This Dries' Coat is calling my name!

 Last Saturday, during one of my many St. Germain strolls, accompanied by my darling Irish man, Mr D. and his  friend S., I visited my favorite fashion store in Paris: the Dries van Noten flagship at the Quai Malaquais  opposite the Louvre. How I love that place - remember which book I'm always carrying with me.... Wilde's The  Picture of Dorian Gray... - it evokes La Belle Epoque in a very modern way. Before entering the store you have to  ring a doorbell, and then you enter the van Noten Universe - which by the way, could easily be called Chez Mlle  Perle - Anyway, the sales were still going on, but the main area - the drawing room sort of, with the baby blue  velvet Chesterfield - was already filled with the upcoming  winter collection, and this coat here, was loudly  calling my name! So yes, before leaving to my summer holidays destination this coat will definitely be mine!

DRIES VAN NOTEN F/W 2010

If you've forgotten what Dries' Ultimate Elegant winter collection looks like, click on the following link: 

http://www.style.com/fashionshows/complete/F2010RTW-DVNOTEN

TTFN ♥

The September Issue: What to wear after those lazy summer holidays?

Kaftans, bikini's, shorts, floaty dresses, cut off jeans, all goes during my summer holidays, as  long as it is
 comfortable. Reason numero uno, why I always prepare my September outfits before I leave for my summer break,  because I always have a hard time getting back in the city mood. Clearly, the mood I'm going for in September is  Elegant; minimalistic with some extremely feminine pieces and accessories. These are my September pieces, ready  to be worn à la rentrée. Which are yours?

 

  CELINE Black Suede Ankle Boot            MARNI Swarovski Embellished Necklace

MARC JACOBS Silk Pussy Bow Blouse

 

  LANVIN Royal Blue Embellished Flats      GIAMBATTISTA VALLI Knee Length One Piece

 

  CHLOÉ Silk Knee Length Wrap Dress        STELLA MC CARTNEY Silk Briefs


  TTFN ♥

Almost holidays...

The weather in Paris is kind of depressing. The sun seems to be gone. One day it's too cold to  go outside  without a jacket and then the next day it's too hot. July is already coming to an  end and the holiday month is  finally  coming! I can't wait! What do you normally wear during  your summer holidays?

This is the first bikini, shot by Toni Frissell for

Harper's Bazaar at Montego Bay, Jamaica in 1945

TTFN ♥

"Elegance" according to the dictionary:

el·e·gance  (ěl'ĭ-gəns)  n.

1. a. Refinement, grace, and beauty in movement, appearance, or manners.

   b. Tasteful opulence in form, decoration, or presentation.

   c. Scientific exactness and precision.

2. a. Restraint and grace of style.

   b. Scientific exactness and precision.

3.    Something elegant.

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What Coco said about Elegance...

 Gabrielle Chanel by Cecil Beaton (1937)

 What Coco said about Elegance:

  "Elegance is not the prerogative of those who have just escaped from adolescence, but of those who have already 

 taken possession of their future."

"I don't understand how a woman can leave the house without fixing herself up a little - if only out of 

 politeness. And then, you never know, maybe that's the day she has a date with destiny. And it's best to be as 

 pretty as possible for destiny."

"Elegance does not consist in putting on a new dress."

"A style does not go out of style as long as it adapts itself to its period. When there is an incompatibility 

 between the style and a certain state of mind, it is never the style that triumphs."

"Elegance is refusal."

"I love luxury. And luxury lies not in richness and ornateness but in the absence of vulgarity. Vulgarity is the 

 ugliest word in our language. I stay in the game to fight it."

"Look for the woman in the dress. If there is no woman, there is no dress."

"Some people think luxury is the opposite of poverty. It is not. It is the opposite of vulgarity."

"It is the unseen, unforgettable, ultimate accessory of fashion that heralds your arrival and prolongs your 

 departure."


 TTFN ♥

Let me tell you about Elegance...

Nathalia Vodianova, Karen Elson and Christie Turlington by Steven Meisel for Louis Vuitton F/W 2010: Celebrating Elegance. With a capital E.

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"Elegance is good taste plus a dash of daring."

We all know Diane Vreeland (1903 - 1989), the legendary editor of Vogue (1963 - 1971), who started her career as  a fashion editor at Harpers Bazar (1937 - 1962). The woman who discovered her was the magical Mrs Carmel Snow  (1887 - 1961), editor in chief of Harper's Bazar (1934 - 1958). She discovered both Vreeland and my all time  favorite art director Alexey Brodovitch, and took them on board at Harper's. She also encouraged the careers and  talents of Andy Warhol, Truman Capote, Jean Cocteau, Cecil Beaton, Dior (she's the one calling his debut  collection (1947) "The New Look"), Balenciaga, and she discovered Lauren Bacall and put her on the cover of  Harper's Bazar, which opened doors to Bacall's Hollywood career. If only we could have broadcasted a September  Issue during those heigh days of Harper's Bazar when she was still around...

The Magical Carmel Snow, second from the left.

TTFN ♥

Today's True Elegance

If you follow my blog, you might have noticed that I have a preference for old time elegance, and classic style  icons. With today's overload of designers, labels and celebrities to copy, one might expect an equal amount of  style icons. Naturally we like Miss Moss' sense of style, resulting in high street chains  making buckets of  money out of it. And of course we all go watch Sex and the City to see what Patricia Field cooked up for  Carrie this time. But they just don't seem to over shadow the Jackie's and Audrey's from the days... Until  Giovanna Battaglia came along. Former model and Dolce & Gabbana muse and one of the fashion elite at Italian  Vogue, Giovanna has, yes, clearly an amazing body to wear that to-die-for-wardrobe, but  what is most enviable,  is her elegance and style...

La Battaglia

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Best accessory: A Smile...

No It Bag can beat a beautiful smile...Brigitte Bardot
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Miss Moss for Isabelle Marant

Kate Moss is the face of the  Isabelle Marant F/W 2010 ad campaign.
 Not surprising with Emmanuelle Alt as its brand consultant...
 The entire ad campaign just breaths Mrs Alt.

TTFN ♥

Boney

Givenchy H.C. 2010

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Karl's take on proportion

Karl Lagerfeld played with proportions and made Chanel Couture look incredibly modern and desirable.

 

CHANEL H/C F/W 2010

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DIOR H.C. F/W 2010 - His Name was Irving Penn

Inra Blue (2006) by Irving Penn              Christian Dior H.C. F/W 2010
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P.S. Wasn't Galliano's latest menswear theme Charlie Chaplin...

Woody Allen (1972) by Irvin Penn

PARIS HAUTE COUTURE WEEK

Charles Frederick Worth (1826 - 1895)
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Brazil vs Holland

Gisele and Doutzen


 TTFN ♥