Vogue India!

Namaste.

My mother came back from Dubai and brought me back a copy of Vogue India (there is no Dubai Vogue and there are billions of Indians there, so that's the one that is referred to).

I have a good collection of Vogues (and Elles and a couple of Harper's Bazaars under my bed), all of which I have read and looked through and admired. However, after reading through the Nov 12 (mum didn't look at the date..) issue of Vogue India, I have never been more... transfixed by just how detailed the clothes are. More than all the Western Vogues I have looked through. This could be due to a number of reasons.

• I am a half Indian person, and my aunts and grandma etc. wear Indian clothes or Indian style clothes all the time, so being around them has probably made me develop a taste for them. I remember wearing mini Indian clothes when I was little and feeling like a princess, because they're all so embellished and colourful. My expression is a bit blank in this picture but it proves the fact that I used to wear Indian clothes. Not the nicest.. maybe.. but still Indian.

• If you have ever seen this blog before, you are probably aware that I have a fascination with really embellished clothes. Elie Saab does fantastic long gowns with sequins and jewels, and Balmain do more embellishments and cool patterns. Consequently, these are my two favourite designers. The Indian designers adopt the same kind of designs, which kind of remind me of ES and Balmain.

• It's so different to British Vogue. Don't get me wrong though, in general, Indian Vogue is heavily westernised. Not only does it feature Chanel etc (which is to be expected), but also Asos, Debehams, Topshop Unique.. And Western/American celebs appear too. But you are reminded that it is an Indian Vogue. For example, gold jewelry is featured a lot because gold is so much more popular in India and Dubai etc. than here. 

• It is also similar. As you will see below, I couldn't resist adding an amazing Dolce & Gabbana dress... you get to experience the Indian designs while keeping well up to date with influences from the West and America etc.

Left: Blouse, Skirt; Rimple and Harpreet Narula.

Necklace, Alpana Gurjal. Bangle, Sunita Shekhawat Jaipur

Right: Lehenga, Ritu Kumar. Earrings, Jewels by Annu Chadha. Bracelet, Bholasons

Lehenga, Cape; Suneet Varma. Pumps, Christian Louboutin.
Ring, Alpana Gujral

Jacket, Skirt; Manav Gangwani. Earrings, SM Jewellers

Sabyasachi

Sunaina Puri

Rimple & Harpreet Narula

Dress, Dolce & Gabbana
Necklace, Pebble London
Bracelets, Ring; Alex Monroe

Whatever the reason, reading Vogue India really opened up my mind to new designs. I predict that Indian fashion is going to get more and more popular, you mark my words.. maybe this post will help it! ooh. People will realise how majestic it all is. And remember that the people making their clothes come from fashionable countries too. India's economy is growing so much.. it will start to have a real effect on the world in not too long.

Well-dressed for Christmas! (part 1)

I got 8 inches of hair cut off yesterday, feels so weird.

Anyway, I think I will talk about christmas over the next few posts, and what you can wear for it. I know I have already done a separate post on christmas jumpers... but I will discuss this topic on a broader level today.

Will be taking high street examples here.

Work Christmas Party
T'is the time to ditch the apron/pencil skirt/space suit/stethoscope that you must wear. Yes it is a celebration, but don't forget that you're still going to be around the people you have to work with everyday, especially the boss. So don't go for anything too revealing. You may think that you can pull it off, but when you've got a few glasses of rose in you, I'm not sure you'll be able to 'pull it off' any longer.

Obviously, it is still a party so you want to look glam, and if you have to wear a uniform at work, you are probably looking forward to feeling liberated and looking appealing to your co-workers.

Clothes: French Connection, New Look, Topshop, Asos (maternity), New Look, Missguided
Shoes: Office, Asos, New Look, Dune

Christmas meal with family/friends/coworkers who are your friends

Clothes: French Connection, Asos, River Island, Asos, Topshop, Zara, Miss Selfridge
Shoes: New Look, Schuh, Topshop

TO COME:
Christmas morning walk (I've heard that people actually do this)
Christmas Day with the fam
and
New years eve
New years day

ooh!

IT ARRIVED!!!!! 

Took this pretty quickly. I was going to do my usual thing of doing a silly face. But that takes time and effort and I have got lots of work on at the moment. But when I do have time, I know exactly what I want to talk about! Bet the anticipation is killing you. Whoever you are. Anyway, will love you and leave you. Will be more dedicated to this blog soooooon!!! 

Tiara withdrawal symptoms

I broke my tiara </3

I wear it sometimes, around the house etc. because it puts me in a better mood. As you can see, I tried to mend it but it didn't work, so I ordered another one. Should be here tomorrow.

I think many people think that tiaras look tacky.. but I think that when designed nicely (i.e. nothing like the above) and worn appropriately, they can be very attractive.  

