Fashion

Does fashion blogging even make sense anymore?

Unless you have been hiding under a rock for a couple of years, there is a chance you are aware of that obsessive anathema regarding the alleged death of fashion blogging.

The rumour has been written in forums, shared, and even printed in t-shirts as a catchy slogan: “Fashion bloggers are dead!”, they say, “Long live Instagram!” This tagline might sound like seasonal news material — a form of objective information, if you please —, once you come closer though, a mild vindictive flavour can be appreciated.

For a long time and as a relatively new industry, blogging aroused suspicion and a great deal of controversy. Certainly, it took some time for the public to understand that blogging was nothing but a digital version to fashion editorials, curated by anonymous people who shared their personal approach to style. In the beginning, there was nothing aspirational about it: most bloggers were mothers, students, or corporate ladies living their lives while blogging for fun.

On a deep level though, it could be argued that it turned into sort of a sisterhood, where normal women could partake of the fun and stop feeling like “Plain Janes”.

This was the starting point from which the blogging empire ascended.

As in any other field, some bloggers started taking a more occupational direction: blog layers were endlessly edited, while outfits became more and more polished. Some started suggesting that authenticity was sacrificed at the expense of professionalisation — a topic stirring passions that would require a post of its own.

The same people (and conservative media) who criticised early authors for their lack of expertise, began resenting their new attitude. Even so, the industry was growing, with a few top bloggers gaining status as respected experts and making a six-figure income.

There was no point in denying reality anymore: fashion blogging was here to stay.

Once bloggers grew into brands and household names, blogging became mainstream. As in any popular industry, the market was suddenly saturated. Many even suggested that the cooperative spirit between bloggers vanished overnight. The same industry which gained momentum as the anti-establishment of fashion, they pleaded, morphed into the materialization of its nemesis.

This was the defining moment in which Instagram was introduced too: a simpler platform that would allow people to post their outfits without the nuisance of composing an entire article around it. Naturally, many saw it as the perfect way to save-up countless hours of writing and editing and dropped off their websites in favour of Instagram. After all, why to spend days working on a blog post when you could easily share your outfit in real-time?

Back in 2016, Tavi Jennison (who became famous by sitting front row at NYFW as an influencer at the age of 12) famously stated: “Yikes, what is the function of this blog anymore? Everything is basically on my Instagram…!”, a sentence that embodied a whole new worldview.

At that point, the question became quite obvious: was fashion blogging dead?

A recent study shows that the Millenial generation prefers social media as an advice resource and the decreasing number of style, outfits and fashion trends blogs seems to provide enough evidence. At the same time, the progressive abandonment of the term blogger in favour of content creator can’t be ignored as a clear indication of this process.

But then, should we all quit our blogs in 2019 and go home?

Personally, I am an optimist: yes, the market might be saturated and highly competitive, and yes, it might be hard to become six-figures income blogging royalty these days (pretty much as hard as becoming a dazzling movie star), but I do believe people are still interested. Nowadays, many blog readers value them as a way to unwind after a hard working day — a certain detachment from social media hectic pace. Maybe, the secret of blogging survival lies in this quality time dimension. Surely, only time will tell. As for now, let me close this article with a good wish:

Long live fashion blogging!

Cami top: Zara / Sailor trousers: Vivienne of Holloway

Sunglasses: HM (old, similar here) / Straw bucket bag: Primark (similar at La Redoute)

Other accessories: off brand

August 14, 2019August 15, 2019

Allegra Caro19 Comments

Why black is a great colour for Summer

Let’s talk about fashion clichés: you are not supposed to wear white after Labor Day, florals are for Spring, and black is a big no-no in the Summertime. Classics, right?

However, that doesn’t mean they are commandments carved in stone. The thing about clichés, you know, is that very frequently, they are based on old ideas and misconceptions. Even so, some of them die hard — and no, it doesn’t matter how much you try, your aunt Mary will not change her mind.

My favourite line in the rule book is probably that one about dark colours and warm weather: we all know they don’t mix well. Except, is that really accurate?

By nature, I am a curious person and, as weird as it might sound, I enjoy reading on cultural assumptions. Sometimes, from a scientific angle. (Thank you Wired for the countless hours of interesting reading!)

During one of my endless pool-side mornings a couple of weeks ago, I read an online article claiming that most of what we mindlessly repeat about colour and weather is wrong. After all, thermodynamics don’t lie (sorry, I always wanted to have an excuse to write that. Actually, this entire post is just a pretext to do so. Let’s just pretend it is not…)

But back to the topic: Which colour is more suitable for Summertime, black or white?

White is claimed to be the best option — not only it is chic but will also keeps us cool in the warmest season. Or so they say. Actually when we look at white colour, we are seeing the combination of all existing light, meaning that the sun’s rays are reflected. And yes, that is perfectly right. Although, it is incomplete information too.

