Fashion Report: Spring/Summer 2007/08
[ 30 September 2007 ]
Image key
Olga Sherer for Ralph Lauren. Immaculate nails & Lanvin hexagonal ring [US Vogue February 2007]. Pearls. Art deco earrings. Gloves by Molly N [Simply You Summer 2007]. Chanel blue patent driving gloves [US Vogue February 2007]. Diana Vreeland. Random art deco girl. Art deco black enamel bracelet. Bangles by Lanvin, Dior Homme & Patricia von Musulin [US Vogue February 2007]. Girl in a turban. Chanel 5018 sunglasses.
My direction for spring/summer 2007/08 is a mix of aristocratic, tennis & haughty chic, with modern edges.
The look is largely based around black & white, with unexpected splashes of colour to stop me from falling asleep (pink hair, purple fingernails, green eye makeup, etc.). All this talk of spring florals & nu-neon makes me want to rebel, so I will, & I am. I am rebelling towards glamour, elegant necks, an air of transatlanticism, the scent of art deco.
Everything should be long, long, long. Full skirts, dresses that hit below the knee, draped scarves & legs lengthened to the hilt. There will be an emphasis on wrists & legs, the aim is to elongate the limbs as much as possible. For this reason, anything worn around the wrist is encouraged. Black enamel cuffs, fingerless gloves & wristlets will be marvellous for this purpose.
Consider proportion & geometry. Contrast is a cornerstone of the look. Think sleek black dresses with big hair, wide hips with a small waist, long legs in big boots, stacked bangles along a delicate arm. Juxtaposition is key.
Grooming is also of utmost importance this season. Clean clothes, shined shoes, perfect coiffure & immaculate makeup are what will make this look work. Nails should be short but well-kept & lacquered with red or metallics. Slicing this aesthetic with your modern self — candy-coloured hair, tattoos, piercings etc. — will be fabulous.
Hats are essential, particularly anything with a wide brim, as are turbans & headscarves. The ideal pair of sunglasses are the Chanel 5018, closely followed by Tom Ford’s Marissa or Samantha.
If you can only trifle with one sort of accessory, bracelets (which make noise as you gesticulate wildly) are It. Art deco styling is encouraged, lots of heavy metals, but anything with a bit of bolshy shine that catches the eye is acceptable. Also, keep your eyes out for dangling earrings, pearls, rings which reek of art deco futurism, anything Bakelite. If hair is not hidden beneath a turban or hat, it should be pulled back from the face & combed high. Play with animal print (faux, please): zebra, leopard & crocodile. Aristocratic animals, you know the sort.
Swan around in high heels, buy a kimono for lounging, walk at a pace rapid enough that your garments flutter behind you. Have your eyebrows tinted; learn how to do a clean cat’s eye (coming soon!). Buy an elegant clutch for evening adventures. Cultivate a jazz appreciation. Spend time on the telephone as opposed to continual electronic contact. Make a habit of buying treasures. Keep your chin up & stay fabulous.
Super-love & cupcakes,
Gala 
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Hey Gala – where do you get your lucite bangles from? Ive been looking everywhere to no avail?? I currently live in Brissy.. Any tips?
I can sincerely offer a gigantic YES to all of the above.
I am so excited about summer (after three winters in a row and no christmas – a little like narnia!) that it just isn’t funny …
XO
p.s. michelle –
http://search.ebay.com/lucite-bangle_W0QQfrppZ50QQfsooZ1QQfsopZ1QQmaxrecordsreturnedZ300QQssPageNameZWLRS
you can buy hundreds for very little :)
Ooh, this is interesting.
I’m just trying to figure out my direction again, and I need some inspiration.
This will help me in my quest! :3
Have fun with this Gala, you’ll pull it off excently!
Where did you find those gorgeous gloves??? I can’t stop staring at them!
Thanks Natalie – hope you have a wonderful day!
Hugs to u!
i like this concept a lot, especially the combination of the look with bright crazy hair + tatoos/piercings); it sounds like a good winter idea (black, gloves, scarves, long skirts + dresses) as well.
also, i recommend Kate Spade sunglasses! normally i do not like any of the stuff from this accessories line, but there are some nice large + round 60-ish ones that are similar to those above.
Love that last line — “Keep your chin up & stay fabulous.” Also, I find tremendous integrity in the way you write for not only yourself, but for others as well.
Kori, I second the “where’d you find the gloves?” query.
