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 ©

Stripe Up Your Life

There are those that

Are more influential than gold medals.

Certain ones have an instinct for satire,

Some are able to reincarnate themselves.

Their power is in shifting perspectives,

There is beauty in stripes

~ Alison Riley

Breton, nautical - call it what you will - stripes are a quintessential Spring/Summer look that will never go out of style. Inspired by sailors uniforms, Coco Chanel first introduced the look to the fashion world in her 1917 nautical collection. Since then the Breton stripe has endured to become synonymous with chic Parisian style, and is a wardrobe staple for men and women alike.

This stripe top is by French online-only brand Sézane. A firm favourite with Bloggers and Fashionistas alike, Sézane has a simple but very effective format, they have a permanent collection that runs through the seasons, and a monthly release of limited-edition collections that once gone, really are gone. 'Oscar' is one of their classics; available in red or navy stripes, it is a very lovely take on the trend. The addition of a tie at the back, that reveals a sneaky peek of flesh, makes it a real stand out piece.

The joy of the simple but chic Breton stripe top is its versatility. I styled my stripes with a pair of skinny jeans, my old Jimmy Choo Hunter Wellies (it's Lambing season here in the Scottish Borders, so these are currently my go-to footwear), and the cutest Baker Boy style hat that I found in an off-the-beaten-track store in Brooklyn, New York. This cute, sailor inspired outfit is the perfect off-duty look.

Get The Look:
Top: Sézane 'Oscar' Stripe Top in ecru/navy
Jeans: Frame Le Skinny De Jeanne Cropped Skinny Mid-Rise Jeans
Wellies: Jimmy Choo Hunter Wellies (similar)
Hat: Baker Boy Hat (similar here and here)
Photos: Jason Connery ©

Fancy Pants

"Hey there fancypants

Play the songs that make us dance

Play the tunes that make the ladies swoon

A song for all the lonely hearts, shattered dreams and broken parts

Feels like sunny days are coming soon"

~ WEEN

I have blogged about so many jumpsuits, rompers and playsuits on here; I am obsessed with them and they have long been a wardrobe staple for me. One thing my rompers have always had in common though is that they have always been shorts. Being a little on the short side (ok ok, I'm very short!), I have literally found it impossible to find a full length one to fit me. Until now!

This black, silky beauty is from High Street favourite Karen Millen and it has proved to be one of their most popular pieces ever. A cool take on the LBD, this softly tailored jumpsuit can be dressed up with heels and a clutch for a special night out or dressed down with flats and a leather jacket for a low-key daytime look. It is chic and effortless, a real throw-on-and-go piece.

I styled my cool jumpsuit with a great pair of Jimmy Choo court shoes. They were the first pair of Designer shoes I ever owned; they are easily 15 years old, and are still going strong! A timeless classic shoe design that is reimagined season after season, they will never go out of style.

Get The Look:

Jumpsuit: Karen Millen Jumpsuit in black (similar)

Shoes: Jimmy Choo 'Anouk' Shoes in black
Photos: Mike Lawrence ©

Rainy Day, Dream Away

“Rainy day, rain all day

Ain't no use in gettin' uptight

Just let it groove its own way

Let it drain your worries away yeah

Lay back and groove on a rainy day hey

Lay back and dream on a rainy day”

~ Jimi Hendrix

A lovely friend told me about a cool new online store called Magic Jac. You'll love it she said. Gorgeous clothes she said. And so affordable she said. I was clicking my way onto the site before you could say 'shopaholic'.

Magic Jac, recently founded by Gee Kullar, features a host of products from up and coming Designers such as Lili London and Missi. Full of pretty dresses, cool tees, leggings and shoes, it is a cornucopia of cool, vintage inspired pieces.

My friend wasn't kidding when she said the prices were affordable; the first piece to catch my eye, a cute little top by Lili London, costs a bargainlicious £10!! The white heart top has a black collar that buttons to the back, a comfy elasticated waist with peplum detail, girly puff sleeves and an all over quirky heart design. It would look equally good paired with a black pencil skirt for the office, black tailored pants, one of this seasons very cool midi skirts or, if the weather picks up again, a great pair of denim shorts.

