Fresh from Paris

Dear Readers,

In today's menswear post, I want to share with you the two looks I liked best from the Spring 2013 menswear collections showcased at Paris Fashion Week. The first, a very non-wearable at present combo, is mix of printed shorts and plain coloured jumper by Hardy Amies. The second is by John Lawrence Sullivan. I have a thing for mustard chinos and checked pieces, so put them together and I'm sold.

    ASOS Printed Shorts, New Look Jumper, Topman Shirt, River Island Belt

New Look Chinos, River Island Shirt, River Island Sunglasses, ASOS Checked Blazer

-B

What's on my dresser?

Dear Readers,

Compared to other fashion and beauty bloggers, my make-up collection is incredibly minimal and humble. I don't have that much make-up because, firstly, I don't think I need that much. I'm a strong believer of the 'a little goes a long way' motto. More than anything, I like having a few products because it allows me to store everything on my dresser without it looking too overwhelming.

All my dresser essentials are divided into seven inexpensive containers. I asked for those two little shelves at the side of my mirror a few months ago. The top shelf, or rather the wicker box I put on it, contains my base products: foundations, tinted moisturisers, concealers and the like. Base products are probably the least numerous in my collection, so I decided to put on my top shelf because I didn't want that shelf to look bulky.

The second shelf has an identical wicker container which I use to store eyeshadows, blushes, powders and other miscellaneous make-up items like my Christian eyebrow kit and my false lashes (which I never use, mind you!). I reach for this wicker basket every single day because I can't quite live without those particular products!

On the lower-left part of my dresser is a pretty white wicker and ribbon basket I bought from Bruges last year when I visited Belgium for the very first time. I remember purchasing this box for my mum on an incredibly cold and rainy day and I really wished I had bought another one for myself. My mother loved the gift but she had nothing to put in it so she decided to give it to me since it is perfect to hold my lipstick collection. Without any doubt, I'm a lipstick person. I need my lipsticks to be super organised so that I can easily decide which one I'm wearing on the day. This box allows me to place my lipsticks with the shade number facing upwards, something which undoubtedly facilitates my choice every morning. A few lip glosses live at the back of the Belgian basket.

The rest of my dresser containers were former inhabitants of my mother's very crowded kitchen cupboard. My mother has a thing for buying kitchen things she'll never use and I always offer my help to re-purpose them as needed. That little white milk jug is the perfect holder for my brushes! Once again, my brush collection isn't very vast. I tend to prefer owning a few versatile brushes over too many I'll never utilise. I know that my brushes are exposed to dust, but as I said in a previous post, I wash them every day so it's okay!

The stout container at the centre is home to my favourite or most used nail-polishes of the moment. At present, it houses a few pastel shades, a staple red shade and a top coat. I switch the contents regularly, but I have to admit that the shades I keep there right now have been sitting there for a while. I love my pastels too much.

Strictly speaking, that sugar container doesn't hold anything make-up or cosmetic related. That's where I store a couple of bobby pins and hair ties because I like keeping them handy and easily accessible. A girl can never have too many of these lying around, especially since we tend to lose them as fast as we spend money during the sales!

I know so many of you have that mug or something similar to it. I believe it's from a local pound shop, but it's really pretty and it matches my bedroom's mood perfectly. This mug holds all my 'tall' make-up products, including eyeliners, mascaras, eyebrow pencils and an Essence highlight pen which I adore! It's pretty populated at the moment, so I might need a tiny clear out!

I like these 'organisational' posts because they always give me great storage ideas, so please leave a link to yours below so I can check it out!

-B

Street Inspiration: 28th June 2012

Unclog your pores, once and for all.

Recently, I’ve taken a decision that would easily fit in my ‘drastic choices’ folder. You might remember me ranting about clogged pores a few months ago. I also asked for some professional advice for a special post at the time, and my skin did improve, however as of late it was back to square one. Being the impatient woman that I am – who finally digested the fact that my skin is clogging prone – I decided to go all out, taking the necessary measures to avoid this skin disaster from spiralling even more downwards.

After a week of skin rehab, I can notice a marked difference in my skin’s condition. To my pleasure, others have noticed it too. Since I seem to be doing something right, I want to share what I’ve done to make sure that clogged pores are a part of my history and not my future.

Cleansing your face regularly, removing make up before going to bed and trying not to touch your face continuously are what people usually recommend. I obviously do these myself, but in my case I had to take it a step (or three hundred) further by doing the following things I’m going to describe.

Make-Up: I spent an entire afternoon with my make-up collection, checking that all of my products were free of oil or any other clogging ingredient. This very time-consuming task involved me finding a list of clogging ingredients and manually checking each ingredient on each product against that list until I made sure that no make-up item contained any of those ingredients. A very labourous task, I know. I felt disappointed when some of my favourite products – including a couple of Essence blushes and my MaxFactor powder – failed the test, but there was no other way out of it really. I’ll write a post on specific oil/clogging-ingredient free products that I recommend next week if you want me to.

