The Original Pinterest
... the pursuit of un coup de coeur.
I’ve always been a moodboard gal. Before Pinterest took centre stage, I spent my evenings on Tumblr and before that, I scoured magazines and continually collaged scrapbooks. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been in pursuit of the heart flutter moments. You know when you come across an image that so perfectly captures something you’ve been longing to recreate without even being aware of it?
My friend Vicki (who owns fashion brand Dilli Grey) was the one who got me thinking about this whole thing recently.
When we launched (and sold-out three times over) our Elmer checks this summer, she remarked on the fabric/garments capturing “un coup de coeur.” In that moment (half cultivated by me as a designer, and half by complete fluke and accident aka. the secret sauce of the heart flutter moment) there was just something that gripped a big swathe of our customer base- this was a launch they couldn't pass by.
I’d been blessed with a “Coup de Coeur” moment.
It’s that very heart flutter/coup de coeur/ little excitement I’ve always been on the hunt for. The combinations you pull on, half deliberate (because you’re working with your own personal curation of items in your wardrobe) and half by fluke (because it’s always the pairing you throw on in desperation or nonchalance that works best,) that make your heart sing. You skip to work, you strut your way to the school run, you smile your way through your day. I’m not suggesting that clothing should have the power to make or break your mood, but my god, if you’re into fashion at all, when you nail a great combo (achieve un coup de coeur) it doesn't half deliver a solid pick-me-up.
In reality, the scrapbooks have been collecting dust since Pinterest came on the scene, but I keep one or two handy.
I look through them with my sons (one of whom has as deep a love of fashion as I do) and for the most part, there are huge parallels between what I “pinned” back then, and what I look for, still, now.
Here’re a few tear-outs from my original scrapbooks:
Sequins, sparkle, little glimmers. Layers of lace and frou-frou frothiness.
Tailoring, textures, soft pink and deepest black.
Floral, floral, floral. If it’s lilac, even better!
Nowadays, I have an album on my phone where I chuck all my favourite outfit moments and revisit them again and again when I’m short on inspiration. Whenever I accidentally stumble upon a heart-flutter combination, I snap it and send it to the outfit archive.
I thought I’d give you a glimpse:
Top Row, left to right:
I was actually in a really sad place when I took this photo, but the outfit is so good. Our old Bramble Checks. This fabric was discontinued and so they were a very limited batch- as all the good ones are. If you get the chance to score a Stalf check you love (particularly in the Wide Trousers) BRAVO!
My latest foray into Stalf checks- the Tulip Trousers in Candy. These bottoms light up an outfit (and a day!) See this article for more inspo on wearing this trouser shape.
Another oldie but a goodie. This was Raspberry Checks (are we sensing a checked-theme running through my coup de coeur moments??) in the (since discontinued) Drift Dress. Paired with checkerboard vans for a pattern clash and floral block printed Dilli Grey (pairs so well with Stalf.)
Middle Row, left to right:
This blouse. I bought it from a small indie shop on holiday in the south of France. It’s made from a vintage tablecloth- it’s so delicate, I’m almost too scared to wear it but I love it too much not to. I almost always pair it with a pretty bra and my black Tulip Trousers.
Whenever I post this skirt from Nadinoo (another small maker) I am flooded with requests for where it’s from. It’s a custom make I adore it- it’s particularly gorgeous paired with Candy Checks.
Halloween has my heart. We have a party for my eldest son every year (he’s a scorpio to his core) and it’s a highlight of our calendar to pull together our outfits. When I nail the spooky vibes, it’s a heart flutter. The black Gathered Flutter Dress is the perfect not-fancy-dress item to spook-up for October.
Bottom Row, left to right:
This dress. The Crinkle Dress has my heart. Made in the Jasmine colour way it’s an unbeatable pick me up IMO. This is the best dress to layer-perfect over shirts/blouses/so many different sleeve shapes. I wear mine all year round.
Top Row, left to right:
Last Summer’s Sundowner Checks. Ahhhh the colours in this fabric. Rich coral, deep mediterranean-esque blues, soft lime green, vibrant orange. It’s a beauty. I took home the Gathered Flutter Dress and the Cocoon Trousers.
This was the Eras Tour. My son wore teal faux fur that his friend gifted him and I wore my vintage staff mohair Cardi and found out my bestie wore the same the previous night.
This is an ode to the Flutter Blouse in White Crosses. It will layer under anything. This was an old dress I’d not worn in years, I pulled it on over the Flutter and something happened. A pure example of how an accidental pairing can create the heart flutter moment.
Middle Row, left to right:
These shorts are a pair I bought from SZ Blockprints yeeeeaars ago, they’re an accidental perfect pairing with Candy Floss Stalf sweats and a crisp linen shirt.
Notice the Flutter Blouse again- it does heavy lifting when it comes to the coup de coeur moments and is a beautiful foil to anything patterned/embellished/busy on the eye. This Jacket was bought on holiday in Turkey from a small maker. He crafted them from Afghani Suzanis.
Ok this one is the perfect pairing of two prints you’ll never be able to buy again. That’s annoying, yes, but also… let it act as a catalyst for you to go seek out the best clashes that already exist in your wardrobe. This Blouse is a long discontinued print from Daydress and my Stalf Wide Trousers are in our Liquorice Check form a few years ago.
