Taking stock of 2018

4 months. I am slightly embarrassed to admit that it has been nearly 4 months since my last proper blog post. So I thought it was time to rectify that, and take stock on what I have been doing this year.

Last year I said that 2017 had been the most important year for me creatively to date, and I have certainly built on that this year. Writing new songs, putting on live shows, working on a new album, my new podcast series, About Last Night and of course, dipping my toe in the fashion industry and working on brand strategy for Amanda Thompson Couture.

I continue to be clearer day on day on what I want to do, be and achieve as an artist both musically and in a wider creative sense. And that clarity is something I am unbelievably appreciative of.

But the biggest headline for 2018 has been one of personal growth. In fact, I might go even further, and say that it is possible this year I have experienced more personal growth than ever before. For me this is massive, because everything I do as an artist and creative hinges on what’s inside me, and how I feel.

Emotion and connection continue to be my primary drivers. But, this year I feel I have finally gained the ability to be a little more discerning about how I want to spend my time and not being scared to release things that do not serve me anymore.

And though for years I have described myself as adopting a “fly by the seat of my pants” methodology to life I have started being more structured in the way I approach things. This is definitely paying dividends, especially as for the first time in a long time, I have three very distinct areas to balance in my working life: my music, my podcasts and working with Amanda Thompson, which I do twice a week.

Many people are intrigued by this new venture. And it is funny how things turn out. For a few years now, I have really wanted to be involved in fashion – but like most industries it is really hard to break into them without any direct experience, and coupled with the fact that I wanted to do this later in life…. Well, let’s just say it wasn’t proving to be straightforward.

In case you don’t know, Amanda Thompson is a self-taught fashion designer. She is an incredible talent; and creates timeless pieces from the most exquisite fabrics and the fact that she has invited me to work on her brand with her, with such generosity of heart – is really humbling. What’s even better is we seem to complement each other pretty well. For me, it is exceptionally gratifying to share someone else’s creative journey and use my skill sets in a different way, and the fact that Amanda is a gorgeous human being makes this journey all the more sweet. As for my music - it continues to be my lifeblood.

At the moment, I am working with producer James McMillan, on a project that takes me back to my love of musical theatre and jazz. What is great about working with James is it’s both stimulating and challenging too; and he is pushing me in a way that I don’t think I have ever been pushed in the studio. I cannot wait to share this album with you in 2019. I think it is going to be really quite different from anything I have done before.

And finally my podcast series. This is something that has been in my head for years – I think I may be a closet talk show host (!) My guests have made this project a triumph and a joy for me. I thank each and every one of them.

So in a nutshell, that’s my year. This year more than ever I have learnt to accept and honour my past and the decisions I have made, look forward to the future – but above all enjoy the now. That is definitely new this year.

It has just occurred to me that where I am both personally and professionally is vastly different to where I thought I might be when I was younger. But I am also realising that there is no limit to discovery and finding joy in the present moment and feeding it into every area of my life. 

Why I’m a Ganni girl…

If like me, you love fashion, the stronghold of the Scandi brands on the UK fashion scene will not have escaped your notice.

Designers like Acne, Gestuz, Marlene Birger, House of Dagmar, Cecilie Copenhagen, and of course Ganni have been delighting us for a long while now - and year on year their collections seem to be getting stronger.What’s interesting is, whilst I am in no way, shape or form a typical “Scandinavian” shape (I thinking Scandinavian women are taller and more athletic in build than me) I adore these brands and my favourite is Ganni.

Fit is vital for me, and it just works. Ganni dresses (as you probably know by now I am dress girl) fit my short body and long leg proportions as well as they do my daughter, for instance, who is taller and has totally different dimensions to me. And there aren’t many brands that cater so expertly for very different body shapes.

What’s more is Ganni oozes a serious Danish cool vibe, but there is a definite injection of something else, a kind of effortless chic, maybe a little Parisian in quality – which, in my opinion, is a match made in heaven. Their most recent collections are a testament to this.

Their Spring Summer 18 collection is called Global Citizen and Ditte Reffstrup, the brand’s Creative Director says of this collection,“I wanted to create clothes for a woman who loves to travel to new places and who has an independent spirit. It’s an upbeat collection, taking cues from 90s sportswear, rave, and the hugely important Benetton ads from the 90s that challenged prejudice and encouraged diversity. The Global Citizen represents the best of everywhere.”

Whilst I wholeheartedly identify with this sentiment, when I look at the Ganni ad campaign I have a feeling it is primarily targeted at a younger demographic – but actually that doesn’t matter at all. This is the cleverness of Ganni, in my opinion; it is a great example of “Ageless” fashion.

The array of beautiful prints and fluid fabrics used in their collections are, season upon season, a huge hit for me. They suit my lifestyle and mood perfectly.

As I said I tend to head for the dresses on a rail and Ganni dresses never disappoint - they can be worn, not only in a “dress up”, “dress down” kinda way, but to channel whatever vibe matches your personality.

It is rare to find a brand that you can you literally style however you want and it works. Couple that with the price point (which at the moment is quite reasonable for a designer brand) and the fact that you can wash their clothes in your washing machine so bypassing dry cleaning costs – the ticks are endless for me.

I know I am sounding quite practical talking about washing instructions, but dry cleaning bills have in the past crippled me – so anything that you can wash at home and wear is a huge plus. In fact this might be something I cover in another post soon…

So if you haven’t had a look at Ganni’s collections - get online or check out your nearest stockist.

One last word in praise of their dresses, because I am slightly obsessed, is one of their staples is the wrap dress - but not like the stretchy wrap dresses of old – Ganni’s wrap dresses are fitted on top, flowing from the waist with the wrap creating a thigh slit - I mean need I say more??!! Hands down one of my favourite fashion details….              

Underwear, Body Positivity and Ageing

My third piece of The Huffington Post has been published!

