the Exarchopoulos

images: thefashionspot, instagram

Adele Exarchopoulos is so cool.
She's my age, an equally lovely and depressing fact, with an ability to wear clothes that rivals her faultless acting.
Yes, I'm always looking for the frivolity, but there is such a knack to looking un-styled.

on the outside

image: anne bernecker

excellent outerwear + leather mini + tote

inspiration: the versace archive

Spring 1993

Fall 1994

Spring 2002 

Fall 2004

images here

You to come to expect only the most polished and perfected of women to feature in a Versace campaign.

So it was nice to find, during a large bout of of procrastination, the Spring 1993 campaign featuring denim, chiffon, and seemingly natural hair and make-up. A dose of subtlety before the super humans took over.

I'm not complaining, the 'Supers' campaign of Fall 1994 might just be my favourite ever. (I say, whilst trying to work that mini and cropped knit combo in to my day to day wardrobe.)

Another favourite is Spring 2002 with Israeli-American model Sharon Garnish. The printed sarong and white boot combo, the tasseled leathers on the beach, a lesson in unapologetic sexiness if ever I saw one.

i want: an embroidered blouse

images: fashionmenow, pinterest, anne bernecker

I love these 70's embroidered blouses.
As perfect with slip-on vans and a tan in the summer, as with denim and leather in the months leading up to it.
Natalia Vodianova's beautiful (and most probably, vintage) number is my favourite, with Isabel Marant's  tunic a close second as a dressier, evening counterpart. 
These three (1, 2, 3) are the closest to make the grade so far, all free people, and all hideously over priced.
I'll have to keep looking for something vintage (and affordable) to fill my bohemian cravings.

an ode to the black boot

Sure I need you in the winter, to keep me dry and warm, to go with every pair of pants I own, to rough up lightwash denim or seamlessly underline skinny black jeans.
But it's in the summer, those months of bare legs,  those months when sandals and supergas will suffice. It's in the summer, when you really come to life. When you provide the perfect counter to tanned legs and floral dresses, the perfect platform for grassy summer evenings, and pavement pounding afternoons.
The clumpy, the stacked heel, the chelsea, all as necessary as each other. Sartorially speaking, there really is nothing better. 

favourites of favourites: pre-fall 14

I've always preferred Resort, if only for the name. Makes me think of rich upper east side babes, able to buy whole collections in accordance with a slight change in temperature.

Great thing is, designers have the ability to completely ignore the weather. Which I, as a 'human icy hot' (see this Man Repeller piece) always appreciate in pre-fall collections.

Mr Calvin Klein knows that his garms can be cabbed from block to block even in the iciest of temperatures. Christopher Kane needn't worry about the babes in his dresses ruining a silhouette on account of goose-pimpled arms, their thighs are exposed for goodness sake!

Thankfully pre-fall does little to actually prepare you for fall.

Coats and tights need not apply.

Calvin Klein

Chloe

Christopher Kane

Givenchy

fendi bug bags

Now you show me a better way to spend 375 pounds.

made by you

more rag & bone diy here

 

more lonely hearts here

Currently enjoying  the whole 'models in their natural habitats' aesthetic utilised by some brands.

I always need to see clothes on someone to really love them (Asos catwalk is a god send) and to get a feel for the way they move and look on a live person, with a face!

So even better then, is to see how these clothes fit in with lives, with other clothes, and with personal aesthetic.

Rag & bone's diy offerings are of course amazing. With the models given a camera, a pair of rag & bones and free reign to do what ever they want. 

Miranda, Jessica, Candice & co prove to look even better behind their own lens, but be sure to check out the newest images, that see young British talent bring their own aesthetic to the project.

Similarly, New Zealand label Lonely Hearts sent photographer Zara Mirkin to the homes of cool girls around the globe to see how they wear the lonely hearts label. You get a glimpse in to their homes, and a snapshot of lonely lingerie, styled their way.

It might be the lack of makeup, the ease of styling and the absence of photoshop, but something about these types of projects make the pieces shown, to me, seem just that little bit more covetable.  

i want: a suit

It's probably Celine, it's probably the weather, it's probably winter grooming laziness. But whatever it is, I want a suit.

Not a sexy suit, per se, I don't think south east London is quite ready for a le smoking situation, but something simple, probably black and impeccably fitted will do.

I think the trickiest thing is finding the perfect trouser, not to skinny not to loose and an appropriate length, because women can, and often do, tower above 5ft 8 (ahem high street retailers!)

Above are some of my favourite suits and suit-wearers: Kate moss donning shine and adidas gazelles, Christopher Kane's perfect fits with a twist and Bianca Jagger looking impossibly perfect in white.

Wish me luck!