Instagram has a lot to answer for in my closet. I’m fairly immune to its deluge of cheaply-made fast fashion. The super expensive designer stuff (Ashish, I’m talking about you) I swoon over and scroll past. Occasionally though, I see something that stops me in my tracks and I know immediately that I have to have it. Somewhere, a needle scratches on a record and I have a full-blown fashion a-ha moment. A perfect example is this faux fur rainbow ‘Honeypot’ bag from Helen Moore. When I saw it I thought, ‘I’ve been waiting for you forever!’ You probably already know I have a life long love of faux fur. And you will no doubt be familiar with my love of colour by now. Mix well and you have a recipe for accessory perfection; the perfect sauce for any outfit. There is even a coordinating scarf to pop over a coat or cardigan; the ocean blue ‘Hugo’ collar I’m wearing matches the lower blue stripe in the bag perfectly.
Like most of my wardrobe favourites, these are conversation-starting statement pieces. Also like most of my wardrobe favourites, Helen Moore is a company run by a woman with a commitment to ethical manufacture (which you can read about here). I am so grateful to Instagram when I unearth these perfect fashion truffles.
I now have two other pieces besides this bag and scarf. One is this darling coral collar to add to a coat or sweater– the soft flattering colour will liven my pale wintry skin nicely. The other is this jewel-toned slim scarf. It has a blue stripe in it to pair well with denim, and the magenta and coral stripes will work well with lipstick shades. My other top picks from Helen Moore are this ocelot print faux-fur bag, the stunning buckled collars, every item in the hat category but especially the very Dr Zhivago pillbox hats, and these adorable wrist-warmers. Can you just imagine how fantastic the Ocelot print bag AND the Ocelot print pillbox hat would be together with a simple black outfit (like this one). Or the sea green pillbox hat with the sea green wrist-warmers over a navy or grey coat? Sure, they will keep my head and wrists warm, but much more importantly (!) it screams elegant 1960s style, which I adore.
One last point to mention… just as there are beautiful sequins and awful market-stall sequins, there is gorgeous well-made faux fur and cheap faux fur. Helen Moore’s is gorgeously luxurious and doesn’t leave a trail of coloured fluff all over my car and clothes like the coat I bought from Mango last year did. Her pieces are not inexpensive, but they are superbly crafted and I know will last me for years. My Mango coat on the other hand developed holes in the pockets and the lining seams after just a few wears, which I had to have repaired. When I first received the rainbow honeypot bag, I inspected it closely because the fur looked almost too good. There are longer ‘guard hairs’ and shorter ‘undercoat’ type fur like in real animal fur; it is a different league from my Mango coat, that’s for sure. It has had a LOT of use already and still looks pristine. If you like this bag but aren’t quite as rainbow-bright as I am, it also comes in two more sedate colourways as well. I particularly like this ‘portrait’ shape since all of my other bags are ‘landscape’.
The photos in this post were all taken in Frankfurt, where we went a couple of weekends ago for a friend’s 50th birthday party. We stayed at the Villa Kennedy, a beautiful and modern hotel filled with Christian Liaigre furniture (which I have a particular weakness for… oh, those lavender coloured benches!). I had no idea what the hotel would look like (or even if we would have time to take any photos before the party at our friend’s home) but the beauty of a rainbow is that it matches every outfit and tones with every background.
Disclaimer: this is not a sponsored post. I always share brands that meet my criteria for style, quality, and ethos. Helen Moore is really in the sweet spot for the kinds of brands I cover here, and I know lots of you will love it for the same reasons I do. xx
linking to: visiblemonday, notdressedaslamb,
28 Comments
Samantha Blair
October 21, 2018 at 2:37 PMI’ve been looking for a furry bag Lisa and you seem to have found it first!
I’ve let out a series of little squeals as the photos popped up.
Gorgeous pieces that are (as always) worn so beautifully!
XXX
Samantha
Lisa
October 22, 2018 at 11:32 AMOh thank you Sam! You’ll love all the fabulous colours they do in furry bags too; perfect in your colourful wardrobe 🙂 I think the ocelot one is next for me… It really is a beauty. xxx
Nancy
October 21, 2018 at 7:44 PMI think it’s very generous to mention the brand without being sponsored. That’s classy!
Lisa
October 22, 2018 at 11:17 AMThanks so much, Nancy! Only other bloggers understand this 😀 xxx
whatlizzyloves
October 21, 2018 at 7:55 PMOh Lisa, what beautiful, beautiful faux fur. I love all of your choices and mentions, but my particular favourite is the ocelot bag. And gorgeous photos as always xxxx
Lisa
October 22, 2018 at 11:16 AMYeah, I think the ocelot bag and the matching hat are so Betty Draper fabulous that I won’t make it through the winter without that. Thank you, lovely Liz. xxx
Michelle
October 21, 2018 at 8:04 PMThis look is so you my beauty and the photos are stunning. As you know I’ve been looking for the perfect blue fur stole for years. The trouble in finding one is always quality. Either it’s cheap fast fashion or ultra expensive high-end designer. Looks like you’ve found a balance of both I can work with. Thanks Doll ?
