Love Wins

"Keep on dreaming of the day when it all will change

Believe in the end, love wins

If you're waiting for the time when your sun will shine

Oh, look above 'cause love wins"

~ Robbie Seay Band

Dawn O'Porters' BOBbyDOP brand is a wonderful collection of cool designs & amazing vintage finds. It is fast becoming my go-to place for vintage and vintage inspired clothing (blogged here).

BOB's gorgeous new 'Equality Collection', consists of four limited edition pieces, featuring three prints by artist Karen Mabon. All three prints are beautiful and funny, but they also carry a serious message. As Dawn herself says, "Vintage fashion history is all about revolutions, and clothes representing what was going on for women at the time. Our prints look fantastic, but they also have a lot to say".

The print on the 'Women are Boss' 80s inspired dress, is an ode to women at the top, and hard working mums everywhere. The 70s inspired 'Boys Toys' circle skirt playfully raises two fingers to the gender specific toy industry, and the 'Love Wins' shirt and leggings print is a celebration of love; all kinds of love, between all kinds of people, and pays homage to the wonderful progression of marriage equality.

My favourite piece from the collection is the 'Love Wins' Shirt. A gorgeous 60s inspired design, it has a cute Peter Pan collar, quirky love heart buttons, and is made (in England) from Cupro, an eco friendly fabric that mimics silk but is machine washable. The vibrant Karen Mabon print, set against a cream background, features couples of all shapes, sizes, creeds, colour, sexes and even species. It is a true celebration of love in its many different forms.

As the lovely folk at BOB say, "fashion is politics, wear how you feel".

Get The Look:

Shirt: BOBbyDOP 'Love Wins' Shirt

Shorts: Zara Denim Shorts
Slippers: ASOS 'Nessa' Sheep Slippers
Featured Album: 'Unfolding' by Balsamo Deighton

Photos: Kate Carpenter Photography ©
Location: Momento Studio

Exotic Bird

"Like one of those birds with their long beaks,

their vivid colours and beautiful wings.

Just like a numerous amount of things,

everything, even this, has its own peaks"

~ The Edge

Throughout my recent delightful delve into the wonderful world of vintage clothing, I have always had my beady little fashion eye on one particular website, BOBbyDOP.

BOB was launched in 2014 by the impossibly cool Dawn O'Porter (girl crush!). It was Dawn & her amazing vintage style that actually inspired me to take that first tentative step into a whole new world of fashion. Already a best selling Author, Broadcaster, Wife (to the equally cool Chris O'Dowd), Mother, Muse, and rocker of the most magnificent retro bobbed hair in Christendom, Dawn is now also a very successful Fashion Designer. Her terrific collection features 17 designs (1960s mini dresses, 1950s circle skirts, and 1970s shirt dresses) that have been inspired by Dawn's own wardrobe and her love of vintage clothing. They are available to buy on the website, and in fabulous pop-up shops in London, alongside some of the most beautiful vintage pieces I've ever seen, all sourced largely by Dawn herself.

'The Kristen', an exotically patterned dream of a dress, is the piece I especially fell in love with. A 1970s-style shirt dress, it is brightly coloured, vintage inspired, and features a lively Karen Mabon print of toucans, parrots, flowers and bright green leaves set against a contrasting background of dusty pink. Brass metal buttons, a big 70s collar, short sleeves and a deep v-neck all add up to one very cool, funky dress.

I styled my exotic dress with a pair of multi-strap, patent leather Marc by Marc Jacobs shoes. I love how the contemporary shoes work with the classic vintage shape of the dress so beautifully.

Get The Look:

Dress: BOBbyDOP 'The Kristen' Dress

Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs Multi-strap Shoes in black (similar)

Photos: Kate Carpenter Photography ©