Exfoliation: Exfoliation works wonders for everyone, irrespective of their skin type. It gives us a new layer of skin and removes excess dirt and oil on our skin. However, everything done in extremes is detrimental. Over-exfoliation can have adverse effects on clog-prone skin: it makes it produce even more oil that just sits there until it eventually builds up in our pores creating those infamous little white bumps. It’s all very easy to understand. When we remove way too much oil from our skin due to over-exfoliation, our skin goes into panic mode and produces extra oil to compensate for the loss. So, from now on 2 exfoliations per week are enough. I’m also making my own scrub using honey and brown sugar...it works wonders!

Make-Up Brushes: No more beauty blenders, no more sponges, no more hands! I’ve thrown all of those away – excluding my hands, of course! – choosing to stick solely to brushes instead. That means less bacteria on my poor visage. I also wash my brushes every single day to make sure all dirt is removed before my next application. Honestly, I think this is one of the steps that has improved my condition significantly.

Tea-Tree Based Products: When I had breakout problems during my late adolescence, I became acquainted with highly reliable tea-tree cleansers and moisturisers. Tea-tree is an absorbing agent. In fact, it’s included in my anti-zit creams and acne-targeted cleansers and moisturisers. Therefore including it in your beauty regime will help absorb those excess oils lurking on your face waiting to invade your pores. Very war-like, I know.

Do you have the same problem too? I’d love to listen to your suggestions if you have any. I need them!

-B

Style Icon: Paloma Faith

Dear Readers,

I'd love to print screen my inbox for you all one day. I receive an astounding number of emails with anything Eiffel Tower or Paris related from readers and, rather obviously, it tends to make my day. Lately, however, my inbox was inundated with messages telling me I bear a noticeable similarity to singer and actress Paloma Faith.

Paloma, former Burlesque performer (also magician’s assistant and Agent Provocateur salesgirl amongst a dozen other jobs) is recently being considered as 'the next big thing' of the music industry. I have to admit that I became acquainted with the lady when everyone started noting our resemblance, but I feel like I'm so obsessed with her at this point it's almost unhealthy.

I love her music and boy do I love her style! Paloma confesses that her style has a serious theatrical aspect to it. She also speaks of a sense of melancholy, saying that everything needs a bit of melancholy to be beautiful. She's one for the eerie and mysterious things in life.

Like yours truly, Paloma has been through quite a few fashion phases: there was a time when she was into hippie-inspired clothing then suddenly switched to African style numbers. Her fashion sense, which she believes to be more 'acceptable' now that she became popular, used to get her into trouble with her school headmistress back in her teenage years. I feel you, Paloma.

Inspired by the queens of tragedy – Edith Piaf, Marilyn Monroe, Judy Garland et les autres filles - these are a few of my favourite Paloma Faith looks. Miss Faith is an avid vintage lover, mixing pieces from different decades instead of sticking to one. That, dear readers, is something I like.

Audrified

Dear Readers,

I was struck by a bout of heat-induced insomnia last night and since my seven thousand 'go to sleep' tactics failed miserably, I ended up killing time by looking at Audrey Hepburn pictures. The ones I included below are some of my favourites. I want to write a style icon post inspired by the one and only Miss Hepburn, but for now these  pictures should do!

-B

PUPA Milano Vamp! Mascara

Dear Readers,

Whenever I have to write about a coloured eye make-up product, I seem to inevitably mention the fact that ‘I’m not the biggest fan of colourful eye make-up’ in my introduction. I’m sorry, you won’t see me sporting exotic yellows or vibrant greens on my eyes very often.

When I received the new PUPA Milano Vamp! Mascara for review purposes, I was thrilled! PUPA have an excellent reputation in terms of mascara: everyone raves about the way they perform and how long lasting they are. However, as soon as I opened the product I realised I got a blue shade and my heart sank. There I was, thinking ‘green eyes and blue mascara. I’m going to look like a peacock!’

Don't judge a book by its cover. Or in this case, don't judge a mascara by its shade number. When I tried it on - the shade is number 300 in 'Deep Night' - I was surprised by the result. As you can see from the photo below, not only is the mascara not overwhelmingly blue, but one single swipe lifts your lashes magically. All the hype about PUPA mascaras is definitely not unfounded. I can confirm it myself. If it works on my anemic eyelashes, it works for everyone! The mascara is also highly buildable, meaning that after a few strokes you can achieve a false-lash effect. Very movie star style, fancy!

The wand has an interesting hourglass shape. I remember reading an article on Martha Stewart's website quite recently and she mentioned the hourglass shape as an ideal one to add oomph and volume. I suspect that this is what makes the VAMP! mascara such a volumising one.

PUPA Milano has quite an extensive colour range for this stunning mascara, including black, brown and green versions. I'm tempted to try the black one. I think it would work very nicely with my usual cat-eye look.

I wore the mascara out today and I received a lot of compliments about it. Apparently, it looks even prettier in the sunshine. I didn't capture a photo of that moment though, so like my Facebook Page because I intend to include one there soon.

Visit the official PUPA Milano website for more information.

-B

One For The Gents

Dear Readers,

Whenever I go shopping, I can't help browsing through the men's section. I love clothes for the opposite sex, so much so, that many times I end up buying a couple of items for myself. 

I have been asked to write about menswear quite a few times but I always found myself asking, 'What should I write about?' After a quick discussion with some of my loyal male readers - who surprisingly are quite a few! - I decided to start with a 'get the look' style post.

