Outfit of the Day: 27th July 2011

Dear Readers,

Allow me to draw your attention to Marc Jacobs's Fall 2011 ad campaign before moving on to my outfit of the day. Admire, below, photos of a 53 year old man in his birthday suit. The man is all set and ready for his birthday party, sporting lovely, colourful birthday balloons attached to his manly treasures. The question I can't help to ask at the moment is, 'WHY? Why didn't you choose a 25 year old man instead?'

Ehh!

Enough nakedness. Unlike this man over here, I wore clothes yesterday. My mother and I went to Valletta yesterday because I wanted to buy a top I had seen at Stradivarius a week ago. For the first time ever, I decided to wear my pink rosy sunglasses from H&M, which you have probably seen in my Post-Brussels Haul. I really want to find a pair of black ones, but these are okay in the meantime.

Top: Peacocks

Shorts: Pull and Bear

Hat: Ells

Sunglasses: H&M

Sandals: Open Market

Bag: I Love Shoes

I didn't buy anything yesterday, but I'm going shopping tomorrow so expect a haul by this weekend :)

-B

Style Challenge: How to make a Fringe Top

Dear Readers,

I can come up with at least 534 reasons why I like to create/revamp clothes and accessories, but I'm going to mention just a few, because I'm lazy (and because you wouldn't read through 534 reasons. You're lazy too.)

1. The clothes you make are unique and that kinda rocks doesn't it?
2. You'll finally wear those clothes that have been hanging there for ages.
3. You get that feeling of owning something new, without spending a fortune.
4. It's fun. True Story.
5. It quenches that insatiable thirst to create something. And you all know that I'm too thirsty, all the bloody time.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is a fringe top. Fringe tops are huge at the moment, and I guess practically every major high-street store stocks them. Prices vary: New Look and H&M usually sell them for pretty cheap prices but you can find more expensive ones on the lovely ASOS website. You can buy as many fringe tops as you like, but I'm encouraging you to make one. Yes, you can make one because it's ridiculously easy. Admit it, you have t-shirts you haven't worn in ages. You don't really like them anymore but you just don't want to throw them away. Sometimes we get bored of wearing the same t-shirt over and over again (or rather, twice), but that t-shirt is too pretty to abandon in the bottomless pit of 'Clothes that I don't love anymore'. The answer to all these pressing issues is fringing. Trust me, there are around 500 scientific reports that can prove that.

Let's do this, rawr!

Time needed: about 20-30 minutes

What you will need: a t-shirt, a pair of good scissors

Steps:

1. Find a t-shirt you want to fringe. You can also choose a sleeveless top.

2. Try on your top and decide where you want your fringe to start. Usually it's beneath your chest or stomach area, but that's entirely up to you. You might also want to mark that spot to make it clearer for you.

3. Lay your top flat on the floor. Cut the top's hem. If you're fringing the sleeves as well, then cut the sleeves's hem as well.

4. Start cutting upwards towards your mark. Ideally do front and back at the same time. Try and make your fringes more or less equal in size. Repeat the same procedure for your sleeves if you're fringing them as well.

5. Once you've finished step four get ready for the fun part. GENTLY start pulling your fringes. This makes them look less odd and slightly thinner. (I wish I could pull my legs and make THEM look thinner, LOL). As I said, pull gently, or else you risk ripping them off, especially the ones on your sleeves!

6. C'est fini! Try it on and rock on :)

THAT WAS EASY SEE!

How I 'Defaced' my top (pun intended)

I hope many of you are looking through their t-shirt collection after reading this :) Happy Fringing!

-B

Recent Purchases as at 26 / 07 / 2011

Dear Readers,

I usually show you my recent purchases through Haul videos, and they're usually pretty large hauls. Well, I've been shopping lately, but I haven't really shopped A LOT you know. This means that if I had to make a haul video with the few things I bought it would be only some 3 minutes long. I'm trying to keep shopping very minimal at the moment: I want to spend some money on good outings AND I want to engage in some sewing / DIY projects instead of buying ready made clothes. I still feel like I should show you what I bought recently so, here I am, writing this first 'Recent Purchases Post'. I'll do a Haul video eventually, you know, when I have a massive amount of things to show you :)

ANYWAY, here goes.

