Exclusive Saunt&Sinner Competition!

Christmas Competition:

Saunt&Sinner Hand Printed Scarf

If you're unaware of the luxury fashion brand Saunt&Sinner then you really must educate yourself a little. Some may think I'm being a little bias loving their products so much when they are in fact based in Glasgow - my home town - but I can assure you that it is their raw talent and absolutely gorgeous prints that had me at hello. That and the fact that they are passionate about keeping design, manufacturing and luxury in Scotland, when most new designers fly the nest overseas!

"Based in Glasgow, the creative heart of Scotland, the foundations for the luxury womenswear label Saunt & Sinner collections, are beautiful textures, unique prints and expressive pattern cutting.Proudly, each garment is designed and produced where possible in Scotland. Saunt & Sinner is a brand that is a must have in any wardrobe due to its uniqueness and the high standard of quality of product. Collections will be limited editions and create a feeling of individuality and exclusivity for the customer whilst including them and making them feel part of the luxury brand.When you own a piece by Saunt & Sinner, you own a piece of Saunt & Sinner"

S&S will be launching their AW'13 collection next March (an event which I am hoping to attend), and their gorgeous limited edition "Heather" scarf is currently selling for £180 at sauntandsinner.co.uk, so in the spirit of things, they are generously giving one of you lucky lot the chance to win a little Christmas present! I myself have this scarf and knew immediately that it would be something that my readers would love as well. 

Interested? All you have to do is follow a few simple steps
(all of which are mandatory) and the scarf could be yours!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Winner will be chosen using a generator such as Random.org*

The competition will run from Dec 4th to 24th and is open to everyone worldwide. Good luck and may the odds be ever in your favour!

**Update: The Winner is ... #17 Sarah Morbey! Congratulations! Your scarf should hopefully be with you shortly (give or take with the postal service over Christmas & New Year) :) xo

Shop The Edit: Christmas Party

Shop The Edit:

The Christmas Party Outfit

As promised, your Christmas partywear edit has arrived - and it only took around 15,000,000 hours. With so many retailers and amazing fashion out there at the minute, I had to narrow my store choices down a little: otherwise I could be here for days and you would be seeing this Christmas edit in 2013. With that in mind, I decided to hit ASOS first. With everything from high street to designer and clothes to beauty, I knew I could basically form an edit from their website, and that is exactly what I did - minus a pair of heels from Zara that I had taken a peep at yesterday and knew that I had to have in here. I've tried to take into consideration that some of us might perhaps decide that they want to go for separates (skirts or trousers) rather than a dress, so I've taken the liberty of adding those in for good measure as well. I've even added a little beauty and nail section which isn't something that you regularly see here at Vita di Moda, but you never know, if you like it I may just have to do it a little more often in 2013. 

P.S; if you like any of the items shown in the images, rather than put the links up like I normally do (there's A LOT of items in this edit) I've just linked each picture up to my Polyvore account where you will be able to see where each item is from and it's price!

Click to buy

Click to buy

Click to buy

Click to buy

Click to buy

Click to buy

Click to buy

Click to buy

Click to buy

Shop The Edit: Suited & Booted

SUITED & BOOTED.

First of all, let me offer you my utmost apologies for the lack of new content in EIGHT days! This last week until December 14th has been - and will continue to be - a little stressful and my focus will mainly be on my university modules, as my deadlines are in this time. In my Fashion Communication course, I don't have typical exams. Instead I have briefs and deadlines (which I prefer), but it still gets you a little stressed because it seems as though you have one million things to hand in at the one time. I've managed to get three of the four briefs finished and have another two weeks to focus on the last one, so thankfully that means I now have a little gap to write some new content for you all. I hope you can forgive me!

Is it just me, or have you brought those knee high boots out from the back of the cupboard too? The temperature has well and truly dropped in Newcastle (Glasgow too when I've been visiting for the weekend), so I have literally been living in my over-the-knee black suede boots for the last couple of weeks. I actually wore a pair of ballet flats today and wanted to shoot myself in the face after I took one step out the front door. My poor little tootsies. Anyway. Inspired by my moment of madness, I decided to do a little online window shopping to see if I could find a nice new boots, or pair of shoes that would bring me a little extra warmth this chilly festive season - and naturally I am now sharing my finds with you lovely people.

