Lace Dress and Crazy heels

...written by Sherin

One of the summer trends that's standing out the most for me are Little White Dresses. I think they're an excellent Summer alternative to the LBD.



I love this white dress. I think it'll be something that I can wear all summer, in a variety of different ways. It was courtesy of Blue Inc. And how brilliant are my shoes?? I'm loving crazy statement shoes right now so had to buy them when I saw them. They're from Tesco and only £10!! They are a whooping 5 inches!!


I think the two make such a great pair. The white dress adds a bit of femininity, while the shoes definitely make a statement.
I think that dress is absolutely stunning. It's really pretty to wear and so comfortable. It's definitely going to be something that I'm going to wear a lot this summer!


And my accessories:

My necklace was a present from a friend (not sure where it's from), my bracelet is from Azuni (I bought it from London Fashion Weekend a few years back) and my ring is from Dubai.

Sherin xx

New Shoes

...written by Sherin

I am a complete shoe person and usually spend more on shoes than anything else.
When Sarenza offered to send me a pair of shoes, I really couldn't resist. I've been meaning to buy a pair of Wedges for ages and these ones were amazing. Sarenza are a French shoe company and are quickly gaining popularity here and across the Channel. There are thousands of styles on their website, and as a shoe-aholic, it is pure heaven for me.

Sarenza really pride themselves on their good customer services and I was also treated very well by Caroline from Sarenza. She was seriously so lovely to deal with.


The shoes I picked are from the designer is ASH, are called Dolly, and are from the Continental Fashion Findings range. They were so comfortable: I really didn't want to take them off. I'm away on holiday from next week and these are definitely coming with me.

There are so many amazing brands within that range. One of my favourite brands from that range definitely has to be Cosmo Paris. They are seriously some of the prettiest shoes ever. The heels are so gorgeous and elegant and some of them are definitely very unique.
You can find out more about the shoes on Sarenza's blog.

Now for the cheeky part: I'm gonna ask you guys for a favour. Sarenza are holding a competition, from the 5-10th July, where we have to wear our shoes with an amazing outfit, and the winner gets to go to Paris. Voting starts next Monday and you'll get more info about it then.

Sherin xx

Sunday Specials: 27/06/2010

After having last week's Sunday Special's off, we're back with a jam packed one!

Firstly, our favourite online place to visit, ShopPulse, has just had a makeover. For those of you who don't know, ShopPulse is a website that keeps you up to date with all the new pieces that a whole host of online stores have. Whats great about the website is that it's really up to date with information about all the new products hitting it's featured shops. We interviewed the brains behind ShopPulse, Alice, a while back. Anyhoo, the new makeover is great! They've included a section for street style (and everyone loves street style) as well as a 'back in stock' and 'last chance to buy' sections for the featured shops.

Next, we found out about a cool new project that LoveHeals, are doing. LoveHeals is a family run jewellery company that is also very environemntally friendly. The jewellery is all ethically sourced and they are renowned for giving back to charities. For example, for every piece of jewellery sold, 10 trees are planted with greenerethiopia.org.uk, as well as at-risk children being protected with vitaminangels.org.
LoveHeals has just launched a Design Studio. The design interface is revolutionary and very easy to use. It has a drag and drop feature and you can clearly see what you're creating. There is a huge variety of gems, charms and strands to choose from, so you really can have a unique piece of jewellery. It really enables you to be as creative as possible, and while playing around, even I was able to create some gorgeous stuff. (For those who don't know, I am the least creative person ever)!

We've mentioned that the new Westfield is opening up next year, but in the meantime, they are doing some really interesting projects. Studio East is the project and it's aim is to celebrate emerging creative talent. They are looking for the Next Big Thing in fashion, art, product design or the environment. The 2010 winners will be embedded into the the new Westfield, in Stratford. You can make your nominations here.

Finally, here are some style tips from celebrity stylist Zoe Lem, courtesy of Ebay Outlet.



Enjoy your Sunday!!! And for all you Britons: enjoy this beautiful weather!

xx

Fashion and Technology

...written by Sherin

Usually when we get contacted by a company, with new and interesting news, I'll add a bit about it to our Sunday Specials. But sometimes, we get such interesting information that it really deserves a post of it's own, just so I can share it properly with you guys.
We were sent a really interesting report from HP, that showed the impact of the fashion world on modern technology, and how gadgets are becoming the new must have accessories. I don't know about you, but having the sleekest, coolest gadgets are just as important to me as having a pair of the latest trendy shoes.

Blogger Gemma Cartwright reviewed the latest fashion trends and saw how they were reflected in the latest HP products. I personally love to be all matchy matchy so to have a bit of technology that matches my clothes is pure heaven.

