Hermes for Heaven

There isn't a girl out there who wouldn't appreciate owning a Birkin bag, by the ultimate luxury brand - Hermès. It was long back in 1984, that Jean-Louis Dumas created one for the actress Jane Birkin, after Birkin explained to Dumas how difficult it was to find a functional weekend bag that she liked.
Soon after that, the bag became the iconic symbol of wealth and luxury, due to it's high price and elusiveness to the public.
It costs a lot more than the bags offered by other luxury brands, the 'cheapest' ones starting from £6000 and going all the way up, depending on colour, hardware and skin. You cannot mistake a Birkin, for it's luxury at it's best.
Bringing one of those lovelies to adorn your arm is not as easy as it might seem. It's not just about the zeros in the cheque, but what really makes the decision of whether you can get a Birkin bag when you want it, is one simple question, "What's your social standing?"
No, don't take me too literally on that, they don't ask you that to your face, but you can skip the wait list if your face is a largely recognised one! Does that mean someone who loves luxury but isn't a VIP cannot manage to get their hands on a Birkin? It's not that, but you might be looking at shelling some more money in order to buy it from a 'mediator'.
Personally, I feel there is nothing like a vintage Birkin bag. Have a look at some little pieces of luxury I spotted on the internet :

Hermes Orange Togo 40cm Birkin Bag - $17,950

Hermes 35cm Birkin bag - the discontinued Ostritch leather - $23,000

Iconic Birkin - via Bringing Home The Birkin

Hermes Ardennes Birkin 40cm - $11,000

My personal fav - a 90s Hermes Kelly bag - $3,258 via Etsy

While Birkin bags are the ultimate icon of luxury and style, what I love most about them is the shape and the fact that they have such space for functionality. I love the skins that Hermes uses for their accessories, and they are not a few notches higher than the others of the luxury sector without a reason. 
Everything said and done, if the Hermes version isn't available or accessible, why should that stop you from making a style statement of your own?
Lady Gaga buys the real deal and Gaga-ises it. She had artist Terence Koh write all over her white Hermes Birkin bag in Japanese with a Sharpie, and personalised a black Birkin bag with studs to what looks like, these, precisely :

With her hundreds of studs, and sharpie writings, it might cause a lot of pain to Hermes lovers, but that is how Gaga floats her boat. I love it, coz I have always loved crazy!

I personally love the Leah & Bliss classic Glamazon bags. But then again, I like everything that stands out, is encrusted or not widely acceptable.
Here's the Glamazon I am talking about :

Leah & Bliss Large 35cm Classic Glamazon Bag - SOLD OUT at a few humble hundred dollars

Being a student, I doubt if I would ever want to splurge on a Birkin bag myself! It doesn't make sense to be carrying a Birkin and taking the underground to college, does it?
Plus, I feel it's not so age appropriate for me, so I shall leave it to the uber-chic working women to prance around carrying these slices of heaven, while I make do with my lovely new Birkin style bag, which I feel matches my personality a bit more, owing to it's colour block pattern and the fact that my heart wont ache putting it down on the tube.

Here's a look at my new buy :

While I admire these colours, have you got any tips for saving my soul from online shopping?

All things win-tage

Vintage Chanel logo earrings

Vintage Gianni Versace earrings

Vintage Gianni Versace sunburst pattern shirt

Vintage Christian Dior sunglasses

If the pictures haven't spoken for themselves yet, I'll tell you what this is about. This is about Gianni Versace, Christian Dior, Chanel and various other glorious brands and their reigning days during the 80s and 90s. That time is such, it cannot be brought back. I feel the designers were not of this world. I relate to Gianni Versace and Moschino's design abilities back in the 80s and 90s the most. Those designs can only be replicated in today's time. The designers of today have a different story to tell, not to say that they are any less talented. All I mean is, I am having a major vintage moment these days, and the pictures I have included in the post are of vintage finds I have bagged and "added to cart" in the past month or so. Not to mention my broke student state, but I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of wearing my Chanel earrings and flaunting the Dior glasses.
I have a knack of finding things after intense research, and most these things have been 'found' online. I have an undying love for vintage fashion, and I feel the quality and designs of those days cannot be brought back to life. The feeling of wearing a pair of vintage earrings is beyond explanation. That too when they are these wonderful designs from designer maestros like Coco Chanel, Moschino and Gianni Versace themselves.
Anyone looking for anything vintage in particular guys? Give me a shout, I might know where the treasure lies.

 

The Union Jack and Queen's Jubilee

Not so long ago, London was stamped and adorned with Union jacks all over, in all possible forms. There were posters, pictures, little make-do booths and post boxes painted and put out in order to declare the completion of 60 years of The Queen's reign. The celebrations centered around an extended weekend that spanned over four days, between the 2nd to 5th June, 2012.

While there were many events happening across London, from the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant; the BBC concert at Buckingham Palace; Queen's overseas visits to mark the jubilee; various exhibitions at Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, the Palace of Holyroodhouse and elsewhere in the UK; to charitable and environmental projects being initiated, what most caught London's air was the zest of the jubilee.

