Summer Essentials: The Black Bikini

 































With less than a month to go until my summer sojourn to the Côte d'Azur, my thoughts have turned to the dreaded topic of swimwear. Never an easy task, this year I have vowed to keep it chic and simple inspired by Romy Schneider's little black numbers in Deray's cult classic La Piscine. Pared with a crisp white shirt as a coverup and a battered pair of brown leather sandals, this look should see me through summer. Nothing left to do except pray for sun!

(Photo credit: tumblr)

Look of the day

These recent photographs of jewelry designer Lara Melchior on vogue.fr make me long for a wardrobe consisting solely of silk shirts and loose fitting trousers. Citing Dries Van Noten and Phoebe Philo among her favourite designers, it is no surprise that for Melchior comfort is key. Her wardrobe is awash with simple jersey tee shirts by Isabel Marant, wide leg trousers and breton tops, all accessorised with her line of delicate gold jewelry inspired by Viennese Art Nouveau and Fauvism. The allure of her wardrobe lies in well cut, good quality, comfortable basics which work just as well for day as for evening. Plus, anyone who owns a pair of Chanel espadrilles gets my style vote...

I wanted to give a woman comfortable clothes that would flow with her body. A woman is closest to being naked when she is well-dressed — Coco Chanel

(photographs: Linus Ricard for vogue.fr)

Ode to Isabel

So yesterday I was strolling through the Marais on my way for my favourite lunchtime treat at Breizh Cafe when who should I bump into but the most sought after of French designers and one of my ultimate style icons, Isabel Marant. She gave me as a smile of recognition as she clocked my jacket... the exact same one she was wearing! Marant is one of my favourite designers for a number of reasons but namely because she is so indifferent to 'fashion' despite being one of the most desirable designers of our generation. My love affair with her designs started upon seeing her Fall-2007-Ready-to-Wear on vogue.fr, something I am still constantly returning to for references. These looks are as relevant today in fashion as they were three years ago. Her designs embody the essence of Gallic insouciance... low-key basics which have become steadfast classics. The label's philosophy has slowly become embedded in fashion's conscience, encompassing the of the moment trend for real clothes for real women. Indeed, Marant designs for herself, forming a very personal relationship with each and every garment... she is even her own fittings model. Most of all, I love the fact that her pieces sit perfectly within my wardrobe of slouchy basics from lower end stores such as Zara and Cos, serving to enhance them and adding that distinct something which takes my outfit to the next level. As Marant herself says, the Isabel Marant girl embodies 'discretion, style and attitude. But, above all, comfort.' What more could a girl want?

FAQ

Apologies for the lack of updates - I have been drowning under a the sea of French bureaucracy having made the move to la belle Paris. My days have been spent exploring the florists and patisseries of left bank, spending lazy afternoons wandering through the Marais with friends making mental outfit notes and not forgetting some all important shopping! My most recent purchase: a camel coloured polo neck from COS which has become a steadfast staple in my wardrobe. I was even photographed by Tamu Mcpherson wearing it with my Bator, high waisted jeans and some grey high heeled desert boots outside the Chanel SS11 show (which made my day!) I find the street style here is just so inspiring - I wonder if this quiet chic will ever get old? I see thousands of muted colours interspersed with scarves, blazers and ballet flats yet they never cease to inspire me and introduce me to new ways of wearing things.

So having been off the radar for a while, I thought it was about time to give something back and do a Q&A session with my readers. And one thing I ask of you - any suggestions of your favourite things to do in Paris would also be most welcome! So fire away...

Bonjour Paris!

Oh the joys of packing a wardrobe worthy of moving to the most stylish city in the world! My imminent move to Paris has been causing me sartorial anguish in bucket loads! Not only is my studio matchbox sized (I'm seriously considering my microwave as potential shoe storage) but I have the added pressure of Parisian style to contend with! However, whilst drowning in a sea of wooly tights, polka dots and denim I came across this inspiring collage of Gallic beauty Clémence Poésy from Elle Ukraine and was reminded of my number one fashion rule - simple is always chic. Problem almost solved.

(Image from thefashionspot)

Elegance is refusal

As my obsession for all things French steadily grows (and showing no signs of abating), so does my interest in the concept of the French Wardrobe - the notion that you can base your entire wardrobe on a skeleton of 4-5 (usually high quality) key pieces. In the recent months, I've found this idea especially appealing namely due to the alarming prospect of having to fit my vast array of clothes into my matchbox studio in Paris. Long gone are the days of envisioning a wardrobe worthy of a place in UK Elle's monthly feature Closet Confidential...

Although at the tender age of 20 my style is constantly evolving, I definitely have a uniform that I can always fall back on which consists of good quality basics - a pair of Acne jeans, a Zara leather blazer and my French Sole ballet flats for day and a black See by Chloe dress or Day Birger et Mikkelsen blouse for evening. It's fair to say that I wear a variation of these outfits seventy five percent of the time in place of the more frivolous, 'on-trend' pieces in my wardrobe. Although this at first seems like a boring approach to fashion, the less-is-more approach to dressing is ultimately far more satisfying. After all, I would much rather by one more expensive, classic item that I really love and can wear in a multitude of ways in place of the latest highly covetable Balmain jacket or It bag.

When I think of women whose style I admire - Coco Chanel, Sofia Coppola, Jane Birkin, Emanuelle Alt et al - they all embrace a distinct uniform without sacrificing the covetable nature of their style.

See my 5 autumn/winter essentials on my previous post here. And my edit if money were no object...

1. Chanel 2.55 or Sofia Coppola for Louis Vuitton leather duffle bag

2. Chanel two tone ballet flats

3. Isabel Marant Bator Coat

4. Repossi yellow gold maure ring

5. Maison Margiela or Helmut Lang tee shirts

(image from I Heart Sofia)

Ooh la la

I'm not sure if it's my unwavering love of the breton top, or my impending move to Paris but as you'll have probably noticed from my past few posts, I have all things French on the brain. Be it the status of French Vogue slowly creeping up to the top spot in my favourite publications list (others include Lula, Russh, The Gentlewoman & British Vogue) or my addiction to a range of French based brands such as A.P.C, Zadig & Voltaire, Comptoir des Cotonniers and Isabel Marant, for me, French style still reigns as the epitome of chic. There's no simpler (or more elegant) outfit than a breton top tucked into high waisted navy trousers with a pair of two tone ballet flats à la Coco Chanel. The French style embodies a simple, understated mode of dressing without forgoing a certain edginess. Take Lou Doillon (daughter of pseudo-French style perpetrator Jane Birkin) who manages to still look elegant whilst evidently never having seen a hairbrush in her life. The look is grownup and womanly (therefore conforming to the autumn/winter's Phoebe Philo philosophy) yet still playful. My current girl crush (and Lula regular) is fresh faced beauty Clémence Poésy whose style remains simple yet interesting due to that girl/boy allure and her penchant for mixing classic, well established designers such as Chloe and Lanvin with edgier vintage accesories.

Fashion fades, only style remains the same. - Coco Chanel

(images from the fashion spot & fashion gone rogue)