In honour of my new tiara, I am going to dedicate this post to Garrard & co, who were appointed as the Crown Jeweller in 1843. The company served the Royal Family well and was responsible for maintaining these Crown Jewels until 2007, when G. Collins and Sons took their place.

Name: Butch Pansy Tiara

Made: 1875.

Worn: Rosalie, Countess of Buchan

Fun Fact:  Each flower is detachable and can be worn as a brooch.

Name: Burmese Ruby Tiara

Made: 1973

Worn: Queen Elizabeth II

Fun Fact: This Tiara includes 96 rubies. 

The Burmese believe that 96 diseases can affect the body, 

and rubies are seen as a guard against evil and illness.

Name: Cambridge Lovers' Knot Tiara

Made: 1913

Worn: Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth II from 1953

Fun Fact: The jewels on this were already owned by Queen Mary

Name: Poltimore Tiara

Made: 1870

Worn: Lady Poltimore, Princess Margaret

Fun Fact: Breaks down in to a necklace and 11 brooches

I never knew that tiaras could be broken down like that. It's useful though, saves you having to take different sets of jewellery everywhere.

This is the most expensive tiara in the world. It was property of Eugenie, wife of Napoleon III.
It was purchased in May 2011 for $12.76 million. It consists of emeralds and diamonds. Oddly enough, I wouldn't wear it.

A tiara must have diamonds on it. Rubies and emeralds look lovely on tiaras, but in my opinion, the clear, white diamonds are effortlessly beautiful and will go with any gown! And the diamonds shouldn't be too big, you don't want it to look gaudy. Well. Gaudy for a tiara.

Having said all this, if I had to choose any tiara, I'm not sure I would go for any of these. I prefer more simple ones, which aren't too.. tall? An example would be Kate Middleton's wedding tiara. Very classy.

Kate Middleton's wedding tiara was actually made by Cartier in 1936. It is owned by Queen Elizabeth II and was Kate's 'something borrowed'. Man I wish I could borrow that. I guess the one I ordered from Midco Toys Direct will have to do!

Some fashion thoughtz

Congratulations Manolo!

Let the fashion mentality commence:

• To be honest, I am not sure about skinnies because they can be a bit uncomfortable, and make you feel fat after you've accidentally eaten a lot, or just fat generally. I feel I am not alone in this. And when you get home you have to take them off because it's all uncomfortable and with super skinnies your knees cannot bend properly. Think is, they go with most outfits and are useful for tucking in to boots. And investing in a good pair can really flatter your legs. So I'm 50/50 on those. 

Bootcutz

• I wish bootcut jeans would come back on trend. For people like me who absolutely hate their upper legs, they are a godsend because they really balance you out. 

• I disapprove of fashion blogs which don't say much, or anything... and just contain lots of posts with endless pictures of random girls on the high street or copied internet pictures of catwalk models. That isn't a fashion blog. That is a pictures blog. 

• I am not enjoying Louis Vuitton summer 2013 collection. The 2013 SS show was pretty cool- just not the actual clothes. The polka dot collection was also poor.

• Having said this, Marc Jacobs, however gay he may be, is beautiful.

• I hate counterfeited designer goods, as established earlier. So unclassy.

• Not a fan of the Karl Lagerfeld collection. Not a fan of his mentality- he is so critical. He is far from perfect, he looks so creepy. Although he is pretty good with the fashion side of things (Chanel).

• It is stupid that more shops do not sell size 4. Yes, obesity is high in Britain.... however, people who are size 4 do exist too. Sort it out.

If you hate them, that is.

• Not a fan of Ugg boots. I cannot express why because there are no suitable words- err. Ugly, and I see it as taking the piss out of fashion. they are slippers!!!!!!! so frustrating.

• I love anything that is space inspired!! Be it metallics or actual space/star prints. And shiny clothes! It also includes all things futuristic- like angular clothes or transparency.

• Hate fake leather. To be honest, I probably own fake leather in the back of my wardrobe somewhere, but whatever it is, I don't wear it. Save up for these things! It will last longer too if it is real leather.

• However, fake fur, I will wear. 

• I love the Style Magazine that is part of the Sunday Daily Mail collection. (Only get Daily Mail on the weekends, and it is literally just for those magazines. I am aware that it is an overall unreliable source for current affairs), in particular the what are you wearing? section at the back.

• I feel that Vogue should have a Jackie-esque page/small section in every issue, where the clothes are drawn instead of photographed. That would be pretty cool. Or maybe just one issue to see how it goes.

Aw

• You should save your clothes (providing that they are nice) and wash them, put them in a box. Give them to your daughter in 20 years or whatever when all our current fashions are in again. Firstly, she will benefit from saving a ton of money and secondly she will own clothes that no-one else has! Cheers mothaaaa. (Thirdly, you will feel flattered that she thinks your clothes are nice- providing that she does. Fourthly, it could improve your relationship. No brainer.)

