Never say never
Welcome back to Notoriously__Picky’s Picks. Special thanks to all of you who subscribed. Today’s theme is ‘Never say never,’ as I go off the beaten track.
Lifestyle pick- Cycling (embracing the sport in style)
Forget men in Lycra, I had started cycling long before they took to the roads. At 3, with a new shiny bike and an outfit so cool that if I could, I would wear it now for fashion, I embarked on my first ride.
As I grew, my cycling gear became more practical. Inspired by the Tour De France, I switched to specialised shops and swore never to buy sports clothing from a fashion retailer. But once a fashionista, always a fashionista (even when covered in dust), I recently opted for the Cafe du Cycliste range at Matchesfashion. The ditsy floral print of the top balances the masculinity of the athletic cut. The white panels interrupt the print to make me more visible. The shorts give a good tummy tuck and are well-cushioned. And last but not least, after all those years, I feel stylish on my bike again. Waving back at my 3 y.o. self, I pronounce this purchase justified.
Designer pick - Tomo Koizumi x Emilio Pucci
Think peach, lemon and raspberry mixed in a frothy, boozy cocktail. This capsule collection is as intoxicating as it sounds. Take it in large quantities, and you will have a hangover, but try one of the more casual items from this range and it will lift your mood and bring some fun.
Choosing from these three: shoulder bag, slides and T-shirt, I fell for the third. “Where could you wear this?” - asked my hubby, recovering from the initial shock. I don’t get what he means. A T-shirt is casual by definition and doesn’t require a special occasion. I might need to wait for better weather though - it would be criminal to cover those voluptuous sleeves. Then again, there is my white, ‘second skin’ turtleneck, a glorious layering piece, perfect for keeping me snug without sacrificing the sleeves. You know, I’m warming more and more to it.
Tomo Koizumi x Emilio Pucci at Net-a-Porter and Matchesfashion.
Bargain Pick - Trinett bag, Ted Baker
I love bags, that’s a fact. Another truth is that all my bags fall into three categories (check out the links, as you scroll down, for old and new favourites in each category)
Cult picks from luxury brands e.g. Bottega Veneta
Unique designs from recently emerged brands, like Coperni, Behno
Steals from fashion-forward high street shops e.g. Cos
This bag, however, is none of the above, but in grass-green, it caught my eye and its price pleasantly surprised me, more so with the code Spring20. I placed a bookmark a few days ago and keep going back to it - who knows, it might be a start to a new bag category. Haven’t got a name for it yet.
Alternative Pick - Pink shirt, anyone? Reserved.
That cult pink shirt of the season, you know The One. It costs an arm and a leg and also requires a perfect pair of the latter to pull it off as Xenia Adonts did. With limited styling options and a colour that will disappear in a puff of smoke from a hot pick to the back of the closet, is it worth the investment? Not in my book. Xenia Adonts has already stolen the limelight. For the rest of us, in the ‘corps de ballet’, a £19.99 alternative will be perfectly acceptable - Reserved.
Insta pick - @stilblock
Who: Ela Trautner-Lacher
Addicted to her feed. There is also a blog. She writes in German, but we know that true style doesn’t have a language barrier (not in the age of on-line translators anyway). If it did, I would learn German…
Never say never.