THE DRG STYLE INDEX: YVES SAINT LAURENT, M. MARTIN, DEBRETT’S, SONIA RYKIEL

Here’s the latest weekly DRG STYLE INDEX ranking, a round-up of the brands currently buzzing on my radar…

1. YVES SAINT LAURENT’S UBER-EXCLUSIVE COUTURE
Saint Laurent couture made to order

“It will be used only for ‘friends of the house,’ and can be both for men or women, daywear or evening wear. Hedi Slimane decides these orders case by case. Unlike a couture collection, this is an even more exclusive definition.” So quoth an unnamed Saint Laurent exec in the New York Times on the subject of the new Yves Saint Laurent made to order service. When everything is accessible, what could be more desirable than entry to the most exclusive even-money-can’t-buy-entry fashion club of all?


2. SONIA RYKIEL’S LEFT BANK LIBRARY COMES TO BROOK STREET

Sonia Rykiel Brook Street store bibliotheque

While in town for appointments last week, I went past the Sonia Rykiel boutique in Brook Street. The whole store has been transformed into a pop-up ‘bibliothèque‘, complete with 15,000 books, as well as an outside patio, with chairs and tables. Tres jolie indeed, and these new-season bags looked very appealing too.


3. DEBRETT’S AT HARRODS

The Debrett¹s Drawing Room has opened at Harrods
Watch out Smythson, Debrett’s is on your case. Debrett’s has just opened a stationery concession at Harrods and its pretty tempting for lovers of old school paper goods. I have the Debrett’s Town & Country diary and I love using it. It’s quite big (A5) for carrying around day to day but it’s not at all heavy. In Harrods’ ‘Debrett’s Drawing Room’, you can also find British-made leathergoods and photo frames, alongside antiques and David Linley furniture.


4. INTRODUCING M. MARTIN

M.Martin elevated basics

When it comes to ‘wearable timeless staples’, a lot hinges on the branding and imagery. Because how exciting can a white shirt or camel sweatshirt really get? I’ve just discovered M. Martin, a new line from Alex Gilbert Gaines, a founder of Paper Denim & Cloth, and Jennifer Noyes, who was director of women’s ready-to-wear at Prada USA. These elevated basics have subtle details like piped cuffs and strategically-positioned pockets, and the imagery is lush – lifestyle-y and relatable (but of course, aspirational). And the cloth-covered lookbook that these pictures are from looks like a thing of loveliness in itself.

WORDS:Navaz Batliwalla/Disneyrollergirl