Winter dressing

There is a blizzard outside my bedroom window. Lots and lots of snow is falling very quickly and the sky is white. It’s all very picturesque. I would be excited, like all of those weather-wimps in London who have only seen their first bit of snow this morning, but I’m not excited or even remotely interested in the snow- as pretty as it may be- as I have seen blizzards from out of my bedroom window since Friday.

I do like the snow when it first arrives. On Friday I loved the snow. At the weekend I liked the snow. On Monday I was going off it, and today I hate it. I’m sick of it. I’m sick of watching the news and hearing everyone talk about the bloody weather.  I’m sick of walking the dog in the evenings and skidding about on ice, getting rosy red cheeks and wearing so many layers that I appear to have gained a stone or two. I’m sick of being lonely; I live in the middle of nowhere and my friends live in other places that are in the middle of nowhere, and when the weather is this bad we can’t meet up and enjoy the snow. I went sledging with my sister a few times, which was fun for about 20 minutes until I became cold and miserable and begged to go home.

And now on to the bit that you all care about: clothes. What does one wear when it snows? Here is what I suggest… 

 
1- A corduroy skirt is definitely a good winter skirt. Like denim, it is heavier and therefore warmer, but corduroy isn’t as popular as denim, therefore it doesn’t look boring when you wear it. The high street loves denim at the moment. The skirt in the picture is from Topshop but, in my opinion, Urban Outfitters is selling the best cord pieces at the moment; not only skirts but gorgeous shorts too. Don’t even get me started on corduroy trousers… God, I love them. Corduroy is cool.
2- Aran knits are everywhere now, which I suppose is a good thing because their appeal it timeless. However, what annoys me slightly is that I have been wearing the same man’s Aran cardigan from Oxfam for three years and, suddenly, every0ne has one (albeit from Topshop) and I no longer feel ‘unique’ in my Aran cardigan. But that’s just me being a hispster- obvs- so just ignore me. Anyway, because everyone has latched onto the idea of wearing Aran knits, here is my advice: don’t buy it from the high street. Charity shops and vintage shops should be where you find your lovely Aran knitwear. If you don’t like the idea of stuffy second-hand stuff (snob!), at least buy something that is made from 100% wool, preferably from Scotland. Or just within the United Kingdom. Support British style by buying clothes from Britain, yah? 
3-  Fur coats are yet another timeless classic. I don’t want to cause controversy by arguing that I love real fur and that it is so, so superior to even the most expensive of faux fur. At the end of the day, you can’t stop me from wearing fur. You can’t really convert me to the fake stuff either; although I have a faux-fur leopard-print coat in my wardrobe, which I love,  I’ll never think that it’s better than the genuine fur in my wardrobe… I’ll still think that the only place for a mink to be is on one’s back. ANYWAY, it’s up to you whether you fake it or buy the real deal. All fur looks good. It’s just that real fur feels nicer and is more luxurious and… ok, I’m going to stop now before someone starts ranting at me about how I’m a pathetic and cruel human being. 
4- Steam Cream is perfect for moisturising almost every part of your body. I used a plain tin in the picture above, but there are loads of interesting tin designs to choose from. I have the Union Jack one at home and I plan to get my hands on one of the A.P.C. tin designs soon, as they’re b e a u t i f u l.
5- Socks, of the long and super warm (cashmere or wool) variety, are a winter essential as one can wear them with wellies or whilst in bed, whilst slobbing around the house etc. I have a penchant for the socks from Toast, not least because they are warm and well-made; I like the idea of imagining that I am one of the woman lounging around in the Toast magazine, looking pretty and living a seemingly perfect life. I think I have such thoughts as I believe that these dreams could come true in some crazy, distant future; I live in the kind of remote, ‘idyllic’ place where you could imagine Toast having photo shoots. If I were pretty and tall and more sophisticated, perhaps I could be a Toast girl someday…
6- Wellington boots are mandatory in my life all year round. Of course I wear them everywhere when there is snow on the ground, but they’re also great for walking the dog, mucking out horses, going to festivals… everything, really. I wear my wellies constantly. I have Hunters in green and navy blue because they are the classic colours and they show that I am not wearing them simply for fashion purposes (pink Hunters? Yuck). Also, they don’t look awful when caked in mud (a constant issue), and I have been wearing them all my life. So have my parents and grandparents. So I stick to the classics. They go with everything and I don’t care if they make me look like a farmer.
7- A long-sleeved top for layering is a good idea. I always wear a long-sleeved top under a jumper in the winter. It’s a good idea to keep things simple and not buy patterned ones (Breton stripes are OK, I guess). Grey marl, black and navy blue are the best ones to invest in first before you move on to more ‘interesting’ colourways. Where to get them from without breaking the bank? Gap, Uniqlo and Topshop. 
8- Winter trousers work every time. I’ve already expressed my love for corduroy trousers, so now is the time to tell you that they are not the only type of trousers I like to wear when the temperature drops. Tweed trousers are really nice. I like jodhpurs, but that’s just me being a country gal at heart (and making a miserable attempt at hiding it), so ignore that. But, yeah, tweed is great. It looks good, too. Again, it’s best when it is either good quality or vintage. You might want to try Topshop for nice camel trousers, too, à la Chloé. The trousers in the picture are by Chloé.
9- A fur hat will keep your ears toasty-warm. I used to shy away from hats- I don’t know why- but now I can’t live without them. Contrary to popular belief, you do not lose most of your body heat through your head (the nose, actually, is the area you should think about keeping covered in the cold). However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t wear a hat. Hats looks nice.
10- Knitted tights, of some sort, are a winter staple. You can’t go wrong with cable-knit or ribbed tights, especially if they’re in black or grey, but now is the time to show a bit more individuality and opt for coloured knitted styles. Because it’s winter, though, do tone the palette down suitably; the burgundy pair in the picture above are a perfectly winter-y shade. I also think that, although it’s a colour associated with drabness, brown knitted tights look good. Patterned styles are good, too, especially if the pattern is polka dots or fair isle.
11- Scarves are one of my favourite things, like, ever because I can wear them all year round- obviously changing from lightweight styles to knitted, warmer styles in the winter. Fair isle is a timeless classic, but you don’t have to go for a classic style. You can choose something with a fine knit or a chunky knit or stripes or spots or even (winter) florals. Scarves are a great way to add an instant pop of colour to an outfit. The scarf in the picture above is from Monsoon.
12- A pair of shearling mittens should be donned this season in order for one to gain maximum style points. I have a vintage pair that I found on eBay.

