Modern Country Loves: Equestrian Style In The Home

Well, whaddaya know?...it turns out that there's a whole plethora of gorgeous stirrupy goodness just waiting to be adored!

As a side-note, I have to tell you that I shudder at the thought of anything twee or overly-themed when it comes to equestrian accessories in the home but these offer a gentle nod to the slightly Modern industrial feel, as well as the Countrified history of horse-riding. Perfect!

Look at these beauties...

Did you check out the handles on this Ralph Lauren chest of drawers? 

And what about these leather stirrup strap storage boxes?
I love those leather straps tautly wrapped around the cream lids.

Could there be a lovelier mealtime accessory than this stirrup-style napkin ring? 
By Ralph Lauren, no less....

For another take on the stirrup lamp that I shared with you in my last post, how about this? A definitely western feel; wouldn't it be perfect in a little boys bedroom?

 But now for my absolute favourite: 
an equestrian-style umbrella stand, 
made using leather and nickel to emulate stirrup straps, 
and the stirrups themselves: chic, simple and gorgeous.  

What are you thoughts on these equestrian-style home accessories? Love 'em or loathe 'em?

Yummy Equestrian Stirrup Lamp

Oh. My. Word. 

Could this lamp be any more hippity-hot if it tried?

Just feast your eyes on its stirrupy Modern Country Glory!

My issue of Country Homes and Interiors skipped its way through my letter box this morning amd the Modern Country Angels that live in my heart literally chorused as one happy angelic laaaaaaaaaaa when they saw this lamp featured within its pages.

Made by Eichholtz, and stocked by Occa-Home, this Equestrian table lamp has a cool nickel stirrup base and buckle, with tan leather detailing.

It's not cheap, at £336, but it's nothing like any other lamp I've seen.

I want it. I want it. I want it.

Top Ten Contrast Trench Coats 2012

As I explained in this post, I'm a huge fan of the mackintosh/trench coat hybrid, which looks great, with a bit of tweaking, on all shapes and sizes. 

It's the perfect blend between Modern and Country, 

and, when given any kind of contrast piping, prevents coats from veering towards dressing-gown chic, and steers them firmly towards utter fabulousness. Here, then, are my top ten for Autumn 2012....picked to suit the princess and the pauper....

Hobbs Bryony Mac £74 (was £149 

Hobbs Kirsten Mac £95 (was £159)

Miss Selfridge Contrast Princess Coat £85

Karen Millen (outlet) £88 (was £518)

Mango Contrast Striped Trench Coat £44.99

Burberry Prorsum Stretch Gabardine Trench 

Lipsy Contrast Mac £80

Lipsy Single Breasted Piped Mac £78

Savoir Piped Classic Mac £45

Kate Spade New York Trench Coat £253.09 (ebay)

....are any of them calling your name, my duckies?

Keeping Your Home Fresh - the Modern Country way

When it comes to keeping my wardrobe fresh and lovely, I'm always a keenie. When I spotted these sachets, from a French company no less, I had to share my Mi-Septembre find with you immediatement. Mais oui!

Normally, I hesitate to recommend products from other countries because of shipping costs but these are so exquisite AND this month they have free shipping with a purchase over 40 Euros, so there's no excuse for anything but a perfectly-fragranced wardrobe.

These pretty sachets are exclusively designed by Mi-Septembre. Isn't that a fabulously French-sounding name? It means 'My September', which, for me, carries particular resonance, because it's a time when our children start their school year, when our home settles down into a gentle routine, and I'm able to feel much more peaceful, to plan new projects, to delve my fingers into new schemes and, most importantly this year, to spend lots of one-to-one time with my gorgeous baby girl!

These sachets are unsurprisingly award-winning. I found the images on their website mesmerising. Aren't the details aspirational? 

The fragrance within the sachets is Mi-Septembre's own blend, incorporating a mix of star-anise, cinnamon and cloves. Moving inexorably into autumn, those are the aromas that I am love.

And coupled with the materials used, including natural linen and the dull lustre of mother-of-pearl buttons, ordering these becomes a Modern Country no-brainer. 

 

I have to say, though, that these seem far too gorgeous for hiding away in my wardrobe. I want to display them all around the house!

Will you be joining me?

The Perfect Modern Country Coat!?

On The Apprentice a couple of years ago, there was a contestant named Liz. I was outraged when she didn't win. It wasn't a matter of qualifications, looks or personality. Dang it, even her flawless CV didn't swing it for me. Liz should totally have won The Apprentice that year on account of her gorgeous mac.

It caught my beady eye the first time she wore it, and each episode my heart literally leaped if I caught a glimpse of said coat.

