When the weather outside is miserable and all the fun of Christmas still feels too far away, we’re always on the lookout for ways to brighten our days up. And it seems one of our favourite celebrities is feeling the same.
Vogue Williams, in her role as Fairy Non Bio ambassador, has joined with Britain’s most famous bear, Paddington, to launch the #LoadsofKindess campaign. The idea is for people to pledge their own act of kindness on social media using the hashtag, to help put a smile on our faces during what can be a bit of a gloomy time of year.
We chatted with Vogue to find out about the acts of kindness she’ll be putting into practice over the festive season. And, in the spirit of giving, she also let us in on her favourite London hotspots, as well as some of her secret wardrobe hacks. Our act of kindness? Passing them onto you…
What’s your top tip for busy mums trying to look after themselves?
When you’re a busy mum, my top tip would be incorporating time with your friends into your normal daily routine. With my friends, we’ll go for a run or a walk together, or we’ll take the kids somewhere together and have a cup of tea while they play. That way, you can incorporate it into your daily life and there’s no need to set huge chunks of time aside like you’d need for a fancy drinks and dinner. And you don’t have to battle a hangover the next day!Â
It’s so important to carve out time with your girlfriends, not just for them, but for you. I feel like we often forget how much we get from our friendships, and how much better and more refreshed you feel after a great time with the people you care about.
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What’s an act of kindness you show your friends, and what act of kindness do you most appreciate in return?
If anyone wants to show me an act of kindness, they can come and organise my kitchen for me. I’d love them forever! I think that shows how it’s not about money or grand gestures, but just people giving you their time. We’re all time poor, particularly us parents of youngsters, so someone setting aside part of their day for you is an act of kindness in itself.
When it comes to how I show kindness, I’d say it’s probably by inviting guests to my home. I have a really open house policy, so anyone can call around at any time. Whenever Spencer and I are away, I’ll say to my friends from Dublin: ‘Look, our house in London is free. Who wants to come and stay with their kids.’ My auntie often swipes it, because she loves going to the galleries around here. And it works well for me, because they end up looking after my two pups while I’m gone!
Where are your favourite London spots, both to take the kids and for a grown-up date night?
Being from Dublin, I’m always amazed by how much stuff there is to do with the kids on your doorstep in London. We spend a lot of time at the Purple Dragon Play Centre in Chelsea: Theodore, Gigi and Otto all love swimming there. Battersea Park Zoo is another one of my favourites, and a new find is Gootopoia, a chain of slime factories. I hate slime because it gets everywhere around the house, but this is perfect because they can make it and play with it somewhere else.
Me and Spenny love a date night, but if we go for dinner, we’ll head out at six and be home an hour later! We’ve had restaurant managers run out after us saying: ‘Are you guys okay? Didn’t you like it?’ and we’re like ‘It was amazing. We were just starving and exhausted!’
My favourite spots are Le Petite Maison in Mayfair, and Dorian and Straker’s in Notting Hill. We also love the Roka sushi restaurants – we actually went to one for our first date. But nowadays since we’re usually with the kids, it’s Pizza Express. They don’t like to sit still for too long!
We’re obsessed with your Instagram wardrobe hacks! Do you have any more top tips for winter you can give us?
My husband thinks I’m insane with all my packing tips, but I just love being organised. One of my favourite I’ve thought up recently is that every autumn, I do a huge wardrobe changeover where I pack away all my summer stuff and get out my coats. This year, even though we don’t have a holiday planned, I’ve separated a capsule hot weather wardrobe from everything else which I’ve vacuum packed. That way, if we do decide to get some winter sun, I won’t have to go rooting through suction bags!
I also have found the most amazing holiday buy, which are some foldable pack-down shelves that slot into your suitcase. If you have kids – buy them. Honestly, after being on a flight for hours, all you have to do is arrive, pop out these shelves and then whack all the kids’ stuff straight in it. It’s a gamechanger!
Fairy Non Bio has teamed up with Paddington in Peru to celebrate kindness across the UK. Pledge your own act of kindness on social media using #LoadsOfKindness. Head down to the pop-up event at London’s Outernet Now Building on Friday 25th October.Â
