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 ©

Silver Lining

"I painted myself metallic

until I was shining,

and shredded myself into fine tinsel

to be your silver lining"

~ Peyton Leigh Stille

I feel I really have, as the poem above says, painted myself metallic until I was shining, in this gorgeous silver skirt. Designed by Ireland's Emma Manley, it is made from the softest leather and features a scalloped hemline, a very flattering high waist, and is an Autumn/Winter friendly midi-length. It's a stand-out piece that shines brightly and makes a big, bold statement.

I styled my silver skirt with my all time favourite top, Bella Freud's iconic 'Je T'aime Jane' jumper. It is a modern classic that goes with everything I already own, and is, hands down, one of the best purchases I've ever made.  Manley's 'Maisey' leather bag (yes, my favourite Designer now does bags; gorgeous bags that are covered in Manley's signature studded embellishment. Blogged here), and a pair of cute silver flats, added an extra layer of cool to an already super-cool outfit.

Get The Look:

Skirt: Emma Manley 'Sue' Metallic Leather Skirt in old silver (similar)

Jumper: Bella Fraud 'Je T'aime Jane' Jumper in black

Bag: Emma Manley 'Maisey' Bag in silver/white

Shoes: ASOS 'Mambo' Flat Shoes in silver (similar here and here)

Photos: John Uwins Photography ©

Silver Fox

"Slowly, silently, now the moon

Walks the night in her silver shoon;

This way, and that, she peers, and sees

Silver fruit upon silver trees;

One by one the casements catch

Her beams beneath the silvery thatch"

~ Walter de la Mare

'Tommy's Honour', is a beautiful, intimate, and powerfully moving film. Directed by Jason Connery, it was recently nominated for two Scottish BAFTA awards; Best Feature Film and Best Film Actor.  It very deservedly won the Best Film BAFTA (see here); he wept, I wept, we all wept with absolute joy! It was a very special, emotional night.

To attend such a prestigious Event I wanted to wear something very unique and wonderful, so I immediately turned to my favourite Designer for the perfect outfit. Lovely Emma Manley really struck gold (or rather, silver!) for me with this divine dress.

'Carly' is a statement evening dress in every sense of the word; crafted from show stopping silver metallic bubble leather, the flattering fit and flare shape is nipped in at the waist, has a subtle racer-back, and secret pockets at the hip that add a relaxed edge to its elegant, ladylike silhouette.

To take the dress from magnificent, to even more magnificent, I styled it with the most beautiful clutch bag. Manley's 'Maisey' bag, in a silver/white colourway to perfectly compliment my dress, is crafted from the finest Italian textured leather. The front panel is embellished with hand-crafted leather bows held in place by silver dome shaped studs. It has two separate, poplin lined compartments inside, and is the perfect size to hold all my essentials. As if that wasn't enough, the bag also comes with a detachable shoulder strap, making it equally wearable with casual, laid-back outfits. To ensure I was 100% red carpet ready, I added a little pop of colour to my shimmery silvery outfit with a pair of beautiful, deep pink, satin Gina shoes.

Jason wore a beautifully tailored tuxedo to the BAFTAs and was, hands down, the best dressed man and the coolest dude there. Slaters in Edinburgh has become his go-to place for smart, sophisticated looks for special occasions. Huge thanks to Sandy and the team for dressing him so stylishly, and to Emma for my silver dress and clutch bag of dreams!

Get The Look:

Dress: Manley 'Carly' Bubble Dress in silver leather (similar)

Bag: Manley 'Maisey' Bag in silver/white

Shoes: Gina 'Martini' Peep-toe Sling-back Shoes in pink (similar here and here)

Photos: John Uwins Photography ©
Official BAFTA Photos: BAFTA / Alan Peebles ©

Buy Me A Drink

"Drink to me only with thine eyes,

And I will pledge with mine;

Or leave a kiss but in the cup,

And I’ll not look for wine.

The thirst that from the soul doth rise

Doth ask a drink divine;

But might I of Jove’s nectar sup,

I would not change for thine"

~ Ben Johnson

No matter how sophisticated and polished your style might be, a relaxed, off-duty, slogan t-shirt or jumper has become a staple in every girls wardrobe. The brand all the cool fashionistas-in-the-know turn to for this laid back look is UK based PSC-brand. Known for their tongue-in-cheek, witty, and often irreverent slogans and prints, PSC avoids everything that is stereotyped, focusing instead on personality, attitude and culture. Their pink 'buy me a drink' jumper has to be the most Saturday appropriate jumper of all time!

This pink beauty is a piece that will never go out of style. It is a throw it on, wear it anywhere sweater that is as cosy as it is chic. I styled it here with a pair of girlfriend jeans (formerly boyfriend jeans I stupidly had altered for a tighter fit), a super cool pair of leopard print shoes, and a gorgeous Nadia Minkoff cognac toned tote. It's the perfect transeasonal outfit for the glorious Autumnal weather we are currently enjoying in dear ol' Blighty.

The Silent Pool Gin Distillery was an inspired location to photograph my pink drink sweater. It sort of found us rather than the other way 'round. We drove past it on our way to another location and couldn't resist popping in. Huge thanks to the lovely staff who allowed us to shoot at our leisure. It's a fascinating place, and well worth a visit.

Get The Look:

Jumper: PSC-Brand Pink Drink Jumper

Jeans: Current Elliot 'The Roller' Boyfriend Jeans (similar)

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

Bag: Nadia Minkoff 'The Richmond' Bag in cognac
Photos: John Uwins Photography ©
Location: The Silent Pool Gin Distillery