It's been months in the making but my autumn capsule collection with Nour and the Merchant is finally here and available to be purchased! This collection is called the Dark Cottagecore collection and is inspired by folktales, heraldry, peasant princesses, and autumn itself. Everything is being made as sustainably as possible in Nour and the Merchant's slow fashion atelier in Italy. A lot of thought and detail went into every design balancing our love for fairytales with wearable, flattering clothes that can be worn in every day life. For me, there's no point in a "dream" wardrobe you can't wear every day or pieces that don't feel comfortable. So these designs are very much my peasant princess dream pieces, but also flattering and easy to wear. Harvest dress & Bramble apron: One of the first pieces we started designing was the Harvest dress. The big sleeves and apron are a nod to peasant princesses and traditional folk costumes, but done in a very clean lines for a more modern feel. The embroidery on this dress is pretty special as it's all inspired by heraldic symbols; I liked the idea of mixing a traditionally feminine garment like an apron with swords and arrows and twisting brambles, like a way to wear your shield on your dress. Each of the figures on the apron has a different meaning and you can choose one of the symbols to be embroidered on the bodice as well. I have a golden wheat sheaf (or garb) here which symbolizes prosperity but also the generosity of the wearer; they are someone who has the promise of a full harvest and shows willingness to share it--plus I love little wheat sheafs as symbols of autumn myself! Other details you won't see immediately in the pictures--buttons down the cuffs of the sleeves, pockets, and the skirt is lined for added pouf and warmth! Since it is an autumn collection I really wanted some lining which adds to the warmth and means the skirt is less likely to get caught on your boots/tights--plus pockets are always a good idea! This is the orange shade of the dress (a deep lovely orange that isn't too bright) but it also comes in beige, black, navy, and dark brown. There's also a few other limited edition colors you can choose for the dress and the Bramble apron comes in black or beige. You can shop the dress here, or the apron here.  Mists chemise: One of my dream pieces to design is this deceptively simple chemise dress. We really thought about every detail and the fit and fabric to create this special piece that can work as a blouse (see below) or alone as a dress and will look flattering no matter how it is styled. The fabric is slightly sheer and not lined (you can sort of see my tattoo showing through in the first picture) by intention, I wanted it very "misty" and soft, the slight sheerness gives it the loveliest airy quality and clean silhouette means it layers nicely without being too bulky but also looks nice when worn plain. The sleeves can also be styled down long or pushed up more (as you'll see in some of my images below). You can style it with a corset as shown here, or under a skirt or pinafore or really a dozen other ways. It's one of the most versatile pieces in the collection. The Mists chemise can be made in this cream linen or black. Shop the chemise here. Dusk waistcoat: While I didn't actually set out with hobbits in mind when I started this collection, this waistcoat came out so hobbit-y! My inspiration was more vintage dirndls and classic waistcoats but with a feminine twist. Rather than a v-neck as you see most traditional waistcoats I wanted a square neckline that paired with more feminine dresses and blouses, the slight v at the front and ruffle trim also gives it a nice feminine silhouette. I'm really looking forward to styling this waistcoat more ways this autumn--layered on top of dresses, belted at the waist, etc. The Dusk waistcoat is shown here in brown and also comes in prune (purple) and teal. Shop the waistcoat here.  Conker skirt: A perfect cozy autumn suspender skirt. This style has a lot of hidden details, such as a lined skirt, pockets (!), and you can remove the straps to wear it more simply. There's also a number of embroidery options you can choose from or you can get the skirt plain; there's a full wheel of fabric in the skirt so it's so full and swishy and fun even if it's just in a simple linen. This embroidery is wheat and crow; the wheat as I said before is used to symbolize prosperity and generosity while the crow traditionally symbolizes someone who is clever and observant/watchful. The combination implies this might be a person who is generous with their friends, but also cautious to let someone into their inner circle. With all the symbols as well we were thinking of aesthetics, so I also just like the way these two look together and how folk inspired it looks. There were so many birds in the traditional embroidery pieces we were looking at for inspiration so I knew I wanted to include at least one bird in my collection as well. The conker skirt comes in olive green (pictured here), beige, dark brown, navy, black, maroon, and orange linen. Shop the conker skirt here.

