Category Archives: Fashion

Newsletter item of the week

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Miss Selfridge faux fur leopard trim coatThe gorgeous Miss Selfridge’s Leopard Faux fur trim coat, headlining their newsletter today, now features on my wish list – it is just perfect for me. I love everything about it: the taupe color, the leopard print faux fur trim and the cut. Could do with a higher wool percentage, but it is just too cute – and at £85 I think it is well priced.

Another items (or better, items) that caught my attention this week were the Quontum dresses being sold by Vestry. Although I did buy one in a similar style from Miss Selfridge (the Bengaline mesh dress, in green), I really like the colourful straps.

uontum dress

My favourite one is the Quontum Criss-cross strappy back dress –  it is a plain black dress when seen from the front, but as you pass, heads will definitely turn – hot! A great clubbing/partying dress but I think that at £60 and if you are going for the mesh one, the Miss Selfridge has an edge, at only £39.

Not from a newsletter, but this week I went to Aldo and saw their Opdyke bag, in several colours and a lovely fur trimmed flap. I really like the “cognac” and the black ones, but they have loads of different colours. Very cute, £38.

Cyclical fashion: dip-dye hair

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Nicki Minaj's rainbow dip-dye hair

Minaj's rainbow dip-dye

Lavoisier’s conservation of mass law tells us that in nature nothing is wasted, nothing is created, everything is transformed. I really like that – even though the principle is really used for chemistry and mechanics, I do believe things are cyclical, and fashion is no different.

One example, of many, is platform shoes. I have worn platforms twice in my lifetime – not when they became hugely popular for the first time, in the 60’s and 70’s, but when they had a brief revival in the mid 90’s and recently and for the past two years they have been everywhere. And the trends keep coming back to haunt or delight us, albeit with a modern twist but recycled nevertheless.

Anyway… I saw the dip-dye hair trend on Vogue recently, and even though it is something I will never consider (I am too much a colour coordination freak to do that), I thought it was worth a mention.

It is transformed from the past – what we see today, an almost polished look, with well treated and well coloured locks is reminiscent of the bold colours grunge girls wore back in the 90’s.

Niki Minaj’s is my favourite, just because it is a different twist on the trend, and I think it suits her.  If to be tried at home, I suppose colourful hair inserts could do the trick. If you think this one is definitely for you and are feeling brave enough, here is a tutorial on how to dip-dye your hair.

I am also not that keen on the ombre hair seen in the same Vogue gallery (super overgrown roots, giving the hair that lighter colour at the tip). I like my highlights retouched, thank you very much.

cyndi lauper

Cyndi Lauper shows her true colours!

Funnily enough, over the weekend, as I watched old video clips on obscure music channels quite late at night, I saw the ever fabulous Cyndi Lauper singing True Colors, back in 1986. Of course, her hair colour has always been flamboyant to say the least,  and here she also has a second colour on the bottom layer of her hair, but you can see the orange dip-dye-esque colour there.

It does, however, work for some (certainly worked for Cyndi), and in my opinion, worked better when it was part of a lifestyle.

Would you venture?

 

New season campaigns

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Sigrid Agren, Joan Smalls, Emily Baker and Abbey Lee, with boys Lenz Von Johnston, Anthon Wellsjo, Duco Ferwerda, photographed by Mert & Marcus. Just checked out this Vogue picture gallery on the best shots from this season’s advertising campaign.  Luxury brands, big names and great photographers – I really loved this selection.

The Gucci shot, by Mert & Marcus, is by far my favourite, I adore the colours – this is the kind of new season image I have in my head  – the outfits are luscious, there is fur, there is drama, (there is a guy!!!), the composition is great, the light, the make up… all so wonderful!  Yet, what I really love about this picture is that it oozes decadence.

I was also keen on the pictures from Armani (image 5) , Tom Ford (image 11) and this amazing dress from Donna Karan (image16), wow!