I find street style incredibly inspiring, sometimes much more than the looks paraded on the runway. All the snapshots below are the latest street style captures coming all the way from the magical city of Florence. There were so many photos to choose from, but I had to narrow down my choice to my top 3.

Do you want me to keep Thursdays dedicated to menswear? Let me know, as usual.

ASOS T-Shirt - ASOS Sunglasses - Topman Chinos

Zara Blazer - Boohoo Chinos - New Look Shirt - ASOS Brogues

Topman Tie - Topman Belt - New Look Chino Shorts

Also, one last thing. Thanks to all who tweeted or messaged me about my little appearance on the news this morning. It was a really fun experience! Unfortunately I haven't as yet found a recording of the slot online, but I promise to share if I'm successful at that!

-B

How I Wear: Bralets

Dear Readers,

I feel slightly odd writing this post because I'm going to tell you how I wear bralets but I don't actually own one yet. I don't even have a plausible excuse for not having one in my wardrobe. I should be hanged. Pronto.

Truth is, I've been fantasising over these bralets for at least two months. Rendered popular by the ladies of the forties and fifties, these garments are making a huge comeback this Summer! Bralets are much more versatile than many of us might think, even though they are highly inspired by underwear (so this risk of not looking 'classy' but 'trashy' is rather high!).

I'm sure you've seen bralets of all shapes and sizes in the shops recently: lace, aztec, block coloured, striped, polka dotted and the list goes on ad eternum. With the heat we are already experiencing here in Malta - and it's still June, mind you - bralets are a key piece that allows us ladies to dress up and stay cool simultaneously. These are three of my favourite bralets combinations!

1. Bralet and Pencil Skirt: This combination is probably one of the most popular at the moment. I can totally see myself wearing something like this anytime soon! I like how it looks put together and playful at the same time, just make sure your pencil skirt is high-waisted though. The idea here is not to expose too much flesh from the midriff area. A little goes a long way, as they say.

2. Bralet and Flowy Skirt: Think skater skirts, midi skirts and maxi skirts, anything cut on the bias and with a very flowy nature. This is a more bohemian interpretation of the bralet and it can be worn on really warm days (when pencil skirts are very difficult to stand!). I also recommend this sort of look for girls with a heavier lower body. A patterned bralet paired with a long and plain flared skirt is very flattering!

3. Bralet and Shorts: Very hipster, I know. I nearly added a pair of JC Litas too, just saying. Let's admit it , cut-offs are a godsend during Summer. Hipster or no hipster. I have mine all ready to be abused in the coming weeks, I might actually end up living in them. Again, cut-offs should be high-waisted, and you can also add a sheer shirt if you feel 'too exposed'!

I'm a woman on a mission. I need at least 300 bralets right now.

-B

Make, Don't Break.

Dear Readers,

As some of you might be aware of already, my latest article for Femme Magazine was published last Sunday. In case you missed it, I'm pasting it here for you to see. Details of the outfit can be found in this post and if you want to check out the entire issue, please refer to this link. I'll catch up with you later, let me know what you think about the article!

-B

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I think we all have that one quote that describes our personality to near perfection. In my case, it’s the following ‘By some strange, unknown, inward urgency some people are not really alive unless they are creating’. I can quite safely call myself a ‘make-things-aholic’.

Given my tendency to make things, added to the fact that I grew up watching my mother sitting at her sewing machine for hours, I knew that it was inevitable for me to develop a love for DIY and sewing projects. DIY projects are not only an excellent creative outlet, but they are also an inexpensive way of making new items from scratch or updating pieces that would have otherwise met your trash can.

Some don’t share my enthusiasm for sewing projects. They think that the cost of buying fabric for DIY projects is higher than the one they would have to pay to purchase a ready-made piece. That is true, unless you know where to get cheap (or even free!) fabric...

My mother always insists that markets are the place to get inexpensive fabric. When I went there myself, I quickly understood why. Textiles are not only cheaper than those in fabric stores, but most vendors also have a ‘remnants section’ selling yards of material for a handful of euro. For instance, I bought entire yards of black fabric for three euro. One of the many things I made include this black dip-hem skirt which I can’t get enough of!

Charity shops, thrift stores, and local bazaars are havens for inexpensive textiles. Luckily for us, kind-hearted people donate fabrics to these stores that are then sold for way less than their original value. You might even score some authentic vintage paisley or floral print fabric is luck is playing on your side. Be prepared, you might need to rummage through endless, disorganised layers of fabric, but as we all know, nothing worth having come easily!


Fabric stores are still a great place to find bargain textiles. They usually stock the widest variety of fabrics and it is nearly impossible not to find the textile you are coveting. However, we have to be realistic. The likelihood of finding ridiculously priced fabrics here is significantly lower, but fabric stores also have discounted fabrics on sale that you should check out! Look out for sales and seasonal discounts, especially right before Carnival period. So many people flock to fabric stores to buy material for Carnival costumes, that fabric stores almost treat their clients to lower prices. Also, always browse through all the sections at a fabric store. Don’t just limit yourself to the fashion fabric section. Some textiles, like brocade and lace, might be found in the theatrical or homeware sections for a lower price.

