Gas and Gravity

Where did this week go? It's Saturday and I'm just about the read the Style section in the Financial Times, when I realise I've written nothing to you. Last week was a bit of a whirlwind, but as I think back, history slowly unfolds. I did something new that many of you think I do all the time - I went to Shoe Heaven in Harrods. Yes, Yes Francine - but you're always there. Well, that's almost correct but not quite. When I go I'm a bit like a homing pigeon. I only go to the Dior space. This time, as I was with a friend, she took me around the whole thing. Who knew it was so huge!? And full of so many shoes! (Really?!) Some very interesting. Some very generic. Some just plain ugly to me. But so many! What I've just read on the Business of Fashion is what I've always said. Shoes are the best way into fashion. That's why there are so many new shoe brands. Great news for all of us connoisseurs!

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I've made a momentous decision. I'm going no further with the leather trouser thing. Instead I'm looking for denim. Yes, that's right - Francine in Denim. What sort I don't know. Japanese, embroidered, boyfriend, flared - could all be in with a shout. But not skinny or slashed at the knee (or other places). Who knows? Will update you as I go. Saw some Japanese denim in Feathers, opposite Harrods. But they were hovering around the £700 mark. Really?! Didn't try them on, but I still remember them so might just do so as an exercise.

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Talking of exercise, I did my Pilates class the other morning and unfortunately, before the class had even begun, my mat neighbour already had a space problem and was all about the muttering! The class started and as her backside was at the bottom of her mat and my head was at the top of mine... yes, you know what's coming next! In a very quiet studio with only eight students, suddenly the quiet was interrupted... she farted. In a cartoon this is hysterical. In real life with my face in such close proximity, this is not so funny. Not until after the class when I walked out with some friends, we were nearly on the floor laughing so much. This couldn't have happened to a nicer, muttering woman...

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Back from South London by way of Scoobies (the best, and I mean the best, dry cleaners in London). And let me refresh your memory - no more expensive than my local dry cleaners. Take my word for it - if you have good clothes that you want taken care of in the best way possible, then Scoobies is the only way to go.

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Do we gravitate to people who dress like us? This morning I saw a very interesting sight. Two women in different outfits but the same colourways - black and green - and there they stood, echoing each other (obviously friends). I wish I could have photographed them for you. It's like men and women who marry people who look like them. I've seen it so many times. Is it like looking in the mirror? Or imagining what you'd look like as the opposite sex?

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Did someone forget to tell me about the hour going forward? Missed a 9:30 Zumba - shock! horror! Never mind... I'm sure my body won't fall apart due to the loss of one class. So now I'm reading the Sunday Times Style magazine. I'm beginning it see it as a comic. Is that what they call it? Do they think that the readers of the Sunday Times are still teenagers? Or is it for the reader's children? My predilection for wearing my hair wavy may have to go, if it's to be so, so fashionable with this '70s vibe going down. No - what am I saying? Most women still blow dry their hair straight to within an inch of it's life. OK then, I'm still safe.

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Between now and then. The hours of one o'clock in the afternoon to six o'clock in the evening - I've lost a button from my trousers, a heeltip has come off my shoe and I've pulled the seam on a chiffon blouse. So now I've nothing to wear! No really, the shoes (not my only pair) are my favourite at the moment. Same with the trousers. The blouse - not such a problem. But a problem nonetheless. So, here I sit in my dressing room. Why have I nothing to wear?...

Happy Shopping!

F  XX

PS: Wishing all my friends a very Happy and Peaceful Passover and Easter. Normal service will be resumed on 13 April.

Me as Dinner Chair at the Langdon Gala.

Fashion Sprout

I've just read something very interesting about the Business of Fashion. In a nutshell, it's that high-end fashion is being bought mostly in what they call "hardware" - bags, glasses (sun and ordinary), shoes, beauty and jewellery and then paired with "high street" clothes - Zara, Top Shop, River Island etc. This way the shopper is supposed to get more pound-per-wear than investing in designer clothes. Examine! Yes, this may be true and nothing I do or say will stop this. But do I agree with it? My answer is... a resounding No.

