Merhaba love

In all the glorious tumult and madness that lead up to my London/Istanbul escapade I entirely ran out of time to say farewell.

Having completed my first long-haul flight from Cape Town to London and haviıng spent four fast-paced, shoppiıng-fılled days there, I now find myself in the heart of Istanbul, an entirely different (or foreign) affair.

So far it has been a journey of many firsts: first long flight, first grappliıng with the London underground, first Starbucks/Tesco/H&M/Zara/Topshop, first Oyster card, first Turkish language crash course, ferry trip, and certainly the first time I have been called a ‘tired angel’ by a fetching young Turk and approached like a real live tourist. ‘Teşekkürler,’ thank you, I say, and then move swiftly along, but not without some brief appreciation of the fine and distinguished profile possessed by so many of the men here.

Tomorrow we are going to the so-called Tuesday market or bazaar, in search of more hidden gems – jewellery, spices, scarves – and then on to Beyöglu, the hip cultural quarter in old Istanbul that is home to many up and coming designers as well as high street favourites like Mango and H&M. I will post pictures of my finds when I get a chance. It also seems that I may have the opportunity to interview quite a big local designer, so updates on that soon.

London was a shopping eye-opener for me. Spending the day at the Oxford Circus Topshop on a hangover was indeed a humbliıng experience. When I entered the gleaming doorways and was confronted by the four floors of undulating colour and texture I actually felt a little sick. And it wasn’t the prevıous night’s gin. It was sheer intimidation – how would I take it all in and actually make some decisions? Especially with an insatiable craving for orange juice and feet that already ached from the previous day’s wander round Spitalfields? Somehow, I emerged victorious. The highlight was definitely the Celine knock-off clogs I shimmied away with – super high, extra clunky, genuinely dangerous. A trip to Brick Lane later that night confirmed this, as I nearly snapped my right ankle a couple of times, although always with a smile on my face. ‘Worth it,’ I mused.

Pictures up soon, but in the meantime, a few little snapshots of things encountered along the way – Katy and I posiıng like Mods, achingly beautiful and ancient pumps at Spitalfields, Selfridge’s seductions, and a tiny sprinkle of Ottoman spice.

Junkie

Okay. You may be thinking I am obsessed, but at least I’ll admit it. I thought I’d go watch this video just one last time, and then I thought, what if there are other people that still haven’t watched it?

If you missed my Steed Lord lust the first (or second or third) time round, here it is again.

Epic style. And this morning’s Susie Bubble Reykjavik inspiration, plus this video have got me researching Iceland in a big way.

SuperKronic

Susie Bubble remains my favourite fashion blogger, for the simple fact that she actually writes.

True fashion journalism, in my opinion, is an endangered art. Sure, many more fashion lovers are taking to the web with opinions, pictures and observations, but there are few that hold true to copy-driven posts. Although I am still a real magazine devotee, and find nothing more relaxing and indulgent than spending a few hours poring over a Vogue whilst lying on my bed, feet up, it is merely the truth that more and more writers are turning to blogs as their medium.

I really believe in maintaining a journalistic standard, though, and to me, Susie achieves this daily. Couple this with her innate impishness and hedonistic style, and you get an uber-productive, creative and inspiring writer who writes like old, but lives and thinks like new. I love it. I love that she travels to far-flung places and researches designers, methods of production, fabrics and stitching. And that her approach to clothing and fashion is at once reverent and irreverent.

Her recent trip to Iceland is a great example of her hands-on immersion in the worlds and minds of designers. Whilst in Reykjavik, she spent some time at a colourful little store called Kron, run by two equally bright personalities, Hugrun and Magni.

Featuring an epic selection of playful, outlandish shoes from Sonia Rykiel, to Tsumori Chisato, to Marc by Marc Jacobs, the store is a candy-hued playground of things to look at. Their own label, Kron by KronKron, is the highlight. Shoes like you’ve never seen before – a delightful hybrid of Dr Seuss shapes meets Marie Antoinette ruffles and harmoniously incongruous colour. And with hosiery to match – legs seamed in candy-coloured strata and cross stitch cool.

With an overwhelming selection of colours and styles, it would be hard to choose a pair of Krons to call my own, but this is what Susie went with.

