Mn Vogue vol. 2

[MarshaBrady]

For anyone who likes to talk about style, nice stuff that they've bought and so on.

Have got it now . I'd be torn between avoiding the school run to avoid comparisons with me and feverishly stalking to see what she wears on the school run!!

Ooh thanks - I'll grab The Times at my local kiosk when I pop out to buy Closer

With all the clues, I have now found out who she is.
And my ignorance is confirmed.
Put it down to the dearth of double decker buses in these wilds.
I found that the little shop where I sometimes buy clothes in town was selling off its Petit Bateau stock half price. I may have bought 5 a few things. That's how exciting it gets here.

What an unexpectedly lovely day weather-wise. Hope everyone is having a suitably relaxed saturday. Was supposed to be swapping my wardrobes over but lounged in garden reading instead (Julian Barnes: The Sense of An Ending) and mentally redecorating the sitting room.

Dona thank you for the extra clue. If I am correct, Bonsoir's super is a great philanthropist too, no?

As Bonsoir raised the issue: what do we think about the whole Kate & Closer situation? Personally, I really feel for her. It is a gross invasion of privacy and is in no way "in the public interest" nor a demonstration of how much in love they are (as the editor claimed) - that much is clear from the tender looks and smiles between the pair of them on public engagements.

Anyway, back in the real world..........I have identified a legging/tregging type gap in my wardrobe. Having sported leggings under oversized knits and dresses for the last two winters, I am thinking I want something with a little more edge. Also hugely inspired by Hopefully's search for leather leggings. I have black skinny trousers which look fine but don't always feel fine - I always feel like I have too much bulk around my middle, iyswim (and I've had a tummy tuck so ain't no bulk around my middle ). So any pointers on what to look for? Have never ventured beyond Top Shop for leggings, tbh. Am sure DH will not have an issue with leather options but, tbh, I feel that a fabric option would be more wearable.

Also, I love these trousers from Cos but am concerned that the linen content makes them not terribly desirable for autumn/winter. If anyone has seen anything more season-suitable I would be terribly grateful for a link. If I have read them correctly, I am thinking they will be fairly slim cut on me (I do not have sparrow like legs....more's the pity) and envisage them either with my navy silk shirt (Jigsaw) and heels or merino knit and brogues.

Have also ordered this as reading Nina has also identified a cable knit shaped hole in my wardrobe (DH will be relieved......I always steal his Dolce lambswool version).

Just realised that "DH won't have an issue" sounds like he is very controlling. It isn't like that at all. However, as a SAHM/student I do feel guilty for expensive purchases and therefore always run it by him. Thankfully, he is firmly of the "quality not quantity" camp.

I think that Closer is a vile magazine and I feel very sorry for Kate. However, the issue has clearly highlighted two major failings in the Buckingham Palace machine - security, because if Kate could be snapped with a lens she could be shot with a gun, and PR lies, if, as is rumoured, Kate and William were on holiday at Viscount Linley's château during the Paralympics closing ceremony rather than working, as the Palace said. That said, I have no problem with Kate and William taking a holiday before their gruelling tour to Asia - just don't say they are working instead.

Bonsoir I had no idea about the PR lies and agree that it is off to say you are working when actually you are on a jolly. And the security issue had crossed my mind too.

Poor Kate. It's just loads of money to the magazines that print. And if they make more than the amount they will be sued for then someone will try and get the shot. Poor thing. Better security would be good I agree.

I think our new friend by association was on the catwalk a couple of weeks after having one of her children. I remember reading it ages ago and it stuck in my mind. (if true, then that's pretty good!)

