The scent

Perfume is a stimulant of the senses, a tonic for the spirit.

Perfume is impalpable, a substance, a concentration, a contour.

It is our own shadow

It is a luxurious mirage, our transparency, a majestic choreography, a kind of inner palace, an architecture of exquisite crystal

-Serge Lutens

Chergui is my latest addition and obsession have been wearing it everyday I find that a right perfume can really transform my mood.

Serge Lutens Chêne

Serge Lutens Chergui

Le Labo Labdanum 18

What is your scent?

Inspiration: Clémence Poésy

I love how Clémence Poésy wears her clothes, always wrapped in a big scarf with a perfectly soft t-shirt.

She embodies ease in dressing for me, simple pieces made interesting by perfect proportions and attention to detail. This is something I strive for in my dressing.

Focus on the details

I love jewellery they are often personal and for me sensual objects, I am craving a simple thick ring in dark brushed gold, I love to incorporate masculine elements into my look and I really love how heavy rings like the one in the middle can really anchor one's look, bringing it into equilibrium such as wearing a sheer flimsy top completed with a heavy ring.

I am looking for one and I am considering getting one bespoke as I'm not sure I will find exactly what I am looking for, and suggestions would be welcome.

The picture is of Maurizio Amadei.

Perfection

One in black and one in white from Isabel Marant

Étoile.

Objectifying

Some items in my home I love the look of.

Ensemble: Faliero Sarti scarf

Wearing my new Faliero Sarti scarf today-it's SO warm and huge, absolutely gorgeous.

Have been wearing my leather jackets constantly this winter, I never seem to get sick of them even if they may be an obvious choice, I guess for me they are a classic. I seem to be wearing the same elements and shapes over and over again, I do love the idea of a uniform. I find the idea quite romantic. Some proportions just feel so right, I do slight variations not to get bored but I still try to be on the same theme.

As with all my picture click on images for details.

My VDC clutch finally arrived after various of emails which yielded no response.

It is a great basic which holds everything I need for day, it will be great for summer, I guess my summer plan is coming together in a way so far I am thinking: Isabel Marant white linen t shirts, vintage black Levi's skirt, black K.Jacques sandals and this clutch, with gold jewellery I feel quite good about this look...

I will take detail picture of the clutch later as my camera just died, the leather is bit more shiny than what I would have liked, as I much prefer a matte worn finish. Does anyone know how I can achieve that quickly? I know it will propblably fade over time, but I'm looking for a quick solution.

Wearing:

Faliero Sarti boiled wool scarf

two Topshop unique sheer black t shirts

Balenciaga jacket

COS skirt with pockets

Wolford tights

Balenciaga printed leather boots

Thoughts on summer

It might seem early for this post but I have this problem every year, I just find summer dressing too difficult, I have never been a summer dresser, I tend to find the fashions that are on offer too simple for my taste.

Whilst browsing I found a few pieces on the Vanessa Bruno site from the pre collection and Athé line that caught my eye:

Athé:

The shape of the last two dresses seems pretty good, I tend to not want to spend too much money in the summer as anything else than cotton feels too heavy, and you can find great alternatives on the high street.

I do find key items such as sandals worth spending money on, I have had my eyes on these K.Jacques 'caravelle' for a while now, I am just not sure whether I should go for the black or tan, I do have a few black sandals (A.P.C, Dries) yet no tan ones but that might be as I don't really like tan as a colour.

What inspires your style in the summer?

Ann Demeulemeester boots

Perfection.

I will have to special order these boots, pay a good portion in advance as my size is rare, and wont be getting them before May or June, but they are classic enough for me to know they are worth waiting for.

I could wear them with everything and I'm just envisioning how cool they would look with a dress and tights, all black but quite an easy look with interesting elements.

This is one of my favourite style inspiration pictures,

I adore this look from Charlotte Gainsbourg, I love how androgynous she is and I am desperately

looking for a similar coat,

anything else feels dated now, I crave sharp lines.

Small look into the space i inhabit

Distractions come easily, I need simplicity in every form.

I wonder if there is a link between a person's decor and the way they dress?

I am not really big on decor, I am always moving so have not put much emphasis on making a space mine, but I quite like it that way; minimalism as a product of your life. I would like to pick up some more industrial looking pieces to break up all the black in my apartment. I wish to think of this as a slow process...

And yes, those are my new Balenciaga boots in the corner, they are a piece of art so I display them as such.

Inspiration: Phoebe Philo

I love Phoebe Philo, her view on fashion just makes so much sense.

I also share her love for military details, menswear, to want clothing that feels anonymous.

Fantastic short interview with Suzy Menkes, I find it very inspiring.

PS: As a reader asked if there was a way to reach me I now have an email address for this blog, so feel free to write to me:

everythingandnothingness@gmail.com

Some sale shopping...

I like to do most of my shopping on line, where I get to assess the fabric composition, research the brand, and get to consider whether I actually really like it regardless of external factors like frantic shoppers or the impulse buying that often comes with sale shopping, its just easy, and I like that.

