Exotic Bird

"Like one of those birds with their long beaks,

their vivid colours and beautiful wings.

Just like a numerous amount of things,

everything, even this, has its own peaks"

~ The Edge

Throughout my recent delightful delve into the wonderful world of vintage clothing, I have always had my beady little fashion eye on one particular website, BOBbyDOP.

BOB was launched in 2014 by the impossibly cool Dawn O'Porter (girl crush!). It was Dawn & her amazing vintage style that actually inspired me to take that first tentative step into a whole new world of fashion. Already a best selling Author, Broadcaster, Wife (to the equally cool Chris O'Dowd), Mother, Muse, and rocker of the most magnificent retro bobbed hair in Christendom, Dawn is now also a very successful Fashion Designer. Her terrific collection features 17 designs (1960s mini dresses, 1950s circle skirts, and 1970s shirt dresses) that have been inspired by Dawn's own wardrobe and her love of vintage clothing. They are available to buy on the website, and in fabulous pop-up shops in London, alongside some of the most beautiful vintage pieces I've ever seen, all sourced largely by Dawn herself.

'The Kristen', an exotically patterned dream of a dress, is the piece I especially fell in love with. A 1970s-style shirt dress, it is brightly coloured, vintage inspired, and features a lively Karen Mabon print of toucans, parrots, flowers and bright green leaves set against a contrasting background of dusty pink. Brass metal buttons, a big 70s collar, short sleeves and a deep v-neck all add up to one very cool, funky dress.

I styled my exotic dress with a pair of multi-strap, patent leather Marc by Marc Jacobs shoes. I love how the contemporary shoes work with the classic vintage shape of the dress so beautifully.

Get The Look:

Dress: BOBbyDOP 'The Kristen' Dress

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

Photos: Kate Carpenter Photography ©

Thoroughly Modern Milly

"Good-bye, good-goody girl,

I'm changing and how!

So beat the drums cos here comes thoroughly modern Milly now!"

~ Dick Scanlan

This seems to be how it generally goes for me with the more expensive Isabel Marant clothes; I fall in love with a pretty dress I can't afford, I wait (im)patiently for the sale, if I'm very lucky I get a phenomenal sale bargain for a gorgeous piece that is (alas) always at least three sizes too big for me, and my poor tailor then has to remake the entire dress to fit me. That's exactly what happened with this Marant dress.

I first saw the gorgeous Milly dress when I was shopping with a friend in Richmond. I knew from the very first glance that the long, impatient wait for the sales had just begun. Again. I waited and waited, and eventually my patience paid off; I got it online from Barney's, New York (one of my best sale bargains ever!) but oh my word, my poor Tailor then had a mammoth job to shrink it down to Hobbit size! 

It was so worth the long wait & all the effort, I absolutely adore it. In a delicate, silk chiffon material, Milly features an all-over red, blue and cream ikat print. It has gathered flutter sleeves, a round neck with pleat-trim on the front keyhole slit, and is cut for a very relaxed, floaty silhouette. A belt gives the voluminous dress a bit more structure.

I styled it here in the true Marant way, with bare legs and the most fabulous pair of boots. The hugely coveted 'Andrew' boots (also by Isabel Marant and currently on sale!) are made from a cool suede-leather combination; they have a pointed toe and a very unusual pyramid shaped heel. The slouchy design and cuffed top make them the perfect off-duty addition to any look.

Get The Look:

Dress: Isabel Marant 'Milly' Dress in midnight (similar)

Shoes: Isabel Marant 'Andrew' Boots in black

Belt: Twenty8twelve 'Penfold' Belt (similar)
Photos: Anna Saverimutto Photography ©

Dress Up - The Best Of 2015

"Pearls & boas, dressed to the nines,

Lipstick on pursed lips, trying to stay in the lines.

Big wobbly high heels, on tiny, precious feet,

Little girls playing dress-up, aren't they sweet!"

~ Laura Taylor Mark

Photos: Kate Carpenter Photography ©
Anna Saverimuttu Photography ©
Mike Lawrence © 
Additional Photos: Phill Griffith & David Ufton