La Parisienne – Famous French Style

Oh I think you know where I’m going with this…PARIS fashion week kicked off yesterday so right now is a good time to brush up on that French je ne sais quoi in all its forms.

To honour Fashion Week here are some Frencheccentric trendsetters of yesteryear and today worth taking note of. Starting with:

Josephine Baker

Nightclub performer Josephine Baker might have been American by birth, but she came as close to being a proper Parisian as a foreigner could get, becoming a Chevalier of the Légion d’honneur after World War II. (Charles de Gaulle himself bestowed the honor upon her.) Baker first arrived in Paris in 1925, gaining acclaim for her sultry dances at the Folies Bergère. Her costumes were as famous as her moves, too—her banana skirt ensembles inspired a Prada collection, while her sheer crystal dresses were a reference for Rihanna’s unforgettable see-through CFDA look. Today, you’ll find traces of Baker in some of Spring’s more soigné slip dresses.

Anouk Aimée

French actress Anouk Aimée is perhaps most famous for her Golden Globe winning role in Claude Lelouch’s 1966 A Man and a Woman, but her offscreen style was just as noteworthy as her career-making role. In her ’60s heyday, Aimée preferred sultry yet simple pieces like cropped sweaters, fitted dresses, and flats. She was never one for accessories, choosing to complement her looks with a flick of winged eyeliner and expertly arched brows.

Sylvie Vartan

Chanteuse Sylvie Vartan rolled with the right crowd in ’60s Paris, calling Yves Saint Laurent one of her closest collaborators. That relationship bore some of the decade’s best outfits, like the two pairs of crystal-studded jeans Vartan and her then-husband, Johnny Hallyday, wore to perform a duet. Off the stage, she favored minidresses with girlish collars, Mary Janes, and plush furs, helping to define France’s nascent yé-yé girl movement. (Think of yé-yé style as the French equivalent of mod.) A just-released book on her taste, Le Style Vartan, chronicles her outfits in immense detail—all the better for re-creating them today.

Sonia Rykiel

The name Sonia Rykiel might conjure up visions of thin, patterned knits, but the wardrobe of the designer herself is much more varied. As one of Paris’s Rive Gauche trendsetters of the ’70s, Rykiel built up a reputation of being the woman with the best—and biggest—coat in the room. Underneath the voluminous outerwear, you’d find a mix of gamine pieces like jumpsuits and mannish trousers, styled with some of her namesake knits. There was a Sonia Rykiel store for years in Vancouver on Burrard Street but sadly it didn’t make it and closed shop – it did not appeal to the Vancouver crowd.

Niki de Saint Phalle

Sculptor and artist Niki de Saint Phalle made some of the most vibrant works of the ’60s through ’80s, which have just been honored in an exhibition in Paris’s Grand Palais. When she wasn’t wearing a caftan that rivaled the colors and patterns of her artwork, De Saint Phalle preferred simple, neutral pieces that she jazzed up with bold accessories like berets, pendants, and armfuls of bracelets.

Vanessa Paradis

Today’s runways have made a habit of applying highbrow taste to thrift store finds—something Vanessa Paradis has been doing for decades. The singer has been sporting slip dresses with shaggy furs, bohemian maxi skirts with boyish blazers, and skinny jeans with blouson tops since the ’90s, and continues to hone her eclectic style to this day. No wonder her daughter, Lily-Rose Depp, has such good taste at only 16.

Aymeline Valade

Model-turned-actress Aymeline Valade’s Saint Laurent tuxedo at the Cannes Film Festival was the stuff of red carpet dreams. Valade’s off-duty style is just as memorable, making everything from a Lacoste polo shirt to a dainty Chloé dress look all her own.

These women are all fine examples of how to embody personal STYLE

Photos: Getty Images

Source: Vogue Runway

Girl Who Would be King, STYLE

Style: the Travel Jacket – more function than fashion

Don’t think I’m going off on a tangent here just because I’ve been posting lately about glamping. Mind you there is something freeing about not having to second guess your outfits while spending time in the great outdoors.The main thing about getting ready for a trip (be it by air or road) is the packing and deciding what to bring and a big part of that is your go-to jacket because you don’t want to carry so much bulk. You need something to cover up in that will keep you warm, be comfortable and at the same time go with pretty much everything except your dressy wear. Something you can throw in the washing machine and not worry about it falling apart too.

