Leah Reena Goren F/W 2014 Scarf Collection

leah_reena_goren_amber_byrne_mahoney_005_zpsc87d88adIt seems scarf weather isn’t going anywhere any time soon, but with the newly released collection of beautifully hand illustrated scarves by Leah Reena Goren I don’t think I mind at all. Although they are only pre-order until the Fall, they remain perfect pieces for an early Spring when the temperatures aren’t below zero, but not quite warm enough to bare our necks to the wind. I’ve been a long time fan of Leah, her surface pattern designs and quirky illustrations are always wholly unique and unequivocally awesome, and thus many bigger brands have tried to replicate (shame on you!). I’m particularly enamored with the BFF scarf and Picasso Cats scarf, and should probably save my pretty pennies for one (or both!). I also have to mention how absolutely breathtaking the lookbook is. Leah couldn’t have picked a better set of gals to work with. Model Taylor LaShae is so stunning – kind of makes me think about chopping my hair (but I won’t).

Photography: Amber Byrne Mahoney
Styling: Emily Theobald
Model: Taylor LaShae
Location: Liam McMillan

*you can shop the whole collection in Leah’s new web shop

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Valentino A/W ’14

VAL_1027.450x675Valentino A/W ’14 is an interesting collection. There is a whole lot that is not to my taste at all, just a little too plain and stuffy looking, if you ask me. But on the opposite spectrum of that there is so much that I absolutely adore. I’ll likely never own a piece from the house of Valentino for the entirety of my life, which is an absolute shame because this collection could be one of my favourites. This season is filled with beautiful collars adorned with flowers, along with some very Victorian-esque collars,  sheer maxi dresses with exquisite floral and butterfly applique embellishments, the best patchwork I’ve seen in a long time (serious harlequin vibes), darling swing coats, and the capes! Oh the capes! Valentino put together a collection that feels 1960’s and Victorian all at once, which is like my dream wardrobe. I’d really like to be this woman next Autumn and Winter. She’s quirky and fun and other-wordly, and I like her a lot.

See the whole collection here.

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The White Pepper Spring 2014

1_399ec3c9-47a5-4cfe-b489-ecc5dec432f7The White Pepper has got me really excited about Spring. So much that I might implode if Winter continues for much longer. I long for days when I can choose an outfit in the morning and know it won’t be covered by layers of cardigans and coats and scarves. The more I get to know myself and my style, the more I realize I much prefer dressing for Spring/Summer. I never get bored with it – it never feels totally repetitive. While I love the idea of dressing for Winter (this doesn’t really include Fall, since it isn’t cold enough to consistently need a coat, and it’s too short a season) I find I become wholly uninspired. Not every dress looks good with tights, I don’t own a cardigan for every outfit, and while I love hats, they can become really annoying when you have to wear them! The White Pepper is really feeding my desire for muted pastels, warm sunny days, flowers (!!!), bare legs and socks, and my always favourite, summery pinafores with collared blouses. What it comes down to is we can be more detailed oriented in the Spring & Summer. I live for details…I think that’s why I love it so much.

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Family Affairs Fall 2014

IMG_3064-EditwebThis could be the first time I have shared a collection from Family Affairs, which is truly surprising because I have admired Nina’s work for a long time now. Anything that feels other-wordly, mystical and wholly it’s own is something I can stand by, and that’s exactly what we get from Family Affairs, collection after collection. As usual, Nina created her own prints, this time featuring her very own alchemy symbols with references from italian futurism and irish fairytales. Neat right?! I would love to get my hands on the maxi dress pictured above, and although I have never really been known to wear or have any interest in blazers, the candy crush-esque pinstripe number pictured last is really catching my eye.

Photography: Amanda Jasnowski
Model: Bryson

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Karen Walker Fall 2014

FW14 KAREN WALKER NEW YORK To be totally honest, I had never really checked out New Zealand-based designer, Karen Walker‘s clothing designs until recently. I’ve been a long time fan of her eyewear, but never really looked into her clothing collections. I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised. For this season, she was inspired by Sufragettes, and created a collection full of cool, fun and rebellious vibes. There is no surprise I’m a big fan of the prints and collars (and that tartan coat! my god!), and while I don’t usually wear over-sized silhouettes, I appreciate and respect the gal she is representing here. I’m all for strong lady-power.

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