5 January, 2020

The new direct-to-consumer classics

No-fashion fashion; it seems the world is catching up with the ‘gentlewoman style’ set (according to the New York Times), who covet the best version of a thing that they can wear forever. This was the premise of my book, The New Garconne, which came out in 2016. The wardrobe building blocks featured in there have held up pretty well, although silhouettes have morphed slightly over time. But classics are classics, so I think we will always need a blazer, a tailored pant, a slim-heeled shoe and a decent tote.

Interestingly, some of today’s best classics don’t come from the heritage brands but from ‘direct-to-consumer’ (aka DTC) start-ups. (more…)

Disneyrollergirl 4 Comments Beauty, Brands, Business of fashion, Design, News, Online shopping, Retail concepts, Shopping, Trends Away, Business of Fashion, circularity, denim, direct to consumer, For Days, Homme Girls, La Bouche Rouge, Naadam, Paravel, RE/DONE, Veja

18 December, 2019

Shop the post: The late, late gift guide

Hermes Vinyl boombox in swift calfskin and streaming canvas

I don’t think I’ve ever been able to get a gift guide up in time so maybe don’t consider this a gift guide. Maybe it’s more of a self-gifting guide. Or a ‘what to spend your Christmas money on in January’ guide.

Anyhoo, here’s a collection of things that have caught my eye that are useful, beautiful, or somewhere in between. I like supporting new and indie businesses, traditional heritage companies and projects by friends. And obviously I can never resist a book or two… (more…)

Disneyrollergirl 0 Comments Beauty, Books, Brands, Design, News, Retail concepts, Shopping, Trends 19-69, Anonymous Ism, AW19, Birkenstock, books, Buly 1803, Centre Commercial, Chinti & Parker, COS, Garcon Jon, gifts, Hermes, Homecore, Laperruque, Omaie, oral care, shopping, Tiina The Store, Veja, Zespa

10 November, 2019

Veja performance trainers: form or function?

You should by now be no stranger to Veja. You know, the cult French eco-trainer brand seen on every tastemaker of note, recognised by its minimalist white V10 sneakers with the distinctive V logo. There was a good piece in the FT recently (sub req*) on how the brand rose to €60 million turnover.

But two things jumped out at me. (more…)

Disneyrollergirl 0 Comments Brands, Business of fashion, Design, News brands, Business of Fashion, design, Financial Times, sportswear, Veja

14 June, 2019

On Farfetch, circularity and the business of positivity

Graduate Fashion Week 2019 Farfetch Conscious Design Hub

Heads up! There’s a trendy new buzzword in town. Forget diversity, authenticity and sustainability; ‘positivity’ neatly encapsulates all three and can be moulded at will to suit the subject. The British Fashion Council has a positive fashion initiative, there’s a great website dedicated to Positive Luxury and it’s the tagline I use on here for anything related to considered fashion or beauty.

On which note, there was a palpable positivity at London’s graduate showcase, Graduate Fashion Week (GFW) last week. Now in its 28th year, something felt different this time – it seemed buzzier, less scrappy and had the ego boost of support from industry heavyweights including LVMH and Farfetch. (more…)