Having just seen the masterpiece Dior & I (we'll get on to that later) clothing from the High Street is descended from the collections, but the longevity of the garment (the feel of the cloth, the cut and the finish of the hem) it just doesn't stand up to scrutiny. And I think very few can really get away with this High/Low dressing (despite what they think).

Yes, yes Francine  - easy for you to say. But not really - I have to make decisions on how to spend my money. And I'm not of the current trend of "wardrobe cleansing". If I was, I'd never been able to have such fun with old/vintage pieces. But for this, you do need space. If you buy good clothes they will always last and pound-per-wear is, I think, a much better investment than this season's handbag. As it happens, I do have a collection of past, expensive seasons handbags (pre-divorce) and never, ever use them. They seem to have dated faster than the clothes. But clothes from that period do get worn so I rest my case...

If you read me and enjoy style and fashion then do not miss this film! As I said last week I thought it would take me into a world I'd never seen. And I was right! In my past life as a makeup artist, I did lots of designer shows including for the likes of YSL, Versace etc. So I did get to see behind the scenes, but the creation of a couture collection is, to me, another world. This film is not to be missed! Plus, the clothes were absolutely exquisite. And, as in my last paragraph, pound-per-wear would (if one wears in that price bracket) be unbelievable. Well, if I were ever in that position I'd wear my couture forever!

Finally - I got to put on my new Evening/Modern Black Tie Dress. It was so the right decision to buy! And widely admired for it's beauty. I loved it! My only near-disaster was the wrong deodorant (white stains). Anyhow, that was resolved before any damage was done. You just have to remember everything!

I find myself here in South London visiting my dry cleaners (winter white...) and finishing off this weeks post. I'm sorry that this week's is so short but with the Dior & I film and as I'm chair of the Langdon Awards dinner which was last night - time's been a bit tight. But all will be back to normal soon.

White, pearlised high heels/black tights. I feel a new Fashion Sprout coming on...

Happy Shopping!

F  XX

SIX Gold Stars from Francine!

Signs of (new) Life

I have always been of the opinion that everyone deserves a second chance in life and I was very pleased to read in the new American Vogue that our own Rabbi Barry Marcus of the Central Synagogue London has been a key figure in the rehabilitation of designer, John Galliano. Rabbi Marcus coached Galliano on the tenets of Judaism after his drunken anti-Semitic rant in a smokey cafe in the Marais in 2011 and subsequent firing from the House of Dior. I will never understand the reasoning for this outburst but with time and the patience of one of our own (in the person of Rabbi Marcus) I hope all of the aforementioned will prove to be an Elixir for Mr Galliano, who still proves to be a huge talent.

A Funny Thing Happened To Me On The Way To An Upcoming Gala. A Friend phoned and asked to introduce me to someone by way of her seating plan. "He may be a bit old, but so dapper and very well-kept," she said. He sounded very familiar - I'd had lunch with him four years previously when he wasn't quite so old. Not for me... Undeterred she said, "OK, I've got another one who's just come out of a relationship!" Yes, I knew him too. He took me out before his last relationship. "OK, OK," she said confidently, "I have one more. This one you'll never know!" As she described him - yes, I knew him as well. Another friend had sat me next to him at a previous dinner. "Isn't he gay?" I asked. "Well, yes" she said hesitantly, "He may well be. But no one talks about it." My friend's dilemma is to find me someone I don't know. Who knew I knew so many men!? But I really thank her for trying.

Leather Legs: How Old is Too Old? Friends of mine are convinced that this is the way to go for me. I'm not so sure. I've not tried on the new leather trousers (maybe I will). But I just keep having flashbacks to when I was married 21 years ago and my last ex-husband said, "Don't you think you're a little old for the Leather Trouser Look?" So now what do I think more than 20 years later?...

