8 Statement & Comfortable Sandals for summer

1  /   2   /   3   /   4   /   5   /   6   /   7   /   8

I'm clearly demented or perhaps I'm just avoiding the realities of winter because I can't stop thinking about summer sandals. Over here, we're having rain, floods, storms and oh, more rain. Roofers are doing a rip-roaring business because nearly everyone I know have issues with leaks and damp walls. Including me. Across the Atlantic, you've got the polar vortex that's sweeping across the U.S. Most of you over there are having it far worse than the rest of us here.

You know how it is when I shop. Fantasize, analyze, scrutinize........ the long drawn process goes on before I take the plunge. It's the only way I know how to curb any unnecessary expenditure (oh bugger it, all shoe purchases are unnecessary but they're good for the soul, says the Queen of Justification). Getting rid of stuff is way WAY harder than buying. Anyways....... back to the analyze stage.... I've noticed that I've got tons of vanilla sandals. In other words, plain Janes. Ack, boorrrrrring. I want BADA$$ look-at-me-and-hear-me-ROAR type of stripy, lace up, caged, statement sandals. Noooooo........I'm NOT channeling 50 Shades of Grey whatchamacallit.

source: 3000 chapter





source: @senso


As you can tell, I've been busy poring over Senso's instagram account. I used to think that their shoes are a little over the top but I'm loving their spring/summer collection. Edgy but not crazy. I'm pleased to see that fancy mid heel footwear aren't as elusive as Yetis these days. Perhaps designers are starting to realize that women aren't all that keen to revisit the lotus feet aka foot binding trend.

You've probably noticed that I've inadvertently managed to slip in the Aquazzura Belgravia flats (okay, okay, it was intentional). The price still makes my eyes bleed but one can dream. The Senso Fifi and Fafi (I'm trying my hardest not to chuckle when I say the names out loud) sandals are just as edgy. Perhaps not as formal as the Aquazzuras but the price point is far more palatable.

What do you think, ladies? Are there any edgy statement sandals that tickle your fancy at the moment?

Obsessed with natural scented candles

I go through various waves of obsessions depending on what my holy grail of the moment happens to be. When I'm fixated on something, it's all I can talk about until it passes. Remember the ankle wrap sandals? Sweatshirts? Yeah...... you know what I mean.

You see, I really REALLY like natural scented candles. The thing is they're expensive. Like very expensive. I always have this vision of paper money being burned, one at a time whenever I light up my Diptyque candle. The other thing is I'm asthmatic and don't often take too well to most fragrances. Spicy notes have a way of inducing a headache that will last for days. I can sniff paraffin and chemicals in a candle from 10 paces away and they'll bring on an asthma attack too. Not good. Diptyque candles contain a teeny bit of paraffin but so far, I've been fine.

You see all those candles in the photo? Other than the used Spitalfields candle on your left (a wonderful gift from Avril), the rest were all purchased within the last 30 days. Didn't I mention earlier about being OCD? The massive Neom candle in the middle was on sale (40% off and I redeemed some points), the Geodesis was purchased at 50% off (£10!!!) from an online store I'd never even heard of until recently and the two Spitalfields candles were from Found's sample sale (£10 per candle instead of £25). Notice how excited I am having "saved" myself 50 quid................

I've been contemplating about making my own especially after seeing this step by step tutorial. At least I won't have to worry about buying votive glass jars after I've burned all my candles. Just so you know, it's practically an art form to burn your candle perfectly every single time.

How to wear spring/summer pieces in winter

Outfit: Zara coat, Rick Owens jacket, Helmut Lang t-shirt, Petit Bateau sweat pants, Hermes cashmere shawl, Hermes Cape Cod watch and New Balance 420 sneakers

Having a minuscule closet means that there is no clear separation between spring/summer and fall/winter clothes. I don't  have many summer clothes because 1) I have a better chance of winning the Lotto than having a guaranteed summer in the U.K every year  2) it's pointless to spend £££ on clothes that get worn only a few months of the year. Yup, I'm a cheapskate.

Since I'd spent gazillions (okay, I'm exaggerating but it WAS expensive) on this lightweight Rick Owens jacket (which makes my bat wings look skinny and long), I've decided it's wearable all year round. I'm working on getting the cost per wear down so that I can justify the spending. I will probably freeze into an ice block if I ever attempt to wear it as a jacket on a cold winter day but it'll serve as a great layering piece. Clearly, I'm demented but the "logical" rationale is justifiable. There are pros to wearing a leather jacket underneath your coat. It traps the heat and doubles as a windproof jacket. I was warm in a jiffy despite the dreary weather outside ("logical" explanation number 2).