Shopping for cheap textiles online is probably the most tricky route to choose. Not only do you have to make sure postage and packaging are worth the purchase, but you also have to keep in mind that you won’t be able to feel the fabric to see its texture, weight, stretch or draping quality. In addition, it’s quite hard to tell whether the fabric being sold is damaged by simply looking at a photo! In such cases, reading the item listing is imperative! Keep your eyes open for all details, especially specifications on textile names like ‘tweed’ and ‘chiffon’. Then look up the fabric name and you should be better able to gauge its characteristics.

‘Re-purposing’ is definitely one of my favourite words. Whenever I put pieces aside because they no longer tickle my fancy, the first thing I ask myself is, ‘Can I use this for a DIY project?’. Whenever cutting the sleeves or adding embellishments does not do the trick, I always save the fabric for later projects. I recently came up with this polka dot bandeau top using fabric I saved from an old dress which had lost its charm. Polka dots are such a timeless print, so since the fabric was in an excellent condition, I decided to re-use it and make this bandeau top instead. I saved myself the time, the money and the effort of hitting the shops and buying a ready-made one!

Sunday Chit-Chat

Dear Readers,

Je suis back! I feel like I'm sitting in front of a good friend sipping coffee, desperate to catch up on the latest happenings. This is going to be quite a random, unstructured post. Something like an update entry after being missing during the last couple of days.

Firstly, I've received some great news over the last few days which I had to react to immediately, hence why I've been rather absent lately. I can't quite reveal too much at this point, but I should be able to share the news with you in the coming weeks (if not days!). This last week has been a week with a severe lack of sleep and plenty of adjusting to 'new situations' and 'unforeseen plans'. As nearly always happens with me, I end up overtiring myself, so I guess that explains why I've been feeling dizzy and nauseous this weekend. I haven't left my bed in fact. Oh well, I guess everything comes at a price no?

Then, I'm waiting for a new SD card to arrive in the post and it should probably be here tomorrow morning! At least, I hope so. I haven't been able to film or take photos and I cannot even start to explain how impatient I'm feeling until it finally arrives. I took the opportunity to brew up a couple of video ideas. I shall be filming my highly requested vintage collection video as soon I put that card in my camera. I have more ideas up my (imaginary) sleeve as well.

I also wanted to say 'Thank You' to all those that cast their vote in the New Look Fashionistar competition. The winner should be announced tomorrow, in case you're wondering. I know I've said it endless times before, but I tend to be quite a disgustingly grateful person in general, so thanks once again.

Having been stuck in bed for 48 hours, I had some a lot of time to think about, well, life. That tends to happen whenever I take medicine, even if it's not strong. I have to admit that I did take a few decisions from my bed today, some of which are quite drastic (very me) and others are of the more shareable kind. The latter category includes me deciding to chop my hair off a bit (argh, what do you think?). I also decided to go on a completely oil-free beauty regime, but I'll speak about that in a separate post this week. 

I missed you all so much!

-B

Pippa Toledo and Sef Farrugia

Dear Readers,

I have so much to do. I have no idea where I'm going to start from and I may be living in denial as well. Lovely. Also, this rant may be slightly uncalled for. Even lovelier.

One of the things that has been on my 'to-do' list for a few weeks now is this post. After Malta Fashion Week 2012, I felt like I had to write about the two designers which I was mostly impressed with, namely Pippa Toledo and Sef Farrugia. I don't want to write about my incredible admiration for both of them, because I feel like I've done that already. So I'd rather approach this entry differently, choosing to create sets that are inspired by the aspects of their respective collections instead. Even though they are both deserving of a post each, I decided to merge the two designers in one entry because I feel like they share an impeccable eye for detail. 

Pippa Toledo

Pippa Toledo is definitely no stranger to the local and international artistic industry. Over the past 20 years, Pippa Toledo has earned herself a well-respected role for her originality, passion and vision. Also Malta's most accomplished interior designer, Pippa Toledo is synonymous with bold colours and Mediterranean details. When I saw her latest collection at Malta Fashion Week, I immediately knew that it would be the night's cherry on the cake. To me, Pippa Toledo is all about the juxtaposition of simplicity and uniqueness, the pairing of a basic piece with a traffic-stopping number. Pippa Toledo's bags, each wholly conceptualised and hand-finished by the designer herself, are attention seekers, but they wouldn't work as well if they weren't set against a plain canvas.

Sef Farrugia

I just can't listen to an Eliza Doolittle track and not think about Maltese designer Sef Farrugia! Amongst her many brilliant achievements, including a degree from Ravensbourne University and recognition from prestigious publications like Vogue Italia, Sef Farrugia dressed Eliza Doolittle during her South American tour! Sef outlines hand-drawn and printed textiles as one of the key aspects of her latest collection, but what truly caught me eye were the silhouettes. As I believe I've said already, I still find it difficult to get over the way she combined a high-waisted pair of mustard pants, a patterned bralet and the oh so fabulous turban. Whereas I'm sure Sef Farrugia will come up with so much more in the near future, that outfit shall make me weak at the knees ad eternum. 

-B

P.S. I am currently participating in the New Look Fashionistar competition. If you'd like to vote for me (so I can buy myself a new wardrobe pour Paris) read this post to find out how! You can vote once every 24 hours. Thanks

The A-Z Guide to Summer 2012 Trends

Dear Readers,

This is the article that was published in the latest issue of FIRST magazine that was out with The Independent on Sunday yesterday. It's quite literally, the A-Z of this season's trends. These are the trends you should keep in mind if you're hunting down the shops for the latest style.

