CITY SLICKERS!
From Afternoon
to Evening…
Rebecca George
CITY SLICKERS!
From Afternoon to Evening…
Rebecca George
DAY FOR NIGHT
These outfits can take a busy girl with a packed social calendar from her afternoon and cocktail hour engagements deep into the evening, with all its attendant possibilities. These are flexible, adaptable looks that lend themselves to mixing and matching, even while you are out and about in the big city. We can’t always head back to base to get changed – but with a little foresight we can freshen up our looks as the day unfolds!
VINYL IS FINAL!
It’s been an exceptionally hot, dry summer here in the UK. But at some point we must experience rain. It’s wise to be prepared for a change in the weather, but carrying a raincoat (or a brolly) isn’t the most convenient thing to do when you are out partying. Why not let the outfit itself become the waterproof layer – like this vinyl (aka PVC) zip jacket and ankle-length skirt? It’s convenient, waterproof, and very sexy!
This look definitely lends itself to a mix and-match approach. The jacket can be worn zipped or unzipped. Or it can be discarded completely, to show off whatever lies beneath – in my case, a sheer black blouse and a hint of my skin-tone bra. That’s three different layers in-play, and from just one outfit. You can also accessorize this look in imaginative ways. For this shoot, we added deep-orange faux-crocodile ankle boots and a matching clasp handbag, topping everything off with an eye-catching red homburg. Rainwear should be fun!!
GOING POLKA-DOTTY
Polk-dots draw the eye and attract attention. I had considered modelling this summer-weight suit in deep crimson, but eventually I chose the amber-yellow version. Like the vinyl outfit, this suit immediately suggests creative accessorizing – as well as mix-and-match strategies. Removing the jacket highlighted the contrast between the long, tight skirt and my sheer blouse. Later, we teamed the vinyl jacket with the yellow skirt and the same crocodile accessories – a deliciously vibrant combination. Outfits as cool as this – colourful, co-ordinated, inventive – feel wonderfully empowering to wear. Our photo-shoot was in a busy street in East London, and my outfits drew numerous compliments from passers-by.
WRAPS AND WAFFLES
When Diane von Furstenberg first introduced the wrap dress in the early 1970s, it was a game-changer for urban women everywhere. A favourite with Michelle Obama, Amy Winehouse, Madonna, and Princess Diana, the wrap dress is extremely versatile, yet flattering to all body types. It adjusts naturally to your figure and shape. This ease and freedom – and the liberation they signal – make the wrap dress a fashion perennial, and a staple in every city slicker’s wardrobe. And (so the story goes!) part of its appeal stems from the ease with which it can be unfastened by those keen to dabble in afternoon delight….
Superbly versatile in a different way is the so-called ‘Waffle dress’ – made from textured, honeycomb knits or ‘waffle weave’ fabrics. The stretchiness of these garments is ideal for t-girl wardrobes. The soft, tactile fabrics keep you warm in cold weather, but breathe nicely in the heat. Here you see me modelling a pale cream waffle dress with black trim, teamed with black ankle boots, a short black leather jacket, and a black ‘Apache’ beret. This is a slightly more ‘tough’ urban look, yet still ideal for carrying you from afternoon into evening.
WHAT LIES BENEATH…?
So what does a City Slicker wear beneath her streetwear? Something exciting! For the boudoir shoot that followed on from out location session, I chose an ultrafeminine three-piece lingerie set in sheer salmon pink and black lace, that seemed perfectly to fit the mood of this shoot.
Of course, if you keep your clothes on, no one will know what you are wearing underneath. No one, that is, except you. Seductive lingerie that lies hidden beneath audacious outerwear will make you feel both bold and empowered. We may choose to keep our tastes in underwear a secret between ourselves and our intimate friends. But you will always know what lies next to your skin. And the glamorous feeling that gorgeous lingerie instils will shine through, as you strut around the city streets.
Once again, my thanks go to my stylist, photographer and all-round partner in crime, Josie of Adam and Eves. Our mutual thanks are also due to the staff (and customers) of the Pivaz Café, Bar and Restaurant in Chatsworth Road, Hackney. They could not have been more welcoming, and furnished us with the perfect location for this City Slicker shoot.