{favourite five: photographer garance doré}

The New York Times refers to her as “the guardian of all style”, her beau calls her the “Illustratoriste” for her commended work as a fashion illustrator, Vogue.com named her one of the 40 women of the decade . . . clearly, French fashion blogger and photographer Garance Doré’s ultra-stylish influence has been felt by not only the fashion world, but the world at large.



Whether she is covering fashion week in Milan, snapping portraits of fashionistas in New York, posting personal chatty, witty -- yet simply charming -- monologues, sharing her photographs from the latest French Vogue editorial she shot, or displaying her collages and fashion illustrations, the street-style photographer & fashion illustrator's blog evokes a style that goes far beyond trends: the scope of her work is timeless and chic; it is for this reason, the fashion world is at her feet.


above: snaps of doré & a feature in interview magazine

Garance’s musings give us a rare glimpse into the thoughts of a fabulously stylish Parisian woman, and even though her posts imply French women are the masters when it comes to effortless style, they still have a few tricks up their sleeves, and this week, she lets us in on some of her style secrets . . .

......................................................................................................

{the top five things french women never leave home without:}

1. Baume Crème de Rose from Dior, for the pot & the perfectly pouty lips.

2. A pair of sunglasses -- to provide mystery!

3. A book by Françoise Sagan because she has an incredible perspective on life and was so rock'n roll -- in the French way, of course.

4. A pair of Repetto ballet flats (the real dancer ones with very soft soles) -- great after long hours in heels.

5. A pen. To write, of course, but also to put your hair up when you're tired of having it in your face. I don't know why, but every French girl does that!

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{p.s.} previous favourite fives:
* interior designer: tricia foley
* jeweler: camille eddera
* artist: kimia kline
* actress & fashion muse: chloë sevigny
* floral stylist: denise porcaro
* entrepreneurs: rent the runway
* designer: rachel ashwell

~ laily

{images: from garance doré's blog, as well as previous posts, here & here; all collages compiled by this is glamorous}

Combat Fashion: Military-Inspired Trend

Elle Spain
(This is what I'll be wearing next time I fly.)

What would be better to follow a post about military-inspired furniture than military-inspired fashion?  This trend is EVERYWHERE right now and I can see why. It's functional, comfortable, and so gosh-darn good-looking!

H&M Fall 2010
(I wish I could 'Bardot' my hair like that.  Note to self: grow thicker hair.)

H&M Fall 2010

Dior Pre-Fall 2010

Dior Pre-Fall 2010
(I DIE over this tweed number.  Do you think I could pull off those fur cuffs in real life?)

Dior Pre-Fall 2010
(The modern-day Rosie the Riveter, don't you think?)

Dior Pre-Fall 2010

NY Times Nov. 2009
(I didn't forget the men. Grrr...)

 The perfect compliment to this look is a great leather boot.  Anyone who knows me knows I like boots.  A lot. OK, I love boots. Maybe I'm obsessed.  OK, fine. My name is Brooke and I am a boot-aholic.

NY Times Nov. 2009
(The PERFECT boot.  I may have to get a pair custom made because I can't find these anywhere.  One day...)

Ann Taylor Peter Over-The-Knee Riding Boot
(I bought of pair similar to these last year and I would sleep in them if my husband would let me.)

BCBGeneration Adrice Boot

Piperlime Riding Boot
(The second most perfect boot)

Tory Burch Donovan Riding Boot

 To get this look, go for army inspired colors like olive, camel, and chocolate.  Look for skinny cargoes, capes, double breasted jackets, berets, sherling accents, and leather. Lots-o-leather.

Source Unknown

Source Unkown
(I know I should know this source.  If you know it, please let me know!)

Aryn K Military Jacket via piperlime.com

As with campaign furniture, this look has been around forever, so sometimes you can score a deal at second-hand stores.  My friend found a pair of vintage leather boots that lace up the back for around $10 a month or two back.  If they were in my size I would have stolen them by now.  Not that I approve of such behavior..

{samourai 1947}

While I definitely appreciate a good handbag, mine are usually large and while beautiful, they are also a little practical (this one in black was my favourite for travelling), for carting around my daybook, BlackBerry and all of the things I can't live without. Dior's new Samourai 1947 pieces, however, are complete works of art. The bags are part of Dior's 60-anniversary collection and come in five limited-edition designs.

{high-end halloween}

It's that skull and crossbones time of year again and what could be more fun than wearing posh, brightly-coloured skulls?

Dior Joaillerie's Coffret de Victoire collection includes: ring in 18K yellow gold, diamonds, pink sapphires, turquoise and mother-of-pearl (above left); and pendant in 18K yellow gold, diamonds, pink and green tourmalines, aquamarine, tanzanite, pink sapphires, amethysts, chrysoberyl, sapphire, emeralds, cultured pearl and coral (above right). Any piece from this collection (or anything by Dior, for that matter) will ensure you're the talk of the costume ball . . .


Not to be outdone is Tom Binns' Tough Chic collection of less precious, but still loads of fun punk-infiltrated creations (below). The Irish-born Binns was a one-time collaborator with Vivienne Westwood and favours rock and roll interpretations of jewellery classics, where diamantes and pearls sit alongside bullets and skulls.