My local pharmacy has the most amazing 'Essence' make-Up stand ever. I routinely go there and buy half of the products on the stand, a ritual which was also noticed by the pharmacist himself. I got a couple of make-up products from my last routine visit. First off, I bought myself two pretty nailpolishes, because all of my other nailpolishes have somehow gone bad. I'm not sure whether I should blame the heat or myself for not using them frequently. The two Essence nailpolishes I picked up were only €1.41 each! Yeah, I know the bottles are very small, but that's awesome for me. I never waste entire large bottles of nailpolish because (a) I go through nail-biting phases sometimes so I technically have no nails to paint (b) I like to change my nailpolish frequently so sometimes I use one nailcolour just once or twice and (c) I'd rather own many small bottles than one big bottle. The colours I got were a bright Barbie pink, called 'Ultimate Pink' and a very eye-catching orangey-coral colour, by the name of 'Wake Up!' which I LURVE!

Wake Up! (left) and Ultimate Pink (right)

NEXT. As I glanced randomly and innocently at this same make-up stand, I noticed a bright pink lip pencil and I was like 'Ohh, that is eye-catching! Must try that out now!'. By the way, this is not a lip liner! It has quite a glossy finish and a very thick tip, so it's in no way meant to line lips. In other words, it's simply a lipstick. I haven't worn this lip pencil out yet, but I have tried it at home. For some queer reason, I applied this lip colour before going to sleep and guess what, I woke up with it still on. It may not be as bright as I hoped it would be, but it sure is long-lasting. Just in case you want to buy this pencil, it's called 'Punk Vibe' from the 'Essence Colour and Shine collection' and it costs only €2.61.

I'm a punk.

My next two 'Essence' purchases are face make-up products. The first is this gorgeous peachy blusher which I've been planning to buy for ages. I usually opt for pink blushes because they look more natural on my very pale complexion. However I'm lightly tanned at the moment and that means I can explore the uncharted world of peach blushes. Leaving my very hyperbolic descriptions aside, this blusher is really, really nice. It has an excellent finish, it's pigmented (not too much, it's just right!) and it's easily manageable. And, shocker! I think it suits me even if I'm not tanned because of my copper hair. That rocks, really. Oh, and another plus, the blusher is called 'Secret It-Girl': a name which makes me feel like Serena Van der Woodsen. I bought it for €3.11 :)

Yummy :)

My final 'Essence' purchase is a 3 in 1 Concealer. I admit, I bought this concealer because it had three colours. You know it looks as fancy as a plate of Tricolori pasta as opposed to a boring, mono-colour dish. Then I went home and I tried it. You are meant to use the pink section against circles around your eyes. The beige part is for any blemishes (*sigh*) and the green is an anti-redness concealer. This concealer works magic, seriously. It's not a gimmick! I'm definitely buying this again once I finish it :) The 'Essence Forget it! 3 in 1 concealer' costs €3.11.

Don't forget it, forget all your other concealers instead!

Just when I thought my make-up spree was over, I saw another make-up stand, this time by 'Rimmel'. My eyes literally darted towards this bright, very pigmented, pink lipstick called 'Gossip'. Apart from the name, and the packaging (which yes, both matter a lot to me), I adore this colour. It's definitely one of my fave colours at the moment. If your skintone is similar to mine THEN GO AND BUY IT NOW! It only costs €3.69 and trust me, it's more than worth its price. *puts on lipstick and feels pretty*

I like 'Gossip'

Hooray for make up and for pretty colours :D

-B

The Inspiration Series #2: Fashion Magazines

Dear Readers,

I hope your stomach feels better than mine does at the moment. Digestive problems aside, I'm here to write my second post from 'The Inspiration Series', where I'll finally start pinpointing sources of inspiration. This week, I'm focussing on fashion magazines.

I assume that most of you have this 'Jesus Christ, that's so obvious' look on their faces. Okay, I'm starting with something really obvious. Everyone knows that fashion magazines are great for inspiration. However, I feel that there are Magazines and 'magazines' and I want to draw a clear distinction between the two groups. Keep in mind that this post is entirely subjective and I don't expect everyone to agree with me. I'm ranking my magazine sources from 'Best' to 'less Great' to simplify the matter as much as I can.