She also gave a sneak peek at their range of Victorian-inspired velvet dresses. And you know how I feel about velvet.

Inspiring stuff, huh? Check out the full story here.

Dressage

I’ve been noticing a little penchant for equestriana alighting on catwalks and streets alike lately.

Riding helmets with kitty ears at Givenchy, skinny leather belts knotted on hips and waists, buckle-up satchels and tassel prints galore… A sure continuation of last year’s jockey-like silhouette – riding boots, jodhpur-style trousers and elbow patches – the trend is perfectly geared for the Winter months.

Coupled with equestrian-inspired prints, buckle detailing and lots of leather, the look has a certain Sloaney luxeness that I find really appealing.

My take on the look would be to pair a prim, collared blouse with rock ‘n roll leather skirt and stacked, tasselled loafers. Schoolgirl socks add extra edge.



Stranger in a Strange Land

This exquisite shoot, fittingly entitled ‘Stranger in a Strange Land’, was featured in Vogue Nippon in 2008. I stumbled upon it this weekend, and with my imminent trip to London and Turkey (one week today!), I feel that it’s quite apt.

Featuring the eerily beautiful Carmen Kass, photographed by Yelena Yemchuk and styled by Anastasia Barbieri, the spread is a visually delightful culture clash. Alongside couture gowns and headgear, the traditional geisha kimonos actually look at home. They are as ornate, if not more beautifully constructed. The Western couture pieces attain an Oriental dimension with the inclusion of unusual head pieces and origami-like folds.

I am beyond excited for my own adventure to a foreign land. In all honesty, though, London is as foreign to me Istanbul. Even though friends have been telling me how at home I will feel there for years, the very mention of escalators criss-crossing endlessly down towards the underground is enough to raise my eyebrows.

And Istanbul?

I have decided to go completely unmoderated by influence – no research, no Lonely Planet guides, just pure, plain exploration. Indeed a stranger in a strange land. The idea of trundling unknown avenues, tasting new things and absorbing different textures is a dream, filtered through Travel Channel snippets, half-remembered pieces of music and glassy blue evil-eyes.

No-No. No.

I think it’s time for leggings to go away now.

I am tired of seeing them incorrectly worn, as they so often are. Unarguably not fit for all shapes and sizes, they seem to give many girls reason to show off things that other trousers artfully conceal (crotches, thongs, cellulite, ahem).

My main gripe, despite the fact that they really only look good on Sienna Miller-types, is the fact that they are most often worn to within an inch of their lives. And then worn again. When I say this, I’m referring to the phenomenon whereby the cotton lycra thins to the point that it produces a dappled effect across the thighs. Meaning: the world can see your legs through your pants. Meaning: throw them away! It’s not just a case of your lycra catching the light. It genuinely is a case of your pants perishing on your person.

And the other thing is that people try to get creative with them. Zips, laceups, rhinestones and more. Cut off at the calf, tucked into Uggs (Lord help us) or paired with heels for a night on the town. All this, and the trend has still long overstayed its welcome!

It also spawned a set of nightmarish sub-trends, jeggings and treggings, that are as much a visual abomination as they are a literary one. Their very names are a scar on the English language. Lindsay Lohan also launched a line dedicated specifically to leggings of all kinds… I rest my case.

The next time you don your leggings, think twice. Ask an honest friend if they can see your panties through your pants. Ensure that you have not paired calf-length leggings with shoes that stray beyond the ankle, producing a strange effect that can only (sadly) be described as squattening.

Or better yet, burn the buggers. Their tenure is up.

Anjelica

Yesterday I had the longest, most languid Sunday lunch with my great friend Olivia and her equally great mom, Lindy. Between rounds of camembert, slivers of Daim and lashings of homegrown garlic, we talked about men and women, friends and foes. And Anjelica Huston.

There are surely many other Anjelica fans out there, particularly after she reminded the world of her unusual beauty and characteristic wryness in Wes Anderson’s The Life Aquatic in 2004 (featuring the unofficial love of my life, Jeff Goldblum, who, despite persistent references by others to The Fly, remains my majestic-nosed male benchmark).

