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 ©

Oh My Yes

“Ancient steel rails, long without burdens, cradled now in new concrete, perform a snake-like dance.

Undulating close to neighboring buildings, they offer seductive photo ops with every turn.

Here, where walking feels like low flight, sunlight dances on the Hudson

to the murmuring accompaniment of a thousand international voices,

while river winds give wildflowers softly flowing motion

and whisper rustling secrets through the trees”

~ Jeffrey Ben Berman

The search for the perfect t-shirt never ends! I have a few really good ones now, but I have to say, this cropped one with its quirky graphic message is right up there. Oh my yes! AMO (named after the Latin word for love) are now as well known for their LA-made t-shirts as they are for their much sought after jeans that are designed by and for women who want their clothing to work with their figure, their style, and their way of life.

I styled my tee with the Rixo London skirt all the fashionistas are crazy for. ‘Georgia’ has featured in almost all of the brands collections, and I can’t believe it’s taken me so long to bag one for myself! Better late than never though. With weightless silk, fluid movement, and a captivating 70s Mini Star print, this skirt is nothing short of a Bohemian dream.

A pair of Michael Kors crackled metallic flats, and a Manley embellished bag finishes off this perfect ‘cool girl’ look.

Get The Look:

Top: Amo ‘Oh My Yes’ Tee in vintage white

Skirt: Rixo London ‘Georgia’ Midi Skirt in mini star (similar here and here)

Bag: Manley 'Parker' Bag in wine python (similar here and here)

Shoes: Michael Kors Collection ‘Darla’ Crackled Metallic Leather Mule in silver

Photos: Jason Connery and Fifibaggins ©

Location: The Highline, New York

Layla

"What'll you do when you get lonely?

And nobody's waiting by your side?

You've been running and hiding much too long.

You know it's just your foolish pride.

Layla,

You've got me on my knees, Layla.

I'm begging, darling please, Layla.

Darling won't you ease my worried mind"

~ Eric Clapton

Even with a closet full of clothes, it's sometimes easy to feel like you have nothing to wear, so I love when I can pull an outfit together with minimalist effort. That's exactly what you get with this great dress by Manley.

The 'Layla' mini has become a staple in Manley designs, reappearing in collections season after season in different colourways, varying lengths, and even as beautiful blouses, to the delight of all Manley fans.

I love it's simplicity, and already have a couple of the blouses in black and orange, and dresses in vibrant blue and rich burgundy. I wear them everywhere. It's easy to dress 'Layla' up or down, making it perfect for almost any occasion, be it weddings, schmancy restaurants, or fun laid-back evenings with friends in the pub. It's a timeless piece, a very modern take on the classic shirt dress; easy, effortless, classic and chic.

Get The Look:

Dress: Manley 'Layla' Dress in powder pink (different colourways available here here and here)

Bag: Manley 'Parker' Bag in wine Python

Shoes: Valentino 'Rockstud' 100 Leather Courts in black/beige
Sunglasses: Target Cat's Eye Sunglasses (similar here here and here)

Photos: Jason Connery ©

My Manley

“Talking about fashions

So fashionably,

Cosmetics, stylistics, designing and beautification

And my heart too with the fashion girls,

Seeing them,

Looking so lovely and cute,

Dreamy and kissable”

~ Bijay Kant Dubey

Lovers of Irish fashion label Manley use the hashtag #mymanley whenever they post a photo of themselves wearing the brand on social media. I can use it with added gusto now, as this gorgeous dress is MY Manley, in the truest sense of the word!

Emma Manley made this dress for me. It is a bespoke piece, based on the iconic Manley leather tees that I adore, and it is the most beautiful thing. The dress is made from soft perforated leather that moves and flows like fabric. The top panels are unstudded, and cut from leather that has not been perforated, so it sits slightly more firmly. My little black dress is covered with gold, silver, and bronze studs, that jingle and jangle and make music with every movement. It has a boxy fit (flattering for all shapes and sizes), and it’s mini length shows off long tanned legs. It is, hands down, the coolest dress in my wardrobe.

It’s a dress that can be dressed up or down with zero effort, so the styling potential is endless. I’ve worn it to a very schmancy Do paired with towering heels and a vintage clutch, I’ve worn it to our local pub with a pair of old trainers and a cross-body Manley bag, I’ve worn it out to dinner with flat brogues and a cute satchel; I felt like a million dollars every single time.

It’s a forever dress, one that is absolutely timeless, and quite literally the dress of dreams.

Get The Looks:

Dress: Bespoke Manley Leather Dress in black (contact Emma for bespoke pieces. Similar here, here and here)

Shoes: Alexander Wang 'Natasha' Shoes in Leopard print (similar here and here)

Bag: Michael by Michael Kors ‘Berkley’ Clutch in black (available on eBay here and here)

Photos: Jason Connery ©

Rosy Outlook

“Feather light wings that float softly through the air tickled by specks of dust.
Bright white light inflamed with pink and laced with gold...”
~ Laura Cummings

This Summer has revisited one of my favourite 90s trends, the shorts suit, and Manley have come up with their very own, fantastic take on the look in their wonderful Spring/Summer ‘18 collection. Where do I even begin with this cute outfit; the feels are so real!

The top is classic Manley; made from the softest nappa leather, it comes in a soft shade of dusty pink, with a contrasting cuff trim in metallic leather. The simple design is effortlessly cool. The shorts, in the same pink metallic leather, have a sleek tailored look, and are a wardrobe must have.

I’ll be styling both of these pieces with countless other things in my wardrobe; picture the leather top with skinny jeans, with cut-off denim shorts, or a cute mini skirt. And imagine the tailored shorts paired with a crisp white shirt, or a retro rock n roll tee. I’ll be wearing them well into Autumn/Winter and beyond.

Get The Look:

Top: Manley ‘Alexa’ Leather Tee in dusty pink

Shorts: Manley Metallic Leather Shorts in dusty pink (coming soon - similar here and here)
Shoes: Michael Kors Collection ‘Darla’ crackled Metallic Leather Mule in gold
Bag: Emma Manley 'Paige' Bag in electric blue
Photos: Jason Connery ©