Fashion Friday: Summer Green

We are in for another hot weekend and this outfit is perfect for evening cocktails.

It's a combination of sale and new season which includes my favourite designer Malene Birger, a snippet of Vivienne Westwood's new collection, a bargain sale bag from Whistles and some classic comfy 'wear with anything' shoes from Carvela.    

Malene Birger Earrings | £39
Malene Birger Trousers | £94
Vivienne Westwood Top | £190
Whistles Clutch | £75
Carvela at John Lewis Shoes | £59

What will you be wearing this weekend?

Fashion Saviour: Breton Stripes

Breton stripes are a true fashion classic and look so fresh season-upon-season.  This week I'm pairing mine with the Jamie Ripped White Jeans from Topshop (albeit the maternity version!), these fab espadrilles that I picked up in the sale, and the stylish 'goes with absolutely everything' leather necklace from Butterfly Lane.

TOP | £38.95 BRETON
NECKLACE | £35 BUTTERFLY LANE
JEANS | £42 TOPSHOP
SHOES | £75 KURT GEIGER
BAG | £1.995 ANYA HINDMARCH

I'm a massive Anya Hindmarch fan and have been collecting her bags for years.  I think 'The Vaughan' is such a great style and is definitely on my wish list.  It comes in a multitude of colours for the new season too, including a gorgeous two tone style.

Fashion Friday: A Sneak Peek in to Mint Velvet's New Collection

Mint Velvet has fast become one of my go-to brands for effortless and versatile pieces that will work hard in your wardrobe by mixing and matching and creating lots of different looks.
 

The classic white longline chiffon shirt (below) will become a prominent piece in your wardrobe and is available to buy in store/online from August (£59)...get inline!  

Ballet Flats, £95 French Sole | Necklace, £30 Butterfly Lane |  Snood, Trousers & Shirt from the new Mint Velvet Collection

Ok, the sequin detail trousers scream winter/festive dressing, but I couldn't resist giving you a sneak peek.  They are more versatile than you think too, you could also team with a slouchy knit or a neat tucked top.  Get creative!  (Available from September, £99). 

Faux fur is still a big trend for the upcoming season and this furry little snood is so much fun. (Available from September, £45).

Yes, you could wear heels with these trousers for a dressier look, but these classic French Sole ballet flats will look equally as chic.  I always opt for the Henrietta shape as they slightly narrow with a little bit of toe cleavage. 

Finish with our 'Spaced Necklace', £30.    

What will you be buying from the new collections?  

Couture Week: Elie Saab AW 14-15 Show

I have spent many happy an hour this week clicking through the Paris couture show images in a bubble of utopia. 

A favouite of mine season-after-season is Elie Saab.  His fairytale dresses are a dream come true, eleborate, beautiful and the ultimate fantasy dress.

From pink and pistachio to flesh and pale blue, moving into the deepest of midnight blues, he has brought us the loveliest of palettes...

Which one is your favourite?  I cannot decide!

(Pre) Falling in Love

It's that time of year again, we are saying goodbye to the 'oddments' left in the sale, and saying hello to the pre-fall collections.  An autumn/winter wardrobe is by far my favourite of seasons, so I have found a few pieces that are a must for your transitional wardrobe.

The new 'Dayton' dress by Reiss (also available in ivory), is a gorgeously versatile piece.  Wear now with bare legs and flats for an office/daytime look, or team with heals for a stylish alternative. Or thirdly, wear with tights, ankle boots and a knit for understated winter glamour.

Zara Backpack, £79.99 ,  Hobbs Poppy Pumps, £119, Reiss Dayton Dress, £159, Butterfly Lane Bracelet, £12

I'm loving the 'backpack' at the moment, and this stylish one from Zara will do just the job!  I just love the chain detail.

Who doesn't love a pop of leopard?  These comfy Poppy pumps from Hobbs will be your pre-fall saviours.  Wear with dresses or skirts, trousers and jeans...you'll never take them off!

A casual bracelet is just the ticket for your styling needs, and this rope/beaded/chain number from Butterfly Lane is just gorgeous. 

What are you buying from the new collections?

A Quick Glance at My Week

My weeks are beginning to fly by in a blur of painting, decorating, preparing for the arrival of our of little girl and dare I even say it...organising the Christmas collections at Butterfly Lane.

