Thursday, December 31, 2009

Goodbye 2009... Hello 2010!

I've been on a bit of a hiatus these last 2 months... Not from lack of inspiration, but basically figuring myself out, rearranging my priorities and reinventing my life.

I think it's a good thing to re-evaluate and de-clutter your life every few years. Figure out what works and clear out what no longer works for you. At the beginning of 2009 I had no idea what a major "clean up" year it would be. Lots of changes and lessons learnt, some more challenging than others, but in hindsight all good. :)  I am very blessed.

So what of 2010?

In general, I look forward to starting a fresh, as with every new year. With regards to this blog, my resolution is to get more serious about it. Post more often, of course and really give it a more defined character and show you guys a lot more. 

My favourite posts in 2009 were:

More Dash Than Cash

All The Beautiful Women

Marilyn Monroe in Cavalli

I'd like to do more posts like these in 2010 and more DIY posts as well. Plus I'm also keeping the "I like her shoes" and "Seriously?" posts 'cause they are just fun. I'm excited for 2010, I hope you guys are too! So, I wish you safe and merry New Year's celebrations and...


Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Mamma mia!

Don't you love Madonna as the new face of Dolce & Gabbana?!


I love the sensuality of the images. Sure, washing dishes is not the first thing that comes to mind when you think "sensual". Then again, getting elbow deep in warm sudsy water while wearing a skin tight leopard print dress might do it for some... who knows...?  ;-)

For me though, the sensuality of these images isn't in the act of washing dishes (obviously), nor is it in the sexiness of the dress. No, for me, it is her femininity; so strong and mature.

I love her voluptuousness in this photo, the fullness of her face and bust-line.

(photos courtesy of: myfashionlife.com)

I am not going to join other bloggers with their snarky statements of the obvious, because of course, not for a single moment do I think that Madonna slaves over a hot stove for her family or even does the dishes. But in a sense, I see this campaign as a celebration of the women who do.

Sexy is of course more than the leopard print dress they're advertising, but the dress does stand for something. It stands for being all woman in all aspects of your life. Being a strong woman, without loosing your femininity. Taking care of yourself so that you can better take care of your family, especially in the little things like feeding and clothing them. That is sexy!

Also, this campaign is such a departure from the campaigns we are used to seeing of unreal/surreal images that are in total disconnect to anything most women experience in their daily lives.

Am I going too deep here? Am I seeing things that aren't there? Am I just glad to see Madonna in something other than leotard-onesy-bodysuit thingy's she been showing us for the past 2 years...? Who knows...

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Shala la la la...

I saw this pic of Shala Monroque on The Sartorialist a while back...




I loved the classic cut and hem line of the dress...

Then came this one.


(images from The Sartorialist)

I loved the simple clean lines of the dress/coat (not sure which it is) paired with the killer heels. But most of all  the warmth of that smile!

We've been seeing a lot of Shala this year. I hope it's not a one off, cause I'll be looking out for her in the future.

Saturday, November 21, 2009

I like her shoes... redux...

Back in July I  showed you these fabulous lovelies:


 
(photo courtesy of styleandthecity.com)

I still don't know who this fabulous woman with her fabulous bag is, but the SHOES are by Givenchy.


Givenchy's Spring 2009 Couture line to be exact.  Yep, you read that right. It's Couture, not RTW, so it's not widely available in shops. We will just  have to keep dreaming... sigh...

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Oh to be Carine Roitfeld...

I wish I could look this fab on a daily basis...



... and that's all I'm going to say.

Monday, October 26, 2009

I like her shoes....

The girl? Unknown. The shoes? Alexander Wang Spring/Summer 2010 leopard print wedges. They really are some thing special aren't they?

(photo: Jak&Jil Blog)

P.S. these won't be available for the general public till March 2010. Lucky girl right?

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Inspiration Autumn/Winter 09: Embroidered Shoulders...

