Just too cute for words. And the lugagge… *sigh*
Love!
All available at the Lulu Guinness website.
Category Archives: Accessories
New season campaigns
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?
Chandelier earrings
I have only just mentioned I am after statement earrings and as if by magic, Topshop headlines their newsletter with these gorgeous green chandelier earrings. It must be a sign!
Different green stones (translucent, opaque and iridescent) give it some texture; I very much like that the design is quite different, like weighing scales or flower hanging baskets. The earring is also a good size, at 5cm length, and priced is £14 – plus, they would complement very well my emerald green suede shoes, also from Topshop.
My second newsletter pick goes to Miss Selfridge with this pretty Ditsy pussybow dress for £46 – really like how it is styled for the newsletter: with burgundy tights, green cross-body bag and “vintage rose” sandals (for me doesn’t look much vintage rose, it is more brick coloured – that lovely warm burnt-dark-orange, leaning towards red). Love the look.
My pre-A/W 11-12 wishlist
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.
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!
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.
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
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
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!
The magical Jacques Townhouse
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.
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!
Put a ring on it
A make-up person? Yes. A clothes-coming-out-of-your-ears person? Sure. A more-than-a-centipede-can-handle shoe person? Hell, yes! I never, however, considered myself a ring person. Never cared for them, furthermore, at one point I even worried about the possibility of wearing a wedding ring.
Childhood treasures
When I was a child, I had a lovely tiny gold solitary ring with a blue sapphire. I remember crying so much when the stone fell, and my mum got it replaced with the dinkiest ruby ever. I also had a little pearl ring. I quickly grew out of them and had to have the little ruby ring broken in order to remove it from my finger.
On my 13th birthday, I was given a diamond solitary ring (not a massive rock – small, but with amazing clarity, colour and cut). I also grew out of that, after having it resized once, I had to get it cut out of me! Yes, it seems that I tend to hang on to things, until someone physically removes them from me – but that’s another issue altogether!
And I never fussed over rings, maybe because I got traumatised by wearing a “commitment” ring for 3 years from my very first boyfriend, with our names engraved and all – such an old fashioned thing that has nothing to do with the person I am; it haunts me to this day – I have bad taste shivers to the day when I think of it!
Making a statement, a finger at a time!
In the past years, I bought only a couple rings, discreet sets of 3 with flowers mainly. In the last couple months, however, I have been totally crazy for them – maybe because the current fashion dictates they come big, bold and bright (and there is virtually nothing like that I don’t love), maybe I just decided my fingers need adorning – and I have amassed a little collection in a very short period of time.
The funny thing is, one day, when I failed to put a ring on, I felt kinda naked on the DLR on my way to work. Could the rings be my new earrings? Time will tell!
Shopping fever
I am infected by a pesky shopping bug!
I have been compromised, and have the worst case of shopping fever in a while. It is not related to the sales, only 4 of my sea of purchases was actually from the bargain bin.
It seems to be contagious: 3 of us in the office are suffering from similar symptoms.
In the past 2 weeks, I bought: 1 pair of trousers, 3 dresses, 2 skirts, 1 shorts, 5 tops, 3 high heels, 2 pairs of flats, 3 rings, 2 earrings, on top of very expensive flights to Brazil.
I need some help, thinking about setting up a support group!
Versace for H&M
So exciting, I might, for the first time, camp outside the shop… in cold November!
So Many Lovely Things 
