January is a difficult month: cash-strapped, cold, a bit overweight, and generally deprived of daylight. So hooray for the frivolous fashion explosion that is the Golden Globes. Perfect timing – thank you, Hollywood!
Star billing this year went to someone who is perhaps not technically our demographic, but who is nonetheless an embodiment of the classic, elegant grace that we aspire to at InnerMutton. His wife scrubs up pretty well too – even if she is a bit too young to be an official Role Model.
That Dior dress was the big winner of the night, along with the gloves, which spawned many column inches this morning.
Here… have some more tonic:
Two lovely redheads in beautifully constructed dresses: Amy Adams and Jessica Chastain both chose colours which emphasised the warmth of their striking natural colouring.
And Helen Mirren looked positively joyous: brim-full of confidence. Well, why not? As usual, she was an inspiration.
And finally, another imposter – practically a child. I do love Lupita’s style: it’s just a little bit barmy, but tasteful at the same time. What fun!
Remember when jewellery came in two colours: gold or silver?
Well, a round of applause please for rose gold. I know that not all of you enjoy exploring the High Street (be it Kensington or elsewhere) but for those who do, this is a shopportunity if ever I saw one!
Just as beaten copper and mirror-finish brass are the prodigal metals of interior design, so smoky-grey gold and fire-toned rose gold are adding warmth to winter wardrobes.
They can be pretty and feminine, as seen in the Tiffany images above, or more strikingly new and carefree, as seen at Marc Jacobs via ASOS below:
I wouldn’t saddle myself with commitment jewellery in what is a rather trendy finish. So if you’re asking, it’s still platinum for me. But for warming up winter blacks in early 2105, and with a view to some summer dressing-up fun, rose gold could be right on the money.
If I were asked to design a bathroom (or any other room involving brassware: taps, traps, towel rails, etc.) I would not dream of mixing my metals. You don’t want brass? Okay, well then nickel or chrome, perhaps? Certainly not the two together!
There are some aspects of interior design that are non-negotiable. Good grief, I can’t sleep in a room where the hinges don’t match the door handles!
The same rule applies to personal presentation.
I am not just referring to jewellery: this is a multi-layered problem.
Here is something that makes me very happy: the buckles on my Fiorentini & Baker boots match the clasp (and other metal parts) of my Mulberry handbag:
I regard these as outer wrapping: I am not so pernickety that I would never wear white metal jewellery as part of this outfit. But as a rule I try to match my shoe metal to my bag, and similarly any jewellery I wear always comes from one metal family only.
My current favourite day wear includes a combination of white-coloured metal in the form of a steel watch and Hermes chaine d’ancre silver bracelet worn on the same wrist:
Between you and me, the Rolex is actually a bit of a fantasy (hint to Editor) and I am pretty happy with the Sekonda that is currently standing in for the part of lead watch:
I hope the point is clear. No gold rings, necklaces or earrings worn as part of this ensemble.
Non-negotiable.
Showing my age here, but I am still a little bit hung up on Julia Robert’s wardrobe in the film Pretty Woman.
If you’re like me the words ‘Polo Dress’ will instantly bring a certain scene to mind:
If you have never seen Pretty Woman, then I suggest you stop reading now and watch it immediately.
True, the hat and gloves were a bit 1990 (yes, we’re reaching back 25 years here!) but I think that Julia’s look has aged better than Richard’s, and that that dress is still a winner.
I was reminded of it this morning when LK Bennett pinged me some of their new season product which includes this navy/white dress (with pockets, and fuller in the skirt in keeping with the current trend):
If you have ankles like Naomi Watts (I’m now thinking Painted Veil) this would make a great ‘day’ look teamed with Hobbs white brogues (or see these from M&S) Toast handbag, Dorothy Perkins skinny tan belt, and Pure cashmere cardigan. I’ve thrown a Panama Hat Mall fedora in for the full Julia Roberts effect. But I could also be persuaded to go all Grace Kelly with a long, floaty scarf.
Sadly, Santa didn’t bring me chiselled ankles, so until I’ve saved the money for the ankleplasty, I’ll stick to boots until the weather warms up – this is a transitional dress that will take me right through until the summer. So the adjusted look is:
with Boden boots, Van-Dal Dylan clutch, and Maison Boinet leather bow belt.
Who doesn’t need a classic camel coat? Still available from Jaeger in sizes 8-18 and now at an almost affordable £249 (down from £499), but probably best if you are tall.
Despite taking pride in being an increasingly inclusive and non-judgmental society, it seems we Brits have an obsession with class – yes, still.
It’s one that the BBC has gratuitously exploited this autumn with a series of fascinating documentaries about the inner workings of The Tatler: a magazine which serves the gilded upper strata of British society and chronicles their comings-and-goings (Posh People: Inside Tatler, BBC2).
The star of this show is the polished and fresh-faced editor Kate Reardon (46) who by sleight of career gives the impression that custodianship of an iconic British magazine has just dropped in her lap while she sits on and stifles a powerhouse CV that includes a number of ‘youngest-evers’ at Conde Nast both in NY and London. A veritable broiling crucible from which to have popped out on top. Hello!
Always impeccably turned out, she makes an interesting study, Ms Reardon. If you are currently slobbing around in your jim-jams, waiting on New Year and looking for a sartorial shove I’d recommend you catch up with Kate on the iPlayer!
The best news this week – universally welcomed in our household – is that Monica Bellucci will play one of Daniel Craig’s love interests in ‘Spectre’, the next instalment in the Bond franchise.
The lovely Monica holds poll position on the Editor’s freebie list, but I’m still celebrating … because Monica is 50!
At 28 years old, the average Bond Girl is 14 years younger than the average Bond, but this time round Craig (46) will have an age-appropriate playmate, so I can’t refuse this new addition to the Role Model page!
I am a big fan of Marks and Spencer. As with any long-term relationship we’ve had our ups and downs, even the odd trial separation; but I always end up coming back.
One of the reasons I like M&S is that every season they produce a handful of products which, dressed up with smart accessories and paired with higher-end product, punch well above their weight. Items that look like designer product but cost a fraction of the price.
Here is a current example (also available in petite).
Now, we don’t know each other very well yet, but I am going to have to ask you to trust me here. I know it doesn’t present brilliantly in this photo but it really is very stylish, with lovely heavy wool. It looks great undone, just hanging open. Screw up your eyes and imagine it over a black or grey turtleneck and slim pants: it looks like multiples of its £149 price tag, and it has a timeless appeal.
A bit more of-the-moment is this fabulous “ombre” black/white faux fur – it looks great in the flesh too:
And finally, how about an on-trend bottle green coat. The M&S Best of British range has this classic collarless coat:
Very cosy, especially when topped off with a warm scarf – a worthy rival for Hobbs’ coat of the season, which comes with built-in scarf:
Hooray for the happy news that Dame Helen Mirren is the new face of L’Oreal!
At 69 years old, she says “I am not gorgeous, I never was, but I was always OK-looking and I’m keen to stay that way.” This article in the Guardian describes her as “genuine, intelligent and glamorous, with looks that seem only to improve with the passing of time” and celebrates with a round-up of some of the other over-50s who are promoting cosmetics companies: Julianne Moore and Jane Fonda have worked with L’Oreal, Charlotte Rampling and Tilda Swinton with Nars, Susan Sarandon with Revlon, and Jessica Lange with Marc Jacobs.
Dame Helen isn’t a classic beauty but women like her make being older aspirational. Not long ago even the world’s most beautiful women found themselves becoming invisible at 40. Maybe, just maybe, the tide is finally turning.
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