First of all, if you're reading this and thinking, "where are the party options Maria?!"  fear not! I will be doing a post dedicated to Christmas party attire, which will include everything from dresses to accessories and shoes, so remember to look out for that post if you're needing a little inspiration for your Christmas nights out this month. In the meantime, let's focus of the days in between!

I've tried to stick to boots which are of an attainable level (some readers may agree more than others. I'm a student for example), with some higher priced than others but mostly affordable and good quality. Boots are probably the only type of shoe that I would be prepared to pay slightly more for to ensure better quality, purely because I wear them during the colder months and want to make sure that they're going to last. With that in mind, here they are:

1. Gallivanting Slouch Black Suede - £95 @ Office

2. Long Leather With Metal Detail - £85 @ ASOS

3. Gardenia Suede Tassle - £220 @ ASOS

4. Marc Jacobs Patent PVC Quilted Boots - £162 @ Luisa Via Roma

5. Devils Point Wedge - £40 @ Office (£25 off! Also in black leather)

6. Delta Black Leather - £95 @ Office 

7. Studded Heel Ankle Boot - £60 @ Faith/ASOS

Will you be purchasing any of the boots shown? I can't decide which ones to go for...either the Gardenia suede tassle boots from ASOS, Delta metal tipped toe wedge (hott) or the Devils point wedge ankle boots from Office. Actually, can I just have them all?

Guest Post: Stylish Christmas Spirit

Guest Post:

Stylish Christmas Spirit

I don't know about you, but I am beyond excited for Christmas. I've been watching a Christmas movie every day and listening to Michael Buble's Christmas album on a loop whilst relaxing or doing my uni work. I just love getting into the spirit of things, so when the lovely Luke from The Jewel Hut presented this Christmas themed post to me last week, I just had to have it here for you guys. It's cheesy with themed hats and jumpers, but that's what the season is all about - so embrace it!

With Christmas shopping perched high on the list of purchase priorities, at this time of year it can be easy to forget to treat yourself to some swag. The winter wardrobe should already be in full swing (it’s freezing out there!), but your favourite high street stores and/or online retailers are also likely to be showcasing some festive garb and Christmas-themed accessory additions to really put a seasonal twist on your style. 

Everyone from Topshop to Urban Outfitters are on top of the trend for fun fairisle patterns, making a stylish Christmas jumper a more viable option than ever before. You can go all-out with comfy tops depicting reindeers and Christmas puds, or keep it a little more subtle (but still adamantly eye-catching) with a non-novelty snowflake motif you could get away with in January or Feb. Look out for similarly appealing options for the boyfriend or brother, too. 

Wrapping up warm is obviously a key thing to consider at this time of year, especially if you’re venturing out into the cold to stock up on goodies for friends and family. So, keep an eye out for scarves and gloves in the festive fairisle mode – the perfect final flourish when it comes to layering, and a sensible idea if you plan on treating yourself to a mulled wine or hot chocolate. 

You can imbue your look with further Christmas chic by looking out for very merry designs on everything from tote bags to tights. Have a little black dress marked out for Christmas Eve or this year’s work do? Pair it with some holiday-inspired jewellery designs; online retailers such as The Jewel Hut feature jewellery collections that celebrate Crimbo in stunning fashion – from stocking-shaped Pandora charms to snowflake pendants and embellished rings, there is something to suit and accompany every winter outfit. 

So, don’t forget to equip yourself with some fun Christmassy pieces while you’re busy buying gifts for everyone else. Whether or not you dig them out again next year, such selections are sure to add some vital Christmas spirit to your ensemble and you’ll still have plenty of cash leftover for buying presents. ‘Tis the season, after all!

