Roksandra Ilincic, if I asked nicely would you send me a dress?

Its not even September and I'm already dreaming about an advent season cocktail dress. Its not my fault I swear! I just keep seeing beautiful gowns and dresses!

If I had the funds, my 'go to' designer for a dress right now would be the amazingly talented Roksandra Ilincic. The season's fascination with block colouring and fantastic materials such as satin and silk are encapsulated within her designs especially her evening wear. Whilst there are many very reputable American designers I always get that little bit more excited when it is a European label that is doing so well; possibly because its a bit closer to home but also because European designs have a certain character that bodes well in the UK. Roksandra Ilincic is Serbian.

I'm not the only one that is noticing and loving her designs. The Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, has been photographed wearing Roksandra Ilincic. She looks absolutely stunning in that subtle shade of pale grey. Just yesterday I read that recently the Serbian designer has been collaborating with Debenhams and will be releasing a range with "Edition" at far more affordable prices than her main collection.

The Silk Scarf

Whilst I was in Beijing I had a bit of time to do some shopping. As you might gather the fakes market over there is huge! The handbags weren't bad, you could get a real leather well made fake Mulberry for around £50-70. I would avoid buying clothes in the market though, haggling them down to a reasonable price is just exhausting and often a lost cause when they've sewn in a fake 'Miu miu' or 'Chloé' into the collar.

Among the items that are worth buying in China are things like pearls (because they're cultivated so easily there and cultivated pearls are so so cheap) and silk. Once you know how to make sure you're actually buying the real McCoy you're off but beware as much of the silk on show outside the little stalls is polyester - learn to feel the difference before buying!

This just had to be said...

but who would do this to their baby?! 

I have to admit they did make me giggle...

A little natter about nothing in particular

The River Fowey

I have finally discovered that my post editor was on the wrong setting for the last couple of months! I can now post shiny new large photos and use page breaks like this one below...

Showstoppers.

I watched The Tourist a couple of nights ago. Great movie, perhaps somewhat predictable but the beautiful setting and brilliant acting saved it from descending quickly down the line of blockbusters churned out by Hollywood each year. I am mentioning this because during the whole movie I was taken aback by Angelina Jolie's stunning beauty. What I would give to have eyes as big as hers but in brutal honesty I think her make up artist must be amazingly talented! I've always considered smoky dark eyes to look a little too grunge for me to pull off (I like the natural look) but as Jolie shows us with a bit of talent and some decent make up smoky eyes can become showstoppers.

Powered by a little inspiration I found this video online which demostrates the make up in the Tourist. The transformation on the model is pretty surprising. Its not quite up there with the movie make up though!

Whilst we're on the subject of show stoppers I think these women below are some of the prettiest in show biz. Scarlett Johansson's lips look fantastic in bold colours. I have discovered that finding the right shade can be less than a doddle but once you've found it, you'll never be without it for nights out... I'm sttttiillll looking!


On occasions Kirsten Stewart's smoky dark eyes do make her appear to look too 'grunge' but I guess that's what she (or her stylist) goes for, however, the simple make up in this photograph below really shows off her more natural beauty.


Once again, Blake Lively is living proof that minimal eye make up and a bit of blusher is perfectly sufficient!


I remain a smidge jealous of this last one, Miss Watson; but as one of the highest paid actresses on the scene at the moment and only 21 years old she probably deserves a mention. I'm not fond of short hair to be honest with you but she does pull it off well. I still prefer the longer length.


I might just have to have a play with my old less minimal make up kit later on..

xoxo

A Small Space - Plenty of Potential

Now that I'm back once again in the UK I've been starting to think about moving into my new studio. I am quite excited about having a place of my own as its something I've always wanted to try. My new studio is a blank canvas so I relish the thought of creating and designing my own living space from scratch. I redecorated my room at home after leaving school 4 years ago and changed absolutely everything; wallpapering a wall, painting the others, re-carpeting, repainting the built in wardrobes and even changing the door knobs! Once everything was done I set about buying new furniture and textiles. I still love my room today, it still represents me and the memory of designing and creating it makes it all the more worth while. As of next week I almost get to do it all all over again!

One concern of mine has been relating to clutter. Obviously I will have limited space next year as my small patch incorporates bedroom, kitchen, bathroom and balcony into a relatively small area. Whilst I need to live in this space I want it to look fresh, homely and clean! My saviour in this so far lifelong battle against hoarding has been Ikea. They just know how important it is to have a clean and personal space to live and how difficult it can be if you don't have huge amounts of space. The video below is pretty cool. They create a walk in wardrobe as part of a normal sized bedroom!



