Style Muse - Stella Tennant

I know I've posted on my style crushes before - Stella McCartney and Jenna Lyons being two of them, but I'm keen to introduce a few new regular features to the blog, so I'm kicking off with 'Style Muse', and as London Fashion Week S/S '14 is in full swing, it seems only fitting that my first 'muse' is the very down to earth and beautiful Brit model and mother, Stella Tennant.

Vogue UK July 2013 - Photo: Bay Garnett

I have been an admirer of Tennant's style since way back in December 1993 when Steven Meisel shot a now legendary photoshoot for UK Vogue entitled "Anglo-Saxon Attitude." Featuring 'real' people chosen by the late, great stylist Isabella Blow, I remember being blown away by Tennant in all her grungy aristo-punk, nose-ringed glory. 

Vogue UK December 1993 - Photo: Steven Meisel

Vogue UK December 1993 - Photo: Steven Meisel

Vogue UK December 1993 - Photo: Steven Meisel

She was everything I wasn't (and 20 years later still is) - different, edgy, simultaneously feminine and androgynous and I loved the whiff of street style anarchy mixed with upper class elegance, which over time has become something of a Stella trademark. Tennant is after all the granddaughter of the Duchess of Devonshire, (the beautiful and stylish chatelaine of Chatsworth house and a Mitford sister to boot), which all adds up to a heady mix of 'Downton' and down town (if you'll pardon the pun).

Vogue UK - Photo: Mario Testino

The Duchess wrote very entertainingly about the above shoot as follows:

"Darling Paddy,
Stella came. We had to be together in a photo for Vogue's 90th birthday come Christmas. So one Mario Testino, famous photographer, came in a helicopter with a crew of makeup, hairdresser, “fashion editor”, etc from London.
I've got a really beautiful dress, grand evening, given me by Oscar de la Renta, so that was my kit. They bound Stella's legs, up to where they join her body, in tartan. A Union Jack flag hung from her waist & her top was what my father would have called meaningless.
Hair skewbald/piebald, all colours & stuck up in bits. THEN they produced “shoes” with 6 inch heels. More stilts - she could hardly put one foot in front of the other, wobbling & toppling.
We looked just like that Grandville drawing of a giraffe dancing with a little monkey. I was the monkey.
Much love
Debo
(Letter from In Tearing Haste: Letters Between Deborah Devonshire and Patrick Leigh Fermor)

A Mitford grandaughter through and through.

Vogue UK November 2005 - Photo: Tim Walker

After all these years, and despite taking time off to concentrate on her children,  at 43 Tennant is still hugely in demand as a model. In this youth-obsessed era that we live in, here is a woman who combines both her family (she is a mum of 4) and fashion lives with grace and ease,  and whose attitude to ageing is to totally disregard it, which I love. As hot new designer Joseph Altuzurra commented when casting Tennant in his first full-page ad for this year's US Vogue September issue:  “She’s really an Altuzarra woman because she has a life and four kids—she is who she is on her own terms. She lives in Scotland and is incredibly successful and there is a confident, unapologetic side to her. I didn’t want a 20-year-old model, I wanted someone who is our woman. Clothes are part of her life but not her entire life.”

A/W 2013 Altazurra - Photo Inez & Vinoodh

'On her own terms' sums Tennant up perfectly - she embodies that subtle sense of British eccentricity and 'I don't give a damn' attitude that I find so inspiring. To me she is the consummate fashion chameleon - no-one does punk or aristo-elegance like she does and regardless of who she is working with - Lagerfeld, Testino, Bruce Weber et al, she remains true to herself - one classy lady.

Valentino Haute Couture for the WSJ - Photo: Daniel Jackson

Vogue UK September 2012 - Photo: Mario Testino

Vogue UK September 2011 - Photo: Javier Vallhonrat

Vogue US September 2010 - Photo: David Sims

Her latest Vogue shoot in July of this year was photographed and styled by her good friend Bay Garnett and offers us a snapshot of her family life in Scotland. Her comment about her children's bedrooms made me laugh - I'm afraid I'm somewhat the same about what goes up on the walls of my boys room...  She's as much at home yomping in a field as she is on the catwalk, plus her love of  Scotland and the sea and her attitude to life in general only make me like her more. Yup, I've got a proper girl crush going on.

