knitwear

THE DRG STYLE INDEX: MARGARET HOWELL, JOHN SMEDLEY, HILL& FRIENDS, DIOR



Here’s the latest weekly DRG STYLE INDEX ranking, a round-up of the brands currently buzzing on my radar…

1. MARGARET HOWELL PAYS TRIBUTE TO BARBARA HEPWORTH
Margaret Howell for Tate by John Hooper

Every year Mr DRG and I talk about going to St Ives and I’ve still never been. Oh well, this summer St Ives (kind of) comes to us with Tate Britain’s new exhibition, Barbara Hepworth: Sculpture for a Modern World. To accompany it, there’s a lovely Hepworth-inspired capsule collection from Margaret Howell, including a smock, work shirt, dungarees and silk scarves. Buy them here. (more…)



Hot or not?



Lightweight knits for Spring

What to wear when it’s spring, sunny but chilly in the shade? I default to merino knits that are lightweight but warm and don’t pill up like fluffy cashmere. And denim of course, but I’m looking beyond just jeans to all the clever shapes that have emerged in stiff deep indigo, or gentle chambray blue.

Some of my best merino wool finds come from the men’s department, especially Reiss, whose menswear is brilliant right now, while Paul Smith menswear has lovely extra fine merinos is gorgeous colour palettes. J.W. Anderson is another find, and Vivienne Westwood’s knits are all-year perennials. I can’t not mention my favourite Sibling sweater right now, featuring Madonna in the ‘Borderline’ days. Hell yes please to that.

Denim-wise, Joseph is killing it with its structured shapes in classic sky blue – a bit offbeat but still very wearable. And MIH Jeans just gets better and better – I’m still obsessed with this kimono jacket

WORDS: Navaz Batliwalla/Disneyrollergirl
IMAGE: Bruce Weber



Making transitions



transitional dressing for Spring

So the clocks just went forward and April is in sight but I’m still welded to my winter woolies. April is a transitional month for me, when I want to break out lighter, brighter colours but I’m not quite ready to detach from my cashmere layers. Plus, it still rains bucketloads, so a sensible top layer is non-negotiable.

Some things I swear by: Hanro vests and camisoles (there’s a new one out – ‘Ultralight’, 70g of mercerised Pima cotton, half the weight of the classic Hanro camisole. Can’t get enough of these), Levi’s 501s (there are the new C&Ts if you want the fashion version, or the old school ones in mid-blue are my go-to), cashmere socks (in pastel colours, from Paul Smith or Johnstons of Elgin) and Church’s shoes (new service launching soon – take in an old pair and get £40 off a new pair or a repair).

But on my transitional want list are J W Anderson merino knits, a Tim Coppens jacket, Charlotte Olympia’s kitty bag and the signature J Crew lipstick.

Words: Navaz Batliwalla/Disneyrollergirl
Main image: Miranda July by Stella Berkovsky



Tanya Ling X Queene & Belle



Tanya ling cashmere for Queene & Belle

Tanya Ling is quite the lady of the moment. She has long been on my radar for her ravishing illustrations of Vuitton’s collections, she has an addictive Instagram feed and a giant assemblage of her line paintings is the sight that greets you on entering Alex Eagle’s inspiring new lifestyle store in South Kensington. (more…)