the french wardrobe - summer

'Ah summer, what power you have to make us suffer... and like it.' 

Russel Baker

We are in the midst of winter, even if the temperatures here don't reflect it (which is very annoying, FYI, going out with a coat and tights and then having to peel them both off because of the bright sun), and now seems like as good a time as any to revisit my 4-5 piece french wardrobe for summer. In terms of my last post i have purchased almost all of the items i was looking for, and many more besides, and even since then my style has subtly evolved. Some of them i saw, tried on, and then re-thought. This was the case with the pierre hardy for gap ankle boots that sportsgirl is currently shamelessly copying (down to the elasticated insert and all). I tried them on and though i love them off my foot, they just didn't work *tear*. I am still looking for a coral necklace that doesn't come with a 4 figure Lanvin price tag, and elbow length leather gloves too. But these can wait, for now we must turn our sights to warmer weather. This Summer i am looking for 2 trend driven pieces and 3 forever pieces. Let's see how i'll go. 

1. The Drop Crotch Harem Pant

topshop, topshop boutique, warehouse

I know... If my 6 months younger self saw me now, she wouldn't recognise me. If you ask any of my friends they would tell you that I am the most ardent opposer of the harem pant in our circle, and that girls who have purchased the aforementioned pant they have tried to hide it from me so that I wouldn't yell at them and shame them publicly. And i know that i am terribly late to this party, but i have only recently come around to the joys of the harem pant. I tried a pair on in some cheap australian chain and though they were not perfect, they were fascinating. In a drapey black cotton they were bizarrely slimming, comfortable, and shamelessly glamorous. Hitting mid calf they weren't the right length for me (trinny and susannah have taught me that for girls with even a semblance of a leg it's knee or nothing) but i was definitely intrigued. And then Brigadeiro's post on the topic showing you how to wear the harem pant cinched the deal. I wanted a pair for myself. 

The biggest question for me is what style exactly. While i do like the drapey, cotton loose style i also like the idea of the tapered in at the calf style. Methinks they may not be as flattering though. They are infinitely more glamorous though, and definitely more formal. The problem with the loose styles is that they can come off very casual. They remind me of some sort of yoga pant or fisherman's bottoms for some reason. Regardless there are a myriad of harem pants out there, and a pair for everyone, as trite as that may seem. 

Decision:  A trend that i must experience, and one that i probably will enjoy. 

Cost: cheap. I'm not wasting good money on something that could make me look like MC Hammer. 

Most likely buy: the Topshop pleated draped number.  Topshop always pulls through for me, and it's better to go with the least confronting style first before taking the plunge. 

2. Leather Skirt 

miu miu, acne

While not necessarily screaming summer, i want this trend item and i want it now. I've been searching for a leather skirt for a while now, and feel that it would be such a great addition to my wardrobe. Unfortunately when it comes to skirts i have a pretty strict list of features that must be adhered to. I don't do short. I'm just not that kind of girl (with not those kind of legs), and i would want this skirt to hit knee at least. So that rules out all the abundance of leather skirts from the 80s... damn. I also don't have the budget at the moment to stretch to new, designer leather (no matter how much i would like). It's vintage and thrift here all the way. 

Pencil level is ideal. I was reading Harpers Bazaar AUS August yesterday and thinking about how great a leather pencil skirt could be with an oversized distressed bassike tee, my loose blazer and a cool necklace. If the skirt had been made of cotton that would be an outfit bordering on business woman, but with leather it's rock chic all the way. And i kind of love that, how this material can muddy the sartorial waters a bit and throw things off kilter. If i had the legs to pull off leather pants believe you me i would never take them off. I'll have to make do with skirts though. 

Decision: no-brainer. give me one STAT. 

cost: i want it to be cheap, but i know that it won't be. And as soon as i find the perfect one i will fork out as much as is necessary to make it happen.

most likely buy: thrifted and a little kitsch. 

3. Linen Safari Jacket

tagsafari, jodie kidd, alberta ferreti, debenhams

This jacket has eluded me for so long. I've wanted one for a long time, even hacking a linen shirt of mine to jacket length in a vain attempt to recreate the look (it failed miserably). I don't really know why i want one so much, i suppose it might stem from some last vestiges of my 1920s hysteria in which i attempted to recreate the outfits of Idina Sackville-West and Karen Blixen living a life of 'white mischief' in Africa pairing their Vionnet drop waist sheaths with a safari jacket and tennis shoes. I just think that the Linen Safari jacket is Summer's answer to the oversized man blazer of the leather biker jacket - It's perfect for keeping cool, storing all your things and adding a sense of casual Lauren Hutton -esque chic to your everyday wardrobe. 

Imagine it, paired with a breton style striped top and a pair of ripped boyfriend jeans, or if the weather is even hotter a long, rippling black skirt and a loose crop top. Perfect.

Decision: yes please! I want to BE Lauren Hutton. 