As I am not going to Paris for the sales this year I have done some sale shopping on line instead.

Acne 'Leni' jumper in boiled wool on sale from £160 to £90, I really

needed a new jumper it is so cold these days and I quite like the interesting shape of this.

I purchased these Balenciaga

boots in brown early in the season and have been wearing them almost every day since, I think they are different enough in black I adore the sharp lines on them which alludes to architecture in a way, I have been after a black boot so I had to have them, not on sale though. They did not stock them in the UK, so I had to get them from the Paris boutique, luckily they do phone orders.

I have been waiting for this Faliero Sarti scarf to go on sale and once it did I placed an order.

It's a wool/silk blend, I first encountered the brand at L'eclaireur in Paris,

the scarves are fantastic, Incredibly soft with a raw beauty to them evoked by

the frayed edges.

I am feeling quite content.

Have you done any sale shopping?

Clothing, dressing and context

(Marek Gardulski)

Further from my speculation on whether to purchase said Isabel Marant boots, which I decided against based on that I seem to admire them in a context rather than as item by itself.

With clothing I am always thinking about the context, no taste is innocent there is a reason why we are drawn to the things we are, like art, high end clothing is not really about function it surpasses this, is it mere aesthetic then?

I believe with clothing like good art or design, you can feel it, it comes from a higher place, this is something I am looking for, I have no interest on wearing clothing that scream 'look at me' I am more into the quiet details, I find it a very indulgent experience.

With women's fashion I feel there is something missing, I want magazines which would genuinely inspire me, without feeling like I am buying an advertising leaflet.

I have not bought magazines in quite a while, though I do love to browse the old issues from Purple magazine in the library, which provide me with visuals from old Balenciaga, Helmut Lang and the likes, it's not just the images but the general mood, I miss the minimalist approach, with the emphasis on cut and fabric.

I find the philosophy of dressing very interesting, I guess this blog is an outlet for that me posing question and engaging in conversation I could not have with the outside world, where fashion is still seen as a rather shallow pastime.

I am barely scraping the surface here, but I wish fashion would emphasise more on the context rather than what is just flattering.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and I wish you a great New year.

X

Making the distinction: want/need

Fashion desires come and go, you might get caught up in the association a brand gives, the boutique they are displayed in, or seeing the brand on the right kind of people.

My weakness has always been Isabel Marant, I guess I'm drawn to the carefree image her clothes project, and it's French. I've been caught up in a fleeting moment of infatuation with these boots.

Even if I know I could make them work in many ways still I don't think they are really going in the same direction as I have lately... I rely on my shoes to often be the edge in my look... all back yes, but my shoes usually add something.

There are also other factors involved why this lust should not occur IM only goes down to a size 36 and I am a 35/35.5 with no stock in London I can't try them on... so I would have to buy them sight unseen.

Please tell me I'm making the right decision?

How do you make the distinction between what you want and what you need?

Ensemble: Acne skirt

It's getting cold so I'm glad I got these wool tights from Wolford which has completely saved me this winter.

I love this Acne skirt I already feel it was a great buy, I love that it's not just an ordinary skirt, and the small details like the longer back makes me very happy.

Click on the images for clarity.

Wearing:

Rick Owens blistered lamb leather jacket

Grey COS T under jacket

Saskia Diez thin gold necklace

Acne 'Mini 2' skirt

Balenciaga printed leather boots

Wolford wool tights

Cream cashmere shawl J for James

Inspired impulse

I love winter for the freedom it brings to wear all black, it fills me with inspiration.

I just placed an order for this black pouch, I am such a sucker for simple well crafted items, and I envision wearing this as a clutch.

It is rather large 20 X 26 but I find the idea of carrying a simple black pouch around very alluring.

Check out the shop they have a lot of good pieces, it's French of course:

http://vdc-boutique.blogspot.com/

Ensemble: simplicity

Black is my safety blanket I never seem to get sick of the colour, which I tend to with others I find it so very beautiful, poetic even.

I find myself wearing this look, or variations of it all the time.

I feel truly myself and comfortable in it, my new Balenciaga boots just fit perfectly into the look and seem to seamlessly fit with everything else in my wardrobe.

I am currently searching for a long black coat, I would like it to be a bit on the large side so I can really wrap myself in it, I find there is something very elegant about a long coat...

wearing;

Muji wool jumper

Cheap Monday black jeans

Balenciaga F/W 03 boots

Saskia Diez thin gold necklace

Current inspiration

This look sums up everything I am into right now, jumpers with skirts, simplicity with edge.

I would love to get my hands on a skirt like that.

The constant search for the perfect black wool round neck jumper... sigh

F/W 03 Balenciaga boots.

I have what yo would call a difficult relationship with high heels, I am quite picky in that I don't like heels that scream 'sex' which most do to me, I might buy a pair in a second of madness then later realise I'm not comfortable projecting that image.

I do however have a soft spot for Nicolas Ghesquière earlier collections at Balenciaga, the way he mixed conceptualism

with street credibility into a fusion of chic timeless pieces... it still moves me.

