Cotton Blog » Fashion

Geri’s Hat Trick?

FizzyT — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:33:35 +0000

At Haliwell House, the sewing machines have been going like the clappers stitching tea towels onto plain frocks and t-shirts and even the odd teensy weensy bikini for Geri’s latest collection for Next.

Or so you might imagine, as legend has it that la Haliwell, uninspired by the plain black Gucci number she was planning on wearing to the Brits back in 1997, got her sister to sew a Union Jack tea towel onto the front of the dress. A canny move if ever there was one; the dress sold at auction for over 40 thousand, and the Spice Girls became a new symbol of all that was British (could go some way to explain the state we’re in now?).

Whether the Legend of Geri’s Dress is true or not, the clever lass has rolled back the years to pull the sartorial “bunny” out of the hat. Just in time for the Olympics, the designer formerly known as Ginger has gone Brit crazy. Every inch of her collection has been Uunion (hi-)Jacked. Although to be honest, I think the tea towel thing looked better.

Next must be hoping that we will all be feeling so darn patriotic by the summer, what with the Olympics and stuff, we will be wanting to be red, white and blue all over. Otherwise they’re probably just flogging an old horse.

Bird Star!

FizzyT — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 17:22:32 +0000

Clémence Poésy, stunningly beautiful French actress and star of Birdsong has just been unveiled as the new campaign model for Dutch denim brand G Star. Poésy is the perfect ambassador for the brand with her petite frame, wild hair and rock chick look. She has that Kate Moss and Vanessa Paradis thing going on, where she looks unbelievably delicate, but could party you under the table. An irresistible combination.

To achieve the perfect G Star look, all you need to do is wear some circulation inhibiting denim, drag your head through a hedge (preferably backwards) and pop on a nice mucky t-shirt.

This one (by G Star, coincidentally) is quite fun. Slightly flared with cap sleeves and a deep round neckline, it has the G star Raw denim branding around the neck and combines that urban feel with a very feminine cut to the tee. Also it’s a (bird?) song at only £29 from USC.

Poésy has only just begun to hit our screens, but expect to see much more of her in the future. In the meantime, check out G Star’s new model to help you release your inner Gallic urban rock chicness!

Dirty Saturday!

FizzyT — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:57:19 +0000

The Saturday’s are a girl band, and there is one who looks a bit like Sienna Miller, and that is why they are famous. The one who looks like Sienna is called Mollie King. I’m not sure if she is as annoying, but it probably comes close. Still, the Saturdays are very popular, even if noone knows what they do. When I say noone knows, I think I mean noone cares. Not true; I expect people do care, but they are little people who are under the age of about 10, which is the target audience for most pop stars these days. And yes, I am feeling very old today. I was at least 14 when I discovered U2 (I have since “undiscovered” them, you’ll be glad to know).

Anyway, I quite like this tee that young Millie or is it Mollie is wearing with a few tears and the slogan “Dirty Blonde”. It has that dual meaning which lifts it a little out of the “girl in t-shirt” category to the upper realms of “quite nice looking girl in funny t-shirt”. I think this is progress.

Karl v Karl

FizzyT — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:32:02 +0000

Karl Lagerfeld is popping up all over the shop (the best ones, naturally) at the moment. First there was a line in New York for Macy’s, and now his eponymous Karl label has been released in Europe. Net-a-Porter has an amazing interview of him, being interviewed by himself, which almost makes me wonder if he has a sense of humour. But surely not, I must be mistaken. It’s been a tough day.

The pieces that make up the collection are pretty racy. Lots of faux leather and biker chic, together with little Karl-like touches, such as some big collars and fingerless leather gloves. And of course the t-shirts, bags and other whatnots with little Karls printed on them.

I rather like this t-shirt with the silhouette of the designer. It’s very Karl. And very, um Very. I expect we’ll all be wearing them before ling, like the minions of Karl that we surely all are.

The Kaiser!

FizzyT — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 17:07:40 +0000

Karl Lagerfeld is possibly one of the few people in the world who can flog dodgy drawings of himself on t-shirts, but then if anyone can, Karl can. His new collection for Impulse at Macy’s is a capsule range (mostly black) with the odd shot of pink, lots of grey tweeds and some nude dresses. This has Lagerfeld written all over it, from the impeccable tailoring of the monochrome designs, to the various t-shirts printed with images of the designer. In which Karl literally is written all over it.

