Classic Fashion

We all have this idea that fashion is ephemeral. And in some regards it absolutely is. We buy something that catches our eye in a magazine, in a store, on style.com, we wear it a few times, and then it goes into fashion purgatory never to be worn again. Or never to be worn until it gains some vintage cred or stages a comeback a decade later. 

But when I was working at Barneys I knew I would be spending a large proportion of my disposable income on clothes, and I wanted to be smart about it. If I was going to splurge, it had to be on things I would wear for a long time, not just a season. And so I trained my eyes to look for classic pieces. And suddenly I saw them everywhere - a perfect army green safari jacket at Givenchy, a navy crew neck sweater at Celine, a black wool a-line skirt at Alaia, brown leather jodhpur boots at Balenciaga. Eighteen months later, I still wear nearly every single piece of clothing I bought during that time, despite living on a farm in the middle of the English countryside.

In fact, this method of buying great quality classic pieces made by the world's best designers has stuck with me. When I look at runway shows, or fashion magazines, or racks of clothes in boutiques now, my eye starts scanning right away for the timeless pieces in the collection. I tend to skip right over the prints and the ruffles, and look for that perfectly simple piece that will last a lifetime. 

Carolyn Murphy by Mario Testino for Vogue. I love the 70's vibe.

I've gotten so used to seeing beautiful Amanda Harlech wearing black Chanel Couture - and no one wears it better. But I did get a kick out of seeing such a high fashion goddess in this far more straightforward white shirt and khaki trench. Chic as can be.

Natalia Vodianova channeling Lauren Hutton's classic American look for Vogue. All she's missing is the gap between her teeth.

Tonne and Grace, the fashion makers, keep it simple in chic, black silhouettes.

Here I am at Paris fashion week two years ago. Of all the clothes I have been photographed in over the years, this simple, classic outfit got the most coverage and commentary.

This photograph that Vanessa Traina brilliantly styled for T Magazine really caught my attention. The clothes are so straightforward, but the slightly edgy hair and jewellery makes it new and interesting, yet still classic.

Daria for Celine. She kills me every time.

Sofia is my classic fashion muse - she wears Vuitton, Celine, Alaia, Marc Jacobs, all in the most timeless way.

I liked Claiborne Swanson's portraits for Ferragamo. This one of Lauren Santo Domingo stood out. I love that she could make my grandmother's favourite shoes look cool, but still classic.

End of Summer: Adirondacks, part 3

For our last weekend in the Adirondacks we went camping. Sort of. Our version of camping involves reaching a remote cabin on a remote lake accessible only via an old school bus, a guideboat, a footpath,  and a canoe. It's about a three hour journey, and we carry everything - food, clothes, linens, towels, gear, kids' stuff - all the way in and all the way out. When we get there, there isn't a road or a car or a telephone in sight. In fact, there is no electricity at all. But there is gas - so we have lanterns, a fridge, an oven, a toilet and a hot shower. And when I say a cabin, I really mean cabins. The area is so full of black bears, that the kitchen and the bathroom both have to be in separate buildings from where you sleep. Just three days before we arrived, a bear had broken into the kitchen cabin, breaking the window and crawling through to grab some marshmallows that a kid left on the counter.

Living in this simplicity is utter heaven. We swim, fish, eat, read, row around the lake, eat, play cards, eat, go for a hike, and eat some more. Within an hour I forgot all about my phone. It's amazing how much time there is in the day when you don't have your phone on you. An even higher state of bliss was reached when my camera battery died. As you all know I am obsessed with taking pictures, and when that option left me, then I really started to be present and relaxed. 

When I am there, I love to imagine how long I could stay for. Our standard trip is 2 nights and two full days. With 9 people, it would be a pretty major schlep to pack and carry more food. But would I be happy there for a week? Two weeks? Hard to say. I think next summer I'll extend our stay to 4 nights and see how we get on. 

My favourite part of the path on the journey to our camp.

The last leg of our journey, in a 1930's Abercrombie and Fitch canoe. How chic.

The sleeping cabin at our camp. Don't be fooled, we don't actually sleep in there - we just use it as a place to leave our clothes and change. We (meaning everyone except my husband, who does actually sleep in there) spend the night in a lean to -  a three sided hut that opens onto a giant fire pit. It's not the best night's sleep - you are bound to be woken by loons, coyotes, bears all calling out in the night - but it's what we've done since we were barely walking, and so it's tradition. Ambien helps.

I always force myself to get up before the children so I can sit on the dock with a cup of coffee in silence. Christopher usually joins me. 

6:30am. This might have been my favourite moment of the summer.

The crack of dawn view from the dock.

Swimming from the camp dock is a bit swampy so we pile in canoes and row to the middle of the lake where there is a swimming dock. It's never easy to jump in the lake - even in August - but I'm always glad I did.

The cook house - containing the kitchen, a dining porch and an inside dining room. If you look at the side of the house you can see the plywood patch from where the bear broke in through the window just days before. Yikes!

