Retail concepts

Quote of the day: Tiina Laakkonen on retail for the post-aspirational class



Tiina The Store by Christopher Sturman

“The aspirational retail world has been taken over by big luxury brands. That’s what they’ve done in East Hampton. But my customer is no longer aspirational. They don’t want logos or any of that stuff. They’re done.”
Tiina Laakkonen, New York Times (more…)



The Culture of fashion: Susy Dyson’s Cartier bangles



Cartier coloured enamel bangles

Think of Cartier classics and you probably think of Jeanne Toussaint’s panther-themed pieces or Aldo Cipullo’s 70s signatures, the Love bracelet or the Juste un Clou. But not so much pieces like these simple enamel hinged bangles from the 1980s (above).

This threesome (sold singly) is part of an auction taking place this week of 70s Peruvian model Susy Dyson’s jewellery and accessories. Dyson was a favourite model of Yves Saint Laurent, Armani, Karl Lagerfeld and Issey Miyake, not to mention Helmut Newton. Her personal style seen in the accompanying auction imagery sums up the casual-yet-jet-set glamour of the 70s. Youthful, free-spirited and chic, it straddles the high-low style and status that we now accept as standard. (more…)



Tennis Girl Summer: Lacoste x Sporty & Rich



Lacoste x Sporty & Rich

We all love to hate on lame fashion collabs, but here’s one that actually makes sense.

Lacoste x Sporty & Rich* is a happy hook-up between L.A wellness and French après-tennis. Sporty & Rich has arguably made sweats and polos a de rigueur fashion statement by tapping into 80s sports pop culture (Princess Di post-gym pap shots are a mood board regular) through a sexy 70s lens with a side of post-Goop wellness rhetoric. (more…)



Shop the post: summer beauty update



Audrey Hepburn Cartier lipstick

I finally made the pilgrimage to Sephora UK! It was good but not as epic as I’d built it up to be. I really like the self-service element – it feels like the only truly self-service beauty store where the advisors aren’t poised to ambush you. And the brand curation is well executed – a good combo of Gen Z buzzy new brands and proven classics. There was a queue, but with literally less than five people in it. (more…)