thanks halie!

i was just given a gorgeous award by the amazing halie from http://www.archivingfashion.wordpress.com/. thanks for passing it on to me, and congrats to you for receiving it in the first place!

as a result of receiving the award i have to bestow it upon 10 other very deserving fashionistas and list 10 interesting facts about myself. it's so funny, whenever i am asked to say something interesting about myself i forget everything about me that could be considered interesting. what's with that?




this award is seriously the most beautiful award i've seen! i love love love it.

i pass it on to:
coco at coco's tea party

anya c at couture millinery atelier

sxy fashion queen

kat at pencilfashion

carrie at couture carrie

juley at swank heights

red carpet fashion awards

olsens anonymous

the fat and skinny on fashion

charmaine li at goldieoldiecharms

10 facts about me

1. i love all genres of music except heavy metal and i really really love classical music. my favorite composer is bach and i think my favorite song is air. it's so transcendent!

2. i'm obsessed with youtube makeup gurus. they are all so talented and can all apply makeup so well. check out ones like panacea81 (she deserve all of her success!), xteener, itsjudytime, julieg713, and there are so many more...oh, and michellephan is good too! she started out on xanga as RiceBunny.

3. i've studied spanish, french, igbo and japanese but all i can speak is english.

4. my mom is model height but i'm short. and i always wish that i could miraculously grow taller, but i'm pretty sure my growth has stopped. however, i believe my little sisters are going to be super duper tall, so my plan is to become their modeling agents. ahahaha, :) i always joke around with them about that.

5. i'm really competitive. especially over games like jeopardy and random quiz games that you play at parties. i'm horrible at sports though.

6. i love dressing up and do believe that i have very good taste and put together smashing outfits, but i don't know if i'll be showing them on this blog like most other fashion bloggers do. that could change though?

7. i really like hilary duff's with love perfume. and i own it. smells lovely!

8. you guys all knows this, but i'm obsessed with robert pattinson! everytime i see him on a magazine cover i swoon. i just want to meet him once! can someone arrange that please?

9. i don't travel. my family never goes anywhere! i think that's why i'm always on the computer. i'm living vicariously through the awesome people who blog about their traveling adventures.

10. i love to dance, sing, and act (danced a lot in hs, mainly in performances but not on a dance team). i love all things art and music, but over artsy and over music-y kids annoy me to know end. i'm sure there is a way to love art and music without shoving it down people's throat all of the time. my annoyance with these kids mainly comes from going to a school where there was an abundance of these individuals.

i hope you enjoyed reading that? :)
thanks for all of the comments as usual! and i'm working on a what to wear post...it's been taking me a while because everytime i start working on it my computer spazzes, but hopefully i'll be done with it soon!


♥ me

Mademoiselle in Paris

Swedish models in Le Marais.

check out forever 21's limited edition line; cirque 21

hey babes!
thanks for all of the comments and support. it makes my day! before i start off with this entry, i just want to let you all know that i'm not being sponsored/paid by forever 21 to do this post. i am just like every other girl: in love with forever 21's affordability and great range of clothes! today they made their limited edition cirque 21 line available for purchase and i love the fun, zany feel of the clothes. you could use any of these pieces to make a really romantic, semi-victorian look, a harlequin inspired ensemble, or a fun and laid back indie outfit. you can really play around with these clothes because although they are very original and have a kind of one-of-a-kind feel to it, they are still very versatile and on trend. looking through the lookbook i am reminded of katy perry a little bit, not too much, but a bit.
♥ me

i am SOOOO in love with the ringmaster dress. this is so miu miu! don't tell me it isn't!

it can be purchased for $24.80 from forever21.com

description from f21: "Sateen style fabric with contrast color blocking. Features lots of gathers at the waist and a bubble hem underskirt which adds volume to the circle skirt. The waistband is extra wide and very shapely. The back bodice is decorated with six buttons and the side has an invisible zipper to let you in and out."

i just love voluminous skirts.

the miu miu striped dirndl dress
don't you just love it? i want it now more than ever!

this ruffled overdress ($29.80) is so cool. it's definitely not timeless..but i'm still drawn to it for some reason? the full skirt is amazing, and i just love the idea of wearing this with tights and ankle boots or with skinnies and my awesome grey knee boots. i'd look so good...;)

and it has a hood! and the ruffles are weather resistant. top that.

and i want the coat that the model is wearing in this picture but it is not available.

but when it is available...i'm getting it.

