Merhaba everyone!
That’s a wonderful Turkish greeting I learned while trolling the hills, valleys and beautiful cities of that great country this fall.
And take note – Istanbul is no slouch when it comes to fashion, sisters!
As a matter of fact, my big fat plane arrived during the height of fashion week, girlfriends, but alas, I guess my name was mistakenly left of the invitation list this year 🙁
And I had to make tracks anyway, and don a noticeably unfashionable cycling outfit for my grand adventure! More on that sometime later…when cycling wear actually looks fashionably hawt! (not a chance, sorry my cycling sisters…)
But I still managed to alight at a number of wicked little boutiques in and around the Grand Bazaar, chiclets! And I marvelled at the artisanal goods everywhere, from Istanbul down to the Aegean coast.
But of course, all my eyes, including the “evil” ones on the earrings I bought, turned to LEATHER.
Yes, all I’m writing it in caps just this time for my fashionable friend – LEATHER is a a rip roarin’ trend in every designer’s notebook for fall; whether it shows up in a pleated a-lined skirt, a righteous sheath dress, as piping on jackets, sweaters or preciously flouncing across pretty girl tops and/or jewelry.
Orphanage Clothing, a local design house- the creation of maven Kim Munson – also recently introduced me to her amazing leather harness-style creations to pop over any top, which I hope to do this fall or winter. (hint to my present-buyng g-friends.).
I can’t stop my verbal caresses of this cowhide sister – my apologies to those who don’t favour this material on philosophical or other grounds – leather’s sister pleather works just as well.
I’ve still got a leather a-line skirt I bought a long time ago – just don’t ask when! – that I still rock.
And let’s not even get started on the age-old boot and/or jacket selection in my cupboards.
My point is – and I think my fashion sisters in Istanbul will agree – leather is a universal prize picking no matter where in the world you find yourself.
Recently, I was happy to see Gwyneth Paltrow rocking a leather sheath dress – my perennial favourite, and French Vogue was beaming out at me from their facebook site with an out-of-sight leather biker bomber jacket.
Even “krazy” old KK (Kim Kardashian) was sporting a leather skirt the other day and I have to say I liked it.
So, after all my chat earlier this season about ankle boots, I couldn’t help but ring your fall fashion bells with other leather friends.
In fashion parlance, leather is a timeless common language transcends boundaries – six or seven time zones for me on the trip – not to mention decades. Most of you can still drag out a leather jacket from yesteryear, pop on a scarf and jeans and make the grade.
While I’m safely back on leaf-covered terra firma now; I made sure to bust out my leather goods.
And when I do, I can’t help but still smile when I remember the grin on a Turkish woman’s face when I complimented her on her wicked boots.
Eva Hoare is a reporter at The Chronicle Herald
via HOARE: Leather rules the world | The Chronicle Herald.