My fashion and style rules

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When it comes to fashion and personal style we all abide by our own rules: rules dictated by the shape of our body, by our personality, by our taste and ultimately by our mood and the message we like to convey out there. Over time I have come up with my own fashion and styling rules; these have changed to reflect changes in my age and taste, but there are still a few things that I consider key and definitely non-negotiable if you want to walk past that crowd standing in front of your local pub.


One of my favourite distractions is to sit on a terrace and watch people walk by; I love catching little details and unusual fashion pieces, but I also love counting iconic items worn by trend followers such as trench coats, converse shoes, biker jackets. Nevertheless, I am more interested in spotting the outfit which would be a total rule breaker according to my "style bible". I am fascinated by differences in the perception of fashion and I am not pretending to come up with universal and perfect rules, I am just sharing mine with you, as they haven't let me down so far.

1. Be careful of the socks and sandals.

We all surrendered on that pair of Birkenstock and we are quite happy we did. After all, the Neal street store is always crowded with uber stylish Japanese visitors. However, watch it if you think these are all-year-round shoes: trying to fit socks with those chunky sandals can easily make you look like a doctor on her lunch break.

2. Always make sure to have a tailored blazer in your wardrobe.

Balzers are my favourite pieces: wear them with jeans to dress up or with your LBD for the office. They still look amazing on a white t-shirt with your denim shorts and gladiators for an unmistakable weekend outfit!

3. Invest in the simple pump.

Walking into a Louboutin's store for the first time is a once in a lifetime experience: it is like being taken to a candy shop on your fifth's birthday. The colours and shapes are striking, but be careful if you are considering a long-lasting investment and your wallet doesn't allow you a 3-pair's shopping spree. Invest in pumps that will never go out of fashion: a "passe-partout" colour and a medium heel height. Simple black pumps will look striking with your suit as well as with your Levi's denim.

4. Always wear a slip under your mini dress.

Believe me, it is not the funniest thing in the world wondering why people stare at you. For, as much as flattering this could be, it is not always for the reasons you would hope for. I am one of those people who doesn't really like going for the "balanced version" and with dresses I would go for either short ones or long ones. It was not without embarrassment that I realized wearing a long knit and a huge tote bag over a mini dress is not very safe unless you plan for a slip underneath. Yes, because the movements of your body when you walk and the rubbing of your bag against your dress will literally transform your lovely mini into a t-shirt. So please make sure to get a versatile little slip to keep your dress on the "right track".

5. Wear a belt and avoid thongs with your super low waist skinny jeans.

I love skinny jeans, especially when they are low waist: I hate having to hold my breath just to be able to close my front zip. However, we have all been through the inconvenience of sitting down wearing those super low pants: the paranoia of having our underwear uncovered. I agree, it may look cool on Rihanna or Lady Gaga, but it doesn't look very sexy if you're sipping a cocktail on a terrace with your boyfriend wondering why every man and woman can't get their eyes off of you. Make sure to prevent the embarrassment and those blushing cheeks: wear a belt and avoid the eye-catching thongs!

6. Get the strapless bra for your racer back dresses and tops.

Showing too much is not always an amazing idea: sometimes opting for the invisible and suggestive option is highly recommendable. I still love the '80s: those 'Flashdance' inspirations; Madonna in 'Who's That Girl', but let's face it, times have changed and unless you are still in your teens or planning to attend a rock gig I would advise to hide that bra! Only because you wouldn't want to draw attention away from that lovely racer back Lang's dress, it is best to wear a strapless bra to flatter your beautiful outfit.

Noah and The Whale

A Monday night at the Royal Albert Hall is a great alternative to any Monday night.

Watching Noah and the Whale perform at THE historic hall was quite touching as well: I discovered them three years ago in Berlin while doing the opening of the Phoenix tour and Charlie’s voice has been unforgettable since.

They have grown up, Charlie’s brother has left the band and their looks ensured they would come out as the “Noah and the Whale” accomplished generation: from tie dye jeans to tailored suits, waistcoats and red socks. Charlie’s baby face is also gone to reveal sharper cheek bones; his confidence is the one of a proper lead singer and his voice? The voice of a winning talent. The young band from Twickenham found a true niche for themselves: an inspiration from Tom Waits, Lou Reed, Chris Rea that perfectly ties together an indie rock and folk style. Definitely a band inspired by different form of arts and we know it because of the drawings projected at the back of the stage as a surrealist movie during the gig. These guys are a new generation success and I can’t wait for the next album: well done to NATW!

How should I dress on my first date?

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It's nine already and I only have one hour left to get ready. Suddenly nothing seems to fit, not even my unmistakable Phillip Lim little black dress. My wardrobe, which is truly a dressing room, feels empty despite the piles of clothes abounding on the shelves. When it comes to shoes it gets a lot worse as I can't stop thinking: "Are these heels going to make me look taller than him? Are my comfy flats too classy? Are these boots too kinky?".
This is what I call a true state of emergency or what I like to think of as the pre-date panic attack.