-B 

____________

A is for Aztec: Forget the Mayans and their calendar, this season it’s all about bringing out your inner Navajo! Aztec-inspired clothing is bright and interesting, usually presenting some of the most exquisite and unusual colour combinations around! Aztec style tunics, in particular, are great for BBQs or for the brave stroll to the shops during summer: their lightweight nature allows you to breathe and look fab as well!

B is for Baroque: This trend lies somewhere in between Marie-Antoinette’s ‘Let them eat cake!’ fashion and the classic, vivid Versace print. The swirls, scrolls, ropes and chains of baroque prints add that much needed bust of life to anyone’s wardrobe!

C is for Crop Tops: The midriff is back with a bang. The trick to rocking the trend is not showing too much skin, so pair with your favourite vintage high-rise jeans, shorts or pencil skirts for that true rockabilly feel!

D is for Dip Hem: Forget your midi skirt. Forget you maxi skirt. This season the it-hemline is the dip hem on both skirts and dresses. Whereas some are set to shy away from the trend, others have already embraced its versatility. Available in a myriad of colours, dip hems can be paired with combat boots for that edgy feel or with wedges for a girly combo.

E is for Eighties: This season sees the return of probably one of the least loved decades in fashion. Love it or hate it, the eighties are back around and so are their close friends the peplum and the rucksack.

F is for Floral: Hardly a surprise right? Florals tend to distinguish our Winter attire from our Spring one. A must-have item this season is floral trousers. Oh, and a floral blazer. Floral blouses too. Floral shoes, maybe?

G is for Gold: Again? Gold was all over the place last Winter and we can’t help but be slightly bored of it already. Try buying a pair of gold sandals, you surely did not give those a try in the cold weather! That should definitely re-ignite your metallic passion once again.

H is for Headpieces: Hats, headscarves, headbands! This Spring and Summer, you must add something on your head for that extra little detail. Headwear always completes an outfit and it’s the best solution when you look in your mirror and think ‘My hair has had better days!’.

I is for Ikat: What a fancy term to denote anything related to tribal wear! Definitely not a newcomer to the Spring and Summer fashion world, this trend is taking over some of our favourite high street stores already! Everything in the shops seems to shout ‘This time for Africa!’. Have you spotted a pair of animal print wedges that you like? You need a pair of those.

J is for Jumpsuit: These numbers may not be everyone’s cup of tea. Granted. However, with the immense variety of jumpsuits out in the shops already, there surely must be one for everyone. Remember, shopping for a jumpsuit is like looking for your soulmate, you have to try a few wrong ones before slipping into the perfect one. Don’t forget to emphasise your waist with a skinny belt, especially for those ladies with a lovely hourglass shape!

K is for Knotted: Meet one of the most accessible and wearable trends of the season. Whereas you could head out to the shops and buy one of those knot-detail dresses, shoes or bags, you could simply knot your top or denim shirt as an alternative. It takes seconds and it costs nothing. Perfect!

L is for Lilac: Lilac is one of the prettiest candy colour shades ever! From lilac nails to lilac denim, this powdery hue looks divine with other pastel shades and as well as neutrals. It’s so sweet it gives you cavities!

M is for Mint: You could say ‘mint’ is my middle name right now. Mint and pink, mint and cream and mint and salmon are amongst the most delicious combinations trending at the moment. The softness of mint lace and the relative sharpness of mint tailored pants are staples this year!

N is for Neon: Eye-catching, traffic-stopping, almost blinding fluorescent pieces are all the rage this season! Pair with white or denim to tone the colour loudness down, or go for accessories to avoid overwhelming your skin tone with brights.

P is for Pleats: I’ll have a plate of pleats, pretty please. This season, open your fashion buffet with a pair of pleated palazzo pants as a starter, then move on to a pleated skirt for the main course and end with a delicious pleat-detail blouse. Whether it’s knife, box, or accordion, pleats are in. And how!

Q is for Quirky Prints: Who would have ever thought we would be hunting the shops for banana print or monkey print? These are just two of the eclectic prints available this year, and together with sunflower, fruit, avian and geometric patterns, there’s bound to be something that tickles your fancy. Print clash is pretty big right now as well, keep it in mind!

R is for Ruffles: Is it me, or are girls dressing as girls again? After a predominantly androgynous season, we welcome back the ravishing realm of femininity! The catwalks were pretty much one big ruffle bonanza, with ruffles on swimwear and wedding gowns alike.

S is for Stripes: Have you ever noticed that stripes never seem to go out of fashion? They’re always here! Not that I’m complaining anyway. It’s unbelievable how designers always manage to revisit and reinvent the same trend over and over again. My personal favourite stripe reinvention this year was Fendi’s. I swear I could watch that show ten times a day!

T is for Tangerine: According to the Pantone Fashion Colour Report – the authority we trust to answer ‘which is the most popular colour this season?’ – tangerine is by far this season’s colour! There’s a tangerine lipstick that suits every skin tone. Your job is to find it!