The heat comes both from the sun and our bodies. When all that body heat reaches the white clothing, it gets reflected right back towards the body. Hence, when we wear white, we cook ourselves.

The best color to keep cool in the heat, it turns out, is black.

Black absorbs the solar radiation, true, but it also absorbs the body heat without reflecting it back. Hence, the helpfulness of black clothes will depend on finding a fabric that is similar to those summery white clothes. It is quite logical, isn’t it? Atmospheric conditions play a leading role: once the heat is absorbed, if there’s a little wind, the tissue will radiate it away. That was unexpected, wasn’t it?

(Actually, this whole science-nerd moment was quite unexpected too. Please, don’t tell the cool fashion bloggers out there…)

Personally, my to-go warm weather uniform on its darkest shade consists on a sheer blouse and shorts, or fine skirt that will allow air circulating. Natural fibres such as pure cotton and linen are completely awesome to keep the heat at bay. I am a big fan of investing in Summer black — actually, black for all seasons.

For this look, I went for a a boredom-proof monochromatic Summer look by simply adding an organza ruffled blouse with dramatic sleeves. The shorts, on the other hand, are quite simple which help to balance the outfit. It can be styled both with heels or flats, (which I usually carry on a tote bag in case I feel too tired after a long walk, as this was the case).

What is your personal favourite colour in Summer?

(For more articles on The Prêt-à-porter Series, you can visit this link).

Blouse (Vintage. Very similar looking alternatives available at Chicwish )

Shorts (Old Zara, current option here)

Shoes (Asos) / Bag (Deichmann, sold out)

August 7, 2019August 14, 2019

Allegra Caro26 Comments

Tulle skirt Summer uniform (and that ridiculous ice cream photo shoot)

Oh, Instagram! That wonderful platform where real-life physics do not operate — cities are covered in vibrant sparkling colours, there is a floral market in every corner, and you always get that perfect ice cream shot that screams Summer.

Last Wednesday, Sebastian and I went for a morning coffee break, and I thought it was the chance to make an attempt to get my own flawless ice cream photo. Because, what could possibly go wrong? (Lol. Like… everything?)

In my mind, we would reach the shop early in the morning — when the heat was still tolerable — and then happily take at least a dozen pictures of me making a pose with my flamboyant pink tulle skirt and appetizing gelato. Fashion editorial style. I could even take a couple of additional photos of my hand holding the ice cream in front of the shop placard to upgrade my Insta feed. Easy peasy, right?

Guys, if I could step back in time, I would slap me in the face.

Sebastian (who knows about photographic conditions a bit better than I do), tried to warn me it would not be that easy. Did I listen to him, though? Instead, I enthusiastically arranged my outfit the previous night: that new silky cami top I am loving so much at the moment, and my favourite Carry Bradshaw-ish skirt.

Yes, we left the house early in the morning. Yes, we arrived at the Italian ice cream parlor in no time. And yes, it was still closed. Apparently, for some unknown reason, you can’t get decent ice cream in this city before noon.

At that point, we started feeling that external factors were aligning against us (feel free to start calling us John Snow since we know nothing), but decided to shoot some pictures in the meantime and wait for the shop to open. Sometimes, you need to be a bit flexible with blogging after all.

And so we did: we took a few photos, made some errands too, and came back as soon as they opened. And let me tell you that, by twelve o’clock it was effing hot. Actually, scratch that — it was sun-surface kind of hot. So yeah, we felt like eating ice cream. We chose something we liked, went out and started taking phone photos of my delicious hazelnut gelato, which started melting in about one minute.

We realized we had little time before there was nothing to photograph, so Sebastian did his best to capture the moment which was… ahem… let’s say interesting.

What it should have been a flawless Instagram momentum with a chic girl enjoying a cheeky Summery treat, turned into a messy scene with a not-so-chic girl trying to do some serious damage control. The keyword here is trying.

summer tulle skirt outfit — What it should look like versus what it actually looked like…

Envision a crazy fashionista fighting to get a photo, while cleaning the mess with a napkin between shots, and laughing hysterically during the whole process. Charming.

After a few attempts, we decided that the perfect shot was not happening at ALL. Instead, we started laughing about how stupid we are because, c’mon, we’ve been doing this whole blogging thing for a while now and we should know better. So, we order a second ice cream (delicious, really) and sat down to enjoy it as normal people would.

At least, no tulle skirts were harmed in the making of this post.

So tell me, people: what’s the silliest thing you have done for a blog post or Instagram picture?

