Saturday, October 24, 2015

Getting Personal with Michael Aram


Michael Aram will be at Neiman Marcus Fashion Island for a signing event on Wednesday October 28th from 1-4pm
After a rush to get Cameron out the door and off to preschool and getting the gardener to stop using the loud leaf blower (at least for a while), I sat with a cup of coffee in hand and waited for the designer Michael Aram to call moi. I didn’t have to wait very long. At exactly 10 a.m. my telephone rang. I answered with a high-pitched Peppa Pig like voice saying “hello!” knowing very well who was going to be on the other end. He sounded exactly as I had imagined him: warm, friendly and as his name implies; soft spoken. He spoke with me from a ferryboat, with his children playing in the background. I assumed he was taking a ferry ride along the Hudson River and was admiring Lady Liberty up close, as I had done with my son when I was in New York City. It didn’t occur to me, to ask.
What I learned about the man, renowned for his beautiful metal serving objects, is that there's a level of integrity in his life and work. A trip he made to India when he was in his early 20s changed everything. He was so impressed by the craftsmanship he saw there, that he decided to create a handful of metal objects, mostly for his own pleasure and returned home with the hope that others may like them too. The rest is history. His creations are now available across the globe, with a flagship store in NYC. He’s forged together the worlds of art and business seamlessly. Aram’s creations are often my go to items when I’m shopping for a hostess gift. Even though his creations translate as the perfect gifts for the home, I know that the most important kind of generosity is not just about the items we buy or give but it’s the generosity of spirit. It’s what we share of ourselves, with others that counts. And he was both generous, with his answers and his time. 

Michael, the twins - Anabel and Thadeus and his partner Aret, during the ceremony of the unveiling that took place on October 6th 2015, of his first permanent sculpture, entitled "Migrations" that Michael designed to commemorate the centennial of the Armenian genocide, as he is a descendant of genocide survivors. It has been permanently installed at the plaza of St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral in NYC. 
Here’s what we chatted about while I sipped, my re-heated, morning cup of coffee:

SA: Tell me about your family life:
MA: Well, we have the most incredible four and half year old twins. They are girl/boy twins (Anabel and Thadeus) they’re certainly the light of our lives. My partner and I, Aret, we’re both Armenian, and we’ve been together for 8 years now. The kids have changed everything for me. As much, as I love my work and as much as I love what I do, it’s all for them now. And they certainly come first in our lives.
SA: Are you aware that Iranians consider you as one of their own?
MA: I’m aware of it and I’m so grateful for it. It’s always so sweet when I’m at personal appearances and people come up to me asking if I’m Persian. I tell them, I’m actually Armenian, but we are neighbors and linguistically and culturally there’s so much similarity. I love my connection with the culture, language and food. I’m glad they feel a connection to my work, and to me, and they assimilate me into their lives the way they do.
SA: Did you know your (middle name) Aram means gentle? And is that a characteristic you think you possess?
MA: Yes, because of all the Moghul influences in the Hindi language, Aram means the same thing in Hindi. It’s something we always tell our craftsmen in India, we tell them in Hindi, “do it with Aram,” meaning create it, with peace. There’s definitely a sense of peacefulness in my work.  It’s like slow cooking; when you do things that are handmade, there’s always a vibration and you only get that through each hammer mark and each file mark. You do get the sense of something being a labor of love. In my own personality, I’m a peaceful guy and I think that might have translated into my work. 
 
