craft

At Sophie Hulme’s new pop-up, it’s personal



Sophie Hulme - Leather Letters Personalisation

I’ve witnessed some really bad examples of monogrammed fashion items lately; it’s actually quite a skill knowing how to add a name or initials to a garment or accessory. I like the way Sophie Hulme is doing it, with her new personalisation service. These appliqued leather letter placements (above) are part of her signature service that’s been unveiled at the equally new Burlington Arcade boutique. Made from stacked and compacted saddle leather, the raised letters sit on the surface of the bag making a visual statement. (more…)



Take your time: the bespoke shirt



Turnbull and Asser bespoke shirt for women

The French may have Charvet, but we have Turnbull & Asser. In matters of sartorial excellence, a bespoke shirt has to be one of life’s great not-so-little luxuries. So in the name of research, I took up the offer of trying out the service.

Shirts factor big in my book, The New Garconne: How to be a Modern Gentlewoman and they’re also enjoying a major fashion spotlight moment, especially those of gargantuan, deconstructed proportions. And yet here’s a fascinating fact: only about 1% of Turnbull & Asser bespoke shirts are made for women. (more…)



Positive fashion: Fashion Revolution and London Craft Week



London Craft Week and Fashion Revolution

On Monday I’m going to Gloucester for one of my favourite blogging activities; I’m off to watch my very own bespoke shirts being made. I now have quite a stash of How It’s Made features in the vault (see them here), from field trips to the Dr Martens factory, the Chanel embroidery workshops, the Smythson bookbinding workshops and – one of my most visited posts – the Hermes handbag workshop just outside Paris. It’s always an amazing treat as I love getting insider access to these places and geeking out at all the processes. (more…)



Chanel Métiers d’Art 2016-2017



Chanel COSMOPOLITE Metiers d'art collection 2016-2017

Call me old fashioned but I do love it when Chanel reverts to basics. Tuesday’s Chanel Paris Cosmopolite Métiers d’art collection 2016/17 was held at the reopened Ritz in Place Vendome (Coco Chanel famously had her apartment here) and was themed around the luxury of 1930s hotels. (more…)