Gentlewoman style: Jane Birkin in Vogue



Jane Birkin Westman Atelier

Love this feature and photo of Jane Birkin in U.S Vogue in which she discusses music, beauty, style, bereavement and the human condition.

It’s a lovely lengthy read and this is my favourite bit:
“I think at 40 years old, I was at my best, really. Not for me at 20 or 25. Forty is, I think, a great, great age for a girl, 40 and even 50. It’s a lovely age because girls are as fragile as when they’re 15, and they don’t know what’s coming up. They know what they’re losing, but they don’t know what they’re going to get; 40 and 50 is a bit like that. You turn into something else a little bit, and it’s rather exciting. You do rash things. You do rash things because it’s your last chance in lots of ways, so I find that girls of 40 are interesting characters to write for, and 50 too.”

And she traded her Hermès Birkin for this:
“I find my handbags too heavy, so I’ve gone into men’s pockets. I’ve got men’s corduroy trousers—not particularly pretty ones—with big pockets. I hang my key on a Hermès string because I’ve been caught out too often when you shut the door and you think, Oh, no, you’re no longer a teenager, and you’re shut outside. You fool. So I now attach them to my trousers.”

She also talks about her quest for certain elusive fashion items and how she’d love to do a line. Sounds to me like she needs to call A.P.C. Read it here.

WORDS: Disneyrollergirl / Navaz Batliwalla
IMAGE: Jane Birkin by Gabrielle Crawford
NOTE: Most images are digitally enhanced. Some posts use affiliate links and PR samples. Please read my privacy and cookies policy here

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Ideas to steal from the Prada menswear AW21 show



Prada menswear aw21 set design

It’s men’s digital fashion month and couture week at the moment, so I’m trying to keep up with all the content. What I notice is that without the physical shows, it’s really all on the brands to keep the content coming on their various platforms. I missed the Prada menswear Live transmission, so I watched it on IG catch up instead. It was the first Raf-ccia joint menswear collection for Prada, following the womenswear debut last October.

ATMOSPHERE. The set design was great, with a Rem Koolhaas-designed texture-clash of marble, resin, plaster and faux fur in pastels contrasted with positive purple (surely the colour of the month). The edited video featured fast-paced young models interspersed with quick cutaways of energetic dancing, the kind of quirky, clubby touch we expect from Raf Simons’ influence, accompanied by Richie Hawtin’s equally pacy techno soundtrack. The pictures are below, but this show really deserves to be seen (and heard) in motion.

TEXTURE. As hinted at by the set dressing, texture was the overarching trend. In particular, touchy-feely comfort textures to compensate from a year of contactless living. The fuzzy mohairs, knitted onesies and jacquard leggings were jarring but will inevitable ‘trickle’ down into a general softness in men’s knitwear. Remember that the ‘edgy’ stuff Raf produces often becomes mainsteam several years later. (IMO those Bottega Puddle boots are a direct decendant of these Raf Simons Bunny boots).

OTT OUTERWEAR. Outerwear in weird materials is a Raf and Miuccia hallmark. I love the nubby pastel boucle coat and boxy hi-shine topcoats with their fluffy collars. And obviously, we have to have the XXL MA1s.

LOGO POUCHES. Logo-ed triangular nylon pouches attached to gloves and the backs of jackets were a fun styling touch for the hype generation. (I hope they’re detachable.)

TAILORING. Miuccia Prada historically hates pinstripe suiting, which is exactly why she chose to go ahead with it. “That’s the point of collaboration”, she said, talking about the yin-yang of hers and Raf’s creative process. Of course, these are subversive suits, worn with the sleeves pushed waaaaay up the arm. You might not wear your suit sleeves exactly like this but it plants the question; how can I deconstruct my formalwear?

Prada Men’s Fall 2021
Prada menswear AW21
Prada menswear AW21 logo pouch




Prada menswear AW21 logo pocket

WORDS: Disneyrollergirl / Navaz Batliwalla
IMAGES: Prada menswear AW21
NOTE: Most images are digitally enhanced. Some posts use affiliate links and PR samples. Please read my privacy and cookies policy here

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CLICK HERE to buy my book The New Garconne: How to be a Modern Gentlewoman

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JM Weston’s 180 update



J M Weston 180 loafer

I haven’t seen a physical copy of the mag yet but I’m enjoying the Konfekt email newsletter. It alerted me to this gem last week: JM Weston’s classic 180 loafer with a hefty triple sole.

I still wear my old Bass Weejuns, but I like the idea of a chunkier penny loafer too.

See it here. And read the Konfekt (Monocle’s new women’s mag) email newsletter here.

WORDS: Disneyrollergirl / Navaz Batliwalla
IMAGE: JM Weston
NOTE: Most images are digitally enhanced. Some posts use affiliate links and PR samples. Please read my privacy and cookies policy here

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Save the date: Uniqlo U SS21



Uniqlo U SS21

Loving the new Uniqlo U SS21 look book, which features the ‘walking in the city’ vibe now familiar from artistic director Christophe Lemaire and partner Sarah-Linh Tran’s shows.

The collection has all the pieces we expect from Uniqlo U – superior shirting, fine gauge knits, trench coats, plus some great looking denim. I’ve not really rated Uniqlo’s denim until now but these true blue washes and cuts look like they’re aiming to grab some Arket market share.

The collection launches on 28th January and there’s men’s and kids’ too.

See more here*.

Uniqlo U SS21
Uniqlo U ss21 denim


Uniqlo U ss21 jeans



WORDS: Disneyrollergirl / Navaz Batliwalla
IMAGES: Uniqlo U SS21
NOTE: Most images are digitally enhanced. Some posts use affiliate links* and PR samples. Please read my privacy and cookies policy here

CLICK HERE to get Disneyrollergirl blog posts straight to your inbox once a week
CLICK HERE to buy my book The New Garconne: How to be a Modern Gentlewoman

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