Friday 28 May 2010

Summer

I'm starting to feel a little more inspired for summer now, and I'm finding these screencaps of Jane Birkin from the movie 'La Piscine' are capturing my mood perfectly. I want something relaxed and simple, particuarly plain white tees or shirts with denim. Today I managed to get some cuffed denim shorts and some slightly crazy sandals which you can see HERE. I usually like very plain things but I think summer is the one time you can get away with it. So I am almost set! Now I really want to find some lightweight shirts.
Credits: flickr (eatenbythemonster2)/blu-ray.com/fanpop.com/toutlecine.com/theparadox.com/

Wednesday 26 May 2010

My Style 2

So here is the continuation of the list I started in the last post.

4) I try to only wear natural fabrics, and try to buy the best quality I can afford. All the high street shops now do cashmere, or blends, so a little bit of luxury doesn't need to cost a fortune.
5) I love shoes but weirdly have very few...I do have a couple of other shoes but these are my absolute favourites! I wear them to death.
6) I seem to only buy tees that are exactly the same - short sleeve with a scoop neck. The white one is from COS and the black is from James Perse.
7) Black tights make an outfit. Im loving my Wolfords so will definitely buy more next winter.
8) I have a....limited palette.
9) For someone who wears no make-up, I have rather a lot. I just had to put in a pic of my super cute case which is from Paul & Joe.
10) And finally, what else!
So you can probably tell I have a very basic/classic wardrobe. Boring to some, but obviously I like it, but it is still very much a work in progress.

You've heard my list, now I want to hear yours!

Sunday 23 May 2010

My Style

A while back on Garance Dore's blog there was a post entitled '10 things about your style'. I really enjoyed reading her and her reader's lists, sooo I have started my own, and I will add more in the future.

1. Stripes are a staple. I couldn't live without them - summer/winter, it doesn't matter! This is just a sample of my collection, but I think the search for the perfect stripy will last a lifetime. Here from left to right there is Monoprix, Monoprix, COS and Petit Bateau.
2. The only trends I follow are the ones Peter Philips tells me to! (from l-r: Nouvelle Vague, Ming, Particuliere and Black Satin)
3. I'm a one bag girl. I can use the same bag everyday for years. At the moment it is a Marc by Marc Jacobs Baby Groovee. I find the long strap so practical, I hate having to keep pushing short handles back on my shoulder.
More to come! Would love to hear other people's lists. What items or looks define you?

Friday 21 May 2010

C. Brancowitz

I'm back, and I promise more posts!
I came across the very talented illustrator Carine Brancowitz recently, who is married to Laurent (Branco) from Phoenix. I particuarly like her line drawings of everyday objects, it's simple but very effective. If you like what you see, check out her official website HERE.
Credit: Carine Brancowitz

Saturday 15 May 2010

Sketch 2

A terribly scan of my drawing of the June issue of Harper's Bazaar UK starring Cheryl Cole. Not quite the best likeness but I'm still quite pleased with how it turned out.

No new posts after this for a week or so, see you then!

Wednesday 12 May 2010

Elisa

As the newest member of Karl's gang, actress/model Elisa Sednaoui has come to my attention recently. As anyone who has seen the latest Chanel film now knows, not all models can act, not all actresses can model, but Elisa manages to pull off both. She also happens to have a very enviable wardrobe, as shown by this modelinia tour of her wardrobe.
The video (just hover over this image):

See more videos on
modelinia.com
A mongolian sheepskin vest and a blue plaid shirt have been on my wish list for a while now, and these are perfect examples of both.

Has anyone else discovered new style inspirations recently?

Monday 10 May 2010

American Vintage

Some not very good pictures of the American Vintage dress which arrived today. It's going to be a perfect light dress for summer, and I'm hoping I can layer it with fitted jackets or cardigans and tights in the winter. Im taking my 'little black dress in summer' inspiration from Sofia Coppola, who pulls the look off perfectly. I promise modelling shots soon!

