Chinti and Parker Collaboration

I was incredibly flattered - and ridiculously excited - when my all time favourite cashmere label Chinti and Parker asked if I would like to collaborate with them. Here is some of what they've just posted on their blog.

Willow Crossley, author and blogger, wears Chinti’s One Pocket Sweater

Bloggers don’t come much better packaged or qualified than Willow Crossley of Willow Rose Boutique. The very definition of English Rose with an enviable fashion figure, she’s also a twice published author and influential style blogger. Oh, and did we mention she has a penchant for Chinti? We caught up with her for a little insight into what makes her tick on the style front.

Willow glams up in Chinti’s Mirror Fleck Skirt and Printed Pocket T

Tell us a bit about your blog, Willow Rose Boutique, and what inspires it?

I started my blog when we moved to the South of France and I needed some kind of a creative outlet.  I’d left my job in London and wanted to write.  So I started blogging about my daily life, my finds – things I love and it all started from there. I’m inspired by everything – interiors, fashion, my two small boys, food, people, nature.

How would you define your personal style?

A bit of a mix. One day I’ll do floaty, pretty, girly and the next I’ll be in boyfriend jeans, a baggy jumper and high-tops. In a dream world I would only wear bohemian floaty, 70′s-inspired paisley numbers, but it’s too cold for that here.  And wearing long styles around the boys just doesn’t work! My everyday get up at the moment is a mini woollen kilt, Chinti cashmere jumper and Isabel Marant flat boots. Comfort and warmth is very high on my agenda.

Chinti’s Elbow Patch Sweater gets the eclectic treatment

Do you have any golden rules when it comes to dressing well? 

I try and only wear things that make feel comfortable – If I feel self-conscious and uncomfortable I can never really concentrate on anything else.

You mentioned you have a second book coming out. Could you tell us a bit about this? 

It’s called ‘Inspire’ and is coming out in March, published with CICO books. It’s an interiors and lifestyle book that (hopefully) inspires you to bring nature into your home as a way of decorating.

Every day chic in our Breton T

Who is your ultimate style icon?

I think Clemence Poesy always look great.  Nicole Ritchie in her boho days. The Isabel Marant catwalk models.  Vogue’s Lucinda Chambers.  Jenna Lyons creative director of J Crew.  Is that too many?!

Lastly, which are you favourite pieces from Chinti and Parker’s AW13 collection?

I adore the slouchy boatneck jumpers – especially the navy and cream with the pink pocket.  The Aran jumpers are ridiculously luxurious and I also love the neon patched pieces.

www.chintiandparker.com/blog/willow-style

Knitwear Edit

I love the fact that it's now October.  Despite September heralding the end of holidays and start of school, to me it's definitely still a summer month.  I got excited when it got cold for the first time a few weeks ago and excitedly put on my thickest tights, wooly kilt and my two most missed favorite cashmere layers.  Hours later the sun had decided to reappear and I was left in the middle of Oxford, sweltering in my winter get up. Now it's October I feel I can count on real, proper, crisp, cold days.  Time to bring out the thickest, polar arctic ready wardrobe.

Every day my emails are full of visionary new winter layers with my name all over them. The problem is that everything seems to cost a million pounds.  When did everything get so ridiculously expensive?

 I've done a bit editing to bring you my top favourites.

Madeleine Thompson 
cashmere split side jumper.

Me & Em 

chunky cashmere scarf.

Chinti and Parker 

Pink pocket vision.

Duffy 

Cashmere poncho from London-Boutiques.

Celine 

Zara handmade cape.

Madeleine Thompson 

Colour block cashmere.

Chinti and Parker

Neon elbow, navy cashmere cardigan. 

www.meandem.com

www.chintiandparker.com

www.asos.com

www.netaporter.com

www.london-boutiques.com

www.zara.com

All I Want For Christmas..

I am so happy that it's finally December. I've been feeling very Christmasy this year and cant wait to turn the house into one big sparkly nest. The Christmas tree is coming next week and I've been collecting so many beautiful baubles, I'm hoping it's going to be nothing short of visionary.

Until that Cub gets his hands on it.

As usual I've been compiling present lists since July. So far this is what I'm hoping for..

1.

Top top top of my list is a month long holiday. Somewhere preferably sun and sea based.

2.

A jewel encrusted Mulberry bag

3.

A Woolrich parka. I've wanted for one for years and was so close to buying a red tartan one last year from the Bluebird. Navy's probably a better colour choice though.

4.

A vintage striped Balenciaga motorcycle bag. I've been desperate for one ever since Nicole Richie was swinging one around a few years ago.

5.

Starry Barnaby Gates wallpaper

6.

We are in desperate need of lamps. I'm loving these two below, both from Graham and Green.

7.

Anything and everything from Indian antiques heaven, Opium.

8.

A years subscription to Not Another Bill

9.

Hattie Rickards's Octo Ring.

10.

An Odd Rocker.

11.

Chinti and Parker cashmere starry jumper. Or anything from Chinti and Parker.

12.

Some more Stella days of the week pants. My current Tuesday and Saturdays have seen better days.

13.

Some Tribal rugs from Odd

14.

Jasmine Pebble soap from Bamford.

15.

I cant think of anything better than chucking out all my make up and starting again. This Bobbi Brown trunk full of their all their prods would make me the happiest person on the planet.

16.

My stationary supplies are dwindling and I love these flamingo fanices from Singapore's Ribbons and Roses.

16.

A heavenly fairy from Magpie and the Wardrobe for the top of our tree.

Chinti & Parker

You know that feeling when you come across an item of clothing in a shop and it's just made for you? It has your name all over it. It doesn't matter how much it costs, how it was made, you have to have it.

I was trying to have a nice, leisurely shop this weekend in the Bluebird but the Cub, as always, was having none of it. Every time I came remotely close to picking something up, he would push something over or threaten to wipe his sticky little hands on the most spanking white item he could find. I was about to give up and then I saw it. The most divine, perfect, cashmere stripy jumper ever seen on the planet. I don't think a more perfect, more me jumper could have even been dreamt about. Within about four milli seconds I was wearing it and admiring it in front of the mirror -this of which was now being licked by the Cub. In stroll Chaz and my brother Ned who don't even bat an eyelid at the gorgeous-ness of the jumper. Apparently, it looks like 'the other identical ten' I already own. At that moment, Cub started throwing thousand pound scarves on the floor and so I had to escort him out of the shop, empty handed I might add.

Since then I've been doing a spot of investigating. The stripy vision is from a gorgeous little company called Chinti & Parker. Based in London, two cousins have set up the company which creates gorgeous, luxury basics. Think perfect t.shirts, vests and jumpers. Everything is very simple, no crazy logos or prints. Just perfect shapes and lovely little details. Lots of elbow patches, pockets - a bit of coloured stitching on a button type thing.

Obviously, all in the name of research, a rather gorgeous stripy sailor top I won on ebay has just popped through my door and is heavenly. You can see Alexa modelling it nicely for me below.

Cashmere jumpers. Elbow patches and buttons

Alexa Chung wearing my new ebay t.shirt

www.chintiandparker.com