This time I'm looking at how you can use underwear to help yourself feel fantastic regardless of the changes your body goes through as we get older.

Personally, I can be quite conscious of the stretch marks and looser skin around my tummy that have been left by my two wonderful pregnancies. Does this mean I don't wear underwear to feel sexy? Quite the opposite!

Dig in and I hope you will find something useful to you :)

Full article here

I've also recently vlogged on this subject - take a look: 

Australian fashion VLOG

Here's my latest vlog - all about my fave Aussie fashion brands x

Laain activewear VLOG

Here's my new vlog about London based brand Laain. Hope you enjoy x

HAIR exhibition by Sam McKnight at Somerset House

On Friday I went to HAIR by Sam McKnight at Somerset House in London.

Exhibitions can be hit and miss for me - sometimes I have the highest expectations and the exhibits fall short. This exhibition however was a spontaneous visit so I had no preconceived thoughts on it whatsoever, and it was fantastic: beautifully laid out, thoughtfully curated and visually captivating.

And whilst I didn't know very much about Sam McKnight, I left with a real sense of the man and his passion for his work. It's the kind of exhibition you want to take your time over....You're getting that I loved it, right?

Unusually as well, you are allowed to take pictures (which I was delighted about) provided they are taken without a flash. I didn't take my good camera but here are some snaps I took on my phone that I wanted to share with you.

It's running till the 12 March 2017 so get down there - if like me you like fashion, glamour and hair...

Hold the phone! My hunt for the perfect pair of trousers has begun...

(Haider Ackermann - runway look from AW 2016)

Why is this a headline in my world, you may ask? Well I rarely wear trousers - I’m a definite dress/skirt girl, I always have been.

So jeans for instance don’t feature in my wardrobe. In fact, I shocked a mate on Friday by telling her I don’t own any jeans – she looked totally confused!!I have of course worn jeans in the past – but fashion and style choices, to me, are all about feeling great in whatever you’re wearing – and I don’t really feel my best in jeans - so I have phased them out of my wardrobe.

In my head, trousers are predominantly for the long and lean – and sadly I am neither.

There are however, two exceptions that I own. Firstly two pairs of Helmut Lang Reflex leggings that I have had for quite a few years (I think Helmut Lang still do them, check out www.helmutlang.com). These leggings are so comfy and don’t look like your typical leggings as they are straight at the ankle.

The second exception is a pair of Frame leather trousers, because…well…who doesn’t like a bit of leather in their wardrobe?!However, this Autumn/Winter unusually there are a number of trouser styles catching my eye.

So my thinking is this - the beauty of fashion is there really is something for everyone and as someone who is passionate about fashion, I shouldn’t really be so narrow-minded.

So, my search has begun and here are some faves so far:

1. Tailored trousers.

Jason Lloyd-Evans

(Saint Laurent look from AW2016/17)

Hands down my favourite trend is the androgynous look, so I have been looking at a lot of tailored trousers. Nowadays, tailoring has been reworked to look so sexy, in my opinion. And top of the list for me are a beautiful burgundy pair of Haider Ackermann tapered trousers and some black Saint Laurent satin trimmed slim leg trousers.

2. Culottes.

culottes

(Roksanda: Jupe silk-crepe culottes available at Outnet.com)

I know a few people who wore culottes as part of their school uniform so they might be steering clear - but right now culottes are looking chic. My faves are the ones that look really fluid and more like a skirt, Tibi do this really well. But are culottes that look like a skirt a cope out??

3. Wide leg trousers.

zara

(Zara: checked wide leg trousers available at Zara.com)

The appeal here is definitely fluidity of fabric, and I have seen some lovely Ganni wide legged trousers. I don't think I could go for anything where the fabric was too heavy or stiff but I fear I may be too short for this trend. But then again, with heels could I make these work?!Whenever I buy clothes I was focus on fit and fabric above all else so I guess I just need to apply this to trousers…Right, I'm off to do some more research, but if you have found the "must have" pair of trousers, give me shout :) 

Don’t judge me just because I like pretty things…

(From the Emilio de la Morena show earlier this week)

We can all be quite judgemental - I suppose it’s an inherent part of human nature.

Despite my best efforts, I am not squeaky clean when it comes to judging others. For me, it is mainly small things like style choices. But occasionally it might be bigger issues, like someone behaving selfishly or hurting mine, or worse, my children’s feelings.But I tend not to judge if I don’t know anything about a particular subject.

On Tuesday I ran into a neighbour and whilst exchanging pleasantries I mentioned that I was excited that it was London Fashion Week this week, and that I was going to a party to celebrate 100 years of Vogue that evening. The neighbour, a man, frowned and said, “Fashion Week? Isn’t that just looking at clothes?

”The short answer is yes. This neighbour and I have very few areas of common interest – so I smiled and let it go – but I knew in that moment he had made a snap judgement of me, and it wasn’t favourable.

The real answer, however, is so much more involved. But how was I going to explain that to someone who has no understanding of an industry or desire to know about that industry?

From a creative idea in a designer’s brain that evolves into a whole collection of clothes – the colour palettes, the sumptuous fabrics, the detail, the embellishments, the way in which the pieces are finished and the incredible workmanship in so many cases - to the story that ties it all together. The artistry, fantasy and range of emotions that a runway show can take you on can be spectacular… and it irks me when fashion gets a bad rap.

My love of fashion has always led to judgement, ever since I was a child. I know some family members felt it was not cerebral enough of a passion and I know I am judged at times on how I dress and the height of the heels – but I don’t care…I have made my own clothes over the years, I have walked through the silk markets in Kolkata choosing fabrics for certain pieces I wanted to make, I seen how silks and cashmere are dyed – I know first hand how labour intensive making a item of clothing is and what a labour of love it can be. Like so many creative industries, there is much more to fashion than meets the eye.