*Written by Luke McNaney - A copywriter for The Jewel Hut

Location Styling: Graffiti Grunge

Location Styling:
Graffiti Grunge

I've decided to give you a little something out of the ordinary this morning on Vita di Moda: A sneak peak at my latest photography shoot for university! The brief was 'location styling' and I was given free reign on the location, style, model etc etc. In Newcastle, there is a gig venue called The Cluny. Now, the first time I was taken there (to taste the burgers - which are delicious by the way - not for music), we walked through this sort of, abandoned street in an old factory district. It has a little canal with old boats on one side, and a row of old, crumbling buildings covered in graffiti on the other. If I'm completely honest, you sort of get the feeling that you might get attacked walking down the road on your own, but it's just because of the sheer grit and grunge-y ambiance of the place. As soon as I was given the location styling brief in class, I immediately knew that I had to style the shoot around the graffiti and knew that my fiance Chris would fit in perfectly, seeing as his style is a little skater-boy-esque.

I got up at the crack of dawn this lovely Sunday morning, made breakfast and waited on the sun getting to the point in the sky where that orange haze started to appear. Once it did, we were off and had the shoot down in about 20 minutes. I was anticipating the shoot to last an hour or so as I'm not all that experienced with photography or shoots in general, but it was relatively easy to get some good shots that I was happy with and that looked great. I took around fifty or so shots, but just wanted to share a few of them with you here. Let me know what you think!

All photos are taken by myself with a FujiFilm FinePix S2980 and are copyright to Maria Litizia Kelly @ www.vitadimoda.com. If you would like to use any of these images, please drop me an email at maria.litizia@hotmail.co.uk

10th Tribe Exclusive Beanies

10th Tribe:
Exclusive Beanies You Can't Live Without

As you may remember, a few months ago I graced your eyes with a few promotional images and background info on the wonderful NYC brand: 10th Tribe. The brand is a particular favourite of mine and I have followed them from the very beginning, so when I received an email them the lovely Daniela of 10th Tribe letting me know about an exclusive sale for their amazing beanies happening on November 26th, I just had to post it on here to tell you all about it!

If you follow or are aware of the the likes of bloggers, Rony's Photobooth, I Hate Blonde and model Germaine DeNigris, or indeed live around the NYC area, you may have already seen a select few showing off their 10th Tribe beanies already. They're nothing less than hot if I'm honest, and are a perfect way to involve yourself in the tribe that everyone from America to Japan are dying to be a part of. The sale of said beanies is on November 26th from 2pm to 12am - that's only 10 hours - and the link for them will be displayed on 10th Tribe's Facebook page which you can find at the bottom of this post. Once the 10 hours are up, the beanies will be taken down, orders will no longer be taken and you will have lost your chance to own a 10th Tribe beanie forever. Don't let that happen!

The beanies have already caused a frenzy in New York with key celebrities, bloggers and close friends of 10th Tribe showing theirs off around the city, and more and more people have been begging for their own. Once this sale begins on Monday, 26th you can pretty much guarantee that orders are going to come in thick and fast, so make sure you're eagerly anticipating the link going live on Facebook at 2pm. This is an exclusive sale that you do not want to miss. 

So what are you waiting for? Get following 10th Tribe on their social media platforms and Vita di Moda as well, as I will be keeping you informed on the run up and just before the link goes live!

Contact:

Twitter: @10thTribe // @VitadiModa
Facebook: 10th Tribe // Vita di Moda

Website: 10th Tribe

Instagram: 10th Tribe // Vita di Moda

Guest Post: One For The Men

One For The Men:
Where to find the best suits in London

On the look out for that perfect Christmas suit for yourself or other half this season? If there was ever a time to dress to the nines and impress, it's Christmas: what with all those work or college parties coming up, never mind Christmas Eve/Day and Boxing day as well. So why not shop with the Gold card and hit the retail scene in London? You're bound to find yourself a bargain, which is always something us savvy shoppers like to see around this time of year!

Everybody knows about Savile Row, the centre of London’s men’s tailoring industry. Here you will find bespoke tailors who can craft you a one-of-a-kind, made to measure suit that will last you for years. The street is lined with famous brand names, and these shops spill out onto the surrounding streets: Mayfair is a veritable goldmine of tailors.

But there are other London hotspots for suits. Chancery Lane is a good place to start: rich with lawyers, bustling and busy, this area of London will also provide you with plenty of sartorial inspiration if you have time to sit and do some people watching. The City of London – or the Square Mile – also has its fair share of tailors, catering to the financial services workers who commute there every day. This area of London is steeped in tradition and home to lots of premium shopping brands, as well as historic pubs and restaurants.

