Paris Fashion Week SS 2016

After A Show, Paris, October 2015

Cornflower blue + ivory......a beautiful combination.

Recreate her look (kind of):

Ivory sweater - Rag & Bone Ida wool and ribbed-knit sweater, DKNY Open-knit sweater, Paige Armory sweater, Ramy Brook Silena sweater, Chloe Crochet sweater, French Connection Mozart Popcorn knit sweater, Weekend Max Mara Dingo sweater, Rag & Bone Annie cotton sweater, Jenni Kayne textured crewneck sweater, or Isabel Marant Gayle cable knit alpaca sweater

Topshop Blue duster coat, Helmut Lang Belted long coat, ASOS Premium Shacket, New Look Blue longline coat, or Paul & Joe wool blend felt coat

Paris Fashion Week SS 2016....Ece

Stylist and Creative Consultant, Ece Sukan, before A Show, Paris, October 2015.

Paris Fashion Week SS 2016....Margaret

Margaret Zhang of Shine by Three, after A Show, Paris, October 2015.

The classic combination of a faux/fur coat + distressed jeans. 

Recreate Margaret's look (kind of):

Marni shearling coat, or Shrimps Cheryl spotted faux-shearling coat 

Distressed jeans - Rag & Bone/JEAN The Dre Slim Boyfriend jeans, Grlfrnd The Naomi jeans, AGolde Jamie High Rise Classic jeans, Daisy Street Distressed Boyfriend jeans, or R13 Catherine distressed mid rise jeans

New York Fashion Week SS 2016....Eleonora

Eleonora Carisi, before A Show, NYC, September 2015.

The effortless suede over knee boot. Wear now with a cute dress and bare legs, and with opaque tights for winter. 

Recreate Eleonora's look (kind of):

Mini dress - Anna Sui Lace-trimmed printed mini dress, WAYF Belvue Lace dress, Topshop Unique Tybalt corded lace mini dress, Likely Lace Perry dress, Sea Broderie Anglaise voile mini dress, Mother of Pearl Opal silk dress, or Tanya Taylor Floral Bouquet Georgia dress

Suede over knee boots - Michael Kors Collection Harris Lace Up Over Knee boots, Rachel Zoe Twilight lace up over knee boots, Sam Edelman Elina suede over knee boots, Rag & Bone Over the Knee boots, Madewell Jimi Over the Knee boots, Saint Laurent bb20 Over the knee boots, New Look Suede over knee boots, Stuart Weitzman Tieland suede over the knee boots, or Alexa Wagner Theresa Suede boots

Paris Fashion Week SS 2016....Elizabeth

System Magazine's Elizabeth von Guttman, before Moncler, Paris, October 2015. 

More of Elizabeth sans coat here.

Classic (investment) pieces to wear season after season:

the leather pencil skirt

the fitted turtleneck sweater

the fur/faux fur jacket 

black ankle boots

Recreate Elizabeth's look (kind of):

Leather pencil skirt - Joseph Clara stretch-leather skirt, ASOS midi skirt in leather, Mackage Lucille leather skirt, Vetements Wrap-effect leather pencil skirt, Reiss Tami Black leather pencil skirt, ATM Anthony Thomas Melillo leather pencil skirt, Grey Jason Wu Lambskin leather pencil skirt, Raey Tumbled-leather midi skirt, or What Goes Around Comes Around Alaia leather skirt

Fur/Faux fur jacket - Meteo by Yves Salomon Rabbit Fur leopard jacket, Alessandra Rich faux fur jacket, Sea Fur Zip-Front jacket, or Shrimps Gustav checked faux fur jacket

Fitted turtleneck sweater - Victoria Beckham ribbed silk and cotton-blend turtleneck sweater, Enza Costa Heather Rib Mock neck top, Michael Kors Collection ribbed-knit turtleneck top, or ASOS The Turtleneck with long sleeves

Paris Fashion Week SS 2016

After Dries Van Noten, Paris, October 2015.

Paris Fashion Week SS 2016

After A Show, Paris, October 2015.

Autumn weekends sorted! Such a great outfit (and beautiful colours). 

Recreate her look (kind of):

Camel blazer/jacket - Joseph Double Face Cashmere New Roma jacket, BB Dakota Reithe Jacket, Tibi Wool-blend felt cape, Thread & Supply Double breasted peacoat, Rag & Bone Emmet single-button camel coat, or Alexander Wang Shawl Collar vest

Orange-y-toned sweater: Miu Miu wool turtleneck sweater, Tibi Boiled Funnel neck pullover, Isabel Marant Etoile Joey turtleneck, Joesph Turtleneck sweater, or Alice + Olivia Billi slim turtleneck sweater

Jeans - Citizens of Humanity Liya high rise jeans, MiH Jeans Linda high-rise straight leg jeans, Current/Elliott The Fling jeans, Citizens of Humanity Emerson slim boyfriend jeans, or Frame Le Garcon jeans

Paris Fashion Week SS 2016....Mayka

Mayka Merino, after Miu Miu, Paris, October 2015.