My gore-tex jacket is something I never leave home (for any length of time) without. It’s light and folds up easily to fit in a suitcase or under the seat of the camper, it’s totally wind and water proof so will keep me dry when need be and if it’s super cold outside then I can always wear a fleece underneath (which zips right in). It has a hidden hood & pockets. I don’t know how many times that jacket has saved me from the elements. I even skied in it once.

We all know that air travel can be miserable depending on your seating arrangement. Aside from all the hassles of getting on the plane, once you’re in your cramped little economy seat it becomes difficult to do anything but sit upright, elbows tucked and wait for the journey to be over.

But it seems that long-distance love has paid off for the designers of a travel jacket that has now attracted a record $9m from would-be buyers on crowdfunding site Kickstarter.

Last summer, Chicago-based startup BauBax launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds for its new self-titled travel jacket.

The BauBax Travel Jacket is equipped with 15 features that makes it perfect for those traveling. The jacket’s retail price starts at $160 (plus taxes/shipping). It comes in four different styles—sweatshirt, windbreaker, bomber, and blazer—and boasts 15 features targeting the varied torments of air travel, though they’re useful for any kind of travel really. Among them are earphone holders, an iPad pocket, a drink pocket that fits a can of soda, gloves that extend from the sleeves, a telescoping pen built into the front zipper that doubles as a stylus, a passport pocket, and a hood that includes an inflatable neck pillow and sleep mask.

I think it’s a pretty damn good all around solution. Genius right?

http://baubax.com/

Girl Who Would be King, STYLE

STYLE and INSPIRATION

Out with the old, IN with the old recreatedI often wonder how fashion designers get it together to keep coming up with new ideas for something original and inspiring for every season (including “resort wear” which is considered another season in fashiondom which makes five) and all those nerve wracking make-or-break shows. Something that will make people excited to want to go out and buy that new shirt right away. To be “that girl.” Because you know the easiest way to transform yourself is through clothes – if you dress for your mood (not necessarily the occasion). Sometimes you see something totally wild. You can admire it (on someone else) but never consider it for yourself and sometimes it’s like….I like it but it’s been done before…again and again (maybe they’ve just added some more buttons, zippers or pockets but otherwise it’s the same). In any event you must be very creative to keep plugging away at it and try to outdo your last performance. Just as much pressure as a musician has to come up with a new hit, but not wanting to be totally typecast…….as a

The New World Order - Vintage Alaia Shearling Bomber Jacket — **The New World Order – Vintage Alaia Shearling Bomber Jacket (website below)**

Designer, Musician, Artist (one who paints + draws), Actor, Photographer, Chef, Writer……(blogger?) and even Politicians (The best reality TV drama going is Trump vs Cruz vs Clinton vs Sanders). I’ve been watching the U.S. debates like any other interested Canadian.

By being typecast I mean restricted to one style (a recognizable signature style such as a Picasso painting), that are the kinds of things that people “expect” of you . But even with Picasso, the style may be recognizable but it’s not “always” the same. You know what I mean. Maybe you eat the same cereal all the time but one day you put blueberries over top and another day strawberries. There must be an element of surprise.

In the mad crazy world of invention, everything seems to be intermixed lately. Fashion and Art, Art and Food, Beauty and Culture. A designer visits an art gallery and gets ideas for his next collection. Actors are models, models are actors and regular people are starring in their own version-of-reality TV series. It’s interesting.

For myself in general, I draw inspiration from everywhere. People, the media (like everyone else, is a big contributor) through TV, magazines, newspapers, online with other peoples blogs, music, books, stores, movies (amazing ones this season), art, travel, restaurants, nature and on the street. I’m usually more inspired when I’m travelling and things look different and fresh and I’m living more in the moment (which we say we should do but mostly do not). It’s not only for trying to come up with new ideas for the blog so it doesn’t get stale (I hope) but also in day to day life, in areas like cooking and finding a new recipe for fish or maybe trying out a new running route to keep from getting bored.

