Fur Coat, No Knickers

I’ve just finishing reading The Dud Avocado, which I’m sorry to say I found a bit of a dud. I didn’t hate it or anything, I just expected to fall in love with it totally whereas actually it was more of a fleeing flirtation that I quite enjoyed but haven’t given much thought to since.

Still, the adventures of pink-haired protégé Sally Jay Gorce didn’t pass me by entirely and the descriptions of France in the 1950s will surely stir the sensibilities of any cliché-loving blogger – and I include myself in that, which is why I’ve posted these vintage pictures of Paris.

It goes without saying that they come via How to be a Retronaut and although they show Paris in the sixties, there’s still a feel of what Sally Jay might have seen when hanging out with the Hard Core at Le Select.

[Pics from How to be a Retronaut via Charles W. Cushman]

We were enjoying a bit of Elton John on Saturday night when the ever-stylish Silver pointed out that the ol’ crooner’s jacket had a hint of the Jil Sander. I know! We just live and breathe fashion.

Paisley is having a miniature fashion moment, with Jonathan Saunders showing a stylised version of the print at his colourful, Betty Draper on acid, South Beach-inspired collection.

Jil Sander opted for supersized paisley, in a baroque-ish shade of snot green as well as more muted pastels.

For me, paisley will always remind me of my stepdad’s silk robe, which I believe was St Michael. The above is a little more flamboyant, but not totally dissimilar. And you can buy it on Etsy!

The Guardian put together a really nice slideshow covering the history of paisley, from its Asian origins to its psychedelic sixties revival. View it here!

[Catwalk pics: Dazed Digital]

… Theresa from No Use Crying Over Spilt Youth.

I loved Theresa’s eloquent response, recognising Wallis both as a political figure and someone with a very distinctive personal sense of style. Congrats T, your bag is winging its way to you!

There is a lot to admire and plenty to disapprove of when it comes to Wallis Simpson and that is what I most enjoy about her. Rarely do you get such a colourful female character written into the history books. If you read about it most people at that time symapthized with the Nazis until they became a threat to our own country, but that is not the issue here. Wallis captivated and enthralled, she changed the country’s perception of the royal family forever, she exposed their humanity. And she did it all whilst looking fabulous. The pictures above tell the tale of a woman that LIVED her life, she wasn’t told what to do and that itself is an inspiration. Until I saw these pictures I hadn’t realised the similarities, but a lot of my work wardrobe quite compellingly resembles WS

Can’t get enough of this Dazed & Confused shoot which sees Jourdan Dunn honouring the cultural icons of 1991 – the year the magazine launched. From Kurt and Courtney to Christina Ricci as Wednesday Addams, all the best bits of the year I turned six are represented.

See the whole shoot here!

Fashion week interlude. I can’t believe I’m going to Monte Carlo!

Every season there’s a picture from fashion week that gets people excited. Last time it was Alexander Wang’s adorable niece in her fur coat, and who can forget Tavi’s view-blocking bow from a couple of years back?

We’re only a few days in, but I’ve already picked my defining fashion week moment and can’t see how it’s going to be toppled; Anna Dello Russo and Carine Roitfeld losing their shit to Careless Whisper at karaoke.

It’s not quite as much of a shock to the system as Anna Wintour busting out Bad Romance, but even so it’s a sight for these stressed, sore eyes.

Spotted by Jess Cartner-Morley – have you checked out the new Guardian fashion site yet?