My April moodboard

I love to spend quality family time at... Portobello beach. I grew up in Portobello, and my mum still lives there. I love it. It doesn’t take much for our tough half-Finnish boys to strip and run into the freezing waves. Joy!

My favourite holiday spot is… The Isle of Arran. It’s a beautiful island that’s very accessible from the Central Belt and truly Scotland in miniature. Luckily we get to go there often for yoga retreats, Hogmanay ceilidhs, and hiking in all elements to blow away any cobwebs.

MOODBOARD MY APRIL

Dress,£290, Maje

I’ll be shopping...

For weddings! We have six this year. I’ve made a personal pledge to buy better and less frequently, so I need to ensure

I’ll be able to get the proper wear out of any new clothes I do spend money on. I recently bought a dress from Maje for my brother’s wedding and I fully intend on rewearing it for upcoming nuptials.

I love to eat...

At the wonderful Cail Bruich, situated on Glasgow’s Great Western Road. This is fine dining at its best. Friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive, the incredible staff know their stuff— five stars every time!

M Life eco yoga block, £12, John Lewis & Partners

DARINA GARLAND W hen it comes to pizza, we like to think we know our way around an 18”, so it makes sense that Darina Garland has long been on our radar. Co-founder and chief experience officer at Ooni Pizza Ovens, the world’s first portable pellet pizza oven, together with her husband Kristian, Darina has grown her family-owned business from a start-up founded in 2012 into Scotland’s fastest-growing private company. Now selling their game-changing portable pizza ovens in over 90 countries, Ooni is proving to be a hit internationally. Darina, however, is happiest when she’s in her native Scotland. And here, she shares what she loves to do on home soil...

I’ll be working on... Ooni Day—our annual cookout celebration where Ooni users from around the world cook awesome pizza on the same day! I can’t wait to see the creations flood through on social media.

An education in DIAMONDS

Diamonds have always played a poignant role in my life. Every day, I wear a diamond ring I inherited from my late father and, whenever I glance down at it, it gives me indescribable comfort. Such is the power of a diamond. These glittering stones mark our most monumental moments, making them so much more than a piece of jewellery—they’re the touchstones of our past, present, and future. And no-one understands this quite as acutely as Laings. Laings is a family-run jeweller with Scottish roots which, this year, is celebrating 180 years in the business of sparkle. Born in Glasgow’s vibrant Merchant City in 1840, the brand has since gone from strength to strength. With attention to detail, industry-leading craftsmanship, and five-star customer service at its core, today, you’ll find six stunning Laings stores spread across the country. As well as Laingsuk.com, which

When it comes to choosing a diamond, there’s more to consider than carats. Hood’s editor, Maxine Eggenberger, spent an afternoon with the Laings esteemed jewellery experts to learn about the true worth of the diamond…

brings the luxury of Laings boutiques online. Both have become destinations where families come to spotlight special occasions, marking them with a piece of jewellery crafted to be passed down from generation to generation. An emotional and financial investment, diamonds are at the centre of this storytelling, and Laings is here to help unearth the perfect jewel.

Laings is passionate about sharing a diamond’s entire journey–from its initial procurement to the attentive design process, right through to the moment it’s chosen from a sparkling display and presented to its smitten new owner. I can’t think of a better way to spend an afternoon than surrounded by diamonds, so, when Laings invited me to join them for an exclusive diamond masterclass, I was there faster than you can say ‘carat’.

Laings has assembled an extremely knowledgeable team, all of whom can confidently answer any question Laings’ illustrious clientele may have about the coveted gemstone. One such specialist is Craig, a team member at

Anna Collection White Gold 0.25ct Cluster Ring, £1,850 Laings

Laings, whose career in the jewellery trade spans over 20 years.

Craig helped me to better understand how the diamond industry operates and described at length the stringent process Laings has put in place to ensure they only invest in diamonds of the best quality. “Diamonds are entirely unique, and it’s my job to help our customers to understand the intricacies of each individual stone,” explains Craig. “Choosing a diamond goes way beyond carats; the cut and clarity are equally important factors that contribute to the aesthetic of a diamond. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working closely with families to help them find their perfect diamond. Gemstones are as individual as we are, and seeing customers connect with a piece is exceptional. I feel honoured to bear witness to that.”

Needless to say, after spending time with Craig and the Laings team, my diamond ring feels all the more precious.

For more information, please visit Laings Glasgow: Argyll Arcade, 0141 221 7199, Laings Edinburgh: 72 George Street, 0131 225 4513, or go to Laingsuk.com.

18ct White Gold 0.30ct Round Brilliant Diamond Hoop Earrings, £595, Laings

CHARITY CHIC BOUTIQUES

Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland’s Boutique shops across the country boast stunning interiors with big name brands, stylish designer bargains and the best pre-loved clothes and accessories you can imagine.

You are guaranteed to discover shops full of hidden gems, one-of-a-kind labels and vintage finds. A truly unique shopping experience.

To find out where your nearest boutique shop is, please visit www.chss.org.uk/boutiques

NO LIFE HALF LIVED

HURR COLLECTIVE Hurr Collective is a membershipbased rental platform founded by Victoria Prew and Matthew Geleta. It launched in 2018 with a mission to make renting an everyday occurrence. With a lengthy waiting list (which it does to keep renters secure), once you’re a member, you can arrange to meet with your lender in person or have items mailed to you. Hurrcollective.com

Rent-a-porter COCOON CLUB Calling all bag lovers! Cocoon Club is a subscription rental service for luxury bags for £99 a month. This way, you can tote a new bag from month to month without the hefty investmentpiece price-tag. Cocoon.club

If you’re looking to make your outfits more conscious, it’s time to think rental. Consolidating our love of fashion with the sustainable lifestyle we’re trying to live is no small feat. Of course, we can wear the clothes we do own more, wash them less (or, at least, on cooler temperatures), and seek out second hand where possible. But there’s another solution to getting dressed more sustainably, and that’s where fashion rental comes in. While the global clothing rental market is valued in the billions, it still only makes up a niche section of the UK fashion industry. But a host of new sites are about to change all that. With the ability to rent the latest must-have items instead of buying them outright, not only will you save yourself precious pennies, but you’ll also have a hand in shifting the trajectory of the fashion industry in a more sustainable direction. New clothes with less waste—it certainly sounds appealing. Here are the top fashion rental sites making it a reality .

ONLOAN With hoards of outfits to choose from, Onloan deals directly with designers to stock and provide access to the latest collections. It works on a membershiponly basis, so consumers subscribe to use the platform and rent several pieces every month. Onloan.co COMING SOON… IT’S RENTED Scottish fashion stylist Laura Russell is launching her very own fashion rental platform, Itsrented.com, and we can’t wait to see the sartorial treats she has in store. “Renting clothes is the new way to shop,” urges Laura. “On It’s Rented, it’ll be like having lots of sisters you can borrow from—without the arguments! Not only will it amount to some style savings, but you’ll also be helping limit the environmental impact clothing has on our planet through recycling and reusing.” Coming very soon, we know it’s going to be our new fashion obsession...

MY WARDROBE HQ After undergoing a rebrand at the tail end of 2019, My Wardrobe has evolved into a premium rental platform, boasting the world’s top designers. You can rent any item on-site for up to 14 days and, if you truly fall in love with something, you may even be able to buy it. Mywardrobehq.com