ORLA KIELY AW15

All Quiet in the Library. In a set designed by James Hatt, an Orla library was created that evoked a 1970s college building, complete with block font signs and emerald green desk lamps. Inspiration came from Ali McGraw in Love Story & a more modern Chloe Sevigny (albeit one in a beige turtleneck & oversized reading glasses); the models  softly treaded the floorboards, picking out books & whispering study notes between them. The O and the K from the brand was incorporated into several geometric prints, including felt overlay on black skirts. The green from the lamps was echoed in several different variations, from a bright ruffle-necked & belted dress to the trim on a grey woollen sweater, & a sparkly cocktail dress worn with a delicate scallop-trimmed blouse beneath. Graphic patterns intercut mohair sweaters & tan leather totes. The shoes continue to be designed in collaboration with Clarks.

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{all photos & edits by me}

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ORLA KIELY SS15 - FLOWER POWER

Orla Kiely SS15 was a throwback to the designer's roots (pun unintended): flower power, pattern, femininity & colour. Orla never fails to be creative with her presentation sets, & this season she displayed the collection over at the Vinyl Factory,  complete with working "gardener" painters in the background (real life Californian artist Alia Penner). The nostalgic wildflower motif was updated into the modern woman's wardrobe via patterned backpacks, neon waterproofs & relaxed silk pants. She continues her collaboration with Clarks, with loafers and mary jane t-bar sandals completing each look.

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{all photos & edits by me}

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ORLA KIELY / BRITISH SUMMERTIME

There's this hidden corner of Clapham that Sophie & I head to when the sun's out & we feel like dancing around in new outfits & getting a bit snap-happy, & of course there's nothing more suitable for this than an Orla Kiely dress & matching shoes! I originally wore this dress to London Fashion Week last season, so when it came up in a 50% flash-sale I couldn't resist! Huge thanks to Clarks too, who are producing the Orla Kiely footwear range & rather wonderfully sent me this gorgeous Marianne pair...

Afterwards, Sophie & I headed to the new No.32 in Clapham (used to be the Frog), & whilst they had a few teething problems (smoke alarm for starters!), the food was certainly worth waiting for!

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{all portraits by Sophie, edits by me}

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WELCOME TO ORLA'S WORLD!

For London Fashion Week AW14, I was thrilled to be invited to wear some of the Orla Kiely resort 2014 collection! Along with several other bloggers, we got to the Orla Kiely showroom nice & early on  Friday 14th, with bags of shoes, sandals, sunnies & other accessories. The brief: mix Orla with pieces of our own, high fashion together with street fashion. I opted for a gorgeous jade & cream geoprint dress, (if you look closely, the print is made up of criss-crossed hearts, apt for valentines day i felt!), together with a ladylike handbag, green print glowing through a black felt cover, & an ivory coloured clasp. I had gone into the showroom on the monday prior so had already chosen my clothes, & with that in mind, I picked several green pieces from my own wardrobe: my woven platforms from Spring/Summer 2013 (Zara), & of course my green Kenzo iPhone case. London was playing games with the weather, & so my sunglasses (white, hexagonal, Topshop), remained largely perched on my head :)

It was a great day, & a wonderful opportunity, thanks to Orla Kiely & the Wolves PR team! It was also fun meeting some other fashion bloggers, including Faten from Fat Cat, Megan from What's New Pussycatt, Jo & Victoria from She & Him <3

photo credits:

1 & 4 by me
2 & 5 by fat cat
3 & 6 from the orla kiely pr team
7 by e online
8 by sophie

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WE LOVE ORLA!

Some days, I'm proud to live in a rainy nation, & it's days like this, when it's raining cats & dogs over at the Orla Kiely AW14 presentation! Misty raindrops & glowing bokeh painted onto the back wall, the sound of rain pitter-pattering over cobblestones, the girls made their way around the stage, peering around lamp posts, using newspapers to shelter their hair, & on one occasion, cradling their puppy close to their coat <3 (yes, a real live puppy, as if I couldn't love this show any more as it is!)

Pastel pinks, rich blue velvet dresses, camel coloured overcoats, & sequinned cat sweaters, it was like an extension of Orla's SS14 collection based on Wes Anderson's Moonrise Kingdom, brought to the rainy streets of Old London, with a bit of Breakfast at Tiffany's thrown in.

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{all photos & edits by me}

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