Retail concepts

On my radar: Reluxe x Madewell



Reluxe x Madewell

Last week I had the pleasure of meeting Reluxe founder Clare Richardson briefly at a Reluxe x Sana Jardin breakfast event in the Reluxe store. Clare is better known to me through her styling work for publications including Vogue, Holiday and Wall Street Journal magazine, very much in the ‘gentlewoman style’ vein of classic but sexy dressing.

During her talk, Clare made the point that women founders are natural multi-hyphenates, which suits her as a freelance stylist but also explains her segue into founding a luxury resale business. She has smartly chosen to use her top tier fashion industry contacts to foster collabs with relevant brands, the latest being Madewell. (more…)



Gentlewoman style: Rika Studios



Rika Studios SS24

Jennifer Alfano published a fab interview with Rika Studios founder Ulrika Lundgren a few weeks ago, which I missed first time round.

It reminded me what a great, underexposed brand this is, the underexposure possibly intentional. (more…)



What to buy from Old Stone Trade



Old Stone Trade denim

While luxury fashion brands seem to be in meltdown, it feels like we’re rediscovering the joy of really good clothes. Considered cuts, well-made, and respectfully priced so their makers get paid decently. That’s the ethos of Old Stone Trade, a niche online marketplace that’s been going viral on SubStack.

It’s a simple premise. Niche artisan makers sell classic, small-batch Americana-leaning designs such as a satin-collared tuxedo, Aran knitwear and ivory wool trousers (more…)



The culture of fashion: Agnès B



Agnès b in the first Rue du Jour store in 1976

French Girl Style – it’s the aesthetic that just won’t stop giving. And with the Paris Olympics mere hours away, you’d better buckle up, as it’s about to become even more omnipresent. The reason French Girl Style aka garconne style resonates is its timelessness, its realness, and its rooted-in-utility-ness. Oh, and something else really important – culture.

And who better to illustrate this point than Agnès B? (more…)