The Eiffel Tower, Leonardo’s Mona Lisa, patisseries. Paris conjures up images of iconic design and elegance, whether it’s delicious pastries or buildings. Topshop captures this classic simplicity with the new S/S10 Parisienne collection. Polka dots and stripes adorn outfit staples (pair the Premium Stripe Shorts, £35, with some opaques until the spring), with ruffles adding frivolity to skirts and tops; my favourite is the Polka Dot Frill Umbrella, £15. The pieces live up to their tag of ‘ladylike cool’, whilst offering plenty of easy-to-wear pieces. Try a simple logo tee (check out Topper’s Paris Stripe Motif Tee, £20) with slim leg trousers and -of course!- some ballet flats. Think Jean Seberg’s pixie hairdo and New York Herald Tribune tee in Un Bout de Souffle.
With colour, opt for a classic palette of punchy red, navy and crisp white or cream. Or, if you’re feeling brave despite the current winter wonderland, nod towards the S/S 2010 collections with candy floss tones and hints of frosted pastels. To hark back to the Louis Vuitton A/W09-10 collection, add skinny belts, ribbons and bag (or even the bunny ears, if you dare!) in black to accent the muted ice-cream tones and keep the look modern. Root out any lacy tops etc – the ‘underwear as outerwear’ trend resurfaces in the spring – there were corsets-a-plenty at the Dior show, with ever-so-slightly Bridget Jones-esque high waisted knickers at Alexander Wang. Not convinced you can strut about dressed Lady Gaga-style down Broad Street? Topshop’s fun Spotty Frill Bandeau Bra, £16, is just the ticket peeking out from under a camisole or simple LBD.
This week’s top trois picks from the collection:
1.Spotty Crepe Crop Top, £28 – Throw on a boxy jacket and then peel off the layers when it starts to de-frost. Rummage around charity shops and try Reign Wear on Cowley Road for the finishing touches; silk neck scarf and maybe a little beret. Tres chic!
2.RUE Parisian Elastic Sandals, £65 – nude with accents of black and a somewhat impractical heel height? Yes please! These leather beauties will add glamour to the simplest outfit.
3.Eiffel Tower Chain Belt, £30 – The signature of the City of Lights miniaturized. An investment that’ll add playful interest night and day: wear with a crisp dress or layered over a long line cardigan.
For sugary-toned inspiration (and hey you probably already have the bicycle) see the Miss Dior Chérie perfume advert directed by Sofia Coppola:
xx
