Inspired By You

My clients inspire me in so many ways; from what they accomplish in their professional lives, to how they prioritize time for themselves and their families. Every new woman I collaborate with unknowingly influences me to be my best self and occasionally, this includes their personal style!

Such was the case this past summer, as we developed a beautiful custom motorcycle jacket for longtime friend and client, Ellen. She has a superb understanding of her body’s proportions, owns an expansive and exciting collection of outerwear, knows how to have fun with colour and print, and as I came to know, has a penchant for the colour combination of black and cream.

A signature colour mix for Coco Chanel, black and cream feels luxurious and chic. It is lower contrast, warmer, and less bold than black and white, but still offers impact. I love it paired with gold jewellery or pearls and done in richly textured natural fibres like the silk satin and lambskin we used for Ellen’s jacket.

As her fittings progressed, I found myself seeking out these colours in my own wardrobe, on shopping trips, and as I flipped through magazines. And by the time I’d sewn up the cream and black silk satin rose print that lines her beautiful Double Zip Moto, I was fully on board with this elegant pairing.

Playing with colour combinations can be a great exercise when building outfits. It opens our eyes to new ways of mixing of old pieces, expanding their versatility. This summer I also had a lot of fun pairing shades of light blue and sage, something I’d never done before. And this fall, pairing burgundy and black helped me style a piece I couldn’t figure out how to wear, despite its presence in my closet for over a year. What are your favourite colour combinations and how do they affect your outfit options? I’d love to know!

Jacket: Double Zip Moto, customized with black lambskin, gold hardware, rose silk lining, coral piping, and a personalized brand label
Makers: Anneke Forbes + Tunde Kolebaba
Photos: Emma Palm