Dreams of Dressing up
dreams of dressing up! special bulletin on velvet! accessorizing with flowers! and more...
Autumn may well be my favourite season - the frenzy of color is an annual revelation, the light becomes lower and longer and dressing in layers is marvellously stimulating to my creative brain. Winter is then a stark contrast, bringing grey, barren, tableaux and limited light. I can’t say it is a season I have ever welcomed with open arms. The dreariness necessitates for me a contrasting extravagance: in dressing, in decorating, in pastime. Here in Toronto we have been thrust rather unceremoniously into winter with shockingly early snowfall, and so I have been meditating on extravagance in all its forms, but especially, since dragging out my clunky winter boots and dreaded puffer, I am dreaming of dressing up.
Party Dressing
Lucky for all of us, the holidays approach, with a slew of fabulous parties in tow. The Holiday Party is the essence of extravagance, encouraging us to indulge in our most lavish looks. This photo of Kate Moss has been on every one of my holiday moodboards, as it combines so many of my favourite elements: sumptuous velvet, a beaded handbag and strappy sandals.
Tory Burch, always an innovator of opulence, packed her fall ‘25 runway with ingenious cotton velvets, including this twisted asymmetrical dress in a subtle fawn hue. If you favor the bold, the dress is also available in a cascading rose floral.
Craving velvet neutrals for less? COS has a full slouchy suit in brown: here is the jacket and the trousers.
Tory also excels in the field of accessories, supplying the platonic ideal of both beaded bag and strappy shoe. This fringed specimen is currently sold out everywhere but Farfetch, but you can still find these perfect pierced sandals on the site.
I am generous by nature so I will of course include some vintage accessory options…
Bags: stunning silver acrylic Giorgio Armani, Paco Rabanne chainmail, Dries rainbow silk fringe, and three antique flappers purses, which are some of the best in my opinion; pink floral motif, seaglass green and pure silver.
Shoes (all under $200 CAD): black velvet YSL Rive Gauche size 40, Cult Gaia crystal & lucite size 37.5, a trio of beaded Manolos; celadon satin size 40, blue with toe ring size 36, plum and gold size 37. And for dancing, some flats: Tory Burch crystal slides size 11, Rochas satin & crystal 37, Tory mesh & rhinestone ballets size 9.5, and cozy beaded plaid Simone Rocha slides size 9 (for a steal!).
Attention all lovers of EXTRAVAGANCE! I will be selling all my best party frippery again at 100% Silk Shop’s holiday market on Saturday, November 22nd. Everything will be marked to sell! Come prepared for opulence.
Another paragon of style in another familiar moodboard image; Chloe has always known how to freak it for evening! This look is built around a pair of statement stockings, a formula approved by me, and now, thanks to Swedish Stockings, we can all follow it. Their collaboration with Leandra Medine Cohen brought us an almost identical pair which sold out quickly, but they are still available in this elegant pearl grey, which is much more versatile, imo! I imagine them paired with midnight blue velvet and a turquoise heel… The collaboration also spawned stockings in a delicious glossy red and a pair of spangled fishnets, both ideal stars of a future party look.
Chloe’s corsage reminds us to use flowers abundantly this season…
Why not tuck sprigs of baby’s breath or small red carnations through your hair, a la Gwyneth in Sliding Doors!
Lauren Hutton rescues Calla lilies from the depths of basic wedding hell with this most glamorous ensemble of champagne Fortuny pleats and blonde fur. Please do not disregard fur when considering extravagance. It is of the utmost importance!
Helena Christensen’s silk brocade coat, trimmed in curly shearling, is a flawless topper for any party frock. Last year, I found a black and red wool kimono which really elevated my attire. I’m sure I will wear it again several times this year. It is time to revive the opera coat!
This quilted silk piece by Michaele Vollbracht is the stuff of dreams! But if you prefer less of an investment, Etsy and ebay have so many 1920s/30s robes and replicas: cornflower blue silk brocade, burgundy floral kimono, exquisite burnout velvet, green silk velvet, trench-style camel velvet. For that extra embellishment, you can always add a plush fur collar like this chocolatey Mongolian lamb or this baby blue rabbit.
Finally, some honorable mentions:
Festive mens Bode trousers, size 32 in moss green cotton velvet or red brocade
SPECTACULAR electric red Zoran silk set with shift dress and hooded coat
khaki green & fuchsia silk rosette mules from Manolo Blahnik’s Marie Antoinette collection!!!!?!!
saw these Lemaire boots in the wild last week, and I am so happy to see designers championing EELSKIN! I am a long time lover of eel - it takes color so opulently and has a sensual sheen. When I found out they came in a thigh high version I went into a long coma. Anyway, here are some vintage eelskin boots: D&G dove grey 36, Trademark hunter green 39, Tory Burch patchwork 7.
I really love these sturdy denim shorts with sequin and rhinestone fringe embellishments by Rachel Comey. Chill, cool and yet totally insane. These JW Anderson crystal studded clogs have a similar vibe.
Wishing you abundant FUN, FRIENDSHIP and FESTIVITY this holiday season.
Talk soon! xo
I had 3 pairs of gorgeous floral pantyhose I bought on vacation in Munich in the 80s. When I rode the elevator 5 floors at work, people would stare at my legs. ☺️ I adored theml 🤩