Perfect Outfit, Perfect Day

This is going to be a short post, dear readers. The sun is shining, the birds are singing and everyone seems to be in a state of utter delirium because of the arrival of spring.

I am one of those people going berserk over the first beams of sun. I adore spring. I breathe spring. I am spring.

So that is why I would rather go outside and enjoy this beautiful April day instead of sitting behind my laptop writing blog posts. No offence.

But don’t worry, dear readers. I won’t leave you empty-handed. Because this post is not only a celebration of spring, it is also a celebration of the perfect spring outfit. It is feminine, funky, cool, retro, classy, elegant and quirky all rolled into one. This colourful outfit is the embodiment of a sunny perfect day, with the light blue representing the fresh breeze of air and the soft orange and coral capturing the warmth of the sun.

It is fabulous. It is spring. But first and foremost: it is YOU!

Enjoy!

Spring 2014 Men’s Fashion: Dos and Don’ts

With spring in the air, I think it is about time we focus on what we want men to wear this spring/summer. Because no matter how fabulous you may look in your new outfit, all of that glamour will disappear, if the man walking next to you looks like a boring drab.

The following list is my personal view on this season’s trends. So dear male readers, take pen and paper because here are the dos and don’ts for this spring!

Do: Flowers here, Flower there, Flowers everywhere

What better way to embrace spring fashion than by introducing some flowers into your wardrobe?

I love this nonchalant, casual version of flower print in the collection of Dries Van Noten, because even the biggest fashion nitwit will be able to pull off this look. (No offence 😉 )

And if you want to try something bolder, go for this oriental floral print by Prada.

Important side note: Make sure you don’t look like Hugh Hefner.

That’s a no no.

Do: Think Pink

To all the pussies out there, who are afraid to wear pink: Start simple with a couple of pink accents instead of going for the full pink look. This outfit from Versace shows you how it is done.

Once you’ve grown accustomed to showing some pink, why not try a pink jacket. This sporty yet classy coat from Lanvin is absolutely fabulous and über cool.

And last but not last, for the dare devils among you who like to shock with an overdose of pink:  what about this flashy pink Tom Ford suit?

Don’t: Shorter than Short Shorts

I consider myself an admirer of the fit and muscular male body and I am usually a fan of men showing some of that fabulously tanned skin, but – dear God!- short shorts are just not flattering. Even the handsomest of men with the most amazing thighs would not be able to pull this off. It’s simply… too… short.

 

Don’t: Tune in for the Tunic

No matter how much they may have appeared on the runway this season; the well-tailored tunic is just a hideous example of experimental fashion gone wrong.

I mean, what the hell is this?

Game Of Shoes: Kit Harington is the Face of Jimmy Choo’s New Men’s Collection

Rejoice, dear Game Of Thrones fans and shoe shoppers! Jimmy Choo, our favourite shoe brand, has named Kit Harington, our favourite Game of Thrones hotty, the face of its new men’s collection!

Game Of Thrones fans all over the world were already in a state of utter oblivion when the new trailer of season 4 was released a couple of days ago and this exciting news will probably only add fuel to the fire.

Why?

Well, because it’s Kit Harington! Wearing nice shoes!

Duh!

Now, before you start thinking: “This is all very exciting and all, but I just don’t really care about men’s shoes…”

Think again! Because Jimmy Choo’s men’s collection is pretty awesome. Here is one of the campaign ads for his Spring/Summer 2014 collection:

Nice, huh? And if you still aren’t sure why you should be jumping around out of pure joy, maybe the words of creative director Sandra Choi will convince you:

“Kit has a natural and alluring masculinity and an effortless sense of style. His cool attitude and smoldering sensuality belie a true British gentleman.”

Amen!

To conclude, I think it is needless to say that I am going in complete Kit Harington overdrive right now. Game of Thrones… Jimmy Choo… There is only so much hotness a girl can handle!

PS: In the very rare case that you should not be drooling over your keyboard at this very moment, here are some pics of his latest movie Pompeii.

You’re welcome! 😉

Saturday Shopping Spree

Shopping is good for the soul: It elevates your mood, brings a smile to your face and just makes you really really happy. It is the equivalent of treating yourself to a spa day, but with the addition of new clothes that you can hang in your closet.