There is no doubt about it, shoulders are back. Balmain of course being the most prominent example and lot's of other designers doing strong shoulders for AW 2009 as well.

I however, am going to pass on the shoulder pads, because to be honest I have the same problem with shoulder pads as I do with leggings: I wore them the last time they were in fashion and I now I'm strangely embarrassed to see their return. It's like when that obnoxious aunt or uncle calls you by your childhood nickname in front of your friends. Well, maybe less humiliating, but embarrassing all the same. I just want to leave it in the past and move on.

Move on to embroidered shoulders. As far as strong shoulders go, I really think this is the way forward for me.

I loved this Alberta Ferretti dress when I saw it in British Harper's Bazaar. (August 2009)



but then I saw it on the runway...



and I thought: "Blehh..." What an awful fit. What's the point, if it looks better off than on? (don't answer that)

BUT! I've found an alternative! That is, assuming that I would have somehow fallen on my head and consider buying an ill fitting 1.500EUR dress.

This dress was 20EUR!


Considering the price, I know I will have to secure the beading on the shoulders just to be sure I don't loose them. Oh well... I love it all the same. I intend to wear it over jet black jeans with black suede over the knee boots... or velours pants with black sued heels... or with leather pants and black ballet flats... or... with black opaque tights, a white button up shirt and silver flats... or... you name it.

Monday, October 19, 2009

Inspiration Autumn/Winter 09: Leathers...

Autumn's is definitely here now and I'm excited! I know how odd this sounds coming from a West Indian living in a country that is known for it's very changeable and wet weather, but it's true. I might not like the rain, but I love winter wardrobes; soft sweaters, gloves and shawls and coats and capes and boots... lots of boots.

Every season I start thinking about my look for the coming months and collecting images for inspiration. Once I have a clear picture of "the look" in my mind, I work out a wish/shopping-list for a capsule wardrobe and some key items. Of course this list evolves (read: gets longer) along the way, but I basically stick to it and the look I'm going for.

After my laid-back tom-boy baggy jeans and harem pants look this summer I find myself now longing for the complete opposite for winter: A chic, feminine look with a little edge.

One of my loves & lusts of the moment is leather. My inspiration looks:

Jasmin Le Bon in Wallis


Guy Laroche


Pollini


I'm really looking forward to getting some wear out of the leathers I bought back in March, but unfortunately I can't wear what I please to work. There simply is no way I could get away with leather pants, but a leather skirt... well maybe that's a different story...



I wore this today, paired with gold studs, a small gold watch and basically nothing else.

The skirt I found a few years ago at the Queen's Day street market in Amsterdam. The lady sold it to me for 5EUR. God bless her... :)

Monday, October 5, 2009

New Favorite Blogs...

I'll admit it, I am slowly becoming a bit of a blog-o-phile. Here is a list of some of my new favourites that I visit daily:

JAK&JIL: Yes I know I'm late to this one, but okay. I'm a late bloomer anyway. :) I went through the entire blog in one day. It's amazing. Light and airy candids of fashions who's whos.

RDuJour: I'm still going through this blog, but I really like it so far. Why? Well I'm not sure yet...

CupcakesandCashmere: I guess the name kinda gives it way. Food and fashion. Love it!

Sunday, October 4, 2009

Seriously...?

Am I very evil to post 2 "Seriously" entries one after the other? Hm?

Yes... well.., on to the matter at hand: Seriously Karl? I know you don't smile much, but are you seriously telling us that it is okay for your teeth to look like this?! Bitte Karl! Bitte!

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Seriously...?

Oh my, it's been 3 weeks! I really didn't mean to wait this long with a new post. Yes, life has been a bit hectic, but 3 weeks is uncalled for. :(

Anyway, I've decided to introduce a new item simply called: "Seriously?" Because a much as I advocate individuality, developing your own style and daring to dress accordingly, sometimes I see outfits that I just don't understand. Case in point: Beyoncé at the Formula One Grand Prix in Singapore last weekend.



