2012 in Review
Wh-whaat? Where did 2012 go?
Lying in my bed on the eve of 2013, I'm scrolling through a years worth of blog posts. Nostalgia is setting in. Pass the tissues. Highlights definitely include fashion week and twirling in the teacups at EuroDisney with Shini. A trip to Jamaica also ranks high on the best moments from the year. My favourite post I did this past year has got to be 'A letter to my fellow bloggers', wherein I write a letter addressing the misconceptions and lies that surround being a blogger. I loved reading everyone's comments and thoughts in response to the post. Thanks so much for sticking with me through 2012. I can't wait to see what's in store for the year ahead.
Happy New Year. Here's to it being a great one. *clinks glass*
xx
MY AUTUMN UNIFORM...
I tend to get in a bit of a funk when it comes to getting dressed. When I find a formula I like I just stick with it. Lately that formula has been this leather jacket, skinny jeans and soft jumpers. This is all I've been wearing lately and I have no desire to change it. It's simple and basic - nothing revolutionary about it at all. But I don't care because I like it. These photos were taken a few weeks ago when I was in Paris. The leaves at the Tuileries were changing colours and it was incredibly beautiful.
Wearing: Paul & Joe Sister jacket, Muriee scarf and jumper, 7 for all Mankind jeans and Isabel Marant sneakers (stolen from Shini).
Photos by Shini
Is street style dead?
There's an argument that says street style has become increasingly contrived. It's no longer about authentic individual style but rather has become a parade of famous faces and it items. No where is this more evident than during fashion week. People flock to the shows with the hope that they'll get photographed. They strut their stuff, pose while looking at their phone and wait for the desperate lenses to descend. The only problem is this has all become a bit fake. It's no longer about a person's style but more about whether they have the right mix of designer items.
Outside the Chanel show in Paris this season the madness of street style reached an all time low. Behold, the mini studio that was erected outside the venue. Complete with a massive reflector and a wall of photographers all getting the exact same shot. Authenticity and originality are lacking. It's one step further in the direction of making street style obsolete and uninspiring. Fingers crossed we never see this sort of set up again.
Please note: This studio setting was put up by French Elle but other people were snapping the same photos from behind their photographer.
France
Although leather baseball hats are currently all the rage, I'd just like to say that are actually really stupid. If it's hot the last thing you want to wear is a black freaking leather hat... when I stood in the sun my head was boiling. England, this trend was made for you.
There's nothing I love more than being swept off to a far away city...
Errr, I say that from my sofa where I've spent the last four days sitting on my tush nibbling on random bits of chocolate bunnies and staring at a TV. Did anyone else fall for the wonderfulness that is where me keys? Please, tell me I'm not alone. The most exciting thing I'd planned for this long holiday weekend was painting my nails and I haven't even managed to get that done. I promise, I'm not always quite this useless. The weather went all wintery a couple of day ago and I had no choice but to throw myself head-first into hibernation mode as soon as snow starting falling.
A couple of weeks ago I went to Paris to help celebrate the 20th anniversary of Disneyland Paris. As a total Disney nut I naturally jumped at the opportunity. Vienna International Hotels were the most wonderful hosts and I was super excited to go because my husband got to come along for the ride and Shini also came from London. We all stayed at the Dream Castle Hotel and, when we weren't spinning around on the teacups, saw a cabaret show, watched the Eiffel Tower glitter at midnight and spent a morning at Chateau Fontainebleau jumping on Marie Antoinette's bed (just kidding.. it was roped off). We got in earlier than anyone else and before lunch I managed to sneak in a run, a swim and spent half an hour in the sauna.
At Chateau Fontainebleau I just about keeled over - incredible beauty burst out of every bit of the building. The rooms were the epitome of anti-minimalism. Decadence and lavish embellishment were in mighty abundance... my white walls look grossly inadequate now.
This outfit is basically what I've been wearing non-stop recently. It has all my favorite things: Patouf jumper, 7 for all Mankind jeans, Mykita sunglasses, white Converse, Muriee cashmere scarf and Shini's leather hat (that I snuck out of her suitcase). Although leather baseball hats are currently all the rage, I'd just like to say that are actually really stupid. If it's hot the last thing you want to wear is a black freaking leather hat... when I stood in the sun my head was boiling. England, this trend was made for you.
I've never been that drawn to France but after this trip I'm aching to go back, even if it's just to visit L'ATMO again for lunch...
