gentlewoman style

Shop the post: Linen season is upon us



COS linen shirt

Linen season has arrived and I’m very pleased with my new COS linen-mix pleated trousers* (below). These are described as ‘light beige’ but they’re more of a cream, with a slightly slubby, ‘raw’ texture. I’ve always loved these kind of old school tailored linen trousers. Linen does crease but I think the creases are forgivable if the shape is tailored. These come in dark navy* as well, which I also added to my upgraded summer uniform. (more…)



The perfect ten fashion items of all time



The Ten - Lauren Cochrane

If you’re someone who loves to intellectualise fashion, then Lauren Cochrane’s new book, The Ten: The Stories Behind the Fashion Classics* should stoke your fires.

It’s a deeper-than-deep dive into fashion’s enduring classics from the white tee to the blue jean via the mini skirt, Breton top, ballet pump, little black dress, stiletto, hoodie, trench coat and biker jacket. In case you’re thinking, ‘yawwwnnnn, what more is there to know?’, the answer is, plenty. (more…)



Gentlewoman style: The soft white shirts made from luxury hotel sheets



Archivist shirts made from upcycled luxury hotel sheets

Quick heads up on a brand I discovered via the Thingtesting email (a great newsletter if you’re interested in start-up culture).

Archivist takes old hotel sheets and upcycles them into soft cotton shirts. (more…)



Gentlewoman style: Jane Birkin in Vogue



Jane Birkin Westman Atelier

Love this feature and photo of Jane Birkin in U.S Vogue in which she discusses music, beauty, style, bereavement and the human condition.

It’s a lovely lengthy read and this is my favourite bit:
“I think at 40 years old, I was at my best, really. Not for me at 20 or 25. Forty is, I think, a great, great age for a girl, 40 and even 50. It’s a lovely age because girls are as fragile as when they’re 15, and they don’t know what’s coming up. They know what they’re losing, but they don’t know what they’re going to get; 40 and 50 is a bit like that. You turn into something else a little bit, and it’s rather exciting. You do rash things. You do rash things because it’s your last chance in lots of ways, so I find that girls of 40 are interesting characters to write for, and 50 too.” (more…)