A first date is a little like your first day at work: you need to make an impression, but at the same time you don't want to reveal all of your qualities and skills. You would rather wait to show your strengths little by little when a specific situation requires them and will therefore make you memorable and able to climb that "success ladder".

Despite what many people may think regarding judging others on physical appearance, I am a strong defender of irrationality when it comes to social life and relationships. If you have ever tried browsing an online dating site you'll be surprised to find out how similar it is to online shopping: what draws the attention in the first place is the picture, the haircut, the looks…and then if you are happy with that first visual impact you will maybe read about one's personality traits and interests.

This is exactly why I always get nervous on a first date when I have to decide what to wear. My first piece of advice is to make sure to plan enough time before you go out: it will make you feel reassured and more confident about finding the perfect outfit within your messy wardrobe. Of course knowing where he will take you is all at your advantage, as this will avoid any stilettos incidents during a romantic walk in Regents Park.

In the same way, wearing your new amazing and colourful Christopher Kane's dress won't help when you will be sitting in front of a big screen for at least two hours. Common sense and feeling comfortable in your clothes is key. My experience taught me that no matter how much "sophistication" can be attractive, it can also become your worst enemy. On one occasion I thought wearing my beautiful YSL Tribtoo would be just perfect to add that super stylish little "something"; however I had totally neglected the fact that worn on a six feet woman they will soon make you look taller than him. Yes, basketball players are not the most common "species" out there and don't forget it, as all you may here on your date night might be: "God, you are so tall!". And yes you are and you know it, but there's no need for HIM to remind you every single minute.

Trying to impress a rock musician once happened to be a dramatic experience too. I was so proud of my new studded leather jacket and my new Crazy Pig skull ring that I pulled on the complete look. I just realized when he picked me up that playing the perfectly assorted couple wasn't cool. Because having both long hair was not enough and both wearing skulls and leather was too much. So be very careful of "total looks": adding details instead is key and remember that when it comes to Rock'n'Roll, Axl Rose, Mick Jagger, Steven Tyler, Alice Cooper are all men.

On this night though it is your chance to show how much of a woman you are, so opt for femininity instead which can subtly be achieved by playing with details and light makeup. If you usually feel comfortable in jeans and converse swap them over for your best skins and booties or simple black pumps. If you like dresses you can always rely on a black dress, but be careful about being too sexy on your first date: this night is the perfect chance to get to know him and you don't want to scream: "I want you now" too loud.

Remember that the most important thing is for you to feel at ease, for as much as clothes can make you look amazing and desirable, it is all about how you move and how confident you are. Don't put yourself in a difficult situation; choose an outfit that allows you to move comfortably without embarrassing you. What I love about being a woman is you have infinite opportunities to play on details: earrings, lipstick, scarves, clutches and these are your perfect chances to show your sense of style.

Be yourself and show it, this is my advice!

MJ: a fairy tale character in real life

Only two days ago, Time Magazine has recognized Michael Jackson as one of the 100 all time fashion icons. I am always amazed and pleased to realize that MJ is still alive and will always be: I am now confident in referring to him as a true and indisputable icon.
He lived on Neverland all of his life: a world he created for himself that nobody ever seemed to understand; a world to protect his identity, his attempt to recover that lost childhood and his incredible talent. A talent he dared to share with all of us, but a talent so unreal that it made him appear as a fragile  and untouchable creature who needed extreme care.
As part of his extraordinary journey through life he picked for himself caricatural yet very inspirational looks that undoubtedly reflected his love for disguise and his prolific imagination. Short trousers, '30s inspired suits, tip tap shoes were a direct tribute to Fred Astaire; the unforgettable sequin jacket that made the Motown performance with the first moonwalk belonged to his mother; the pop eye T-shirt worn in "This is it"clearly belonged to that omnipresent child in him.
Striking details and colors were always there coupled with shiny effects and very sharp shapes. The glittery glove, the socks, the band aids on his fingers have revived our curiosity about the true identity of this "magical" human being. The military shaped jackets, the leather outfits, the studs and buckles have only reinforced an image of a human being looking for himself, looking for an identity that would suit his talent and his magic. He looked for it in historical characters, fairy tales, iconic artists, but he never seemed to be satisfied and after all this is why we love him: his hunger for perfection was surreal, yet he gave us faith and hope. Hope in being able to surpass oneself and inspire others!
Balenciaga, Galliano and McQueen are perfect examples who created collections that seemed to be inspired by MJ's style. Sadly we were not able to discover the last outfit collections created by the King of Pop in collaboration with Zaldy for his final tour, but I can hardly pretend to guess what must have come out of MJ's imagination.