U is for Underwater: We knew the seas would be a major source of inspiration when we first glimpsed Karl Lagerfeld’s collection for Chanel! Think of pearls, mermaid dresses, different shades of blues and gill-like textures for a true adaptation of what the fashion blogosphere dubbed as ‘underwater chic’.

V is for Vertical Stripes: I sleep and I dream about vertical leggings. I wake up and rush to my wardrobe to check of my vertically striped jeans in intact. I am officially obsessed. Vertical stripes do not only add that edgy flair to any look, but they also elongate the body that struts them. Vertical stripes are easily my favourite trend this year.

W is for White Out: A trend we inherited from last Spring and Summer, head-to-toe white outfits are the best backdrop for a tan! If, like myself, you are not keen on white shoes, then opt for nude pumps or pastel shoes. You’re sorted!

X is for X-Ray: Can we ever own too many sheer shirts? No, obviously. Take the opportunity to combine multiple trends by wearing mint pants and a white lace bandeau with your sheer shirt! Three trends in one outfit. Score.

Y is for Yellow: This sunny colour may not be everyone’s preferred colour, but let’s face it, it looks gorgeous set against a black and white monochrome background! All shades of yellow, including pastel variations and brighter neon versions, are set to take over our streets during the coming seasons.

Z is for Zigzag: The last letter of the alphabet reminds us of one the biggest seasonal trends. Zigzag patterned clothing, very reminiscent of the classic Missoni print, looks great on dresses in particular. Just like vertical stripes, horizontally placed zigzag prints are extremely flattering on all body types. Give them a try, you’ll be surprised!

P.S. I am currently participating in the New Look Fashionistar competition. If you'd like to vote for me (so I can buy myself a new wardrobe pour Paris) read this post to find out how! You can vote once every 24 hours. Thanks

Something From The Fifties

Dear Readers,

One of the reasons why I try to come up with a street style entry or an inspiration post regularly is that I believe that sometimes pictures can be much more useful than a regular tips and tricks post. As they say, a picture speaks a thousand words.

I usually choose photos from contemporary lookbooks or street style sources, but for today's entry, I decided to go for a tiny collection of vintage pictures. The feedback I get whenever I post a vintage photo to my Facebook Page is overwhelmingly good and most of you find them particularly inspiring, so I can switch things up every once in a while and go for photos from past decades for these sort of inspiration posts if you like.

These photos are all taken from one of my favourite decades in terms of fashion: the fabulous fifties! Let me know in the comments below whether you want me to keep this post as a regular. 

Also, I do post a lot of vintage photos on my Tumblr, so you might want to check that out. 

-B


P.S. I am currently participating in the New Look Fashionistar competition. If you'd like to vote for me (so I can buy myself a new wardrobe pour Paris) read this post to find out how! You can vote once every 24 hours. Thanks!

How I Wear: Teal and Pink

Dear Readers,

When one of you asked me to write about how I'd pair teal and pink, I felt like I was being trusted with one daunting task. I never paired the colours together, but since even the man on the moon (and his girlfriend, brother, grandma and pet budgie) are colour-blocking all sorts of 'intimidating' colours, I was looking forward to try and find my way around this combination.

Two Blocks Of Colour

So if you want to go all out, opting for a statement outfit from head to toe, you can choose to mix the two colours together as two blocks of colour (with a minimal neutral shade for details). The key factor in this combination is to keep the silhouettes as streamlined, classic and simple as possible. I wouldn't pick an overly ruffled dress or sandals with 346732 straps intertwining around your ankle. Since the colour clash is already pretty loud in itself, the shape of the garments should help to 'silence' the noisy party! In this set, for instance, I kept everything as clean as possible. I even went as far as securing the hair in a top-knot!

Weight Variation

Weight variation is one of fashion's best kept secret. Most of the time, the best thought-of outfits are those which ensure that one aspect gets more attention than the other. When I applied this principle to the pink and teal challenge, I ended up choosing a pink dress as the base of the outfit and I then went for a teal necklace as an added detail. Knowing me, this is probably the type of outfit I'd go for. It looks very Summery, especially with the warmth that brown accessories add to the overall look!

Neutralise It

I always think of neutral colours as lightning rods: they ground the boldness of statement pieces. So for my last suggestion, I decided to give equal weight to teal and pink, but they share the same amount of attention with a neutral piece. It wouldn't be a Boffism post without vertical stripes would it? Monochrome numbers like the jeans below restrain the strength of both colours, and even though the trousers are a statement piece in themselves, I still think it works well altogether. 

As I always say, your requests are always more than welcome. Sometimes you propose things I would have never thought of in a million years. So, keep them coming!


-B


P.S. I am currently participating in the New Look Fashionistar competition. If you'd like to vote for me (so I can buy myself a new wardrobe pour Paris) read this post to find out how! You can vote once every 24 hours. Thanks!

Waterfront

Dear Readers,

I know I'm always rambling about how I'd rather be in Paris, but I have to admit that there's something special about island life during Summer. I love the sea, our beaches, ice-creams and that general nonchalant feeling the warm season bring with it here in Malta. One of my favourite spots during these months is the waterfront, both the one in Valletta and the one in Birgu, so whenever I get the chance to spend some time over there, I enthusiastically drag myself to my destination.

