On being myself

You spend your teenage years alternating between desperately wanting to fit in and dying to be different. Finding an identity is something not many of us accomplish early on, yet we are always someone, since, you know, you can't really be nobody. Like I stated somewhere, on one side (can't even remember which) of the blog's front page, I am "emerging" from my teen years. Officially I already did, several months ago, when a mysterious calendar page was turned in some weird mysterious place, making me 20. Twenty. Five years ago, that seemed way, way, way off into the distance.

As you may well know, emerging from one's adolescence is kind of hard work. All sorts of choices to be made, things to deal with. Trying to decide what is true and what is crap from the sea-full of quotes, advice, norms and social pressures. You are of course free to periodically change your mind, learn your lessons at your own speed, even make mistakes.

But then, one day, you come to a realisation that makes everything fall into place. It may be very obvious to some, or a tough nuggets kind of situation to some, so brace yourselves: you can only be yourself.

Sure, you may spend a while being wrong about who you are. Or playing at being someone else. It may even be fun or satisfying for a period of time. But, eventually, we only reach our full potential when we are entirely ourselves. No censorship, no "I shouldn't say that", no hesitation.

On a personal note, who am I?

Unapologetically, I'm an almost-blonde Eastern European 20-year-old girl young woman with mild feminist and liberal tendencies, who loves fashion in all its shapes and forms. I love both hard rock and hip hop, pretty floral things and rugged weird stuff. I'm horribly mean and pretty kind at the same time. I prefer TV shows over movies because I can't let go of things. I'm good at languages, but study management&economics (and marginally suck at it, thankyouverymuch). I haven't blogged here in 2 months, and I am, at the same time, regretful and not sorry at all. Also, lately, I've become proficient at taking sh*t from no one.

A post a month

I don't like to draw much attention to the frequency with which I post. It's not the greatest thing that recently it's taking me weeks and weeks to summon the willpower to think of something fashion-related I want to talk about, do a little research, and write something.

But it's all too obvious, and I hate feeling like I owe something. I hesitate to type this, and literally erased the sentence a few times before letting it be, but I'm wondering if fashion blogging is my thing after all. Don't get me wrong: I love fashion with all my heart and will always obsess over things like a hem of a dress in a Dior show or what the models' hair meant in that other show, but it makes me feel very... first-world-ly to try and maintain a blog strictly about that.

What's more, it's the strictly-fashion talk that I've been trying to keep lately that I think makes it so difficult to find inspiration. I'm indeed a busy girl, but it's not like I don't waste enough time every day on other things, so I can't justify my inconsistence on that. Also, I'm simply reading different blogs and other online publications that focus on other things.

The tagline for the blog, scribbled in the header under the title, reads "A little life, a lot of fashion". But there's a spark in me that says maybe it should be, "A little fashion, a lot of life". It sounds a lot less catchy, and I probably won't change it to that, but what I'm getting at is that I'm considering changing the direction of the blog at least a little bit. Make it more culturally aware, perhaps dip into feminist issues, lifestyle things. And maybe then the fashion that will surely resurface will be an awesome, breath-of-fresh-air type of occurrence.

I definitely think this blog needs a breath of life. Or maybe I'm just in finals season again and procrastinating, like when you clean your room to avoid studying.

Prom season makes me sad

...because it only reminds that my prom season was a year ago. And I'm kind of feeling a pang of regret over how much excitement I've forgone for focusing on studying. But alas, there's no reason for regret, because the past doesn't exist anymore, and for something as trivial as this, I can only console myself by endless browsing.

A beautiful vintage dress from Asos

D G dress

Dress

Gown

Matthew Eager gown

Amsale gown

Amsale gown

Dress

So there, a selection of gorgeous dresses of all sorts of prices that would lend themselves quite gorgeously for prom night. Sigh. Is it okay if I buy a nice gown just for the hell of it? I mean, I'll wear it... sometime. Someone in my family is bound to get married sooner or later, I have like 30 cousins.

How about you darlings? Are you in prom season? Do you wish you were? What kind of dress would you wear? Let's discuss!

