Tag Archives: Matches

YSL suede and snakeskin

There is something definitely luxurious about snakeskin even if it is slightly amoral (well any leather is amoral technically) – exotic hide is something to be coveted. When it comes to shoes I am quite infatuated with texture and these high tops with suede, snakeskin and leather result in the perfect mix of finishes and texture. The downside to exotics is the cost but fortunately I grabbed these YSL high top trainers in the Matches Fashion sale. They were the last pair left and in my size, if that is not destiny then I do not know what is! This is my third pair of YSL/Saint Laurent shoes and certainly not my last, the quality and attention to detail is second to none.

YSL suede and snakeskin high top trainers

What I like most about these YSL trainers is the contrast of the bordeaux snakeskin panels against the black leather and suede. Paired with a pair of skinny jeans, a tshirt and maybe a leather jacket for that perfect ‘off duty’ attire that is relaxed, directional and definitely luxe. YSL are very good at the little things; notice the subtle perforated Y on the suede front section, the sheeen to the laces to complement the snakeskin, the small YSL on the back of the shoe and the YSL logo and snakeskin panels on the tongue of the shoe. I seem incapable of buying a pair of shoes without suede panelling, you would not think I live in England! As always; thank god for Collonil waterproofing spray – no really.

YSL Saint Laurent high top sneakers

Saint Laurent bordeaux snakeskin trainers

My Yves Saint Laurent snakeskin, leather and suede high top trainers

On the subject of YSL/Yves Saint Laurent. What do you think of the Saint Laurent rebrand?

Lorien Loves Yves Saint Laurent

Matches Charity Tshirts

What I wore today, and what’s in my bag

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I decided to show you what I wore to work today seeing as I have not done an outfit post in quite a while:

My faithful Gucci brown suede moccasins

Mulberry Elkington brief case

Shirt – Reiss
Knitwear – Topman
Belt – Mulberry
Jeans – Nudie (from Matches)
Watch – D&G
Bag – Mulberry
Shoes – Gucci

…and because I always find it interesting when others do the same I thought I would show you what I had in my Mulberry Elkington bag today:

What Mulberry bag isn’t complete without a few Mulberry items inside? I have my Mulberry wallet, Mulberry locked cosmetics pouch, Mulberry horseshoe coin pouch, Mulberry Dan pouch, and Mulberry iPad case (with my iPad inside naturally). I love how due to use, and age each piece is a slight different hue due to the natural patina, and wear.

Smythson pocket diary,notebook, and Cross pen

I always like to have my Smythson pocket diary on me so that I can scribble down important occasions, and pencil in lunches, dinner dates, and the like. I opted for orange as it stands out, and is always easy to find at the bottom of a bag. I also have my Smythson ‘Style Icon’ notebook in case I have to write anything down. Of course I also have my Cross pen because what’s the good in having a notebook, and a diary without a pen.

Jo Malone 154 cologne, Elemis hand cream, M&S gum, and breathspray, L'Occitane shea butter.

A few loose things which should probably be in my Mulberry locked cosmetics pouch… I love Jo Malone’s 154 cologne, and as this bottle is only 30ml it is great for just throwing in my bag. The miniature of Elemis Spa@Home Pro-Radiance hand and nail cream is because I have found my hands quite dry with the current schizophrenic weather here in England! I always throw L’Occitane’s miniature shea butter into my bag as it has so many uses from lip balm to an actual moisturiser. The M&S gum, and breath refresher spray ensure I always have fresh breath on the go.

Harrods umbrella, Amazon Kindel, Apple iPod Nano, Smythson iPhone case

With the current weather you would be mad not to have an umbrella, and I just use this simple black Harrods one. I love music, and I would be a little lost without my Apple iPod Nano – the size makes it ever so convenient. I also love reading, and my Kindle makes it easy to have a quick read when I get chance. Last but not least is my Smythson iPhone case which I actually adore – when it started raining earlier I just threw it in my bag (my BlackBerry, and iPhone tend to live in my pockets).

