Showing posts with label Jeffrey Campbell. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jeffrey Campbell. Show all posts

Tuesday, 5 April 2011

An Essay on Brevity




The lovely   awarded me a Stylish Blogger Award and I must say it came as a surprise mainly because I was unaware of the award's existence. I am not sure what I have done to deserve the award but I am going to take it as the compliment I know it is. There are a few actions required to accept the award and that involves showing respect to the bestower and quite rightly so. The idea behind the award is that you pass it on to spread some blog love to other blogger you interact with. If nominated you are meant to do the following


1)Thank and link back to the person who awarded you this award.
2)Share 7 things about yourself. 
3)Award 10 recently discovered great bloggers. 
4)Contact these bloggers and tell them about the award.


I came across Veshoevius through FBFF and liked her immediately.  I follow her because I like her warm style of writing, her personal style and I find the gracefulness with which she wears dark colours quite refreshing and yes, inspiring. We also own the same maxi Marble Print silk dress (she bought it, blogged it and I had to have it)  So, once again, thank you Veshoevius for being a cool blog mate and for awarding me a stylish blogger.

You can check out her fantastic blog HERE
As part of being a 'Stylish Blogger' I am also to share 7 things about myself and you all know I can talk when I get going. I ought to promise to try and keep it as succinct as possible but we all know that brevity evades me at the best of times. Finally, after sharing, I get to pass on the Stylish Blogger Award to 10 recently discovered great bloggers, which I have to say I am particularly looking forward to.



You know what, it only takes a few minutes of processing before you (read: I) start liking the sound of it - Stylish Blogger - in your head. Try it if you don't believe me!


So, what would I like to share? An Actors training is meant to aid the shedding of that which we call ego, that which inhibits you by desiring you to be interesting, rather than allowing one to simply be... 


Okay, totally random but that leads me straight to my 1st disclosure. I am obsessed with Theatre Practice. The unreasonable passion and corporeal practice of creating and immersing oneself into that which we call Theatre. I love the reflective nature with which we approach our practice and best of all I love knowing that the process, often unseen, that we often spend an age married to lives longest. And that the performance is never an end point but rather a catalyst for a creative big-bang. Thus the cycle repeats. I love Theatre and always want it to be a part of my professional  life in one way or another.


My 2nd disclosure is relative. I really want a PhD, though I think this might have more to do with the Nigerian in me. I have a serious obsession with letters after my name which I thought was mildly satiated after gaining my Masters. Seriously. We moved to this fine country for a grand education after all, the kind (of education) with such gravitas attached that we had to leave our homeland to attain it, and I guess there is a part of me still battling with 'when is the debt really paid between old country of mind and new country of mine'. And I even wonder at times whether I am meant to take all I have learnt back 'home'. I could be the Augusto Boal of Lagos but oh, of course, I forgot myself for a moment, for I am home... So yeah, I think this 'disclosure' is pregnant with subtext and should not be read as a revelation to spend my 40s as a 5" heels wearing academic at Aberystwyth University Theatre department.


3rd disclosure is that I used to be a total control freak over what I was allowed to weigh. A lot of it had to do with work but I did not need much encouragement. I was fit and had enough stamina for the lifestyle I led. I got to believing I just could not put on weight. Pregnancy did not change my body bar stretch marks but I got to my late 20s' and things such as metabolism and all that sexy stuff started to shift and change. The days of being a model size 6 seemed a century ago but hey I was also naturally athletic so resorting to the gym was kind of a treat. I fell in love with a shrinking body whilst having regular sessions, like an addict, at Spin, Body pump, Circuit and Pilates classes. I was in control of my body once again and then I did the unmentionable. 10 months into a 1 year membership, I just stopped going.


Disclosure 4  I guess links well to the above in that having been married exactly 10 months today (Yes, I am still very much a newly-wed) , I am learning that lots of control devices we utilise in our daily life and interpersonal relationships are built on fear. Marriage is teaching me that I would rather deal with my fears than mask them under a guise for control.


At work and more recently at school, I use each environment as an exercise to observe my 'control monster' specially focusing on what fear trigger it responds to. I work often with others and I am aware of my role within groups. I embrace ensemble model of training and I initiate collaboration knowing my unique skill set is acknowledged and required. That way I remind myself that control can be manifested in a variety of shapes, many positive.


No.5 I like trashy TV. I don't get to watch quite enough but I would if I could. Things like Salt & Pepa R back, Cougars & Cubs locked up on a Desert Island, Notting Hill Residents 24/7, Australian Border Control, Come Dine with me repeats whilst complaining loudly that it is a repeat. Right now, I am making do with Model Agency but it is not grimy enough for me!


