Thing To Wear

"Fashion is what you're offered four times a year by designers. And style is what you choose."

~ Lauren Hutton

Remember the olden days on this blog, when my favourite brand was the now defunct Winter Kate by Nicole Richie? Their hero piece every season was a vintage silk Kimono jacket or dress and I just couldn't get enough of them (see here and here). I never believed I would ever find a brand to compete with, never mind match, those gorgeous vintage inspired pieces that are still a huge part of my wardrobe. But I have found that brand, and they are fabulous! They are also Irish, always a bonus to me as I love to support great Irish design.

Squirrel Versus Magpie was founded by Gillie and Sarah Casey. The great name reflects the ethos and the challenges that face the brand. "Like the squirrel", they say, "it is our goal to be prudent and responsible with the environmental and human resources we use, while also satisfying the inner Magpie that wants beautiful, covet-able things".

Their collections are full of stunning dresses, printed tees with matching trousers (I want, I want!), silky shirts and great coats, but it was the beautiful silk kimonos that first caught my eye. Kimono literally translates as 'thing to wear' and their 'Amelia' thing to wear is a contemporary take on a centuries old design. The Kimono is designed, printed and made in Dublin. Every effort has been made to reduce waste at all points of production, so its carbon footprint is minimal.

I will wear this soft, silky, sensuous piece forever; it will look equally great with jeans and a t-shirt for a casual look, or with a little black dress for a very glamorous evening look.

Get The Look:

Kimono: Squirrel versus Magpie 'Amelia' Cropped Kimono in black

Tee: Jared Leto Classic V-Neck Tee in black (similar here and here)

Jeans: J Brand 9326 Low Rise Crop Skinny Jeans in silencia (similar here and here)

Boots: Christian Louboutin 'Ariella' Studded Boots (similar here)

Bag: Zara Evening Patchwork Pouch Bag

Photos: Jason Connery ©

Earning My Style Stripes

"Driving fast on the highway

I just want success to come my way

In that manner

But life isn't that simple

If it was, everything would feel reasonless

We have to earn our stripes to become zebras"

~ Peter Robert Hamilton

Some people hate to see summer come to an end, while some people long for the onset of cosy knitwear season. I love sweater weather, and I don't believe you can ever have too many great sweaters in your closet.

I'd had my eye on the violet version of this Kitri jumper of dreams for a while, but when push came to shove, I opted for the black, more pared-back version, as I knew it would go with absolutely everything. A mohair/wool blend knit, it features a contrasting, somewhat skewed stripe print that is a very modern take on the classic Breton style. Add to that an unexpected splash of violet at the cuff, a super-soft fluffy texture, an oversized fit, and you have a very cool sweater that takes cosy to a whole new level.

In keeping with the monotone colour, I styled my statement knit with black skinny jeans, and then dressed it all up with a sequinned patchwork pouch bag (glitzy drawstring pouches are the chicest bags for the upcoming Christmas party season, you'll see them everywhere) and the coolest black studded boots in Christendom. The end result is a simple, stylish look that can take me from day to night with absolute ease.

Get The Look:

Jumper: KITRI 'Karla' black mohair striped jumper

Jeans: J Brand 9326 Low Rise Crop Skinny Jeans in silencia (similar here and here)

Boots: Christian Louboutin 'Ariella' Studded Boots (similar here)

Bag: Zara Evening Sequin Patchwork Pouch Bag

Photos: Jason Connery ©

Rainbow Connection

“Why are there so many songs about rainbows

And what's on the other side

Rainbows are visions

But only illusions

And rainbows have nothing to hide

So we've been told

And some choose to believe it

I know they're wrong, wait and see

Some day we'll find it

The rainbow connection

The lovers, the dreamers, and me”

~ The Muppets

This Summer is all about colour; from 70s inspired tees, to swimsuits, bags, jumpers, dresses, even technicolour hair, fashion is unashamedly going over the rainbow. I mean why wear one colour when you can wear all the colours of the rainbow?

