Fashion Blogger's Guilt

In the time I've been blogging (2 years on and off on several blogs and several situations) I've discovered a very  particular and very unpleasant feeling: what I call fashion blogger's guilt.

In general, fashion bloggers, this overwhelmingly female group, may be considerably less tech-oriented than most other Internet authors. These are women, a lot of whom blog as a part-time thing. They have large lives outside of their blogs - which is why it happens that sometimes it's easier to get sidetracked by real life and simply forgo blogging for a few days, or more.

I don't know if I managed to get my point across without sounding sexist towards my own gender, but then again, I am writing this after a Saturday that meant work and study for the finals I am not ready for. The main idea was, that, well, forgoing blogging for a while comes along with a nagging feeling of guilt that in and of itself can stop you from finding the remedy to the situation - publishing a post.

I've been beating myself up for days - I had a wonderful Christmas break, the kind you have when you go back home after 4 months of not seeing your loved ones, but after it, somehow, I couldn't snap back. I had plenty of opportunities to take a half hour, edit some photos and post them, simply saying, "Hey guys, thanks for the support, here how I'm spending the holidays, hope you're enjoying yourselves". But for some reason I didn't. And I kept feeling a bitter dose of FBG, every day, all day.

Which is not ok. I'm a full time student at a very demanding University, I work quite a bit and I'm trying to have a social life - blogging is something I enjoy, and if I can take it to the next level, that's great. But if I cannot, it is not the end of the world.

So what did happen since I last wrote?

• I went home to Romania and saw family and friends, my heart almost exploded with joy
• I partied way too much, including a crazy New Year's Eve party
• I turned 20 (twenty!!!) 
• I returned to Belgium and entered an insane time of preparing for final exams 
• I became forever grateful for the continued support of you guys, I love and appreciate every comment I receive
• I got lots and lots of loving from this guy below

Love,

Jo.

5 fashiony things reserved for the Winter Holidays

1. Ugly Sweaters. Everyone knows this! They are considered truly awful in any other part of the year, but Christmas-themed sweaters are considered cute, fun and even kind of stylish (well, some of them) during the festive season. Bridget Jones made them pop-culture, but these things have been around for ages!

Frankly, I think they're quite cute, on Christmas Eve, you know, when you're being ironic.

2. Festive headwear. From hats with decorative snowflakes to earmuffs and reindeer headbands, this stuff is fun to wear... for a few particular days at the end of December.

3. Whimsical manicure/make-up. This make come off as obvious, I haven't really seen people wear snowflake manicures in April, but it really is one of those little things that are too adorable to pass up in this the-best-part-of-the-year. You heard me!

4. That hat/scarf/pair of gloves your grandma/aunt/someone knit you. Maybe it's the softest thing in the world, or maybe it kind of stings. Maybe the colour isn't even near what's "in" or maybe it's simply kind of embarrassing. But for Christmas, if you see them, and especially if you really miss them, you're gonna wear the hell out of those. Sniff. No, really. I wish I still had something from my grandma. Maybe I'll find a pair of knitted socks or something...

5. Glitter everything. As a very un-glittery sort of person, there is one season in the year when I want things that are shiny and colourful and metallic and all that. For some reason, it's not only acceptable but desirable to me, and you can bet this New Year's Eve I'm wearing something gold.

P.S. I just spent about 10 minutes trying to remember the word for whimsical. It's not that I didn't know the English word for it (it doesn't really even exist in Romanian), it was simply on the tip of my tongue and refusing to come out. Must be getting old. Sigh.

Surely you're also counting the days, right?

Of course I'm talking about Christmas. Not in its commercial sense, nor in its religious one. To me, Christmas equals family(particularly after my first four months away from home) and all the best smells in the world (snow, the tree, Romanian "cozonac" and spiced wine). Oh and the Coca Cola commercials! Always the Coca Cola commercials, they practically announce Christmas.

Photo source

It feels surreal that two weeks from today I'll be on the train between Budapest and my hometown (yes the connections are so bad that I fly into another country thankyouverymuch) and dreaming of seeing my parents and my dog! My beautiful lovely boy who misses me so much, my mom tells me he howls of loneliness. 

This is the infamous cozonac. I was never even a fan, really, but it has a totally different appeal when I'm away from home and thinking of it as the symbol that it is.

Spiced/mulled wine or Gluhwein or "Vin fiert" in Romanian is a staple of all the Christmas visits between friends and family and it's a winter "thing" in our favourite bar back home. 

Photo source

Snow. Oh, snow. I loved snow devotedly my entire life, and always mourned its relative scarcity. Then last year happened, and this is what it looked like most of the season. I want it so bad to snow when I go home, because there are slim chances of it in miserable-weather Brussels.

Ahh, there. I've managed to get some of the I-heart-winter energy out of my system.

P.S. I loved the feedback from my Karlie Kloss post. I truly respect everyone's opinions and some of the comments were thought-provoking. I've been having second thoughts about it, but the truth is I stand by  what I said. However, my general attitude in that post wasn't very Christmassy at all so a new post to head the blog was in order! Oh, and I love you guys for the continued love you show my blog, even if I don't have the time to rrreally be on top of it.

Do you celebrate Christmas? What does it mean to you?

What the hell happened to Karlie Kloss?!

'Scuse the rough choice of words.

But I was "introduced" to Karlie Kloss when she was 16 years old, was known for being a former ballerina and having a special walk. I thought she was cool, and loved seeing her climb higher and higher. I loved how healthy she looked, with those strong legs and childlike softness.

