2013 Gift Guide
It can be a chore we know, Christmas shopping is a bore at the best of times, unless you are working to a one for me one for you program. This year we hope to simplify with a little guidance from the team on what works.
Style
Brussels: The (Fashion) Capital of Europe
Brussels. Home to renowned Belgian chocolate, barrels of beer, and a little thing called European politics. With foreigners making up nearly 70% of its population, Brussels’ cultural and artistic diversity does not go unnoticed; the city embraces its status as a podium for innovative ideas with a heavy emphasis on individuality. With this in mind, Brussels’ fashion scene finds itself pulsing for recognition, ready to pounce on the international stage at any moment with a firm desire to cement itself upon the fashion map. Within this cultural cauldron is some material magic – and it’s been brewing a while. Words – Chiara Thomas Being the capital of the European Union, Brussels…
’30s Romanticism: Pal Zileri
Suave, sophisticated, wealthy and authoritative: the characteristics of an Alpha male that men strive for and women desire. Such adjectives have been metaphorically sewn into the fabric of Italian fashion house Pal Zileri’s Autumn/Winter 2013-2014 collection. Creative director Yvan Benbanaste’s muse was the character Major Jim Whittaker, an upper middle class male from British romantic comedy Easy Virtue, portrayed by actor Colin Firth. The aura of the 1930s Englishman surrounds this collection with the abundance of tailor fitted, exquisite coats. Portuguese model Ricardo Guedes is the perfect embodiment of the chic era, photographed by Alistair Taylor-Young enjoying the mountainous setting. I cannot help but think of classic villas and 19th…
Highbrow Makeup
Our beauty editor Gemma Phelan discusses semi-permanent make-up. Whether you’re the victim of overzealous plucking, Alopecia, or, like me, you were simply not blessed with Cara Delevingne-esqe brows to mould and shape as you please, semi-permanent make-up may be just the ticket. I have spent the last decade pencilling in my eyebrows and although I had perfected the art, the thought of being free of this daily chore is something that’s excited me for years. Undergoing any kind of permanent make-up procedure is daunting. The result is going to be on your face for 2-5 years, so choosing the right consultant is paramount. Be warned, there are hundreds of shysters…
Elie Saab: Middle Eastern Promise
The Arab world’s most successful designer showcased his Autumn/Winter 2013-2014 Paris Haute Couture collection’s sartorial elegance – every little girl’s dream. Undoubtedly, the 49-year-old Elie Saab has emblazoned his mark on the fashion industry with celebrity clients including Katy Perry, Mila Kunis, Rihanna, Christina Aguilera and Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai. Impressively, Saab had dressed 102 international celebrities by 2010. Additionally, he is an established designer amongst royalty with habitué, including Queen Rania of Jordan, Princess Madeleine of Sweden and Princess Beatrice of York. By – Arnelle Paterson This collection would not have been made possible without his atelier of 500 seamstresses. The models graced the stage with perfectly sleeked hair and…
NYLON
Our man on the other side of the pond Bobby Reyes, works up a storm with Gotroxx, BeBe and Express. Photographer: FREDRIK MARKLUND Model: PETRINA KHASHOGGI Lighting: KRISTOFFER OHLSSON Hair and make-up: JENNIFER CORONA
THE BLT
The formidably styled and fiercely sartorial, Lord of the Trad clan, David Minns. This month, David visits Fox Brothers & Co. A friend recently introduced me to the new owners of Fox Brothers & Co., the last remaining cloth mill in the south west of England. Accepting an invitation to visit the showroom at their mill in Wellington, Somerset (given that I live just an hour away in Bristol), I was keen to learn more of Fox’s provenance. The mill itself is no longer in its original location, but driving through the country lanes en route, one can see the original Georgian red-brick buildings in the distance – and how majestic…
Best Dressed
Who? Rihanna Where? Boujis Nightclub, London Showcasing the hot holographic trend taking the world by storm this season is Rihanna, who demonstrates effortless-chic through pairing distressed boyfriend jeans with a simple structure cropped shirt, allowing for the materials to do the talking. Combining a backless, holographic crop top with matching stilettos and a stunning holographic faux-leather Stella McCartney clutch, the Diamonds singer brings sparkle to an otherwise-casual look, brightening up the streets of the London at the same time. If ever in need of tips on how to dress up by dressing down, Rihanna is your woman. Who? Olivia Palermo Where? New York For a second issue in a row,…