Must be noted though, as much as I like Helena Bonham-Carter/think she is a good choice for Marc Jacobs/the shot is indeed imaginative (image 22), to me, it looks a bit odd, as if she is a cut up mermaid and even though I think this was the intention, it just makes me feel a bit funny. Having said that,  the more I look at it, the more I like it,  in a very weird way – Bonham Carter is definitely the right choice for such a quirky snap!

Which one is your favourite?

My pre-A/W 11-12 wishlist

Posted in Accessories, Dresses, Fashion, Shoes by
midi River Island skirt

To midi or not to midi? Regardless of length, the colours are spot on!

As the shops tease poor souls like myself with brand new shop windows in anticipation to the new season, I have been making a wish list of items I think will be key in my wardrobe for the Autumn.

I have quickly warmed to the colours I have seen around and I am looking out for mustard, navy, cobalt and petrol blues, grey, rich golden beige, tan, burgundy, and jewel tones. Very pleased that colours will seep into the new season, and I look forward to explore palettes I haven’t before (like navy blue, weirdly). It also makes a great change from the usual mostly dark wear for the colder months.

From the wish list below, I have already bought a few but most are yet to be purchased, I am keeping an eye out for them – watch this space!

1. Midi length skirts – still not sure how I will fare on one, as I am quite short and the midi has always been a no-no (as far as my mirror tells me), but it really looks like midi will be the only length for the coming season, I may have to embrace.  Almost bought this cutie one from River Island, fell in love with the pattern, but sadly, after all the garments on my size were defective, I’ve gone off it a bit.  I am officially on midi skirts watch.

Primark mustard lace dress

Bargain!

2. A navy blue blazer – I am a big blazer fan (even though in the office they always ask me why I look so smart), and I have put an order in for a lovely one from H&M (have to say, their A/W collections is very nice!)

3. A checked jacket – it’s cute, exhales some countryside Englishness and can have a mix of all the colours I am into at the moment. H&M, once again, has a cute one for a unmissable £19.99!

4. A tailored coat  that has feminine details –  this one from H&M is pretty much what I want, as design goes, but doesn’t really seem that warm. I suppose I have to touch it, try it on and see, so I placed an order (not due until mid August).

5. Dresses – a mustard lace one, bought for a steal in Primark (£17), a burgundy, a cobalt blue and a purple-ish, still to be found!

6. Tan loafer heels – I bought some cheap ones from New Look, 10cm chunky heels, very Maggie Thatcher! Turned out to be a good fit, sizing is spot on and they are quite comfortable, as they are very square, so no squashed toes!

7. Flat tan leather boots – for the daily grind. Have my eyes on one from very.co.uk, the Love Label Dustin riding boots, a true staple. At the moment, site says it ships in five weeks, so might wait a bit to order.

8. Statement earrings – yes, they are back. I remember when I was about 16 and these massive, heavy American Indian heads, dangling with all sorts – metal feathers, beads, the kitchen sink, you name it – were all the rage. I love big earrings.

9. Statement rings – in the new season colours – don’t think I need to elaborate on this one, this post says it all.

10. A choker – I haven’t been big on necklaces lately, but want to jump on the choker bandwagon, my mum has always been a big fan. Not sure if I want a very flamboyant or a more demure one. Might love it so much and end up buying several.

Topshop Glam suede shoes in green

11. Emerald green heels – tried to bag a super bargain from Zara, but that proved to be a fiasco. Instead, went for the highly affordable Topshop Glam court shoes, in green suede, for £46.

12. Mustard and navy blue tights – tights tights tights, I really love tights. I remember when I arrived in England, I felt so cold, but so cold that I couldn’t even bear the thought of wearing tights in the winter (I used to wear four layers: 2 tights, leggings and jeans, 2 socks!). Nine years on, I don’t think I’ve worn trousers for the past two winters!

As we say goodbye to short sleeves and bare legs, I am sure more tendencies will catch my eye – I will be posting them avidly – but I think these are certainly a great flavour of what is yet to come, and will help me step into the new season in style!

A/W 11-12 trend alert: jewel tones

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Gemstones

Sparkle! Sparkle!

