“I waved down a lit cab. He swerved dramatically towards me and stopped inches from my Louboutins. Shoe-icide, a fate worse than death”
Lindsey Kelk, I Heart New York
This is the last book review I am going to write on my
own as the next ones will probably be more fun as they will feature views and
opinions of seven very different ladies of La Passion pour la Fashion bookclub, which I am very much looking forward to.
I think such reviews will give
you more detailed and more objective perspective then mine alone, so you will
be in a better position to decide if you as well might want to read the book we
are reviewing.
It is funny that I got this book from my boyfriend
because although he lives in Spain, and doesn’t mind traveling and living in
different countries as it is the part of his job description he is not at all
keen of living in US.
However he knows how much living and working in NYC has
impacted and shaped me as a person I am and he knows what I feel for this grand City so he after all (based on pretty
pink girly covers and short resume on the back) picked up this book for me, he
guessed right, I loved it!
Other than being quite easy to read as most of the
chic-lit books the way Lindsey Kelk writes is so so funny that I was definitely
laughing out loud in public transportation and at home while reading it (at
home this looks much less awkward obviously).
The story revolves around fabulous British girl Angela
who gets cheated on by her cowardly husband to be – but obviously it won’t happen
after all, not to mention that her best friend knew about it all along so she does
something unthinkable – runs away from the whole situation or does she actually
takes some space to look at the whole situation from the different perspective, to finally start the life she wants and deserves?
This is for you to decide
once you read it J
I will share with you two thoughts I took away from the
book which spoke to me and which I found particularly to be truthful as I myself have experienced something similar but in reverse
order, NYC to Zagreb.
1.
You don’t go to New York to become a better you, you
go there to find a new you, the City does changes you forever.
“People go to LA to "find themselves",
they come to New York to become someone new.”
Lindsey Kelk, I Heart New York
2.
Shopping cannot heal the broken heart. Shopping will
get you things to make you look better, looking better will help you feel
better about the way you look but until you learn how to really love and care about
yourself you will not be able to love another person.
“A break up is the
closest thing to bereavement”
Lindsey Kelk, I
Heart New York
My story which frightfully so matches the Angela’s,
you can read through in my older posts:
Other than being absolutely hilarious read, I would
recommend this book to any girl who is going through tough time in life, be it
in love or work, it will definitely inspire and encourage you!
Also, at the very end of the
book you can find wonderful (and based on my experience living in NYC very true)
recommendations of best places to visit, where to eat and in which hotels to
stay while visiting.
You can buy this amazing book in few clicks for very
little money in La Passion pour la Fashion bookstore.
“If you didn't feel
like your support system was strong enough, then getting yourself out of the
situation was the best thing to do.”
Lindsey Kelk, I Heart
New York
Ladies, I have discovered and decided to share a
fellow blogger success story!
Vuesociety is
an online boutique recently founded by a former blogger Rachel Kim, who
converted her blog into an online boutique, as the first Bellevue fashion voice
for the greater Seattle area.
Vuesociety sells curated fashion pieces by Boulee,
Again, StyleStalker and other internationally imported designer brands (dresses,
jackets, tops, bottoms, and accessories priced at $25 to $300) for women and shortly
will expand to men’s fashion as well. VueSociety
specialty is carrying styles that local brick and mortar fashion retailers do
not offer.
My favorite part, which is specially hard to do in today’s
economy is that although young business which still needs to reach continues
profitability model Vuesociety has jumped head in from the start into socially
responsible business practice and it has teamed up with Bellevue based
non-profit organization, Washington Women In Need (WWIN) by donating a proceed
of all sales (5% of each piece sold).
"It's not that
successful people are givers; it is that givers are successful people."
~Patti Thor~
I have been sent this exclusive customised La Passion pour la
Fashion private sale invitation for my readers and I for next weekend’s (Friday and Saturday 28th & 29th October) RL sales event in London.
I really believe that everyone needs to have a Ralph Lauren piece in
their closet, take it coming from me lovelies, I have worked for Rugby
Ralph Lauren and most of my closet is Ralph labeled, I can guarantee that his pieces are eternal!