PETTICOAT POWER!

get the dotted mesh petticoat skirt for $22.80 and the...

ruffled tulle petticoat for the same price!

the texture of both skirts is divine and i love the dark seafoam greens and sage color in the second skirt.

i love the artwork on the jubilee girl tee ($10.80), and if you don't feel like going all out circus girl you can just get a t-shirt with a high fashion circus girl on it instead. for those who want to add pizazz to their wardrobe the yellow and black jester lace bubble dress is definitely for you, and it's $22.80. and the beautiful zig zag mesh skirt is only $19.80 and would look SO good with a white tee and a blazer. with this skirt you'll definitely be sashaying in style.

all of these pieces definitely have an autumn-y feel to it. i haven't even had much of a summer...because of blasted summer school. i'm not exactly trying to usher fall in because in chicago fall lasts for like...2 weeks and then winter comes in and freezes us to death, but these fall clothes sure do look fun.

tell me what you think!

Cool New Designer: Saloni Lodha

Hey all,
Sorry for the lack of posting. Please try to bear with me--i am always so busy with family stuff, school and life in general so it's hard to update regularly but i love this blog and my readers so i'm always coming back to update, even if it is a bit sporadic. ;) today's entry features the beautiful designs of saloni lodha, a new designer who adds indian flair to modern silhouettes (<-- i always have trouble spelling that word). I found out about her after reading up on what Emma Watson was wearing on pretty much my favorite site of all time, www.redcarpet-fashionawards.com If you check it out, make sure to say that Zoe sent you!
♥ me

Saloni Lodha according to Vogue UK

SALONI, meaning beautiful in ancient Sanskrit, is the eponymous line from Indian designer Saloni Lodha. Born and brought up in India, between Rajasthan and Mumbai, the designer studied graphic design, textiles and print in Mumbai before moving to Hong Kong in 2003 – where she quickly made a name for herself by holding trunk shows of her bespoke dresses - and then to London to hone her skills with a couture hand-sewing course at Central St. Martins.

Following a stint at Issa London, Saloni launched her own label at London Fashion Week spring/summer 2008, the dresses drawing from her Indian heritage but in keeping with modern shapes and styles, couture detailing and luxurious fabrics.

According to Saloni, the collection is: "Designed for a girl who can be adventurous and feminine at the same time, who can be playful in the way she dresses with an underlying quality of elegance and charm."

and girls...let me tell you, she's absolutely gorgeous!

AND, her designs are on sale at my-wardrobe.com! if you have money and good taste, pick up a saloni lodha design! here are some from the site:

Scarlett Tight Shift Dress 50% off (i would wear this in a heartbeat, go to the site to see the details of this beautiful piece)

Cora Strapless Dress 60% off

Black Faye Dress 50% off (i love the dangling gold embellishment on this!)

i hope you enjoyed this entry, and don't worry--more are soon to come. :)

Mademoiselle in St. Raphaël

Last day at the beach! Two lovely girls spotted in St. Raphaël.

The girl on the right has a bag from Mac Douglas, shirt from Bellerose, shoes from Ben Simon and Ray-Ban glasses.
On the left side, shirt from Ikks, shoes from Ben Simon and Ray-Ban glasses too!


Tomorrow I will go on vacations to Ukraine and I will be back to Paris in september.
During my holidays I will be showing some polaroids I did this month.
But I'm not sure if I should take the camera... who wants to see polaroids from Eastern Europe?

St. Tropez

I was in St. Tropez this weekend to attend a private party at Andrea's Villa.
It was the biggest and most bling-bling party I have ever seen in my life!

Wish list

This is the ultimate must have for Skull lovers! I saw this not so tiny, 4,5 tons, "decoration accessory" at Artcurial, in Paris. The skull was made by Philippe Pasqua and is for sale! If you have some free space in your living room and 160.000€ in your wallet you should run, this is the only piece created by the artist!

