Sunday 29 April 2012

Etsy: Great Finds

I always love to look on Etsy and see if there are any great original finds on there. I love the fact that a lot of the products are one offs or specially made. It's so very different to the huge chains that sell thousands upon thousands of the same item. 

I've always said that when I finally own a house I'd love to decorate it with vintage objects and some pieces off Etsy.

I've had a quick look through the home furnishings section of Etsy and here are some items that really caught my eye:

Chess Pieces Vinyl Wall Art

$28 USD by loladecor


Decorative Designer Pillow Cover - Thomas Paul - Oceania


$45 USD by nenavon


Unbleached Flour Sack Kitchen Towels - 6 Styles

$18 USD by lilbasketcase


Vintage French Pillow
$18 USD by gracioushome




Modern Owl Wall Clock - Bamboo
$78 USD by decoylab



 Personalised Vintage Regentone Record Clock

£99 GBP by Vyconic

On Trend: Nail Art



Recently I have noticed how much nail art is becoming so popular. I first noticed the trend when the Barry M nail varnishes started popping up on my friends nails, the ones with the cracked and snakeskin look. I wasn't so keen on the look, so my nails were left to their bare state. 


Though now, the more colourful styles of nail art are making an appearance. In the May 2012 issue of Glamour magazine, their Glamour Promotion section focused on nail artist Zarra Celik for Max Factor. 

Here's the instructions to create the above colour-pop stripe look:

1. First, choose your two colours. Try mixing a pretty pastel with bright.
2. Alternating between a different shade for each finger, paint on two coats of each colour. This look is all about breaking the rules, so it doesn't matter if you paint one nail in one shade and the rest in the other!
3. Now it's time to get created. Using a toothpick or nail art brush, draw diagonal stripes in each contrasting shade onto the tip of each nail.


On a separate section in Glamour Magazine, an article on the statement looks for nails this summer shows two different styles of nail art, the first being 'Fishnet Chic'. The Nails Inc Magnetic Polish is a new polish with a magnet on the top of the bottle. When the magnet is held over the wet polish it rises to create an interesting fishnet look, as seen in the image below. 



The second nail polish shown in the article is the Nails Inc Nail Jewellery. After painting your nails in a base coat colour, apply two coats of the Nail Jewellery and you have some gorgeous sparkling nails.


After finding so much inspiration, I've been trying out some styles of my own. Below is my attempt of a bright pink base and yellow diagonal stripe. I'm not the neatest nail artist, but I've tried my best!


I hope you've enjoyed reading a little bit about nail art! Go and try some new looks yourself too :)

Pinterest



I've only just discovered this great website named Pinterest and I'm already hooked! It's basically an online folder of images you love. You can make many different 'pinboards' with different catorgories so all the images you pin are in a lovely, neat order. 


I've added my Pinterest page to my links list, so you can have a look at the many other beautiful things that catch my eye or interest me that don't make it onto my blog! 





Enjoy!

Wednesday 18 April 2012

Fashion Vs. Cheerleading

Perhaps a very strange comparison to make, but fashion and cheerleading have one huge, oversized thing in common:

hair bows.

During the Spring/Summer catwalks of 2010, oversized bows were everywhere. From DVF to Luella, and Marc Jacobs to Milly, huge bows as hair pieces were staple accessories.

Marc by Marc Jacobs Spring 2010

In the Cheerleading world, one in which I have been involved in for just under three years now, oversized hair bows are a thing of uniform. Each competitive cheerleading squad has their own uniform with their own squad colours and name upon them, but the uniform for hair is widely recognised as being the same everywhere; high on the head ponytails (the higher the better!) with the oversized bows propped up on the top of the head.


Like the different uniforms for each squad, the bows worn are specially made to match in with the squad colours. As you can see from the photo above, the bows for my squad are black, red and silver.

Despite the hair bows being a part of the cheerleading uniform, bows have become somewhat of a fashion statement at the cheerleading competitions. Cheerleading bows come in many different shapes and sizes, colours and textures.