So briefly – the party I went to on Tuesday night was hosted by Alexandra Shulman, Editor in Chief of Vogue and Ruth Chapman, founder of Matchesfashion.com. Many many fashionistas – designers, journalists, bloggers.

I spoke to lots of people and they were all so straightforward and interesting – and as I mentioned on my Instagram there was so little pretentiousness and ego in the room. It was such fun!

What I really want to say to my neighbour when we next meet is never assume what someone is like when you aren’t familiar with a particular area of interest and ....please don't judge me (!!)Without exception, everyone I met at the party was intelligent and insightful, with fascinating perspectives and smart business brains.

In fashion, whether they are a designer or a journalist - they take themes, creative ideas and what the consumer wants and elevate them to aspirational levels.

Fashion is an art form and whilst I am by no means an expert, as a singer/songwriter I see so many parallels. There is no end to possibility and creativity and that’s why I love it. 

How this fashion addict shops the sales…

(Me in black and gold Gianvito Rossi sandals (from Matchesfashion.com bought at 30% off))

NOTE TO SELF:  I have used this pic a lot, so I will create more photo opportunities!

In the olden days, let’s say 10 years ago, my head would be giddy at the prospect of the sales and I would employ what I would call the ”smash and grab” approach of shopping.

All I saw were discounted prices and I fooled myself into thinking I was saving in the long run. I would often spend more than I had originally planned - as I would buy a few things I had earmarked earlier in the season, but then I would buy random “bargains”. More often than not the impulse buys would sit in my wardrobe unloved and unworn.

Nowadays my shopping skills have been refined and I am altogether a more discerning shopper.

I rarely go into “actual” shops as I don’t have the time, and am not prepared to have an “elbows at dawn” type situation with someone over a lovely skirt. Instead I have a mental wish list and conduct thorough research online.

Here are a few things I do when I shop the sales:

1. Invest in timeless pieces. Sales are the perfect time to invest in clothes that outlive fads and “flash in the pan" trends. Whatever your budget you may fall in love with something but not be able to justify the cost at full price. That is the time to wait and pounce when the sales are on. There is a gamble here as if you are a popular size – it may sell out, but on the other hand you may end up with something beautiful at half the cost. Sales are the perfect time to look for an evening dress, a winter coat, a designer handbag or a lovely pair of shoes.

(Me in a Badgley Mischka red silk evening dress from Outnet.com reduced from around £600 to around £200)

2. Invest in replacements for your staples. Go through your go-to items. For me this could be black tops and silk shirts. But you have to be tough on yourself. If you have 5 black shirts you don’t wear, then do you really need another even if it reduced by 70%??? On the other hand if you have a couple of beautiful shirts that you have worn to death and are looking a little threadbare and will be hard to repair – go for the new one in the sales.

3. Do you really need it? Some people I know may be falling over at me asking this question, as fashion is not always a question of “need”. But sales shopping is about being savvy – I try not to get swayed by the price tag if I would never wear said item. For me – this equates to jeans; there is no point me ever buying jeans as I don’t wear them – so sale or no sale it’s waste of money!

4. Do you still love it? Many of us browse online or in shops and earmark things we might like to buy. But when the sales come round that particular lust may have waned. The speed at which brands drop new collections means there are new lines to choose from nearly every week. So think carefully – it would be a shame to spend your budget on something you no longer adored.

5. Does it work with your existing wardrobe? Finally when you get your purchase home or it arrives thanks to the wonder of online shopping – double check – does it compliment/go with a number of things in your wardrobe. Is it as lovely as you thought it was? If doesn’t tick all your boxes – send it back. There is no point having a bargain if it is going to sit in your wardrobe – that is false economy!!Every avid shopper knows there are lovely things for all of us – whatever our style, whatever our budget - every season. That is why the fashion industry is booming and is so good at what it does.

I have learned over the years to buy less but buy smarter. I guess I am saying have a strategy especially when you shop the sales…. And enjoy all those markdowns!

5 Short Girl “Fashion Rules” - Part 1:

(Me in an old (vintage!) Oscar De La Renta printed dress)

A couple of weeks ago I asked whether you have a set of fashion rules you follow, and I touched on some “well known rules” for short girls – I feel I have some valuable input here as I am 5’2”!As I have gleaned many of us have “ fashion rules” even if your rule is you don’t really care about fashion and your clothes are functional and practical.

Rightly or wrongly, I am not that kind of girl… comfort is of course important but practicality is never high on my list. My fashion philosophy is more “If I love it, I’ll make it work...”Anyway I thought I’d look at some “short girl” rules in a little more detail:

1. Heels. A short girl’s fashion must. Adding inches to your height makes most outfits look better and if you are anything like me – my posture improves in heels. Having decided this is a “good” rule – it would follow that short girls shouldn’t wear flats. But ultimately shoe choice, in my opinion, comes down to – what you walk well in, and what you feel comfortable and confident in.

2. Ankle straps. Sandals and shoes with ankle straps are apparently a fashion no-no for short girls but I don’t agree. As with any rule (or let’s say “guideline”, as not sure fashion actually needs rules) I feel we need to find what works for us. I take the point that ankle straps can shorten the line of your leg but you have to work with your own body’s proportions and personally I love an ankle strap. Play with the length of your dress or trousers to find the right balance. And if you are not great at walking in heels - ankle straps can give you more support.

(Christian Louboutin sandals)

3. Prints. This is a case-by-case subject. Smaller prints with fewer colour ways definitely work. I think prints that are too big, garish and busy do not work for short girls. However big prints can work if you take the fabric into consideration – for instance big prints on chiffon/translucent fabrics can work really well. I feel personality plays a big part in this rule. Some people whatever their height can pull off prints and some just can’t.

