All The Jewellery

"My heart is necklaces tangled in a forgotten jewellery box.

No one has the time or patience to untangle these chains.

But then you came along to undo this

havoc, taking each link, pulling it apart one by one.

And finally these chains can shine like they once did.

Thanks to you."

~ Unknown

Natalie B Coleman's old-school grey sweatshirt is casual coolness at its very best. A boxy style, it is boldly emblazoned with hand drawn and water coloured jewels, with a cheeky message about 'all the jewellery I never got' to the front. It is a versatile, contemporary piece that I know I will be wearing for a very long time.

This season, Natalie has teamed up with Plan International's global movement for change for girls. For every purchase of this great sweater, €5.00 goes directly to the Because I Am A Girl fund. A wonderfully stylish piece, and a very worthy cause, what's not to love?

I styled my cool sweater with my favourite old denim shorts, and a comfy pair of ankle boots, for an effortless transeasonal look.  

Get The Look:

Jumper: Natalie B Coleman 'All The Jewellery I Never Got' Jumper in grey

Shorts: Zara Denim Shorts (similar)

Boots: Topshop 'Ambush' Side-zip Ankle Boots in black (similar)

Photos: John Uwins Photography ©

It's A Wrap

"A cocoon of silk wraps the final breath of day

When feelings stir fantastically

Touching my dreams in mighty ways

Then softly clothing me"

~ Neva Flores Varga

I return to high street favourite Topshop time after time, season after season, and I always seem to find something special, without ever breaking the bank.

This adorable ditsy floral print dress is a case in point. It ticks so many boxes for me; vintage inspired, a figure flattering wrap-over style, flirty, feminine, frilly short sleeves. It's girlie summer dressing at its very best. The darker florals also make it a great transeasonal piece that will see me through Autumn and Winter; I will simply add some dark tights, cute ankle boots or brogues, and a cool leather jacket when the chillier days and nights arrive. Let's not wish the last of the Summer away though! For now, heels and a great bag is all I need. 

I styled my dress with a pair of 70s inspired shoes from Reiss. I bought them many seasons ago and they immediately became a staple in my wardrobe. They really compliment the vintage vibe of this lovely dress. I finished my look off with the lush 'Richmond' tote by handbag Queen Nadia Minkoff. It has become my go-to bag for everyday use. The perfect size for all my essentials, and a great colour that goes with absolutely everything; this arm candy is, quite simply, cool as heck!

Get The Look:

Dress: Topshop Ditsy Floral Wrap Dress

Bag: Nadia Minkoff 'The Richmond' Bag in cognac

Shoes: Reiss 'Cedar' Wood Platforms in cognac (similar)

Photos: John Uwins ©

Be Still My Bleeding Heart

"Heaven-taught, the maiden loves, the poet sings.

Dear bleeding heart, poor broken wings!

So has it ever been through all the years,

For song the sorrow, for love the tears."

~ John Vance Cheney

Natalie B Coleman's SS15 collection, entitled 'Be Still My Bleeding Heart' is one of my favourites of all her wonderful collections. Inspired by the sad loss of her Mother, the Sacred Heart, dreamy Summer days and romance, the collection is feminine, poignant, and playful, with "a bit of Guns n' Roses attitude in there".

I've already blogged about a very beautiful white dress from this collection (see here) and I am delighted to add this very cool slogan tshirt to my little blog. The tee has a relaxed fit and features the name of the collection across the front. Each letter is made of clusters of red rose petals; this beautiful rose screen print can be seen on a number pieces in Natalie's beautiful collection.

I styled my cool tee with a great, green skirt from Chloe's diffusion line, See by Chloe; described as being girly, delicate & feminine, their designs are aimed at the girl who likes to be seen as ladylike, and a little bit naughty. I like that. I like that a lot.

Get The Look:

Tshirt: Natalie B Coleman 'Be Still My Bleeding Heart' Tee (similar)

Skirt: See by Chloe Mini Skirt in green (similar)

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

Truly Pink & Really Sweet

"Truly pink and really sweet

Is this gorgeous flower.

Nothing can glow as much as this sweet pink flower,

So nice, so true, and so pink

Eternal it is in presence.

Sweet and pink is the glorious nature of this flower.

The end is never to be, since this shining organism will never perish.

There are gentle words for this special beauty"

~ Rohit Sapra

The 'Mila' leather tee is one of my favourite pieces by Emma Manley. I have it in a number of different colours (blogged here and here), and I am sure I will get even more of them, as they have definitely become a staple in my wardrobe.

Manley's leather t-shirts are probably the most comfortable, easy to wear tops I have ever owned; I can throw one on with a pair of denim shorts in the summer months, layer with a chunky knit in Winter, or team with a pretty skirt or skinny jeans and heels for a glamorous night out. 

The bottom panels of the leather t-shirt are cut from soft perforated leather that moves like fabric. The top panels have not been perforated so sit slightly more firmly. Gathering at the top of the sleeve adds a soft feminine touch, and a scalloped hemline and visible zip running all the way down the back bring a cool, edgy vibe.