Fashion is a mini-universe, just meaner

1. Heels are difficult to walk in, we all know that. Runway shoes are worse, because they're essentially prototypes.

2. Models are tired at this point.

3. Did that meanie seriously walk past her and kept on going as she was crumbling to the floor?! Can you imagine the humiliation, and how little that did to help?

4. Kudos to Suvi Koponen and Daria Strokous, 'nuff said.

5. I have a nice big post about my new crib in the works!

What do you think about this video? Is it relevant for the fashion industry? I have to admit I have shameless fun with these moments(remember Jessica Stam falling head-first at Fendi and laughing about it?!), but this was different.

Why it's OK that you're NOT in the front row

Every fashion blogger fantasizes of being in the front row at one point or another. And while anyone can participate in a shopping mall fashion show, it's the high fashion that entices people. It's actually pretty common that we want to be in the room, not necessarily in the front row.

So why is it OK that you're not prancing aroung New York City right now?

1. Because it's not physically possible. Imagine how big the venues would have to be to fit all the people that would be willing to go. It would end up very similar to stadium concerts. And that's logistically, financially and artistically unreasonable.

2. Because not everyone can really handle it. While it's very pleasurable to envision yourself changing from one fancy outfit to another, glamour is tiring. We all know it's not very easy to make ourselves look our very best, especially non-stop for a month, and the thought that a street photographer is always somewhere near you can be pretty unnerving.

You may not be Leighton Meester, but streetstyle photogs take thousands of pictures a day of everyone and anyone.
Source: wwd

3. Because it would take away from the exclusivity. High fashion is by definition exclusive. Its price tags and limited stocks make it available, whether we realize it or not, to a select few. The 1% if you will.

4. Because fashion lives and thrives throughout the world, in the most unexpected places, not only in the "fashion cities". You can see jaw-dropping style in most any city. The bigger the city, the bigger the chances, actually.

5. Because style doesn't have to be of the "high" variety. We've all seen outfits that were fabulous, despite the fact that they cost a fraction of a designer handbag. Incredible style can come from thrift stores and high-street shops, from that quirky boutique on your street or even from outlets. It's all about what you with what you have.

This is literally 4-5 minutes from my Uni. And there's a Longchamp store to sigh near.

Have you ever been to fashion week? Do you wish you were there?

Remembering a genius

Two years ago today, the entire world learned of a fashion designer's untimely death, whereas the fashion universe was shocked and pained to lose its avantgarde prince: Alexander McQueen. It was a tragic time and the magazines, the papers, not to mention the blogs, boomed for weeks and months afterwards. Our world had been painfully shaken and we could not get over the imensity of our loss.

Countless people who had never met this man truthfully suffered as they imagined a future where there would be no Alexander McQueen show to rock their soul. We all sighed in relief when it was announced the label would go on. We immediately wondered who would replace him. We were again relieved to see Sarah Burton do honour to her predecessor. 

The exquisite Shalom Harlow during the SS1999 show. Seems a long time ago, yet so timeless.

      

Lee McQueen, as friends called him, had climbed to the top of the ladder, his inimitable shows being one of the most eagerly awaited events of every fashion season. He was a revolutionary artist, and his ideas in many ways produced a paradigm shift in the industry.

We learned that even in this age there can be innovation, and plenty of it, and that beauty can be found in the most unexpected of places.

Fall 2008

If anything, we learned the look of a shoe wasn't quite established. 

Most importantly, we learned that there is no limit to which art can be taken.

And for all these invaluable lessons, we stand with our heads low today, two years after his passing, wondering "What if...?".


Rest in peace, prince. 

It's here! Oh the excitement!

Did you think style freezes along with the temperature? Europe might be dragging its feet through ruthless bouts of low temperatures and icy winds, but a new fashion season is starting up, and New York is where it's at right now.

What is going on in Bryant Park and around? Why, goodies. Countless. Starting with, in my mind, Rachel Comey, one of the designers to the cool girls, a less high brow Alexander Wang, if you will.

Always a relaxed (if not minimal) brand, Rachel Comey doesn't disappoint in aptly tailored garments, always leading to those shoes that I just know will be must-haves come Fall. 

Awesome collage look. 

