Hello August

xxx

Monday Musing...

For the most part I believe it is a burden feeling everything so deeply. For a long while I prayed to feel less - It is draining. I suppose it is because I focussed on the deep sadness I felt, but never on the great happiness. I am trying to come to terms with the way I feel everything so deeply, as much as the intense sadness is a curse, it really is beautiful to be able to feel such immense happiness, delighting in even the smallest things...

 



 

“People are afraid of themselves, of their own reality; their feelings most of all. People talk about how great love is, but that’s bullshit. Love hurts. Feelings are disturbing. People are taught that pain is evil and dangerous. How can they deal with love if they’re afraid to feel? Pain is meant to wake us up. People try to hide their pain. But they’re wrong. Pain is something to carry, like a radio. You feel your strength in the experience of pain. It’s all in how you carry it. That’s what matters. Pain is a feeling. Your feelings are a part of you. Your own reality. If you feel ashamed of them, and hide them, you’re letting society destroy your reality. You should stand up for your right to feel your pain.”    
- Jim Morrison

 

I hope you have a lovely week friends - embrace your feelings.

xx

Fashionable Foot Forward

In my last post, I mentioned how I had just moved into a new place. Unpacking has stirred up a lot of nostalgia – and in many ways has once again set fire to the passion I had for many things prior to boxing up and storing a large part of my life.

One of these is my fascination with footwear.
As I unpacked the fifth book on shoes, dusted off my dissertation, based on footwear, and gazed upon the umpteenth pair of shoes in my collection, I wondered when my penchant for what I once believed was the ultimate accessory had waned.

I looked at my patent brogues and wondered whether I could wear them for another winter. Was the stiletto heel on my multi-coloured strappy sandals still on trend? Could I pull off my peep-toe platforms and what about my cork wedges?

Stella McCartney

A sudden urge to learn all I could about the latest trends in footwear washed over me.

I paged through the latest fashion magazines, browsed various online fashion resources, and style blogs and paid particular attention to the fabrication, heels and colour of the shoes that walked down the runway at the latest fashion shows…I realised that all of the shoes were so varied that it was really difficult to pinpoint a particular trend, but rather a whole host of different trends.

I noticed that the combat boots that I was sceptical to buy because they were just a fad were featured in shows such as Belstaff and Max Mara. I adore the more feminine version of this style seen at Alexandre Birman. Another trend I was sure would fade fast were the glitter shoes that stir up memories of The Wizard of Oz, which were seen at Saint Laurent.

Alexandre Birman

The classic stiletto looked as sexy as always at Versace and Roland Mouret. Lanvin and Christopher Kane kept the chunky heel alive at their shows. And Prada made the more sensible wedge heel a staple once again.

Admittedly the trend I am most excited about is one of my all-time favourites, patent leather. This glossy fabrication was used by the likes of Balenciaga, Roger Vivier, Brain Atwood and Sergio Rossi.

Balenciaga

Brain Atwood

Apparently it is okay to get back onto your high horse, wearing cowboy boots with gorgeous cut-out details by Sergio Rossi, and when you are not on the horse, slip into stilettos by the other Rossi, Gianvito. Perhaps tassels, seen at Aquazzura, are more your western (ahem) foot-print. A less Wild West looking option was a silver booty with a pin-up cow girl print on the elasticated inset by Rupert Sanderson. Freda Salvador makes take the proverbial bull by the horns, if I may.
And I am done with cheesy puns, I promise.

Freda Salvador

I am going to go right out and say it; I am not a fan of brown. It is the colour of…well, you know. Regardless of my personal affliction towards this colour, style.com sites brown as the new black. I could probably force myself to wear the brown wedge boot by Jimmy Choo – This boot makes brown look good. Another reason to give in to the brown could be Pierre Hardy’s two-tone lace up booty with a charming little ankle strap.

Pierre Hardy

Another trend I am not quite sure I will embrace (It is possible I will eat these words, I know I have had to do so before) is the fleece/Sherpa/faux fur details seen on the Sherpa lined heels at Chloe, the fleece lined wedge boot at Jerome Dreyfuss…and the full fleece mule by Tibi.

Chloe

I am pleased to say, after exploring the latest footwear styles that I will not be letting go of any of my shoes. I am not doubting my patent brogues, I still believe my strappy stilettoes are sexy, I will stand tall in my platforms, and perhaps try pairing my peep toes with a pair of socks to bring them up to speed with this seasons trend.  

xxx

All images style.com

A House Becomes A Home

I recently moved into a new flat, well the flat itself is not new, just me being in it…

Unpacking boxes has been reminiscent of the lucky packets I used to get when I was little – the fun of discovering something awesome that I had completely forgotten about as well as finding a few duds all wrapped up in bubble wrap and paper. 

Riches for Rags

At a stage I was overwhelmed  by the amount of stuff I have - vowing never again to buy another knick or acquire another knack. Ultimately, coming to the realisation that most of these things are not necessary objects - Things I could certainly do without.

That being said, I do believe that a lot of these things have turned my house into a home, and as much as they are not necessary for my survival - and would probably not be packed into a stylish rucksack (oxymoron?) come the apocalypse, they are all an extension of my personality and therefore a very necessary part of the character of my flat.

“Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.”- William Morris

xxx 

Write Something Today

The Glitter Guide

As you may have noticed, the frequency of my posts has depleted to a near non-existent level.

I mentioned that when things do not go as I had planned, they tend not to go at all, but I realise that there is a much bigger issue than this…

Every time I sit down to write, an activity that I really enjoy…or at least enjoyed – It just feels like everything I say is so cliché – every introduction, every description; a line used far too many times, by far too many people.

The amount of saved word documents that scatter my desktop, covering loads of topics, which I abandon two paragraphs in, due to the over-use of words or phrases, actually astounds me.

To suggest I read more books seems a very valid solution – surely filled with inspiring writing, never seen before descriptions, and barely used words – However, a brilliant piece of writing makes me realise how far from a good writer I am.

Fear of failure, and the inability to do something, without even trying, are some more of my biggest hindrances… I don’t even give myself the chance to better myself -

The more I think about it, the more ridiculous it seems – but I feel this is probably one of the best platforms for honesty, with myself and others.

So that being said, I have decided to keep writing, despite the nauseating clichés I may make use of. I will try things, that I may fail at… who knows, I may succeed…but is it really the worst thing not to? And I will do things that I enjoy, even if I am absolutely rubbish at them.

xxx

Spontaneous Post

Wow, I am sucking at this blog thing – I had amazing plans for New Year’s posts, possibly a summary of what happened in the time I have been absent, a revised list of New Year’s resolutions…

The problem with me is that when things don’t go as I had planned, they don’t go at all – I could have examined this problem of mine, perhaps made some sort of plan to resolve it in the new year, but here I am, with my first post of the year – Not the way I had planned it – No sparklers or photoshopped images wishing you all a Happy New Year… Whoever “you all” may be.

So here’s to spontaneity in 2014.

xxx

Festival Fashion

With excitement building for the upcoming Oppikoppi in August I thought I would post some outfit inspiration taken from the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival - These people get it so right.

Just add a dust mask...

All images Style.com 

xxx