The First Flush

You know I love Pinterest, due to all the wonderful dressing ideas it gives me. It's opened up my dressing room completely - this can go with that, with those shoes (or even boots) and on and on. So that's good! Now some people post their outfits on Instagram for our daily fix of their wardrobe choices! The problem with this, is on Pinterest it's not yourself and you filter things and looks posted by others of others. Instagram has no such filter, so we get to see all of everyone's outfits and sometimes it's not a pretty thing. Why am I sharing this thought? Well, all you Instagram addicts be aware that not everyone shares your style diktats.... Just saying!

Pinterest possibilities...

Is it possible my ankles are fatter than they were three weeks ago? Well, let's look at the facts. I'm no heavier than I was three weeks ago. I've not been doing any rigorous exercises for my ankles, so there’s no muscle build-up. My spray tan is not inches-thick. So what is the reason that the strap on my new shoes is tight? I've been given the advice of talcum powdering my ankles or the inside of the strap. Next time I'm going to try it. The shoes still garner still huge likes, but is the effort worth the pain?… Good news! I went to Shoe Heaven (always good news) to Dior (even better…) to ask about my new shoes and why! why! why?! the strap around my ankle was causing me such problems!? Well, it seems a simple thing like tying a strap has been the cause of my pain - I’ve been doing it wrong! Ha!! So now armed with the the correct information on tying hopefully the ankle pain will be no more. To be continued…

I was invited to a dinner party on a Saturday night (it's been a long time since I've mixed with couples over supper on a Saturday evening. What to wear?… A dress? A skirt? Trousers? All of them together? How dressy are these things these days? I looked in my dressing room - maybe I could do something different with what I had. A dress and trousers combo? Well, I am loving that at the moment but wait! There it is!! My silver/grey dress that is open from the waist to the knee that you put either a skirt dress or trousers under! I wore my cigarette trousers bought for this dress, but this time I put my new long-sleeved backless jumper under it, my silver/gold heels and amazing!! A totally winning outfit that I made for myself which was very much admired. As was my blonde hair.

No Photoshopping here!

If I was (only slightly) worried about looking too thin because of my illness a few weeks ago, have no fear - all these dinners I'm invited to are having their desired effect. Which is good, as long as I remember that I can't continue to eat all the time or everything will go from being too big to too tight.

I was in Waitrose on the second day of spring and I saw someone I just had to photograph for the blog - Dr Charlotte Jameson. She looked so cool and Springlike - I just loved her look! Effortless style, and for me a totally winning outfit.

Welcoming Spring!

Wallpaper… Yes you know all about my plight but yesterday I had an appointment to see Joy at Brewer’s Decorator Centre, just off the Edgware Road. This all sounds so unlikely but in the basement of this paint shop is a room full of wallpaper books and Joy is the Queen Of All She Surveys. So, at my allotted 9:00am appointment (don't ask… I wanted to be the first as she'd been on holiday and I couldn't wait any longer), I stood there with photos and I put myself in her hands. And what safe hands they turned out to be. She understood exactly what I was looking for and deftly pulled out all the relevant books. Nearly two hours later I had (hopefully) discovered four or five possible papers that when they arrive as samples, will find their way to the Wall of Possibilities and then... I'll make a decision. This has gone on too long. And you can have too much of a good thing!

Boudoir ingredients...

Fast fashion, I've read so much about this. Should we encourage Buy Now, Buy Now (instant gratification) or wait and build the desire? I think you know my feelings on this but if not, I'm not for fast fashion, I like the anticipation, the planning. I went to a trunk show of a well-known designer for next winter. Did I pre-order? No. What will I want to wear next winter? I don’t know! I hardly know what I want to wear tomorrow!! So whether it be Fast Fashion or pre-ordering six months in advance, I say “Just give me clothes on a rail that I can wear now and I’m very happy!” 

It’s getting warmer - start editing your wardrobe for warmer weather (if you haven’y already done this, why not?) and enjoy the first flushes of spring!

Happy Shopping

F  XX

This weeks lust for all you Summer Brides.

