Caped Crusader

This season's look and how to do it..forget Marc Jacobs, Prada et al THIS is how to rock a cape.  I have left it to some tried and tested experts to show y'all how it's done.  I have also purchased my cape of choice..more in a minute..

The man of steel demonstrating how the cape is suitable for air travel and working an excellent colour combination.

 

Bit of a cold day in London? Don't worry! The Dark Knight knows a thing or too about accessorising too, check out the beautifully co-ordinated hat (ok helmet) and bats.

Need a cape to take you from Summer to Winter? Just wear a smaller outfit, then layer up as the days get colder!

Not sure the cape can work as evening wear? PAH! The Phantom shows you how it's done. Quivering wench in a boat optional.

Sometimes it can be hard to find the right look that can take you from City to country.  Take a tip from Robin and stick with earthy, muted tones.

Finally, ideal for the man or lady about town. Add a deerstalker for extra authority.

After wrestling with the array of choice on offer on the high street (and a quick scan at Net-a-Porter..not possible as holiday to budget for and, ahem, the purchase of proper grown up Winter coat) I decided that my budget could not exceed £100 and that as the cape as an item in itself is so, 'on trend', I wanted it to be classic enough so that I could drag it out time and time again BUT didn't wanted it to be in my default black, or indeed navy blue as have the grown-up coat.  Ideally it would be camel and therefore fit into the colour spectrum of my wardrobe (black, navy, grey, cream, white, the odd striped combo and occasional print).  So as usual, when you go shopping with something very specific in mind, you can't bloody find it!

Hours of pounding the pavement and feeling a combination of disheartened (brought on by the lack of selection) and poverty stricken (shouldn't be tempted to browse in shops the budget disagrees with) I eventually collapsed in a heap and treated myself to a skinny Pret hot chocolate before girding my loins to attempt Topshop Oxford Circus.  It was a Saturday, it was full of muppets elbowing each other out of the way over the last dregs of the sale and this was definitely my last port of call before heading home.  NB. I would normally NEVER shop anywhere near Oxford Street on a Saturday as a red mist descends over my eyes and I debate moving to a desert island where I don't have to speak/ see people ever again but this was my only oppurtunity as have a hellish work week and am then running away to snatch the last dregs of Summer on my last holiday this weekend.

There was NOTHING, nothing except one potential cape in navy blue, (due to it's colour, I wasn't allowed to buy it) and, as my friend Adam pointed out, it had  "aggressive piping".

As I was walking out of the store, I managed to snag my cardigan on a rail and I attempted to unhook myself, cursing furiously, I noticed that hidden in the mist of some trousers with PVC patches was my cape. MINE. It fitted the exact brief, camel, subtle military detailing, utterly perfect.  But it was in the wrong size. Instead of having a nervous breakdown, I did the sensible thing..tried it on just to get a feel for it, PERFECTION! Still too big though.  I pegged it to the Information desk and you could see the expression of their faces sinking as a loped towards them with a manic gleam in my eyes.  No they didn't have anymore, no they didn't know when more would be coming in and they normally could attempt to ring other stores but it was a Saturday and they were too busy.   Grrrrrrrr.

I stomped to the tube and pinged back home in a huff. As I walked through the door, I had an utter brainwave, look on the website!!!  As the page loaded my heart was in my mouth, would it be available online at all? It was AND my size was the only one left available.  I guess the Fashion Gods were helping out a bit then (even if they haven't supplied my wish list yet..I live in hope).  It's meant to arrive in the next couple of days so keep your eyes peeled if you see a camel caped crusader pounding the streets of London...it might be me.

Can't wait for it to arrive!x

Have a wonderful Bank Holiday everyone!

"Gosh, I hope this comes in my size.."

Blues

Blues because I'm back from my jollies, because none of the stuff I asked from the Fashion Gods has arrived yet and also blue..navy blue, my new colour du jour.  Of course I haven't given up on black and will also be embracing camel this coming season but I do think navy blue is where it's at.  My mother has been telling me this for years and (annoyingly) I think she has a point. I should have listened, she's one of the most stylish women I know and a great promoter of 'classic' dressing but if we all started listening to our mothers we'd probably have nothing to fight about and life would be dull!   Less harsh than black, more complexion warming than most shades of grey and chic without being too safe, navy blue is my Autumn/ Winter future.

