The Post-Birthday Glow, Spring in Full Swing & London Coming Alive

April is wrapping up, and the city feels like it’s woken up properly. There’s a buzz again—the good kind, not the overwhelming one. It’s as if London collectively shrugged off its coat, cracked open the windows, and said, “Right then, let’s begin.”

The first few months of the year always feel like a slow climb, but suddenly, there’s light, there’s warmth, there’s an energy shift. Londoners have fully emerged from hibernation—cafés are packed, pub gardens are humming, and the parks are filled with people pretending it’s warm enough to sunbathe. (It isn’t, but we do it anyway.)

For me? I’m still basking in the birthday glow, soaking up every ounce of spring energy, and leaning into this feeling of momentum. There’s a softness to it—this kind of delicious in-between time where nothing’s urgent, but everything feels possible. It’s like the season is giving us all a gentle nudge to rejoin the world and start saying yes again—to coffee dates, to silly conversations on park benches, to a third glass of wine just because the light is hitting right.

Settling In: Life After the Party

With the birthday sparkle now behind me, I’ve found myself craving quieter pleasures—the kind that don’t come with a playlist or a guest list. There’s something strangely grounding about slipping back into routine after all the noise. Like exhaling after a really good laugh.

I’ve been relishing those in-between moments:

• Slow mornings with oat milk coffee and absolutely no urgency.

• Evening walks where I leave my phone at home and let the air clear my head.

• Fresh flowers on the kitchen counter, just for me. (Peonies if I can find them, otherwise tulips will do just fine.)

• An unreasonable obsession with clearing out drawers—somehow, editing my sock collection feels spiritually symbolic right now.

  
  

There’s beauty in the wind-down. In the post-party hush where real life resumes, only a little shinier. It’s not about doing less; it’s about doing softer. And after all the sparkle, I’m realising how much I crave that quiet kind of joy.

London in April: The Seasonal Shift

Spring has fully taken hold, and London is just... better in this light. There’s blossom in the air and a kind of collective exhale you can feel on the pavements. It’s like the whole city is stretching its limbs after a long sleep.

Some favourite seasonal snapshots:

• Blossom trees lining the streets, making every walk feel cinematic. The kind of pink you’d never wear but absolutely adore in nature. It’s the month when everyone becomes an amateur photographer, pausing mid-walk to get that perfect petal shot.

• Parks packed with people finally embracing outdoor life again. There’s a smugness to the first picnic of the season, and honestly? It’s earned. Bonus points if you bring olives in a little ramekin and pretend it’s effortless.

• Longer evenings that make post-work drinks feel necessary. Golden hour in Soho is an elite vibe. I’ve already got a mental map of which wine bars catch the light best around 6PM.

• Sunday wanders through Columbia Road Flower Market—shoulder to shoulder with plant parents, sipping iced coffee, buying too many tulips. Ending at Lina Stores with a plate of pasta and no plans. Bliss. (The trick is always to go just before closing, when the deals get wild and your arms are too full to carry regrets.)

  
  

Also: the return of impromptu plans. Someone texts, “Pub?” and suddenly it’s five hours later and you’re dissecting life with someone you just met over a shared plate of olives. This is the magic of London in spring. Serendipity feels built into the city.

Style: The ‘Spring, but Make It Chic’ Edit

Transitional dressing is an art—and this is my season. I’m living for that moment where it’s warm enough for bare ankles but still justifies a trench. It’s layering season with flair.

Current rotation:

• Trench coats—because they just work. Equal parts polish and practicality. I’ve worn mine every day this week and somehow it still makes me feel pulled together, even with coffee stains.

• Ballet flats—finally making their return. Slightly impractical but incredibly satisfying. They whisper "she knows things.” I’ve paired them with floaty skirts and cropped jeans and felt vaguely Parisian each time.

• Silk blouses, slightly oversized, tucked into vintage denim. Paired with layered gold jewellery and my go-to crossbody that holds more secrets than stuff. Add a bold lip and it’s an outfit you can wear to anything.

• Sunglasses on, even if it’s cloudy. Consider it optimism for the face. Or a shield from the consequences of your previous night.

