Friday Review-Kristen Stewart's Florabotanica Interview

Holy crap, y'all, there is a reason this interview is being mocked all around the internet. Not only is it completely ridiculous but also torturous to watch. Kristen Stewart bumbles her way through various questions about the fragrance, fashion and French style all the while insulting numerous people and raising many other questions, namely "Why would anyone choose to have Kristen Stewart as the face of their high-fashion brand?" Even Kristen Stewart must be wondering that as she makes comments about how the perfume doesn't smell old lady-ish, how French people really are stereotyped and how she never thinks about fashion. Despite the fact that she drops Nicolas Ghesquière's name many times it is clear she doesn't have a bloody clue what she is talking about.  Now, I don't like Kristen Stewart and I certainly do not like her "I'm too cool and individual to care about fashion, or, you know, smiling" attitude. The fact is, no matter how individual she thinks she is, she has received an amount of money that most of us can only dream of to represent a brand. Sure, we can criticize high fashion but like anything else it is a fantasy, it is an idea, and it's Kristen Stewart's job to sell that brand, something she did an absolutely horrible job of. If she wants to go home and fart around, drink beer and watch sports, that's her prerogative but when she's in a live interview for a perfume like this she should be elegant, classy and have a modicum of respect for her fans and for Balenciaga. Yes, some of the questions were obviously difficult for her but would those questions have been difficult for someone else, someone a bit more mature, a bit more interested in actually having their face as the face of a prestigious company like this? That said, it's a bit hard to blame Kristen Stewart for everything here. She clearly needed some guidance on how to answer the questions and her "people" or friends and family or, for heaven's sake the people at Florabotanica can, perhaps, be blamed for not counselling her a bit on how to act (ie: not to spend the whole interview acting like you are in an advert for restless leg syndrome) and what to say. Even if the questions really were a surprise (doubtful) they weren't  surprising and she could have been advised on how to answer them or similar questions.

Bottom Line: Not unlike watching a car crash.



picture source: canadiangiftguide.com

Summer Style in Spain

Want to look like a native in Spain? Forget it! Spaniards can spot a foreigner from miles away but since Spain does have some great fashion I suggest adding these tidbits to summer wardrobe.

1.) Straw Hat

A must! Great for bad hair days, lazy days, going to the beach...anytime really
Hat from Ale-Hop

2.) Bright Nails
Bright nails are on trend right now and an easy and cheap (if you are unemployed  like me!) way to add colour and fun to an outfit.

I suggest Kiko Make Up Milano, they have great colours and prices!

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3.) Bracelets
Mix and match bracelets from, well, where you find them,high end, street vendors, souvenir shops...


Bracelets from Spring

4.) Red Lips

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Try Bite Beauty Luminous Creme lipstick from Sephora


Put on some red lipstick and some confidence and head out into the street, ready to take on the world.


5.) Cool Blouse
Add something light and breezy to your summer wardrobe and voila! you will look cool even in the sweltering heat!

French Connection Top from ASOS

Now get out there and enjoy the summer!

Mix Up Your Beauty Routine With Pastels!

Wednesday, 08 February 2012

I have to confess there is something really Parisian chic about just smearing on some black eyeliner and heading out but I'm also a huge fan of the softer tones that have been appearing lately. I love this Chanel Advert with Kiera Knightly, it has been my inspiration lately!

The Inspiration:

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The brown, pink and peach tones are subtle but lovely!

I also found THIS on stumbleupon a few weeks ago and became absolutely obsessed, the brown eyeshadow with a hint of blue is delightfully sassy. 

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Adding a hint of blue is fun but DO NOT overdo it. We don't need Eighties fashion back!

The How-To: 

My suggestions for pastel-ing up your makeup? Try this English Rose Quad from Rimmel!

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I'm also a huge fan of RIMMEL's blushes, they come in such a pretty and girly array of colours!

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Pink Rose is my favourite although I tend to switch to creamier corals or bronzer in summer, which I can't wait for, by the way!

Or try La Bohème Baked Eye Shadow Palette, from Sephora.

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Also, check out this article on FLARE for some great ideas! And have a lovely Wednesday! xoxox

Tribal/Ethnic Trend

Well it looks like the tribal trend is going to be around for a while and the question is-are you going to be embracing it whole hog or simply donning your favourite gladiator sandals this summer? Personally, I'm a huge fan of gladiator sandals, they make my feet look marvelous and they look great with everything (in my opinion) , and animal print, well who doesn't like animal print? Personally, I'm not going to be going all the way with this trend but adding some accessories? Definitely.