• I really want a princess coat! I think the shape and length is very cute and flattering (providing that it doesn't go out too much). And it would probably make me feel like a princess because it is called a 'princess coat'.

• If you care about how you look to others, do not decide to be 'daring' and attempt to wear clothes that you are most likely going to look bad in. For example.. plus sizes please stay away from high waisted shorts, and shorties, big prints are not the way forward (unless you are teaming it with heels). Unless you have confidence the size of.. I dunno. Wales.

The importance of knitwear messages.

I hate the season of winter. I hate the cold, I hate how expensive knitwear and coats are, I hate how hungry the cold makes me, and I hate how no-one can see my clothes outside because I am always wearing a coat. I hate that sad feeling after christmas is over and I hate the depressing feeling of how much work I have to do when I'm supposed to be all happy because it is Christmas. I would say that I hate the rain/snow, but this is the UK... that stuff is certainly not limited to one season.

However, there is one aspect of winter that I absolutely looove! No it isn't family time, or the festive songs  (in particular the annual christmas Killers song), and no it isn't the vegetarian nut roast that I get to eat when everyone is eating a proper roast (even though these are all certainly pros). It is in fact the christmas knitwear that we all wear during this festive season, to enhance the festive spirit!!!!!!!!! We are all fans.

However, this post is going to teach you that sometimes it is necessary to analyse what may seem like a harmless festive jumper, and consider its positive and negative effects on the wearer, the viewers and society.

Cute: The one on the left. An asos original. This is the one that you would wear in public, not as a joke. The colours make it quite versatile. They do it in red too. How cute. The 'harmless' one. However, the reindeer are all following each other, which could make the wearer feel as if they must follow others in life and discourage them from behaving and feeling like an individual.

Costume: This one is.... festive. Wearing this would definitely make me feel like an elf- the designers have gone all out. Check out the bells. Everyone would know where you are if you were trapped in darkness! This makes it the most practical jumper of the bunch. The use of the belt on this jumper will make the wearer feel secure, both in life and in jumper, which will inevitably promote happiness. The bright green makes me think of neon, and therefore sport- and it will remind me to exercise. Very handy indeed.

Crazy: Another practical one.. Everyone would know where you were in darkness if you wore this too. Notice how there are no presents under the tree, which could encourage the wearer to not be greedy this christmas. And the upside down trees at the top resemble weapons, giving the message that you should always be very vigilant, and try to keep safe when walking alone at night.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Calm: This jumper provides a truly inspirational message. The reindeer is clearly tired out from the stress of Christmas, and from looking at the nose, seasonal illness. However she still looks glamorous. This can improve self-esteem issues amongst all wearers, because it tells them that you are still beautiful on the outside when unattractive and gross on the inside. Also, the female wearer of this shirt will look in the mirror and be reminded that she needs to apply eye make-up before going out. It will therefore encourage even more consumption of goods this christmas, which is a good thing for the economy. Red is also the colour of love, which seems to be a strong theme at christmas time.

Complex: This fancy knit contains so many graphics. On one hand, the theme of love isn't forgotten as the penguins are paired up. This is consequently the middle pattern level in the jumper, suggesting that love is key. The jumping reindeers at the bottom resemble happiness, but the fact that they are at the bottom suggest that they are either drug users or drunk.. which should be everyone's lowest priority. Another positive message there. The message at the top is lovely 'I'll keep you warm'. It is the first thing the viewer sees when facing the wearer. It gives the idea that clothes can speak louder than people. Or that the jumper is almost protecting the wearer. Either way, teach someone a lesson this christmas and buy them this jumper.


Consluion (brief): I hope that you are now starting to realise that you must be careful when buying a christmas jumper. It can give out the wrong message to the viewer. However, most of them encourage positive thoughts- which I suppose is the point of these novelty knits. And they all make excellent christmas presents. Analyse your christmas jumper today!

What to wear when travelling by rocket.

It is Diwali today! I have not eaten that much in a while.. but I just finished all the chocolate I was given. oops. I will go on two runs tomorrow.
Anyway, I have been inspired today by all the candles, and they have made me think about stars, so I thought I'd blog about it. I will frequently update you with songs to get you in to the mood.

Song number 1: Infinity- xx
Got the music on? Good. Keep reading.
A lot of the things I post are about Elie Saab-esque designers. You know, the ones that are amazing but no-one can actually afford. However, today I will focus on high street shops and prices.
Let me just point out that I know that alien/galaxy/future clothes aren't one of the main current trends. But I love them, and it makes this task more of a challenge, which I also like. Also, a lot of the examples I give relate to current trends.As you can probably tell from the design of this blog, I am particularly interested in stars and other sparkly things! In fact, the whole concept of space and infinity intrigues me, but there is no point in delving in to that.

