Don't Be A Drag, Just Wear McQueen

As you know, I'm a fan of all things dark and gothic - I mean, I think I'll only ever stop wearing black when they can make a darker colour - and when I think of these things I automatically think Alexander McQueen. Now, from time to time I like to imagine that I have a bank account with an endless sum of money and can buy whatever I like, so recently I felt the need to have one of these imaginary shopping trips over on the McQueen website. As you do.

1. Exaggerated Collar Leather Biker Jacket 2. Black Skull Charm Boots - (Ankle boot length available here) 3. Suede Sequin Skull Slippers 4. Gold Honeycomb Jacquard Jacket 5. Oversize Wayfarer Sunglasses 6. Gunmetal Aviator Sunglasses 7. Blush Medium Heroine 8. Black Skull Top Handle Bag 9. Dragonfly cap sleeve pencil dress

As soon as I saw those jackets, I fell in love. The leather biker is a classic piece that would get worn with pretty much every outfit I could ever think of putting together and never go out of style; whereas the honeycomb print jacket would help make any basic black pieces look planned and thought out - don't you just love effortless style?

In terms of accessories, I've been looking at nude pieces for Spring as they go with just about anything and that blush Heroin bag is stunning, so I knew I had to have it - in my imaginary shopping bag of course. Today wasn't anything to go by, but it's been pretty sunny recently here in the North East and I've had to remember where I stored those sunglasses before winter. I think it's safe to say that I'm definitely in need of a new pair, so I went for the good ole' aviator and slightly retro styles. Simple, stylish, they'll go with everything, sorted.

Nothing compares to a little retail therapy every now and then - even if it is just in the form of a wish list.

Accessorising SS'13

Accessorising SS'13;

CaseApp

If you're anything like me then your iPhone will literally never be more than a few feet away at all times. That's if you've somehow managed to surgically remove it from your hands of course - something that has only ever happened to me a few times since I first got it. It's my life line, what can I say. This, mixed in with the fact that I'm a fashion enthusiast means that I like to match my iPhone case to my outfits whenever possible and have it looking cool in its own right. I mean most people do, right?

That's where CaseApp comes in handy. They're a Swedish company with offices in both Sweden and the UK who specialise in custom iPhone 4/4S/5 cases. You simply pop over to their website, upload an image of your liking, choose a case colour (black, white or transparent to match your phone) and add some text if you want to fully customise it. You then add it to your basket, fill in your details and it'll get shipped out to you ASAP with free delivery. Couldn't be simpler if it tried. No matter what design you choose, the cases stay the same price at £19. It is a little pricier than some, I'll admit but cheaper companies on the market will only send you a sticker or 'wrap' with your design on it. You get what you pay for, that's all I'm saying!

I customised my own case recently and decided to go with an image of Arabella Drummond - an alternative model who you might recognise from various tattoo conventions, Front magazine or even a website called Suicide Girls (don't worry, this has nothing to do with dying or attempting to die). Being interested in tattoos and alternative ideals of beauty, I think it's safe to say that I definitely appreciate Arabella and her style, so that's what I chose to have on my case!

What's great about custom cases and CaseApp is that it allows you to have a little creative freedom and ability to express your personality. You could design your own cover, scan it into your laptop/pc and upload that image when creating your case. No one will have that design and it'll be totally unique - something every fashionista likes to be. So why not head over to the website (here) and get accessorising!

Guest Post: Spring Is Coming

Guest Post;

Spring is coming

It’s that time of year again, when the nights are getting lighter and the weather is getting brighter, and everyone is in a cheerful mood because it is nearly spring.

I love this time as it means we can bring out all of those gorgeous bright colours that we couldn’t wear in the winter, and buy ballerina pumps without the fear of going out for a walk and getting them ruined by the unexpected snow. 