This being no ordinary event in the UK, every person was celebrating in their own way. I came across a lot of people while travelling on the underground, who were dressed head-to-toe in the union jack print. (I do not quite count making a mockery of fashion as a way to celebrate though, but anyhow, I respect all feelings and manners of displaying their love for the British monarch). I did not participate in any of the eventful happenings across London during the long weekend, but what I did was observe tons of people from weeks before the jubilee weekend came around on the calendar. "There were union jack flags everywhere!" On people's hair, their clothes, their eyelashes, their finger nails and even bra straps that were forced to peek out of the dresses and tee-shirts, for emphasis on what was going on there.

I was in awe of people's gestures during the weekend, even though some of them left me tarnished and hurt my eyes. What was adorable was every little boutique, bakery and person paying their homage to The Queen.

 Here are some of the fashion finds that were 'Queenized' too:

Mulberry's tribute to The Queen

A market version of 'Union jack heels'

Elegant touch Limited Edition Union Jack Nails

Alexander McQueen cannot be behind when such a historic moment is in question. Considering the Royal bride chose McQueen too!

Jessie J had more than few reasons to sport the Union Jack on her lips (and vocal cords too)

Hunter Boots bring together their boots and the union jack, to make what we call pretty amazing Hunter boots. haha

Were you being a union ja(/o)ck at some pub this jubilee season?

Love xx

It's been the longest time since I posted on my blog, and I feel I have almost lost the idea of how to go about a new post. Well, not exactly, but I am going to give it a go, ONCE AGAIN!
Yes, another attempt, fresh attempt, at blogging and connecting to the world out there!

So lately, not going to lie, I have been going mad researching for vintage Gianni Versace pieces, especially handbags. I found a few on various pre-loved stuff sites, but a tad out of my current budget to go overboard.

Gianni Versace - a legend.

I love how he played with colours, fabrics, leather, studs, safety pins and the unforgettable 'Medusa'.

How I wish he lived longer and we got to see more of his design aesthetics and abilities.

If anyone got any links to more Gianni Versace stuff or anyone knows a place selling something vintage Versace, link me to it, please.
I am in love!

OH! And here is one of my Gianni Versace purchases:

And that's me, wearing my prized vintage possession <3

Lots of Versace love to everyone out there! :) xx

Love for Latex?

No, it's not all about what the title of this post suggests! Latex is involved, but in making clothes...
Yes, I have been OD'ing and going gaga over Atsuko Kudo's fabulous and absolutely inspiring (read: controversial) designs. Though it is difficult to say something new about her, as a lot has already been said. I just want to express the utter inspiration I get from her creativity and vision! What is amazing with the way she handles her designs is that the edginess that goes hand-in-hand with Atsuko Kudo's name is there, yet there is high product finesse and classiness!
While there might not be many who agree with my views on the designer's impeccably fresh take on latex, but I am completely inspired and probably saving up to buy a piece myself.
(Yes, I haven't yet figured out how I will breathe in the dress/skirt/corset or whatever I land up buying.)
I feel with so many designers in the industry, what matters is to be able to be original, fresh and bring about something new or twisted that has not been done before. Don't you agree?
What else? From the edginess of Alice Dellal to the power of Grace Jones and Lady Gaga gracing the pages of Vogue, V Magazine and more, clad in Atsuko Kudo. The brand has even collaborated with Nick Knight for the Mac/Hello Kitty launch and advertising campaign!
What else can be said about one of the most innovative and power house later & rubber designers in the industry? 

I LOVE ATSUKO KUDO. That's all!

Sourced from the Fashion Model Directory :


"Atsuko Kudo is a designer and manufacturer of women's clothing using latex rubber. Kudo has her roots in fetish wear, earning her the 2008 award for "Best Fetish Design" at the European Fetish Awards. At her boutique in London, Kudo sells clothes "for the bedroom or the club," spearheading the movement to take latex out of its fetish shops and into the mainstream. Kudo uses the supple fabric in a variety of prints and colors -- everything from white leopard print to metallic snakeskin -- in addition to the traditional candy apple red and dominatrix black. 
Recently, Kudo has also collaborated with John Rocha and Juliana Jabour to create the latex leggings that they each showcased as part of their Spring/Summer 2010 collections."

Metal Head

I have always seemed to have a certain liking for all things metal! The ideas of metal dresses, metal shoes and metal bags are being coined by some exceptionally talented designers now... but I have grown up thinking of such off-beat and unconventional ideas!
(At times I do slightly regret not taking up fashion design.)
More importantly, my love for metal is here to stay! Metal accessories are a hot trend for Autumn/Winter 2011.
Go in for a metal shoulder harness, shoulder dusters or head chains. Even better? Metal dress. (Personal favourite: Paco Rabanne metal dresses <3 )

Metal hand piece with stone detailing

Metal hand harness

Long gold metal neck-piece

A D.I.Y. metal neck-piece

Wendy Steven's metal bag (I love!)

Shoulder duster (Personal favourite <3 )

Exaggerated statement necklaces

Paco Rabbane metal dress

Paco Rabbane's metal disc dress and metal top

Metal jewellery set

 

Glisten earring (shoulder duster + necklace in one!)

Greta bracelet

There are many options in the market! From old charm vintage pieces to new exaggerated designs. One easy style that can be found in the flea markets to the posh boutiques too!
Try Etsy and eBay for one-of-a-kind finds, Rock N' Rose for their gorgeous headchains and rings or Tiffany & Co. for their most amazing timeless pieces!

Give a new meaning to the term 'Metal head', ;)