The photo above shows two of my squad members showing off their new cheer bows. The blue bow on the right is a stiff material with square sequins, whilst the purple bow on the left is a stiff plastic material with a shiny, glittery effect.

Perhaps not too disimilar to Luellas shiny plastic bows from her Spring 2010 Ready-to-Wear collection?


Luella Spring 2010 Ready-to-Wear


Ah, well maybe they aren't quite the same, but still similar enough! I hope you've enjoyed reading my peculiar comparison, and perhaps learning a little about the cheerleading world too!

I'll leave you with a few more examples of oversized hair bows in both the fashion and cheerleading worlds:


Milly Spring 2010 Ready-to-Wear


Diane Von Furstenburg Resort 2010



Wednesday 11 April 2012

Designer Profile: Maarten Van Der Horst


Maarten Van Der Horst: new talent, fresh ideas, a great future.

This up-and-coming young designer, after completing his MA at Central Saint Martins, showed his first collection, Spring/Summer 2012, with Fashion East at London Fashion Week.

The London Fashion Week website has a great designer profile
on Maarten Van Der Horst, so I wanted to share it on my blog.


Designer name: Maarten van der Horst

Origin: Holland

Design background: Maarten graduated with a BA from the ArtEZ Institute of the Arts in Arnhem, Holland. During his studies he completed an internship with ChloĆ© in Paris, which “taught me enough to make me want to do my own thing”. He then moved to London for his MA at Central Saint Martins. His AW11 collection channelled transvestism and escapism, marrying intricately embroidered, second-hand nylon petticoats with Hawaiian shirts, Capri trousers and Bermuda shorts, creating a John Waters-inspired wardrobe. Spring/summer 2012 is his first season with Fashion East at London Fashion Week.

Design signatures:
“Lo-fi, blissed-out, D-I-Y glamour.”

Career highlight: “Fashion East SS12.”

How would you describe the Maarten van der Horst woman?
“Anyone gutsy enough to wear pastel-coloured nylon frills on Hawaiian shirts.”

Trademark piece:
“The ‘dragified’ Hawaiian shirt.”

Three autumn/winter 2012 inspirations: “Madonna performing Fever on SNL in 1993; horrible satin boxer shorts; love.”

What does 2012 hold for your brand?
“The launch of my Topshop capsule collection, my new website and the new winter collection that I’m showing under the Fashion East umbrella. So many things planned, can’t wait!”

What is your favourite decade in fashion? “The seventies, absolutely!”

Where do you go in London to seek artistic inspiration?
“My dreams!”


Bananas in Pyjamas

The new pyjama trend for 2012 grows on me each time a new piece catches my eye. I first encountered the trend when I spotted Stella McCartney sporting one of her own dark blue paisley designs at the launch of the Team GB kit. At first look I wasn't too keen, but after more research into the trend and looking at the different ways many designers and shops have used it, I'm starting realise the trends full potential.

Whilst taking my weekly look on asos.com, I came across many pyjama trend items. My favourites by far were the tailored silk pyjama trousers and tops designed by Maarten Van Dor Horst for Lulu & Co. I love the two gorgeous hawaiian prints with black and white contrasting backgrounds, leaving the customer to choose whether to go full out on one print or mix it up with both.


Despite the pyjama trend being mainly based around large colour and print, I found this little treasure below and fell in love. The simplicity of the knitted black and white zig zag pattern really caught my eye. The blazer/trouser combo looks both fashionable and smart at the same time.



I always admit that I hate paisley print, but this blazer/shorts pyjama combo really stood out to me. I love how the trend doesn't have to be full length trousers! It brings out the more playful side to the trend, rather than the smart and sophisticated look.

After finding Stella McCartneys full collection for Spring/Summer 2012 to check out the rest of her pyjama designs, I decided that the design below was my favourite. I love the simple dotty print and the use of a beautiful bright colour for contrast, and the material looks gorgeous and light.


So there are some of my picks from the new pyjama trend for 2012, I can only imagine it's just going to get bigger and better!