Cami top: Zara / Tulle skirt: Chicwish (old, similar model here)

Shoes: Asos / Bag: CHANEL

Earrings: Vintage (similar at Miu Miu)

Bracelet: Antique / Pendant: off brand

August 5, 2019August 5, 2019

Allegra Caro12 Comments

How to boost your self-confidence and feel good in your Summer clothes

Few things scream Summer quite as loudly as gingham does, an evergreen classic that comes back every June. Its sacred status quo partially originates from a simple idea: the fabric is supposed to work for just about anyone. At least, that’s what I thought when I saw these shorts in Zara last Summer.

This tale starts like any fashionista love story — a girl who falls for an item of clothing in a heartbeat and reaches for the cash desk. But love is not all wine and roses, is it? Once I arrived home, I tried the trousers immediately (I only trust the natural light in my bedroom), and was nothing but disheartened. Those shorts totally cheated on me!

Horrified, I double-checked myself in the mirror: every flaw and insecurity, showing in every inch of exposed skin. I must admit I felt so bad, I didn’t even dare to return the trousers to the shop and simply threw them in the deepest part of the closet, banished forever. Then, I forgot about their existence.

Like any other women, I frequently feel self-conscious about my appearance and Summer turns into a cyclic challenge. No matter how resilient you are most of the time, the warm season with its demands of body confidence can take its toll. I lost track of how many times my husband repeated every woman has cellulite, or freckles, or small depigmentation patches because the truth is, the only voice you can hear in such junctures, is the one in your head. And guys, that’s not a nice voice.

Over the last half a year I was in a bad place, mentally. Work stress, hormonal changes, and some insecurities related to our next destination made me feel overwhelmed at times. And I had to work my ass off to leave that dark place. Because if there is one thing I can say about myself without hesitation, it’s I am a stubborn fighter who will not give up.

So, I started thinking, what can I do to feel better? And eventually, I started applying these thoughts to my body image too. I am not going to lie — it took work and will, and I am still fighting every day. But overall? It was worth it.

So, these are my 100% honest tips on how to boost your self-esteem this Summer.

1. Distance yourself from your body-conflict one second and analyze actual biologic factors

Is your monthly cycle affecting your body shape or perception? Are you stressed or dieting? When your hormones are out of order, this affects your mood. The reason can be found on the imbalance between Oestrogen and Serotonin. Likewise, if you’re currently dieting, there’s also a chance that your brain is in starvation mode. At that point, it conserves resources for survival which can leave you less capacity to think in a flexible and objective way about the way you look.

2. Focus on your strengths

None of us is made of flaws only. Think about your best physical qualities. Are your arms firm? Have you got a glowy skin? What about your eyes or your hair? We all have some charms and they are there, waiting for you to discover them.

3. Feed to nourish

Look, we have all been there, even the skinny type ladies: emotional eating is a fact. Instead of obsessing over the perfection of all those fitness model-like influencers out there, try not to compare yourself with them. Be generous and instead of restricting calories or food groups, try to nourish. You might know already that brain-friendly foods include coconut oil, oily fish, nuts, dark leafy greens, etc. And as I previously mentioned, most of our body-image issues are related to brain starvation mode.

4. If you need professional help, ask for it

We would never judge anyone for going to the dentist, so why to judge those going to therapy? This is certainly a taboo we need to kill. If you feel a therapist might be the solution to your problem, do not hesitate to make an appointment. Mostly everyone needs professional help at some point and that’s fine.

Just to finish the story, while cleaning my wardrobe last Spring, I found those infamous gingham shorts and decided to give them another shot. The patches, freckles, and cellulite were still there, but my mind was in a better place now.

And you know what? Life is too short to care.

Blouse: Zara / Gingham shorts: Zara (last season, very similar here)

Shoes: Dolce & Gabbana (old model, alternative here)

Bag: CHANEL / Sunglasses: Zara (Old, Dolce & Gabbana option here)

July 30, 2019July 30, 2019

Allegra Caro10 Comments

These beachwear essentials will upgrade your Summer game

Summer is in full swing now and by this time of the year, the endless so-called-must-haves offer out there can be a bit overwhelming.

However, if you are anything like me, there is a good chance you kept forgetting to check your holiday bucket list purposely. (Did I comment on the fact that by the beginning of the month I had bought my SPF only? Because guys, that’s how lazy I am…) Well, I don’t know about you but spending all those fragrant breeze June evenings hunting for beach essentials felt like doing homework to me. And guys, holiday and homework don’t mix well together.

But back to the topic, July is here now and for most of us, that long-awaited trip to the sands is around the corner. Before you panic, don’t worry: Whether you are enrolling a cruise in the Mediterranean or dipping your toes in the crystal blue Maldives waters, I stopped procrastinating and surfed the internet for you to find the definitive beachwear essentials to upgrade your Summer game.

Looking for that French Riviera chic vacation vibe? I have you covered.

