2 September, 2013

Buy it now: Mr DRG’s autumn picks

Oh look, Mr DRG’s been fantasy shopping again! Here’s a look at his autumn picks…

TOP ROW
Plaid jacket, £845, Saint Laurent
Pure Brando in ‘On The Waterfront’, this is a great take on that classic look, but with a slightly longer body and sharper lines. Just the thing to keep out the chill on November 5th.

Leather snaffle loafers, £385, Gucci
Having worn Gucci loafers on and off for the last 20+ years, I coudn’t resist a pair of these recently (and that’s despite the distasterous purchase of a raffia pair back in the summer, which didn’t wear at all well). Pleasingly, Gucci has reverted to the classic 1953 shape, having wandered from this in various ways over the years, and as with most things in life, the original is the best. The only question I have is when and why did they decide to rename the snaffle a horse-bit?

Navy baby alpaca-blend coat £1,440, MP di Massimo Piombo
A beautiful double-breasted overcoat that’s clearly heavily inspired by the late 50s and early 60s. This is the sort of thing that I imagine the smartest original mods may have worn while frequenting Soho’s smokey jazz clubs.

SECOND ROW
Hammered silver card case, £900, Bunney
An elegant, if extravagant, card holder from the very talented Mr Bunney. Clearly a luxe item, it manages to be decidedly un-bling and played down due to the hammer-tone finish. Andrew, if you’re reading this, a Zippo case in the same would be rather nice…

Black Pepper shaving oil, £18, Molton Brown
A recent discovery, and one that I can highly recommend. Having used Kiehl’s products for years, the company inexplicably decided to cease manufacturing its Close Shavers shaving oil. Initially peeved, I was forced to research alternatives, and this led me to the Molton Brown oil, which I’m actually finding to be a far better option for me. Brands take note – you risk losing loyal consumers when you stop a popular product line without immediately offering a replacement!

Trainers, £75, Nike Air Pegasus
I’m not often seen in a running shoe these days, but the Nike Pegasus has a special place in my heart. Back in ’85 I was the proud owner of a pair of graphite and silver Pegasus GX, and these – together with the Internatlionalist – were the shoes to have, or at least they were in my part of the world. I love the wide-weave mesh on this update, and the new colourway feels both authentic and modern. Top marks to the Nike heritage dept.

Disneyrollergirl 0 Comments Brands, Design, Menswear, Shopping accessories, Bunney, grooming, Gucci, Molton Brown, Nike, Saint Laurent, shopping

25 August, 2013

Buy it now: Cos curved shoulder coat

Cos-Curved-shoulder coat

I have a version of this Cos coat from two winters ago with thick black and navy stripes and (actually fake*) slit pockets. It’s the one thing I own that gets commented on every time I wear it. (*Ok the pockets aren’t fake, thank you to my lovely commenter for pointing that out.)

The cut is faultless and the quality is great – it frequently gets mistaken for Prada/Marni/Jil Sander. So if you’re a fan of a bracelet-sleeved cocoon coat, then get in quick cos (lol) these aren’t going to stick around long. (more…)

Disneyrollergirl 9 Comments Design, Shopping, Trends AW13, coats, COS, Demellier, Joseph, shopping, trends

24 August, 2013

Buy it now: Aerin’s no-brainer bronzer

This is the summer i finally mastered bronzer. Oh boy isn’t it amazing? Although obviously there’s a knack to applying just the right amount. For this revelation I have to thank Aerin, whose Pretty Bronze Portable Illuminating Powder (£45) is my new toy. It comes in a portable lidded brush format with a clear channel filled with finely milled powder infused with miniscule specs of shimmer. Tap the lidded brush a couple of times, pull off the cap, unsheath the brush, then swish the bronzer around hairline and cheekbones.

This product comes in 2 shades, a golden highlighter or a darker matte bronzer. I’m getting on very well with the darker one and have been using it at every opportunity. Buy it at Harrods and John Lewis.

And if no-brainer, beachy make-up is your thing, then you might be interested in the rest of Aerin’s high summer offer. The Seashell Color collection also includes Aerin’s Beach Cream (a multi-purpose shimmery cream), the Summer Style palette (rosy nudes and taupes for eyes, lips and cheeks), plus a honey-coloured lipstick and gold-flecked gloss. Buy it at Selfridges…

Disneyrollergirl 0 Comments Beauty, Shopping Aerin, bronzer, make-up, shopping

22 August, 2013

Get the M&S coat off Grace Coddington’s back…

The best thing about the new M&S ad campaign (shot by Annie Leibowitz – what a coup!) is surely Grace Coddington in her mannish alabaster coat.

The all-star cast also includes Tracey Emin, Karen Elson and Olympic gold medal boxer Nicola Adams. A dramatic, last-ditched attempt at salvaging the brand? That’s what some people are saying and it’s true, times have been tricky lately, especially on the fashion front. This is certainly a bold move from Marks & Spencer to reclaim its place as one of our best loved retailers. Style director Belinda Earl has been busily rethinking the collections, pinning her hopes of success on M&S Collection. This is the rebrand of M&S Women, a considered collection that focuses on contemporary staples – with just fashionable enough proportions and colours to appeal to a fashion-literate customer without chasing trends. Let’s face it, M&S is in need of a clear identity and I think we’re all agreed that you can get your fix of neoprene sweatshirts from Zara and New Look; much better for Earl to up the ante in style and quality (and hopefully price) instead.

So the next few weeks will be pretty crucial for Earl and co, as the new collections drop and customers decide whether to buy…or not. Of course, next to tackle is the shop floor experience, but hey, baby steps, yeah? And should you want to get the Grace Coddington look (or Karen Elson’s, my second fave), all the campaign items are available to buy in Marks and Spencer stores and online at www.marksandspencer.com from next month.

In this picture, Coddington is wearing M&S Collection coat, £99; M&S Collection cardigan, £29.50; M&S Collection shirt, £25; M&S Collection treggings, £35; Autograph shoes £45. Here’s a closer look…
M&S-Collection-Coat-T491239-£99.00-Grace-Coddington M&S-COLLECTION TREGGING-T574963-£35.00