le bomber, and the harem

This partly me trying to be more like Kate Lamphear - i.e. less chatty, more mysterious. But also I really want to go see Wall Street and it's starting in 10 minutes and is at least a 15 minute walk to the cinema. But I've been meaning to post these for a while:

The bomber jacket is made of old cable knit jumpers and is part of the Goodone collection for Topshop. Besides the black crochet'd dress, this was one of the most popular of the bag of clothes I brought to the shoot.

My friends, Natayla, top, who is Egyptian (she edits 'It's Fashion Week', the first online Egyptian fashion magazine) and whose family lives in Geneva, and Hedvig, who is Norwegian, both recognised the style as a 'bomber jacket', which I thought was just an American word for the style. Wikipedia has a whole interesting story about the name, apparently it's also a skinhead thing.

But also, really, what I'm more interested in talking about today is the miners' rescue in Chile, and there's just no way I can fit any of my photos into a post on that!




So I will say that it was pretty weird about that day: not just Nat, or Hedvig, but also Tobi showed up in black harem trousers. I had done a whole rant the first spring I started my blog, back in 2009, about how no one would ever wear those droopy drawers. But I consider each of these girls really stylish, so there you have it. Once again, I was wrong.

Oh btw I know Hedvig's black chunky heels are Acne, she told me who made the harem trousers - Hedvig can you remind me again? - and I'll let you know who made Nat's later - and her wonderful burgundy suede high tops, she's told me about three times now and I keep forgetting (Jen just reminded me, they're Lanvin, and Nat just said the trousers are Topshop). The thing I love about both girls is they mix their style with really good quality designer stuff, and brands like H&M: glamorous street chic.

the end of my harem rant

Finally! I've been ranting about harem pants since April, and again in May. There are always trends that, judging by the spin, you'd expect to see on EVERYONE in the coming season (and never do) and this year I just KNEW it would be harem pants. I've been scouring the streets for a good example, so when I finally saw Rania on Marylebone High Street, I was so excited I ran up to her but forgot I had just stuffed a Paul's pastry in my mouth. So she basically had a total stranger come up to her, grab her arm, grunting and chewing and gesticulating to her legs.



She patiently waited for me to swallow & explain my situation. She was with her friend and genuinely couldn't understand why I'd want to shoot her that day, as she hadn't really dressed up, but was a good sport about it. She laughed and said I was going to post it saying 'what not to wear' but I promise: I'm over the rant. That's all it takes for me: one good look. (Actually, a 2nd: on gorgeous Jane, of seaofshoes, in Tokyo on 21st June). It doesn't mean I'm gonna run out and buy them, but I'm over it now. This was shot only a week or so ago, by the way, on a cool rainy Sunday, to give you an idea what wacky weather we're having here in London.

harem rants, revisited

It's a funny old world. Mr. Dot & I were having lunch today on Northcote Road with Robert & Luisa of The Style Scout and I started in on my Harem Pants Rant which I've been holding forth on as long ago as early April (earlier, actually, but that's when I started posting on it). Robert said they'd just posted a shot of a great example of the look working. Then when we got home, I got an email from Vicky, aka The Kitten, who wrote a rather brilliantly worded treatise in defence of harem pants. Not so much a defence, as a 'what is your problem' stance. I especially like when she wrote: 'And although I am really not the defender of them, I just wanted to say, that it really is a matter of taste, and that there really can be people who like them. It is not all just a evil scheme made up by the fashion industry to force people to buy their stuff!'
Point well taken. I love being proven wrong - luckily, because as my husband is quick to point out, I usually am - and The Kitten actually backed her argument up with photos. 

In her own words: 'Oh! and I just went to a Thai-Festival today, and I was reminded myself, and therefore wanted to tell you too (when I was there, I was thinking about your rant ^^), that in some cultures they have been always there and are just the standard piece of clothing, and therefore considered beautiful in their most lush versions.'
Kitten, you've sold me. I'm now thinking I Dream of Jeanie, Anna & the King of Siam.. the circle will only be completed once I have purchased my own pair, at which time I'll just have to put up a self portrait and issue a giant, and rather sheepish, apology.

why are these women so angry?!?

Why, indeed, you may ask?

Could it have anything to do with the fact they're forced to wear HAREM PANTS?

As promised, from time to time I'm taking a break from reporting street style fashion, so I may let loose on a fashion rant. Every season the Industry is all psyched to ram a fashion trend down our throats, and every season we vote with our feet by refusing to wear it. I remember a few summers ago, the shops were full with what looked like pregnancy dresses. And the shop stayed full of them, because we weren't buying.
But no trend has been so relentlessly ignored (in my humble opinion) than 'harem pants', or 'peg leg trousers' as they call them in the UK because pants means underwear. Which is kind of what they look like: giant diapers. I needn't go on & on because I already have. And as before, my offer still stands: submit a photo of just one girl who looks halfway decent in them, and I'll post it on this blog. 

I haven't seen anyone wearing them, apart from one woman who just looked like she was trying (unsuccessfully) to hide her worst asset, UNTIL this woman wafted down the street like an gypsy moth one recent rainy Thursday. I couldn't get my camera out in time, and was lucky to get this one shot. I wish you had seen her from the front: she was beautiful, and thin as a waif, but in a good way. She was one of those creatures that would look good in anything, which begs the question: why not wear something else?
I'm truly curious how other women feel about this. Is it just me? Do they think we're total idiots? Okay, I've calmed down now and think I'm done with this rant. For now. The offer still stands tho: send me a photo of someone who looks good in their harem pants, and I promise to put it up. I have a feeling the angriest women are those who shelled out big bucks only to have the damn things hanging in their closets with the labels still on. 

Update: Stephanie Clayton of Style Odyssey just rose to the challenge: check out her comment below, and then this.

you can lead a horse to water

Each season, the industry predicts a few trends that we never see on the street -  or anyone's body. It's a horse and water thing, I've noticed. Some styles they just can't make us drink. For example: I predict we are not going to wear harem pants. Has anyone out there bought any? If so: are your labels still on them? Have you worn them? Why'd you buy? To hide figure flaws? I mean: they don't even look good on models!

Okay, that's my rant for the day. I can be totally wrong - might just be my own taste. But my friends aren't wearing them, nor am I seeing them on the street. Someone out there, please: prove me wrong! If you send me a shot of someone looking good in them, I'll put it up. Cross my heart!