Cherry Blossom

"Are we to look at cherry blossoms only in full bloom, the moon only when it is cloudless? To long for the moon while looking on the rain, to lower the blinds and be unaware of the passing of spring—these are even more deeply moving. Branches about to blossom or gardens strewn with faded flowers are worthier of our admiration"

~ Yoshida Kenko, Essays In Idleness

The hottest fashion label of the moment is Rixo London. Offering timeless pieces with a retro 70s feel, their collections can be seen gracing the pages of all the best fashion magazines, and they have become the go-to favourites of fashionistas and celebrities alike. Everyone wants a piece of Rixo.

For their Fall '17 collection, the brands founders Henrietta and Orlagh got their inspiration from Shanghai chic, with vintage inspired pieces adorned with moons, clouds, bamboo, brightly coloured blossoms, and hand-painted jungle prints. I won't lie, I fell in love with the entire collection, but the 'Alanna' dress, with its bold yet sophisticated print, was the hero piece for me. Cut from silk-jacquard, the dress is panelled with cherry blossom florals in vibrant, contrasting colours. Fine pleats at the waist, and gathering under the bust are a nod to kimono styles, while the buttoned cuffs and shorter hemline add a modern, contemporary touch.

I jazzed my dress up even more by pairing it with an equally vibrant Rixo star print neckscarf. I love the unexpected clash of colours and prints. A simple pair of flats and some 70s inspired accessories were the finishing touches to a show-stopping look that is full of Eastern Promise.

Get The Look:

Dress: Rixo London 'Alanna' Mini Dress in cherry blossom
Scarf: Rixo London 'Alexa' Mini Star Print Neckscarf

Shoes: Ops and Ops No. 10 Bronze Flats

Earrings: Blue Nile Gold Hoop Earrings
Sunglasses: Chloe Square Framed Acetate Sunglasses in taupe
Photos: Jason Connery ©

La La Land

"Floating like a feather in a wide open space

Landing in a perfect happy place

Hello world, we're here again

Living life in La La Land"

~ The Go Go's

A visit to Los Angeles last week really brought out the LA girl in me. I completely embraced the casual, laid back vibe of that beautiful City, and this was very much reflected in the way I dressed. I wore slouchy tees, relaxed track pants, frayed denim shorts, distressed jeans, cute rompers, and loose, breezy dresses to compliment my loose, tousled hair. It was all about understated chic, and I absolutely loved how unfussy and free I felt and looked.

This cute dress, by Joie's diffusion range Soft Joie, encompasses that California vibe perfectly. Featuring an all over red diamond print, the blouson top, rolled up sleeves, and short flounced skirt give it a casual yet sophisticated feel for a very free-spirited look. It's the kind of effortless dress you simply throw on week in and week out. Perfect for lunch with the girls, a romantic date night with someone special, or as seen here, a day of sandy toes and salty kisses on a beautiful Los Angeles beach.

Of course I added a little bit of Irish to my outfit with my favourite Manley bag; you can take the girl out of Ireland etc etc. This gorgeous embellished bag gets a lot of attention whenever and wherever I use it, but LA girls fell so deeply in love with the bag I could barely keep up with the never ending stream of questions I was asked about it!

A great pair of sunglasses (an absolute must in Los Angeles) and metallic flats (whipped off so I could feel the warm sand between my toes) were the final touch to achieve perfect California cool.

Get The Look:

Dress: Soft Joie 'Acey' Dress in chilli pepper

Shoes: Ops & Ops No. 10 Bronze Flats

Bag: Manley 'Parker' Bag in wine python

Sunglasses: Perverse 'Selena' Cat-Eye Sunglasses in black

Queen Of The Underground

"I know you think you're the Queen of the underground

And you can send me dead flowers every morning

Send me dead flowers by the U.S. Mail

Say it with dead flowers in my wedding

And I won't forget to put roses on your grave"

~ The Rolling Stones

Anita Pallenberg was the undisputed, original rock chick; she was an actress, model, style icon, and muse to The Rolling Stones, indeed she played a crucial role in honing the iconic bands mystique. She was the baddest of the bad girls, the original Queen of the underground.

Fashion designer Bella Freud says of her late friend, “If I’m slightly lost about where I want to be with a collection, I think about her and there’s an immediate electricity which happens.”  She designed a t-shirt and a jumper (here) dedicated to Pallenberg, a beautiful gesture to acknowledge her influence. The very cool 'Anita' t-shirt is made from soft white cotton and features a round neckline, short sleeves, and a multi-coloured screen print to the front. It is the perfect tribute to the late, great Anita. I wear it with jeans, shorts, long skirts, short skirts, over dresses, under dresses; it is a fantastic piece, with endless styling potential.

I styled it here with a simple pair of flat shoes by Ops & Ops. Based on an original 1960s design, the retro inspired shoes add to the rock and roll vibe of the tshirt. The No. 10 flats are handmade in Portugal from the finest leather. Made to fit like a glove, they are unlined and mould to your foot with wear. They come in every colour you can imagine. The soft metallic shimmer of this bronze pair, was achieved by rubbing the coated leather. They subtly change colour depending on the light, making them neutral enough for day, and sassy enough for night.

A old pair of worn denim shorts and dramatic cats-eye sunnies complete my Anita inspired look to perfection.

Get The Look:

Tshirt: Bella Freud Anita Tshirt in white

Shoes: Ops & Ops No. 10 Bronze Flats

Shorts: Zara Denim Shorts (similar)

Sunglasses: Target Cats-Eye Sunglasses in black

Photos: Jason Connery ©