When Life Gives You Lemon

"Yellow, Cadmium, Aureolin, Lemon

It's the shades of your true nature"

~ Unknown

Yellow is one of those colours you either love or hate. I love this bright, cheerful, uplifting shade. It featured strongly in Emma Manley's SS15 collection, and this gorgeous jacket was my very first purchase that season.

Stunning 'Sian' is the perfect Springtime cover-up. An embellished perforated leather jacket, it features appliquéd hand-cut leather circles in matching leather and contrasting metallic leather at the base of the jacket and the short sleeves. Each embellishment is secured with metal conical studs, and the hem is cut with a decorative scalloped edge.

The jacket looks fantastic paired with pretty Summer dresses, floaty skirts, skinny jeans, and even with glamorous cocktail dresses, but on a glorious Spring day I styled my sunshiny jacket with a classic white tee, a very old, much loved pair of denim shorts, and comfy suede ankle boots, for a cool, laid-back look.

Get The Look:

Jacket: Manley 'Sian' Perforated Leather Jacket in yellow

Shorts: Zara Denim Shorts (similar)

T-shirt: Whistles Tee in white (available in grey here)

Boots: H by Hudson 'Mirar' Ankle Boots in beige (similar)
Photos: Mike Lawrence ©

A Something In A Summer's Day

“A something in a summer’s Day

As slow her flambeaux burn away

Which solemnises me.

A something in a summer’s noon

A depth — an Azure — a perfume

Transcending ecstasy”

~ Emily Dickinson

The sun is shining so I'm living in shorts; the same old, much loved, well worn, irreplaceable denim shorts that appear, reappear and then appear again in this blog. I have to try hard to shake it up and style them with very special pieces so that I don't bore you all witless when you see them here time after time! No fear of that though with this gorgeous Étoile Isabel Marant Summer top.

The 'Cole' top features a round neck, frill trim, short sleeves, crochet panels and a ruffled hem. It is available to buy in white, blue and black but I couldn't resist this pretty, raspberry pink version.

It looks great with my old denim shorts but it works equally well styled with cute Summery skirts (a matching skirt is available here. I want it so much it hurts!), skinny jeans, a laid back pair of denim culottes or, while the weather is so glorious, a pristine pair of white shorts. Lush lush lush!

Get The Look:

Top: Étoile Isabel Marant 'Cole' Top in pink

Shorts: Zara Denim Shorts

Shoes: H by Hudson 'Mirar' Ankle Boots in beige (similar)

Easily Suede

"Style is a way to say who you are without having to speak."

~ Rachel Zoe

Suede is everywhere this season. The catwalks have featured it as a huge story for SS15; dresses, jeans, jackets, shorts, colourful accessories, suede will soon find its way into all our wardrobes in some form or other.

Soft suede feels great against the skin and this very cool, navy, suede tshirt by Emma Manley is a simple, easy-to-wear take on the trend. The bottom panels of this tee are made from soft perforated leather that moves like fabric. The top panels are not perforated and therefore sit slightly more firmly. A visible zip runs all the way down the back, the sleeves feature a soft, feminine gathering at the shoulder, and the neckline, hem & sleeves are hand cut with a decorative scalloped edge.

For a cute, off-duty look I paired my cool tee with my go-to denim shorts and a great pair of Summer ankle boots. 

As soon as I can afford it, I want to treat myself to one of Emma Manley's ah-may-zing leather necklaces (see here); it will look so cool with my lovely tshirt, immediately dressing it up for a great night out. Look out for it in a blog post soon!

Get The Look:

Top: Manley 'Mila' Suede Tee

Shorts: Zara Denim Shorts 

Shoes: H by Hudson 'Mirar' Ankle Boots in beige (similar)

Copycat

"I've been imitated so well I've heard people copy my mistakes"

~ Jimi Hendrix

They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Well I do hope that's true because most of this outfit has been copied, borrowed, stolen, inspired, call it what you will, from a girl I saw in a magazine, or maybe it was on the telly or perhaps it was online; I genuinely can't remember. I have no idea who she was, a model or celebrity most likely. I do however, remember what she wore (mostly) and I wanted to recreate her cool, laid-back look.

Some of it was easy to do; most of us own a pair of denim shorts, and casual ankle boots are a summer staple for me (I can't actually remember what kind of footwear she wore but that doesn't really matter). The perfect stripe tee took a while to find as I'm fussy about tshirts. I found this one by Polo Ralph Lauren in a local Department Store. It's great quality, a classic, and I'll be wearing it for years to come I'm sure. The rather faded colours give it a vintagey feel which I really like.

The hardest part of the outfit to recreate was the cargo jacket. I genuinely think there might only be two or three green, short sleeve, cargo jackets in existence anywhere in the world; the one she wore & this one which I eventually found, after much searching, on a US shopping site.  

And so here it is, my very cool copycat outfit. A big huge thank you to her, whoever she is, for inspiring this perfect Summer off-duty look.

Get The Look:

Jacket: Madewell 'Hilltop' Short Sleeve Cargo Jacket in green (similar)

Tshirt: Polo Ralph Lauren 'Jackie' Striped Tee

Shorts: Zara Denim Shorts

Shoes: H by Hudson 'Mirar' Ankle Boots in beige (similar)

The Peasant Blouse

"There is a silent eloquence

In every wild bluebell

That fills my softened heart with bliss

That words could never tell"

~ Anne Brontë

I have long been a fan of high street store Karen Millen; I own pieces, mostly dresses, by this brand dating back years! I often wear their glamorous dresses when I'm out gigging with my band Alter Ego.

Of course Karen Millen don't only sell gorgeous dresses, they have a range of more casual pieces that are simply amazing.  This delicate vintage inspired blouse is a case in point; made from a silk cotton blend, it features an embroidered organza front yoke and pretty lace trims.

It is a modern take on the classic peasant blouse and can be worn throughout the summer with skinny jeans, dungarees, 70s style suede & denim skirts and as styled here with cool denim shorts and a great pair of ankle boots for an effortless Summer look.

Get The Look:

Top: Karen Millen Vintage Inspired Blouse

Shorts: Zara Denim Shorts

Shoes: Hudson 'Mirar' Ankle Boots in beige (similar)