'Would you buy Doc Martens?', she asked.

Dear Readers,

As you know, I'm always very happy to receive your requests and I do make an effort to answer them all personally, and if not, through a blog post. But, sometimes, it so happens that I'm rather unable to answer a particular query. Case in point, a question I received yesterday about a particular type of shoe, namely 'Doc Martens'.

Docs come in all shapes and sizes

'Why can't she answer?', you might be already wondering. Well, to articulate it as simply as I can, it's because I really don't like Doc Martens. They're one of those trends I always pray to God to extinguish it from the face of the earth, but the Lord doesn't seem to hear my prayers. 

Docs are too far away from my world, from my style and from one of my main beliefs: the importance of versatility. I have still to meet someone who can convince me that these shoes are versatile. Even after having lived on LookBook and Chictopia for almost 3 years now, I can only think of a handful of items that can be paired with.

I can, however, think of at least 100 pieces that shouldn't be in the vicinity of. For instance, Doc Martens are clearly grungy, alternative shoes, so why on earth have I seen them worn with dainty, girly clothing? I don't know, I might be narrow-minded, but I really can't conceive an outfit featuring Docs and a classy cardigan. 

Love the phone, lol!

Thing is, I believe that there are only a few people out there who can pull off Doc Martens according to my conception of fashion and style. So as usual, I guess that's as subjective a subject as it always is in the fashion world right?

Anyway, on to answer the question I received. Well, dear reader, without unnecessary hesitation, my answer is 'no'. However, since you seem keen on buying a pair, I have some tips for you that you are free to follow or disregard.

• Buy a black pair if you really have to.
• Whenever you want to wear them, think of them as 'combat boots'. That means pairing them with anything grunge-looking would be okay, I guess.
• If you have big feet, stay away from these shoes. They make anyone's feet look gigantic and bulky, so unless you want to look odd, big feet should stay away from Docs.
• Wear them with either (a) skinny jeans, VERY skinny jeans, (b) black tights or (c) vintage high- waisted denim shorts. The kinda ones that are cut out from men's jeans.
• Speaking about men, I love black Docs on men, if they can handle them, that is.
• Most importantly, keep everything else simple!

I'm off to continue coughing my heart out, because yes, I'm still sick.

-B

Metal Detector

Dear Readers,

I hope you're all having a great weekend. I'm sick, again! I've been feeling too sick lately and it's pretty annoying, that's why I want to start being healthy and all that jazz again...but I'll speak to you about that another time.

So, what I really mean to show you today is my first article for 'Femme Magazine', a local fashion magazine most Maltesers are aware of already. I've received great feedback - which I want to thank you immensely for - but I've also been asked to share the article online for those who are far away from the Maltese shores! Below is the article that was published - a bit longer actually, because I guess it was long and they had to cut some stuff out of it grrr! - the pictures from the same article, and some photos I took of the actual page on the magazine and the cover page (I somehow made it there too hah!). Let me know what you think! The article is about metallics and I tackle it from a budget-buyer's point of view..

"Having gone shopping every other day since I was fifteen years old, I can say that I’ve spent a great deal of my life giving shelter to the poor clothes on the cold, cold racks. I feel the need to own as many clothes as possible, even though my wardrobe can’t handle it anymore. Naturally, one question many people ask me is, ‘How on earth can you afford to go shopping so often?’ or ‘You must spend so much money it hurts, doesn’t it?’ People are surprised when I tell them that I actually shop on a budget and I try to make the most of the money I spend on clothing and accessories. Surprising as it may sound to many, I am, in fact, what the Fashion World calls a ‘Recessionista’, namely a person who tries to dress fashionably without breaking the bank. 

There are a million and one reasons why many fashion lovers hop on the Recessionista Train especially during these times of economic hardship. Some hate spending a great deal of money on clothes because they just don’t see the point to do so. Others have a gazillion other expenses to attend to, so their clothing budget is very tight. Some, like yours truly, must have their wardrobes full of clothes to satisfy their each and every – sometimes whimsical – need. I also find that ‘Recessionism’ is very Romantic indeed: wanting to look good, struggling to make ends meet, sighing at the sight of an overpriced piece of clothing. It would all make Lord Byron or John Keats incredibly proud. 