Butterflies:

Vivienne Tam SS10

Buterflies are always a popular trend. I've always been a fan of the print and it looks great. Designer Vivienne Tam did a collaboration with HP and it came out at the same time as her SS10 collection. Butterflies were shown on gorgeous feminine pieces, such as chiffon dresses, as well as on the Vivienne Tam edition of the HP Mini 210.
And Tam hasn't been the only one using insects on clothes. Matthew Williamson is a long time fan of exotic insects and Valentino had butterflies on very chic clutch bags.I received a scarf from the collection and it is gorgeous. It's so light and definitely very girly.


Vivienne Tam designed a special HP mini and it goes so well with the clothes, and looks to be a must have accessory. Tam concludes that she "uses computers in every aspect of life, so it seems natural to marry fashion ad technology together".
The print has been directly integrated onto the lid and also has matching accessories, such as a suede sleeve and wireless mouse. Both the laptop and the clothes go so well together that models from the Vivienne Tam collection even walked down the runway with the laptops.
I personally think it's amazing how perfectly matched the clothes and laptop are and the fact that the laptops have such cute designs on them are a real plus even if you aren't wearing Viv Tam. This would seriously be such a fun laptop to have!

Opulence:

Miu Miu AW10/11

Black is always in style! Clothes in black definitely have a special place in all our hearts. It's a classic look and so easy to throw on. Greyscale clothes are sleek, luxiurious and glamorous, with the LBD being one of the most important piece in any wardrobe.
Greyscale colour schemes are also perfect for any business woman, and new there is always a modern take on power suits. For example, Miu Miu's LBD's, from the AW10/11 selection are very cool and are made from heavy wool and are covered in emellishments.

HP have designed the Envy and is perfect for this look. It's designed for the professional woman in mind, and is very slim and lightweight, along with a pretty cool alimunium Chassis.
My current laptop is actually black and looks similar to the HP one. This really is a classic design and the laptop still looks new, despite being relatively old.

Touch:

Alexander McQueen SS10

We all like materials that feel and look great. Fashion and technology have always been on the forfront of innovation, and both are dynamic and constantly changing, while building a bridge to the next generation (I feel like I'm in Star Trek rightn now). In the fashion world, Alexander McQueen was always so ahead of the world with his designs and he was so creative. Many say that his last collection, the futuristic and structural pieces of his SS10 collection, was his all time best. It was clearly influenced by nature in terms of colours and used a lot of reptil prints. The prints were also highly recoloured to look like more complex graphics.

The HP built on this is definitely on the forfront of innovation. It is the HP Touchsmart (touch screen) and it was even used on Season 7 of project runway to create fabric patterns. The notebook is sleek and has an engraved illustration on the lid. If you really want to make a statement with your gadget, this is really the one to do it with.

Mini:

Betsey Johnson AW10/11

Yup, mini is another trend thats alway's in fashion and small is everywhere; cars, computers, fashion and so on. Mini is always perfect because it is really fun and perfect for travel.

What goes well with all things mini is bright colours, that all go perfect in the sun. The Pin Up's of the 40s and 50s wore bright colours and looked fresh and flirty. The one designer that picks up on the vintage vibe the best is Betsey Johnson. She sends models dancing down the runways and always has really quirky designs. In her AW collection, she designed a really cool slouchy sweater with Andy Warhols Marilyn print.

The HP mini reflects this really well. It comes in a range of bold colours that you can match with whatever you're wearing. It's small, so you can fit it in any bag and comes with a matching bag and mouse. Like I said with the Viv Tam one, it would be so fun to have a laptop that matches your clothes.

Why can't we have fun with laptops and computers, like we have fun with everything else. They are a huge aspect of everyday life and should definitely be treated like a fashion accessory now.

What do you think of the relationship between fashion and technology?

Sherin xx

Who are you?

...written by Leia

My blogger-friend Rachel has been working on a virtual cv project and I was thrilled when she asked me to get involved! I had a lot of fun putting together a few of the things that I love and that contribute to who I am. Here it is...

Another Outfit

...written by Sherin

I wore the following outfit to the Aussie to the Rescue Event. (I don't know why all the pictures my mum takes come out blurry!!! I either need a new photographer or a new camera).
I'm wearing a H&M dress (literally bought a few hours before) and my crazy heels, from Priceless. I am loving them more and more with every wear and they are slowly becoming more comfortable. I decided not to do a lot with my hair or make up as I knew stylists would be on hand during the event.
I also want to get into a habit of posting about my accessories, because they are definitely an important part of any look!

