"My Mum, the style icon"

I realise this article is from the Daily Mail, which totally eradicates my credibility as a cool and innovative writer, but I liked it , so please try to look past the publisher.

Maybe I should pull out some old photos of Jane when she was my age – there are some corkers, let me tell you!

In the meantime, enjoy the article.

Big Love x

PS I’m sorry I’ve been so slow to post recently peoples. This is due to a very busy time at work (London Fashion Week is imminent…YAY!) and I promise I will be back on it soon.

Horray for Heirlooms

Once upon a time there was girl named Felicia Mary Cox, who was born in Poona, India to her British parents who had been offered a special post to stay in the country after her father suffered a first world war injury. She enjoyed a precious childhood playing with her brother and sisters in the Indian countryside and would often go out with her father into the forests and explore the river banks. One day her father shot a crocodile they came across along the waters edge, and when the animal was opened up, they discovered the remains of a small child along with the child’s bracelets. Felicia was very upset by the find, but her father sent the crocodile skin to Madras where it was made into four clutch bags, one each for his wife and three daughters. Felicia grew up to treasure her bag, remembering the day she found the crocodile with her father and feeling glad that the poor dead child was in a way, avenged. She eventually moved to the UK after she married her husband Morgan in 1945, and had three children of her own. The second of these, she named Jane. She would often tell her children about her childhood in India with great fondness, and among the stories was always the time her father shot the crocodile and made the skin into four handbags. Eventually, Jane had two children herself, and Felicia shared the same stories with these grandchildren who would always ask to hear about the time her father shot a naughty crocodile. When Felicia died, she left many of her valued belongings to her daughter Jane, and one of these possessions happened to be the very special chocolate leather crocodile clutch bag…

And now I’m very excited to show you some snaps of Mummy Jane’s outfit to see a French film at the Alliance Francaise cineclub in Bristol, because look what she chose to carry her car keys and lipstick…

I am told that one day, the bag will be mine too. Cue the warm, fuzzy feelings and awe at the incredibleness of this amazing little bag. Thank you Grandmaaa x

She's Back with Pom and Pommy

Look who’s back to steal the show! Apologies for the lack of picture updates lately, this was due to computer problems back at Camp Jane (technology and a little cottage in the country complete with its own well don’t go together too awesome), but today arrived a shot of Jane’s new Yumi dress signifying that the Geek Squad had done their job properly and Momma is officially back online.


Aren’t the pompoms the cutest touch? I want to squidge them and give them names and only fold the dress in a way that allows them to breathe. The colour really goes with those Stefanel booties too, a stomping choice. Happy Friday Jane fans!

Advanced Style

Ok so I found this totally incredible blog and I just HAD to share it with you wonderful lot because it’s not only a hot-damn brilliant source of amazing elder fashion, but it also offers interesting little bite-size pieces of information about the subjects’ lifestyles (like Olga the Swedish grandmother who loved to paint and go to flea markets), which give us clues as to who these trendy people are and where they developed their style from over the years. Plus it sounds like most of the ladies and gentlemen featured have lead (and are still leading) incredibly vibrant and enriching lives - an idea Jane and I want to endorse with full force. We heart you Advanced Style.

Beret with Attitude

You might remember Rosemary, Jane’s stylish neighbour who featured on an earlier post alongside my gushing over her hair? Well I’m hoping we’ll be seeing a lot more of her around here, and I’m kicking off my lengthy high five to the lovely lady with these cute snaps.

That decadent beret is such a statement against the snow, a fabulous piece that will brighten up usually dreary Winter-gear. One-of-a-kind, original items like that can usually be found in little markets and boutiques – making a rummage definitely worthwhile! That Oska coat is also a bit special, check out that oversized collar. Rosemary tells me it can be worn in various different ways, including like a shawl – awesome!

"Will you live to 120?"

Jane recently drew my attention towards this enlightening article by the Times - offering evidence to suggest that women are discovering a new leash of life at an age that has been previously been frowned upon as the time to retire, don the slippers and gradually disappear.

I for one, massively celebrate the saying “life begins at forty”, not just because getting older seems less terrifying, but also because my Mummy Jane rocks as a mighty fine example of the “super-grandmother” theory. I remember her becoming far more energetic and excitable after turning the big 50 – that’s round about the time the dance and French lessons started – it was as if Jane was hell-bent on proving a point, and it didn’t seem to take much effort. Her hunger for life certainly must have helped, but anyone can have the confidence to continue to don a great sense of style and try new activities after the turn of the middle age with a bit of an attitude revamp.


If you believe you’re a frumpy mess with no hope of help then you can’t expect other people not to think the same about you. I promise you it’s possible to look fantastic whatever age or shape you are, so there’s no reason to start a subscription to Bonmarche’s catalogues or throw out your high heels just because you think nobody’s looking anymore. I for one, am definitely looking – I love seeing an older lady looking incredible, it’s so inspiring. Jane loves seeing her fellow sisterhood in the latest trends or custom styles, so she’s another with her eyes peeled, and I know we’re not the only ones.