I just don't get it. Why, why, whyyyyyyyyyyyy would you want to look like an F1 girl? Where was your stylist, your husband, your mother even? Not that I get her style either or "House of Derrière" for that matter. But really... Seriously?

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Ageing beautifully...

When it comes to the media's influence on women and their self image, I've always been very defiant. I consider myself lucky to have grown up in a culture where thin is not the standard of beauty. It was really the opposite; thicker, ruebens-esque girls are considered more beautiful. Where I come from, soft round faces and curvy "child bearing" hips are the norm. As a result I have a healthy body image and absolutely no desire to be a size 34 (size 2 US) or *gasp* 32 (size 0 US). And I'm very thankful for that..

I have basically the same attitude about growing older and I really admire women who grow older gracefully, beautifully. Women like Carine Roitfeld, Natalie Cole, Franca Sozzani, jazz singer Nancy Wilson and the stunningly, just stunningly, beautiful Ing-Mari Lamy. Women who take care of themselves and claim their age and maturity, wrinkles and all!

Many women complain about glass ceilings and not being taken seriously, but then turn around and deny or hide their maturity, wisdom and wealth of experience behind a façade of "youth". The way I see it: If you look like a twenty year old, you really should expect to be treated like a twenty year old i.e. inexperienced, naive, insecure etc. This is why men become more "handsome and distinguished" with age and women don't. They accept it, embrace it and use it to their advantage, while women complain about getting older, hide it or are in denial.

Whenever I hear a woman freaking out about turning 30, 40, 50 etc., I can't help rolling my eyes and thinking: "Grow up!" Grow up and get real. Let go of what Hollywood and the media is feeding you. We don't live in Hollywood, we live out here in the real world. And out here, us real women age. Contrary to what the media is telling you, growing older is a beautiful thing. You get to know yourself. You become more comfortable in your own skin and with each experience (good and bad) you get a little bit stronger, a little bit wiser and more confident. Trust me, you get better.

I like getting older. I like the calming effect it has had on me. I even like my Lily Munster streak of grey hair that has grown out since I stopped dyeing my hair a year ago. :) I am happier and more comfortable with myself than I've ever been and I smile a whole lot more than when I was in my twenties. :)


P.S. Check out Dove's "Campaign for Real Beauty". The principle behind the campaign is to "celebrate the natural physical variation embodied by all women and inspire them to have the confidence to be comfortable with themselves." Good job!

Monday, September 7, 2009

Favorite perfumes...

I love perfumes. Hardly a day goes by that I don't wear a scent. I always choose my perfume after I've dressed and done my make up. I think it's just that little bit extra to finish off your look for the day. If that makes any sense...

The scent I choose depends on how I'm feeling or how I want to feel, a mood enhancer so to speak. I believe that scent is very personal. I love when people have a signature scent, so that whenever you get a whiff of it, you're reminded of that person. This however could be a bad thing, a very bad thing indeed.

The story: I once had a boyfriend who wore Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male. I made the mistake of telling him that I liked it and at the time I honestly did, but he unfortunately took this remark as an incentive to douse himself in it. Needless to say we broke up and now I cannot stand Le Male. And to add insult to injury, this was a very trendy scent for a while. All of a sudden men everywhere were wearing this perfume. Gag! I spent many a moment with my nose squeezed shut. Not a good look.

I don't understand people who buy "trendy" perfumes. I could never do that. There are many perfumes that I love, but would never buy for myself because somehow I feel that they are not really "me".

At the moment I have... ehem... eight perfumes in rotation. Some I wear more in the summertime, others in the winter. Some are day scents and others are for the night. Somehow that sounds a lot more mysterious than it actually is. :) But anyway, here they are:

The soft subtle powdery scents:

Comme de Garcons 2: I would say that this is my signature scent. I'll wear this any day, any time of day, any time of the year. I just love it to bits.