As for restaurants, why do you think Cauliflower is having a moment of fame right now trying to outshine Kale in many restaurants? The chefs have come up with some pretty incredible ways of serving it. It’s still the same vegetable but now it tastes so much better. We never thought of baking it with chilli and lemon before? Hell; I was just taken out to a popular restaurant and they had a delicacy of chocolate covered crispy chicken skin on the menu. When I asked the waiter what happened (like did the chicken fall into the pot of melted chocolate by mistake) I can’t remember but I think it actually did. In any event, it was a mistake. But one most people like because it’s new (if you didn’t know that it was chicken, it could be walnuts). And if it wasn’t served cold, it would be more greasy. Yuck! Not like the intentional chocolate covered bacon many chefs are now serving. At a party someone brought orange chocolate covered bacon. Really?? I went off again…but really…

I’m wondering how important any of this is to any of you? I believe inspiration is a big deal. At least something else to keep us going, a curiosity towards finding a different way, idea, recipe, whatever…

Isn’t that what life is about?

Some Inspiration when it comes to STYLE:

Portraits by Willy Vanderperre — **YOKO ONO – Portrait by Willy Vanderperre**

An online magazine featuring interesting women:

http://thegentlewoman.co.uk/library

The passage of time has been miraculously beneficial for Yoko Ono. While previous generations held grudges and questioned her motives, in the 21st century Ono is cherished for her provocations and wisdom. As a musician and multimedia artist since before the term was coined, Ono holds the rare position of courting a global audience without ever having to compromise her work, which is often wilfully impenetrable.

At the age of 77, Ono continues to think of the long-term, with two forthcoming exhibitions and a recent album, as well as progressing her ongoing project around the world, asking the masses to imagine peace. It is a message from which she will never waver.

Text by Liz Hoggard, Styling by Olivier Rizzo

Shopping Online:

The New World Order NYC: http://thenewworldordernyc.com/

Vestiaire Collective Website:http://www.vestiairecollective.com/

Shop the closets of fashion lovers from Paris, Berlin, Milan, New York City, and more. Mix ‘n match high street, luxury vintage and new pieces with Vestiaire Collective.

**Vestiaire Collective – St. Laurent Leather Biker Jacket**

WHERE DO YOU DRAW INSPIRATION?

STYLE

Style: what to wear UNDER what you wear

I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again… “it’s what’s underneath that counts”

jesus fernandez lingerie from Buenos Aires

It’s the slipperiness of the silk, the sauciness of satin, and the delicate lingering of lace that can make lingerie so arousing.

Lingerie (including corsets, camisoles and a few garters) has been a passion of mine for a very long time. It still is, but to a lesser degree because I already own so many pieces. It takes a special man to appreciate your lingerie…because when it comes right down to it we women know that most ~~all~~ men don’t care how nice your lingerie is. They just want to see us naked.

JF lingerie - I LOVE this complete outfit — JF lingerie – I LOVE this complete outfit

On the other hand, as you begin to remove whatever you happen to be wearing overtop (remember it’s Valentines Day this Sunday) isn’t it much more seductive to be seen in a lacy, racy number than in granny underwear? I’m just saying…..I think he’ll take notice even if he never says anything. Men have it so much easier. A nice pair of boxer shorts that aren’t torn to shreds (eww) – perfect!

JF lingerie lace triangle bra & panties — JF lingerie lace triangle bra & silk/lace panties

But honestly I’ve always been attracted to beautiful lingerie whether it be retro romantic, sexy, plain pretty or terribly trashy (reserved for special occasions). Keep in mind that interpretations of what makes underwear sexy varies from woman to woman, and from man to man. The sexiest part is the way it makes you feel…kind of like a signature perfume. In fact, nothing except your perfume gets as close to your skin.

Having said that, I also really like some of the sporty combos I’ve been seeing (since it doesn’t make any sense to wear lace to the gym). It gives you an underlying (ha, ha) confidence just knowing you have it on. A little secret.

That’s why I added lingerie to my repertoire of things to sell in boutiques and online. I found a special brand in Buenos Aires when I walked by a store that was closed – the mannequin in the window was wearing a set I wanted. It was very simple but extremely lovely and feminine (with no wiring, padding or anything of the like and I had never seen anything quite like it in North America) so I went back the next day and bought it then asked to speak to the owner. We had a meeting and I ended up getting the exclusive rights for sales in Canada at the time. The line sold very well to repeat customers who understood the workmanship, guys who wanted something special for their ladies and an actress who starred opposite Tom Cruise (filming a few scenes in Vancouver) who came into the shop directly from the airport specifically looking for lingerie. She mentioned seeing the ad I had put in the Vancouver Sun (for the first time) on the flight over from Los Angeles. She took several pairs into the dressing room and left with five sets.

