Stacey Solomon has built a 15-year-long career on being thoughtful. She's charmed over six million followers online thanks to her love of transforming tired furniture into something special, overhauling real family's lives on BBC's Sort Your Life Out and sharing innovative and affordable ways to add personal touches to your home and wardrobe. She's also currently an ambassador for Abbott Lyon, where she continues to produce best-selling collections for the jewellery brand.
'My latest collection is called 'To the Moon and Back' because it's something my parents would always say to me every night,' Solomon told me over the phone. 'I wanted to make it celestial with pretty stars and moons, but also talk about star signs and birthstones and the meanings behind them. That's where it grew from.'
Naturally, Solomon's inner circle will always receive an Abbott Lyon gift at Christmas - 'They’re like, ‘Ooh, I wonder what this will be’ when they see the packaging!' - and explains how, as an avid wearer of the brand, she will only take off some of her favourite pieces for bedtime. 'One piece I wear every single day is the Moon and Star Huggie Hoops, £59 because they’re a bit chunkier and they’re so pretty. There’s also a matching bangle, £69 which says "To the moon and back" inside, which I love.'
Abbott Lyonwww.abbottlyon.com
Her Christmas gifting list is pretty much set this year (perks of the job!) and Solomon explains how despite being a perennially busy mum of five, this Christmas proposes to be refreshingly "chill": 'Joe [Swash] is doing pantomime which means he's basically out for the whole of Christmas, other than Christmas Day and New Year's Day which are his days off,' she says. 'We're going to have a really chilled, quiet one. All of us at home, being super lazy and doing absolutely nothing and spending time with each other. Those are the best Christmases I remember, my parents there for the whole day with us, lounging around with nothing to do, I'm excited!'
Though the presenter insists she isn't asking for anything materialistic this Christmas and admits she's an 'awkward present receiver', in true Stacey Solomon style she has a clever trick for ensuring plenty of unwrapping action without the guilt or extensive lists.
'What I do is buy myself little bits and bobs throughout the year. If I'm out somewhere and I smell a perfume I like - I'll buy it for myself and wrap it up throughout the year. Then there's no pressure for anyone else and I get all these cute little things I forgot I bought myself.'
As the nights get darker, there's a lot of chatter about wellness routines and Solomon explains how she's definitely not in her 'self-care era'. Instead, she considers it an added unnecessary demand. 'I think we all put ourselves under a lot of pressure to be like, 'Don’t forget you!' and 'Don’t forget to fit your self-care in or you’re going to go down the drain.' Sometimes in life, it’s just not possible,' she says. 'You’ve got to go with the flow and don’t put any pressure on yourself. Self-care for me looks like when all the kids are in bed and I don’t have any work to do in the evening, I’ll play cards with my family which I love. Or Joe and I will sit on the sofa and not talk to each other and watch some mind-numbing TV. That’s self-care for us. It’s not a bubble bath, I’m lucky if I have time to wash my important bits in the shower!'
On beauty must-haves, Solomon shares how she's an eyelashes girl - 'Otherwise I look like my little brother!' - and switches between Tatti Lashes or everyday Ardell Wispies, £5.99 depending on the dress code. 'I've tried the magnetic, I've tried the individuals, I don't have time. I've got five kids, two dogs and four ducks - I just need a quick strip!' One non-negotiable in her make-up bag is a nude lipstick – her latest find was from Charlotte Tilbury, £28.
Bootswww.boots.com
As well as endlessly inspiring our homes and jewellery collections, Solomon has also influenced wardrobes across the country. A styling trick that is a non-negotiable for her outfits? Wearing anything that brings joy.
'My one thing to live by is to wear it because it makes you happy. Wear something that makes you feel good, whether it's a black tracksuit or a multi-coloured cardigan. If you walk into the room and you are happy and comfortable and feel like you, then everyone is going to think you look nice just because you look good. There is no such thing as the rules of fashion, just wear whatever the bloody hell you want if it makes you feel good.'
Aimee Jakes is Grazia’s trending content editor. As well as writing about skincare launches, high-street fashion and gym bag essentials, she’s forever chatting to celebs about their fancy beauty routines. Follow her on Instagram here.