Category: Coats
Minted x
It’s what you need when the temperature drops below freezing and the dark nights draw in…
Because Shrimps is the hot chocolate, woolly socks, slightly eccentric hygge of the winter fashion world.
(All pics Shrimp)
Distinctive and dotty with a taste for fun, it’s a bright, cuddly light.
Laters, Kate x
Winter Warmers x
Legends of the Fall x
Vintage Navajo Blanket Coat
Still loving these coats so it feels apt to post about them again… x
I’ve always found it a little bit distressing that just as the summer hits a decent stride thoughts start turning to autumn (mine included). For us in Northern Europe there’s a gradual accumulation of layers and making sure shoes don’t leak (hashtag cold feet)..
So how do you choose your Fall wardrobe? Worn on a piece of chewed up paper? Filling in the gaps of what has died? Or do you have a carefully sifted gallery of designer offerings from which to hitch your aspirations to?
For me it’s a sifting of the mental margin notes of anything that has fluttered my heart during the year and then trying to find them or their equivalents…and the pictures of snowy NY Fashion Week still play in my mind. I loved the blankets worn as scarves, the capes over coats but belted at the waist..everything felt warm, practical but with an unexpected added artisanal chic.
Which triggered, I suspect a sense of strong desire when I first found all these pictures of vintage Navajo blanket coats on Ebay last February? Anyway..some time ago and I fell in lust…
Classic with a kick.
A foxtrot at a bohemian campfire.
But maybe there’s not the same appeal for blanket coats across the pond? Maybe they’re a little bit passe…I just don’t know…maybe for you it’s the equivalent of Laura Ashley and bad tweed for us??
But I had to get me a piece..and this one is MINE!
I’m very ready to make a winter statement..coats are very special…but how many can you actually ride into the sunset?
Laters, Kate x
Haunted x
Hunter, an authentic British heritage brand beloved of the posh, festival goers and anyone inbetween: It’s the mainstream label with proper appeal and sits on it’s tartan wingback armchair like a curled, sleeping cat.
There’s much to love: simplicity, versatility, a sense of tradition mixed with a slick, modern attitude.
And yet I have a gripe (I suspect it’s to do with old age)
Take a product like a mac or a wellington boot (both things Hunters do particularly well). Part of their appeal is their adaptability and flexibility…so why do their products have to be divided ‘mens’ ‘womens’ ‘girls’ and ‘boys’? Why this continual need to introduce psychological barriers to choice?
I’m starting to think that the division of the sexes is a background noise that all too often we just accept and that it’s insidious reach starts when are children and impressionable: Boys uniform, girls uniform, pretty school shoes for the girls, practical ones for the boys, netball for the girls, rugby for the boys. And I can see the result of this in all the adults associated with school: The parents that are class reps for the school?…all women. The contact emails for playdates?..are for all the women – even if they work full time as well. If a child was sick..the school would phone the mother regardless of whether she was the main breadwinner or not. Pick up and drop off? This is more mixed..but it’s certainly not equal.
If we want true liberty of thought and equal treatment of the sexes then little things like unnecessary labels really do need to matter. And Fashion (with a capital ‘f’) is in the perfect place to take the first steps forward.
Laters, Kate x
Fast and Furious
What represents a classic is a nebulous subject given to much prowling and column inches. But the timeless biker jacket has to be up there enthroned in a glowing light – just the heat it lets off is thrilling.
It plays like a whisper on your shoulders – something casually flung over a light as a butterfly silk dress..
Or worn with nonchalant macho power and high voltage control.
It’s a well oiled machine and I’m surprised I haven’t got one.
…Doesn’t mean I’m not looking..
Laters, Kate x
Charlie boy..
It was two years ago I wrote this post about my Charlie. To briefly re-cap it was to honour his sense of self and lack of inhibitions, particularly when it came to clothes..but I wondered how long it would last – there’s a big difference between 5 and 7. However I believe the photo above: Charlie holding a shell he found himself on an exploration round a rocky headland whilst illustrating his love of a fine sarong proves that nothing has yet changed..
He’ll happily have flowers in his hair..
Or braids. (When the girls had their hair braided..so did Charlie..)
When we did a wander around Covent Garden and Soho, to both find the BFG dream jars..and do a sneaky vintage shop trawl. All Charlie wanted was his own bow tie!
We did another shop, getting ready for the new term…he chose and black felt cap with ears (which he then wore to the Oval for the England v Pakistan test match)
A bag with pink tassels, a polka dot shirt and a sheepskin lined embroidered jacket..
All from Zara girl! (far better colours than the boys section I was told)
I think he’s going to be OK – they haven’t subverted him yet!
Long may it last!
Laters, Kate x
Mac and Tosh..
Parodying the great words of Truman Capote and Holly Golightly.. would you reach in the drawer there and hand me my purse as no girl should write this without lipstick…
And no girl should be out in London in the changeable month of April without a Macintosh (and preferably a vintage Burberry one)
In this fast spinning world of trends it remains the epitome of a timeless stalwart.
I so need one in my wardrobe – a need and a want. I think I spotted a rack of them (possibly not Burberry’s but who knows..) in Camden Lock when I went with the kids…but there was no time to forage..
Sigh. I’m thinking of the future and speaking of the past..which possibly defines the word ‘Classic’. Get me back to Camden..
Laters, Kate x
6 Facts…
1. It’s warm enough in London to wear shoes without socks but that doesn’t stop me looking at winter coats and dreaming.
1. I received a beautiful vintage tea-towel in the post today. More info and pics to follow, but thank you Kerry!
3. We have no toilet.
4. Charlie is making paper decorations as I type…but only if I tell him he’s the best cutter in the world. On a regular basis.
5. We’re going to my mother’s for lunch..and to use the facilities..
6. If you’re lucky enough to have any flex in your Christmas budget, Net-a-porter (where all these coats are from) is having the most amazing 50% off sale. Almost makes the prices human…
Laters, Kate x
The Inbetweeners x
If we Brits are obsessed with the weather it’s with good reason: On Friday it was a barmy sixteen degrees..on Saturday, it snowed (OK it didn’t hang around but it wasn’t a figment of a vivid imagination either..) which possibly explains why we’re all so preoccupied with layers and wearing coats that remind us of beds.
Because the quilt is having a quiet spin in the limelight, perfect as a stand alone or working it’s magic as a sartorial hot water bottle under a top coat, it’s one of those under-the-radar-winter-must-haves.
And Amsterdam based Company Scotch and Soda have some of the best…
Casual or smart.
Often reversible.
They’re adaptable, transitional and just a little bit different.
Another addition it to the winter uniform list of lust.
Laters, Kate x
Man-spiration..
There’s no way to select life with silver tongs – no matter how much you want something, it doesn’t always happen. But you can always react to it. For instance, the Husband’s work has been a turdstool since forever, with it being even more ridiculous in the last few months and no sign of change. I did suggest we saw this as an opportunity to throw life on it’s head and middle-class caution to the wind and head off in a camper van to the deep, dark unknown.
He said, ‘Seriously Kate…’
And I said,’Yes, seriously..the window of opportunity to take the kids out of school is closing and if we don’t do it soon, we might never be able to..’
‘No, I meant, seriously Kate, who’s mid-life crisis is this?’
So I haven’t got the keys to the camper van just yet, but that hasn’t stopped the constant thoughts of simplicity providing a goldfish loop of white noise in my brain space, whether it’s interiors, clothes, people or life.
Maybe that’s why these outfits are so appealing – they’re not big, brash and laden with special effects.
(All pictures from Pinterest and Browns)
Just clear and present. Simple.
Laters, Kate x
Maison Bentley Style 