(Topshop Unique's Elystan blouse)

4. Hemlines. So the general rule here is shorter girls should wear shorter hemlines. Whilst this is logical and I am often in miniskirts or shorts - it is not always appropriate. Also, body shape and even age (!) comes into it. Ten years ago my shorts were really short - now they are more mid thigh…(something my 17 year old son is very grateful for!). As for midi lengths – I touched upon this in my post, “Do you have a list of fashion rules you follow?” - you never want to be drowned in a outfit, so if a dress is nipped in at your waist, the material is not too voluminous and the hem cuts your calf in the right place – you’re onto a winner. As for maxis – I would only wear something floor length if I were going to a ball and for me, the longer the better. I actually like a pool of fabric on the floor so I have to pick up my skirt as I walk. Fabric is pivotal for this hemline – think skimming rather than swamping…

(My fave Self Portrait dress - I know I have used this pic before - but it is the best example of a midi dress I have!)

5. Underwear. All I would say here is choose wisely. Above all you need to feel good and your underwear is the foundation to any outfit. Do you like “shapewear”? If you do, that’s great, I personally don’t; guard against a VPL at all costs (this is my pet hate); and if need be, don’t be shy about going without - no one needs to know you’re not wearing any underwear! I don’t remember thinking about underwear options when I was younger but as I get older and after having children I find the right underwear or lack of can make an outfit.

Ok there you have it, Part 1 of 5 Short Girl “Fashion Rules”… a few things us shorter girls could consider…what do you think? Feedback gratefully received... Part 2 later this week x  

Do you have a list of fashion rules you follow?

 (A night out - Gianvito Rossi sandals, Dolce and Gabbana skirt, ALC top and Ally Cappelino bag)

There are rules and regulations everywhere, even in the world of fashion. And whilst I love structure, I’m not a huge fan of being told what I can and cannot do or wear…One of the things I come across a lot when googling fashion is “What short girls should avoid wearing.

”Whilst I find these lists useful as “guidelines” (I’m 5’2”), if I steered clear of everything I was told not to wear because of my height: midi skirts/dresses, maxi skirts/dresses, stripes, shoes with ankle straps, draped blouses and dresses, prints and carrying oversized handbags to name a few I would have never discovered some of my greatest wardrobe loves - sandals with ankle straps for instance:

(Brian Attwood sandals)

Totally avoiding midi and maxi lengths as a short girl is a weird one too - as you immediately cut out so many options. And though I often wear shorter dresses and skirts – I choose my outfit depending on how I feel and what I am doing that day and sometimes it’s just not appropriate to be wearing a short skirt - at my son’s parents’ evening (!)

What I would say about longer length dresses and skirts, actually clothes in general, is fabric is key. Recently, designers have been using a lot of matelassé fabrics for their clothes and these don’t work for me. They feel too stiff and I feel swamped, so in this respect the rules are right.

However, there are always exceptions. You may have seen on my socials I have been raving about Self Portrait dresses. The lace is quite heavy - but the cut and the nude linings work and if I hadn’t tried, I wouldn’t have ended up this this gorgeous number:

(Self Portrait Azaelea dress)

Now obviously I am looking at this from my diminutive perspective. But I discovered the other day my mate Cristina, who is 5’10”, who shares my love for fashion, also finds fashion can be a challenge.

There must be a list of "tall girls rules" too – but like me, but she has learned what works for her.

Apparently cropped jeans are a nightmare as they often end up looking like Capri leggings. And dresses can also be tricky, as the waist doesn't always sit in the right place.

This hadn’t occurred to me at all, as I thought being taller made fashion altogether easier.

I guess my own rules come down to shape and proportion – mine, and the clothes I try on. Fabric (as I said), colour, print also come into play.

We all know our body shapes and have bits we want to accentuate and bits we’d like to skim over… we build our own set of fashion rules and our personal style follows.

And perhaps most importantly, we instinctively know what we love and what we don’t,  and how good we feel in what we are wearing.

I’m going to leave you with a non-fashion quote, which I feel is relevant here from Sir Isaac Newton (I have as scientific past in case you didn’t know). Newton said, “ You have to make the rules, not follow them.” I completely agree…so what are your fashion rules?  

Are you wearing a bomber jacket this season?

navy

muveil

(Embroidered bomber jacket from Zara.com)

As the weather is getting brighter and warmer here in London, I‘m turning my attention to my spring/summer wardrobe.

It is no secret I adore shopping and we all love a bit of newness in our lives and the change of a season is often the ideal time to inject a new favourite or two into our wardrobes. And over the last few months there is the one thing that keeps catching my eye - the bomber jacket.

There used be a time, a very long time ago, when you had to be pilot to wear a bomber jacket but obviously this is no longer the case! Whilst this 90s fave has been around for many years, probably propelled into our fashion hearts after Top Gun - this season, it’s everywhere.

Now I have always steered clear of the bomber jacket. It has always been too much on the sporty side of fashion for me – a cool combination of tomboy and street wear. And whilst I love how it looks – we can all agree I’m not very “street” - but this spring, things are looking different.

There are definitely more feminine options around with designers producing bomber jackets in softer pastels shades rather than the traditional khakis and blues and more fluid fabrics are being used.

And suddenly, the jacket that I would never have worn has become much more versatile. Wherever you look this season it is pared with everything from dresses to skirts to jeans. And who doesn’t love versatility?

Versatility is one of the key things I consider when buying clothes. I want most things I buy to be repeatedly wearable. I love beautiful clothes that can be worn in a variety of ways and will stand the test of time – for a good few years at least.

The other reason I have never bought a bomber jacket is my daughter has one. I know many mothers and daughters who dress quite similarly – but that is not the case in this house. We have distinctly different body shapes and styles and I really like that.

(Alexus navy bomber jacket @ www.prettything.com)

Her jacket is navy sateen and whilst it looks cool and she wears it very well, I am drawn to the jackets with less padding, more embroidery and made with more luxurious fabrics.

