Style vs Fashion


Now that I’m enjoying my brief hiatus between work engagements as a lady who lunches, my days are gloriously unscheduled outside of restaurant bookings. That gives me plenty of time to lounge about delighting in the girlie luxury of spending blissful hours flicking through magazines from all four corners of the globe.

Today’s favourite was Australian Vogue Living, featuring what is now my dream home. A local artist has created an extraordinary bolt-hole, built around a central courtyard with pool, all tone-on-tone white, with strategically-placed splashes of colour, fabric and art. The piece-de-resistance is the marble bathroom with silver-framed Indian mirrors that – like the rest of the house – opens directly on to the courtyard and pool, framed by a single frangipani tree. The sense of space is glorious, as each area flows into another, with no walls to restrict the view. It’s enormously stylish, while seeming incredibly welcoming, which is a tightrope act at which very few people – including interior designers – are adept. Making spaces full of light and creativity is a real art and I salute the creator of that one.

When it comes to whiling away the hours, I’ve been doubly-blessed by my friend Sandra’s latest visit to the US, having landed a couple of editions of my favourite glossies – O and Vanity Fair. It’s the perfect package to have the reigning queen of self-help’s very own Oprah mag full of inspiration and worthiness, supplemented by Vanity Fair’s healthy dose of upmarket celebrity goings-on with a dash of intellectual reportage. Throw in a supermarket tabloid for low-rent thrills and all the bases are covered …

It was O magazine that set me off on today’s train of thought, with their gushing spread on Sarah Jessica Parker’s collection for the cheap and cheerful retailer Steve & Barry’s. It’s described as ultra-affordable, which is clearly shorthand for low-budget and style-free. One particularly naff piece is a $7.98 t-shirt with ‘fashion is not a luxury’ scrawled on the front. I beg to differ. Fashion is a luxury, but style is not.

Rapid-fire fashion trends are becoming a luxury none of us can afford, particularly in the handbag stakes. Who wants to spend the price of a small car on something that will be out of vogue two minutes after you bought it? Why on earth would you want to splash out on the latest must-have label when there’ll be a knock-off version appearing at Zara before you can even blink? We really are becoming victims of fashion if we fall for the hype and sacrifice style for following a trend.

The best-dressed women in the world have always known that having signature style is far more important than the label you’re wearing. Being able to throw an outfit together in a way that’s utterly you makes you striking, not sycophantic. It’s a question of attitude, rather than slavish adherence to what’s allegedly hot. When you know what works for you, you can adapt your style to reflect the trends without being overwhelmed by them. The golden rule is that you should wear your outfit, not let it wear you.

This week, take a look at your wardrobe and get ready to customise. Is your working style drab and uninspired? Get adventurous with some colour or a shape you’ve never tried before. Never underestimate the power of accessories – great jewellery can uplift even the plainest of outfits, as will quirky shoes and handbags. Be a little more daring than you’ve ever allowed yourself to be. Don’t assume that what’s always worked is working for you now. Splash out on a bit of a makeover and refresh your look, but whatever you do, steer clear of SJP’s bargain basement line. Pretty much nothing short of a miracle could rescue that one!

Click through to the Coach Fabulous advice column by using the link in the Favourite Sites section on the right or by going to http://coachfabulous.blogspot.com. For alert emails on new postings, email subscribe@iamfabulous.co.uk. To contact me, email coachfabulous@iamfabulous.co.uk. All material © 2007 Alison Porter. No article may be reproduced in full or in part without the express permission of the author. (Originally posted 24 Jul 07)