The 'Galatica' Topshop collection reminds me of the Christopher Kane's 2011 Resort collection, which is one of the coolest collections I have ever seen. Check it out here.

Song number 2: My mum and I used to always sing to this song when I was teeny tiny.
Topshop:

Those heels are fierce! The navy suede gives them an element of class, but the glitter platform makes them sexy. I love the fact that they are cut out at the sides, making them more futuristic. Man I wish I was an alien so I could wear things like this all the time.
Oh my god that dress is beautiful. Of course with any space collection, metallics are not a bad idea. I've never fully understood why, maybe it is just because they are shiny. But this is the definition of the Alien Princess in Space Nightclub look. The swirls kind of give me the image of moving light. Maybe the sun's rays through space.
The skirt has a sort of a Prada-esque vibe.. with all the geometry and small triangles. The print is also quite futuristic, as it creates an illusion of angles, much like the skirt itself, which is very unusually structured.

Song number 3: Super duper catchy

New Look: 

These are taken from the glimmer collection:

I think part of the alien vibe is to wear close fitting clothes, because it brings out your curves. A good example is the Ad campaign for the Thierry Mugler perfume. Leggings are pretty close fitting, which is why the pair above would be awesome. They also have a good sheen effect.

Now, in my opinion, to create a space look you can't go wrong with peplum, because it makes the shape of the garment so interesting. And this top ticks another futuristic box, by being so shiny. The sequins are very star-like, and would look particularly nice against plain black skinnies, or you could go all out and team it with black wet-look leggings. Very trendy!

Song number 4: The negative side of space.

Moving on to asos now.

Perhaps a literal example would be the sweater above. At least it gets the space message across! With a statement like this, perhaps tone it down with black skinnies or leggings and some high heels or for a more casual look, some black high top trainers.

There is a good collection of studded clothes on asos, in particular an amazing variety of studded shoes, so check them out. The example above have a fairly low heel, which is conveniently a mini-trend for 2012. And they are really fun! Check out those colours, they represent every colour you can see in a galaxy (almost). The fact that they are studded gives a disco star-esque vibe, as well as makes the texture interesting.

Feeling indifferent to the freezing cold weather? This crop top gives more of a nebula vibe. It would look amazing with a maxi skirt or a high waisted skater skirt. 

I think the three stores that I have looked at are probably the most popular for young adults and teens like myself. I would give more stores but I don't want to keep repeating myself. The thing that I have realised from the research I have carried out is that the space trend links in with so many current trends today- peplum, studs, geometry.. It's pretty versatile. 

Balmain is amazing.

Balmain is one of my top 3 favourite designers. I just re-familiarised myself with Balmain's S/S 13 collection and I was shocked (again) at how unbelievably amazing the looks are.
In my opinion, if you're looking for some inspiration on clothing detail, Balmain is your best bet. I would say that about 80% of the clothes in each collection have some kind of accessory or garment with the most elaborate detail.

The thing I really like about Balmain is that texture is a big influence. I know you could say this about a lot of designer brands. However, Balmain manages to team up all sorts of textures in the same look, for example the velvet trousers with the leather top. Texturing it up right theeeere. There is a massive velvet trend in the A/W 12 collection, it's amazing. And then the next model will be wearing a short belted dress. There is so much variety.

Paris Fashion Week A/W 12

The clothes are so pretty! Which is why I am so completely in love with Balmain. Yeah Elie Saab is pretty too (and just as majestic and awesome- don't get me wrong), but in a more feminine way. Balmain manages to take a short dress and completely bling/embellish/texture it up, without making it look tacky or slutty (in my opinion). And some of the clothes are super revealing. At times, we are talking deep V-cuts and hemlines that end 6 inches below a very defined waist.

Paris Fashion Week S/S 13

I like the boyish cuts. The image below shows the sharp angles of the shoulders, and immediately toughens up the look. The super short length and the fitted waist gives a more feminine angle to the look, but the blazer makes the outfit fierce. Good job!

Resort 13

Another observation is that I rarely see mini dresses on catwalks. I guess designers don't want to risk being seen as 'raunchy', or it is generally easier to experiment more with a longer dress. But for many people, especially the younger generation, short dresses are still very much a top choice. Balmain proves that such short dresses do not have to be slutty.

Paris Fashion Week A/W 12

And of course, I cannot do a Balmain post without mentioning the Balmain Jacket. Michael Jackson would go crazy for this. Rihanna, Madonna, Tyra Banks, and Victoria Beckham also enjoy Balmain. To name a few.

Heeeey!!! oh coooool! Not the same one but similar. 

