Ellos: Wanted, Dead Or Alive!

You know when you fall in love with a dress, you can't afford it and you hope with every single piece of you that one day, if you promise to be a very good girl, you will find it in a sale & it will finally belong to you? Well that's exactly what happened with this dress. The ‘Ellos’ dress is quite simply my favourite piece ever by French Designer Isabel Marant and I have been lusting after it for at least two years.

I was browsing on one of my favourite websites, theoutnet.com, a few days ago when all of a sudden, out of the blue, there it was! MY dress, at a fraction of it's original price! Not quite in my size... in fact it was two sizes too big for me... but nonetheless, there it was and I simply had to have it. I ordered it and as soon as it arrived I took it straight to my trusty Tailor. He nipped, tucked and literally remade the dress to my exact measurements.

In multicolour shades of blue, beige, black, purple and peach, the 'Ellos' dress features a round neckline with metallic silver pipping, a draped blousey bodice, zipped cuffs on its long sleeves, a sexy asymmetric hemline & keyhole button fastening to the back. It is partially lined and has a concealed zip along the side.

I syled it with a great pair of Isabel-Marant-a-like Karen Millen ankle boots (I am hoping for another fashion sale miracle so that I can one day own the real thing; the lustworthy Isabel Marant 'Dicker' boots!). This cute daytime look is me to a tee, the kind of outfit I wear when I'm out and about, pottering around London, meeting friends for coffee; it is comfortable, casual and absolutely effortless. Oh Ellos, how much do I love thee? Let me count the ways…

Get The Look:

Dress: Isabel Marant ‘Ellos’ Dress (similar)

Shoes: Karen Millen Stack Heel Ankle Boots (similar)

Bag: Cambridge Satchel Co. Classic 11” Satchel in red

My Name Is Tallulah

I discovered Mercy Delta (and many other fantastic Designers) on Young British Designers, a dedicated online retail environment that focuses purely on British Designers. This fabulous website has been a very special discovery for a fashion lover like me. They offer "a perfectly curated collection of the best that emerging British fashion has to offer - a wonderful place to create a highly individual style statement and to love the wearing of it".

Mercy Delta was founded in 2010 by Fashion Agent Katie Lightfoot and Designer Winnie Lee. They roamed the world looking for inspiration and influences for their spectacular designs. Their 'Tallulah' silk chiffon cover up is the piece that first attracted me to them; it is absolutely stunning. Looking equally good paired with slouchy boyfriend jeans or a floaty Summer dress, it is the perfect piece to jazz up any outfit for any occasion.

In a bright red and blue print, Tallulah simply slips on and drapes beautifully. It has three quarter length bell sleeves and is longer at the back. It billows in the wind as I walk and has an almost ethereal cape-like feel to it. It looks and feels like a perfect, delicate vintage piece.

For a glorious beach day out, I styled Tallulah with an old beat-up pair of denim shorts (I wear these beloved Zara shorts every Summer and will continue to do so until they literally fall off me!) and a classic white t-shirt from High Street store Whistles. The sun was shining & I was at the seaside so no shoes or cute ankle boots were worn that day, just bare feet and the glorious feeling of sand between my toes! It was a perfect day.

Get The Look:

Jacket: Mercy Delta 'Tallulah' Chiffon Jacket (similar)

Shorts: Zara Denim Shorts (similar)

Tshirt: Whistles Seam Back Tee in white (similar)

Vivienne's Song

Vivien’s Song - Alfred Lord Tennyson

“In Love, if Love be Love, if Love be ours,

faith and unfaith can ne’er be equal powers:

Unfaith in aught is want of faith in all.”

I recently blogged a sad farewell to one of my favourite brands of all time, Nicole Richie's Winter Kate (see here). My mourning period didn't have to drag on for too long however as thankfully, talented Nicole soon added a ready-to-wear range of clothing to her iconic accessories brand House Of Harlow 1960!

As promised in that farewell post, I am delighted to introduce you to my first clothing purchase from HoH160; meet the beautiful Vivienne!

The Vivienne dress is a delicate, girly Summer dress. It comes in white and navy colourways and much to my Husbands amusement I chose the white version. He laughed a lot as he knows how grubby & dribbly I can be! A pretty, mini dress (yes, it's a mini. I am very short), Vivienne features a peek-a-boo hemline, side pocket detail in the skirt, 3/4 length sleeves with buttoned cuffs, a semi-sheer bodice and an elasticated drop waist.

For a fresh boho Summer look, I styled Vivienne with my favourite Karen Millen ankle boots and added my bright red satchel from The Cambridge Satchel Co for a gorgeous pop of colour.

Get The Look:

Dress: House Of Harlow 1960 'Vivienne' Dress in white

Shoes: Karen Millen Stack Heel Ankle Boots (similar)

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

The Colour Purple

I'm going through a very laid-back, almost tom-boyish phase at the moment fashionwise. It's all about slouchy Boyfriend jeans and casual tops, dressing it up just a little with heels & a structured blazer.

This jumper is typical of what I'm wearing and loving right now; the Manley 'Erin' top is a baseball style jumper in a beautiful, regal shade of purple. It features raglan sleeves with darts on the shoulder for extra fitting. The wool and linen mix sleeves are elbow length and the main body of the jumper sits shorter at the front and longer at the back. The silky material adds a touch of glamour and luxury to a very casual piece.

The boyfriend jeans are the only pair I've ever owned that fit me perfectly (blogged here); they are a great replacement for the much loved denim shorts I live in during the Summer months. I dressed the outfit up just a little with a great pair of black & white Mary-Jane style shoes from iconic brand Chanel.

Get The Look:

Jumper: Manley 'Erin' Jumper in purple

Jeans: Current/Elliott 'The Roller' Boyfriend Jeans (similar)

Shoes: Chanel Mary-Jane Shoes in black/white (similar)

Photos: Kate Carpenter

Greyhound Lovers

The Greyhound Lovers Shirt by Natalie B Coleman is very aptly described online as 'swoon-worthy'. This fabulous long sleeved shirt features a cowl collar front & low collar back (note: it can be worn back to front too!), an intricate pleated shoulder and arm design, hand drawn greyhound watercolour illustrations in a pink & blue colourway and statement gold buttons to the front (or back, depending how you wear it).

I paired my shirt with my favourite jeans; I've had these J Brand skinnies for a few years now & they are now very worn in with a couple of tears & rips which make them very cool indeed. I accessorised with a simple black satchel and black suede heels by Christian Louboutin and I was good to go!

Get The Look:

Shirt: Natalie B Coleman Greyhound Lovers Shirt

Jeans: J Brand 'Songbird' low-rise Skinny Jeans (similar)

Bag: Cambridge Satchel Co 11" Classic Satchel in black

Shoes: Christian Louboutin 'Rolando' Suede Shoes in black (similar)