My bangles are H&M, the ring is from Hong Kong, the necklace is from Goldsmiths and was a Christmas present from my brother (I got him a book that year) and the earrings are from Spain

Sherin xx

P.S. We have a winner for our Tesco under £30 challenge. I've seriously never had so much fun picking a winner, and it was actually a close one. I decided on Danni from Frills and Spills. She picked this gorgeous playsuit, these adorable shoes and to top it off this fantastic Trilby, all at a cost of just £23!

How to Have a Productive Summer

...written by Leia

(warning: lengthy post!)

For those of us that are {jobless} students, "summer" is probably our favorite word. It means an end to formal classes, homework, and tests; and on top of that, good weather (for some of us), holidays, and relaxation time!

Photo Credit

I don't know about you, but the novelty of having nothing to do is only great for a short while. Not only do I feel a bit useless, but I get really unhappy if I'm not being productive! This doesn't mean I have to write a research essay every couple of weeks in order to feel like I've "done" something. Simple things like working through a reading list, volunteering, or writing can all give you that satisfying feeling.

Personally, I like to have a schedule for every day (Sherin and I are both obsessed with being organised!) I'm on "holiday" (not quite, as I'll explain in a minute) from June till mid-September, and I want to share my plans - and a few other ideas - with you, in hopes that it will help you have a productive summer, too!

1. Make a List

Raise your hand if you love making lists! There are few things more satisfying than crossing something off a to-do list, don't you think? This list will be the goals you hope to accomplish over the summer. It can be as detailed or basic as you like. Here's my list:

- Finish my dissertation. As I hinted at earlier, I'm not exactly on holiday. I don't have to go to any classes, but I do have to write a 10,000 word dissertation as the final submission for my Masters. It's due on September 15th, which gives me time to plan, research, think, write, and even have a bit of a holiday.

- Exercise 4-5 times a week. These last couple of years have been really stressful for me, and unfortunately, stress = bad eating habits. When I'm writing papers and taking exams, I have very little motivation to exercise or cook healthily for myself. At the moment, I'm about 5 kgs (about 11 lbs) heavier than I'm used to being, but I'm not really concerned about losing the weight, because I feel I'm still well within the healthy range. All I want to do is exercise regularly to keep fit and build up my stamina. I've been using C25K, as recommended by A., which is a great beginner's introduction to jogging!

- Practise piano. I'm taking a piano exam (performance diploma) in November so I have to make sure my pieces are up to scratch.

- Blog! I want to be able to post regularly both here and on Leia's Delights, and it can be hard to stay inspired. Also, as I'm sure you all know, writing and posting for a blog is not the most difficult work - what's difficult is keeping up with all the blogs I love and making sure I leave nice comments on all the blogs that I read! With my slow internet connection, this can sometimes take hours.

- Travel. I'll be going to London for six weeks, and Mum and I are trying to plan a weekend in New York (I've never been!) My parents and I have also been considering a road trip to Dublin.

2. How-To

Now that you've got your list together, decide on how you're going to complete all the tasks. Make sure your list is do-able, or you may get disappointed! None of my tasks are particularly hard, so I prefer making a schedule. Mark dates on your calendar for completing certain tasks (e.g. I want to have a first draft of my dissertation ready at the beginning of August).

Photo Credit

Consider making a daily schedule. You might think I'm crazy for living by a schedule on my holiday, but I promise it allows for a lot of leeway and I don't restrict myself from relaxing and having fun! My schedule consists of: exercise and dissertation in the morning, blog (and sometimes dissertation) in the afternoon, and piano before dinnertime. I also give myself plenty of days off, and try not to feel guilty if I haven't managed everything in the same day!

3. Reward yourself

You're doing lots of hard work and this is meant to be a HOLIDAY! Make sure you treat yourself once in a while, by seeing friends, having fun, and deviating from your schedule.

Photo Credit

If you're creating your list and are stumped for ideas, how about:

- Read. Create a reading list, or ask a bookworm friend/professor/librarian for advice on what to read this summer. I compiled a short reading list for The Ceiling a while ago of a few of my favorite books. I recommend diving into a multitude of genres and picking things you would normally shy away from - you may discover a new interest!

- Volunteer. Find out about animal shelters, retirement homes, soup kitchens, orphanages, etc. that are in your area. Volunteering is immensely rewarding and fun!

- Intern. Interested in fashion? Journalism? Gardening?! Try to find an internship at a place that is relevant to your hobbies/interests. You will get experience, a CV boost, and you may decide whether or not you'd like to pursue this as a career!

