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What are you hoping to see plenty of this upcoming (I know — hard to believe) fall/winter? Personally, the thing I am most excited about is the popularisation of the tough luxe aesthetic, which has been building for a couple of winters now. Last winter, a leather jacket was essential. This year, that look has been pulled up & spun into something more sophisticated — & entirely more enticing.

The look is made ever more appealing by constant appearances of the fashion insider’s icon, Kate Lanphear, Style Director of US Elle. With her sharp platinum tresses, penchant for black skinny jeans & piles of silver bracelets, she exemplifies the tough luxe look, & given her omnipresence at pretty much every major fashion event, she helps keep the look front & centre in everyone’s mind. Confessing openly that she is “obsessed with a sexy Goth look” (source) – which definitely influences her own style — she has been making a strong impact on fashionistas of all stripes, & even has her own thread over at The Fashion Spot.

Kate Lanphear

While I’m not a huge trend follower, the tough luxe look is one I’m quite happy to get behind. Thankfully, given how many designers have recently marched the look down the catwalk — from Christophe Decarnin for Balmain to Alexander Wang & Rodarte, & even the accessories on display at Armani, Chanel, Louis Vuitton & Prada — the trickle-down will be immense, giving those of us without a rumoured $200,000 annual clothing allowance (I’m looking at you, Anna Wintour) an opportunity to get in on the fun.

Balmain leather jacket from the Phi resort 2010 look book, BE&D studded shoulder bag, jeweled sandals by Boudicca.

When it comes to working these new pieces in with your current wardrobe, it helps to take stock of what you already have — & what will suit your lifestyle. If you teach kindergarteners, two enormous studded cuffs are not going to score highly in the practicality stakes. Similarly, if you work in a bakery, towering stilettos will have you ass over tit in no time. But it’s easy to throw a vintage leather jacket over a sundress, or to switch out your old jeans for a pair of skinny-fit leather pants.

Kate Lanphear wearing Balmain boots

But it’s not all Wild One chic & steel-toed boots — leave that stuff to the outlaws brawling in seedy bars. The crux of tough luxe is in the unexpected flashes of femininity or even decadence. Swarovski crystal, super-high stilettos & soft grey cashmere also have their place, & that place is a crucial one. Think fitted blazers, zippers, pyramid studs & utterly over-the-top stockings. Envision an unexpected flicker of fabulous lingerie, well-cut dresses & fingerless leather gloves. Even better is that the look lends itself well to a bit of D.I.Y. — any fool can press pyramid studs into the shoulders of a jacket, or even sew sequins onto a pair of knee-high socks…

Still confused? Here’s the magic formula: imagine a sartorially-advanced baroness somehow inherited the wardrobe of her outlaw biker uncle… & decided to make the most of it. Contrast the hard with the soft & you’ll do wonderfully. Now, go forth & prosper!

Words by Gala Darling

 

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