But if you’ve looked out of the window recently, you’ll know the time has come to face the reality of the situation and take action. Keep one had clutching onto your playsuit and fedora if you must; put off buying your winter coat for a few more weeks if you’d rather, but do embrace the coatigan – the half way house that makes stylish sense for us all…

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Make a Statement

Missoni Balletto Cardi-Coat, available online here.

Reiss Alicia Tee, available online here.

Topshop Baxter Skinny Jeans, available online here.

Alexander Wang Diego Bucket Bag, available online here.

Cutler & Gross Sunglasses, available online here.

Fashion Forward

Topshop Fisherman Rib Cardigan, available online here.

Stella McCartney Slingback Heels, available online here.

Boden Skinny Belt, available online here.

Topshop Leather A-Line Skirt, available online here.

Polished Daywear

Tibi Bouclé Belted Coat, available online here.

Won Hundred Oversized Shirt, available online here.

Gap Skinny Trousers, available online here.

Reiss Thea Shoes, available online here.

Mawi Onyx & Skull Bracelet, available online here.

Country Weekending

Topshop Knitted Fairisle Cardigan, available online here.

Current/Elliott The Captain Pant, available online here.

Alex Monroe Bumbee Necklace, available online here.

Topshop Faux Fur Stole, available online here.

KG by Kurt Geiger Wentworth Boots, available online here.

Off Duty Cool

McQ by Alexander McQueen Knitted Cardigan, available online here.

Topshop Panelled PU Leggings, available online here.

Carvela Scarp Boots, available online here.

Acne Check Shirt, available online here.

YSL Black Stone Ring, available online here.

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Boho Weekender

Urban Outfitters Boots, available online here.

The Old Curiosity Shop Woven Belt, available online here.

Topshop Cardigan, available online here.

ASOS Platform Shoe Boots, available online here.

Maximum Glamour

Sam Edelman Suede Embellished Shoe Boot, available online here.

Topshop Knitted Cable Jumper, available online here.

Kenneth Jay Lane Gold And Blue Bangle With Crystal Detailing, available online here.

Atelier Mayer 1950s Multicoloured Marble Earrings, available online here.

The Professional Maxi

Miu Miu Blazer, available online here.

Roland Mouret belt, available online here.

Reiss Camel Jumper, available online here.

Vivienne Westwood Shirt, available online here.

Maximum Grunge

Uniqlo Scoop Neck T-shirt, available online here.

ASOS Tan Leather Rucksack, available online here.

Round Sunglasses by Le Specs, available online here.

Dr Martens Boots, available online here.

Three of Manolo's desirable Liberty designs

Manolo Blahnik is not usually one for collaborations, and if you wanted to treat yourself to a pair of to-die-for shoes you would usually have to visit a stand alone Manolo Blahnik store, rather than clicking onto Net-a-Porter as you might do with other brands.  However, the shoe designer has made an exception for a collaboration with iconic department store Liberty of London and alongside an exclusive range of products, Manolo will be curating Liberty’s Christmas displays.

The highly anticipated collection will include shoes, prints and gift items and will be on sale for three months from 8th September.  The enchanting items will be housed in a bespoke ‘World of Manolo’ area on the ground floor of Liberty’s.  Weathered Art Nouveau ironwork gates will curl down from the sage green walls and be used to display the beautiful shoes; a special set for a very special designer.  Liberty’s managing director said of the collaboration: “Manolo has enjoyed a long relationship with Liberty fabrics using a wealth of different prints from our extensive archive of over 43,000 designs in his work starting with his very first collection. I wanted to take Manolo’s interest in all things Liberty and translate it into a project that would bring his incredible work to our customers in a completely unique way.”

Liberty, which is famous for its colourful prints, will be selling three fabric designs by Manolo on a limited print run.  The prints are quintessentially English florals and geometric designs inspired by Orson Welles and Mark Rothko.  The shoes on offer are based on sixties prints predominantly in camel and brown tones, with Manolo’s signature high heels.  There is also an adorable pair of ballet flats in a navy print if you’re not one for braving the vertiginous heights of Blahnik courts!  Other items on sale include luxury candles, cushions, stationery and ties, and a new coffee table book of Manolo’s sketches will also be available in September – Manolo’s New Shoes. The tome follows the sell-out sucess of  Anna Wintour/Andre Leon Talley’s Manolo Blahnik Drawings and Colin McDowell’s seminal work about the designer,  Manolo Blahnik.

