In, Out, Shake it all about

Every time, and I mean every time, I take something to the dry cleaners, the cobblers, the alterationist. I mean as soon as it leaves my dressing room I want to wear it. I plan outfits and the piece that I need is missing. It's not as if I don't have anything to replace these items, but they become overly important until they come back to me and then I forget about them again. Maybe this is just me? Or then again, maybe it's not!

It seems we’re leaving the European Union. Does that mean we won’t be allowed to learn from the French? With my Visa in hand I ventured to a cocktail party in SW1. The first thing I learned is I need to do my Botox. Hardly a line to be seen! OK, that's taken care of - it's only a phone call away. Next, can we talk about the hips or lack thereof! I'm never eating again... Well, you and I know that's not going to happen but they’re like a totally different species of women… Long-limbed, long-haired, short-skirted and they never look like they try too hard (but I'll bet they do). And just to even up the sexes - let's talk about French men. I reckon they’re worth I trip to La Perla any day of the week!

Heels were very high, skirts were very short, trousers were very tight. I was wearing none of these. So that's the look our French sisters favour, and this in the week that my hairdresser Michele was away in America. I was given the option of a hair wash at 6am in-between flights but I thought “No, I'll make do with someone else who was recommended”. Oh what a fool! Thinking that someone else could do what Michele does! Six AM’s not so early is it? And I must remember it's 7am in Paris. So next time I must make the effort as our French sisters always do.

Drinks in Paris, SW1

The thing is, culturally I get very confused. Last night I went to the opening of the Israeli Film Festival where, dear friends, I was thin and cool! Funny how a continent can change your perception of you!

The Shoe sales called to me and what do you know? This year so far I have resisted the sales. Now I'm dipping my toes (so to speak) further into pre-fall and loving the looks. I may just venture into the short boot/skirt territory that I've been wanting to try since it was last in fashion. That was back when I was buying at Dolce & Gabbana. Still have those boots but they were always a little too short. Maybe the ones on hold for me will be better this time… Or even better (if I can wait that long) the Winter collection!

A new Style Icon - Frith Kerr

How wonderful Frith Kerr looks and what a great name! I saw her at the Art Evening talk at Phillips and for all of us I had to photograph her. You can tell I'm not a natural with a camera, but you can see how utterly cool Frith is in her style - her trainers and full skirt and grey jumper. Just adore her style, or should I say “J’adore…” Much better than our French cousins!

Will it ever stop raining?! Probably yes, but what with the thunder and lightning, heat and everything - last night it was almost impossible to sleep. OK never mind about the weather - much more important things to report on. It's been (unofficially) announced that Maria Grazia-Chiuri from Valentino is to be the next designer at Dior. First things first - a female designer?! They've never had!! Interesting… Second - from Valentino. A very clever appointment if true and I like her sensibility so that must be a plus. Wait! It’s not actually official yet but I feel that there is possibly an announcement to be made after Couture Week.  Still, it would be a shame for the two that have held the ship together since Raf departed. Next time…

Valentino, Dior, in out shake it all about.

Ever have a Eureka moment? I had one this afternoon. Let me paint the picture - it's 10:30am and I'm in my dressing room. It's pouring down outside and a good friend's lunch party in the garden awaits. So things to look out for - heels in the grass, long trousers in the puddles and too humid for a jacket. OK, so a skirt and blouse in white and champagne, skin shoes and red handbag. Good call… Hardly a Eureka moment until a conversation at lunch, in which I stated that too much choice confuses me (nothing new there then!) This was about wallpaper, but it so applies to dressing. All my “bad” decisions could be down to my love of Pinterest and my over-exuberant choices. So that's it Francine, but what does this really mean? It means - look by all means, but try to leave the clever dressing to the 20-year olds and stick with what you do best. Simple! I've left the Doc Martin Dior boots in the shop and now I'll concentrate on what I know works for me and not the me in my Pinterest Fantasy.

Nearly the way we were.