My editing style has really changed a lot in the last few months so I developed a new preset pack! The Dark Cottagecore Preset Pack is now available in my shop; seven unique presets all with rich, dark tones inspired by dark naturalism and perfect for autumn photographs. I've been using this pack exclusively to edit my photographs for several weeks now and I'll demonstrate a few of them below so you can get a clearer look at the pack. Where my classic Cottagecore Pack for spring is very light and bright, giving all your photographs a soft and glow-y finish, this pack is shadowy and rich; like the difference of the blossom in the brambles of spring to the ripe fruit of autumn. Preset packs are my favorite to develop because I always include a mix of presets to suit different situations, while all the presets are tied together by one theme and feel cohesive. Shop the pack by clicking here! Heather Preset: I'm always inspired by the seasons and the shifting landscape. One of the first signs that autumn is on the horizon is the heather beginning to bloom in vibrant shades of purple. The Heather preset is inspired by those rich, floral colors; rosy and deep it's a perfect preset for adding a blush tone to photographs. Rowan Berry Preset: I always try to develop packs that work in a variety of settings while having a unifying feeling so when you use them your feed still feels cohesive. While the Heather preset is slightly cooler toned and perfect for enhancing purples or getting cooler greens, the Rowan Berry preset is on the other end of the spectrum--much more warm toned which is perfect is you like slightly sepia photographs or you need to warm up late evening pictures shot in blue light. Rosehips Preset: Autumn is such a pretty season and while the changing leaves are one of my favorite features, there's still a lot of green tones as well. So often presets and filters that are aimed at enhancing autumnal colors really destroy greens, which as someone who loves photographing nature I find so frustrating. I always want to highlight the beauty of nature, so presets that are kind to greens and help bring out the true colors of nature are my favorite.Blackberry Preset: While I don't like to say one preset in my pack is my favorite, usually one preset will emerge as the most-used and for the Dark Cottagecore Pack it's definitely my Blackberry Preset. It's sort of the "goldilocks" of presets; not too warm, not too cold and very dark to give all my photographs a deep, rich finish.

Dark Skies is part of a unique series where another book Dark Shores can also be the first book in the series; basically both books take place simultaneously with slightly overlapping characters so you can choose which you start with. I started with Dark Shores and was so invested in that story and those characters I was reluctant to read Dark Skies because I didn’t think I could become as invested in this story—I just wanted to get to the next book to see where the characters in Dark Shores ended up and skip Dark Skies entirely. Boy am I glad that I didn’t do that! Dark Skies is so good! Easily one of my favorite reads so far this year; Danielle L Jensen is quickly climbing into my favorite author list as her storylines are refreshing and her writing is sharp as well--good world building, nice attention to detail without being overwrought, avoids cliche phrases, etc. Quick synopsis: Dark Skies/Dark Shores takes place in a fictional world which is partly inspired by the Roman Empire. Lydia is the adopted daughter of a Celendor senator and scholar who stumbles into danger and the plots of a powerful man and ends up fleeing to an unfamiliar land. Killian is Marked by the God of War, but when his gifts fail him he finds himself pledging to protect his kingdom’s final hope: the Crown Princess. Lydia and Killian are an unlikely pairing that strike a bargain to help one another and maybe save those they care about as well. What I really enjoyed about this book is Lydia's progression and growth. She starts the novel as a sheltered and bookish girl who falls into a world she knows nothing about. Rather than her personality and talents changing overnight, Jensen gives her a realistic progression as she learns to adapt to her new surroundings, but isn't a new person overnight. One of my favorite moments in the book is when Lydia tries to learn fighting techniques from a book--such a hilarious and yet realistic attempt from a bookish character. I saw a few reviews that complained she was weak, but Lydia has one of the most realistic character developments I’ve ever read—it’s unrealistic that she’ll be a convincing fighter in a few short days and her attempts to learn how to use a sword and bow are amusing and relatable. I also love the other main character in this book, Killian, and he’s officially my new favorite book crush because he’s so adorably awkward. If you enjoy a solid fantasy story definitely check this series and author out.

