Craziest shades 2013

"I wear my sunglasses at night..." - this song has been playing in my mind since the weekend, and indeed, I often wear my shades for late night parties - it`s a great trick to keep the sharp look no matter how wild the nights gets (the true party monsters will understand). Of course, like all normal people I primarily wear my sunglasses to protect my eyes from the sun, but surely there are much more uses for them. In general sunglasses are great to hide behind, be it in the morning, when you sneak out for some fresh croissants or go shopping on a weekend afternoon, without bothering to fix up your face. In general I prefer classic glasses (wayfarers and aviators are my regular choice), but at times I feel like something quirky and original. Luckily this season there is no shortage of really crazy and amazing shades.

Prada

Dolce & Gabbana

Karen Walker

Anna Sui

DSquared 

Get your Grunge on!

I have mixed feelings whenever a street-born rebellious style such as grunge is picked up by mainstream fashion. On the one hand it defeats the whole purpose, by handing a style that was born out of pure emotion, freedom, refusal  to play by the rules, in essence a middle finger shown to the whole consumerist society, over to that same society - the usual yuppies and fashion victims, who wear whatever designers and magazines, and now also bloggers, deem chic and trendy. And let`s be fair, all the popular bloggers and fashion journalists I`ve read easily change from stilettos into sneakers - as long as the god of fashion commands them so, and would only praise Kurt Cobain for his fashion contributions, while counting days till the next album of Lady Gaga. There are no big ideas and no commitments behind their fashion choices.

So why should they be allowed to parade around dressed as punks and rockers? Well, there is at least one reason - it allows the rest of us, rockers and grungers at heart to wear these same clothes without looking like crazed teenagers, homeless or somehow dangerous elements. We can blend in, yet remain ourselves, true to the spirit. So let those designer kids play, in the end we`ll have much more fun than them with those same outfits.

And to sum it up, let`s recall what grunge is all about! In a sense it`s a combination of elements that cannot be combined, of wearing the unwearable. It`s a bit rock-n-roll, bit hippy, bit teenage rebel and every bit whatever you feel like wearing at a given moment in time.

 Nevertheless it has some ultimate elements: checkered shirts and ripped jeans (and any other ripped garments for that matter), band tees and sweatshirts, chunky boots and army jackets, light floral dresses and frilly skirts, hats and boyfriend beanies. And of course a pair goggle shades and wild messy hairstyle will suit perfectly to complete just about any grunge ensemble. Just take it all and mix, shake it well, and see what happens... Set your teen spirit free (if you`ve still got it in you anyway)!

Of hoarders, squanderers and label slaves

Yesterday, as I was going through the latest posts in my blogroll, I stumbled upon a blogger interview – it was a Chinese housewife lady showing off her numerous top designer possessions (nothing without a world famous logo), including a collection of Chanel bags – almost 40 all in all. And seeing that made me not so much impressed, or awestruck, as just somehow annoyed. It made me think of another such blogger interview I once saw – a very young girl with her totally insane collection of Birkin bags of all possible colors. It was somehow disturbing to think of this kid, who clearly haven’t worked a day in her life, throwing away money on some of the most expensive bags in the world. Who even needs that many bags of exactly same design? Frankly as I looked at the giant piles of bags of both of those “lucky” ladies I was seeing two label slaves. Despite the fact that a Hermes Birkin or a classic Chanel bag is an icon in the bag world, such a huge collection of them, in my opinion, has nothing to do with fashion or style. It’s an equivalent of ridiculous gold-&-diamond name-tags on thick golden chains worn by rappers – a demonstration of wealth. And what they call “collecting” I call hoarding and money squandering. But moreover, it makes me think how we all, fans of fashion and style, sometimes shop way too much (and some of those things we barely wear) rather than spend our money in more productive ways that enrich our lives, educate us and broaden our horizons.

Some of you may think it’s just envy. Well, I assure you, this rant has nothing to do with that. Sure, we all strive for a better level of life, and every now and then we may experience a little twitch of jealousy seeing a fellow fashion blogger showcasing outfits made up mostly or partly of designer labels, and actually getting lots of extra readers thanks to that. But I have no problem with that as long as a person uses his/her bigger-than-average shopping budget to put together a unique personal style, which the readers can use as a fashion inspiration – in the same way they do a fashion magazine, only blogs offer a much more personalized approach and that’s why we love them. Among the examples of such blogs are StyleScrapbook and ManRepeller. But if all a blogger does is invest into overhyped brands like Chanel, LV or Hermes and dump the pics of it on the blog page, it just looks like major boasting. Don’t take me wrong, I have all the respect for those brands, but honestly, hoarding items bearing world-famous designs and logos doesn’t require any taste, fashion sense and personal style – it only takes money.

Now, it sure sounds like I’m getting all critical on fellow bloggers and who am I to judge? Maybe, but I’m also a journalist, writer and a keen observer of social trends, which I tend to criticize in my articles if I feel they deserve it. And what I’m talking about here is exactly a fashion-related social issue. Fashion blogging world is a social structure of its own and while we all have different budgets and incomes – which is only normal – it should be more about style and individual approach to fashion, and less about “Look how many pricy bags I got!” I’m sorry, I just don’t see how any reader can benefit from this knowledge – you can view the same bags on the company website and in the Vogue and in better quality I bet.