The collaboration successfully celebrates Manolo Blahnik’s 30 year career and love affair with English detailing.  Manolo was born in the Canary Islands before moving to Paris in 1965 where he began working as a set designer.  It was a chance meeting with US Vogue editor, Diana Vreeland, that kick started his career as a shoe designer and in 1972 he caught the eye of London based designer Ossie Clark.  Manolo opened his first shop in 1973 and his designs have been captivating women ever since with their sheer beauty and sharp craftsmanship.  These shoes will feel right at home in one of London’s most special department stores, it will be a shame when they have to leave again!

It’s that inbetweeny time of year once again. Our attention is firmly focused on balmy summer afternoons in the park, long lazy days at the beach and cocktails at sundown; it might just be that this is the one month you forget about shopping entirely. And no, that wouldn’t necessarily be a mistake either – even the most style-savvy boutiques seem a little confused when it comes to the late summer months. We all prepped and put together our holiday wardrobes some time ago, but we’re not really ready to envisage an end to halcyon days in the sun. And so the retail space is mildly confusing and strangely empty; filled with the beginnings of Autumn/Winter collections and a few tired-looking bikinis and maxi-dresses. What’s a shopaholic to do? Luckily there are some on-trend items for the coming months that you won’t have to wait to wear; the ‘investment buys’ for next season, dare we say it….

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The Lace Dress

Dolce & Gabbana Lace Shift Dress, available to buy online here.

Sam Edelman Embellished Peeptoes, available to buy online here.

Topshop Canvas Floral Clutch Bag, available to buy online here.

Aspinal of London Beige Patterned Snake Belt, available to buy online here.

ASOS Leather Tassel Frame Bag, available to buy online here.

The Leather Shorts

Christopher Kane Leather Shorts, available to buy online here.

T by Alexander Wang Classic Muscle T-shirt, available to buy online here. 

Brokefab Freestyle Beaded Necklace, available to buy online here.

Pucci Velvet Top, available to buy online here.

Maison Martin MargielaVelvet Ankle Boots, available to buy online here.

The Military Shirt

Vince Military Shirt, available to buy online here.

Topshop Floral Printed Playsuit, available to buy online here.

See By Chloé Leather Satchel, available to buy online here.

ASOS Trecker Shearling Boots, available to buy online here.

Proenza Schouler Tweed Skirt, available to buy online here.

The Cable Knit

Burberry Cashmere Cardigan, available to buy online here.

Diane Von Furstenberg Bikini, available to buy online here.

Mango Wooden Wedges, available to buy online here.

Topshop Maxi Slip Skirt, available to buy online here.

ASOS Peacock and Rhinestone Earrings, available to buy online here. , ASOS.

Persol Sunglasses, available to buy online here.

The Winter Boots

UGG Black Lynnea Cuffed Suede Clog, available to buy online here.

Uniqlo Casual Mini Skirt, available to buy online here.

Topshop Skinny Tartan Check Shirt, available to buy online here.

ASOS Bright Leather Obi Belt, available to buy online here.

French Connection Sienna Stripe Dress, available to buy online here.

]]> http://runninginheels.co.uk/articles/transeasonal-trends/feed/ 0 http://runninginheels.co.uk/articles/the-red-rail/ http://runninginheels.co.uk/articles/the-red-rail/#comments Wed, 04 Aug 2010 17:58:46 +0000 Emma Waight http://runninginheels.co.uk/?p=17782

Ivona Batuta's creation for The Red Rail

There was a whole new show at last month’s Amsterdam Fashion Week: The Red Rail. A unique collection of 20 outfits from 18 up-and-coming fashion designers sashayed down the catwalk: softly draped pink pastel tops, high waisted trousers, ruffles and statement silhouettes for women, and graphic tees and pale, tailored trousers for men. What made these garments different to anything else at Amsterdam Fashion Week is that they’re not available in the shops for sale. If you want any of these items, you have to give blood.