P.S. Sorry! I have forgotten to ask about the shipping fee!

Studio

Dasha Sushko is a gorgeous new face from Ukraine. She is in Paris for the first time and I had the privilege to photograph her today in my studio.
For this picture we used a tshirt from H&M.

willow and valentino

i'm loving these two expensive pieces for netaporter. perfect for now and for fall.
i can't believe fall catalogues and clothes are coming out already...but alas, we must be realistic, summer will be over soon. too bad my whole summer has been dominated by summer school! but it finishes next week. this weekend will include some pretty intense studying, but afterwards hopefully i can post more. i miss posting regularly! and i haven't been able to make the various outfit posts i love to put together...so hopefully i can get around to doing more of that too.
thanks for the comments as always!
♥ me

you can purchase this beautiful orange chiffon, central vertically pleated batwing sleeved blouse by willow for $375 at netaporter.com. i absolutely love the long batwing sleeves and the beautiful orange hue of the blouse, as well as it's slouchiness. the shape seems to work well on me. and i am absolutely swooning over the valentino diamente embellished peep-toe pumps. they can seriously dress up anything and are seriously worth it at $995 from netaporter.com.

Marilena

Here is a small preview of the pictures I did today with Marilena, a lovely model from Greece.

Mademoiselle in Paris

Les marins font la mode

I have been in Palais de Chaillot hundreds of times and never saw the "Musée national de la Marine"! I was walking today in Trocadéro and stumbled at the big billboard about the exposition "Les marins font la mode" and decided to check it.
I was really surprised with this museum! There's plenty of interesting things to see there! It's a shame that I had only 4 pictures left in my Polaroid...
The exposition explains how the Navy influenced fashion and culture.
If you are in Paris now, you should definitely go visit it! (The exposition will be over on the 26th july!!!)
It was really difficult to decide what to photograph for the blog... since there have been so many lovely navy dresses from Balenciaga, Yohji Yamamoto, Jean Paul Gaultier, Chanel, Christian Dior... my favorite was the white Haute Couture dress by Yves Saint Laurent from the S/S collection 1966.

P.S. Avoid photographing with flash in front of the security!

Guess what?

I did a tutorial! This has actually been sitting around for a few weeks (I think it was during one of my exam-procrastinating makeup-playing sessions), but I realised I never posted pictures and I absolutely loved this one. The second picture is not the best, but shows the glitter very well. I adore glitter, if you weren't aware.

Eyes:

MAC Dark Edge e/s

MAC Hot Contrast (Matte Black side) e/s

Kryolan Silver Aquacolour 

MAC Reflects Antique Gold Gitter

MAC Nylon e/s

MAC Smoulder Eye Kohl

Bourjois Volume Clubbing Mascara in Ultra Black

Face:

MAC Studio Sculpt Foundation

MAC Studio Finish Concealer

MAC Mineralise Skinfinish Natural

MAC Hipness Blush

Lips:

MAC Babysparks Dazzleglass

fall 2009 haute couture part III

thanks for the comments my lovelies!
♥ me

valentino

the color palette was made up of silver, black and nude. the show definitely got better as the show went on. the last few looks were spellbinding. the beautiful gleam of the beadwork, the mystery of the voluminous black skirts adorned with ruffle or tulle, and the fun use of feathers was great to behold. i enjoyed this valentino couture show much better than the spring 2009 one because this one doesn't feel too old-ladyish. heavy use of lace was used, and that was a bit boring; i'm so tired of the lace and nude combination, we've seen it everywhere. yeah, it's a nice combo, but i need a break from it. the first look on the left is a nice rendition of the black lace and nude look. i love the corseted bodice and ruffly skirt and the beautiful taupe satin shoes with ruffles at the back. the black LBD you see next is not just any LBD, it has HUGE black ruffles coming from the sleeves. i must see this on the red carpet. it is pretty much one of the coolest LBD's ever. i absolutely love the silvery confection worn by snejana onopka (third from left, i hope i spelled her name right). it looks fab with those shoe boots. my favorite piece from this show i think is the wonderful nude, slightly iridescent and crystal sprinkled gown to the far right. if that isn't red carpet/wedding/editorial worthy, i don't know what is.

