Alice Temperley
The English rose dispels her dress-up 101. By Christene Barberich
Cool British girls make it look so easy. Pearl Lowe and her daughter Daisy, Kate Moss, Bay Garnett, they've all got it—that extra-special style something. More fearless than French girls, less uptight than Americans, this quirky-confident English élan is unmistakable, and designer Alice Temperley has it, too.
Beginning with her namesake brand, which launched in 2000, Temperley has injected her own magical sense of playful femininity into a thriving womenswear line, a new collection of handbags, and a seasonal run with Target that debuted last fall. Temperley is most known for her sweeping party gowns, but her latest collection for fall/winter '08 proved she's just as skilled with crisp tailored jackets and vampy leather pants. Here, the British belle distills her own style theories, from Klimt to the catwalk.
We always start with the hot list. Choose the five things that sum up your style, as in your everyday mainstays…
1. Bright red lipstick. "Passion by La Bella Donna."
2. Little, fitted black jackets. "I have about 50 of them, including a funky very-waisted Westwood 1940s-style and another brocade and lace Victorian one. Also, boys Victorian clothes are good in general for small waists."

From left: Alice in her signature red lipstick, two little black Temperley London jackets from the fall/winter '07 and '08 collections









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