Irrespective of the myriad of motives we might have, all Recessionistas have understood that you don’t need to spend too much to sport the latest trends and to create your own individual style.Let’s take, for instance, the metallic trend, which has been slowly sweeping Fashion World like colour blocking did last year. It doesn’t take a genius to notice all the gold and silver pieces in the shops right now. Moreover, to make matters even more shiny, this trend is set to remain even during next Spring and Summer. Just take a look at a couple of photos from Fashion Week and you will see for yourself. 

 If you’re really keen on this trend, but you don’t want to spend all of your earnings on one single item, then accessories and simple shoes are the way to go! First of all, accessories are generally sold at a lower price than, for example, a blazer or a pair of jeans. Secondly, shoes and accessories are ‘investment buys’ that you can match with so many different outfits. Thirdly, they’re a great way of working your way up quite a bold trend that might not be everyone’s cup of tea. Quite simply put, the best and most inexpensive way to rock the metallic trend is to focus on the little details, like accessories and shoes.A few weeks ago, I personally bought a silver one and a gold one scarf which are my new best friends. I could have got away with buying only one of them, but I’m very much like Miley Cyrus, I like to get the best of both worlds. Both these scarves were both under five euro each, and their price is even more worth it when I consider the endless amount of outfits I can pair these scarves with. A seasoned Recessionista always knows that she has to keep in mind how much she’s going to wear that particular item. As far as I’m concerned, I wear these a lot and I manage to make them look different each and every time. There you go, that’s surely one bargain buy. Actually, two, but you get my point.

 Many shops at the moment are doing metallic flats which are sold for pretty reasonable prices. I had totally forgotten I had a pair of silver flats, and when I found them again a few days ago, I started squealing with excitement. Literally, I did. These plain metallic flats are such a good alternative to standard black flats, so whenever I feel like having shining feet, I swap my black flats for these plain silver ones. Given that they retail for good prices, they’re worth the money, even because you can wear them when the trend is out of the window! 

I kept the thriftiest of options for last. If you’re really short on cash this month, but that little voice inside you keeps urging you to give metallics a try, then this alternative will work best for you. In essence, you could rock this trend simply by stepping up your jewellery, without spending a single penny. Get your jewellery box and start to pile things on. The more the merrier. If you usually wear one ring, then it’s time to add a couple more. If you’re banking on your jewellery to do the trick, then you have to make sure there’s plenty of it!"

-B

Fifty Basics

Dear Readers,

This is not a post about today's date - everyone's like, totally obsessed with that somehow - but it's a post inspired by a picture I found on Tumblr yesterday. I immediately knew I had to share this picture with you all because I really enjoy such lists and I thought some of you would like it as much as I did.

Well, nothing too fancy really. In this list, you'll find fifty classics that should have you pretty much covered (literally...) for a myriad of different occasions. If you haven't understood by now, I'm a Pro-Basics advocate - even though I ship statement pieces too! - so I really recommend that you start ticking off all the items you have from the list below. Oh, and make sure you obtain what you're missing.

Just to show you how versatile these pieces are, I created some combinations on Polyvore to illustrate some ideas that I got after looking at this list.

black cigarette pants, trench coat, watch, striped boat neck top, flats, pearl earrings

little black dress, pearl necklace, pearl earrings, black pumps

straw hat, oxford shirt, blue blazer, watch, leather bag, siglet ring, loafers, khaki pants

diamond studs, tall boots, leather bag, watch, silk shirt, silk scarf

-B

Get Suspended

Dear Readers,

I am still alive, in case you're wondering. How was your weekend? I had a good break during the last two days, went out for cocktails, and most importantly, I saw a movie which inspired today's post. I watched 'Burlesque' finally!

Anyway, I have been lusting after 'suspender tights' ever since I saw them on Jessie J (quite a lot of times actually!). After watching 'Burlesque' last Saturday, and seeing that suspenders were pretty much everywhere, I decided to give them a shot myself.

