Perhaps finding style inspiration from Dickensian London may be a bit obscure but it's a look that is slowly working its way into my trend forecast. For example, waistcoats are part and parcel of this trend but most people tend to wear them in a way that is more sexy than scholarly. If you're thinking of wearing one a la Victoria Beckham then you are on the wrong track. The key to nailing this look is to invest in pieces that you can imagine a professorial type owning and then jazzing them up with unexpected accessories.
This is a look that both men and women can go for. Brad Pitt has been photographed on numerous occasions wearing a tweed flat cap as well as variations of tweed blazers and waistcoats reminiscent of an English country gentleman. Having Angelina Jolie as his edgy arm accessory doesn't hurt but other men can still get this look right. Sam (below left) has thrown together a white button-down shirt (slightly rumpled for effect), a beige cashmere cardigan and a mauve wool scarf. By wearing a pair of loose denim jeans and distressed leather shoes, he looks modern and fresh instead of staid and serious.
If cardigans aren't your thing, choose a v-neck sweater for the same effect. The best place for for unisex cardigans and sweaters in solid colours is Japanese high-street brand Uniqlo (Shop 01, Level 1, Festival Walk, Kowloon Tong, tel: 2265 8586). The quality is excellent and the prices are more than affordable While you are there, take a look at their well-known denim section for pieces such as dark, unwashed denim that you can wear with tweed or woolly separates to keep the look cool.
Although this look may seem to be more masculine than feminine, any readers of this column will know that I am a big advocate of androgynous dressing. And you can still keep the look feminine by focusing on the details.
A great place I found for bookishly cool separates for women is RNA Media in the new Delay No More Mall in Causeway Bay (Shop 104, 68 Yee Wo Street, tel: 2735 1322). Look for plain and striped button-down shirts, waistcoats and fitted tweed blazers that could be great additions to your wardrobe.