No it’s not a humane way of feeding the vampires, but a new initiative by Stichting Nobel, bringing together a collective of Dutch designers willing to design and donate clothing for the cause. The aim is to promote the act of blood donation to the health services, encouraging a new, young generation to give their blood to those in need. Most people would agree that donating blood is a good thing to do, but how many people actually get around to it? Giving blood is giving life, and an idea such as this could prove to be a huge boost to reach the young generation.

So how does it work? The clothes were shown at Amsterdam Fashion Week on 16^th July and have since appeared on The Red Rail’s website. Anyone wishing to take part has six months to donate their blood, and once done, they can email the organisers stating the item they have their eye on, contact details, and the all important donor number. Due to the limited number of items available, a lottery system will be adopted to award the clothes to happy donors early next year. In January 2011, all 20 outfits will be displayed in the Young Designers United store for two weeks.

The clothes were designed by emerging new talent in the fashion industry, with Ellen Benders, Ivona Batuta and Studio JUX topping the list. They worked under the gaze and guidance of Dutch designer Claes Iversen and Angelika Groenendijk Wasylewski from Young Designers United. At the show, one girl told the story of how her life was turned upside down by Leukaemia and how receiving blood saved her life. The Nobel Foundation is a Dutch communications agency which initiates creative projects to tackle social issues.

The Red Rail is an innovative idea and sure to be a success. Not only has it already raised awareness for blood donation, but it also celebrates new design talent. Save a life and get a new dress in exchange for giving blood? Sounds like a good deal to us!

Find out more about the initiative on The Red Rail website.

Founder of Lady Pearls, Felicity Lewis

Lady Pearls vintage boutique is an online vintage treasure chest run by fashion stylist Felicity Lewis. Felicity has worked in the fashion, music and celebrity industry for many years and is currently on tour with Leona Lewis.

The idea for the website came about after spending months away touring with various bands. The time she had when she wasn’t on duty, was spent exploring each city for vintage clothes and accessories for herself. She found incredible pieces, which were not always in her size, but were simply too special to leave behind and so the idea for the online vintage boutique was born.

Lady Pearls was launched in August 2009 after a few years of sourcing pieces from all over the world. Felicity spent time revamping the pieces that needed a little love and gave them a new lease of life.

The website stocks a great mix of vintage clothes, shoes, handbags, lingerie and accessories from as early as the 1900′s to the 1980′s. We found out more about the vintage queen herself…

Have you always wanted to run your own online vintage boutique?

I’ve always had a passion for vintage, I love the history of clothes and seeing how they have changed through the years. I studied fashion at university so always knew I wanted to do something in the industry but running my own vintage boutique just came about through being a stylist.

What’s so great about vintage fashion?

There are so many great points to buying and wearing vintage. The first for me is that you won’t find anyone else wearing the same as you. I had that horrible moment when I was younger when I had the same dress as someone else in a club. That was the starting point for my love of vintage.

How did you get to where you are today and would you do anything differently?

A lot of hard work and a little bit of luck. I was very lucky to assist a great stylist when I started in the industry and I think my hard work then led me down the path I am on today. I don’t think I would do anything differently as I probably wouldn’t be where I am now if I had.

A 1960's black and metallic dress

Who helped you along the way?

My great friend Katie. She actually set up the business with me but decided it wasn’t for her in the end and left to pursue her own dreams. I couldn’t have done it without her and I’m so lucky we are such good friends.

Who inspires you?

My husband inspires me a lot and always encourages me when it all gets too much. I’m also very inspired by Natalie Massenet the brains behind Net-a-Porter. She set up the site on her own while pregnant, I really have a lot of respect for her as it’s not easy running a new business with a baby and look how successful she has made it!

What do you think is the biggest problem in British society today and what is the most positive thing?

A positive thing for British society today is how people have found the ability to cope during the recession. Coming together to work through a difficult time. A negative would be how out of hand gang culture is getting. It is totally out of control, something needs to be done now.

Do you feel British or European?

Well I’m married to a German musician and we have a little baby boy together. We spilt our time between London and Hamburg so I would say European.

What’s your favourite era?

Its a close call between the 50′s and 70′s. I love the sexiness of a wiggle dress and the prettiness of a full tulle prom dress from the 50′s, but the 70′s Grecian-style dresses are to die for.

Favourite European city and why?

Barcelona. I’ve always had a great time when I’ve been there whether it has been for work or play. It has everything; a lovely beach, beautiful history to see, tasty restaurants and great nightlife.

One piece of advice for women thinking about setting up a business?

Believe in yourself and just go for it. There will always be something thats happens on the way that you’re not expecting; for me it was getting pregnant. You find a way to make it work and it makes you stronger.

A monochrome 1980's Chanel style jacket

What couldn’t you live without?

My family and friends.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

Lullabies, my boy is just four months old!

Dream purchase?

A house on the beach somewhere sunny.

Desert island book?

Breaking Dawn, the last book from the Twilight saga. (I love Edward Cullen I could read it over and over again!)

Favourite movie?

This is quite difficult as I don’t really have one but one that has stood out over the last few years was Australia with Nicole Kidman. It is an amazingly emotional story and the costumes are incredible.

How do you stay motivated?

By thinking of my little boy and wanting the best for his future and also loving what I do and the need to achieve more.

Favourite bar?

It’s been so long! I did used to like the red bar at the top of Bam Bou restaurant in London, it was great for a cheeky cocktail BC (before Child)!

Where do you see yourself in five years?

Having a little boutique as well as the online site. I have some great ideas on how to expand the website which I would like to see in place soon. I’m keeping quiet as to what at the moment so watch this space.

Can you run in heels?

Yes, I’ve had a lot of practice!

Don’t forget to check out all of the vintage goodies available online on Lady Pearls – we’ve already got our eyes on a few choice items…

A selection of the gorgeous 'revamped' gowns available on Lady Pearls

Sarah Curran and Draper's Ana Santi

In person, Sarah Curran, CEO and co-founder of My-Wardrobe.com, epitomises the high-end e-shopper: tall, articulate and impossibly chic in a black jumpsuit and platform heels.

Sarah was a recent speaker at a London Fashion Network event, discussing her business, created in 2006 with her husband Andrew. When the couple launched My-Wardrobe, they were not fashion novices. Curran used to be a sub-editor for The Times website, and thus au fait with the requirements of online publishing. She then owned a bricks-and-mortar boutique in north London, Powder, which gave her a feeling for what customers want: a personal experience and friendly, approachable service.

Over the past four years, My-Wardrobe has taken on two rounds of investments of a total of £4.25 million and gone from a team of two to a veritable fashion army of 77.

Curran describes the My-Wardrobe offering as “affordable luxury”: not as expensive as Net-a-Porter but pricier than ASOS.  During her interview, she steered clear of any name-checking, explaining that she avoids looking at the competition too often for fear of being influenced by them. After all, her website launched menswear for spring 2009, long before Mr Porter and a denim bar within days of Net-a-Porter’s.

With the denim bar, My-Wardrobe came up with the concept of launching the idea via a pop-up shop on London’s Carnaby Street where shoppers could try on jeans. However, Curran doesn’t plan on opening a brick-and-mortar shop to supplement the website because otherwise it would become “bricks-and-clicks”.

As any e-tailer will be aware, stock is key to ensuring that the customer enjoys the buying experience. Understocking affects the conversion rate but the e-tailer still has to pay for traffic, making it a lose-lose situation. Recently, with best-sellers such as the Mulberry Alexa handbag, the site has experienced rapid sell-outs; stock of the must-have bag was snatched up within a matter of hours.

Curran said that one of her earliest problems was “trying to bring brands on board that are protective about their image”. Back in 2006, online retailing often equaled discounting and labels were wary of being seen on the internet. My-Wardrobe now offers a mix of brands ranging from traditional British and Italian labels such as Mulberry and Missoni to hipper American ones such as the Olsen twins’ Elizabeth and James. For the moment, there aren’t any plans to launch a My-Wardrobe brand.

To the audience’s surprise, Curran stated that she doesn’t believe that online retailing is less expensive than  bricks-and-mortar or multichannel because you still “need to invest in the stock and a strong executive team”. The business has recruited top buyers from high-end department stores such as Liberty. Curran is now strengthening the marketing aspect of the business, with a tour of the UK this summer to show that the company isn’t London-centric.

An audience with Sarah Curran

A 'rescued fabric' Doucette Duvall dress

You might be fashion conscious, but how often do you engage your fashion conscience? Environmentally-friendly fashion is growing in popularity and Fashion Conscience looks to provide ethical options galore for clothes lovers.

Launched in 2007 by Lianne Ludlow – who has previously worked at Glamour and Cosmopolitan – the site is all about sourcing trendy, edgy clothing with an ethical twist. Fashion Conscience features brands such as Doucette Duvall, who make clothes out of materials which would otherwise have been thrown away, and Bourgeois Boheme, who use fair trade, organic and environmentally-friendly materials to create vegan pieces.

The site’s traffic has grown despite initially having no press or marketing team, a fact that Lianne attributes to a gap in the market. “I think people were waiting for a site that sold fashion that was ethical and stylish and brought together the best of the best labels,” she says.

Fashion Conscience also stocks brands that are based in the UK, so have a lower carbon footprint, and clothes made from sustainable materials. The eco-credentials are core to their mission, as she explains: “It’s about education on what is happening in the fashion industry – from waste, to pollution, to mistreatment of workers – education on how you buy fashion that avoids all of these detrimental effects on people and the planet, and the positive feeling you get from knowing that the garment you are wearing is actually benefiting small communities and giving them fair opportunities in their own lives.”

Finding environmentally friendly fashion stockists is a passion of Fashion Conscience, with new names frequently added to their eco-aware clothing database. Labels often approach them, but the minds behind the site still make an effort to find new suppliers. “It is something we get a real joy from, uncovering a new exciting label and getting it out there, getting it press and voice, and seeing it fly and changing people’s perceptions of eco fashion,” Lianne explains. Recent finds include new label Fair + True, who provide a smart casual collection of jerseys mixed with African fabrics made by a Kenyan fair trade group, and ReLuxe, who upcycle fabric trims, jersey and leather to make chic accessories.

Eco friendly clothing is often associated with higher prices, but according to Lianne, prices are now comparable to traditional stores. “A lot has changed over the last year,” she says. “If you compare our prices to the high-street, they are totally in line with what you might pay in shops like Zara, Cos and Whistles – in fact, often cheaper.”

Even if some pieces are more expensive, Lianne believes that consumers of environmentally friendly fashion are willing to pay that little bit extra for ethical credentials. “People know that they are paying extra for organic cotton and specially developed sustainable fabrics that take a lot of investment to create, and if adopted on a large scale down the line by mainstream clothing manufacturers, it will benefit the planet,” she says. “They are also aware that they are not buying into sweatshops, child labour or scandalously low paid workers who work obscene hours for very little pay. I think also what people don’t realise about eco or fair trade labels is that they are often tiny start-ups, and don’t have the quantities yet to drive production costs down with bulk volumes.”

Ethical jewellery from brands Uncommonly Beautiful X, Mirabelle and Reluxe

Fashion Conscience features the usual e-tailer subsections of clothing, bags, shoes, accessories, gifts and beauty, with options to refine searching further. Each item has four sections giving more detail: ‘About Me’, which describes the item and gives tips on how to wear it; ‘More Info’, which gives more information on its size and fitting in practical terms (for example, if shoes are a particularly narrow fit); ‘Delivery’, which gives delivery costs; and ‘My Ethics’, which describes the eco fashion credentials of the piece.

Some items are made to order, and some are dispatched directly from the supplier, so it is worth noting the delivery details. The site’s delivery processes are green, and they ship internationally.

Fashion Conscience is an all-rounder in the ethical clothing stakes and is worth keeping an eye on as a one-stop-shop for clothing with a conscience.

You can also check out Fashion Conscience on Facebook and follow on Twitter @fashconscience.

