Princess Elisabeth von Thurn und Taxis (born Elisabeth Margarethe Maria Anna Beatriz Prinzessin von Thurn und Taxis) is a princess of the German Thurn und Taxis House – so far so good. She is editor for US Vogue, has already published a book, but is she a fashion icon or just a society-girl? So, do you want to dress like a Bavarian princess? Let’s have a look!
Her fashion style is a disaster! She has access to all the great designer of the world but she looks as if she is dressing for a carnival costume party. The best is not her sense of fashion and style, the best is her good name.
Like no other clothing item, the coat has the power to transform us. Its secret is simple; it consists of more fabric and covers up most garments. In other words, it is the perfect moderator.
Women who have short legs can wear a high waisted coat – and instantly resemble a long legged runway model. Someone who is strongly built around the legs and hips but has a petite upper body can wear a coat with an A-Line shape. A coat can compensate for most body shape imbalances.
You should never be a penny pincher when buying a coat – after all, it’ll last longer than any T-Shirt or a flimsy dress and because you’ll wear it more often, it is more visible. A quality coat crafted with premium materials can last you a decade. Go for classics like wool or cashmere in staple colours like navy, grey or black.
Above and below: I’m wearing a Miu Miu salt and pepper coat with chain detail in the back. It’s classic shape can be worn with dresses or trousers and jeans. It’s made of pure wool.
I’m wearing Miu Miu coat, heeled moccasins and black leather bag.
French Beauty Laetitia Casta is the face of Dolce and Gabbana’s perfume Pour Femme & Pour Homme. The beautiful commercial for the perfume, filmed in the village of Erice in Sicily, Italy, is focused on Italian heritage. The black and white video filmed by Mario Testino depicts beauty and elegance and includes the quintessential Italian ingredients: La familia, a wedding, food and achingly beautiful landscapes shots.
Laetitia Casta, born in the Mediterranean island of Corsica just off the Italian coasts, talks about her Mediterranean roots, the french touch and her beauty secrets (extract from the current French Glamour):
Laetitia Casta on…
being a a real epicurean.
LC: I eat everything. I’m wary of regimes and routines. On some days, I might smoke a cigarette or have a glass of wine from time to time.
being lucky to have received the beauty by heritage.
LC: My mum taught me to take care of myself. In my family, everyone is impeccably groomed, for example they take care to have beautiful hair. My mum uses vinegar to make her hair shine and she taught me to do the same. Now it’s my turn and I’m showing my oldest daughter how to take care of herself.
loving sexy perfumes…
LC: I change my perfume every day. The sensual Dolce and Gabbana is not very heady, it has all the components I love in a perfume, it smells just like Sicily. I also love the creators Domenico and Stefano, they make me feel confident and are always a source of good advice.
skincare.
LC: I use pharmacy products to cleanse my skin and I hydrate the skin with fig oil. Like all people of the South, I know the dangers of the sun. To protect myself, I’m doing a siesta in the middle of the day and won’t go to the beach before 6pm.
keeping in shape.
LC: I don’t do sport, I have three children! To maintain my figure, I eat healthily and move around a lot.
playing with paradox..
Usually I use only little makeup. At the moment I like a more rocky, edgy look with strong eye makeup and “Blue denim” nail varnish.
Sometimes, I wish I could be a man when it comes to fashion. Because I like especially the cuts of mewnswear jackets and blazers, the variety of fabrics, patterns, and colors. As a woman, in the men’s department you can shopping very well shirts and sweaters but jacket and blazers doesn’t work for girls. Years ago, I bought a classic menswear jacket for woman from La Martina.
The Brand La Martina from Argentina is synonymous with the sport of Polo and the fashion offers sportiness in combination with British riding tradition – I’m not talking about the typical polo shirts. The classic navy jacket, which I wear is a ladies riding jacket and I love to wear it for years in the autumn.
I WEAR:
Menswear sweater, Jacket from La Martina, Jeans by Twin-Set, Shoes by Allen Edmonds and Sunglasses by Lanvin
To find the Perfect flat ankle bootie – nothing more or less – has been my mission in the last few weeks. Like mummy Romantique and Rebel pointed out: I’m stuck in a style rut with my Pretty Ballerinas, apparently they have become a uniform for me. Point taken! It was time to update my look and try something new.
