Lemon topping

If there is one thing I'm really dying to wear right now is my new yellow blazer. Yes, yellow. The bright, sunny colour that evokes all things spring and summery. It's not that I am a summery person per se, but I just love the colour so much and I don't think I had really come across any before this week when I headed over to Zara. 

lemon topping by tikkamars featuring fitted dresses

I love how, despite being a primary colour, yellow lends itself as well as a neutral, pairing up with monochrome for a classic look, with pastels and metallics for a sophisticated yet on trend combination, or even with bold pattern clashes ready to be snapped for a street-style blog.

My ex-colleagues know my obsession with this brand way too well and got me a very nice voucher as a farewell gift and one of my little purchases was the yellow blazer on the top right of this Polyvore set.  If I could I'd have got all the three Zara jackets featured here, and the shoes et al!

Settling in ...

As you may recall from my last #ootd post (which you can read here), I have very recently started a new job; and, if you're following my erratic #fs6daily on Flickr and Instagram, you'll also know that I've even more recently moved to a new apartment.

Such changes all at one go, do not come easy.

Getting used to new colleagues, new workloads and new work ethics, new dress code ... getting used to (once again) fending for myself when it comes to cooking and carrying out the house chores ... well, it is not easy.

But that is the beauty of life, and it's a life I recommend to all: Don't be afraid of trying new experiences.  Don't get comfortable in your routine.  Challenge your own abilities and people's perceptions of yourself.  It is only through overcoming such challenges that you'll know - and let others know - your worth.

Oh, and smile all the way through it!

App of the month: Moldiv

Hands up those of you who are Instagram addicts? Come on, don't be shy.  I'm the first one to admit it - I was on tenterhooks until it had opened up for Android users during my pre-iPhone days ... I never looked back since my first insta pic way back in April 2012.

But let's face it, sometimes the 19 filters and frames are just not enough.  Sometimes you need that specific vintagey hue to make your skin-tone look more dreamy in your millionth selfie, or accentuate your mono-with-a pop-of-colour #ootd ... In walks Moldiv to save the day.

Moldiv lets you combine and edit multiple photos to make amazing collages. Moldiv has fantastic frames and lots of professional editing options. Especially Moldiv offers awesome photo effects and great decoration features like text captions and numerous stamps.

Make your stories in Moldiv and share them on your favorite social media networks including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. (Moldiv)

What I love about Moldiv is the fact you can create collages - even without following the set templates - as well as stitch photos together as you deem fit.  I love the flexibility of having a straight-edged, rounded or no frame at all.  There are of course also premium packages which you can upgrade to to give you added flexibility - but the starter pack - which comes FREE-HEEEE - gives you so much already that you're definitely going to get hooked.  I'm just showing you some basics in these screen-grabs but I encourage you to try it for yourselves.

 

For more information on Moldiv, click here.

N.B. This is not a paid or sponsored post and all opinions are my own thoughts. 

#ootd: I tried to look royal ...

As I mentioned in my last post, today marked the start of a new life.  Well, part of.  The other part - moving to my new flat - should hopefully come pretty soon.

Starting a new job is always a daunting experience, and first impressions are unfortunately the one to last.  And that first impression, mostly comes from what one is wearing.  So I looked to an always impeccably dressed, if unorthodox / unlikely fashion icon for inspiration: Queen Elizabeth II.  Yes, you read it right, the British Monarch herself!

You must admit that the Queen is always so well put together, and I do find her dress + dress-coat combination to be a quintessential effortless chic look, even if it is pretty much always the same, save for the colour (which is usually one from a spectrum of pastels ... she is the top lady in lavender after all!)

So I took a page out of her lookbook and wore my new H&M salmon single-button coat (shown here in black) which I got for Valentine's among other things and paired it with a navy Zara dress which I've had for quite some time and is more or less the same length of the coat.  Navy and salmon might not be an obvious combination, but I accessorised with my Sef Farrugia Delores scarf which has both colours in its pattern, as well as a touch of blood red which matched my new TopShop Kathleen patent pointed shoes.  The finishing touch came through my brand new navy Zara mini city bag which I feel has such a Jackie-O meets Queen E-II look.

The photos here, I must admit, are not of a quality fit for a Queen ... but what do you think of the look?

