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 ©