I paired my tee with one of Manley's gorgeous leather collars. The handmade collar takes the top to a whole different level of glam. The styling potential is just endless for a gem like this!  I finished my look off with classic skinny jeans, and towering heels. The neutral Louboutins and cognac coloured Nadia Minkoff bag really compliment the delicate, baby pink shade of the top.

Get The Look:

Top: Manley 'Mila' Leather Tee in pink (similar)

Necklace/Collar: Manley 'Piper' Necklace (similar)

Jeans: J Brand 'Song Bird' Skinny Jeans (similar)

Shoes: Christian Louboutin 'Pigalle' Shoes in nude

Bag: Nadia Minkoff 'The Richmond' Bag in cognac
Photos: Mike Lawrence ©

A Hint Of Navy

"Search the ocean floor for a vessel,

then you’ll understand me.

Because in all its glory, it’s still a shade of blue;

it is a hint of navy"

~ Wom N. Sha

Colour can be a fickle thing in the fashion world. One minute we're told that grey is the new black, then we are told that wearing a cornucopia of vibrant colours will soothe our souls, and then we hear that creams and neutrals will make us look younger, slimmer, taller, fatter, or... well, you get the picture.

There is one colour however, that never lets us down. One colour that will never go out of fashion, and will never get old or tired - navy! Navy never looks like it's trying too hard. It is understated cool, and a great alternative to black.

I have quite a few navy pieces in my wardrobe, and this lovely dress by Emma Manley is a firm favourite. Feminine and flattering, the Maya dress is a fit and flare style; the structured bodice is cinched at the waist with a shimmering metallic leather band. The metallic leather detail also features on the drop shoulders, leading into a flared sleeve. The skirt sits at the knee, and secret pockets at the side give a relaxed vibe.

A fierce pair of platform shoes add a tough edge, and finish the look off beautifully.

Get The Look:

Dress: Manley 'Maya' Dress with leather detail in navy

Shoes: Burberry Prorsum 'Darenth' Platforms (similar)

Photos: Kate Carpenter Photography ©

Something Blue

"Blue, I didn't ask you,

Blue, I didn't invite you.

Blue, why did you come around so soon?

My heart it wasn't ready for you,

I don't know what the hell to do,

The full moon showed up in your face, Blue"

~ Balsamo/Deighton, Christian Phillips

A couple of weeks ago I had the very great honour of walking the red carpet with a very special man at a very special film premier; Tommy's Honour, directed by Jason Connery, is a beautiful, inspiring and deeply moving film, and it had its world premier at the opening night of the 70th Edinburgh International Film Festival. For such a spectacular occasion, I needed a pretty spectacular dress, so naturally I turned to my favourite Designer, the super talented Emma Manley. 

Where do I even begin with this stunning dress of dreams? It is another impossibly beautiful Manley piece; a glorious work of art, and a statement dress in the truest sense of the word. Crafted from perforated leather, it is embellished with appliquéd hand-cut leather strips that are moulded into beautiful bows, each one held down with a silver stud. The beautiful embellishment features heavily at the base of the dress, and moves upwards delicately and randomly.

Also available in dark grey, rich wine, and vibrant pink colourways, it was the powder blue shade that I was immediately attracted to. In the meaning of colours, pale blue is a peaceful and tranquil colour that creates a sense of calmness, relaxation and order. We all know how peaceful and calming it feels to lie on our back on a bright Summers day, looking up into a beautiful blue cloudless sky. And we know that when a rare blue moon occurs, the magick is endless. I love wearing blue. 

I styled my dress with a pair of Zebra print Manolo Blahnik shoes. I love to clash colours and prints, and this styling combination is my idea of perfection. A beautiful silver clutch by Nadia Minkoff completed my red carpet look.  

If you think a man might struggle to compete with such a standout dress on the red carpet, you'd be very wrong; Jason wowed everyone by wearing a kilt! We got his kilt (the particular tartan he wore is called 'Scottish Spirit') from Slaters in Edinburgh (huge thanks to Sandy and the team, who looked after us so well). Jason looked absolutely gorgeous, and effortlessly cool in his great outfit; he was hands down the best dressed man  at the premier. There was plenty of swooning when we emerged from our car and his loyal fans spotted him! What is it about a man in a kilt that is so irresistible?  

And the fun didn't end on the red carpet; a couple of weeks later,  I got to wear my beautiful dress all over again for this Blog photoshoot! Kate and I were joined on the shoot by 16 year old photography student Sam Millward, an exceptionally talented, and very professional young photographer. Watch out for him, and remember, you saw him here first!

Get The Look:

Dress: Manley 'Carly' Bow Dress in powder blue

Shoes: Manolo Blahnik 'D'Orsay' Peep-toe Shoes in Zebra (similar)

Bag: Nadia Minkoff 'Kensington' Clutch Bag in antique silver 

Photos: Sam Millward ©

Premier photos: Ivon Bartholomew and Gordon Terris  ©

Behind the scenes photo: Kate Carpenter Photography ©

'Blue' song lyric: Balsamo/Deighton ©