2023-07-24 15:00
One of the enduring qualities of cottagecore is not the floral print dresses or picnics in the garden, but rather the emphasis on a quiet life well lived. The aspirations of a typical cottag… Read More
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A Clothes Horse Blog
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vivaia
A young filly rambling through fashion, style, photography and randomness.
2023-05-29 15:00
Want to learn some fairy lore while I make little fairy cakes? A few years ago I made tiny cakes for a picnic in the orchard. I spent a lot of time making the cakes and decorating them with… Read More
2023-05-08 15:00
*this post was originally shared on my Patreon page, click here to become a patron
I often get asked how I identify different plants and flowers so I thought I would put together a few tips… Read More
2023-04-25 21:51
If you've ever wondered what rural Ireland looks like in early spring, then this video provides a good peek into the Irish countryside. Loads of wildflowers in bloom and birdsong filli… Read More
2023-04-10 19:04
Happy spring! I’m trying my hand at the old long form video stuff again and I hope you enjoyed this glimpse at what early spring looks like in my corner of the world. I find romanticiz… Read More
2023-03-27 15:00
My spring capsule collection with Nour & the Merchant is officially available for sale, so I thought I'd take a moment to talk about the collection and inspiration behind each piece. It'… Read More
2023-02-01 16:00
*This post was originally shared on my Patreon page. For more regular blog posts, exclusive content, downloads, and more become a patron!I often hear people talk about winter solstice or spr… Read More
2022-11-29 16:13
When I saw these boots on Vivaia I thought “that’ll suit me down to the ground!” Most of my clothing and footwear leans more towards fashion than function and this is a sac… Read More
2022-11-24 16:00
I don't usually put my whole shop on sale, but I had a lot of requests for a Black Friday Sale so right now you can get 15% off any and all preset packs in my shop! Use code FAREWELLAUTUMN a… Read More
2022-11-18 16:00
Do certain books remind you of specific seasons? Or maybe they just feel appropriate that time of year. There's a lot of books that feel like summer to me--escapism, breaks between school, c… Read More
2022-11-15 16:00
*This post was originally shared on my Patreon page. For more regular posts, exclusive content (preset downloads, monthly wallpapers, handwritten postcards, and more!) please check out my Pa… Read More
2022-10-12 21:51
When Vivaia asked me to wear pink in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October I was stumped at first. I love wearing pink in spring, but in autumn my color palette really shifts to… Read More
2022-09-30 15:00
I’ve been getting so many questions on my corsets lately that I thought the best way to answer this question is by writing a proper post on the topic—since I don’t exclusiv… Read More
2022-09-27 15:00
All good things come to an end, and so it with heavy heart that I have to share that my collection with Nour & the Merchant is being retired. This means all of the pieces we designed tog… Read More
2022-08-16 15:00
So often when I see people discussing cottagecore clothes I see the same brands being mentioned time and time again--and while those brands are classic for a reason, there's a lot of little… Read More
2022-07-01 15:00
Inspiration for my latest capsule collection with Nour & the Merchant began with the phrase “pretty but deadly.” I was reading a lot of folktales and stories about the f… Read More
2022-06-25 17:52
One question I get asked again and again is: what should I bring with me on my holiday to Ireland? I always hesitate to give advice on packing because try as I might, I am far from an effici… Read More
2022-06-20 15:00
When I shared my cakes last spring with the edible flowers on them I got so many comments about “was I really going to eat those cakes with the flowers on them?!” And the answer… Read More
2022-06-08 15:00
I still hesitate to call myself a local in Ireland despite living here for seven years, however I do have the benefit of a true local (my husband) to offer travel advice. We’ve visited… Read More
2022-05-17 16:18
File these under: utterly impractical but equally delightful. A handpainted candle that is so pretty you'd probably never want to burn it has to be one of the least necessary home goods, but… Read More
2022-03-01 16:00
According to Celtic calendars spring starts in February with Imbolc; the midway point between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. It always still feels like winter to me until at lea… Read More
2022-01-31 16:00
While January turns most of the countryside to a bleak landscape of grey and browns, there is one magical wood near me that always stays green. The trees are towering evergreens only allowin… Read More
2021-12-15 16:00
One of my favorite posts to write last year was my Cottagecore Christmas list because it was a lovely excuse to bookmark my favorite things to put on my own list! Whenever I think of the the… Read More
2021-12-13 16:00