Outside nose hospital

Balmain: inspiring, unconventional and alluring, it offers so much in each collection. You should go look it up some more!

Oh yeah, this song mentions Balmain at the beginning. This guy is clearly a babe, he appreciates Balmain. In addition, the woman he is singing about is certainly well-dressed.

Size 4 (US 0) rant.

Turns out I did go out for Halloween yesterday, as a witch. Among other things, I wore these boots http://www.newlook.com/shop/shoe-gallery/view-all-shoes/black-pointed-toe-shoe-boot_250452801
They're velvet, which is in right now, so I was happy!

Anyway, I am ill, and that is partly the reason why I have time to post something, as it has almost been a week. I was browsing the Vogue website and I came across this:

Jacket: Akris Trousers: Pucci Shoes: Gucci Sunglasses: Celine Necklace: YSL 

And I absolutely love it. The colours remind me of a sexy Velma look from Scooby Doo. I wish I could pull something like that off. I was actually looking for a coat around this length and spent a lengthy amount of time browsing the shops for one. But it reminded me of the fact that I am so short. Unless the coat is in the petite section, I am swamped in a standard person sized coat. 

And it really bugs me how, to my knowledge, only Asos, Miss Selfridge and Topshop do size 4. I guess it is partly because other retail stores are worried about the fact that it 'isn't a size'. But they are wrong, obviously.. And it does not automatically relate to girls with eating disorders, or encourage eating disorders. Some people are naturally slim. I wish people would understand that the concept of a 'real woman' doesn't automatically relate to girls with 'curves' or girls who are just.. bigger. Surely a 'real woman' is just a woman who is happy with herself, regardless of size?

Just because you are the smallest size out there at the moment, doesn't mean you have a problem! Think of all the campaigns supporting size 22 people and how they should be accepted without discrimination, which I completely agree with by the way. But....no-one reeeeally is born that large. However some people are born naturally very slim.

And you know what? Some people will in fact look at size 4 clothing and it might motivate them to be that size, but that's their problem! Why do the people who actually are that size have to pay for it.. We just happen to live in a society where looking slim is generally more appealing than looking overweight or obese. That's partly why models are generally slim. You never know, that might change (probably wont) and then what are we gonna do? Stop selling size 24's because some people may be pushed in to grabbing a big mac?

I guess maybe the use of anorexic-looking models makes people curse size 4- they get the idea that all people who are size 4 are anorexic.. but nowadays I swear retail companies are using healthier looking models? Check out Rosie H-W. 

Anyway. Even on the rare occasion that I do find a petite section, it's all so expensive (for me)! I know that on Asos, the petite clothes are more expensive than the standard collection clothes, which is totally unfair. I don't have more money than everyone else (unfortunately). I can't help being that size!!!! Why don't stores get it.. some people are size 4. Increase your selection!

I'll just have to wait until the baggy look is in again, then I won't be so pissed off.

Halloween: Glamorised.

Today has been a long, tiring, stressful, hectic day.
But I still have time to write! Check out http://www.livedonow.com/home/london-shopping/, especially if you are a Londoner, or go to London a lot.

I am soooooo excited for Halloweeeeeeeen. It's going to be amazing (although I'm doing nothing.. I might watch a very scary film on my own, get the adrenaline going). It will be amazing for everyone else! Have fun guys!

I still haven't established yet whether I have reached the 'dressing up as a slut' thing for Halloween. I kinda like looking scary. Unsexy makeup. Crazy hair. When I was younger I'd get really afraid of those witch noses that you buy.. so I kept trying to flush it down the toilet, and my parents would get pretty mad but I'd keep doing it.

The one thing that terrifies me in this world is ghosts. And DON'T say that they don't exist, because they do. And even if they don't, then the thought of them terrifies me.
I was thinking of a cool way to be a ghost, instead of a sheet. Gotta be honest though, if someone appeared at my door dressed looking like the picture, I would be pretty terrified.
I'd be a magical ghost. I'm thinking Bollywood. I'd wear a floaty white sari and I would look fabulous. Everyone would want me to haunt them, because I'd be like a scary wave of amazingness.


Maybe ghosts don't always have to look so scary. Chanel's Paris Bombay show is pretty Indian and awesome, so I considered giving an example from that... but I thought I'd go for an actual sari.

This one would be pretty cool (minus the extravagant hair) because it's transparent. And no, I don't mean that in a slutty way. But you're supposed to see through ghosts right? The model looks so elegant, she's a positive ghost, and that gives me peace of mind for a few minutes. I'm not saying dress up in a sari for Halloween, this would be both costly and impractical, but it would be cool to think outside the box like this when it comes to sorting out your costume.