du Maurier Maxim Watch
Please don’t call me Mr de Winter, I’ve a very impressive array of first names; George Fortesque Maximillion, but you needn’t bother with them all at once, my family call me Maxim. If you’re familiar Daphne du Maurier’s story of Rebecca then the character of Max deWinter will doubtlessly be on your list of top ten rouges of all time. The dashing ‘hero’, who murders his ex-wife and still gets the girl. Imagine a handsome trilby-wearing rake with a family residence that would make the Queen blush and breeding to shame Kauto Star. The leading man in the book oozes all of the charm that you would expect from a 1930s landed millionaire—and you’ll be no doubt pleased to learn that you too can…
Bremont
There are some watch brands out there that positively exude effortless cool — and Bremont is one that unquestionably falls into this category. In an industry dominated by watchmakers, typically from Switzerland, boasting over a century of watchmaking heritage, Bremont have certainly bucked this trend; it’s a British watchmaker that formed in 2007. For most, this would be a hindrance to finding an audience, but it hasn’t held Bremont back at all, and this is testament to the quality of the timepieces that it consistently produces. Fans of Bremont will already know, but for the uninitiated, Bremont is a watchmaker that is most famed for its aviation style timepieces —something…
B.L.T.
Michael Caine. Actor. South Londoner. Legend. And sartorial hero of mine. By the time the second Summer of Love rolled around, I’d been a punk, a breakdancer, a psychobilly, a skater, a BMXer, and a hippy (one of my better looks, given my long curly locks at the time). But as my peers boarded to The Farm’s Groovy Train, I found myself wanting ride to T-Rex’s White Swan, delving deeper and deeper into the psychedelic 60s and, ironically, became more interested in the first Summer of Love! And so it was, along with my discovery of all things psychedelic and groovy, that I developed a penchant for the films of…
Rihanna… Clothing Optional
Trendsetting musician Rihanna recently debuted her hugely-anticipated clothing line with high street brand River Island at London’s prestigious Fashion Week. The daring star is known for her risqué fashion and ability to push boundaries, and this is reflected in her range, albeit a little restrained. Spanning casual wardrobe items to chic evening wear, there are a number of pieces which display a direct correlation between Rihanna’s typical attire and her clothing line. Prime examples are the midriff-baring high-neck t-shirts and knotted vest tops. Rihanna is renowned for her fabulously toned frame and these particular items from her collection offer an opportunity to accentuate a small waist while sustaining some modesty….
Step and Repeat
Who? Olivia Palermo Where? The launch of Montblanc’s new watch collection in Geneva, Switzerland. Miss Palermo is frequently seen plastered across the pages of some of the biggest publications in fashion, praised for her acute sense of style, stoic willingness to mix and match, and ultimately, for always maintaining an enviable aura of class and elegance along the way. Infusing winter garments here with spring/summer 2013 trends — such as the mesh skirt which echoes the intense mesh input adopted in the collections of fashion houses such as Christian Dior, Chanel and Balmain – Palermo confirms the necessity to include mesh in your wardrobe this season. The rich, autumnal…
Bags at the ready
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a woman’s life is simply incomplete without that special someone on her arm, whether they be tall, small, square or round, dark or coloured, complex or simple, Christopher Kane or Saint Laurent. Yes, a woman’s handbag really is her biggest necessity, and above all, it has to have character. With this in mind, Chiara Thomas decided to look at a variety of this season’s best catches, catering to each individual taste and desire. With these must-have suggestions, your spring is sorted. By Day Diane Von Furstenberg For flirtatious daytime glamour, look no further than this Diane Von Furstenberg Carolina lips clutch in lilac….
The Fixer
London is a city like no other, according to LedburyResearch the increase in London in Centa-Millionaires is likely to rise by 44% this year. It isn’t all about Brazil and China. The total net worth of the elite Centa-Millionaires is around $39.9 Trillion. London has always been a safe haven to the rich and powerful, with lax corporate tax law and a million fiscal personal loopholes. London has never seen so many transient affluent characters reaching the banks of the Thames. So your one of the 63’000 people worldwide with $100m or more in assets, wedged into some ungodly diamond encrusted wallet or gold plated purse. You’re in central London,…