Last Sunday I spent a lovely afternoon having lunch at the Birgu waterfront and since 'lame' is my second name - and pointing it out is my game! - I decided to go for a nautical-inspired outfit to complement my surroundings. 

You might remember this pleated skirt from a previous outfit of the day entry. I consider it to be one my best finds ever. It dresses up everything I pair with it and luckily it's also in a very versatile colour. Unfortunately I haven't got much wear out of it yet, but I want to make the most of it in the coming weeks. There's plenty of time to give it a try I guess. Blue is the nautical colour, so my colour choice for similar outfits tends to incline towards that particular colour family. 

OUTFIT | Shirt: Vintage - Skirt: Vintage - Satchel: New Look - Sunglasses: New Look - Earrings: Through The Looking Glass - Shoes: Peacocks

It was really windy on the day, as you can see from the photo below, and there were a few instances of Marilyn style skirt accidents, albeit much less poised. I think I may be extremely talented at choosing to wear skirts on days where the wind decides to go all out on us. So next time it's really windy, you can safely assume that I'm wearing a skirt yet again. When will I ever learn?

This vintage shirt is probably the most nautical-inspired piece I own. Originally a half-sleeve shirt, I found this shirt in a thrift store a few weeks ago. The fabric is not too thick, but it's still not lightweight enough for July or August. I chopped off the sleeves and wore it on Sunday given that there was a *cough cough* slight breeze in the air (you see, I can adjust my tops according to the wind but I fail miserably to do the same with my skirts!).

When I chose these earrings from 'Through the Looking Glass', these were the kind of outfits I had in mind. I personally always reach from pearl - like or gold - coloured earrings with nautical combinations. Everything else looks odd in my eyes. Great thing about these earrings? They're pearly and gold. Score. I hope you aren't too excited by this close-up shot of my ear by the way. My ear is very sexy obviously.

-B

P.S. I am currently participating in the New Look Fashionistar competition. If you'd like to vote for me (so I can buy myself a new wardrobe pour Paris) read this post to find out how! You can vote once every 24 hours. Thanks!

PUPA Milano 'Hot Tropics' Collection

Dear Readers,

Since I know many of you are fans of PUPA make-up - can't blame you, by the way! - I couldn't refuse the opportunity of reviewing two products from the brand's new collection called 'Hot Tropics'. I received two items from this sizzling collection, an eyeshadow and a nail varnish, and after testing them out I can finally give you my take on them!

The collection in general has a very tropical feel - hence the name - and the colours are bright and vibrant. I'm sure that if you were to look at the collection, you'd immediately sense its Caribbean and Hawaiian vibe, just like I did! Undoubtedly, these bold yet wearable colours match perfectly with the daring bright floral pieces that all of us seem to want to slip into this Summer.

I really have nothing to complain packaging-wise. The sleek rose gold packaging is sturdy and eye-catching. Definitely a fitting companion to such lovely colours.

Admittedly, I'm not very adventurous with eye colours. I tend to stick to my loyal browns, golds and silvers, so when I received the 'Paradise Island Turquoise' (03) eyeshadow, I was a bit worried I wouldn't like it. I knew, however, that this shade goes perfectly with green eyes so I was curious to give it a try! It was love at first sight, especially when I used it as a crease colour with a silver covered lid. This eyeshadow is a rich hue of almost silvery turquoise, with a shimmery pearly finish which in no way minimises its impressive pigmentation! I also noted the 'quilted' effect on the eyeshadow itself and I really liked the little detail. After wearing it for an entire day, this eyeshadow proved to be extremely long-lasting. It didn't even crease! In spite of being a self-declared neutral eyeshadow wearer,  I'm also really interested to try the other shades of the collection, especially 'Orchid Metallic Pink'. It's most certainly on my wishlist right now.

The nailpolish I received was also from the same colour family. 'St. Barts Turquoise' (728) is one of the six tropical shades of PUPA's new collection, which range from bright oranges to deeper violets and greens. I like that the bottle itself is not too big because as I always say, I never manage to get to the bottom of a nail colour and I feel so bad when I have to dispose of an almost full product when it goes gloopy! If you're not too keen on warm nail colours, then 'St Barts Turquoise' is the colour for you! It's Summery, tropical but on the colder side of the scale. One swipe was enough, and I think it dried in around 2 minutes maximum. I was really impressed at how quickly it dried to be honest. Didn't see that coming!

You should really have a look at the entire collection on the official PUPA website.

The eyeshadow costs 12.85 euro, whereas the nailpolish retails for 5.60, just in case you were wondering.

-B

P.S. I am currently participating in the New Look Fashionistar competition. If you'd like to vote for me (so I can buy myself a new wardrobe pour Paris) read this post to find out how! You can vote once every 24 hours. Thanks!

Miss Selfridge Summer 2012 Collection

Dear Readers,

Miss Selfridge Malta have recently sent me their Summer 2012 catalogue. I gladly flicked through the little booklet and I decided to share some thoughts about the collection and some of the pieces I liked in particular.

The visually appealing collection is all about prints, mainly those of a tropical or Hawaiian nature. Bright floral pieces take centre-stage, especially in full matching or clashing outfits that are key for this year's warmest season. The predominant colours of the collection range from glacier blue to spearmint green, and there's a good dose of lemon and candy pink thrown in for some extra pastel fun.

