Bertie...

A while back Bertie hosted a little evening at their shop in Covent Garden to usher in the new collection... cupcakes, sandwiches, popcorn, drinks and shoes covered just about every available surface and the entire floor. I don't normally shop at Bertie but I've got to say they had a pretty good selection of shoes available with loads of chunky wedges, tasseled loafers, and shiny toned-down creepers.

Since this post has been sitting in my drafts file for ages, it just so happens that most of the gorgeous styles I got to see that night are now 50% off in the sale. Not too bad, eh? A little retail temptation is always good to dabble in mid-week, I do believe.

While the event was a total success and I was so glad to be introduced to the brands collection, I've got to admit that my favourite part of the night was playing the sax in the funbooth with Kit, Jackie, and Daniella. Ah, it's always the simplest things that win me over.

Celine dreams.

Pre-fall Celine 2011: Long cream sleeves, cable knit, '50s British underground, clashing plaid, pointy toes, maroon socks, maroon jumpers, maroon trousers... geometric denim, buttoned to the neck, leather skirts, coats worn as capes that nearly skim the floor, ankle length and pink.

You know those playgrounds when you're a kid that have rooms filled with balls that you sink into? Well, in my world the balls are miniature Celine bags and my outfit changes every few seconds between the ones shown above.... hey, a girl can dream, right?

Despite the fact that everything might be way out of my price range there are some seriously transferrable ideas that I will no doubt be rocking as soon as possible.

Original images from Style.com

chillin...

Peeky-peek into my flat... I love lazy mornings with coffee, hot breakfasts, and anticipation of hours spent lying in the sunshine. Happy Sunday! Hope it finds you well...

Featuring: Quiksilver Women flashing lights swimsuit and Monki sunglasses.

cinco de mayo...

Okay, so it might not actually be cinco de Mayo but it sure felt like it when I walked into La Catarina last night and discovered its Mexican themed skull interior. Possibly not the classiest place but definitely one of the coolest and most random I've been in Zurich. Please note: if you come visit me, I will take you there and force feed you white Russians.

It might be the fact that I'm writing this new dress blog for Yahoo* but I'm a little fixated on dresses lately. Normally I stick to wildly adventurous things like jeans... but I just kinda love the simplicity of a cute little dress. Hah, yesterday when we were taking these photos I was told by my photographer/husband/maker-of-the-diy-Proenza-Shouler-bracelet (shameless plug?) that he 'wasn't really feeling the outfit... I mean, I get what you're trying to do though - the whole sweet dress tough boots thing. But, I'm just not sure.' Rolls eyes. It might be unimaginative but it's what you're getting.

Wearing: TBA Mira Dress (HPR London), Madewell jacket, Monki boots, Models Own Top Turquoise nail polish, and American Apparel large leather pouch - which, I've just discovered has been restocked in loads of colours... oh man, I need so many of them. I'm obsessed. Never mind, as always - already sold out.

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*Don't judge me for any overtly cheesy lines, okay? And, if you've got anything dress related that you think I ought to feature on the site just give me a holler.

clear skies...

The weather has been seriously rubbish this past week... why is it that just as soon as you start getting used to scorching heat and sunny skies that it all gets taken away? Oh, the misery of a cloudy day in June. Here's to hoping the sky clears up so we can all spend our weekends wearing beautiful white dresses while lazing about in the sunshine. Speaking of white dresses... I am seriously obsessing over Dolce & Gabbana. It's so freagin beautiful, I nearly drooled on the window of the shop. I love it that much.

Want one?

Ah, now you can get your hands on a bit of my diy mastery (cough cough). Some of you showed interest in getting one of these little babies to fasten around your wrist after its debut a couple of days ago so I've decided to make a few to sell. They can either be made in the original colour combination, as shown above, or you can pick the shades yourself - although, they will obviously be limited to what's available at my local hardware shop.