As summer makes way for autumn and finally, winter, thoughts turn to deeper, darker hues....including lipstick. The lip colour after Miu Miu reminded me of berried ivy (hedera helix) and deep red chrysanthemums.

During summer, I love filling the house with plants (many many plants!) and pretty scented flowers or foliage but when the nights start to draw in I crave candles: scented and beeswax. Lighting a candle seems to lift my spirits.... the beautiful scent + the flickering warmth. Once the leaves on the trees start changing colour, and begin tumbling to the ground, I feel a little sadness: summer is at the end for another year and there will inevitably be long grey months ahead (the cold, I love. The grey, not so much). Once autumn is in full swing though - the trees ablaze with orange, red and yellow, and the air crisp and cool - my spirits will lift again.....and there is Christmas to look forward to as well (and perhaps some snow!).

As I type this I am burning a new favorite candle* which feels just right for now, late summer: Bella Freud Je T'aime Jane scented candle.  If you like the smell of tiger lily flowers, you will love this candle. I think it smells exactly like the flowers....heady, strong, intoxicating - a smell you can readily identify when you walk into a room. Only a few weeks ago someone gave me a bunch of tiger lilies as a thank you gift. I haven't even considered them as a cut flower since I have been going to the New Covent Garden Flower Market each week - too many other beautiful, new-to-me flowers to choose from. But those lilies, and this candle, have reignited my love for them. And the best thing about the candle? No yellow lily pollen stains to deal with! This particular candle has a strong throw, even unlit. So if you get headaches from tiger lily flowers (or any strong floral scent), this might not be the right candle for you.

*I absolutely love scented candles and whenever I receive a gift voucher, or am asked what I would like for a present, candles are at the top of my list!

Weekend Life....Croissants + Japanese Anemones

Weekend brekky: croissants + jam + espresso + a vase of pretty Japanese anemones. 

Croissants from Poilane (the Waitrose frozen bake-to-order butter croissants are also rather good too especially if you want to serve them warm. I once read a book written by the owner of a boutique hotel in France and he swore by Picard frozen croissants. I keep meaning to remember to buy some to try when I am in Paris....but I worry they would all defrost on the Eurostar journey home!), lovely homemade raspberry jam and Duchy organic salted butter. 

The Japanese anemones are a happy August/September revelation for me - I had never seen or heard of them before I came across them at the New Covent Garden Flower Market last year. Now I can't get enough of them - so pretty (even the buds are beautiful) with lovely elegant bendy shapes and gorgeous hues. I keep seeing them in gardens now (they seem to do quite well in shady positions) and I saw a gorgeous display at Kew Gardens when I visited last year.  

Ceramic vases and plate by the incredible Janaki Larsen of Le Marche St George 

Japanese Anemones from Zest at New Covent Garden Flower Market

Arne Jacobsen for Fritz Hansen Grand Prix Dining chairs in walnut (I sat on so many chairs trying to find some that looked good and were comfy too. So many looked beautiful but were ridiculously uncomfortable after only a few minutes of sitting. I love the look of the  Hans Wegner Wishbone chair but the frame at the back just didn't work for me (not sure if it is height issue? Or just a me issue.... I wonder if that is why I see so many of them covered in sheepskin rugs!). Anyway, the Grand Prix chairs are wonderful to sit on, even over many hours. My only regret is not waiting, and trying to source some vintage teak Grand Prix chairs....

Paris Fashion Week SS 2016....Evangelie

Evangelie Smyrniotaki of Style Heroine, after Stella McCartney, Paris, October 2015.

Black textures (and cute nude fishnet tights!). 

Recreate Evangelie's look (kind of):

Sweater: Acne Studios Deborah alpaca and wool-blend sweater, Vince Cashmere blend sweater, Acne Studios Asaya sweater, or Maison Margiela sherpa-front sweater

Michael Michael Kors Patent faux-leather mini skirt, Isabel Marant Coated cotton mini skirt, Kenzo Fringed vinyl skirt, Anthony Vaccarello lace-up vinyl mini skirt, Frame Denim Shiny leather mini skirt, Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini paperbag-waist mini skirt, Topshop Unique Sadler Mini skirt or Siran Cracked Nappa leather mini skirt

Fishnet tights: Commando Very Fine fishnet nude tights, Topshop Micro Fishnet tights, Halogen fishnet tights or ASOS Nude fishnet tights

Paris Fashion Week SS 2016....Ji Hye

South Korean model Ji Hye Park, after A Show, Paris, October 2015.