I love to keep up with fashion but I won’t buy something just because it’s on trend or “all the rage”, it has to fit with my style. In my head the bomber jacket I am looking for is somewhere between a cardigan and a summer jacket – so that’s how I am going to wear it.

The Zara bomber jacket at the top of this post is my ideal but though I registered on the waitlist, it sold out before I got any notification :(So, undeterred I now have my eye on this Muveil one…what do you think?(Muveil embroidered silk bomber jacket Matchesfashion.com)

Coffee with Matchesfashion.com's Ruth Chapman

Ruth Chapman

Ruth Chapman, Joint Founder

Photographer Credit : Ed Reeve

Ruth Chapman's Matchesfashion.com is a global luxury-shopping destination for men and women. It is all about exclusivity, beauty and aspirational fashion.

So it may not surprise you that I pop into their Wimbledon store every now and again, and often take my credit card to task…

Last week, I sat down with Ruth Chapman to talk fashion, motherhood, daily routines and future goals.

The Matchesfashion.com Wimbledon Village store

Ruth Chapman on fashion and her business

Ruth, co-founded the business with her husband Tom. The couple recently stepped down as joint chief executives after 27 years at the helm and are now joint chairmen.

“My love for fashion has always been with me, “ says Ruth, “even from the really early days. The writing was definitely on the wall. When I was at school I used to waitress to save up for dresses I had seen in Vogue.

”Her mother and her stepmother helped fuel the passion, as Ruth says they were both incredibly glamorous women - there was nothing slap dash about them getting ready to go out.

Of the company, Ruth describes her role as the “guardian of brand - Matchesfashion.com”. Nothing happens unless she sees it, likes it and approves it.

Every piece bought for a season goes through a list of lengthy considerations: do we have too many pieces that are similar? Is it relevant to the business brand? Does the design/fabrication/style justify the price point?

But most of all, Ruth and her “strong buying” team keep the customer at the forefront of all decisions.  “You can never underestimate the customer’s intelligence,” she comments.

Starting with one shop, Matchesfashion.com now have 14 stores and a significant online presence, which accounts for 85% of the business.

Ruth tells me, “The company has changed a lot over the last 30 years. The British Fashion Council have been around for about 26 years, so I feel we have grown as a business alongside British creativity.

”Ruth feels that right now fashion is a very exciting place to be, “Globally, there is a huge appetite for fashion,” she says. “But when we started that wasn’t the case. I used to think the Italians dressed beautifully, I still do, but that time British people didn’t necessarily.“

“There were a few people who wanted to buy beautiful clothes but they weren’t so smitten with it as they are now, and young people weren’t as fashion obsessed. Now the whole spectrum - from 16 to 75 year old women and men are really interested in feeling current and beautiful. People are much more engaged than they were before.” 

Ruth on High Street brands:

I knew the answer to this before I asked it but I asked anyway. Does Ruth Chapman ever buy on the High Street? No - not for herself, but yes for her daughters.

Her standouts on the High Street are

Zara

,

American Apparel

,

Cos

and

Uniqlo

.

Zara, she describes as “clever”.

“I do think stores like Uniqlo do commodity basics and denim really well. But I do feel it is a shame when the High Street copies a designer’s ideas.

”She continues, “This is particularly hard for young designers who haven’t made much money and although the design is uniquely theirs, they can’t protect it and that’s infuriating.

”The accessibility of fashion and how quickly the High Street can turn around catwalk looks is incredible, but it is a double-edged sword. 

Ruth on Motherhood:

When Ruth talks about her children she smiles. She has poise and elegance in the way she talks about everything, so is not a “gushy” mother. But her love and pride for her three children, 22, 21 and 16, is evident.I ask how being a mother fits with the fashion business – she says, “Fashion is actually an easy industry to have children in. And working for yourself is a luxury. You can tailor your time to suit you and take time out to do what you want to with your children. If I worked in a law firm it would be so much harder.” 

Ruth on Routines:

Surprisingly to me, Ruth doesn’t wake up at 4am. I don’t know why I thought she would, but I had visions of being on the phone to Australia and doing Bikram Yoga!

She starts her day at 7am – she favours a calm start to the day. She enjoys making a “delicious” breakfast with alkaline foods; draws a bath and reads the paper. Some days she exercises. She is generally always in the office for 9am.As she says, “I couldn’t think straight without my own time first thing in the morning.” 

Ruth on Goals:

Without hesitation, she says, “Well, motherhood is an amazing achievement and one of my goals, though it may sound silly, is to be around to look after my grandchildren. But in truth, I’m not very strategic, I am a very live-in-the-moment person and quite organic.

”She goes on, “I never plan more than five years in advance and I never think I want to be chairman of this, or invest in that. If an opportunity presents itself, of course, we formulate a plan quickly.

”She tells me she would like to continue working, working in fashion and travelling and get involved in more charities. She and her husband currently work with a charity called Access, providing work placements for children from under privileged backgrounds. 

There is a lot to Ruth Chapman – she seems to have almost the perfect balance of serenity and focus – something I certainly aspire to. Having been incredibly generous with her time, I came away having had a lovely interlude and am looking forward to seeing her in the New Year to chat about Spring/Summer 2016.

No 23 Welbeck Street, Matchesfashion.com's Private Events and Shopping Townhouse

Devoted follower of fashion or faithful to your own style?

Gorgeous look by Haider Ackermann...which I would love...

As I was getting ready this morning, it occurred to me that whilst I adore fashion, I have stayed quite true to certain foundations of my personal style over the years.

There are four things I haven’t deviated from since I was about 15. My style mantra can be encapsulated by these words - hemlines, heels, hair…and leather!

mcqueen

Heels

I have touched on my love for heels here before.

