I love boats, I love yachts, I love being out on the ocean. So perhaps I don’t know how to sail but who cares? The most important thing about the whole nautical experience is wearing it. Navy and white – with a dash or red – always looks chic, always looks fresh, and always looks simple. Think Jackie Kennedy in Capri with bare feet and carrying her gingham scarf. What is she wearing? A navy rib tee and white chic Capri pants. Oh, and her huge signature sunglasses of course. Nautical. It’s a way of dressing that has always been in style. It reminds me of summering in Cape Cod even though I have never been there. It reminds me of Grace Kelly sauntering around Monte Carlo in a stripe Tee with a head scarf and cat’s eye sunglasses. I love it. It’s ageless, chic and the epitome of low key style. So you can imagine how thrilled I am to report that navy and white, stripes and whole nautical trend is one of the major looks for this coming summer. It was all over the runways for resort collections as you can see here on Style. There were little stripe flirty shorts and a stripe jacket at Proenza Schouler, a cute gingham Tee at Chanel and a divine navy trench cape at Stella McCartney. But there’s no reason to jump ship when you can get it all right here. From mid July you can race into Review for all things navy, nautical and nice. You’ll love the pretty stripe tops, the navy jackets and gorgeous skirts. But before you get all excited and start wearing your new nautical looks on the boat you must remember the major yachting rule: No heels allowed.  (I know: I get sea sick wearing flats too).

Yours Fashionably,
FiFi

Apparently The World Cup is happening. I am not sure what it is but I think it’s where lots of handsome, buff guys kick a football around. It’s like a Fashion Week for football. You know, where all the best people from around the world gather to watch all the best people from around the world do their thing, strutting up and down the runway/ field showing off their style. I think Socceristas even wear the colours of the team they are watching. Quite like the fashionistas in the front row in Paris. Of course I was not really interested in all this football fever until I saw the almost naked men on the cover of Vanity Fair.  But I got really excited when I realized there was a serious fashion moment happening.

According to The Cut Dolce & Gabbana has created off-field outfits for the Italian national team (Wow. Do they actually make bustiers for guys?) and Giorgio Armani has created a World Cup accessories collection for Emporio Armani. He has also designed boxer-briefs “with a detachable flag logo, to customize your undies based on your favorite team”. (Love to see that).
But I knew the World Cup was something important when I saw that King Karl was into it. Style.com reports that the German magazine SEPP “commissioned designers such as Alber Elbaz, Giorgio Armani, and Dries Van Noten to create something inspired by the game.” Of course King Karl had to be included and did a quick sketch of himself as a football star.

Oh, and we hear Louis Vuitton has been commissioned by FIFA to create a handmade leather trophy case for the solid 24-karat gold prize. And just so you are not confused:  that’s FiFA not FiFi.

Yours fashionably,
FiFi
www.FiFi.com.au

There are sales everywhere. Of course it’s easy to go crazy, shopping like a maniac in Manolos, not really thinking about what you are buying. Which is why you need to follow FiFi’s fabulous shopping tips to surviving sales….

• Don’t get whipped into a shopping frenzy. Stop. Think. Look left, look right and then proceed. Buyer’s remorse is not a good thing. The wrinkles and the Botox will cost more in the long run.

• Always check out what lies behind. You might look great from the front but -ooh la la -bulging back fat and visible panty lines are a big NO NO. Tip: Throw a chic little Chanel compact mirror in your Prada handbag to pull out to whenever necessary.

• Friends lie. Boyfriends have no idea. George Clooney is busy. Take someone shopping who you can trust for an honest opinion of what looks hot. Or Not.

• Think about what’s hot for next season. Read the Review Blog and magazines to keep up with the trends. When you spot a new look lurking on the horizon that’s the time to buy. Tip: Buy a pretty Review 50’s skirt now.

• Do the Maths: Don’t fritter your money away on lots of $50 tops. Think about it: 5 things at $50 will add up to $250. This equals a fabulous Review jacket, a great bag or one single Givenchy shoe.

• Think about your style and what works for you. If ‘tough chic’ is not your thing then why would you suddenly look fabulous in black leather now? (Then head straight to Review for Pretty).

• Please wear decent underwear. Is there anything more embarrassing than sad saggy old undies?

• Shopping is like marriage: if you are in doubt and have to ask someone if you should have it then the answer is no.

Yours fashionably,

FiFi

www.Fifi.com.au

Models are tall, slim and beautiful. They don’t really say much but they sure look fabulous. But then sometimes along comes a model who can actually do two things at once. Like Karen Elson. You probably know her. She is the tall, red head with white, white skin. She has a unique look and designers, editors and photographers love her.

Especially US Vogue. I think it’s because she resembles the Creative Director Grace Coddington. You remember Grace from The September Issue? She was the brilliant, cheeky, older English one with a mass of red hair. In fact for a shoot in US Vogue in 2008.

Grace chose Karen to be her doppelganger in a story about editors and their individual style. So cute! Anyway Karen has always been a little different, pale and edgy (she’s English as well) and in 2005 she married the different, pale and edgy musician Jack White. Now for the first time they have posed together for US Vogue (photographed by Annie Liebovitz and styled by – Guess who? – Grace Coddington.).

It seems Jack may have influenced Karen a little because she has now launched an album. Seems like she can really sing if you watch the video here.

Haunting and pensive, her style is very low key but quite intense. Her album is called The Ghost Who Walks. Not bad for The Model who Sings.

Yours fashionably,

FiFi

www.FiFi.com.au