Right now, there are two main ways to categorise True Halloween Supporters. The scarily dressed, and the sluttily dressed. But what about the elegantly/glamorously dressed? That should be a better known option. The sluttily dressed sometimes manage it, because short cuts can def be glamorous. If you think about it, Halloween is a Fashion holiday to some extent, as well as a religious one etc. For pretty much everyone, the main act of Halloween is to dress up- unless you're a pumpkin grower.

There should be like a big Halloween party with everyone who wants this. And there could be designers etc.  and people who work in the industry. The designers could create their own mini collections of Haute Couture Halloween. I think that would be so cool. We could get a runway down the length of the venue and models could display them. Canapes, wine, photographers.. Totally professional. Halloween has the potential to be so glamorous. More people should take advantage of that (unless you don't want to). And everyone would dress up of course.

Bit of inspiration for you, my dear reader:

Devil: Has to be sexy.. the devil is the definition of evil... so no red floaty dresses. Think black louboutins (or equivalent) and maybe something like this: http://images.asos-media.com/inv/media/7/7/6/4/2194677/red/image1xl.jpg I would say this dress is more glam than slutty. If you disagree go for something longer.. http://media.topshop.com/wcsstore/TopShop/images/catalog/62N19BRED_large.jpg That's pretty hot too. Dress as crimson as you can :) It's not plain, it's a statement.
Witch: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpfUbd16k9L7J8NWjoZTcXzB4JNSuV0gOSMGZhWBCS87cjBvuQQjuIMINwDoCnLR5DC7qHRwFJTjk3X91F_EE0ls07qkwrLg4r5UJsZT-P7cT7rQ0WGY3rPwTQVddUub836mgmiEV3kQ8/s1600/Elie+Saab+Fall_Winter+2012-2013+Collection+2.jpg Any of the top ones tbh, couldn't choose just one because Elie Saab is amazing and everything is magical in Elie Saab land.
Ghost: (Above)
Sea witch: I saw this dress and have now decided that sea witch is a popular look. Very seaweed-esque. Make sure you're tall/ wearing heels if you're gonna go for a dress like this. http://media.missselfridge.com/wcsstore/MissSelfridge/images/catalog/18E11KBLK_large.jpg

I hope you have a fabulous Wednesday night!

Charlie's Angels Apparel! (and film)

Angels are like diamonds. They can't be made, you have to find them. Each one is unique.

'I work for myself'' 'Well, your boss sucks'

I've been inspired. I just watched Charlies Angels: Full Throttle and I was so amazed by what they wore, that I just had to share it. Their outfits were SO COOL. This is more of a pictures post, than a written post. I'll write a little bit though :)

I think during the film they've used the classic approach to good and evil. One of the bad characters, Madison (played by Demi Moore) tends to be in Black while the 3 main girls (Alex, Natalie, Dylan) are in white or wearing colourful clothes. Having said this, in the last fighting scene the Protagonists are in black too, which is interesting. Perhaps it is because of the fact that Madison was once an angel (good), but then turned bad- and it is suggesting the the current Angels also have that power.

Natalie definitely has the more all-american girly- girl look. Perhaps not the most practical one when it comes to.. well doing her job.

Dylan is more vintage. She is the most 'streetwise' and rebellious of the three, so wears strong colours such as bright orange in that crazy motorbike scene.

Alex tends to look the most sophisticated out of the three. She wears tight fitting clothes to make her more agile, presumably, and a lot of red and black. She manages to pull it off in a non-evil way. Maybe it's because she smiles a lot!

Costume Designer: Joseph G Aulisi

I really wanted a slideshow of all the pics but Google plus has gone really weird.. So I made a collage. Took me ages. Longer than I expected.

Do a little dance? 

Make a little love. 

Get down tonight.

Videos!

I was gonna call this post "The Ghana Fashion Week Diaries! Day.. oh wait." but it isn't quite as snappy as the one above.
No GFW3! Apparently the third day was a roundup of all the designers etc., so nothing new. Here is a video summing up the collections on the first day:



I enjoyed the music a lot when I watched this. Here is the link to the second day video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYDf4bC3_Z4

Also, unless for some reason, you aren't a friends fan, check this out. I didn't know whether to put this on here.. but it is my blog. And it is my favourite ever scene of friends. And it is fashion related. I can envision myself being the exactly like Monica in this video when it comes to my wedding, even though sometimes in my normal day-to-day life, I can be exactly how Rachel is..

 
Very soon, I will have something more interesting to say, I promise. xxxxx

The Ghana Fashion Week Diaries! Day 2.

Daaaay 2! (6th Oct 2012)
Let's get on with it.

The Opening collection was Brigette Merki Ibrahim designs. Some of the looks are very sophisticated and womanly. I have noticed that this collection pays a lot of attention to the silhouette of the wearer. Ah hourglass shape is often achieved by the exaggerated shapes of the dresses- and it actually looks quite flattering. Big prints are used a lot in this collection.

