PLANNING A HALLOWEEN PARTY THAT CASTS A SPELL
Scroll down

ELEGANT DUCHESS

Grandeur Couture & Lifestyle
FROM INVITATIONS TO INCANTATIONS: PLANNING A HALLOWEEN PARTY THAT CASTS A SPELL
BLOG

FROM INVITATIONS TO INCANTATIONS: PLANNING A HALLOWEEN PARTY THAT CASTS A SPELL

“Halloween is an opportunity to be really creative.” Judy Gold

Planning a Halloween party? Good. It’s the one night of the year when going over the top is expected, and I take full advantage.

As soon as October arrives, I’m ready for pumpkin spice everything and a very spooky mood. In this guide I share my best Halloween party ideas, from invitations and props to creepy cocktails, moody lighting, games and costumes, so you can host a night that’s elegant, mischievous and impossible to forget.

Elegant Duchess
October 10, 2026
48 Comments
Silk Path Grand Sapa Resort & Spa Review | Sapa, Vietnam
BLOG

Silk Path Grand Sapa Resort & Spa Review | Sapa, Vietnam

A private hilltop above a literal sea of clouds, a herbal bath straight out of Red Dao tradition, and a karaoke night we’re still talking about – this is our full review of Silk Path Grand Sapa Resort & Spa, tucked into the misty mountains of North Vietnam.

From the French colonial history behind Sapa’s hill-town charm to the practical details every traveller actually googles – best time to visit, how to get there from Hanoi, what to pack, and where to eat – here’s everything you need to know before planning your own trip north.

Elegant Duchess
September 20, 2026
Leave a comment
The Reverie Saigon: Inside Vietnam’s Most Spectacularly Extravagant Hotel
BLOG

The Reverie Saigon: Inside Vietnam’s Most Spectacularly Extravagant Hotel

A suited chauffeur waiting the moment you land, champagne city tours in a Rolls-Royce, and a lobby with a seven-metre ceiling that stops you mid-step – this is my full review of The Reverie Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City’s most talked-about luxury hotel.

From the airport pickup to the club lounge, the rooms to the restaurants, here’s everything you need to know before you book – including prices, distances, and the best time of year to go.

Elegant Duchess
August 29, 2026
Leave a comment

“Traveling – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller” Ibn Battuta

Best 5 Rooftop Bars in London With Views: Bund, Lucky Cat, Samba Room, Gong & Florattica
BLOG

Best 5 Rooftop Bars in London With Views: Bund, Lucky Cat, Samba Room, Gong & Florattica

London’s skyline is one of the most dramatic in the world – a mix of centuries-old domes, glass towers, and iconic landmarks that looks even better when you’re sipping something cold and sparkling above it all.

Whether you’re a Londoner looking for your next favourite haunt or a visitor wanting to see the city from an entirely new angle, the best rooftop bars in London do far more than serve great cocktails – they turn a night out into a full-on experience.

From a secret speakeasy hidden behind a mirrored wall in Mayfair, to a floral-ceiling hideaway above Aldgate, to the highest bar in the city perched 60 floors above the streets – London’s rooftop bar scene is extraordinary, and these five are the ones genuinely worth the lift ride.

Pull up a seat, pick your view, and let’s get into it.

Elegant Duchess
July 19, 2026
Leave a comment
TEDDY BLAKE RAYA CROCO REVIEW: A BAG FOR EVERY OCCASION
BLOG

TEDDY BLAKE RAYA CROCO REVIEW: A BAG FOR EVERY OCCASION

There is a particular kind of joy that comes with summer – the kind that smells of sun cream and champagne, that lives somewhere between a beach club lunch and a candlelit wedding toast.

And if there is one thing I have learned after years of chasing that feeling across different cities, coastlines and seasons, it is this: the right bag can carry you through almost all of it, gracefully, without you having to think twice.

This season, that bag is the Raya Croco 12″ in Black by Teddy Blake – and I have a feeling it is about to become one of those pieces I reach for on repeat, the way I have with so many of my other Teddy Blake bags over the years.

Elegant Duchess
June 27, 2026
Leave a comment
Ultimate Hanoi Travel Guide 2026: What to See & Where to Stay
BLOG

Ultimate Hanoi Travel Guide 2026: What to See & Where to Stay

“Hanoi is a city of the past, the present, and the future all at once.” Lonely Planet

It’s a place where history is not confined to museums but lives in the streets, where modern cafés sit beside centuries‑old temples, and where every bowl of phở or cup of egg coffee carries a story.

Whether you’re wandering through the French Quarter, watching a train thunder past on Train Street, or sitting quietly inside a pagoda built nearly a thousand years ago, Hanoi has a way of slowing you down and drawing you in.

Hanoi is not just a destination – it’s a feeling.

Elegant Duchess
May 17, 2026
Leave a comment
CANCUN UNWRAPPED: FROM ANCIENT TEMPLES TO TEQUILA-FUELED TANGO
Travel

CANCUN UNWRAPPED: FROM ANCIENT TEMPLES TO TEQUILA-FUELED TANGO

The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page. Saint Augustine

Cancún is undoubtedly Mexico’s showcase resort – an oasis of luxury and vibrancy sculpted from a region once named by the ancient Mayans for its abundance of snakes. Today, that wild terrain has been transformed into one of the most elegant and polished destinations in the world.

With each visit, Cancún reveals more of its dazzling variety. This marks my sixth trip, and I’m still uncovering new experiences – proof that one vacation simply isn’t enough to take it all in.

Think world-class resorts and dining, framed by wide, white-sand beaches and the shimmering aqua-blue Caribbean Sea. Add to that outrageous nightlife, immersive cultural excursions, fascinating historical sites, and of course, exquisite shopping that rivals any global hotspot.

So whether you’re a history buff, a beach lover, a party enthusiast, or a luxury seeker, here’s my curated guide to the best of Cancún – from ancient ruins to rooftop cocktails. Let’s dive in…

Elegant Duchess
May 4, 2026
127 Comments
THE ROYAL PURNAMA HOTEL: WHERE TRANQUILITY MEETS LUXURY IN BALI’S PARADISE
BLOG

THE ROYAL PURNAMA HOTEL: WHERE TRANQUILITY MEETS LUXURY IN BALI’S PARADISE

Bali is one of the few cultures with origins in one of the great ancient cultures which is still alive. Arthur Erickson

For travellers seeking an escape that stirs the senses and lingers in memory, The Royal Purnama offers a sanctuary where luxury and Balinese artistry meet. Tucked along the tranquil coastline of Gianyar, this adults‑only beachfront retreat feels like a secret whispered between the ocean and the rice fields – a place where every detail is designed to soothe, inspire, and elevate the experience of being away.

The resort embodies the essence of a quintessential Bali getaway: handcrafted elegance, immersive cultural touches, and an atmosphere that encourages guests to slow down and savour the moment. It’s the kind of destination that doesn’t just host a holiday – it creates a story worth returning to.

Elegant Duchess
March 29, 2026
10 Comments

Instagram