Stylish quote

“Elegance is a physical quality. If a woman doesn’t have it naked, she’ll never have it clothed.”

Karl Lagerfeld

 

Photo source: Muse #19 2009

Autumn delights

In my books November was always a month of hibernation. It felt as if the world would slow down wrapped in a thick blanket of fogs. It was a month of rain, clouds and cold wind – none of which have never been appealing. And then one day, just an ordinary day, like many other ordinary days, I realised that there’s no point of getting depressed about the weather or lack of sunshine – November, just like any other months of the year, is the time to live and enjoy life as it comes.

All it takes is a few cosy layers that would keep you warm indoors and protect from the elements when the rain and wind seem unbearable, a huge scarf that makes you feel happy, a few scented candles that bring a feeling of warm comfort to your home, a cup of hot cocoa (or chocolate if you like) and a pile of good movies, books and magazines to bury your nose into when the world outside becomes dark and unwelcoming. And then you realise that November isn’t that bad after all and really is worth living, not existing through it.

Photo source: Elle US September 1999, ???, Pirelli Calendar 1995, Vogue Italia March 2000, Max Mara Fall 2004 campaign, Flikr, ???, Michael Aram Candles, Max Mara Weekend Fall 2012 campaign.

Make-up inspiration: classic red lips

The make-up look I am absolutely in love with. Perfect canvas, very natural eyes and that special shade of red lipstick that is certainly noticeable, but in a very classy way.

  

Photo source: style.com

Halloween countdown: W March 2008

Photo source: W March 2008

It’s time to celebrate

Guess what we are celebrating today, girls? The National Stockings Day! Yes, it’s a fabulous occasion to dress up your pins and feel like a woman (and look like every man’s dream, too).

The idea was introduced by Charnos Hosiery to encourage women to embrace their sensuality as well as raise money in aid of breast cancer care (£1.00 of every pair of Ava, Katharine or Marilyn stockings sold between Monday 17th and Sunday 23rd October will be donated).

This year is a special one for Charnos because the company is also celebrating its 75th anniversary and introducing six new designs of stockings, tights and hold-ups to commemorate the occasion.

The collection is inspired by some of the most beautiful and influential women including Marilyn Monroe, Jackie Kennedy, Katharine Hepburn, Betty Grable, Brigitte Bardot and Ava Gardner. Marilyn hold-ups with tiny bow and pearl details, beautifully dotted Brigitte and classic Katharine are the ones I’d personally choose.

I believe that a woman can feel absolutely gorgeous or totally horrible depending on what hosiery she wears.

French were the ones who recognised the beauty of the garment and turn them into a fashion accessory – at first the stockings were made of soft leather, but later suede, silk and velvet lavishly decorated with gold embroidery were produced for a special few.

In 1589 William Lee, the vicar of Calverton, invented the knitting machine that was able to produce beautiful silk stockings. A pair of hosiery was later presented to Queen Elizabeth I who was absolutely delighted with the gift, but refused to give a patent to Lee. The vicar moved to France where he died before the know-how was officially registered.

The popularity of stockings was growing all over Europe from Italy and France to England and Russia where the expensive hosiery became an essential part of a luxury lifestyle.

In 1938 DuPont introduced “thin as spider web” nylons with an unforgettable detail – a back seam, so sexy and flirty that women had to draw it on their legs with a pencil during WWII when the stockings were out of production.

In 1960s stockings were replaced by tights that were more suitable for mini-skirts and rock-in-roll lifestyle.

These days were are simply spoilt for choice: classic colours, brights, fishnets, patterns and prints, barely there lycra or cashmere luxury – now women have a weapon to visually reshape their legs, hide minor flaws, stay warm or tease men’s imagination.

It’s just one of our secrets that’s worth an entire post and a celebration.

Photo source: Vogue Paris June/July 2009

Fashion Babylon

It’s been ages since I wrote a post about one of my favourite fashion-related books, so it’s time to fill in the gap.

I picked Fashion Babylon back in 2006 after reading Hotel Babylon, which I really liked. Written by British author and journalist Imogen Edwards-Jones and Anonymous, Fashion Babylon is a witty and easy-to-read-impossible-to-put-down novel that sounds more like a daily dairy of a London fashion designer.

According to Edwards-Jones her top three sources were “all very high profile and very much at the top of the fashion world” with one of them working in Vogue.

It’s a must read if you crave all the gossip and facts behind glamorous facade of the fashion industry, want to hear stories about IT bags and people, where and when you need to be if you dream of becoming the next top model, how much your favourite Chanel perfume really cost, and that vintage isn’t just a pretty dress from the past and cabbage isn’t just a crunchy vegetable.

The things you discover aren’t something a fashion insider would just share with you, unless, of course, you are best mates, so Fashion Babylon really is a great book for all the mere mortals (including yours truly) with insatiable curiosity for fashion.

Photo source: Dolce & Gabbana Spring 2011 via Facebook (photoshoped by me and not in any way related to the content of the book)

Ice-cream

Some say that your favourite ice-cream may, in fact, reveal some curious facts about your character. There’s even a book called What Flavour is Your Personality? written by Dr. Hirsch, a neurologist who discovered that our likes for certain foods and flavours are linked to our behaviour and emotions.

Personally, I am very much into vanilla or toffee ice-creams, but can easily pass on the strawberry or rocky road, so if the flavour-test results really are true, this would make me an emotional goal-oriented perfectionist who believes in solid relationship, but isn’t prepared to talk about feelings to the entire world.

What about you?

Photo sources: Vogue Latin America December 2010, Dazed&Confused July 2011, Forever 21 Lookbook, Glamour Spain May 2011, Elle Italy November 2010, Vogue Paris December 2004, Vogue Korea 2008, Elle UK August 2008, Vogue US September 2008, Elle Argentina September 2006, Aldo campaign, Chanel Ice-cream cone by Liz von Hoene, Vogue Germany May 2004, Coco Rocha by Guy Aroch via WWD, Marie Claire Australia March 2010