Brands

Unseasonably warm winter weather is a win for sale shoppers



Best winter coat buys in the sale

What to buy in the sales? Easy, all the winter coats, woolies and down jackets that didn’t shift during the fourth quarter. As the New York Times reports, this winter has been quite the bummer for fashion retailers. When those chunky knits and colour-pop furry jackets don’t sell, there’s nothing for it but to bung them in the sale. The winners? Us! Here’s a helping hand…

I’m always surprised to see classics in the sale but these chunky Fair Isle sweaters are definitely on markdown. (more…)



Are Levi’s wedgie jeans the new skinnies?



Levi's Wedgie Jeans - a fitting antidote to skinnies

According to The Business Of Fashion, 2016 may be the year “the stretchy skinny jean finally dies.” I’m inclined to agree. I stopped wearing skinnies around 5 years ago, lured by Gap’s ‘Sexy Boyfriend’, Levi’s Made and Crafted and then Levi’s revived 501s.

Levi’s is planning to do it again this coming year with its cheekily named Levi’s ‘Wedgie’, a meticulously cut slim jean with hardly any stretch (it’s 99% cotton and 1% elastane) (more…)



Chez Chanel, the rise of fine jewellery is a lucky talisman



At Chanel, the rise of fine jewellery is a lucky talisman

If you saw the 3-week exhibition Mademoiselle Privé, you’ll know that Chanel straddles the past and present exceptionally well. One of my highlights was the short film shown towards the end, written and directed by Karl Lagerfeld in which he finds himself face-to-face with Chanel’s ‘ghost’ brilliantly played by Geraldine Chaplin. “What do you think you’re doing!” she asks Karl, highly unamused. “I’m keeping you alive,” is his answer, explaining how he has reinvented the brand while keeping the house codes top of mind. The film is actually quite a hoot, but the sentiment beneath it is serious business.

Chanel is the most famous luxury fashion house in the world. Its stable of couture, ready-to-wear, accessories, fine jewellery and beauty have been coveted for decades, from the Chanel no 5 perfume worn by Marilyn Monroe to everybody’s favourite 2.55 handbag. And so, while London’s creative and curious queued in a never-ending snake for the Saatchi Gallery exhibition a few weeks ago, I was busy being treated to my own Chanel education, in a guided tour of the actual Chanel apartment in Paris, on a two-day trip hosted by Chanel. (more…)



Coach 1941 pre-fall 2016



Coach 1941 pre-fall 2016

The Coach 1941 pre-fall 2016 collection excels on coats and bags, entirely unsurprising when you consider the leather-based heritage of the brand. That sheepskin-lined bomber though! And the multi-colored scarf thingy! And I love these thick, roomy totes with their rustic colourways and nostalgic dinosaur bag charms – very covetable. (more…)