When I went shopping this week, it became clear to me how much I like pink.

I bought a pink bag.

Pink sunglasses.

And a pink sweater.

I’m starting to think I am a bit like Barbie, only sophisticated, with a brain and with no desire whatsoever to start a relationship with a Ken lookalike.

But pink overdose aside for a moment, what do you think of my new closet assets? 🙂

Ha! I thought you would do that!

Another exciting thing I would like to share with you all, is the fact that I bought orange lipstick. When I wrote about it on my blog last week, many of you confessed to loving orange lipstick. So cheered on by all you orange lipstick enthusiasts, I decided to buy one.

Not surprisingly, it is the best lipstick in the world! I bought the Gelée Tangerine lipstick from Yves Rocher. It is sensuously creamy, intriguingly shiny and looks absolutely splendid with my fiery red hair and blue eyes. (Mental self-five)

If you thought things couldn’t possibly get any better, think again because my shopping spree was not yet over!  I also bought a coral pleated skirt! As you may remember from one of my previous posts (No? read it again here), I absolutely adore pleated skirts in all their flirty femininity. This one is no exception:

I kept twirling around, watching my skirt float through the air and feeling insanely glamorous…

Sigh.

Is it just me or is this spring going to be incredible?

Oscars 2014: Red Carpet Beauties

Last night was the night we – fashion divas par excellence– had all been waiting for: the Oscar 2014 red carpet!

Without further ado, here are my favourite looks of the evening.

Cate Blanchett was one of the big winners of the night. Not just because she won an Oscar for Best Actress for her brilliant performance in Blue Jasmine, but also because she looked like a true modern-day goddess in that Giorgio Armani dress.

One of the other winners, Hollywood’s newest it-girl Lupita Nyong’o, looked stunning in this low-cut baby blue Prada gown.

Jennifer Lawrence sticks to Dior like dog hair sticks to Velcro, but in this case her Dior-obsession is completely justified. She looks simply breath-taking in that bright orange gown with peplum effect. Love her short, combed back hair as well!

I am so jealous of Angelina Jolie. Not just because she is the world’s most beautiful woman, but also because she got to wear Elie Saab Couture! I really need to find myself a Hollywood A-lister, so that I can wear glittery dresses with sheer elements as well.

Another Hollywood star rocking an elegant short hairdo, it’s Anne Hatheway in Gucci.

Oh my, Sandra Bullock is the epitome of style and elegance in this magnificently blue Alexander McQueen dress.

Honestly, I am on the verge of hyperventilating right now. They must have slipped some kind of style pill in everyone’s drink, because literally every actress is bringing her A-game. Julia Roberts, shining in Givenchy Haute Couture, is no exception.

Emma Watson looks like an old-school Hollywood diva meets fashionable rebel in her figure-hugging Vera Wang dress.

Dear Jada Pinkett Smith,

Please don’t let your husband’s Razzies bring you down. You look gorgeous. Absolutely gorgeous!

I can’t discuss a Red Carpet showdown without including Kerry Washington. I love the silhouette of her Jason Wu dress, but to be fair, I am far too busy drooling over that gorgeous lipstick colour to be able to pay much attention to her actual outfit.

Every time I see Meryl Streep, there is one thing that immediately pops into my head: God, I want to look like her when I get old.

Seriously, that woman has got some amazing style genes.

Everything about Kate Hudson’s dress is simple perfection: the super low-cut cleavage, that shiny creamy white colour, that awesome clutch and that ridiculously stylish cape. I want it. I want it all.

Now, Belgium may not have won the Oscar for Best Film in a Foreign Language (quel bummer!), but our very own Belgian star looked stunning. Go Veerle Baetens!

Red Carpet disappointment: Amy Adams. Don’t get me wrong, she still looks absolutely beautiful and it is a nice dress, but frankly, I expected so much more from a fashion queen like Amy.