Just a little bit of sunshine 

This may look slightly optimistic, but considering the gorgeous bright sunshine we have had for the past few days it seems only appropriate to begin to plan our spring /summer wardrobe; and what better way to begin than to invest in a pair of fabulous shorts and a cute T-shirt.
I love wearing neutral colours as they can be worn with absolutely everything, however despite these fabulous shorts looking great with a simple top, they would also work with a bright coloured crop top, a statement bag and a pair of cute sandals. It’s easy to get stuck wearing dark colours considering the winters that we have in the UK, however use your creativity and imagination, and I can assure you that you will feel and look great straying away from the standard black.

Night out in spring 

I know it is nearly spring, and we want to invest in bright colours and floral patterns, but don’t forget those trusted skinny jeans. When our spring evenings aren’t as warm was we expected, these are great to wear with a bright coloured top for an evening out.
Team your skinnies and a cute shirt with a pair of court shoes and a oversized handbag for that smart/chic look. If you love colour why not swop the black jeans for a pair of red jeans and change that red blouse for the black alternative. You will find that adding a splash of colour makes a big difference your outfit.

  



I should own a yacht in this outfit 

What better way to feel like summer than to dress ourselves in this gorgeous sailor attire. White and blue stripes are amazing colours to wear when wanting to feel and look summery, and luckily for us ladies, bold stripes are very in this season.
Opt for a pair of bright blue skinnies and a casual white blouse for that stylish look. You can wear this outfit for a stroll around the shops or for a lunch with the family.
It can be tricky deciding what colour shoes to wear with white and blue, however I feel that going neutral is the better alternative to wearing black or bright white. These will match with the outfit; however not look too over the top considering you have a striped bag and bright jeans.

It is never too early to begin to plan your seasonal wardrobe, so invest in those gorgeous outfits now, so when the sunshine does come, you will be ready with your perfect outfit choices.

For products shown in this feature and more gorgeous clothes and shoes visit www.houseoffraser.co.uk

Heir of Royalty

MFW AW'13;

Dolce & Gabbana

If the D&G AW'13 show was one thing, it was elaborate. There was an heir of royalty (see what I did there?) amidst the models with their gold crowns, jewels, cross necklaces/earrings and religious mosaic print garments. Even backstage before the show, the D&G army were dressed in slick, liquid black dressing gowns complete with 'DG' gold embroidery across the chest. I really want to own one of those now that I've seen them. It was luxurious, bold and everything you expect to see from the Italian design duo at Milan Fashion Week.

Maybe I'm being a little bias, but I absolutely adore MFW and think that it possibly tops the other capitals during Fashion Month every season; the collections are just so bold, yet don't run the risk of looking cheap or tacky as can be the case at some London shows. Let's face it, London likes to push boundaries and sometimes this just comes across less than appealing. Taste is something which is definitely always present in Milan though and I think that the D&G show showed this quality off to a T.

Just like Versace's AW'13-14 show however, I found that I was attracted to the little details and accessories just as much as the collection itself. Well, I mean with gold crowns how could I not be? It's not something that I would march down the high street wearing, but I'd definitely wear one around the flat - It would certainly make washing dirty dishes a lot more fun anyway. Every girl wanted to be a Princess or Queen for the day at some stage in her life and now she can be.  

I loved the gold courts and miniature hand bags the most - after the crowns of course - but although those floral caged wedges are undoubtedly a pretty cool concept, I just can't bring myself to like them. It's sort of like the Prada geisha platform shoe from SS'13 all over again for me. Hated those unfortunately. The velvet court shoes with floral caged heel I can deal with more though. I think it's just a case of 'less is more' with that design.

Overall it was a great collection, with an end series of ruby red looks that were seriously stunning as the models took their final walk down the runway. There has just always been something about that colour that screams Italian luxury to me. What did you think of the collection?