Vogue UK July 2013 - Photo: Bay Garnett

Vogue UK July 2013 - Photo: Bay Garnett

Vogue UK July 2013 - Photo: Bay Garnett

Vogue UK July 2013 - Photo: Bay Garnett

Vogue UK July 2013 - Photo: Bay Garnett

You can keep your Caras and your Kates, as all eyes are on Britain's fashion exploits this week, there's only one girl for me - for your brains, beauty, mothering style and knock 'em dead attitude Stella - you're a star.

Planet Fashion Part 2

So Planet Fashion has gone a bit quieter now that London, Milan and Paris Fashion Weeks are all over but I wanted to round up my impressions post hoc, so here goes.

London first - a bit subversive, a bit rough around the edges, LFW still feels like Paris and Milan's younger, naughtier sister and it's all the better for that. We Brits embrace the non-conformist, eccentricity is our middle name, and this year, like any other didn't disappoint.

Cara Delevingne for Sister by Sibling. Photo: Vladimir Potop

Isn't this look just brilliantly bonkers? (I think it's the tam o'shanter that tips it over the edge).  Only the beautiful Cara Delevingne, the 'it' model du jour, could carry it off - just. I so could NOT.

Colour was one of the big trends at LFW. The genius Peter Pilotto showed El Greco inspired jackets, skirts and coats in vibrant reds and yellows - Summer sunshine in an outfit - olé!

Photos: Vladimir Potop

Paul Smith showcased his usual mix of gentlemanly tailoring with a pop of the unexpected - that oh so British twist we all love, and even if it wasn't groundbreaking, it was still all pretty desirable.

Photos: Vladimir Potop

On the paler end of the spectrum, Simone Rocha took inspiration from her two grannies and presented a Pepto-Bismol pink collection that looked very fresh - we will all be wanting to wear muted, dusky pink in 2013 - trust me!

Photo: Vladimir Potop

Photo: Vladimir Potop

And as the high street labels make their presence felt on the catwalk, Whistles didn't disappoint with a slick collection of camouflage inspired pieces, sleek leather skirts and luxe sweaters. Jane Shepherdson we love you.

Photo: Vladimir Potop

Photo: Vladimir Potop

Across the Channel, the City of Light gave us the perennially chic Parisienne the designers hope we all aspire to be.  Phoebe Philo for Céline, Raf Simons for Dior and Chritophe Lemaire for Hermès all showcased effortlessly chic clothes for A/W 2013. Some considered it all a bit serious and sombre - a backlash perhaps against the "Peacocks" as IHT fashion editor Suzy Menkes termed the streetstyle fashionistas who are seen outside the shows in ever more outlandish outfits, desperate to have their photograph taken, but there's no doubting it looks like it's going to be a very classy season indeed.

Celine A/W 2013 Photo: Vladimir Potop

Dior A/W 2013/Photo: Vladimir Potop

Hermes/Photo: Vladimir Potop

In Milan, Marni, Mrs. P and the wondrous Thomas Maier at Bottega Veneta all proved that Italian fashion know-how can produce stunningly beautiful clothes with that Italian sense of laissez-faire that they are so good at.

Marni A/W 2013/Photo: Vladimir Potop

Prada A/W 2013/Photo: Vladimir Potop

Bottega Veneta A/W 2013/Photo: Vladimir Potop

A dress, trouser suit, masculine coat, luxe knitwear, leather, draped wool, pinks, both dramatic and muted tones - these are all things to look out for later in the year but let's not wish the days away too fast, we haven't packed away this year's thermals quite yet, and we're desperate for warmer weather... Top trends for Spring/Summer 2013 coming very soon!

Planet Fashion Part 1

Fashion week, but which city?  Right now, it makes you dizzy just trying to keep up. New York and London have wrapped and Milan is in full swing,  so here are a few things that have caught my eye so far for A/W 2013:

New York:

Picture: @victoriabeckham/Twitter

Proving that she can make fun of herself, and "It's that time in the season when we all get a little delirious" - VB tweeted this pic of herself pre-show with one of her brilliant yellow totes on her head.