I rarely wear flats, unless they are trainers or flip-flops, and a 3 inch heel is sensible to me. But hands down, my ideal heel height is 4 or 4.5 inches. Posturally, I hold my body better and walk straighter.

I know heels are not for everyone and I am a great believer that if something isn’t comfortable you shouldn’t wear it…but I love them! These are my latest lust, by

Alexander McQueen

midi erdem

Hemlines

This season is awash with really full midi skirts, in quite weighty materials, which don’t work for me at all. I’m not sure if it is my height, or my shape or both (!) but I tend to be swamped when I try these on.

Here’s a lovely example by Erdem

, which I am sure will suit someone long, lean and athletic. Often, I am drawn to things that I know look better on someone taller or leaner, but it is nice to explore out of your fashion comfort zone sometimes. And if you don't try it, you'll never know...And whilst I love to wear floor length skirts, dresses and even the occasional sari, I favour mini skirts or shorts (as I am wearing today).

Obviously appropriateness and decency come into play. My shorts are never bottom skimming and the days of bare legs are saved for a hot summer’s day. But if I were to pick any sort of daily uniform it would probably consist of boots (high), tights (spotty) and shorts. 

Hair:

don’t worry I’m not going to post another picture of my hair here, as there are more than enough on my

Instagram

and

Facebook

!! But long hair is my thing.

My mum actually didn’t let me have long hair for ages, but as soon as I was allowed I have never looked back. Hair can be the ultimate style statement in my opinion and I am quite in awe of people with short sharp edgy haircuts.

Personally the thought of having half an inch cut of mine leads to palpations!

Leather

Shame, this doesn't start with an “h” as I love a bit of alliteration… but anyway… I have been a leather jacket girl for about 20 years. Here's one of my most coveted jackets by

Rick Owens

, it is the most gorgeous unusual green:

I love the elegance and warmth of being wrapped up in a proper coat…but when I am in a rush and undecided as to what to wear  I always grab my trusty leather jacket, or one of them, as maybe unpredictably I have a few!

So, having said all this, I do love to know what is going on in fashion – this season, the coming seasons – though I tend not to be ruled by it. 

 I feel as you get older you definitely have a better sense of your own style. I still like to experiment and try new things and sometimes something unexpected can become a firm favourite. There are other looks however, I have tried past and present which should be labelled, “What was I thinking?! For me this is anything too floaty or "boho" - just doesn't work on me.

So what about you? Where do you stand?

Are you fashion forward or do you prefer to stick to what you know?I would say I have my feet in the “stay true to your own style” camp, whilst keeping an eye on new and upcoming trends…. and with this in mind, I seem to have my eye on a cape this winter…thoughts?

This one by Alexander McQueen might be a little high fashion!!

cape2

Random thoughts from a London Fashion Week (LFW) event

So here I am - getting back into my blogging routine. The last few weeks have been a little erratic, but life has been pretty full – just the way I like it!

Whilst I can’t quite believe I am sitting down to write about an event I went to a week and a half ago, I am quite glad that I have had to wait to collect my thoughts. Otherwise you may have just read a mildly prosecco-fuelled account of how I enjoyed looking at pretty things.

So here are some random thoughts:

The first thing that springs to mind is whenever I go to anything creative – a fashion event, a museum exhibition or an art gallery – I tell myself I should go more often. London, like so many locations is brimming with talent and creativity.

I knew the LFW event was going to be slick – stylish people milling around a chic backdrop. There were talks and a catwalk show highlighting the season’s trends. The trends show we watched showcased pieces from VeryExclusive.com. Here are some of my faves, all available on their website:

But the best bit for me was wandering around the pop up shops chatting to the designers. Their passion for their vision was something I loved and just highlighted to me how much music and fashion are aligned - in fact there are parallels in any art form, although sometimes I don’t see them, when the art form is visual. But by chatting to some of the designers I realised how similar our creative processes can be.

Among the designers I chatted to, was the lovely Helene Berman. I was so taken by her designs; I ended up with one of her beautiful faux fur coat – although at one point I was holding onto three of her coats!!

(Helene Berman and me, I'm wearing my new coat...)

One thing I struggle to get my head around though is catwalk modelling – I find it a little confusing.

All the models looked lovely and extremely professional and without doubt there is huge skill involved in being a chameleon, showcasing many different styles of clothes. And having recently done a video shoot, working the camera is very “hit and miss” for me – these girls have "know how" I do not possess.

But, they were all so serious and sombre. And however attractive they were, their looks and walks were pretty identical. I suppose this is the point?

Also, without exception, they were all very slim and very tall. Height is something I am quite envious of – as I will never be tall, not without the help of my stilettos which let’s be honest only bring me up to the national average. And whilst some were really very slim, I’m not going to get into the size debate here…maybe a post for another day…The other thing that occurred to me was blatantly obvious - sharing experiences with great company. I went to the event with a friend whom I have known for about 16 years. Our sons share the same birthday. I am learning to never undervalue time with good friends – chatting, listening, and supporting each other and lots of laughter. Sometimes I get so focussed with work and my kids that I forget how good company is great for my soul.

(My mate, Rachel and me - a pre-catwalk selfie)

So in conclusion, it was a really lovely event to go to and I hope to do these types of events more often…and I’ll try not to be so tardy with the posting next time!!

Fashion, cocktails and canapés

The title of this post pretty much tells you that the event I went to last night was my kinda thing… I was at a Rachel Comey fashion evening hosted by Matchesfashion.com to preview the designer’s PreAW15 collection and Main AW15 collection.

I have been to a few fashion shows, but never something like this. Held at Matchesfashion.com’s Private Shopping and Events townhouse in Central London, the evening was relaxed and chilled with a friendly buzz in the air - the vibe I felt mirroring the designer’s ethos in many ways.