Summer is slowly drawing to a close as the fields grow golden and the orchards fill with fruit. With the waning season my spring/summer capsule collection with Nour & the Merchant is also coming to an end--this collection (including the dress I'm wearing today) will be retired at the end of August. Which means if you want anything from the spring/summer collection you need to place your order before September. It is bittersweet saying goodbye to this collection; it was a dream to design and it has felt truly magical to be able to wear these pieces through the summer. I now have so many lovely memories in pieces I designed and I know these will be staples for me for many years to come. But while this collection is disappearing, we do have another capsule collection planned for autumn, so I'm also excited to share the new designs we've been working on--more cottagecore, whimsical clothes made ethically in Italy and designed for every day wear. If you loved this collection I think you'll also enjoy the new designs we have in the works. The Thimbleweed dress is one of my favorite designs from the spring collection because it is such a versatile piece; it's the dress I see myself wearing the most day to day to go about my life. I wanted this dress to feel special enough to be worn simply without adornment, hence the ruffle sleeves, scoop neck, and voluminous skirt, but also simple enough to be styled with a variety of accessories like the corset I'm wearing today. It layers beautifully with corsets and waistcoats, belts, aprons and other accessories. Additionally there are many customization options with this style; you can choose from a variety of linen colors and embroidery, or get it without embroidery--plus in addition to the standard sizes on Nour & the Merchant you have it made in a custom size to your measurements. Heading into autumn I'm drawn to the olive linen and navy versions, but Cristina convinced me to try this sandy shade--a color I would never normally pick for myself--and surprisingly I love it! It's such a wonderful, warm neutral that can be styled so many ways and I've already worn it countless times over the last few weeks.   If you love anything from my spring capsule collection with Nour and the Merchant, do purchase it this month as the listings will be gone entirely in September and their atelier won't be able to support custom or one-off purchases. It's the beauty of working with a small, slow fashion atelier; every dress is made ethically by their team in Italy when you place your order. As it is a small team and each dress requires a certain amount of fabric, type of fabric, etc, they can only offer a small selection of styles at a time. So, as Cristina shares a handful of new styles for autumn and winter, the spring and summer ones will be retired. Thank you for all your support with this collection and I hope if you love a piece you've had a chance to snag one! Oh and don't forget that you can order a dress and pay in installments with no interest or extra charges if you write Cristina directly!

I got my first pair of Vivaia Collection flats several months ago in the spring and they were so comfortable and wonderful I was excited when they got in touch about hosting a giveaway. If you didn't see my previous posts about Vivaia Collection let me tell you a little about the brand. Vivaia makes comfortable eco-friendly shoes. The shoes aren't just produced in a more environmentally friendly way than other brands, they're literally made out of recycled materials. They turn plastic bottles into breathable threads and even their packaging is made from recycled cardboard--and free worldwide shipping too! It's really wonderful to find a brand with such a strong ethos that also produces really chic shoes that fit my aesthetic as well. I basically live in ballet flats so these shoes are exactly my style! It's been really wonderful to discover this brand as I've been trying to build a more ethical wardrobe in the last few years and one area that was lacking was footwear; I know a lot of more sustainable fashion clothing brands but I haven't discovered as many accessories or shoe brands. I'm interested in trying out some of Vivaia's sneakers this autumn, but with the warm weather lingering a bit longer I've been living in the Odette flat (which comes in more colors) and the Elvira style too! Here's two recent outfits I wore with my Vivaia ballet flats--and don't forget to visit my Instagram today for a giveaway! You can also use my code ACH for 15% off in their shop.  I love cream colored flats because they go with everything, but as I tend to spend a lot of time on dirt paths I usually choose to wear darker flats so they won't show the dirt as much. I'm not as afraid of that with my Odette flats however because they're actually machine washable! Solomon stepped on my foot when I was walking him in these shoes and left a big muddy paw print, but it cleaned off so easily and you'd never know by looking at them they had been muddy earlier! I'm also always so pleasantly surprised by how soft these flats feel; it's crazy to think they're made from recycled plastic because they feel softer than almost every other ballet flat I own. It's still summer, but I have been starting to feel a few fall vibes lately and that has me pulling for slightly richer and warmer colors like this mustard yellow. It's always one of my favorite colors to wear, although I do feel a bit funny when I walk up to my matching front door in a very yellow outfit! Funnily enough the door was yellow when we moved in! I didn't pick that door color but I do like the burst of sunshine it brings to the gatehouse. I'll definitely be tempted to have another yellow door in future homes.  Our nasturtium flowers always reach their peak towards the end of July. We love the way the nasturtium covers the whole garden and the size of some of the leaves; they're so pretty when they collect water droplets on rainy days as well. Nasturtium is also an edible flower. We don't eat much of it because we like the way our garden looks, but I always harvest a tiny bit each year for a flower crown featuring all the different flower colors. The meadows are very green right now but interspersed here and there with flashes of pink--tiny clovers, wild loosestrife, and towering willowherb being visited by large cabbage white butterflies. Summer is nearing its end, in fact according to the Celtic calendar summer ended this weekend and autumn began. There are areas that look like autumn, places where harvesting has begun, but in the meadows and wild fields it still feels like summer is hanging on a bit longer. I'm eager to start wearing more of my autumn clothes and colors because I am craving richer tones, but it's still nice to have the option of throwing on a simple dress and walking out the door. It's warm enough I don't need to think too much about layers (although in Ireland it is always advisable to have a cardigan or jacket nearby), but cool enough that you won't overheat on a walk. Our summer is always more mild than other regions, I remember when I lived in the States how hot it would be all through September.