I used to have a total chiffon obsession when I went through my goth phase back when I was about 18. It wasn't goth in the sense of being all black, it was more a goth/hippy fusion. My then boyfriend and I must have looked a right pair! He had beautiful long straight hair, wore floral shirts, velvet leggings and vintage Victorian riding boots, whilst I wafted about with waist length hair with feathers woven in it (yes, feathers), long chiffon dresses with white petticoats underneath. Our summer days were spent with him making me daisy chain headbands and me making him beaded necklaces. I don't know what was going though our heads. Fresh air by the sounds of it!
So I have had an on/off love affair with chiffon ever since. Unfortunately good chiffon is hard to find, but thanks to the trend for all things flowery and light, there has been plenty of decent chiffon to choose from.
After much pondering, I concluded that I really love Chloe's layered florals and black embroidered chiffon.
Clashing florals is the easiest way to wear them layered, but on reflection I prefer the more subtle approach where the colours and tones are complimentary.
Another surprise for me was finding that I actually really liked several bits of Christopher Kane's Autumn/Winter 08 collection. The sheer fabric adorned with, or worn over, the paillettes is very mesmerising indeed.
Last year, when my sheer obsession began to really resurface but it hadn't hit the shops yet, Queen Marie gifted me an old chiffon top with iridescent sequins to see if I could do anything with it. Whilst rummaging about my wardrobe last night I rediscovered a sheer gauze top I bought from Topshop ages ago which I think it would look lovely worn over or under the sequined one, for a nod to Kane's collection.
For my floral chiffon fix I will be looking to Florence + Fred at Tesco where they have some perfect dresses - although they are cheekily asking for £25 for some, which for a supermarket brand is a bit steep. But Queen Marie and I concluded the dresses would go on sale and I could snap one up for £15 instead. I shall be wearing it with Celeste Stein black floral tights.
Queen Michelle
Woe is me! I feel sorry for myself that I've never gone out with a velvet-legging-wearing guy.
Posted by: WendyB | Thursday, 03 July 2008 at 13:53
hahaha! I blame The Cult WendyB - he thought he was Glasgow's answers to Ian Astbury.
Posted by: Queen Michelle | Thursday, 03 July 2008 at 14:10
I love the waftiness of chiffon, though it's a pain to wear it around places that are a bit rough-and-tumble- ie lots of nails/rough spiky wood surfaces around. But it's still such a romantic feel that it brings to outfits..
And I agree with Wendy- I'm rather sorry to never have gone out with a daisy-chain-making, velvet-legging wearer myself!
Posted by: Drusilla | Thursday, 03 July 2008 at 14:39
Chloe is nice and all but I'd rather see pictures of you with feathers in your hair and your fabulously attired boyfriend!
Posted by: Always In Style | Thursday, 03 July 2008 at 21:38
Aw you and your then boyfriend sound so romantic! I love chiffon too but chiffon tops always beg the question of what to wear underneath!
Posted by: Luxe. | Thursday, 03 July 2008 at 23:35
Those Chloe pieces are nice!
I love that top combo of yours.
Posted by: enc | Friday, 04 July 2008 at 00:09
Haha, you've made us all jealous of your elegant boyfriend!
Christopher Kane makes me weak with desire. I once tried on a leather party dress reduced to $1000 and it made me feel like a fabulous young witch. I will post it for you.
Posted by: Sister Wolf | Friday, 04 July 2008 at 02:37
good chiffon is hard to find and even harder to sew at home!
love the article.
your on my blogroll. would love to exchange links.
http://nextannawintour.blogspot.com
Posted by: Megan | Friday, 04 July 2008 at 04:59
I wish I had that kind of past to remember. Sounds very romantic. Instead I was kind of nerdy at 18 and most certainly didn't have a boyfriend as guys just weren't interested in me. I love the Chloe clothes. It's very pretty chiffon. I guess it also works best on very slender/skinny people. I'm not, so I've never dared to try chiffon.
Posted by: Susanne | Friday, 04 July 2008 at 09:56
Sounds like the ideal BF right? Wrong! I came home one day and found him wearing my clothes. I should have foresaw trouble when I saw his unhealthily large stash of velvet.
Posted by: Queen Michelle | Friday, 04 July 2008 at 15:38
I love the idea of layering the sheer tops, I can imagine the end result being quite chic instead of tarty!
Posted by: Penny | Friday, 04 July 2008 at 16:17
Irrelevent to your blog post, I know, but I thought you might be interested in the results of searching 'de-prettify' on google images! I wrote about it verrrry briefly on my blog if you want to have a quick look.
Posted by: pretty face | Friday, 04 July 2008 at 22:27
A good rule of thumb is, Never have a Boyfriend who wears your size.
Posted by: Sister Wolf | Saturday, 05 July 2008 at 00:04
wow that's amazin !! really witty post
Posted by: ray | Saturday, 05 July 2008 at 02:10
You've brought to my attention something I had no idea existed - The supermarket fashion brand! Not something we have in Australia. And thank you for the chiffon inspiration. Although it is winter here at present I have a few rolls of the most beautiful chiffon in my studio and hadn't thought of what to do with them. I'm now looking to your outfit picture no. 2 for ideas.
Posted by: super kawaii mama | Saturday, 05 July 2008 at 23:18
very pretty. i love girly sheer and glittery things! :)
Posted by: AshleyL. | Monday, 07 July 2008 at 06:34