Happy Shopping 

F   XX

Lust of the week: A dry day.

Looking forward to the Sun!

The Queen Green

I have two watches. One a steel Swatch that belonged to my ex-husband and the other a gold cocktail watch (that doesn't work) that belonged to my mother. I have been known to wear both together with an assortment of other bits - a gold link bracelet, a friendship bracelet that three of my friends wear, and other assorted items. I've never been one to chalish (desire) a fancy Rolex or other watches. Until now that is. Some time ago I admired a vintage gold watch with an Opal face in a dealer’s shop in Burlington Arcade. But that’s not it. The one I'm in love with is a very small “cocktail” watch that I was shown on Wednesday evening in Dior Fine Jewels. With its opalescent face and emerald and diamond bracelet it’s so feminine and a work of art! And yet so “me” all day every day! Well maybe not all the time, but extremely pretty and very anti big, bold and brash! Just like moi!…

Green with envy?

Talking of green - The Queen Green! Yes her coat was the same colour as Kermit the Frog. Was it a strange choice of colour? Well, no not really. You could see her from the Mall and actually probably from Trafalgar Square! (That's mean Francine. But true). Look, I actually liked it and that colour doesn't look bad next to her skin. And it looks lovely with Pearls and Diamonds and one thing (lest we forget) - she is the Queen and can do what she likes. So if you don't like it, tough! And if you speak out against it - isn't that Treason? The Tower awaits!!

Green with envy?

One of my favourite topics... Dinner dressing. To print or not? Ummm, well actually I'm not sure. This week I attended a big Charity dinner at the Dorchester and I wore my black Dior cocktail dress with the full A-Line skirt. With my tan ✅ and my new bright silver shoes ✅ and slightly pink/purple opalescent hair ✅ A winner, I thought. So what were we all wearing? Various block-colour cocktail dresses and then they came… The Gucci, the Erdem, the Preen dresses with the Gucci shoes and everything! Now we all know I love colour, I love a mishmash and I love individuality. But these girls at a serious dinner looked somehow out of place. There was no irony, no humour, no individuality. Somehow this attempt to be au courant had backfired. And that's the problem with print for print’s sake - it can be a disaster! The way it works on the catwalk is with loads of humour and lashings of irony. Not by itself as a statement. Then it just looks like you tried too hard! Sorry, but must try harder next time… Meanwhile, the Black Brigade for summer ’16 may just be the way to go. Yes I said that and no, I'm not drunk, hungover, or ill! Just telling it like it is...

Does sizing matter? Will you only buy an item of clothing if the size in the label is the number you want to see? OK, I'll spell it out for you. Would you buy a pair of jeans if they were a size 26, but not if they were 29? Both fit well but are just different sizes? Me I couldn't care less what size anything is, as long as I like it and it fits. But I think l'm in the minority here. I also think shops that size down their clothes are going to have a problem, as H&M found out when one shopper posted a picture of herself in their largest jeans size (16) and they went nowhere near her. If the shopper, Ruth Clemens, is a normal size 14 as she says (and I have no reason to not to believe her) then why are these jeans so ill-fitting? H&M said their sizing depends on the style, cut and fabric! No - it should only depend on the inches or centimetres measured of the clothing. Get it together H&M and all other retailers who size down!

A size 14 trying on H&M size 16 jeans.

As you know, I bought a Paisley long-sleeved dress from M&S some months ago from a sale rail (size 20) because of the print and had to take it in twice! Let's not let the shops spoil our days by making clothes that don't fit the size properly!

Happy Shopping

F XX

Lust of the Week:
The MPs in the Select committee "interviewing" Sir Phillip Green. Well done for staying calm and resolute!

Which way was the firing squad?