Jessica Hart for Vogue Australia
Oh how I love my black cashmere open back cardigan, my
classic RL navy tailored blazer with gold buttons and lined color, not to
mention Rugby Ralph Lauren scull branded Rugby dress and everlasting skinny
jeans.
Ralph Lauren brands indeed stand for luxury, quality and
timeless fashion.
I hope to see many of you at this private sale event, I bet you'll find an amazing piece for yourself!
Please be sure
to print out your customised La Passion pour la Fashion invitation bellow!
What is your favorite RL look lovelies?
“I've always been about style for people, not
'You're going to wear this outfit,' ... It was the way you put yourself
together and the imagination, not buying this number off the rack, but the way
you wear it.”
Ralph Lauren
How often do you shop on eBay lovelies? If you are unsure of
what you can find I encourage you to visit the eBay.co.uk Fashion Outlet – it is a
goldmine for fabulous finds!
I noticed that many of the fashion bloggers are sharing their
online shopping secrets and little tricks on how and where to find most
fabulous pieces, best deals, prices and lowest shipping fees.
So I was happy to be approached by eBay.co.uk, the UK’s leading online
marketplace to evaluate their fabulous new fashion campaign with a goal to
promote their Fashion Outlet and share it with my readers.
This campaign features fashion items from some of the leading
brands that sell through the site, including House of Fraser, Office and LaRedoute, Joe Browns and Very Clearance.
The campaigns claim “The clothes you love direct from the brands you love”, echos the growing
number of high-street retailers that use eBay to reach to the site’s 96 million
users all over the world!
On eBay.co.uk you can find the
combination of the biggest brands and the best of the high street, combined
with that special vintage finds (I adore the green coat with red wine lining from
the head image of this post) and that fabulous top from last season (which was sold
out at retailers site in your size and you were dying to get it). You can also like the eBay.co.uk fan page on Facebook to get their updates regularly.
ABOUT eBAY FASHION OUTLET
The sale of in-season stock on eBay.co.uk Fashion Outlet, has secured shoe retailer Office, 50,000 new customers and I assure you ladies, you will find some amazing shoes on eBay!
eBay.co.uk Fashion Outlet launched in April last year, and now hosts over 100 fashion brands and 30 high-street stores including Superdry, Bench, Ted Baker and Jigsaw, offering shoppers the best deals and discounts on new, branded goods up to 70% off.
The fashion category on eBay.co.uk continuous to attract over four million customers searching for clothing items each month.
WHERE ELSE CAN YOU SEE THIS CAMPAING?
My readers in UK can already see this campaigns advertorials all through October in women’s weekly lifestyle magazines, including Grazia, Hello and More, and in early November for women’s monthly magazines, such as Marie Claire and Glamour. Since I am a Marie Claire UK faithful reader – I will be posting one of these for you shortly on my facebook page “fresh from print album”. J
The campaign was developed by DDB Tribal in Germany.
This is a sponsored post.
“He who fails to
plan, plans to fail”
Proverb
If you are like me, super hyper,
multitasking, 24/7 working women, who when stressed tends to forget some of the
appointments if I don't write them down, you will love to have one of these diva
compatible and absolutely fashionably adorable, stylish and trendy girls only
planners created by women for women.
The great thing about these planners
is that they are getting updated yearly based on the feedbacks given by ladies who used them, they follow the newest trends in graphic design (last year it was pop-art
styled while this year’s collection is retro minimalistic).
So, 2012. Female planner (in Croatian
language) is completely customized to be used by fabulously successful women!
- Size and format are adjusted to fit
into female purse
- Side rubber band is added for more compacted fold
- Number of notes pages is increased
- There are 8 different cover designs
to choose from
- The number of planner pages has
been slightly increased
- Planner has a built in
hand mirror
- It contains categories interested to
women: movies and books you plan to watch and read, list for special occasions, shopping
list for fall/winter season, vacation check list, household budget tracking
page
- One Sunday of each month is marked
with pink ribbon (as a breast self check reminder)
- It has attached self breast check
instructions
These fabulous planners are available
for purchase via:
Website / Facebook shop /
The price of one is only 79 HRK or 10
Euros.
How do you like them lovelies?
Stay tuned because soon there will be a available through giveaway!