It was a good run even with the complicated European sizing difference, but I decided to end the lingerie business to concentrate on other areas.

I like this quote from a Passion for Lingerie – “You know it’s a bad day when you put your bra on back to front and it fits better”

La Perla – LaPerla.com

Here are a few ideas of lingerie sets I think are simply sublime – although they won’t replace your can’t-live-without seamless t-shirt bras and commandos. Still…….necessary!

Kiki de Montparnasse - sold at net-a-porter.com Bra: $225 Panties: $155 Garter: $150 — **Kiki de Montparnasse** – sold at: net-a-porter.co

L'Agent buy Agent Provocateur. Sold at net-a-porter.com Bra: $110 Panties: $50 Garter: $65 — **L’Agent by Agent Provocateur.** Sold at: net-a-porter.com

My Love of Lingerie Board on Pinterest at: https://www.pinterest.com/girlwhowould/love-of-lingerie/

Girl Who Would be King, THINKAboutit

Jewelry re-envisioned…think about it!

Ooh la la…lucky me!

A piece of work! These earrings were a gift from a good friend who knows that I like mixing something old with something new and a preference for pieces that can be worn with everything from jeans to a cocktail dress.

This pair is perfect because they go with everything and they don’t bother my overly sensitive ears one bit. Even my diamond studs which have a tiny amount of nickel in the backings bother my ears.

The designers make each piece by hand by incorporating new ideas and they use simple tools with old recyclable materials from scrap metals like aluminum, sterling, brass or copper sourced from their various travels. Some feature landscapes of the West and the like.

What a coincidence that just last year I bought two pairs at the outdoor VillageFest which takes place every Thursday evening in downtown Palm Springs.

a necklace incorporating polymer clay with a western design — Southwest polymer clay necklace

Their one-of-a-kind creations are found in various galleries and gift shops throughout the U.S. and online at Etsy. To purchase:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/CopperGulchJewelry

Find out more at: http://coppergulchdesign.com/

FUN, Girl Who Would be King

Fashion that will knock your socks off

SOCKS are flying off the shelves. You can tell a lot about a person by the type of socks they wear. I’m trying, I’m trying but the only socks that appeal to me are sock monkeys. Remember I’m the one who prefers going barefoot whenever possible. I only wear socks when necessary like when I’m wearing pants with shoes that require them. And usually it’s a black pair with black pants, grey with grey, brown with brown…you get the picture. And they must be thin enough to wear with shoes but have just the right amount of elasticity to not fall down around the ankles (like I embarrassingly experienced with a very expensive pair of pantyhose).

I wear white sport socks for running and that’s about it. My previous sock flamboyancy came out once when I wore a pair that had colorful toe separaters (yup, one for each toe) that a friend brought me back from Japan (you know, the Japanese are so fashion forward and prone to taking risks even with their toes). Oh; and one time I tried wearing those thin nylon short lacy ones in black with open-toed Manolos and a skirt but the look is very trendy even though I liked the idea and they were from Wolford. It seemed so naughty school-girl – so not me (the school-girl part anyway).

Overall I’m sad to report that I’m a predictable and boring sock person. There are new boutiques specializing only socks and even some of the upscale stores are featuring ones meant to be seen (why else would you buy flamingo socks if not to show them off?) and something for every type of person – I’m still not on board. But I must admit they’re a shoe-in for attention. Never say never!

Leopard is a neutral now — Leopard is a neutral

How about you – what kind of sock person are you?

How about you – are you the crazy sock type?