Hmm.....one day, I'm going to regret showing the world a photo of myself in an old pair of sweat pants. But then again, I'm trying to keep it real here in my little corner of the blogosphere......... For those of you who thought that I blended rather well into the background of these pictures (your observation couldn't be more correct), check out my bright red sneakers instead. See? I'm learning to like colors. Errr......I mean color.

Photos by S.J, edited by me.

Interesting links for the weekend

A designer bag is a rather hefty purchase these days with prices rising faster than inflation. Here's a guide to buying a forever bag.

Cooking is usually a chore especially when you've had a long and tiring day at work. Here's a one pan salmon dish which gives you a large dose of necessary omega along with healthy carbs and plenty of veggies. Best of all, it's so easy to make and requires little cooking know-how.

Ever wonder how dogs and cats teach their young? Well, here's a hilarious example.

Getting on the underground (tube) in London isn't most people's idea of fun but a prankster (or two) has liven things up a bit by replacing the signs with these fake ones. Check this out for a giggle.

Those of you who travel a lot will understand how easy it is to get into a rather iffy situation when words get lost in translation.

If you're a bargain hunter, here are some helpful tips on how to shop and survive a sample sale.

New Balance 420 Sneakers review

New Balance 420 sneakers are apparently deemed a bit of a cliché  particularly ones of the red variety. Well, they've already made it to the Sh*t bloggers wear list so I guess I've finally joined the "trendy" crowd for once. I was a little worried that the shoes will be bright like *this is hurting my eyes* kind of red but no, it has a blue undertone (true to life color in my photo) which complements my *I haven't seen no sunshine in light years* skin.

I live in a pretty conservative part of England where gilets, tweed, waxed parkas and wellies are the norm. Not bright red sneakers with an italic N on the side. Suffice to say, I'm an anomaly in this medieval town. Shucks. I wore them for 3 days and no one, I mean NOT ONE SINGLE friend noticed the neon sign on my feet. Until today. We talked excitedly about how to nab these elusive sneakers. Ahhhh.......finally, a woman after my own heart.

These beauties run small. I normally wear a UK 1.5 (US 4 to 5). I bought the smallest size available - UK 3.5  (US 5.5/ EU 36) and all I needed was a thin insole and it did the trick. I could easily go down to a UK 3 from the kiddies' selection but I'll be pushing it at 2.5 (US 4.5).

Verdict: The curved soles make me feel like I'm walking on air. The suede uppers are more water resistant than my Stella McCartney for Adidas sneakers which tend to get soaked within seconds if I accidentally step on a shallow puddle. You won't have a problem fitting into these 420s if you have narrow or medium width feet. It's nice to add a cheerful color to my rather bland color deficient wardrobe. Too bad I can't click my heels and be magically transported to the Maldives just to escape the dreary weather here.

Decor: Colors and Retro

Remember that sneak peek of Linda's home last week? Thankfully, she capitulated after I pleaded my case. Yes, I begged and bombarded her with text messages. I've been known to chase a friend down to photograph their outfit. I'm surprised I still have friends.............

Little did I know that once upon a time, Linda was an interior designer buyer. I shouldn't be surprised because her individuality shone through the decor including the whimsical knick knacks she'd picked up here and there. I held my first ever Chinese cooking lesson in her kitchen and it was a dream to work in. There were big open spaces and lots of natural light which gave the impression that the house was larger than it actually was. It looked cozy and lived in instead of a showroom. Just the way I'd like my dream home to be.

A Gem in Hampshire: Catkin & Pussywillow

It's ironic that I'm enamored with flowers now. Blame it on Instagram. Photos of flowers are in abundance (FYI, you can get A LOT of likes).  Friends consider it a miracle that my second orchid plant is still alive after 2 months. I call it divine intervention. I'm rather proud that I can tell peonies from carnations these days.

I must've walked past Catkin & Pussywillow many times and Instagrammed the flowers to death but this was the first time I had a chance to take a look inside the store. It's tucked away on a street next to the train station in Winchester. It's like walking into a perfumery and treasure trove because the welcoming floral scent hits you as you enter the store. I was rather taken by the handmade candles from St Eval, a small artisan company based in Cornwall. Scented candles for less than £10? Bargain. And then there are these antique toys, Indie magazines and books (including Kinfolk) and chocolate bars peeking out from every corner.

