The Seventini
Do click on the pics to make them BIGAt first glance, the looks on these pages – straight from the latest issue of Australian marie claire – seem straightforward 70s redux (floppy hats, big sunglasses, flares). Then when you break it down you glimpse shades of the 1950s (capri pants); 1980s (chambray shirts, chain bags, flippy, belted minis); and 90s silhouettes (pencil skirts). It’s a strange cocktail, but I most prefer the 70s influence. Let’s call it a ‘Seventini’.
But let’s break it down a little further. The opening look (above) – what’s not to love? Great hat, fabulous swallow print scarf, super cool boots, and didn’t Hermès design some watches like that a few years ago? It is a little difficult to tell what the dress really looks like, and the bag is a trifle boxy for my tastes, but all in all, very soignée.
Moving on to the second page … The colour palette is appealing, except I quite dislike wearing chocolate (eating, yes; wearing, not so much). Especially in snug leather (bottom left). Can you imagine how much you would sweat in that tight-fitting top? But I LOVE those enormous bangles by Elke (great label, btw) – only $95 each, I think I’ll buy one in every colour. And I really do like the navy heels with white – what do you call that kind of trim? Shoelace? The braid is threaded through eyelets.
Oh, and have I mentioned before that I really don’t like loathe chain-strapped bags (although I must confess I do own a very cool vintage version)? You know, if someone gave me a classic Chanel 212 chain-strapped bag I would instantly bestow it upon a deserving pal. It’s one of my most-hated bag styles in all fashion history, what with the chain and the quilting. Ergh.
I shall dismiss page three almost wholly, except for the delicious tomato red hue and most of the jewellery. The brown dress is quite appealing… if only it wasn’t … brown. The gold bag and ballet slippers just look cheap.
Ok, onto the last page (the two large photos are my favourite looks). Love the enormous round sunglasses, adore the knit, and covet the jeans. The shoes are passable except for the gold toes (but if someone was holding a gun to my head, I would wear them) … Oooo! The bangles. Love!
That just leaves the bag. It is Vile. Who perpetrated this abomination? B Store. Never heard of ’em. Best to leave it this way, methinks, if this is a sample of their design philosophy.
This look would only set you back $1599. $2089 if you actually liked that hideous and repellent bag.
And now, the conclusion
The 70s vibe is very cool, and elegant – although I suspect there is just a sniff of unapproachable goddess here. The main drawback (aside from the fact I don’t have yards of leg at my disposal) is all the bare flesh: it looks great, but you would freeze gadding about like this in a Melbourne winter! I’m talking iceblocks. Blue skin even. What I want to know is this: are beige pantyhose coming back, because black opaques just won’t cut it for this look?
Ph: Adam Flipp/Reload Agency for marie claire Australia, May 2012