Simons v Sander: The Rift

Who knows why Raf is "leaving Milan FOREVER", or where he might go, but he has not only managed to retain the Jil Sander ethos for design but built the fashion house into a must have label for those who love his pared down style - as we do!  Check out his last collection for Sander before Jil returns to take over the design helm.  Beautiful, simple, stylishly designed pieces for the sophisticated woman who appreciates less is more ....  Let's hope his next stop is an eponymous womenswear line or a hop to Dior.

Acne for Men: Soft and Cuddly

Just love these furry knits from one of our favourite labels - ACNE - for AW 2012/13.  We plan to steal them off our boyfriends' backs:   Images found on The London Style Journal

His Shoes to Vy For

If you can tell a man by his shoes (as my father always said) then this man is tall, dark and handsome!
Corthay, a French company created by Pierre Corthay, has just opened a shop making elegant shoes. Following his apprenticeship, Pierre Corthay spent two years working at John Lobb, then six years as senior craftsman at Berluti before starting his own company in 1990.

He was joined by his younger brother Christophe and the Corthay family business now sells their ultra chic handmade-to-measure and ready-to-wear shoes across the world including shops in France, New York and Japan. There are rumours that some customers, so enamoured by Corthay's cobbling, order up to 150 pairs at a time.
Courtesy Vanity Fair

Picasso Oh Oh Oh so much better than the others

There's nothing quite so flattering as imitation, but some of painters 'influenced' by Picasso - as juxtaposed with his works at the new Tate Britain exhibition - merely mimicked this genius including Henry Moore and the Bloomsbury group of artists.  Hockney's homage to Picasso was tongue in cheek whilst the influence Picasso had on Bacon was a revelation.  The Tate has used this exhibition as an excuse to drag all the unhung pictures (the Bloomsbury group not the Picassos) out of the basement and put them on show - but nontheless worth a visit to remind oneself of Picasso's genius.

LONDON FASHION WEEK END FAVOURITES

Autumn Winter 2012 Collections

Mulberry

Temperley

House of Holland

Margaret Howell

Aquascutum

Aquascutum

Antoni & Alison

Desire for Dries

http://21arrondissement.com/about-le-21eme/
LOVE these trousers spotted in New York by 21 Arrondissement, a New York street style blog

I call that a HAT!

As seen on the Marc Jacobs catwalk ....

Eyes Right

If the NY shows are anything to go by we'll all look as though we didn't take our make up off the night before.  You might larf but it don't harf make life easy!

Happy Valentines: Chanel Style

Posh - er than Before in New York

On trend ready to wear from Victoria Beckham.  However much you dislike her, her collections get better and better ....

The Biggest Splash: Hockney at the RA

Catch it if you can. This is a breathtaking - literally - exploration of colour. Hockney is undoubtedly the world's greatest living artist and has, in his mid seventies, conquered the iPad and introduced a new artform. The Gallery was crowded with small children oooohing and ahhhhhing so he has also introduced a new generation to art. If like me, you were unable to get a ticket for the exhibition, join the RA and go as many times as you like and take a friend too.  There is no doubt it is worth it -stand up close and view the amazing brush strokes and courageous andvivid use of colour.  I was reminded of Gaugin

Jewels in the Crown

We just love these images of jewellery from Susannah Lovis featuring brand ambassadress, the stunning Sophie Alderton.  Visit the shop in Burlington Arcade - and drag along your other half as a less than subtle hint! - to browse amongst fabulous antique and vintage jewels or to have your own pieces redesigned.  Mouth watering selection.