US designer, Rachel Comey attended the University of Vermont as an art major with a focus on sculpture. After college, Comey moved to New York; her first forays into fashion were as costume designer for bands in the growing downtown music scene.Inspired by this, Comey launched her first eponymous collection of menswear. Thanks to a great network and word of mouth, the collection proved a success, and she began to gain a loyal following. By 2004, Comey had introduced womenswear and footwear to her business.

Her collections are known for artful custom textiles and modern silhouettes. This was apparent in the pieces on show last night - tactile fabrics and lovely prints. The styles are unstated. Comey’s designs are contemporary and current - definitely pieces to wear now… All woven garments are made locally in midtown Manhattan while footwear and knitwear is made in Portugal, Spain, and Peru.

Something I loved when I was reading up on Rachel Comey, is that she is widely credited for being the first major American designer to break with longstanding tradition and present her collections in Brooklyn over an intimate dinner party.

The dinners provided an opportunity for Comey to show her collections in a more personal setting, and to create an atmosphere for conversation, unlike the typical runway shows...A quick word about Matchesfashion.com; having lived in southwest London for many years, The Wimbledon Matchesfashion.com store has been my local designer boutique for some time. What I love about the store is that they seem to have perfected a blend of local, warm and welcoming with luxurious high fashion.

This must largely be down to husband and wife owners Tom and Ruth Chapman. Ruth, whom I have met on a few occasions, including last night, is the sort of woman you can’t help but revere. Serene, warm, friendly and very approachable; her savvy and passion for her business are undeniable.

Last night was such fun and I have promised myself that when I get another fashion invitation, I am definitely going. And whilst on the face of it Rachel Comey’s pieces are not quite in keeping with my own personal style…there was a lovely yellow dress (see below!) that I may have to try on at some point….Rachel Comey’s collection can be found at www.matchesfashion.com

Fall fashion – the 80s are back…

It’s official - the 80s are back this Autumn/Winter, in terms of fashion anyway.It’s about now, as the summer sales start that the fashion industry, which seems to be so far ahead of itself, tempts us with new season collections.

Please remember throughout this post I am not a designer and do not have any expertise here. But I am an ardent consumer, so I have been googling and these are some of the key trends coming our way:

1. The 70s. I think this is a continuation from what we have now in Spring/Summer. And whilst I was a bit young to find my fashion feet in the 70s the first time round, I have been wearing my collars very proudly and channelling my inner Daisy Duke with my denim shorts and knotted shirts.

2. Luxe. I think this means lots of sequins and glitter and luxurious fabrics – I’m thinking embellishment and brocade. I am confirmed dress up girl, so this works for me.

3. The ladylike look – we have seen this trend over the last few years and most of us have a pencil skirt or two in our wardrobes, so I am guessing this will be a continuation of this trend.

4. Black Victoriana. This is where my fashion knowledge falls down. So please correct me if I am wrong. But I feel we have this every winter in some guise. I’m thinking lace, high necklines, and more leather - trendy Penny Dreadful maybe?

5. The wild; more furs (or faux fur in my case) and animal prints. I have a lovely fake fur jacket from Oasis, which is two years old, but this is as far as I go with this trend.

6. And… drum roll….the 80s. It seems that shoulder pads, polkas dots, ruffles and mini proms skirts are back. So here, I am fondly remembering Dallas, Dynasty, Madonna, Bucks Fizz and Bananarama. And if your tastes are a little more edgy, think Siouxsie and the Banshees.

So what is it about stepping back in time? Why is it appealing to the tastemakers? I’m just speculating, but I guess it is hard to completely reinvent fashion year on year.

I also think nostalgia plays a part. Memories are evocative things. Some people have dubbed the 80s as extremely uncool. Personally, I think some people spend too much time thinking about what’s cool and what’s not.

To me, the 80s were all about making a statement. Fashion was big and bold and colourful. Life was vibrant. You dressed up and expressed yourself through your clothes and people loved you for it. I definitely think there was less judgement, or maybe I was just young and didn’t notice or care!

I don’t know what the fashion designers have got in store for us. But I have no doubt that designers like Saint Laurent, Balmain and the very clever High Street brands will have distilled the essence of the 80s and added a few unexpected modern twists.

I personally am looking forward to seeing what turns up in our shops. How about you - are ready to embrace your inner New Romantic?

How do you shop the sales?

This may be one for the ladies, but I certainly don’t want to exclude all the very stylish men I know…The summer sales are coming. Many shops are already sending out preview sale invitations with up to 40% off marked prices. And though this used to fill me with great joy, I am under no illusions when I get these invitations; I am not special, I have just done A HELLUVA LOT of shopping in my time, so qualify for a lot of discounts!

I used to love a sale. I mean, who doesn’t love a bargain? The trouble with a bargain is that sometimes we get swept up with the markdowns and end up with more stuff we didn’t need in the first place.

These days, I try to be a little more discerning. The reality is, for me there is less desire to snap something up in an end of season sale - here’s why:

Firstly, because we seem to live with a “get it now” mentality, so if I really lust after something, I try it on and if it fits and I can afford it, I buy it. The justification for buying something full price is that my size may not be there at the end of the season, but to be honest we can all justify whatever we want….Secondly, if I have waited till the end of the season, I obviously didn’t want the, let’s say for instance, dress, that much, so maybe I’m just imagining I want it, because it’s in the sale?

And finally it is END OF season. Clothes that we “ooohed” and “ahhhed” over in January for Spring/Summer are somehow less appealing. And as the fashion industry turns its’ attention to pre fall/autumn collections, we are already being tantalized by new season lines, having not yet made full use of our summer wardrobe.

However, sales do have their place. Nowadays, my strategy is I only really buy special pieces in sales. Luxurious fabrics and beautifully cut dresses or jackets that are timeless.

Like a hawk, I will watch something that was horrendously expensive at the start of the season, which I adored but there was absolutely no justification in handing over my credit card for; I will watch as the price gets slashed.

