Haiti in Scotland

Readers of this blog will know of my deep love for exploring new places and experiencing different cultures. Stella Jean's creations capture the essence of Haiti in an incredibly vibrant and fun way. I've always felt that wearing one of her creations would be a bit like spending a beautiful summer's day in Haiti. I've been stalking Stella Jean on Matches Fashion and a handful of other sites for at least a year now. Unfortunately, as much as I loved the Haitian's style and aesthetic, I could not find a piece that worked for me.  Those that did were always sold out!

Meet my fortuitous Stella Jean find - the swallow print dress (purchased the second it landed on Vestiaire Collective)!!! Its been a while since I've written a mainly fashion focused post and this wee find has now helped remedy that situation. I absolutely adore the dress- it makes me happy, I got complimented lots and it is so very bouncy!! I'm extremely impressed with the tailoring (despite my waist feeling corseted) and I am really looking forward to seeking out (i.e. buying on sale) more of her work.

Ed loved the dress too but said I had to save it for a special occasion. That's always a bit tricky.....define special?! Anyway, I figured a day spent drinking cocktails out of china cups followed by stomping around the Scottish Modern Art Galleries appreciating Roy Lichtenstein and Escher with friends seemed special enough.....don't you think?

For more of my photos from the day, check out my Instagram page. Hope you are having a lovely week! Ann x

Wearing: Stella Jean swallow print dress bought via Vestiaire Collective and Whistles shoes.

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Fashionable Travel Treasures: White Summer Dresses

 

I'm sat in my floaty white cotton summer dress, not complaining about the sweltering heat, because I am grateful. After the long lack of summer, the sunshine makes for a pleasant change. Summer days call for floaty, dainty, light cotton dresses. They complement the sunshine whilst allowing your skin to breathe. And they make you feel fabulous. Over the years, I've picked out a few unique and precious white dresses. But perhaps my favourite summer dress was from a tiny little shop run by a Tamilian in Singapore's Chinatown. A rather cosmopolitan dress I suppose!

The dress cost me 10 Singapore Dollars and has survived a multitude of adventures over the years. It has beautiful french knot rose embroidery in a lovely shade of peach. When I was little, my mother embroidered my little dresses using the very same style so there is something nostalgic about this dress. It is of a simple peasant style that adds to its charm. And, I may have said this before, it is my happy dress and makes me feel fab.

 

I style the dress with a pair of pastel heels and a Longchamp Le Pliage tote if I am headed to anything work related. On the other hand, if I am lounging around making the most of summer, you will find me wearing it with a straw hat and a pair of simple yet elegant strappy sandals. Toes painted in summery shades are also mandatory. If the weather is looking unpredictable, a vintage tan leather jacket is a handy accessory. Somehow, wearing this dress is usually accompanied by a feast of fresh strawberries, either from out allotment or from a local market.

What are your favourite summer styles? I'm all ears for style inspiration. Ann x

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Photography by Edward Chandler
 

Fashionable Travel Treasures: Cos I Love the Ugandan Bag

I'm liking my travel fashion series. It is making me think about and dig out those little gems in my wardrobe from my many travel adventures. I am a bag lady. Being a bag lady does come with its many conundrums-one of them being the under-use of beautiful bags. My little bag from Uganda is one of those under-used babies. This bag was a gift from my Uncle and Aunt in Uganda whilst we were out there. It is handmade by the local women from locally sourced products. It has a unique shape and it is beautifully made. It is the kind of bag that, with a bit of thought, will take you from a day in the office to drinks at night. You can buy similar bags (with a bit of patience) on eBay and online African stores for less than $50.

I've teamed my lovely Ugandan bag with another favourite from Cos, the yellow straight cut dress. I adore its androgynous cut. The fabric is a lovely and thick and it washed really well. A lot of Cos dresses are trans-seasonal or can become trans-seasonal with clever pairing.

And when I don this outfit, I dream of lush green forests, crossing the equator, perfectly temperate weather, sipping Amarula cocktails and all the loveliness of Uganda.

Have you got an under-used  fashion accessory from your travels too? Ann x

Photography by Edward Chandler

Fashionable Travel Treasures: Estonian Snow Boots

If you squint hard enough, you can see the positive in every situation. The transition from the balmy weather in India to the freezer that is the UK has not been easy. However, bountiful snow has given the country a postcard quality and made the shift a little bearable. Shoe fiend that I am, I had to get out and play in my *favourite* pair of boots for the occasion. It is an annual tradition developed over the last few snowy years.