This week at Beech House we have had all the sash windows painted, a job that I have dreaded for months so we decided to hire a lovely man called Ned to finish them for us.  It really has given our house a lovely facelift and I am as pleased as punch.

These light and airy rooms are inspiring me at the moment...as are the beautiful hydrangeas in the picture below!  

 

I cannot stop eating strawberries at the moment (maybe my little bun in the oven is clued up that Wimbledon has started!).  I am literally going through a punnet a day, so this salad is so summery and fresh.   

Strawberries, Mango, Red Onion and Rocket

We are just finishing our Christmas Lookbook here at Butterfly Lane HQ and here is a very quick peek in to our new 'candlelight' collection...

 

I'm eying up these gorgeous patent Valentino Rockstuds as a my next indulgence.  The perfect addition to a pair of boyfriend jeans.

Valentino Rockstuds

Work on the nursery continues and I can't stand the cuteness of this bag full of bunnies for one of the windowsills, I can't wait to see them all flopperly lined up.  Yes, you guessed it, the theme seems to be bunnies!

To top off my week, I've just had a message to let me know that my lovely friend has had a lovely little boy, congratulations! 

Hope you've all had a fabulous week.

A Weekend Wardrobe

My baby bump is getting bigger by the day, but at 25 weeks I'm still managing to fit in to my existing wardrobe, or simply buying a size or two bigger from 'normal' collections seems to do the trick...for the time being anyway.

But I'm already dreaming of my new yummy mummy wardrobe.  Since I left the world of fashion two years ago to launch Butterfly Lane, my wardrobe has become dramatically more casual.  No more do I dress in heels, a dress and over-the-top accessories on a Monday morning, now I'm more jeans, a knit and a ballet pump kinda girl...but still with the over-the-top accessories - I can't resist!  So maybe my transition in to 'yummy mummy' (or maybe 'slummy mummy', who knows!), is half way there already. 

I pulled a quick outfit together this afternoon that I love, I have described it as 'weekend luxe', as once upon a time this would have been my fail safe Sunday outfit, but now it's a Monday through to Sunday look.  I hope you like.

Knit: Ganni from my-wardobe.com, Jeans: Zara, Shoes:  French Sole, Handbag:  Tory Burch from my-wardrobe.com

What's your weekend style?

The Legacy Of Coco Chanel

Coco Chanel

Yesterday marked what would have been Coco Chanel's 129th birthday, despite dying in 1971 her legacy still lives on.  Coco was a pioneer in the world of fashion with a colourful and exuberant character.  Her iconic designs from the boucle jacket, the classic quilted bag and strings of pearls still remain relevant today and are wardrobe staples for many fashionistas.  She redefined how to dress women with classic and timeless designs and she was a firm believer in elegance...and of wearing perfume!  She left the world with a legacy of fabulous, wise and witty quotes which transcends generations, and here are a few of Butterfly Lane's favourites.  

"A girl should be two things:  classy and fabulous."

"Dress shabbily and they remember the dress, dress impeccably and they remember the woman."

"A woman who doesn't wear perfume has no future."

"Some people think luxury is the opposite to poverty.  It is not.   It is the opposite to vulgarity."

"As long as you know men are like children, you know everything!"

"Don't spend time beating on a wall, hoping it will turn in to a door."

"Fashion fades, only style remains the same."

Here are some of our most favourite Chanel designs of late, which showcases how this classic brand is still relevant, fabulous and above all modern today.  

Classic cream design and the classic and oh so chic boucle jacket

Here at Butterfly Lane we are all about elegance and timeless design, so today we would like to bring some Chanel styling in to our interior design.  Below are some rooms that Coco herself would adore, all you'll need to do it pop on your box boucle jacket, have a spritz of Chanel No.5 and imagine an era of timeless sophistication.  Voila!  We're thinking a classic black and cream colour palette, pearl, luxurious accessories, and simple, classic designs, with of course copious amounts of Parisian chic.  

Classic, Parisian, black and cream palette...very Coco

Parisian, neutral and chic

Elegant and simple with a French charm

Classic furniture 

Elegant bathroom and dressing area

We hope Chanel will continue to give us aspirational and elegant designs to fill our lives with beauty.  Oh, how we love Chanel!

*Remember our online boutique is now open, so take a look at our gorgeous range of home accessories.  Click HERE to be transported to the Butterfly Lane Boutique.  

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Brand Profile: Cabbages and Roses (and a 10% discount treat!)

