The Essentials: The Polo Neck

If black polo necks make you think of the milk tray man, think again. My most recent acquisition from COS has become a much loved staple in recent weeks. Made out of merino wool, it's the perfect weight for that tricky stage between seasons. I like to wear mine tucked into a leather A-line skirt with black opaque tights in a nod to the sixties, but I love the way it's paired in the images above with a classic pair of cigarette pants. Hey, if it's good enough for Phoebe Philo, it's good enough for me...

(images life.com via la mignonette's tumblr)

Trans-seasonal wish list

Travelling between a warm and heady Parisian springtime and a much less clement London got me thinking about the need to master the art of trans-seasonal dressing. I've always been a winter clothes (read coats) enthusiast, finding it tiresome to shop for summer items that I spend a maximum of two weeks of the year wearing. In recent months, I have found myself less and less inclined to purchase clothes specifically for my summer holidays. I instead anticipate 'borrowing' items from my everyday autumn/winter wardrobe such as breton tops and lightweight shirts and pairing them with denim shorts and sandals (ideally this pair from 3.1 Phillip Lim) rather than with my usual staple of black jeans.

Today's constantly changing weather conditions have rendered seasonal fashion obsolete resulting in a need for more transitional clothing. Dressing for that tricky 'in-between' stage requires a mastering of loose and light layering - think jackets or a lightweight spring coat layered over a loose tee with rolled up jeans or a sweater dress paired with bare legs as demonstrated on The Sartorialist. I foresee my key investment for summer being a jacket, the ultimate trans-seasonal item. I particularly like this version from Vanessa Bruno Athé or this denim style by A.P.C.

And if you're in need of more summer wardrobe inspiration, check out Lin's series of Summer Days posts. They act as an A-Z of summer essentials!

(Photo credit: various, all from my tumblr)

Uniform

My most recent go-to for sartorial advice is the Essentials Section of Self Service magazine's blog. Having had a sneak peak into the must-haves of stylish individuals from Sofia Coppola to Emmanuelle Alt, it is clear that to some extent style is synonymous with uniform. When I think of stylish women, from fail safe icons such as Audrey Hepburn and Coco Chanel to more modern taste makers like Phoebe Philo, there exists an underlying connection between them in that all of their outfits (for the most part) subscribe to their respective standardised silhouettes. Take Emmanuelle Alt for example, whose style exhibits and rarely strays from the formula of skinny jeans + impeccably cut jacket + towering heels. Where would Sofia Coppola be without her classic silhouette of black slim fit jeans, Charvet shirt and flats? Even the Queen of Eclectic Anna Della Russo is consistent in that the very definition of her style is in it's strict outrageousness.

I think that in setting yourself certain wardrobe limitations, you come to figure out a true sense of your own style. Shopping becomes more of an enjoyable challenge which in turn makes you consider your purchases more carefully. For example, I am now far more likely to choose an item entirely based on a cut that would compliment the other items in my wardrobe rather than making an on- trend purchase that I will later come to regret. But, most importantly of all, the thing about uniforms is that you come to have a signature look, instantly recognisable as being 'you', which, for me, is the holy grail in an industry dominated by the next big thing.

(Photograph: Accessories Designer Giorgia Tordini on Kenya's Style)

Simplicité sophistiquée

It appears Italian jewelry heiress & artistic director Gaia Repossi might just have my dream wardrobe. Not only does she have an endless supply of Repossi rings at her disposal (an item I can only stare longingly at in the confines of Colette) but an enviable collection of clothing which includes pieces from Céline, vintage Yves Saint Laurent and Isabel Marant amongst others. However, what most caught my eye when I saw Vogue Paris's feature on her was the fact that her look is so accessible. If you ignore the fact that all her pieces are high end, her look is that laid back, relaxed style that us mere mortals can easily recreate with a savvy mix of Cos and Zara with the odd ebay-ed Isabel Marant piece thrown in for good measure. Her classic, tomboy silhouette is both covetable and wearable. The perfect hybrid of Italian elegance & French effortlessness.

(Photographs from Vogue.fr)

The Essentials

Essentials #1 - The Trench Coat

I am on a life long quest to pick up the perfect charity shop Burberry Trench. Whenever I discover a new Vintage shop, the first thing I do is scour the rails for the Trench coats. Double breasted, slim fitting and finding just the right shade of beige are a few things that are, for me, key. Looks perfect with cropped denim jeans, repetto flats and a breton top.

