Style

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.

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,…