Black Friday
Black Friday, especially for the UK market, can conjure up unsavoury images of apocalyptic proportions where shoppers mercilessly stampede over each other for a £50 TV in Tesco. You’ll have seen the footage of people knocking over displays and fighting in the aisles over rock bottom prices for...
100 Years – First World War Centenary Events
It has been 100 years since the end of the First World War and it is important that we take time out to reflect and remember all of the fallen. It is often a difficult task to market a historical event and I’d like to do my little bit to share the ways you can join in to commemorate this day. You...
Interview with Visit Parliament’s Ian Lacey
I met Ian via good old Instagram when I posted a picture at one of my favourite spots in front of the Houses of Parliament. If you look closely, a cyclist is practising some kind of acrobatics by walking along the top of the barrier onto the Thames, which Ian commented, there are many ways to...
Halloween Marketing Ideas – PR, Retail, Digital and Social Media Tips
Double, double toil and trouble. Fire burn and cash tills bubble. When did Halloween become such a marketing winner? All Hallows’ Eve has transformed from a celebration of a Western Christian feast into a month long, supermarket filled, if-you-like-it-then-you-shoulda-put-a-pumpkin-on-it, plastic...
Games People Play: The Psychology of Human Relationships by Eric Berne
Review: How can we gain a greater understanding of our fellow humans? Why do people do what they do, say what they say, think what they think? This book is a blast from the past - the original version being a best seller in the mid 60s. The Games People Play was hot on the heels of Dr Berne’s...
Interview Paula Fry CityFashGal
I first met Paula Fry through her digital persona, @CityFashGal and thought she was hilariously funny. Fast forward six months and I was sat with her discussing a shopping event in the veryyyyy plush offices of the financial company she works for. CityFashGirl does exactly what she says on the...
Black Box Thinking: The Surprising Truth About Success by Matthew Syed
REVIEW: How can we learn from our mistakes? Why do some people do this and others don’t? Matthew looks at the power of a positive attitude towards failure and it’s profound impact on success in any field. The book grabs you right from the offset and comparisons between the NHS and the Aviation...
Naked Review – Bounce – How Champions Are Made by Matthew Syed
Review: How can you find the hidden secrets to success - in sports, business, music and just about anything you want to turn your hand to? Search no more as this book will show you some interesting and helpful insights. The book has three main sections - The Talent Myth, Paradoxes of the Mind and...
Review – The Chimp Paradox by Dr Steve Peters
How can you manage your mind so that you can conquer your fears, operate with greater control, focus and confidence? Prof Peters has some great ideas and systems to enable us to learn how do just that. “If you measure success in life by effort and doing your best, then it is always in your hands...
Naked Review – The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference Review: As an enormous fan of the TV programme, you know that so-bad-its-good game-show-with-Ben-Shepherd, I was pretty surprised to find a book of the same name which looked, well quite a bit more serious than ‘popping a counter into the machine.’...
Guide to Sardinia in Italy
You’d be forgiven for thinking my experience in Sardinia was based entirely on Aperol Spritz. But you’d be wrong. There’s also the lesser known Campari Spritz and the even better tasting Hugo Spritz with Sambuca and Elderflower which is simply delicious. Here’s my little guide to this stunning...
Interview with celebrity brain training expert Jim Kwik
🧠 Who is Jim Kwik? Jim Kwik is a globally renowned brain coach, bestselling author, and the founder of Kwik Learning. Often called the celebrity brain trainer, he’s helped actors, entrepreneurs, and professionals unlock their memory, focus, and learning potential. From overcoming childhood...
Book Review David Meerman Scott New Rules of PR & Marketing
Self Help Book for PRs I got introduced to David Meerman Scott’s excellent book through a friend of mine, Helen who was doing a snazzy digital marketing course, and Dave (as we like to call him) is the holy grail of online with his book the New Rules of PR & Marketing (AFF Link). I've been...
Guide to Royal Ascot – Royal Enclosure
I would be very happy if it was Royal Ascot every single day. I love the elegance, I like the rush of excitement when I see the races, I love the outfits, I love the names of the horses, the colours the jockeys wear, I love the fact that men have top hats and I even like the slightly crazy dress...
Frida Kahlo’s Making Her Self Up Exhibition At The V&A
I’m going to come clean and admit that the first time I heard of world famous Frida Kahlo was when I went to a briefing at Grosvenor’s swanky Mayfair offices as they talked through plans for the year. I’m not sure HOW exactly I managed to avoid it, but miss it I did. Luckily for me though,...