If you're interested in getting one just drop me a comment on this post or shoot me an e-mail: jennifer.e.inglis@gmail.com

Material.

Currently a bit fixated on finding Native American inspired pieces. Pendleton fabric, multi-coloured skull beads, and a cactus for my living room are what I've got my heart set on. Also, hitting up all the hardware stores in town so that I can create some industrial looking jewelry. Bolts and nuts on my fingers might just make the perfect replacement for my YSL ring... that is, until I get the McQueen knuckleduster that was picked up for me at the McQueen sample sale in London last week.

Photos: Beckerman Bite Plate (love them), Is Mental, Southwest Washington Zest, and Song of Style.

Erupt.

Unusual colours and textures are taking place in Chile due to a volcanic ash eruption from the Puyehue-Cordon-Caulle range. Not your usual fashion related post but these photos are pretty mesmerizing...

Wondering whether it might be a bit blasphemous to ask, but do you ever feel a bit over fashion? I think I'm just in a bit of a mood and feeling the Monday-factor. Anyway, in good news the winner of the Elizabeth Lau giveaway has been chosen at random (well, as random as random.org can generate) and the winner is Pearl Westwood! Congratulations Pearl! To those that didn't win, don't fear, I've got another giveaway coming up later this week.

Photos from the BBC

Proenza?

From the very first time I spotted the Proenza Schouler rope bracelet I couldn't get it out of my head... a bit of Proenza that I could actually afford. But, a bit of Proenza that was rope... and for 130 pounds?! Sadly, as much as I wish my pockets were lined with 50 pound notes they aren't and I just couldn't justify it. So when I walked into a hardware store a few weeks ago and saw the rows of brightly coloured rope staring back at me... I just knew they were dying to be morphed into a Proenza Schouler rope bracelet wannabe and, with a little help from the notorious Dr Crusader, they were.

Behold, my first official DIY that made it out the front door and onto my body in a public place! I use the term my very lightly because, you see, while I might have been the creative voice behind the project, the execution took place in the Dr's lab with all sorts of scientific material. Personally I think it gives the original a run for its money...

Chances are you've seen lots of various Proenza Schouler bracelet diy posts popping up across the blogosphere. Style Scrapbook and even Nylon Magazinedabbled in a bit of homemade bracelet mania. So what do you think, as good as the original?

Wearing: borne by Elise Berger Ritter top (HPR London), UO jeans, Zara pink satin sandals, and a Proenza Schouler inspired diy bracelet - all supplies available at your local hardware store.

p.s. second DIY involved chopping a few inches off these jeans - now that I managed on my own.

DIY clutz

Is anybody else a bit of a DIY clutz?

I can't cut straight or sew a hem. Notoriously crap at doing things myself, when I try to make a pair of levis into shorts it usually takes about three attempts and even then they are still lopsided. I don't buy vintage and revamp it into magical pieces that perfectly suit me or alter last seasons items to make them perfectly now. I'd rather fork out 50 quid for a plain leather clutch then attempt to make it myself because I just know it will end in disaster. It always does. Last weekend I attempted to poke some studs through a plaid shirt which only resulted in my favourite checked shirt looking like some sort of punk rock toddler attacked it.

Personally I blame the DIY blogger gods for this. People like Geneva and Shini who whip up Jil Sander-esque pink full skirts by the bucket load and cut cardigans in half to make them two-toned. They trick me into thinking I too can pull off a DIY with the ease that they can. The truth is I think I'm just a wee bit too impatient. Anyway, I attempted two little DIYs recently which I don't think are too offensively grotesque... but I'll let you be the judge of that. More photos to follow soon.

tye dyed sweetness.

Yo little monkeys...

