The FiFi Report 304

Economy Class
Sportsgirl
I see a bit of a sale happening with “take $30 off” a few items.  Just in time for the cold weather.
My picks are (that I might actually wear… as someone who is older than, um, er 30).

• The fab black and white stripe knit sweater dress $89. It has a classic round neckline : basically it’s like a long Tee shirt with a few brass military buttons along one side of the shoulders. It’s cool. Wear under a trench or with a black winter coat and black opaques. And heels. Did I mention heels?
• Check out the cute and tres cool drawstring grey marle track pants or harem pants. You already know you are supposed to wear with heels and a blazer. But secretly you can wear them on the weekend being a lazy slut on couch eating peanut butter on toast. $49. These track pants look cool because they have side pockets.
• Love the khaki utility jacket that I have been raving on about for months. I think I styled this jacket in one of the shows for Westfield. As I mentioned many times the idea is to toss it over a pretty dress or top. Over sequins or floral. Also a utility jacket looks cool over leather and skinny jeans a la Balmain. This is a little punk version with gold studs on the epaulettes. $129
• There are fabulous lace up, black suede ankle boots. Love them if you can walk in them. They have a cute little buckle on the ankle. The look is to wear ankle boots with skirts or with harem pants. Make sure you spray the suede with water proofer. Hate you to get them wrecked in this weather. Make sure you wear black opaques too. I see there are also some grey suede round toe wedge ankle boots that are just as fab $129
• In the jewellery I see a chic little black jet jewel statement necklace. You need a little bling this winter. And don’t be scared of black jewels with a navy and white stripe Tee. Cool. $38
• You should buy the grey or black wool melton peacoat now with $30 off. Please. There is no need to tell you how to wear this. If you don’t know then may I suggest you go back to the archives of the last 300 FiFi Reports and you will get the idea.Tip: wear over the red and cream stripe ¾ sleeve tees for $39 and you shall be as French as Emmanuelle Alt.

Portmans:
Ignore the bad lighting ( as I always say) and get in there for some good cheap but chic fashion pieces. I see a lot of great stripe Tee shirts….
My picks are:

• The caramel leather biker jacket with a round neckline. It has 2 front patch pockets and a zip front. It has epaulettes so that makes this jacket tres military but it’s not too tough. Which is good. Very similar to the grey one in Country Road so me thinks that it was a Givenchy original or something. I love a caramel jacket: it softens up all the black and brown and it’s a great neutral. Wear with stone chinos and a grey tee or tossed over a black dress. $299.
• You want the cute cotton stripe Tee in a white with black stripe. It’s quite cool because it has extra shoulder details so they look a little exaggerated but it’s just due to the cut. The sleeves are ¾. A great basic. A must have this season. But you know that. A fab buy for an outrageous $29.
• Love the tweed asymmetrical bomber jacket with rib knit sleeves. I see there is $30 off and we love a bargain. It’s got a brass zip off to the side and the black rib sleeves that go right to the elbows. It will look very chic once you get out of the shop. $130. Wear over a basic tee and harem pants and voila. Not sure if it will keep you warm but wear a little singlet under it.
• There is a cool, grey cotton jersey single breasted trench coat which I had to have a look at being a trench addict as I am . It’s clever in that it looks new in the relaxed cotton jersey. Like T shirt fabric. Otherwise it’s a classic belted trench with epaulettes. $129.
• On the Portmanswebsite is a chic knit sleeve pleather jacket for $149. I didn’t see it in store. Looks expensive in the photo. Like a leather vest with sleeves.
• Buy the cream and black stripe Tee with puff sleeves. Oh go on! You need another stripe tee! It might be a little scoopy but it has groovy zips on the sleeves and it seems to have a drape neckline with ¾ sleeves. $39. Stripes are so much chicer to wear than florals when you are doing cheap but chic don’t you think?
  

  
  Esprit:
  A great place for puffa jacket and casual weekends looks.

• The very chic black velvet blazer. A must buy. Velvet is a huge trend for next winter and it’s one of those pieces you can wear now and through to next summer. Now please don’t think that velvet is just for evening. Ditch that idea quick smart. You are not a dag anymore. You read The FiFi report and you now know that velvet is perfect for day. By the way I have absolutely lived in my black velvet jacket with jeans. Love it over a Tee shirt, over a stripe Tee or even over a dress. Very chic with the sleeves rolled up. Wear with peg legs or with a sexy, flippy skirt. $189
• You must check out the black twill military peacoat with silver double breasted buttons. It’s the right in the length to cover up the bottom. Love this for work or weekends. Layer it over a round neck knit sweater and wear with jeans. Cool $199
• I see there is $30 off alot of jackets and you want the khaki cotton utility jacket with a belt and a high rib neckline. I think I have mentioned it before in The FiFi Report and I still think it’s a hot buy. A utility jacket is the cool jacket of the season and just the thing to rejuvenate all the old daggy black in your wardrobe. Remember (Utility) Green is Good this season. It’s not about going hunting, shooting, fishing. $149. I think the black has sold out but the khaki is better.
• Also with $30 off is a fabulous black puffa jacket with a high rib knit neckline and belted and buttons $189. Wear with sexy heels and a pencil skirt .
• There is also a dark denim wrinkled single breasted fitted denim jacket and it’s very cool $129. Love this over everything. Remember denim on denim is a big trend this season but I think I am scared of the double denim look. Am sure Dolly Parton will love it. Just layer back with pretty floral dress or with leather. Wear with the grey or taupe Esprit chinos $89. You know chinos are hot too.
• Sorry, there are no photos to be found on the Esprit site. I must try to take photos next time and twitpic!

