sartorialism

By now it's become my custom each Saturday to post a link to something that's piqued my interest in the morning's newspaper supplement. This week there's an article about a fashion blog documenting "real people who look fabulous". Fabulous-looking people are evidently easier to come by on the streets of New York than in Dundee, where it's sadly all too rare to find anyone prepared to make an effort. Still, anyone who does is appreciated all the more. I remember the Edinburgh-based artist Katie Orton having an especially arresting 'look' whenever she appeared in town recently, wearing bright red lipstick with a beret and a leopard-skin vintage overcoat last time.

My own wardrobe would be made up of high-street, vintage, and eBay-designer, the elements combined fairly evenly. Jeans and trousers by Helmut Lang for the shape and the durability, and a couple of tops by Bernhard Willhelm and Raf Simons for when I want to cut a dash. Regrettably there's nothing by Hedi Slimane, the former Dior Homme designer, in there just yet. Give it time, though.

Belgian (Simons, Dries van Noten, Walter van Bierendonck) Scandinavian (Peter Jensen, Siv Stoldal) I keep an eye on eBay for, hoping for a bargain. Knitwear by John Smedley or Pringle, and patterned socks by Paul Smith from a discount clothes shop back home in Crossgates, Leeds. Nothing by way of jewelery other than a silver ring bought for me many years ago that carries a good deal of sentimental value.

Living next door to the art school, I can't help but notice the dominance of a specific silhouette (voluminous hair, skinny jeans or leggings) among this season's crop of students. Which is all very well, but in amongst the herd I find a glimpse of individuality is really the most precious and attractive sight of them all.