 Though I love this Burberry clutch....

Picture from Harpers Bazaar

And this look, also from Burberry 

Picture from The Telegraph

Bracelets from- New Fashion Design of Ethnic Clothes for Women Trend

Here are some accessories more in my price range!

Aztec Scarf-Asos

Sandals-Spring

Belt-Asos

Earrings-Spring

What about you? How will you be wearing this trend? Or will you be giving it a miss? In any case, I wish you a lovely Monday and hope you don't procrastinate as much as I do! xoxox

Fashion and Intelligence

As you all know I absolutely love reading books about France. My current read is French Toast by Harriet Welty Rochefort

I'm really enjoying this book and one of the things that always makes me think is the 'what is the difference between French  women and American/English women?' chapter. The answers are invariably, English women drink too much, French women are stylish etc. It has occurred to me lately that your average English speaking woman is born with a lifetime supply of confusion about whether she is supposed to be a woman or a man. I think that the average French (or European) woman has less of a problem with this. In France a woman is expected to dress nice and be able to carry on a conversation about politics. In North America and the English speaking world at large,  dressing fashionably or being beautiful somehow undermines your ability to be intelligent. Case in point: a few years ago I was talking to an Australian man about politics. At one point he interjected "I love Canadians, you are all so informed about the world". Later he told me that I was "just one of the guys". I have to confess I was insulted, it was as though mentioning world affairs had simultaneously subtracted all my sex appeal.

I'm also currently reading Fashion: Philosophy for Everyone. The cover of this book makes it seem like it is going to be beauty tips or something but it is actually essays about different aspects of fashion, commodification, sexual identity and so on. Right in the preface the editor says she had a problem with being stylish and being a feminist. Somehow we feel that we must choose between being beautiful and being smart something which is a notion I think we retire once and for all.

Personally I love clothes and I love discussing politics and I don't think that those things are mutually exclusive and I plan to continue doing both! 

Hope you all have had a fantastic Monday and  have an equally fantastic week. xoxoxox

Prada Candy

Hola blog readers, I have been procrastinating everything today, I have a math exam in a week which I am not prepared for, furthermore I am missing my ID card needed for said exam. I have an essay to write and 2 plays to read. Instead, I watched the Food Network, which I find secretly addicting. I am alarmed to find, though, that there is a show called Cupcake Wars. Yikes. This cupcake trend is very alarming. I have to say, until I recently watched all 32 Episodes of Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares (U.K.) I didn't even know there were trends in food, although, this is quite logical in fact. Anyway, I feel kind of overwhelmed by this cupcake business. First of all, I'm not particularly fond of them and secondly, it seems like a  lot of work for a cake that it will take me a minute to eat. However, maybe I am just being cynical.
Anyway to the point. Have you all seen the Prada Candy Ad?It's been around for a few months now. Here it is in case you missed it.

Argh. I really hate this. Let me count the ways. I can't. The voice is so weird? What is she saying? I don't like the make-up. I'm rambling on, but this ad just doesn't make any sense to me. Why is she shouting "I don't care". I wish I didn't care about this advert, but I do, it's too much. I feel like when it comes to fashion you (or at least I) can't really criticize things, more or less because great artistic minds designed the clothes, or in this case, ad and I am just an English Student/Server, albeit one who reads several fashion magazines/blogs a week, so who am I to judge? Well, whatever the case may be, I, and it appears the commenters in youtube, don't like this advert, not at all.

OYSHO

Wednesday, 16 November 2011

I just discovered OYSHO and I absolutely love this website. As soon as I get back to Spain, (which frankly can't be soon enough, I am missing the sun, the beach, the shops, the music, already!) I am going to order some stuff up.

Plus, I absolutely love this scarf and am certainly going to be making one like it. It's a fisherman's knit which is one of the easiest and most fun knits! And I love the tassels. 

They also have these cardboard purses which are very vintage, no?