jean paul gaultier

this show featured a lot of sharp shoulders and oodles of leather. the makeup was dark, sexy and fierce and a lot of inspiration was drawn from hollywood's femme fatale--with the first model (lara stone) walking out looking like bridget bardot. i really loved the scaled leggings that looked like they were made from two giant brown fish. that sounds weird, but they just looked so...haute ;). i love the fierceness and wearable avant garde looks that gaultier brings to the runway. the second look from the left is also in the group of one of the coolest LBDs in the world, with patent detail at the bust and chevron detailing down the skirt. and the look to the far right is very thierry muglerish. it is very current but the styling makes it look fit for an old hollywood film.

elie saab

the show was exquisitely beautiful and rapturously feminine as we have come to expect from elie saab shows, whether couture or ready to wear. every piece was white, and a lot of times it reminded me of the recent all white chanel show that featured white paper origami head pieces and divine dresses, tops and jackets with white folded flower appliques. despite the resemblance to the all white chanel show elie saab's fall 2009 haute couture presentation definitely had a different feel to it. elie saab makes clothes for the woman who looks beautiful and goddess like all of the time, the woman who smells and looks like the most precious flower and has (or appears to have) everything figured out. as already mentioned, all of the pieces were white and all of them were adorned with either tulle flower appliques, crystals or ostrich feathers (among other things). yes, the show strongly resembled the all white chanel tour de force, but i'm going to try and look past that and see the beauty of this collection, which (frankly) is undeniable.

i hope you've enjoyed this post, leave me comments on what you think about these collections!

Backstage Elie Saab

Michaela Kocianova (Elite) and Magdalena Frackowiak (Elite) posing at the backstage during the Elie Saab show as part of Paris Haute-Couture Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2009/10 on July 8, 2009 in Paris, France

fall 2009 haute couture part II

welcome to part II of my coverage of the fall 2009 haute couture collections! please leave comments- it means the world to me, your support keeps me going!
♥ me

alexis mabille

this collection was light, floaty, girly and full of lace and solitary black bows with long ribbons. in the beginning it really just reminded me of a ready to wear show. as the show went on it definitely had a more couture feel, and really it was the shoes that got me. i love the elgant tstrap and silky ribbon at the back of some of the shoes (example is snakeskin one to the far left, they were also shown in black). hey, you people at alexis mabille, send me over a pair in 9 or 8.5 US size! i definitely wasn't wowed or overly excited after seeing this collection (especially after seeing christian dior), but i loved the uber feminine feel, and the lingerie look of some of the pieces. all of the looks i chose to put in the collage i'd love to see on the red carpet, or on me ;). i think the third dress from the left is ingenious, and funkily beautiful. don't you?

givenchy

i liked this collection, it wasn't my favorite because it didn't seem groundbreaking. it featured a lot of the givenchy we already know. it showcased fierce shoe boots that stretched up the calf and had holes for each toe to stick out of, and of course a lace up detail. lots of black was featured in the beginning of the show, and that gave way to black looks with heavy gold jewelry, cream dresses with colored jewel embellishments, enrusted bustiers and then all white ensembles. the three dresses featured in the collage would be so great for red carpet! i absolutely loveeeeeeee the design of the cream dresses with jewel embellishment. i really love the cutaway trend in gowns right now. showing skin in unexpected places is so exciting. we all know showing cleavage is supposed to be sexy, but showing your waist, back and collar bones are just as sexy! the beautiful dip-dye dress is so classic and yet different...all i can say is that i like it.