Cost: hopefully not that much, the higher end of high street, peut-etre?

most likely buy: Country Road. They haven't failed me for the classic pieces updated, and i'm hoping they'll have a safari jacket (last year they didn't). If they don't then Witchery will.

4. Espadrilles

old navy, stella mccartney, christian louboutin, kanna, karen millen, christian louboutin

Ever since the mother of a dear friend of mine raised the possibility of a european summer in Nice and Monaco next year i can't get my mind off the espadrilles. Surely they, along with a glowing tan, a striped top and short skirt and a diamond as big as the ritz are the pre-requisites for any sojourn in that region. Although they may not fit in with the glamorous evening wear i have already planned (think a revisit of my 18th birthday that saw me exiting my uncle's fabulous sports car in a Casino Royale esque black evening gown with paste jewellery and a clutch bag) they will go perfectly with blood red toenails and a swimsuit while i lounge poolside with a mojito. 

I used to have a pair of espadrilles once. I bought them for myself from Witchery at the tender age of 14, thinking that they would go with my style (boho chic, they didn't) and promptly returned them 2 weeks later. THey are the exact kind i'm looking for now, a raffia/rope wedge heel, high enough to make me seem as tall as any swiss banker in the region, with the toe, heel and tie up ribbons in a gros grain ribbon that i'm not too fussy on the colour front. These espadrilles were brown, but i'll accept anything in the colour spectrum that's not too bright. Preferably red, black, brown or cream though, to fit in with the clothes i already have. 

Decision: i want them a lot, but they seem like the kind of thing that when i try them on i may change my mind about. I'm not the beachiest of persons, and don't they look a bit silly when paired with everyday non-beachy outfits? 

Cost: I wish my budget could extend to a Louboutin pair, i've heard they are a dream to wear, but sadly i'll have to wait. Cheeaaapppp. 

Most likely buy: Witchery, anyone? 

5. Silk Tee

kain, louis vuitton, rag and bone, vanessa bruno athe, clu, kain

Mmmmm silk. There's nothing quite like the feeling of silk against your skin. And i think that in the heat of summer a little bit of cool, liquidy, mercurial fabric is perfect to tone down the humidity woes. The silk tee hasn't been on my fashion radar at all this year, but now i think about it, it is just the kind of item that i would love - classic practically with just a hint of shameless luxury. 

The pairings would be endless, and even better, it would move seamlessly from day to night and from summer to winter. It would look great tucked in or out with the harem pants and my alexa chung gladiator sandals. It would look fabulous loosely tucked into a form-fitting jersey long skirt. It could be paired in and out with jeans, any kind of jacket, and would go that extra step than a tee shirt to make the outfit chic and cool. And i think that you would feel that much better in a silk skirt. I'm a firm believer in the whole surround yourself with the good things in life as much as you possibly can, practical hedonism in a way. Good food, good wine, beautiful cocktails, the literature and art (posters/postcards), films and theatre experiences that tickle your tastebuds, tantalise senses and encourage betterment. Clothes are merely another aspect of this practical hedonism, and if you can't afford to have beautiful glamorous things all the time have lovely things most of the time. 

Decision: yes, of course. No questions asked. 

cost: splurging on this baby. Only the best for me!

 most likely buy: i love the look of the Kain tee shirts (silk blend) and the rag and bone number (pure silk baby). That coral colour is also perfect for summer, nothing like a little ocean-based colour combos to bring in the hot weather. 

These items will, i hope, fit in well with what i already have as summer staples: My abundance of crop tops in a rainbow of colours (perfect over full skirts), my long, loose and cool (temperature wise) floor length skirts in the manner of MK Olsen, my gladiator sandals, my breton striped tops, my various loose cotton tee shirts, my ray ban sunglasses (best vintage find EVER in the bottom of my dad's shoe rack, not a dime spent and over $200 saved!), my loose and airy overshirts (best for hiding arms and providing layers) such as my vintage lanvin floral one, sheer twenty8twelve emerald crepe de chine, sea green lisa ho and sheer white, cocktail rings and beachy necklaces, armfuls of chunky resin based jewelry (mostly bangles and cuffs but some necklaces too), the BEST swimming costume ever designed, a 1950s style that flatters and is lovely too. Various make up shades in summery goodness from Nars bronzer in Laguna to my newly purchased sea green nailpolish and sheeny chanel eye product that makes your eyes glow. 

As you may have noticed this wardrobe is devoid of that summer staple in sydney: denim cut offs. THe reason for that is that i've only recently decided to rekindle my denim love affair, and i don't think i'm ready for denim cut-offs just yet, in any way shape or form. I do love seeing other people do them well though! Instead of denim cut offs for me it's the long skirt in variations of black, white, patterned (josh goot's tye dye masterpiece), full and sleek. Paired with an oversized loose tee-shirt or crop top and a cool jacket (safari, perhaps?) the outfit is nearly complete. 

A spritz of Marc Jacobs Daisy (a summer perfume if ever i saw one) and i'll be good to go!

X

ps. what's on your summer wardrobe list? forever pieces or trend-driven now stuff?