Nuova Normalità

I'm ageist (is this the new AA?) I know you know - I stated this last week and what happens?… The FT How to Spend It arrives and the magazine is dedicated to Fashion. So far so good. Six adverts in, so right at the front of the magazine it sits. What?! What sits!? The Giorgio Armani "New Normal" advert. So? So don't leave us hanging what's wrong. He's taken four supermodels of an age, and I think he thinks we should be grateful. OK he didn't say that but that's what it said to me. We women of an age are the "New Normal"! Really?! Did he just discover that women over 25 wear clothes and possibly his? What a great idea! Let’s photograph them and sell shedloads to the over -0’s. Armani doesn't celebrate us, he uses us to suit himself. I would never buy his sexless rags but now my distaste for all things Armani has skyrocketed to a new level.

Giorgio - a lesson to be learned from your Italian compatriots.

Maybe Tess Holliday should be seen as the new normal (size 24 female model with many thousands of followers). Maybe Mr Armani should do a collection for plus-sized (or as they said in the TV show I saw "Fat" women. I was a bit surprised when I first heard the F-word but they never stopped using it. So Fat it is and Fat they were! No big bones here just women who like to eat a lot!

In Armani?

The ankle is the new erogenous zone, as seen in the shoes I bought and showed you last week… And will be paraded lots once I get my hands on some Emla cream to mask the pain of the ankle strap. More of this later…

A sight for sore ankles.

By the time you read this it won't be news (or will it) Dior have announced that Jonathan Saunders has been “nominated” as Design director, whatever that means! Hmmm… since hearing this nothing has been said. No one in any position of power that I know will confirm or deny this, so actually I'm a bit in the dark. Will he join the design team? Will he do a one-off capsule collection? Don't know as yet, but as soon as I do, you will.

Jonathan Saunders?

Bought a new pair of socks yesterday in (of course) Fenwicks Bond Street. This pair are Max Mara nude fishnet ankle socks… Yes I know but for £9.95 who do they hurt? So far they've not seen the outside of my dressing room.

Wallpaper... The hunt continues but I've been directed to a new place by an interior designer friend so let's see what this produces.

Hair... Long, short, mid-length. How are you wearing yours? Actually let me rephrase that. My hair had never been so long and the colour is now… this is very hard to describe. It's blonde but not yellow or gold. It has a wash of palest pink which is not only surprising but so flattering and remarked on. But it's the length I'm going to address with you. My mother has shortish hair and although when younger I had very long hair, only once since then have I had long hair and that was ('til now) a long time ago. Now my hair is worn curly, wavy, messy - any way but straight. Which although my hair is straight, I don't like… But what I'm now talking about is the length. Mine when straight is well bellow my shoulders and as I looked around last night at a dinner I was at, so were many, many other women’s. And this is the point of this - none of the women were under 40.

Another style for long hair.

So this old thing of short hair as you age has been replaced by long hair as you age. I remember a few years ago having a conversation with a friend when I had a sleek dark brown bob and she said “Why don't you grow your hair and wear it a bit softer?” to which I said “Nooooo!! Doesn't suit me.” Ha! So now I've done a complete about-face and have long blond messy hair and I love it! The moral of this story - you’re never too old for long hair and sometimes it's a good idea to listen to your friends.

Age appropriate

Enjoy Purim and Easter. Don't eat too much cake or chocolate, but enjoy…

Happy Shopping

F  XX

This week's lust... How beautiful is this jacket?

Cake anyone?

I'm just watching a fascinating program on British County Life and the homes in general are glorious. Would I want a brand new home or a character-filled one? Maybe grade 1 or 2 listed building, totally the latter. I've been trying to decorate my bedroom for weeks and at one moment I thought I'd got it all sorted until I decided that I'd like to paper one of my walls. A fruitless trip to John Lewis Brent Cross - one roving assistant (good in blinds and curtains but not versed in wallpaper). So I did it myself!

How pretty!