Mummy is also responsible for finding my new Winter coat..from Hobbs no less, a shop I have previously regarded as peculiar mix of middle class mumsy and occasional 'finds' that never EVER fitted me properly (I find they cut for a rather square, tall shape and when you're a munchkin with hips and boobs there's a definate problem).  Classic, with rather pointed structured shoulders, beautiful buttons and superb finish, this coat will see me through for many a year to come.  It's also the perfect weight..warm for when stomping through autumnal London and Yorkshire but not so heavy that you have to peel it off upon descending to the underground before you start heavy breathing and manouvering around the crowds getting your arms stuck as you wiggle out of it.  I love it and I can't wait for the cold snap that I'm sure is just around the corner.  Here's to the start of a beautiful relationship..and thanks mum!x

If you're near a Hobbs, go and have a look at the coat..it's even more lovely in person! I would never have even wandered in if I hadn't been told and there were a few more pieces that caught my eye like this rather whimsical scarf, however funds were at zero then so I removed myself!

Someone I never expected to put on the blog but really loving this navy dress from VB!

Always on the hunt for the perfect t-shirt dress, this would be perfect to take me from Summer to Autumn..if only I actually owned it.

Aaah Alexa, I do sort of want to brush your hair and tell you to stand up straight but am a big fan of this navy sweater dress.

The only previous example of navy I had in my wardrobe..an array of Breton tops, here's to branching out!

P.S. If you want the perfect winter tights, head to the John Lewis schools section NOW! Most of the small sizes have already gone but I've got some smashers in a wine, grey marl and..of course..navy blue.  Am on the hunt for olive green.  Must cheaper than Wolford and excellent quality!

P.P.S. I know I've just got a new Winter coat but I also NEED a cape in my life..I don't think this is excessive as capes are like..totally different...errrrrm...either way I want one. Greedy, greedy, greeeedy.

Dear Fashion Gods...

Dear Fashion Gods,

I am shortly to depart on my Summer holiday and would very much like to get my Autumn/ Winter wardrobe shaping up on my return.  I hope you can appreciate that it's tough saving up for a holiday and for a new wardrobe so I've made the task a bit easier by only allowing myself to request a few key pieces.  I hope that's alright? The only things I will buy are simple long sleeved tees in black/navy/ grey/ white with a variety of necklines for layering. Promise.

I've put a bit of groundwork in and recently purchased some gorgeous high-waisted leather shorts from Topshop that will see me through the Winter months and (to prove their versatility) I wore them with bare legs, brogues and a simple tee on Saturday night and they got admiring glances all around.  I've also made my annual pilgrimage to the John Lewis school uniform section and purchased various colours of wool/ cotton mix tights.

I promise faithfully to re-use my winter coat from last year as it is a timeless, black cocoon number which falls in perfectly with both the ladylike and minimalist trend that approaches. "But there are essentially three coats amongst your requests missy!!", I hear you say.  I can't deny it, but by cunning recessonista thinking, this I justify by saying that you can throw on a coat over pretty much anything and look good to go as oppose to spending lots on skirts, dresses etc.  See my point?

I also solemnly swear to take extra special care of my Vivienne Westwood pirate boots as they add 'POW' to any outfit and must therefore be re-soled and religiously sprayed with waterproof stuff.  I also promise to be more grown-up in general clothes maintenance which will involve getting on first name terms with my dry cleaner, not being so lazy about hand washing (I KNOW a delicates wash in the machine is simply not the same thing) and to invest in a suede brush.

I will not get lured in by sales (see earlier post) and I will SAVE for investment pieces instead of having an accidental high street splurge after a bad day at work. I promise to seal my cashmere in plastic bags to prevent moths attacks and I here fore swear on my Chanel 2.55 that I will be kinder to all my shoes and not wear the same pair, day in, day out, through hail and rain, no matter how much I love them.

Thank you for understanding oh wise sartorial deities, here is my wish list. (Please ask Santa for my postal address).

