Design

LFW highlights: Margaret Howell AW16



1 Margaret Howell aw 2016

What’s new at Margaret Howell for AW16? Lots actually. Shirt collars are super-pointy, winter shorts are a thing, there’s a crepe-soled brogue, and orange is the colour – in raffish crumpled silk. I also love the floppy neck bows and the ankle-grazing trouser length. Can I add that I have one of those slim black leather belts and I wear it with everything. If you buy nothing else, buy a Margaret Howell belt! (more…)



Revisiting glove shoes



Glove hoes and denim

Two trends I definitely saw a lot of on the showgoers at London Fashon Week, were too-short, frayed-edge jeans and jolie laide ‘glove shoes’, most often worn together. Last summer, glove shoes were the polarising trend that only style innovators would go near (I wrote about them here), but this summer they’re on track to be a high street blogger favourite.

The block-heeled ballet pumps have filtered down to entry price points now (Topshop, Mango and Office have them), although the high end versions from Martiniano (one of the originators) are still the most refined looking. I prefer the slender shape to the wider squat ones, but there is a bit of variety out there, plus lots of colour options.

To go with, the most popular jeans worn at the shows were the Vetements ones, but Levi’s Wedgie jeans and Urban Outfitters Urban Renewal vintage Levi’s 501s (with customised raw hems) are a good, less spendy alternative. The crucial detail is to keep them hovering above the ankle, to counterbalance the frump factor of the shoe. Oh yes, there’s a strict science to this styling lark…

SHOP GLOVE SHOES BELOW…

Words: Navaz Batliwalla/Disneyrollergirl
Main image: We Wore What



At London Fashion Week, I always want more colour*



Shrimps aw16

This week at London Fashion Week, I’ve been on the hunt for colour as part of an editorial collaboration with LFW partner Swatch. If you follow me on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook or Snapchat, you’ll have seen the mentions popping up alongside a trio of new season Swatch watches and the #Ialwayswantmore hashtag.

Personally, my default colours are navy, grey and camel, plus denim of course (hey, blue is a colour). Red and pink get the occasional look in (more…)



Retail round-up: The high street grows up



Jigsaw A-Line ss16

Something is up on the British high street and it’s all quite exciting. Jigsaw has been going from strength to strength for a while, bypassing the discounting and stepping up its design credentials. The new ‘A-Line’ concept is looking good; it’s creative, vibrant and bolder than you might expect from Jigsaw. The second collection – above and below, arriving imminently – feels fresh, with generously-proportioned tailoring and luxe shirting the obvious standouts. That new attitude is also being reflected in its stores, with a branch set to open in London’s St James’s, a stone’s throw in fact, from the soon-to-be-relocated Dover Street Market. (more…)