It’s the feasting season, when we fill our bellies with rich cheeses, boozy puddings and potatoes roasted in goose fat. There’s only one way to dress, and that’s in an elasticated waist. I’m a huge fan of Ace & Jig, and these gaucho pants are my kind of trouser. Pair them with a shimmery top, and you’re ready for Christmas Day lunch.
When I think of master mixers of colour and print, it’s Dries van Noten and Kenzo that spring to mind. My Mum wore a lot of Kenzo when I was a child, and she’s worn a fair amount of Dries in the last decade. She has the right personality for both brands. “The number one rule of fashion is that there are no rules,” Dries has said time and time again. It’s hard to be original and free in your sartorial choices when you’re constrained by rules. These images from Russian Photographer, Olga Volkova Tuponogova are startlingly rich and textured in their embrace of print and colour. And anything that Stella Jean creates gets my vote. Now, there’s a designer who lets heart and humour lead the way. And of course, there’s Erdem, another master mixer. The fabrics, patterns, palette and mood of Moralioglu’s pre Fall 2017 is utterly dreamy.
Every now and then, I’ll scroll through pictures and stories from a chic Vogue wedding . The dresses! The flowers! The guest list! The energy and love at stylist Solange Franklin’s wedding to Brian Reed is palapable. And I love her whole look. “We had such a rowdy hora that we broke one of the beautiful vintage chairs we rented for the day,” she said. “We lied and told our rental place we didn’t know how it broke, but the truth is it’s because at the end we both sat in it together as our guests hoisted us. Anyway, today the one-armed chair sits regally in our bedroom, because we now own it.”
The upside of a flat-as-a-pancake chest is that I can pull off bodices like this dreamy Schiaparelli number. Between the stars and the moon and the Fasiano profile, there’s a lot going on. A cleavage would send it all over the edge. I’m a little smitten with the bodice on this technicolour dress, and this one is to die for. And we’re here picking favourites, let’s talk about the magical winter wonderland that is this champagne beauty.
I’m often on the lookout for little gifts –– a gesture of thanks for a teacher, friend or babysitter –– something small and cheerful that says, “ta very much.” Pouches and clutches are always a hit, and these ones over at Togetherness Design are just lovely. That this is called a dumpling purse, in the shape of little Polish pierogi, makes me like it even more. And this one looks like a Moroccan tile. The illustrations are pretty sweet, too. And who doesn’t need a tea towel with turtles and crocodiles on it?
December is the month for sequins. Add a sequin shoe, or a sparkly collar to your all-black office attire and you’re ready for a Christmas party. I’ve got a sequin cape that I’ve had for years that I may pull out this year. It’s black and deco-inspired and looks just as good over a long sleeved t-shirt as it does a little black dress. This Trompe L’oeil one is very Gucci, and at $40 you could justify bringing it out just once a year.
Not everyone can pull off a t-shirt with an evening gown. There’s something about the cheekiness, levity and insouciance of a high/low mix that gets me every time. It’s why I’m a fan of diamonds with cotton pajamas, ballgowns with All Stars and high street meets haute couture.
I bought a Chanel bag today. It’s black leather and quilted –– oh, and it’s the size of my thumb. It’s part of a line of charming miniatures handmade in Brooklyn by Phillip Nuveen. It even comes with a chic paper bag. It’s a gift for a friend in Athens. She’s got plenty of the real thing, but something tells me she’ll love her tiny version just as much.
I have a long pink coat. It’s the best pink because it’s Schiaparelli pink. The blue and white lining looks like a man’s stripe shirt. The coat has gold nautical buttons along the cuffs. Those, I’m less keen on. I’d like to replace them with red suede ones. Red and pink is one of my favourite clashes. It’s always fun taking a high street purchase and customizing it with your own twist. Buttons transform a coat.
I do love the designs of Louise Misha. Last year, I bought a batik dress from her kid’s line for Iole. If it were a few sizes bigger, I’d steal it often. It’s all very feminine and boho. This little cami in moutarde is delightful as is this embroidered gilet. And don’t get me started on the petite fille peices –– I want to steal them all.
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