While everyone is talking about monograms, I thought I’d show you my favourite personalized piece – my jeans. Yes, that’s right – I have monogrammed jeans. When I was writing I Love Your Style in 2007, I wanted to include a section on monograms in my Classic chapter. I was trying to think of an unconventional way to wear one, and so I went to see my friend Eleanor Lembo, who worked at Earnest Sewn at the time, and asked if there was any way they’d sew my initials on the back right pocket of my jeans for me...
Would you wear a bowtie? I’m not sure if I would. I am definitely a girl who loves a bow, but I think I am more of a bow-in-my-hair type of girl. I LOVE a black git was more of the soft pussycat-bow-on-a-blouse look. Never say never, but so far the urge to wear an actual bow tie hasn’t come to me.
Despite my own resistance, I love seeing other girls in bow ties. I notice that many girls who venture out in one make a regular habit of it...
I continue to obsess over the pictures of Paul and Linda McCartney and their family living on a farm in Scotland in the 70’s. How could I not? Looking over them again recently got me thinking about Fair Isle sweaters. For most of my life they were a symbol of classic New England prep school style – something that for much of my life was too close to home to be able to appreciate. Sure I had a literal stage where I myself wore Fair Isle sweaters while weaving Mexican rope bracelets and listening to the Grateful Dead, but when I moved on there was no going back...
I’ve been wanting to do a post on Nancy Reagan for some time, and as we are now in the season for wearing red, it seems like a good moment to do so. I love Nancy Reagan’s style. To me it’s very Marc Jacobs – happy, American, not overtly sexy, decorative, sweet and chic. And don’t let her dated hairstyle put you off – it’s not about the hair. It’s about a pussycat bow, a floral print, a covered chest, a ruffle, a Chanel-inspired Adolfo jacket, and of course, the color red...
This quote hangs in my office. I read it every day. For me it expresses the very definition and value of inspiration. I guess I could argue that nothing inspires me more than inspiration. Sometimes I gather so much inspiration – images, photos, tear sheets, books, notes – that it overwhelms me, making me feel disorganised, unfocused and like I’ll never have enough time in my life to put it all to use. But I can’t resist it – if I see something that moves me I want to remember it, archive it, file it away for when I need it...
You may feel that you never have to see another picture of Lauren Bacall in your life, but I for one never get tired of looking at her. Most actresses of her generation were dressed by costume designers and film studios in a glamorous yet cliché “movie star” kind of way, and her on set and promotional photographs convey that. But I am most interested in her more candid, personal photos, especially the ones with her children...
Gaia Repossi’s classic minimalist style is a personal favorite of mine. It might be the fact that she owns all the Celine pieces I covet, or that she knows how to wear it in a way that is down to earth, yet just fashion-forward enough. There is also her timeless and natural feline-like beauty and the contrasting tomboy-like way she puts herself together. And then there is the jewelry she designs for her family’s jewelry company Repossi, which has become the fashion world’s favorite. I would buy every piece of her Berbere collection if I could. Keep on eye on her – she’s going to be around for a while.
There are lots of amazing pictures of Marisa Berenson wearing a turban – you know the ones of her in the matching purple bikini, eyeshadow and turban, or the similar green version with the clear plastic bikini straps? Or maybe you know the Warhol photos of her with the hibiscus stuck into her turban? They are truly over-the-top fashion fabulous. But my favorite turban shot of her is this one. I probably like it because, well, I’m not saying I would ever wear a turban myself, but if I did…..this..
With all the vintage photography out there on the internet, it’s rare for me these days to discover a new style icon. So it’s a real thrill when I do. The other day I stumbled across a picture of a very chic girl that I included in my paisley post. I hadn’t heard of her before, so I did some more research, with exciting results. Her name was Henrietta Joan Tiarks and when she married, she received two grand titles – Marchioness of Tavistock and Duchess of Bedford...
Couldn’t you see this girl from 1940 posing outside of a fashion show for all the bloggers? Her look is so ahead of its time. I wonder if it seemed that way then?
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