Dolce and Gabbana Sicily: I usually wear this in the summer. I like to wear Sicily when I'm feeling soft and feminine. Warm summer evenings, dinner with the BF, feet in the sand, sea breeze, bottle of wine... happy times.


The sultry spicy scents:
Donna Trussardi: Which has been discontinued, but surprisingly easy to find on e-bay. This is my "power scent". :) I wear this when I'm feeling (or want to feel) strong and confident. Weird but true. I often find myself reaching for this perfume when I have business meetings, presentations, job interviews that type of thing. If I'm wearing a suit, I'm most likely wearing Donna Trussardi.

Estee Lauder Youth Dew Amber Nude: This is a winter scent for me and even though it's quite heavy and spicy, I wear it during the day. I do think darker skin tones can get away with heavier scents for day time.

YSL Opium: Special occasions only. LOVE it! An inheritance from my aunts, who wore Opium when I was a little girl. In fact, some of them still do. I like to wear it when I want to feel all grown up and womanly. :)


The florals:
Marc Jacobs: Wonderfully sweet and floral. It's my "girlie" scent.

Cabotine de Grès: This perfume has a very special meaning for me. It was one of my graduation presents from my father and I wore it the day I received my diploma. Now I only wear it in the summer time, when I'm feeling a bit sentimental and missing Dad.


The freshness:

Cartier Eau de Cartier Concentrée: I'm not sure if this is a lady's or a man's scent, but I don't really care, I love it all the same. It's so super fresh, you kinda feel like you've just showered all day long. I love to wear it in the summer when I'm wearing all white. Yes, this too is weird, but hey, I'm allowed some eccentricities right?

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Why are you giving me a boob-job?

While browsing through a large department store with friends last Sunday, one of my girlfriends remarked that it's becoming increasingly difficult to find a bra nowadays that isn't either padded or has pre-formed cups.

My initial reaction was: "Well, that can't be right. Surely there are still normal bra's to be found in this huge store."

But as we scoured the lingerie section brand after brand turned up little to nothing. In fact, after going through the entire lingerie section we found a grand total of three 'normal' bra's. Two of which were genuinely ugly and the third was in a discount bin. This started to bug me. Was it just that particular department store's buying policy or is this a growing trend in lingerie design?

So I've been checking the latest collections of some the major brands and I found that most brands had maybe one or two unpadded/non pre-formed bra's. Only Tezenis and Victoria's Secret had a decent selection of normal bra's.

Seriously? Are you kidding me? What is going on here?

For the record I prefer pre-formed bra's, because frankly the world doesn't have to know when I'm cold. I like that little bit of protection, but that is my personal preference. My friend doesn't like them, because she finds that they make her breasts look and feel unnatural. And this is exactly my point. Not all women want huge breasts, not all women want a generic pre-determined, perfectly lifted and rounded breast shape. It's irritating enough to have the media tell us how we should to look and what size we should be. Now we have lingerie manufacturers deciding for us what our breasts should look like? Please!

Different women want different things and we deserve and reserve the right to decide what that is and how we achieve it, thank you very much.

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

I like her shoes...

I am loving first lady Michelle Obama's Maison Martin Margiela Toe Loop sandals.


They're available at Farfetch.com for €378.

Saturday, August 29, 2009

Jacko-Mania...

Happy Birthday MJ wherever you are!

Check out these brooches by Anne-Marie Herckes. They're miniature iconic MJ outfits. Available at Colette.fr for €105. Soooo cute.








This one is my favorite. Heeheeee! ;)

Friday, August 28, 2009

Vogue's Fashion Night Out...