But, the question is, 'how on earth do you wear suspender tights without looking like a hooker?'. Let's face it, we;re not Jessie J or Christina Aguilera so we have to be really careful whenever we decided to put a pair of these tights on. I hope I'm not bursting anyone's bubble.

So, for today's post, I'm going to show you how to incorporate suspender tights in your style without looking like a woman with disrespectful habits. But before showing you my top three combinations, I want to give you some general tips on suspender tights. First and foremost, suspender tights are a statement piece and people will look at your thighs. Tried and tested. Secondly, cover up as much as you can on your upper body. Don't even dare wear a low-cut top with a pair of suspender tights. You will look like a naughty woman. Please don't hate me for my aphorisms.

Men's Shirt + Suspender Tights

This combination is what I personally went for yesterday when I wore my tights for the very first time (I'll show them to you all in an upcoming haul!) I just love how such a masculine item and a feminine piece work so well together. It all looks very effortless and it screams, 'I slept at my boyfriend's yesterday and I'm so wearing his shirt now'. I'm not encouraging you to do so, obviously, nor am I implying that I did that on Saturday.

Coat + Suspender Tights

My second option for you girls is definitely more feminine than my first one. I opted to pair a flared coat (in layman's terms 'something like a coat-dress') with a pair of pretty suspender tights. Compared to the first pair of suspender tights I pointed out for you, the second look way more feminine. I think it's the bow detail that works its magic! This option is slightly subtler and quite more wearable! I can't wait for the weather to get cold to try out this combination!

Skater Skirt + Suspender Tights

I don't know why I really picture suspender tights with school girl skirts, but I know that's extremely wrong and tacky...so PLEASE DON'T WEAR THEM LIKE THAT! IT'S HORRIBLE. The closest we can get to  that look is by choosing to wear a flared skater skirt instead. This type of skirt is neither too short or too long, it's pleated and it's feminine, so in a few words, it's perfect! I would suggest wearing flats with this look or a pair of heeled brogues if you want to lift yourself off the ground!

-B

'Shake It Out', using clothes

Dear Readers,

Do you ever play the same song over and over again, until that song becomes part and parcel of who you are? You know, as if that song described who you are, who you want to be, what your past was like. Florence and the Machine's song 'Shake It Out', from their just released album 'Ceremonials', is that kind of song for me.

I've had this song on repeat for over a week or so. I just can't get it out of my head. I mean, I always had a particular fancy for Florence's music, but this song just gets me inside. I can't explain it well enough probably, but you just have to believe me on this one. Anyway, since my ears haven't been feeding on anything else apart from 'Shake It Out', it was only a matter of time until I opened my Polyvore account and created an outfit inspired from this song. 

Many people ask me how I translate music to clothing and I find it so hard to explain because I do it automatically, without even realising. You know, sometimes I listen to the instruments used in the song. Other times, I analyse the lyrics (when there's something worth analysing obviously). With some songs, I'm guided by the feelings that song creates in me. An easy way to do it is to ask yourself, 'What would I wear for this song's music video?' Easy as that, I promise. For 'Shake It Out', it was a mixture of everything really. *plays song again*

Style: The style in general was influenced by the three main instruments within the song, namely organs, bells and tambourines. I associate those instruments with churches, and by implication, clerical wear. My mind darted towards nuns. NUNS! Hence why I covered up, opted for sombre items, layered a great deal and chose black as my main colour.

Colour: There's a lot of black. As I said, black reminds me of clerical wear. I also chose black because one of the themes in the lyrics is 'darkness and mourning'. Florence sings, 'Regrets collect like old friends / Here to relive your darkest moments', 'such a mournful sound / Tonight I'm gonna bury that horse in the ground', 'I've been a fool and I've been blind', 'It's a shot in the dark aimed right at my throat' and 'here's to the drinks in the dark at the end of my rope'. Black is the colour of mourning, death, burials, blindness and all that jazz, so it fits well with the feeling of the song I guess. 