VOGUE

Otherwise known as 'THE BIBLE', at least in my awesome world. Vogue is THE BIBLE. I honestly believe that you simply can't go wrong if you read Vogue regularly. It's true, most of the articles and spreads focus on expensive designer wear, but you can easily adapt those looks/trends using more affordable clothing. I personally prefer Vogue US to any other Vogue hands down! But that's just me: I have this huge style crush on Anna Wintour and Grace Coddington! There are many Vogue versions available, which are equally good. I love Vogue Paris (and their MANY Chanel adverts), Vogue Hellas (even though I can't read it. They have the most amazing pictures ever!), and Vogue Italia (God, Italians know fashion inside out). I also read British Vogue regularly because it's the most easily available Vogue magazine in Malta. Recently I've also been looking at issues from Vogue India and I must admit that I love it! It's so fresh and different to other 'Western' Vogues. I would also love to dip into Vogue Japan, but its issues are very hard to come by here in Malta :( Oh, and yes I do bother looking into Vogues I can't read/understand. Pictures and photos MATTER anyway, if not more than words. TeenVogue, is also a must if you're within that age group, but I guess I'm too old for it now *sob*.

GQ

I haven't forgotten the boys. GQ is as essential to every man as Vogue is to every woman. They do the best Men's style features by far. Their articles are spot-on and well written. I think a man that reads GQ regularly is more marriageable, well at least to yours truly. Strange as it may sound, I also recommend this magazine to the ladies. You might have noticed that I like male accents in my outfits. Guess where I get most of my cues from?

HARPER'S BAZAAR, ELLE, V MAGAZINE, W MAGAZINE

Okay, these magazines aren't in my number one spot simply because they're not Vogue, if you get what I mean. They're equally as respected and as influential, but they don't have Anna Wintour at the helm. W Magazine is awesome, so awesome it has won the gold medal for fashion photography for three consecutive years. Expect some mind-blowing photos, naturally. I recommend V Magazine and its male counterpart, VMan Magazine, for their eye-popping photos and their up to date reports. You can't miss out on any trends if you follow these magazines, I can vouch for that.

NYLON

I really would like to promote Nylon as my second favourite magazine ever, BUT I haven't read / seen enough issues to award it this highly coveted spot. PLEASE let me know if you spot any Nylon issues around Malta, I'm in desperate need! I'm having withdrawal symptoms too :( There are oh so many reasons why Nylon rocks my socks (although I prefer my socks to be made out of cotton. Got it, got it?). It's colourful, fresh, unconventional and bold! The qualities a man should have LOL :)

LOOK

Look out for Look! No, really, please do. Unlike many other mags, Look is a weekly magazine so it tends to be more up to date than some others. Look also does really good 'what's in store' reports with pictures, prices and outfit ideas, which I adore. That's probably my favourite element out of the entire magazine.

INSTYLE

Many people adore InStyle and they buy every single issue of it. I'm less convinced with it, somehow. I mean, I do like their reports and all, but I can't say I'm too big a fan of this magazine. I haven't as yet understood why. Up to now I decided that it's because it doesn't have a catchy name, but deep down inside, I know it has nothing to do with that. I'm probably a little bit challenged.

THE OTHERS

Please use a specific tone when reading 'The Others'. You know, something similar to when a mother speaks of her less talented, rebel son after speaking fondly of her other perfect, loving son. Don't hate me, but you know, I feel some mags really can't inspire anything fashion related, mostly because they're not really putting fashion as one of their ultimate priorities. I feel like they all speak about the same trend over and over again. Oh well, let's sigh together. These 'others' include Cosmopolitan, Marie Clare, Glamour, Shout, and as of late, Grazia as well. I liked Grazia, but lately it has descended into an abyss of Cheryl Cole related drama which is totally uninteresting. Well, you are free to read these magazines and I do have a look at them myself every once in a while. However, as I have emphasised already, they're not impressive and I can't say I learn anything from them!

My next post from the Inspiration Series will focus on 'Internet Websites', so if you have any suggestions let me know :)

-B

Rest in Peace, Amy Winehouse.