Rag & Bone A/W 2103 Photo: Revlon

Gucci Westman, Revlon's global artistic director, re-invented the 60's cat flick for the Rag & Bone show (she also happens to be married to David Neville, one of the 2 founders of the ultra cool Rag & Bone label).  Using Revlon Colorstay Creme Gel eyeliner she said that the focus of the look was definitely on the eyeliner and she wanted to create something super-girly to contrast with the masculinity of the collection. " I love how the whole look is a bit retro, but still fresh". Does this work on the school run?  Dare I try it?

Here's Cara Delevingne channelling girl v boy:

Photo: Vladimir Potop

Alexander Wang showed his last standalone collection before making the move to Balenciaga and it was literally a case of fifty shades of grey (the show notes had them as "pumice, geyser, parquet, asphalt and down.") Casual, sporty, chic as ever, but with more emphasis on silhouette, draping and folds, there were hints of things to come in his new role at the Parisian powerhouse.

Photo: Vladimir Potop

Photo: Vladimir Potop

In stark contrast to Wang's muted palette, J.Crew showed colour blocking, neon and geometric prints. Jenna Lyons still knows exactly what we want.

Photo: Vladimir Potop

Photo: Vladimir Potop

Oh, that perfect ankle skimming trouser (the Cafe Capri)  - definitely on my wish list...

Photo: Vladimir Potop

Meanwhile uptown, Oscar de la Renta was one of the most hotly anticipated shows thanks to John Galliano's recent three week residency, and whilst the collection was classic Oscar, suggestions of Galliano could be seen in the smouldering make up, Marcel waves and Forties inspired bias cut gowns.

Photo: Vladimir Potop

Photo: Vladimir Potop

Diane von Furstenberg tweeted afterwards: "Oscar de la Renta with a touch of Galliano. A lovely conversation."  Nicely put.

After Blizzard Nemo delayed Marc Jacobs' show earlier in the week, he closed proceedings with a full on show stopper, complete with artificial sun, molten metal dresses, hotpants and a pair of breasts.

Photo: Billy Farrell Agency/Rex Features

Photo: Josh Haner/New York Times

Photo: Getty

Rather her than me - I just hope there was some heating...

Snow Survival Sorel Style

It may be New York Fashion Week, but the weather gods have paid no heed to the fact that the city's fashionistas are out on the streets of Manhattan and have thrown down more snow than a Manolo Blahnik stiletto can justifiably handle. Not that that deters some people....

Photo: Rex

Similarly, here in my corner of France, trying to look stylish and embrace my inner Parisienne is increasingly hard when you are shovelling a foot of snow to get the car out on the school run and trudging through the slush with mounds of shopping. And don't even get me started on hat hair - that's a whole separate post.

So in the midst of fashion vs weather silliness, I felt quite relieved to see the Queen of J Crew, Jenna Lyons out and about in NYC looking positively sensibly dressed:

Photo: Garance Dore

She's wearing a fab Joseph Altazurra parka that looks like it's actually keeping her warm, and whilst her Nikes may not be fully waterproof, at least they're flat.

Photo: Garance Dore

I'm not sure I could get away with this on the school run, but it's keeping the snow off beautifully. You can read Garance Doré's full post here.

My lifesavers this winter, keeping me upright and my toes warm whilst giving me (I like to think) a modicum of style have to be my Joan of Arctic Sorel boots. A Christmas present from English Gent, they are more than proving their worth, and hey, if they're good enough for Elle McPherson, then they're good enough for me.

Elle McPherson in Aspen

Here is the very stylish Amanda Brooks in her shorter Sorels at her home in the snowy Adirondacks:

Photo: Vogue

And finally, two lovely New Yorkers who would appear to have nailed how to keep warm and be chic in the snow and the slush: 

Photo: Garance Dore

I think the look on the right is exactly what I'm aiming for - Sorel Style!