Business Class
Seed Femme
Always good here for casual, yummy mummy looks.
My picks this week are:

• Love the faux fur brown scarf that wraps around threading through itself. They call it a cape so maybe it is. It’s a shrunken cape. It’s a winner for this weather when you can add that and not have to buy another jacket: it will just add a little va va voom to everything else. $129
• You want the grey marle jersey blazer: It’s single breasted with stripe lining. It’s funny I have seen a version of this jacket in a quite a few shops but never seen anyone wearing it. This is a good thing. You don’t want to see everyone wearing the same look. Love this over Tees or a simple grey knit. The perfect casual blazer style jacket to throw on over jeans or with harem pants. I call them harem pants but I really mean peg leg pants. Whatever.  $229.
• •    There is a fab long sleeve cream with blue stripes fisherman’s Breton slub knit Tee $69. It has a good neckline that’s not horrible and wide and unflattering like a scoop. The stripe Tee is a hot piece for winter and summer. You know that by now? It was the item du jour months ago but don’t worry if you are a bit slow, buy one now and wear through to summer. Love it under a blazer. Or peeking out from under a cape or poncho.
• Buy the Bensimon cotton sneakers with a white rubber toe for $69. Love all the colours they come in from the chicest faded beige to faded navy or grey. I am sure they are normally about $89 or $99 at other stores. These will be perfect for holiday to St Tropez. Leave the laces undone: take them out so you don’t trip up. They look fab with shorts or slouchy peg peg pants. Or even a loose summer dress.
• Love the big chunky knot charcoal scarf $69 but how could I resist the brown suede desert boots called FiFi? Lace up and chic and perfect for dagging around looking chic at the country house with George Clooney. $149.

Coach :
Coach just opened over the last month in WBJ and I finally zoomed in for a look around..
My picks are:

• The fabulous black leather shoulder bag with silver hardware and a short strap and, of course, the obligatory long shoulder strap. It has a small handy outside pocket with a bit of silver hardware as the clasp. Handy for the pick pockets! This is a great everyday bag if you want one with silver hardware. $795.
• I like the men’s black leather stamped messenger bag with a fabric grosgrain strap. $545. I like a square bag and the messenger shape is cool for those weekends away don’t you think? Who cares if it’s men’s it’s very handy to tossing across the body and being hands free for lots of eating. Note: This stamped C logo is Ok but please keep away from all the other bright coloured logo stuff . I am sure it’s for the Japanese tourists it’s all so cute and pastel.
• There is a cute, one shoulder black or silver slouch bag with double C’s subtly on the front which for some reason don’t look too much like Chanel. Clever. $395
• Love the gunmetal bag slouch bag in silver if you want a bit of metallic to snazzy up all the grey. Tip: You do. About $795.
• For evening you want the gold clutch bag. Go on, go crazy and add a bit of Glitz. Watch it transform all your daggy pieces.
• There are shoes and boots here too. My pick for the shoes are the T-bar black sandals with a chunky square heel and platform. I think they have white stitching. $395. And I see some fabulous long, round toe boots with a gold chain across the ankle which is a bit Fashion but, hey, why not? $1000.

A/X Armani Exchange
Always worth looking here but as you know I see a little too much of that cheap looking purple and hot pink.
My picks this week are:

• The black leather punched hole bomber jacket with a hood. It’s very sporty luxe. Wear over the stripe tees you have been buying and with grey slouchy men’s style floppy pants. $759. I think the sporty trend has gone away and come back again. Probably went to the Winter Olympics and got inspired to reappear again.
• Love the grey/concrete fitted bomber jacket with silver zips in a tailored flattering cut. I do not see a price on it so maybe it was for free. You can’t wrong with this neutral colour and the cut is very tailored and flattering so you won’t look like a fatty boombah. You shall have shape Cindarella!
• Check out the fabulous grey princess coat: it’s fitted to the waist and then flares out a little. It’s in a wool Melton and is very chic. Again, it’s very fitted so you won’t feel like a big winter blob, blobbing around in a shapeless blob. I think it has silver buttons. The thing about a coat like this is that it wll joosh up the basics. You will immediately look pulled together. It will work with jeans and converse or you could toss it over an LBD if you are off to the Opera. As you do. $419
• Buy the fabulous grey knit hoodie sweater with big fat lacing up the front. Yes, it’s true it’s seems I am talking about everything grey this week but what do you want me to do? Tell you to wear hideous colours that will only cheapen your look and make it tricky to get dressed in the morning? No, that is not The FiFi Report philosophy. Anyway grey is THE colour and you can’t go wrong. This sweater is kind of in a chunky knit, with a round neckline and the rope lacing is woven through silver eyelets. Love it. $239
• Sorry, there are no photos ! You just had better get in there and see for yourself