Hand in Glove

Don't let the title fool you, this has nothing to do with the Johnny Marr v David Cameron tweet-off and everything to do with looking good and keeping warm. Over the last week I've come to the conclusion that anything prefaced with the word long; long socks, long gloves, long johns, is well worth investing in. And these gorgeous elbow-length cashmere gloves - the result of a clever collaboration between E + J cashmere and the French jeweler, Marie-Hélène de Taillac, whose beautiful rings have been realised by the legendary Parisian haute couture embroiderers, Lesage - make the perfect day-to-evening wrist warmers. So perfect in fact, that I might even keep them on in bed. Bed gloves, now there's an idea.

E + J stands for Emanuela Calvi and Jane Cattani, two longtime friends and fashion experts (Jane used to work for Sonia Rykiel), behind the Italian cashmere company, creating clothes for 30+ women.



And now let's take a closer look at the lovely ring detail:



On sale exclusively in Marie-Hélène de Taillac's Paris boutique, 8 rue du Tournon, Paris 75006, Tel: +33 144270707 and online at www.eplusj.com.

Winter Blogging Kit

Whoa it's chilly in the That's Not My Age office/our spare room today. So cold, in fact, I'm wearing my dressing gown over my clothes. Pretty damn stylish, eh? To help overcome any further indoor fashion blunders, I've found some lovely winter accessories to help you keep warm and carry on blogging:

1. Cosy up an old office chair with a cute knitted cushion (or just cling onto it for comfort when Blogger crashes, see above)

2. Fingerless gloves allow hands to rattle away at the keyboard in sub-zero temperatures. That's Not My Age has been wearing a pair for days.



3. If like me, your desk is by the window, a polo neck jumper makes the perfect draft excluder:



4. A hectic office schedule (sitting around for hours on end, looking at the pretty snow) calls for at least one pair of chunky knit socks:



And if it gets any colder, I'll be wearing one of these:




Do you have any special winter blogging kit?

Photos

Cushion: Donna Wilson
Gloves and socks: Toast
Jumper: Acne at my-wardrobe
Hat: M&S

The Great Winter Fashion Conundrum

OK, now here's the thing; glamorous party tonight and it's colder than a penguin's backside outdoors, so what to wear to get from bedroom to bar without taking a cab or suffering from hypothermia? The big winter coat is a no-brainer, but what about the rest? I'll be reporting back tomorrow, but in the meantime here's the That's Not My Age guide to smart winter style:


1. Dress up a pair of woolly tights
Knitted hosiery may not be the most glamorous accessory known to womankind but teamed with a fabulous dress - this one is Roksanda Ilincic for Whistles - and some show-stopping shoes, no-one will notice - or care. Remember, it's going to be minus three later this evening!



2. If in doubt get the sequins out
That's Not My Age's sequin jacket has only has one outing this year, and worn with slim black pants and a thermal vest, makes the perfect alternative to the party dress. Don't forget, those shiny, plastic discs provide excellent insulation.



3. Choose sensible footwear
Now there's no way I am skidding down that icy hill in a pair of heels. Tonight, That's Not My Age will be wearing sensible footwear and carrying the grown-up's favourite party accessory; a canvas tote and spare pair of shoes. And though Jane Birkin wears Uggs - yes I'm disappointed too, because frankly I'd rather go out in my bed socks and slippers than slop around like the sheepskin-clad, back end of a pantomime horse - there are better options. The wedge-heeled welly from Hunter, for one. Looks trés chic and is available in both ankle and knee length. Wellies are good for keeping feet dry but not so great at keeping the warmth in, so best wear them with a pair of great big socks.




Or try these lovely wool-lined, lace-up boots from Ilse Jacobsen:



4. Get to the do, then unleash the party shoe
Follow the advice above and arrive at the party with all your toes intact. When it's warm and dry the shoe switch-over can be done sitting on a wall around the corner from the venue but, during the big freeze when it's ankle deep in snow, best to nip inside, sit down and quickly change the footwear.



Now how about these Let's Dance shoes from Beatrix Ong - aren't they fantastic? Not my favourite David Bowie era, ever, but nice idea, eh? Oh and just so you know, a new Beatrix Ong store has recently opened on Pavilion Road, London.



Do you have any tips for staying warm and looking cool?


Photos
Purple beret etc: Gant, Sequin jacket, Moschino from Net-a-Porter, Ilse Jacobsen boots from The Natural Shoe Store.