A quick hello - just back from Florence. Spent the day among seriously stylish people, mostly Italian and French. The formula (for Marsha):

A knee length dress, think simple clean lines and top-notch materials - sleeveless ones were most popular, saw surprisingly many A lines. Think Mod chic in Armani / Michael Kors materials.
Alternatively, a perfectly tailored knee-length skirt with a gorgeous top (silk or very crisp cotton - nothing overadorned, no pattern), mostly in powdery neutrals.
Or cigarrette trousers / floor sweeping silk trousers with a tailored silk top.
Footwear: gorgeous flats and ballerinas (saw lots of cream!) or Hogan type white platform ballerinas or wedges. Saw quite a few ankle straps.
No heels. Stilettoes are out.
No boots.
Very few cotton t shirts - very little jersey in fact.
No jeans (the few who chose to wear them looked off).
Absolutely nothing boho / goth /punk /urban / street culture.
Very few jackets or blazers.
A statement bag (on the conservative side: Celines, Falabellas, bamboo-handle Guccis, LVs)
One stunning piece of jewellery, often a bracelet. The best I saw: a bracelet made from something that looked like the chain strap of a Chanel bag taken through a sandblast. Worn on a slim, tanned French wrist.
Absolutely no maxi or midi dresses / skirts - the stylish people know that both risk looking seriously frumpy.
Neutral makeup and healthy shiny hair.

Men mostly wore slimcut suits (many with slightly cropped trousers) without tie, plus brogues or desert boots in the Italian rainbow of neutrals (camel, ecru, khaki, various grays) or car shoes and loafers in bright colors (some women accented theor outfit with them as well).

I think I did okay. Wore MMM leather pencil skirt with a structured tailored sleeveless black silk top (Calvin Klein), red Maxmara fitted blazer and black jeweled Stylesnob flats and my 2.55. Would have looked even better in a structured dress. Next time...

The leather pencil skirt feels fabulous on. Butter soft leather, gently embossed hem, oh and pockets! (lined with silk). Will gush about my other Yoox finds tomorrow...

Your outfit sounds so stylish Dona.

I was in Rome when my DD was 8 weeks old and remember being very disappointed with the formulaic Italian fashion, they all looked immaculately groomed and stylish, but all the same. I felt horribly fat and frumpy in comparison though.

That was in October, so maybe summer fashion gives more room for individuality.

I feel terribly sorry for Kate, she must feel as if she can't have privacy anywhere. I think I'd feel as if they had been snooping in my windows.

Thank you Dona that is fabulous!

I really want something quite simple. A simple one colours dress. Very neat.

I am officially on the hunt from now. Love your outfit too.

Morning all - just lost a post :(
Trixy I we all use formulas for dressing (think tunic-leggings or dress-opaques-boots or breton-skinnies-ballerinas) both because it's easy and because it is a way to demonstate the reference group in which you belong or aspire to belong (think art student, school mum, biker, banker). The Italian codes are actually quite complex. My Italian ex-boyfriend (a small-town doctor with no interest in fashion) was very fussy about the color of his socks and insisted on Missoni sweaters. Italians tend to use both subtle and flashy status symbols. But their codes result in very stylish everyday and casual, am still trying to learn from them.
Auld Petit bateau sales are exciting - I love the Tsumori Chisato collaboration and tried to find this clever take on the breton theme last year... (N/A in my size)
Marsha love the dress - something like that would look absolutely gorgeous.
Ujj love the cable knit sweater!

Re: Yoox box. Ladies, go there for great basics! Am keeping 50%:

1. MMM black leather pencil skirt (perfection),
2. wide, floor sweeping, high waisted, pale beige Dolce & Gabbana cotton poplin trousers (absolutely perfect worn with cropped black tees from early 2000s, or paired with the bright red Maxmara jacket and cream jeweled ballerinas, or a tailored tight-fitting leather jacket)
3. Black textured cotton boucle Moschino C&C short skirt (the perfect basic)
4. Black cigarrette trousers in a velvety 95% cotton 5% lyocell mix.

Rejected the rest - everything fit but colors / cuts were not perfect on me.

trixy - Parisian fashion is highly formulaic too. I used, when I first lived here, to be slightly in awe of how groomed they all were. But actually looking so "together" isn't that hard when you approach dressing with military precision and don't mind wearing what everyone else wears. I get bored now with how samey everyone is within a social segment and I rarely buy French designers.

