Lace feet

 (Ph. private)

Just a quick one as I'm at home in Paris celebrating la fête des pères with the family. Besides, this is but a stripey variation on last week's insta-outfit, and really just another excuse to show off my neo-goth filigree feet that I can't seem to get enough of. Funny that, I didn't have me down as a lace lass. Enjoy your Sunday merry e-friends. 

I'm wearing MLM lace boots (or here) - H&M new icons biker jacket and jeans - James Perse t-shirt - Celine sunglasses and tote 

Skye & Staghorn

(Ph. Margaret Zhang)

There is no day like the present to take a flash trip back in time. So jump onto my #ThrowbackThrusday time machine and join me at the Ize's rooftop pool, where we can laze around all day in hero swimwear, ODing on watermelon juice, before taking a dip with the city at our feet.

Infinity pools and figure of eight tattoos seem like the common denominator here. And before you ask whether my Bali adventures unleashed my inner wild child, know that gap yaah shenanigans are my pet peeve. Call this a test drive. Ever after is an awfully long time, after all. 

I'm wearing: Skye & Staghorn suit (more here) - Celine tote and sunglasses - H&M beach towel and spike open bangle -Michael Kors watch - Oracle collection cuff - Skin feelings ephemeral tattoo 

at hotel Ize, Bali (booked via the Luxe Nomad)

 

Back to business as usual

Ph. Luke Baker

This morning I woke up to the viral news that the Queen of boho-chic will be designing a capsule collection for the King of fast fashion. Pencil it in e-friends: on November 14th 2013, Isabel Marant will be available at your local H&M.

In a way, this is a match made in heaven - a far better marriage than the last, which for all it's high fashion credentials felt a bit like a betrayal on the part of the conceptual maison. Certainly Marant is a designer for the people. Easy statement pieces for girls like you and me who like to look effortless no matter what the circumstance. My only concern is that the woman has managed to bread an army of clones despite exorbitant price tags, so I can only imagine what the streets will look like once the budget versions have landed. 

We shall see. 

In the meantime, it's back to business as usual here in London. Drizzle, layers, (almost all) black and the noticeable absence of my favourite Aussie behind the lens. Boo hoo. 

I'm wearing: Joseph leather leggings (budget here) and cutout boots - Zara Studio coat - Club Monaco knit - Jennifer Zeuner necklace - Celine black tote

 

Oi, Jurgen, where art thou?

(Ph. not Jurgen Teller, alas)

This is the controversial one folks.

Fear not, I will not try and convert you (though let's see where you stand on this in a few months from now), especially as Phoebe didn't exactly have me at hello either. How was I to know that the usual Teller/Daria equation would have me gagging for a pair of orthopedic house shoes as soon as the campaign landed? And that this burning desire would only grow upon locking eyes with each editorial featuring the offenders? And that no amount of pinning, tumbling, blogging seemed to quench my love for the wretched things? And so, before I knew what's what, there I was in Matches trying to talk myself out of  dropping 700 pounds on something that was evidently created for someone to whom the words practical and sensible mean nothing.

Believe me, if life were an editorial, those man repelling furry creatures would not still be at the store. But in the interest of being able to afford food and not being sneered at on the street, I opted for the budget version. Notice how the rest of the industry is following suit (Tibi goodness anyone?) ? The Olsen's have been working the birkie look for a good few years now, so perhaps injecting it into their Resort offering was only a matter of time. Mark my words, this is the oddball that we are all going to love to hate. Embrace it. Or not. Your call.

Now, where is Jurgen. I can't hold this position long, I don't have Daria's stamina (fine, nor her hair/legs/cheekbones/general effortlessness). Chop, chop. 

I'm wearing H&M trend top and trousers - Birkenstock sandals (and in black) at Gilli Trawangan, Lombok

 

The Ruffle-off

Let's play a game. Imagine you are suddenly hit by a severe case of fashion amnesia. To you, fall conjures up the earthy smell of fallen leaves, the name Ghesquiere evokes an obscure variety of fish and the word peplum has never graced your lips. You ready?

Now, open your eyes wide, soak in the curated content below and tell me in all honesty whether your highly trained eye (you are amnesic, not devoid from critical senses!) would be able to attribute these dramatic frills to more than one maison. I for one could not. All I see is sculptural ruffles punctuating the seams of otherwise overtly minimalistic pieces. Thrilling bichromatic frills that may be flouncy by essence, but are neither girly or prissy in the execution. One big happy family.

But I would be wrong. And there's a good chance you would to (are you?).

This is not me just being facetious. I am genuinely intrigued as to how this happens. Because if plagiarism is the ethos of our age, surely even a born skeptical would have to agree that unless Ghesquiere (the creative genius, not the scaly creature with gills) and Tisci spent last season sending spying Oompa Loompa's to each other's workshop, these conclusive similarities are pure coincidence. 

But how? If ruffles have kept to themselves since the 80s, why is it that in September 2013 our runways suddenly went wild for the shape? It's not just Givenchy and Balenciaga - although their renditions seem the most incestuous. Chloé, Gucci, JW Anderson and Marni are all at it too. And suddenly ruffles are vying for first place in the run-up for Trend of the Season and even I, a born and bred conservative dresser have welcomed their exuberant maximalism into my wardrobe.

I struggle to comprehended the workings of trends. I hear it has something to do with trend forecasters. If fashion ever had a god, I suppose they would get the crown. I wish I understood how it worked. If anyone knows, pray do explain. 

Have you finished yet? Remember, the rules are simple: no Style.com peeking. I wish I could write the answers upside down as they do in kids magazines, but such is not in my skill set. Instead, I will daringly ask you to play favourites. If there are to be two sides, then surely a ruffle-off is a given. Fire away.

(Ph/Harper's Bazaar, Style.com, Marie Claire, Vogue UK, Balenciaga, Givenchy)