  Photo Credit: www.vogue.co.uk - edited using Polyvore

Tattoo Acceptance In Fashion

Gaining Acceptance:

Tattoos in The Fashion Industry

If you're a regular here at Vita di Moda, then you'll be well aware that I have a very high appreciation for tattoo's and those heavily covered in them. I myself have a half sleeve at the moment (soon to be a full sleeve) and various others on my body, so to have people approach me and tell me that I'm crazy or worse, tell me that my existing and future tattoo's are going to "ruin my looks" just pisses me off to be frank. 

I'm well aware of tattoos having an association with inmates, thugs, chavs and generally anything with a bad reputation, but are people forgetting that we're now in 2013 - a time where almost every second person you meet has at least one tattoo? Doctors, soldiers and even lawyers have full body suits under their uniforms, yet if you saw them during their personal time off, they would be getting looks thrown at them from all angles. It's ridiculous and I'm fed up with the stereotype that people attach to you as soon as they see that you have ink on your skin. I don't know how many times I've gotten on the train to go home to Glasgow, taken my jacket off and had people stare at my arm with a look of absolute disgust on their face. (I travel first class, so the people I'm talking about are men and women who travel with their LV handbags and wear sunglasses indoors. Whilst it's snowing outside.) Hello! Do you not realise that your staring is more offensive than whatever ink I have on my body? That reminds me actually. I had my blood pressure checked just last week at the doctors and the nurse physically turned her nose up when she saw my half sleeve. I nearly fell off the chair I was that taken aback. Having art on your body is not something to be ashamed of and it should definitely, 100,000,000% not be something that stops you from getting employment in the area of your choosing. I say this because whenever someone see's my tattoos, their first question is "how are you going to get your dream job now?". My answer to them? The same way everyone else does it - by working my ass off and proving that I can do it better than anyone else. I have ink on my skin, it does not make me a bad person and it certainly does not mean that I am incapable of getting the job done. If a company chooses someone else over me just because they have clear skin, then so be it. That's their loss.

My point is, tattoos - and those covered in them - should be accepted without having preconceived opinions present. This thought led me to start searching for heavily tattooed individuals in the fashion industry and what I found was that the rather wonderful Vivienne Westwood is already a fan of male models covered head to toe in ink. I knew there was a deeper reason for loving her.

The images above are from both her SS'11 & 12 menswear shows at London Fashion Week. When I look at these images, all I think is "well these lads know who they are and what they want from life" - and that they're insanely hot, but that's besides the point. To get tattoo's like these, you need confidence and bags of self assurance - these are qualities that, in my books, put you higher than those without. I think this looks good and that more models and people within the fashion industry should look like this. Women especially. Think of a full sleeve, neck or chest piece as an accessory if you want, that's what I do!

What do you think about tattoos in the workplace these days? Do you think they should be covered up, or that people should be allowed to express themselves without being judged and singled out?

MFW: Versace Does 'Vunk'

MFW;

Versace AW'13 Collection

Is it just me that thinks this, or was Donatella feeling a little bit frisky when she came up with the Versace AW'13 collection? Don't get me wrong, I can't seem to get enough of the collection - those spiked cuff's/neck pieces and studded ankle boots are right up there on my wish list - but sex was definitely in the air at this particular MFW show!

Ladies and gentlemen, meet 'Vunk' - Versace's take on the punk trend. Definitely a little dominatrix meets punk, but I just can't get enough of it. It's not a collection to be taken on by those who aren't 200% sure of their identity and 1,000,000% confident enough to pull it off with some luster. I mean, the colour palette and fabrics (vinyl/latex/rubber/whatever that is, fur, silk and just about anything sheer) alone are enough to scare off most women. Versace have never been a label who stay within the limits though, so why should this season be any different? I actually can't help but think that those covered head to toe in tattoos would look great in this collection. I mean, there's just enough exposed panels in the clothes to show off that artwork and you're going to have bags of confidence to get so many tattoos, so why not!