Pleats Please: Fashion’s Newest It-Skirt

Once worn by grandmothers reminiscent of their youth and librarians who spend too much of their time reading Nicholas Sparks’ novels, the pleated skirt is now back on everyone’s fashion radar. Whereas the classic pleated skirt was often stiff and made out of heavy fabrics and in previous years usually worn by slutty prep school teenage girls (Remember Britney Spears in Hit Me Baby One More Time?), the new version of pleats is wavy, breezy and simply gorgeous.(Think Elizabeth Taylor Hollywood glamour!)

Although pleats can be seen on practically all garments this spring –dresses, trousers, coats!- it is the pleated skirt that is most likely to stick around for quite some time and not just become a one-season trend.

So forget about old and scruffy. This season’s pleated skirt is all about embracing your own feminine coolness. Whether you opt for soft and breezy Elegance or razor-sharp Origami, these skirts will definitely get some hearts racing!

My favourite designer-pleats were those shown by Proenza Schouler: metallic, razor-sharp and yet oh-so ladylike.

 

Or what do you think about this very alluring Christian Dior skirt? Raf Simons clearly knows how to pair classic femininity with daring sexiness (that cut-out halter top!)

Salvatore Ferragamo’s version of pleats: crisp and clean with an edge

Go for black and white like Celine.

Or if you want something more affordable , this similar version at Zara is totally fab as well!

In fact, there are quite a lot of pleated skirts in the Zara Spring Collection! (So you don’t have to completely bankrupt yourself to look insanely cool and glamourous!)

 

No matter what style you go for and no matter the price category: pleats look pretty perfect on practically all people (Humor me for the P-overload here) 

The Power of Pink: Seeing Life through Rose-Colored Glasses

There is no further denying it: I like a good dash of pink. Just look at my blog. You will practically drown in pink if you’re not careful. I love pink every day, all day. From the soft rosy hues to bright fuchsia colours. From Amaranth pink bedroom walls (Guilty. I’m single, i.e. no need to tone down my girly side) to lavender coffee mugs and orchid teapots.

I love every possible shade of pink, but there is one variation that can totally leave my breathless and that is powder pink. So you can imagine my excitement when practically every designer incorporated some pinky items in his spring collection! It was a dream come true! This spring we will embrace our inner lady and pay homage to all that is feminine and soft.

However, don’t mistake soft for innocent. Powder pink may embody our kind and gentile personality, but it also highlights our superhuman strength. Powder Pink is Power Pink. Forget brainless Barbie. Think Olivia Pope.

In conclusion: here is my rule number 1 for wearing pink:

Pink outside the box: it is not because you are wearing pink that you have to look like exploded cotton candy.

My two favourite spring collections were those of Elie Saab and Burberry Prorsum. Why? Because they used an exuberantly abundance of pink but without turning everything into an overtly sugary candy factory.

Elie Saab, as always, has designed some of the most amazingly gorgeous, flamboyantly feminine and graciously elegant outfits I have ever seen. This man is a true genius!

Burberry Prorsum is also one of my all-time favourite go-to brands, if I want to get fashion inspired. They clearly respect the classics –no one could do a trench coat more justice than Burberry- but still manage to reinvent these classic items  and turn them into an edgy interpretation of old-school glamour.

Of course we can’t all afford Elie Saab or Burberry Prorsum, so here are my favourite pink pieces from more affordable brands.

I simply adore this bold mirror embellished dress from River Island

Mix girly pink with a butchy leather look! This light pink leather peplum jacket is definitely on my to-buy list.

Biker chick goes ultra feminine: sounds right up my alley

Don’t be afraid to mix and match different trends at once: why not try powder pink with a Roaring twenties Feather dress?

Or combine pink with that other big spring trend: the flowy maxi skirt.

We must not forget shoes. With these light pink pointed pumps you will be up in that beautiful corner office in no time. (Because, as you all know, good shoes are the key to a successful career)

And for the very wise girls among us, invest in a chic powder pink bag: Ultra Classy, Ultra You!

This Willow Tote by Mulberry is yours for “just” 2,000 pounds! What a bargain! (Do note the hint of sarcasm)

Or go for a more inexpensive version from River Island:

There are simply too many options for you to choose from, so for once it is allowed to pink before you think.

