Inspiration of the week...

Ladies and Gents I give you: The sweatshirt skirt.

(photo from: The Sartorialist)

I've seen this done before with a crisp whit men's shirt, but never with a sweatshirt. And that is exactly what I love about this photo. This young lady has taken that initial idea a step further, just beyond the limit of what is "stylish" and what is "out there" and yet it still works.

Are you brave enough to wear your sweats like this?

Perfect Cool in Summer Heat...

I'm so in love Karla's outfit!! This is perfect summer cool to me. It's lady like without being too girly. Light, airy and colorful, stunning shoes, killer bag... perfection!

(photo from: Karla's Closet)

I neeeed those pants in my life!! Which goes to show, a woman's shopping is never done. :-)

Inspiration of the week...

I'm not a big Freja fan. I know shock, horror, fashion blasphemy!! lol

But I do love this photo.

Why? Because it inspired me in a very unexpected way. I've been suffering from a lack of inspiration for the past 5 months and just couldn't figure out why. Seeing this image reminded me of why I love fashion. I realized that it's the high fashion, high glam, high gloss, fantasy images of editorials that really inspire me! So although I really enjoy street style and personal style blogs, I miss my magazines.

Inspiration of the week...

So each week I want to share with you the photo that inspired me most in the past week. First up is this photo by Tommy Ton for Style.com.

I just LOVE this outfit: Creating maximum effect with essentially very simple basic pieces by choosing dramatic colors. Bring on the color blocking this spring and summer! And can you see the little leather cord around the waist? Perfection!

Most Coveted: The Leopard Clutch

Every time I see a leopard print clutch I still longingly go: "Ooooooh want one!" Here are all the shots I've collected in my various inspiration files... so far.

(images from: Stokholmstreetstyle, The Vogue Diaries & The Fashion Spot)

Comfort for the Leather Lovers...

I love leather pants, but the super tight, crotch hugging Russell Brand look is not always appropriate or comfortable for that matter. I'm really loving the baggy leathers that have been popping up lately. Paired with a great pair of heels, they're a really chic alternative to the biker chick look.  Here are some great looks that are inspiring me at the moment.

(photo from: All the Pretty Birds)

Alexander Wang Fall 2009

(photo from: Style.com)

(photo from: Garance Doré)

(photo from: Style.com)

  What do you guys think? Is baggy leather for you?

Creme Deluxe...

This is a Fall/Winter look I've been obsessing over...

I just love the subdued blend of colors and how you can really see the luxurious quality of the fabrics. I can only imagine how soft and comfortable this outfit must feel. I would replace the shorts with trousers to take  this look through winter though, because freezing legs are... well... just not comfortable.

Burberry Fall 2010...

It's probably the Blue Sweater, but I'm really liking these looks from Burberry's Fall 2010 campaign right now. Loving all that rich navy blue and leather!

The blue sweater...

Sometimes just one image is all you need...

(photo from: NYC Run Fashion)

... to accept that summer might very well be over... and be totally okay with it. This photo went straight to my "Fall 2010" inspiration folder. This is perfection.

About Skirts...

I picked up two skirts the other day. One reminded me of Carine Roitfeld and the other reminded me of Christine Centenera. Can you tell which is which?

Need help?

Yeah, that wasn't so hard...

Anyway, I'm with in love the detailing on the skirts.

Some quick outfit ideas.

Please excuse the quality of the photo's. My camera battery died mid post, so these were taken with my phone. : )

Monsoon Rains...

That's what this beautiful image by Raghubir Singh is called.

The word it brings to my mind though is: RESILIENCE.

The resilience of these women with their fragile looking bodies bracing themselves against the wind and rain,  yet remaining in the middle of it instead of running for cover. The resilience of women all around the world with our perceived fragile dispositions (we are the weaker sex they say, but they lie), braving the world and life on this planet with so so few cultures that really, honestly honor women. Resilience.

Iconic...

One of my favorite images EVER...

Richard Avedon -  Dovima with Elephants.

In with the New...

...and as I embrace the New the old slips away into the shadows of the past. Gone.

Did you know that Shala has a blog? Check it out here. I find her exquiste and intriguing and inspiring.

And this too:
(click on image to enlarge)

Very "Amazonian Warrior Queen". I love it.

Image from: Vougue Korea April 2010. The editorial is called "Lovely Bones"* photographed by Rafael Stahelin.


* How BAD was the movie?! Seriously!

Victoria's a 10!

I have to admit that I like Victoria Beckham. And I have to admit that I sometimes, buy a magazine, because she's on the cover.

So was the case with 10 Magazine Spring 2010 issue.

I love this shoot. In my personal opinion curly hair suits her better than the sleek boyish styles she usually wears.

 

  

 

(images scanned by me)

Call me shallow if you like.. it's okay... I don't mind.

Call her shallow if you like... That's okay too... All I'm going to say is: You try living life in a fish bowl, keep your marriage going strong for more than 10 years (which in it's self is a challenge let alone being married to a footballer), raise 3 kids (all boys), do it all in style and then come back and try to explain to me why she, in your (by that time) expert opinion, has no substance.

We'll talk then.

Baby, it's cold outside...

The weather here in the Netherlands is positively Siberian at the moment!

Okay, I exaggerate. It's more "Winter Wonderland".

But it's cold, sooo cooooold! Almost makes me long for typical Dutch winters (lot's of rain, but temperatures generally above freezing). Almost. A very dismal alternative...

Time for some summer inspiration, yes?
 
From Hapers Bazaar Australia November 2009.

Marie Claire Brazil November 2009.

 H&M Spring Summer 2010

 

  

  

The good news is, summer will come in it's own sweet time. The bad news? All we can do is wait until it's finally here. 

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.

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... :)