Although the collection is undoubtedly jaw-dropping, it's the details and accessories that sold it for me. Just take a look at that spiked cuff and neck piece and you'll see what I'm talking about. Rivets, nails, studs, spikes, anything that's going to cause an injury and invoke a feeling of fear is present. One thing that's for sure is that no man is going to look at a woman dressed in Versace and underestimate her. Oh how I love when the ball is in the female court!

Photo Credit: www.vogue.co.uk - edited on Polyvore

Inspiring Thrift Shop Living

Macklemore & Lewis:

"Thrift Shop" Living

Here's something we haven't had in a while at Vita di Moda - a little guest post!

I don't know about you, but this Macklemore song has been stuck in my head for a solid week due to being played on a loop constantly, so when I saw this article inspired by the song I knew I wanted to post it. I really believe in thrift stores - a lot of my favourite pieces have come from second hand shops - so this article gets two thumbs up from me. I hope you guys enjoy it as much as I do.

At midnight on New Year’s Eve, there was one song that climbed to Spotify’s number two most-played slot — Macklemore and Ryan Lewis’ “Thrift Shop.” It’s a testament to the rap duo’s growing popularity that their song has climbed up to number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the number two spot on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. This success comes through a strong social media strategy, clever branding, an aggressive tour schedule, and word-of-mouth, as Macklemore and Lewis released their debut album “The Heist” without help from a major record label.

Brand Clothing is Not Cool

“Thrift Shop” slyly skewers mainstream culture and even includes a not-so-subtle jab at R. Kelly’s sex tape scandal (“Probably shoulda washed this, smells like R. Kelly’s sheets.”). The irreverent take on thrift store living and embracing secondhand style was inspired by the artists’ dismay about commercial trends. In an extensive interview with Esquire, Macklemore talked candidly about his awareness of celebrity branding and marketing campaigns. Macklemore said, “I see brands being cool because of their name and because of who wears the brands ... the one thing I will never do is buy a shirt because of its name.”

Second-Hand Clothing

Not so many years ago, most consumers wouldn’t dream of shopping at thrift stores to expand their wardrobes. With the financial crisis, dismal unemployment numbers, and increased cost of living, many people turned to secondhand stores out of necessity. Now, they’re finding shopping at thrift stores can be as fun as it is frugal.
Macklemore and Lewis’ hit celebrates the thrill that comes with scoring a great shirt or pair of shoes for only a couple of dollars. The song glorifies unique finds (“gator shoes,” “brown leather jacket,” “flannel zebra jammies”) and rips into people who pay big money for a brand-name t-shirt. In many ways, it is the opposite of most rap songs that glorify money, brands, celebrity lifestyle, and flaunting excessive wealth. For Macklemore and Lewis, this was an intentional way to make their listeners think about looking amazing while spending as little as possible.

Go to Every Section

Take some tips from Macklemore’s Esquire interview: “It’s about searching for whatever comes up ... check out the women’s section, the home section, the hat section.” For these rappers, it’s all about the thrill of the hunt. Keep your mind option to possibilities and only buy pieces you’re sure you’ll use. This approach will keep your pocketbook full and your wardrobe fresh. It’s also important to look for the unexpected — crazy prints, unique shoes, unconventional silhouettes. Pairing your thrift store finds with some pieces from a department store creates a personal style that’s all your own.

Be Frugal in Everything

The thrifty lifestyle glorified in the song is about more than just finding a killer outfit. Think about other ways you can save money and live thriftily, in keeping with the song’s principles. Most people seek out brand names everywhere from the department store to the grocery store. Start cutting coupons and buying off-brand food items to save yourself a bundle of money. If you need a car, consider a used vehicle and take just a few minutes to get quotes for used cars online. Or stop eating out a few nights a week and work on cooking yourself meals at home.
Many of us crave a champagne lifestyle on a Pabst Blue Ribbon budget, but Macklemore and Lewis’ “Thrift Store” is a great reminder of what’s important. Leaving the brand names behind and scouring your local thrift store for some amazing finds can liberate you from society’s incessant focus on consumerism.

