Hamilton Island was no exception.

I spent three days there for Yacht Week, with activations, dinners, a yacht day and pool time, so a few different looks were needed.

I ended up packing entirely black and white which made everything feel cohesive, easy to style and simple to get dressed each day.

Here’s everything I wore.

DAY ONE

We flew up Saturday morning and had a few hours to relax before our first activation.

I wore a Helsa kaftan over Camilla and Marc satin pants, paired with my Alaïa bag, Anna Rossi tassel necklace Lana Wilkinson wedges and Port Tanger sunglasses. Relaxed, but still polished enough for an afternoon event.

That night, we had our welcome dinner at Qualia. I wore a Diana Milkanova silk top with Venroy pants, my The Row Peggy clutch and Tony Bianco thong heels.

DAY TWO

Yacht day called for something easy but still elevated. I wore a Diana Milkanova dress with my Alaïa bag, Port Tanger sunglasses and Alaïa wedges. (mine are sold out however have linked a dupe here)

After the yacht, we headed straight to the pool, where I changed into a Matteau one-piece with a Albus Lumen Kaftan, Jude sandals Anna Rossi Tassle Necklace and my Dragon Diffusion tote.

DAY THREE

For our final activation, I wore a Jaggad jacket with the same Venroy pants I’d worn to dinner on the first night, paired again with my Alaia bag and Port Tanger sunglasses.

This trip was another reminder that I really don’t need to pack a completely different outfit for every occasion. Keeping everything black and white meant I could re-wear pieces and accessories without any of the looks feeling the same.

Sometimes the best holiday wardrobe is simply fewer pieces that all work together.

I’ve found that the more I plan ahead, the easier it is to work out what I need to wear. And, more importantly, what I absolutely do not need to pack.

Last week, I headed to Thredbo with Range Rover for two nights. There were dinners, a full day skiing, lunches, travelling, and other little moments that come with a snow trip.

And because I only had two nights, I wanted to be warm, comfortable and still feel chic. This is where my new favourite travel ritual has come in. The Pinterest board comes first.

Before I pack now, I’ve started creating a Pinterest board or, depending on how organised I’m feeling, a little document where I break down the trip by activity.

So rather than thinking: What clothes do I want to bring? I think: What am I actually doing? Then: What do I want to wear for that?

For Thredbo, it was something like:

Travel outfit needed to be comfortable but put-together. Skiing was practical, warm layers. Dinner 1 something a little more elevated Dinner 2 another outfit, but preferably using pieces I already have Travel home comfortable again. Then I add the accessories. Shoes. Bag. Beanie. Gloves. Sunglasses. Jewellery. Even the socks.

It sounds slightly excessive, but I have found it makes packing so much easier. Instead of throwing things into a suitcase because I might wear them, every item has a purpose.

The number one rule: thermals. Thermals are everything!!!

The secret to looking cute in the snow is not actually finding the world’s most fashionable puffer. It’s being warm enough underneath your clothes that you don’t need to wear five jumpers at once.

A good thermal base layer means you can keep your outfit underneath streamlined without sacrificing warmth. My go-to is the Uniqlo HEATTECH range. I love them because they’re incredibly thin but still keep you surprisingly warm, so you can layer them underneath everything without ever feeling bulky or like you’re wearing five layers of clothing.

For skiing

Function first. Fashion second. Although obviously, ideally, we’re getting both.

My favourite snow suit brand is GOLDBERGH. I’ve tried a few different brands, but Goldbergh consistently ticks both boxes for me: extremely chic and extremely warm. I was genuinely sweating on the mountain in this suit, which, when you’re skiing in the snow, is actually the best possible sign.

Other great contenders are AMERL and PERFECT MOMENT, they both have some great ski suit options in some beautiful colours and patterns

The other thing I have become very serious about is practical shoes.

For walking around the village and mountain, I packed two pairs of MOON BOOTS. They’re the perfect snow shoe because they’re practical and warm, with great grip, but still look chic. I wore them with my ski suit on the mountain, but they also work perfectly over leggings or tucked under a pair of jeans, making them so easy to style throughout the trip.

