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!
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.
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