My five favourite Etsy and Folksy sellers for fashion pieces

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When it comes to online shopping we're all surrounded by a variety of online stores and sites; it won't come as a surprise that we might feel overwhelmed and unable to decide on that final shopping cart that we can't seem to fill or on the contrary that takes us to unaffordable values of money in just a few seconds.


This is why we shop online though: the beauty of accessing "global" stores hoping to spot that little unique dress or ring that will make our best friends jealous and that will turn us into an enviable trendsetter.

If like me you are a passionate fashionista you will probably be familiar with two of my favourite online stores that sell amazing and unusual handcrafts: Etsy and Folksy.

The former, Etsy, takes you through a never ending bazaar: from Turkey to the United States, from Australia to Western Europe. All the inspiration you felt when you walked through that souk in Marrakech will be waiting here online for you. How to get started then?

My advice is to check the blog first: this is where you will generally find interviews and articles of all the recent and original designers who joined the site. This is when I spotted little gems such as Erstwhile Jewelry, the New York duo who sells rare Victorian, Edwardian and Art Nouveau jewellery that you would hardly spot in Portobello. Signing up for the daily email comes as a natural step if you want to take the perfect ride on the verge of fashion and it allows you not to miss new designers who join and be the first to discover them.

I am myself an inspirational shopper and I find it really useful to browse the Etsy's Treasury section. A great amount of themes are grouped together so that you can literally listen to your inspiration of the moment. From Spring Treasury to Tribe Native American and to Hawaiian holidays, all your answers seem to be somewhere out there. So if you know you need some trendy items these categories will be great to help you out and allow you to satisfy your needs.

As always the category section is designed to help you in selecting your favourite items, but sometimes shopping is not about needs, but about falling in love. So my advice would be to browse those categories that have made Etsy and Folksy so popular: the Vintage, Needlecraft and Jewellery sections. You will discover some key designers that you will love and will then be able to browse their personal selection on the site.

Folksy on the other hand offers a UK customized website promoting handcrafts for this market. Again I love browsing their Frankly Magazine which features a very insightful "Meet the Makers" and "New Designers" section. I had the chance to discover Cecily Vessey and her original work inspired by London, mixing a clear architectural passion with an interior design orientation; not to miss are her lovely mugs that will make the perfect gift for any occasion. James Urge is another interior designer that I discovered on Folksy and who is worth following as he is just making the first steps on the local scene; a direct link to his website will allow you to stay tuned and own those furniture pieces before anyone else does.

Through the main navigation of the online store I always check the Folksy Highlights section first. This is where you will find the work of new designers as well as seasonal-oriented themes which are perfect to keep up with the latest trends and emerging talents.

Online shopping on Etsy and Folksy is nothing like shopping for something we need, but it is rather shopping to fall in love and to find that original piece of work to satisfy our passion for fashion. So always look for the latest news and articles on both sites and stay tuned; this is how you might spot THE next generation designer!

Rising sun: turning East

Big cities are like that, some neighborhoods suddenly become cool while others lose their popularity: it is a continuous rise and fall, a fashion and popularity game. I have always been intrigued by those areas depicted as "East" areas: the "East Village", "East London", "East Coast", "East side",...
They all seem to have something in common though, an element of coolness, trendiness and youth. They seem to be very popular with extravagant residents and artists. They are however pretty far from those neat and quiet residential areas where the buildings and square are immaculate, but they definitely carry something invaluable: life! Lively, unpretentious and affordable local attractions!

To inaugurate my new camera I have decided to capture a little bit of East London and I totally understand why it has become the place to be: the ideal "island" just off the city, surrounded by the Regent's canal where the old Shoreditch buildings and factories are now been revived into fabulous lofts!

Mediterranea...

Funnily enough I am always wearing black: black, the coulour that captures all the shades in the light spectrum as a black hole captures all the matter that dares rotating closely enough. Technically then, am I not wearing all the colors that exist in the world? Including those for which we still did not invent a name and which we will probably never be able to see under normal conditions?
However, for the 2012 Spring/Summer Collection designers have decided to revive those colors for us to wear them, to set them free. From Ferragamo to Cavalli and less surprisingly to a very bright Missoni we are struck with flashy yellows, pinks, blues and oranges. I cannot refrain myself from smiling because of the excitement; the same excitement that strikes you as a kid when you are staring at a bowl full of smarties or lollipops!

I am particularly fond of the Dolce & Gabbana "Bread, Love and Italian Beauty" collection that takes us directly to the smell and colors of those Riviera and Provence markets: onions, chillies, peppers..and pasta (the unmissable ingredient) are the perfect combinations for that Mediterranean style. We are just waiting for Sofia Loren to appear on the catwalk!