Capsule Wardrobe

Twiggy – the simple clean 60s look great for androgynous figure types who love to show their legs.

Jeans the staple…

General tips

Capsule Wardrobe

If you think about the job of a fashion designer, part of it is to devise a collection that works together for the brand.  Therefore, all dresses, tops, skirts and trousers are usually interchangeable within each range to encourage the client to stay shopping with the same company showing devoted loyalty.  This is the type of collection that would be produced and this can form your capsule wardrobe if you are clever in your colour and fabric choices.

Given these 12 items you would be able to create 40 outfits with them.  What more does a woman need?

1. One good quality woollen coat, classic in style but perhaps a strong colour, one trenchcoat short or long, classic usually works the best, to use anywhere (or a padded outdoor jacket for more casual wear).
2. Two well fitted superb good quality suits, (or more commonly these days two sets of separates) which work well together jackets trousers/skirts.
3. Two pieces of good quality knitwear a bold coloured cardigan and preferably a loose V-necked merino or cashmere sweater in a simple neutral colour eg: taupe, black, navy or grey.
4. One day dress in black/navy – corporate coloured jersey with sleeves, which can be worn from day through to evening, with flats or heels, not too revealing or covered up or can be worn with your cardigan.
5. One stunning but simple evening dress in a bold colour of your choice if you suit black this is the easiest to wear, if not go for a colour that you suit red, pink, emerald, purple, blue or cream are good bold choices depending upon your colour type. This should fit well and be of sumptuous cloth, preferably lined and working well with one of your coats/jackets.
6. A pair of simple good fitting jeans, which feel ultra comfy and look good with everything else in your wardrobe, pick a good make but ensure comfort and fit comes before brand.
7. One pair of sandals/loafers or ballet pump flats, a pair of heeled leather court shoe/boots a stylish and elegant pair of evening shoes and a pair of boots/hightops.
8. Finally at least 4 tops or shirts in a variety of styles and colours and fabrics to dress up your suits, preferably interchangeable with both suits and jeans. This is where you can add to the selection and ring the changes.

If you start to imagine all of these together in different combinations, I am sure you too could create at least 40 outfits.  I managed 57 varieties with all the different accessories, tops and permutations bearing in mind that all the colours should work together.

Boned- bodice evening wear – Singer Sargent 1884 (Classic chic )

Advertisement

Lanvin: Master of Bias

An old favourite of mine – would simply love to see this exhibition, I love the way it is described in this little vid.

Lanvin video

http://www.palaisgalliera.paris.fr/en/exhibitions/jeanne-lanvin

Alber Elbaz is very emotional, but whilst describing the dresses the white satin one for me could be worn today totally timeless, classic and elegant chic.

Today the first Paris exhibition devoted to Jeanne Lanvin, founder of the oldest French fashion house still in business, opens at the Palais Galliera. Curated by Olivier Saillard in collaboration with Lanvin creative director Alber Elbaz, the show explores the breadth of Jeanne Lanvin’s artistry as a designer. Style.com’s Tim Blanks had the opportunity to preview the show with Elbaz to discuss the importance of her work, from the house’s iconic mother/daughter logo to Jeanne Lanvin’s final piece—a simple dress with “wings.” Elbaz explains that for years Jeanne Lanvin didn’t get the recognition she deserved because her pieces whispered, they didn’t shout. “But when you go deeper…,” he says. Take a deeper look with Elbaz and Blanks here.

Jeanne Lanvin is on display at the Palais Galliera through August 23.​

Part Two of the Cumbrian Style Show – Country Chic

Part Two of the Cumbrian Style Show

This is the second part of the  Cumbrian Style Show, focusing on country chic at Cockermouth Country Clothing Shop.  The women were both surprised as they thought it was just a shop for farmers, and horse riders, but we do have a great country clothing shop in Cockermouth,  it is a beautiful tourist town in the Lake District and we live in such a beautiful place we need some outdoor gear. These women are both business women and mums and they  had dismissed this sort of clothing as not really suitable for business but they were surprised what quality items they could find.  They need this as they travel miles in rural environments going to see clients in very isolated locations, farm tracks, cobble stones, lots of rain etc!  I though it was just what they needed and Sarah the owner has just won a business award she is doing well with her online store http://www.cockermouth-country-clothing.com/ with brands such as Toggi, Hunter, Ariat, Ness etc. Give her a ring and she can get your size.

Thanks to my friend singer/songwriter Judith Jones for allowing me to use the intro to Mississippi Flood which is out on CD – ‘Under Orion’s Stare’  I just love this intro…. enjoy

The First Cumbrian Style Show

The First Cumbrian Style Show

This is the very first Cumbrian Style.  We had great fun – who would have thought you could find such great clothes in Cockermouth.  We do have some great shops in Cockermouth,  it is a beautiful tourist town in the Lake District-  Annabelle’s and Zebra (a new shop) and for this show we used only one shop Sandra Todd’s Shop Desire.  Despite the horrible 6mth long roadworks Cockermouth is still worth a visit. These women both 40 years old or over – had dismissed it as a young fashion shop and were surprised what quality items they could find in such a small town.  So it pays to try more shops and try on more in the changing room.  Part Two of this Style Show is another surprising shop to find such gems!