Massive thank you to Sabine and Vienna International Hotels for inviting me on the best press trip ever.
p.s. view more photos over on Facebook.
HIPPITY HOP INTO SPRING...
Wahoo! March has been a very good month indeed. The flowers are blooming and the sun is shining. Getting to leave the house without a coat has felt like an absolute dream. Applying sunscreen (oh, the luxury), drooling over the bright colors at the grocery store (mmm, strawberries) and highlighting my tanned feetsies by wearing brighter-than-bright pink toe-nail polish... ah, yes. Spring, your arrival is warmly welcomed. Please, never leave.
Hope you're having a wonderful weekend. xx
EMBRACE THE CHANGES...
Why, hello there...
You might have already noticed (or heard the incessant grumbling) but let's just get it out in the open. Yes, the are rumors true. After two and a half years the Style Crusader has finally landed peacefully onto a dot-com home. Please, please, hold your applause. Who would have thought it would be so difficult?! This baby started out on blogspot in August 2009. Then, in July 2010, was moved to wordpress. You know, because it gives you more flexibility in design (yada-yada-yada). That was fine, albiet slightly traumatic as I lost all my blogger followers. I bought the dot-com domain on the same day that I got my first DSLR camera (a second-hand Canon 450). Some techy glitches meant I wound up hosting on dot-org, a site which got so badly hacked/spammed that it reached the point of no return. Phew. So, here we are...
I'd like to take this opportunity to formally welcome you to my new home. Curtsey
This was the first day I was at Paris Fashion Week. I decided to bring my bright orange beanie with me, you know, for warmth and stuff. I got this hat for $2 at Walmart when I was in the US at Christmas. My family was not impressed with it and my sister refused to stand next to me when I wore it. Imagine my jubilation when NYFW rolled around and I saw this. Mwaahaha. See family, I told you orange was the right decision. I have to admit though I feel like a bit of a turd when I wear this hat... it's so bright. People honestly give me funny looks and say strange things when I wear it. I mean, really, it's just a hat people. Come-the-freak-on.
Anyway, clearly I wasn't the only person at PFW that thought an orange beanie was a good idea...
This was outside the Stella McCartney show by the way. It was literally freezing. I felt a fool and was SO PAINFULLY COLD that I literally couldn't take any photos. I got a tall latte with an extra shot from Starbucks (so American) and tried to use it to keep my hands warm. Resistance was futile. Shini and I admitted defeat and went in search of gloves (we found some in an Adidas store - they were 10 euros and oh-so-stylish). After going home to regroup (i.e. change clothes) we headed back out into the city to try to catch some street style action - in flats and as many layers as we could pile on.
Yes, that's the story of my first day at Paris Fashion Week.
Wearing: [Part 1] Walmart hat, Muriee cashmere scarf (which is literally glued to my neck - ok, not literally... that would be disturbing), Jigsaw sheer jersey T-shirt, Madewell jacket, J Brand Bette jeans from Anthropologie (found in the sale for $19?!) and Balenciaga boots. [Part 2] 7 for all Mankind skinny jeans (old version), Dagmar knit jacket, Converse and Varg canvas bag.
p.s. any questions on the blog change and/or how to follow please post in the comments.
JE NE PARLE PAS FRANÇAIS...
There is nothing I love more than stepping off a plane into an unknown place... when I don't know the language and have no idea where I am or what I'm doing, it's even better. 'Where are you staying?' Shrug. 'What shows are you going to?' Dunno. 'Why are you in Paris?' Hmmm...
Last minute trips are the best. I'm so glad that Shini twisted my arm and convinced me that going Paris was a good idea. I had so much fun - exploring the metro, eating loads and loads of food, freezing off my butt because I thought it was spring and didn't bring a coat... then going nutso in every shop because the rails were stupidly stocked with bikinis instead of gloves (even though it was three degrees outside). I remembered how much I love donuts, found a kids purple faux-suede jacket in H&M that has my name written all-the-freak over it and discovered a pair of printed shorts in Zara that would definitely see me right through summer (these are all things I could have done in Zurich, but nevermind that). I learnt that French people find no shame in staring, drive like lunatics, have archaic plumbing and are hilariously frank. Ladurée is good but so is McDonalds and, to be honest, I don't need to supersize my meal or get an extra portion of chicken nuggets (they aren't good the next day or at 3am when they're cold).
p.s. mark my words, Adidas gloves are making a comeback.
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