I added a touch of light colour as well which was influenced by the part in which Florence says, 'It's always darkest before the dawn'. In my my little brain, that light blouse layered beneath the black lace top stands for the early lights of dawn making their way through the dark night sky.

Floppy Hat: The main inspiration behind the hat is a nun's veil. That's the closest I can get to it I think. Oh, and this verse, 'I like to keep some things to myself' played a role too. As I said endlessly already, I wanted to cover up as much as I could so I thought of adding something to cover the face as well.

Lace: In an interview to MTV News, Florence said that when she wrote this song, she was thinking about regrets. 'You know, when you feel like you're stuck in yourself, you keep repeating certain patterns of behaviour' she said. So I knew the outfit needed something with a repeated pattern that conveys a sense of restriction. What better than lace? Black lace obviously, white would have been too pure for a song inspired by regrets.

Horse Necklace: I think this is rather obvious right? At certain points during the song, Florence sings about a horse that she keeps dragging around. A horse she wants to bury deep underground. I couldn't have left such an important symbol out. To be honest with you, I would have preferred to include one of those black bags with a little horse brooch on top. I think it kind of conveys the idea of 'dragging' better. I didn't find anything of the kind on Polyvore so I had to make do with that necklace. It's okay, at least it renders the idea of 'carrying a weight around' quite decently.

Heart Clutch: Quite frankly, this verse is behind the my choice of bag, 'I am done with my graceless heart / So tonight I'm gonna cut it out and then restart.' 

I end my post with Florence and the Machine's video for 'Shake It Out'. I hope I got my point across - I feel like it all looks and sounds confusing! - and PLEASE do yourselves a favour and get your stylish hands on 'Ceremonials'.

-B

The 'Lita' Conundrum

Dear Readers,

I have a dilemma. A serious one. Probably the most serious one since I chose my University course. Well, not really, but still. It's huge.

So, it all boils down to one pair of majestic shoes, namely Jeffrey Campbell's 'Lita'. If you're into fashion and fashion blogs, you have seen these bitches all over the internet. Even if you're not a fan of the fashion blogosphere like yours truly, you're bound to have seen them somewhere. The 'Litas' retail for $150-$200, depending on which colour and pattern you opt for. Amongst my favourites are the black distressed leather Lita, the Cosmic Lita, and the Lita with the American Flag. 

Since I'm a little bit weird, I'm going to do a list of pros and cons over here that will ultimately help me to make my decision. The question I'm asking myself is, 'Should I buy a pair of Litas?'

Pros:

1. They're hot. The Litas are warming the planet, and not those naughty gases in the atmosphere, I tell you!
2. There are many varieties available.
3. Considering they're a designer shoe, they're not that expensive!
4. They pretty much match everything.
5. Everything looks good if you add a Lita shoe. They're like Ed Westwick: capable of making anything within a one meter radius look extremely perfect.
6. They have a hidden 2 inch platform in the front, making the 5 inch heel a 3 inch one.
7. The heel is a chunky one. No stilettos for me!
8. They're by Jeffrey Campbell. Enough said.

Cons:

1. Everyone has them, and when I say 'everyone', I literally mean everyone! LookBook, Chictopia and 98% of fashion blogs are brimming with people wearing Litas almost 75% of the time. That's not an official statistic by the way.
2. I hate wearing what everyone else is wearing. I already succumbed to 'mustard mania', am I ready to do the same for the Lita?
3. Heels and I, during the day? I still have to figure out a way to manage that.
4. I know I won't wear them every day. I hate wearing the same pair of shoes all the time.
5. If I don't wear them often, can I justify buying them for all that money?

I am confused. Very confused. Help me!

-B

On Due Relation of One Part to Another: On Proportion

Dear Readers,

In an ideal world, each and every woman on this planet would be blessed with a perfectly proportional body. But, alas, reality is very different. Some women spend hours looking at their short, and maybe heavier, lower body wishing it was a couple of inches smaller. At the same time, other women, probably a few metres away, are secretly wishing for a longer torso because their legs are too long in comparison.

Reality, however, has given women the tools to ‘adjust’ their body shape, allowing them to create visual illusions that could fool even the most attentive of onlookers. Good knowledge of design and garment dynamics can truly help a woman play with proportion.