Really excited to read that jewel tones will be quite trendy for Autumn/Winter 2011-12. As a colour lover, this is great news; I can see a (yet another) new obsession coming.

I love the fact that emerald, amethyst, sapphire, topaz and ruby colour pallettes will be gracing our wardrobes – the fact most people dress in greys, browns and blacks in the colder months just makes it more miserable. A colour splash will certainly help to brighten up the day!

I had already spotted the trend, which started shy at the end of the summer collections,  at the back of the bright colour blocking bandwagon, and is growing as the new season collections come around – I have already purchased some items in line with it (mustard dress/tops and emerald green shoes) , and have my eyes on some sapphire-coloured pieces.

This is also a great excuse to buy statement rings with a massive stone!

Check Vogue’s picture gallery with the sparkling hues.

Rich!

Cute clutch bags from Claudine London

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Strolling around the market in Covent Garden, I came across the Claudine London stall, dotted with colourful and sleek clutch bags.

The  art-deco inspired design is very unique. The lovely Claudine herself was manning the stall,  and she told me that each bag is hand made, with silk and velvet, and the perspex panels are sprayed individually, so they are all different (most bags have different colour on each side)!

From the Diffusion line, I loved the “Meriel” bag (pictured), which I picked up from  the stall and held on to longingly. Apparently,  the “Belle” is more popular, due to being bigger, thus enabling you to fit more  in. The price for the smaller bags is around £50.

She also told me that she is working on one of the bigger bags of the collection tonight, the one she had on display was a gorgeous asymmetric delight of a bag!

Even though the online shopping page of her site has been removed as it is going through improvements, she said if I get in touch she will post the desired bag to me, or she will inform of her next Covent Garden market stall days!

So, if you are looking for a clutch bag that is elegant, unique, can make an outfit and a statement, look no further!

Zac Posen sale items at the outnet.com

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Amazing, killer Zac Posen gowns going for 70% off at Outnet.com.

If you are looking for a very special dress for a very special occasion and have a bit of money to invest on it, I would definitely go for one of these.

My favourite is the Paneled Silk gown, so elegant in classic black and nude/grey (pictured),  I love the back detail – a true red carpet dress,  down from £4,210 to £1,230!

I also love the Pintucked stretch-silk gown in orange, the Assymetric chiffon gown in lavender, the Strapless crepe jersey gown in red and the One shoulder stretch silk gown in red.

Hooking up with my (shoe) crush

Posted in Fashion, Lifestyle, Shoes by

Velvet Mushnik feather trim shoes, very.co.ukWell, the say you never forget your first love. Maybe it wasn’t love, but I have previously opened my heart about my very first Autumn/Winter 11-12 crush,  the Mushnik velvet feather trim shoes from Very.co.uk, which I came across on Coco’s Tea Party blog.

It turns out it is now available for sale, and the price is even better than publicised before: for a mere £38 you can get hold of these lovely shoes.

So I did – I could not neglect the powers of this crush, also, I really obsess with stuff.  I have succumbed to buying A/W items in July. There is no hope.

First of all, having never ordered from them before, I was very pleasantly surprised with Very’s service: placed my order on Monday 25/07 at around midday and requested delivery to a Collect+ point near work (I am now a massive fan of Collect+, everyone who retails online should use them!) and by 10am on Tuesday 26/07, I received a text saying my item was ready to collect. Thumbs up for them.

Velvet Mushnik feather trim shoes, very.co.ukNow, back to the shoes – they are very period drama like – maybe it is the velvet, or the deep burgundy on them, maybe it is just the combo of the fabric with the feathers and “jewels”, it just hides enough of the peep-toe, making it ideal to wear with thicker tights in the colder months. It is a statement shoe, but without being too overpowering.

It is quite true to size, a comfortable 4, almost a 4.5 to be exact and even though it has 5 inches heels, there is a considerable hidden platform, I found them rather comfortable (I was wearing them for ages to get the pictures taken, still to see how they fare on a night out!).

With my eyes on the A/W trends, I have decided I will wear them with a mustard lace dress I bought (ok, alright, the shoes were not the first A/W item I bought this season, go on, judge me!), and I think it will look fab!