Bottom Row, left to right:
One of my most worn jumpers, if you’ve been here a while, you’ll know it was knitted my my Grandma and is just the most perfect piece. If I’m looking for a coup de coeur moment, I usually turn to lilac or pink (find your heart-flutter colours and use them to uplift on the days you need them.)
I revisit this image so often. The Raspberry double gauze is an absolute all time favourite. Here I paired it with an underskirt (the pink clash here is a great thing IMO) and my ULTIMATE heart flutter shoes. These are the Sophia by Repetto in an almost fluoro pink.
It’s that Nadinoo skirt again. This time with deep burgundy (one of my main colours in winter time when I’m pale and sallow) and last year’s Chocolate Cross Stitch. Did anyone snap up a garment in this fabric?? Its so good.
Top Row, left to right:
The new Stalf denim (launches tomorrow). It’s really good. 12oz cotton in the most beautiful rich, inky blue with crisp-white, contrast stitching. It’s weighty, but not too heavy and will play well with soooo much you already have in your wardrobe. A classic in the making, methinks.
The white linen Wide Trousers will never not make me happy. These are a style (and fabric) that just feel like me. I need not titivate. When a garment just works for you, you let it do its thing with little adornment. I would wear this outfit to pretty much any occasion.
Stalf sweats. Sometimes you need a heart flutter day but you also need cocooning at the same time. The Stalf sweats are a hug. They soothe. Grey Marl, Frosty Lilac and Natural Stripe are my all time favourite colour ways.
Middle Row, left to right:
The aforementioned Frosty Lilac, and oh look! a Flutter Blouse holding everything together- adding juuust enough to keep this outfit from teetering off into bland. The jeans are Rudy Jude and are annoyingly great.
Ohhh Candy Checks you have my heart!!! None more so than the Simple Blouse. This is a piece that will be your saviour on the days you are depleted. On the days where you just cannot be bothered to think about what to pull on- go for a simple blouse in a colour way that lifts your spirits. Candy Checks work actual magic on my mood.
It’s that vintage mohair cardi again. If you find one secondhand, snap it up, this fabric has since quadrupled in price and its super unlikely we’ll ever make them again.
Bottom Row, left to right:
I neglected to notice when I pulled this selection of images together, that this pic is almost identical to many other outfits I’ve listed here. If it ain’t broke tho??
The Birthday pieces. I couldn't talk about un coup de coeur without mentioning this mini-range. Even in the simplest iteration (white Birthday Blouse) the detail on the Birthday pieces is exquisite and just sings alongside any wardrobe staple (ie. fave denim and birthday blouse = match made in heaven.)
It’s that Crinkle Dress again- this time for winter. DON’T neglect your Crinkle Cami in the colder months, layer her ver a shirt and thick tights and keep the magic going!
Top Row, left to right:
The Coat Dresses launched last Christmas and I have no idea what I wore before them. This is a shape that should have always been in our collection. I have this style in both Crimson and Parma Violet Corduroy and I’d be hard pushed to pick a favourite- I can’t wait to wear the lilac version as an actual dress come colder weather.
The Birthday Dress in Black is such a chameleon. This one is super easy to wear every single day (see above, my bag is from Merci Paris) but if you layer it over a petticoat and pair with sparkle and heels, it’s perfect for anything special.
There are honestly not many coup de coeur garments in my wardrobe that are not Stalf. But I have this dress in three colours. It’s by Norma Kamali and not only will you feel like a goddess in it, you can throw any accompaniments at it and it plays so well.
Middle Row, left to right:
The business that made my Buck Foris tee is sadly not trading any longer, but it’s a garment that never fails to lift my spirits. My comfiest pyjama trousers are (regrettably) from a brand I’ll not name here as their founder and ethics are total nightmare, but they are, frustratingly, the cosiest modal and the prettiest shade of lilac.
Stalf Dungas. This shape is one of my proudest achievements. I adore this garment. It’s simple and classic in form and finish, and lends itself to classic fabric (ahem, denim launching tomorrow) just as well as something more mad. Chocolate checks are my absolute favourite in this shape, closely followed by Parma Violet Corduroy. Although, I suspect that tomorrow’s launch may change things slightly.
That Crimson Coat Dress again, this time with floral jeans from Sezanne. This pairing is a match made in heaven. Add a red lip and I’m ready for anything.
Bottom Row, left to right:
Softly faded, softly crumpled. My Rosa Wide Trousers are years and years old. Like, older than both my children and then some. They are the most gorgeous pair of trousers to pull an and feel at ease. It’s like the fabric has moulded to me over the years of wearing and washing. They’ve never been better.
We couldn’t chat coup de coeur without a Cocoon Jumpsuit making an appearance. I do adore the original (I have Black and Ice Cream) but the sweatshirt version is just that extra bit more cosy and in actuality, is the one I reach for again and again.
This is a skirt I made for my Mum to wear to our recent wedding (more on that in next week’s The Recap) and it is a heart flutter garment if ever there was one. 100% silk douppion (fun fact, we used this very fabric over 10 years ago in our earliest launches and it’ll be coming back for this years 10-year-celebration-Christmas-collection) in a soft, creamy white shade. Beautifully crisp and full. Just as good with a linen shirt or tee as with it’s matching Blouse (I made her the Birthday Blouse to pair with it so together it looked like the Birthday Dress, but both garments could be worn as separates.) The shape is The Midi Skirt, available in black linen here and white linen here.
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Great article babs, xxx