There’s something about these tees that I really like, although I’m not sure why. Still, unless he makes some for the UK market, then I’ll just have to look from afar, and never learn what is so strangely compelling about a dodgy looking pony tailed chap all over a t-shirt. Hmm.

The Clash!

FizzyT — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 17:31:26 +0000

Perusing the dregs of the sale, as per yesterday’s blog, is one tricky business. Seduced by the red four letter word, many an irrevocable mistake is made, especially at this time of year when ones bank account is gasping for funds in the manner a tropical fish which has jumped out of the tank onto the top of the stove, gulping desperately for air. 70% off may seem like a total bargain, but not if you still end up paying forty five quid for a piece of tat that you’d be ashamed to flog on ebay.

Take this little number by Italian design house and favourite of celebrities Bottega Veneta. A masterclass in colour blocking, so bright that if you read this when your head is a little fuzzy, you’ll be reaching for a. Sunglasses and b. the sicky bowl. So wrong it’s not even right and an expensive exercise in how money does not buy you taste. Although as it’s down from a staggering £3330 to a mere £1665 (not including the matching skirt), you could definitely say that you would be making an enormous saving. Ha! Buy you not of these so called bargains and stick to the basics. Then at least if they turn out to be red herrings you can sell them onwards with your dignity (if not your wallet) intact.

The Dregs!

FizzyT — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 17:16:25 +0000

Mid way through January, and you could be forgiven for thinking that the world is about to end. Paying off Christmas, dark mornings, and the unshiftable post turkey waistline conspire to make this one of the gloomiest months around.

Still, now is the time to scour the ends of the sales and take a look at the mega bargains; the clothes that the shops really want to get rid of. This is always a handy time if you are an unusual size or shape, but if you’re canny you can still grab a decent discount on some really nice stuff.

The thing with bin ends, and dregs is that you have to ONLY buy basics. Are you listening? None of that on trend stuff. No no no. If noone else wants it, chances are that by the time you get home, you won’t want it either. Go for simple, and wearable. This polo shirt from Ralph Lauren is a perfect case in point. It now has 70% off at Mr Porter and is a very wearable basic.

But hurry, stock s are low, and the bank manager will find out what you’re up to. Buy now: regret in February!

What a (P) Lava!

FizzyT — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 17:30:26 +0000

Hairy Scary or Lava Palava?

I’m quite intrigued by this Lava t-shirt from Marc by Marc Jacobs, available from Selfridges. If I hadn’t read that the print on the chest was supposed to be lava, spewing forth from an enormous erupting volcano, I might possibly have thought it was an explosion of chest hair, or a profusion of pubicness. Very Sean Connery in his Dr No years, I’m sure. And yet, maybe a little too hirsute in appearance for me.

Marc Jacobs has been tipped to take over from John Galliano following his abrupt exit from Dior. If this t-shirt is anything to go by, then he will definitely create some fireworks (or some other kind of pyroclastic mess).

Star in Stripes!

FizzyT — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 17:07:26 +0000

Another of life’s little gene pools little winners is Burberry model Rosie Huntington-Whitely. She even survived the curse of being in a Transformer film by virtue of the fact that her legs are longer than most people’s life span.

Here she is in Miami, looking utterly catwalk ready and not at all freezing like the rest of us in the January winter in England. Wearing a stars and stripes cropped printed jumper by sleb favourite Wildfox Couture. I can’t help but think she must have been mother Teresa or something in her past life to have lucked out so much this time around. Or Ghandi. Anyway, you can buy the sweater from Wildfox, but the rest is down to fate. If you’re really, really good you might just get lucky next time around!

Handy!

FizzyT — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 17:58:32 +0000

I love this Paul Smith t-shirt with a hand print on it which looks as though it came straight off a photocopier. Better than the office Christmas party bum print I imagine, and much more palatable to wear in public. This is a great t-shirt as an everyday staple with jeans, and is available from Mr Porter for a not very handy £83. I’m sort of wondering if you could do it yourself a bit cheaper. I wouldn’t really advise it though; I tried to photocopy my head for artistic effect once, and it felt funny all day. Nothing to do with the extended lunch, I’m sure. So, my great advice is let Paul Smith do it for you and go into the new year with a helping hand!