The Grass Is Greener

"I want to move faraway

Faraway from everyone

Where the grass is greener

Where the sky is softer

The rivers will stay calm

And the birds will sing my song"

~ Unknown

I have a few of these leather Tees by Emma Manley (see here and here). Paired with jeans in Winter, and shorts in Summer, they have become a wardrobe staple for me, and I couldn't resist adding another one to my ever growing collection. This one is especially gorgeous; it's leather, and it's green! Maybe it's the Irish in me - whatever, I had to have it.

Green leather is unusual. Green leather is cool. It's just not something you see every day. Made from the softest nappa leather, this simple design is effortlessly stylish. It has a boxy fit, dips longer at the back, where a full length zip runs all the way down the centre, and a contrasting white panel takes it to a whole new level of fabulous.

I styled it with skinny jeans, my favourite over-the-knee boots, and the the most gorgeous bag by Lulu Guinness. The 'Marcie' bag was a birthday present from my wonderful boyfriend. He said the iconic Lulu doll face design on the front reminded him of me. I adore my bag, it is a perfect mix of practical and fun.

Get The Look:

Top: Emma Manley 'Boxter' Leather Tee in apple

Jeans: Frame Le Skinny De Jeanne Cropped Skinny Mid-Rise Jeans

Boots: Stuart Weizmann '50/50' Over-the-knee Boots

Bag: Lulu Guinness Doll Face 'Marcie' Bag

Photos: Jason Connery ©

To Winter

"Blow, blow, thou winter wind

Away from here,

And I shall greet thy passing breath

Without a tear.

I do not love thy snow and sleet

Or icy flows;

When I must jump or stamp to warm

My freezing toes"

~ Eugene O'Neill

I've been spending a lot of time in Scotland in recent months, and at the moment, the temperatures there are gloriously Baltic! Such cold weather calls for a pretty hardcore jacket to keep a girl warm, and you simply cannot go wrong with a classic Puffer jacket. This wasn't always the case however; once upon a time, a Puffer jacket, despite being impossibly warm and snug, was a great big fashion no-no. These days, thanks to high-end brands like Canada Goose, and fashionistas such as Olivia Palermo and Emma Stone donning the out-doorsy cover-up, the humble Puffer has been catapulted to iconic status.

This one from high street favourite Topshop ticks all the boxes for me; it is affordable, warm, practical, and surprisingly chic. The jacket has a linear quilted detail, with heavy-duty zip and popper fastenings to the front. The fit is sleek and flattering, and the removable faux fur trimmed hood adds further comfort, and a rather luxurious touch.

Dropping temperatures and Artic conditions simply don't stand a chance against the cozy, insulating powers of the mighty puffer jacket!

Get The Look:

Jacket: Topshop Quilted Puffer Jacket in navy

Jeans: Frame Denim Le Skinny De Jeanne Cropped Skinny Mid-Rise Jeans

Bag: Cambridge Satchel Company 11 inch Classic Satchel in red

Boots: Stuart Weizmann '50/50' Over-The-Knee Boots
Photographs: John Uwins Photography ©

Chasing Rainbows

"I'm always chasing rainbows

Watching clouds drifting by.

My schemes are just like all my dreams,

Ending in the sky.

Some fellows look and find the sunshine,

I always look and find the rain.

Some fellows make a winning sometime,

I never even make a gain,

Believe me,

I'm always chasing rainbows,

Waiting to find a little bluebird in vain"

~ Harry Carroll / Joseph McCarthy

Forget about orange being the new black; this Autumn/Winter it is all about pink, blue, yellow, green, violet, red; all the colours, all together, in big, bold, beautiful detail. Thanks to brands like Gucci, Missoni and Chloe, rainbow stripes are having quite a moment, and this colourful, cheerful trend is brightening up winter wardrobes all across the land!

I first became aware of the trend when I spied Gucci’s rainbow sweater of dreams in a magazine. Alas, at a £600 price point, I knew it would remain forever in my dreams! And so the search began for a cheaper alternative. I found one at a marginally more affordable £300 (the Madeleine Thompson 'Harewood' Stripe Cashmere Jumper). It is absolutely gorgeous, but still too much for me to justify spending on a jumper. So the search continued. And one night, while dashing through London to get to the Palladium, I saw it. There, gracing a muffled up mannequin in the window of a GAP store, was the most perfect Gucci look-a-like rainbow sweater.