Michael in his workshop in India with a few craftsmen and the makings of the Orchid Collection.
SA: What are your golden rules when it comes to entertaining?
MA: I believe that there’s a sacredness when it comes to hospitality and your guests are your blessings. When I entertain I use the saying, “open heart, open door.” I’m not someone who gets uptight when I entertain, I think the gift of having someone in your home is just to be hospitable to them, no matter what. I think it’s important to let go, a little. When you decide that you’re going to have fun, then “the more, the merrier,” it’s never going to be a strain. And you’ll open your last bottle of wine, if you have to.
SA: If you had to choose between paper plates and plastic cutlery what would it be?
MA: (Chuckles) You’re putting me on the spot. I don’t know whether you know this, but we make plastic cutlery and paper plates. 
SA: No, I had no idea.
MA: If you’re by your computer type in MADHOUSE by Michael Aram and you will see the most incredible paper plates, paper napkins and plastic cutlery. I’m very proud of the work. We try and execute things at the highest level of design and the highest level of materials for the category. They’re just exquisite. We’ve interpreted our twig cutlery, into clear plastic and we’ve created sculpted melamine plates that look like porcelain. We use them everyday with the kids. 
SA: The best dinner guest is…. fill in the blank for me:
MA: I like guests that feel absolutely at home and relaxed in my home and they treat my house like it’s theirs. I have so many friends that make me feel at home when I am their guest, and so I like guests that get up and pitch in, then it feels like they’re family.
SA: What’s the most recent meal you’ve cooked?
MA: I made Eech, it’s an Armenian cold salad, made with bulgur wheat, fresh mint and parsley. It’s like a tabbouleh but it’s made with bulgur grain. That’s the last thing I made and we’re eating it today, on the ferry ride with the kids.
SA: What are you reading right now?
MA: I’m proud to say, I’m reading a variety of children’s books for my kids. That’s what I read every evening.
SA: What’s your favorite children's book?
MA: Anything by British author Julia Donaldson. She has written books like The Gruffalo and Room On The Broom which is charming. We own everything she has ever written. The stories have this British sense of humor which I really appreciate, they’re also poetic and there’s a little dark side to them, so there are things that boys and girls like. 
SA: You’ve lived in India on and off, over the last 25 years, do you have the hang of the Indian head shake, with its multitude of meanings?
MA: (He laughs) Yes, I’ve even mastered it! My Indian friends don’t consider me non-Indian, after all these years, I’m one of the few foreigners and there’s only a handful of us in New Delhi, who are really committed to building a company, building a home and having a life there. We are not just in and out of the Embassy or the company but we’ve established ourselves there. I feel very much part of the landscape and I feel very much at home there.
SA: You have a home in New York and one in New Delhi, do you travel with your partner and kids to India?
MA: My partner has been there several times with me. The kids haven’t been there yet. We feel they’re still a little young for the trip. I really look forward to the day they travel there. My son, Thadeus, (named after, the patron saint of the Armenian church) looks like a Punjabi boy, he has dark olive skin with long eyelashes. He looks like all the boys in North India and I keep thinking when he finally gets to go to India he is going to feel, so at home.
SA: When you go to India what do you miss about Amercia?
MA: I miss things that are not nice to say. What I love about America is there is great commonality with everyone. We can look, at each other in the eye. There’s something that’s easy here socially, and you can interact with everyone in every spectrum of society and across genders. In India there are, all these layers of behavior. There is little in the sense of class and no sense of caste here, but that still exists in India. I live in a home in India, that was built in 1945 and even the architecture of the home shows signs of the caste system. The bathrooms, all exit directly into the garden, because the person cleaning your bathroom could not enter the rest of your house.
SA: Have you seen any improvement over the years?
MA: Yes, it’s certainly getting better. My friends tell me that even from the time of their parents’ generation, things have changed a lot.
SA: When you come here what do you miss about India the most?
MA: I miss the fact that my friends are very integrated in my life in India. They use this expression “land up,” they land, up at your door. Usually, even before I arrive, my friends would have called my house, the week before, and asked my cook “when is Michael saab coming?” When I arrive my phone is already ringing and my friends are asking when are we going to get together.  There is such a bond between us there. There’s not a sense of formality. I often joke and say that in India nobody needs a shrink since we talk to our friends. In India “lets meet” means let’s meet and talk. We all depend on one another there.
SA: What’s your favorite gift to take with you when you visit someone’s home?
MA: My favorite gifts are more like combination gifts. Sometimes I feel a bit shy about just taking my own work, because people will assume that I’m not making any effort. If I take a cake stand I will usually take a home baked cake with it. If I don’t have time, then it’s a bottle of wine and some coasters. I like this idea that there should be something to celebrate and something to leave behind, as a reminder of the beautiful evening you’ve had.

The Palm Collection (Fall 2015) inspired by the beauty of the windswept palm tree and the perfectly imperfect shapes of woven palm leaves and fallen fronds.