I agree, I do formulaic myself, I was just a bit disconcerted by how identikit they were. Rows and rows of skinny jeans tucked into long riding boots and puffa jackets. All very high quality and they were all immaculately groomed, but clone like.

Yes Trixy Italian love for puffa jackets is scary (they've been around forever - surely at least since mid-1990s). But so is MN love for skinnies and Converse (sat next to a grumpy 80sth lady wearing Converse and an army-green parka on the train yesterday).

The thing to learn from Italians: the use of neutral colors and classic shapes. When you have good quality monochrome basics, you can update them with very few new pieces each season. The you can afford to buy great quality or even have them tailor-made. Great fit almost never looks dated.

But Bonsoir I can also understand why you get bored with French formulas. I usually want to stand out a bit. Even by applying the formulas, I think it can be done: just wear one (or a maximum of 2) striking things. My outfit yesterday (black pencil skirt, black flats, black bag) but the use of leather (suble shine where you expect a matte skirt) and almost fluorescent red made it look fresh. I hope...

I love black in different textures. With or without one neon /bright colour. Or grey-y and black. One of my favourite outfits.

Thank you for dress feedback too Dona just need to find something now!

Well done on shop, 50% is a good rate when buying loads.

It'd be easy to tell that I'm English from the way I dress. I like to wear an item that is a little 'off' if that's the appropriate word'. As I've aged, I have cut the fuss- less adornment, accessories etc although that doesn't mean no drama in my choices.

I love the Frey Wille jewellery range, especially their Klimt and Monet collections

• www.frey-wille.com/#WOFW/WhatWeDo

and my dream jewellery would be Marc Newsom's Bvlgari necklace -

www.luxury-insider.com/features/2009/10-priceless-jewels-to-covet#

I've just been testing out some perfumes and finally bought Jean Charles Brousseau's 'Ombre Platine' which is beautifully mellow and doesn't seem to just sit' on my skin if you know what I mean.

Have been on a cookbook buying spree this week- the new Nigel Slater 'Kitchen Diaries II', Ottolenghi's 'Jerusalem' and 'Nigellissima' for my daughter. I'd love to know what you all think of the new Nigella book. I think it is very disappointing considering she has stated both in previous interviews and in this new book that it is the culmination of many years planning/hoping and nervous contemplation. I expected it to be less repetitive than it actually is and to have a little more depth. She says she feared 'disrespecting' Italian food culture and I wouldn't say she has, rather it fails to reflect her stated love of the food.

I love this M&S skirt , featured on page 33 of 'Style' in Sundays Times despite it being a very literal 'tribute' to the Pilotti/ Christopher Kane prints-

www.marksandspencer.com/Autograph-Floral-Print-Pencil-Skirt/dp/B003PY7XJY?ie=UTF8&ref=sr_1_5&nodeId=42966030&sr=1-5&qid=1347801988&pf_rd_r=1ZBWX2DSGPVAD6M7MR71&pf_rd_m=A2BO0OYVBKIQJM&pf_rd_t=301&pf_rd_i=0&pf_rd_p=321381407&pf_rd_s=center-3

There's also some nice straight leg pants from Urban Outfitters in Cobalt blue on page 36 that may be a suggestion for Ujjayi who I believe, requested opinions regarding winter pants. I liked those COS ones and I'd also look out for some wool flannel composite fabrics as they hang beautifully and look a lot more expensive even at lower price points.

