Tuesday 27 March 2012

Familiarity Breeds Contempt

a few treasures i saved...


my first McQueen scarf

treasured vintage bag...too many memories!

my sunglasses collection

the treasured mink

hooker shoes

my vintage collection

In my case the old adage is rather true... You see this coming Friday I am kissing goodbye to my nomadic gypsy-esque lifestyle of moving from home to home every year. I am committing myself to a boy and to a new way of life. For many years I have been happily ensconced in a life of independence, relying solely on myself and answering to no one. However the whole packing up, moving and rotating housemate thing has, unsurprisingly become so tedious I would rather wear head-to-toe corduroy than endure another soulless house share. I have shared living space with people, mice and slugs (yuck!) and enough is enough!

Much to my hoarder sadness this has meant downsizing my vast quantities of tat and my wardrobe! A tear will be shed as I relegate some of my much loved collection of vintage and high street to charity shops and eBay. You see I have a tendency to covet things, even if it is falling apart and in need of love, care and repair. I am still refusing to chuck my darling mink coat with pellets falling away due to age and many loving owners. Anyone who knows me, or has lived with me, will tell you I have enough stuff to warrant its own postcode. However I owe it to the boy to allow him space in our home too.
The aim of my 2012 is to change some of my old familiar habits, and sadly my penchant for collecting all things fashion related is one of these. I will have to teach myself to be selective and keep only the most treasured things... I have decided to share a few of these with you my dear readers.
I am very much looking forward to moving in with my lovely boy...and kissing goodbye to the last slither of my singleton cupcake. I am looking forward to the prospect of downsizing my life (and shoe collection as it is taking over my house) and sharing it. I'm sure I'll never lose my ability to hoard so much eventually I won't be able to reach my front door...but I'll have to compromise. So here is to familiarity breeding contempt...and a desire for change and new beginnings.

Tuesday 20 March 2012

The girl with the coolest name in the world.





Meet Levi (the title speaks the truth, I want her name!) she loves music and singing. She is inspired by Alexa Chung and Zooey Deschanel. I just love the way this outfit has been put together, with the layers of varying lengths, and the mannish brogues and shearling aviator jacket. I especially love that her suitcase was free.

Friday 16 March 2012

My friend Andrew...












I have never done a style profile before, but over the coming months I plan on celebrating the sartorial wonderment of my nearest and dearest. Meet my first subject Andrew... he has a burgeoning passion for champagne, Chanel, anything that involves Marie Antoinette or Madame de Pampadour. Oh and let's not forget macaroons and black. I chose Andrew because he chooses to merely wear black. No compromises. Nope, none at all. I respect this, I think he manages to look edgy, stylish, directional and minimal all at once. Simply by avoiding colour or anything that isn't black. I love the ritual, and regimentality (is that even a word? it is now) of it all. I find it as fascinating as eclecticism and sheer unadulterated fashion cray cray (see Anna Piaggi, Anna dello Russo, Susie Lau and Iris Apfel for the polar opposite of Andrew.) When I think all black I picture Carine Roitfeld, Jil Sander and Mrs Prada who have all been known to rock a total black look. Now as you may know I am a fan of clashing prints, colour, and general mish-mash...but I am also a big lover of the art of minimalism. That has what brought me to Andrew. He is my only friend who has sacrificed themselves sartorially. Well, at least he is never worried if a purchase won't go with anything he already owns.

I captured his general fabulosity (thanks Ms Lee Simmons for that one) at his flat, which in total contrast is all white. I love that in his own surroundings his general disdain for colour is also present. Andrew collects Chanel and has a profound knowledge of the house that Coco built...as well as a love for the Renaissance and anyone donning a big wig. He also lives on a diet that consists of pastry and champagne which I find utterly decadent, and almost as dedicated as his aesthetic leanings, and for this I have utmost respect (I am also secretly jealous. I only have to sniff pastry and I'm half a stone fatter). He showed me his collection of Chanel books and dazzled me with giant cups of tea, tarte au citron and his culinary skills. I have included a few snapshots of his darling abode to help build a picture of the man himself. Here is to Andrew, and living life only in two shades. Let them eat cake!

