There were two mysterious rolls of film sitting in my desk drawer for ages. When I finally had them developed they turned out to be pictures from a decade ago, when I was dressed in shabby chic. In those days I would just put on my favourite plaid shirt from Urban Outfitters and my Dr Martens - or a vintage jacket from a second-hand shop - and look great.
At that time, when I was young, dressing that way was called looking grungy. But on entering your 30s, we call it shabby chic. It's an ironic trend - you pay more to dress down. Often ideas come from workwear or streetwear, invented by the underprivileged who wear what they wear out of necessity, and somehow, brilliant styles come out of it.
I wouldn't exactly go down the Docs path again, but I do love wearing vintage items, or clothing that ages well. One of my favourites is a corduroy jacket, especially a style featuring deconstructed cutting. It's the ultimate in shabby chic.
Two of my favourites in the closet came from Benetton. The beige number can match with anything from an Abercrombie & Fitch T-shirt to a Nautica striped shirt, while the more tailored midnight blue piece is simply out of this world when matched with a Cavalli. This season Agnes b. also has a great corduroy jacket in chocolate brown that looks heavenly with a checked shirt and a beard.
Come to think of it, being able to carry off shabby chic is a privilege. When you are young it comes naturally because you tend to be in good shape and you are more carefree. Past 30 you have to keep yourself in good shape and keep a carefree (but sensible) attitude. Many Hollywood stars, such as Brad Pitt and Jude Law, have been spotted in shabby chic, especially when they are shopping in New York or travelling in exotic destinations.
Distressed jeans are still going strong, and stylish men in Hong Kong often pair them with smart jackets. I spotted Red SoHo's general manager Jason Lee in Esquire doing exactly that, but with a nice pair of leather boots to match. He's in the line of business where he has to look suave, but doesn't need to be stuffy.