What happened when VANESSA FELTZ got a fashion makeunder? The queen of flounce debuts her new look
I know what I like: soft, floating fabrics, undulating handkerchief-point hems, pretty pastel shades and vintage rose prints on dresses, dresses and more dresses, with a cocktail of evening pyjama-style trouser suits for extra va-va-voom. As far as I’m concerned, a marabou feather trim is one of the finer things in life and I’d be happy to encounter it on gloves, coats, anoraks or negligees.
Meanwhile, the word ‘minimal’ is anathema to me. I don’t get oatmeal, beige, greige, taupe, charcoal or navy. I don’t want to blend in with Farrow & Ball. I can’t think of anything drearier than a ‘classic trench’ and feel wretched dread at the idea of being ‘pared down’. If I made the rules, the words ‘understated’ and ‘capsule wardrobe’ would be banished from the fashion lexicon. Who wants a capsule when you can pack a frothy flounce of summer chiffon teamed with vest tops dripping lace and off-the-shoulder, slightly flamenco, floral frocks paired with a rainbow of vertiginous stilettos? It’s all there, shimmering exuberantly in my first-ever clothing range at 4love.uk.
So when YOU’s fashion team challenged me to road-test a couple of what they called ‘less is more’ looks, I’ve really no idea why I agreed. I must have been at least three piña coladas to the wind. The phrase ‘perfect white shirt’ featured far too quickly in the negotiations for my liking. I’m not keen on white shirts, perfect or flawed. I think they’re deadly dull, a bit school uniform-ish and not nearly as desirable as a gloriously blowsy blouse in pink with smatterings of tiny iridescent sequins or flippy filaments of broderie anglaise. The fashion team, however, promised a ‘standout’ red skirt to balance the shirt. I consigned myself to their vision.
Shirt, £99, aligne.co. Skirt, £80, asos.com. Earrings, £70, sezane.com. Necklace, £90, pebblelondon.com. Bag, £215, luluguinness.com. Sandals, £200, bobbies.com
The skirt turned out to have bits cut out of it. I’m not sure I’ve ever aspired to dolly-doily chic before, but the rich ruby colour was vibrant and exuded joie de vivre and when so many of the photo shoot’s team reached for their phones to order the garment, I realised they must be on to a winner.
I still didn’t love ‘the perfect white shirt’, although this one seemed OK, if you’re mad for that sort of thing. I immediately hoicked the collar. The shoes – dinky kitten heels in red and white – were enchanting. I wasn’t sure if I looked like a game of two halves and never the twain should meet, or rather nice really. If this was YOU’s idea of ‘less is more’ I could live with it, and though I probably wouldn’t choose to wear it in real life, I wouldn’t loathe to either.
Dress, £269, karenmillen.com. Earrings, £10.50, next.co.uk. Bag, £595, aspinaloflondon.com. Shoes, £65, charleskeith.co.uk
Dressed to frill: Pink ruffles put a smile on Vanessa's face
For the second look, another white shirt was proposed but this time I put my foot down. There was so much fabric I looked like Houdini escaping from a duvet cover. A plain as a pikestaff denim skirt also bit the dust – lord, I reminded myself of my ancient and vigorously despised maths teacher. We eventually agreed on an asymmetrical wrapover dress in biscuit beige. While the garment was Switzerland in colour, it draped gracefully and flowed flatteringly over my generously upholstered contours. It also streamlined me in the way only a cleverly cut dress can. I hoped I looked focused, purposeful, like a female botanist on the cusp of discovering a supposed-extinct antirrhinum. I am in thrall to the mystical power of dresses and this beige beauty wove maximum magic.
Dresses are so much easier to rock than separates. They don’t need balancing. Shrug one on – those in my collection have no zips or fiddly fastenings – and you are elegantly finished. Add a fetching flip-flop or winning wedge. Dig out a pair of jaunty earrings. Don’t forget a wide-brimmed straw hat to frame your face and you are good to go.
So what have I learned from this fashion shoot? I’ve mustered the confidence to experiment, free myself occasionally from the infinite allure of pink and pretty, unleash my hidden neutral side, flirt occasionally with the notion of separates and perhaps – I’m not promising anything – keep an eye out for a ‘perfect’ white shirt. In these pictures I look a little less myself, a soupçon sharper and on the least threatening edge of edgier – which is probably a jolly good thing.
Vanessa’s book, Vanessa Bares All, will be published on 24 October by Bantam, £22. To pre-order a copy for £18.70 until 29 September, go to mailshop.co.uk/books or call 020 3176 2937. Free UK delivery on orders over £25.
Hair and make-up: Alice Theobald using Sam McKnight and Vieve.
Styling: Stephanie Sofokleous