…what’s in your bag?

Get The Great Gatsby Look

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The age of jazz, and clandestine excess is back. I am feeling inspired by summer, and the fast approaching release of Baz Luhrmann’s film adaption of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby (possibly one of my favourite novels!). So get starching your linen trousers, and pour yourself a glass of champagne it’s all about the understated twenties glitz, and glamour. It’s a time of prohibition, and a time of speakeasies, underground clubs, and elaborate parties. You know it feels so much better when it’s wrong.

one: bow tie by Lanvin – £75
two: card holder by Bottega Veneta – £160
three: single breasted jacket by Lanvin – £558
four: chino trousers by Z Zegna – £235
five: flower pin by Lanvin – £100
six: classic shirt by Hardy Amies – £185
seven: car shoe loafers by Bottega Veneta – £365
eight: cotton hold all by Calabrese – £290
nine: vintage sunglasses by Persol – £208
ten: patch pocket cardigan by Valentino – £378

at Matches

Get The Great Gatsby Look, Mr Porter

one: straw panama hat by Lock & Co – £150
two: wool suit by Ralph Lauren Black Label – £990
three: silk scarf by Paul Smith – £125
four: alligator penny loafers by Ralph Lauren Purple Label – £2,215
five: pocket square by Turnbull & Asser – £45
six: contrast collar shirt by Ralph Lauren Purple Label – £345
seven: suede penny loafers by Gucci – £385
eight: sunglasses by Linda Farrow Luxe – £320
nine: waxed cotton belt by Loro Piana – £280
ten: derby shoes by O’Keeffe – £395

at Mr Porter

Go back to basics opulent, focus on tailoring but more relaxed materials, brown, and grey neutrals, and throw in some cool pastel, and team with luxe accessories. Right now who’s ready to play some croquet?

Lorien Loves

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It seems colour blocking is here to stay, and this particular tshirt from YMC really caught my eye (well it is bright yellow I suppose haha!). Two tone at it’s best; add an instant flash of colour with this top for that instant summer look.

£55 at Mr Porter

Balenciaga long sleeved striped top

Balenciaga prove that going back to basics is where it is at with this effortlessly cool long sleeved tshirt. Dress it up, or down, throw on your sunglasses, and you are good to go. I much prefer this to the predictably dull stripes that come with Spring, and Summer wardrobes.

£185 at Mr Porter

Lanvin suede patent lace ups

Channel the ultimately relaxed urban luxe look with a little help from Lanvin. I am loving the contrast of the patent leather against the suede, it is a real textural treat. They look ever so comfortable I just want to throw on a pair right now.

£305 at Matches

Summer is calling, and so are these Gucci suede loafers. The perfect contempo casual shoe with an espadrille base, and the classic Gucci horseshoe bit to add a slightly refined element. I just want to throw them on, and stroll in some sunshine – these are definitely high up on my want list!

£335 at Matches

Marc by Marc Jacobs camera bag

Give your outfit a retro cool finish with this unusually coloured messenger from Marc Jacob’s diffusion line; Marc by Marc Jacobs. The forest green is a great way to inject a spot of freshness, and colour into your wardrobe. This camera bag is perfect for down time styling with a touch of funky style.

£325 at Matches

Matches Haul

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I had a little Matches spree online over the bank holiday, and it was waiting for me when I got home from work this afternoon. It always puts a smile on my face when I have a big DHL box waiting for me! Seriously who needs Xanax when you have Matches? One thing I love about ordering from Matches is the packaging by the artist Ann Muir, and as I have mentioned before I use the boxes in my wardrobe for storage – they are excellent, and very chic!

The last time I bought a pair of trainers I was still in high school (Adidas Superstars II in white, and gold – I thought I was so cool…). I do not tend to wear very casual footwear, but I found my lack of casual footwear rather limiting so I decided it was high time I bought myself a new pair of trainers. I found myself particularly drawn to this retro Dolce & Gabbana pair. I am so glad I bought them – they really are the most comfortable shoes ever. I love the pop of colour, and the mix of leather, suede, and rubber. As opposed to a typical dust bag they come with a plastic shoe bag for your trainers.