Girl Who Would be King, STYLE

Style ICON – David BOWIE

We all know the various ch ch ch changes that David Bowie went through over his vast successful career and since he was the man of style I had to dedicate a whole post to him because:

This shows his unkempt elegant side. KMazur/WireImage — I love this photo – it shows his unkempt, sexy, elegant side.
Photo: KMazur/WireImage

can’t believe he is no longer among us
he was the original man of style
his was one of the first concerts I went to see at the Montreal Forum
I have four friends who got up close and personal with him – in a professional sense
He was one of a kind and the first and best person at re-inventing himself. Surely that’s where performers like Madonna & Lady Gaga got the idea from.
out of countless crazy, fun and fashionable images these are my personal favorites
A swashbuckler, with scarf and white shirt. Photo:
Jorgen Angel/Redferns

Things were looking peachy with “Let’s Dance” Photo: Paul Natkin/WireImage

Guess I love a well-dressed Bowie best. Photo: Richard E. Aaron/Redferns

Bowie’s most normal look of the 70’s. Photo: Steve Morley/Redferns

Handsomely dressed down. Photo: Frank Micelotta/ImageDirect

He can really rock a suit.
Photo: KMazur/WireImage

RIP

Tipping his hat to Sinatra Photo: Michael Putland/Getty Images — Tipping his hat to Sinatra.
Photo: Michael Putland/Getty Images

Looking for a part with "Interview with a Vampire?" He was also an actor. Photo: Hayley Madden/Redferns — He brought Baroque back. Photo: Hayley Madden/Redferns

Bohemian fashion crossroad? Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images — Bohemian fashion crossroad?
Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

I too would cover my lets with a trench coat if meeting Tina. Wise idea. Photo: Dave Hogan/Getty Images — I too would cover my legs with a trench coat if meeting Tina Turner. Any wise woman would. Photo: Dave Hogan/Getty Images

In '97 with his longtime wife IMAN on his 50th birthday - Jan/9 Photo: KMazur/WireImage — With his longtime wife IMAN **on his 50th birthday** – Jan/9/1997
Photo: KMazur/WireImage

My friend Dee Lippingwell took this photo among many many others. — Rock Photographer & friend **Dee Lippingwell** took this photo among many many other great ones of Bowie.

Source: Billboard & Dee Lippingwell

He will be missed!

Girl Who Would be King, STYLE

Style: the MEN

The Most Stylish Men in Fashion

Last week marked the beginning of the Fall 2016 men’s season, and along with it feedback from some of the fashion experts at Vogue. It was the first time that Vogue Runway covered the men’s shows. To whet your appetite, editors weighed in on the best well-dressed dudes.

Here, my paired down version of the most stylish guys in fashion. I narrowed it down from 30, Starting with…

Franck Chevalier

“Jean Paul Gaultier protégé and stylist to some of the greatest musicians of all time, Chevalier’s own look is a brilliant combination of vintage, streetwear, and original pieces he designs for himself.

Maurice Mullen

“To me, it’s Maurice Mullen of the London Evening Standard, who I always look forward to seeing at the London shows. I have never been able to comprehend the number of immaculate Savile Row suits he must have, nor his ability to deploy the loudest patterns and colors and the killer clashing pocket handkerchief—and plaid trousers on occasion!—while being the most gentlemanly and wickedly insightful neighbor to sit next to at a show.” —Sarah Mower, Vogue.com Chief Critic

Gene Krell

Photo: Courtesy of Nao Krell / @inagakikrell — Photo: Courtesy of Nao Krell

“Style is but one of Gene Krell’s admirable qualities, and he has it in spades. Born in Brooklyn, Krell was part of the London scene as hippie segued into punk. And then he brought Vogue to Asia. His street style look is built on tailoring, with British and Italian touches. And the man has range: Krell can work a tattooed surf look with as much ease as a toggle coat and brown suede shoes.” —Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue.com Archive Editor

Ian Bradley

“No one does the retro-hipster-nerd look better! With Ian you know it’s super-authentic, and every time I see him it makes me smile.” —Kelly Connor

Yohji Yamamoto

“Yohji gets my vote. His is the gold standard by which all other designer uniforms must be judged. Consistent, pragmatic, and elegant, there’s nothing not to love about his look.” —Kristin Anderson, Vogue.com Fashion News Writer

Raf Simons

Former Dior Designer “Raf Simons is the greatest of all time. The end.” —Steff Yotka, Vogue.com Fashion News Writer