Please leave a comment letting me know what your winter wardrobe staples are!

Stay warm! Love and eskimo kisses, G. xxx

Icon: Françoise Hardy

As much as I love being an English girl who can get away with having messy hair and messy attire, I have to admit that I secretly admire elegant French women. Françoise Hardy is a good example.

You may or may not be aware that my favourite era, for fashion, at least, is the ’60s. Françoise was a famous French chanteuse in the 60s; her voice was as beautiful as her face and her style was so bloody cool (I would say ‘chic’, but I think you’ll agree with me when I say that I use that word too much on this blog). Mick Jagger fell madly in love with her, as did many other high-profile guys, but in the end she married fellow French singer Jacques Dutronc.  She is one of my favourite people who reigned supreme in the Sixties.

When I see pictures of Françoise, it saddens me to think that natural beauties like her- and other 60s icons like Penelope Tree, Jean Shrimpton et cetera- are something that we rarely see nowadays. Yes, Françoise did wear make-up- flicky black eyeliner is evident in some photos of her- but she wasn’t caked up in cosmetics. Her photos weren’t Photoshopped. She didn’t have plastic surgery. She didn’t dye her hair a crazy colour or wear it in an elaborate, complicated style. She didn’t flash too much flesh. The female celebrities of today are so different and so less classy than the female celebrities of the ’60s, don’t you agree? Françoise, in my opinion, is one of the most beautiful women I’ve seen. And I love her clothes. Have a look at the pictures below.

Bling

I don’t think I have ever created a post about jewellery, which seems a bit odd considering the fact that I am such a fan of the stuff. I think of jewellery as a very personal thing. Every piece of jewellery that I wear tells a story so if anyone asks me where I got my bracelet/ring/necklace from, I am able to tell them exactly when I got it, who it was from, and what the story behind it is. So I have cheap bracelets that my friends have bought for me from various destinations all over the world, as well as more high-end pieces- like the YSL Arty Oval ring from my parents- and vintage pieces from my mother’s jewellery box, and more sentimental pieces, like a necklace from my grandmother and a bracelet from my boyfriend. I’m not the kind of person who goes out and buys her own jewellery. I have brought bits and bobs from Topshop in the past, just to throw on for a night out, but all of the pieces that I wear constantly have some sort of sentimental value… some sort of memories hidden beneath them.

Having said that, I don’t think I’ll go for the rest of my life without buying expensive jewellery for myself. At the moment, I am basically skint so I need people to buy everything for me (not only jewellery, but basic things like train tickets, food, new tights and drinks et cetera), but when I am older and I am obviously going to be filthy rich, I shall be able to indulge myself from time to time.

So, here is my jewellery wish list, if you like. I’m kind of hoping that Danilo or my parents/grandparents will see this and then will buy me something featured here for Christmas.

Iosselliani, Iosselliani / Nikki Montoya, Akong London / Eclectic Shock / Maria Zureta

Pretty in pleats

I don’t know about you, but I’ve always associated pleated skirts with school uniform. I’ve always had a penchant for them, though (school uniform not so much), so I was pleased to see that the SS’11 runways were awash with pleated styles.

Par exemple…

Hannah McGibbon opted for below-the-knee, light-as-a-feather pleated skirts at Chloé.