About an hour of looking through book after book, I did find some papers I thought I liked, until the samples arrived… And having a fashion eye isn't much help with wallpaper. But help was at hand - last weeks home section of the weekend FT showed the smallest fragment of paper. So with newspaper in hand I hotfooted it to St Johns Woods Interiors and on depositing the paper, the interior expert said “Yes,” I said, “See you this afternoon”. And on my return, one book full of the papers I love. I was (for a very short time) tempted by flock paper. Until I found out the price! But now I'm waiting in great anticipation. I'd very much like a country home or elegant townhouse, but for the time being I'll decorate my bedroom in a French regency style and try not to become Marie Antoinette or Madame Bovary. We won't be eating any cake here!

Got cake?

Now all the Fashion Weeks are finally over, and I for one am very happy. Too many frocks, most of them not worth talking about. Now, let's get on with the real fashion day-to-day dressing. Which brings me very neatly to the first parliamentary fashion faux pas. The Budget - and there they all sat suited and booted and there she sat. The Right Honourable Theresa May in her red/orange suit worn (I’m told) last year as well. So far so good. Before I go any further I'm going to stand up and say "I'm Ageist " e.g: I believe people of a certain age should dress appropriately especially where exposing of flesh is concerned. Which brings me back to Ms May. I'm sorry to say the years have past when she can sit on the front bench exposing her “décolletage”. A women in her position at any age (in my opinion) should not expose her chest. So if you know her, please tell her to put them away at least until the cocktail hour. See this is what happens when woman like KKW are seen as role models. Even Dita Von Teese knows not to expose oneself during the day (just all of herself at night…) But in the best possible taste, her favourite tipple is a martini (glass).

Not a Vision in Orange...

As I'm now slowly easing myself back into my social life, I went to party last week and as it was my first party for what felt like ages, I wore my new shoes - you remember them from last week's blog. So how comfortable were they, I hear you ask? Well now - let's look at this. I have never bought a pair of shoes for comfort, hence I know about pain. But these bring new meaning to pain. As you remember they wrap around the ankle. They look amazing and received many more complements than usual but the thick strap needs some practice - too tight and I can't move my ankles and the flesh seems to spill over (and believe me, my ankles are slim). I think that in time and with lots of cream that numbs the skin (usually used pre-Botox) I'll be good as gold, because I've discovered loads of outfits that will work with them. One last thing on shoes this week - it did occur to me today to maybe buy a pair of comfortable flats or maybe even trainers (not for the Gym ). No - it's OK I'm back thinking straight. Flats for now would mean new proportions, new length trousers and, oh too many style departures to think of! So if you see me and I look like I'm crying, don't worry I'm not. I'm just waiting for the cream to take effect and counting the seconds through the pain!

...but they look amazing!

Now you know Spring is around the corner it's Easter next week. Do you know, someone asked me “So Francine, what are you doing over Easter?” I replied, “When's Easter?” (that's how I know it's very soon) but the sad thing is I'm not doing anything for Easter. What can I do? I could go to Paris, Rome, Venice, Florence, New York… Anywhere! But, ummmm  - no, I think I'll stay in London (unless I decide otherwise). Anyhow there's eight days to go. Maybe I'll have figured out my French regency bedroom look and live like a French women for the weekend. I wonder if that really is a thing and apart from the sexy underwear day in, day out (no problem there) the Lover I'll have to take, the cigarettes I'll have to smoke, and the desire to find another two or three Lovers. This just might be fun!…

In anticipation of great things...

Au revoir, mon petit cheri. Je vous souhaite une merveilleuse semaine!

Happy Shopping

F  XX

PS: Will someone take Gwyneth Paltrow to one side and explain that the tight pink jumpsuit she wore to a "Society" dinner is ummmm… not a good look, despite what she thinks!

No. No. No.

Women International

The responsibility of power - the celebration of international women’s day and KKW spoiling it for all of us.