Zach learning to paddle. Our friends just up ahead saw a mother bear and two cubs swim across the lake just in front of them, but sadly we missed it.

It seems only fitting to wear Keen's shoes in Keene Valley. Plus, they are the perfect Adirondack shoe in all ways but in the chic department. 

These guide boats are so beautiful they kill me. I love the wicker seats, the owner's name embossed on the oars, the monogram on the outside and the old school colors. 

The beautiful woods at our camp.

Heading home.

End of Summer: Adirondacks, part 2

Coco and Zinnia waiting for suppertime.

Love Boat.

Tennis in the mountains.

Christopher had the brilliant idea of buying at badminton net at Sports Authority on our way up to Keene Valley. Coco became particularly obsessed. 

Coco and Zach crossing the Ausable River. When I was a kid the bridges only had a railing on one side,  and one time my stepfather turned around to tell us to hold the railing and he walked right off the bridge. His leg was in a cast the rest of the summer!

The west branch of the Ausable River at 7am, just when the trout are starting to bite. 

Who has better a better fishing look? Christopher?

Or Zach? I vote Zach.

Zach, netting his first ever brown trout!

Watching the sun fall behind the mountains.

Mom and I leaping off a high cliff into cold, dark water. The following rush is worth the fear.

Zinnia, loving the porch swing.

My favorite swimming hole.

Warming up on the rocks.

Don't be a dropout!

Zach, graciously holding a boulder so I can pass by.

Here I am on top of Gothics Mountain. Hard to think of a place I'd rather be.

The view from Pyramid.

End of Summer: Adirondacks, Part 1

Hi, hi. I'm back in England, the kids are off at school, and I finally have settled back into my routine. Have you been following the shows at New York fashion week? I have a bit. After years of going to as many shows I could fit on my calendar, it's a luxury for me now just to look at the ones I really, really love. Of course it's better to be there in person, but looking at them on style.com is enough fashion for me at the moment. But more on that in a few days.....

First, I want to show you the end of my summer in the Adirondacks. I have been spending August with my family in Keene Valley since I was 5 years old, and it means the whole world to now share it with my husband and children. For me, it is the most beautiful place in the world. And I love our lifestyle there - we are always outside, right smack in the middle of nature, being active, our bodies feel useful and happy, and we are focused on each other. I also love that everything is totally old school - nothing is more complicated than it needs to be, and nothing is pretentious or fancy. Simple and functional is a way of life in the Adirondacks - everyone drives an old car, wears the same Patagonia jacket and Teva or Keens shoes year after year, and passes down canoes within their families from generation to generation. We often sleep outside in a three sided cabin facing a fire pit, wake up before light to go fishing, or climb up a mountain with three generations of our family in tow. We also read and cook and swim, a lot. And of course, I am always on the lookout for style - whether its a trail sign or a pile of hiking shoes or a 1930's Abercrombie and Fitch canoe. Here's what I found:

One of the guest cabins at the house my parents rented this August. My sister and her husband stayed in it. I'm a scaredy cat and was very happy to be in the main house with my parents. Just a week before a bear had broken into this cabin!

The cabin was so charming though.......

Here's the main house. And, yup, that's a sour cherry tree right in front. We spent most mornings just drinking coffee and hanging out on this porch.

Our first day there, Coco discovered a hill that was covered with thousands of blueberry bushes. We made a blueberry and peach crumble that night to celebrate our abundance.

Zach and my mom,  reading a very old comic book they found in the house.

The boat house on the lake. They're called guide boats and what makes them unique is that you row them instead of paddling them like a canoe. They are all made by hand and are incredibly beautiful inside and out. Many of them have wicker chairs built into the interior so you can sit comfortably while you ride or row. 

The lower lake, where we swim and row.

The board where all the guide boat keys are kept.

My favorite guide boat.

The East River Trail, while walking home from the lake after a picnic and swim. 

Hand made signs along the trail.

Despite being warm in the day, the Adirondacks are chilly most August evenings. We only got to eat out on the porch a few times. I love how simple and classic the table and chairs are. 

Coco, discovering more blueberries up high on a mountain. Do you remember that children's book "Blueberries for Sal?" This picture reminds me of it.

This summer we discovered America's oldest weekly rodeo was just over an hour away from us. It was hilarious! I can see this definitely becoming an annual tradition. 

One of the most charming things about Keene Valley is the airport. This is it! (If you don't believe me just look at the tire marks from the last plane that landed). 

Every Monday all the local kids get together to play Capture the Flag on the golf course. All ages from 2-18 join in while the parents get a roadie from the bar and hang out on blankets.

My sister Kim, having an afternoon read on the porch.

The Ausable River, with storm clouds rushing in. Parts of the river were absolutely devastated by Hurricane Irene. Experts say it could take 40 years for the whole river to look like it used to. This section, however, was pretty unscathed.