“Good fortune is
what happens when opportunity meets with planning.”
Thomas Alva Edison
Thomas Alva Edison
It is now 2:39 am and I am determent not to sleep tonight
because I do not want to sleep alone.
Childish much? Sure. But I don’t care. I am taking a moment
to be thankful and to look back to the fabulous week I had with my boyfriend in
gorgeous Madrid.
For this post I think photos will speak more than the
words ever could.
I hope you enjoy them lovelies.
Thanks for having me bebe!
When is your brand founded? How did you decide to have your
own label and what did you do before?
I
founded MOODYTWIN at the end of 2008, and started to design pieces for the
brand in 2009. Before that, I did two lines; MIRANDA RIGHTS in 2003 while I was
still studying at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, and a
collection of corsets called MISSpLACED, the following year. But I first
started to design my own pieces was when I was 18, during my first year of
studies at TTF, Zagreb. I did a line of leather jackets and made couple for
Minea, then very popular Croatian singer.
The following year I moved to USA.
After enrolling at FIT in NYC and doing two lines I mentioned above, it all jut
became too much for me. Fast life in New York, constant financial struggle to
pay my college, working at clubs until 5 am to earn money for my tuition, and
then going to sleep just for few hours, only to wake up and spend half of day
at school drawing until my eyes dropped out.....just wore me out at one point.
My creativity got burned under the pressures of challenges city like New York
can put on you. I knew myself very well and I understood I have to take a step
back, inhale, take a break from constant running, recharge mentally, and
proceed when I’m ready again.
So
far your collections have been provocative featuring T-shirts with funny,
simple, punkish & rebellious messages, which fashion brand or designer do
you most admire?
Yeah,
it was very long thinking process, to comprehend what kind of brand I want to
launch. What I knew very clearly is that I didn’t want to do different lines
like I did before that only satisfied my current inspiration, a vision. I
wanted to commit, I wanted to launch a brand, not a line, but a brand that
would be long term, something that will exist until I exist, and something that
would have to have my fashion signature all over it. And since everything that
is final, therefore not possible to alter makes me very nervous, this had to be
something that I can stand behind 100 percent, so it took me a while. First I
had to understand what I am, to create a brand that would represent me.
I
don’t really get inspired by different times in history; I just always get
inspired by dark, apocalyptic, deconstructed couture whose feel and emotion I
want to translate on to street. I like to play around also, fashion is a
playground, I like to put serious things, a serious and dark emotion on
something so casual that is a T-shirt.
If
I would have to officially define MOODYTWIN, it would be like this - it’s a
brand that aspires to take an inspiration in dark, deconstructed fashion and
give it a Hollywood broken-down street ease. MOODYTWIN brand is contrasting its
moody-toned (hence the brand name), goth vibe with slouchy, monochromatic
simplicity and minimal detailing. Weather it’s creating T-shirts, jackets,
jewelry, shoes or even home accessories; MOODYTWIN strives to be a brand with a
strong, sometimes even provocative messages; highlighting the personality of
people wearing it.
I
like couple of designers, but my full on obsessions are Rick Owens and Olivier
Theyskens. I would practically slit my wrist for their stuff! See, I find
fashion a bit overwhelming, and I think stylists are partly to “blame”.
Everything is so all over the place, it’s just over-saturated and aggressive to
me, so I like things pretty clean. Clean cuts, monochromatic, simple. And I
like designers who design like that.
Who
is a typical MoodyTwin consumer and what is the average price of your shirts?
Well,
if you ask me, I would make stuff for Trent Reznor, Adam Lambert, Pink......or
just avant-garde people who like a bit of deconstructed fashion. And in
America, people like that show interest in my clothing. That’s why I had
troubles seeing my clothes in Croatia or Balkans in general. I just thought
it’s going to take years and years before people here would wish to spend money
on something that is slouchy and slightly undone. But I was wrong, and when I
call stores that sell my stuff I never ask “who buys my stuff”, but “what kind
of people buy my stuff”. I took on marketing and communications for fashion at
FIT and I always want to know the market, and my odds in it, so I call them a
lot! And what they’ve told me, complete different people than I envisioned buy
my stuff here. But I also have to say I toned down this collection for this
areas, in America stuff is much darker and grave-y. I wanted to start little
softer here, not to scare people off! :)
Prices
are btw 40-55 euros in Belgrade, and btw 50-65 in Hvar.