Sometimes if you can bear the wait beautiful things can be discounted by as much as 80% and snapping them up then, feels so good, I think this may be a legal high...There is of course a gamble involved here so I will also say a little prayer to the shopping angels so that if and when the price becomes affordable, my size is still available.

I am not a fan of buying stuff that sits in your wardrobe unworn, so whatever I buy I wear and I think, some of us can go a little crazy in the sales as it is all cheaper. I must deter you from this - there’s no point buying stuff just because it’s cheaper, unless it’s gorgeous on you of course.

So how you will shop the sales? Do you go crazy or do you have a strategy?

Personally, I have my eye on a pair of Saint Laurent black leather shorts. I have lusted after them for months and my lust is undiluted. I cannot justify them, but I will watch and wait and with any luck, they will come down to a much less eye -watering price…fingers crossed…In the meantime, happy sales shopping let me know what you find…

Alexander McQueen – Savage Beauty at the V&A

(Photo taken from a postcard bought at V&A, Look 91, Alexander McQueen - Bugle beads and net)

It was mesmerising and captivating. The music and lighting beautifully balanced to create a slightly hypnotic effect, showcasing the dramatic spectacle that encapsulated the vision of Alexander McQueen.

I don’t how the organisers at the Victoria and Albert museum did it, but somehow they had managed to distil McQueen’s essence into the atmosphere. Or at least that’s how it felt for me.

Sometimes in life when your expectations are high, they are rarely met, or maybe this is the cynic in me. This was not the case yesterday. I was instantly drawn in, marvelling at the collections displayed at the Alexander McQueen - Savage Beauty exhibition.

The exhibition is first and largest retrospective of the late designer’s work to be presented in Europe. It showcases McQueen’s designs from his 1992 MA graduate collection to his unfinished A/W 2010 collection.

One of my favourite collections was VOSS, Spring/Summer 2001, also known as the ‘Asylum’ show. I understand that on the catwalk, it was staged inside a vast two-way mirrored box, which the models couldn’t see out of to start with. Of the show, McQueen said, ‘It was about trying to trap something that wasn’t conventionally beautiful to show that beauty comes from within.’

(photo taken from Alexander McQueen book, bought at V&A - Look from the VOSS collection)

So, the exhibition satisfied my appetite for fashion, but as I lingered at each mannequin and video screen, I flipped between wonder and sadness. Wonder because, to me his blend of drama, theatrics, emotion and couture were perfectly balanced in each piece. Each design showcases his attention to detail, and the mastery with which he created such beauty from the dark, mysterious, unexpected and sometimes the ugly and grotesque. But sadness because a talent like his, is no longer with us.

And whilst the brand, Alexander McQueen is still such a successful powerhouse reaching the masses, I can’t help feeling that the magic has been diluted with his passing, something intangible and really rather special has been lost. What a true artist Alexander McQueen was and his artistry continues to be inspirational.PS: this has been one of the hardest posts to write, to date, I really felt that “wow” and “OMG” weren’t going to cut it. I have been thinking about what to write since yesterday and have been completely waylaid this afternoon by the beautiful Alexander McQueen book I bought in the shop, edited by Claire Wilcox. I’m not sure if I have done the exhibition justice, but I hope so, and if you want to go, let me know, I’m pretty sure I can free up my diary…

(Photo taken from a postcard bought at V&A, Look 45, Alexander McQueen - Silk faille and tuille with boning, with fresh and silk flowers)

How do you justify the cost of clothes in that “I just have to have it” moment?

Picture this – you’re out shopping with your mates and you see a piece of clothing in your peripheral vision, you make a bee-line for it – touch it, hold it up to you and check the price tag. You’re thinking, “I’ll just try it on to satisfy my curiosity”. This is fatal, especially if you have chosen well and it fits like it was made for you. Your mates, the shop assistant all chorus, “You look so good in that, you have to have it.”

At this moment, maybe like me you turn into a fashion schizophrenic. One part of my brain is telling me I don’t need this (let’s say for instance) dress. I begin mentally scouring my wardrobe for something similar. I have had to cultivate this habit. My default position is “I love this, it’s so versatile, I can dress it up and dress it down, it’ll never date…” and so it goes on. I have already bought it, paying is merely a formality.

I used to be a true clothes shopping addict – no justifications, impulse buys, coming home with something very similar to another thing I have already and feeling slightly peer pressured into buying something slightly out of my budget and sticking it on my credit card.

Nowadays, I am more discerning. Generally if I find something I love that’s expensive I will look on the high street for something similar. A case in point is this gorgeous Zara green silk shirt I bought a few weeks ago.

Photo taken from Zara.com

It is £39.99 as opposed to a Raquel Allegra one (which isn’t silk) around at the moment, retailing at £318 – which also looks lovely. The problem with "high street" brands these days though is the prices have been steadily creeping up and so aren't always the cheap option. I saw a couple of dresses on the Topshop site for £600 yesterday. Not what I expected, but price point may be another blog post.

So my justification list is broadly this:

1. Fabric. This is really important to me. Silk and cotton always win, I struggle to pay a lot for polyester.

2. Workmanship/lining. I know a few amazing seamstresses and used to make clothes myself when I was a teenager, so finishing off a piece of clothing well is vital.

3. Is it going to stand the test of time? I will admit I have a lot of clothes, but I still pull out things I bought ten years ago and they haven’t dated.

4. Do I really love it?

5. Does it fit me perfectly?

I know we all have budgets, and we all go through phases of “being good” and not shopping (this was me in January and February) and then having the odd splurge on something we can’t resist. So, when you see something you love, how do you justify the cost?

PS: Last I tweeted the top picture, a beautiful Dolce and Gabbana dress. Those of you who know me will suspect I succumbed. I did. Old habits die hard; it’s on my credit card…Sssshh!