Then, something happened. I think Victoria's Secret happened, but then I'm biased. 

However, you can't tell me this (below) is normal and the Karlie Kloss we know and love. I can accept that she's 19 now and growing up, but growing up shouldn't be growing thin. The fashion world wants slim women, which she was. This is starting to border on unsightly and also, really really really bad in the context of so many women struggling with self-image.

You see, it's not just about one girl being too thin. It's about those big fat (sic!) letters practically saying "this is what you should look like, too." Look at her waist. Look at it! Look how her bones poke out and how her stomach is sunk way into her body. 

I thought a lot about whether to post these photos. First, they are nudity. And while I'm not offended by artistic nudity or fashion photography that includes nudity, I know some people are. Second, they are all over the internet anyway. But in the end, they make my point: what happened to Karlie?

Is it a coincidence that after becoming a VS model she started looking like this? 

When VS models started to appear more on high fashion runways (or the other way around?) people thought maybe the runways are accepting more curvaceous women. But actually, it's the VS models that are getting thinner. Which is terrible, because there are a whole lot more 13-year-olds that are crazy for VS than there are crazy for Givenchy, for instance. And the latter, if they are, they understand a bit more. 

To sum up, I think it's great that Karlie is so athletic. I think exercise is wonderful! But I also think women should be encouraged to be their "own size of healthy", rather than having these unrealistic standards shoved in their face. 

Photos by Steven Meisel for Vogue Italia (a photographer and publication that I love with all my heart, just like I love Karlie Kloss).

Coffee, why so chic?

I'm not a coffee drinker. My very traditional family maintained that children don't drink coffee and I complied happily after sneaking a sip,when I was 6, from my mum's cup and thought it was disgusting black venom.

photo found here

Come highschool, particularly the final year with all that studying, I somehow managed to make-do with mostly green tea and the occasional cappuccino (strictly for fancy reasons, like with friends over even more chic cigarettes called "Vogue"). I was just fine without it on a regular basis. But I LOVED the idea of it.

Photo by Stefan

Now , between a very demanding Business Administration curriculum,working part-time, blogging, and trying to, you know, actually have a life, I'm hitting up the coffee machine at school more often, sometimes north of three times a week. An icky love affair, because for 60 eurocents, you get a plastic cup filled with a dark brown coffee undeserving of its name, but with the same chemical properties. I snare at at all the girls brandishing steaming Starbucks cups and I sigh. I'm too much of a stumble-to-school-no-time-to-stop kind of girl, not to mention Starbucks is $$$.Or should I say €€€?

Photo from here.

Anyways, the point and inspiration of this post was that coffee is just so chic, non? 

What about you? Are you a coffee drinker?

It's all about the avant-garde

When it comes to shoes, at least. 

Don't these peep-toe booties by Camilla Skovgaard tickle your fancy? Even if you're not one to normally go for this type of "crazy" shoe, it's just something about them.

Have you noticed how it's the most outrageous, unusual, never-before-thought-of shoes that are getting the most love out there? Of course it makes perfect sense that the novel should get a lot of attention, but it seems that when it comes to shoes, it's the avant-garde designers that really do change the world. At least this world. 

Gorgeous Azzedine Alaia ankle boots with an intriguing cut-out in the wedge-heel. 

Brightly coloured Brian Atwood's are so cool, I can't even bear it. 

Kurt Geiger loveliness. Seriously, LOOK at those shoes!!!

I was reading the Wall Street Journal (I know, I know, weird publication to think of such things) and a nice piece on Camilla Skovgaard grabbed my attention. And I realized it, that it's special, kind of odd designs of the likes of her, but also Alaia, Brian Atwood or Kurt Geiger have been taking the fashion world by storm. 

Charlotte Olympia Dellal. Win. 

P.S. I want to thank you, friends, for the wonderful feedback and support reflected in your comments. This isn't the most often-updated blog, nor the most outrageously chic, but I cherish every comment I get. You guys are wonderful! 

Something chilly our way comes

Temperatures have been steadily decreasing.
The wind has become icy rather than simply crisp.
The skies are dark, almost depressing. Something I'm told is common of the Belgian winter.
Brussels promises a rough winter.

Which means that it's time to shop for a new coat! One huge, extremely warm and comfortable duffle coat is the only thing that made it with me (in fact, it made it after me along with some of my favourite boots and home-made jam - I love you mum - in a box, months later). So I've been scouring the stores as well as the web for something that I can wear whilst the weather is so chilly, yet not quite winter yet. I'd feel like I'm in a sauna if I were to wear my coat right now.

Anyways, this is the best - and student-budget appropriate - the www has to offer.

Pleated adorableness from Asos for £70.00 (about €85).

Also from Asos, this one is a classic, military-inspired coat that would get me out of a lot trouble, as it's so versatile. (£75) 

H&M makes a tempting offer, this cinched-waist short coat with all those pockets (something I always appreciate in a coat) is only €29,95. 

Just one of Zara's many wonderful coats. The €139 price tag is a little steep for me, but thinking it may be a good investmend tugs at my heartstrings. I mean, look how pretty!

Another wonderful Zara, another heartstring being tugged. Its oldschool Haider Ackermann-like appeal makes me think seriously about shelling out €99,95.

Also very tempting is this cape from New Look, on sale for only €41,99. It's impractical, but it's oh-so-cool. 

Ah, anyway. Which one would you guys choose? Do you have any better sites I should check out?