Cape-jacket watch #1




The problem with capes is they’re going to be so ubiquitous this coming season that not looking like a victim may pose quite the challenge. Cape-jackets on the other hand (ie, wearing your jacket as a cape) are less of a risk. The best jackets/coats to cape (yes, I have decided ‘to cape’ is a legitimate verb) are ones with structured shoulders so they don’t fall off to help give you a strong, defined silhouette. In particular, I like a boyfriend blazer, a boxy cropped jacket or a masculine coat for sitting just-so on the shoulders.

Stella McCartney boyfriend blazer, £1,175, Net-a-porter.com


Acne aviator jacket, £995, Liberty.co.uk


By Malene Birger blazer, £268.79 Mytheresa.com

Givenchy coat, £1009.43, Mytheresa.com

Topshop camel boyfriend coat, £95

Moschino crop jacket, £1,455, Net-a-porter.com

Caveat! The rest of the outfit needs consideration. Keep the bottom half slim with leggings, stove-pipe trousers, shorts-n-black-opaques, straight shift dresses and stack-heeled ankle boots. No flowy midi skirts for this look.

Over to you. How would you wear a cape-jacket? Or is the whole idea preposterous?

[Top pic: Rag & Bone aw10, Style.com]



Jaime Mon Carre – Hermes does street style



Hermes has launches a street style site and it’s a perfect lesson in how heritage luxury brands can engage with younger consumers. Fun, informative, interactive, engaging and beautiful, J’aime Mon Carre (‘I love my scarf’) uses jolie young things to demonstrate that an Hermes scarf is a versatile piece to stamp your style on.

Strictly speaking, it’s only ‘street style’ in look, as the models have been styled by Fran Burns (although I’m sure they only needed the odd tweak). No matter, the point is that the project changes the perception of the Hermes scarf and the Hermes brand itself. I hope they develop it further.




Pics: Matt Irwin/Hermes
UPDATE 21/Aug/10
Some of the comments on Cathy Horyn’s review of Jaime Mon Carre bemoaned the lack of older people on the site. To them I say, check out these snaps I took of an Hermes window display back in April. Equally charming I think…




Hair tuck watch #1




The cheap-chic look of the season, the hair tuck is building momentum. Seen here in the new +J by Jil Sander for Uniqlo pics, the hair is tucked into a fetching black wool jacket with popped collar. I’m still not sold on +J – I’m more a COS girl – but if I had long hair I might give this jacket a whirl. You?