Essentials #2 - A pair of trusty Brogues

There's nothing like the juxtaposition of a pair of men's brogues against a floral dress. It's that old age trick of androgyny: to have that one masculine element which sets off an otherwise perfectly feminine look. A pair of Church's would be my dream buy, but due to being 1,000 ft tall, my feet are a whopping size 42 and I don't want to stray into clumsy feet territory!

Essentials #3 - An understated, practical leather bag

Bags are one of those items you can really afford to splurge on (along with the perfect coat) - good quality leather only gets better with age and wear. Case in point; my mum's old mulberry binocular bag which must be the same age as me! Sofia Coppola for Louis Vuitton's exquisite example sadly takes splurging to a whole new level... I can but dream!

(Images from Jak & Jill)

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?

Voilà!

A couple of you on my FAQ post suggested that I start doing outfit posts which is definitely something I will consider. In the meantime I'll save you my mediocre photography skills and leave you with one of the images Tamu Mcpherson of All The Pretty Birds took of me during Paris Fashion Week outside the Grand Palais. (The other image can be seen here.) To be honest, my day to day outfits are mostly a variation on the above theme!

I'm wearing heeled desert boots by Carvela, Acne jeans, a COS polo neck, my beloved Isabel Marant coat and my mother's old Mulberry bag which she passed down to me!

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)

Masculin Féminin

If you've been following my blog, you'll have probably noticed that I'm a self proclaimed tomboy. To me there is nothing more appealing than a woman dressed in a man's clothes. Ever since I was little, I would always be the girl dressed in the denim romper climbing trees and role playing Star Wars with my partner in crime (I assumed the role of Han Solo, he Luke Skywalker.) Whether it be down to my boyish figure (read: flat chested and gangly) or my attempts to break the mould in an all girls' school, my style has always bordered on the side boyish. My look has definitely evolved since my school days and now I've discovered that dressing with a tomboy edge needn't mean sacrificing femininity - my peter pan collared dresses are toughened up with mannish brogues or lace up ankle boots and my off duty uniform of white shirt, cropped trousers and penny loafers are made more feminine with a bow tied in my hair à la Brigitte Bardot. Despite the fashion forecast for this season being all about the new womanly silhouette, I'd still rather be in the boyish camp, embracing the new trouser shapes and array of capes on offer. After all, who wouldn't want to be associated with a band of women that includes such style icons as Charlotte Gainsbourg, Lou Doillon, Annie Hall, Alexa Chung and Katherine Hepburn?

(Images from thefashionspot & my tumblr)

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Gloria

I once read an interview with Valentine Fillol Cordier in which she described her style as "something between Coco Chanel and Patti Smith"... quite possibly the perfect combination! Lately, having just finished Just Kids, I myself have been undoubtedly influenced by Patti Smith's blasé approach to dressing. Her uniforms of black skinny jeans, blazers & mannish white shirts, although formulaic, never air on the side of boring. Patti Smith is one of those rare style phenomenon's who makes the most understated of outfits look so desirable and incessantly cool that you want to wear the look head to toe... But somehow you just never manage to recreate that same nonchalant attitude. It thrilled me to discover that during one period of her youth, she rotated between variations on outfits inspired by French new wave films and Audrey Hepburn in Funny Face. Her cultural influences are embodied in many of her outfits, whether it be the way she flings her jacket over her shoulder on the cover of Horses à la Frank Sinatra or her Keith Richards-esque haircut. Just perfection.

My style says ‘Look at me, don’t look at me,’ ... It’s, ‘I don’t care what you think.’ - Patti Smith

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)

Winter Lady

Saturday marked a momentous occasion for me - my first autumn/winter purchase. I've always preferred winter's sartorial offerings and have even been known to rip endless pages out of my precious magazine collection for my annual winter coat countdown! My most recent purchase, however, was a camel coloured cable knit sweater - perfect teamed with my Acne high waisted jeans and brogues in the city or over a tea dress with thick socks and my wellies for long walks at the seaside (see The Edge of Love for inspiration!) My winter wishlist includes some new suede ankle boots (I'm still dreaming of those suede Isabel Marant boots from a gazillion seasons ago), a camel coloured coat (Celine would be nice but Zara will do!) a navy blue blazer, a blue oxford shirt and some cropped wool trousers. All topped off with some samples of the new Burberry makeup collection. What's on your winter wishlist?