Style maven Melissa Holdbrook-Akposoe on where she goes for relaxation and inspiration

For content creator and celebrity stylist Melissa Holdbrook-Akposoe, there’s no such thing as a typical day at the office. From working with clients such as Stormzy to collaborating with in-demand brands and creating content for her 211,000 (and counting) Instagram followers, the one thread of continuity is that she’s rushed off her feet. It’s a dream come true for a girl who grew up poring over fashion magazines and recreating her favorite catwalk collections. However, by Holdbrook-Akposoe’s own admission, her jam-packed diary isn’t always conducive to being creative, which is why she schedules in downtime whenever she can. In Holdbrook-Akposoe’s book, there’s nothing more restorative than escaping the city for a relaxing weekend in the verdant English countryside. “I’m really passionate about my work, but I definitely like to take time to relax and unwind. For me, the city is very work-orientated, so when I leave, I feel a real sense of relief. When I go to the countryside, I leave the stresses of everyday life behind and have the freedom and time to reflect; my ideas have space to breathe.”

Of course, an essential component of any great road trip is a suitably luxurious vehicle. It should come as no surprise that Holdbrook-Akposoe’s impeccable taste extends to cars, and her top choice is the Mercedes-Benz new all-electric EQA compact SUV – the legendary motor brand’s first fully electric compact SUV. With dual widescreen displays and intuitive MBUX voice control that lets you find your nearest charging point simply by using your voice or touch control, there are a lot of things to love about the Mercedes-Benz EQA. However, for Holdbrook-Akposoe, it’s the ease and speed of charging the car that sets it apart. Holdbrook-Akposoe has refined her personal charging routine so that she’s always ready to dash across London for various jobs and appointments – not to mention a stolen weekend away from the city when she can. “For me and my lifestyle, the Mercedes-Benz EQA only needs to be charged about once a week, so I am always ready to jump in and go, even at a moment’s notice. When the opportunity to get away comes up, I take it.”

Swapping the urban sprawl of London for the natural beauty of the countryside has an almost visceral effect on the stylist. “It’s difficult not to unwind and relax when you’re surrounded by nature – it brings me clarity and makes me feel so in tune with my creativity that I’ll practically be compiling mood boards in my mind while I absorb it all.” Now, making these trips in the Mercedes-Benz EQA has the added allure of making the journey just as memorable as the destination.

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