TEXTURE Nowhere do the rules say an outfit has to stay on the same page. There are limitless options of fabric, embellishment and finish for adding tactile and visual variety to a look. Put satin with suede or mohair, tweed with embroidery, faux fur with crystals, or brocade with snakeskin or lace. There’s fun to be had with unexpected mixing and the oddest textural splicings can generate the best fashion chemistry. Gucci embroidered patchwork waistcoat, $13,190, and silk dress, $3180. 046 | mindfoodstyle.com Fashion’s horizons have never been broader. To dress up, pare down, time out or lean in, you’re spoilt for choice with a world of fresh designs, reworked classics and a melange of textures and fabrics. WORDS DANIELLE SEITZ PHOTOGRAPHY LIZ HAM STYLING JOLYON MASON HAIR & MAKE-UP SOPHIE ROBERTS STYLE SYNDICATE
Transcript
TE X TURENowhere do the rules say an outfit has to stay on the same page. There are limitless options of fabric, embellishment and finish for adding tactile and visual variety to a look. Put satin with suede or mohair, tweed with embroidery, faux fur with crystals, or brocade with snakeskin or lace. There’s fun to be had with unexpected mixing and the oddest textural splicings can generate the best fashion chemistry.
Gucci embroidered patchwork waistcoat, $13,190, and silk dress, $3180.
046 | mindfoodstyle.com
Fashion’s horizons have never been broader. To dress up, pare down, time out or lean in, you’re spoilt for choice with a world of fresh designs, reworked classics and a melange of textures and fabrics. WORDS DANIELLE SEITZ PHOTOGR APHY LIZ HAM STYLING JOLYON MASON HAIR & MAKE-UP SOPHIE ROBERTS
STYLE SYNDICATE
KEY TRENDS
THE SMOCK DRESS It might never be the go-to look for a job interview, hot date or church wedding, but the smock dress is probably what you wish you could have worn instead. Once the portal into a kick-your-heels-o� downtime zone, about as far from “fashion” as you could get, the smock has moved up a gear. Thanks to Raf Simons, Christian Dior’s smock dresses have a stylish femininity, a timeless modernity and a coy sexiness that reminds us there’s nothing wrong with playing it girlie.
Christian Dior embroidered cotton dress, $9500, and boots, $4000. Sheridan “Deluxe Dream” queen size quilt, $269.95, and “Ultralux European” pillow, $89.95.
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THE WINTER COATYour poor coat. Not only does it throw itself between you and the biting winter cold, it also takes one for the team as the most disposable player of your ensemble, being simply cast aside a�er seeing you safely to your destination. But, as with footwear, it’s worth paying it attention. That coat you fling onto a hook and ignore for the rest of the day can virtually work as a look in its own right. So invest in one you’ll love – whether a long A-line, a trench or a cape – and let it take centre stage whenever you step outdoors.
Cooper By Trelise Cooper “Brown Eyed Girl” coat, $699; Prada briefs, $160, and shoes, $2780.
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BE AUT Y NOTEAn embellished dress calls for striking eye make-up, balanced with a so� lip shade and light coverage for fresh-looking skin. Try L’Oréal Paris Nude Magique BB Cream, $29.99.
Prada “Tussah Fiamta” top, $2780, and earrings, $775.
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THE EVENING DRESSWith eveningwear, the let-your-hair-down fun starts when designers let their creativity go to town. There might only be a few basic templates but all can carry the design baton far. The bustier-plus-fishtail is an award-ceremony stalwart; the little cocktail dress goes to all the black-tie dos; and low-cut column dresses get hot dates with everyone from Jean Harlow to Courtney Love to Cate Blanchett. Eveningwear is having the time of its life.
Alex Perry “Iyana” lace gown, $1975.
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THE ONE-SHOULDER DRESSIs there a better example of “less is more” than the one-shoulder dress? Put it next to its strapless cousin and the latter exudes the safe respectability of bridalwear, waiting for a meringue skirt and a veil. But the former, even with less bare skin, is all nonchalant, asymmetrical, accidental sexiness. The look hit adolescence with the sulky brashness of a slipped bra strap in the ’80s (thanks, Debbie Harry); now designers have spotted its potential and it’s truly come of age.
Zambesi dress, $295; Gucci suede boots, $1600.
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THE CROP TOPFew garments divide us into love/hate camps quite as much as the crop top. Haters relegate it to gym poseurs or pre-teen boy-band fans; lovers celebrate the summery bare-if-you-dare joie de vivre that entices you to jump into fountains fully clothed. It started with Louis Vuitton’s SS13 collection, now more designers are tackling crops with the creative relish they normally reserved for blouses and dresses.
Miu Miu “Cloque” top, $1120, and “Cloque Ramage” skirt, $2910.
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EMBELLISHMENT“Less is more”. If ever there were a fashion mantra that ought to learn its place, it’s the concept that minimalist restraint is the natural order. Sure, there are times when nothing is more apt than the simple man-style pant or plain white T-shirt. But then there are times when your day calls for a Gucci broderie anglaise leather dress, or a jewel-encrusted lace gown by Dolce & Gabbana, or a coat of appliquéd leather and snakeskin from Alexander McQueen. It’s details that say “come take a closer look”, the fine print you read for pleasant surprises. Less of less-is-more, and more – much more – of more, please.
Maticevski “Exhale” gown, $4500.
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TALL BOOTSIt can be easy to choose footwear as an a�erthought and forget it can play one of the most crucial roles in bringing an outfit together as a whole. Just as well, then, that this season’s knee-high boots make it impossible to underrate the importance of what we put on our feet. Louis Vuitton’s patchwork mid-heel boots could sign o� any look with an A-line mini-skirt; Christian Dior’s knitted elastic boots work with long full skirts; Gucci’s suede earth-toned boots complete a look based around knee-length pants or skirts. Yes, these boots were made for talking about.
Sportmax “Selz” shirt, $1013, and “Memo” dress, $1840; Max Mara “Balsam” boots, $1013.
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BRODERIE ANGL AISE There are times when all our best outfits seem to have been pinched from the boys: a YSL Le Smoking suit, a Gucci brogue, an Equipment shirt … and then there are times when we think, to hell with blurring gender boundaries, I want something unambiguously, exclusively, utterly feminine. One of the season’s best turn-tos for that statement is broderie anglaise. The technique has wa�ed ethereally to and fro into fashion over the centuries (bringing like-minded looks such as crochet, cutwork and embroidery), lending its tougher-than-it-looks prettiness to dresses, tops and skirts. Floral, but not for shrinking violets, it says, “Who needs to wear pants to show you’re in control?”
Zimmermann “Tarot Celestial” dress, $2600. Model: Emily Baker at Priscillas Models. Photographer’s assistant: Elle Green. Digital operation: Sheree Porter. For stockists see page 316.
