Savoir Faire: The Making Of A Chanel Couture Gown.

Once again Karl Lagerfeld impressed us at the latest Chanel Haute Couture Spring - Summer 2013 Show. Inspired by the forest he did what he does the best: beautiful clothes. 

As you all know I like to talk about affordable fashion but I need to share the video of the making of a Chanel Couture Gown. It's fantastic. 

Mum's visit.

Having your mum to stay is something that not everyone appreciates, but I do. I love having her around because no one knows me better than her. Something I really miss is Sundays back home in Spain when she always made breakfast for me and I have a clear image of me sitting watching TV and waiting for my coffee and toast. I didn't have to say a word. As soon as she realized I was up, she started to prepare everything!

The weekend passed so quickly. We went our for dinner, lunch, long coffees and a bit of shopping. Everything was great fun as always. On Sunday my husband and I took her for a drive along the coast and she was really impressed with "Boca do Inferno" in Cascais. 

Diet Coke has a new man!

It's been 19 years since Lucky Vanous starred in the first male-objectifying Diet Coke ad. And because everything comes around, there's a new man, Andrew Cooper, using his pecs and abs to sell the NutraSweet-infused drink.

I'm so happy!

I'm not talking about fashion today. No clothes, no handbags, no accessories, no trends at all. But I want to share with all of you my happiness. And you know why? Because my mum is on her way to visit me for the weekend! 

Mum & Dad at my wedding

The power of accessories.

Your outfit isn't complete without a necklace, a pair of earrings, shoes and maybe a bracelet and handbag. It's up to you to decide if you want to be just a face in the crowd or if you want to stand out. Wearing a pair of jeans and a simple white shirt could take you from a day at work to a big night out with your friends by adding the right accessories. You don't believe me? Just try it. Put on a pair of jeans and a random shirt or even a t-shirt and experiment a few different accessories. You'll see how simple and effective this method is to make your outfit pop.

Remember, you can make or brake an outfit with accessories!

Shoes, Asos. Clutch, Rare London. Necklace, H&M

Shoes, Zara. Clutch, Aldo. Necklace, modcloth.com

Sneakers, Blanco. Bag, Parfois. Necklace, Mango. Sunglasses, Gucci. 

Denim, denim, denim

I found myself looking at pictures of street style on the Internet and I suddenly realized that most of my favorite looks are people wearing denim. I love denim. Sometimes we're not brave enough to go for a total denim look, but it can work perfectly. Denim jeans with a denim shirt, or a denim skirt or jumpsuit. Denim is comfortable, durable, and always in fashion, and it's an easy material to mix with other textures. Mixing denim with sequins makes a trés chic look for a night out or even for the day (remember, you can wear sequins at any time). 

If you don't believe me, just take a look at these pictures... 

Photos: Stockholm Street Style, Pinterest 

Cold, rain and wind...

With the weather like the one is forecasted for the weekend, who is willing to go out? I rather stay at home under a blanket watching telly but if you are in need of stepping outside just for a little cup of hot choco with your friends I recommend you to put on your big woolly coat, hat, gloves, your favourite scarf and don't forget the umbrella because you are going to need it! 

Try to enjoy your weekend even if the weather is not ideal. 

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Naomi & Claudia

In 1993 Mango came out with a magazine featuring two of the fashion goddesses of the era: Naomi and Claudia. Moved by a 70s vibe, travelling as nomads in a van wearing colourful clothes, looking sexy and fresh, going from denim to crochet for the day to black knee-high boots and bootcut jeans for the night, having fun in the desert. Mango showed us the latest trends. 

This was my first contact with fashion and it made me want to be part of the story. 

Do you remember it too?

How to wear a printed suit.

The printed suits at the Miu Miu and Prada Autumn/Winter shows caught our eye and inspired us to take a closer look at the trend. In today's post I'm showing you the ‘three degrees’ of wearing a printed suit, from the head-to-toe look to using the top and pants as separates to create different outfits. There are some great bargains for printed suits in the sales at the moment, so why not take the plunge?

I’ve chosen a €46 suit in a dark floral print from Topshop to show how versatile this addition to your wardrobe can be.  

LOOK # 1

The easiest way to try a printed suit is with a blazer. Start with a classic base: the black skinny jeans and white shirt you probably already have in your wardrobe. For fun, add some accessories like the the floral black necklace and finish the look with some more black like the bag and the boots that are perfect for the winter. 

