Team News

How many of us rely on a trusted, loyal team? 
My Team:

• Michele -- hair colour, cut, style.
• Christina -- bikini wax, facial tanning.
• Elena -- nails mani/pedi, other waxing and threading
• Susie in Harrods Dior cosmetics
• Anna at Dr Sebagh, elixir of youth
• Pilates Teachers, various
• And On
• And on
• and on...

But what happens when they move on? Another salon I can cope with. Another country - well that's a problem. Or is it? As my Mother loves to say "The King is dead! Long live the King" (she's very fond of this saying). I'm not going to worry too much, but it can be a problem that takes effort and time to regroup.

At the moment I'm so busy and I like things ordered and as stress-free as possible. Otherwise, without what I really need (maybe in another life...) a "social secretary," I'm sunk! I'm technically what I would call "ham-fisted and computer illiterate" and no amount of computer lessons now is going to make that much difference (it's the age you know). 

Hang on... Hot news?! Is this really, really news? Kate Middleton is wearing a tiara this evening. This is the third she's worn! Hot News?... I've also worn a tiara three times and may wear one again soon. So what? Did this affect the economy? Is there another war somewhere in the world? Front page of The Times - very slow news day obviously! Every time she wears a long dress - is that news? And the one accompanying the tiara was red (a nice nod to China) but short-sleeved! Will someone do something with her? She looked (with all that long hair) like the beginnings of a Stepford Wife. Or maybe if she had a much bigger chest we'd see her in the Playboy mansion. Just sayin'...

Now this is News and it pertains to my Team. Raf Simons has left Dior! Why, how and who's next? What to do? I can do nothing but... Well, we'll just have to wait and see. Someone whispered Christopher Kane. He was at the last show (so was  Alaia...). I've just looked at the Christopher Kane collection and I'm not commenting (but you know I'm busting to say). All in good time...
I wonder what happened? Suppose we'll never know but if I hear anything - you'll be the first to know. Apart from the party line "contractual issues" your guess is as good as mine. And Dior was making money. It's a shame... The King is dead, long live the King (again with that saying!) As if all this upheaval isn't bad enough, Cruise is in. I was going to treat myself and in my head I had it all figured out. That's until I spied Cruise... Oh who knows? But as I've been paying attention to what I've been telling you, what I really need is (now don't laugh) - a black jacket. A jacket for every day and every night. My last real black jacket (apart from a natural black mink and a velvet short jacket) was from Dolce & Gabbana, from a trouser suit that really must be at least 15 years-old and the shiny material it is now, is not how it started out. So - a new black day bar jacket that has just touched down may just fit the bill. Except the only size they have in at the moment is 36 (a little small). Just have to wait. And now the Cruise shoes are in - don't ask... As soon as I think I have it all sorted, it all changes. Ah well, they say that's what happens to the best-laid plans... Just took a swift look at my Autumn list and there is a black jacket on there, so not so awful. 

How is this possible? Today I have four newspapers to read. The Times, the Jewish Chronicle, the Daily Mail (thank-you Waitrose) and the Evening Standard (thank-you Harrods car park). Two down, two to go! And still going through the How To Spend It FT magazine from last week!

I saw the film Suffragette this week. And suffer I did! I know it was a great film and the acting is spot-on. How much we have to thank those heroic women for, but it's not an easy watch and although I was happy to have experienced this, I don't want see it again!

The clocks just went back, so this week I won't be late for Zumba. As if by design the Times style section has a double-page spread "The Anatomy of a Catwalk Show," which just happens to be Raf's last Dior show. I really think he's going to be an extremely hard act to follow. I've read almost everything that's been published about him and past interviews, to get a better insight as to why. I think the strain of having to produce so much was just too much for him. Ready-to-wear couture - I think that's six collections a year and, as he said, there is never any time to incubate any ideas. Everything has to be now! Remember - Fast Fashion! 
That's not how he works and I personally can't say I blame him. But in the History of Dior he will (in my eyes) go down as a true talent. A creative genius and a lover of women. 

The King is dead. Long live the King!

Happy shopping 

F  XX


PS: Fashion is having its own epidemic. Alber Elbaz has just left Lanvin! It's like divorce - one couple does it and that just seems to open the flood gates. So Fashion is having the same crisis! Watch this space...

"...and the crowd goes Wild!!"

Green Is Go!

My tanned legs partially remain (a sort of patchy milky coffee colour and pale pink skin!) This, Dear Readers, did not prevent me from going bare-legged to a birthday lunch where my new green suede shoes were much admired. The lunch was in the heart of Mayfair so, never wanting to appear rude, I popped into the brand-newly opened Dior Pop-Up in Mount Street next door to the Connaught Hotel. Just when I thought I was safe! There they sat - the Dior sneakers in green! No, I didn't try them on (that can only be a matter of time). Two things to know about me - I’ve avoided the sneakers since their creation and l love green. What's a girl to do? Will report…

Frieze has opened. The rain has stayed away but it's become cold. Brrrrrr!! 