I hope you all have a lovely Wednesday and don't do anything stupid like drinking a whole bottle of wine on your own. Just saying.

xoxoxoxo

My Anglophilia Continues-Pippa Middleton

I love, love, love this!


and this--although I'm not sure that it isn't just making me pine for those rainy isles. No, that's not it, I'm sure, she's adorable, I love this coat and those flats and it looks like there is a scone in that baggy which...mmm, scones. I also love pictures of people walking. I sometimes imagine that people are taking pictures of me when I'm walking down the street and then I caption said imaginary photos "Stephanie looks chic as she stops for a latte on the way to work!" or something.

This isn't the best picture ever, but I love what she's wearing. She is so classic! I alway wish I could dress more "classically" but then I accidentally put on something funky instead. C'est la vie!

I Really Love My... Floral Shrug and Stackable Bracelets

Tuesday, 25 October 2011

Shrugs are one of those things that I have a love/hate relationship with. They go in and out of style so fast, I'm never sure if I should wear mine or not. Plus they can make you look disproportionate if you aren't careful. Being a mad Kate Middleton/Duchess Catherine fan I loved the one she wore for her wedding reception! Let's have a recap.

Florals on the other hand are something I can't resist despite the quizzical look on my face here. 

These bracelets are the best dollar I ever spent! And the pink nails are an experiment for me but one I quite like.

Of course, I absolutely adore my wedge booties as well. I was shopping online recently and while browsing a certain item ( don't remember what) it recommend me these boots. I guess I'm a bit predictable!

Shrug-Wet Seal (second hand)

Bracelets-second hand

Necklace-my grandmothers

Booties-Spring

Earrings-JOE

Silver Ring-bought on a trip to Banff many years ago

Gold Ring-Ardene's

Why I Love The Thrift Shop

I was awoken yesterday by an SMS from my sister asking if I would like to go to the thrift shop. Of course I said yes. People always ask me where I shop and now that I am not 14 anymore, I tell them. Naturally being a shopaholic I shop everywhere and anywhere but I happily include the thrift shop among them, especially due to the fact that I am extra poor this year.

My finds:

 

 Snakeskin skinny belt- $0.50

Teacup-$5.00

If I'm going to be sick I may as well enjoy the liters of tea I will be drinking out of this pretty teacup.

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 Stackable Bracelets- $1.00

Cats Eye Glasses-$0.50 (orange glasses where also $0.50)

Fashionable Monday Bits

Monday, 17 October 2011

Happy Monday! I will be working all day on my Shakespeare essay and I was going to leave you with a rant but I thought it would be too harsh for a Monday morning so will leave that for tomorrow and leave you with some happy things instead.

Adele-Someone Like You
This song is a huge guilty pleasure for me, I love her voice and her delivery of this song. And more importantly I love her military jacket in the video.

Victoria Beckham's Cat Dress

I love cats. I love Victoria Beckham-she's just so over the top and naturally I love the cat dress.

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3.) Bow Tie Earrings

Earrings from:

1.) Blanco

2.)Betsey Johnson

3.)Gemologica

4.)Betsey Johnson

Larry

I just love this guy-he is so lovable!

My October Inspirations

Thursday, 13 October 2011

 

1.) Flare-Canada's Fashion Magazine

I love Flare, they have great pictures and articles and so far I haven't encountered any Cosmo style articles.

2.)Rimmel Lasting Finish Nail Enamel-Purple Rain

This colour is great and with it's promise of ten days you can't go wrong.

3.)Kusko Necklace-Spring

Japanese accents are right on trend and this necklace looks great with a simple T-shirt and the little ball accent is so cute!

4.)Mustard Scarf-Asos

Mustard is here again so curl up in a cozy scarf like this one from Asos.com

5.)Lavender

I love lavender, it's so soothing and now that I'm working hard and the lazy days of summer are gone I need something soothing! 

6.)Dubliners-James Joyce

7.)Perfume-Stella McCartney (Limited Edition)

These perfume bottles are just so inspiring and lovely, I'd love to have on on my shelf.

8.)Alison Brie on Community

I love Alison Brie, I think she is fantastic on Community and Mad Men, and the wardrobe department on Community gets two thumbs up from me for dressing her so beautifully. 

9.) Africa Honey and Beeswax Hand and Foot Butter

I worked on a Honey Farm for years and at the end of the summer my skin was always so soft and silky. So I use lotions with honey to keep that feeling going all year round.