Let us take, for instance, a woman who has spent her lifetime wanting slimmer legs because they are unproportional compared to her tiny shoulders. The solution to this woman’s misery? She needs to create structure in her upper body. A tailored blazer, with clearly defined shoulders, and maybe shoulder pads, will do the trick. Even better, this same woman could reach for a structured striped blazer, as long as it has horizontal stripes. These ‘sleeping’ stripes will conjure up a sometimes life-saving optical illusion. They will widen her torso, making it look far less small in comparison with her legs. A cheaper, feasible option are shoulder pads. Attaching them to a less structured blazer will lift the jacket’s lines, and probably even the woman’s mood!

Hello, sweet blazer, I love you!

Then, It might be that this woman’s younger sister does not quite fancy her almost manly shoulders. She sulks and asks the heavens why her legs are so tall and slim. The younger sibling must use clothing to add volume to her lower body, or else deploy garments that elongate her upper body. To achieve the first, she must head to the stores and purchase a flared midi-skirt. Not only will she be wearing this year’s ‘it’ skirt, she will also be wearing the skirt that tends to make humanity look shorter and fuller. This skirt will be her new best friend. If she is more into jeans and skinny trousers, simply rolling up the pants’ cuffs will work some incredible magic! Or else, she could rush to her nearest high-street clothes shop and bag herself a pair of ankle grazing jeans instead. Stripes come to the rescue in this case as well. Vertical stripes, this time. With a vertically-striped top, blouse, or a blazer – proven that it is not structured – her upper body will appear longer and more slender, giving her never ending legs a run for their money.

Four ladies and their ankle grazers

These sisters, and all the women worrying about their not so very proportionate bodies, can put their mind at rest. Their clothes are there to save them, always.

-B

Colour Me in Mustard

Dear Readers,

I have a little confession to make: I grew up with the 'Yellow Complex'. My self-coined term over there denotes a slight obsession with yellow and a sense of melancholia for not being able to pull it off. No matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't find anything appropriate in canary yellow, bright yellow or any sort of yellow. I reached a point where I told myself, 'Surrender, it's just not your colour'.

Until one day, around this time last year actually, I walked into Peacocks and I spotted a lovely coat. It had frills, and buttons, and a peter-pan collar, and and and and it just had it all. They had this coat in mustard or green, so I naturally floated towards the green one to try it on, only to find they didn't have it in my size. Having been told that another Peacocks had it in my size, I decided to try the mustard one in my size just to make sure it fits right. 

I swear I heard a little 'Praise the Lord' kind of song in the background. I found a shade of yellow that I could pull off. Needless to say, I bought that coat. Last Winter, I practically raided shop after shop buying anything mustard in sight to make up for all those years of pain induced by the 'Yellow Complex'.

The Mustard Coat

Little did I know last year that mustard was set to be the 'it' colour this season. As much as I hate wearing the colour everyone else is wearing, I have succumbed to the mustard trend. I keep finding myself purchasing anything mustard, so much so, I nicknamed myself as 'Mustadia, the woman in mustard'. 

Unlike some other trends this year, like fur for instance, mustard can be incorporated subtly if you're not too keen on it. Think about a skinny mustard belt, or a little mustard satchel, something along those lines basically. I'm not for subtlety, so I'm going full force on this one. 

Here are a few of my favourite ideas to style mustard:

1. Mustard and Teal

Okay, I admit I got the idea for this one from a couple of shop windows I've seen recently. Teal seems to be quite popular at the moment as well, so wearing them together would be hitting two birds with one stone, right?

 2. Mustard and Navy Blue

In my wardrobe, my mustard blazer is stored next to my navy blue one. Last time, during my 'stare at blazers session', I noticed that the two colours go well together! Yeeeeehah!

3. Mustard and Stripes

In my head, black and white stripes go with anything, mustard included. I know that the first time I'm wearing my mustard chinos, I'm probably wearing them with black and white stripes. Yay!

