Signatures: I see the classic and I raise you one
Just read Nina Garcia's "Little Black Book of Style", attracted by Reuben Toledo's illustrations and the Amazon blurb. Deeply disappointing.I won't waste electrons castigating this unedifying, clunky book. My copines in the style blog world are posting more nuanced material every day... so read them!
Garcia lists ten style essentials that include the Little Black Dress, the trench coat, the white shirt, the mans' watch, the jean- perhaps useful counsel if you're fifteen, but nothing new or even well-said here.
Once you've done a bit of living, you own (and have replenished) these essentials and are loo
king for more deeply-considered perspective. Signatures, not standards.My aunt Magdalen wore Seaman Schepps "Night and Day" seashell earrings (left) with everything, her white up-do floating like a meringue above them.
Style signatures I've admired:
- Rosalind's armful of bangles
- Mhendi t
attoos on Anita's feet- Denis' Breton sailor shirts
- Lenora's collection of cats' eye glasses
- Clare's exquisite Indian necklaces, piled on
- Christine's Opium fragrance ("It's not supposed to work on a blonde", she says, "but it does.")
- Daniele's antique hatpins, worn on her beret
This is the difference between a woman who wears the eternal basics, and the one who ventures a signature.
She may wear the white shirt, black pant, ballerina flat... but she enters, smiles into your eyes, offers something to remember her by.
What style signatures are memorable to you?
Comments
My list of signatures is endless and too personal to be of interest to you - but they are there and are very important to me.
The "too personal" part stimulates my imagination: hmmm....corsets?
Diana Vreeland's ivory bangles
Marta Marzotto's kaftans
Edith Sitwell's amazing rings, nails and arm jewellery
Angela Pintaldi's jewellery and use of colour
Sylvie Guillem's hair (style and colour)
These are all highly creative women who would laugh in the face of 'classics'. I join them in this.
1. Simple gold hoop earrings. I'm out of my sparkly/dangly phase right now, and have never been a diamond stud person.
2. Jackets.
3. A mix of bracelets on my right arm.
4. Sweaters and t-shirts instead of blouses under a suit or jacket. Most blouses, even the most "perfect" white ones, just do nothing for me.
5. Scarves, bien sur.
1. My college roommate who was of Hawaiian, Chinese and French ancestry used to dress in Chinese brocade jackets and silk or cotton mary jane slippers.
2. My friend Julie, who has the Hippie Chic gene.
3. The women I see but don't know by name who can carry off very short hair and chunky or ethnic jewelry.
4. Audrey Hepburns slim, simple, black ensembles, though I don't know if that was personal style as much as costume designing.
GP: Yes, with luck we learn that one friend's signature is not 'for all'!
I have read, "choose your look and stick with it" but as I age, I am changing.