Mina Evans, a Ghanaian Designer, was next. Her collection featured a lot of icy blues, which was a change from all the prints that have been seen so far. Quite a varied collection too, with some dresses being structured and close-fitting, and some with big peplums and swooshy masses of material. The collection kind of reminds me af fish in the sea, but in a good way.

Nigerian Designer, Oroma Cookey-Gam of Alali Boutique owns a very contemporary collection, with vivid patterns broken up by plain white or black. Tops and dresses with a peplum are definitely a feature. All the models also seem to have their faces covered, not sure why. Maybe it is to give the idea that they are mannequins? Or to mask their identity, implying that any women could look good in these clothes. Who knows?

Next came 1981, an Italian brand (Nana Kweku Brenu). Every piece is supposed to enhance the customers personality. On most of the clothes, bright pink details are used on white backgrounds, and for me, the effect is very strong and visually appealing. Some of the dresses are bright pink,. which is a little overwhelming I guess. In terms of style, most outfits are close fitted and flattering. Mid length cuts are used on pretty much all of the skirts and dresses.

Brigette Merki Ibrahim, Mina Evans, Alali, 1981, Cocolily, Morts&More, Mimi Lee, Mimi Lee, AFG, Christie Brown

Cocolily is a Canadian Brand by Naana Tennachie Yankey, and it was 5th in line. It describes itself as 'daring yet playful'. The dresses are short but floaty, and accessories plain, in order to not distract from the clothing. Not sure whether I approve of the belt in the dress above though..

A collection dedicated to formalwear! Which is by the first UK brand of GFW, Morts & More. The designers are in fact a duo (Joshua Umoren and Sena Mortoo). Bright accents are used on these suits, such as light blues and hot pink. But it is balanced out by the delectably neutral base tones. There are casual suits, very formal suits, suits with no jackets, suits with long jackets, suits that dont match on both halves. But they are all very stylish, I find.

The next collection contains a lot of futuristic styles- I rather love it. It made me add more examples up there, because all the designs are just soooo cool. This is a UK/Nigerian brand called Mimi Lee. PVC and metallics is used a lot in the garments, as well as eccentric ruffles, dramatic cuts such as Peplums and dipped hemlines, which really give a revolutionary look.

A really important message was conveyed through the T-shirts modeled for AFG (Trade not Aid). Though the company is UK based, the T shirts are made from African cotton. It is supposed to promote sustainability within the African Textile industry.  The brand prides itself as using resources which are 100% African. All the Tee's use one colour for the text and one colour for the background, making the message clearer. The slogans involved 'Love from Africa' and 'African Grown and Sewn' (I like that one), among others.

Aaaand the laast designer who rounded off the 2nd day was Christie Brown, from Ghana. After browsing the styles, one word came to mind, and that is raaainbow! All the looks contain so many colours, whether it is just one piece or everything. The clothes here are fun, but it is the design that makes them sophisticated too. High waisted pencil skirts with matching crop tops are worn a lot, as well as little shift dresses with big high heels. All the garments are skirts are dresses, which adds to the femininity of the collection, and they are eye-catching without being gaudy. A fine balance.

Phew. All in all a very good combination of styles. I wish I could have gone to this.

The Ghana Fashion Week Diaries! Day 1.

Prologue: 
I keep changing the name of this blog.. I think I might stick with this one though! I found out that it is the meaning of my name, and I decided to prove how happy I am about this revelation by changing the name of my blog. Anyway, fashion involves diamonds for sure. Or just.. shininess in general.
Imma get right down to it. I think todaaaay I will examine Ghana fashion week which ended last week. Can I just say that I never knew it existed.. but then I guess lots of places have fashion weeks, all over the world. Winchester had one last year- yep teeny Winchester.  

Day 1

The brand Love April opened the show. Apparently the aim of it is to create a sense of comfort and freedom through the clothes. I can see how they achieved this.. The clothes flow a lot, and look quite casual overall.  I really like the African influence on this dress (the pattern under the bust- I don't think it is a belt). The double strap is a nice feature. Gives the idea that she is secure- which fits with the message that the designer (Nina.. Cant find surname) is trying to give.

Another designer is Nelly Hagan Aboagye of Duaba Serwa. The clothes here are mainly dresses, which are more bold in terms of colour. The African influences in the clothes are very strong. Some of the prints are beautiful. The colours in this collection are definitely brighter, and glass beads are also used. Very contemporary look.

Next comes a Nigerian brand, Orange Culture. Dresses both men and women, which is rather refreshing. Another nice message: the clothes here are for people who don't want clothes to define who they are- they want to stand out from the crowd. The designer is Adebayo Oke-Lawal. I think the clothes in this line are nothing short of awesome. It is still colourful, but the patterns are darker and there is more of an ethnic vibe. The menswear includes a lot of orange, which reminds me of the sun.