It’s certainly something to do with the fact that she was a perfectly gothic and sensual Morticia Addams, a perfectly ghastly queen witch in The Witches, and of course, a perfect muse for Zissou and Hennessey to tussle over. She does offbeat so naturally and seems to bring so much of her real self to each role.

These images of Anjelica in her younger years really demonstrate her strong-nosed, exotic-eyed beauty. Her signature fringe, regal carriage and otherworldly glamour have long been her trademarks. And let us not forget that she was once Jack Nicholson’s lover.

Anjelica is also known for her penchant for well-tailored trousers and blouses – a slightly androgynous look highlighted by her striking features and commanding posture.

Silk blouses are pretty much my favourite thing to wear – my go-to staple that I see as an alternative to T-shirts and other basics. Lately I’ve been pairing them with high-waisted trousers and belts for a real vintage silhouette. I love the combination of a light, floaty blouse with a pair of structured, masculine trousers. Anjelica-esque!

Girl Friday: Nine d’Urso

My Girl Fridays are without doubt the most regularly popular posts that I write, despite the fact that they are actually not all that regular.

To be honest, it’s because I don’t really enjoy blogging about celebrities. To me, celebrity does not equal fashion, nor style. Celebrities are just as susceptible to trends and cases of fashion misjudgement as us commoners.

Only in very rare cases do I truly admire celebrity style, as is the case with fashion non-conformists such as Chloe Sevigny, Helena Christensen, Eva Fontanelli and Shala Monroque (some of my previous Girl Fridays). And today’s Girl Friday, Nine d’Urso, is another Girl Friday in the making.

Already being hailed as the epitome of the contemporary Parisienne, Nine’s sharp-jawed, sloe-eyed beauty can be linked directly to her mother. The daughter of Karl Lagerfeld muse and supermodel Ines de la Fressange, Nine inherited more than just her mom’s good looks. She also inherited Ines’ unmistakably French sense of style – a devotion to good quality basics and excellent cuts.

Nine is set to become the face of Bottega Veneta’s very first fragrance later this year. Keep an eye out for this 17 year old beauty!

Told ya so.

Yesterday I remarked that the florid and overtly nautical prints used in many of Versace’s early 90’s campaigns are experiencing a welcome revival. I myself recently nabbed a particularly luxe Rah-Rah Room arrival – a silk mustard drape of a blouse featuring an excessively equestrian print.

I think Givenchy’s A/W 2011 collection is the perfect example of this mini resurrection – similarly styled prints peeking out on collars, chests and hemlines, all accented with tactile touches of leather, PVC and my favourite, velvet. And those catgirl riding helmets?

Yes please!

Very Versace

These early 90’s Versace print ads featuring some of the original supermodels – Christy Turlington, Linda Evangelista, Helena Christensen, Claudia Schiffer, Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford – are my official inspiration for the week.

Bright and bombastic, they are such a great visual representation of the confidence and optimism of that time. In Afrikaans I believe the word is ‘bont’ – colourful, OTT, attention-seeking.

These characteristically bright and overly printed blouses are experiencing such a great revival!

Golden.

Ever since the recent and fortuitous advent of this pair of perfect vintage Crockett & Jones shoes making their way into my life, I have become a little obsessed with men’s shoes on women.

When I wear them I feel like such a tomboy, and I love the contrast of their sturdy, well-worn clunkiness with a printed frock or a diaphanous silk blouse. It feels like I could walk anywhere; like I could jump in puddles, click my heels together and tap my toe jauntily. They’re as perfect for skipping as they are for striding.

These metallic babies by Raf Simons for Doc Martens caught my eye whilst browsing men’s shoes online. I have always been a sucker for metallic shoes, in particular for that ghetto shade of yellow gold that adds an element of circus and ceremony to an outfit. The tri-colour metallic hightops are also unbelievable – the classic Doc shape, gilded.

Perfection.

Etceterah

Thanks to all who attended my third Rah-Rah Room sale at the end of last month – girls walked away with Club Med jumpsuits, silk pencil skirts, Breton stripes and vintage denim… but I had such a big haul of stuff, that there is lots left!
 