 SA: What’s the best hostess gift you’ve ever received?
MA: Great question. I love this question, because it’s really makes me think… I remember when I had my first apartment in New York, my mom and dad came to visit me with a beautiful bouquet of flowers in a vase that belonged to my grandmother. I love objects that have a meaning, they’re heirloom pieces. You treasure them in a way that you could never treasure anything else.
SA: I love your mermaid bowl. It’s on my lust list. Tell me a little about it:
MA: I made that piece probably about 18 years ago and we brought it back as part of our commemorative collection, at that time all my items were just individual pieces, nothing was a collection. I love it for a variety of reasons; you can fill it with ice and place Champagne bottles in it and use it as a beautiful party ice bucket. We’ve arranged flowers in it, you can use it as a punch bowl or a centerpiece bowl and since it’s stainless steel, you can serve food it in too.
The whimsical stainless steel Mermaid Bowl is part of the 25th Anniversary Commemorative Collection, $895.

SA: Your objects are decorative yet functional and many of them are inspired by the elements in nature, tell me about that:
MA: I like to show the different phases of life and even decay. I believe there is beauty to be seen in imperfections. I’m fascinated with the idea of how we fit into this world, with all its phases of life and decay.
The Joshua Tree collection, for Fall 2015, is inspired by a trip Michael made to Joshua Tree National Park in Southern California.

SA: What’s your favorite item of clothing?
MA: All I ever wear, and I mean this; are blue jeans and checkered shirts.
SA: Do you have a favorite pair of blue jeans?
MA: I wear Gap jeans. I’m not super fancy. But I do like nice shirts. I love wearing pocket squares. It’s really rare to see me in a tie, so it might make up for that. My kids love to pull out my pocket squares, every morning, before I go to work.
SA: What’s the most challenging part of parenthood?
MA: (Laughs) Right now my daughter’s tugging at me, while I’m on the telephone.
SA: What’s the best thing about being a father?
MA: Getting a sense of unconditional love from them and feeling the unconditional love for them. 
SA: You have a furniture line, jewelry collection, candles, porcelain and even stemware. What’s next for Michael Aram?
MA: One area that we are looking into is textiles and perhaps rugs. I also really enjoy creating one of a kind art sculptures.
...
The Michael Aram collection is available at Neiman Marcus Fashion Island and at www.michaelaram.com. Michael Aram be at Neiman Marcus on Wednesday, October 28th, from 1- 4pm. RSVP to 949-467-3327.

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Getting Personal with Nancy Gonzalez

If you’ve ever seen one of Lucio Fontana’s white slash canvases up close, you’ll know that it has this ability to draw you in. With clinical like precision the delicate incisions are simple yet complete. Luxury handbag designer, Nancy Gonzalez has something in common with her favorite artist. Her medium however, is exotic leather, dyed in an array of vibrant hues and like Fontana’s Tagli, her leather is cut perfectly to a create handbags that women love to carry and collect. I recently had a chance to ask her some questions:

Handbag designer Nancy Gonzalez and her collection of fine leather handbags. (Photo: www.nancygonzalez.com)
Crocodile skin Gotham Clutch in fuchsia by Nancy Gonzalez, $1750 (available at Neiman Marcus)

Tom Ford Lipstick in Scarlet Rouge $52 (www.neimanarcus.com), Smythson notebook $60 (www.symthson.com) scenic view of Rajasthan (www.rajasthantourism.gov.in), Lucio Fontana's white slashes (www.sothebys.com).


What are some of the items I would find inside your handbag? 
Three different currencies in cash since I am always traveling, my Tom Ford sunglasses, two iPhones (one for Colombia and one for the U.S.), a Smythson notebook that says “Smile” on the outside for sketches and notes and a Tom Ford lipstick in Scarlet Rouge.

What handbag do you like to carry on a daily basis? 
For everyday I love wearing my convertible tote in Kelly green as it fits my entire life. I always keep a Gotham clutch in a surprising neutral such as electric blue or fuchsia packed (I use it as a wallet), in case I need to go out. That way I am ready for any kind of event. 

You're known for your use of exotic skins and bright colors, what's your favorite exotic skin and color combination right now? 
My favorite precious skin is crocodile, and my favorite bag from this season is the double chain shoulder in black crocodile, with white crocodile poppy flowers on the flap with a hint of bordeaux in the bud of the flower. 

Since fashion is inspired so much from artists can you tell me about your favorite artist? 
Lucio Fontana’s, white slash paintings. I need visual silence in the art I collect. 

