BLACK FASHIONISTAS DO THE DUCHESS

“A woman can't be too rich or too thin” Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor
“All my friends know that I'd rather shop than eat” Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor



























YSL A/W 2009





What do Zadie Smith, Cecile de Massey, Desiree Rogers, Susan Fales-Hill, Rachel Roy, Bonnie Morrison, Alek Wek and Genevieve Jones -have in common? Wallis Simpson.
I am often asked about style; -who has it and who doesn’t –and my answer is always the same, -there are people [around the world], who wake up and ‘just are'. Rich or poor, black, white or yellow, small or big: -their sense of style is innate. It’s about their knowledge and sense of ‘Self', -about celebrating their ‘individual thing’ –without fear. Possessing a style that is very much their own –they have nothing to prove, –and lacks nothing [not even the lack of finances can diminish their style].

I truly believe that Style is about celebrating yourself.....-or as Coco Chanel said –"it’s about refusal" and saying no -to the mediocre. Style has soo many components -and this is why I love writing about it.

When I think of style; -there are a few names that always 'spring-to-mind', -a few who have stood the test of time, -and even though I too love the usual suspects [Jackie O and Audrey Hepburn etc], -personally, I love Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor -she is my Numero Uno. Others include: Bjork [she laid an egg on the Red Carpet, who can top that?], Billie Holiday in that black dress –with white gardenias in her hair, Mona Williams [who later became Mona von Bismarck] in that gold lame dress, Elsa Schiaparelli in that exquisite LBD, with five strands of pearls and a white turban, Ebony Bones [so out there, so outside the box], the exquisite Liya Kabede, the late fabulous -Carolyn Bassette Kennedy, Adrienne Fidelin, Tahita Bulmer [New Young Pony Club], the late Alice Coltrane [ Composer] in a caftan [with a badass afro] -and off cause the uber hot Genevieve Jones –and many, many more.

Wallis Simpson –of the, "You can’t be too rich or too thin” fame -always fascinates me. Her waspish appearance was way before it’s time. The dark hair, the pale ‘flawless’ skin and off cause the red lipstick –neat beyond measure. There was nothing desperate or wanting about Wallis’ style. The neat silhouette, the turbans, the bold jewellery, the little waist and the LBD’s -the Duchess is as relevant now –as she was then. Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor is the next big thing.......xx