This week I bring to you our latest collaboration with Plumo…ta da! It’s always a pleasure working with Plumo as the team are lovely and they really care about what they do. This is something that is important to me. As a stylist for many years, I have witnessed way too many brands lose their way because they have forgotten what their DNA is. The flare and excitement of a brand disappears as the brand’s efforts are spent drilling down on the numbers. It’s a really hard time for clothing brands at the moment but I believe so strongly that it’s the brands that remain loyal to their customers and deeply focussed on their needs, that will ride this current, difficult, wave.

When we collaborate with Plumo, ahead of our shoots, I head to their studio in Dalston to look at the new collection. Before I look at any clothes, I always end up having a long chat with Verena (head of the creative side of Plumo) about the clothes that they stock, including their own in-house label - Plumo Studio. It is evident from talking to Verena that she cares a lot about their own brand and the other brands that they stock. She will get excited about the Irish linen that a particular shirt is being made from or the small family business that supplies their merino wool jumpers. Some suppliers they have worked with for over 20 years. This shows a level of loyalty that I so deeply respect and value in businesses today.

This waxed hood is great. Obviously it goes extremely well with the coat but it doesn’t need to be paired with it. It would look great with another complimentary coloured coat like brown or charcoal grey. It is designed to fit in your handbag and should the heavens open - fear not! - out pops the waxed hood to protect your hair from the most vicious of down pours.

The waxed coat is based on a traditional ‘car coat’. Fun fact, the car coat was more usually termed 'motoring dress'. It emerged in the early 1900s, when driving was considered an outdoor sport (most cars were open top) and required protective clothing.

With this particular garment I would recommend sizing down if you don’t like your coats too roomy. I like the simplicity of its design with the flat front and clean dark buttons. It is this simplicity that will carry it through many a wet a year without looking outdated.

The quilted jacket is by contemporary label Yavi who look to blur the lines between clothing and art. Each piece is made to treasure with heritage Kantha techniques and hand-dyed motifs. It is reversible. I absolutely love this and it begs the question, why aren’t more jackets like this?! Two in one!

The beautifully rich red cardigan is so soft you would be forgiven for thinking that it is cashmere - we actually had to check the label - it is in fact lambswool. They are knitted in the small town of Hawick Scotland. Plumo’s manufacturer has been producing knitwear since 1929 based on the classic Shetland and Fair Isle styles of Scotland’s northeast

This cream coat is 100% linen. It has obviously been treated in some way as it is quite stiff to the touch which creates a deliberate crinkled look. The grey jumper, like mum’s red cardigan, is also made from supersoft merino wool. I have to say, I never realised that merino could be so soft. This particular jumper has cropped sleeves to the elbow and is quite fitted making it perfect to tuck into high waisted trousers and jeans.

I chose to wear the red linen waistcoat as a pop of colour to break up the otherwise monochromatic outfit (oh, and red socks of course). The waistcoat is in a size 14 as I wanted it to be on the bigger side for me and hang quite loose.

Black and white gingham is always an excellent foil to other bright colours. There is something so fresh and zappy about the combination - and much less harsh than solid black and a bright colour. The trousers are made for Plumo’s in-house label by a lovely lady called Katrina. She is based just around the corner from their studio - shipping time from manufacturer to brand - just 20 minutes! The trousers are cut beautifully with a flat front and two side pleats but it is the black buttons on either side of the waist band that make them. Moving into summer, they would be perfect worn with a crisp white shirt or cotton t-shirt and bold silver earrings.

And finally, let’s talk about neckties. As you will know by now, mum and I are both fans of a fabric neck adornment. Cashmere, cotton, silk, brightly coloured, neutral, floral and plain - we’ve worn them all. What we haven’t done as much of is a blouse with a built-in necktie! Mum’s blouse is made from the most beautiful clotted cream coloured linen and has a swathe of fabric around the neck to be tied however you like. We thought that it looked very pretty as tied here but it is possible to wear it almost like a small shawl. It’s such an elegant design and would look just as lovely worn on its own.

This season, small knitted neckties have been de rigueur. I love an item of clothing that not only looks good but serves a practical purpose too. This oatmeal, knitted cashmere triangular scarf that I am wearing is perfection. I think that it looks so chic but it also keeps the draft off your neck…. and as someone who feels the cold, this added bonus cannot be overlooked!