These days most of my focus has been on growing my Patreon page and creating exclusive content for patrons. It's a wonderful way to access unique posts you won't see anywhere else and a plat… Read More
2021-11-24 16:00
In the last few years I’ve tried to switch to a more ethical wardrobe; cutting out as much fast fashion as I could and investing in more sustainable brands. When shopping more mindfull… Read More
2021-11-15 16:00
November has been a fairly mild month thus far, which means we're halfway through the month but the trees are still full of colorful leaves and I can get away in a cozy cardigan rather than… Read More
2021-11-12 16:00
“In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit… Read More
2021-10-27 15:00
I always like seeing the new collections every season from my favorite independent brands. It's fun to see the new pieces they've released, but it's also such good styling inspiration. Emmy… Read More
2021-10-25 17:35
Dance of Thieves by Mary E. Pearson follows Kazi, a former street thief turned queen’s guard on a secret mission to find (and steal) a war criminal who has disappeared and to make him… Read More
2021-09-30 15:00
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 colle… Read More
2021-09-13 15:00
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… Read More
2021-09-09 17:24
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 charac… Read More
2021-08-16 15:00
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 als… Read More
2021-08-02 15:00
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 y… Read More
2021-07-30 15:00
A recent work trip took us to County Cork where we stumbled across this gem of a manor house you can stay in! Thomas really is an expert at finding romantic, quirky getaway locations and Gle… Read More
2021-07-23 15:00
Irish wolfhounds have been one of my dream dogs for nearly as a long as I can remember. I’m not even sure when or why I got the idea that I would love a wolfhound, but since I was fair… Read More
2021-06-23 15:00
I got this Agrimony linen chemise last autumn and styled it quite simply then, but it's the sort of piece that is so handy to have in your closet for how it pairs with other pieces. I tend t… Read More
2021-06-21 15:00
Happy Midsummer! The days are long, the entire countryside is verdant, and the air is heady with the scent of elderflower. Today we'll walk the dog between breaks in work and maybe this even… Read More
2021-06-15 15:00
Today I'm sharing five different ways to style one of the dresses from my capsule collection! I originally designed the Thimbleweed dress with Nour & the Merchant with white linen in min… Read More
2021-06-14 15:00
While I wear every color of the rainbow, I have to say yellow is my favorite to wear. It's always such a happy color. I don't always find pieces I love in yellow however, so I was very excit… Read More
2021-06-07 17:38
I love clothes that reference my interests without being too obvious about it. For example, I want to wear clothes that remind me of libraries but I'm not as excited about a tee that reads "… Read More
2021-06-03 15:40
I'm always impressed by Emmy Design Sweden's collections; they're consistently rooted in the past and yet still feel timely and fresh every season. This spring/summer collection titled "Home… Read More
2021-05-31 15:00
Have you heard of the Irish pirate queen Grace O'Malley (Gráinne Ní Mháille)? While the story of her life seems like something from folklore, Grace O'Malley was a real p… Read More
2021-05-29 15:00
If you've been following my blog for any length of time you've probably noticed I love linen. There's a lot of reasons for this; as a natural fiber it's very comfortable to wear, it's also a… Read More
2021-05-26 15:00
When I saw Voriagh's spring/summer collection I immediately got hobbit vibes from the clothes. Voriagh has always been a folk inspired brand, in fact many of their pieces are made with local… Read More
2021-05-26 14:19
I started work on this filter pack last summer, but it took me until this spring to get the filters exactly how I wanted them! The Cottagecore Filter Pack is inspired by everything cottageco… Read More
2021-05-24 15:50
I shared the story behind the Leannan Sidhe dress from my capsule collection last week, but did you know the full collection is online now? You can shop it at Nour and the Merchant and… Read More
2021-05-21 15:00
I started work on this filter pack last summer, but it took me until this spring to get the filters exactly how I wanted them! The Cottagecore Filter Pack is inspired by everything cottageco… Read More
2021-05-18 15:00
My limited edition capsule collection is officially for sale at Nour & the Merchant! You can click here to shop the whole slow fashion line, ethically made in Italy. I'm so excited about… Read More
2021-05-14 18:59
I try to draw attention to different independent brands and if there's one brand I think you'll love if you follow my blog, it is: Celtic Fusion Design. Celtic Fusion Design is an… Read More
2021-05-10 15:00
One style of dress I've really been wanting for a few years now is a classic linen dress with folk inspired embroidery. These styles are so timeless and feel right at home with my aesthetic… Read More
2021-05-05 15:00
While the term cottagecore has gained popularity in the last few years, there's a number of creators who fit this aesthetic quite well who have been creating beautiful work long before that… Read More