Are great hostesses born, or do they inhabit greatness through experience, dedication and sobriety? I think the latter and I have proof gained through bitter experience. I was going to start this blog with the fact that Jerry Hall must be one of the happiest women in the world! And yes, this is relevant to my opening statement . OK - back to Jerry. My statement might not be that true (I'm sure there are lots of happy women in the world) but Jerry just looks happy. Happy to have found a great love, happy to have found a multi-billionaire, happy to forge two dynastic families together, happy to be part of one of the most powerful couples on the planet. The cynical of you can say what you want but here is probably a great hostess. Born in Texas, studied in London at the side of a Rock Legend (not my words) and always through adversity. Her Rock Star Partner having children left, right and centre with other women (that must be hard… no pun intended) and always serenity - never anything but a smile. The innermost anxiety concealed for the sake of the children. Look, I may be a little wrong, but that's how it seems to me. And for this blog that's all that matters! So now she'll be a great hostess and love every moment of it and who can blame her , not me . They say power corrupts , that may be true but I think power in the hands of a great hostess is the most be the elixir to the G-D's and I'm happy to say that learning at the feet of Masters is never anything but a joy.

Imagine! Young Love...

Back to International Women’s Day (which should be every day but united recognition on 8 March is enough to start with). How far we’ve come, how much we’ve achieved and how one woman could drag us back to the bad old days, if we don’t stop giving her the oxygen to thrive. They say your husband’s mad but at least he has a modicum of talent. But you do nothing for womenkind (including myself). So please cut off her oxygen and that of her mother/manager. Allow your sisters (some of whom actually do possess a talent) room to grow. A thought occurs to me - is this a power play on your part in order to take back the spotlight from your younger, beautiful, talented, successful, supermodel sister, Kendle? Never one to be pushed to the side, this initiated your revolting self-aggrandisment of your nude body. KKW - you have just signed your own demise (thank goodness)!

Kendall taking centre stage at Dior.

What's worse - another 5 days in bed with a new cold or the dresses on display at the Oscars? This was my Great Anticipation. My reason to be in bed... OK, at the time of showing we were all in bed, but you know what I mean. Kate Winslet - sack your stylist immediately, if not sooner! Who ever thought that putting you in a black “shiny" strapless fishtail dress with double Spanx could ever be a good idea?! And Sofia Vergara in Marchesa - awful awful awful! Harvey Weinstein has a lot to answer for. Yes I know it's all politics, but Sofia you’re such a great beauty with a totally enviable body, please please please look elsewhere for your red carpet looks. Imagine her in Madame Gres vintage chiffon, or a column of Calvin Klein. Anywhere but Marchesa! Look what it did to Heidi Klum! I'm only going to say it once more - the label is wrong! (That's what my lawyers told me to say…) but you get my drift.

Three reasons to sack your Stylist.

Now it takes something to Wow me but yesterday I visited Wembley Stadium - the home of the next Langdon charity dinner. We went into the Bobby Moore Room and it has a balcony overlooking the centreline of the pitch. I had just on Sunday watched the Capital One Cup Final from Wembley and here I stood. It was amazing! The majesty! The excitement! You could feel the supporters cheer!! Now I understand how intoxicating football can be. OK, I'm too old for a player but maybe a manager!… Any Jewish single Managers out there ....? (Oh yes Francine, there must be loads). And don't offer me the newly single Gary Lineker - too thin. I like my men meaty!!!

The Manager of Zambia's national Football team - can pass the ball my way any day!

Another cold, another visit to the doctors but this time antibiotics were prescribed and were they ever needed?! Six days in bed, too weak to even Pin, but Paris waits for no man or woman. Which is just as well as I need something to wear... Let's start with the most awful - Saint Laurent. Heidi Slimane - what were you thinking?! I thought we'd finally said goodbye to heroin chic? What do I know? Look I didn't eat for a few days and have lost weight, but please let's not look to his idea of womanhood as anything to be desired. My dilemma is to take in my clothes or just wait for my natural weight to return… I'm glad Valentino remembered we women want to look good! Dior... Obviously I was very interested in this one! Love the lipstick.

This should be banned.

Happy Shopping

F  XX


PS: A great face today.

Dior - a great face.