They’re fantastic!
ohhh I love this idea soo much. the jazz, the air of eccentric aristocrats and large family who feud over daddy’s fortune, while demanding another hi-ball from jeeves. ok maybe the last part was just me…. hehe. I really seriously love it in all its glamorous-ness
my boyfriend is working on my jazz appreciation… he’s immersing himself in all manor of jazz before he starts playing trumpet again.
and treasures! i’m good at treasures. my etsy favourites list is ever growing!
Lots of great ideas here… thank you, Gala! Who is the woman pictured with the dark nails, bangles and black sweater? She looks amazing.
Michelle — I bought all of mine from Sportsgirl. It was a while ago though & so they might be harder to find now. They had some on sale for a while, though I guess it depends on how popular they are in your city! Mine are getting cracks in them from banging against one another though, so they’re not super quality…
Natalie — Yay! This summer will be amazing for you, you must be looking forward to it like mad!
Retro.Bunny — Ooh, good luck to you. I am really excited about having a fashion vision, it’s so useful to have an image in your head even if you don’t manage to pull it off every day.
Kori — I updated the article with an “image key” — one pair (beige) are by Molly N, a company in New Zealand, & the blue ones are by Chanel (drool).
rachel — I’d love to see a winter version if you feel like giving it a go! I guess I had to work in the tattoos etc. because I have them, haha! I will have a look at the Kate Spade sunglasses, thank you!
Sarah — Merci beaucoup honeypuff!
Nicola — Me too! It totally fires up my imagination, I love to dress in a dramatic fashion so this works really well for me :>
Charm — Oh, cool! There is a really good jazz club in the city in Bennett’s Lane, you should check it out sometime.
Alice — My hero, Diana Vreeland! Ain’t she a peach?
Hi Gala
Although this comment has nothing to do with your post, just thought I would post to say how much I love reading your site! I come on here everyday to read – it’s just something fresh and different, and I love your taste and perspective on everything! :)
Have a great day!
This all looks so great! Beautiful stuff! I really love all kind of art deco design. And you really give the look an edge and your own spin. This is so inspiring!(A lot of exclamation marks here!!!) It’s winter here soon and I agree with Rachel. It would be such fun to incorporate some of this direction! I also like Nicola’s fantasy to go with it! :-)
oh, i love it! i am currently trying to work a more simplistic, glamourous look in to my daily look, so this is perfect!
hmm…i must get some lucite bangles…definetly..and i can take one of my mums hats!! yay! ;)
xxx
Re Bennetts Lane I went to see Tim Rogers there a few months ago… its a great little venue and so close! i love only having a 5 minute stroll home from a gig!
for very brassy jazz we’ve been heading to the Rainbow in Fitzroy on Sunday nights… 14 piece jazz band playing two long sets for FREE!
I have been lusting after those Chanel sunglasses ever since I saw one of the Olsens wearing them in a magazine..sigh. They are gorgeous. Summer is almost over where I live and I am ready for fall weather but this article makes it sound fun again!
I’m a store manager at Diva and whenever people come in asking for clear plastic lucite bangles I want to say “do you know Gala Darling?” =) =)
Teresa — Thank you so much sweetheart! xxx
Eva — Yay, I’m glad you like it! I find it pretty exciting myself :D I’d love to see a winter twist on it, please feel free to interpret it as you please!
sophie~ — Woo! I am really obsessed with perfect grooming right now, haha…
jessabee — Check Ebay for them, there are a lot for sale!
Charm — Ooh, I’ve never been there, might check it out!
Erin — I love almost everything MK wears… except Wayfarers ;>
Iris — Hahaha, that is sooo cute!! Maybe I should give you some business cards to hand out on my behalf ;D
OOH! How exciting! I’ve been heading in a similar direction the last few months – I’ve been totally inspired by the lovely Dita (I have a major girl crush on her!) and have been experimenting with a feminine glamour spliced with some more alternative, eccentric stylings – think black lace and pearls, divinely chunky rings in teals and plums and antique looking materials, perhaps even some brights thrown in in the form of nail polish, leggings/tights, and jewellery (none of this awful hyper-colour, head-to-toe, 80’s look, ick). I’m so excited about this season!
I just ADORE Art Deco…. only thing I love more is Art Nouveau.
Yess to Art Deco and Art Nouveau! ;-)
What an awesome article! Are you the best fashion writer EVER? I think you just might be :-D
yes, yes, yes. everything in this is PERFECT!!
Jo — Ooh, your new style sounds fantastic! I’d love to see some pictures or hear how it’s going, like what is working & any new ways of wearing old things you come up with. Good luck with it!
Nadine — PFFTTT! I wish! Thank you though! xxx
This is a great post. So inspiring! I want a look—my style is so scattered! Thanks!!
Sam, “omowrites.blogspot.com”