Other
then in Hvar store and multiband boutique in Belgrade where can one buy your collection?
For
now Supermarket Concept Store in Belgrade, and Thesaurus Concept Store in
Island of Hvar. And the end of October, there will be a location to buy
MOODYTWIN in Zagreb, I can’t give you the exact name still because we’re
negotiation couple of locations right now, but there will be an update about
the location and exact date onmoodytwin.com! Also, I plan to add an online sale
by the end of the year. It’s just too much work, and doing it on two
continents, constant traveling, it’s hard to stay super-focused, but I have to,
and have to endure it while not letting my creativity suffer during the whole
ordeal.
Where
do you produce your collection and what is the volume?
In
US, I manufacture it in a small studio-production in downtown LA, and for
Europe I manufacture in this small factory I found in Belgrade. And for the
fall/winter I’m adding sweaters and bags into the collections, and that I wish
to manufacture in Croatia. Working on finding a right manufacturer, as we
speak. The amounts that I design are never more that 30 pieces for each design.
But I also do custom made designs for people I know. I analyze the character of
the person, and then I design a piece just for that person, one unique piece.
It’s kind of a game that I do, try to “guess” people with design I do for them.
What
are your plans for the future? Did you ever show your collection on any of the
fashion weeks?
I
envision my brand in the way that I do not want to be slaving of to seasons. I
want to release pieces when I have an inspiration for it, and if it will be 10
times a year by couple of pieces, that that’s how I want to do it. I don’t want
anything to challenge my creativity, and I want a clean, short path between me
and people that want to buy my stuff.
But
in general, MOODYTWIN is committed to being more than just a clothing brand.
I’m determined to build a lifestyle brand; with a blog that i’m writing and
editing onmoodytwin.com, I want to create an online
community for its customers of a similar fashion taste – where we can all come
daily to feel inspired, exchange ideas & keep an eye on all visual
identities we love.
Viktor
Drago called me 7 years ago to show on CAP, when I did my first Men’s line, but
back then I had a partner I designed with, and he didn’t have any interest to
show in a country he doesn’t even know about or as he thought would not be
beneficial to his work, so we didn’t show. But I think I’ll do one in near
future, just don’t want to do it with T-shirts only, I want to do a complete
look.
Do
you think that a designer needs to have formal education in order to be
successful?
I
think every designer has to come from artistic upbringing. Different types of
design are different in construction, yes, but the creativity is universal. If
you look for the answer to that question in the real world, what are the
examples? Galliano graduated from Saint Martins. Tom Ford graduated from
Parsons, but he didn’t major in fashion design, but architecture. When he
applied for a job in Chloe, he failed to mention in his application that he
majored in architecture, not fashion.
Today, are we going to call Tom Ford, the
most talented designer in the world - unsuccessful? Owens, the absolute fashion
genius studied Fine Arts at Otis, in LA, but he dropped out after two years
because the college was too expensive and got a job in downtown LA, doing patterns
for designer knock-offs. Doing knock-offs?! Are we going to call Rick Owens
unsuccessful? Theyskens also, studied fashion, but dropped out to do his own
label. One of the best in the business today.
Art
is very simple, you cannot fake it. There’s just one thing that speaks about
the quality of an artist - a piece that he designed. When you take a pice that
someone designed into your hands, it’s very clear if the artist is talented of
not.
Unfortunately,
it’s not easy being an artist, because there’s always a lack of money on the
other side. In order to finish school you need a lots of money, fashion school
are one of the most expensive. And then you need money to manufacture something
that you designed. Less money, lesser quality. So it’s a struggle until you
make it. And sometimes it’s hard to navigate your creativity with harshness of
life. My journey is following - I enrolled in TTF, was first on the list, 100%
on my entering exam. I studied for 4 semesters (the college degree at TTF
consists of 5 semesters), and then moved to US, because I had an opportunity
that I felt it will pass me if I don’t grab it at that moment. When I came to
US, I enrolled in Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, and since the
college didn’t offer a scholarship or financial aid to foreign students I payed
9450 dollars per semester, myself.
