Trends

Buy it now: Floopy sweaters



COS undyed cashmere sweater

After writing about ‘floopy Birkins‘ (tbh I’m still not sure if this was a typo and meant to say ‘floppy’ but I like ‘floopy‘). I just clocked this floopy, droopy sweater from COS* (above).

Slouchy floopy sweaters are not as easy to come by as you think. It’s not always enough to just size up. Sometimes that means the neck is too wide and the sleeves are too long. A properly floopy sweater needs to be deliberately cut wide and ideally have a thick ribbed hem so you can tuck it in with enough extra to hang generously and ‘effortlessly’ (guess what – it’s never effortless) over the waistband. And sleeves that are roomy enough to push up with plentiful folds, especially when layered over a shirt. (more…)



Bring on Blazy’s Bottega (and his Strand book bags)



Bottega Veneta aw22 ad campaign Matthieu Blazy

The new Bottega Veneta AW22 ad campaign has dropped and its clearer than ever to see the commercial potential in Matthieu Blazy’s new vision. I never quite warmed to the clickbait-leaning Daniel Lee aesthetic – Blazy’s seems altogether more sophisticated.

I can see shades of Raf (in the knitwear) and Phoebe-era Celine in the classic-cool styling. There’s enough OG Bottega in the intrecciato leather bags* and is that a nod to Ghesquiere-era Balenciaga (where Blazy first interned) in the curvilinear tailoring and shoe shapes*? The campaign imagery is shot by a coterie of up-and-coming photographers, celebrating craft, community and travel. (more…)



Quote of the day: WTF is Dimes Square?



Cafe de Flore by Robert Doisneau

“This is a city filled with people who thrive on trying to stay culturally relevant, and thus, have anxiety over not being relevant enough. It leads to an obsession over where the chic people are hanging out—the artists, the writers, the avant-garde. The fascination with the next big thing is why you probably read about Williamsburg for a while in the early 2010s, a media treatment that eventually broadened to Brooklyn overall. The Brooklynification of the world is well-documented, synonymous with hipster and reclaimed wood, and gentrification.”
Serena Dai, Bon Appetit (more…)



Trend report: what to wear for AW22



Craig McDean British Vogue Aug 2022

As you know by now, my trend reports are utterly self-indulgent and reflect what’s ‘new’ through my own personal ‘gentlewoman style’ lens. So I’m glad to say that fifty shades of cappuccino, a Ralph Lauren revival, chunky gold chains and classic bags (with a twist) are all trending for AW22. Of course, the 90s is a major influence on fashion and culture. (more…)