25 July, 2019

Shop the post: What to wear for summer in the city

shorts for summer in the city by Margaret Howell

See, this is the problem. When you live in a city that’s damp and moody 90% of the time (~~especially~~ even in summer), you come unstuck in a heatwave. I rarely buy full-on summer stuff because it just seems too much like tempting fate. Inevitably if I buy anything remotely holidaymaker-ish we’re beset with weeks of floods. (Context: it’s 40 degrees in London today.)

So here I am in need of shorts, smart tees, a big airy dress and some sort of dress-up-dress-down shirt. Warning: don’t Google ‘women’s army shorts’ like I just did. (more…)

Disneyrollergirl 0 Comments Design, News, Shopping, Trends Black Crane, Casey Casey, Forte Forte, Jil Sander, Margaret Howell, Muji, Ralph Lauren, shopping, The Great

22 July, 2019

Buy it now: Hot summer, cool scents

We’re in the throes of a proper 30-degree sunny and muggy city summer. I’m not complaining one bit though, because I’m not a commuter and frankly I’ll take whatever I can get. But I believe in the power of smell to help temper the heat.

I’m back on the Hermès Eau de Gentiane Blanche this summer, a really great cooling smell (earthy and green with a trail of musk) that’s like an olfactory glass of iced cordial. I think it’s one of Jean-Claude Ellena’s best, but actually all the Hermès colognes are excellent and I love the 15ml spray bottles for when I’m flanneuring about town. (more…)

Disneyrollergirl 1 Comment Beauty, News, Shopping, Trends Aesop, Estee Lauder, fragrance, Gucci, Hermes, Lalique, Perfumer H, shopping, Vanessa Jackman

8 July, 2019

Wardrobe NYC – the denim edit

Wardrobe NYC Denim

Wardrobe NYC has been going for a few months now. The premise is a series of capsule wardrobe ‘packs’; you buy four or eight pieces at a time and the styling is as classic and cool as it gets, so you’re not going to get fashion fatigue with them! (more…)

Disneyrollergirl 3 Comments Brands, Business of fashion, Design, News, Online shopping, Retail concepts, Shopping, Trends denim, design, gentlewoman style, Levi's, retail concepts, Wardrobe NYC

5 July, 2019

Ask Alison: Is it time for indie beauty brands to get in on duty free shopping?

Earlier this week, independent beauty brand Charlotte Tilbury made its airport retail debut at World Duty Free in London Heathrow. The week before, the eponymous brand was one of four indie beauty companies (alongside Anastasia, Hourglass and POLA) to be showcased within the DFS downtown store T-Galleria at Galaxy, Macau.

It’s about time these types of self-made or direct-to-consumer beauty upstarts joined the action within the travel retail space. (more…)