Fashion at the Golden Globes: The Gorgeous, the Graceful and the Gallant

This award show no longer requires an introduction, so without further ado, here are the great and sometimes not so great looks of the evening:

Zooey Deschanel: One of the most controversial looks of the evening. Some hated it. (those who don’t have a sense of style) Others loved it. (me) I think it looked very glamorous and had a very old-school Hollywood vibe.

Kerry Washington is the living proof that maternity clothes can still be incredibly couture.

Juliana Margulies in a black dress with gold brocade: very chic and streamlined. Although I cannot help but imagine how good that fabric and print would look as a pillow case. Is that weird?

Not only did Amy Adams win a Golden Globe for best actress, she also won my stylish heart with this extremely low cut but ultra classy red dress.

Sofia Vergara is normally the epitome of bombshell sexyness and style but this time she opted for an explosion of black fabric. She kinda looks like a high-fashion oil spill or Ursula from The Little Mermaid.

Maternity wear part 2 : Olivia Wilde. I absolutely adore that sequin emerald green Gucci Dress and the colour is in perfect harmony with her gorgeous eyes. It’s all in the details, ladies!

On to another Golden Globe winner:  Jennifer Lawrence. You would think that those two black ribbons would make her look like a bloated and lumpy version of Cinderella who wrapped herself in her evil stepmother’s bubble paper. In theory , this Dior dress literally checks every box in the not-so-flattering category, and yet she pulls it off and looks amazeballs. I don’t know how she does it.

Lupita Nyong’o in Ralph Lauren. I love everything about this look:  I love the off-the-shoulder red cape effect. (It looks edgy and yet super elegant!)I love her sleek short hair (short-haired women rule!) and I love her gorgeous face and beautiful smile.

Oh dear.  Sandra Bullock, trust me when I say that I absolutely love you and your amazing acting skills but Jeeeezus Christ what the hell are you wearing???The fabric is totally wrong, the shape is unflattering and the colours are just… meh. It’s  like a dress made by one of the Project Runway contenders, who spent too much time fighting with all the others instead of sitting behind the sewing machine. I’m sorry, but this just makes me want to shout: Auf Wiedersehen!

I am in absolute awe of Zoe Saldana’s dress!

I cannot explain why though. The different patterns are weird, the shape is odd and yet it is smoking hot and oh so daring. She is without a doubt a total fashion goddess.

Cate Blanchett was in every possible way the winner of the night. She won a Golden Globe for Best Actress (absolutely deserved that by the way, Blue Jasmine is fantastic) and her delicate lace dress makes me drool. That is the stuff dreams are made of – my dreams anyway- and damn girl, you are totally rocking the sexy back!

To be honest, I had kinda forgotten Kate Beckinsale even existed since the only movie I ever saw her in was Serendipity from 2001. But good God that is one winning look!

Now on to the Hollywood men!

Yes, Bradley Cooper does have a radiant smile … and his tux fits like a glove indeed… but dude, go easy on the spray tan! Your face looks painted instead of bronzed.

Matthew McConaughey, looking very stylish in his velvety green tux jacket.

I cannot discuss a red carpet without including my two favourite Hollywood hunks: Leonardo DiCaprio and Idris Elba. The former eventually won the award for best actor for his performance in The Wolf of Wall Street (woohoo), whereas the latter was nominated twice but went home empty-handed (boohoo). Anyway, Leo looks very dapper in his bow tie and Idris -without any form of tie- looked very bangable. As always.

We Need to Talk about the Onesie…

…because it’s ugly… It’s awful… it’s unflattering… and it just looks really ridiculous and goofy.

In short: Onesies should never be worn outdoors. And yet, that is exactly what many people ended up doing in 2013. What happened to the world?

Since when did it become acceptable to wear baby pajamas in public? You’re adults! You should not be wearing long-legged, baggy animal costumes with fleece lining and zippers reaching from the neck to somewhere far below what is morally justifiable. You really shouldn’t.

To make things even worse, celebrities are contributing substantially to this trend deplorably universal frying of all stylish brain cells. Justin Bieber, One Direction, Cara Delevingne, Rihanna, Miley Cyrus, Brad Pitt,…Everyone wears them outdoors. In public. For everyone to see. As if it is the most normal thing on the planet.

