Shopping

Dark and lovely



I’m not a great fan of faded denim. Given the choice, I prefer my jeans stiff, dark and densely pigmented. And as traditional faux-fading processes are found to be harmful to their makers and the environment, fashion is finally catching up with me.

One of the suggestions Levi’s makes is to wash jeans less, using only cold water. Funnily enough, this is something I’ve done for years. Using only a tiny bit of detergent, I soak jeans in a bucket of water then rinse, roll in a towel and dry flat. But mostly I try to avoid washing them at all, which is obviously much easier if they’re dark to start with (yeah, it helps if you’re a bit of a scruff).

As it happens, my favourite inky-hued jeans are back online at Netaporter.com. I have these Levi’s Made & Crafted chino jeans already in indigo and khaki but will be buying another pair of the indigo as I wear mine a lot. If you want a dark wash jean that’s versatile enough to wear all year round (day to night, dressed up or down, yada yada) then I’d thoroughly recommend these…

Buy Levi’s Made & Crafted jeans at Netaporter.com



Elton John’s Prism glasses



Oh to have been a fly on the wall in Anna Laub’s meeting with Elton John! The Prism eyewear designer was commissioned to hand make some bespoke glasses for Elton’s Vegas shows. Who else would have their name spelt out in disco crystals?

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Future Classics Black Label



My resolution for next year is to be a bit braver with colour and print. I used to love layering busy Kenzo-type prints but over the years I’ve got lazier and more classic in what I wear. This year, fashion has truly been ‘Bubbled’, with Susie Bubble‘s clashy colour-meets-print-meets-texture influence reaching far and wide and well into 2012. (more…)



Buy it now: Kiehl’s crackers




Right, I’m officially obsessed with beauty-themed Christmas crackers. There has been a bit of a stampede for the Lancome advent calendar (I told you to be quick) but the Lancome Christmas crackers are still in stock. But look here, what about these adorable Kiehl’s lip balm crackers? Each £19 cracker contains three Kiehl’s #1 lip balms in original, coconut and vanilla flavours. Best crack on if you want one.