shopping

Craft work



Daniela Dregis reversible cashmere nylon jacket Tiina The Store

Now that the temperature’s dipped to around the 1-degree mark, I just want to stay in and hibernate. My default winter work-from-home-wear is Heat-Tech, a Hanro long sleeve tee, three fine-knit merino sweaters topped off by a shrunk-in-the-wash men’s Margiela nubby knit and Levi’s.

The nubby knit is important. Chunky, textured jumpers and socks are all I want to wear now and they’re all the rage. Partly because they feel good and partly because a crude, craftsy sensibility is permeating everything as a counterpoint to tech fatigue. I wrote about this for BON magazine’s autumn issue, which you can read here. (more…)



Festive beauty for for minimalists



Chanel numeros rouges limited edition lipsticks
I struggle with festive style. I cannot abide a novelty ‘Christmas jumper’, anything too sequinny makes me think ‘Julien Macdonald for Debenhams’, and sparkly eyeshadow makes my eyelids look like they’re disintegrating.

Instead, I resort to my default option of silk shirt (my black Levi’s one with navy stars is as jazzy as I go) and tailored trousers with a cocktail ring or two and one of my Judith Leiber vintage minaudieres.

Chanel’s Numéros Rouges limited edition Christmas collection is rather jewel-like too, with newly red-encased lipsticks replacing the classic black packaging. (more…)



Buy it now: Golda sphere soap



Golda soap

The humble bar of soap is experiencing a renaissance, but this one has a difference. Golda Hiba handmade soap by Studio Cue LA comes in a black or golden sculptural sphere. Both soaps are made using Aomori Hiba essential oil, known for its anitmicrobial, germicidal, insect repellent, and deodorising properties. (more…)



Positive fashion: No label labels



Lemaire Aw17

Black Friday, black schmiday! I don’t really go mad for these sales unless I need something practical (I’m currently Googling printers #fml) but otherwise I would approach them the same way I do any other sale season; look for the ‘investment buys’ that I couldn’t usually afford.

For me that means hunting out the Christophe Lemaire, Sofie d’Hoore and Margaret Howell goodies that have a long lifespan and won’t date. (more…)