So September 10th is going to be a big night. That is, if you live in (I suppose, the capital city of) a country with an edition of Vogue. Unfortunately I don't... :( But anyway, Vogue's worldwide "Fashion Night Out" is going to be "a special late-night shopping evening of fun, glamour, limited editions and fashion industry personalities"

Selected departments stores and boutiques participating in the event will be open until midnight. In the UK the proceeds from limited edition t-shirts designed for the event by Vogue's fashion director, Lucinda Chambers, will go to "Crisis", the UK charity for the homeless.

In Germany, the proceeds of a limited edition bag, also designed especially for the event, will go to the Berliner Kindernotdienst, a charity that offers help in crisis and counseling for children and their families.

For more information check out: Fashionnightout.com. For those of you who will be attending, have fun!

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

The Sultan of Streetstyle...

That's what British Vogue called our beloved Sartorialist on the cover their September issue. Congrats Sart!

He's featured in a four page article about him and his work. It was great to read about how he started out and how he works. Here's the article. Remember to click on the pictures for a larger image. Enjoy!

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Berlin foto's...

Here are some quick pics I took with my phone... They're not bad quality either. I'm surprised.

Checkpoint Charlie (taken from the touring bus)



Disco ball??? I should have listened to the guide more closely. I have no idea what this is, but I like it. It's flashy. :)



A memorial for victims of the war.


This was taken at Sanssouci Palace in Potsdam. I like this statue of Jesus, because it's the first time I've seen an image of Christ looking as strong in body as in spirit. Mostly you see only compassion or suffering. This Jesus looks physically strong as well as compassionate. This Jesus looks like he could actually save!


More to come when the BF uploads his 300 plus photo's...

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Back from Berlin...

I'm back from Berlin... We had a good time, it wasn't spectacular or anything, just nice. I get the feeling that you'd either have to visit Berlin a few times or get someone who lives there to show you around before you get a feel for the city. Suffice to say, I didn't fall in love with the city.

We stayed in quite a nice apartment, compliments of Ikea. No, just joking, but the entire apartment, from the furniture to the kitchen utensils, was decorated with Ikea stuff. Cute though...








If you're interested, here's a link for more information.

One thing about Berlin though, there are lots of vietnamese and indian restaurants. I love vietnamese food and indian cuisuine is known to have a wide variety of vegetarian dishes. So when it came to food I was very happy, even though I was the only vegetarian in the group.

Pics coming soon...

Thursday, August 13, 2009

What have my girls been up to?

Amber Rose is kickin' it in NYC with Kanye... You know I need those shoes.




Kimmy broke up with Reggie. (Keep your chin up babes.) And then she went blond! Looks good on her too.




Miroslava is vacationing... a lot. LOVE that dress.




Giovanna has been out and about with Domenico and Stefano. I need that entire outfit.

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Berlin...

I'm going to Berlin for a couple of days next week. I have no idea what to expect. I don't know any thing about Berlin besides its, though significant, very depressing and very scary history.

I'm going with the BF and his folks, so I guess clubbing is out of the question. ;) What does one do in Berlin besides sightseeing? Where do you go, what do you eat? How's the shopping?

I've got lot's of home work to do...

Saturday, August 8, 2009

I like her shoes...

I'm loving Kimmy's Sam Edelman Ginger Gladiator sandals. Ca-yute!




(photos from: Kim's blog)

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Chain link earings...

Don't you hate it when you have a clear idea of what you want but can't find it anywhere in the stores? Grrrr.... I used to, now I just make my own. :)




I made these 2 days ago from a h&m braclet and earings that I no longer wear.



Now all I have to do is figure out what to do with the bracelet I dismantled.

Friday, July 31, 2009

Peachy Orange Silk...

Isn't it amazing what a person can accomplish when they are not procrastinating? :)



I made this dress yesterday. I've had the fabric for more than a year now. My local fabric store had this sort of crushed silk for sale. I bought a few colors, with the intention of making some cute summer dresses and skirts.



Of course I started off great. I made this yellow pencil skirt last year and wore it like this:




... and then proceeded to do nothing at all. :( Any ideas for the two colors left?
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