On visiting Frieze yesterday I was struck by many things, but the first thing I noticed was the overriding sea of Black clothing! Did I miss the notice that came around? A uniform like no other… l saw one women (and I say this in all honestly) she was the only person I saw in colour, apart from Moi! She had on a printed (autumnal colours) silk, Gucci dress and light-tan suede boots. She looked so happy and fresh, and then last night at a great party my Italian skirt made another hit and my hostess wore a divine blush-pink, long-sleeved, cool princess dress with flat, off-colour, patent pointed shoes. Quality dressing, I say!

It was only a matter of time before the stupid "fat rule" in fashion became page 3 in The Times! Models are finding their (very loud) voice and I'm proud. The film "Suffragettes” had not long opened, highlighting the struggle we women had to go through to get the Vote and a Voice. Now we're furthering the conversation about weight and size. I say "Bring it on!”

I've spoken before about the YSL advert banned from Britain for using a model that really looked like a child from a concentration camp. How did this body image become the calling card of fashion? It's awful, and such a Bad Thing to have as an influence on young women today (that's not to say men don't also suffer from this too…)

I'm not a huge reality TV fan, but the one thing it does, is show is the huge range of body types around. And that, whatever size and shape, they’re all beautiful bodies (even the orange-sprayed ones). I hope that the models’ voices will reopen the conversation on size and that the people (I'm being very politically correct here...) behind Fashion sit up and take note as have Dior. Rihanna is the one of the new faces of Dior and in the photos released by Dior (shot by Craig McDean) you will see a women before you. She has a bust, waist and hips and her shape is celebrated rather than berated! In Hip-Hop women are women, curves galore. To engage in this culture for couture is forward-thinking and can only continue to reinforce the message that size and beauty are not mutually exclusive partners. And that all shapes and sizes are what matters!

Mental Strength. I just read an article about Novak Djokovic and he talks a lot about mental strength. Which got me thinking “How mentally strong am I?" And the answer is, I think, not very strong mentally at all… How to improve this?! He talks about being in the moment. I'm always in the moment but thinking about it sometimes I forget to breathe and this is when I could collate all information and then act (emphasis on "then”) instead of being what I would call Trigger Happy! 

Well, this has been a very valuable post (for me at least!)

Remember - Green is the colour. Womanliness is The Shape and a light-tanned leg never hurt anyone!

Happy Shopping 

F   XX 



PS: Green Report. I tried on the green sequinned sneaker. I think to me they’re Modern Art, because on me I couldn't do anything but laugh. But I could always display them as 2015 performance art…

Surely these will make you Green... with envy!

Absolutely Friezeing

As I said last week, I went to see the film Macbeth. In one scene, Lady Macbeth is dressed for a dinner. The makeup artist decided that pale blue eye shadow swept from temple-to-temple through the eyes, via the bridge of the nose, was probably what 11th Century Queens wore (who am I to disagree?) 
So imagine my surprise when Chanel showed their Airport Lounge collection yesterday, and how were our intrepid travellers made up?... Yes, you guessed: a la Lady Macbeth. "Original" Huh?! I expected more creativity!!

Now the Fashion season has finished. Paris showed its last dress! I've watched all the shows (OK... most) and now I have the FT Paris Fashion Trends in the Newspaper. This is all you need to know. We will be transparent. In Luxe tracksuits covered in checks. And they say the chequebook is history! Never!!) Or, decked in silver... And I'm looking at a picture of a red-and-white leather, deconstructed biker jacket shown by Alexander McQueen with a tired, transparent, long-frilled skirt. A light has just popped on, in my head (yes, you're correct this doesn't happen often). Dior in Bicester have a red-and-white leather biker jacket! Really!! (Francine--turn the light off). OK OK, I wouldn't wear it with a transparent skirt. (Then what would you wear it with? No Francine. File it under "Great Look But Not For You"). Really?... (Yes. Really.)  OK!!! 
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What happened to this week? It rained a lot and suddenly it got cold. So the latter part of the week I spent with straight hair - UGH! Never mind, that was then. We've been promised sun for the next 10 days. Great! As the Art Express FRIEZE is just about to approach Regents Park.
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How many parties? How many openings? Too many to count! But this year I'm being selective (as always, just... more so). Look I'm not really a Collector. I sit at the foothills of Contemporary Art but I'll be looking at art life for you.
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I had my makeup done by a girl from the Harrods Dior team yesterday (the Backstage collection). The girl was quite brilliant - and, you do remember, I was a makeup artist. My eyebrows looked amazing and so did my eyes although, due to time constraints, I didn't buy any products. I'm hot-footing it back today to stock up. And no, she didn't use blue eyeshadow anywhere...
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Vetements!! Who, what, where and when? This is an underground collective design group who produce street style with couture leanings. They produced a floral grunge dress in sweatshirt material that was seen everywhere in Paris on  the front row. (I would have abbreviated that, but not sure how fluent you all are in fashionspeak...) Anyhow, back to the story. The head designer, Demma Gvasalia, has been appointed to Balenziaga--watch out for that name and label. But back to the story. What happens when you turn up in the same dress as a friend? Many, many years ago when I worshiped at the hem of Azzadene Allia (go back 25/30 years) I turned up to a wedding in a blush-pink and black skirt suit and so did someone else! Not terrible, but nevertheless difficult. And a couple of years ago a good friend and I bought the same printed blouse. On seeing her in hers I hot-footed it back to the shop. Not going there... awkward...
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Seeing Double. I'm not a fan of double jeopardy but if the FRO is any thing to go by... Coming to a social occasion near you soon. Note to Fenwicks, Bond Street. Well done on your revamp, but will some one tell me why the new season introduction that arrived on my mat called for us all to get dressed as men for work?! That look passed a looong time ago! Crombie, brogues, black trousers and black jumper with a tassel scarf. No No No! We want to look like women, not men. At least I do and I know I'm not alone, so please get your fashion current!
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And to finish this week, I've just read an article in the Daily Mail (no judgment - it's free at Waitrose with my Shop And Waitrose card). You all know about the 5p plastic bag, so I took bags out of my car. I had Sainsbury's, M&S and Harrods. Not such good advertising if you ask me. Back to the Daily Mail. "The Reverse Blow-Dry -- How to achieve the perfect amount of messy hair cool". The picture was obviously of a head of hair that some hairdresser had spent hours styling. Not a do-it-at-home style at all. And this I should know as this, Dear Friends, is the look that I dream of achieving daily (and succeed maybe one day a week, depending on the weather) in my view the messy cool hair that you do at home is a fallacy!!

