'With an evening coat and a white tie, anybody, even a stockbroker, can gain a reputation for being civilized.'
Oscar Wilde
True to form this whole idea about white has been plaguing me for days. I was thinking, can one wear all white without looking like a refugee from another age, like a priestess to apollo or something, where all white was all right (har har har)? This woman in the lift with me at ACP, she was chic and glamorous, undeniably, but i can't see that translating to real life, to the streets, without a little something extra. The polish that white requires is necessary, but i think one can be polished and a little savvy at the same time.
While i was musing on white it also struck me that the colour is synonymous with summer. that's why i was so stunned to see this woman traipsing around the city in all white while it was foggy and rainy outside, it just seemed wrong. You don't want to get white wet or dirty, so it stands to reason that it belongs in summer, where everything is easy, breezy and carefree. Add to that the fact that white in its basest forms - linen, cotton, gauze - is the lightest of wispy fabrics, you have a winning formula for keeping cool in the heat.
Just ask Fabulous Future Me!
Monday
balmain jacket, lanvin necklace, t by alexander wang tee shirt, jaime bangle, sinclair's bangle, alex and ani bracelet collection, philippe audibert stretch bangle, christian louboutin suede pumps.
Work, that necessarily evil that keeps you in stockings and gin and easy smiles. Well, you think, those smiles aren't coming easy this morning as you get ready for another working week. Meetings and cleaning and administration and deadlines and appointments... you can't stand it all, the only thing you really love is writing, and you hardly get to do any of that at all. In an effort to cheer you up and brighten your mood you decide on a colour scheme, all white, and find a jacket with those sharp shoulders everyone's loving at the moment and pair it with a pencil skirt and loose tee. You're feeling suitably 'fashion' so you add armfuls of bangles, a chunky necklace and easy flats. All this gold and white is making you feel like a Sloane Ranger. Not bad for monday morning!
Tuesday
american eagle jacket, miss selfridge ring, juicy couture ring, martin grant necklace, debenhams top, guiseppe zanotti wedges, stella mccartney tapered pants.
What is it about tuesdays that is making you want to test the waters? After the compliments you got on your 'all white' outfit yesterday you feel the need to experiment some more, this time going for a pair of beautifully tailored pleat front tapered pants and a knotted crop top from the high street. When paired with some statement jewellery and some serious wedge heels (seriously dangerous too) you think you're onto a winner. The only problem is the jacket. You can't rock the sharp shoulder again, two days in a row is too too much. Perhaps all this white has gone to your head (let it never be said that white is sanity-providing, whoever thinks that never wore a straight jacket) and you are reaching for a denim jacket? Denim? At work? On Tuesday? ah who cares. It's all white.
Wednesday
vintage earrings, miu miu heels, black halo dress, christopher kane jacket, lanvin bag.
After surveying a rack of tight, flashy LBDs you are feeling disheartened. What is it with party wear that once someone wears something everyone else must wear the same? you swear you haven't been to a party in the past 6 months where a pretty little thing hasn't poured herself into a herve leger bandage dress (or copy therein) and laboured through the night with shallow breathing in an attempt to 'fit in'. You would rather that she pranced around in the billowy peasant smock you know she was itching to wear out with a pair of gladiator sandals. But, for lack of peasant smocks (not for want of trying). You reach in for the only non-black thing you can see immediately in your wardrobe, a little worn white asymmetrical dress. White... hmm... You, white and parties don't really mesh well together. Not since you once spilt a whole glass of rich bordeaux over your mother's white wedding dress you were 'borrowing' for a gala'. oops. But, you think, you can chance it tonight, right? You can just drink G&Ts or something. You grab out your brand new scalloped organza jacket, matching in white, and pull on some cut out heels and diamond earrings.
And everything's all white... Right?
Thursday
lot 78 biker jacket, jil sander bag, oscar de la renta necklace, surface to air shoes, t by alexander wang oversized tee shirt, fabio cammarata ring, vanessa bruno tapered pants.
Mostly because of trial and error (not the best way to find out sartorial rights and wrongs) you've realised the best way to take all white to all night is to add a liberal dash of inky black. It tempers out that pure, summer day whiteness by adding a little bit of gothic romance. Dark Horse to the Ice Queen, if you will. So even though you have a deliciously comfy oversized white tee on under the coolest white leather biker jacket you've ever seen (you feel like a t-bird only better!) you add some pleated pants, lethal buckle wedge heels and a serious necklace of glass and silver that is a piece of art in and of itself. All of this means that you don't look too daytime but also that you don't glow under the harsh fluorescent lighting of those clubs. Natch!
Friday
McQ dress, nancy caten bracelet, givenchy cuff, linda farrow sunglasses, marni tote, K.Jacques sandals.
You feel like you could do anything in this dress, on this day... It's friday, and not only are you allowed to wear whatever you want to work (well, it's not like you're not allowed to normally but there are a few unspoken rules) but this particular pirate-y smock dress is making you feel like a true edwardian child or french plaything, cecile from bonjour tristesse tanning her golden legs wearing a skimpy cheesecloth overshirt. And even though, regrettably, you're not out tanning or flirting or slurping ice cream but rather cooped up in an office building typing out the words to your next story you feel great. Because in this all white ensemble you feel easy and breezy and so powerful, like you could do anything. It's the summer-y vibes, you think.
Sun is in the sky oh why oh why would you want to be anywhere else?
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