I have now more staple items than ever on my new season to buy list, and if the thought of cold, dark, 30-layers-that-make-u you-look-ginormous 5 months to come  is enough to make me depressed, building my new season wardrobe is the silver lining that keeps me going!

*P.S.: I might ogling and dribbling over A/W stuff, and even buying a few (I am actually suffering in silence, trying not to max out my credit card on new season stuff!)- it doesn’t mean I gave up on summer – never – even if it is grey, wet and with temperatures so pathetic that are just above the winter days in my home country.

The magical Jacques Townhouse

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Yesterday was the last day of the lovely Jacques Townhouse – Chando’s House got an apple and pear makeover into an indulgent girly hotel for this fabulous pop up venue by Jacques Cider.

I am very glad I made it – I certainly had a the most amazing time. Even thought they started the 10- day event with invitation only admission, they soon posted on their Facebook page that invitation was no longer necessary, and people would be served on a first come-first served basis within their daily 17:30 and 19:30 slots. When I first read it, I thought I’d never get in; that there would be long queues (and I really dislike queues, especially after a day at work!), so I decided not to go.  However, the fact that I saw the open invite first thing in the morning on Facebook was, to me, a clearl sign that I should not miss it.

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The entrance to Chandos House was deliciously decorated with apples and pears. Even though I got there at 17:28, there were only around 15 people waiting ahead of me. Soon after 17:30 a bright red lipped hostess came out with a clipboard and the queue started to move, with small groups of people being let in.

The perfect welcome was delivered by the front of house staff, including the fabulous Miss Monroe, in the hotel reception. They enthusiastically (and with impeccable posh accents) told us about the different rooms of the house and what we would in them: the Photo Studio, Wardrobe of Wonders, Trendtellers, Style Bar, Beauty Parlour and Enchanted Garden.

Each one of us was given a little key to the bar, which unlocked your 2 free refreshing Jacques ciders. We were also offered mini doughnuts and I had a bellboy escorting me up the stairs arm in arm to the Wardrobe of Wonders, which were very nice touches!

Keen to unveil the secrets behind each door, I entered the Wardrobe of Wonders, chose clothes from the racks and accessories, and posed for the camera (have to say, I do not think that this was my best shot from the 3 they took – it is not possible!!!). Waiters went around with trays laden with crispy cider, and girls (including myself) shrieked in excitement or burst into laughter when looking for accessories and trying on clothes.

After that, I went into the Trendtellers room, where I created a feather head band and stencilled my own Jacques canvas bag.

With my newly created items in tow, I went downstairs to the Style Bar, and claimed my first drink, an orchard fruits Jacques cider. Glass in hand, I moved on to the Enchanted Garden, exquisitely decorated with all sort of nick knacks. I was offered popcorn and sat around, soaking in the atmosphere and detail (and checking in on Facebook!).

I then moved to the Beauty Parlour, where I had fluttering eyelashes applied, and cheekily asked for a second treat, and spoiled for choice – between eye, lips or face make up, a massage, a hair do or nails painted –  I settled for eye make up. In hindsight, should have gone for a massage, which I really need – however, my “beauty before comfort” motto shouted louder.

With smokey eyes and lashes so fluttery I could have caused a tornado,  I  collected my second beverage, this time a fruits des bois Jacques cider, and went back to the garden, where I just sat and relaxed – until it was time to leave, but not before grabbing my goody bag, which contained another canvas bag and a bottle of cider!

So I made my way home, smiling and marvelling about all the weird and wonderful things I encountered, enchanted and looking forward to next year’s magical townhouse!

Lagerfeld for Macy’s

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So, I read on Vogue  Karl Lagerfeld is designing a line for Macy’s.

Now, that is exciting, not just because it is designer going high street, but because the prices also seem good – from only $50! I love designers, but my pocket not so much – I seek inspiration in high fashion, working my bargainous ways to make looks or trends my own (which I can wear to work and out, but mainly, afford!).

All I need is to get my hands on something, I am particularly enticed by the statement jackets!