Back in stock - our consistently best-selling piece of jewellery, the Single Black Tahitian Pearl Necklace. Subtle beauty, elegance and refinement, this continues to be the favourite gift purchase for hundreds of our customers.

Price: £110

Pearl Type: Round, peacock-tinted, barely speckled.

My uncunningly punning mind went first to 'Cape Crusader' and then thought better of it. Next up, 'Cape of Good Goat' and shortly after I hit rock bottom.

So I went about doing something else (we're currently working on a bespoke print for a scarf for a famous London charity) so I did a bit of that and sent stuff off and got stuff back etc. Business.

And then, BOOM. Capability Brown. Capability Black. Cape-ability Black. Perhaps the last permutation is step too far. Perhaps not. Who knows? Who cares?

Vogue cares. Vogue cares about capes right now. (apologies for tattered edge of image. Was overwhelmed):

And that is something I am pleased about for I care for capes. They have been the mainstay of our Autumn/Winter collections for a number of years now. Last year, we introduced the black/bright contrast with this Black and Magenta Double-Sided Cape in Cashmere and Silk (£195) selling up a storm:

This year, we're backing the black/camel as the dead-cert, given that camel seems to be the colour and you really cannot go wrong with this combo. As indeed the black/ivory. Both are currently sold out but we expect new stock by the end of August.

Camel and Black Double-Side Cape - Cashmere & Silk      SOLD OUT

Black and Ivory Double Sided Cape - Cashmere & Silk    SOLD OUT

For Bright meanwhile we have been a little more experimental with a navy/ballerina pink version winging its way in and a coco/terracotta to boot.

Terracotta. Brown. Cape-ability brown. Capability Brown.

Ps. Our best-selling cape to date is this one:

Mirabel. Simple, elegant, timeless.

Three ladies ... Taken from a mural in a room of a certain hotel near Nice.

 Hibiscus Silk Print Scarf - 100% Silk. £120. BrightByBlack.co.uk

At a dinner on Saturday night I came face-to-face with my very own minister. The Minister for Abi.

No. Not what happened.

When the Rt Hon Ed Vaizey MP told me that he was Minister for Fashion and Ecommerce (AKA 'my minister' as he declared himself), I think I said something like: 'No way. I don't believe you. I can't believe there's a Ministry of Fashion'. My reputation for being gullible could not have preceded me on this occasion, given that we were strangers. I know nothing about politics. He is indeed Minister for Fashion (and Culture, Communications and the Creative Industries ... plus archaelogy, broadband and digitised technology...etc, etc.) - and, impressively, he appears to know much about it.

It turns out that he is in awe of the British Fashion Industry; taking very seriously the significance of the sector within the British economy (worth £1.6bn in retail terms) and also as a cultural export, whose creative reputation pitches it at the apex of the global stage. Recently he had been invited to attend a NEWGEN event. NEWGEN is a brilliant program that invests in, sponsors and consults emerging designers just as they are coming to prominence and therefore when they most need it. It is organised by the mighty British Fashion Council and sponsored by TopShop while the UK Ambassador for Emerging Talent, Sarah Mower, plays an instrumental role.

(Above - Backstage at Christopher Kane, autumn/winter 2010 at London Fashion Week February 2010. Christopher Kane was a beneficiary of the NEWGEN project)

Mr Vaizey spoke to me of Erdem, Christopher Kane and Browns. He said he was planning on installing a mannequin in his office whose garments are to be changed every six months in strict accordance with S/S and A/W. 'What about Resort?' I asked. Nonplussed, he got up to speak.

Still, what a breath of fresh air to hear an MP speak so excitedly about fashion and to really understand the importance of the industry not just on an economic basis but also on a creative level - for in the world of design it is this that leads often to profitability and not just a stark focus on the bottom line.

Isn't it good to know that when a woman gets hold of the subject of football she gets right to the heart of the things that matter?

And those would be:

1. Why does David Beckham look so dramatically better in the M&S for England suit than Capello?
2. Does Frank Lampard exfoliate and if so what brand does he use?
3. Isn't there a certain unexpected tenderness in Steven Gerrard's eyes when he does that interview thing at the end of the game?
4. (And crucially) How well dressed is the Germany coach?

Joachim Loew, the Germany coach, knows how to wear a cashmere scarf. Sorry to say it given Sunday's imminent tie, but he does. Regard Exhibit A:

As an Accessorist* I have an internal response mechanism that leads me to compare this scarf instantly with Black's cashmere scarves.

On this occasion I thought of the Rivington Superfine Scarf; lots of caps, er, etc. But it would not do just to post a standard picture of it. No. Because Loew wears it so well, we needed to step up to the plate. Go head to head.

Introducing Toby (and England), our Sales and Marketing Manager, wearing the Rivington Superfine Cashmere Scarf (£85):

Who wins in this crucial Scarf Tie**? England or Germany? Comments below please...

* Do not consult dictionary. This is a real word.
** We sell these too.

An idea can strike you anywhere. Preferably not in the eye.