Dear Readers,

The eternal Romantic in me has this strange fascination with tormented souls, especially if they manage to express their torment through their musical abilities. This is why I loved Amy Winehouse so much. Yes, I guess she have said 'yes, yes, yes' when they asked her to go to Rehab, but I strongly believe that her addictions are partly behind her musical genius. I hoped for a comeback, I hoped she would come clean. It's such a pity to lose such a musical prodigy to addictions. Oh, and I'm ashamed by all those simply dismiss Winehouse as a 'crackpot' who deserved to die because 'she had it coming'. We all have the right to an opinion, granted. However, we don't have the right to judge others about mistakes we commit ourselves. We might not be addicted to drugs or alcohol, but many of us don't accept that we have a problem. We are also led by our passions and mistakes because we have no control over them. We've all failed to admit we had a problem at some point during our life, so we have no right to judge Amy, never.

During her lifetime, Amy Winehouse has inspired many within the fashion industry. She has inspired none other than Karl Lagerfeld, who described her as a 'beautiful, gifted artist'. He also liked her typical hairdo, the famous bee-hive, and claimed that he 'took it as an inspiration'. Amy Winehouse had a distinct 1950s/1960s appearance: her beehive, her coloured lips, her thick black liner and those old-school sailor tattoos. We all remember her short miniskirts, her tight short shirts, and her puff ball dresses. As Suite 101 wrote, 'She resembled one of those 1960s Italian bad girls who travelled around on the back of Vespa bikes, arms wrapped around leather jacketed James Dean types.' Amy's style became her trademark, her visiting card. I don't need to explain how much I adore people who that do I?

Amy Winehouse Inspired Chanel Designs

In recent years, Amy Winehouse had also designed her very own collection for Fred Perry, and brand which she loved to wear herself. Amy Winehouse was a style icon, who was confident of her own style and never tried to look cheesy like some girl from *Insert Random Cheesy Girl Band Here*. Here are some of my personal favourite 'Amy Winehouse Looks'.

May your soul finally find the peace it never found on earth. Rest in Peace, dear Amy Winehouse.

-B

GQ's 'Most Stylish Men of the Week'

Dear Readers,

This week I realised that most of my posts are oriented towards the ladies, so I said,'mhmm let me subscribe to GQ Magazine and write something for the boys'. Anyway, the first GQ newsletter reached my overcrowded inbox yesterday and my eyes were immediately drawn to an article called 'The Most Stylish Men of the Week'. And here I am, sharing these men with you.

For the boys, watch and learn. For the girls, sit down and enjoy haha!

Ryan Gosling

Ooooo look at our dear Ryan, oozing confidence through each and every pore. Loving the look, especially the tie. He's like 'oh look at me, wearing my tie but it's like I'm dying to take it off!'. We like that Ryan. Not very convinced about those trousers, but hey, I approve it overall. I nearly said 'I approve the package', and that would have sounded very bad. Damn, I said it anyway.

The dear Duke of Cambridge has also been chosen for GQ's very coveted list. I am pleased to see Willy on this list. Let's admit it, he must find it hard to steal the fashion spotlight every once in a while. We all know that his dear Duchess is the fashion icon of the duo. So yes, I'm pleased to see William on this list. He deserves the spotlight sometimes. Oh, and I really like double breasted jackets on men. It's a pity only a few of the opposite sex sport that look!

Next on the list is Mr. Matthew Lewis, a.k.a Neville Longbottom from the Harry Potter movies. The last time I looked at this guy, he looked rather clumsy and unattractive. I knew I should have continued to lust after the Potter mania! I totally overlooked this incredible transformation! He's actually grown. He's handsome :) Well, I guess I have another reason to watch the final Potter installment now!

Why, oh why, has Puffy Daddy (or whatever his name is, he seems to change his name every 6 weeks or so) made this list? This is a mystery that even Sherlock Holmes would find tasking to solve! Overall, the outfit is, erm, horrible. What's up with the possessed pooch on his t-shirt? And why is he wearing a pendant which coincidentally rests on the dog's nose? It makes the dog look even more unsettling. 