The waistband is a nice touch, its not too tight and gives the dress just the right amount of shape.

Saturday 8 May 2010

Silent Night

Vogue Nippon Dec 2008
Colette Pechekhonova by Laurie Bartley
styling by Sissy Vian
credit: fashion_screen (livejournal)

I love the combination of thick jumpers with a just visible skirt.

Friday 7 May 2010

Style Icons: Karmen Pedaru

In a sea of models, Karmen Pedaru's style is a winner. Although models do tend to wear similar things - black and lots of leather, Karmen manages to stand out from the crowd with her 'basic' but interesting ensembles. Models' fashion week styles show that you don't need a huge number of clothes to make exciting outfits.
altamira

To replicate Karmen's style you need Frye engineer boots, fur jackets, leather leggings or skinny jeans, and a killer small handbag....and maybe her legs! Using black and white as a base palette means Karmen can mix and match pieces and create different looks from the same items, and she makes a statement by using texture, rather than colour.

Thursday 6 May 2010

Pattern

urbanoutfitters

With the weather almost on the up, I am trying to work on a list of things to buy for summer. One thing that is high up is shorts, and I am drawn to this APC madras pair. However I am someone whose wardrobe consists of black....white, and just a little bit of grey and navy. I shy away from patterns (other than stripes of course) because I am still building up a wardrobe of quality basics, and to me it is easier to stick to solid neutrals that will work with every other piece I own. I know these check shorts are just stripes going in two directions, but I am wondering if they are too limited in what they can be worn with, or not. Of course I wouldn't rush out to buy trousers in this pattern, but maybe for summer - where there is more freedom to wear colourful and interesting pieces, it could work.

So I want to know - how do you go about introducing patterns/prints to your wardrobe? Is it a case of just jumping in head first, or are some patterns safer than others? And should you have some clothes in your wardrobe that can only be worn a certain way?
Maybe most importantly, should these shorts have a place in my wardrobe?

Sunday 2 May 2010

Les Enfants

Taken from an editorial in 'Vogue Enfants' and styled by Geraldine Saglio. The outfit on the right, in particular, is completely something I would wear.

Saturday 1 May 2010

Investments

I have always believed in the principle of buying the best you can afford, and sticking to classic pieces, but only now do I feel I have reached an age where I know what suits me, and what I like to wear. Deciding on investment shoes and bags is easy, but clothes always seems a bit trickier to me. Accessories can easily lift an entire outfit, and bags in particular age well and can take a lot of use. Whereas clothes can shrink in the wash or get tears, so where is it safest to invest your money? I've composed a small list of examples of items I think might be worth spending a little extra on.

Firstly, going back to a previous post about blouses - I really like the look of this James Perse one, I will have to see how much it is in the UK, in America it is so much cheaper. Although white can quite easily become grey, given shirts are usually made of tougher fabric then tees for example, hopefully I could get a lot of wear out of a piece like this.
The stores I go to seem not to have picked up on the a-line skirt trend, so I am drawn back to the reliable 'body-con' skirt. This James Perse version is fairly classic but has an interesting twist with the slight draping. However it is almost certainly not worth £130, so I am considering the basic skirts on offer at Wolford. I am in love with my new tights, so hopefully the skirts are as soft and flattering.
Now, this dress is a definite for me. It is from American Vintage - a French brand who do beautifully soft jersey basics. This dress would take me through summer and would also be suitable for layering in winter.
Finally - ballet flats! I have had a black pair of French Soles for 2 years now, although they probably need resoling on the heel (and cleaning!) they are in very good condition, so I would not hesitate to buy another pair. Silver would work well for summer and also I'm hoping it might look alright with black tights too. Opinions?
jamesperse.com / bodandted / French Sole

So tell me, what items do you consider investments?

One thing I forgot to mention is jackets/coats. Living in such a cold climate they become invaluable, and 5 months+ out of the year they are all anyone sees, so it is another item worth investing in, in my opinion.