For various reasons, middle-eastern and arabic art and architecture are sources of inspiration to me. The flowing curvature of Cyrillic script, the rich and earthy palette of terracotta, sapphire blue, emerald green set against taupe, brown, gold and khaki and the heavenly allusions of fountains, abundant water and luscious fecund gardens.

This said, I thought I would share a few images (taken in Egypt) that are a focal point for new design work.

Stars and Shadows

Peacock. I think.

Canvas and Palm Trees.

 What would be your arabic artistic inspiration?

First thing this morning I engaged in a certain Monday ritual: cruising fashion blogs. I tell thee, seeing the title ‘Blackest of The Blacks’ – a recent entry from Style Bubble – is like being whopped across the face. Yes, my interest was piqued.

You see, black (the ‘colour’, not us) gets a mixed press. If you were to open up any Vogue Catwalk Report, no matter what season, among the florals, the metallics, the urban guerrilla, the military urchin etc, there is invariably a black page – positioning its status in the world of fashion as nothing other than mandatory.  This is often to the chagrin of many fashion editors. Despite being ubiquitous and incredibly popular its use is criticised for being the resort of the unimaginative. Two words to the contrary. Rick Owens.

Style Bubble’s blogger, Susie Bubble, was writing about an exhibition called ‘Black: Masters of Black in Fashion and Costume” at the Fashion Museum in Antwerp. While the exhibition explored the history of black in fashion and historic costume, paid homage to the fashion houses whose use of black resulted in creating masterpieces (Chanel, Givenchy, Yves Saint Laurent) and delved into ‘the potential of black in diverse materials’ (fur, lace, leather), its very presence led Bubble to feel a certain ambivalence about the role of black in fashion.

“I have an estranged relationship with the supposed cornerstones of fashion where black reigns and is apparently meant to be THE colour that dictates the foundation of our wardrobes.  Just to pull "xxx is the new black" as an example already gives the colour weight and superiority above all else”

She has a point. It’s not fair that an un-colour should hold such unrivalled hegemony in the fashion food chain. Yet I can’t foresee the colours ‘blush’, ‘taupe’ or ‘cerulean’ getting their own exhibitions. (Neither does Bubble). The more I think about it, the more the room at Harrods that houses Givency, Balmain and Lanvin et al could quite easily be regarded as a gallery of black artistry. I’d even skip Antwerp altogether and head straight to Rods for an education in the majesty of black fashion. Far from being the resort of the unimaginative, designers handling black have to work even harder than those with a rainbow of colours or prints to hand to bring the darkness to life. Look at the work that goes into creating this:

Givenchy SS10

Or this:

Balmain SS10

Or this:

Lanvin SS10

 Hmmm. I wonder whether we should start selling single gloves a la Lanvin ...  

I have just returned from a meeting with colour consultant, Manina Weldon, in Kensington.  Red Leopard, her company, advises people on the colours that will best suit them in order to draw attention to and augment their finer features; particularly the face.  While I was there on business grounds (Red Leopard will be selling a number of BrightByBlack.co.uk scarves to their customers from this month onwards, including a number of exclusive colour-ways) I had a fascinating insight into which colours should be worn on whom.

Now, it should come as no surprise to regular readers of this blog that I like black and wear it often and will by hook or by crook find a way to wear it in the summer (thank you black Bamford silk mac). Manina told me that black was not my colour. It was like taking a bullet.

Luckily today I was wearing colours that are ‘me’ (navy, tan, Babylon Scarf, light denim) and ‘me’ is blond, blue-eyed; generally of the ‘yellow’ ilk. The world is divided into ‘yellows’ and ‘blues’ it seems and the ‘yellows’ should focus mainly on wearing soft spring and summer colours such as blush, peach, terracotta, turquoise, pastels, coppers, tans; in short soft, delicate colours. Meanwhile the ‘blues’, (Manina - brown/black hair, cocoa-brown eyes) are rather enviably licensed to wear winter colours such as black and bright, bold colours including red, magenta, emerald, cobalt.

While what I gleaned from the short time I was there was merely surface-scratching stuff, it was nonetheless intriguing and I plan to run an experiment on myself, wearing ‘yellows’  to find out if my life gets perceptibly better. I fear, however, that this endeavour may go the way of the Monday morning diet and I will revert to blackness.

I wonder, was Coco Chanel a blue or a yellow?

(Red Leopard, 1 Thackeray Street, W8 5ET, redleopard.co.uk, 0207 937 2222)
 

Back in stock and just in time for this sumptuous summer, drrrrrrrrrrum roll!

Safi Square Shawl.

When this shawl first hit the site it sold out almost instantly, thanks I think to the tantalising lusciousness of the colours (we were also featured in a magazine, which helped). We've had reports back from the customers who bought from our first delivery and, by consensus, it is an absolute favourite. These same customers report that they have been stopped in the street when wearing it by women who ask where they can get one. This is also, phenomenally,  the case with the Babylon Scarf.

So here we go, back in stock for all of you who have been keeping an eye out for it. I have one and find that it looks winning with grey marl and white; these neutrals really bring out the colour.  (NB: limited stock available).