Not just a pretty face.

Karl Lagerfeld once said, "sunglasses are like eyeshadow. They make everything look younger and prettier." And this is the reason why sunglasses are a woman's best friend. Sunglasses come in all different shapes and sizes and the 'it' pair of sunglasses can come and go just like your favourite hermes bag, however, a stylish and on trend pair can last you a lifetime. 

The classic ran ban wayfarers are a favourite among A-listers especially Rachel Bilson, who is never seen without them. Yet the most popular eye-ware of choice at the moment is the cat-eye. These feline frames have been snapped on taste makers Diane Kruger, Mary-Kate Olsen and Nicole Richie. Both styles are wearable for a wide range of faces and will be a must keep in your wardrobe forever. Sunglasses have the impact to dramatically change any outfit and are as good as a perfect pair of heels or bag to complete an outfit. A perfect pair of sunglasses will live with you forever so instead of using your sunglasses as a mask to hide behind use them as a statement piece in your wardrobe. A bold pair of sunglasses also has the ability to show the world you are reading to tackle anything that life throws at you, so I say... the bolder the better!

Lasting forever.

The woman is a strong person. Throughout our lives we are expected to create relationships, friendships, make children, take care of all the housework, cook, clean and also hold a respectable job in the workplace. There is far more expected of us now than our ancestors who's role in life was solely to stay home and bring up a loving family. The long lasting relationships that we create in our lives amongst our friends and family can also be transcribed into our wardrobe. 

Like our social lives, our wardrobes need those classic, modern and versatile pieces that will stand the test of time. Taking inspiration from french dressing and style icon Audrey Hepburn, trench coats, stripes and fur detailing are pieces that you will forever cherish. It is due to this style of dressing why woman from all over the world see the French as the most stylish and sophisticated out of them all. They always dress for themselves, and are never seen to be following trends but holding an inner sense of style. We need to cherish and hold onto the people in our life that will be there for years to come, hanging in our life like our favourite wardrobe items.

Pure Living in Style

For most of us living in a world where we are always “on”, looking our best and all dressed up. I have found that there are times when we all need to get back to basics whether it’s in the way we dress, the way we live, eat and spend our time. In our crazy world it is easy to get caught up in everyday life and miss the soft voice of our soul longing for stillness, healing and deep relaxation.

We all love the feeling of coming home, taking of our makeup, putting on our comfy trackies, even if they are Juicy Couture and curled up on the couch with a great book (and a great man). We find that we can simply be without the need to “be” anything or anyone other than who we are, naturally.

Basics are called just that, they are what we need and what we build the rest of our wardrobe around. They are the staples which make our wardrobe and without them our outfit would simply be too much. We’ve all seen stylish women wearing a white T and a great pair of jeans. Effortless, stylish and chic!! I have come to realize that in life it is much the same - the simple things, the basics are what truly nourish our soul.

Costa Rica is a country known by the words “Pura Vida” (Pure Living). I have recently been researching some of the world’s greatest retreats for the Private Access Woman and Pura Vida Retreat and Spa in Costa Rica is considered as the Wellness & Yoga destination of choice.

You can say that life at Costa Rica Retreat can teach us all how we can really get back to basics and develop the foundation for a way of living that is pure, pleasurable and sacred. There are basic retreats I have been to but at Pura Vida you get to go all natural with style. You can be the yogi saluting to the sun and lying by the pool in your bikini and designer sunnies.

Ahhhh finally a place where substance and spiritually merges with style.

Developing a healthy relationship with food is important and with the most divine menu options such as salad, cucumber with mint, cherry tomatoes over a bed of cabbage, Quinoa Risotto, Skewers of dried tomatoes, mushrooms and basil with balsamic, Salmon carpaccio with passionfruit sauce – this is one place you will never want to miss a meal that is prepared fresh by the full time kitchen staff of local Costa Rican women.

The healers at the retreat are hand picked for their gifts. Choose from Lympathic Drainage Massage, Facials or a unique healing session called La La Land where you can find yourself blissfully going somewhere you have never been before. Many have returned from Costa Rica totally transformed inside and out.

You also get to start the day you wish you you could start everyday - with a yoga class, waking up the body, stretching, breathing and connecting. Pura Vida holds many retreats throughout the year or if you just want a few days to get back to basics, you can book yourself in and do as little or as much as you like.

Pura Vida offers a perfect balance of mind, body and spirit in an oasis of beauty, tranquility and home like intimacy. You can pamper your body and soul and explore the delights of Costa Rica, a country which is renowned for its beauty.

So just like our basics in our wardrobe, getting away from the hustle and bustle of our daily lives to reconnect with ourselves is something we all need to do on a regular basis. We need our basics in our wardrobe to bring balance to the rest of our outfits just like we need to get back to basics and retreat to bring balance and harmony into our lives.

We need to learn how to disconnect from the world and just like coming home to put on our comfy trackies we come home to ourselves.

Pura Vida Website...click here