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Tuesday 4 October 2016

Designer coat three ways - fun, feline, and fierce

With great excitement I tore open the box from Shanghai express. My new coat! - courtesy of Yuzhe Studios, a young designer duo who studied at London College of Fashion. After finding my blog and Instagram, they asked if I'd like to wear one of their handcrafted pieces. Does a cat meow?

O-my-o-my-what-to-do-what-to-do. It didn't take long to figure out - put that sucker on and see where it takes me.

Mel Kobayashi of Bag and a Beret in overcoat from Yuzhe Studios

After being cooped up in shipping, Coat needed a stretch and fresh vigour, so my first styling called for intensive colour caffeine. I poked her: "Coat, wake up!" She merely yawned, "Are we there yet?" 

Mel Kobayashi of Bag and a Beret in overcoat from Yuzhe Studios

Before she knew it, I had turned Coat inside-out and clapped the snaps off-key to create a wonky pucker and asymmetrical hem. The pockets became awesome hip wings which added to the fantastic geometry. And I wore vivid silky scarves in a waterfall of bows and a colour-punched dress and blouse. AWAKE.

Coat's finished seams down the sleeves looked good on the outside, and the snaps with hand-stitching functioned perfectly in reverse as well. My initials, which Yuzhe Studios hand-embroidered at the neckline, were also visible - such a great detail.

Loose-limbed now from our colour therapy, we shrugged off the imp and unleashed some of Coat's deeply serious chic appeal. 

Mel Kobayashi of Bag and a Beret in overcoat from Yuzhe Studios

Coat is dreamy soft, a snuggly wool you want to wrap yourself up in on a chilly day. In this second styling she is black cat with an emerald collar, stretched languidly on a red velvet divan surrounded by unread books of philosophy. 

"Bring me chocolate milk on a silver salver that I might dip my strong yet dainty paws in the brown juice of the gods!" Moving right along... Somehow I knew she'd appreciate the gold glitter ankle socks. 

These photos have a very European feel to them. I'm sure I'm on my way somewhere Important (the cafe for a cookie, for example). 

Melanie Kobayashi of Bag and a Beret in overcoat from Yuzhe Studios

I'm also wearing O's rockstar silky shirt and my gigantoid palazzo pants with mitten clips because the pants are trippingly long without higher heels. Huge sunglasses complete the look.

Below, one last styling. Coat doesn't like to be type-cast (we are so compatible!) so we went with a fierce-ish styling with a tuxedo shirt, fitted black moto jacket, my DIY eyes-on-knees jeans, white athletic socks, and combat boots. This bunch of boulders under the overpass made the perfect studio.

Mel Kobayashi of Bag and a Beret in overcoat from Yuzhe Studios

And that's it! Hearty thanks to Yuzhe Sun and Alex Lee of Yuzhe Studios in Shanghai for this piece and the fun I had styling her. While I didn't fark this coat, they said they wouldn't mind if I did, which captured my heart. Already Coat has earned a place of honour in my closet.

You can read more about this designer team, their fantastic mission, and their studio HERE. In addition to a selection of hand-crafted denim and wool pieces, they also have some vibrant silk designs. Gorgeous. This coat is the "double-sided oversized bi-colour wool coat."

I shall link these outfits up with Patti at Not Dead Yet Style for Visible Monday, and Catherine at Not Dressed as Lamb for #iwillwearwhatilike. I'll see you there.


56 comments:

  1. Wow! What a beautiful coat. Lucky you and no better person to style it to perfection.I love how you can turn it inside out and it still looks amazing. I love how you've changed it up; those scarves are rather beautiful. The palazzo pants are fabulous but what the chuffin heck is a mitten clip? It sounds rude....

    Please tell me it is!

    Have a fab week.

    Veronica
    vronni60s.blogspot.com

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    1. Haha - A mitten clip is simply a 1/2-inch-wide piece of elastic about an inch long with a suspender (braces) clip at each end. Normally, one end would be clipped to the sleeve of a coat and the other end to the mitten to prevent the mitten from getting lost - but they have so many other uses as well. Thanks for commenting, Veronica!