LOOK # 2

The second look is all about the pants. These pants are great because they really flatter. I’ve added a white blouse and a nude belt to draw your eyes to the waist. This look is great for work or dinner depending on the accessories. I’ve chosen a gold chain necklace (H&M) and I kept it simple with a pair of black heels and a black suede clutch.  

LOOK # 3

  

And finally the entire printed suit. This is definitely a bold look and an easy way to get noticed. I’ve added a leather/metallic belt to break it up a little and ankle boots and a crossed body bag. But really, the only accessory you need is confidence!

Golden Globes 2013

Lots of things have been written about the best and the worst dressed at the latest Golden Globes awards ceremony. Every year the stars of Hollywood let us dream about wearing all those magnificent and fantastic gowns. As you all know, behind every actress or actor there's a personal stylist who looks for the best dress to help them win the battle to be the 'best dressed'. 

After looking all the pictures on several sites and in the leading magazines, in my opinion, the 4 best dressed are: 

1. Kate Hudson, in Alexander McQueen. 
2. Jennifer Lawrence, in Christian Dior. 
3. Jessica Alba, in Oscar de la Renta. 
4. Kerry Washington, in Miu Miu. 

Clockwise from top left: Kate Hudson, Jennifer Lawrence, Jessica Alba, Kerry Washington

And what about you? Who do you think are the best 4? 

The white shirt

I love white shirts. I love the colour. I love how versatile they are. And you do too, don't you? Having a white shirt in your wardrobe is like having an LBD (little black dress). It's a fashion essential and this is why: Because white, like black, is a neutral and every woman should have something in both this colours.

You can wear a white shirt during the cold winter days under a wool sweater or with a suit, skirt or jeans. In the summer season, an oversized white shirt can even be used as a dress but be careful; you don't want to look like a snowman, especially in the winter. The colour white is attractive and fresh, but wearing an all-white look could make you look wider, and you don’t want that! You can wear white during the day or at night if you upgrade your look by using a statement piece of jewellery and during the winter, avoid wearing an all-white look on a rainy day.

A white shirt should be always be white, so when it starts to look yellow it's time to replace it!

Photos: Portraits of Elegance.

One shirt, different looks: 

Total look, Mango. Shoes, Blanco. Bag, Parfois. Necklace, Accessorize. 

Shirt & blazer, Mango. Jeans, theoutnet.com. Shoe boots, Topshop. Clutch, Rare London. Necklace, Zara. 

Total look, Mango. Shoes, Topshop. Bag, Parfois, Necklace, Accessorize. 

Total look, Mango. Shoes, Selfridges. Clutch, Accessorize. Necklace, Mango. Sunglasses, Miu Miu. 

Dying to start wearing the latest trends?

If you like fashion and, above all, you are a summer person, I'm sure you must be dying for start wearing the latest trends. Not brave enough? Here you have some hot tips to get you going:

My favourite of the new trends is the use of white. You can mix it with leopard or oriental prints which are two of the big trends for the upcoming season. 

Photo: StockholmStreetStyle 

Total look,  Mango (Coat from the New Collection). Shoes, Nine West. Bag, Asos.

White leather is the perfect material to give that spring touch to all your winter clothes. Here's an example of how to use it.

Total look, Mango. Flat shoes, Blanco. Bag, Parfois (New Collection)

Black and white stripes will be a must the next season so start wearing them before we get tired of seeing them! 

Total look, Mango (Top from the New Collection). Shoes, Topshop. Bag, Asos. Necklace, Blanco. 

You can even mix spring colours with others more summery such us plum with pastels, nude, etc. It works perfectly. 

Photo: StockholmStreetStyle

Total look, Mango. Necklace, Accessorize. Shoulder bag & sunglasses, Asos. Shoes, H by Hudson. 

Hake Mojito Shoes

If you have a passion for shoes and you’re always looking for something different to make you stand out, this is definitely what you’re looking for: The Mojito Shoe and its curvilinear design suits only for the most daring girls. Designed by the British architect Julian Hakes these original shoes are inspired by a bridge and were named the best shoe design of 2012 at the Drapers Footwear and Accessories Awards. Where can you buy them? On the Amazon website for €180. Available in different colours and finishes, and of course they're more suitable for wearing in spring and summer. You certainly won't go unnoticed! Do you dare? 

