This year's key winter pieces have been well-documented thus far and
the coming season brings with it a delectable selection of dream-like
details and otherworldly outwear. It is not a season to perfect minimalism but
to embrace the imagination of fairy tales and magical quality of the colder
months.
Go forth with your own adaption of a winter’s tale,
embellishing without restraint as soft layers call out for decoration and feet
deserve more protection than summer overlooked – stop press: knee boots are in.
Some picks from the high street await so don’t wait around
too long or else you’ll be left out in the cold… (literally, so you better have a
coat). Here are the Lunge's Top 5 Autumn Winter 2014 trends and their high street heroes.
1. A FUR A DAY
Real, faux, purple, neutral, literally whatever, but generally the bigger and cosier the better which is ideal for those colder autumn nights to throw other a little dress. Prada was a highlight for the extrovert where silky slips were covered
up by shearlings in contrasting colours and metallic sheens. Not for the
faint-hearted. Isabel Marant had cosy pieces that lent to her boho vibe, enabling the smooth transition from the summer to winter wardrobe. Gucci's 60s influence was clear throughout, and this included the array of shaggy coats in pastel and muted tones coats.
The more dreamlike collections tended to focus on embroidered details to set themselves apart, creating pieces to be worn as an outfit's focal point if not as the whole ensemble itself. Ideally, the usual influx of winter blacks and greys will serve as complimentary backdrops to the often over-the-top surreal selections in this style.
The always romantic Valentino stepped up the game with a more folky twist with coats, capes and dresses being stand-out pieces. Both D&G and Mary Katrantzou continued with this delicate theme with Dolce incorporating the darker hues of winter and Mary including sensual sequin for evening.
Not technically high street - but on sale! Vanessa Bruno Athé dress at Matchesfashion.com reduced from £280 to £140
3. (NOT NECESSARILY LITTLE OR RED) RIDING HOOD
The return of the cape was a noted addition to this seasons' shows both at once a comforting blanket of the softest materials and an elegant coverup for a very grown-up feeling monochrome ensemble. Burberry's nod to bohemian Bloomsbury girls was evident with the personalised cape/throws that models sauntered down the catwalk with whilst both Ralph Lauren and Hermes were a lesson in understated luxury with their sumptuous capes adding a air of sophistication to any woman.
As briefly mentioned, the 60s were a key point decade for Gucci among an abundance of other designers. Hemlines were hiked up with chunky boots both at ankle and knee height. The freeing spirit of decade was mirrored in unexpected materials and colour combinations, with Gucci's stunning muted notes shouting of youthful energy. Saint Laurent carried on with it's grunge edge but with spinkles of sparkles and black tights whilst miniskirts and go-go boots really ran the 60s message home. Flippy skirts and polo necks were a common thread throughout Nicolas Ghesquiere's first collection at Louis Vuitton inducing envy over high-shine materials mixed with an array of different skins.
Fashion went back to basic with an emphasis on colours often considered 'boring' or 'ugly' but now embodied with a glamourous ambience. Again, Isabel Marant used a palette focused on neutrals with green bringing a touch of colour and a natural aura. Lanvin used a mix of dark, moody tones focused on the evening woman wearing luxurious textures of fur and leather - highlighted by an envied green trenchcoat. Balmain continued their military theme with deep greens enhancing the tough leathers and utility jackets and studded dresses.
Let's get fit - people like to make a lot of New Year's resolutions about that.
I’m not one to take too many selfies during a workout à la
Adriana but I share some rather fundamental and excellent tips with you that I’ve gathered over
the years.
First of all being abroad in a warm place is the perfect
place to kick off some fitness or improve on yourself. The heat makes you work
harder and when you eventually fly home it will seem much easier.
And obv if you’re embracing sweat you need to embrace water
too, lots of it, to keep hydrated. Maybe even a rehydration sachet afterword if
you’ve really pushed it.
Sprint training along any road is perfect as it doesn’t need
to take long and can be done anywhere.
Try sprinting for 2 lamppost lengths and jogging slowly
between one. The changing heart rate is the bomb for fitness and can be done
properly in 20 minutes.
Doing smaller intervals up hills is even better. Learn to love an
incline.
Sprinting for 10/20/30 seconds full blast up a steep hill and jogging
back down (repeating for as long as you can) is enough to see improvements
really quickly.
If you’re abroad and staying by a beach then it’s the
perfect surface for fitness, the resistance of the sand making you work harder
but you also get to enjoy some cracking scenery. Win-win.
Doing it first thing in the morning is ideal due to it being
cooler and there’s not as many sunbathers to avoid as later in the day.
It’s ideal to incorporate strength training alongside any
cardio.
Repeat after me: weights are friends not foe.
If you want to tone (who doesn't?) then it is so necessary.
I apologise for the following image (and if you've already seen it) but you need to know if you don't already:
From the MTV VMAs in August, on the left a booty owned by Lady Gaga, on the right, something on Miley Cyrus. Take your pick (Gaga does weights).
At home if you’re a member of a gym sign up to some weights
classes like body pump to get motivated.
You’ll find muscles you never knew you
had.
Whilst traveling you may be without gym gear but
your own body weight does perfectly, including moves such as the classic
push up, sit up,
plank, lunges, squats and tonnes more moves. If you're at home there are so many youtube videos about quick exercise moves requiring no equipment to make it super easy.
Or how about taking a break half way
through a run to find some space and get to it.
So in the spirit of summer dressing I’ve been whipping out
the shorts in South Africa, see Exhibit A:
The shorts are Bitching and Junkfood and the shirt, bag and shoes are ZARAduh (form
hence forth any clothing purchased from ZARA will be referred to as ZARAduh,
because well, duh).
Yes these shorts are extremely short so make any physical
activity quite possible, if rather prone to exposure.
Later on, we paid a trip to the charming vineyard Constantia
Utisg for dinner at its renowned restaurant La Colombe.
Poached duck egg!
Add truffle sauce and you're set
The menu is French and portions are small but filling to
enjoy the delicate flavours, my kinda food.
So I’ve been out of the loop over the Christmas period, away
in South Africa avoiding the treacherous weather of home. In fact it was a
miracle our flight got out of the airport at all but that’s another story.
Now the best thing about seeking out winter sun is the inevitable summer wardrobe that can be worn 6 months ahead of usual - genius.
A
longside this is how tempting the great outdoors become when it’s 30 degrees
and the sun in shining. The perfect excuse for exercise, except perhaps when
the temperature has dropped just a little. Otherwise you’re sweating like it’s
Bikram yoga up in here.
Anyhoo, with all of this activity you need fuel, what better
time to source out the best foodie places when you’re abroad.
Lets have a
taster eh?
I’ve travelled to Cape Town previously but am always on the
lookout for new places to visit, this year I did a bit of forward planning
using Wallpaper and Suitcase magazines, both very cool for travel info.
First up, in the Cape Quarter, a renovated shopping and
eating centre in the city, lies the dainty French café La Petite Tarte. Chic interiors
add to the decidedly French menu.
My cup of tea.
Whilst in the Quarter you CANNOT miss out on a visit to Nap,
my favourite South African homeware, jewellery and clothing store. Kind of like
Anthropology in muted tones. Chic.
I need to decorate my house with everything here and then
lounge around in some stone-coloured pyjamas.
Now for lunch?
Yes, well the place to go is Tashas even Cheryl went, so it’s got to be good.
We only went once which is a tragedy
as I want to try everything on the menu but settled on avocado, artichoke and feta on toast with the sister having poached eggs and spinach.
Again, the décor sets it apart as well as the delicacies on
show.