christian lacroix

the whole fashion world knows that the lacroix house is in trouble. lacroix filed for bankruptcy and this collection was put together at the last minute. only 25 looks were shown, and all of them definitely didn't have the couture feel to it. i really miss the old fantastically flamboyant and crazily colorful lacroix. however, this couture collection did have some great pieces that i really hope gets lots of attention. they are classic pieces that one could wear for a long time but they all have their own original thumbprint. most of the pieces were black, but they weren't just black ensembles: they were black lacroix ensembles with amazing elegance as well as quirkiness. i know dita von teese or eva green would look so fab in the outfit on siri tollerod (second from left), and the dress third from left is amazing! i love tulle! if i had enough money to be ordering couture, i would order that dress pronto. i also think the dress would look great on keira knightley...

chanel

i absolutely loved this collection. classic chic and style at its best! lagerfeld, you are a true, true talent. reinventing the chanel look with every collection and yet keeping its true essence. towards the end of the collection there were some pieces that seemed out of place, dresses with sequins that outlined the shape of the breast and nipples and a red sequined dress with a grey smear across it, but pretty much all of the collections were absolutely exquisite. i loved the beloved chanel edwardrian ankle boots, the absolutely beautiful lace leggings, the lace lampshade hats, the styling, the makeup, the models...just...all of it! i loved it!

armani prive

this has got to be one of my favorite recent armani collections. i haven't really been loving armani, but this collection BLOWS ME AWAY. i wish i could make a collage with all of the looks in this collection, and i don't even think the four looks that i chose to show give you the full scope of the collection, but it does showcase some beautiful pieces that i wish i could wear. the color palette ranged from deep blue, to cerulean blue, to shimmering nudes, blacks and greys. of course there were heavily embellished numbers and i loved the cutaway halter design that armani chose to showcase in some looks in this couture collection. this collection is so me. i want to wear many of these pieces!

so far my favorite collections are dior, armani and chanel. but that's only so far, let's see what the rest of the week brings us!

Karl Lagerfeld

I spotted Karl Lagerfeld in the backstage of his show doing some pictures of the Grand Palais.

fall 2009 haute couture part I

i usually do entries in parts when it comes to fashion weeks, and there are usually more than one collection featured in each part...but i just couldn't resist posting the first haute couture collection that i was able to review! i am so in love with it, hopefully you like it too. and even if you don't, i'd love to hear your opinions. please rate/recommend/subscribe/comment!
♥ me

john galliano decided to show this collection at the christian dior headquarters in the avenue montaigne, the same way these collections were shown in the 1950s. of course i absolutely LOVED this collection! i am a bonafide dior girl. oh my gosh, the details were as exquisite as ever, the colors were as vibrant as possible and the styling was tasteful, smart and undeniably sexy. beautiful ballooning skirts with constructed draping paired with bras and delicate stockings or peplum belts paired with cinched jackets with beautiful portrait scoop necks made up this divine haute couture collection. i loved the shoes and the makeup: heavy pinup. and i am in absolute love with the last look. it is such a magnificent wedding dress! look at the beautiful blush nude bodice with a twist on the traditional sweetheart neckline. the tulle skirt is magnificent. i want to wear this dress so badly! and look at that beautiful and perfectly pink frock to the far left! the appliques are breathtaking, the skirt is so voluptuous...oh my, i don't even know what to type. and doesn't chanel iman (third from left) look absolutely perfect in her magenta and black get up? and i love her hat! all of the hats (most if not all of them feathered) in this collection really. these hats can totally make a look.and back to chanel iman's ensemble: i really love the sheer skirt look that is on so many runways. i wish i could wear it out and still feel decent! i hope all of the other haute couture shows are this exciting!

Nora Arnezeder

The french actress Nora Arnezeder at the Christian Dior Paris Fashion Week Haute Couture A/W 2009/10.

Backstage Alexis Mabille

Swedish models posing at the backstage during the Alexis Mabille show as part of Paris Haute-Couture Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2009/10 at L'Academie on July 6, 2009 in Paris, France

Les Bateaux Parisiens

Sunday afternoon in the River Seine with Marion
Roussignol from Just WM. The deck of the Parisian Bateaux was full of tourists but we had lots of space inside to photograph.

mark your calenders

hello sweet things!
mark your calenders for july 6th because that is when haute couture fall 2009 fashion week begins. do you remember my coverage of haute couture spring 2009 fashion week? if not, here is a link: http://fashionforwarddd.blogspot.com/2009/02/spring-2009-couture.html

if you like my entries don't hesitate to comment me, tell your friends, scream your love for my entries from rooftops...rofl, j/k. but i just want to say i love all of the people who take the time out of their day to look at my site, comment my entries or tell other people about them. it means a lot to me :)

<3 me

Jardin des Tuileries, Paris

I went this friday afternoon with Veronika Lysenko from JUST WM to photograph at the Big Wheel at the Jardin des Tuileries in Paris.