Interview with Journalist and Author Caroline Corcoran
I met Caroline Corcoran through my dear friend Rachel Tompkins (who I interviewed here) and got to know her by drinking copious amounts of wine on Rachel’s hen do and wedding. About Caroline Corcoran Caroline’s a Freelance Editor and Writer, who has been the editor of 3am online (the Mirror’s...
Book Review – Start With Why by Simon Sinek
There’s a good reason why Simon Sinek’s ‘Start With Why’comes highly recommended by brain training expert Jim Kwik, and that’s because it’s frigging awesome and will revolutionise the way you approach your working life. The important thing Sinek teaches us in this groundbreaking book is to find...
Chelsea in Bloom Summer of Love & Frida’s Belgravia in Bloom 2018
Chelsea in Bloom and Belgravia in Bloom for Chelsea Flower Show have been growing in popularity over the years with big brands and small boutiques alike taking part each May to capitalise on increased footfall from the event. The great thing is, it looks like a multi coloured flower explosion...
Guided Tour & Afternoon Tea at UK Parliament
I am not exaggerating when I say visiting Parliament was like Christmas for me. I studied UK Government & Politics at A Level and was just fascinated by our brilliant but bonkers system. Like, we have a Head of State, the Queen, but with such limited powers…but we just like it… We STILL a few...
Travel Guide to Sintra in Portugal
Sintra is a sparkling jewel in Portugal’s crown; a place of history, mystery and vibrant colour. It has the ability to make modern, white washed, marbled life look rubbish, and instead it has made me yearn for pattern, detail and rainbow hues. Here’s my guide to a long weekend in Sintra. Quick...
Interview with Hair & Makeup Artist Erika Swinn
If you look up ‘happy’ in the dictionary, I’m pretty sure you’ll find a picture of the bubbly and vivacious Erika Swinn smiling out from the pages. I met Erika circa 2010 (give or take) when we were both working at Mamas & Papas and she was a confident, lovely girl working in the marketing...
Interview With Stylist SulkyDoll Donna Taylor
Donna Taylor is better known to her followers as stylist SulkyDoll who shares her daily fashion choices, London events and styling updates on Instagram. Life is glossy on the outside with stints at Fashion Week, press days and parties, but don’t mistake that for an easy life. Donna is a hard...
Interview with Carl Thompson
I first met Carl Thompson when I was at one of my client's showroom in Astwood Mews where I taken it as my personal mission to sell him the virtues of the super sleek and shiny Morgan Plus 4. Well, to be honest, the car kinda sells itself, so it wasn't long before Carl was driving the...
Interview with Ghostwriter Shannon Kyle
I’ve always been intrigued by the idea of ghostwriting; it holds a kind of mysterious glamour that I find intoxicating. How it works and what it REALLY means is often the source of discussion in the media so I am thrilled that a real life ghost has agreed to be pinned down to reveal all in my...
How to go freelance in 10 easy steps
Almost three years ago I went freelance in the most haphazard clumsy way imaginable. I have made all the mistakes, fallen spectacularly into all the pitfalls and (so far) have survived to tell the tale because I am working and living in London with lots of lovely clients (yaasssss!). Friends and...
Interview With Blogger & Influencer Maja Malnar
Slovenian born Maja Malnar is breath of fresh air as she is always happy, smiling and oozing confidence. I met Maja through her partner in Instagram crime, Lorna Luxe who simply says that Maja represents genuine ‘goals’ with her mix of wanderlust, fashion and a touch of mystery. I chatted to her...
Interview with Kelly Eastwood The London Chatter
Meeting Kelly Eastwood, a.k.a ‘The London Chatter,’ at Mr Foggs Gin Parlour for her DONNA IDA Style Insider, you can tell instantly why she has been so successful in creating her blog and business. She oozes humour and charisma which an easy breezy, down to earth nature which makes you instantly...
Event tips – How to throw a spooky Halloween Party
When I was growing up, Halloween was one night a year, you’d carve a pumpkin or a turnip and wear a makeshift witches outfit and off you trotted trick or treating. Now we’ve gone ALL American about it and it practically lasts a whole month with decorations and fancy dress taking more preparation...
Interview with Journalist and Author Luke Chilton
I first met Luke Chilton at a London party approximately a hundred years ago where there was a free bar (standard) and if memory serves me correctly, an up-and-coming singer called Emeli Sandé was providing the entertainment. At the time Luke was writing for a magazine but little did I know that...
Interview with Journalist and PR Consultant Rachel Tompkins
When I first met Rachel Tompkins, it was in the dusty office of the The Ripple Student Newspaper at Leicester University and I was so in awe of her I was completely mute (not the best first impression huh?). She was the Deputy Editor, I was the new Features Editor, she was totally ice cool and I...