I guess that's all from me today, I'm off to eat a good plate of pasta! I hope you're all having a great weekend and take care! 

-B

Three Shoes I Will Never Wear

Dear Readers,

I am a very opinionated, stubborn young woman who finds it extremely difficult to change her views on things. Be it food, people, books, or in today's case, shoes, there are always a handful of the aforementioned that I despise with a passion. I have no intention of changing my opinion whatsoever. So, ladies and gentlemen, these are the three shoes that I would never want to be caught wearing. You are all aware by now that I abhor white shoes, so I decided to eliminate that aspect from my post because I hope I've already driven my point home by now.

Crocs

One of the most horrible moments during my twenty-two year old life was the precise moment I saw my mother coming home with three pairs of Crocs. YES, three pairs! It took me ages to convince her that those shoes are an insult to humanity, and I even went as far as telling her that those shoes will harm her back. Thankfully, she believed me. Although these three pairs of shoes are still lurking around the household, my mother only wears them when she's hanging the clothes to dry, and that is quite acceptable so I won't say anything.

Oh No! A Crocs Shop in Brussels! Run away!

Thing is, I don't understand why people actually go out wearing crocs. I've seen people throwing them on with a pair of skinny jeans, others sporting them underneath a skirt and some others have even worn them with those velour tracksuits (yes, the ones with 'JUICY' written on their behind!). Each and every time I've seen someone in Crocs, I got this hardly containable urge to start delivering my 'Anti-Crocs' sermon. Even though my imagination is very fertile, and my love for fashion experimentation has almost reached the moon, I can't as yet fathom why people wear Crocs. They don't go with anything, as simple as that.

Ugg Boots

Or as I rather like referring to them, YUK boots. The only place where Ugg boots are remotely acceptable is at home! Many of my friends have tried to convert me to Uggism, telling me that the shoes are so comfortable, warm and cosy. Those are the adjectives I use to describe my home slippers not a shoe to wear to University! Uggs are so unflattering, and pretty much anything looks dressed down with them on. I know that I might be preaching to the choir here, yet there are still people who are devout followers of the Uggism cult. I'm not and I won't ever be, point.

EVIL!

Creepers

Please meet the shoes that creep the hell out of my soul, CREEPERS! I was completely unaffected by the creepers trend given that I had never seen a pair on our islands. However, the moment I've seen them proudly shelved (prominently, might I add) in a shop window in my own villiage, a strange feeling of disdain and fear shook by body. It was like meeting a zombie. At present, I'm aware that many style gurus (some I actually admire a lot) are obsessed with 'the shoes' but as far as I'm concerned I run away as far as I can from them. I just hope my mother doesn't get any strange ideas. I must make sure she never sees a pair of them, ever!

Brrrrr, shivers!

-B

Post-Paris Fashion Week

Dear Readers,

All good things come to an end, and yet another Fashion Week season has drawn to a close. Luckily for us, Paris Fashion Week concluded Fashion Week period, and that is a treat that alleviates us fashionista's melancholy. I always feel like sobbing when Fashion Week Period ends, and sometimes I want to look at the heavens and scream 'WHY? WHY DOES IT HAVE TO END?' but then I realise that it would be too dramatic so I sit quietly and sulk instead.

For my review of Paris Fashion Week and its collections, I decided to adopt a slightly different format than that used for my NYFW, LFW and MFW entries. To put in a few words, I adore Paris. I can't resist buying anything with the Eiffel Tower on it and my room looks like a big Parisian souvenir shop. I adore French fashion designers, and my top designers have all showcased their work during Paris Fashion Week this year. So, in order to maximise my objectivity, I refrain from selecting three favourite collections. Instead I'm going to mention a couple of designers I think deserve a mention (positive or negative) and then highlight some of their characteristics. I'm also posting a picture of my favourite - or in some cases one of my favourite - numbers from the collection.

Balenciaga

I liked: the metallics, the structure of the pieces, the high-waisted trousers, the way waistlines were accentuated, bulky jackets

I didn't like: the benches collapsing shortly before the commencement of the show, an accident which left Anna Wintour and Grace Coddington - amongst others - standing during the entire show. No no!

