Times 2 - UK (2020-09-16)

the times | Wednesday September 16 2020 1GT 7

fashion

The lariat

To my shame, I don’t think it was that

long ago I imagined a lariat to be a Dr

Seuss character. Now I know it to be

one of the most flexible — that word

again — items of jewellery around.

Wear it as a choker, with long chain

hanging down, or as a longer necklace.

It sexes up daywear like nothing else,

even said tank top (see page 5). My

favourites are Missoma’s chain sphere

iteration, the pendant available in

assorted finishes, from malachite to

black onyx (£298, missoma.com) and

Kirstie Le Marque’s diamond globe

(£495, kirstielemarque.com). These are

real ever-after treasures.

The grandad shirt

I have absolutely no idea why I —

a lover of collars — am smitten by

shirts that are either entirely collarless,

or sport a band affair so modest as to

be not far off. It’s probably a reaction

to peak pussy-bow. They certainly feel

and look fresh. The ultimate less-is-

more option is Cos’s white cotton one

(£55, cosstores.com). I wear mine with

my lariat, a daily adornment at the

minute because it immediately makes

me feel better. And, as I said, feeling

better is what this stuff is all about.

would be Me+Em’s

black beauties

(£595, meandem.com).

The cracking coat

No, it’s not coat weather yet.

However it will be. And forearmed is

forewarned, or rather, forewarmed.

Again, I am thinking more is more. I

don’t know if it is

my recent binge viewing of Netflix’s

Selling Sunset — in which no one

ever wears a coat, but in which no

one ever gives anything less than

100 per cent sartorially speaking —

yet I want my coat with knobs on.

OK maybe not knobs, but something

that sets it apart from the rest.

Max & Moi’s white chubby would do

nicely (£389, janedavidson.co.uk).

The itty-bitty bag

It’s the only thing I am demanding

less of, my handbag. Only when it

comes to size, however. I still want

great leather, superlative functionality,

and styling that somehow looks cool

yet classic. I have found it all in

Wandler’s cross-body Nana (£460,

matchesfashion.com).

whistles, the better to ring

my bell and whistle down

my wind. Sandro’s

denim and red tweed

combo is suitably percussive

(£315, sandro-paris.com),

as is Essentiel Antwerp’s

fringed blue plaid

number — think

Coco Chanel goes

lumberjacking (£235,

essentiel-antwerp.com).

The figure-enhancing

belt

It’s what I turn to when I

want to add geometry to

my now almost permanently

soft-edged wardrobe. It renders

the FFF more F still. It gives

a New Look-ish silhouette to the

layerable jacket. I am not saying I am

going to be wearing one as I tuck into

my Coco Pops. However, if I am going

out anywhere, I plan to belt up. I like

Zara’s wide black take with double

buckle (£25.99, zara.com), Uterqüe’s

brown suede with tortoiseshell-style

links (£69, uterque.com) and Essentiel

Antwerp’s double-cord belt, in black,

purple or neon green (£60, essentiel-

antwerp.com).

The transformational

track pants

When is a pair of track pants like

nothing you ever imagined track pants

might be? When they are in softest

leather, and cut so as to caress your

curves as well as flatter them. If I had

to pick one piece to change the way I

feel about autumn/winter 2020 it

g

The fantastic

flexible frock

The figure

enhancing belt

The luxe

layerable jacket

Some crazy

camel

The lariat

£135.

whistles.com

£130 essentiel-

antwerp.com

£

uk.claudiepierlot.com

£205 essentiel-

antwerp.com

£298 missoma.com

Moi

o.uk