I am trying to make this a free-writing exercise - can you tell? - okay, no, well, on to no' 6 right? I cannot wait till summer. Why? Because we get to move into our family home. We are all being very patient about this but I need to move, I need space back in my life. I want all my shoes back, out of the holds of the Big Yellow Storage and re-established on my upper floor dressing room in made to measure shelves. 


And to the last, no.7, quite simple really. If there were a tablet you could take that would stop you being late, I would pop it without a second thought. My lateness makes me want to punch myself in the face at times and I apologise a hundred times to the human race for every person that has ever had to wait on me. Now, past and in the future. I am getting better, I swear.
Black Babooshka Cape & Turban / TSR Jersey mini insert / Pamela Mann tights / Jeffrey Campbell Boots 


I love these opportunity to commune with my readers and I do hope it is interesting for you to find out a bit about me other than my latest shoe obsession. 


If your name is below, it means you have been tagged and awarded the Stylish Blogger badge of honour. You know the rules and it would be very nice to hear seven things about yourselves. 




Share |

Sunday, 20 March 2011

Point + Shoot

Supre Maxi Skirt / Uniqlo Heatech Top / Jeffrey Campbell Lita / Vintage Jewellery / Audrey Cantwell Turban

I get lots of comments regarding my pictures so I thought I would use this post to speak a bit about what we use to bring about the images you see. The concept, styling and make-up is undertaken by myself but there would be no lovely pictures to bring the vision to life if it was not for an amazing photographer, who I am also lucky enough to call husband. He is a tad anti-social as opposed to shy where social media is concerned but more of his work can be found on Flickr.

Hubby's home studio kit currently consists of -:
  • Canon 5D 
  • 50mm EF 1.2L
  • 2 x Interfit 200s through white umbrella, camera left and right. 1 interfit 200 top left on the backdrop
  • Photoshop

However, I am undecided over a camera for my own every-day use. I currently use my trusty Canon Ixus 870 point and shoot for daily use but want to share more great pics with my blog friends without having to rely on the old man / photographer. We use Hubby's Canon 5D for shooting style content for the blog. He reminds me often that 'his' camera is indeed 'ours' but I would not feel comfortable handling it for my own pedestrian use (I am a walking accident most of the time) and as such I am considering either a Canon 500D or 550D to replace my point & shoot.

If there is anything else you would like to know about the visual side of things on the blog I am sure I can convince my hubby to do a guest post! In the meantime, I am pretty sure I am going for the 550D but have you got a preference? What do you currently use and are you also considering changing to DSLR?


p.s I asked for advice and the valued ones spoke! Thank you for helping me make up my mind and expect to see the new  acquisition during the week.


Share |

Friday, 4 February 2011

Banished...

...my clothes that is! Nope, I have not signed up to any challenge but with our imminent temporary move from a 4 bedroom house (with two walk in wardrobes) to a 2 bedroom compact house, my husband insists that I put 2/3 of my clothing in storage. You can just imagine the shock my tweets reflected immediately after this but I am glad to say that phase has passed and now that I can think straight (seriously my reaction was that of an erratic woman) I can see that it must be done. This does not mean that it makes the pill easier to swallow but I now have to get practical. What to retain and what to store. How can he not understand my need to have ALL my shoes around me at ALL times! My positive spin on this is that I am going to embrace it as a de-cluttering challenge but still where to start...

Please leave nice words and help me get my head around this! Have you ever had to make such a sacrifice compromise?

Storets leopard print harems, Uniqlo jumper, Jeffrey Campbell boots
Share |

Tuesday, 25 January 2011

Bare Essentials

Got my Medina's mixed up. One is near Mecca and the other, in Malta, is actually spelt Mdina. How do you like that!

Attempted a list post for want of providing you all with some partial substance to go with the image fodder but alas coming up with a unifying theme has been harder than you would image. If you disagree, please feel free to supply some inspirational leads and I will see the list gets written!

My hubby has started referring to my love of black & grey as me doing 'minimal'. Bless him!


Robot Ninjas Top & Pants
Jeffrey Campbell Shoes


Share |

Friday, 31 December 2010

Non-Cursory

This outfit is more of a N.Y.E precursor but I wanted to share it because it typifies me in a number of ways so I give you my go to wardrobe items for easy stylish day-to-night wear.

  • Leggings (I own an unreasonable amount). These also feeds my print craving.
  • Tunics. Easy to wear, easy to layer up and  forgiving on the figure. This also feeds my craving for bold colours. BTW it is a deep jewel green, not the blue my camera has made it...
  • Stompers. Shoes should be part of your armoury. These make me feel like an urban warrior.
  • Accessories (I literally buy in bulk). I always pile on necklaces and bangles. Scarves+turbans keep bad hair days under wraps.