I've been wearing reading glasses for about 10 years now and this year I decided it was time for new frames. Off I went for my eye test to my Optometrist, Schuller in St Johns Wood High Street. I'd seen some new frames a few weeks earlier and after numerous trying-on sessions I decided to buy them. Now, my reason for telling you this, is that the frames are by a designer I'd never heard of - Laura Imani. When a friend of mine admired my glasses and asked about them, I told her the name and where I'd bought them. She said, "You do know the Designer." I look quizzically at her and said no I don't. She then informed me that Laura works at Schuller. The girl who sold me the frames designed them. She never said a word about this and believe me - I tried on many different pairs. She never pushed her frames at all, saying "I designed these, that's why they're so great, etc." I called to congratulate her for her obvious talent and for just being so cool. That said, my frames are a huge hit, thanks to Laura, her discretion and her design talent.

For the Blog and only for the Blog, I'm going to try on the new Prada platforms today. It's not the first time I've worn platforms but that was a looooong, loooooong time ago. The question is, are they age-relevent a second time around?
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I'm sorry. Very sorry. I couldn't. I went into Prada to try them on and thought better of it. Have you seen the height they are?! They're definitely a trend to far for me, but I do like the socks.

I'm watching a re-run of the Downton Abbey Christmas Special (can life get any better than this?) And truly, I can't get over the simplicity of their dressing. My March American Vogue came this morning and I'm going to look again with Downton eyes and then we'll see what I find.

A Trend... First we had Uma Thurman's (shock horror) new make up look, which I applauded. Now it seems J-Lo is getting in on the act, albeit in a slightly softer way. But still, she's trying. I say - Congratulations on embracing the New! It proves that age doesn't define you. On that note, I'm going to try on some leather trousers...
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Not happened yet - will report.

I did buy some new gardening gloves. Yes - that's right, gardening gloves. And I mean real ones! Not like the ones Amal Clooney had on with her Dior gown at the Golden Globes. And some plants - how hard can it be? At least my Town garden is mostly paved, so no grass cutting involved. Just need a bright Spring day (or just a day when it's not freezing cold and raining). Do I need fertiliser? Should I be following Police horses in the street with a shovel and bucket? No - that's Roses (I think). Anyhow, green fingers will be planting new spring flowers very soon and deadheading the old ones. Not sure if it's the correct time, but I will anyway!

As with fresh Spring flowers, this is perhaps the time to do mental weeding as well. I spent a wonderful two hours in the company of Dr Rona Hart discussing the happiness/success equation. Does success make us happy? The answer is No. The question one should ask is: Does Happiness make for Success? The answer is Yes! This is huge, but not necessarily obvious.

I hope that in some small way Rabbi Marcus has been able to (through his teaching) helped turn John Galliano into a happy, understanding person whose growth and life as a great designer and human will be enriched. From little acorns grow huge oak trees...

Happy Shopping!

F XX


PS: Waitrosing your wardrobe is definitely the way to go. Enjoy...

Blooming Lovely!

Black & Blonde

You see? That's what happens when you're seen out and about. Lesser Mortals take inspiration from your style and Hey Presto! they begin to go your way. Yes, that's right. KKW is now blonde, like moi. Now I know why Kanye wanted to get together and have a catch-up! I saw him looking at me at the Chiltern Firehouse. No such thing as a free lunch... They say imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, so that's it then! To be discussed further with Michele (Hairdresser to blondes, brunettes, princesses and queens alike) Antigua at the Rossano-Ferretti Hair Spa. On visiting this topic, he said "It's definitely not the best colour she's ever been, and it's so far from being a new concept. Unlike yours, of course." There you have it, with no prompting or backhanders.