01. The boho girl beach style

Only few things can compare to the careless bohemian glamour – it is a bit like the fashion equivalent to instant soup allure, isn’t it? Channel your inner IT girl and voilá: ready to be invited to the V.I.P. lounge. No need to say this Camilla off-the-shoulder ruffled embellished printed swimsuit is plainly perfect.

(Rosantica beader wicker tote, Chloé sunglasses, Kenneth Jay Lane cuff, Aqquazura embellished sandals).

02. The vintage film diva look

When I was a kid, I used to daydream about becoming an Old Hollywood actress. Well, I might not be one but there is always the chance to wear this Norma Kamali halterneck swimsuit and play Gene Tierney in 1942 Rings in her Fingers. Cocktails anyone?

(Bow embellished slides by Prada, tote and shades by YSL, hat available here).

03. The ingénue in holiday wishlist

Personally? I LOVE everything Chelsea 28 produces but this Off the Shoulder Ruffle One-Piece Swimsuit is one of my favourites ever. It adds a note of romance to your look and is still casual, playful and wearable. Add the the Urban Outfitters marine hair clips to complete the mermaid vibe.

(Beach towel available at Fendi. Laminated sandals by CHANEL. Raffia bag here).

And these are my favourite 2019 Summer style essentials. Have you been shopping for the beach already? Any nice finds you would like to share?

July 15, 2019August 14, 2019

Allegra Caro4 Comments

Ten elegant style problems

If you have been a regular reader for a while, you know I wrote a statement piece about the amount of prejudice that people with a polished style tend to encounter on a daily basis. However, that specific article does not necessarily depict the most frequent ups and downs when you are into classy fashion.

Let me exemplify here: while visiting Madrid back in June I experienced quite an unpleasant episode related to someone judging my appearance. On our second day in the city, Sebastian and I went for a nice walk to El Retiro and we decided to take the chance for some pictures as a memory of the trip. At a certain point, we went into the Glass Palace and started shooting. Just for a bit of context, the place is a touristic point of interest – hence, every visitor was taking photos as well, most of them with high calibre cameras.

After about ten minutes, one of the security team members approached us to tell us we needed to stop it. Obviously, that was quite of a shock and we shyly asked what was the reason. Where we inadvertently breaking any rules?

The guard seemed quite embarrassed and hesitated to provide an explanation. Then, he said that I was “far too well dressed” for their standards and they could not guess whether that was a professional shot or not… Even more confused, we looked around and pointed out the higher calibre cameras other people were using (which were more professional than our very middle-ground Canon), and the fact that we were only a couple taking our holiday pictures. We were not using any kind of lamp, reflector or specialized technical material. Nothing of it seemed to make any difference, though.

At the end of a very short conversation, we left the place but I could not help but wonder how many times would I have to stand people prejudices and let them affect my life. Was I forever doomed? Was there a way to see it with a bit of humour? Then I thought about the blog and how I could possibly share the most common issues when your style is smart.

These are ten problems every elegant style person will understand

01. You need at least a couple of hours to figure out what to wear

When you want to look your best, there is not such a thing like throwing some jeans and carrying on. Most of the time, you will end up choosing your outfit the evening before just to regret your choice the next morning because…

02. You are a perfectionist

Which means chipped manicure or dry lipstick are NOT an option (not to speak about wrinkled clothing. If by any chance your neat skirt gets creased in the car, you will have a difficult day.) Do you want to speak about anxiety crisis? What about the day I lost a button from a designer jacket?

03. People will assume your only interest is fashion

Also, that you are unable to hold an interesting conversation. I recall a specific evening in which my husband had to “confirm” I have got a major in English just because the idiot I was talking to thought I looked nothing like the bohemian type. Consequently, my opinions on Virginia Woolf work were to be understated. Not need to say I never spoke to that person again.

04. Unless you wear jeans, people will also think you are overdressed

But if you do wear jeans, they will think you feel sick or something. No, there is no emergency here and my house didn’t burn down letting me with only a pair of jeans in stock. It’s called laundry day. Thank you for your concern.

05. You will be frequently mortified by your family about the value of your designer bag

It doesn’t really matter you are a professional with a decent disposable income and a good savings account. They will keep playing Can You Guess the Price… in front of you.

06. Your neighbour will always comment on how fancy you look today and then ask about the occasion

Is it rude to reply that being alive is the occasion? Because it is, really.

07. Your dry cleaner monthly expense is C.R.A.Z.Y.

Because that’s what happens when most of your clothes are made of interesting textures and materials (a.k.a. delicates) and there is nothing you can do about it. (Well, maybe you could stop buying nice clothes altogether. Or sell an organ in the black market. Just your call…)

08. You always have something to wear to Wimbledon

Only thing is… you are never invited to Wimbledon. Or to a yacht trip to Capri, for the matter. Yes, lifestyle can get on the way when you try to justify that gorgeous Valli dress price tag. But hey, you only live once, right?

