Style Essentials- The Bespoke Silk Blouse

Bespoke Silk Shirt, J. Crew Trousers and Miu Miu Shoes 

If there’s one bit of luxury that I can’t get enough of, it’s having the opportunity to work directly with a designer or studio to create a bespoke piece. It’s pure joy. The process of creating an item from scratch is inherently personal. It’s the nuance of your tastes and preferences laid bare. Working directly with designers and studios on pieces has made me acutely attentive to the subtleties of my style. 

I’ve long had a special place in my heart for bespoke shirts. Perfect button downs from Charvet worn with Alaia skirts just like Sofia Coppola. Ever such elegant silk shirts that drape just so. For someone, with a slim build and narrow, pointy shoulders, coming up with a few good designs for shirts has been a small mercy. 

Drapey, slouchy, but tailored to perfection, my silk shirts in ivory have long been wardrobe essentials. There’s just something so polished and at the same time nonchalant about a luxurious silk shirt. 

When Philip Cheng and Jack Chui of Soong Salon De Mode came to New York back in the spring, I had my mind made up, that I would have this shirt made*. We spent a Saturday morning looking over my inspiration images, fabrics and sketching a few ideas. It never ceases to amaze me that this pair can bring a garment that I envision to fruition. Philip Cheng and Jack Chui are such perfectionists and do beautiful, precise work. It’s the type of classically beautiful work that you don’t see often and that always garners compliments. 

Something kept telling me to have a couple of my beloved silk shirts made in a lighter momme weight. I found a beautiful ivory/cream silk that manages not to be too sheer. Over the summer, my shirts arrived- gorgeously packaged, immaculately pressed and folded with acid-free tissue paper. A few fabric swatches and plenty of extra buttons accompanied the package. 

Worn half-tucked like a French Voguette, I’ve been living in my silk shirts. During fashion week they were most certainly a chic go-to.

* The cotton voile shirt with puff sleeves and a Peter Pan collar is just as enchanting as I imaged.

Blush Hues and Winter Sunlight

My Personal Photo

Sandro Silk Blouse (with Cotton Peter Pan Collar), J. Crew Cropped Trousers, Tiffany & Co. Hand Engraved Bracelet and Handcrafted bespoke bangles.

Pale muted tones and winter sunlight. Two of my favorite things lately. It has been such a treat to have an unseasonably warm autumn and a winter that barring a few days hasn't really shown itself. These pictures were taken last weekend on a glorious sixty- five degree day*. All the better for a leisurely stroll. 

As we all know, I have a penchant for silk button down shirts (see here and here) and have been relying on the bespoke silk blouses I had made in Hong Kong. When I saw this little blouse I instantly fell hard for the details. The blush hue (that I'm ever so fond of) pops against my skin tone. The graceful drape of the sleeves.  The pleats and darts. The rounded Peter Pan collar. Most importantly, the silk is that heavy weight that I love. 

I had seen this blouse on Net-A-Porter and Sandro's websites, but there was something about the styling that failed to convince me. Seeing the blouse in person really solidified it as a piece that would meld seamlessly into my wardrobe. There's just something about being able to touch the material that deeply appeals to me.

I tried on several charming blouses at Sandro, but they were all comically too large. It's hard to tell if it's a Sandro thing, since sizing is always an issue for me and the very reason why I've come to rely on bespoke blouses. I like that this blouse is a bit slouchy (with the all important well fitting shoulder), but can be neatly tucked in. 

Wishing you all a Happy Martin Luther King  Day.

* Selfishly, I'm looking forward to another round of warm weather, but the poor trees and flowers- they're already blooming.