I have subsequently decided to hold another sale this Saturday for those that missed out. It will be my last sale until the end of May (which will mark the unveiling of my London and Istanbul finds!) so get your derriere to the Rah and clean up before someone else beats you to it!
 
Saturday, 9 April, 11:00 – 2:00pm
 
For a glimpse of the lovelies that are left (the vintage in particular), see here.
 
Big Rah Love.

Glitter Feed

Lately I’ve been noticing tantalizing little splashes of glitter here and there: sparkle-encrusted heels and glimmering shades at Miu Miu Fall 2011, disco ball Jeffrey Campbell platforms on many of the well-shod, and glitter-gilded eyelids and nails at Jeremy Scott Fall 2011. Reams of glitter-spangled lurex also make an appearance in the video for Steed Lord’s If You Want Me, which, in my opinion, is the next big thing.

Signs like these have led to a sneaking suspicion that the trend will expand to include things other than accessories, and I’m really excited because I’m a lifelong disco devotee. The BeeGees, The Trampps, rollerskates, spangled short-shorts and bangs… It’s something about the underlying groove and the slinky sexiness of the 70’s – Saturday Night Fever John Travolta just does me in. And doesn’t glitter just go hand-in-hand with that era?

Glitter anklets with heels made a comeback a little while ago, and I even saw a really great pink pair with scalloped edges at Woolworths recently. The fact that glitter made a shimmering appearance at Miu Miu (ever the edgy) is most telling. The glitter-panelled mules look like a Confetti System collaboration (whom I wrote about here). And that makes me happy.

I’m also quite partial to Jeffrey Campbell’s fully-encrusted boots, which are like celestial disco darlings, lighting up the darkness on the dance floor. And these blue and red babies are like Red Riding Hood fetish shoes, and they also make me happy. One could only strut.

As far as glitter dusted eyes and lips go, they remind me of edgy, glamorous like Roisin Murphy and Alison Goldfrapp – always a good thing.

My trip to London will hopefully serve to confirm my glitter inkling. In the meantime, let your eyes alight on all these be-glittered glories.

Top Deck

I’m so taken with these Spring 2011 Prada platform oxfords.

They combine a classic shape with some serious rockabilly attitude, and I love the mixing of mediums – leather with foam and rubber. The unisex aspect is also really cool. And boys in platforms? I like it. They remind me of a pair of dress shoes I saw recently – leather wingtips with a glossy cerulean slick of a sole that looked like it was made of vinyl.

It’s kind of like that amusing old adage ‘business in the front, party in the back’, except it’s top and bottom, and there are no mullets involved (Amen).

Out of Africa

A month or so ago Mnet Star (my favourite TV channel by far for its devotion to offbeat and mainstream classics) screened Out of Africa. I watched it every single time it came on that month, so taken was I by Meryl’s exquisite colonial wardrobe and the epic romance that develops between her and the free spirited Denys, played by a dapper Robert Redford.

If you haven’t seen it, do yourself a favour. It is truly heartbreaking and oh so beautiful. The true story of the life of Karen Blixen, a Danish woman that moves to Africa to marry, Out of Africa is a visual archive of early 20^th century style. An arranged marriage to a man she does not love, and who is happier off hunting with the locals than back at the homestead, Karen soon swaps her prim lace, silk and skirts for more hard-wearing linen and leather. As beautiful as her dresses are – elaborate, embellished and full – the transition is just the best. Structured shirts, wide-brimmed hats, men’s trousers and other masculine trappings – ties, boots, blazers and bandannas. The change is symbolic of Karen’s reclamation of her independence, and a statement against her philandering husband.

I love the idea of clothing being a visual metaphor for how one is feeling – how colour plays such a role in the way we perceive people, and how we wear certain things around certain people. It allows an element of dress-up to exist in day-to-day dressing. And it shows how powerful dressing can be.

I recently posted Lina Plioplyte and Ari Seth Cohen’s short film, Advanced Style. In it, one of the women says that people treat you differently when you are well dressed. I thought that was such an interesting and a true statement. It is often said that very beautiful or good looking people get treated differently – whether in a more or less favourable way. It follows that the way you clothe yourself will also have an impact on how you are treated. I really like that idea.