Tag: Chinti and Parker

On The List: AW17

With autumn just around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about my wardrobe for the new season and what’s missing. I’m sharing a few brands you might not have heard of before and also some of the trends I think would suit my style.

Autumn Wish List

1. Alighieri No Lie Hoop Earrings in Gold-Plated Brass | 2. Anine Bing Madeleine Plaid Blazer | 3. Chinti & Parker Heart Aran Cashmere Blend Sweater in Red | 4. Re/Done Originals Distressed Denim Mini Skirt | 5. Cuyana Saddle Bag in Black | 6. Mango Slingback Shoes in Black

I’ve known Rosh from Alighieri for a few years, we met rather randomly at an exhibition at The Photographer’s Gallery in London. She’s so lovely and incredibly eloquent. Her collections are all inspired by Dante Alighieri’s ‘Divine Comedy’ which she studied whilst reading French and Italian at Oxford University. She describes the pieces as modern heirlooms, and they do have a timeless quality. It’s worth taking a look at her site even if it’s just to admire the beautiful photography.

If you haven’t heard of Anine Bing, where have you been? The Danish blogger and fashion empire owner has all your timeless wardrobe essentials covered. They’re a bit pricey but worth the investment, I think. The brand is well-known for its pretty lace bralettes but it’s their check blazer that I have my eye on this season. We’re going to be seeing check blazers everywhere, DAKS and Calvin Klein have some beautiful examples in their collections but this is one of my favourites.

Another firm trend for AW17 is red; red sweaters, red coats, red boots, red hoodies; RED IS BIG NEWS! I’m not one to jump on a bandwagon but I’m actually quite fond of red and have found a lovely sweater from one of my favourite British knitwear brands, Chinti & Parker. An Aran sweater is a wardrobe classic but the subtle heart pattern gives it a modern feel. It’s a cashmere blend so will be super soft, too.

I’m sure it hasn’t gone unnoticed that I love a denim skirt! I’m also a big fan of RE/DONE, they take vintage Levi’s jeans, unpick the seams and then remake them in the most gorgeous modern fits. There are many ways to be sustainable and this way of using vintage denim definitely ticks a box for me. They’re not the cheapest jeans you’ll find on the market but there are a few discount codes to be found online.

Cuyana is an American fashion brand that shares a lot of my values, they specialise in creating timeless, premium essentials. Their designs are simple and classic, focusing on quality and craftsmanship. Their Saddle bags are made in Italy and are perfect as an everyday bag, a decent size but minimal in design.

All summer I’ve been looking for a good pair of sling-backs, ones that don’t have a kitten heel as I always feel a bit stumpy in them. Mango have come through with these elegant pumps that will go perfectly with my vintage Levi’s and ME+EM Tux Trousers. This is definitely a look I’ll b sharing.

Cashmere Is King with Chinti and Parker

Chinti and Parker Star Slouchy Cashmere Sweater in Black* | Levi’s Vintage 501 Jeans | Sandro Veinarde Leather Biker Jacket in Black | Adidas Originals Stan Smith Trainers* | Jaeger Mini Oxford Cross-Body Bag in Black (sold out)* | 88&Cloudless Joy Mini-Star Necklace in Solid 9ct Gold* | Felice Dahl Första Ring in Gold* | Kristen Elspeth Blade Ring in Gold* | Myia Bonner Mini Diamond Circle Stud Earrings in Gold | Retrosuperfuture Paloma Black Matte Sunglasses*

It may sound like a cliche but once you’ve worn cashmere it’s hard to go back. When it comes to knitwear, cashmere really is king. It’s incredibly soft, lightweight and ever so warm – it’s said to be three times warmer than sheep’s wool.

Cashmere comes from the finer undercoat fibres of the cashmere goat. It’s usually combed from the goats during their moulting season and is then separated from the course guard hairs that are moulted at the same time. Each goat is said to produce around 115g each year, meaning for just one sweater the wool of 3-4 goats is required. This is one of the reasons for its elevated cost. There are several grades of cashmere depending on the diameter of the hairs, the best, Grade A is 14-15.5 microns thick and, the worst, Grade C is around double that at 30 microns.

“…for just one sweater the wool of 3-4 goats is required.”

I’ve tested out a lot of high-street cashmere. Initially I’ve been impressed but a couple of wears and washes later and it no longer resembles the jumper I bought. It’s moulted onto everything I’ve touched, there are bobbles on high-friction areas and it’s shrunk. Don’t believe the hype, it’s just not worth it. If you’re ready to invest in cashmere look to the high-end brands that work with the most respected mills. One brand I can highly recommend is Chinti and Parker, a London based clothing brand that specialise in a ‘classic-with-a-twist essence’. They cater for those of us with a more minimalist aesthetic as well as those looking for designs with personality (they collaborated with Miffy last year and have another exciting collaboration coming soon).

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