Butterfly Lane prides itself on showcasing English Country Living at its very best and we also know a brand that embodies that very philosophy too, Cabbages and Roses. 

 I have been a huge fan of this British brand for a couple of years now and have purchased many a coat and jacket…and thinking about it dresses, from them too!   They are my go to brand for relaxed, country living style and above all excellently crafted fashion in gorgeous fabrics!  The quirky cuts on their garments really stand them out from the crowd. 

Linen Majorie Coat, £299 

Metal Mix Parka, £219

Wide Stripe Swirly Panel Dress, £195

I love the fact that they began their life in a barn with a tiny collection of cushions, dresses and fabrics and now, albeit they still have a beautifully small collection, but they have introduced candles, a wider array of fashion and accessories and home ware beauties. 

Their home ware range is truly sweet and epitomises English county living with their hand printed linens.  A must for any country dwelling.   

As a special Friday treat for all you Butterfly Lane readers Cabbages and Roses are offering us a lovely 10% discount online or in their Chelsea boutique using the discount code BUTTERFLY10.  Happy shopping and be sure to let us know what you bought!  

*offer expires on Tuesday 5 June at midnight

Paris Fashion Week: Adore Dior

So Paris Fashion Week is here and the big players in the fashion world are out in force, from Lanvin to Isabel Marant and my absolute favourite of all the shows this season, Christian Dior.  Even though it was spiked with controversy and drama, after all it was only a year since Galliano’s scandal and only the second ready-to-wear show with Bill Gaytten at the helm.  Still rumors circulate about who is linked with the infamous Dior job, will it be Stefano Pilati who has just left Yves Saint Laurent or Raf Simons who has just showed his last Jil Sander collection, watch this space!  Anyway, it looks like Gaytten will be going nowhere fast, as he created a dream like, refined and sophisticated collection for this legendary brand.

Images from The Guardian Online

Wow, the show was just incredible, with lovely, delicate and ballet feminine colours, with cinched waists and splaying, thickly-pleated skirts.  It was pared down and gentle but very polished at the same time.  With shades from mauve through to red wine, powder pink and subtle greys it was just stunning and here at Butterfly Lane we adore a muted colour palette, not only for whimsical dresses but for our homes too. 

Now if I was a Dior dress I would like to sit in a living room of soft and feminine sophistication.  With a pared down colour palette of mauve through to dusky pinks, with hints of pale grey.  Romantic and elegant…

 …and a bedroom full of luxurious fabrics and soft shades of pinks and greys.  

Images from housetohome.com


At Butterfly Lane we truly, madly, deeply love these romantic and luxurious rooms and how we love the soft, flowing fabrics and sparkling glassware.  Why not bring a bit of Dior styling in to your home this Spring  to give your home that Parisian je ne sais quoi.

Happy Shopping…X 

Fashion Week: Animal Instinct

Fashion Week has hit our capital and it is great to see London alive with creativity and beautiful things for AW12.   I know, I know, you’ll be happy to see the back of this Winter and focus on some al fresco, sun drenched dining…but surely it’s great to have a sneak peak in to the trends for next Winter!  This morning Mulberry took centre stage with a spectacular show, with amazing winter-tastic clothing, and I wouldn’t say no to the new ‘Del Rey’ bag either, any colour, I don’t mind!  The collection was really textural with hand knits and different types of fur, but unfortunately we’ll have to wait until July to get our hands on the collection, so why not infuse this in to your homeware now to be one step ahead of the fashion pack.  Although maybe try a slightly lighter colour palette for the Spring.

Images:  Vogue.com   

Images:  The White Company 

With Mulberry taking inspiration from the film ‘Where the Wild Things Are’, a forest inhabited by ferocious wild creatures, here are my top picks of well er, not so ferocious creatures to stylise your home with.  Animals are a big trend in homeware at the moment, and worry not this doesn’t mean using real fur or hanging a real stag head from the wall!  Here at Butterfly Lane we are not so cruel! Simply add a cool stag print tea towel in your kitchen, these from  Thornback & Peel are particularly cool, or why not use this bull toilet roll holder from Graham and Green, or my particular favourite is this amazing stag hook from Parlane which has already got pride of place in my downstairs loo!

Some of these animal inspired beauties will be available to buy at Butterfly Lane soon, so watch this space. 

Have a great Fashion Week everyone!  X