09. You find office attire boring

And no matter how much of an effort you make to look at it on a more positive vibe. Still boring.

10. Most of the time, people will make you feel self-conscious.

Seriously, how much time is it socially acceptable to stare at someone on the commute? I am sure your social media feed is far more interesting than my outfit, so please gaze at your telephone screen instead. The good part is you can always look back at them blankly until they feel slightly uncomfortable. It is a bit like a Far West film, only with better attire.

Tell me, have you experienced these or any other style problems?

Slip dress: Zara

Bag and cuff: CHANEL

Shoes: Zara (old, similar at Gianvito Rossi)

July 12, 2019July 11, 2019

Allegra Caro7 Comments

Inadvertently shopping Valentino

Until very recently, when someone told me they are lucky at shopping, I rolled my eyes.

Not out of jealousy but of mere disbelief: being good at shopping is a bit like being good at winning the lottery, isn’t it? One cannot exactly trust the odds. There are, for sure, some factors that may help you to be successful – investing some time in checking your favourite shops on a regular basis, for instance. But being simply lucky? It never sounded real to me. Actually, it always made me think of Carrie Bradshaw: someone who has a lovely old-rent apartment in the town centre and a walk-in closet full of Manolo Blahnik shoes. Just too good to be true.

As it frequently happens when you hold a prejudice, Father Universe was determined to teach me I was wrong.

Last week, I woke up on a cloudy morning: it was too chilly to be tempted by the pool club we usually attend, but still nice enough to leave the house and enjoy a little walk. Since Sebastian was busy with work and I had no plans for the day, I decided to be spontaneous and booked the day for some second hand and vintage shopping. The city we currently live in is on the small size side, however, there is a complete neighbourhood consecrated to outlets and flea markets of all sorts. In the past, I have found a decent quantity of fast fashion brands (Zara, H&M, Mango… you name it) for a fraction of the price and in mint condition, as well as some one-of-a-kind interesting bits and bobs.

On the first shop, I managed to rescue a couple of cool pieces in the shape of basic sundresses for the upcoming seaside trip in July. Nothing out of the ordinary. Then, I moved to the next one. The aforementioned shop is slightly more expensive than your average vintage business because they operate like a brand-only store, meaning most of their stock comes from Inditex outlets.

Now, I am not such a big fan of fast fashion brands to justify paying close to the original tag price for last season items. To me, fast fashion is a reasonable alternative for basics and the occasional nice dress. Notwithstanding, if I am about to splurge some extra money, I prefer to get a valuable piece from my designer wishlist. (Please, notice that I don’t intend to be judgemental about anybody’s personal preferences here: I mention this so you can see I was feeling rather lazy about getting inside that specific store on the first place.)

Happily, for some reason, I did.

I checked the first floor quickly and was quite decided not to buy anything when a glimpse of a wonderful red shade caught my attention. It was a lovely skirt, with scalloped details over the waist and a light touch. From the very first moment, I LOVED the colour. I quickly checked the price tag which was a bit high for a little outlet shop of the sort but still very reasonable. So, I decided to go into the fitting room.

During the whole process, there was something in the back of my mind, telling me the cut and colour looked familiar. It was something I had seen before, surely. Then, I looked at myself in the mirror, loved how the skirt seated on my waist and hips and decided it was meant to be. The Déjà vu was still there, though. When I took the skirt off it slowly dawned on me that I hadn’t seen the label yet. Who was the manufacturer? I must confess I held my breath for a second when I read it – yes, it was Valentino.

Have you seen that episode from The Simpsons in which Marge accidentally finds a CHANEL suit on a second-hand store? Because guys, that’s exactly how it feels.

I went straight to the counter, asked the shopping assistant if the price was correct, she confirmed it was, and I handed her my credit card without a blink.

Well, I guess that’s the way the universe tells you not to be a cynic. After all, who knows? Next time it can be you.

Tell me, have you ever found a hidden treasure while shopping?

Skirt: RED Valentino (sold out, similar here, shorts version here)

Blouse: Saint Tropez (sold out, similar styles here and here)

Hair clip: Versace / Shoes: Zara (old, similar at Gianvito Rossi)/Lipstick: Kat Von D

Other accessories: Off brand

July 9, 2019July 15, 2019

Allegra Caro2 Comments

A Colourful Revolution: Mary Quant, the V&A retrospective

“London was dead. Fog permeated everything. Fog was a smell. Fog was a colour.”

In the context of a grim, black and white post-war London, the work of Mary Quant bloomed like a Winter Rose – an unexpected crimson brush-stroke in the snow.

