Double Denim

Denim is a timeless trend that will never die. But double denim, also known as the Texan Tuxedo, is generally regarded to be one of the trickiest & most controversial trends to pull off. 

To do or not to do? That is the question. And it's a question that arises time and time again in the fashion world. What's my take on it? As with all things fashion, I say if you like it & you feel good in it, wear it. Simples!

Double denim can be a great low-key look for the weekend. I bought this unusual denim shirt last Summer from The Raw Denim Bar. It is by New York based Designers Charley 5.0 and I had never seen a denim shirt quite like it before; the cut-out shoulder detail really makes it stand out.  I have paired it here with my favourite denim shorts (I absolutely LIVE in these!) & a colourful, vintage Levi leather belt for a simple, Summer look. 

The boots are by Ash & are dead ringers for the coveted Isabel Marant 'Dicker' boots that are virtually impossible to buy (I'll get a pair one day though; I'm UK size 3, in case the almighty Fashion Gods are reading this!!). I may be breaking a major fashion rule here with my denim on denim combo, but rules are made to be broken! Right? Right.

Get The Look:

Shirt: Charley 5.0 'Cold Shoulder' Denim Shirt (very similar)

Shorts: Zara Denim Shorts (similar)

Belt: Levi vintage leather belt (similar)

Boots: Ash 'Jalouse' Ankle Boots 

Eastern Promise

I bought this gorgeous Winter Kate dress as a gift for a friend's birthday. I was sure that buying it a size too big for myself would stop me from keeping it. It didn't. I adored it from the moment I unwrapped it and immediately made an appointment to see my trusty Tailor! 

He practically had to remake the dress to make it fit; the sleeves had to be tightened and shortened and it had to be taken in by inches literally all over the body! He did a sensational job as you can see as it fits like a dream now.

I paired it for a night out with Alexander Wang peep-toe wedges and a colourful Matthew Williamson gold enamelled, glass insert bangle. I added the House of Harlow gold headpiece at the very last minute so a few more photos had to be hastily taken to show you that! You know how much I love a 70s look! 

The lipstick is the elusive 'Morange' by MAC. I tried for months to get this bright orange lipstick; it's definitely not for the faint-hearted as it really is bright but oh my word I love it! I especially love how it clashes with the dramatic turquoise colour of this gorgeous dress. 

God only knows what I will buy my friend for her birthday now but at least I have something very cool to wear to her party! Har har!

Get The Look:

Dress: Winter Kate 'Esha' dress in peacock

Shoes: Alexander Wang 'Alla' peep-toe wedges in black (similar)

Bracelet: Matthew Williamson gold enamelled glass insert bangle (similar)

Headpiece: House of Harlow three-strand Headpiece

Lipstick: MAC 'Morange' Lipstick 

Flirty Florals

Don't get rid of your florals just yet folks, as the trend is set to continue this Summer with another massive dose of flower power!

Dear ol' Blighty has suddenly gone from Winter to the most glorious Summer in the blink of an eye and when the sun comes out, the legs come out; them's the rules! I live in shorts & playsuits in the Summer, they have become my Summer uniform so you'll be seeing lots of shorts posts on here if the glorious weather continues! 

This cute, floral playsuit by Kiwi Designer Rebecca Taylor (from her S/S09 collection), has become one of my go to outfits when the sun comes out. With its fuchsia & purple print, gorgeous ruffle trim, deep v-neck and seductive lace-up tie, it immediately gives off a fun, flirty, girly vibe. It is absolutely effortless to wear.

I have styled it here with my tan Reiss sandals, the perfect Summer heels, & my ever present Tiffany trinkets.

Get The Look:

Playsuit: Rebecca Taylor 'Spring Blossom' Playsuit (similar)

Shoes: Reiss 'Cedar' Shoes (similar)

Jewellery: Tiffany & Co.

Déjà Vu

I know I know, I have only just blogged about these Isabel Marant jeans but they are totally amazing & therefor worthy of a second post! I wore them out the night after my birthday & thought you might like to see how they looked with a different top. 

I bought this gorgeous Kymerah silk top when I was in New York last September & it has become one of my most worn tops ever as it literally goes with everything. It has 3/4 length sleeves, a sexy chiffon panel at the back and is a little shorter at the front due to it's flattering dolman shape. The top can be dressed up, dressed down and can even be chucked into the washing machine and worn time & time again without having to go near an iron!

The black leather belt is by Twenty8twelve. I bought it such a long time ago & I wear it all the time. T8T do the best belts, this one looked vintage from the off and just gets better with age.