The travel outfit

Travel outfits have become one of my favourite things to plan. For the snow, this meant leaning into the whole cosy winter uniform comfortable layers, a good coat, practical shoes and accessories that made it feel intentional rather than like I had simply put on every warm thing I owned.

I started with a pair of Uniqlo thermal leggings, which I could also wear underneath my ski gear, layered with a singlet and skivvy. I paired them with my flat PROENZA SCHOULER boots and finished the look with a fur jacket from my new favourite coat discovery, DUCIE.

My carry-on bag is from RYLAN and I’m obsessed. It gives me major The Row Margaux energy, but with a much more affordable price tag.

Dinner

Then there were two dinners. This is where I think it’s easy to overthink things.

For dinner, I wanted my outfits to feel a little more polished, but I definitely wasn’t willing to sacrifice warmth. This is where a beautiful statement coat does all the work. Little did anyone know, underneath I was basically wearing thermals and bike shorts but all you could see were these incredible coats. Proof that in the snow, the right outerwear really is the entire outfit.

For the first night, I wore a DUCIE coat as a dress. To make it work, I borrowed a leather belt from another coat, hitched up the length slightly and cinched it in at the waist to give it more shape. I paired it with sheer tights and MIISTA boots (mine are sold out, have linked similar) , but the coat really did all the talking.

For the second night, I re-wore the same sheer tights and styled them with a coat from DEERING. This is, without a doubt, one of the warmest coats I own. It was freezing outside, but I genuinely didn’t feel the cold exactly what you want when the coat is essentially your entire outfit.

If there’s one thing I want you to take away from this article, it’s the importance of planning and trying on your outfits before you go. Whether that means simply jotting down your looks in the Notes app or taking it one step further like me and creating a Pinterest board, I promise it makes such a difference.

Not only do you feel so much more relaxed once you’re actually on the trip, but you also feel good because you know you love what you’re wearing. There’s no last-minute scrambling, no overpacking “just in case”, and no standing in a hotel room surrounded by clothes wondering why you suddenly hate everything you brought.

I’m off to Hamilton Island next and you best believe my outfit document is already in the works. Different climate, same level of organisation.

If you've been following me for a while, you may have noticed I've mentioned arthritis a few times over the past year. I've had so many messages asking what I've done, what's worked, and where I'm at now, so I thought I'd finally sit down and share the full story.

Not because I have all the answers but because when I was first diagnosed, I would've given anything

to read someone else's honest experience.

This is simply mine.

It all started in January 2025.

At first, I ignored it.

My hands were aching, but I convinced myself I'd injured them somehow. I kept telling myself it would settle down if I just gave it a bit of time.

By March, my middle finger had become so swollen it barely looked like my own hand. It was discoloured, stiff and incredibly painful. That's when I finally went to my GP, who referred me to a rheumatologist at Cabrini Hospital.

I walked into that appointment feeling nervous, but also optimistic.

I'd spent hours researching anti-inflammatory diets and natural healing. In my mind, I thought I'd leave

with a prescription for some pain relief, maybe an anti-inflammatory, and a plan to heal my body through food.

Instead, I was told something I wasn't ready to hear.

The specialist explained that diet wouldn't fix it and recommended I start methotrexate.

I remember leaving feeling completely defeated.

Whether he was right or wrong wasn't even the point it was that I'd walked in hoping for hope, and

walked out feeling like there was only one path forward.

I never went back.

Instead, I became obsessed with finding another answer.

For months, my life revolved around appointments.

Doctors.

Nutritionists.

Acupuncturists.

Chiropractors.

Alternative practitioners.

Supplements.

Blood tests.

Food intolerance testing.

I spent thousands of dollars trying to fix myself.

It completely consumed me.

The pain was relentless.

Some mornings I couldn't even hold a hairbrush to do my hair.

Driving became painful.

Cutting food hurt.

Holding my phone hurt.

Simple everyday tasks that you never think twice about suddenly became exhausting.

Physically I was struggling, but mentally I was becoming someone I barely recognised.

Everything changed when a girlfriend introduced me to Stephen from True Health Solutions.

I'll never forget that first appointment.

I sat in his office and cried.