X

Wednesday 14 March 2012

A lesson in leopard...






This is Miz. I chased her down the street to capture her for the blog. I loved her. We stopped and had a proper chat, like long lost buddies and it was one of the loveliest moments ever... I walked to the bus stop wishing she was my friend. Miz is inspired by art nouveau, eclecticism and Vivienne Westwood. She has had her adorable horse earrings since she was little.

"I used to be a goth kid...so I'm inspired by the fact I'm no longer a goth. I love colour. I just throw things on."

We bonded over the fact we are always the ones being asked "what are you wearing?" by friends, still wearing childhood jewellery and getting sideways glances from strangers. Thank you Miz, for being such a marvellous subject.

Monday 12 March 2012

An affair to remember...


Celine



Yves Saint Laurent



Lanvin



Chloe



Carven



Alexander McQueen



Chanel






*Firstly, I do apologise that this is one big visual, fashion porn photo fest...but i'm a visual girl and these images best illustrate my point. Oh, and they are lovely to look at!!

For me every season, every fashion month I always have two favourite weeks...I think I made it clear my first love is London. However I am a naughty two timer and have secret fetish for gay pareeeee! Paris fashion week is the sultry, chic older sister that the younger, edgier eclectic London looks up to and longs to look like once her Mary Katrantzou obsession has waned. If the ensembles of London are what you wear to impress other women and to get you snapped by a fashion blogger, Paris looks are what you wear to simply get laid.

This fashion month has been a rather emotional one for me as some of my much adored designers have left their posts. Sadly Paris wasn't left out of the equation... Since Tom Ford's dramatic departure as Creative Director of Gucci and YSL there has been only one great emperor to claim his throne... The marvel that is Stefano Pilati. I have adored every season and my adoration for YSL has only grown under Stefano's tenure. But alas he is leaving, and his final collection didn't disappoint. I'm sure Monsieur Saint Laurent would have been delighted with what he achieved. Despite reviving an iconic brand and making it covetable for all kinds of lady (and inventing the iconic Tribute shoe and some of the most IT bags of the it bag phenomenon) he managed to keep the spirit of the brand's namesake well and truly alive...as well as making the Parisienne sultry as well as chic. Stefano I will miss you.

Next onto the four C's. Chanel, Carven, Céline and Chloe. Pretty much nearly all of my favourite shows every season. I love the twee Coco classicism of Chanel that Karl has spent much of his career emulating and keeping alive. As well as creating some of the MOST sought after handbags of our generation. I love the gentle, sweet and chic cool that is going on at Carven...making the old couture house covetable again. And proving that French brands are the go-to for well priced, effortless casual wear. Then there are Phoebe Philo's power houses Chloe and Céline. Claire Waight-Keller has picked up where Phoebe left off after Hannah McGibbon's stunning - yet short lived- tenure, and she had finally come into her own.
Don't even get me started on Céline...I would sell my soul and all my worldly posessions for some of this brand. Philo had created the perfect wardrobe for any woman wanting to look sleek, edgy, well put together and generally wonderful. Oh and the handbags! In a few short seasons she has made the minimal, timeless handbags the most wanted leather goods on the planet. Here is to the four C's... C is definitely for chic, covetable and cool...

Next I would like to celebrate the wonder that is Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen. For me it feels like the namesake of the brand never left. Burton has proved herself to be a talent to be reconed with...as well as the designer of THAT wedding dress. If Lee McQueen was dark, and pensive...inspired by Shakespearean tragedies and the concept of fashion as art, Burton is his ethereal, haunting and bold other side. She has managed to capture the genius, and unbelievable raw talent that nobody could tame and polished it. Despite it not being 'him' anymore I still anticipate the collections...it won't ever be the same again but she has evolved and developed the brand in a way that I feel Alexander McQueen would be so proud of. A way that had kept his name alive.