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  2. all 3 stylings are brilliant. Personally, my fav is the first one because of the colours- I'm colour and pattern crazed, what can I do...but the two other outfits are amazing too. I love how you played with layers in the second outfit....and those rolled up jeans in the third are so coo. You always look phenomenal!

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    1. Thanks so much, Ivana. The first styling is my favourite too but I know I'll do the other ones again when I'm in that particular mood.

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  3. Woohoo what a wonderfull coat. I love your very important cookie look :)

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    1. Hee hee, thanks, Tina. Cookies are highly important!

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  4. Oh my freakin' Coat Gawd! That is one wonderful Coat. She is a thing of beauty, and looks as soft as a cat tummy. I love every one of the schtylings of it!

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    1. A cat tummy - yes, Sheila, that's it! It is truly dreamy soft.

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  5. What a fantastic coat and kudos to the designers for sending it to you rather than some lame wannabe.
    It looks brilliant in every photo. xxx

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  6. Looking brilliant ans arty and all the good things. Your new coat is the cat's meow, and I love your stylings, naturally! xox

    -Patti
    http://notdeadyetstyle.com

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  7. What a wonderful coat, and you wear it so well, in all three stylings. Also love your entertaining commentary!

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    1. Hi! Thanks, backinstyle. I appreciate your comment.

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  8. fabulous coat that is!!!!!
    and of cause you styled her perfectly! who need the vogue when we have you???!!
    marrrrvelooouuus!!!!!
    much love! xxxxxx

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    1. Thanks, Beate. I wonder what you would do with this coat. I'm sure it would be very cool! xoxo

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  9. Coatilicious!! And where are the enormous rocks? You find the most dramatic environs, even the stairwell and the recycling basement are edgy and urban xo

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    1. Hi! Those rocks are along a busy street, under an overpass. Sometimes there is so much garbage there you wouldn't want to take a photo, but I got lucky. Heh. I'm forced to find places that will accommodate a tripod without too much trouble.

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  10. oh yes, you rock this coat, wearing it with a colorful scarf and some fab colorful combo, and also wearing it with lots of black and coolness. And jeans and fab boots look awesome too! You rock (once more!!!!)
    besos

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    1. A grey coat. Sometimes I've got to wear one. But it's lots of fun mixing it up and changing the tone. Besos back!

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  11. Love the coat. I have a bit of an obsession with coats and have accumulated too many (or so I am told!). It would be great if you could pop by my link up and add a post this week :) http://sydneyfashionhunter.com/2016/10/ruby-lace-dress-linkup.html

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    1. Hi. Welcome! Coats are such a weakness for me too. I'm not sure I can make your great link-up, but thanks for the invitation!

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  12. Those designers knew just who would do their coat justice. Hip fins for all!

    Sincerely

    Elaine Monkeypaints

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    Replies
    1. Hahaha, thanks, Elaine Monkepaints! Hip fins are the best.

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  13. Wonderful, M! I'm so happy you're getting the recognition you've earned for your serious talent in styling both outfits and content copy -- what a breath of crazy fresh air you bring to the whole fashion/style project! (plus that's a great use of those boulders whose niggardly work in stopping homeless folk from catching 40 winks always makes me a bit sad)

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    1. Thanks, F, for these kind words. I was thrilled with this offer and the coat. About the underpass, don't worry - there were signs of several encampments and the boulders provide excellent privacy. They also seem to use them as tabletops.

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  14. You did a brilliant job styling this coat! It has been "Mellified".

    I am kind of in love with the last look. Love the layering and the boots. It just looks so rock star.

    bisous
    Suzanne

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  15. I'm guessing this will not be the last time we see Coat! She is gorgeous and such a super model. You would think, at first she was shy and demure. But you would be wrong. Very, very wrong. With winter coming in the northern hemisphere, I don't think she will go into hibernation again for quite some time! Enjoy her! Stunning! Xx

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    1. You are so right. No hibernation for this coat allowed. She is simply too snuggly for that. When/if it gets really cold I'll even wear her under other long coats. I suppose you'll be putting all your winterings under wraps for spring and summer now. I love these in-between seasons.

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  16. ooo, Coat has the biggest snaps evah. She's perfect for you. I think I would even wear such a softy to bed. ooops. should I have said that?