The red lipstick I'm wearing is a new one by MAC. It's from their 'Hey, Sailor!' limited edition collection and is 'inspired by the glam of vintage pin-up girls'. It is a satin, creamy lipstick so quite different from the matte reds I usually wear and I adore it! 

Get The Look:

Top: Kymerah 'Avila' black silk dolman top

Jeans: Isabel Marant 'Silo' feather print jeans (similar)

Belt: Twenty8twelve black leather belt (similar)

Shoes: Jimmy Choo 'Eros' pumps (similar)

Jewellery: Tiffany 1837 Silver Cuff

Lipstick: MAC Hey, Sailor! lipstick in 'Red Racer'

Isabel Marant

It was my birthday yesterday (Happy Birthday to meeeee!) & I am wearing the amazing presents I got from my wonderful Husband; an incredible pair of Isabel Marant jeans and a fabulous layered, asymmetric chiffon top by Irish Fashion Designer Emma Manley.

Isabel Marant is the go to Designer for paired down Parisian cool and her designs are chic, effortless and so easy to wear. I instantly fell in love with the funky graphic feather print on these skinnies, the tonal black & white colour palette makes them incredibly versatile. My Husband actually bought them last December; they have been lying beautifully wrapped in our spare room since then & I have been going crazy waiting all this time to wear them!

He bought the Emma Manley chiffon top at Bow, a gorgeous Boutique in Powerscourt Town Centre, when we were in Dublin's fair city last week. It took me forever to choose which colour I wanted (it is available in nude, lime green & Windsor blue) but I finally chose the blue as it is almost the same colour as my eyes!

I styled them with classic Jimmy Choo pumps (a pointy toe shoe looks so cool!) and my favourite Tiffany silver cuff. 

Get The Look:

Jeans: Isabel Marant 'Silo' Feather Print Skinnies (similar)

Top: Emma Manley Chiffon 'Beth' Tee in Windsor blue

Shoes: Jimmy Choo 'Eros' Pump in black (similar)

Cuff: Tiffany & Co 1837 Silver Cuff 

Feeling Blue

I've had a lot of messages asking me about the blue dress I wear in my main Blog photograph and a lot of requests to actually blog about it; so here you are, I hope you enjoy!

As soon as I heard that Dannii Minogue (#girlcrush) was teaming up with her best friend Tabitha Somerset-Webb to design a range of clothing, I went into Fashionista meltdown! Project D didn't disappoint and this blue/grey graded silk chiffon 'Jingle' dress (from their Holiday 2010 Collection) is unquestionably one of my favourite dresses of all time!

With its spaghetti straps, cleavage flattering sweetheart neckline & full, flouncy skirt (which I flounce out even more with a black tulle underskirt!) it never fails to make me feel 100% red carpet ready. All I need now is the red carpet!

I paired it for a recent band Photoshoot with my Manolo Blahnik 'Sedarby' Zebra-print d'Orsay shoes. I first saw these gorgeous shoes gracing the feet of Carrie Bradshaw in the first Sex & The City Movie and I knew I had to have them. On a trip to New York the very first place I went to was the Manolo boutique to see if they had them. They had one pair left, in my size... I was obviously meant to have them!! 

Get The Look:

Dress: Project D 'Jingle' Dress

Shoes: Manolo Blahnik 'Sedarby' Zebra-print d'Orsay shoes
Underskirt: Black Tulle Underskirt 

Photos: Lauren Brockes & Phill Griffith 

Cool Britannia

Temperley London is one of the most distinctive, recognisable brands in contemporary British fashion and their timeless, feminine designs continuously grace red carpets & Royal events worldwide.

ALICE by Temperley, their fabulous  diffusion range, provides a more accessible, purse friendly collection with a younger Temperley wearer in mind. This red & white, polka dot dress was my very first purchase from the diffusion range and it's cool, flirty look is very typical of the brand.

In keeping with the Cool Britannia theme, I have paired it with the cutest 'Tea & Cake' necklace by London based jewellery designer Nadia Minkoff. Her quintessionally British designs all have a delicious boutiquey, vintage inspired feel to them. Check out the website, you will fall in love!

I have added a playful, rock & roll edge to this look with my Jeffrey Campbell 'Lita' shoe boots; I am absolutely obsessed with these boots & am currently wearing them with everything!

Get The Look:

Dress: Alice By Temperley Dotty Dress (similar)

Necklace: Nadia Minkoff 'Tea & Cake' Necklace (gifted)

Shoes: Jeffrey Campbell 'Lita' Shoe Boots in black