Although these areas of London have a certain cachet when it comes to bespoke tailoring, remember that large department stores – such as those found on Oxford Street – can be just as good for getting you fitted with the right suit. You’ll also get the opportunity to browse a variety of brands rather than committing to one from the outset, and of course they offer great value for money. The assistants will be able to advise you on the process of getting a suit altered, so do ask for help.

If you really have your heart set on a Savile Row suit, there are canny ways to buy. Rather than visiting a bespoke tailor, opt for one of the larger chain stores on the street, which may have seasonal sales - a bit of planning can help you to come away with a serious bargain, particularly if you go on the first day of reductions. That way, you’ll also have some of your budget left over for ties and other accessories. 

Make your money go further when looking for a new suit by shopping with rewards cards from American Express UK. With an American Express rewards card, you can earn exclusive membership points on virtually every purchase you make, which can be redeemed for a host of fantastic rewards including flights, gifts, hotel stays and more.

*Sponsored Post*

Shop The Edit: I Beanie Want One

Abandon Ship Apparel:
I Beanie Want One

A.S.A Look Book

Thanks to my lovely friend Nicole (@CreativeYizzard on Twitter), I recently discovered the magnificently grungy and slightly gothic brand Abandon Ship Apparel, or A.S.A for short. At the minute they currently sell a range of Tshirts, vests, outerwear and accessories and I think it's safe to say that I want one of everything.

My favourite garments have to be the beanies though, as I'm starting to get more and more obsessed with hats now that the weather is getting a little chillier and these A.S.A beauties are so up my street, it's unreal. If you met me in person (not straight away, but once you start to get to know me), you'll realise that I have a tendancy to overuse the 'F' word. It's like word vomit - it just comes out and half the time I'm not even aware I've said it. Don't get me wrong, I don't use it inappropriately, it's only when I'm around my friends.

If I were to point out my favourites, I could easily say the "Fuck You Buddy", cross bobble (middle top) and "Heavy Fucking Metal" beanies. I love anything where profanity is used and is slightly dark in nature, so those fit the bill perfectly.

Like them as much as I do? Why not check out the A.S.A store and get them for yourself - they're only £14.99 each!

Photo Credit: A.S.A Womens Look Book via www.adbandonshipapparel.com 

5 Of The Best: Winter Coats

5 of The Best:

Winter Coats

When it comes to the colder months, my all time favourite shop-for item is a good winter coat. All year round you will probably find me in a blazer or leather jacket, but when the temperatures start to drop, the bad weather sets in (who am I kidding? it's bad weather all year round in the UK) and I start to feel a little frost bite on my extremities, that's when I know it's time to hit the high street and find that perfect coat that will see me through to Spring - or at least when the temperature starts to lift to a comfortable height.

So what do I look for in the perfect coat? Well, for starters it has to have a certain length so as to be worn with a variety of outfits: it can't be too long, other wise it'll just look a little silly when I wear my Adidas sneakers, but it can't be too short either, other wise it defeats it's purpose of being a winter coat - it's supposed to keep me warm! I usually find that anything around a mid thigh - above knee length will suffice. Second is the style. Obviously this changes slightly due to certain factors such as current trends, however anything double breasted with a collar high enough to stand up and keep the wind off my neck is definitely going to be a winner. I also like fitted coats, with a belted waist and deep front pockets (sewn in with a slight slant are my favourite - makes you appear slimmer I find. This is actually why I love my W116 by Walter Baker trench so much), so if I can find something like this, then I'm doing good on my quest.

I've not really done a great amount of research into a coat this year if I'm honest- other than my W116 by Walter Baker trench - however, ASOS never seem to let me down when it comes to Winter essentials, so naturally I checked there first. Right now they're doing a deal with 30% off jackets, jumpers and more AW'12 styles, plus if you're a student with either an NUS card or a UNiiDAYS account then you can get an extra 25% off on top of that: so if there was ever a time to buy that winter coat, it's now. I will be publishing another post with my top picks for winter knits later in the week, but until then I've chosen my top 5 picks from ASOS' coat selection (actually there's two from ShopBop thrown in because they caught my eye a couple of weeks ago), to hopefully inspire you when you decide on the one for you!