Photos with thanks to advancedstyle.blogspot.com

Flashback

In a fabulous throwback to a previous post featuring the lovely Kim in that Balmain-esque black dress – Katy Perry has been spotted flaunting a pretty much identical version yesterday on the streets of LA! This goes to show that 40+ women everywhere can look to the A-List for inspiration just as much as the younger generations. But obviously in this case, Katy must have copied Kim. Way to go Mami!

Comptoir des Cotonniers

One of the serious plus points of interning in fashion, aside from the goody bags and sample sales, is that I’m constantly learning about new brands, hot products and must-know names behind the keyhole of this crazy industry. I received an email today about a French label called Comptoir des Cotonniers, a brand that has apparently delivered a combination of “modernity with timeless chic and innovative creativity with fashion trends” to Parisian shoppers since 1995. What fascinated me was their ad campaign portfolio – they use real mothers and daughters in all their campaigns in an attempt to portray the brand values of authenticity, proximity and simplicity.

“These values manifest, amongst other things, in the extraordinary richness of the bond that unites mothers to their daughters: touching, fascinating, sparkling and full of complicity. From emotion to admiration, from confidence to connivance, the authenticity of their relationships transfers in a look, a smile, a pout or a tender gesture.”

Well I had never heard of Comptoir des Cotonniers before today, and I am massively intrigued. I love what it’s about – that good fashion and style is each equally accessible to both mothers and daughters and I’m thinking this can be translated across all generations and ages. So today I am obsessing over their ad campaigns and here’s hoping you feel as inspired as I do. Have rummaged through and picked out my favourites. Enjoy!

Balmain Chic

Upon my travels over the festive period, I bumped into Kim, a stylish Mama who stole my admiration in this flattering LBD with chain embellishments on the shoulders. You must have had your head in the snow if you haven’t noticed the shoulder pad craze gripping the country at present - a trend I’ve only really seen adopted by the fashion hungry, Topshop tweens, or fire engine red-lipped, London “someones” who’ll try anything Vogue tells them to (although I beg not the pipe cleaner eyebrow thing…?. I mean, please). It was refreshing to see someone a little more mature donning this look, and totally owning it.



A simple black dress (ever flattering) has been brought up to date with that shoulder detailing and I love it. Reminded me of Balmain’s spring/summer 2010 catwalk in Paris – mini dresses designed in a military salute of rivets, epaulets and metallics. That whole collection makes me want to rob a bank, and yet here Kim stands in her Papaya number proving to us all that high street copy cats are still the answer to catwalk envy.

Images with thanks to Grazia

So Karl Lagerfeld

Wow, how massively cold has it been? Global warming my arse. Every time I spend longer than a minute outside, I suddenly can’t talk past a dribble after my facial muscles freeze up like I’ve been injecting myself with Botox…drunk.

Jane however, never dribbles. It's just not cool. Here she is in her garden wearing Dad’s cashmere jumper totally looking like Karl Lagerfeld’s muse if you ask me. That River Island lace blouse and Mango summer skirt underneath is a rocking way of making that jumper more feminine.

I love this. Go forward, team some man-clothes with lace, and be fabulous in the snow. But erm, don't go sitting in it...as if you'd really do that in your Chanel suit. God.

That's Cool - The Winter Dress

She’s done it before, and now she’s done it again. While I shivered back to work this morning in about six layers of clothes that probably (most definitely) didn’t match or make any sort of co-ordinating outfit, Jane styles herself for the chill like a total pro. Sometimes (like today), I’m too cold to think about whether a hoody with my suit is really a budding-fashion-journalist-sort-of-choice, and end up walking out of the door looking like a wannabe who got lost in Walmart, but hell, I'll be warm.



Then I see this photo of my Ma, and think well balls, I officially know nothing. If Jane can come up with the simple idea of adding a black jumper underneath a fabulous day dress that one might otherwise relegate for summer, then so can we! Tights and boots would keep this look snuggley, so embrace the girly hemlines and rock out with your frock out this winter.

Happy New Year Peoples

First of all, apologies for being so slack and distant over the Christmas break – Jane and I have been crazy busy but have missed our regular check-ins with you, fear not.

How was your New Years Eve shindigs? Mine was drunken and stupid – do not mix your drinks people. It’s not big and it’s not clever. Never again. Jane was slightly more sophisticated at a house party in her village, showing up to impress in this angelic Mango tiered skirt, Coast jumper and Ted Baker belt.



Also in attendance at the bash was Rosemary, Jane’s super fly neighbour who is consistently a topic of conversation around our dinner table for always looking bloody amazing. Seriously, how awesome is that hair? It’s sort of early-day Twiggy meets Jil Sander spring/summer 2010. I just love it. Oh wait and get this, the outfit is George @ Asda! I eat my hat.



Toni was another rock ‘n’ roller who chose a jumper dress to document her rebellion against the age of the frump. With a figure like that, horizontal stripes are not to be afraid of, and nice work with the waist belt flaunting that tiny waist.



Wishing you all the best in 2010, may you all go forward and embrace a wardrobe that makes you feel incredible, look hawt and one that delivers a round-house kick to the face of “getting older”!

Back soon, big love x