The Fashion Clinic #6: Fall Essentials

One of the best things about Autumn has to be the clothes – cosy cashmere jumpers, lots of colourful scarves, thick ribbed tights and ankle boots. Don’t get me wrong, I love balmy summer days when you can just pull on a sundress and slip on a pair of flip flops but unless you can afford to escape for the whole summer, how many outings is that strappy dress really going to get?

A quality piece of knitwear on the other hand will see you through until April or even May (at least if you live in the UK). If my past experience of the English weather is anything to go by, a light jacket or heavy cardigan will usually suffice as a cover-up until mid November. I’ve had my eye on the Fortuna cardigan (8) by Swedish design trio Dagmar since I first spotted it in a store in Gothenburg two years ago, but the hefty price tag forced me to walk away. So when I saw it reduced by 30% on Farfetch I was quick to snap it up and it’s now hanging in my closet waiting for the temperature to drop.

Odd Molly’s Knit Jacket (6) is another design that I never tire of. The fit is universally flattering and it looks great teamed with skinny jeans or an A-line skirt which are two of my Fall/Winter staples. When it comes to denim, I tend to stick to the shapes that I know suit me and these Skyline Ankle Peg jeans by Paige (5) have been my go-to style for the last couple of years. With a 29″ leg measurement they’re the perfect length for a shorty (5′ 2″) like me.

“Any colour as long as it’s pink” proclaims the cover of this month’s Vogue and who am I to argue? I love this pale pink sweatshirt by Clu with feminine ruffles along the bottom (2). H&M’s take on the dressed-up sweatshirt (1) is a snip at £29.99 and the imitation leather skirt (9) from the same store is one of those versatile day-to-night pieces.

Also on my wishlist this season are these fab go-with-everything black ankle boots from Whistles (7) and a checked shirt with crochet detailing on the shoulders from high street fave Topshop (10). And let’s not forget the accessories – I already own about a zillion scarves but this neon pink one by Becksondergaard (3) would brighten up any dull winter’s day. I discovered Stella & Dot last year when they had a stall at my son’s school Christmas fair and their jewellery is amazing and not too pricey. At the moment I’ve got my eye on this Renegade Cluster bracelet (4) which is apparently a favourite of singer Katy Perry.

What’s on your shopping list this fall?

Flicking through the September issues of the fashion glossies for inspiration is an Autumn ritual for me. Above: British Vogue, Swedish Styleby and British InStyle

30Aug2013

The Beauty Edit: Hard as Nails

Posted in Beauty by A Spoonful of Style

This picture is the first glimpse of the upcoming Essie Winter 2013 Shearling Darling nail polish collection which is due to hit stores in October. The six new nail colours range from rich, dark burgundy and light pastel shades of lilac and frosty blue to a darker grey-blue and pearly rosy brown. The lighter shades are a surprising addition to a winter collection and, while I think they would look pretty with a tan, I prefer a dark polish in the colder months. My personal favourite is probably the namesake of the range, Shearling Darling, closely followed by Sable Collar and Parka Perfect. Which is yours?

5Jul2013

Miu Miu’s Fall/Winter 2013 campaign – Simply stunning!

Posted in Fashion by A Spoonful of Style

Call me strange if you must but, even though the sun is beating down outside, when the preview of Miu Miu’s new F/W 13 campaign landed in my inbox this morning I found myself dreaming of buttoned-up coats, stripey tights and structured dresses with a hint of flirty polka dot. Sartorially, autumn is my favourite time of year and, if these pictures are anything to go by, next season will throw plenty of temptation my way…

Evoking a spirit of adventure and daring, the Fall/Winter 2013 campaign captures the passage of girls in a twilight cinema-scape loaded with intrigue, imagination and femininity. Set at the end of a seaside pier, their stories unfurl against a mysterious cityscape and vanishing horizon, brought to life in an up-tempo quirky dance video where the models move harmoniously with the rhythm and mood of the music. While standing on the dock of the bay waiting for a ferry, they dance away the fun of the night before returning home in the early morning.

In a fabricated reality of noir optimism, Inez & Vinoodh capture a diverse and exhilarating cast of characters including Katlin Aas, Emily DiDonato, Daphne Groeneveld, Georgia May Jagger, Adriana Lima, Marina Nery, Hind Sahli, Anne Verhallen and Lindsey Wixson. From these curious rendez-vous materializes the idiosyncratic sense of adventure that encapsulates this collection.

Music: “Hand Clapping Song”, performed by The Meters

Click here to view the video in full