Syd and Mallory.

Velvet Circus Dress / Navy Horse Dress / Yellow Horse Dress / Polkadot Dress

All dresses by Syd and Mallory via Asos Marketplace

Now i can't say it is often that i come across a boutique that i fall in love with in a mere matter of seconds, as i did with this one. In fact beyond falling in love, i don't tend to find many good independent clothing outlets full stop, as lets be honest, i don't tend to stray too far from the high street favourites (I'm looking at you Topshop!) as my many wish lists demonstrate. Tsk!

Now I'm not massively experienced with Asos Marketplace in whole or even part and i haven't bought anything via the site before, but on the off chance, i was browsing one evening and stumbled across Sheffield based independent label Syd and Mallory.

The boutique offers handmade garments alongside handpicked and re-worked vintage pieces, and in their own words describe themselves as being 'not just another vintage store', which i think is a really great tag line. Now i can't say everything is my exact cup of tea, but i do like a fair few things that are currently available. Although i am completely charmed by this rabbit and this horse crop top alike, for me the real gems of the bunch are the handmade cap sleeved various motif fronted dresses (as shown above) (and i also couldn't resist the polkadotted beauty of a dress too like I'm sure many other won't be able to either!) I haven't seen anything quite like them before at all. While the motifs that ooze a folk like quality are quirky, the materials are sumptuous which results in a combination that makes these truly something special. Don't forget these are all handmade and it is quite possible you will be getting something that many others won't be, which is something to take into consideration when pondering a purchase too. Knowing these are not mass produced is definitely a real draw for me and only adds to the magic of purchase.

If i was looking/in the position to treat myself to something a little bit different anytime soon, then i know Syd and Mallory will be the first place i visit and i will certainly be keeping them in mind come my birthday, which is only 7 months away, not too long reallyyy. (Who am i kidding? Le sigh!)

Have you heard/bought from Syd and Mallory before? Will you be in the near future?

Weekly Update 22.

Bertie and Charlie playing in the garden / wild flowers / and again / a night's sky.

1. I never seem capable of summing up my weeks in photo form. I take dozens of pictures pretty much alllltheeeetimee but i tend not to take pictures of just anything, only the things that really interest me and probably won't interest you, so i tend not to put them up on here too much. I'll never be a user of instagram or any other picture snapping gadget that comes along ( i don't want to say I'm 'old fashioned' but merely a little traditional in my ways. Even my kindle is gathering dust whilst i keep adding to my paperback collection instead!) I might just throw caution to the wind and do a photo collective post anyway. Can't do any harm really.

2. Sun, sun, sun has to take some blame for my absence around here. I must admit i got a bit carried away in the good weather and took it upon myself to get stuck in to prettying up the garden. A year ago and i would have had not the slightest of interest in plants/flowers/gardening, but seeing me this week you'd think i was going for a record or something. The seeds i planted quite some time ago in the greenhouse have done really well, and so far have filled many a porcelain pot and flower bed with plenty going spare! (Until i find them a place too.)

3. Bertie and Charlie have been enjoying the garden and good weather probably more then me this week. Massive credit to mumma who fixed up some Bertie and Charlie escape proof fencing specially for them. Being inquisitive little boys they tend to want to explore beyond our patch of garden, so the fencing has well and truly proven its worth, although the moment my back is turned one of them is trying to tunnel out. Little rascals, completely cute though. Oh and since the above picture was taken, both boys have enjoyed their first proper hair cut, all before their birthday rolls round next Saturday.

4. I don't know how I've managed it, but I've somehow become in the possession of a handful of new things. This seems to always be the way, I'll go months and months without anything then out of no where I'll end up with stuff being bought one thing after the other. I can't say it hasn't been nice though, i forgot how much i liked parting with money. (Occasionally!) Haul it has to be, soon soon soon.

No time like the present to get this out, even if it is the early hours of today. I'm up, so this can go up before sleeps. I'm hopeful that normal blogging routine will resume any day now too, just got to keep from being distracted.