Let me tell you something, dear celebrities and all the others who are suffering from an episode of acute stylophobia: It is not normal. People should not be wearing onesies to go shopping. They should not be wearing onesies to go for a walk. And they should definitely not be wear onesies to go to the pub. (Seriously, where is the fashion police when you need them? )

One of the arguments that is often used in defense of  the onesie is that it is cozy and comfortable.

So is my granny’s 1920s floral print tent dress but you don’t see my wearing that in public, do you?

“But it’s so nice and warm!”

Ha! Do you know why you’re feeling warm while wearing a onesie? It is because everyone around you on the street is burning you down with their eyes out of shame and transferred embarrassment! That is why!

The only person who actually managed to pull off a onesie was Ed Westwick.

Although I am assuming that the reason behind my approval of his outfit is solely based on his distractingly sexy jaw line and peek-a-boo chest hair…

Now, I’m not saying you cannot wear a onesie. You simply cannot wear it outdoors. Indoors on the other hand is perfectly fine, applauded even.

Wear it when you’re sitting in front of the fire place with a good book. Or when you’re watching Titanic for the umpteenth time. Or when you’re writing a dreadfully boring paper. It doesn’t matter what you’re doing, as long as you’re wearing it indoors, nothing can hurt you.

Take an example of Beyoncé and Macklemore.

 

That is how you rock a onesie.

Behind closed doors.

In the meantime, I’ll keep myself busy making fun of all the celebrities in onesies.

 

I mean, come on!

It’s delightful, it’s delicious, it’s de-lovely: Heart Prints in Fashion

I’m in a romantic mood today. Seriously, my day is filled with little elements of romantic-desiring behaviour and it isn’t even two o’clock in the afternoon yet!

Need some proof? Okay, here it is:

One: I have the urge to re-watch the Notebook. Or Titanic. Will probably watch both.
Two: I’m overdosing on John Legend music.
Three: I’ve already lit four scented candles in the past thirty minutes.
Four: I bought myself a huge box of chocolates. (Admittedly, I eat chocolate every day but today I’m going particularly overboard on the cocoa)
Five: I winked at a handsome stranger.

See? I’m practically on the verge of throwing hand-cut heart confetti at everyone in the street.

Given this romantic attitude, I think it is time to highlight some very lovable fashion for you all.

For years, romantic souls like me had to deal with those dreaded skulls on every possible garment. I assume people loved this trend because it made them look tough, but to be honest, all these skulls just reminded me of death and horror movies. I mean, when people look at you, wouldn’t you want them to associate your personality with joy and love, instead of death and walking zombies?

Anyway, apparently I was one of the few who actually thought like that. But fear no more fellow romance- cravers: the era of the skull print is over!

This season’s print is all about showing love and affection. In a society in which showing emotions is –unfortunately and to my great frustration- frowned upon, this trend encourages us to step away from this collective coolness. This season, we are done remaining frozen and incapable of expressing our emotions. Let it out people!

And a first step to a more open emotional life is buying yourself some heart print clothes. This print isn’t just something you wear on Valentine’s Day, the symbol of love can be worn every single day of the year. These prints will make you feel cherished and alive. Drop that veil of calm collective posture, ladies. Trust me, it won’t make you vulnerable. It will only make you drop dead gorgeous.

This amazing trend was launched by Burberry Prorsum. The creative team behind Burberry put heart prints on practically every available piece of fabric. Apart from this very lovable print, the collection had everything a girl could possibly wish for: a silhouette of tight pencil skirts and breezy blouses, fabrics to die for (from soft cashmere to elegant leather or daring translucent rubber)and the elegant colours (beige and bordeaux) make the collection look feminine, not girly.

Even guys are allowed to show how much they love us!

These shoes from Charlotte Olympia are called “Love Me”.

Now, I don’t think that will be much of a problem.

If you’re looking for a subtler approach to the trend, heart-print accessories might be something for you!

What about these adorable socks?

Or these cute glasses?

For the daredevils among you: don’t you think these tights with encrusted heart knee pads are just mesmerizingly beautiful?

After such an overdose of heart-shaped loveliness, I think it’s only appropriate to seal this post with a big kiss.