• A pop of colour—lemon, lavender, even cherry red. Small rebellions against grey skies. I wore a butter-yellow jumper the other day and received three compliments and one “are you feeling alright?” Exactly the energy I’m chasing.

  
  

Also: currently obsessed with wearing scarves in my hair again. It feels very French girl meets Clapham brunch and I’m into it. Bonus points if it matches your socks. Not that I’m trying. (I am.)

Wellness: More Sun, More Movement, More Balance

The extra light has shifted everything. I’m waking up easier, sleeping better, and moving more. Not because I have to—but because I want to. There’s something about spring that makes you want to be kind to your body—not in a preachy way, but in a “you deserve to feel good” way.

• Early morning walks with matcha in hand. Sometimes it’s a podcast, sometimes it’s silence. Either way, it feels sacred. I’m convinced the birds are louder, more enthusiastic. Or maybe I’m just paying attention.

• More Pilates, because it’s working wonders for my posture and my mood. I feel taller, calmer, a little smug. It’s addictive.

• Hydration is improving (but so is my wine intake, so… balance?). I’m calling it spiritual equilibrium. Sparkling water in a wine glass? A ritual.

• Skin is glowing, or trying to. Glowy skin is the goal—light makeup, fresh, effortless beauty. A little bronzer, a lot of SPF. My current obsession is anything that smells like oranges and promises radiance.

• SPF is now a non-negotiable. I’ve gone full skin-freak about it and honestly? It’s about time. I apply it religiously now—even when I’m just walking to the corner shop.

  
  

Also: taking a proper lunch break has been revolutionary. Just 30 minutes to walk, breathe, eat something green. Wild, I know. But it’s working.

Mindset: Tapping Into the Energy

April has been a quiet reset. Not dramatic. Just... recalibrated. I’m not trying to reinvent myself, just fine-tune. More softness, less urgency.

I’ve been reminding myself to:

• Say yes to more plans. Even if I’m tired. Even if it’s a Tuesday. Sometimes the best nights come out of nowhere.

• Enjoy the now instead of rushing ahead. No need to solve your whole life this month. There’s a season for that, and it’s not this one.

• Let things unfold naturally—without trying to force the next step. There’s time. There’s always time. The idea that things need to be figured out by a certain age or by spring or by Friday? Outdated.

  
  

Also: I love this in-between season. It’s the liminal space before summer—a season that flirts but doesn’t commit. You get to be soft, spontaneous, slightly mysterious. You get to linger. You don’t need to know the destination to enjoy the path.

Pop Culture, Trends & What’s Happening Right Now

• The ‘clean girl’ aesthetic is everywhere—dewy skin, slick hair, minimal effort. Add oversized shirts and gold hoops and I’m sold. It’s giving “she sleeps eight hours and drinks water from a carafe.”

• People are obsessing over Bridgerton Season 2, and I fully understand why. Sideburns and longing glances? Say less. Also: the tension? Cinematic.

• Rosé season has officially begun, and I’m already on board. Cold, crisp, preferably on a terrace with olives and a scandalous story.

• Everyone is booking summer holidays, and the travel itch is real. I’ve got three tabs open and no decisions made. Italy is calling, but so is a remote cabin with no signal.

  
  

Also trending: lemon yellow, tinted lip balm, Pinterest meal planning, oat milk iced everything, and dressing like a wealthy retiree in Tuscany. I’m channelling “coastal grandma chic” and honestly? It’s working for me.

The Month Ahead: What’s Coming?

• More alfresco everything—brunches, dinners, spontaneous drinks. The kind of plans made in group chats and sealed with “see you in 10.”

• More leaning into this season’s energy. Letting lightness lead. Letting the day unfold without over-scripting it.

• More excitement for what’s next, without rushing it. We’re in the good bit. Let’s enjoy it.

• Possibly booking that getaway I keep fantasising about. Somewhere with lemon trees, linen sheets, and silence.

• Continuing to slow down, show up, soften the edges. Because life doesn’t have to be hard to be meaningful.

  
  

April, you’ve been golden—May, let’s go.

Sophie x