Driving Miss Elegance

Last winter I was sitting in a cozy café with a good friend, happily sipping our lattes when an old lady walked through the door. Our reactions were immediate though I believe I was more unsubtle – we stared. As rude as it may sound, I couldn’t pull my eyes away from the lady and willingly allowed my eyes to devour in every piece of clothing she had one and every move she made.

The lady exuded such a strong sense of elegance and style that was so captivating it was almost bewitching. Right there and then she inspired me to grow old and aspire to look like her when I do.

The lady wore a simple yet elegantly cut long black coat and a cloche hat. But it was her gloves that made the strongest impression.

They were turquoise driving gloves.

We’ve heard many times how shoes complete one’s look – in this case, a pair of gloves didn’t just complete the look but added the cherry on top. While most people at that age has given up on style and hide as much of themselves underneath shapeless earth tone layers, this wonderful lady was not a bit held back by the age that lined the back of her hands. The gloves just accentuated the slenderness of her hands and fingers; and how exquisitely she uses her fingers to flip through the menu and hold her coffee to her lips.

This lady appears to have lived through the roaring style of the 20s and managed to carry it with her through the decades and transforming it so wonderfully into a style statement for the present day.

In homage to those turquoise driving gloves and the lady that embodies elegance, I dedicate my autumn/winter gloves style to colored bare backs.