At a very affordable £45, the GAP jumper is made from a super soft, fine ribbed Merino wool blend. Featuring their iconic holiday crazy stripes in 13 bright, bold hues, it has long sleeves with banded cuffs, a crew-neck, and the hugely coveted all-over rainbow stripe pattern. I love it, and I am so happy I chased this particular rainbow.

I styled my cheery sweater with my favourite over-the-knee boots, a matching bobble hat (how could I resist?), a classic satchel in a bright shade of red, and a new pair of skinny jeans. Yes, I finally got a new pair of jeans; I know, I know, I'm in shock too! I truly believed that my old, worn, torn, dilapidated skinny jeans were the only pair I would ever find to fit me. Frame Denim are an LA based brand with a cool London edge, and they have literally saved this denim lovers bacon. In the meantime, my other, old, beloved skinnies are with my trusty tailor. I'm hoping that a little overdue TLC and some serious patchwork will give them a new lease of life. I'm not ready to let them go just yet. Watch this space for an update!

Get The Look:

Jumper: GAP Crazy Stripe Merino Wool Blend Ribbed Sweater

Jeans: Frame Denim Le Skinny De Jeanne Cropped Skinny Mid-Rise Jeans

Boots: Stuart Weizmann '50/50' Over-the-knee Boots

Bag: The Cambridge Satchel Co Classic 11" Satchel in red

Photographs: John Uwins Photography ©

I Want To Ride My Bicycle

 

Sugarhill Boutique is becoming a firm favourite of mine. I can't get enough of their cool designs, their cute, quirky prints and their purse friendly prices.

Their bicycle print shirt is quite simply one of the cutest shirt I have ever seen! I spied it in a fashion magazine & went online to buy it before you could say "Fifibaggins is a shopaholic". 

The baby blue chiffon shirt features a cute hand-drawn print of brightly coloured bicycles with baskets adorned with flowers, carrying cute little dogs. It has a concealed button front, with gold heart shaped buttons on the collar and cuffs and a cool, contrasting dusky grey collar.

For a chilled late afternoon walk I styled my cute shirt with my favourite J Brand jeans and a cool pair of Stuart Weitzman over-the-knee boots.

Get The Look:

Shirt: Sugarhill Boutique Bicycle Print Shirt (similar)

Jeans: J Brand 'Songbird' Skinny Jeans (similar)

Shoes: Stuart Witzman '50/50' Over-the-Knee Boots

Tis The Season

This is the very first Christmas jumper I've ever bought. I'm a bit obsessed with jumpers at the moment so it seemed right that I should get a festive one.

New Look have the best selection of Christmas jumpers this year hands down; from uber-Christmassy ones featuring Santa, Reindeer and Snowmen, to more subtle designs like this; the cute Penguins with their silver sequin panels nod to the time of year but I don't feel or look like a silly little Christmas Elf. It is the softest, cosiest jumper and I will be rocking it for many Christmases to come. You might even catch me wearing it after the holiday season!

I can't believe I didn't need a coat for this shoot; the Winter weather in dear ol' Blighty is gloriously mild for this time of year. I simply paired my jumper with my favourite J Brand skinny jeans and the best boots I've ever owned, the 50:50 over-the-knee boots by Stuart Weitzman.

Get The Look:

Jumper: New Look Sequin Penguin Print Christmas Jumper in cream

Jeans: J Brand 'Songbird' Skinny Jeans (similar)

Boots: Stuart Weitzman 50:50 Over-the-knee Boots in black

Whiter Than White

 

 

All the weather reports are telling us that dear ol' Blighty is about to have one of the wettest Winters we've had in years. Well I'm ready for it with this gorgeous over-sized, rain-proof, leather jacket from Ireland's Emma Manley!

'Abbie' is not your regular, run-of-the-mill leather jacket; made from the most fabulous white patent leather, it features drop shoulders, a flared, A-line shape and snap fastener buttons to the front. The hem and 3/4 length sleeves are hand cut with a decorative scalloped edge. It's different, it's unusual, it's beyond cool! When wearing it, I've literally been stopped in the street by strangers wanting to know all about this great jacket; 'Abbie' is a showstopper in every sense of the word.

For a lovely late afternoon walk, I paired 'Abbie' with my favourite J Brand skinny jeans, Stuart Weitzman over-the-knee boots (the coolest boots I've ever owned) and my treasured black satchel from The Cambridge Satchel Company.

Get The Look:

Jacket: Manley 'Abbie' Patent Jacket in white

Jeans: J Brand 'Songbird' Skinny Jeans (similar)

Bag: Cambridge Satchel Co. 11" Classic Satchel in black

Boots: Stuart Weitzman "50/50' Over-The-Knee Boots in black