2021-05-01 15:00
Happy May Day! Exciting news! I've been quietly working on a capsule collection with Nour & the Merchant and it will be available to purchase in May! Working on this collection has been… Read More
2021-04-26 18:25
Ballet flats are a staple for me every spring and summer--I usually even try to keep wearing them into autumn although my feet get pretty cold! Finding a good flat can be tricky, especially… Read More
2021-04-23 15:00
There is a sort of magic in watching the trees transform from bare branches to laden with blossom; to see the woods transform from brown leaves and frozen puddles to a blanket of thimbleweed… Read More
2021-04-16 15:00
These days I blog more at Patreon so I thought I'd share a peek into what's been happening on Patreon lately. So far this month I've shared inspiration in the form of classic paintings that… Read More
2021-04-06 15:00
One of the biggest struggles I've found when switching to a more handmade, ethical wardrobe from independent shops is finding those shops. The big brands have big budgets and a lot of visibi… Read More
2021-04-02 18:43
I just added a new preset pack to my shop and this is a special one because it's a sampling of all my favorite presets from previous packs. Not only are these my favorites but they're also t… Read More
2021-03-31 15:00
Last summer I asked if selkiecore was a thing. With all of the different aesthetics emerging I felt like selkiecore could be a really lovely one. I love selkies because they are such a fun m… Read More
2021-03-23 16:00
I’m not a huge fan of fairytale retellings—at least not of the standard fairytales. Frankly there’s just so many versions of Beauty and the Beast or Cinderella, and those f… Read More
2021-03-11 16:00
I started following a few different foragers and “wild eaters” on Tiktok and they’ve really inspired me to explore my woodland areas a bit more thoroughly. I always think o… Read More
2021-03-08 16:00
Spring is slowly starting to emerge in our region...and I do mean slowly. Despite the beautiful display of this rhododendron bush most of the countryside is still a bit brown and grey. Still… Read More
2021-02-19 16:00
Snowdrops have started to peek up in our garden which has made me hopeful for spring being around the corner, but winter doesn't seem quite ready to let go. No sooner had our own wee snowdro… Read More
2021-02-08 16:00
Did you know there are castles you can stay in when you visit Ireland? There are massive castle hotels and miniature castle B&Bs, but perhaps the most unique and fun experience is to be… Read More
2021-01-04 16:00
We're continuing the annual tradition of Thomas sharing his favorite pictures from the past year. He's more happy as the man behind the scenes helping with some of my photographs and always… Read More
2020-12-21 18:00
One of my favorite new brands that I just discovered this year has to be Nour and the Merchant. They're a slow fashion brand based out of Italy that is inspired by fairytales...so pretty muc… Read More
2020-12-18 15:00
I’m not one for gift guides generally. Most of my friends and family have specific things they want or need, or I’ll buy things for them throughout the year that I know they&rsqu&hell…Read More
2020-11-24 16:00
One of my favorite brands that really nails classic, cottagecore style dresses and always has the sweetest prints is Princess Highway. Since the brand is based in Australia their seasons are… Read More
2020-11-21 16:00
Autumn has faded in my corner of the world. There's barely any leaves on the trees anymore and the days grow ever shorter and colder. This season of copper trees lingers on a wee bit longer… Read More
2020-11-16 16:00
When I shared some stories in this skirt on Instagram recently I got so many questions about it I figured it was time to do a remix, because if you read this blog regularly--you have seen th… Read More
2020-11-13 16:00
Do you remember by "stylish movies" post on The Mummy (1999 version of course!) I wrote last year? I consider Evie a big style influence, but you might not always be able to tell from my out… Read More
2020-11-11 16:00
There's an old poem that goes something like, "no fruits, no leaves, no birds--November!" While I quite like that turn of phrase I've never found it to be accurate for Ireland. The berries a… Read More
2020-11-09 17:54
I like bringing bits of nature home with me, broken robin egg shells, funny little sticks with moss growing on them that look like wands, silver dollar plants, and even handfuls of golden wh… Read More
2020-11-03 16:00
I've always loved the Pre-Raphaelites, but this is the closest I've come to feeling as if I could step into one of their paintings. You can often see my love for that era in my photographs… Read More
2020-11-02 16:00
Emmy Design Sweden is one of my all-time favorite vintage-inspired fashion designers. I've changed up what shops and brands I wear in the last few years partially in an effort to shop more e… Read More
2020-10-30 16:00
When my forest green cape by Nour and the Merchant arrived I was so excited to put it on and go forth like an elegant elfin lady...but my genetics said "hobbit." Still, even though I might b… Read More