Love Me xx

P.S.  If I'm only allowed one piece then please can it be the Philip Lim cape or Isabel Marant coat? I'll let you make the call.

Isabel Marant sneakers as seen here at  Garance Dore
a piece by Jade Mellor from her Panthera Leo collection, preferebaly this rather handsome bag clasp.

a Burberry aviator jacket

Yves Saint Laurent leopard-print, cashmere blend scarf 

a pair of Christian Louboutin velvet lace-up flats

Acne Bay print silk blend tee

Boucheron hedgehog ring

Lanvin leather gloves

Miu Miu leopard print dress 

3.1 Philip Lim Merino Wool Cape

Topshop Jamie jeans in worn black

Isabel Marant Bator coat

Long sleeved silk shirt dress from Proenza Schouler

Kurt Geiger Erica shoe 

Smile for September (issues)

Ummm..where has the Summer gone? I know we were all starting to whinge about how Hyde Park had gone a bit yellow and the people who have yet to make friends with deoderant on the tube but we didn't mean the gods of weather to take us seriously! Grey, chilly, hints of rain from day to day..if you've already gone on your Summer holiday the depression of endless dark and becoming mole-like again will be looming on the horizon but there is hope!  This is August chaps and that means the September issues of the big glossies will be hitting the shelves any day now. I LOVE this time of year as it means I can start covering up again, wear dark colours 90% of the time and get a bit more experimental with hats, snoods, random appendages made of fur etc.  That's not to say I'm not excited about getting tantastic on my forthcoming holiday but I also have a slightly nauseous feeling that while I'm away, all the best woolies and coats (or rather capes this season) will be snapped up by the fashion vultures.

This year we have Kate Moss gracing her 30th cover for British Vogue which I do think is a tad unoriginal but hey ho.  Vogue weighs in at..drum roll please....1.06kg, features 149 coats and advises us that 'New Minimalism' is the trend for this season.  The best shoot features simple clothes (that still cost more than your rent) topped off with bonkers accessories, which is elegant and rather achievable.  You can up the ante depending how brave you're feeling which works for us all.

Elle features Emily Blunt trailblazing the lace trend which I'm pretty certain was a feature last year so I hope you've held on to all your pieces.  If you have and they were white/ cream and looking a bit grubby; whip the Dylon out and transform them into black or grey to keep on trend.  New born at 0.96kg, it's slightly lighter than Vogue but contains 174 coats and preps us which helpful tips such as, "Capes give you instant fashion authority.  You won't merely walk into a room; you'll fly". Cue superhero soundtrack.

Bazaar matches the 1kg benchmark set by Vogue and has a rather beachy (I think) Giselle on the front with the strap line, 'How I Got My Body Back'.  I would reply...we can follow all your tips to the letter love but I still ain't going to be a hot, curvaceous yet willowy, tanned Brazilian. Here's hoping though. There in fact 2 covers, one, more Autumnal feeling than the other, but see what you think.  Opposing Vogue's lead trend of minimalism, editor Lucy Yeoman's decrees that SEXY IS BACK.  Their Most Wanted list follows this pattern with Dolce's lace dress whilst military coats are sexed up and styled with a variety of granny pants.  The perfect look for a late night trip to Tesco.  Their top tip? Buy leopard..especially leopard shoes..Kurt Geiger has some crackers.

Finally, one for the chaps. GQ weighing in 0.96kg.  I wouldn't normally start salivating over the Autumn edition of a men's mag but this issue features my uber girl crush on the cover Joan Harris from Mad Men aka Christina Hendricks.  Sexy is back big time here as she wears a figure hugging Alexander McQueen red dress with matching lipstick and flashes a bit of pink bra. Minx.  Basically a homage to Jessica Rabbit.  Top tip for the boys? "Do buy shearling even if it goes against everything you ever thought was cool.  Yes, we know your dad wore it.  Yes, we know it feels a bit 70s.  But fashion is by definition, fickle. Go for it!"

Darn right it's fickle but I can't wait to start covering up, wearing tights and sporting coats again. Three cheers for Autumn! xx