Overall Vote: 8+

Balmain

I liked: metallics (again!), florals mixed with leather, leather in general, the amazing leather high-waisted trousers. Drool material!

I didn't like: most of the belts, they were too Western-inspired for my tastes.

Overall Vote: 6

Nina Ricci

I liked: the silhouettes' softness, the lace, the crystal and jewel embellishments, the hats

I didn't like: how Nina Ricci failed to impress me overall. I felt this was quite a weak collection.

Overall Vote: 5

Christian Dior

I liked: the preppy, Parisian silhouettes, the hats, the layering using button-up shirts, the colour palette, the necklines

I didn't like: some of the flared skirts.

Overall Vote: 7

Lanvin

I liked: the chicness, the structured shoulders, the colour palette, the skirts, the minimalism, the mesh details

I didn't like: I loved it, full stop.
Overall Vote: 9

John Galliano

I liked: the flamboyance, the sheers, the use of pastel colours

I didn't like: the flared skirts (why are they everywhere?), the white trousers, the excessive use of ruffles

Overall Vote: 5

Givenchy
I liked: the androgynous pieces, the colour palette, the unconventional hems, the long blazer-like waistcoats, the  mixing of textures
I didn't like: the sequin suit. I thought it was a bit tacky.
Overall Vote: 8

Stella McCartney
I liked: the wave-like hems
I didn't like: Pretty much everything else. It was such a disappointment. It was like the models were going to sleep in their pjs.
Overall Vote: 4

Chloe
I liked: the minimalism, the use of peach, the floral pieces
I didn't like: the lack of variety. I felt it was too repetitive.
Overall vote: 5+

Yves Saint Laurent
I liked: the structure, the jackets, the colour palette, the use of slight colour blocking
I didn't like: the halter details
Overall Vote: 7

Chanel
I liked: the classic cuts, the colour palette, the use of pearls as belts, the tweed, the sleeves, the ruffles, THE SETUP, the theme, the shell bags, the metallic shoes, the iridescent pieces, Florence Welch, the structures, the necklines. Hell yes, it's CHANEL!
I didn't like: *looks awkwardly*
Overall Vote: 10

Valentino
I liked: the leather numbers, most of the waistlines, the juxtaposition of lace and leather, the rich fabrics
I didn't like: This collection was almost as good as Chanel's for me. Nothing to hate, really.
Overall Vote: 9

Alexander McQueen
I liked: the lace, the lace headpieces, the originality
I didn't like: the golden suit. Too Oscar-statuette for my tastes.
Overall Vote: 7

Louis Vuitton
I liked: the setup, the colour palette, the eyelets, the mustard eyelet coat and most of all the setup. Carousels are so Parisian!
I didn't like: nothing, at first. I was overwhelmed by the carousel and I kind of overlooked some of the pieces. After a second look, I didn't like the fringes, the flared skirts, the floral add-ons. The skirts were the worse thing though!
Overall Vote: 10 for the setup, 6+ for the collection

So, dear readers, what were your thoughts on Paris Fashion Week? Do you agree with my review or did you prefer someone else other than Chanel?

I hope you all had a great weekend!

-B

The Metallic Trend

Dear Readers,

Every now and then, there comes a bold fashion trend which makes all slightly wary about it. Many a times, we start embracing the trend by trying out slightly more muted aspects of the trend, you know, until we get the complete hang of it and then work our way up. Other times, we don't want to rock the trend to its fullest and we prefer trying it out without being too 'out there' if you know what I mean.

The metallic trend is taking over fashion world in unprecedented ways and means. Apart from being one of the predominant trends this Autumn and Winter - shops are brimming with metallic pieces at the moment! - it's also going to be one of the most important trends come Spring and Summer 2012. Numbers of the metallic trend include gold sweaters, silver blazers and pretty much anything in gold and silver. Earrings, however, do not fall exactly in this trend. Those are always there! This particular trend is definitely a statement trend, yet there are ways in which we can try the trend in a more 'quiet' mode. Here are a few of my tips which I hope you'll find useful.