The first time I wore my pretty top, I paired it with my favourite skinny jeans. I had planned to wear cute red ballerina pumps (hence the red lips) but the heavens opened just as we were leaving the house and I ended up wearing my Jimmy Choo Hunter wellies instead. These wellies are the coolest wellies on the planet and can make even the rainiest of days seems so very magickal!

The only accessories I needed for a fun, wet, muddy walk by the river were my trusty satchel and a big ol' battered brolly.

Get The Look:

Top: Lili London 'White Heart' Top

Jeans: J Brand 'Songbird' Skinny Jeans (similar)

Shoes: Jimmy Choo Hunter Wellies (similar)

Bag: Cambridge Satchel Co. 11" Classic Satchel in black

Meet The Boyfriend

I hate shopping for jeans. I can never find a pair that fits me properly and I always come home empty-handed & utterly disheartened. It's right up there with bra shopping! But, I wanted a pair of boyfriend jeans, so there was nothing for it; I took a deep breath, ate some chocolate for Dutch courage & went jeans shopping! My first stop was my local Donna Ida store.

Donna Ida is the brainchild of self-confessed denim addict Donna Ida Thornton. She opened her first store in Chelsea in 2006 and there are now four fabulous boutiques and an online store. Donna Ida is regarded at THE place to go to get the perfect pair of jeans. And let me tell you, they didn't disappoint! The lovely girls listened closely to what I was looking for and advised that a true 'boyfriend' style would drown someone as little as me. They suggested a relaxed 'skinny' style, in a size larger than I would normally wear. They immediately produced three pairs of jeans that at least looked perfect. So far so good. I tentatively entered the changing room and believe it or not, the very first pair I tried on was absolutely spot on!

'The Roller' jeans by Current/Elliott are everything I was looking for in a boyfriend style; the perfect relaxed (rather than sloppy) fit, a low-rise (I have a short torso so this is vital for me), rolled cuffs & a distressed denim in a great mid-blue colour. The ever so slightly tapered leg works particularly well on my skinny legs and I simply couldn't be happier with them!

For their very first outing, I styled the jeans with my favourite t-shirt; 'Philou' by Parisian brand Maje. Cut for a boxy fit, the tee features rolled short sleeves, a cotton back and a silkscreened Tiger print front. It goes with everything and I will be wearing this cool top until it literally falls off my back. I added simple Jimmy Choo heels & a black skull embossed clutch for an effortless, laid-back look.

Get The Look:

Jeans: Current/Elliott 'The Roller' Boyfriend Jeans

Top: Maje 'Philou' T-shirt (similar)

Shoes: Jimmy Choo 'Eros' Shoes in black (similar)

Bag: Diamanté Skull Embossed Clutch in black (similar)

I'll Cover You In Flowers

I am having a deep and meaningful love affair with High Street store Zara at the moment and it is showing no sign of abating. My most recent purchase (in the sale, yaay!) is this beautiful floral dress; it is so pretty, it makes me smile every time I look at it! We were at a wedding a few weeks ago & I wanted to wear something a little bit different to the usual strapless cocktail dresses that most wedding guests seem to favour and this dress was perfect!

In a figure flattering pencil style, it features three quarter length sleeves, zip closure to the back, a sexy split at the back of the skirt that shows a subtle flash of leg as you walk and a gorgeous, colourful floral print against an ecru background. Because of the cut of the fabric, the position of the flowers varies on each dress, making each piece quite unique.

I wanted to keep my look very simple and classic so I teamed my pretty flowery dress with a great pair of black Jimmy Choo pointy court shoes, an Ally Capellino clutch bag and a bright red lip.

Get The Look:

Dress: Zara Floral Print Dress in ecru (similar)

Shoes: Jimmy Choo Classic Pumps in black (similar)

Bag: Ally Capellino 'Rose' Frame Clutch bag in navy (similar)