What Dreams Are Made Of

$300, 168 - a new World Record for a handbag. And so the prices rise! According to Christie’s, it’s a very rare Diamond Himalaya Niloticus crocodile diamond 30 cm Birkin with 18k white gold and diamond hardware. It was sold by a private Asian collector. The bag was produced in 2008 and sold in 2009. It breaks the record held by a bag I previously mentioned - a $222, 000 fuchsia diamond-studded Hermes Birkin. This news is a bit late as I knew about it last week but accidents happen and I forgot to tell you. That looks like a Birkin good investment!

Jane Birkin in 1996, Handbag made in 2008 and sold in 2016, and for the same money - a house in Atlanta, GA!

The French Open... I'm no fan of Novak Djokovic - Andy Murray's my man and I feel for him. He played his heart out, which is all one can ask. Coming second is no joy but I hope that his team can work with him on the good and try to eliminate as many faults as possible. The grass court season will be here next week and I'll definitely be giving all my hopes and thoughts to him winning, winning, winning!

Looking forward to seeing Andy beat Novak again!

I just read a very interesting article about the rise of returning clothes bought online… How to buy, wear and then return an outfit. My first thoughts on this is how appalling! The obvious losers in this are the retailers, especially the small brands. Which, on thinking of this, surprises me. If they were to put tags on the front of the outfit in obvious sight, this would surely create a big problem but maybe unlike shops, online purchases don't have tags. This I don't know, having never bought online. It seems we are not happy about being seen in the same outfit twice... Really? Why not?! I've often thought that this Curse of The New is a bad thing. I wore my gold coat’s new incarnation yesterday and nothing pleased me more than knowing that I've had great value from a coat that I think looks better now than it did in its first incarnation 15 or so years ago. But maybe this is just me, and one friend was able to remember all its previous incarnations. I love that - clothes with a past! We all have one…

A lesson in Same Outfit Dressing from those who know.

But, now to the future… The future of shopping as seen in the new Dior shop in Bond Street. Where to start? For those of you that have visited Avenue Montaigne - forget that! That can fit into Bond Street’s VIP changing room. It's huge! Four floors of the Dior vision. I think it's a very interesting concept, although I'm not sure that when you’re surrounded by up to 700 people and lots of champagne… But that was last night’s party. Last week's book signing in the unopened store was, although a much more sedate affair, still overwhelming in that the first time of viewing is always a surprise. So for an in-depth report I'm going to go back when all the hoo-har has died down. In the meantime, as per normal, I can be found in Sloane Street. Just think - when I was married I shopped across the road in Dolce & Gabbana, and as a divorcee I crossed the road (so to speak!) Still, Sloane Street will always hold a place in my heart.

Did you know that if you’re a Chinese visitor to these shores, the first place you want to go to is Buckingham Palace and the second place (drum roll, please!) is… Bicester Shopping Village. Yes - the discount outlet one hour from London. See? Everyone loves a bargain…

All looked after by the very accomplished VIP manager Maxine Messenger, pictured above in a great dress some weeks ago.

I'm back with the "official" opening party at Dior last night, and the shop’s proximity to the huge Chanel next door with the equally voluminous Louis Vuitton opposite with Hermés and Burberry next door but one. In a part of Bond Street that sort-of ends to cars then starts again, is it a Big Money Dream or a Big Expensive Folly? If I think about the Bond Street shops, starting at Oxford Street is Zara - the quick cheap fashion and as you progress down the street somehow organically the shops become more expensive until you reach the apex in the Holy Triangle - Dior, Chanel, Louis Vuitton.

J'adore...

What that part of Bond Street is now missing is a cafe/restaurant to watch the world and shoppers go by (buy). It's a shame that none of these huge names have done the same as Dover Street Market (now in the Haymarket) and put a Roses Bakery or their own equivalent on the top floor. Dior do food… Imagine what fun - “Darling! Meet me for Coffee at Dior?” Love to!… Thing is they give it for free when shopping - Champagne, Water, Tea, Coffee, Chocolates (who needs chocolate when you’re aiming for French size 38, English 8-10. OK, I can dream). But still, if you weren't really shopping but watching shopping, (it's a bit like placing restaurants and bars beside a Marina or Port (boat watching!) Never really understood that - next we'll have bars by car parks, car watching… Really?! Anyhow I digress. Maybe it's the pounds per square foot? As anyone who knows me, knows I'm no economist - but it's just a thought. So now we can all enjoy shopping at whatever level, but after your splurge in Zara or (further down Bond Street, Fenwicks) go and have a look at Dior - it's definitely worth a look. And if you know anyone that plays cards, the Dior double pack of playing cards are only £80. So that’s someone’s present sorted!