Another Quelle Horrore Moment! Anna Wintour (the Editor-in-Chief of American Vogue, just in case you didn't know - there's always one...) was seen recently in the same outfit twice! I just figured it out - this is the beauty of black dressing. How many things are wrong with what I just said? Surely there is real new out there and not wearing the same outfit twice in a week, irrespective of how much your clothing allowance is, this is not news! I for one hope that this is a path that will be followed by many and not thought of as a Federal Dressing Offence (punishment being sat next to NorthWest at another show. It seems she who screams loudest gets heard first). Possibly only second to two people wearing the same outfit at the same event. This I always think of as "Great Minds Think Alike".

Quelle Horrore II. Black Dressing - I'm guilty of it this week. I wore a black, cashmere jumper and black, mid-length skirt and black knee-length flat boots. I was going to a sombre event and wanted something ordinary, which this outfit was until I topped it off with my new natural, black mink jacket.  Ordinary dressing is just so boring! And, quite frankly, just ordinary... But it seems to me that there are those of you out there who want ordinary and boring. And although I'm not a fan, I can see the biggest advantage must be that you can wear a different, or same, version over and over again and no-one will ever write about you or photograph you as it's just so blaaaaa... ...K.

I had a quiet afternoon recently, so I decided to Waitrose my dressing room. What do I mean by this? You know sometimes you go shopping and they've decided to move things around so you have to look for the groceries you want, and in doing so see lots of new things that might tempt you? So, I've put colours with colours. Skirts, Trousers, Blouses and Jumpers all together. That way I may be inclined to different combinations? Or, I'll just not be able to find anything and it will all go back to normal. Will let you know how I get on...

My new biggest thing is Texture. I adore it! This is because I'm absolutely not a fan of Neoprene. I own one pair of Neoprene trousers (I'm sorry - I really have no idea why I bought them) which I sometimes wear, but I read that Prada has used this fabric to portray "Princess Dressing" for Autumn. I saw a photo of said dress - it was pretty, pale blue and very Princess. But Neoprene - really? I know it's me and this will probably be the choice of fabric for many of you this year, but I'm going to look for a fabric that "feels". I never did get anything from the Quilted/Padded collection - I took another route. But who knows? Maybe next winter... Bicester anyone?

I did buy some coloured, flowered tights from Fenwick Bond Street by Pierre Mantoux ("haute couture for legs" is what they say. Best Tight Department in London is what I say). In my head I have the look all figured out. Will let you know how it translates to my body.
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I can now tell you - I looked awful! Did not work at all. Never mind, it's only a pair of tights and I haven't finished with them yet. I will find something that they work with, or that's £21.95 down the drain and you know how I hate to waste money.

I'm so excited! In my Real Life capacity as "Social Philanthropist" (Dinner Chair for Langdon and Head of Beyond Art for BFAMI) my friends at Dior (Pierre de Maigret, the CEO) has given me a preview for BFAMI members of the film Dior & I, which we're screening on the morning of March 20 at the Everyman Cinema, Selfridges. I've just read a review of the film by Colin McDowell for BusinessOfFashion.com, and seen the accompanying highlights from it and I can say (actually, I've already said it) - I'm really excited to see this glimpse into a world that I can only dream of. If, in my life, I'm never able to buy couture or go to the show I know that in some small way I will have inhabited that world through this film. I will never give up dreaming! Who knows, one day...

Happy Shopping!

F  XX

Where along that line will I sit?...

How to be Red

The Oscars. I've just read the Times review of the clothes at the 2015 Oscars and I'm somewhat surprised that Marion Coutillard's Dior dress was not mentioned. Now Friends, even if I didn't like Dior (you know I do) it would be hard not to enjoy the difference this dress made. Did you see what the reviewer on the E! Fashion Channel, Giuliana Rancic, looked like? Truly awful! In red net and flowers on her super-skeletal frame. I fail to understand where she finds these creations. Maybe some catalogue for prom night dressing... Emma Stone looked pleasant in beaded Elie Saab, but not Earth-shattering. J-Lo - we know you like wearing slash necklines and are also a fan of Elie Saab, but for goodness sake! Shake it up a bit please! I applaud Reece Witherspoon's sentiments about, "We are more than our dresses", but if that's how you feel, Reece, wear something from your own wardrobe. As one commentator suggested (and I must say I agree) then they could say more about you as an actress. But that's not what these super-stylists employed by Studio and Star are about. They're about commerce, hand-in-hand with Fashion Houses their choice of never-before-seen-in-public dresses can give huge amounts of column inches and photos around the world, sending sales of the associated brands - perfume, cosmetics, handbags and other items into overdrive. So I see no end to this - it has unfortunately become a sideshow of the talent on the red carpet. And there's no way of stopping this juggernaut!