What are we going to see next season from you? 
For Resort 2016 you will see the story of Rajasthan. This is by far the most exuberant collection I have ever created. From jewelry adornment made entirely out of crocodile, to horse hair woven with real silver, to crocodile flowers, this collection is truly a feast for the eyes.   

Where do you get your inspirations from and do you feel something specific inspires you each season? 
In Colombia, we have blue skies, three hundred and sixty-five days a year, the largest number of bird species in the world, and an array of greens that is incredible. Even after all these years, nature is still my best collaborator and life is my source of inspiration.

Thank you!

Nancy Gonzalez handbags are available at Neiman Marcus, Fashion Island.



Saturday, October 10, 2015

Getting Personal with Karen Hsiang, Owner of The Shangri-La Boutique


True artists do their own thing and find their tribe organically. That’s what jewelry designer Karen Hsiang does everyday. Her tiny treasure filled jewelry boutique at Union Market has become my go to source for simple, delicate, well-made jewelry. Her designs stand out, but in a subtle way. I feel like I'm always the one wearing the jewelry and not the other way around.
I recently had a chance to ask her some questions:

Karen Hsiang owner of my favorite jewelry store in OC. I even love the name, Shangri-La being a fictional place, an earthly paradise described in the novel Lost Horizon by British author James Hilton. It also happens to be the name of heiress Doris Duke's Islamic style mansion just outside Honolulu.

Jewelry and prose!

Yours truly making decisions, decisions....

What item of jewelry do you have to wear everyday?
My grandmother passed her tennis bracelet to me and it never leaves my wrist. I can still feel her aura and it makes me feel at ease.

What's your favorite jewelry brand, apart from your own right now and why?
I love Tiffany Kunz Jewelry. Her collections are very wearable and versatile for all different women with varying styles. Her line is eco-conscious which I feel is such a great bonus to her brand.

Tell me how you got to open your own jewelry store?
I started the shop on a whim. I had a budding online shop and stumbled upon my first location in Costa Mesa in a tiny trailer spot. I knew it was empty for a reason, and signed my lease the day after I saw it.

Where is your favorite place to hangout with friends?
My favorite nights with friends, consists of someone’s living room, a great cheese plate, and lots of wine. Being in a setting like that is so much more intimate than being out at a restaurant.

Jewelry is associated with happiness and celebrations, what makes you happy in life?
My family and friends bring me the most joy. They have been the most supportive of my journey and without them, I don't know where I would be.

What's the most recent item of jewelry you've made?
In the shop, I usually make a few items a day just to keep my creative juices flowing. Necklaces and bracelets are in my weekly rotation. I make a lot of custom pieces for clients as well, so that’s a daily thing.

What's your favorite clothing boutique in OC?
A'maree's in Newport Beach has such a fresh take on designers/brands. The space is amazing and I want to move in ASAP. The OC isn't known for cutting edge style, and I think they do a very good job at curating pieces and people that bring life into a rather boring fashion bubble. 
What’s your preference: diamonds or pearls?
Diamonds. Rough diamonds are what I'm obsessing over right now.

What advice do you have for budding jewelry designers?
Be creative. Be bold. Be yourself.

Where is your favorite romantic spot in OC?
I wouldn't say it's romantic, but my boyfriend and I had our first date at Portola in Costa Mesa, so it just sticks with me as our "date" place.

What form of art do you love?
Dance is my favorite form of art. I could watch any type of dance for hours if I could. Before I opened the shop I was a dance teacher for over 6 years, and the dance world has really shaped the core of my jewelry collection. The forms, movement, and conviction of dance really resonate with me and my creative imagination.

Tell me a funny store about your store or a piece of jewelry you’ve made:
I'm literally laughing everyday at the shop. My customers are the most amazing and the most hilarious. I feel like a psychiatrist sometimes because people will tell me their entire life story, but I appreciate that and I love the interaction and the personal aspect.

What item of jewelry would you be thrilled to receive from your significant other?
I haven't gotten THE ring yet. ;) 

For more information visit: www.TheShangri-La.com

Friday, September 25, 2015

Getting Personal With Fetneh Blake

I’ll give you a visual of what happens to me, when I’m driving from my home in Irvine to Laguna Beach. I'll take, what I call the scenic route on PCH, past my dream house, which I’ve named Rebecca (after the novel) that’s perched high up on a cliff, overlooking Crystal Cove, past the blooming bougainvilleas, and a few random stores until I approach the Fetneh Blake boutique on my right. Much to the dismay of other drivers, I purposely slow down every time. What I see on those two mannequins will be a blueprint for what’s new, fresh and fashion forward. Even though I’m in sunny California, that single window display gives me a glimpse of what’s on the cutting edge of fashion in New York, Paris or Tokyo.