You all know by now how much I love a Rixo London dress; well this one, from their SS18 collection, might just be my favourite Rixo dress ever. Adorned with hundreds of tiny sequins in bold, bright, rainbow stripes, a mini length, with long, cuffed blouson sleeves, this sparkly number is the perfect way to pay homage to the glitz and glamour of the 1970’s. ‘Ava’ is quite literally the mini dress of dreams.

Get The Look:

Dress: Rixo London ‘Ava’ Sequin Blouson Sleeve Mini Dress

Shoes: Christian Louboutin ‘Very Prive’ Peep-toe Shoes in black

Bag: Nadia Minkoff 'Newington' Clutch in pony black (similar here and here)

Photos: Jason Connery ©

Green Piece

“The dawn was apple-green,

The sky was green wine held up in the sun,

The moon was a golden petal between.

She opened her eyes, and green

They shone, clear like flowers undone

For the first time, now for the first time seen.”

~ D H Lawrence

This is the second piece I’ve bought from Rat & Boa (I blogged about the very beautiful ‘Anja’ dress here), and even as I ordered that dress, I knew I would go back to get the equally gorgeous ‘Margeaux’ jacket at some point. Cut from luxurious, textured silk, this tuxedo style robe features a beautiful Oriental print set against a bold, emerald green background. It’s the perfect layering piece, and the Designers really hit the nail on the head when they described it as “part Bourgeois, part vintage dream”.

A wearable, eclectic, very cool piece, it can be worn open for a laid back look, or the belt can be tied to add structure, for a more sophisticated look. It’s something I can wear with denim shorts in the Summer (my favourite way to wear it), or I can throw it over a little black dress for a seriously sexy date night outfit.

I kept my look very simple here; I teamed the jacket with black skinny jeans, a black tee, an embellished Manley bag, classic black Louboutin heels, and a fantastic initial necklace by Irish jewellery brand Edge Only. The result is a cool, modern look, that gives a little nod to the 70s boho vibe I love so much. It’s the perfect daytime, nighttime, anytime look.

Get The Look:

Jacket: Rat & Boa Rat ‘Margeaux’ Silk Tuxedo

Jeans: J Brand 9326 Low Rise Crop Skinny Jeans in silencia

T-Shirt: James Perse Casual slub cotton-jersey T-shirt in black

Belt: Gucci Leather Belt With Double G Buckle
Necklace: Edge Only Initial Necklace
Shoes: Christian Louboutin ‘Very Prive’ Peep-toe Shoes in black

Bag: Manley 'Parker' Bag in wine python

Photos: Jason Connery ©

Wrapped In Style

“Style is the answer to everything.

A fresh way to approach a dull or dangerous thing.

To do a dull thing with style is preferable to doing a dangerous thing without it,

To do a dangerous thing with style is what I call art”

~ Charles Bukowski

Rat & Boa, a brand by Valentina Muntoni and Stephanie Cara Bennett, was born out of a desire for the two good friends to create pieces that are wearable, eclectic, sexy and fun. They say that the brand is for the bold, the spirited and the experimental.

I came across them completely by chance on Instagram, and leapt straight onto their website to check them out properly. I snapped up this beautiful wrap dress the moment I saw it. Silky, and sensuous, the ‘Anja’ dress has a deep v neckline with a glossy black collar, and kimono style sleeves that finish in a contrasting black panel. A white floral motif is set against a bold blue background, and the tie belt can be pulled in for a sexy figure hugging look, or left a little loose to create a more relaxed silhouette. It can be dressed up with killer heels, or worn open, jacket style, over a white tee and skinny jeans combo. It’s a classic, forever piece, that can work in any situation; the perfect day to night dress.

I wore it for the first time on a magical date night when my love took me to a very schmancy New York restaurant. Paired with classic Christian Louboutin heels and a my favourite Nadia Minkoff London clutch, I felt like a million dollars on a very special, romantic night.

Get The Look:

Dress: Rat and Boa ‘Anja’ Wrap Dress

Bag: Nadia Minkoff 'Newington' Clutch in pony black

Shoes: Christian Louboutin 'Very Prive' Peep-Toes in black

Photos: Jason Connery ©