Slugging it out in the garden is pointless
The Royal Horticultural Society has discovered that slugs have won the war against gardeners after testing five home-remedies out on lettuces. Copper tape, horticultural grit, pine bark mulch, wool pellets and egg shells made no difference to the damage inflicted by slugs.
The concept of the elevated holiday wardrobe has gained serious fashion currency in recent years – a slew of labels now exist purely to provide swimwear and evening wear for the jet set. But at Paris Fashion Week yesterday, the idea was amped up further still by Natacha Ramsay-levi, the designer now in her third season at Chloé.
The premise of the collection was “the subliminal pull of hippie modernism” and indeed many of the trinkets and key pieces could trace their inspiration in the flotsam of gap year travels, island raves and far-flung markets, but this was most definitely a wardrobe for travellers who stay at five-star resorts rather than beach shacks, even if they do head to the beach after a night of partying to watch the sunrise.
This free-spirited luxury played out in a round-the-world trip of texture, colour and print.
Chloé’s signature horse motif cantered into jewel-hued paisley and scarf-patterns, which rippled across silky skirt-belts and fitted shirts.
A jumpsuit, tunic dress and mini skirt were akin to Persian carpets, while those with more minimalist leanings were catered for with plissé or fine knit skirts and dresses in earthy rust and sand tones.
The designs sure to be a next season must-have, however, were loose cotton T-shirts emblazoned with a silhouette framing a vibrant skyscape – exactly the kind of shot that anyone on today’s hippie trail would be very keen to post on their Instagram.
You will hear next season’s Chloé woman coming – anklets and bangles jangled about as the models strode down the runway, but these weren’t a pastiche of classic bazaar buys, rather much more thoughtful, modern iterations.
Each look came with shoulder grazing earrings, confirming that this trend is going nowhere soon. Some were tasselled, others were cascades of flowers wrought in gold while armbands looked sculptural and sleek, even studded with chunks of tourist favourite turquoise. Rope belts, cork heels or sporty neon-soled sandals were equally desirable.
Since her arrival at Chloé, Ramsaylevi has brought a tougher aesthetic to the label’s signature ease. Cleverly, this collection felt more laid-back and embraced “Le Flou” for which the house is renowned, but nevertheless retained an air of cool.
For those with no adventures planned, louche tailoring, breezy shirting and silk printed to look like denim will work just as well at home.
Although Richemont, Chloé’s parent company, doesn’t release the sales figures for the brand, bags are a key area. This season, a new style was introduced with “C” hardware.
For shoppers this could become a point of confusion next season, with Hedi Slimane’s new Celine bags also bearing the letter.
The diminutive versions at Chloé were an haute hippie’s dream, with space for little more than an incense stick and a credit card.