Normally when I see something I love,  I have to skulk around just to get a few shots in, lest I get booted out of the store. If my oversized camera was any indication of my intent to shoot a few frames........ but a cheerful staff member walked up to me and say, "go ahead. Photograph anything". Ahhh.....music to my ears.


Catkins & Pussywillow
The Railway Station
Station Hill
Winchester SO23 8TJ
Hampshire

Do you dress your age?

Outfit: Isabel Marant Kady jacket (or the latest here), Uniqlo cargo skinnies (sold out), Isabel Marant for H&M sweatshirt, Helmut Lang t-shirt, Stella McCartney for Adidas sneakers, Hermes Ex-Libris cashmere shawl (similar), Chanel sunglasses, Christys fedora and Louis Vuitton Bandouliere 35cm Speedy.


"Now that you're 40, how will you dress yourself?", I was once asked.  Interesting question though one I haven't thought about at all. I know in certain cultures that there is an unspoken rule about how one should dress when you hit 40s, 50s and beyond. Say, super curly or shorter hair, garbed in black, below the knee length skirts etc. Funnily enough, memories of myself banning my then 40 year old mom from wearing jeans came flooding back because I was adamant that she should try to look like a mom, not a teenager.  Hah! Talk about karma. It'll slap you in the face when you least expect it. My mom has been stealing all my designer jeans ever since I've been able to afford them. And wears them better than I do (skinnier legs and all).

Frankly speaking, I have no idea what a 40 year old should dress like. Why restrict yourself or frump it down just because you've turned a year older?  I don't bare my midriff nor do I have shorts so skimpy that half of my ass is exposed to the public. I've done neither but then again, I have an apple figure. When your love handles tend to wrap themselves over the waistband, it's something that you'd rather not want others to see. But hey, if you've got the figure, go for it.

If I can use 3 words to describe my style - practical, comfortable and prudent (thanks, Cecilia for reminding me). I'd turn up for press days and I'd get curious and sometimes the WTH looks from other attendees. But I'm a working mom. I need to run from one appointment to the next and hop back on the train to do the school run. I can't do so in heels or dressed like I'm going for a photo shoot. I refuse to cab everywhere just because I can't walk or that it's wet and cold and I am underdressed.

I wouldn't dare call myself fashion forward nor can I afford to follow trends blindly. Most of us are realistic about our expenditure. Sure, we are obsessed with new things all the time (totally raising my hand here) but mortgage, savings and investments take precedence. I rarely borrow clothes and I don't accept many sponsored items either which means you'll be seeing that same old attire being recycled a million times on my blog. So to answer that question - I haven't got a clue.

Do you dress your age? More importantly, what's YOUR style? Curious mind wants to know.

Interesting reads for the weekend

Weekend's all about lounging around which means that the outfit du jour consists of sweats. Just in case you're still wondering, yup..........I'm still unabashedly in sweat pants most of the time. I was inspired by these ladies who rocked the look so well. 

I'm not a big of IT bags but they're not going to go away anytime soon. Check out this article about why status bag just won't die.

Once upon a time, blogs were simple, unsophisticated and merely a vehicle for some to share their outfits and thoughts. These days, those who gain stardom are model-esque gazelles and represent a very small portion of the society. There's more pressure on many to look thin. This is where Photoshop skills come in handy.  Here's what Jen of Style Crusader has to say.

Each time I hop over yet another decade in age, my tolerance for heels decreases. Here are a few tips from Marie Helvin on how to survive high heels. 

I know it's awful and we shouldn't do it but most of us who have children do moan about our husbands and their severe lack of know how when it comes to child minding. I love these post it notes from a stay at home dad.

What makes a woman stylish? Here are 7 habits of highly stylish people.

Thank God It's Friday

This is what I call blink-and-you'll-miss-it type of sunshine. I was overly optimistic the other day at the rare sight of golden rays peeking through the curtains. By the time I got home from the school run, it was like the heavens had opened and dumped more rain and hail. Moral of the story? Do not trust the English weather.





Pasty complexion? Check. SAD (seasonal affective syndrome)? Check. Staying indoors all week? Check. Consoling myself by stuffing more carbs and sugar? Check.

My friends suggested I gave a Chinese cooking lesson so here I am. My very first. The emphasis was on taste and dishes that take no more than 15 minutes max to prep and cook while using ingredients that can be easily purchased from supermarkets.  I should've taken a few photos before we started demolishing the food. Ooops. I managed to pluck this least damaged dish from the table for a quick shot with my phone. I rarely follow recipes. I almost always modify and adapt recipes until I'm satisfied with the dish. So I urge you to taste while you're cooking and adjust the ingredients accordingly.



