LOVE-LY TO BE BACK

Oh, it’s been too long hasn’t it? What with two house moves, multiple work trips, a work schedule to not be reckoned with, lots of fun in between and a rather unfair dismissal of my laptop (well, the current household doesn’t even have that modern thing - an internet connection) it’s been tricky to keep up this blogging lark. BIG respect to those daily bloggers out there, I truly don’t know how you do it and do it so well.

So my head is all muddled and kerfuffled. I’m still very much at the beginning of autumn/winter ‘10 for my Grazia pages, but with a constant stream of emails about Xmas gifts and my immediate concentration on the catwalk shows for spring/summer ‘11. I’ve personally launched into tights and knitwear mode, but can’t wait to try out next summer’s seventies sunray  pleat dresses and ultra brights too. The confusion! The psychotic wardrobe choices! So I thought I’d reboot with a focus on what’s inspiring me in the present, irrelevant of the season. And first up - Chloé’s feel good commerical for the new fragrance Love. Featuring (the ever gorgeous) Raquel Zimmerman being all bouncy, skippy and fabulous in her camel flares (the most coveted trousers of the season, no?) it has a total ring of Revlon’s retro Charlie Girl about it. The iconic print ads and commericials from the 1970s of Charlie perfume’s business-gal-with-equal-rights-in-the-workplace/has a gorgeous-beau-and-probably-great-cooking-skills-too has been referenced in almost every fashion magazine recently. It’s all about skipping through the city in a three piece suit, blow out curls and a pussy bow blouse (I‘m trying it, but you definitely need a little extra height to carry off high waisted flares. Note to self: aim for minimal tube travelling - flares get all caught up at rush hour!). Parisian fashion house Chloé first launched an eponymous perfume in the 1970s under the helm of Karl Lagerfeld. It’s strange to think that once upon a time the concept of buying or creating a designer perfume was so radically new and different. For more perfume related facts it’d be a darn good idea to check out the exhibition, The Perfume Diaries, curated by expert perfumer Roja Dove at Harrods. Fragrance is obviously having a moment (it is recession proof after all) and so I’m re-evaluating which spritz will get me through the winter. I’ve been a Gucci ‘Gucci’ girl since that launched with a more Donna Summer '70s vibe a few years ago…

If you haven’t seen Chloé’s latest ad, check it out here and contrast and compare with some retro commericials below.


1979 Shelley Hack wearing Charlie. Hannah MacGibbon recently wore a white blouse with a black neck tie so incredibly similar to Shelley’s. I think it’s certainly a trend to keep a look out for - Urban Outfitters have a great version by Pins and Needles.


1973 Charlie ad: