#7 - Glossy and Shiny

It's time for heavy materials, and what better occasion than the holiday season to shine in latex, vinyl, and patent leather

Ciao! 

I am finally back after a couple weeks abroad, I went on this amazing trip in South Africa and Mozambique. I absolutely loved it!

Not the type of holiday where it’s easy to pull nice outfits, but you can find some of them (very summery) at the bottom :) 

I am now ready for Autumn and Winter! A lot of people complain about these seasons but to be honest I very much enjoy them - the food, the snow, skiing, clear skies and cold air, the holiday season… and obviously the outfits. 

I love boots, coats, layers, heavy fabrics like wool, leather, metals, sequins… and anything glossy. Or shiny, without sequins or rhinestones. Hence this weeks’ focus is on patent leather, vinyl and latex. 

This week’s searches

The patent leather boots

One of my investments for this winter is a pair of patent leather boots. I haven’t found the perfect pair for me yet, mainly because I don’t know what I want exactly (hence the usual extensive research), but here is a decent list of several alternatives. 

• Low heel, 60’s vibe 

  

• Toroiseshell (dark brown) alternative

  

• If you have more budget, plenty of options from Saint Laurent: tube, sock boots with high heel, sock boot with mid heel (and many more)

• Kalda’s bad girl boots 

  

• The futuristic version, or the midcalf 70s version

  

• Farfetch has a good selection with huge variety 

• It seems pretty difficult to find a good quality pair that is not super expensive, however, there are some good second hand options at ok prices

  • Vestiaire Collective: Heeled vintage prada, another prada (I am not loving the rubber sole here), Saint Laurent riding boots edition, cowboy edition, Courreges mid calf, Ferragamo with a pvc heel

    

  • Ebay - another Ferragamo

    

Other glossy things (vinyl, faux leather,latex)

Last year I purchased a pair of vinyl trousers, and I absolutely adore them. These can be dressed down (imagine: oversized shirt or white tee + mary janes or flats + big jumper or jacket)

or up (imagine: patent leather heels + backless long sleeve black top)

If well styled, these type of materials can really elevate an outfit, making your night out look hot and sexy while avoiding the tacky effect. 

So these materials work very well both day and night, and they are very warm too. 

I am considering a latex pair too for this year. Potentially a skirt. I’ve done all the research, you’re welcome.

• Super high quality, 100% natural latex made in Italy: a black skirt, a fume skirt, trousers and a brown dress 

  

  

• Stand Studio or The Frankie shop croc effect trousers - slightly less tight and less shiny, an easier way to introduce yourself to these materials

  

• Wolford vinyl legging - careful with the styling not to result tacky. To wear with patent boots and an oversize shirt

• Rotate trousers - very similar to the Good American one, I love how they styled them with a full vinyl look. Another very similar option from Commando here

  

• Norma Kamali leather trousers - not super glossy but still slightly shiny leather (another easy way in)

• Courreges straight leg 

• Entire Studio - very cool shape

  

• Agolde - a bit more classic (a very good styling example!)

  

I hope you found your shine!

An alternative ugly elevator

From my time in Africa (apologising in advance for the terrible image quality!)

1. Reformation dress never letting you down

   

2. A resort wear moment with Paloma Wool

   

3. The most versatile Max Mara skirt + Alohas backless top (both old collections)

   

4. Another Alohas gem (this is backless)

Ciao!