Things were similarly neutral but shorter and less floaty at the wonderful Karen Walker show.

So, the fashion world loves pleats. We love pleats here at Innocuous Whispers, and so should you.

And here is the good thing: you don’t have to wait until the Spring/Summer collections hit the shops, nor do you necessarily have to blow the budget by buying something designer. You see, it turns out that pleats have a timeless appeal, and I don’t just mean for the people who make decisions on school uniforms, whoever they may be. Oh no, you can buy pleats NOW. Be prepared for the warmer seasons. Or just put your middle finger up at the warmer seasons and wear your new pleated skirt with tights.

Topshop Boutique, £50 – Topshop, £45 – BDG @ Urban Outfitters, £45

The lust list- 07/11/10- Designer party dresses!

Christmas will soon be upon us and those of us who like socialising during the festive season (or, indeed, just looking pretty) will no doubt be in need of a dress or two. Preferably a sparkly one. Perhaps you should indulge yourself by buying one of these designer gems. Think of it as a smart investment.

3.1 Phillip Lim, £945, Erdem, £500, Versace, £5,260, Valentino, £3,825, Versus, £1,690, Peter Pilotto, £795, Sandro, £255, Diane von Furstenberg, £345, D&G, £1,490, Anna Sui, £555, Antik Batik, £375, Temperley London, £545, Marchesa, £2,400, Notte by Marchesa, £590, Milly, £680, Ashish, £1,025, Matthew Williamson, £1,895, Balmain, £7,355

I’ll do a high street party dresses special next week!

Ice queen

Looks from the Chanel Autumn/Winter RTW show
The fact that white looks good in the winter isn’t exactly breaking fashion news, but nevertheless I would like to talk about ‘winter whites’ for a while because I simply love this look. And everybody else seems to do, too. Eva Longoria-Parker looked beautiful in white Chanel FW RTW on the cover of Tatler’s November issue, and Emma Watson looked oh-so-cool in white Valentino Haute Couture. At this point I might tell you about the cover of December Elle, but unfortunately I have not yet received it as the issue has been delayed to to an embargo (ooh er).

Anyway, this season almost everybody is jumping onto the minimalism bandwagon. What is more fitting to this trend than a plain, white, long-sleeved, fuss-free shift dress? As we all know, white is such a pure- clean, if you like- colour. Perfect, then, for a somewhat stripped-down look.

It was only last year when I was told by an American friend that some people see wearing white in the winter as a taboo because, apparently, one shouldn’t wear white after Labour Day (sorry, Labor Day). I don’t believe that many Americans- fashion-forward ones, at least- adhere to this rule nowadays, though. Good for them! What’s wrong with wearing white in the winter, though? I did a bit of Googling this afternoon and one of the conclusions for this bizarre no-white-after-Labour-Day idea is the issue of temperature. Fine if they’re talking about wearing a white t-shirt in the cold weather. But what if you’ve adopted a Chanel white faux-fur coat? How is that not going to keep you warm?

That brings me on to say that an important thing to consider when wearing white in the winter is texture. Think about the fabric and how it feels and looks. White fur, in various forms, graced the likes of the Balmain and Isabel Marant catwalks. You can’t deny that it looks good. However, my advice is to opt for a white faux-fur coat that doesn’t give the perennially undesirable yeti look (it only really works on Chanel models and actual yetis- let’s face it).

So, how do you wear white in the winter? I cannot stress further how much I like white fur coats. So that’s one idea; a versatile one, too, when you think of all the different things you can pair a white coat with. Or why not take a long sleeved, well-cut Gucci dress (which is a more ‘winter white’ kind of white… think less bright, more cream, still as chic)? Or how about one of my favourite ways to wear white this winter: on your legs? And I’m not just talking about white trousers (though I’d have those Isabel Marant ones any day)- I’m talking about white tights, which were shown in the majority of the looks at Chanel. You can wear white tights with anything, really, and they will look good. However, I have a penchant for the all-over-white look: white dress, white tights, white heels. If you can pull it off, then go for it. White will go with other colours, too. Black and white has a classic, timeless appeal. Hermes and Balenciaga showed us that white also looks good with the season’s camel/beige-y colours, too, and Balmain tried to sell us the idea of teaming white with gold (gold sequins, nonetheless), and it sort of worked. The last 13 looks at Chanel were almost entirely white, but earlier three gorgeous jumper dresses- in white and divine icy blue- were shown on the catwalk and they were as cool as the glacial setting of the show itself. And I’m just giving you a few examples of how white was shown on the catwalk. Do some research yourself and you will find that many other designers clicked with white’s never-ending charm and used the colour in many different ways this season.

Autumn/Winter 2010 RTW shows, from top, left to right- Balmain, Isabel Marant, Balenciaga, Calvin Klein, Rodarte, Reed Krakoff, Gucci, Hermes, Valentino.