The Essentials: The Little Black Jacket

Lately the fashion world's been a buzz with talk of Karl Lagerfeld and Carine Roitfeld's latest collaboration: The Little Black Jacket: Chanel's Classic Revisited. Styled by Roitfeld and photographed by Lagerfeld, the coffee-table book, set for release this autumn, features 113 of fashion's most stylish men and women all wearing Chanel's iconic jacket. The shoot shows just how versatile Chanel's coveted classic can be, whether it be paired with a breton top and cigarette pants à la Sofia Coppola, or with a pair of worn out jeans as seen on perennial style icon Jane Birkin. Hovering mid-way between a jacket and a boxy cardigan, the Little Black Jacket has not changed since Coco Chanel first designed it in 1924 when she weighed down the hem and silk lining with a gold chain to ensure that it sat perfectly on the body. Is it the ultimate wardrobe essential; classic, elegant and timeless. The only snag? The cost. At a cool $4,710, a girl can but dream!

(Images: The Little Black Jacket)

The Colour: Navy

"She prefers the richness of all kinds of (French) navy to the ubiquitous black."

From Bali Barret's 5 Ways to Spot a Proper Parisienne in Issue Five of the Gentlewoman

If I had to only wear one colour for the rest of my life, it would be navy blue. Understated, classic and a little bit unpredictable...

(Images from The Sartorialist)

Deconstructed: Rochas Autumn/ Winter 2012 Look 21

Don't get me wrong, I'm one of those obsessives who endlessly trawls style.com after each and every show of fashion week, posied on the edge of my seat in anticipation of the weird and wonderful creations the likes of Miuccia Prada will conjure up next, but nothing excites me more than seeing something effortless and wearable on the catwalk. Case in point: Look 21 from Rochas' Autumn/ Winter 2012 show from designer Marco Zanini. Whilst the rest of the show was a kaleidoscope of bold, geometric prints, this look is exquisite in its understated wearability. The navy ribbed poloneck has just the right amount of cling, accentuating the body underneath. The skirt (not too long, not too short) adds a luxe schoolma'am-ish air to the whole thing. Proportions are kept in check with a nod to the Fifties - a simply belted cinched in waist. And finally, just a hint of the unexpected with the graphic print of the tights and a strong blackberry lip. Librarian chic at its best.

(Image: via The Sartorialist)