In terms of my studio I have not been quite as extreme in the designing as Ikea has above. However, I have had some interesting ideas that both save space and will hopefully look good! When it is all done and I'm happily moved in I will take a couple of shots and post them. As a taster of my ideas - I have a bought a clothes rack similar to the photo below but in white with wooden hangers to organise and display my clothes for easy access in the mornings before uni.



The new academic year can not come fast enough!

yours truly, Damselfly

xoxo

Photos From The East (2)

As a second instalment of my posts following my trip to Beijing here are some photos form my trip to the Summer Palace. I think this is possibly my favourite area in Beijing, its even prettier than the Forbidden City and was only a couple of stops on the subway from our hotel. The Palace area is massive and you could spend over a day wandering around the paths in the forest and visiting the temples. It was a bit like a enchanted maze at times; that is until you hit the Kunming lake.

You can take paddle boats onto the lake which surrounds a mini island and provides a stunning view of the biggest building in the summer palace. Wiki tells me that the lake was man-made! The land was dug out and the excess soil was used to create the hill on which many of the temples are built. Once again many of the photos online are stunning but I'm going to show a couple of my own.




This is a photo taken on the edge of Kunming lake. Despite the heat unfortunately due to the heavy pollution in Beijing often the sky is this grey colour. On the couple of days the cloud had been blow aside the sky was a brilliant blue. You can see a couple of the paddle boats close to the horizon.




This man was a good laugh. His outfit was so eccentric we just had to ask if we could take a photo of him. I don't know if you can just see his feet but he was wearing wooden platforms! I have no idea how long it would take to grow a moustache that impressive! It reminds me a little of the Huns in Mulan :) Of course after we had a photo of him he wanted a photo of us too!



xoxo

Aldo's Collection A/W 11

I'm aware this is a little bit of an odd post for me. I like to post about everything and anything that takes my fancy but as much as I love buying new clothes and (above all) shoes I will never be an avid follower of fashion. I know what I like and I go with it. Aldo, however, remains a little exception to the rule. This little shop has a special place in my heart because the shoes are beautiful, not too excessively priced, and still remain the most comfortable shoes I will ever buy (bar Keds which are my ultimate casual footwear favourite). Aldo handbags are also beautiful and look so much more expensive than they really are!

I don't know if I'll ever get over my love for ankle boots. They're just the perfect length to make your legs look spindly slim and so easy to wear with everything. Currently I'm on the hunt for a replacement pair of black ones. I wore last year's pair so much that they started falling apart, my grandma decided to put them out of their misery and throw them out. I have to admit I was a little heartbroken. These Sandidge boots are pretty cool buuuut probably a little too high for that comfortable everyday swagger especially when I have to place Cornish hills into consideration!


I have a thing for red at the moment. Red handbags, red keds, red bikinis... so it is only right that I place a pair of red shoes on here also. I was torn between the patent red Capecoral and these Sorgatz.


Finally for good measure I have to include these beauties...


There are two types of bags I love to use, the shoulder bags and the fairly recently popular handheld style that looks a little more briefcase/'I'm-a-working-woman-who-balances-sexy-and-practical' look. The Klingner bag is a hybrid of the two annnnd its red!


As with ankle boots I have a guilty pleasure in faux fur...

Pursel


Opdyke

xoxo

Tinkering Away on those Blacks and Whites

During the summer I am trying my best to get back up to speed on my piano. I have learnt 'I Giorni'; a piece I posted for your listening pleasure back here and a little prelude I learnt years ago whilst I was doing grades. Today I have begun to teach myself Fur Elise as it appears to be a piece everybody who can play anything on the piano can play. Maybe sometime soon I'll be brave enough to start writing my own music again.

Whilst we're on a theme, when you next have time you should check this guy out. His name is Yiruma, hes from South Korea and he is pretty dapper when it comes to playing the keys and composing music. My current favourite is a piece named 'River Flows in You' but he has composed many many more pieces.



xoxo

Photos from the East (1)

Good news! I finally have a replacement charger for my little camera. Which meeaaanns I can show you some photographs of my trip to Beijing. Enclosed are some photos from our trip to the forbidden city which was home to the Emperor from the Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty. The Emperor and all his family used to live in the city which was very well protected and beautifully built. It stands at the very center of Beijing which now has many many more modern buildings.

You can 'google' images of some of the buildings and see it for yourself but I want to show you a couple of little things you're unlikely to find on any search engine.



The details and colours on the buildings are just fantastic.


A Chinese Dragon... I think it looks a little bit like a dog or a lion. I don't know whether it is playing with the baby or squishing it, I wish I'd had the sense to ask one of my friends out there..


According to tradition if two people approach this tree together their souls will be together for eternity, even in the afterlife. Quite a scary prospect!


I have no story to tell regarding this little statue but I do happen to think its rather pretty.

xoxo