Steamed salmon with ginger & spring onion

3 pieces of salmon
Thinly sliced ginger (2 inches)
1/3 cup light soy sauce, mixed with a 3-5 tablespoons of water
1 teaspoon of sugar
2 spring onions (thinly slice the stalk)
coriander
3-5 tablespoons of oil (any oil as long as it's not olive oil)

1. Place the salmon pieces on a plate (ceramic or metal)
2. Add approx 1/3 cup of soy sauce, tablespoons of water and sugar. Boil slightly till sugar has melted.
3. slice 2-3 inches of ginger (depending on how many slices of fish) into very thin strips.
4. Pour approx 3-5 tablespoons of oil into a wok and stir fry the ginger quickly. Make sure the ginger doesn't turn brown as you just want to flavor the oil. Pour the oil and ginger out and put aside.
5. Put boiling water into the wok and pop the rack on.
6. Pour the soy sauce mixture on top of the salmon, followed by the oil. Spread out the ginger strips on the fish. Do the same with the spring onion.
7. Put the plate on top of the rack and cover with lid. Steam for no more than 7-10 minutes. Remember, it's ok to undercook the salmon slightly as it continues to cook when you remove it from the wok.
8. Garnish with the remaining spring onion and coriander. 

What are the ramifications of fast fashion?

source

I liken fast fashion to fast food. It’s instant gratification, cheap, plentiful and tastes great but makes you feel sick afterwards. There are ramifications to your health later in life if you’ve consumed too much of it. The same applies to fast fashion. While the repercussions aren’t health related, they’re no less important. It’s easy to get sucked into it when you’re looking at a sweater that cost no more than £17 or £10 for a pair of jeans. You rationalize. It’s ONLY £10 but these small figures do add up with frequent consumption and before you know it, the total of your credit card statement is staggering. I’m speaking from experience here……..

High street brands are essentially a vehicle to satiate our voracious appetite for fashion. They’re smart to jump on the bandwagon to milk it for what it’s worth. It’s a causal effect of supply and demand or is it the other way round?  They’ll always be someone entrepreneurial enough to meet a need. The main objective of collaborations with popular designers (Isabel Marant pour H&M comes to mind) is  to reel those with supposedly more sophisticated palette and deeper pocket to move over to the dark side. If this demographic of potential customers can afford to spend £800 on a coat, imagine how often they will frequent the store? The designer gets a huge payout, the company gets a ton of publicity,  plenty of foot traffic and sales. The general public are given the rare opportunity to purchase expensive designer clothes at basement bargain prices. So in effect, win-win-win. Or is it? 

Somebody has to pay the price. No matter what or how these large multi billion dollar companies fervently preach about corporate social responsibility (CSR), it’s all utter bullshit. If it hurts their pocket and delivers wrath from their shareholders, they'll switch team in an instant. Few care about slave like working conditions, the use of dangerous chemicals, pumping chemically ridden waste into river and sea and so forth. The contracted factories in third world or developing nations are squeezed out of every penny to reduce operating costs in order to maximize profit. Never mind if they refuse because they will take their million dollar contract and find another factory elsewhere. The cost reducing exercise trickles down to the employees who are paid a pittance and worked in unsafe conditions. 

source

Let’s go back to my rather cynical view of most CSR bullshits. Take a look at the supposedly, waste not, want not approach taken by my favorite handbag maker, Hermes. They recycled their waste by creating a new line called Petit H. Guys, let’s just call a spade, a spade. It’s a money making marketing ploy to get rid of materials that they were throwing away and charging an absolute fortune for things that no one really needs. Key chain for £400, crocodile leather sleeve for disposable coffee cup, anyone? 

I find the warped speed that fashion collections are being churned out exhausting. There's little appreciation for the designs before the next set of clothes are paraded yet again, thus the intense cycle around shows and marketing begins yet again. What are we teaching the younger generation, particularly those in their teens? It's ok to go into debt and consume endlessly? It's all about how you look. Superficiality rules? My question is, why are we consuming so much of it? 

Currently obsessed: New Balance sneakers

source

Photo credit: fash-n-chips

source

source

source

I wouldn't use the term fashion forward to describe me. In fact, fashion-missed-the-boat would be a better phrase to use. Right now, it seems like I'm a little late trying to jump on the fashion boat (again!) before it set sail because every darn website I've looked at are sold out of these trendy New Balance sneakers in my size. Pffffttttt....... What. The. Fudge.