I normally don't do this sort of thing (featuring items that people have e-mailed me about) but this, I think, is a good exception to the rule. You see, these shoes are super sweet and totally in keeping with my recent kick to indulge in all things reminiscent of my childhood. The brand they're made by, Study Footwear, is based in LA and for each pair sold the company donates creative supplies to an inner city school. Being from southern California originally this strikes a special chord within my little heart. Not only is that great but the nice folks over at Steady Guy have offered to share some love by offering a 20% discount on everything in their online shop until the 30th of June. I thought that was pretty darn lovely and that you might just like to know about it. Personally, fancy myself a Baggu bag, white O clock watch, and tie dyed Study Drop shoes with removable bow. Yummy.

Enter crusader20 at checkout to receive 20% off at Steady Guy.

Elizabeth Lau Giveaway

Getting back into the swing of things after a long weekend is always rough... hopefully this might help to soften the blow. These little heart shaped pins wont be on sale until August but you can snatch one up here beforehand. I fastened a black one onto my striped canvas bag at the weekend and now have no plans of taking it off. Perfectly sweet an entirely in keeping with the Elizabeth Lau aesthetic. As soon as I snatch up a Guvnor jumper in the fall I'll have to fasten one onto it too...

To enter: leave a comment on this post and 'Like' the Style Crusader on Facebook. The winner will be chosen at random in one week.

Please note: giveaway is open worldwide.

A box of secrets.

The sun decided to tuck behind some heavy clouds this morning as I made the short walk over to MYKITA.  As soon as I scooted through the front door I was greeted by 'ooohs', 'ahhs' and lots of giddy excitement. It seems a small tour bus of Italians had landed smack in the middle of the coolest sunglass shop in Zurich and they were going slightly mental over the quirky frames. I sat for a few minutes at the counter, sipping a yummy coffee while taking in the madness. The manager was chatting away to everyone while they each grabbed frame after frame from the customized shelving that wraps the entire back wall of the shop. Then, in a flash, everybody was out and it was perfectly calm and still.

MYKITA might sound familiar... possibly because I wrote about them once before or because their receiving an increasingly impressive number of celebrity followers (Lady Gaga and Will.I.Am rate among their fans). They're only eight years old and already, besides having a solidly impressive main collection, have also done a number of top notch collaborations. If you've ever found yourself drooling over a pair of specs at a runway show chances are they were by Berlin based MYKITA.

There's nothing ordinary about this brand. All aspects of the company are based in the heart of Berlin where each pair of glasses is handmade. They all seem to have a unique story behind their design and creation. From yellow aviator styles that come with nail polish in an identical shade to limited edition hand painted pairs with various skylines that were first presented in an exhibition at the Guggenheim. Spending time in MYKITA feels like you are constantly uncovering new secrets. If I was lucky enough to own a pair of these sunglasses even a rainy weekend would struggle to keep them off my face.

VIEW FULL SET OF PHOTOS HERE

Dripped in luxury

Absolutely in love with bright cobalt blue especially in this case where it's got a sort of ruffled sea anemone feel. Took these photos a while back when I was in London. Sitting next to the canal, barefoot, but with thousands of pounds worth of luxury dripping from my fingers. It's a strange life sometimes.

Wearing: borne by Elise Berger dress (HPR London), Tess Van Ghert bag and bracelets (PR Wonderland). Photos by Kit.

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Unresolved issues

Undeniably, there's something about Mary...

There are some dresses that seem to transcend reality and all sense of normality - pieces that you'd put on and they'd transport you to an entirely different world. Since I first caught glimpse, Mary Katranzou's architectural and hyperrealist prints have totally had my attention. They are mind blowingly surreal and utterly entrancing.

These dresses are paired down versions of the more abstract shapes that were shown on the catwalk last February. Luckily, there's a fashion boutique not far from my flat that stocks the originals in all their obscure glory... definitely popping in soon to see them up close. Fingers crossed they will somehow not be as painfully perfect as they look from where I'm sitting right now.

p.s. just incase you needed added convincing (ahem, Anastasia Duck)... the dresses in all their AW11 glory are below. Seriously, these babies are other-worldly and what dreams are made of.