Ladies and gentlemen, meet Chris Evans. Mr. Evans was also chosen for GQ's list. Now that's what I'm talking about! The perfect suit, complete with waistcoat and maroon tie. That's a nice touch dear Chris. But, if I may, you need to get a tan as soon as possible!

I am not too impressed with this look from Ryan Reynolds. I mean, don't get me wrong, he's all handsome and well-dressed, YET I can't understand why GQ has chosen him as one of the most stylish gents this week. I don't think he's pulling off anything special, in all honesty. Yikes. But wait, that open shirt does add a little charm doesn't it?

Rawr, this guy looks so good it Hurts. Get it, get it? Theo Hutchcraft, Hurts singer, also landed a place on GQ's hottie list. Well, I can't help but agree. He does look very good in this black tailored piece doesn't he? And if an open shirt adds a bit of charm, an entirely closed one is definitely a winning card!

It's great to see that even GQ appreciated the handsomeness of my future husband, Ed Westwick a.k.a. Chuck Bass from Gossip Girl. Excuse his flip flops, I'll make sure he doesn't do it again. Oh, and about that pair of trousers. Don't wear it with that checked shirt Ed, never again. However, you are still the most handsome man on this planet, even if you were to wear something like a Barney costume.

We shall end this post by looking at why Dolce and Gabbana made this list too. Jamie Millar, author of the GQ article that inspired this post, claims that Dolce's dinner jacket and distressed jeans combo was brilliant. I am totally not in agreement with that. I like the jeans, I like the jacket too. I hate them together. I do like mixing formal pieces with casual items, but this looks so wrong to me somehow. After three minutes staring at this picture, I reached the following conclusion: it's the jacket's lapel! It's the lapel's fault. Had it been  matte I think I would have liked the combination. However, KUDOS for the geeky specs. Always have and always will be a fan of those :D

-B

Doodle for me Karl, please!

Dear Readers,

Rise and shine, cupcakes. I woke up to this picture on twitter which made me very jealous. Karl Lagerfeld, Chanel's head designer, has doodled all over Lady Gaga's Chanel shopping bag! OMG, I want Karl to doodle on my bags too, and my notebooks, and my walls if need be! This is so cool it should be out on sale in stores. I'm sure it would sell like hot cakes <3

-B

Outfit of the Day: 19th July 2011

Dear Readers,

Howdy Ho? Dontcha wish the temperature was slightly more low? Something like 20 degree, ya know?

Sorry for that gangster intro over there, it's this heat. It makes me speak like a gangster. So, here I am. I managed to survive another day of the very tropical Summer, and I tried to look as decent as I could in the given circumstances. I had to run a few errands today, and I needed to get the bus. Just in case you don't get the innuendo over there, let me explain. We have just reformed the entire public transport system here in Malta, and things aren't moving very smoothly, to say the least. Reportedly, (and when I say reportedly I mean 'through facebook I got to know that..) the system is not as efficient as it should be, so let's say that at the moment I only use public transport if I have to. And yes, I ask myself 'Do I have to do this?' every time.

Anyways, so this is what I wore today. I didn't feel particularly creative. I simply threw on stuff that could help me withstand the heat AND the potentially overcrowded buses WHEN THEY DECIDE TO SHOW UP.

I hope you're all having a great day and don't forget to hype my look if you like it :)

-B

The Inspiration Series #1 : The Preamble

Dear Readers,

One question I’m frequently asked is, ‘What inspires your style / your looks?’ or ‘ How do you get ideas for your outfits?’. Whenever I try to answer this question, I tend to slip into an embarrassing awkward facial expression as I struggle to collect enough good words to formulate my answer.  Then I grin like a five year old whose about to reveal a very well-kept secret, I shrug and utter, ‘Well, I’m inspired by everything, everyone’. Obviously, as you can assume, that answer isn’t very helpful. The person who has posed me that question hasn’t learnt anything from my reply and I’m standing there like a reincarnation of Wordsworth.

This time, however, I decided to answer that question better, through this series of posts which I’m calling ‘The Inspiration Series’.  I figured out that not everyone finds inspiration as obvious as I do. But, don’t worry, that’s okay. I’m an extreme receptor of inspiration (oh, that’s a nicely phrase I coined over there!). I get bouts of inspiration all the time: I spend too much time looking at the sunset, convinced that those beautiful colours will inspire my next outfit. I listen to music, focussing on the emotions that song instils in me, until I find the perfect combination that conveys those exact same feelings.