Not because I was in physical pain but because I was exhausted.

I felt like a shell of the person I used to be.

Stephen listened.

He was patient.

He was kind.

Most importantly, he gave me something I desperately needed: hope.

He suggested we investigate what was happening inside my body before making any assumptions.

I completed food sensitivity testing and DNA testing, and the results showed my body wasn't coping well with gluten, dairy, sugar and grains.

I completely changed my diet and went fully Paleo.

To be honest...

It was really hard.

But something incredible happened.

Within seven days my inflammation had noticeably reduced.

Within ten days, I was pain-free.

For the first time in months, I felt like myself again.

Around the same time, I also started seeing an incredible acupuncturist, Trish from Park St Wellness.

She played such a huge role in helping me heal not just physically, but emotionally too.

She prescribed the most disgusting Chinese herbs I've ever tasted...

But they worked.

I found they gave me a little more flexibility with my diet and helped keep my symptoms under control if I occasionally enjoyed something off-plan.

Three months into my new lifestyle, I looked healthier than ever.

(My finger after being on the diet for around 4 months)

I wasn't drinking alcohol.

My skin was glowing.

My energy was through the roof.

The brain fog had disappeared.

I was sleeping better.

Most importantly...

I was completely pain-free.

But there was one problem.

I was miserable.

Food had become something I feared.

I became so anxious about accidentally eating something inflammatory that I stopped saying yes to life.

I cancelled social events.

I avoided restaurants.

I even turned down dinners with my own family because I was terrified of hidden ingredients.

Ironically, the stress of trying to be perfect started affecting my body again.

My hands began hurting.

That's when I realised something important.

Stress is inflammatory too.

That realisation sent me searching again.

This time I found another rheumatologist whose philosophy aligned much more closely with mine.

Instead of viewing medication and lifestyle as opposing choices, they believed the two could work together.

And honestly... That changed everything.

So where am I now?

It's been around 18 months since this all began.

I've experienced every extreme.

I've been incredibly strict.

I've completely fallen off track.

I've had flare-ups.

I've blamed myself.

I've learned.

And finally, I feel like I've found my balance.

Today I eat Paleo around 80% of the time not because I have to, but because I genuinely feel better when I do.

My energy is better.

My skin is clearer.

My gut feels healthier.

My sleep improves.

The brain fog disappears.

And yes, my joints feel better too.

But I also allow myself to enjoy life.

If I want a glass of wine, I have one.

If I'm celebrating a birthday, I'll eat the cake.

That freedom has come from combining my lifestyle with medication instead of feeling like I had to choose one or the other.

I eventually decided to start a slow-release biologic injection every eight weeks.

There were faster-acting options available, but after discussing the risks and benefits with my specialist,

I chose one that felt right for me.

So far, I've experienced no side effects, and it acts as a safety net if I occasionally stray from my diet.

Alongside that, there are still a few non-negotiables I stick to.

Curcumin.

Fish oil.

Collagen.

Chinese herbs.

Bone broth.

Regular sauna sessions.

Limiting alcohol.

And knowing that sugar is still my biggest trigger.

One thing I want to make very clear is this:

I'm not saying this is the answer for everyone.

Arthritis is incredibly complex, and what has helped me may not help somebody else.

I'm also not suggesting anyone stop or avoid medication.

This is simply the combination that's worked for my body after a lot of trial, error, tears and conversations with healthcare professionals.

If there's one thing this journey has taught me, it's that healing doesn't always look like choosing one side.

Sometimes it's about finding your own balance.

If you're reading this while you're in the middle of your own diagnosis, a painful flare, or feeling completely overwhelmed, I just want you to know you're not alone.

I know how unfair it feels.

I know how isolating it can be.

I know what it's like to wonder whether you'll ever feel normal again.

Please don't lose hope.

Keep asking questions.

Keep advocating for yourself.

Find practitioners who listen.

Be open to trying different approaches with guidance from your healthcare team.

And remember that your journey doesn't have to look like anyone else's.

It may take time.

It may take plenty of trial and error.

But I truly believe it's possible to build a life where arthritis no longer controls every decision you make.

For me, that was the biggest win of all.