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
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 just shouted across the office to The Boss: "You know the word 'monochrome'?'.
'Yes', she replied.
"It means black and white, doesn't it?
'Yes', she replied.
" Well that's wrong isn't it? Mono is Greek for one?' (cue a quick honk on Google following what seems to be a very popular question: 'is mono greek or latin?')
"Yes," she concluded.
And that was that. But what am I to do? Reinvent the wheel? No. Enough Greekness.
So here we go. Enter the Monochrome Zone and explore our new arrivals:
Ivory/white cashmere mix scarf featuring contrasting black piping along all sides - the weight of which allows the ends of the scarf to flute. Lightweight and supersoft.
This shaded pashmina ring shawl measuring 200cm x 100cm is made from pure, fine cashmere that is spun and woven by hand. The tie-dye technique makes for a dramatic look, with strong jet black bleeding narrowly into grey then thick, rich clotted cream.
Black on one side and ivory on the other, this double-sided cashmere/silk cape is reversible; two capes in one.
About four years ago we decided to name men’s scarves after London streets. Our classic scarves, The Burlington Black Cashmere Scarf and the Cadogan Grey Cashmere Scarf are now referred to by us as the Burl and the Cad. Rather pretentious. I’d give it 5/10 on the scale where 0 is naming a spade a spade and 10 is not naming a spade at all.
This week we took delivery of a collection of spring summer scarves, mainly men’s. Up came the London street map. So we have:
The Downshire (a street in Belsize Park)
Tavistock (as above)
Pembridge (Notting Hill)
Compton (Soho)
Westbourne (Bayswater/Notting Hill)
Lancaster (Belsize Park)
And then we stumbled on this one, because it is part of our women's range. Toby (sales and marketing manager) advised Brokeback. Tough sell. We opted for Portobello. Safe.
The leopard has prowled its last round on the fashion safari. Zebra is slowing its blackwhite canter down to a trot...But the tiger,well, the tiger is the one to watch. It's so hot right now. I'm certainly feline it. IT. IS. FIEEEEERCE. OMG.
I guess it was inevitable that tiger would be the last logical character in the animal-print hall of fame. Probably something to do with the food chain. It's gobbled up all the other animals that had their day in the sun and now it intends to lie around our necks, fat and happy in a post-carnivorous langour all summer long.
What's that you say Mr. Tiger? 'Have I got a problem with that?'
Oh, no. Not at all. Jump aboard.
Very Lightweight Hot Pink and Black Tiger Print Scarf
100% Cashmere
£165
Very Lightweight Two-Tone Neutral Tiger Print Scarf
100% Cashmere
£165