Dolce & Gabbana retro trainers

Dolce & Gabbana retro sneakers

Inside of my Dolce & Gabbana trainers

Dolce & Gabbana Athletics dust bag/trainer bag

I also treated myself to a new keyring, as one of the keyrings attached to my keys had started to rust so I needed to replace it. The neurotic part of me could not just have two keyrings, I like groups of three, and besides it makes it easier to find my keys at the bottom of my bag. I picked a simple Dolce & Gabbana leather tag with a metal plaque to join my Mulberry, and Paul Smith keyrings. I’ve had key rings come in boxes before but never with a cloth, and a card of authenticity like this one haha.

My Dolce & Gabbana keyring

My key rings: Paul Smith, Dolce & Gabbana, and Mulberry

As I said I like things in threes so I also ordered a Gucci sweatshirt. I do not normally go for things with the brand blazoned across the chest however being a sweatshirt it is excusable, and I rather like how the typography is subtle, and intentionally weathered. This jumper is precisely what I needed; a slouchy garment I can just throw on – it is ever so soft, and perfect for those downtime days.

My Gucci grey jumper

Me wearing my Gucci sweatshirt with Nudie jeans, and my Dolce & Gabbana trainers

This is probably the closest I will ever get to sports luxe for me haha, I guess I just needed an Italian injection into my week .

Keeping it short

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With summer fast approaching, and the hot weather lately (England please do keep it up!). I have been scouring high, and low for the perfect shorts. I have only recently started wearing shorts in England, I used to be rather self conscious about wearing shorts, and only used to wear them abroad, or only at home. I also used to agree with Tom Ford that shorts should not be allowed in the city, but now I completely back track on that – why limit yourself?! There are very few things that I do not agree with the genius on, but that is definitely now one of them.

My other Burberry Brit shorts
The back of my other Burberry Brit shorts

I bought myself two Burberry Brit pairs (apologies they are all creased in the picture – I had to pull them from my washing pile to photograph them!); one from Mr. Porter, and the other from Matches – both feature in the ‘Classic Collection‘ below. Oh, and I am loving the Matches box I got this time around:

I decided to do an edit of some of my favourites about right now, so behold thirty different pairs of shorts for you from tailored shorts classic to splashes of neon:

Classic Collection:

one: Burberry Brit – £95 at Mr. Porter
two: Polo Ralph Lauren – £95 at Harrods
three: Reiss – £65 at Reiss
four: Lanvin – £240 at Matches
five: Burberry Brit – £110 at Matches

Colour Catch:

one: Rag & Bone – £135 at Matches
two: Givenchy – £240 at Mr. Porter
three: Polo Ralph Lauren – £95 at Harrods
four: Polo Ralph Lauren – £37 at Coggles
five: Marc by Marc Jacobs – £195 at Matches

Pastel Panache:

one: Piombo – £178 at Matches
two: Reiss – £69 at Reiss
three: Jack Wills – £49 at Jack Wills
four: Levis – £125 at Matches
five: Norse Projects – £90 at Coggles

Denim Delight:

one: A.P.C. – £115 at Matches
two: Balmain – £369 at Far Fetch
three: PRPS – £145 at Coggles
four: PRPS – £129 at Harrods
five: Paul Smith – £145 at Far Fetch

Pattern Perfection:

one: Polo Ralph Lauren – £115 at Harrods
two: YMC – £115 at Coggles
three: Golden Goose – £197 at Far Fetch
four: Polo Ralph Lauren – £79.99 at Mr. Porter
five: Valentino – £395 at Matches

Sweat Set:

one: Armani Jeans – £89.96 at Harrods
two: Jack Wills – £44 at Jack Wills
three: Moncler – £125 at Matches
four: D&G – £169 at Harrods
five: Wings+Horns – £106 at Far Fetch

A Month in Snapshots

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The past month has been marvellous. I often enjoy having a look back at what I have done (reflection is such a great thing), and personally I find the best way to do that is through photographic snapshots. There is something about capturing a memory, or a moment that is almost magical. I thought I would share with you some photographs I have posted on Instagram in the past month (my username on there is kaleidoscopeboy should you wish to follow me!).