2020-10-26 16:00
I was first introduced to Cicely Mary Barker's Flower Fairies when I was a child; I loved fairies and my parents would buy me fairy books and little figurines--Cicely Mary Barker's fairies i… Read More
2020-10-23 15:00
We stumbled across the Great Dixter Gardens while we were visiting 1066 Country in England a few weeks back. I love exploring old manor houses and gardens, so this was a lovely wee gem to wa… Read More
2020-10-21 15:00
A few weeks back we were invited over to England by VisitBritain, for the weekend to explore a bit of what 1066 Country has to offer. The region is best known for the Battle of Hastings whic… Read More
2020-10-17 15:00
For me, fashion has really always been about personal style and a way of expressing myself and growing in confidence. Back when I started to develop my personal style I didn’t have a l… Read More
2020-10-15 19:07
I haven't always loved autumn but in the last few years it has become my favorite season. Part of this is due to Thomas's enthusiasm for autumn; did you ever notice how someone else's passio… Read More
2020-10-13 15:00
When Visit Britain got in touch to take part in their Escape the Everyday campaign I was quite excited because so many of my favorite trips in the last few years have been local ones. The Un… Read More
2020-10-06 15:00
Autumn is in full swing in our region. Nearly all the apples are picked on my in-laws' farm, the Victoria plum season has passed, although a few wild berries and damsons can still be found g… Read More
2020-09-30 15:00
If there's two things I'd call staples in my autumn wardrobe it would be: pinafores and foxy things. If I added a third non-clothing item it would also be pumpkins! I love when my house is o… Read More
2020-09-22 15:28
My senior prom dress was nothing special. I attended an all girls school my senior year and as such, almost none of my friends had dates and a big group of us agreed to go together. My mothe… Read More
2020-09-19 15:00
What’s your favorite fairytale creature? I have a soft spot for swan maidens and selkies, but I also really like the classic unicorn myth. It’s interesting that we often think of… Read More
2020-09-11 07:00
September has been off to a busy, but lovely start. The days are starting to get shorter and there's a scattering of golden leaves on the ground outside our home even though most of the tree… Read More
2020-09-07 07:00
I've always liked vintage inspired dresses although I didn't start dressing in vintage inspired looks until I was in college. I think it started with all of the old films I grew up watching;… Read More
2020-09-03 07:00
One of my favorite castles has to be Kinbane. It's precariously placed on a small limestone headland jutting into the sea; the only remaining tower of the castle stands above a sea cave and… Read More
2020-08-25 17:27
August marks the start of harvest season in my region. I feel like we often associate harvest and autumn with later months, but Lughnasa used to be celebrated here on August 1st and accordin… Read More
2020-08-14 15:00
I launched my Patreon at the start of this year and since then I've share more than 90 exclusive posts and dozens of downloadable wallpapers every month. At the start Patreon felt like an ex… Read More
2020-08-10 15:00
Did you know I offer one-on-one social media coaching sessions now? I started offering them quietly a few months ago and have really been enjoying them. I used to shy away from giving social… Read More
2020-07-31 15:00
We spent a couple of days up along the Antrim Coast over the weekend. It was part of a trip we planned to take with my parents when they visited me this summer, but as that trip couldn't hap… Read More
2020-07-20 15:00
I used to think it was really hard to find ethical fashion brands that fit my style. I liked the idea of shopping ethically and sustainably but it felt intimidating too; part of me still shi… Read More
2020-07-17 15:00
Most of the flowers in the woods have faded by now, the bluebells are a distant memory and the elderflower only a shadow on the hedgerows. In their place new wildflowers had blossomed along… Read More
2020-07-15 15:00
Many people suggested A Court of Thorns and Roses to me, so I’m very hesitant reviewing it because my review is sadly not glowing…in fact I was really disappointed by this book… Read More
2020-07-14 15:00
When you love vintage inspired linen dresses your closet often toes the line between costume and everyday wear. I rarely feel like I'm in a costume in my favorite dresses, but I know to othe… Read More
2020-07-08 15:00
This summer I've really into the cottagecore aesthetic more than ever before, it helps that cottagecore basically aligns with my ideal lifestyle--a quiet life in the country appreciating nat… Read More
2020-07-02 18:29
We spotted these foxgloves across a stream while out walking with Solomon and made a mental note to go back and try to get a few pictures of them--most of my locations these days are found w… Read More
2020-06-30 15:00
I have a thing for pretty books. I mean I don't buy a book by it's cover, but a pretty cover is definitely a plus. If I already know I love a book, then I'll usually try to buy a nice editio… Read More
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