Browns's legendary shop front on South Molton Street

Joan Burstein, once described by the late Jean Muir as “a courageous retailer with a sense of discernment and a good nose for fashion”, founded Browns in London with her husband, Sidney, in 1970.

Since its establishment, Browns has developed and expanded to include the five interconnecting Browns shops in South Molton Street, where it first began. Recognised as one of London’s most famous fashion emporiums, the key to the success of Browns, according to Mrs. B, (as she’s affectionately known to the cognoscenti), stems from a total understanding of what fashion hungry customers want and need.

Browns has no strict fashion philosophy other than the ruthless editing of the world’s best womenswear and menswear collections. They know and understand their customers and, provide a personal, friendly, informed service – a distinct point of difference in the fierce retail environment of the British capital.

Browns has nurtured many design talents over the years including John Galliano (whose entire Central St. Martin’s MA collection Mrs. B invested in), Giorgio Armani, Sonia Rykiel, Jil Sander, Azzedine Alaia and Comme des Garçons, not to mention US designers such as Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren and Donna Karan, who she introduced to the UK.

Mrs. B has an intuitive eye for innovative design direction and has been known to snap up new prospects before most of her competitors had noticed their existence – for example, Browns’ support of British designers including Matthew Williamson, Hussein Chalayan and Julian Macdonald. And in the last couple of seasons, the boutique has kick-started the careers and been the first to buy into the hot new generation of British designers, including Christopher Kane, Gareth Pugh and Marios Schwab.

Though Mrs. B has always loved clothes, it was her husband Sidney who was the fashion entrepreneur and in 1946, two years after the couple got married, they started selling underwear in Ridley Road Market in London’s East End. By the 1950s, they owned a string of shops in the West End, but the business went bust and they lost everything. Resolving to carry on, the couple opened a boutique called Feathers on affluent High Street Kensington, which employed, among others, a young Manolo Blahnik. The South Molton Street shop soon followed in 1970 – the property was purchased from Sir William Piggott-Brown, after whom it was named. They also opened in Sloane Street after a call from Vidal Sassoon offering them the front of his shop.

Some 40 years ago Browns was the only multi-label boutique to be found in London, however since then independent boutiques stocking a variety of brands have sprung up around the city, competing with the numerous department stores. Browns were tested in the economic climate, but through the sheer determination from Mrs. B and her family, who are all a part of the Browns history, the Browns story continued. Mrs. B’s daughter, Caroline, is a key member in the family business and most recently her son Simon has moved back from Paris to head up the company as CEO.

In 2006, Mrs. B was honoured as CBE in the Queen’s birthday honours list. She was acknowledged for her magnificent work in making Browns the global fashion emporium it is today and her efforts towards the British fashion industry as a whole.

This year, the company is celebrating its 40th anniversary with the Future Collectibles project, which has 40 designers reissuing their most iconic pieces – each item has a special “Browns 40th Anniversary” label, and stock is available in limited numbers. The collection is available in Browns and in a series of pop-up shops around the world, including Grieder in Zurich, BonGenie in Geneva and Quartier 206 in Berlin. The selection includes items from newer designers such as the charming ‘Atlas’ skater dress from Acne and a metal tube-embellished dress by David Koma, alongside pieces from established brands, such as Hussein Chalayan’s perspex panelled dress and Christian Louboutin’s ‘Fifi’ metallic court shoes.

Collectible frocks from Koma and Chalayan

A unique exhibition showcased fashion innovation in London over the last four decades through the eyes of Browns, centering on the store’s recognition for discovering ‘new talent’, with forty iconic portraits of Browns ambassadors on show. Legendary fashion photographer Paolo Roversi captured each individual in one of Browns specially selected designer looks. The curation and set for the exhibition was designed by Simon Costin, the acclaimed set designer who has worked on Alexander McQueen’s shows in the past.

In addition to the celebrations, Browns has created a limited edition book to complement the exhibition. Browns – 40 Years of Fashion is a beautiful keepsake, including fashion images that have never been seen before, interviews and stunning archive pictures. The book was edited by Isaac Lock (deputy editor of LOVE magazine) and the foreword is by Ralph Lauren – contributions come from a starry cast including John Galliano and Sonia Rykiel.

