Saint Laurent Miss!

What are they doing in Paris? Menswear collections for 2011 from the major houses are just not pushing my buttons. First we had Balenciaga with few pieces that I actually liked and looked more like it came from H&M, and now Saint Laurent, with a silhouette that is hardly flattering.

It seems that they all must have got together before putting pencils to sketchpads and agreed on a few things, like high waists, thick belts or cummerbunds and pleated trousers. I wonder if they all just tossed a few ideas into a hat over drinks one night pulled some out and said, ok are we all in agreement?

I am sorry all you hip young guys out there, but pleated trousers are just not flattering! Believe me they are not, no matter how many times you see them on the catwalk! There a re a few elements harking back to menswear of the 1930’s otherwise I am sorry to say, I think it is boring.

Silver Plate Savoir Faire

When one went behind the scenes of any hotel or restaurant up until the early 60’s you were usually met with row upon row of a plethora of silver plate! From cutlery, ice buckets, coffee and tea pots, creamers, coupes etc etc. Before stainless steel became popular silver plate was it! If you were in the better hotels, it was invariably produced by one of the better firms, such as Mappin & Webb of England or Christofle of France, all with the name or crest of Hotel on it.

I have been collecting bits and pieces for a while now, and use it regularly. It doesn’t matter that none of it matches, that is the beauty of it. A set of knives from one hotel, teamed with a set of forks from another, makes for interesting dining as you can invariably start a conversation around the pieces.

However please don’t full into the trap that because it is vintage that you must have a vintage shabby chic interior! Use it creatively and decorate with it, just remember that less is more! For example these wonderful ice cream coupes planted with succulents would look fabulous on a classic Saarinen Tulip table!

Cutlery is good enough for everyday use, as it is very hard wearing (do remember it was used by 100’s of people everyday)

Use silver dishes and platters in the bathroom or anywhere that matter. A small silver plate display would look fabulous on the below coffee table.

Usually pieces can be picked up quite reasonably at markets, thrift stores and eBay. Have fun with it and bring a little savoir faire into your everyday life.

Don't forget the Savoir Faire giveaway ending Friday!

http://david-toms.blogspot.com/2010/08/savoir-faireaway-giveaway.html

Balenciaga Monday!

I can only try and hazzard a guess as to why the great Balenciaga and Carmel Snow (The Anna Wintour of her day) are shopping for a new coffee percolator! Maybe Carmel wants the master's advice on which will work best in her Paris appartment? This is so far removed from the gracious perfumed salons of Haute Couture, that there has to be a story behind it!

Savoir Faire Hit or Miss?

While Balenciaga under Nicolas Ghesquiere has carved a successful niche in women’s fashion over the last couple of years, the menswear offerings seem to be a little off the mark. With Ghesquiere, Balenciaga went from a dormant house with lots of history and heritage to one of the hottest of the decade. Original designs drew on the heritage of the master himself and were updated for the 21st century with panache and savoir faire.
Previously Balenciaga’s menswear had been at the mercy of the licensees, and now the house seems to be placing a more direct hold on its menswear designs. One cannot deny the bold use of colour and the inspiration behind the spring summer 2011 collection pour home, however it seems a little to literal for my taste. Some pieces and silhouettes work, while others seem just a little to passé like the pleated trousers and zebra stripes.





I love the looks above and below.

These ones not to sure about.

Is this what we really want for men from Balenciaga?

Don't forget to enter the Savoir Faire giveaway posted on Friday!

Savoir Faire in Cologne

I am such a devotee of eau de cologne. Not the stuff that is called ‘eau de cologne’ that is just watered down versions of perfumes on the market these days, but the real stuff usually from Cologne in Germany hence the name.

4711 (see post on 4711 http://david-toms.blogspot.com/search/label/cologne), Roger & Gallet’s jean Marie Farina and Atkinson’s Gold Medal are all favourites. Eau de Cologne is a classic pick me up without being overwhelming especially in these hot months of summer

I had heard of Johann Maria Farina in Cologne however have never tried their version, however the packaging alone is enough to make me want to go and purchase. I imagine the scent is very similar to all others with notes of bergamot and neroli predominating.

Supposedly the oldest fragrance house in the world it is still a family concern. Looks like a trip to Germany is order as I cannot find a stockist here in Canada!

Don't forget to enter my giveaway!

Savoir Faireaway (Giveaway)

Welcome to Savoir Faire’s first giveaway! This is in recognition of Savoir Faire’s 200th birthday last week and to thank all Savoir Faire’s loyal followers and soon to become followers.

Up for grabs are two items, the first being Paul Poiret’s autobiography “The King of Fashion”.

Self proclaimed king of fashion, he waxes lyrical about his rise to fame and this makes for fascinating reading. A great insight into the mind of the man who had all the savoir faire in the world!


Second being a tub of shaving soap by Pecksniff’s of England in Leather scent! For my gentleman followers or the man in your life, shave with some savoir faire!

Of course there have to be some rules with the giveaway and here they are.

Be a follower or become a follower of Savoir Faire.

Comment on this post indicating which prize you would like to receive.

Comment on another post on Savoir Faire from 2009.

Winners will be drawn on Friday the 20th of August at 9am (Toronto time) and notified accordingly.

Best of luck all and may your lives be full of Savoir Faire!

Savoir Faire in the Sac

I remember the first bottle of perfume that I had ever bought my mother. It was a bottle of Christian Dior’s Miss Dior Parfum in a little ‘atomiseur pour le sac”. When I was 16, my father had taken my younger brother and I to Hong Kong for a holiday, and it cost me the princely sum of $69 HKD which was about $11.50 AUD in 1978. I still have the bottle and the original box floating around somewhere, and it was exactly the same as the one pictured below.

I always think it is important whether you are a man or a woman to carry around some form of scent, for a little refresher during the day. The thing I don’t like is either having to carry around a full size bottle of cologne, or one of those tacky little sample vials that you receive gratis if you are lucky. Not only do you have to forsake your favourite scent and carry around a substitute, but invariably they get lost in the depths of your bag.

I like the idea of carrying around a little scent in a bottle or atomiseur specifically for that purpose. Major houses used to produce these ‘flacons pour le sac’ and every woman had one or two. Invariably they were paired down cylinders or replicas of the original flacon encased in a little fabric or leather pouch to protect them.

Lanvin pulled out all stops when it commissioned Cartier to design a little gold cylinder to encase their perfumes for the woman on the go. Simplicity within itself with its ribbed sides, Greek key design and Lanvin logo on the top.

Carven produced little ribbed glass cylinders, mimicking the stripes on the boxes, encased in green and white silk drawstring bags.

Bourjois for “Soir de Paris” added a black silk tassel to the bottom of their little midnight blue flacons, for an extra little bit of glamour.

Invariably these fell out of favour as time went on however Guerlain still produce little gold sprays as pictured below.

Missoni has issued these wonderful gold tone cylinders with silk tassels that give them the unmistakeable Missoni mark.

Chloe have done one better with this fabulous little leather carrying case for their perfume.

So, for some scented savoir faire on the go hunt these out and if they are vintage refill with your favourite perfume or cologne.