I finished all my fashion credits, finished
almost all liberal arts, and I have two credits I never took, math and
micro-economics. I couldn’t study anymore because I couldn't pay it anymore. I
applied for my green card and had to pay so much money to my lawyer, that I
just couldn't pay school anymore. And that’s where I stopped, an inch before a
degree.
Yes I plan to go back and finish it, but in the mean time I moved to
Los Angeles, started a label, and I just cannot find time to do it, even though
I try every year, and absolutely every year I think - this will be the year.
Does that make me less successful?
Do
you think that a fashion designer today needs to be more of an artist or a good
businessman?
At
the end of the day, we can only be what we are, if we are business savvy,
that’s what we are. If we are more creative and not really understanding
marketing of it, then that’s that. I might be a wrong person to answer that
because I always appreciated creativity more than being business savvy. Two
designers that I mention over and over are best examples - Owens that made his
first success when he was 41, because he insisted to staying an independent
designer who does not care about marketing, press, advertising in magazines.
Did you ever see Rick Owens editorial in a magazine? And he still managed to be
one of the most sold designers of the decade. It’s what makes him who he is,
and I strongly think that’s his appeal. Also Theyskens who designed for Rochas
and Nina Ricci, and refused to do a more marketable assessors line or advertise
to make bigger profit, and got fired from everywhere he worked because of that.
Now he’s a creative director at Theory, and everyone can kiss his ass.
The guy
designed Madonna’s Oscar dress when he was 21, who gives a rats ass he’s
doesn’t care about marketing?! But I do also think if you’re not that business
savvy, in order to still be in the game, you have to be 4 times more talented.
Who
is your favorite fashion designer, foreign and Croatian?
Again,
Rick Owens and Olivier Theyskens. I also like Ann Demeulemeester. Croatian
designer Zigman is also very cool, he does a great cut and does colors really
good. I hate colors, but the way he combines them is something that doesn’t
“bother” me. And I adore Serbian designer Dejan Despotovic, I strongly think
he’s the most talented designer in Balkans.
How
do you see a style of an average Croatian women and what is your opinion about
Croatian fashion scene overall?
Honestly,
mostly not too crazy about it. I think girls here are too done, even during the
day, I mean all that dresses, heels, freshly blown-out hair in 2 am? Not crazy
about it. People walk like that on red carpets in US, why walk like that on the
streets? Were you headed exactly? To have a coffee? But then again, I’m a bad
person to be answering that question too, since I like Hollywood ease, so yeah,
for me, they are to done. Too buttoned up, too done. But Croatian fashion, man
that fascinates me. To have a fashion scene that developed, in a country that
have been through so much, I think it’s pretty fascinating.
Boardroom to red carpet was the first what came to my
mind looking at Lei Lou by Alex Dojčinović SS 2012. Collection. Alex has stayed
true to her brand equity, flirting with trends but not being bound by them.
As I wrote in one of my previous reviews of Lei Lou
collections, Alex is a Lei Lou women, strong, confident, independent, intelligent,
knows exactly what she wants, but still a true lady, polite, kind, warm and
romantic, fragile and gentle. This is why she is able to understand and cater
to alike women who buy her pieces – she is one of them and she truly knows what
they want and need living such a busy, working women lifestyle.
So she
creates comfortable, multi–wear pieces using best quality fabrications,
gorgeous statement accessories which accommodate all of the working women needs
from work day (big purses or maxi
envelope bag which fits iPad) to attending after work events (small bright
purses & clutches and chunky jewelry).
All photos via www.moda.hr
This season’s collections common denominators are
mint, gold, aqua and nude color pallet, statement clear cut purses and square clutches,
perfectly tailored pencil skirt romanticized with mint color lace or suggested floral
print worn effortlessly looking with a second skin soft and silky blouses and
gorgeous maxi dresses which can be worn with a fitted jacket during the work
day and without it for a glam night and a fitted sleavless work dresses with ruffle sleaves.
Shop the new Lei Lou collection by contacting Lei Lou showroom:
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