Love April, Duaba Serwa, Orange Culture, Orange Culture, Konfidence, Maria Mia, Jil Boutique and Sarah Duah

Konfindence is another emerging Ghanaian brand has the aim of appealing to more sophisticated women. It's cool that authentic kente fabric is used- I found out that it was once the 'cloth of kings' and only worn in times of extreme importance, which sounds pretty sophisticated to me. The clothes I can view are black and purple, and according to Wikipedia, Black Kente cloth means Maturation and spiritual energy, while Purple is associated with femininity. it seems that the clothes are fairly plain, but patterns are shown in the accessories (bags and shoes).

The following label is in fact, a Spanish one- designed by Maria Gonzalez. It is called Maria Mia, which is revolved around making the wearer look elegant. It is almost like the first designer Love April, as a lot of white is used. The collection includes subtle patterns, such as polka dots and stripes. She uses a lot of different textures, perhaps to compensate for the lack of colour. All the clothes look comfortable.. but prestigious, which is pretty difficult to pull off, so I take my hat off to her. I love the slight peplum in the example above.

Next label... one word- triangles :) A lot of triangle prints here. It is called Jil Boutique by Adoley Addo and is Ghanaian. And geometry in general.. The cuts of some of the garments are diagonal, and the peplum adds to the dimensions. Of course, presently in western fashion, geometry is in (Prada) and I love how it is a trend in Ghana too. Kente cloth is used in this collection too, which is an authentic touch. This collection involves a lot of bright colours against black- it is not all bright colours, which is a very good balance.

The final designer for the day is called Sarah Duah, and she is from Germany. She is the only one out of the lot to focus on hair as much as clothes, maybe to the extreme. Either her clothes are made out of actual hair (which I doubt) or some kind of fibres that resemble hair.. but yeah, there are plaits on the clothes and everything. It is kind of stone-agey, but the clothes are so dramatic. Who needs faux fur when you can wear hair? A little crazy!

It seems I have a lot to say about GFW.. so I only did day 1 today. Stay tuned for part 2 of the Ghana Fashion Week Diaries! Will be uploaded tomorrow, or the day after!

The Elie Saab A/W 13 Collection is incredible.

I've been a bit late in looking at the A/W trends for next year as I have been preeetty busy with work etc recently.
I just wanted to say how absolutely astounded/amazed/in awe I am of the Elie Saab collection. Ehmagaad it is beautiful. You know when you see a show and most things are awesome, but there are always a couple where you're like 'really? Is that a good idea?'? Well while watching THIS BEAUTIFUL COLLECTION I was too stunned to say anything, if I am honest.
Every single garment is so beautifully designed, with the most flattering fit and intricate detail. You can tell that 1920's influences have gone in to the collection. Some of the dresses have a dropped waist. However, the collection includes a lot of belts, which fasten at the back.
This dress is particularly beautiful: http://www.eliesaab.com/#/en/haute-couture/fw-2012-2013/8/1
One of the reasons I love fashion is a pretty common one: I love how it pushes boundaries. Before now, I would have thought that a stunning dress like this would be ruined by a belt, because it breaks up the flow of it. However, I enjoy the fact that the waist is so defined, it is the perfect way to accessorize a dress like this. The material, as you can see, is see- through and the model is, or appears to be wearing no earrings, she is very exposed. She looks pretty vulnerable, but the way I see it, the dress almost looks like it is protecting her. It gives her confidence.


The same kind of thing can be applied to the dress to the left. However this one is more daring with a low V-neck cut, and the gold detail is more scarce around the leg area.

Most of the dresses in this collection are long and well-fitted, and nearly all of the dresses have belts on them. the use of metallics is particularly powerful, it gives off a certain element of grace. Each dress  has a lot of sparkles, which manage to look very classy and so pretty. They all kind of remind me of early 20th century princesses.

I think all the shoes in this collection have ankle straps- though many dresses are too long to see the shoes. I think that the models pull this off well, but people of an average height or who are petite may have difficulty pulling it off because the strap might be a little over powering. That's just my opinion though, of course it depends on the dress. If it is too embellished, perhaps a slightly more simple (not boring- there is a difference..) heel would work.

And finally, let me turn your attention to the grand finale. Presenting...

She actually looks like a princess. I wish I was a Princess, because then I could wear these garments all the time without looking silly and it would be fabulous. I like the fact that the dress isn't as white as most Wedding Dresses are. And they still managed to add a belt in there and get away with it. This dress is nothing short of a Vision. It is a miracle that people have the creativity and the knowledge to design something like this. Elie Saab has overtaken Temperley in the gowns department for me. What a lucky model!