The Jimmy Choo SS14 Collection

I could have easily spent my whole afternoon at the Jimmy Choo SS14 presentation during the latest LC:M. The brand had taken over a space on King Street in Covent Garden, which they had turned into a chic cabana full of colour, green foliage and, of course, shoes.
All the different lines stood out from the crowd thanks to the super cool stalls, which had been decorated according to their style. What tied them all together was the inspiration drawn from the 'Sapeurs' – a group of dandies from Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of Congo. These gentlemen, who are treated as celebrities in their home town, are known for their bold sartorial choices. They admire the classic Parisian tailoring, which they wear in the most garish ways using striking colours and patterns.
Sandra Choi, Jimmy Choo's creative director, has translated these daring spirit into a collection that mixes dashes of bright colours on the soles, laces and stitching of otherwise classic sneakers and dessert boots. Degradé snakeskin or leather contrasting with python and camouflage do it for the smarter pieces.
Their signature 'Belgravia' models adopt this style for SS14 but the brand continues their start-studded offering in powder shades of pink, beige and black for next summer.
I loved some of the new introductions like the slip-on shoe, which comes in a modern velvet leopard print. And the new take on their chic urban espadrilles in soft suedes and classic hues.
From among the smart options I loved the monk strap shoes both in classic monotones and in contrasting two-tone options like the super cool camouflage-detailed or the python skin ones.
Whatever you end up going for during SS14 it is clear that, like the 'Sapeurs', classic shapes are a must but so is individuality and that's why every single Jimmy Choo piece has a character that will make you stand out from the crowd.

Fashion, Frankly and Courtesy of Jimmy Choo

Urban Espadrilles

Last week I ran into a friend and fashion expert at a fashion event where we somehow started discussing espadrilles and how apt or not they are for the city. Growing up in Spain, espadrilles have always been a normal part of my summer wardrobe. At some point I might have had up to 12 different colours, which I matched with my t-shirt and wore with ripped jeans – something I will unfortunately never forget... When I was older I decided that canvas wasn't good enough anymore and that I needed more sophisticated options. That's when I bought my first pair of croc slip-ons and suede lace-ups. They weren't just super cool but the soles were properly constructed for walking in the city.
This week I was so happy to find these two models from Salvatore Ferragamo (which happen to be on sale!).  I wasn't lucky enough to wear Ferragamo ones when I was younger but these models reminded me so much of my own. I see the classic croc espadrillesas more of a chic casual choice worn with navy shorts and a white shirt. They are also great with blue jeans, especially if you've got a tan! The Oxford espadrillesare a brilliant choice for a smart but summery vibe on any look you would finish off with desert boots or leather sneakers any other time of the year.

Wear his Look: Gian Luca Passi de Preposulo

JustJared

You might not recognise him as Moncler's Communications Director but you would surely recognise the beautiful ginger clinging to his arm everywhere. Gian Luca Passi de Preposulo is Jessica Chastain's boyfriend and his style, though under the radar, has been catching my attention he's been spotted keeping good company to his famous girlfriend.
This week he travelled with Chastain to Cannes for the film festival, where he wore the perfect spring look. The base were the classic beige chinos and blue oxford shirt in a perfect fit. He made the outfit chic by adding a navy jersey blazer, for a touch of smart sportswear, and a pair of brown suede espadrilles, very much on trend. A scruffy but controlled grooming touch and aviators topped off this look only a pro can master.

I would recreate the look with a Saturdays Surf NYC oxford shirt, Slowear slim-fit chinos, Missoni knitted blazer for a bit more texture, Castañer suede espadrilles and Thom Browne aviators.

(Porno) Camouflage for the Summer

Courtesy of Jimmy Choo

Almost a year ago I expressed my surprise at the longevity of the camouflage trend and at the unique and modern way in which Jimmy Choo had reinterpreted for SS12 with their 'Porno Camo' print. Two seasons later, camo seems to be here to stay and not just that, but to be a key print for SS13. And so Jimmy Choo is introducing the 'Percy' lace-up espadrille as a relaxed option to last summer's collection. They also introduce the 'Porno Camo' print in a new colour palette of beige, mustard, brown and black, which I find to be terribly chic.
Both models are already available online at JimmyChoo.com – Get the Percy in green here and in beige here.