Written by Marianne Posner

LFW Front Row Fashion: Tailoring

LFW:

Front Row Fashion

I don't know about you, but this fashion month I haven't really been all that interested in following the shows as religiously as I have been past seasons. Maybe I have my mind stuck elsewhere, but there seems to only be a few shows or events happening this month that have been the least bit impressionable on me. Don't get me wrong, I probably will do a few posts here and there about the various fashion week shows thus far, but right now I felt the need to show you what those on the front row have been wearing. In particular, looks from those attending the Burberry Prorsum AW'13 show. 

Sitting on the sofa, MTV on the telle box and I'm watching their little news recap thing that they do; up pops Rita Ora giving a brief interview before she goes into the Burberry show and I'm like "Hold up. What is she wearing?". Turns out that she was supposed to be wearing a dress, but Rita decided that she preferred the Burberry SS'13 mens suit instead and stole it from her stylist. Paired with a 'Queen Delevinge' white tee, some white peep-toe wedge heels and retro 90's oval shades, she actually looked amazing. I don't normally take notice of celebrity style, but I had to admit that what she had on was inspiring me to some degree.

Turns out that Rita wasn't the only front row celebrity making an appearance in some Burberry tailoring though; Victorias Secret model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley also showed up to the show in a scarlet slim leg suit, paired with a simple black top and heeled sandal shoe. I can't decide whose look I preferred more, but there's no denying that both looked amazing in their own way. 

It has definitely got me considering some tailoring - menswear actually - in my own wardrobe, but what about you? Do you prefer Rita's take on menswear, or Rosie's lady like version best?

Tasty Threads

Tasty Threads:

Shelfies Outrageous Sweaters

Ever thought to yourself, 'Hmm I could really go something sweet right now. But oh no, shit, I'm on a diet...' - yeah, me too. January/February tends to have that effect on us all and it can be a complete test on the strength of your willpower and just how badly you want to fit into those size X jeans or tiny bikini come Summer. 

That's where a little brand called Shelfies and their self-named 'outrageous' sweaters comes into play. 

Instagram really is where I seem to be focusing the majority of my social media presence on these days and this is exactly where I came across this brand. 10k followers alone on Instagram and countless more on their other social media channels, this fresh faced brand have picked up a pretty good fan base for only just establishing themselves in 2013. Just look at their current designs and it's easy to see why. People like to be different and nothing quite says 'look at me' than a sweater with some weed printed all over it.

I naturally gravitated towards the top left sweater covered in gummy worms - different for me considering black makes up around 99.9% of my wardrobe, but I do have a sweet tooth so what can I say. The sweaters are brilliant from what I can see so far and with more designs in the pipe line, I'm pretty sure that this relatively new brand will have a name for themselves without a doubt by the end of the year. Just watch the street style scene. How fun would it be to have a collaboration with a brand like this? Pretty awesome if you ask me - the design opportunities would be endless!

Oh, the price. Retailing for $69.99, these sweaters are more of an investment piece if you're a student like myself, but oh so worth it. Satisfy your unhealthy cravings with some fashion and save your waist line; you'll thank me for it in the long run!

Fancy giving into temptation? Just click here and shop till you hearts content...

Photo Credit: Images via Shelfies website & collated at Polyvore.com.

Inked & Addicted

Forevermore Tattoo:

Glasgow

So I'm in bed with the tv on, bedside lamp on setting a nice warm glow against the snow covering everything within an inch of its life outside and I think to myself, "This actually couldn't get any comfier if it tried.". Then I mindlessly roll onto my side and am struck with a burning pain down my left arm - I was that comfortable I forgot all about my tattoo. Shit. As if the yellow and purple bruising wasn't enough, it had to have a burning sensation whenever it was touched, didn't it?