Follow me as well on Facebook.

Pictures: Julian Hakes on Facebook 

Spring / Summer 2013 Trends: Sneak Peak

What I specially love about every new season is that it unveils new amazing fashion trends and brings freshness and liveliness into our wardrobes. According to the fashion shows of the world famous brands collections, the upcoming spring/ summer 2013 fashion trends bring a variety of stunning pieces and great ideas. From the romance, safaris and sports to femininity, elegance and sexuality, the fashion trends for the upcoming season promise to be bright and sharp, so that everyone is able to find something appealing for their personal style. Let's have a sneak peek at the hottest trends! 

RETRO TREND: Vintage style continues to march triumphantly on the catwalks. Retro is again back in fashion and it's reflected trough flirty bra-tops, vintage jeans in the style of 90's and black and white prints. This year fans of this trend can still dive into the amazing style familiar to us from the popular films of the 60's, 70's and 80's. Louis Vuitton, Moschino and Michael Kors homage to the famous look yéyé once embodied by Twiggy, Françoise Hardy or Jane Birkin. Mini skirts, trapeze dresses, graphic tiles and bright colours. 

Louis Vuitton, Moschino, Michael Kors

GEOMETRIC TREND: Checks, zigzag and diamond prints, polka dots, stripes and more complex geometric patterns adorn many pieces in most of the designers. They are bold and eye-catching and comes in several colours such as red, yellow, blue, green, black or white. Marc Jacobs collection is literally drenched in colourful stripes of various widths and forms. 

Dolce Gabbana, Balmain, Marc Jacobs

RUFFLES TREND: In addition to the geometric prints there's also geometric lines likes ruffles. Gucci brings head to toe sliding dresses that feature ruffles on necks and sleeves. It contrasts with the straight lines of the silhouette for a super sensual effect. 

Chloé, Gucci, Givenchy

FLORAL TREND: This trend started last summer and it seems not to have the intention to go out of style. Hibiscus, birds of paradise, palm leaves and tropical landscapes. Specially amazing is the trend of floral printed belted dresses.

Proenza Schouler, Isabel Marant, Kenzo

SMOKING TREND: An interested innovation of the upcoming season is the trend of the suit-dresses or the tuxedo dresses brought by Christian Dior. And because the male-female spirit continues to enchant creators, the smoking has not yet said its last word. This trend is formal and sexy at the same time and it will suits to the businesswomen who love to look feminine and trendy at the office without breaking the code.

Lanvin, Christian Dior, Céline

Christian Dior

ORIENTAL TREND: Oriental prints and vibes came as a new fresh trend this cold season and they get flawlessly transferred into the spring/ summer 2013 season too. Asian motifs are reflected in Japanese folklore this warm season. Various designers showed numerous options of the popular kimono in their collections during the fashion week. The most beautiful collection of the Japanese style was showcased by Etro. Dresses and tunics were cut in the style of kimono and expensive silk was adorned with oriental patterns. Other designers that used the oriental trend in their collections are Frida Giannini, Fausto Puglisi, Gucci and others. 

Etro, Emilio Pucci, Prada

SAFARI TREND: As a fresh update, this trend comes to support the military one, remotely resembling the British colonial army uniforms. The safari trend caught the attention of Emilio Pucci, Kenzo, Max Mara, etc.

Emporio Armani, Kenzo, Max Mara

METALLIC TREND: Last spring designers paid much attention to gold and silver shades and fabrics, and this year they have expanded the range of sparkling colors and shining fabrics by presenting various clothing pieces and accessories in different colors with a metallic sheen. The strict black and gray metallic dresses from Salvatore Ferragamo will appeal to modern business ladies, while those looking for sexy and spectacular pieces can pick a bustier, bodysuits and blouses made of metalized fabrics from Jean Paul Gaultier. DKNY brings lovely silver skirts and jackets, Alberta Ferretti offers long restrained jackets and trousers in light blue hues with a metallic sheen, while Burberry Prorsum has the most complex line of clothes with green, purple, yellow, pink, silver, blue and gold metallic finishes. On the other hand, Versace added high sheen to the gorgeous dresses by using golden fringe details.

Burberry Prorsum, Christian Dior, Jean Paul Gaultier

Nina Ricci, Bottega Veneta, Versace

Pictures: VOGUE