Oranges!

It has been insanely hot over here, recently! I went for a picnic and walk with my friends the other day, and it was the hottest day of the year so far (now beaten by yesterday!), and my face felt like it was melting, haha. As much as I love the sunshine and the heat - it's been a little bit too hot for a full face of makeup, recently. However, it has been good for one thing - a tan! I'm actually getting quite brown, which is lovely. As long as you're careful about using SPF, I don't see much problem with I don't know weather its the sunshine or the heat but I'm really into these bronzes and oranges, recently.

I dropped by MAC recently, to check out the Style Warriors collection - and whilst I wasn't that impressed with the collection in general (the packaging completely put me off!), I did spot this little gem; MAC's Loose Iridescent Powder in Golden Bronze. At £15.17, it's a good buy, as a pot will last you ages, if you're hygenic, because it's such a highly pigmented powder. As you'll be able to see from the following swatch, one little swipe gives off a high payoff - so I recommend using a big brush 

with a little bit of product, and blending it a lot! "Golden Bronze" - MAC
I recently invested in Off The Radar pigment, too, which is a beautiful, rich colour. A burnt orange with gold sparkles, I'm loving this brushed across the lid with a flick of a eyeliner. Unforunately, this was Limited Edition, so it's going to be hard to find. However, it's like a better pigmented version of one side of Nars Mediterranée eyeshadow. It's a very pretty colour, if you can get your hands on it. "Off The Radar" - MAC
For a more glittery bronzed look, there are loads of Mineralize Skinfinishes' out there by MAC with bronze finishes. One of my favourites is Warmed, which was released with the N Collection (and possibly repromoted?). A very pretty, warm bronze, with gold highlights. "Warmed" - MAC
If you want a more subtle cheek-colour, try out Luster blush by Nars, a very pretty, bronze-peach, which looks beautiful on the cheekbones. If bright orange isn't really your thing, you could try something like Galapagos eyeshadow, also by Nars. Similar to their 'Night' eyeshadows - full of specks of glitter - it looks pretty swept across the lid, close to the lashes.
"Luster" and "Galapagos"

Something else I've been favouring recently (especially for work - or popping out to see 

a friend), is a really simply wash of colour all over the lid, with either just mascara, or a plain flick of eyeliner. My favourite colour for this look is "Evening Aura" - but that was Limited Edition with Neo Sci-Fi, so a good alternative is a beautiful bronze-gold from Urban Decay - "Half Baked".

"Half Baked" - Urban Decay "Evening Aura" - MAC

I'm not really a fan of lip-colour, especially when it's hot (with lots of drinking, it just wears off anyway). If anything, I'd get a long-lasting lipstick or a sticky lipgloss that'll stay. One of my favourite is Stila's lipglaze in "Apricot". It's a perfect shade of glossy fleshtone-pink, and whilst yes, it is horrendous sticky, its a very pretty colour, enough to give a bit of colour without overpowering. The same goes for "Pleasureseeker", another colour from Neo Sci-Fi (but I'm sure there are a hundred dupes). If you're into nudes, which I sort of am, there's one you should definitely try - GOSH's "Darling", lipstick.

If you're feeling even more low-maintenance in the heat, you can try a completely plain face, with a shocking orange lipstick, such as "Electro", "Morange", or "Vegas Volt".

L-R: "Apricot - Stila, "Pleasureseeker" - MAC, "Darling" - GOSH, "Electro" - MAC.
All pictures are mine. Will show you some FOTD's when I'm feeling less sickly! Haha. Should be going into London next week, and I have a list of things I want to buy!