There is a flood of bright colours, murky pastels and mad prints arriving in store. It makes all the shops look exciting. Not sure it will make you look exciting.
The trick with fashion is to pick and choose what works for you. I’m never wearing crazy prints or head to toe bright colours. Dot com. Ever. (I won’t even mention pastels. They are only ok if you are 12. Years old and kilos.). Of course it’s fashion so it’s the FiFI Report’s reponsibility to find it. It’s in the constitution. It’s my duty to run like a maniac in Manolos through the shops and find what’s hot. For you. But remember next season is all about the dark side, black and Gothic. In fact Style.com has just posted a story called Black is the new Black. read it here.
My advice this season? Don’t go crazy and waste your money. Grab a few tops in strong colours to toss back with black or your fav neutral basics. Go for white, cream and taupe. Then invest in fabulous accessories in bright colours like belts. Yes, a pop of neon in a belt like this one at Country Road is just the thing to snazz it all up.
But dear FiFi Report readers tell me, what are your thoughts on colours and prints? Are you bedazzled when you get to the shops or paralized with fear? Love or hate them? Will you wear them? Do you want to see more of them in The FiFi Report? Please let me know. Hint: Leave a comment.
Now onto shopping and my top ten pieces to get you through the week ( and the rest of the year ).
3.1 Phillip Lim Clutch bag from ShopBop.
Love Philip Lim. Love a clutch bag. Love a Phillip Lim clutch bag. Love the black and red. And the way the bag opens up to stand full height. A clutch is cool. Especially when they are not too small. Darling, we need to get all our everyday vitals like vodka in there. Wear day time or night time: it’s always the right time ( there is a song in there). A great price for a designer bag. $450. It’s called the 31 minute bag but I also love the 31 hour bag which I’ve been drooling over for a season or deux. This new khaki colour is fabulous $785 buy here . And can we talk about the fabulous choc brown Lark Messenger bag? Divine. For you. To wear for years. Cost per wear will be $2…$914. Buy here at Shopbop.
Balenciaga Lace up shoes.
I am sorry to do this to you. But I am not sure where you can actually buy these Balenciaga shoes online. whaaat?! Outrageous. I know. Let me tell you, honey, I have looked. But here’s the thing. They are THE shoe of the season. So I have to show you. So you know what’s going on in the crazy world of fashion. So you know what’s hot, what to look for and what to cry over. You must know these things so your dag days are over. Bless. It’s such a lovely pleasure just looking at them non?. Hint: Maybe put white laces in the Wittner shoes from last week.
By the way you can buy Balenciaga in Australia at Parlourx, Miss Louise , Cosmo shoes and Cultstatus. You can also spend hours at Barneys.com and checking out more fabulous shoes on the street at jakandjil.com
JacandJack print top.
You can wear a print top. You can. I suggest in black and white. Unless you are already dressed head to toe in signature bright print Marni and Prada. Then you are forgiven. How chic is this lovely top from Jac and Jack? I think there is a dress version as well. It’s an “Original design screen printed top”. Me thinks this would look fab with skinny red/blue/cobalt jeans and a taupe trench. Or with a blazer/leather jacket and slouchy red chinos. $299.
Burberry short navy Trench.
I love shopbop for bags and shoes.(Free shipping!) and it’s great for diffusion brands like Marc by Marc Jacobs and T by Alexander Wang. My other favourite designer site is Burberry . Oh la la ! I have a trench addiction. But there are also tops, jeans, and knits. Everything. You don’t have to buy. You can just look. And sigh. And dream. The prices are great considering the amazing quality especially with the Brit label. So how much do I LOVE, adore and want to marry this jacket above? Mwah Mwah and double kiss it is what I want to do when I get my hands on it. Love the peplum style pleating at the back. The front is just as nice. It’s in navy. It’s $850. It’s gorgeous. Wear with everything including your Prada pyjamas.
Equip two tone tote bag.
The Celine style tote bag is the hot look . It’s actually practical too. And chic. What will they think of next? The FiFi cheap but chic of the week has to be the Equip version. It’s in pleather. Which is a nice way of calling it not leather. I like the colour blocking. It’s also in pink and orange but this colour combo looks more expensive. A great day weekend bag. Especially for $29. Shut up!
Witchery orange patent wedges.
It’s about the statement shoe this summer. Just one? Actually you better have two. Easier to walk. Statement shoes. They love a good chat. They can start a conversation. They will add vava voom to daggy pieces in a daggy wardrobe. Love orange. Love a small wedge. Love an ankle strap. Cankles be damned. I prefer these with pants. Not sure why. Might be to do with my legs. $169.95
Country Road Washed Silk Pocket Shirt.
The silk shirt made a comeback a couple of seasons ago thanks to the chic de la chic Carine Roitfeld. Her husband is the man behind the Equipment brand. Anyway now the silk shirt is a classic. A must buy. Easy to wear. Skims over the bits. It has a very low key, nonchalant look of insouciance. Mais oui. Perfect tucked into jeans or skirts. Or shorts if you rock them. Go for orange, cream or black. Love with the neutral grey jeans above. That’s the way to wear brights. Tone it down dude. $149.
Zara black and white print pants.
I was in Zara this week. You can’t beat it for the prices and the groove factor. Bright colours. Fabulous prints. Everywhere. I was whipped into a frenzy. It made me think I could almost go there. For a second. But here’s the thing with prints: when one is older than 35 a print top will make you look old. There. I’ve said it. Print pants are the go. For the one hit wonder you can’t go past the fabulous black and white silk paisley print pants . They are glorious. I can see myself lounging in these at the Villa in Como. You want to wear with flats and a simple black or cream top. A grey tee would send it into raptures. I think they even have an elastic waist band. My, oh my. Don’t we just love that? For you about $89 . By the way you can’t buy Zara online yet so put down that croissant, get out of bed and hit the shops. Sorry.