Whistles have some pseudo 'jogging' style pants - these sporty grey 'crepe' ones which are dry clean though!

www.whistles.co.uk/fcp/categorylist/dept/Trousers?resetFilters=true#ID=id_903000058690_trousers_trousers_GBP&category=trousers_trousers

Sunday Times 'Style' also has a gorgeous Junya Watanabe brown wool sweater dress and tan angora overcoat. I love them. Whilst browsing their site I found this skirt, which if it's not too long, I want to buy as I know i'll get a lot of wear out of it and the clothes last-

www.farfetch.com/shopping/women/junya-watanabe-comme-des-garcons-trouser-detail-skirt-item-10235294.aspx

And for all of us fashion historians here's a link to the new Diana Vreeland Documentary-

fashion.telegraph.co.uk/videos/TMG9475202/First-look-at-Diana-Vreeland-documentary.html

There's a gorgeous still of YSL's Mondrian shift dresses and the flashes of Vogue editorials and covers. So glad I have kept all my Vogues, USA, UK and some French/Italian from 1988 when I first started buying the magazine. Those images have such power and vision, yet so many people see it as something less than true 'art'.

And Grace's autobio -

www.amazon.co.uk/Grace-Coddington/dp/0701187980/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1347804624&sr=1-1

I can't wait for this one. Check out the beautiful cover image.

Have just spent the last few hours sorting through wardrobe. Had YAWYW for bedtime reading last night and was left feeling emotional but resolved to make some positive changes.

I have been very thorough and have a huge pile for charity, another vast pile for eBay and am vacu packing an assortment of "not sure" items which I don't know what to do with.

I have come to the conclusion that my style is very Laura Bailey. IMO she does vintage and bohemian beautifully but can also do "grown up and sleek" when appropriate. I have more than enough of the vintage stuff except i need to replace layering tops, so am resolved to only buy a few pieces which fit into the grown up category for autumn & winter. I want some fabulous straight leg black trousers and a black pencil skirt plus a couple of blouses for evening wear. Shoe wise, I need a low cut black ankle boot and a replacement for my every day heels (currently black patent, almond toe 4inch heel).

I feel so relieved! Getting rid of this stuff is literally a weight from my shoulders.

Mignonette. I think both clothing and fashion photography can be true art. I can't abide the snobbery that surrounds art. Whilst I think art theory can be interesting, our opinion of any piece should be a visceral - a gut reaction. The first time I saw a Dior New Look dress I had the same reaction as the first time I viewed a Rothko or a Freud. You want to get lost in it, to spend hours gazing and studying the form etc. Good fashion photography should draw you in the same way.

Well said, Ujjayi

I often visit the V&A Museum to lose myself in the art of fashion and fabric design. The technical skills required to cut the perfect bias or drape like Madame Gres.....It's only when you try on a badly made bias skirt/dress (and that doesn't mean High St only) that the skills required become crystal clear.

There was a beautiful Vogue photo of the supermodel discussed earlier wearing a Dior couture ballgown. Well, half wearing as it was pulled down to her waist exposing the horsehair padding and corsetry. It was mind blowing.

Apparently when Karli Kloss was photographed in this outfit below, it took three fashion assistants to help her into it. This is one of my favourite designs. The skirt falls to the floor with a mid frontal split. I can only imagine how soft the fabric of the vest underneath feels against her skin even if her nose feels as though it's about to be pulled off!

s3.socialvixen.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Karlie-Kloss-Photo-Shoot-for-British-Vogue-May-2012-1.jpg

Apropos of nothing at all, I have decided that there is almost no way for me to work ankle boots this A/W. I cannot find a pair that fulfil my requirements of (a) not being gamine (they are almost all small, neat and a wee bit cutesy) (b) not too high (the only ones that aren't cutesy seem to be 4"+), (c) not to blokey or classic (i.e. no chelsea boots), (c) a bit edgy and (d) not cut me off badly at the ankle and make my legs look short and stumpy.

Humph.

Hopefully what will you go for instead?

I love all three, art, fashion photography and design. With differing amounts of intensity but they are all good. Probably why I get light-headed when buying some of the stuff I do. Although can only imagine what it feels like to buy a John Currin or something. Great Karlie Kloss shot.