Keeping up with the Ray-Joneses

That's Not My Age is fond of a spot of gritty realism - give me Ken Loach over Richard Curtis, Shaun Ryder over Nigel Havers any day. So this weekend, the Blog Widower and I were very excited to be invited to a private view of the late, sixties photographer, Tony Ray-Jones' work. I'd seen some of Ray-Jones' pictures before at Grayson Perry's Unpopular Culture exhibition but didn't really know his stuff. According to my lovely friend Paul Deller, who organised the exhibition, this is because, 'Tony Ray-Jones is a photographer's photographer.' My favourite images are those of unsuspecting holiday-makers in English seaside towns - the ballroom dancing photograph in Morecambe, the man on the sunlounger in Bournemouth, the couple on the promenade in Blackpool. All taken by TR-J as he travelled around England in a VW Camper van, for a couple of years at the end of the sixties with his wife, Anna.







Doubly exciting was the fact that Magnum photographer, Martin Parr was there too (at the private view, not in the camper van). Some of his TR-J photos are on loan and he was in discussion with Anna Ray-Jones - which was a real treat. I won't go on about it but Parr says the reason TR-J is still so inspirational is because, 'He treated the English seaside as a theatre, brought an American sensibility to British photography and his pictures are very simple,' adding knowingly, ' They look effortless but I know how complicated they are.' Definitely a photographer's photographer, then. And in the spirit of the Great British photojournalism, That's Not My Age picked up a camera and took a picture of Martin Parr:



Tony Ray-Jones went to school at Christ's Hospital in West Sussex, which is where the exhibition is on until 9 December 2010 - it's by appointment only but don't let that put you off, everyone's welcome. Contact: trjshow@gmail.com

That's Not My Age Illustrated

Wherever you go in the world, you can guarantee, there's going to be an amateur street artist creating way-too-flattering images of tourists with more traveller's cheques than sense. Like any sane holidaymaker with better things to do than sit around on the quayside being gawped at by strangers, That's Not My Age has never felt the urge to get involved in this ego-fluffing exercise. But last week, the lovely people at M&S, gave me the opportunity to have a portrait painted by Japanese artist, Yoco Nagamiya. And having five minutes to spare, I accepted. So, tah dah! Tonight sees the official unveiling of That's Not My Age the illustration (actually this is a photo of the illustration, the real thing is much clearer and brighter). Younger and with fewer lines than the real thing, I'd like to think there's a reasonable similarity. After studying this work of art for a wee bit longer than was absolutely necessary, even Mr TNMA recognised me.

A subsequent visit to the Dior Illustrated, René Gruau & The Line Of Beauty exhibition at Somerset House confirmed my belief that when it comes to fashion and style, less is definitely more. Gruau worked with Dior, first as at Le Figaro in the 1930s and then on sketches for the New Look and perfume advertisements in 1947. His elegant brush strokes created witty, understated illustrations. 'Do exactly what you want,' said Dior, 'we speak the same language.'





Dior Illustrated, René Gruau & The Line Of Beauty is on at Somerset House until 9 January 2011.

For more information on Yoco Nagamiya

Big Girl's Blouse

Inspired by Lauren Hutton's easy style, the romance of seventies disco and the glory of glam rock, That's Not My Age recently felt the urge to buy a silk blouse. I've always been fond of sparkle, there's a healthy sprinkling of Lurex in my party drawer but a silk blouse isn't something I've ever considered. Until now. I came across the Gold Silk Blouse (GSB) at a vintage fair, upstairs at the local pub, classy eh? It's by a label I never thought I'd own, Escada. Shoulder pads, fucshia long-line jackets and ostentatious floral prints really aren't my thing. Anyhow, as you can see the nearly-new blouse is grown-up, glamorous and er, golden. To date, the GSB has joined forces with a pair of slim black pants - though as the Chloé catwalk picture shows, camel works just as well - and an old pair of jeans.



But I may even wear it with a skirt (pencil probably but the new fuller/midi shape could also be an option) and kitten heels. You see, the GSB has plenty of mileage and is well worth it's price tag, eight English pounds.

Like the commoner and the prince, the union of That's Not My Age and the slinky shirt is destined to last. And because you're never too old for animal print, I'm hoping when the sales come along to be the proud owner of grown-up blouse number two. Ooh does that mean there'll be three of us in the marriage?



Fortunately, it's a matt fabric and not a super-shiny, slippy silk like Keef's shirt, which is fine if you're a showbiz legend or a northern barmaid but I'm guessing it's not low-key enough for Lauren.




Do you own a big girl's blouse?


Photos

Lauren Hutton: John Spellman at Retna Ltd
Tucker blouse: Net-a-Porter
Liz McDonald and Bet Lynch: Rolling Stone Magazine

Age Before Botox

After seeing Joan Rivers in A Piece of Work and Britt Eckland on screen every night this week in I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here, I turned to photographer, Jane Bown's Exposures book for some respite. That's Not My Age would rather look at gorgeous old faces with well-earned wrinkles and under-eye bags than the puffed up, scary alternative:







From the top: Lauren Bacall, Vivienne Westwood, Eve Arnold, Bridget Riley and Samuel Beckett