If you're on a fashion quest for something different, you"ll find it there. Each item she carries in her store has been carefully curated by Fetneh herself and has its own story. What you won’t find here are the usual suspects (you know I mean), familiar brands rotating in all the hip boutiques around town. It’s unlikely that you’ve even heard of some of her brands, since she’s usually the only store in OC carrying them. She’s at New York Fashion Week and attends the shows in Paris, so if you pick up something from her boutique, you can rest assured that no-one will know who it’s by, let alone be wearing it!

What Fetneh sells above all, is her own sense of style, her unique edgy brand of it, and if you're in need of help, she knows how to gently nudge you in the right direction. She’s been in business for the last 14 years, in the same spot on PCH.

I recently sat down on a warm afternoon for an informal chat with her.

Her simple window display speaks volumes, so does her love of deep red lipsticks! Those are just the ones she found in her make-up bag.

Japanese brand If Six Was Nine and Paris based Simona Tagliaferri are some of the designers she's carrying right now

Fetneh wearing a SU kaftan by Parisian based brand with roots in Turkey. (SU means water in Turkish).
Eclectic sheer shirt and stretch pants by Japanese brand If Six Was Nine (the brand is named after a Jimi Hendrix song)

Who doesn't need a gold clutch? I fell in love this oversize gold painted clutch by Simona Tagliaferri $720

SA: How has your vision for your store evolved over the years?
FB: The vision changes but the bottom line, which is the passion that drives you to find something fantastic, well made and well priced, stays the same.

SA: Did you know you were going to create a brand by placing your name on your boutique?
FB: I never really thought about it. My ex-husband always encouraged me to have my name on it, and to create a brand. It has created a certain expectation, one of of high quality and high fashion from my customers.

SA: Are you under any pressure to conform to the OC sense of fashion?
FB: (She laughs) My brand is both a blessing and a curse. Some people love it and some people don’t understand it.

SA: Who is a typical Fetneh Blake customer?
FB: Anyone in their 20s to 80s. Women usually come here to find something different. They usually appreciate style and want a whole look. We don’t cater to any particular shape or size meaning I don’t just want to sell clothes to skinny people.

SA: What’s your favorite item of clothing?
FB: STROM jeans which I am wearing right now, they’re slim boyfriend jeans but they’re not too baggy. They have the perfect wash and color. I usually have to re-order them every time I get them in.

SA: I would love to take a peek inside your closet. What’s your closet like at home?
FB: I have my favorites that I go to every time. I have a few really good dresses and for casual wear I have several leather jackets. But I go through my closet and clean it out every six months or so.

SA: What color do you love wearing?
FB: Usually black, but now I am also into gold and deep deep reds.

SA: Do you cook?
FB: I love cooking. I cook healthy dishes and Persian food. I like putting things together and I can’t work from a cook-book!

SA: What kind of music do you listen to?
FB: I live with music. I listen to jazz most of the time.

SA: What is your ideal romantic date?
FB: I would say a nice lunch to start with.

SA: Do you have any favorite artists?
FB: I love Ed Moses, I own two paintings from him. I also love Peter Alexander and Jimmy Gleeson. Each painting means something to me on a personal level since I live with them.

SA: What’s your beauty secret?
FB: I try everything. I love creams, moisturizers and serums. But sleep is the most important thing.       
    
SA: What do you do to relax?
FB: I pray every morning and every night.

SA: Tell me about your Persian background?
FB: I would credit my mother for passing on her love of beautiful clothes to me. Sometimes she would make clothes for me to wear. Iran has a beautiful place in my heart and is a lovely memory, but my life and my home is here.

SA: What do you love shopping for?
FB: I love shopping, so I will shop everywhere. But most of the time I buy make-up. A lipstick is the easiest way to change your look. Right now in my make-up bag I have the same lipstick shade (dark red) in six or seven different brands. I guess, I am a bit obsessed with that color right now.