Oh well, I think I’ve waffled enough over here. That always happens to me, I get so excited about inspiration that I start rambling like a war veteran describing his war adventures.

During this series, I’m going to identify some good sources of inspiration, and suggest a few things you can do to make sure that inspiration stream never dries out. Don’t worry, I’m not going into sunsets, sunrises or such abstract notions, because I understand that not everyone is as obsessed with creativity as I am. Oh, and personally, I don’t think I’m able to describe how I get inspired by a sunset. I think trying to articulate it will make me sound rather sick in the mind, too.

In this preamble to the series, I also want to draw a distinction between ‘being inspired’ and ‘incessantly trying to copy someone / follow a trend religiously’. The first rocks, the second sucks.  Pray to God to achieve the first, and ask God to make you avoid anything that might lead you to the second.

I know too many people who look up to ‘stylish’ people,  trying to emulate their every move. In mathematical terms, if X = Stylish Person and X buys a denim dress, then Y feels obliged to do the same. That denim dress looks gorgeous on X, yet it looks rather unflattering on Y. Y feels frustrated, swears, and thinks that the universe favours X too much. And let’s admit it, there are many Xs out there. You know, those people who can pull off just about anything. Unfortunately, there are way too many Ys out there too.

I’m going to be harsh on any Ys out there. GET A GRIP. You cannot be X. You are Y and you have to accept that. Buying that dress just because X has it makes you look pathetic. Wanting to lose weight because X weighs 50kg less than you do is crazy. X will always be ahead of you, even if you copy X by the book. The universe does not favour X. X has simply come to terms with who X is. X adapts everything to who X is. X does not waste time running after T, Z or H. X spends her time figuring out who X is, and being happy about it.

Through the inspiration series, I hope to eliminate as many Ys as possible. Or rather, let me be less evil, I will try to help Ys accept who they are. However, this metamorphosis cannot be possible unless you embrace who you are inside. It can’t materialise if you’re not willing to express who you really are. Don’t buy something simply because you heard your X friend saying that she wanted to own it. It’s so counterproductive, it drives me insane.

What's the difference? I'm inspired by Lady Gaga. I think she's one of those awesome Xs, you know. I bought a cross-ring because I was inspired by all of those crosses in 'Judas'. I re-discovered my love for Bandanas, because of the same video. However, I didn't and will never run around town in a studded thong. Why? Because I'm not Lady Gaga. It looks good on her because that's who she is. I try to include Gaga influences in my personal style, but I never try to become a Lady Gaga lookalike. I am Lara Boffa. I am proud of who I am. I try to be confident about who I am. That is what makes Gaga such an icon: She's ready to express who she is, and she always avoids the norm.

Judy Garland was right, ‘Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else’. Looking at Ys is like watching a pirated version of a Disney original. The colours look muted. The shapes and structures don't look very clear. It all looks fuzzy. It breaks your heart in two. The original is ALWAYS the original.

-B

Style Icon: Emma Watson

Dear Readers,

I’m back, finally. I really missed you all and I hope you missed me just a little bit. I’m glad to be back in warm (or rather, SCORCHING) Malta.

Waffling aside, let’s get down to business. At the airport yesterday, shortly after checking in my luggage, I went to spend my last few euros on Vogue magazines. As I grabbed my edition of Vogue US, I said, ‘Oh, Emma Watson looks hot on this cover’. Then I noticed, to my amazement, that Emma Watson was on the cover of a handful of other magazines too . Oh my good Lord, it’s the Emma Watson fever. And, wait for it, I think I caught the bug too!

I am assuming that you all know who Emma Watson is. She’s the young lady who portrays the nerdy and supposedly bushy-haired Hermione in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series. Up to a few years ago, Emma Watson was only ‘the girl who played Hermione’ to me. Then she became ‘the girl who could steal Daniel Radcliffe from me’. Now she’s ‘one gorgeous woman who has suddenly become a style icon’.