I love that the boots are not the typical sexy shoe even if the heel is really high,

a slight problem is that they're so tight and

I have to struggle to get them on after wearing flats for so long

it's quite a challenge to wear these.

But I am really happy that I found them,

it feels like wearing a tiny piece of fashion history.

Updating the classics

I know what I like and what I over time have figured out are classics in my wardrobe, what helps define my look.

The black mini skirt is one of my building bricks, I like simple no fuss clothing with that added detail that makes basics special.

Which is why my heart fluttered with joy when I lied my eyes on this skirt by Acne, it is simply perfect by the looks of it, made by one piece so the back is slightly longer than the front. Elegant with that slight edge, this just shows that certain things are worth waiting for.

I picture it with a slightly boxy black round neck wool jumper.

I can't wait to receive it.

Shopping and style has not been on my mind as of late even though I do browse too often through online stores, there just isn't a lot out there that I think is worth buying, in general I find clothing looking quite uninspiring lately. Is it just me or is the recession really forcing designers to just produce safe BCBG (bon chic bon genre) clothing?

Ensemble

This is a look that I adore, my new cashmere shawl in a soft shade of creme just adds depth to this look, I wear my Isabel Marant coat over of course.

Sorry I haven't been blogging, I have just been wearing the same over and over and life has simply been too busy to be blogging.

I am looking for great jumpers, that is something I am longing for, I haven't been shopping for ages, I have not felt like it nor do I feel like I really need anything.

wearing;

cream cashmere stole J for James

Zara dress

Wolford tights

Balenciaga printed leather boots

Identifying the artist?

As I browse the net, I save images I find inspiring, I love these art pieces whose artist's name eluded me.

Does anyone know the artist of these pieces? I would be so, so very grateful.

The details: Saskia Diez fine gold necklace

I have been craving this Saskia Diez necklace for over a year now, and finally got it a week ago... for me it's a test to see how much I really want something.

I love how delicate and feminine it is, barely there.

Inspiration of the day

(click for higher res)

Feeling uninspired by what is going on in fashion right now, I look back to these old Paris Vogue pages, I love the dark, grown up mood and how personal the pictures look I much prefer this old layout.

Out with the old in with the new

I have been after a wallet for a while, to replace my old Bottega wallet, which I quite simply do not like anymore, I liked this Comme des Garçons wallet I saw at Dover Street Market last week, and I just placed an order for it.

My style in motion

Clothing gets new life when it's moving, I do like movement in my clothes, which I think

this clip illustrates.

Bear with me as I have never made a movie before. ;)

ensemble:

white H&M shirt

Isabel Marant Étoile trousers

Ann Demeulemeester lace up shoes

isabel Marant coat

Pamela Love talon cuff

thin gold necklace

need

This is brilliant!

Topshop, must get my hands on it.

EDIT: It arrived and it's sadly going back, I had such high hopes for this but it absolutely drowns me... in a very oversized Hoxton way... I'm not going down that way, the search for a knitted cosy jumper continues. Sigh.

Ensemble for evening

I think keeping a laid back feel to an outfit is much harder in the evening.

I love this Zara dress, it has a very Isabel Marant feel to it...

Wearing into the night:

Ann Demeulemeester lace up sandals

Zara dress

Pamela Love gold claw bracelet

gold Roman coin necklace

Inspiration du jour

I adore white blouses, and I love the way Emmanuelle Alt wears hers, it's all in the contradiction: masculine/feminine, dainty yet strong.

I believe it's the same blouse as I was wearing (thanks to a reader who noticed it).

It just shows that you can find great pieces at any price point.

Ensemble: white blouse

(click on image for details)

I picked this white Zara blouse up a couple of weeks ago, and as you may know by now I adore white blouses, they are all so fragile though so when I find something good I always feel I need to stock up, this one has these small epaulettes which gives it that slight military feel which I love...

I feel this is a classic look for me, I always go back to it.

I started wearing the Bliss Lau body chain underneath it but decided to put it on top later on... I think I prefer it underneath as it's more subtle.

Ensemble:

White Zara silk shirt

Tsubi skinny zips

Balenciaga printed leather boots

Pamela Love claw bracelet

Bliss Lau brass body chain

Ensemble: A.P.C. plaid shirt

(click for larger picture)

My most recent purchase is this A.P.C. plaid shirt... what can I say? I succumbed in the end.

I feel it's a welcome addition to my largely monochrome wardrobe.

I love how my wardrobe is coming together for the new season, it still feels very quite like 'me', only slightly adjusted... I think I like the look.

I seem to have been shopping quite a bit lately, I always do at the start of a new season... as I look at things with fresh eyes, I shape my wardrobe for the coming season.

I like to think I am done for a while now, I have bought some key pieces and also some I would not have considered a few months back, time to start wearing the items.

Ensemble

A.P.C plaid cotton shirt

COS black wool blend skirt with pockets

Martin Margiela suede ankle boots

Isabel Marant coat

Various gold jewellery