John Nollet

“French hairstylist to chic women like Nicole Kidman and Vanessa Paradis, John Nollet has his own signature style worth noting: white shirt, sharp jacket, trimmed beard, and artfully messy, shoulder-length hair. Sometimes he ties it back in a knot or braids it with one of his own couture feathered hairpieces, which he designs with Maison Lemarié; that contrast between his natty clothes and wild, bohemian hair is so cool—and so French. Bonus: He’s incredibly charming (and handsome)!” —Emily Farra

Karl Lagerfeld

“Kaiser Karl is a cluster of contradictory style statements, clashed together like a game of sartorial Consequences: Edwardian collar and stickpin with streamlined hypermodern suiting, biker gloves and goth rings, 18th-century powdered pigtail—like a Prussian general—and Terminator sunglasses. It shouldn’t work, but it always does. Lagerfeld has crafted an instantly identifiable image: He’s the most recognizable designer of our times and, I’d argue, the most stylish man on the planet. There aren’t many fashion designers people dress up as for Halloween, and there aren’t many people for whom formal dress is for life, not just the red carpet.” —Alexander Fury

Stefano Pilati

“The Zegna designer has my vote. Why? To me, he is the epitome of fearless, intuitive elegance: always intensely masculine, but those cuts, those fabrics, the tattoos, the jewelry . . .” —Sally Singer, Vogue Creative Digital Director

Mystery Man

Don’t know who he is, but I think he deserves to be included.

Any other favorites?

Girl Who Would be King, STYLE

Style – window fashion

Today I’m posting some of my favorite Spring 2016 window displays because I’m still in holiday mode.

so this doesn't look like Spring but Tiffany is always in style — so this doesn’t look like Spring but Tiffany is *always* in style

How

far away is Spring?

Photos: d. king – taken at the Bellagio Hotel, Las Vegas.

STYLE

Style – the SKINNY on Jeans

I’m definitely a SKINNY girl when it comes to wearing jeans. Believe me I have all kinds and all lengths from faded and distressed to torn up and dressed-up dark denim and I love them all but 9 times out of 10 I will go to grab my skinnys. It seems to be the most flattering for my body type and like a legging (which I also tend to live in ) the most versatile for layering and wearing a blouse or sweater over top. You can dress the skinny up or down as they look equally good with heels or plain white runners (not the ones for actual running). Even though I secretly long to wear my super soft Hudson bell bottoms with hippie boots…I just never get around to doing so.

Kate Moss - google images — Kate Moss – google images

My favourite skinny jeans are ones that have a little bit of stretch but don’t lose their shape when washed. And just like another simple staple (the White T-shirt), it’s not so easy to find the perfect fit. They’re everywhere but all are not created equal.

Which brings me to a recent article in Vogue talking about the Superfine label. Have you heard of it?

Long before the skinny jean had reached its zenith of popularity, Superfine was pioneering the shape. Launched more than a decade ago, the label rose to prominence on the gams of cool-girl stalwarts like Kate Moss and Sienna Miller, in many ways becoming synonymous with a particular brand of lean, London rock chic. Says the brand’s founder, former stylist Lucy Pinter: “At that time there were a ton of denim brands that came out of L.A. Everything was blue and distressed and bootleg. Back then I started because we wanted to make a skinny jean and no one did one. Obviously that silhouette—with no branding—other people ran with that and did very well with [it].” With the designer denim boom that followed not long after, the line remained something of a cultish entity, never fully taking hold in the United States.

All that will surely soon change, though; Pinter and co. are doubling down their efforts stateside, having launched in the U.S. for fall with an array of stockists (Saks Fifth Avenue, Shopbop, and Nordstrom). Strong retail hopes aren’t the only thing Superfine is banking on; the designer herself has relocated to Los Angeles, where production of a brand-new secondary range, Fine By Superfine, will be based. As Pinter tells Vogue.com, “The problem with our denim in the past was it was all being made with Italian fabrics, in Italy, with these incredibly high-end wash developments and zippers and hardware. It became really expensive, so we sort of out-priced ourselves from that really lucrative denim market.” Per Pinter, the aim was to isolate Superfine’s more typically “contemporary” elements (jersey, sweats, and yes, plenty of denim) and give them room to breathe under the Fine By label.

That’s just super fine by me. I’ll be on the lookout for the label.

I’m curious to find out which jeans are your go-to favourites?