No one in that colour-blind world could have foreseen it but when the suburban Goldsmith schoolgirl opened her first experimental shop in Chelsea, she was meant to start a vivacious revolution. Back in the day, couture embodied the rigid war generation mindset, deeply related to subjects such as traditional gender roles and a narrow elite class access to fashion. Baby boomers not only failed to empathise but also refused to do so: they were eager for freedom. “Fashion should be a game,” Quant wrote once, a motto an entire generation lived for.

When wandering about the V&A halls at the Mary Quant exhibition, one can easily come across ladies who look at the dresses with a nostalgic smile. “I had a dress very similar to this one,” 73-year-old Mary Brighton says, “I was only 14 then. My parents didn’t like it but they hadn’t much to say. I would work every Saturday on a tiny Carnaby Street shop to save the money.” Her friend Betty Wilkes nods her head: “Everything was grey then: the rain, the streets, the boring schooldays… And suddenly, she showed us the idea of hue. It was a bit like Technicolor, only better.”

This image deeply resonates with Quant’s work. Chromatism was used wisely as a part of an elaborated concept – to deconstruct British tradition by empowering women. Significant examples (sometimes, in the form of iconic dresses; sometimes, in the shape of lustrous raincoats, shoes or tights) are visible: if you take a minute to visit the ground floor, the OBE Dress must be admired. In 1966, the designer was appointed Officer of the British Empire, a medal awarded for her contribution to the UK fashion export trade, supporting the national economy. For the occasion, Quant created a bright cream gown to stand out in the crowd in a gloomy November afternoon. Her beret was designed to look like an English schoolgirl hat, the entire outfit recalls the Victorian boarding school institution but she gave her a fresh and modern twist. The short skirt shook Royal protocol.

Another quintessential example is to be found on the first floor. The 1967 tartan dress was deliberately made on Victorian-inspired patterned cloth and conservative bodice. However, the new hemline, as well as the usage of synthetic materials such as rayon with Lurex thread, helped to create a sparkling party dress – The Swinging 60s paradigm.

Although Quant is mainly credited for making mini-skirts popular, it could be argued that her most impressive achievement was the capacity to anticipate and capture the new age sensibility. Hence, it is no shocker that other visionary legends of the period like former Vogue creative director Grace Coddington (then a promising model) embraced Quant’s philosophy and wore her pieces.

Quant tartan lurex dress — 1967 Tartan Lurex dress

But what makes Quant work bewitching is her own fascination about modernity. When new materials first came out, she was eager to experiment with them. “One day, a new fabric appeared on the scene,” she said, “PVC was shiny, waterproof, and unlike anything I’d ever seen before.” Her revolutionary usage of plastic for the 1963 Wet collection was a turning point in fashion. She conceptualized practical clothes to brighten gloomy weather days, sure, but the choice of a watery material and a simple, natural pattern has a lot to do with her early prediction of the deconstruction process: By rejecting perpetuation of the highly structured Dior silhouette, Quant seems to anticipate Zygmunt Bauman’s liquefaction concept. The 50s corseted designs are inevitably connected to highly hierarchically organized structures such as family, social class, and gender roles, all of them early refused by the Baby boomers generation who started moving from a solid, heavy society to a more fluid one.

Mary Quant PVC raincoat — 1963 Wet Collection

It is quite significant that the V&A team decided to hold Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams and Mary Quant exhibitions at the same time, confronting both visions. On the subject, Quant once declared: “I always designed clothes from a very young age because I didn’t like the way they were. They were paralyzing; they were stilted.”

Paralysis is deeply connected to the topic, indeed. Women were frozen, a dragonfly on amber, trapped in a forced passive role conceived during the Old Regime times. With the second wave of Feminism in the 60s, themes such as reproductive and work rights became socially relevant. By giving women freedom of movement and rethinking gender stereotypes (her androgyny designs are worth to mention still today), Quant significantly contributed to the new cosmological vision. Hence, we can shamelessly affirm her work transcended the mere fashion substance to achieve a cultural patina of grandeur.

Certainly, Dame Quant also owned a natural genius for marketing and audience understanding: among many other fascinating moments, the exhibition portrays her elaborated plan to promote London as an avant-garde destination for the emergent American cosmopolitan class, while visiting New York in 1965. The Youthquake tour not only put London on the map but also succeeded to create a fan phenomenon over the brand, which sold out collections overnight.

Mary Quant tuxedo dress — Overdraft waistcoat and cheque book skirt (1967)

Curators Jenny Lister and Stephanie Wood have worked hard to bring together more than 200 pieces for the exhibition, many of them never displayed before. This is the result of a brilliant strategy: a public call-out to track down rare Mary Quant garments. Through hashtag #WeWantQuant people are still sharing their experience on Instagram. Many of the original owners’ stories are presented –together with their gowns– on a memorabilia masterpiece which is a page in the fashion book, as well as in the English history.