Today, Browns is still located on South Molton Street, with a smaller scale version of the boutique on Sloane Street. There is also a Labels For Less shop, carrying last season’s reduced stock and a bridal boutique. Brown Focus was launched in 1997 to cater for a younger, hipper clientele and the most recent venture is a stand alone shoe store, Browns Shoes, which opened in 2008.

In the cut-throat world of fashion, the history of Browns is endearing. It is a family enterprise with a genuine ethos based on the discovery of new design talent, reflecting the stylistic demands of the time. Undoubtedly the future of Browns is set to be as glorious as is its past.

More information on Browns can be found on the boutique’s website and for the latest news, see the Miss B blog.

Heimstone's 'Jason' pink silk perfecto

“Je ne sais quoi…” We’ve all heard the famous French expression that seems to cross over into any language without being translated.

In my opinion, we all understand it and can say it (or at least we try using our best accent), but only the French, more specifically French women, actually have it. They are the“I-just-threw-on-this-amazing-jacket-and-tied-up-my-scarf-using-a-technique-that-can’t-be-explained-because-it-is-genetically-inherited” women who, without fail, ooze this inexplicable chic. For the rest of us, a Paris-based online boutique, fittingly named Je Ne Sais Quoi (JNSQ), now offers the possibility of shopping pieces that might add a little something special to our style.

Founded in 2008 by Mireille Nagourney, the online luxury boutique features accessories, clothes and lifestyle goods from 19 niche brands and emerging designers.

According to the website, feeling that traditional clothing shops offered the same, repeated choices, Nagourney wanted to introduce shoppers to brands that “master the coupling of classic design with this je ne sais quoi that makes each look unique.”

In fact, it is the selection of original yet timeless pieces that is so interesting. Items such as the blushed pink silk perfecto by Paris brand Heimstone, or button-down white top with cool tassel detail by Siwa Creations, show that Je Ne Sais Quoi offers clothing that will work well in many wardrobes, whilst also adding a certain flair to your style.

Hoping to appeal to a variety of clients, each season Je Ne Sais Quoi features five looks created from five different pieces from the boutique. Named after Nagourney’s friends, the looks try to please individual aesthetics, whether you prefer the outgoing, cosmopolitan “Vicky” look, or the more sexy “Emilie” style.

Although stressing timelessness over fads, Nagourney explains that her boutique’s selection and the looks she creates may reference a trend. For instance, the yellow touches on the Heimstone dress and bag of in the “Vicky” look are reminiscent of the recent penchant for yellow leather in Paris, but are classic enough to be styled in different ways for seasons to come.

The site also collaborates with Parisian lifestyle blog Do It In Paris, which chooses a selection of  stylish items each month to allow customers to create that quintessentially elegant look the French capital is recognised for.

Nagourney herself chooses her boutique’s brands for their unparalleled quality and craftsmanship. Featuring, for the moment, mostly French and American designers, including Moio, Tali Gillette, and Odile de Changy, the boutique offers clients the possibility of shopping luxury brands that have strict distribution policies and not always available to those living outside of say, New York, Paris or London. For instance, Nagourney has indicated that, as of now, her boutique is the only online shop in France to sell LnA t-shirts. She is currently developing the introduction of new brands from Ireland, India and Belgium.

The chic, sassy 'Vicky' look

With users from 18 countries, the boutique ships internationally and provides clients the opportunity to pay orders in US Dollars or Euros or purchase gift certificates. Shipments arrive in two to four days via UPS. Adding to the exclusivity of shopping a luxury boutique, Je Ne Sais Quoi orders arrive elegantly wrapped in silk tissue paper in a white shopping bag secured by an organza ribbon.

With an internet connection, a few clicks of the mouse, and a credit card, clients worldwide enjoy a unique shopping experience and find some je ne sais quoi style, no matter their location.

The boutique have also recently set up a blog which is essential reading for its insider tips on Paris restaurants and bars, interviews with JNSQ designers and trends features.

Shop the Je Ne Sais Quoi boutique online here, and you can also find out the latest news on the JNSQ Blog and on Twitter @SHOPJNSQ.