The Vampire's Wife

“On the second day I brought her a flower

She was more beautiful than any woman I'd seen

I said, 'Do you know where the wild roses grow

So sweet and scarlet and free?'

On the second day he came with a single rose

Said: 'Will you give me your loss and your sorrow?'

I nodded my head, as I laid on the bed

He said, 'If I show you the roses will you follow?’”

~ Nick Cave

Taking its name from her husband Nick Cave’s abandoned book project about the relationship between the muse and the creative process, The Vampire’s Wife is the brainchild of former model and actress Susie Cave (nee Bick) and her friend and business partner Alex Adamson. Part of a new generation of Designers who do things on their own terms, Susie doesn’t do seasonal collections. Instead, new pieces appear online and in store as and when she designs them.

Offering an off-beat twist on retro glamour, a Vampire’s Wife dress has an other-worldly feel about it. It takes you somewhere else, sometime else. Classic and contemporary at the same time, the pretty prairie style dresses are infused with a bewitching, gothic glamour. Demure, yet not, they ooze sex appeal in an unassuming way. The perfect dress for those nights when you want to make an impression without trying too hard.

In the current climate of #MeToo and Time’s Up, what women choose to wear has never been more prevalent, and The Vampire’s Wife’s restrained designs and modest cuts, feel strangely timely. “They are not about empowerment as such, as they are predicated on the idea that women are already powerful,” Cave says of her designs.

Get The Look:

Dress: The Vampire’s Wife Forget Me Not Mini Cate Dress

Shoes: Jimmy Choo ’Anouk’ Shoes in black

Bag: Celine Mini Boogie Bag in sparkly black (I've had this for many years; similar available preowned here and here)

Photos: Jason Connery ©

My Manley

“Talking about fashions

So fashionably,

Cosmetics, stylistics, designing and beautification

And my heart too with the fashion girls,

Seeing them,

Looking so lovely and cute,

Dreamy and kissable”

~ Bijay Kant Dubey

Lovers of Irish fashion label Manley use the hashtag #mymanley whenever they post a photo of themselves wearing the brand on social media. I can use it with added gusto now, as this gorgeous dress is MY Manley, in the truest sense of the word!

Emma Manley made this dress for me. It is a bespoke piece, based on the iconic Manley leather tees that I adore, and it is the most beautiful thing. The dress is made from soft perforated leather that moves and flows like fabric. The top panels are unstudded, and cut from leather that has not been perforated, so it sits slightly more firmly. My little black dress is covered with gold, silver, and bronze studs, that jingle and jangle and make music with every movement. It has a boxy fit (flattering for all shapes and sizes), and it’s mini length shows off long tanned legs. It is, hands down, the coolest dress in my wardrobe.

It’s a dress that can be dressed up or down with zero effort, so the styling potential is endless. I’ve worn it to a very schmancy Do paired with towering heels and a vintage clutch, I’ve worn it to our local pub with a pair of old trainers and a cross-body Manley bag, I’ve worn it out to dinner with flat brogues and a cute satchel; I felt like a million dollars every single time.

It’s a forever dress, one that is absolutely timeless, and quite literally the dress of dreams.

Get The Looks:

Dress: Bespoke Manley Leather Dress in black (contact Emma for bespoke pieces. Similar here, here and here)

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

Bag: Michael by Michael Kors ‘Berkley’ Clutch in black (available on eBay here and here)

Photos: Jason Connery ©