Molly Ringwald + Miu Miu SS10 = Cyrinda Fox.

Personal Style is what this book is all about.

Cheap Chic by Carol Troy and Catherine MiIlinaire, was published in 1975 and has been a bit of a bible for me since I picked it up two years or so ago at Battersea Boot Fair. It’s based on the premise that you don’t need to spend a lot of money to look great - that knowledge, thought, a sassy attitude and a smile can get you much further than your mastercard.

It features big names (YSL, Jerry Hall, Betsey Johnson, Rudi Gernreich) alongside unknowns and friends of the authors talking about what style means to them. Here’s Lauren Hutton in a pair of Levis, a man’s shirt and a cashmere sweater:

“Ninety-five percent of my clothes are in navy blue, white or Khaki” says photographer Helene Gaillet talking about her ‘layer theory’ and daily uniform of five-year-old YSL boots and bag, cheap jeans, boys monogrammed shirts from Brooks Bros and an army surplus jacket. What she saves on clothing she spends on a collection of delicate gold jewellery and her first layer - a lithe supple body.

Ingeborg Day is another favorite who has a ‘cost-per-wear’ system (cost divided by number of times worn) and minimal wardrobe. I am taken by the way she dresses to complement her stature with flowing clothes and two signature pieces around her neck: a strand of pearls and Guatemalan bag - what a perfect contrast!

Duggie Fields represents the UK with a wild pair of saddle shoes and one of the first mentions in a book of Malcolm and Vivienne’s shop SEX:

Nancy Crow is super-sexy in wrap skirts, vintage smocks and bed jackets over little t-shirts. Like Helene and Ingebord she spends more on jewellery, shoes and bags and wears the rest as cheap finds or vintage.

I think this look is perfect. It illustrates the virtues of shopping for local artisan goods on holiday - in this case mexican cotton and baskets. I wish I was there.

This French Jewellers smock hasn’t changed in design for hundreds of years and is worn elsewhere by the same woman but under a fair isle vest and tweed jacket with knee high brown leather boots. If anyone knows where I can find one please let me know!

The moral of the story is be creative and have fun. I often refer to this book when I look at a pair of shoes I can’t afford or when I get the urge to go spend. It’s a lesson in looking at clothes as just one aspect of your existence and making the most of what you’ve got.

Still working on Friday night at half past eight. I feel like pulling a fierce look with cigarette like Joan Didion and this Facehunter girl… Unfortunately I don’t smoke.

Paul Bowles’ book was adapted by Bertolucci for this film, which features a significant cameo from Bowles himself. He subsequently derided the film, but I enjoy its slow pace and lazy beauty. Mostly I enjoy Debra Winger as Kit Moresby - can you tell?

My favorite shots from this Flickr set. Which was taken the week that Yves Saint Laurent made his debut at Dior. So timely!

I want coral nails.

Rather dull Oscars + Corey Haim’s passing = Martha Plimpton and River Phoenix in 1989.

I mean, really. All those starlets can just go home right now and start again. Dont worry, neither of them feature in this.

Recommended reading.

New favorite tumblr from Erie Basin. Perhaps I’m getting older but the diamonds are looking quite fine.

This site really makes me want to wear more delicate jewels. Chunky rings your days are numbered!

I’m so excited to find out that a trip to Paris I am taking for work coincides with the YSL retrospective at the Le Petit Palais!

The exhibition will cover Yves Saint Laurent’s entire career: from his beginnings at Dior’s atelier (just around the corner from the museum) to his Le Smoking, his designs for many theatrical productions and of course for his great muse Catherine Deneuve.

I think I better book my ticket now.

These girls have been on my desktop for months now and I can’t remember where they are from. Don’t they just pour into their jeans?? Sexy!