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    1. I know - don't you just love humungoid snaps? And they show off the hand-stitchery so well. Yes, she could become my security blanket. Heh.

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  17. I love the photo of you heading right towards the camera in your mitten-clipped pants and gigantor sunglasses - you are a woman on a mission, a dame with drive, a gal with grit....etc.

    I really like the coat - "she" has bloomed since making your acquaintance.

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    1. I had to hurry with my photos in the alley because it was a particularly stenchful day!! Truly. So it was easy to do the serious face. Thanks, Shelley.

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  18. Gorgeous! And the coat is amazing too. Heh. I loves me some pure woolly goodness.

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    1. Hi Louisa - you are a master of woolly goodness. Thanks for the compliment.

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  19. You lucky sod!!! No that is not true. You have earned it. Your creativity attracts like-minded people like flowers attract bees.
    It is a gorgeous coat. I wouldn't mind it myself. And of couse you have styled it terrifically (I don't think this word exists, but you make them up yourself, so why not me too?) Personally I wouldn't wear it inside out, but that is the sweet difference between you and me. Love you.
    Greetje

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    1. Nah, lucky sod is about right. Terrifically is in fact a word. Even if it weren't this is an any-word-goes zone, as you know. I really wanted to stretch the coat as far as I could with the inside-out, which is why I did the snaps off-centre too. We both survived and enjoyed the experience immensely. Thanks for your comment, Greetje.

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  20. Coat is a schtar! The cut, the drape, the hip wings, the !!hand-embroidered monogram!! Simply special. It/she/he looks great with a skirt, and the second styling has beaucoup swagger factor. But I like the styling with the jeans best - you'd make a great Teddy Girl in that outfit.

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    1. Hahaha, a Teddy Girl. Yes!! But I am not as cool as your Teddy Girls. I have to watch out that Coat doesn't upstage me! Thanks for visiting, Val. Wish I could break out the vodka while you're here. Heh.

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  21. That coat is gorgeous- it looks super cosy and very tasteful and very happy to be paired with most things!!!! x

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    1. Oh, Kezzie, thank you so much! We were both very happy.

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  22. Clever designers , they knew you would style their coat in ways they hadn't even thought of and of course you excelled.Rather fond of it with the palazzo pants, mitten clips and O's shirt. Well done, enjoy the coat.

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    1. Thank you, Jill. I was so impressed by these designers. I get asked about lots of different things but I jumped on this one for sure. I could see you in the palazzo-pants outfit. You have some similar to it I think, right?

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  23. ohmygod, you are the perfect person to creatively style stuff for designers. How are you not working for Vogue magazine or Harpers Bazaar yet? I know what... GO AND APPLY. You are AWESOME at this sort of thing. I love all these looks. I wish I could check out what you're wearing every day!

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    1. also... the unread books comment and the Very Important cookie at the cafe comment too. LAUGH!!!

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    2. I ask myself every day, why am I not working for Vogue, why am I not living in a villa in Monaco, why am I not 5'11"? Hence, this blog. It's definitely the next best thing. Thank you so much for these awesome compliments. When you get hired as the editor of Vogue I shall most gladly resign my current position and be a stylist!

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  24. Now here's a collaboration worth doing baby! This coat is awesome, but heck it has to be if you wear it. Great move by these guys to enlist you to showcase this slick, sleek piece of clothing. This is inspired product placement Melanie and I'm delighted to see how blooming creative you got with it, making it better with every turn.
    Thanks so much for your recent support with my blogging wobble. I've been blown away by the kind responses I've had. Enjoy your weekend x
    Anna
    www.annasislandstyle.com

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  25. The designers of this coat have found a new muse in you Melanie. You have honored them with your beautiful stylings They have honored you by trusting your fashion wit and inspired accessorizing.

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  26. The designers of this coat have found a new muse in you Melanie. You have honored them with your beautiful stylings They have honored you by trusting your fashion wit and inspired accessorizing.

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  27. That coat looks perfectly warm, light and easy to wear, or as you put it, STYLE!! You turn clothes into art with all your tricks, mitten clips and all.

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  28. What a lovely coat. I can sense its cuddliness. And such a lovely mix of prints on your bod. Purrrrr.....

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