Some of the highlights include spending time with family, and my nephew, finally meeting my blogger friend Sarah in London for champagne at Sanderson Hotel’s Long Bar, and then going with her to meet designer Yan To to see the ‘dress’, London Fashion Week frolics, seeing Kate Moss, the Reiss SS12 LFW party, spending an afternoon at the V&A, and the National Gallery, Sunday pub lunches, Harvey Nichols Knightsbridge Fifth Floor (enough said), breakfast in Sloane Square, shopping on the Kings Road, loving ‘life’ and ‘biscuits’ in Birmingham town, bubbles at Harvey Nichols Birmingham, drinks at Nobu, catching up with friends in Bodega Birmingham, dinner parties with friends, a particular lazy Sunday on the terrace watching the world go by, drinking cocktails, and devouring Dominos (ha!), delights from Selfridges’ Foodhall, general London adventures, and nights out in London town, evenings rolling in bed reading on my Kindle, deliveries from Matches Fashion, the signs of spring in my garden, and just generally enjoying life.

A Weekend In The City

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This afternoon whilst having a nostalgic listen through my iTunes I was reminded of one of my favourite albums; Bloc Party’s A Weekend In The City (ah 2007 how I miss you!). I decided to take the album name in a more literal sense, and decided to do an edit showing various looks I would wear for ‘a weekend in the city’. The ‘city’ to me is London of course, and Bloc Party being a British band it only makes sense.

A weekend in the city, look one, Reiss tshirt, 7 For All Mankind Slimmy jeans, Burberry Brit leather jacket, Paul Smith striped trainers, Gucci scarf

one: Reiss Bless-Basic crew neck tshirt – £20 at Reiss
two: 7 For All Mankind Slimmy jeans – £179 at Harrods
three: Burberry Brit leather jacket – £695 at My Wardrobe
four: Paul Smith striped cotton trainers – £100 at Matches
five: Gucci tassi scarf – £175 at Matches

A weekend in the city, look two, Ami polo top, Gucci jeans, Balenciaga leather messenger bag, Yves Saint Laurent trainers, Prada Aviator sunglasses

one: Ami knitted polo top – £180 at Matches
two: Gucci slim fitting jeans – £360 at Mr Porter
three: Balenciaga leather messenger bag – £585 at Mr Porter
four: Yves Saint Laurent leather tennis trainers – £300 at Matches
five: Prada Aviator sunglasses – £235 at Harrods

A weekend in the city, look three, Burberry Brit blazer, Maison Martin Margiela slim fit shirt, Nudie jeans, Alexander McQueen loafers, Reiss twin zip briefcase

one: Burberry Brit contrast check lining blazer – £295 at Matches
two: Maison Martin Margiela slim fit shirt – £199 at Harrods
three: Nudie coated Thin Finn jeans – £90 at Liberty London
four: Alexander McQueen leather loafers – £375 at Matches
five: Reiss twin zip briefcase – £195 at Reiss

So I leave you with a song off Bloc Party’s “A Weekend In The City”; Song For Clay (Disappear Here), which is inspired by the character Clay in Bret Easton Ellis’ Less Than Zero. Bret Easton Ellis is one of my favourite authors, and Less Than Zero is one of my favourite novellas:

Lorien.Me

My affaire de cœur with life, fashion, and anything that may fascinate, or astound me.

Tag Archives: Matches

YSL suede and snakeskin

Lorien Loves Yves Saint Laurent

Matches Charity Tshirts

What I wore today, and what’s in my bag

Get The Great Gatsby Look

Lorien Loves

Matches Haul

Keeping it short

A Month in Snapshots

A Weekend In The City