Off to check out the site xx
Lisa
October 22, 2018 at 11:12 AMThis brand has a real commitment to susainability that you (and I!) love. They comply with strict EU REACH certification, that makes sure no harmful chemicals are used in manufacturing. SO REFRESHING for brands to care about this. I can’t recommend the quality enough… to get all geeky, the fibers are polished so they’re extra shiny and soft. You’ll love, I know. See if they have the right colour of blue for you. xxx
melissa williams
October 22, 2018 at 12:46 AMHold . The. Phone. I’m all in for the black quail/oyster version. I die. And after just a few clicks……on the wrist warmers and the cashmere beanie, I suspect I shall become much more familiar with this brand! So stunning! Thank you for sharing this. You look so lovely and the hotel in Frankfurt looks like a dream. What I love about your style is that you somehow manage to look completely glamorous without going over the top. I love it. Off to browse Helen Moore…..more.
Lisa
October 22, 2018 at 11:09 AMThank you, Melissa! The quail/oyster version is gorgeous, isn’t it? I love that. All of these faux fur things would be fabulous in your chilly Colorado climate. xxx
Mithra Ballesteros
October 22, 2018 at 2:53 AMThis one is different, Lisa. So cheeky chic! (Another way of saying “sassy” without having to use that awful word.) I wish I could have seen you IRL because I would have tried to Instagram you. The whole line is deliciousness. Sharing in my newsletter next week. Keep it up, you’re killing it!
Lisa
October 22, 2018 at 11:07 AMI wore exactly this whole outfit when I went to meet our friend Elizabeth a few weeks ago… it is kind of my go-to ensemble du jour, tous les jours!
Helen Moore does some incredible things; I envision some of the faux fur throws with some silver deer horn candlesticks (dropped horns, no deer harmed in the making of homewares) which I have my eye on for winter decoration in my house. Love to you xxx
LA CONTESSALA CONTESSA
October 22, 2018 at 2:46 PMI DO BELIEVE I SAW THIS FIRST IN PERSON WITH MY OWN EYES!!!!!!!!!
XX
Lisa
October 23, 2018 at 10:32 PMYes you did! I wore EXACTLY this whole outfit, down to the earrings, when I saw you in London! xx
1010parkplace1010ParkPlace
October 23, 2018 at 3:43 PMVery striking and pretty! I have to laugh about this though… My Fashion Friday post last week is called “To Fur or Not to Fur” and I write about the big downsides to faux fur. Which makes me think of PETA. This morning I heard on the news, and read online, PETA has now turned its attention to milk, claiming milk is a symbol of “white supremacy.” Personally… I’m tired of being told how I should think about every little thing. We’ve gone too far. xoxo, Brenda
Lisa
October 23, 2018 at 10:31 PMThanks, Brenda! There definitely ARE downsides to faux fur, which is why I love brands that manufacture in Europe (instead of China) and brands that are REACH certified, like Helen Moore. There aren’t many… and definitely not my Mango coat from last year! I have a love/hate relationship with PETA. They do a lot of good, but they also do a lot of harm. xx
Porcelina
October 23, 2018 at 10:24 PMThank you for highlighting an ethical UK brand – I struggle to find many that fit my aesthetic! Love your bag, so much fun. (Did you see their slippers?! Like the Honeymonster!)
Lisa
October 23, 2018 at 10:28 PMI adore the bag; so does everyone else… it is amazing how many compliments it gets! Yes, I’ve seen the slippers, aren’t they fab?! xx
Anna Marcus
October 26, 2018 at 4:44 AMI totally understand how this bag ended up in your wardrobe, it’s simply gorgeous
Lisa
October 29, 2018 at 2:03 PMI’m so thrilled with it! Thank you, Anna! xx
No Fear of Fashion
October 26, 2018 at 3:30 PMMan, you couldn’t have found a better background for this gorgeous colourful outfit. I am in favour. Love all the items. Funny how your glitter shoes are always right for any outfit. Your bag is playful and colourful. I went to the website and saw some wonderful stuff, like scarves and those wrist warmers. They will change an outfit completely.
Greetje
Lisa
October 29, 2018 at 2:03 PMI know, that was lucky, wasn’t it? I could have been a dark charming hotel with poor lighting! Yes, glitter is a neutral, and these shoes are a perfect example of that, aren’t they? xx
notdressedaslamb
October 30, 2018 at 5:10 PMFirst of all: Top marks for the expression “fashion truffles” – I LOVE that!!
Secondly: the furry rainbow bag! Thirdly: the combination of blue (faux fur) and yellow! Fourthly: the location!! Okay, getting silly now…
Just all round gorgeousness, oh brightly coloured sparkly one. I remember you finding the bag, and I know how happy it made you! It’s a happy bag fo sho 😉
Catherine x
Lisa
November 18, 2018 at 1:16 PMHahaha thank you Catherine, I’m glad you like fashion truffles! I’m so sick in love with this bag, I’m scared of wearing it out! xx
Little Red
October 31, 2018 at 4:42 AMThe hats look promising. I’ll definitely check them out some more.
Lisa
November 18, 2018 at 1:14 PMIn your East coast winter weather, they’d probably do really well! xx
Emma Peach
November 25, 2018 at 11:52 PMSuch a gorgeous bag Lisa! You can see on the photos that it’s really good quality faux fur. I may have to add it to my Christmas list 😉 Love the blue collar with the yellow coat!
Emma xxx
http://www.style-splash.com
Lisa
November 27, 2018 at 12:15 PMThanks Emma! I’ve got a few things from Helen Moore on my wish list at the moment. xxx