- Learn something new. Always wanted to learn a new language? An instrument? How to sew? How to cook? See if there are any classes near you, buy Rosetta Stone, ask a friend to get involved, buy some how-to books...

I hope my tips have helped inspire you to have a productive summer! Do tell: what are YOUR plans this summertime?

Pretty in Pink

...written by Sherin

I wore the following outfit to the TIA's which I posted about here. I've seriously been waiting for the perfect opportunity to wear this dress, so I was really happy to get the chance to wear it.


And this is after the rain decided to ruin my hair.


The dress was bought from Pakistan and the shoes are New Look. I love how the 2 go so well together!
I alsolutely love the retro feel and colour on the dress. I very rarely wear such bold clothes, and I usually do stay away from pink, so this was a huge change for me, and I loved it.

This is what my friend, Marilena wore (You'll be seeing lots more of her on the blog: don't worry I'll give her a proper introduction at some point!)


Isn't her dress so pretty??Sherin xx

Rare Press Day

...written by Sherin

There wasn't enough for a Sunday Special's today, so I thought I'd share one of the Press Days I was at.

Last week, I went to the Rare Press Day and I was definitely impressed with the new collection.
As you all know, I am a huge shoe person, so I was definitely loving the shoes there.
That's Marilena, eyeing up a pair:


And these were by far my favorite there. I'm going through a crazy heel phase, so was naturally drawn to these:


The clothes themselves were beautiful. I particularly loved the dresses. They were all really beautiful and classy. The materials used were so perfect and feminine. There were a lot of ruffles and sequins, which I think would look great this AW.

The colour on this one is amazing:

Marilena's favourite. Lace dresses are definitely perfect for any occassion!

There were faux feathers on the shoulders here, and it looked so unique!
This was my favourite: It's so pretty and I think it would be so easy to wear.


This body was definitely pretty cool.

The event was a lot of fun itself. Personally, I think the collection is an amazing one. It's very unique and all the pieces look so fun to wear. I bumped into S from Not Just Medical and Daniela from Couture and Crumpets as well, and both were so lovely to speak to.

Sherin xx

Weekend Links

...written by Leia

Photo credit

Hi everyone! Sorry I've been so absent lately - I have been so busy with my new blog, dissertation, family, visiting relatives, etc.! Thought I'd share a few of my favorite links from the blogisphere this week (had to cut this list waaaay down; it's so hard to list ALL my favorites! I read so many blogs!)

- This outfit that Clare is wearing. She's been wowing us with her outfits lately and it just gets better every day.

- Rachel's photo of her friend.

- Some giveaways: at Gem Fatale and at Fab Blab

- Florrie gorgeous handbag

- Hanh's stylish outfit

- Everything that Dusk does

- This outfit I wore a few days ago (by the way, I'm a bit lonely over at my new blog. Please come say hello or follow me! hugs!)

Have a fun weekend, everyone! Does anyone have any fun plans?

Aussie to the Rescue

...written by Sherin

A few days ago, I was invited to the Aussie To The Rescue Party, in London. It was seriously an amazing girls night in. Fellow Aussie Angels and I were treated to an evening in an Apartment at The Hemple. The room was absolutely gorgeous and the whole evening was such a treat.


As usual, we were treated very well by Emma and Lisa, the Aussie team, and they were both very good company. There was also a lot of amazing food and cocktails being served.

Aussie really made it a perfect girly evening and had hairstylists, a make up artist and personal stylist to help out with any of our situations.

I decided to start off at by getting my hair done by Zara. I'd gotten my hair styled by her before, at a previous event, so it was great seeing her again. I asked for a kind of 60's updo, inspired by this picture and Zara did a fantastic job! She also talked me through step by step, so I could recreate this look at home.


My next stop was to Stevey, who was the Personal stylist on hand, and he was absolutely amazing! He was seriously such a legend! We were asked to bring a few clothes so that he could help us, so I bought the pieces in my wardrobe that I love, but have no idea how to style. He was so helpful and gave such fabulous tips. He told me to cut one of my tops and, now that I think of it, it makes perfect sense and I can imagine how great the top will look.



My final stop was to Jo, the fantastic make up artist. When I usually get make up done (Benefit counter), the make up artist usually piles products on my face, but Jo was different. She really thought about what colours to use and always asked what I thought. All the products used were MaxFactor and worked really well. She was so lovely and I think she did a great job. I think the make up went so well with how my hair looked! I can't wait to try it at home now.


It was seriously such a wonderful evening, with great company. I left the event very happy and with a list of tips to try at home.


You can see more pictures on Aussie's Flickr!

Sherin xx