Now you have the opportunity to experience it: the exhibition opened on April the 6^th and will run to March the 8^th, 2020.

When leaving the V&A building, springtime drizzle falls across the grey London streets and a few colourful umbrellas pop here and there. And at the end of the day, the 21^st-century woman writing this cannot help but bless Mary Quant for that.

June 6, 2019June 6, 2019

Allegra Caro3 Comments

The Honest Fashionista Series: Shopping at Giambattista Valli x H&M pre-sale bloodbath

When H&M unveiled its 2019 designer collab on May the 23rd, middle-class fashionistas from all around the world went crazy.

The Giambattista Valli x H&M collection was meant to be the most glamorous one thus far, being artfully revealed at the amfAR gala in Cannes. Always a bandwagon-kind-of-girl, the unavoidable Instagram tidal wave caught me by surprise during the coffee break when, with a cappuccino y one hand and my phone in the other, I learned that a limited stock pre-sale was happening on the 25th before the official release on November. Hallelujah!

For a bit of context, I should probably clarify that my romantic story with H&M designer collections has been quite a tragic one: during the 2015 Balmain launch I somehow managed to mess up the dates and miss it; the 2017 Erdem collection was sold out before I had the chance to get one of their flowing Pre-Raphaelite gowns. In both occasions, I ended up feeling so sorry for myself, I would spend my days sighing and out of spirits – the vivid image of the Brontës heroines, Catherine Earnshaw in the moorlands moaning for lost ~~love~~ dresses… Oh, alas. Hence, I was determined to succeed this time.

A big believer in the Go big or go home motto, my initial impulse was buying one of the dreamy tulle extravaganzas, but as Sebastian kindly reminded me, the last cocktail dress I purchased is still hanging on the original plastic cover, not a chance to wear it. After all, how many opportunities has got the average professional woman to wear something that excessive a year? One, maybe two, if you are lucky. I could for sure wear my new flamboyant Valli to go to the groceries as Crazy Rich Asians character muse Heart Evangelista notoriously said once, right? But in the end, I decided to be a bit rational this time and buy something that would certainly work better with my current lifestyle. Well, most of us bloggers are not Chiara Ferragni, are we?

With this mind, I checked the collection and immediately thought I could manage to fit the necklace in my existing wardrobe without much of a headache. On Saturday, I woke up early, prepared myself some tea and checked the launch time again. It was being released at 10:00 CET, so I entered the website at 9:00 a.m. and saw that the page showed a banner confirming the release at the expected time. At this point, I started feeling slightly nervous and texted a friend to see if she was already connected to the website too. Just to reassure me. Yes, I am that kind of person, what can I say?

At 9:20 a.m. and after the second green jasmine teacup, the initial butterflies in my stomach were more like that Mothra creature from the Godzilla films. Sebastian came back from his Saturday morning basketball game to find me still trying to play cool (as if…). “Just chilling”, I painfully lied, “Waiting for that H&M thing to be online, you know?”. Yeah, he knew. “Not nervous?”, he laughed and then he went for a shower.

At 9:45 a.m. I left any concealing strategy (and all hope) behind. It was my third cup of tea in a row and I was kind of worried I could start hearing the colours any time. Because a theine overdose is just what you need to start your weekend the right way.

I maniacally started refreshing the website at 9:55 a.m. During the 2017 Erdem doom-day, that was the main reason I wasn’t able to add the dresses to my shopping cart in time. It was not happening again, folks.

At 09:59 Apocalypse Now OST was playing in the background. Sebastian was kind of scared at this point and scrupulously keeping the P.A.S.D (Panicking Allegra Security Distance) at all times. That´s my man…

Then it was 10:00 a.m., 10.02 a.m. and 10:05 a.m. and the website was still loading. You are totally rightful to guess I was now on a state of sartorial red code. It didn’t matter how many times I would refresh, the catalogue was not updated yet. I tried my luck with the Spanish website at the same time. Nothing. I suddenly began thinking the page or server collapsed due to the number of people connected at the same time and totally panicked.

At 10:00 a.m. the collection was still loading. I was legitimately considering to drink all the limoncello in the freezer.

It was 10:11 a.m. when the website finally went up: “We have visual contact, sir!”, I announced to Sebastian a bit too loud, “I repeat, we have visual contact”.

I quickly added the necklace to the shopping cart straight away, didn’t even bother to look at the other options. Then I proceeded with check out and payment. The whole process took me less than a minute. Yes, I guess it is some kind of useless superpower. I am just waiting for Doctor Charles Xavier to knock on my door any day now. I opened my email searching for the order confirmation and once I verified everything was alright, I decided to breathe and make myself some lime blossom tea. I can assure you shopping is literally my cardio.