Last but not least...and over to Alber Elbaz and his 10 year anniversary celebrations at Lanvin. It involved cake and Alber singing "Que sera sera." for me the collection wasn't a rehash of the past 10 years classics... But a celebration of the magic that he has created at the house of the great couturier Jeanne Lanvin. For me Alber has brought a sexy, iconic, draped look to the house that is all his own. I love the statement jewellery, bold jewel tones and lashings of draping and silk. The best part...for all the chic, minimal edge of brands such as APC, Carven and Céline... Lanvin brings a sultry, feminine prowess to Paris.

So there you go... A reason why Paris stole my heart.

Until next season...
Xoxo

All images courtesy of style.com

Sunday 11 March 2012

The law of accessories...

I am a simple girl when it comes to accessories. There are a few rules I stick by...the main one being "more is more." I like to make a statement with my jewels and recently my main inspiration seems to be Mr T and rude girls. If it looks like I would send an airport metal detector into overdrive chances are I'll buy two, oh and wear them both at once! I also have a thing for pearls... But by wearing piles of them I feel it looks more edgy Parisienne rather than twee grandma. I like the way that this attitude to accessorising adds a quirky juxtaposition to an otherwise minimal or sophisticated outfit. If money were no object I'd be piled high in Mawi, Lanvin and vintage YSL or Chanel from Susan Caplan. All of these brands inspire my accessories look every season as they are the best at statement accessories. I like to think one day I'll grow up and look more haute couture than haphazard bag lady, but for the moment I'm thoroughly enjoying the ride.

Another rule I live by is "vintage, vintage, vintage!" Some of the best pieces I've loved (and lost) have been vintage. It's brilliant quality, as I find it tends to tarnish less than new purchases. Secondly, I love the idea of of my accessories being unique and me not looking like every other girl.

My last rule is one bold accessory or the other. I never pile high with more than one type, for instance if I'm rocking door knocker creole earrings I either don't wear anything else or if I do I keep it super super minimal. So if I'm belting my waist, no piles of pearls and gold. If might sound contradictory but I make a BOLD statement, just in one way.

So there you have...the laws of finishing off my look.

Friday 9 March 2012

all play and no work...




a lesson in minimalism... love her.

when only Hermes will do...



I went to a little champagne soaked trend presentation at work this week. there was champagne, there were macaroons and there was fashion. what more could a girl want?! i couldn't help myself and captured a couple of the fabulous folk there. ENJOY!!

*handy tip. adding Converse and an Hermes pocket square will jazz up any suit. don't he look smashing?!

Thursday 8 March 2012

The final curtain.














There is only one show I want to comment on from Milan Fashion Week. And that dear readers is Jil Sander. The first thing I noticed was the flowers...there was something almost funereal about them. As if not only was the farewell reflected in the collection, but the prop styling too. The bittersweet irony of it being one of Raf Simons' strongest collections was that it was to be the last... He wanted to embody a relationship in a collection. Sadly, from the last few looks it was clearly one that turned sour... Embodied with a delicate pastel beginning, a burst of passionate fiery red... Lastly black with flashes of shiny, hard PVC. I adored it all. I loved the delicate pinks, nudes, pale greys and coffee that kicked off the whole affair in simple, 1940s couture silhouettes (this was after all the final installment of his couture trilogy.) There were Raf-like flashes of silver silk on nude slips and bold panels of red on nude coloured dresses too. My favourite pieces were the Cristobal Balenciaga-esque cocoon coats clutched shut by models hands at their chests... The sudden dark ending with stunning black gowns brought it all to a sad, dramatic end. After hearing of the return of the brand's namesake to the fold, it's safe to say Raf will be a hard act to follow. In seven years he created a stunning, effortless and edgy side to the brand, making it a show to look forward to every season... And a brand I came to adore and covet once again.

all images courtesy of style.com