Thanks to my friend singer/songwriter Judith Jones for allowing me to use the intro to Mississippi Flood which is out on CD – ‘Under Orion’s Stare’  I just love this intro…. enjoy

Paris Fashion Week 2014

Loving this ultra femine Elie Saab outfit, would love to suit pink and wear that next summer, meanwhile we can only hope the indian summer lasts a bit longer!

New E-Book

This is my new book out on Amazon Kindle just published.

This book has an NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming)

Style chapter encourages you to work with your body shape and

love the body you have – dressing it and treating it in the best possible

way.

Small women’s fashion for less

<img src=”http://http://http://www.wallis.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=0&viewAllFlag=&catalogId=33058&storeId=12557&productId=5034092&langId=-

” alt=”Wallis dress” />

Gonna post a few dresses and outfits for those who have problems finding things.

Here is the first, which I think is great for price:

http://http://www.wallis.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=0&viewAllFlag

=&catalogId=33058&storeId=12557&productId=5034092&langId=-1&sort_field=Relevance&categoryId

=463000&parent_categoryId=209168&pageSize=20

Also from the same site: <a href=”http://www.wallis.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=0&viewAllFlag=&catalogId=33058&storeId=12557&productId=5576737&langId=-1&sort_field

=Relevance&categoryId=463000&parent_categoryId=209168&pageSize=20″>

http://www.wallis.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=0&viewAllFlag=

&catalogId=33058&storeId=12557&productId=5576737&langId=-1&sort_field=Relevance&categoryId

=463000&parent_categoryId=209168&pageSize=20 A brightly coloured digitally printed blouse.!

And  a little spotty playsuit with all the right petite proportions :

<a href=”http://http://www.wallis.co.uk/

webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=0&viewAllFlag=&catalogId=33058&storeId=

12557&productId=5035051&langId=-1&sort_field=Relevance&categoryId=444612&parent_categoryId=

209168&pageSize=20” title=”Playsuit” target=”_blank”>http://www.wallis.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/

servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=0&viewAllFlag=&catalogId=33058&storeId=12557&productId=

5035051&langId=-1&sort_field=Relevance&categoryId=444612&parent_categoryId=209168&pageSize=20

Really looking …

Really looking forward to the launch of my book – if you can’t make Carlisle on 29th Feb and would still like to come, thats ok.  Please come to Cockermouht New Bookshop on 9th March at 4.30pm for a glass of early Friday evening wine and a chat.  The local Celeb Alan Dawson @adaptahouse is going to introduce me!

New Book : ” Thinking Caps” by Maggi Toner-Edgar Dec 2011, Published by 2QT.

I am launching a book on Wed 29th Feb @7.30pm at Book case, Carlisle.

 

1. This book is only one little snapshot of the full extent of my 10 years of work on the creative process. My research findings in relation to the reflective process are hinted at in the book but it is illustrated with my hats.  The book is a personal artistic story, along with a sneak view into personal journals, which were a bearing of my soul and about my life experience – during a roller coaster journey, which was the death of my sister and two other family members. The hats are the vehicle used to tell a story – which is poignant in parts and inspiring in others.

 

2. The research  work I carried out behind this book, investigated how people learnt from  their own practical experience.  It  shows how the creative process can be particularly beneficial for lifting your mind above and away from the depressing situation everyday.    It displays how clothing and  fabrics  can have meaning, and transmit visual messages and concepts often not recognised or fully understood.  It is a bit of millinery (hat making) and a bit of philosophy quite a quirky and unusual mixture, which sums me up really! This is a mini-memoir, which works   as a book in its own right when illustrated with the textile experiments hats. Launching on Leap year day is pertinent as I refer to the benefits, I gained extra   days.   At 51 I didn’t expect to be alive,  writing books and starting a Style Business.  At the ages of 36 and 49 three of my family members had died, of breast and ovarian cancer, I had surgery and my   other sister is just in remission after 8 years and a mastectomy. It is living evidence of a journey through the tunnel and survival at the other end.

Related articles

• As Only Sisters Can (missdemurerestraint.wordpress.com)

Love the armani look for S/S 2012

This Dazed and Confused blog is great helps you to catch up with all the S/S 2012 looks all at once,  http://www.dazeddigital.com/fashionweek/womenswear/ss12/

Love the Georgio Armani look for S/S 2012 and Louis Vuitton gotta say it is great to have femininity back on the runway. They look so fantastic they are worth investing in, as they will never die. But if you haven’t got that kinda money like me, I just put this look together using a vintage creamy yellow linen jacket and a vintage lace collar, looks great.

It is possible to be who you want to be, create your own look for summer, with a mix that like on offer and no single particular trend to follow.  Look out for these blogs too the sartorialist,  great phots and  http://www.jedroot.com/  they have some really good looks.

http://www.style.com/fashionshows/review/S2012RTW-LVUITTON   Check out the lookbook on Style .com