MY LITTLE BLACK JACKET

I'm sure that I don't need to extol the benefits of having at least one little black jacket in the wardrobe.  I bought this little black jacket last autumn from H&M's Divided range.  A little androgynous in style but not cut too long, it's ideal for a petite person.

Long ago in 1966, Yves St Laurent designed his now legendary "Le Smoking" jacket, a tuxedo for women.  Since last autumn, "Le Smoking" seems to have become an important look again.  It has been featured in this autumn's issues of French Vogue - they even included a humorous article about it in their September edition entitled, "Le smoking mode d'emploi".  Now Christian Dior has shown "Le Smoking" in their Spring/Summer 2013 collection.  Here the tuxedo was worn with very slim trousers or a skirt and often with a lavaliere tied at the neck.

I wear my jacket in the "Le Smoking" manner.  Last autumn I wore it with black skinny trousers, a jet collar from Topshop and tiny jet stud earrings.  When it was cold, I slipped a black slim polo neck jumper under the jacket and added little diamond earrings (like Charlotte Casiraghi in September 2011 French Vogue).  Spring came and I teamed the jacket with a little black silk dress, a black flower on the lapel and black rose earrings.

Winter:  Jet Collar, Spring: Black Flower and Rose Earrings

Now, inspired by August 2012 French Vogue, I plan to give it a sophisticated glamour with red lipstick, red nails and diamond earrings and of course high heeled shoes.

YSL La Laque Couture Nail Lacquer in Rouge Expressionniste,
Chanel Rouge Allure Red Lipstick Samples 

The important thing is that I always wear this look with feminine hair, shoes and jewellery.  If a petite woman does androgyny, she needs to avoid a "toy man" effect!