When I'm unsure about how to master a trend, I always start by trying it out using accessories. Yes, I just said earrings aren't a part of the trend, I remember. But, hey, there are more accessories you can try out. For instance, I bought myself a gold and a silver scarf the other week - which I will show you soon don't worry! - to start exploring the metallic trend. I intend to wear either one of them with a plain white t-shirt and and a pair of jeans because that combination always works. Scarves are a perfect way to explore a trend be it fur, sequins, or in this case, metallics.

Black and Gold work so well together!

You might remember me mentioning that I purchased a silver nail polish a while ago. If you don't then it's perfectly fine, I won't hunt you down. Anyway, when I noticed the metallic trend all over the place, I decided to grab a couple of metallic nail polishes and try them out. Apparently, I'm not the only one who considered this option, since I've already seen a couple of other bloggers doing the same thing. I really recommend trying a metallic nail polish if you're still starting to explore the metallic trend but make sure your nails aren't too long or else it looks awfully wrong!

A Plain Pair of Silver Flats May Just Do the Trick!

The answer to many of life's questions is the word shoes. Honestly, shoes can solve almost any problem on this planet. Just like accessories and nail varnish, a pair of pretty metallic shoes are an ideal way to give some metallic hues to your outfit. Try trading a pair of black ballerina shoes for a pair of silver flats instead! It will work, I promise. I'm in love with this pair of silver shoes from ASOS!

So, dear readers, try experimenting with this trend by using some of the tips I gave you above. Then, if you feel brave enough, put that gorgeous gold blazer in your shopping cart and conquer the metallic trend like a boss!

-B

A Snapshot of the History of Maltese Costume

Dear Readers,

For today's post, I thought it was a good idea to share some snapshots from a book I'm reading at the moment. Some of you might know already that I'm reading into textiles and design this year for my Masters dissertation, and the book I'm about to speak about is one of the gems I encountered on my path. My very fashionable path, to be exact.

The book in question is called 'Costume in Malta: A History of Fabric, Form and Fashion', edited by Nicholas de Piro and Vicki Anna Cremona. In a few words, this book provides a stunning snapshot of Maltese clothing throughout history, covering aspects such as theatrical costumes, lacemaking and the relationship between fashion and social class amongst other. The material covered is always related to the  Maltese context obviously, hence the title. 

Unfortunately, I still haven't had the time to read through all the chapters of this book, but the parts I've read already are incredibly well-written. For instance, the first page I randomly landed my eyes on was from a chapter entitled 'The Evolution of Uniform in the Royal Navy' written by Antonio Espinosa Rodriguez. Even though I've never looked into Navy Uniforms in particular, the writing of this particular chapter was so compelling that I just couldn't lift my eyes off the words. Seriously, very interesting.

The authors's writing skills are enough to keep you flicking from one page to another, but the pictures almost invite you to build a time-machine and go back in time to wear those clothes yourself. The book has a large collection of photographs from so many different epochs and they're all so pretty and elaborate.

Anyone following my Tumblr page has realised that I've got a thing for vintage photographs portraying gorgeous ladies in feathers, ruffles and all that jazz. The book has so much of all of that - and more! - that I can't stop looking at the pictures no matter how hard I try!

The interesting thing is these photographs - and the essays too, of course - don't solely teach you about Maltese clothing traditions. They give you so much information about general Maltese history, the way social classes interacted in the past, and other random things like the 'It Places' of each and every decade!

My style is very vintage-inspired, so it's needless for me to say that coming across this book was just like finding a treasure chest of inspiration! Luckily, I have similar pieces in my wardrobe to the ones portrayed in the pictures, so I'll be able to recreate some of the looks. You know that fashion repeats itself, so it's not really surprising to find staples from other decades in stores right now! *gets excited*

This book is just one of the many fashionable books I'm going to have to read this year! University 'textbooks' have never been so great! I'm off to continue observing the details of the many photographs in this book :)

Before I leave, I just want to wish all students starting University tomorrow - freshers and non-freshers - a massive good luck for their new academic year! You can do it!

-B