Black in White

It is quite rare nowadays to spot a very elegant or stylish woman on the streets. When it happens, it often is in the posh areas of London, the pricetag being so obvious though, it doesn't really express natural elegance.

Last night, I had to stop to take an appreciative look at a beautifully stylish woman.

She was wearing a toffee cashmere top with fluid wide leg trousers (wool Crêpe), a beautiful silk chiffon scarf and matching contemporary jacket. On her feet, creamy flat ballerina shoes. The effect was stunning and probably even more so because the woman was black.

I realised that among my african friends, rare were those who wore white/beige which is a shame because it suits them so much! This is why I did this little photomontage on the left with famous beautiful black women ( Iman, Tyra Banks, Liya Kebede) and dressed them with white clothes to illustrate how classy and elegant they are...

It also reminded me of that Gucci ad with the baby...
I wish I saw more black women work on this look because it truly is inspirational!

WOMEN OF STYLE ( 2)

MARISA BERENSON
Actress and Model born 1946, Marisa Berenson's grand-mother was Elsa Schiaparelli: it is to say how predestined she was to become this stylish woman! Yves St Laurent named her "The Girl of the Seventies", in other words, the IT Girl and apparently the Real first Super Model since she claimed to be the highest paid model in her time...

But what makes Marisa a stylish woman is her very certain fashion sense: she is daring and knows what suits her. Would it be minimalistic or demure, she always pulls it out well.
What amazes me, is that even besides young women, she looks sexier and more attractive.

ANGELINA JOLIE IS ST JOHN'S FACE AND THAT'S WHAT THEY COME UP WITH?

Recently, St John's signed her as their new face and she is contractually required to wear what only they call "Hollywood Glamour" gears at Red Carpet events ...

She probably got blinded by the $millions, imagining all the schools she could get built and the number of children she could save... What she didn't realise is that she also had signed for her stylish demise. The Golden Globe Awards Event certainly was a wake up call for the gorgious actress who allegedly was unhappy with what she was asked to sport. With great reasons: the color was flat on her, the skirt line was unflattering and rather boring, the decolletage without interest...
Surely, St John's creative team could have come up with something less generic for an event at which it is well known everybody is competing for elegance, style and glamourous attitude.

The brand's style is supposed to stand for strong and independant women. Instead, the only accessory that saves Angelina from bad reviews is her man. How independant an image is that!

Angelina is a glamourous person and certainly doesn't need the frocks. However, she should be among the best dressed.

The mother of three is Haute Couture material and therefore, I did work out a few looks for her with creations by Christian Lacroix, for the Collection Haute Couture - Winter 2006-07 (Note that these pictures are pure fabrication).

Of course, the publicity of St John's being associated to Angelina Jolie in people's mind is probably doing wonder, so why even try... I just wish they were more ambitious or at least, that they would set her free when it comes to high fashion events!