North and South. I've just been to a breakfast for the clothes line Bamford. I wasn't familiar with this label as I'm not of the British/American, Chelsea/Brompton Cross set (although the brand is English and has many merits). But what interested me was my observation of the people there - we women north of the Park look so different to those from the south. I was one of the only ones over a size 2 (American). That's not to say that we girls north of the park are Porkers - far, far from it! They had (to a man) long, loose, skilfully waved hair, very well thought out outfits, very little makeup but don't be fooled! Well polished and highly groomed...

As I finished this breakfast I was greeted by (what do you think?) - rain. Actually, it was pouring down. Of course, I was wearing suede shoes and (you guessed) long, long trousers (at least they weren't white). I'd had the foresight to take my umbrella out of my car when my Weather App says rain... you think?! Sometimes before now I've actually looked at the sky, looked at both my weather Apps (I always like a second opinion) and thought, "I know better" only to be drenched a few minutes later. I feel that if I schlep my big umbrella out and about it won't rain. Really Francine?...

Black Dressing. OK. A black, Black Tie Dress has been purchased (yes, yes - after everything I've said over recent weeks about black dressing, and it still goes on). I've been thinking about how long it is since I bought a black dress... Amuse yourselves - I'm thinking... At least five years. So there you have it! If you can't beat them, join them. Just one thought - will I look like everyone else? I don't think so. I hope to get a lot of wear out of this dress. I may even try a red lip, but not red nails. Never together! This will be reported on...

Note to Self: Must continue to remember to think outside the box. What do I mean by this, I hear you ask? Since it began in January I have been present at the weekly openings of Fig 2. OK, OK - I'm going to tell you all about it - just wait. Fig 2 was born out of Fig 1, which was an art event that happened 15 years ago in a small room in Soho. Every week the curator, Mark Francis, put up a show of then up-and-coming artists now household names (Bridget Riley, Grayson Perry, Wolfgang Tilmans and Anish Kapoor to name but a few), were given a week-long exhibition space. Now Outset Director Candida Gertler has revived this blueprint and each week a different contemporary artist is given the studio at the ICA to showcase a new work. Anyone with a curious mind and time can visit this space and be part of this history. The artist/poet Simon Welsh who performed at my birthday was discovered at Fig 2. I find the whole exercise completely inspiring. I see things expressed in a way that I would never have imagined. It's like fresh air is continuously being blown through my imagination. I drove past a tattoo parlour recently and if (I'm not, but if I was) of the mind to spend money inking my body (do you know how expensive a good tattoo is?!) after the obligatory Love/Hate, loved one's names and a flower picture, I'd have inscribed "Always Try to Think Outside the Box". I'll leave the ink to those who continue to think it's a good idea, and continue with prayer as my vessel... World Peace, Happiness, Health and a New Husband (no, not yours. One of my own. If you can help with this, don't hesitate to contact me - you know how). 

Shoe Heaven or Hell? Build it and they will come. Dolce & Gabbana have produced a gold and crystal (no diamonds) shoe costing £62, 500. And I said that with a straight face! I remember two or three years ago when Roger Vivier did a couture shoe with a real diamond clasp and that was only £28, 500. Cheap! If only I'd known. Which brings to mind the fable of the old woman who lived in a shoe. House (not in London, but certainly possible) or shoe? You decide...

Happy Shopping!

F  XX

How to be Red