The Candles I’m Burning
You know it must be autumn when the amber glass candles start arriving. The Body Shop Hawaiian Kukui Scented Candle and its sister, Mediterranean Sea Salt, have made me want to find my bobble hat and a cashmere blanket. Thanks to the tinted glass, they give off a gorgeous low, comforting glow that needs a log fire and some hot chocolate.
The scents aren’t particularly wintery other than that they’re warm notes – Kukui is easily my favourite. Sea Salt is aquatic but has warmth to it (I can’t pick out what it is and there isn’t anything to tell me), while Kukui is more aromatic with a sweet and buttery vanilla flourish. At £15 HERE they do take a while to get going with infusing a room, but, they are nurturing in their way and I like them for that, especially as the cold weather edges in.
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The Sweater I’m Wearing:
My family are laughing at me for being in winter woollies already but when you’re just sitting writing, you get cold! At least, I do. I must admit, I got a bit too hot when I started moving around! I found this chunky grey lace-up sweater in Zara at the weekend – I love the oversized lacing and that the fact that it’s big and baggy so it sits just below my bum. That’s my perfect length sweater. I’ve no idea whether it will survive a machine wash, but it’s £29.99 HERE. Oh, and crucially, it’s soft not scratchy.
I’ve known Navaz (aka style blogger, Disney Roller Girl) for several years. She talks about fashion in a way that makes it understandable and relatable and her new book, The New Garconne, celebrates the modern gentlewoman. To be honest, I didn’t know that was a thing, but when I look at the style elements (feminine tomboy) I realise I’ve known a new garconne all along – Navaz herself. I guess you’d say the style of being a modern gentlewoman is to be pared back and mannish but with distinct feminine traits. As soon as you see the pictures and the interviews, you get it – you know a woman like that, whether she does it accidentally or on purpose.
Interviews with women such as perfumer, Lynn Harris, comedienne Phyllis Wang and shoe designer Laurence Dacade, give small insights into what makes them part of the modern gentlewoman movement. Above all, a modern gentlewoman is kind, loyal and respectful, but also powerful and fearless. She wears the best loafers, a classic cut coat and exciting sunglasses. The only place we disagree is on jeans – Navaz favours lean or straight, while I’m skinny all the way. It’s the kind of book you’d gift to a girlfriend to appreciate and recognize this style tribe rather than emulate, although I’m definitely re-thinking my life policy of not wearing a watch (apparently a very gentlewomanly thing to do). The New Garconne is £16.95 HERE.
What I’m Watching:
My Afternoons With Margueritte. I found this charming film on Netflix (it’s subtitles) that tells the story of the friendship between odd-job man, Germain (Gerard Depardieau) and Margueritte (Gisele Casadesus), an older, highly literate woman who lives in a home surrounded by her precious books. Germain doesn’t have much in the way of reading and writing skills, so after a chance meeting in the park, Margueritte begins to teach Germain to read. It’s just a lovely, lovely story that doesn’t rely on anything other than life’s chances to tell the tale. It’s about friendships we make, things we love and the unexpected things that can make us happy. An easy watch for a lazy Sunday afternoon.
The Trend I’m Not Doing: The daywear silky pyjama. I’ve yet to see anyone, no matter how stylish and cool, look as though they’re not dressed for bed in this trend. Pyjamas and high heels (and a cross-body bag if you’re feeling very adventurous) just makes me laugh – it’s so wrong to my eyes! I love silks and satins (not in bed – way too slippy!) but I don’t want anyone to think I’ve just left my pjs on (as I did when I first saw this trend at a launch). I am just not cool enough for this!
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