All in all, the collection is very playful and wonderfully detailed with beading and tassels. Neons and vibrant items are paired with monochrome numbers, whilst silhouettes take a very decisive nineties-inspired turn.

I have my eyes on a couple of pieces. Firstly, these bright animal print pieces are a good excuse to buy yet another animal print number because they're different from the usual brown-toned ones! They also have a stunning pair of floral leggings which would look beyond gorgeous with an oversized white top on a warm Summer evening. I also think their swimwear deserves a heads up, especially the floral one-piece and these very pretty bikinis. I think it's time to buy myself one of those actually...

-B

P.S. I am currently participating in the New Look Fashionistar competition. If you'd like to vote for me (so I can buy myself a new wardrobe pour Paris) read this post to find out how! You can vote once every 24 hours. Thanks!

Trianon

Dear Readers,

I've always wondered why spots are referred to as 'polka dots' in the fashion world. Given my very evident inclination towards this particular pattern, I decided to look it up and include it in this outfit post featuring a custom-made polka dot bandeau top (which I plan to over-wear this Summer!).

Whereas many might associate polka dots with a dance called 'polka', the pattern's name does not derive from the clothing used during the dance bearing a similar name. I may have thought that every polka dancer wore spots until I became aware of the print's name etymology. According to my quick Google search, many products hailing from the era where polka became the 'it' dance - around the mid 1800s it seems - quickly adopted the polka name as well. Spotted fabrics, which increased in popularity at the time, quickly became known as polka dot textiles. Fancy.

Even though I made this bandeau top mostly as a partner in crime for my high-waisted Lee shorts, I decided to wear it with this dip-hem skirt for a magazine shoot we worked on last weekend. As you'll be able to see in my next article for Femme, there's a clear reason why I opted for this top rather than something else, but I don't want to divulge too much at this point or else you'll have nothing new to read when the issue hits the shelves.

Outfit details are at the end of the post and so is my LookBook hype button. Also, thanks to all those who have cast their vote in the New Look Fashionistar competition. Much love.

OUTFIT | Bandeau Top: Custom - Made- Dip Hem Skirt: Custom - Made - Sunglasses: New Look- Shoes: New Look - Belt: Peacocks

-B

I'm on Fashionistar!

Dear Readers,

I had already planned a make-up review post for today - which I'll upload tomorrow, don't worry! - but I had totally forgot that the Fashionistar voting was scheduled to commence today, so I had to change subject. Fashion blogger issues, you know.

Anyway.

I never took part in any of these Facebook competitions or the like in my lifetime. However, a 1000 euro voucher from New Look can't really be ignored can it? Fashionistar is New Look Malta's new style competition in which different looks are rated according to 'likes'. Contestants are divided into different categories and I'm in the 'Blogging Brain' one (where else could I be?)

Anyone who votes enters the chance of winning a 100 euro voucher from New Look as well. Pretty good I think!

This is the look I'm participating with. Woohoo!

The reason why I don't like participating in these competitions is because I'm simply not good at asking people to 'like' my work / photo / imaginary dog / romantic picture of Prince Charming and I riding away into the sunset. I don't even force people to like my Facebook Fanpage. I hate it when people spam my wall, or even worse, chat or send me a message asking me to like their picture 'swty please'. I think it's so annoying, sorry! So I'm going to tell you about this competition once and if you think I deserve a vote follow these instructions.

1. Log into the New Look Fashionistar application by clicking here.

2. Find me under the 'Blogging Brain' category and click my photo.

3. Press 'Vote for Me'.

4. You can also 'Share' the image if you want your friends to follow your example.

5. You can vote once every 24 hours and voting closes on the 18th of June.

That's it. My work is done. I appreciate your votes and I won't spam you (because getting a 'hide' from you would hurt much more than not winning this competition!)

-B

Shoe Convict

Dear Readers,

After publishing yesterday's post and uploading this album to my Facebook Page, some of you asked me about the shirt I was wearing for the Emporio launch. I therefore decided to devote an entire OOTD post to it, hoping to answer all your questions better.

I had no idea what to wear on the night. I rushed home after an afternoon of shooting (photos, not animals) and I had to leave for the Emporio opening in what? Fifteen minutes? Yeah something along those lines. My mother had just ironed this shirt for me and it was hanging first in line on my clothing rail, so picking it for my outfit that night was in no way planned.

One of the reasons why I wanted to include this shirt in an OOTD post is the fact that I found this vertically striped number (hardly surprising...) on eBay! Yep! I'm quite an eBay newbie and in fact I didn't even make this find myself! My sister spotted this shirt on eBay and, being the lovely sister that she is, told me about it immediately. It took three long weeks to arrive but I think it was worth the wait!

I also needed something that would be clubbing appropriate. As I hinted in yesterday's post, I also attended a club opening after the launch, so I chose my 'pixie pants' dupes as bottoms because they're very clubbing appropriate. I decided that this particular outfit is probably the most comfortable combination I ever sported for a fashion event. Those jeggings are like my second skin.

I find that adding a hat when your hair is an utter mess helps to . Or at least, I like to believe it does.

OUTFIT | Shirt: eBay - Jeggings: Tally Weijl - Shoes: New Look - Necklace: Shana - Hat: Tally Weijl - Bag: Vintage

-B