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

not just for dorothy

Possibly the most infamous red shoes in history, or at least fairy tale history, are those worn by Dorothy in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

Over the years, red shoes have somehow acquired an association with sex and sin, possibly because of the fact that red is generally considered a sensual colour, evocative of passion and seduction.  Certainly a far cry from the innocent, pig-tailed dorothy look.  Studies have also been carried out on the meaning of wearing red shoes: "Dr Elaine Webster, a Sociologist from Otago University, New Zealand has spent the past six months asking why women wear red shoes. And, she has concluded that young women wear them for excitement, and out of a desire to be noticed; whilst most men associate red shoes with sex and sin.  Dr Webster, whose long term interest is "dress and identity" conducted the research after being impressed with the way that women spoke about their red shoes." (source: wiki answers)

Another wearer of red shoes, whose garb, appearance and behaviour could very well be diametrically opposed to the sensual and seductive one in Webster's study, is the Pope - courtesy of a tradition which pre-dates the mid-1500s when the papal vestments were changed from top-to-toe red to white.  (source: Yahoo News)

Let's set aside all the psychology, history and tradition. Red shoes are just plain fun.  As are all coloured footwear for that matter.  We very easily tend to stick to black and tan for our footwear of choice, them being the conventional neutral colours which go with everything.  But slapping on a pair of coloured - why not, red - shoes, can quickly turn a plain outfit into a stunner.

Make the shoes the statement of the day.  Wear an all denim outfit and put on a pair of red loafers and block-coloured tote or clutch, preferably with a bit of red in it and you're ready for a day in the city.  Jazz up your LBD with a pair of red heels and a lick of red lipstick for that glamour Hollywood look.  Brighten up your beachwear with a pair of red canvas wedges and a patterned headscarf.

The most important thing is to have fun with your style.  With shoes, experimenting and 'daring' with colour can be much easier than wearing bold colours around the face area.  And if pillar box red is not your go-to colour, there are a myriad shades to choose from which would still make the desired impact. 

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