1. Joie Teyona Coat @ Shopbop - £212
2. Vince Shirttail Coat with Leather Sleeves @ Shopbop - £470.79
3. ASOS Biker Cocoon Coat @ ASOS - £70 with 30% off. RRP £100
4. ASOS Cape Coat @ ASOS - £70 with 30% off. RRP £100
5. ASOS Fit & Flare Belted Coat @ ASOS - £49

Which is your favourite?

Chopard: Disney Princess Haute Joaillerie

Chopard Haute Joaillerie:
Disney Princess Collection

I know what you're thinking, "what's the deal with this sudden obsession over Disney-inspired posts? What's this, the third one so far?" To be honest, I have no idea. It just seems that both retailers and myself can't quite get enough of Disney, Princesses or indeed fantasy itself this AW season. Whatever the reason, I'm not complaining, as anything Disney gets a thumbs up from me all year round!

If you haven't heard of the Swiss luxury jewellery brand Chopard before, you probably will on the run up to Christmas this year, as they will be showcasing their Haute Joaillerie collection inspired by Disney Princesses throughout the month of December in Harrods, to accompany their Disney Princess Christmas window displays. The ten piece collection will feature necklaces, rings, earrings and broaches inspired by the likes of Cinderella, Tiana, Mulan and Sleeping Beauty and are absolutely stunning. Each piece is vibrant with colour and sparkle and is the perfect accompaniment to both Christmas and Harrods Disney themed Christmas displays. I think I've managed to narrow it down to my top three pieces, but you can see them all by clicking here.

I think I'm drawn to Sleeping Beauty's earrings the most because of their bright colour (a contradiction for someone who prefers to wear head to toe black, eh?) and cute little bejeweled birds: it's just very sweet!

What are your thoughts on the collection? Do you have a favourite piece?

Photo Credit: www.vogue.co.uk

A Display Fit For A Princess: Part II

A Display Fit For A Princess:

Part II

If you're a regular here at Vita di Moda, you'll know that I recently made a little post regarding the concept behind Harrods Christmas window displays down in London this year. Well, Part II here is going to show you what said displays look like and just exactly what I think of the displays as a whole - which may surprise you, as my opinion certainly surprised me once I laid eyes on the displays. Take a little look at the displays first of all.

Snow White by Oscar de la Renta

Tiana by Ralph & Russo

Mulan by Missoni

Ariel by Marchesa

Jasmin by Escada

Belle by Valentino

Sleeping Beauty by Elie Saab

Rapunzel by Jenny Packham

Pocahontas by Roberto Cavalli

Cinderella by Versace

Now, originally once I had seen sketches and heard about the concept for the Christmas displays, my favourite was Elie Saab's creation for Sleeping Beauty, followed by Versace's Cinderella as a close second. However, after seeing the displays, I can't help but feel that the dresses themselves are a little underwhelming and lackluster and if it weren't for the lavish displays surrounding them, I doubt I would even take a second glance at them at all. Cinderella's dress for example looks slightly cheap with that hologram fabric, and I can't help but feel that Marchesa's Ariel inspired dress looks - dare I say it - boring. In the sketches for both, you get the illusion of expense, luxurious fabrics and exquisite detailing, but in the actual dresses you don't really see much of those things going on. It's a darn shame really, especially if you, like me have been anticipating the big reveal.

From what I can see on Elie Saab's Aurora, the dress is lovely - I just wish we could have seen a little more, especially when the original sketch shows the dress to have a rather large detailed skirt. Tiana's dress is stunning, as is Rapunzel's - these three are probably my favourites now that I've seen the actual dresses in their displays. 

Overall I can't help but feel a little disappointed with the fashion aspect of the window displays, however they are still magical and amazing to look at and I still do want to take a trip down to London nearer Christmas and take a look for myself in person. 

What do you think of the displays? Were you as disappointed as I was? Or am I just being over the top?

Photo Credit: www.vogue.co.uk