If any of you are regular followers on my Twitter or Instagram accounts, you'll be well aware that I started work on my sleeve just shortly into the New Year, and have since then had a second sitting (Friday 18th) to finish some shading. I already had five tattoos up until this point which I got done by a family friend in Italia, but since then have dreamt about starting work on a full sleeve design. You could say that I thought about others opinions far too much in the past and hence let that influence my decision, but when 2013 came around, I just thought 'f*** it' and booked a consultation at a tattoo studio in Glasgow called Forevermore Tattoo. You might have heard of them if you're from Glasgow or London, as they have studios in each of these cities, but if not then you do now. Each artist who works for Forevermore either as a permanent artist or guest, have skills that are nothing short of insane. I've seen people with tattoos done by them and knew immediately that I had to get them to do my sleeve. 

For the design I wanted - a Mexican Day of The Dead theme - I chose Alison, purely because she liked to tattoo things that are a little more...'weird and wonderful' if you will. I gave her an image that I liked and she completely made it 100% custom for me, so that I would be guaranteed a design that no one else would have. To get to the stage the sleeve is at now I've had two sittings, each lasting three hours. To be honest, after getting a tattoo on my ribs a couple of years ago, I didn't think my arm would be all that bad but boy was I wrong. Especially after the second sitting, I don't think I've ever felt pain quite like it before - whoever says tattoos don't hurt are either lying or have something wrong with them! I still have one more sitting to finish this first part of the sleeve, then I'm going to start on the bottom half. I honestly can't wait to see the bottom half all done: I think that might be my favourite part.

Seeing as I'm getting my sleeve extended to about 2 inches from my wrist (I have 'Maria' tattoo'd there and would like the design to end just where that is), I've got some other ideas about what I would like on the underside of my arm and forearm. Sugar skulls are obviously a key part in any Day of The Dead theme; however rather than having a typical human skull, I'm opting for the skull of a stag/deer with typical sugar skull decoration and more roses to act as a joining feature. If you're at all into symbolism like I am, then stags are known for very positive things such as happiness and luck, so I thought it would make for a good tattoo. As for the underarm, I'm having another portrait done - this will be the last part of the sleeve to get done however as I know I'm going to end up passing out or dying. Whichever comes first. That area is insanely sensitive and where I seem to be bruising the most, so I'm not looking forward to it if I'm being entirely truthful. I've asked Alison to think of any other little features that she might think would look good in the sleeve, so we'll see what she comes up with. I trust her judgement 100%, so I'm not worried!

If hearing me talking about the pain of a tattoo hasn't quite put you off, then you should definitely check out FMT's website and their artist gallery to see some of the work they produce. I have quite a few other tattoo ideas that I'd like to get and I'm pretty sure I'll end up going back there to get some of them done.

Tattoos are something that I have always been interested in and are now becoming more of me as a person. So with that in mind, you can bet that they'll be featuring here at Vita di Moda alot more now that I've got the confidence in myself to go out and get the kinds of tattoos that I really want. 

H&M May Have A Fresh Face

Beyonce For H&M?

Bey & Blue Ivy during a shoot in the Bahamas

Not so long ago, fresh faced Lana Del Rey was singing her heart out for H&M in her latest campaign, but now rumours have emerged that there's a new face in town and it belongs to none other than the queen of R&B and pop: Beyonce Knowles. As you might already know, this all came about when one of Bey's dancers tweeted "First day of trial in the Bahamas! H&M all set … go" - the tweet was taken down almost instantaneously of course, but once it's out there, it can't be taken back. Not really anyway. 

If I'm honest, I never really got on the whole hype ride with Lana Del Rey last year but Beyonce on the other hand is hard to ignore. She's got the body, the career, the lifestyle and the family to match, I just hope for both Beyonce's sake and everyone else's that H&M start to make their clothes to real sizes and put a little room in their patterns for those of us who actually have curves. I mean, what girl likes being a size 8/10 in one store, to then being a size 20 in H&M? - exaggerated of course, but you catch my drift.

What do you think of these rumours? Would you like to see Beyonce as the new face of H&M?

Photo Credit: fabsugar.com