Also I’ve noticed the biggest hoarders and squanderers are people who don’t understand the value of money (they never had to work hard to make them) or/and feel a constant need to show everyone how much they’ve got. And expectedly when it comes to labels these people go after the popular choices – something anyone can recognize. I, on the other hand, am all for originality and individuality when it comes to style and the world-famous designs, no matter how iconic and timeless, are anything but original. Frankly when I see yet another blogger flaunting one of those typical flashy Louis Vuitton bags – I’m bored to death. It’s like the most obvious IT bag choice in the world! How about using your imagination?

Now I’m not trying to preach anything and tell you to stop buying stuff, or buy less, or buy less bags. It’s everybody’s own business. In fact, recently rummaging through my wardrobe – I’m pretty sure it’s quite tiny by fashion blogger standards – I felt guilty for all my hoarding. And that’s considering I moved from Ukraine to Greece last year, bringing less than a third of my wardrobe with me and I shopped only occasionally throughout the year! It’s still too much. And I don’t want to be a hoarder and I don’t want my life to be about things. And even if one day I do complete one of those many novels I’ve started at different times and it becomes a bestseller or sell a script for good money, I’m sure I’d find a better use for it than buying 50 bags of the same designer like your typical label slave. After all I’m blessed with some good taste, common sense, creativity and imagination as I’m sure all of you, my favorite bloggers and readers are! And for someone who doesn’t have that – well then piling bags may be the only solution…

That’s what I’m talkin’ about ))

DIY shorts, gladiators and a clock-camera

I finally got around to shooting the latest arrivals to my wardrobe. Two of them are the result of my first ever shopping at ASOS - I know, right? But, better later than never... Anyway, I'm happy to say the "test" was successful - my package arrived within five days which is pretty rad for a free delivery (in case you didn't know - it works for anything you buy, no minimum spend required).

One of the ASOS goodies is this cream-colored t-shirt. It's pretty simple and minimalistic, but I'm all about such loose, neutral-colored and slightly sheer tops right now, so it immediately became one of the key pieces in my summer style.

The second ASOS item is this camera pendant necklace fitted with a clock. I have wanted a camera-necklace for a while now, but I didn't expect to find one which can also tell time apart from simply looking cool!

Finally the third new goody is this color-blocking pair of sandals. They are from a Greek brandFULLAH SUGAH. They have a really great collection of summer footwear, I'm especially in love with their wedges! But I also needed a pair of new summer flats, since my ALDO gladiator sandals acquired a rather worn look after two years. Initially I was after Fullah Sugah's jelly sandals which I spied on their website, but upon a closer inspection they turned out way too shiny and sparkly from all the sequins glued to them - that's really not my style. And then I spotted this pair below - now they are much more me! I've also tried them in red, but in the end went with the blue.

Oh, and as for the DIY short I've mentioned - I've made them out of my old H&M skinny jeans, that got too stretched for wear. They are nothing spectacular, yet it's the first time that I had the patience to carefully carve the shorts out to perfection - rather than just butcher some poor old jeans and as a result get something horrid and unwearable which happened a few times before...

My top summer trend: Californication

Today I've finally given up my search for a perfect American flag-printed tee. Sure, there are plenty of them out there, but the ones I really like are unfortunately out of stock. However I've also realized that it's not so much American-flag print that I'm after as the trend as a whole. All-American, or even rather CALIFORNIAN style is having a grand comeback this season and I feel a strong connection to it somehow - I guess it's because it's so free-spirited, uniform, basic and almost androgynous - in short, totally BADASS! A pair of simple cut-off and ripped denim shorts, a casual tee, perhaps printed with the name of your favorite rock band, a bandana, cool booties or sneakers and some edgy accessories - all of this is so me! I totally feel like rocking this trend all summer, even though lacy tops and floral dresses will neither be ignored by me - after all, I'm a lady even though my inner tomboy is still so alive.

Now all I need to do is go get that "biker" tee (below) from ZARA, which I tried on today but didn't buy (fighting the impulse purchase syndrome), and a pair of ripped shorts, and my WILD THING look will be complete!

Wild Thing by AlexMatoshko featuring black round sunglasses

For more California style inspiration I've discovered those two amazing photo-shoots: first one by FASHION GONE ROGUE and second from THEONESTOWATCH.

Kelley Ash by Graham Dunn in "Kalifornia" editorial for Fashion Gone Rogue

Alexandra Papadopoulos, Breanna Box and Sydney Roper for the "Hill St. Dogs" editorial for TheOnes2Watch

And finally a most fitting soundtrack to set the mood:

Decarnin out - what will become of Balmain?

I'm pretty sure this very question troubles all BALMAIN fans now that it was officially announced: CHRISTOPHE DECARNIN, Balmain's creative director for the past 5 years, has left the house. The successor haven't yet been appointed, but whoever he or she might be, all I care to know is how much is going to change?

BALMAIN has been among my fashion favorites these last few years. I loved brand's practical approach to chic, with its shimmering figure-hugging mini dresses, ripped jeans combined with gorgeous jackets, the punk-rock look with burned denim and studded leather offered for this spring and luxurious sweater-dresses from the latest, fall/winter collection. I loved Decarnin's Balmain for giving me a kind of high fashion that I could relate to with my own style. But what now? Which way would the new creative director want to go: keep the sexy rebel spirit or "grow up" and leave it behind? I sure hope it's the former. In the meantime here are some of my favorite Balmain looks of the last couple of years - the kind of looks that soon may become history...

Fall/Winter 2011/2012

Spring/Summer 2011

Fall/Winter 2010/2011

Spring/Summer 2010

Fall/Winter 2009/2010

Spring/Summer 2009