Blog Post – “Drive Me Mad” 

Blog Post – “Drive Me Mad” 

January always feels like the longest month ever but this year it has been worse than most because I am counting down the days to 13th February and the wait has been driving me mad!!!!  

Not because it’s the day our school breaks up for half term and not because it is almost Valentines Day either – it’s the day that the new Wuthering Heights film is released in the UK and I can’t wait to go and see it! 

From all the teaser clips and production images, to the trailer for the film it was easy to spot that this was going to be no ordinary Jane Austen inspired tale transferred to the silver screen!   I believe its only very loosely tied to the original story and that if you are a die hard Jane Austen fan or fan of an accurately portrayed period costume drama then the film may not quite hit your expectations.  For me, its not about those things, it is all  about the costumes worn by Margot Robbie’s character and how a dramatic use of alternative fabrics like red latex or what looks like cellophane wrap have been incorporated into the beautiful dresses to be far away from what you may expect.   

The press tour has seen Margot Robbie wearing some stunning haute couture pieces – old and new – vintage former runway pieces, some worn “intact” and some looks adapted for a modern twist and all absolutely stunning, mainly following the costume colour palette from the film too! 

I read that Margot’s character has 57 dresses in the film all of which are from an exclusive colour palette of black white and red (the ultimate capsule wardrobe approach then!!!) which made me think about what we do at Tortue.  

Whilst we don’t sell corsets and puff ball style prom dresses or haute couture, we do bring French tailoring and style with our collections that help you to stand out from the crowd (in a good way) as our garments can not be bought in the shops in the UK.   We also never bring more than 500 of any one garment to the whole of the UK helping to give you that exclusive feel to the outfits that you put together.  

We are also all about helping you to mindfully build your own capsule wardrobe of pieces that layer season on season so that pieces you already have in your wardrobe are given a new lease of life in timeless French style based on the colour palette that works for you!  This ultimately saves you money in the long term as you are not wasting money on clothes which may have been impulse buys that don’t work with your existing wardrobe.  

Our supplier in France keeps scraps of every fabric from every garment they have ever created and use these when designing the collections to ensure that the new collection pieces will definitely blend with colours and prints as well as textures from the collection in seasons past.   

So, what do we have in the collection that would fit the bill for the red, white or black colour palette for the costumes in the film? 

This Embroidered V Neck T Shirt in Terracotta red is crafted from a linen effect jersey with a Picasso style image embroidered onto the front inspired by the creative village in France which inspired Picasso to create his art.     

It features dropped sleeves and a relaxed straight silhouette perfect for layering or wearing alone in the warmer weather too.  

Available in sized UK6 to UK24 it looks great paired with our Charlie Chalk Denim jeans and will go really well with shorts in the summer, dark navy/black smarter trousers or blue denim too.  

You may recognise the name of “Charlie” Jeans as this is a style and cut that we have had in previous seasons in different colours of denim.  This time our Charlie girlfriend cut jeans are in a soft chalk colourway and balance relaxed ease with refined tailoring, featuring subtle embroidered detailing across one of the back pockets.  They feature a straight leg that skims without clinging, instead of a zip its buttons fastening and 5 functional pockets for practicality.  

They will look effortlessly styled with everything from oversized knitwear to fitted blazers making them a great foundation piece for your wardrobe and are available in sizes UK4 to UK24 (the smallest size features a slightly shorter inside leg measurement which is perfect for Petites). 

Sometimes all a capsule wardrobe needs to refresh your style is a new top.  If you are looking for one that can multitask for you all year around then this is it!    This top brings understated luminosity to your summer wardrobe!  Featuring a round neckline and “American style” arm holes that create a flattering silhouette.  

The beading adds refined sparkle without overwhelming the design as it’s a kind of polished bronze tone.  Another great piece that can be worn dressed down during the day with shorts/jeans or dressed up with smarter trousers and a blazer for a smarter look too.  

This Beaded Tank Top in Black also comes in a dark navy  colourway and a white version too - all in sizes UK6 up to UK22.  

For a smart/casual option over denim, these Sporty Chic Trousers in Black embody modern ease with refined proportions.  With generous wide-legs and a drawstring waist they give you adjustable comfort as well as a more contemporary feel.  

They are another foundation piece that helps make the transition from weekend leisure to elevated casual depending on how you style them.  They will look equally good with wedges and your sunglasses when you go on holiday or dress them up for evening with the black Beaded Tank Top too!    

If you like a casual style to your outfits, then for a bit of drama this Short Embroidered Jacket in Chalk brings artisan embroidered stitching to everyday wearability.  You could ask “when is a denim jacket not a denim jacket?” and my answer would be when it is this denim jacket!!!   

Its not just the stitching on the back that sets it apart but also the attention to detail right down  to the engraved buttons and the detailing at the cuffs of the sleeves too.  It’s a modern twist on a classic and being in a neutral shade will pair with so many things in your wardrobe from casual to smart right across the board. 

Available in sizes UK6 - UK20 with a straight flattering cut, we recommend ordering your usual size if you like a regular fit or to go up a size if you prefer to have a more oversized fit. 

There are so many beautiful pieces in the new collection for you to explore on our website.  As always, our Tortue collections are only available in limited quantities so when they are gone – they are gone so if you like the look of something I suggest you order it sooner rather than later – don’t wait as we wouldn‘t want you to miss out and have the thought of the pieces you’ve loved and lost “Drive You Mad” 

 Angela x