Lavender Picture Credit

Dubliners Picture Credit

Stella McCartney Picture Credit

Body Shop Picture Credit

Annie Picture Credit

How to be a Style Icon

Those who know me, know I absolutely love Kate Middleton, or excuse me, Duchesss Catherine to the angry Flare reader. What I think is great about her style is that it is classic, timeless, beautiful and somehow always exactly the right thing to wear.
Exhibit A

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She wore this for Canada day in Quebec. The white dress is perfect and how fabulous is that purse?

Exhibit B

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Well what would you expect her to wear to the Calgary Stampede?

Exhibit C

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She wears navy a lot, a A LOT, but she looks great.

Exhibit D


I love this dress and the nude shoes. Go Fug Yourself often comments on her "sensible princess shoes" but I lurve them. Does that make me sensible?

Exhibit E


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This look is absolutely my favourite of hers. Mostly because whenever I have to carry my luggage around I end up sweating and looking like a pig and she looks like "that's right, I am carrying my own MASSIVE duffle bag like you peasants, but unlike you peasants I look like it is light as a feather and haven't even broken a sweat". This picture also really makes me want to be in the UK. Don't worry England, I'm coming in er, 7 months!

Exhibit F


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Does Fashion Matter?

"This... stuff'? Oh. Okay. I see. You think this has nothing to do with you. You go to your closet and you select... I don't know... that lumpy blue sweater, for instance because you're trying to tell the world that you take yourself too seriously to care about what you put on your back. But what you don't know is that that sweater is not just blue, it's not turquoise. It's not lapis. It's actually cerulean. And you're also blithely unaware of the fact that in 2002, Oscar de la Renta did a collection of cerulean gowns. And then I think it was Yves Saint Laurent... wasn't it who showed cerulean military jackets? I think we need a jacket here. And then cerulean quickly showed up in the collections of eight different designers. And then it, uh, filtered down through the department stores and then trickled on down into some tragic Casual Corner where you, no doubt, fished it out of some clearance bin. However, that blue represents millions of dollars and countless jobs and it's sort of comical how you think that you've made a choice that exempts you from the fashion industry when, in fact, you're wearing the sweater that was selected for you by the people in this room from a pile of stuff. "

This quote from The Devil Wears Prada, a film I otherwise dislike,frequently pops into my head. I am confronted often by people who think that they are somehow above dressing fashionably, that fashion is irrelevant and/or that what they wear doesn't make a statement. The fact is that even if you wear your pajamas out on Sunday morning you are making a statement. I find myself particularly frustrated and offended by people who dress badly on purpose, I feel like I am being judged by them for being shallow enough to care how I look. As Meryl Streep's character says, they believe they are wearing something that has exempted them from the fashion industry but what they are wearing is directly affected by the fashion industry. We are all cogs in the fashion machine, whether we like it or not. 

As a fashion fan I, like everyone, think of France as the pinnacle of fashion. Here in Canada I see a lot of people dressing as if they are too busy, too cool or too unimpressed with you to dress nicely. This is an art form that has simply not been mastered here. A few years ago I was in Paris with a French friend, as we were walking down the street she pointed out a woman across the street who was wearing a simple pant-suit. She told me "do you see that woman? She looks beautiful right? But she looks like she doesn't care. That is French style". In "Almost French" by Sarah Turnball, she writes about an experience where she is told that dressing fashionably is for other people, who have to see you. I found this piece witty and charming but perhaps the most pointed reason for dressing well came from the same French friend who told me that it wasn't nice for people not to dress nicely or not take care of themselves. Why? Her rationale was--we all have to do it, why should someone be exempt? Are they better than the rest of us?  I think my appreciation for her and for the quote from The Devil Wears Prada boils down to the fact that thinking you're excluded from convention is frankly a bit snotty, sure fashion is sometimes futile, sometimes petty, sometimes horribly wrong but it's something we are all subjected to. It would be nice if we were all seen for our personality and never judged by outward appearances but this simply isn't going to happen. 

Furthermore fashion is like all art. When I was still in high school we were in an art gallery when a curator presented us with the question (ok, I don't remember exactly how it goes-that was a long time ago!) is art important? Should government funds be dedicated to art? Of course I think they should but it is a good question. Is art vital to our survival as a human race? As long as there have been people there has been art so I would argue yes. Some years ago my mom, who loves gardening, said to me "sometimes I wonder if my garden is important. It really has no value at all, but it is beautiful and it makes me happy". I think it's the same for fashion. Maybe it isn't important in a life changing sense, but it is beautiful.