By the time I had my cup ready, I sat down again to see what else was still available on the website. Out of mere curiosity, if you please, and there it was: all the collection was gone for good in about ten minutes.

The necklace arrived four days later, packed on a lovely box and covered with silk paper. I was truly surprised on the effort the actually did with the presentation. Not bad for fast fashion production at all. The piece itself is beautifully designed although the locking clip is far from couture standards. However, it is worth to keep in mind that this is just a collaboration and not an atelier piece. Overall, I would say I am quite satisfied with the purchase – a light impression on how it feels to be a Valli girl.

For those of you who didn’t manage to grab your pieces in time, the full collection will be released on November the 7th. May the shopping odds be ever in your favour!

June 4, 2019June 4, 2019

Allegra Caro2 Comments

Personal Fashion pet peeves (which will make you burst into laughter)

A couple of weeks ago, I was having one of my recurring online cappuccino dates with a friend. While casually discussing trends, she told me she hates monochrome outfits with a passion. She confessed it was one of her personal fashion pet peeves, something which annoyed her so much, she would immediately scroll down on Pinterest when encountered.

I was quite curious about the fact she felt such displeasure and when she kindly asked me what were my own style pet peeves, I gave her an involuntary puzzled frown. The fact is, I never thought about it and couldn’t even tell if I had a thing about any trend at all. To be honest, my mind went completely blank, and we ended up shifting towards a different topic. However, I would not let go and spent the next couple of weeks raking over it. My brain did not cooperate and at the end of the day, I had to admit maybe I had no pet peeve of my own.

A bunch of days later, Sebastian and I were out for dinner and run into a colleague who was wearing a beautiful floral dress. Although the gown was truly beautiful, I found myself muttering afterwards. “Florals for Spring? Groundbreaking!” And there it was – I was like everyone else, after all.

A cascade of ideas flooded my mind in that very moment, the entire collection of my own personal style obsessions. And then, I concluded it would be nice to share them with you out of scientific curiosity if you please. Just to compare and check if it’s only me who cannot stand the points in the following list. So here you go…

My fashion pet peeves

(Disclaimer: these are my own personal opinions and they are meant to be read in a humorous tone. Please, do not take me too seriously.)

Trainers to tone down an all over classy outfit

I know I am probably alone with this one but really, NOPE. To me, sport shoes will never look casual, but sporty. That’s the whole point about them, isn’t it? So, when I see one of those very nice grammable photos in which the girl is wearing a perfectly polished outfit just to “tone it down” with trainers, I want to cry. Are you playing a tennis match or going to an opera evening? My robotic mind displays the Logic Not Found error message every time. Sorry. It is not about you, people. It is about me. Give me flats anytime, but sport shoes are my kryptonite.

2. Mixing patterns

Let’s. Stop. This madness. I still remember when I opened a magazine to see a street fashion shot of a woman who was wearing camouflage print and tartan on the same outfit. My eyes burn to this day. Just like Phoebe’s in that Friends episode in which she discovers Monica and Chandler affair. Please, if I can make a wish, let’s leave patterns separate and use solid colours instead. Thank you.

3. The tiny handbags trend

Excuse me, did I die and went to Hell? Because that’s the only way I can make sense of something this illogical. Carrying your stuff around is the purpose of a bag, so what is the point of a miniature purse which cannot even keep your car keys? Seriously. What is the point?! It makes NO SENSE (hyperventilates on a paper bag).

4. Clothes on the wrong size

Know your size people, pleasie, please. When in doubt, just ask the shop assistant or check the sizes chart. There is nothing worse than poorly tailored clothes. Too baggy? Awful. Too tight? Even worse. You don’t want to look like a tacky version of a Marvel superhero, right? Something like Captain Clerk, the unfortunate hero whose powers come from the second cup of morning Ristretto… I thought so. Well, I have written about this before, but you can totally drop your new suit to the closest dressmaker if needed. I promise it is worth every penny.

5. Nude dress, nude shoes, nude tights… nude you

To me, too matchy-matchy is an A category fashion disaster which develops into a hilarious mess when it comes to nude tones. Without a pop of colour, a head-to-toe nude outfit makes you look… yes, you guessed it: NAKED. Please, don’t show yourselves naked on the streets. It is bad for you, it is bad for me, it is bad for all those fluffy koala cubs out there. And you don’t want to hurt the baby koalas, do you?

And this is it, folks – my own personal nightmares fashionwise. Since I am a bit nosy, I would love to learn about yours too, so just let me know!

Dress: Poema (sold out, similar at Alexia Admor)

Pink Biker Jacket: Reserved

Handbag: CHANEL/ Sunglasses: Vintage / Shoes: Top Shop