Bicycle Savoir Faire

If only I could dismount from my bicycle looking as good as this young man? Invariably my hair is a mess from my helmet, my trousers are tucked into my socks, and riding with such a heavy coat? Well forget it!


It is nice to see that he is being safety conscious with such a bright yellow shirt. When I was 18 I saw a bright yellow men's suit in the pages of Vogue (it was the late 70's), so immediately enlisted my mother to make me a bright yellow shirt similar to the one below! Now if only I had kept that shirt!



I also do some heavy duty cycling in the summer which involves the wearing of much lycra, which I am not even going to get into on a blog about savoir faire!

Stealing a Million with Savoir Faire!

You can not deny that Audrey Hepburn is the epitome of female chic and style. When teamed with the debonair Peter O’Toole you have the ultimate in Savoir Faire! Their only movie together “How to Steal a Million” is one of my favourites. The movie transports us into a world of casual, sophisticated elegance which seems effortless. And it was for these two. They didn’t have to try, regardless of makeup, scripts, extras, sets and directors; they were born with the savoir faire gene.

I just love the following photos, both stills from the movie and behind the scenes, which illustrates this perfectly! The pictures speak for themselves!

So if you haven't got a million to steal, you can stll dream about it with some inspiration from Audrey and Peter!

I Love a Sunburnt Country

I usually don’t post about current events on Savoir Faire, however this one is just a little too close to home. As an ex-patriot Australian living in Canada, my thought’s are with those back at home who are inundated with flood waters and torrential rain. Luckily I do not have any family in the affected areas, however I would be un-patriotic if I wasn’t concerned.

With more rain and flooding predicted with Australia’s third largest city Brisbane soon to be inundated the situation is getting worse.

The good thing is that we Australian’s are a resilient lot. We will pick ouselves up, brush ourselves off and carry on.

To quote Dorethea McKellar in her iconic poem about Australia “My Country” written in 1904,

I love a sunburnt country,

A land of sweeping plains,

Of ragged mountain ranges,

Of droughts and flooding rains.

I love her far horizons,

I love her jewel-sea,

Her beauty and her terror

The wide brown land for me!

Are they Antlers On Your Wall?

As a trend Antler’s have probably done their dash. Herded like reindeer or moose they have popped up in all aspects of design and style these days. Whether from the catwalk to the latest in interior design the antler is appearing quicker than you can dispose of those tacky dollar store antlers everyone dons at sometime over the Christmas Season.

So at the moment nature is in and particularly the antler. Although some say it has done its dash, it has not hit mainstream design. We have yet to see it in Pottery Barn or the likes, which still gives the antler time to for us mere mortals here at Savoir Faire to still champion its cause.

It’s an iconic indication of some sort of rural lifestyle, I guess,” said the designer Rogan Gregory, who briefly displayed antlers in his store on Franklin Street. “It’s like, if a store has antlers on the wall, that somehow makes them legitimate.”

Conjuring up images of cottages and chalets, it is reinforcing our love of nature albeit in a strange way. Gone are the dusty old examples hanging on Great Uncle Angus’ wall above the fireplace. In their place we have wonderful, chandeliers, lamp bases and coffee tables fashioned out of Rudolph’s headgear.

Fashion is starting to embrace the trend with fashionable young hipsters wearing the motif screen-printed on T-shirts or fashionistas sporting antler earrings or pendants.

Used in countless fashion editorials, antlers are harking to a fantastic world full of lavish excess. Taking the antler out of its natural environment stylists have elevated it to levels of modern day glamour. On men and women we have seen them parade down catwalks in herds, turning the wearers into modern day Vikings, ready to conquer to new worlds.

Adorning handbags and shoes it is reinforcing our hunter instincts by wearing the spoils of our shopping trips like trophies for all to admire.

Wallpapers, single motifs on walls or gift tags the antler is bringing nature in doors, so that all that is needed to conjure up the look is a fertile imagination and a can of paint, instead of tramping the hills of Scotland for discarded pairs.

Not to escape our increasing urges to get fit the bicycle below is sporting antlers has handlebars.

So go ahead, and have fun, even if you have to resurrect Great Uncle Angus’ antlers, and make candelabra out of them!

The Evening Jacket With Savoir Faire

Savoir Faire is just loving these series of jackets for men, for hitting the town in party mode!

These are all by different designers and follow the same train of thought, Why should women have all the sparkle?

With designers such as McQueen and Raf Simons represented , these certainly ooze savoir faire.
However for the man who is not afraid to try something different and new, they are so glam!

The detailing and the amount of workmanship is highly evident even with the shadowy photography, which leaves us wondering what the overall effect is.

Not for your average night out on the town but for something truly special, cut a dash and try one of these on for size!

Savoir Faire has Gone to the Dogs

What better way to spend your weekend with savoir faire. Break out the hounds and spend it in the Mediterranean!

Savoir Faire Italian Style

Only half way through winter and design houses and Savoir Faire are already thinking of what we are going to wear in Spring/Summer 2011? I know it seems a bit pre-mature for this, but hey we need something to keep our minds off the snow that is starting to accumulate outside! I am always impressed by the Italian's innate sense of style and their designers. One that always manages to impress is Bottega Veneta.

Now, I am not some young 20 year old, however there are certain elements from the 2011 Spring/Summer Collection which I would wear. Thomas Maier for Bottega Venata is taking us on a summer holiday filled with mixes of hyper casual and semi formal in outfits in a monochrome colour pallet.

The emphasis here is on a fine balance between technicality and refined technique mixed the ease and movement of athletic wear.

The ease of movement behind these super smart casual suits does not betray the fabulous tailoring that is lurking beyond those seams. They are classic and would suit any man who wears his clothes with confidence.

Even these are short shorts, the styling is brilliant, in a Indiana Jones meets Tarzan sort of way.

Although colours border on shades you might find in camouflage wear, they are just right when presented as a whole.

Definitely something to translate into our everyday style!