2010 has been a year of sartorial progress in the sense that I have all but taken myself out of the fast fashion machine. I am proud to state that the most important and visible component of my wardrobe is my enthusiastic patronage of small labels and independent designers. I continue to make a small number of considered high street purchases but the majority of my wardrobe pieces are from small/obscure labels I have picked up on my travels or online. Blogging is a great exercise in figuring out the essence of one's wardrobe and I look forward to sharing more of my personal style with you in 2011. Thank you to every single person that has popped in here since I started this blog in June. Your support, comments and feedback have been invaluable!

I have a very special post still to come today. It should be live around 11pm, my very first Friend Friday. For those that shall not revisit the blog until next year (!)  Happy New Year in advance from the bottom of my heart :) I hope you state your intention from the onset because I have a feeling it could be your year. I sure hope it is mine!



Posted by Picasa
Share |

Friday, 12 November 2010

Let me count the ways....

A rushed post but a post none the less. Seriously, how can a week have passed already?! It feels like an age already but was it not only this time last week that I was setting off for Paris? The city itself was beautiful, wet & cold. Hubby & I stayed at Hotel Keppler and I would have happily moved in. We ate lots of snails & rare steaks, climbed the Eiffel Tower, jostled through the Louvre & of course shopped. No, seriously, mega shopped!

I died over & over again at La Valle Village which is the French version of our Bicester Village.

                                                     Lorenzo di Credi - Madonna and Child

                                                                  Hotel Keppler's Lounge



Posted by Picasa
Share |

Saturday, 6 November 2010

Charm Offensive

The following is a masterclass in how to mortify your pre-teen.

It is not often I get to do the school run so you would think the child would be super pleased to see me in the school yard, right? Well, quite rightly so. She seemed quite chuffed to see me until she got directly in front of me. It seems the throng of parents standing in front of me had obscured everything but my head from her view because once she had me in full view I could clearly see how mortified she was. In that moment, without the need to read her mind for it was written all over her face, I could see that she desired nothing more than a mom that wore trackies & trainers as casual wear but that my dear is a wish that even mommy-dear cannot fulfil!


Milly's guide to school-run chic involves: 1 Black Milk leggings. 1 Brown Jeffrey Campbell Lita. 1 Blue Vintage Lingerie Slip. 1 Blue Cropped Jumper. Lashings of Laissez Faire attitude. Pile on the jewellery to sweeten.
Posted by Picasa
Share |

Wednesday, 3 November 2010

Urban Nomad



Super excited. Why? No, not because I have the nuance to carry off a turban on my head without feeling/looking like a total pleb (I am having a really bad hair week) nor is it because my Lita's have finally arrived, 2 months later and with a ridiculous customs charge attached.

I am off to Paris in less than 48hrs for a long weekend with my hubby. I have never been before but already I can imagine the giddiness that will swarm over me as I set foot into major lure Raphael Young's flag-ship Paris store. Kill me now! Ad if I am really really really good I might, just might, convince a certain person that what I really need in my life (say it after me) is another pair of shoes...

Have you been? Share your top recommendations please!
Posted by Picasa
Share |

Wednesday, 11 August 2010

Consume me....

Feening: to yearn, to want, to crave


Can you believe it is that time already?! Yep, it is time for the 'Consume me' spot. I have for you this month four new delectable offerings. As ever, I would like to believe that I seriously need these in my life! Are you as taken as I am? Let me know in the comments section whether you love or loathe!




Sam Edelman 'Zachary Studded Boots'  (Images borrowed from Nasty Gal)




Jeffrey Campbell 'LITA' in Black & Brown (Images borrowed from Sole Trader)






Katie Eary's Skeletal Hand





Style Stalker's entire 'WIPEOUT' collection (seriously!!) - Images borrowed from Style Stalker





Share |

Friday, 23 July 2010

Warriors Arise (Pt.1)


The decision to wear a sequined jacket might have just reversed any FML (Fuck My Life) sentiments that might have been attached to today. Seriously, there is power contained within them sequins and I would urge you all, should you ever wake up in the land of grey a la manic depression avenue, to fish out your sparkliest, glitziest, blinging piece and wear it as you will. Be it with stomping industrial footwear, edgy sexy urban open-toe or even that old favourite of all school run bound mum's out there, your birks! As you can see I decided to do all of the above but hey on a cloudy day, you need all the ammunition you can gather and believe me clothes can be the best armour when your inner warrior is lowly or just having a day off...





Dress: TSR Jersey Maxi
Shoes: Jeffrey Campbell CLINIC
Jacket: H&M Divided
Belt: TSR Rope Belt
Necklace 1: Debenhams
Necklace 2: Knotted Line by Elizabeth Roberts-Woods
Earrings (just seen): Knotted Line by Elizabeth Roberts-Woods
Cuff: Tiffany&Co Elsa Peretti BONE cuff
Posted by Picasa
Share |
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...