SA: What are some of the fashion lines you’re carrying?
FB: If Six Was Nine by Japanese husband and wife, LBG is by them too, but it’s a more casual line. There’s also Duuya, an LA artist (originally from Mongolia) she creates hand painted silk clothing with different washes. French high-end resort wear SU's range of kaftans and Simona Tagliaferri an Italian designer who works out of Paris.

SA: What’s next for you? Ever thought of having your own fashion line?
FB: Maybe, I've thought about it. I love vests so, maybe a line of vest, that are simple and lightweight. I also love easy silk tops. Let’s see.

Fetneh Blake
427 N. Coast Hwy.
Laguna Beach, CA
www.FetnehBlake.com

...



Saturday, September 12, 2015

It's Hot at Style Week OC

Orange with Pink is the new black.
You know how Fashion Island is 10 degrees cooler than everywhere else in OC? I've now learned that's not always the case. The Art of Fashion which was recently hosted by Neiman Marcus in conjunction with Style Week OC would have been a great opportunity to get excited about the Fall trends, if it wasn't for the heat. 

Although the NM magazines placed on each seat were too heavy to be used as fans, I did spot a few resourceful people rip pages out, and in a matter of seconds, create their own, custom, folded origami fans. I discovered, however, that the insert (made of card stock) was far more effective. And so did the lady that sat next to me. Seeing her level of discomfort I advised her to do the same. She then looked at me, like I had just handed her, an electric fan. 

The fashion was fabulous. I really mean it. It was fabulous and wearable but I just couldn't get excited about fur, winter coats or Fall colors while my bra melted against my skin and sweat dripped down my forehead. It wasn't a pretty sight.


And then, the show reached a climax when a model's shoe accidentally slipped off. What do you think she did? What would anyone do in 90 degree heat? She kicked the other heel off too and walked down the catwalk with her bare feet, holding her spiked two-tone, Louboutins in her hand,  where they belonged. Who could blame her? It made my day. And just then, the DJ played "Papaoutai" a song by my favorite Belgian artist Stromae and at that moment, I realized that all is well with the world, and I was exactly where I was supposed to be. I now invite you, to enjoy some of my favorite looks from the show and listen to the sounds of Stromae, in the comfort of your cool, fully air-conditioned homes.


Enjoy!
 
Living the glam life.

Neutrals and flats. OK, they're flats to me.

It's all about the heels. Fuchsia, Playboy bunny, tartan and pearl.

Contrast your clutch.

Hot in boots. No pun intended.
Who doesn't like some sparkle and fringe?

Electric blue was a hit. And I saved the best for last.

Tuesday, July 14, 2015

It’s Over, COS is Here

I know it’s the primary job of a fashion writer to share, but this time I’m sorry to say, I am doing it unwillingly. My best-kept fashion secret, my “yet to be undiscovered by all” source of style and my sole reason for traveling to Europe, is now opening here, right in my backyard at, South Coast Plaza.

COS (Collection Of Style) is going to open at South Coast Plaza. That’s it, I’ve written it down and now I feel my stomach churn. It was supposed to be my little secret, and now my last bastion of style is here for everyone else to enjoy too. Right next to its sister store H&M.

Last year it opened its first US store in our neighboring Los Angeles, but somehow, I could handle that. The Beverly Drive store didn’t launch with a big bang and much to my relief, didn’t receive many accolades,

My only consolation is that its name, COS (not so pretty in Farsi) will hopefully be off putting to my Persian friends. I’m also hoping so will its, androgynous, minimalist, over sized silhouettes (which I am obsessed with). Everything, which I adore in my closet, is by COS, and so far I was the only one that owned it.  That’s all about to change.

I’ve got my fingers crossed and I’m praying that its way too simple fashion will be a major disappointment to all the the label obsessed OC fashionistas, and that hopefully it will close shop in a few months and go back to far-far away Sweden and NOT follow in the footsteps of ABBA and IKEA.

AMEN.

COSSTORES.COM

Friday, January 16, 2015

Lady Mary Crawley at the office

I know she wouldn't be seen dead having a day job and dealing with the humiliation of a "weekend" but it's not her blog, so there. And for those of you who would like to recreate the look of English Aristo type, make sure whatever you wear has been thoroughly worn in and ONLY wear two of the following items at the same time: Otherwise you might be seen as trying too hard. And as we all know, the one thing the English are known for, is never appearing to try too hard, at anything.


Lady Mary Crawley at the office