Marni figurine earrings
I am having an earrings moment. Not sure why. It just came over me. Maybe it’s the wrinkles. I need to distract the action away from the face. And these earrings are so much more pleasing than botox. Opulence and jewellery are huge trends for winter. Being a minimalist I will take just a little of this trend. I saw these adorable earrings in Marni. You’ve got to have a sense of humour in fashion. I do think you could wear these earring with print pants and a simple grey tee. Add cute orange T bar flat sandals and you will be da bomb. No need to get out of bed to buy these for £183.33 from Net a Porter
Zara pelum top with fantasy collar and beading.
There is a lot to peruse in Zara. One of the pieces I loved was this black peplum jewelled top. It’s very Prada esque with that blingy detailing on the neckline. I am not suggesting you wear this with those earrings or those pants. Oh no. But you could : it’s not wrong. No one will run in fright screaming if they saw you strutting down the street. What I would like to see this top with? Baggy boyfriend jeans and pointy heels. I do. It’s a pants season so take your pick which. Stick with the concept of contrast dressing ie. Loose with tight, uptown with downtown and bling and plain and you will look impossibly cool. Bless. $89 From Zara.
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As always concise, expert fashion advice and funny fifi report. Loving the splash of Fluro here and there. Vreeland bit fab video
Neon and prints make me very afraid (I am over 40…eeek). Trusting you Fifi to steer me through and pick out the wearable. Have learnt something today - no print tops for starters!
As always FiFi you get it right! The whole report today is neutrals with touches of brights and prints- for adults over 30 kgs this is do-able.
Personally I’m allergic to prints, but that Jac and Jack top might be just passable given it’s black and white.
I’m expecting all the neon to be on sale in a few weeks, who on earth do they think is going to buy/wear all this stuff at full price?
Quite bedazzled by all the florals and prints, there are just so many florals, great to look at, as are flowers, but the top to toe looks are sooo bad. Even DJ’s models in their new spring catalogue can’t carry off the look.
I am liking the black and white prints though which can be worn with most bright block colours or neutrals for Summer
I’d be interested in prints, particularly black based and in pants. Just seen some black with white feather Veronika Maine ones which I may try on. I’m a bit over 35 so hopefully I can pull them off.
Thanks for all the feedback ! It makes my day when I hear back from FiFi Report readers …To know what like and don’t like! As far as I can gather most readers are stuck thier desk /with kids and both and have too much to do to wander the shops (such as my good self)and find what’s right. All that colour can be overwhelming: so yes, hang back, buy a few pieces and wait til it’s really hot and summery. The only thing to splurge on? A major handbag!
Fifi, I got all excited about bright colours and bought these pants in the spearmint colour:
http://www.countryroad.com.au/shop/woman/clothing/jeans/60149624/5-Pocket-Colour-Crop-Jean.html
but now I have come over all scaredy cat and can’t imagine what I will actually wear them with. I haven’t taken the tags off. Should I take them back??
Yes please! Any insights are always helpful, particularly with the confusion of colour and print that’s out at the moment.
Bring on next season’s dark side-black!
I’m with kate - i bought a orange sherbert colour skinnies at country road - they looked fab, but how am I supposed to wear them? bought the navy/ cobalt top from CR but what else? i’m over 30 (age & kg) and lots of running with 2 little kids
for brownie points I always recommend your site for cool ideas - when are you doing the next westfield fashion show??
ooh I’m actually thinking about those spearmint pants
I ended up purchasing some red/pinkish ones last year and it took me 6 months before I was brave enough to start wearing them but now I love them! I’m hoping the spearmint pants aren’t too pastel in colour, let us know if you check them out FiFi!
Also I would love some info on perfect denim shirts too, something that doesn’t throw me back to my 80s youth too badly
many thanks ms fifi–sage advice!
There is only one name to google with all these colours and prints, Elise Nalin. She makes it look fine! I think she is over 35 years (not kilos
and she rocks it! I think us over 40 set can definitely do ONE colour item at a time, preferably accessories… Turquoise sunnies anyone? Love ya Fifi!
Thanks for all the fabulous feedback ! Will answer those questions .
As loyal FiFi Report readers know, my philosophy is that if you had a million dollars & a celebrity stylist you could wear a different colour ( & even prints) every day. And never wear them again. But for those of us on a budget ( sob) who need to build a wardrobe it’s about investing in chic colours that love each other. I’m not against brights but they’re tricky to wear & never versatile.
Fifi I love reading your report every Friday it is my favourite fashion blog as it always so informative and ‘of the moment’. I have been a black is a new the black all my adult life really (I’m 58), and always get a giggle when it becomes official again. But I have been really wanting to buy a pair of tobaccoey/caramel pair of jeans recently (to be worked back with black of course), I think that the colour can be easily treated as a neutral. But to answer your question - the current neons and florals are doing my head in!
I have gone the accessory path, bought the country road yellow belt, some diva yellow earrings and a spearmint linen scarf from country road. Cotton On is also good for disposable tshirts and their cottonco exclusives that you can only get online are also a bargain. I looked longingly at the bright yellow jeans and wished I was 20 years younger and 20 kilos lighter but that is not gonna happen so therefore I waved bye bye to the jeans. A spring summer shoe heads up would be much appreciated Fifi!! Motivation to get my end of winter pedicure!!
I have a neon green (expensive silk) singlet I purchased in the 80’s. Worn once, still in my draw, wrapped in the original packaging. I shouldn’t have worn it then, let lone now!
If its not an “expensive Fifi colour” I will not buy it. Maybe might wear an out there shoe!
Love Fridays Fifi report