Everybody loves Raf…
…Or maybe that’s just me. I certainly love Raf Simons’ passionate and considered approach to everything he does. Example: his latest collaboration with Fred Perry. Launching on 22nd Feb in all Fred Perry Laurel Wreath collection stores and online, it’s an ode to collage, juxtaposing “very different materials, prints and colours, therefore giving the wearer a possibility to combine the garments in different ways,” says Simons. Continue reading
Comme Des Garcons X Hermes unveils ‘Comme des Carrés’ scarves (plus hats and gloves are coming)
I don’t know why people are so surprised at the Comme Des Garcons X Hermès scarf collab, I think it’s perfectly sensible. What could be a better marriage than the traditional French scarf brand and the bonkers anti-fashion rebel? Both are 100% true to themselves for sure. Continue reading
Dover Street Market Tachiagari SS13 – come on you Brits!
Last Wednesday saw the unveiling of Dover Street Market’s seasonal Tachiagari, when the new collections and installations go in and the bloggers are let loose around the store with their dSLRs. Most noticable to me was the Brit invasion. It really is a BFC-fest in here – in a good way of course. Continue reading
It’s coming: Balthazar Boulangerie
I won’t quite believe this ’til I see it with my own eyes, but here goes anyway. The opening of Balthazar, the London chapter is imminent (so we’re told), but first we’re getting Balthazar Boulangerie on February 6th. That’s next week!*
According to Zagat.com, the famous New York brasserie will open its bakery next Wednesday selling oven-warm goodies to take away. Situated next to the main restaurant in Russell Street, this will keep us fed until Balthazar proper opens it doors. I’ve been holding my breath for years for Balthazar London so this will bring it a little closer. And just in time for LFW too…
*UPDATE: Opening delayed until Monday 11th. what a tease!
Balthazar Boulangerie, 8 Russell Street, London WC2B 5HZ. Weekdays: 7am – 8pm. Saturdays: 11am – 6pm
[Image of New York Balthazar Boulangerie via Zagat]
M’oda ‘Operandi: pre-tail to etail
Pre-tail site, M’oda ‘Operandi has been going for quite a while now and even though I’m still a novice online shopper when it comes to fashion (honestly, I can count my total clothing purchases on two hands), I do think it’s a clever concept.
For me it works as a research tool. It bridges the gap between seeing things on the runway (styled to the hilt as per the designer’s vision) and seeing them on a rail in store. We get to see clothes ahead of season styled in a more wearable way, including those by some of the lesser known designers. This week’s ‘trunk shows’ (the M’O name for its limited-time pre-order sales) includes Bouchra Jarrar’s winter couture collection (a designer I love, who was shortlisted for the Balenciaga gig and M’oda ‘Operandi’s first ‘couture’ designer) and J.W. Anderson pre-fall.
But like a lot of start-ups, it seems the plan is to develop the concept beyond its original, well, moda operandi. Since December, the site has also offered conventional, in-season etail in its ‘Boutique’, giving the M’O consumer the option to buy their favorite pieces and wear them the next day. As CEO Aslaug Magnusdottir says, “We want to better serve our current customers and reach a new customer base. We’ve been able to establish a name in various pockets of the world and we want to take advantage of our positioning and build our market share quickly.”
You can pre-order Bouchra Jarrar’s winter couture collection until 5th Feb and J.W. Anderson Pre-Fall 2013 until 4th Feb. Happy shopping!
Bouchra Jarrar
J.W. Anderson
Beauty buy: Olympia le Tan for Lancome
Oh I do love a logical brand tie-up. For Valentine’s Day, Lancome has worked with Olympia le Tan to create 100 felt appliquéd ‘book clutch’ minaudiers, stuffed full of Lancome product. Le Tan chose six Lancome Rouge In Love lipsticks and Vernis In Love nail polishes – in pinks and reds obvs – to package inside the handmade clutch bags.
They go on sale exclusively at Harvey Nichols (in store, £995) from Monday.
If you’re a fan of Le Tan’s work, check out her Tumblr, which often shows the vintage books she uses as inspiration…
First look: M&S launches Made In Great Britain heritage menswear for AW13
Hands down, one of the biggest menswear trends for AW13 is all things traditional, homespun and British. So think Harris tweeds, Scottish cashmeres and Savile Row-style tailoring using textiles from our oldest mills. Nicely timed then, is Made In Great Britain from Marks & Spencer, its heritage line that will be launching in selected stores in the autumn. Continue reading
Mr Porter collaborates with young British designers for London Collections: Men
Today, the second day of London Collections: Men, saw the release of Mrporter.com’s commercial collaboration to support independent British designers. Katie Eary, Sibling, Richard Nicoll and Matthew Miller each created three exclusive pieces for Mr Porter and every one of them is a thing of beauty. Continue reading
Introducing IDA by Donna Ida
If the blouse-n-trouser-jean is 2013’s new day-to-night uniform (and I reckon it will be), then that’s good news for Donna Ida Thornton. Because this month Ms Thornton launches her eponymous jeans line, IDA, and it pivots around that very look. Having nailed the denim-centric retail sector with her Donna Ida jeans chain, Thornton has gathered her customer feedback and poured it into a tightly focused own brand. Key to which is a ‘true’ high waist – no butt-crack flashing here – a response to many a request from her dedicated customers.
All the jeans in the debut collection are fairly snug on the thighs, with varying widths below the knee from the ankle-gripping, zip-hemmed ‘Audrey’, to the flared ‘Martha’. (I hear a boyfriend jean is in the works too.) My favourite (by sight – I’ve not tried them yet) is ‘Jeanie’, a sophisticated cigarette jean named after Thornton’s most loyal customer, “who’d come in asking for high-waisted jeans. She’s clear about what she wants, and if we didn’t have it, she’d say ‘Well, why not?” says Thornton. “I’ve named the cigarette leg after her because that’s what she wants to wear.”
And about those blouses. They fit in with Thornton’s ‘quintessentially British’ vision for the brand, so for a little elegance, there’s the neat-shouldered ‘Out of Africa’ silk shirt with patch pockets and deep cuffs, or for the full power-bow effect, there are bell-sleeved ‘Mrs Thatcher’ blouses in soft cream, pale pink or a rather apt Tory blue. The collection launches this month and can be pre-ordered now at Donnaida.com.
Introducing posh stationery and ink from Louis Vuitton’s World of Writing (Paperchase it ain’t)
Done – all my thank you notes are written and posted! I may be tech-addicted but I still like to put pen to paper. Lately I’ve been using Kate Spade’s initial note cards and my psychedelic Peter Max ‘fold and mail’ notepaper, but I’d love to get my hands on the just-launched Louis Vuitton ‘World Of Writing’ papers and inks. Continue reading