In Krakow, with love

As I write this, I am trying to come to terms with the fact that my holiday in Krakow is over.  As I mentioned in my last post, I headed off to Krakow once again to spend Valentine's Day next to my boyfriend who's still finishing his course there.  Long distance relationships can be hard, but when there is willingness and determination to make things work from both sides, there's nothing to worry about.

Anyway, the holiday also served another purpose: a week of clearing my mind and restoring myself before I embark on a new job opportunity and move to a new apartment, to living life on my own again, hopefully pretty soon. It's pretty much a case of 'it never rains but it pours' for me. But that is the beauty of this life - never a dull moment.

candy crush valentine

Here I am, blogging away, instead of packing for my all-important trip next week to spend Valentine's Day with my very own Valentine ... but it's all in good faith.  I'm virtually planning my wardrobe for my trip ... or rather, what I want to buy on my trip! 

This time round, I'm doing this through Grabble, a new online platform which allows you to find all your favourite stores in one place.  What's more, you can add garments you like directly from the online store of choice on to Grabble and you'll get notifications when there are offers on your items of choice! Another feature which I'm really loving on Grabble is the fact that you can add items to lists according to styles ... so you'll always have your hipster or girly chic mood-board at hand.  Smiles all around!

My current obsession at the moment is pastel colours, even though I'm not so sure I'd wear them well ... but with Valentine's round the corner, there's nothing better than these candy-coloured get-ups to get you in the mood for lurve.  Don't you agree?  Check out these girly and gorgeous items, all available from ASOS and click here for the full list.

Fashion Tag!

Right, so this is my first ever tag post ... and it had to be one about fashion so I'm more than happy to follow through with it! I got 'tagged' by Bonjour Chica ... you know, the girl who featured me in her Petite Fashionistas a la Mode series (you can read it here) ... so I couldn't just leave this tag unanswered, could I?!

So here goes ...

1. What is your favourite style to wear?

I would say it's preppy with a vintage, Parisian twist:  I like basics that can be mixed and matched into endless combinations, but I like them to have that hint of quirkiness or vintage appeal to make them unique.

2. Who is your fashion role model?

Without hesitation, I would definitely say Alexa Chung ... but given my height (or lack of it!) I look at Mira Duma and Kourtney Kardashian's style for inspiration most of the time.

3. What do you always have on?

A watch - time keeping is a pet obsession of mine.

4. What are your favourite jeans?

I'm not a fan of pants as I've said a number of times already, but if I really have to choose jeans, they have to be jeggings so as not to give me extra thickness on my belly area - I just hate the added inches zipper flies tend to give! 

5. Who influenced you to write about fashion?

I don't think there was one specific influence.  Fashion has always been in my system and writing about it just came as a second nature once I decided to sit down and start a blog. Originally, this blog was meant to journal my progress or otherwise in terms of dieting and look where I am now!

6. What is your favourite store?

Like you don't know!?! Zara of course, with ASOS as a very close second.  I'm on first name basis with most of the Zara store staff in Sliema ... and I'm probably infamous over at the ASOS HQ as well!

7. Who is your favourite fashion person on YouTube?

I'm not so huge on YouTube but again, if I really have to choose it'd have to be Michelle Phan.  I love her make-up and beauty tips and her personal story on how she grew into a YouTube star is inspirational.

8. What is your favourite fabric?

Anything stiff that once sewn and worn stays as intended and doesn't cling or sag in unwanted places.

9. Who is your favourite model?

Right now, I'm really liking Suki Waterhouse - her innocent Mod girl look really strikes me ... and when it comes to men, it's pretty obviously, the inked and bearded god himself, Ricki Hall.  We all love a bad boy at the end of the day.

10. If you had $5,000 (c. €3,700) to spend on any one item, what would it be?

It'd definitely be the Chanel 2.55 quilted flap bag.  Any spare change would go into the Chanel nesting doll bag / key charm.  

11. Heels or flats?

Despite being so short, I say flats all the way! There's nothing more unflattering than seeing a woman tottering about, trying to keep her balance or walking in baby steps on 6" heels.

12. What purse do you currently use?

I change my purse / bag practically every day, depending on my mood / outfit.  Right now it's mostly between a tan tote from Zara, a black satchel with maroon and forest green accents, also from Zara and a burgundy oversized clutch from ASOS.