I admit, I am just a little bit in love with Watson’s style. I also have to confess that I absolutely hated her fashion sense during the early days of her career. My hate could also have been slightly fuelled by her closeness to Radcliffe, and that’s rather sad. Anyway, I changed my opinion on her when I saw her wearing this AMAZING red jacket on TRL. BAM! She started gracing the pages of my good books.

Ever since, I tried to keep a close eye on Miss Watson. I have to say that this scrutiny of mine never lacked a certain sense of admiration, as Watson became a muse for Burberry, Lancôme, and most importantly, Chanel. She has worn gowns and dresses to perfection, and she has pulled off many looks I would have hated on other people. She takes risks, but she manages to look classy and somewhat classic at the same time. Some of my favourite looks are pictured below.

This has got to be my absolute favourite: Emma in Bottega Veneta for the NY Premiere of the last Potter movie, held only a few days ago. The bustier is so flattering it makes me want to jump around like a happy unicorn, and oh my God, that gold colour is simply stunning. She looks almost haunting. I guess that it’s that gold-and-black smoky eye working its magic. Watson is anything but a Muggle (pun intended).

So, as I conclude this Ode to Watson, all I can say is, ‘Good job Watson! Don’t you dare grow your hair back. Don’t hide that perfect face structure behind frocks. Oh, and I’m sorry for not liking you when you wore that horrible outfit for your first premier!’

-B

Pa, Pa Americano!

Dear Readers,

Yesterday I wore a bandana of the American Flag, simply because it was the 4th of July. I felt like paying tribute to America's Independence. Then I realised that these people down here did it much better than me! Loving this!

The Monaco Royal Wedding.

Dear Readers,

Why is everyone getting married? I always have mixed feelings when I write about marriages. I like writing about the ceremony, the dress and all that jazz. I hate writing about marriage, because sadly, I don't believe in it. But anyway, commitment issues aside, I just have to write about the Monaco Royal Wedding! Yes, ladies and gentlemen, Prince Albert of Monaco got married. He didn't seem to enthusiastic to me, did someone force him to marry? Is he more into one-night stands and random love affairs? The bride herself looked rather depressed too. I seriously hope she's not another Lady Diana in the making. Maybe marriage-skeptics like me shouldn't watch these weddings after all, I guess it makes us even more doubtful. Oh well.

As I said, I might dislike the idea of marriage, but I hell love the idea of a wedding ceremony. So let me discuss that, and more specifically, the bride's outfits. Yes, outfits. Charlene Wittstock had two ceremonies, a civil one and a religious one. This means she needed two outfits.

Well, quite frankly, I think Charlene should have spared us the outfit she wore to the civil ceremony. Kudos for the colour, love it. Kudos for the make up and hair, simply gorgeous. But, seriously, WHAT ARE YOU WEARING? Charlene wore a jumpsuit with a frilly hem. A hem many people called 'granny like' on The Royal Forums. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, that's not a dress. It's actually a pair of pants. I'm not over that yet. The jumpsuit was paired with a slightly darker pastel blue blazer. Why, oh why, were the two things worn together? Wouldn't it have been better if she wore a nice midi-skirt with that blazer? I mean, the blazer itself looks pretty good to me. And, another issue, why didn't she wear a headdress? Oh, wait for it, let me tell you what really makes me sad about the entire outfit. It has been designed by no one other than KARL LAGERFELD! Yes, it's a Chanel Piece! I feel so bad about that. It's probably the first Chanel piece I hate. I intend to flog myself later for expressing hate at Chanel. Sorry.

Thank God there was some glamour at the religious ceremony. I can confirm that I'm not the only one who's in love with this dress. Charlene commissioned Armani to create the dress, and as many also said, he did an excellent job. Charlene's dress was in a stunning ivory colour, with a flattering off-shoulder neckline and a huge train. I'm so into huge trains. Choo choo, love it woohoo! The dress had some serious bling bling going on: Svarovski crystals and white pearls. Though, as I said, most people I know loved the dress, Styleite said that Charlene's dress will 'forever pale in comparison' with Kate Middleton's. I don't agree. I think that we can't help but compare Charlene and the ever-loved Grace Kelly, Albert's mother. After all, they both married a Prince of Monaco. So yes, her dress will pale in comparison, but with Grace Kelly's.

-B