PERFECT WINTER COAT

Before heading to Amsterdam last month, I searched endlessly for a warm longline coat - to no avail. I departed with just a leather jacket, secretly knowing I would need to buy one over there to brave the sub-zero temperatures.

By the end of the first day, we had been in over twenty shops, but I wasn't happy with a single one. As a final attempt, I dragged Gus into Monki. As soon as I saw it, I knew. Slightly cropped sleeves, perfect length and thank god - warm!

I've been back from Amsterdam over a month, and honestly haven't taken it off.

Coat - Monki, Top - &OtherStories, Jeans - Topshop Joni and trainers - Nike Huarache.

Couldn't help taking pictures of Gus's vintage varsity jacket we found over there (his surname is Walsh, so I couldn't let him leave without it!)

AMSTERDAM FOUR

Here are my final favourites from Amsterdam -

1. Scandinavian Embassy
Coffee shop / cafe (I had the strongest hot chocolate ever...)

2. Patta Negra
Tapas restaurant that we went back to twice. Have the fried chorizo, patatas bravas with aioli and some cheeses / jamon - amazing!

3. Cafe De Klos
Best dinner we had - I didn't get a photo of a single dinner the whole trip, so that says something! We had to wait a while, but you can go to the bar across the road and they come and find you when a spot is ready. I had the ribs and Gus had the chicken, both barbecued to perfection with potatoe and salad on the side.

4. Cafe Bern
Absolutely amazing French restuarant. The best fondue I have EVER had. I read about this one on Hypebeast before I went, and took a loaf of gluten free bread with us. They toasted it for us, and I excitedly scooped the whole fondue up with the bread and their succulent steak. Order a karafe of their red wine - went beautifully with it.

5. Cannibale Royale
Book this one, because we were lucky to squeeze in. Dark, moody atmosphere inside with candles and lace curtains. The burger was tender and topped with bacon, cheddar, salad and barbecue sauce - I couldn't help ordering the jacket potatoe with crispy bacon and sour cream too!

AMSTERDAM THREE

Rijksmuseum
Address: Museumstraat 1, 1071 XX Amsterdam

AMSTERDAM TWO

One thing I didn't expect from Amsterdam was the amount of vintage stores. The first one we stumbled across was Bij Ons Vintage - filled with racks and racks of vintage sports jackets. Fila, Kappa, Adidas, Nike, Ellesse just to name a few brands. Every colour of the rainbow, amazing condition and all priced around €12, which is a fraction of what they would be in London.

There is another Bij Ons store in Amsterdam too, with just as much sportswear. The only other vintage store that I liked was Episode, which was spread across two huge levels and I think I was too excited searching the racks of Burberry and Levi's to stop and take a photo.

Other stores worth mentioning are Patta (smaller than I thought, but with great collabs all the time). Concrete was a unique fashion store that had Opening Ceremony, Nike, Bape and lots of other amazing designers. And lastly Ben G (pictured above), which is three levels of clothes, shoes and accessories.

1. Bij Ons Vintage
Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 150, 1012 SJ Amsterdam

2. Episode

Nieuwe Spiegelstraat 61, 1017 DD Amsterdam

Berenstraat 1, 1016 GG Amsterdam

3. Concrete
Spuistraat 250, 1012 VW Amsterdam

4. Patta
Zeedijk 67, 1012 AS Amsterdam

5. Ben G
Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 142, 1012 SH Amsterdam

AMSTERDAM ONE

Last night I got back from five days in Amsterdam with my boyfriend. Torrentail rain and gale force winds aside, the food, vintage shopping and museums made up for it.

One thing I noticed straight away was hardly any graffiti compared to other European cities I've been to. The huge wall pictured above was the only large piece I saw, and trust me I circled every canal in the city by the end of the trip.

Being coeliac (and now my boyfriend finding out he is too!), I always do my research beforehand for good gluten free places to eat...

Bagels & Beans
As soon as I head that this bagel chain offered a gluten free option, we hunted one down. I had the proscuitto, mozrella, rocket and pesto one and Gus had a BLT with pine nuts. The food was great, but service was not so great.