I was looking for the perfect flat, black ankle boot which is quickly replacing brogues. I was looking for something less casual (i.e. no cowboy ankle boot), but something I can pair with a pencil skirt for work and with jeans for the weekend.
Simplicity is the key to elegant looks, so I went for a flat black ankle boot (called “Sprinkle”) from Kurt Geiger without frilly details.
Above: : ankle boots look best as part of a leggy look, either with short skirt, skinny jeans or leggings. I’m wearing my new ankle boots with a short boucle skirt and trench coat, both from Stefanel
Alexa Chung’s flat black ankle boots clearly need a good clean – mind you, she probably never cleans them but gets a new pair as soon as they get wet!
One of the easiest ways to wear ankle boots is to pair black shoes with black tights. The look is flattering for most women and most cuts of ankle boots.
A bit of inspiration from Claudia Schiffer: Effortless autumn chic in cord skinnies and black flat ankle boots. Wunderbar!
Sundays are the day for relaxed lunches in town, a bit of window shopping, catching up with friends or walks in the park (weather permitting). I love my stripey, woolen jumper dress I bought years ago at GAP. It’s comfy and can be worn up or down. Down with cowboy ankle boots and a leather jacket, or up with pointy heels and a longer coat.
My favourite London girl Alexa Chung in a stripey breton dress and model Karen Elson both combine black tights and heels with their cute stripey jumper dresses.
I’m wearing a stripey jumper dress from Gap, brown waist belt by Stefanel, woolen cable knit tights from Kunert, tan ankle boots and leather jacket from Massimo Dutti.
If there is one item that personifies Preppy Chic, is must be the gold buttoned navy blazer, favourite of Kate Middleton and Jen Aniston.
Another way to celebrate preppy chic is a nautical dress with the signature gold buttons. Mine has a dropped waist. I absolutely love this dress shape, it’s classic, elegant and just as flattering as a shift dress!
In the Romantique section, there will never be a shortage of dress displaying. I’m wearing: Navy blue drop waist dress from cortefiel, blue knitted wrap from Max & Co, grey tights from Falke and burgundy flats from TK Maxx.
Walking through sunny Wimbledon. Woven leather handbag from Falorni.
Victoria in one of her drop waist dresses. Not loving the shoes at all!
“Style is very different from fashion. Once you find something that works, keep it.”
Tom Ford
“There is no doubt a new dress is a help under all circumstances.”
Noel Streatfeild
“I like to walk down Bond Street thinking of all the things I don’t want.”
Logan Pearsall Smith
“Fashion must be an intoxicating release fromm the banality of the world.”
Diana Vreeland
“Fashion is like the ID. It make you desire things you shouldn’t.
Bob Morris
“When putting a wardrobe together, if your budget is limited, the most important thing is having the discipline to invest in one or two beautiful key pieces and mixing these with classic pieces like the cashmere sweater, the great jeans, the perfect crisp white shirt. Plan your long-term wardrobe. Only buy pieces that you can’t live without; don’t be tempted by disposable trends.”
Roland Mouret
“If High Heels were so wonderful, Men would be wearing them.”
Sue Grafton
“She came into the bar of the Ritz wearing a knee-length tweed skirt. a twinset, and Moccasins – and in a time when everyone else was tarted up in Dior’s New Look, she stopped traffic.”
Bill Blass, describing C.Z. Guest in Paris in the 1950s
I WEAR:
Graphic Shirt by Esprit, Leather Jacket by Michael Kors, Jeans by one green elephant, Pumps from 5th Avenue by Halle Berry and the Bag by Ferré
The short boxy tweed jacket invented by Coco Chanel has long become a fashion staple for everyone from fashionistas to rock star!
The winter version is long and, for this season, manly oversized. I like combining it with a dress, skirt or skinny Jeans (whatever shows off your pins)!
Above: Tweed oversized coat on the left from Stefanel, as seen in Vogue Italia.
I’m wearing a cream wool dress and oversized coco coat from Stefanel
Oliva Wilde in a plaid tweed coat combined with a navy blue Peter Pan dress.