Cream with black taffetta detailing. All the essentials from the Country Classic mac but absolutely beautifully updated with Modern touches. An extra wide lapel, an additional collar panel, super-size pockets. Perfect Modern Country fashion.

I had mac-lust.

The Apprentice series finished and so, I thought, had the coat....

until the night, when lolling off to sleep, I had the sudden and thrilling thought that I might be able to find out where the mac was from on this here Internet.

I seem to recall that it was that very night that I grabbed my laptop and started frantically typing away. {Liz Apprentice mac, Liz Apprentice BBC coat, Liz cream black trench....ad nauseum} 

First of all, I managed to find a few images of Liz wearing the coat.

And then, after a number of fruitless searches, I stumbled across a forum which discussed that very item. My fellow coat-devotees were also trying to work out where Liz's mac was from. Someone offered that they had seen the coat in Karen Millen. Off I toddled to their website. Nothing. Hmmph.

So, never one to be deterred once I'm on a mission....next stop, ebay. I decided to start off with my only clue and searched for Karen Millen trench coats.

And, knock me down with a feather, there was the very mac of Liz's that I had been lusting after. 

In my size. Brand new. 

Eeeeeek!

It turned out that it was from the previous season, hence why I couldn't find it on the Karen Millen website. Duh! Of course!

It was a gooooooood moment! 

Anyway, to cut a long story shortish, I managed to buy the coat. It was no bargain, sadly. In fact, it cost more than it would have from Karen Millen.

But worth every single penny.

I love it. 

In fact, lots of you loved it too when I showed you this outfit from my 30 for 30 (mixing 30 pieces into 30 outfits over 30 days), back in January, when I was all of five months pregnant.

Do you remember? 

{I was definitely at that 'Is she pregnant or has she just eaten too many pies?' stage!}

Don't you love it when a plan comes together?

The Mac: Gwyneth Paltrow's Style

Welcome to Part 3 of Gwyneth Paltrow Fashion favourites. We've covered Gwyneth's Knee High Boots and Scarves so far.

Both Country Classics, given a gorgeous Modern twist.

And today's Mac post is no difference.

The perfect Modern Country Style outer-wear.

The Mac conjures up images of taking the dogs (definitely plural) for a long walk.

Rambling through hills, splashing through streams.

Sheltering from a sudden downpour,

collar pulled tight....

....BUT

prevented from being at all twee by those fantabulous Modern details that Gwyneth Paltrow's style shows off so well:

beautiful fabrics

stylish belts

military touches...

Gone is the rather shapeless farmer-style coat (practical, yes, glam? Err.....no!), to be replaced by beautiful tailoring, skimming perfectly over any lumps and bumps that might be hiding underneath.

Knotting the belt or pulling it to the back can winch your waist in to create extra va-vavoom, particularly useful for slimmer shapes, like our Gwynnie.

So whether it's with added epaulettes, or a bit of sparkle, or a special new belt, how will you get your coat to stand out from the crowd?

Next time, I'll be sharing my favourite ever Mac....

love,

Sarahx

25 Ways To Wear A Scarf In 4.5 Minutes

Following on from Gwyneth Paltrow's scarf style post, here's one of my favourite ever You Tube videos.

If you've ever been stuck for ideas on how to tie your favourite scarf, then do, please, watch this. 

You'll never, ever, eeeeeeever be short of inspiration again!

Plus, it's a complete pleasure to watch!

See? Wasn't it brilliant!?

Again?

Scarves: Gwyneth Paltrow's Style

Welcome to the second in a series on Gwyneth Paltrow's Fashion Style. The first focused on knee high boots, and went on to show a few simple rules on picking the perfect pair. Today we're talking about Gwyneth's fashion-passion again but this time the focus is on scarves. We're talking Gwyneth AND scarves....ooh, so Modern Country. Scarves and Gwyneth go together like Mario and Luigi. That is to say very well indeed.

I'd say she does a little bit of scarfage pretty darn well.

{Yep. I said scarfage. 

That should so be a word. 

It is now...}

The scarves I've picked out are all biggies: pashminas that wrap around and around and around to make you feel all snuggly and warm. And all in neutral colour ways. 

In fact, there is basically only one scarf-style featured here: the rest being variations on the theme. The large grey pashmina is a fantastic go-to classic. 

What I'm trying to demonstrate is that there's no need to rush out and buy a hundred million different wraps when Gwyneth shows us so beautifully that one look can be streeeeeetched a very long way.

Take a simple black jacket, wrap around a grey scarf, put on fitted trousers or leggings, add some boots and finally pop on a pair sunnies. You, my stylish Modern Country friend, are good to go....