The good things in life still exist…



The above is the strapline for the Manufactum website. Forget Netaporter and The Selby, this is how I like to while away my hours (OK, there is also the hopelessly-addictive Daily Mail website – the comments are priceless – but we won’t go into that). Olde worlde toiletries, hardwearing kitchenware, no-nonsense clothing, is it the iffy economy that finds one seeking refuge in these reassuringly made-to-last products or is it simply the fantastic, utilitarian design?

Coccoina glue

I wonder if this is what Peter Beard uses for his scrapbooks?

Flannel pyjamas

May be good for The Sartorialist …?

Matelot

Totally channeling Jean Seberg via Alexa Chung

Aeroplane eau de toilette

I have no clue who calls a fragrance ‘Aeroplane’ but you just know it’s good by looking at it, no?

Clothes hanger with brush


A hanger-cum-clothes-brush? Insane!

moth traps

Seriously, if these work I’m buying shares in the company…

Computer cleaning brush

Why use a damp tissue when you can use a ‘computer cleaning brush’?

Sewing box
This sewing box actually gave me palpitations…and I loathe sewing. But for jewellery or make-up? Why, yes please!

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No-trend dressing – part II



While still pondering the concept of the ‘no-trend season‘, a little Googling threw up a gem. It seems we’ve been here before with this ‘no-trend’ business, eighteen years ago in fact. Amy Spindler debated the issue in this 1995 New York Times article. The bit that jumped out at me was a quote from Joan Kaner, the senior vice president and fashion director of Neiman Marcus. “The trend comes in and out every six months, and the customer is spending a lot of money on clothes she thinks will be obsolete in two or three months. She’s right to be angry.”

See? Fashion fatigue happened eighteen years ago too, this is a mere revival. Which proves alas, that today’s trend go-slow isn’t the sign of big changes I thought it was. Give it a season or two and we’ll be back to the must-haves and ‘It’ items that makes the fashion world go round. Individuality be damned, it is a business after all.

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We love Sprouse



This week’s Grazia has a feature on the new Louis Vuitton/Stephen Sprouse tribute range, showcasing some of the neon graffitied and rose-motif printed bags, clothes and accessories from the collection. My first thoughts? Crikey it’s garish! I must confess, I’ve always hankered for one of the original graffed-up wallets or pochettes but I just didn’t get there fast enough (nor could I justify the poundage at the time).

Having properly navigated the very chic, post-punk stylee website – www.welovesprouse.com – I can say it’s growing on me. I particularly like the videos that explain about Sprouse and about Marc Jacobs’ vision behind this offering. (Sprouse died a view years ago so Jacobs was channelling Sprouse’s vision with this collection.) Check out Debbie Harry’s contribution here.

To be completely honest, the only thing I’d consider buying from this range is the wallets or the Neverful bag, everything else is just too (oh dear) young for me!

I can see this scarf being the first to sell-out. Cue a Grazia DPS (magazine-speak for ‘double-page spread’) in a month or so showcasing all the sheep B-listers sporting it in their own ‘inimitable’ way.

Agyness Deyn would work this Neverful bag bashed up and teamed with Henry Holland’s holey jeans and an American Apparel hot-pink tee.

I can clearly see Vicky Beckham sporting this Speedy bag with a Dolce & Gabbana black shift, DVB dark shades and a grumpy grimace.

Paging Lindsay Lo! These have got your name (well not literally obviously) all over them.

The rose print is my least favourite but I can so see Vogue cover girl (grrr, Alex Schulman, what were you thinking?) Cheryl Cole giving it a whirl.

Over to you…what’s your take?

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