To be honest, the accolade has been a long time coming. There were times when I’d almost given up hope, but finally it’s official: I’m cooler than Kate Moss.
Kate, you see, was at the Saint Laurent show in Paris on Monday night wearing a very short skirt, very high heels and sheer black tights. Charli XCX and Hailey Bieber were also front row in sheer tights and stilettos, which means the kids have obviously got the pins/spikes/tights memo too, and you’ll have to forgive me if I suppress a wry smile: welcome to the club, ladies! What took you so long?
Pins/spikes/tights is a look I road-tested when I was 19, to everyone’s satisfaction. I’ve never deviated from it since, so it’s good to see Kate, Charli and Hailey giving a modern masterclass in how to wear it. Kate was in an oversized Le Smoking, half of the classic Saint Laurent trouser suit which lesser mortals might have paired with the trousers. That was it, just jacket on, don’t ladder your 7 deniers, legs out.
Moss at the Saint Laurent show
GILBERT FLORES/WWD VIA GETTY IMAGES
Charlie XCX wore her spikes and tights with pink frilly hot pants, and Bieber’s hot pants were lemon with a white lace trim. It is true that both were what I’d have called French knickers, not hot pants, but apart from being cooler than Moss — did I mention that? — what do I know? Up top, they wore chic little blouson bomber jackets, which might be a bit blouson and cropped for me, but hopefully that won’t put them off.
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Either way, you know you’re onto a good look when you’re photographed in front of the Eiffel Tower but it’s cropped out of all the photos. Over the years I’ve watched indulgently while Kate and all the rest of the fashionistas toyed with other, lesser, flatter shoes. I counted my Manolos and bided my time.
When they said that trainers were the new spikes and prairie dresses were the new miniskirts and dungarees with cowboy boots were not actually a terrible idea but a clever new twist on something or other, I smiled and kept my own counsel.
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But the fact is that bare legs aren’t always practical and black opaques aren’t always the answer. There are nights when sheer are what you need and it is therefore gratifying that here they all are, this trio of fabulous women, conceding that I was right all along.
I might balk at wearing just my knickers out to a fashion show because I’m not as young as Charli or Hailey, but hot pants/French knickers or whatever you want to call them are obviously A Thing if you’re young and fabulous and out on the razz in Paris.
Hilary Rose
MICHAEL LECKIE FOR THE TIMES
I’d wear Kate’s Monday night look in a heartbeat, although granted it might have been a bit much given that I was in Banbury on Monday night, not at the Saint Laurent show in Paris, which is a shame but there we are. Maybe next time. What Kate has perhaps only now realised is that as long as you funk it up right, pins/tights/spikes is a classic crowd-pleaser. It’ll take you anywhere, with the possible exception of Banbury.
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She had big gold statement earrings, a neat scarlet manicure, a sleek little clutch bag and big black shades. A bodyguard brought up the rear with her Birkin bag, which I’d like to hope had the matching trousers inside in case it got nippy, and a pair of flats in case she had to run for the last bus.
It’s worth noting in passing that this look works on everyone. La Moss would probably be the first to admit that she didn’t get where she is today because of her legs, which are a bit bowed and knobbly-kneed, and honestly? I’ve got better legs than Moss. I’ve also got the spikes and the tights and, for me, short skirts never went away. (If hemlines permit, it’ll be black sheer hold-ups, not tights, and let’s never rule out suspenders, because you just never know when they might be useful.)
Failing that, pins/spikes/tights. You heard it here first. And you can thank me later, Kate.