Get Personal: Noble MacMillan

1. Personalised Tiffany blue leather iPad case from £75 here
2. Patriotic Passenger leather travelcard holder from £17 here
3. Personalised leather Kindle holder from £49 here
4. The World is Your Oyster leather travelcard holder from £17 here

Things are getting rather personal at the moment, with a charming trend for personalisation sweeping the market, cropping up everywhere from Whistles (see my feature here) through to luxury London labels like Anya Hindmarch and high street brands including Oasis (a feature is to follow!)

And while it is undoubtedly rather special to carry around all your essentials in a decadent leather handbag emblazoned with your initials, sometimes it feels rather more savvy to spend on little leather tech cases and notepads, which are the latest lot to get the personalisation treatment.

While Smythson also offer this service, this comes at a luxury price, so for something every bit as special yet rather more accessible, check out Noble Macmillan's classic leather stationary which is now available at my beloved www.notonthehighstreet.com.

Handcrafted in the UK from the finest leather, Noble Macmillan products offer a little everyday luxury with an assortment of essential accessories with elegant silver and gold leaf lettering.

For a little treat, feast your eyes on these unique leather pieces offering everything from Tiffany blue iPad cases- my personal pick- through to sweet Oyster card holders which will make sure you never misplace that pesky travelcard ever again (fingers crossed!)

Whether you opt for a little uplifting quote or simply plump for your initials, these ultra soft leather pieces will add oodles of polish to your work attire.

I have spent far too long hunting for an ideal iPad case, and i've finally met my match. It's simple, clean and it says SW on it... What more could a girl want!

I cannot neglect to mention that Noble Macmillan products make for the most lovely little gifts for those who are particularly difficult to buy for. I don't think you can go far wrong with the truly beautiful notebook,  while the gorgeous photo albums are ideal for special occasions or wedding gifts.

A Leather Love In

1. River Island Dress £120
2. Zara Booties £89.99
3. Citizens of Humanity Jeans at ATELIER-TO-GO £260
4. Sandro Jacket €795 (in. love.)
5. Mango Cuff £22.99
6. Mulberry Leather Trim Blouse £225
7. Mango Heels £69.99

Did you read my Blether About Leather? Well this post is a wee follow up with all my favourite leather lovelies in the shops at the moment. I would wear 6 with 3, 2 and 5 for the most AMAZING look ever, ever, ever. Crying about being poor.

PS
Every bone in my body wants to buy the Zara peep-toe boots, someone convince me not to... I am so weak!

A Blether About Leather

So summer is basically over, without actually having existed, and now the autumn collections are landing in stores ready to attack my credit card with their irresistible velvety, lacy, tweedy loveliness. Curse you, Zara and Topshop, you are both repeat offenders and if I did not love you so very much, I would hate you.

When I initially cast a beady eye over the AW collections I cannot say I was overly impressed. I felt that there were very few collections that were exciting, without being novelty, and I was a little bit perturbed by similarity to previous seasons. However, I now stand corrected. Whilst rifling through my wardrobe in a bid to find something- ANYTHING- to wear for Vogue’s FNO, I realised that I’m stuck in a fashion rut. It’s all cream, or peach, and it’s all a little bit dated. An update is certainly in order, and I know just where to start.

It is time, I think, to go to the opposite end of the scale. From soft to sinister, from blush to black, from lace to leather. Suddenly I am experiencing some sort of leather love-in and I cannot get enough.

There is something about leather that is more than a little bit alluring. While looking girly is all well and good, I have suddenly decided I want to be cool. When I grow up, you know.

Leather is the uniform of the cool. I am not talking about beardy ginger men straddling Harley Davidson’s or about Catwoman costumes that do the rounds at Hallowe’en, I am instead talking about the leather that has been on the catwalks for season, which is just so very right for now.

I know that you can hardly move for leather shorts at the moment, and that leather skirts are everywhere, but there is no denying that a bit of leather goes a long way and is the perfect update for now.

I am particularly obsessing about leather dresses, from sexy little shifts through to peplum hemmed River Island tunics. I love the juxtaposition between the prettiness of a flirty dress and the edginess of leather. Leather is hard, leather is sexy and leather is a little bit naughty, it is everything that my beloved chiffon isn’t really.

My only bugbearer with leather, though, is that it is far from forgiving. While Heidi Klum and the models at Balmain can rock a leather legging at ease, it is far less appealing to a mere human like myself, particularly given my fondness for white wine and risotto.

Leather is, unfortunately, not a girl’s best friend. A leather pencil skirt may look absolutely killer on Carine Roitfeld, but a bit of a bloat and suddenly that gamine charm is a gonner and you become Kat Slater’s long lost sister. It is not easy to wear but when it is good, it is great.

Leather is unforgiving and a little intimidating, but therein lies its draw. Fashion shouldn’t be a breeze, sometimes we have to try something a little out our comfort zones. For me, leather is just the ticket.

Where do you stand on my leather love-in? Stay tuned for my favourite leather picks for the season ahead!

Fashion Week Fantasy #3

1. Mango Blouse £39.99
2. Citizens of Humanity Coated Skinnies £260 at ATELIER-TO-GO
3. Accessorize Fur Stole £22
4. Nails Inc Polish in Devonshire Row (my new favourite!) £11
5. Mulberry Ostrich Handbag (brace yourselfs...) £3000
6. Zara Spike Heels £49.99

Ooh Ya Bootie

all from Topshop (race ya?)

And so the hunt for the perfect Winter boots begins...

Oop. That was quick, wasn't it? I would happily welcome any of these studded boots to my wardrobe, particularly the £70 and the £80 pair.

I'm a woman obsessed with studs and all these boots are just tempting my inner magpie and urging me to reach for my purse. If you see me in Topshop with more than one pair, please do stop me, remind me that I need money to live, not just wear nice boots. Priorities, Shona, priorities.

I would wear these with everything from jeans to my new favourite lacy dress and they are all so lovely and practical. Not ideal for airport security but (BOO HOO) i've done all my international travelling for this year, so that doesn't bother me!

I'm currently on a clothing ban (no. more. clothes.), but I can still buy a pair of winter boots, right?

Or two... Or three... Or four...