Of course, I have to give you the travel tale. Some years ago, I hopped on a boat from Helsinki on a day trip to Tallinn, Estonia's quaint capital city. Clearly, a day isn't enough to take in most places but Tallinn is compact enough to do it. I wandered around the Christmas market in the city square, discovered beautiful churches and street stalls, and bumped into this lovely shoe boutique that sold shoes in classic Estonian knits. I fell in love with these wacky boots and simply had to take them home to the UK-even if there had been very little snow for a few years. My friends giggled at the sight of these mad boots but as you've probably figured-things like that don't put off things I love.

Talk about tempting fate, a year later, the bonkers weather began, now referred to as Extreme Weather Events or EWE. Global warming in so 1990s! The EWE phenomenon has guaranteed a good dump of snow over the last few years which meant my shoe has fulfilled its destiny. Anyway, enough of me rambling about climate change and snow fashion. What do you make of these wacky boots too? And have you picked up whimsical items on your travels?  Ann x

P.S. If you can't travel to Tallinn to buy a similiar pair,  these Tommy & Kate Knitted Boots  are so cute too!

Fashionable Travel Treasures: Cos I love a Masai Necklace

Those who have known me long enough will know of my long quest for a Masai beaded necklace. I wanted a beautiful, handmade and brightly coloured piece of bead art. For years, I trawled though craft markets, ethinic stores and the internet but failed to find the perfect one. Eventually, I did find one whilst visiting a Masai village in Tanzania but the Chief's son wanted to over-charge ($50) me for it. I know when I'm being given a tourist price. I would not have minded if the proceeds went to the woman who made it but I knew that wasn't the case. Then, whilst at the government shop in Ngorongoro, I found The Necklace. It only took me about seven years to find it but I think it was well worth the wait, especially as it comes with a travel story. If you fancy buying African jewellery, try the Con-fused Arts online shop for some gorgeous pieces.

I wear the necklace as often as I can. It only cost me $15 but I've not found another piece of jewellery that makes me happier (except of course my wedding bling). I sometimes dress it down with a black polo neck top and jeans or dress it up with a silk blouse. My favourite combination though is with my white poplin Cos dress. I've been called a 'Victorian ghost', 'hospital worker' and 'poor orphan' whilst in this dress by those without an eye for fashion- you know who you are ;). It has not put me off in the slightest. Cos is one of my favourite high-end high-street brands and the quality and style of this dress speaks for itself. And, I'd definitely recommend the Cos sales.

What do you make of the outfit? Have you got a cherished piece of jewellery from your travels too? Ann x

Photography by Edward Chandler

Fashionable Travel Treasures: Mekhelas Part 1

My travel adventures started as soon as I landed a grown-up job a decade or so ago. Whilst I dreamt of exploring Venice in a gondola, wandering the streets of Paris and hiking up the alps, I could not afford to travel overseas. Instead, I chose to travel around India at every available opportunity. I'd been forever allured by the north-eastern states of India but they were not easy to travel around due to tourism restrictions, permits and militancy. Also, women don't often travel on their own around India, let alone in the north-east. However, thanks to help from my friend Sammy, I finally managed to travel out there. It was an adventure trip of a lifetime and I'd thoroughly recommend it to anyone planning a visit to India.

The local women wear sarongs called mekhelas which are unique to their individual tribes. I bought traditional mekhelas from every state I visited and they have held pride of place in my wardrobe for years. Mekhelas are often hand-woven by local artisans and each piece is unique. I purchased this particular mekhala from a girl in the village of Dharikati near Arunachal Pradesh-Assam border. The mekhela is worn like a sarong but tucked into an under-skirt. Sammy explained that the embroidery on this particular mekhala was on the back to avoid it getting crumpled. It is warm, trans-seasonal, versatile and colourful. Here, I've teamed it up a Zara blouse, a South Indian tribal necklace and Dune shoes (£5 via eBay). I absolutely love wearing this mekhala as it gets me nostalgic and transports me to a time when I was young (er) and more adventurous. Have you found unique outfits from your travels too? Ann x