Burberry

I seriously need to up my sun hat game



Arket seersucker sun hat

Here in the UK we’re quite deluded about sun care. Being deprived of bright sun for nine months of the year, we go a bit mad in the other three. And thus convince ourselves that sun protection doesn’t matter as it’s never strong enough. Or something.

This year though I need to get out of that mindset. One way is to get acquainted with the better sun care creams. But equally important is to try to cover up a bit more, stay out of direct sun, wear good sunglasses and invest in some decent headgear. Top of my wish list is this Arket seersucker sun hat* (above) but there are plenty of other inexpensive but versatile hats around in cotton, straw, linen and raffia.

I rate these from Jigsaw*, & Other Stories* and H&M*. Plus, for a bit more money, these from Toast, Dries*, Loewe* and Burberry*. (more…)



Trend report: what to wear for SS21



Hermès SS21

God I’m so bloody ready for spring, aren’t you? Granted I mean actual spring more than fashion spring but fashion spring is a good start. I was wondering if we’d see big changes for SS21 but I don’t think our post-Covid reality has quite revealed itself yet. So consider my spring post more of a general round-up of things I’m eyeing at the moment…

1/ TALISMAN JEWELLERY.
Meaningful charms, amulets and talismans feel right for these pearl-clutching times and I’ve certainly found myself reaching for my dad’s old gold rings that I wear on a chain whenever I feel like I need some tactile reassurance. I’ve also been revisiting Tina Chow jewellery on Pinterest, along with the equally sculptural pendants of 1970s Elsa Peretti (below). (more…)



TRP Travel Retail Style Index: February 2021



Amorepacific Off-White beauty collaboration

Welcome to the latest travel retail column for DRG by Alison Farrington aka The Retail Planner (TRP).

This month, we welcome all the auspicious brand news in celebration of the Lunar New Year for 2021’s Chinese Year of the Ox. We also look at some new skincare launches that will appeal to clean and K-beauty fans.

1/ SHISEIDO ‘INSPIRES JOY’. For Asia Pacific and US travel retail stockists, SHISEIDO has launched an exclusive set of Lunar New Year products for bestselling skincare products, Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate* and Vital Perfection Uplifting and Firming Cream (below). They feature gold and red packaging that is inspired by the art of calligraphy and designed to evoke feelings of empowerment for the Chinese New Year celebration. (more…)



Have you got your alfresco blanket?



Aessai Condor Scarves

Tier 2 restrictions aside, we’re not in total lockdown yet. So what are you wearing for your outdoor dining experience? According to WSJ (pay wall) it’s all about the dinner blanket. Aka dress-up capes, blankets, and shawls for keeping you warm for the winter alfresco season. Should be interesting…

Chloe, Burberry and Joseph are ahead of the curve already; blanket-style dressing has been a mainstay of those brands for aeons. New to the fold is Aessai (above, a play on ‘essay’) founded by Argentinian designer Rebecca Kramer. Her all-enveloping blankets, shawls and ponchos are made from heavyweight blends of extra-fine merino wool and alpaca (more…)