On the grapevine…



Is Anna Piaggi really designing a range of shoes? Now that’s a ‘celebrity’ range I’d be most interested in… The launch party is at the Crillon in Paris tomorrow night – oh to be able to watch the freaks-n-weirdos fest in the inevitable queue twice around the block…

Update: So, nearly a week after reporting this gem of info which was mentioned as an aside on Style.com’s blog, I haven’t read a murmur of it anywhere else! So, what is the deal with this real or imaginary range? Anyone know?



A link-up to love




After a year of celebrity-designer mash-ups, designers are now collaborating with…other designers! We’ve had the Comme and Speedo love-in, the Fred-Perry-Jessica-Ogden link ups and the New Look and Giles castastophe. The latest hook-ups include Fred Perry with Raf Simons, Philip Lim with Birkenstock and Henry Holland with Levi’s (I know!).

But the only one I can really get worked up about is Baracuta with Margaret Howell. I’m a classics girl at heart and even though I never buy it (cannae afford it, natch) I’ve always lusted after Howell’s just-boyish-enough collections. Her take on Baracuta’s iconic Harrington jacket (as worn by Steve McQueen, Elvis Presley, countless cute indie boys etc etc) is to slim it down and crop it to the waist. Just the thing to wear with ankle-length cigarette pants and my beat-up Bass Weejuns.



New name to know




Gabrielle Greiss has taken up the reins as creative director at Sonia Rykiel. The ex-St Martins graduate has been Sonia Rykiel’s chief assistant since 2002 after stints at Martine Sitbon and Lanvin and cutting her teeth as a stylist at Another magazine and Dazed.

I predict a younger vibe, still heavy on the stripes with a cooler ‘French Vogue Intern’* sensibility. Please let me be right!

*TM www.discothequechic.blogspot.com



Shop At Maison Bertaux needs your help






An email from [email protected]… They are dithering over whether they should order these Repettos for the store. For those who don’t know, Shop At Maison Bertaux (27 Greek Street, Basement Premises, W1) is the shop in London where all the Parisian-cool girls go. They stock APC, Sonial Rykiel Bijoux, Eley Kishimoto, etc etc etc. What say ye all? I love these check ones but I do find Repetto trop cher.

Thoughts? Add them here or email madame directly on the email above…

http://www.shopatmaisonb.com