Happy Shopping! 

F  XX

Lust of the week:

Peace!

The Burning Question

What's wrong with me? Don't ask… I talk non-stop about the importance of Compeed plasters and the brilliance of their big cushions on the ball of your feet. So then, what don't I do? Use them today - until my feet start to burn. So now I have plasters on my burning feet but too late! This must be proof that my brain has finally turned to mush... … No don't worry, it was only a temporary blip. (It was the sight of the sun that did it!)

Compeed - the ultimate solution to burning feet!

But now I've heard of another source of foot blister prevention. Deodorant!! Yes! That's right - spray or stick! I've not tried it yet, but it's used to stop sweat and I'm assured it works on your feet. Will let you know… There is always another solution - wear sensible shoes. No. Not really. But nice try… Back to shoes - I tried on a pair of black leather boots. A cross between a Bovver boot and a Doc Martin. Really I hear you mutter? Yes. And they do them in white leather as well. Loved the white, but on reflection and a chat with my fashion niece (white=too Chinese) black is for me! Well today at least. I may chicken out tomorrow…

Dior or Doc Martins? My choice...

We had a bank holiday last week. Great fun!! I went with friends went to the cinema, twice. The only film worth talking about is the slight biography “Florence Foster Jenkins” with Meryl Streep and Hugh Grant. Who knew Hugh could act?! I liked the film, but more for Florence's clothes. They reminded me of my grandma's - all colourful and flowery, ruched and draped. Or was that the Dior Cruise collection at Blenheim? Funny that… Meryl was very well padded up for this role and it reminded me of the corsets my grandmother would tie herself into every day... Wonderful!

Cinema love

Anyhow back to the collection, I wish that the bosses at Dior would make their mind up and appoint a new Head of Design or go with Serge Ruffieux and Lucie Meier. It must be very difficult to produce a collection while being seen as “understudies” and have the same gravitas heaped on it one way or other... I liked it. It had femininity, memory and colour. Well that's all I need and the models shapes, although not, seemed slightly (and I mean ever so slightly) softer…

My (Dior) wish list for Spring 2017!

Gucci! Yes Gucci at Westminster Abbey. I just read that Alessandro Michele originally wanted Buckingham Palace (no, I'm not kidding). Anyhow he settled on Westminster Abbey, so all good there then. The collection... We all know I love a mishmash and this, in presentation and styling seemed at first like "motif overload". But dear friends whether it was “Are You Going To Scarborough Fair” sung by a choir of angels or the setting. It was brilliant, and I don't say this lightly. Since 2015's first show Michele has grown into the skin of the Gucci fashion explosion. The Collections' irreverence is contagious and to think that for the Dior party I spent two hours in my dressing room, only to exit like a member of the Parisian Bourgeoise! When I could have looked like this. It's not bonkers - it's beautiful. The models look like angels and trust me this was the show of the week. One model really looked - like she'd just stepped out of a Botticelli painting. Is this the new world order? Perhaps...

Gucci - proof that Bonkers is the way to go!

Maybe if I were to wear my clothes with this irreverence (which I am trying to do) I'd begin to enjoy them again. No small task!...

How cold has it become? It's like winter! Well at least the last four days have been. Perfect timing to experiment with Cruise 2017...

If you have time and haven't already done so, watch the Gucci and Dior shows from this week and enjoy your clothes!

Happy Shopping

F   XX

Lust if the week:

Faces of the Future...