    

                            

The colour palette is lighter than what you might expect for Fall/Winter, but all the leather and wool make it convincing enough. My favourite look is probably the last one I posted, with the awesome combination of silver skirt and black belted sweater. 

Derek Lam's 10 Crosby line could very well also be called Hanne, Hanne Gaby or Hanne Gaby Odiele, because as his favourite model, she's the muse of the collection, modelling it for the second time in a row. Actually, the lookbook was shot in her own apartment. And it's just as want-able as the previous one.

Good signs for the season, my friends. Good signs! And if New York is the home of the impossibly sophisticated cool girls, I can't wait for London's outrageousness, Milan's hotness and Paris's elegance! 

Have you seen any FW2012 collections? Which one's your favourite?

Christian Dior & I'm free

Christian Dior announced revenue over 1 billion dollars for the first time ever. Not too shabby for a company that went through a heartbreaking (for me, heh) scandal not too long ago.

Following close on the heels of their Couture collection and just before the upcoming Fashion Month, this prompted a close look at said couture collection. 

Now I'm a Galliano fan. Through and through. I was and kind of still am heartbroken that he's not with Dior anymore, because to me that was the pairing of my favourite designer and my favourite label. So I have a hard time getting used to someone else trying to fill his shoes, and I said my peace many times over that first couture collection where the best looks looked like cupcakes and the worst, like mumus. 

But this time, it's a different story. Gaytten learned a lot standing by John Galliano for 16 years, and he put it into practice in a clean, sophisticated collection that stands tall even by Dior standards. 

 

To me, Christian Dior is femininity, grace, cinched waists and sheer fabric. All of which was there. 

Wonderful neutral colour look on gorgeous Romanian girl Andreea Diaconu.

I loved it! Intricate florals, draping and asymmetry, neutral colours and splashes of red, loads of sheer fabric,  deconstruction and careful finishes all in one show. One great show. 

I wasn't feeling the final looks too much (see below) because of too much tulle, big overwhelming bow, etc. So Christian Dior Haute Couture Spring 2012 wasn't a masterpiece, but it was beautiful.

What did you think? What was your favourite look? 

P.S. I'm done with exams! Can you tell?

Arms in the air!

Anything you say can and will be used against you. Kidding, ha. 

But this really is my current state of affairs. I have two exams left (woo!) that I want to do well on, and between that and furniture shopping there's little time to breathe (i.e. blog). 

P.S. Ikea is hell on Sundays. Is there a time when it's really empty? I wanna go and take my sweet time to buy all the decor stuff - photo frames and mirrors - but I can't stand the queues. 

P.P.S. they have the best hot-dogs. Yes I just said that. 

The joy of new apartments - yay!

Hello darling friends, 

I've got great news! After months and months, my sister and I are moving! We've found the dream apartment, well, my dream apartment that my sister is slowly falling in love with, and moving date is less than a month away. 

So, enter endless scouring of the web, looking for decor&design inspiration. 

I like all-white bedrooms, and lots of pillows.

I REALLY do love white bedrooms. 

Quirky chairs and cute poufs! 

Visible spices!!!

Inspiring workspaces!!!

from this tumblr & this tumblr & this site & this tumblr & this tumblr

What are your favourite design ideas? Do you have any awesome blogs for me to visit?

The mirage of the red carpet

I have a guilty pleasure. I admit it. I eat up celebrity news (and by celebrity I mean Angelina Jolie and Jennifer Garner, not Snooki and Ke$ha!) like they're going out of style. That said, red carpet season is like a second Christmas for me. There's just something about the impossibly pretty dresses, many of which have simply no other possible destination than the red carpet.

I have a weakness for Angelina, and while she's somewhat human, sometimes she pulls off something so. freakin. wonderful, that I'm just speechless. This Atelier Versace she wore at the Golden Globes is one of those times, and Style.com agrees. 

Elizabeth Olsen is such a pretty girl. And the dress she wore at The Critics' Choice Awards is gorgeous.

Salma Hayek all dramatic and glamorous in Gucci also at the Golden Globes. 

Elle Fanning looking so cute and age appropriate in Rodarte at the Critics' Choice Awards. 

Tilda Swinton in my favourite designer, Haider Ackermann, looking so cool.

Who were your favourites on the latest red carpets?