So if you do want it, go straight to your hair stylist and ask for as much help as possible. Just remember--always carry your plastic bags in your handbag. I nearly got caught out in Boots and all those 5p's add up...

Happy Shopping 

F   XX

Karl--this is how it's done.

Haute Green

I'm writing this from my sick bed so relying on "The Business of Fashion" to report to you.

During my summer sojourn in Venice my mother and I found a small out-of-the-way shop. Don't remember where, or what it was called but it was a winner. The assistants had on long, full-skirted dresses with blue or red stiff chiffon underneath, adding to the beauty. I remarked how amazing they looked. (Are you sure you didn't take their card?) I can do this with my newish big cocktail dress. And now I read that Giorgio Armani has done the same?! Actually, the following sentence I never thought I utter! - I quite liked his show! No Bonkers Brigade fashion or styling here! Just Armani's "slightly severe" styling for (as l see it) Women without chests.

Giant steps were made last week. I purchased a pair of dark green suede shoes. Not by Dior. Those of you that know me, know that I get fixated by one designer and never stray. I've mentioned this before - my love affair with Dolce & Gabbana that lasted the length of my marriage. But then things changed. I discovered Dover Street Market and then bought in Italy (on holiday, never did that before!) But shoes, we recently had Roger Vivier for about 4 years and now Dior. I've been looking for a pair of dark green suede shoes since I bought a dark green mink jacket last year. So imagine my delight on finding said shoes. Yes in Dover Street! There by Gianvito Rossi - so far so good. But they have a very different look to the leg. They're strappy (a bit like the Valentino shoes). Anyhow, I wanted to wear them yesterday and had an outfit picked out, but blow me down if I didn't look crap! So when I left to go out, was my dressing room knee deep in clothes? Yes! (I would generally never leave a mess behind but my Uber man was waiting...)

See this is what happens, as last week I said my shoes didn't work - now my clothes don't work with my new shoes. Quelle Horrore! This is definitely a First World problem. Am having a love affair! With my new green suede shoes, and well I never if Bonkers Fashion and I aren't having a moment (thanks to my green shoes!) I put a pleated long skirt under a knee length pinafore with green shoes. Brilliant! A cross between bonkers and Haute Geek with just a slight nod to the Victorians. Note to self - tanning isn't very Haute (Victorian or anything else) Ooops!

Paris! What joy! What light! What fashion! See, I told you. And I was right - Paris was so worth waiting for (OK, I mean Dior...) and the love affair continues. I missed the live screening (was having my hair washed). But 10 minutes later I saw the light. From the bank of blue delphiniums to the pan pipe music. Call me biased, but the man Raf is a genius! His touch is as light as air. Admittedly the skirts were too short for me but I understood his message, his cut, his styling, his colours, the shoes! Watch out for next summer. Coming to a social event near you very soon...

I've just returned from the film Macbeth (starring Michael Fassbender and Marianne Coutillard), and now I'm watching the Rugby World Cup. These, to all naysayers, is what Men are! OK Macbeth is a Play and rugby is a game, but in my book this shows men as men. Warriors - flawed, courageous, and passionate. The Scottish play is produced by the Weinstein Brothers. Well done I say, but didn't I see an Italian model as one of the extras...

Just living the dream... 

Happy Shopping 

F   XX

PS: Next time you pass a bowling bag or a soft leather roll - grab it as that's next spring/summer's shape! Everything that goes around comes around!

Do you realise how heavy these Bowls are!?