Top Festivals on Instagram
The humble festival has exploded over recent years into a colourful Catherine Wheel combining music, food, yoga, face paint (AND glitter bras?), we've moved from wellies to high end Hunters and from day festivals to VIP experiences. In the world of marketing, where the VIP pass can be exploited by...
Guide to Italy – Sorrento, Amalfi Coast & Capri
Italy is colourful and passionate and wonderful. It has fresh sharp lemons and the juiciest oranges and brightest flowers. It has narrow coastal roads that have been nicknamed Mamma Mia from the shock visitors express on their first experience as they overlook sharp drops from the cliff tops to...
Guide to Kew Gardens in London
Kew Gardens has such a special place in my heart - I mean flowers and gardens - what is not to love? It is in Richmond and has it's own picturesque train station with a delightful looking pub right next to it. Kew Gardens itself, or Royal Botanic Gardens if you are being posh is a place of many...
NAKED STYLE – THE KIMONO
It was in April 2011 when Vogue hailed the Kimono the new Spring Jacket as they fell for the kimono’s liquid-silk allure. This might have been, erm, years ago but sometimes things bob around being micro-trends, before, well Zara makes an epic one and BOOM - everywhere! And as we know from the...
Notting Hill – A Londoner’s Guide
You'll have seen Notting Hill a thousand times. On TV and film and most of all, on social media, ESPECIALLY the image friendly platforms of Instagram and Pinterest (hello pastel houses).. I've been living in Notting Hill for around five months now and still have a lot to learn, however one thing...
How to Network Matthew Hussey Style
My Claire & The City blog and business is all about honesty and going behind the smoke and mirrors of the PR & Marketing industry… But today I find myself in unfamiliar territory and am looking to a relationship guru to share his secrets instead. Who is Relationship Coach Matthew Hussey?...
Lorna Luxe & Claire & The City – How To Speak To Influencers
How to Influence an Influencer Spilling secrets is fast becoming something that LornaLuxe and I excel at. Especially if it is combined with an audience, an agenda about digital and each other (and possibly a bottle of Champagne if it is after 5pm soz 7pm - tee hee). Anyway, Cision invited us to...
Interview Nicola de Burlet The PR Studio
Nicola de Burlet is a chic, classy, stylish PR...and there's no need to take my word for it, let's listen to what Trish Halpin, editor of Marie Claire had to say. “Nicola has always been a figurehead of the fragrance PR industry. Her experience is second to none and she has an innate understanding...
5 Things Gleaned from Michael Sheen
The thing is…I’m not a film expert which, when you’re in a cinema full of movie fans at the BIFA Central Picturehouse watching Michael Sheen being interviewed for Time Out London can be a bit of a daunting realisation. BUT I have seen five Michael Sheen films, oh yes. Well, to be honest I’ve seen...
Review – Open House London
Sometimes in London, it feels like you know ALL KINDS of things you really don't need to. Like when a new hotdog joint is opening, how Pret Sandwiches are ranked from 1 to 50, or how big the waiting list is at a swanky restaurant you're never likely to grace. And in contrast there's LOADS of...
Exploring St Paul’s Cathedral – London’s Iconic Landmark
St Paul's Cathedral, where I'm sitting right now, is literally blowing my mind. The very famous London landmark was built by Christopher Wren and accessoried (shall we say) with intricate mosaics after Queen Victoria called it 'dull, cold, dingy and dreary,' crikey! Inside St Paul's Cathedral...
Interview with Fashion Editor & Stylist Nini Khatiblou
Fashion Editor & Stylist Nini Khatiblou has an infectious character, ten minutes in her presence and you'll be smiling - promise! About Nini Khatiblou I've been working with Nini for, like, for-EVER, since she was at Good Housekeeping and I would send her jeans to shoot for her pages. For a...
The Unconventional World of Henry Holland
If you had to pick one fashion designer for a cracking night out, I would suggest Henry Holland. Firstly, from what I have gleaned, from last Friday evening while he was in conversation with Kinvara Balfour. He is exceedingly charismatic, funny, honest and I'm absolutely positive you'd be dancing...
Zac Posen Interview – Lighting Up Fashion
All I could think about on my way to see Kinvara Balfour interview Zac Posen was Claire Danes' stunning light up dress on the red carpet at the 2016 Met Gala. The theme for this year was Manus x Machina: Fashion in the Age of Technology in association with Vogue. The standout (by miles and miles)...
Guide to The Chelsea Flower Show by a First Timer
What's a flipping silver gilt when it's at home? Why does a show garden differ from a artisan garden? Do I have to wear white linen trousers to get in? Will they know the only flower I've successfully kept alive is a Flaming Katie from Tesco? These are the questions you will face if it is your...
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