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GENTLEWOMAN

Louis Vuitton and Prada heralded the return of ‘the lady’ at their autumn/winter 2010 shows. At first those bosom-squeezed, full-skirted fifties beauties arouse homebakin’, husband pleasing connotations but there’s something admirable in the way these women balanced the life of a domestic goddess with impeccable style, scrupulous grooming and gentility. Fast forward to the New 21st Century Ladylike and that late fifties, early sixties vibe stands as almost a cultural touchpoint for the new power woman – a refined, genteel beauty empowered with something smart, sexy and confident.

The new power woman needs a bible, which has come in the form of aptly named 'The Gentlewoman' a new publication launched in the UK and the sister of the equally debonair Fantastic Man. A sort of ‘how to be lovely' guide for the twenty-ten woman, the new bi-annual celebrates inspirational and empowered women in the creative industries. Needless to say - most of the women depicted are highly unlikely to be seen wearing anything remotely resembling a prom skirt. Even, the inaugural cover girl is the Queen of the new 21st century minimalist, Phoebe Philo (and come to think of it, probably the anti-queen of any of that girlish frippery). Alongside Philo there’s, ‘the other’ female architect, Kazuyo Sejima and London Underground DJ, Princess Julia. We love the 'Modern…' series including 'Modern Manners’ from the worldly wisdom of illustrator Julie Verhoeven and 'Modern Correspondence’ according to design critic, Alice Rawsthorn. The fashion is practical and luxurious. We love the beauty pages, almost told through the voice of a pre-1960 ‘how-to’ manual.

Alongside the modern muses, every movement needs a classic icon and the Gentlewoman comes in the form of the loveliest of them all, Grace Kelly whose flawless style is celebrated at the zeitgeist-tapping V&A later on this month. So what to take away from this? Straighten up, rent Rear Window and take notes from Mad Men’s Betty Draper.

The Gentlewoman will be available for overseas orders soon!