13. What is your favourite fragrance?

Prada Candy, D&G No. 6 L'Imperatrice and Guerlain's La Petite Robe Noir are all favourites, especially for daytime.  Nigh time then sees me wearing something like Chanel No. 5 ... just like Marilyn.

14. From a fashion perspective, what’s your favourite film?

It'd be easy to say The Great Gatsby after last year's tumultuous success, but it's not.  I much prefer the inspiration I get from Frida, despite it being already about 10 years old as a film.  Wes Anderson films also tend to give me much fashion inspiration as well.  

15. Is fashion in your blood or your jeans?

I like to think of it as being in my blood.  My mu was a seamstress and my dad's an artist.  Fashion is a coming together of an artist's imagination and a seamstress or tailor's technical ability.  So yes, I like to believe that I have inherited these skills and turned them into a devotion for all things fashion!

Now it's your turn to answer these questions! I'm not going to tag anyone specifically so as not to leave anyone else out ... but if you're reading this, you're tagged! Send me your post once you write it - I'd love to find out more xx

Trend post: Clutch Bags

There are way too many times when my bag doubles up as Mary Poppins' holdall. Whatever you ask me for, the likelihood is that you find it in my bag. But both for reasons of health (I can't possibly keep carrying such weight on my shoulder / elbow on a daily basis) and to satisfy my voracious appetite to be on trend, I want to convert to clutch bags.

I don't think I'll go as far as opting for the micro clutches where I wouldn't even be able to fit my keys and mobiles (I hate the fact I have 2 but that's life at the moment!). Luckily there are some gorgeous oversized clutch bags which I believe can satisfy my fashion obsession and carry all my daily 'necessities' around, whether I'm heading to the office, market or to my favourite watering hole.

Clutch bags seem to have, for a time until recently, existed only in the realm of occasion-wear, to be taken out only for a wedding or a smart occasion when, really and truly, one wouldn't need to carry much stuff around with them in any case.  But nowadays, wearing a clutch with a pair of converse trainers for the morning errands is very much the thing to do, and I for one, am pretty keen on giving such look a go. Actually, and as is probably evident from these pins and my Pinterest board here, I quite love how such formerly more formal bags are paired with more laid back outfits.

Shop the trend with Shopcade: 

I feel I'm already on the right track on this: the last two purchases in this department, both courtesy of gift vouchers from people close to my heart, were in fact clutch bags.  It's a matter of actually using them now.  Maybe I'll give the smaller one from Parfois (similar to this, but plain) a test run this beautiful Sunday morning ... and try the other, larger one from Asos (which is this) for the office one of these days.  Have you ever worn a clutch bag to work? Let me know how practical or otherwise that was in the comments section below xx

Event post: Clare Azzopardi - Kulhadd halla isem warajh launch

There are so many stories to be told.  Some more moving than the others.  Some which make you laugh, others which make you cry. Just last night, I met two of my girl friends over some dinner and a glass of wine as we recounted personal anecdotes from the last weeks since we've met.  We told each other stories we were told by others, or that we read or heard about as we put on our coats to head over to Blitz to hear some more narratives. 

Last night Merlin Publishers (Malta) launched Clare Azzopardi's latest offering Kulħadd ħalla isem warajh at Blitz in Valletta.  Kulħadd ħalla isem warajh is a collection of 8 stories inspired by 8 women the author has come across at some point or other in her life.  Giving life and providing a teasing insight into the book, the haunting venue was set up in moody lighting, with a popcorn machine in one room, free-flowing wine in another, dresses hung as makeshift curtains, and if I'm not too mistaken, songs by female singers or with female names for song titles being played in the background.  It was difficult to hear exactly what was being played but it was not important.  Gathered there, were other local literary greats and upcoming authors whose lectures I've had the honour of attending, or whose books I've had the pleasure of reading.  Male actors read out snippets from three of the stories found in the collection, each giving a different life and interpretation to extracts from the same story.  I wish my grainy photos could give the event due justice, but I hope they whet your appetite for this book.  

I won't give you any spoilers, even because I'm only half way through the book myself, which I only started reading about an hour ago.  Sandra, Rita, Gracey, Roża, Lily, Margaret, Camilla and Polly are going to keep me company on this rainy afternoon. I feel I know them already.  I hope you get to know them too.  

Buy Kulħadd ħalla isem warajh here.