I've sneered at the socks with heels trend. I looked at the whole coat/jacket on shoulder trend and deemed it pretentious (yes, I was pretentious to try it too but hey ho, it looked good in photos, right?). "The sneakers with every outfit" trend is the one that I'm embracing wholeheartedly. I've been harping on about trendy and comfortable footwear since the inception of this ol' blog of mine. I simply cannot walk in heels and it's just not practical especially when I have to dash from place to place.

Ever since Garance Dore's stylist friend, Viviana Volpicella was mobbed by street style photographers wearing the brightest Nike sneakers known to womankind with her equally colorful outfit, we were instantly enamored. Never mind that we often make fun of fellow tourists wearing their sneakers everywhere in Europe. It's not a case of reinventing the wheel. It's about making the wheel flashier and putting them on a sleek Porsche rather than a Ford Fiesta. And boom, suddenly what was once unfashionable has become stylish.

Personally, I prefer the slimmer and sleeker New Balance 410 and 420 sneakers because the bulkier ones remind me of my backpacking days when my elephantine Pumas were just an extension of my feet. You've probably noticed from the photos above that I'm rather obsessed with black and burgundy, both of which are rather difficult to get hold of at the moment. The cheapest place to get New Balance happens to be Nordstrom. So if you live in the U.S........lucky you.

What are your thoughts about these New Balance sneakers? And if you own any, are they comfortable? What about size wise? If you happen to stumble upon a pair of burgundy New Balance 410 or 420 sneakers in size UK 3/ US 6, please pleeeeeeeaaaaase let me know (the cry of a desperate woman).

Q & A: Carin Olsson of Paris In Four Months

Despite being only 22, Carin's poise, maturity and talent belied someone at least a decade older. Her determination to strike it out on her own and take a leap of faith by moving to Paris where she knew no one nor did she even speak a smidgeon of the language has paid off. Her Instagram followers are well over in 6 figure digits (increasing by the minute as I'm typing out this post). She's on Buzzfeed's list of 23 Instagrams To Follow To Travel the world in 2014, worked with Nicole Warne of Gary Pepper , published in fashion magazines and online publications as well as collaborated with other bloggers. I managed to catch up with her in London late last year while she was in between appointments. Without much ado, here's a Q & A session with Carin.

1. Name and occupation

Carin Olsson. I’m a freelance photographer (and sometimes writer as well).

2. Your favorite food

Oh gosh, this is like choosing your favourite parent (or child if you have any of those). I might have to go with a really yummy risotto though. Or pizza. Or lobster roll. Or a delicious hamburger. You see? It’s impossible for me to choose.

3. Craziest thing you ever did

Moving to Paris without knowing a single soul, the language or having any sort of idea about where it would take me.

4. Favorite cities

Rome, New York and Paris. So far.

5. Best Fashion Week moment

Having to pinch myself because I just kissed Roberto Cavalli on the cheek while visiting his showroom in Milan. 

6. 5 favorite items in your closet 

- Horseshoe bracelet from Claire Aristides and watch from Corniche 

- Striped top from J.Crew 

- Purse from Salvatore Ferragamo 

- Earrings from Swarovski 

- Pyjamas from Oysho 

7. 5 most asked questions on your blog/Instagram

- What camera do you use?

- How do you edit your photos?

- I want to move to Paris. How do I do it?

- Where should I stay/eat/drink/sleep while in Paris?

- What do you work with?

8. Your favorite haunts in Paris

My new favourite place for a special treat has to be "Des Gateaux et du Pain”, I love having a cup of coffee at Ten Belles and stop by Verjus Wine Bar when I’m in the mood for a yummy lunch. Saint Germain and the Marais (predictable, but true) are two of my favourite neighbourhoods to take a stroll in and when the weather gets better you’ll find me on a picnic blanket in Jardin du Luxembourg. Or along the Seine.

9. How did your interest in photography started? What do you shoot with?

I’ve always thought it was fun taking photos but I guess it really started once I moved to Paris. I had promised myself to walk around and take photos when I arrived in Paris so that I could share them with my family back home (it was actually sort of a strategy as well so that I wouldn't feel too lonely when strolling around the city myself). I started realising that I really enjoyed myself and last year (2013) I decided that it was so much fun I actually wanted to do it as a profession everyday as well.

I currently have a Canon EOS 5D Mark II.

10. How many languages do you speak?

I guess I’d say two and a half since I don’t speak that good French just yet. So Swedish and English, and a tiny bit of French.

11. 3 things you can’t live without

My phone, my camera and my loved ones.

12. Best advice you’ve been given

Do what you love.

You can check out more of Carin's beautiful snapshots on her blog - Paris In Four Months