Chic Bits

At an event last evening, my friend wore a cuff on her upper arm and it was so chic. Every few years I’m reminded of how much I like this look. And this smocked leather skirt is fabulous and on sale.

Elsa Peretti for Tiffany & Co. cuff, Lafayette 148 smocked leather skirt

Grey & Beige

It’s only taken me my whole life to realize that camel doesn’t suit me, it’s too orange. Beige (khaki, brown, etc.) paired with grey is my best bet. Love the @scholl_iconic Pescura clogs on @jeannedamas. Birkin image courtesy @pernilleteisbaek

Celine SS23: La Collection de Saint-Tropez

Yesterday, Celine released Hedi Slimane’s SS23 collection film shot in Saint-Tropez. Skinny jeans and an oversized cable-knit cardigan? Oh, yes please! Also yesterday, NET-A-PORTER’s SS23 Trends Presentation was held at Hotel Chelsea and hosted by NAP’s brilliant Market Director, Libby Page. Ms. Page mentioned that a black blazer will be a spring must-have, so I’m happy to see two versions in this collection.

In The Wild

The brilliant styling of a down vest/parka under a cable knit cardigan was too good to pass up. From the low ponytail to her suede loafers, this woman has terrific personal style.

Mellow Yellow

Yellow is splendid in the winter, it’s cheerful. I would feel sunny wrapped in this The Row oversized scarf with a Sidney Garber yellow diamond Thread Ring on my finger.

Zebra Print

Fashion folks often claim that animal print is a neutral. Leopard is not my thing, but this Dries Van Noten zebra print definitely is. Ages ago I had a pair of zebra print boots that made even the most minimalist ’90s outfits sing.

The Calm Before The Storm

This is the last quiet weekend before Thanksgiving prep and an exceedingly busy December take over my life. The Alex Katz: Gathering exhibition at the Guggenheim and the film The Banshees of Inisherin top my to-do list. In FT‘s fantastic Q&A with British Jewelry and interior designer Solange Azagury-Partridge, she shares that the Chanel Le Crayon Khôl is her beauty staple — this tidbit inspired me to up my holiday beauty game a notch. I recently posted on Chanel’s Noir Allure mascara, my new beauty staple.

A Beige Parka

Photography by Valentin Giacobetti Styling by Jack Borkett

In a moment of synchronicity, just as I was loading the Khaite down jacket into the kic shop my daughter sent me a picture of her new Banana Republic parka. This all dovetailed nicely with the November Vogue France image of a Guess bomber above that’s been on my desktop just waiting for a post. I popped in the Moncler cable-knit down jacket for good measure.

‘Chop Your Jeans With A Bread Knife…’

I love a list of tips and this one, from October 31 Grazia by style advice writer and beauty expert Sali Hughes, is clever and a bit outside of my box. According to the article, Ms. Hughes has perfected how to dress with zero stress. It’s a fun read.

I ’VE BEEN OBSESSED with clothes my whole life. Fashion is the way I communicate myself to the world, the way I honour my moods and rise to any occasion. But there are some things about my wardrobe and style that never change with it. Trends have come and thankfully gone (low-rise bootcut jeans and smock tops, anyone?), income and expenditure has ebbed and flowed, babies have been grown, parties have been thrown. But every outfit has taught me a lesson or a trick that even now helps me to dress without stress on the daily. Here are a few of them.

ODD NUMBERS ARE BEST

Unless it naturally comes in pairs (earrings, for example), jewellery tends to look more stylish in odd numbers than in even. One or three bangles looks better than two, a ring or three per hand is somehow cooler than two or four. One ear piercing is minimal and chic, three is a whole vibe.

REACH FOR THE BREAD KNIFE

The best way to create perfectly distressed cut-offs is not with scissors, but with a serrated bread knife. Lie the jeans flat, waistband folded in half so the legs perfectly line up, then start sawing with your knife until the fabric pulls effortlessly apart, leaving frayed seams. If you’d like a few further holes or rips, take some tiny nail scissors and, using the points of their blades, nick the denim to make small holes, then make bigger or roughen up the edges with a coarse nail file.

Continue…

Fall Faves

We are heading into sale season (emails are starting to come in) and I read that stores still have a lot of inventory. I’ve posted on all of the items above and I bet a number of them will be marked down — the Commission skirt already is. Nary a regret and a few holes in my wardrobe have been filled — most notably belts. I’ve worn a Saint Laurent belt for easily 5-some-odd years and was delighted to find the Miu Miu ones — variety is good. Ann Mashburn’s cowboy boots just arrived and are great. The Row scarves and here, Officine Générale sweater, Chanel slingbacks, Saint Laurent slingbacks, and Khaite jeans have served me well — the jeans are as wide as I can go without looking clownish. And, The Slate (info@theslate.shop) leather jacket gets 5 stars.