Vans x & Other Stories

In my misspent youth, I was a Converse and Doc Martens kind of girl. When I say that, I don't mean I wore them. Of course, I did wear them but it was more than that. I was devotedto them with the unquestioning, unwavering passionate loyalty only teenagers can muster. Vans, therefore, I saw as a diversion. Ridiculous, I'm aware but I felt about Vans and Converse they way some people feel about Pop and Punk or Marvel and D.C. You had to choose one altar to pray at, you couldn't dip a toe into each shoe.

Now, I have a battered old pair of Vans that are one of my default pairs of shoes. I have many, many pairs of high-top Cons, in various colours and patterns, and the trusty old Docs I crack out for gigs and festivals but both varieties of shoe require effort and time to wedge them on your feet. I've become far too lazy, and not nearly devoted enough, for things you can't slip on your feet on a regular basis.

So, you could say I'm a convert.

When I saw that Vans and (wonderful, wonderful) & Other Stories were collaborating, it was kind of magic.

It was this iconic brand, somewhat synonymous with being teenaged, getting a lesson in how to be elegant and grown up. And the results? Just charming - restrained but still fun.

The collaboration has produced three pairs of shoes, purchasable from the & Other Stories site. Two are in a pretty blushy nude leather and the other is a monochrome spotted number that's very 101 Dalmations. You can get slip-ons in the nude and spotted print and the lace-up shoe is only available in the nude.

But, really, it's the campaign images that are slaying me. I mean, trop dreamy, or what?

What do you guys think of the collab?

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COS AW15

COS' AW15 collection is highly conceptual - as their collections are wont to be. Two main design threads run through; Outdoor Creativity and Mono-ha.

The former is inspired by the outdoors, as the name would suggest, and ties together the few prints present for the up-coming season, inspired by camo and bark, with pieces inspired by performance-wear. The clothes are in muted tones and woodland hues but the silhouettes are dramatic, challenging. Not for the faint of heart.

The latter jumps from a starting point in a twentieth century art movement from Japan of the same name. This section takes up more of the collection and tames the wild organic shapes of Outdoor Creativity. It combines natural and man-made fibres, steely greys and salmon and peachy tones. It is pared back, raw, minimal. It is balanced, elegant, makes a statement without needing to shout. Wools and felt abound and, in an Irish setting, one can't help but see parallels with our own traditions in knitwear and outerwear. Though the palette may be unusually light, the fabrics are completely what one would expect for AW. They are dense, durable, very much investment pieces that will serve you well for years to come.

There is both drama and calm in this collection. There are many of my favourite colours to wear. There are highly challenging pieces.

And this is why I love COS.

Their collections are like being back at fashion week. They're inspired and inspiring. They respect the high street consumer by refusing to talk down to us, by reinventing and by giving us the tools to access style normally relegated merely to the highest end.  Particularly in the case of menswear. There's a lot that is wearable. There are classics but there are also pieces that have proportions that are off, textures that are unruly.

But even while all that is going on there's room in the clothes, room to put your own stamp on it, to make it yours.

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Modani

A while back Modani, a furniture brand, contacted me and asked if I might show how I'd "style" a room, using decor as I would accessories for an outfit. I agreed right away because it seemed like a fun challenge and I've been decorating myself lately, so it's been on my mind.

I love Interior Design. If I had ten million lives to live, it would have been one of the career paths I'd liked to have pursued. Alas, it was not to be. But putting a room together made me re-examine my taste and style from a different perspective.

The centre of the room is this sofa, the Oslo Sectional Couch. And, really, it speaks a lot to my style that I chose it. As in my clothes, comfort is key. There's room to lounge and browse the net or read, to fit lots of friends and family when I host something. It's not leather so it wouldn't be cold in winter or hot in summer. But it's still sleek, restrained and stylish. Comfort and style are always key to me.

Colours, overall, are muted with natural wood alongside lots of greys. Pops of colour show my playful side and, with the variety of textures, prevent monotony or flatness to the look. And the overall aesthetic is minimal, with touches of Scandinavian and Irish design influences alongside a wee bit of a retro undercurrent. It blends styles and eras together but never throws too much at you.

A home really does reflect an owner! If only my real place looked like this and had those views!

Sadly, the company is US based but, as many readers are in that neck of the woods (or Canada, where they also ship) check them out!

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