SPRING-SUMMER 2014

Hello everyone!

I know it's been a fair while since I last posted a blog, but I've been very busy, not only with school, but also with loads of activities I've been doing and organising. 

I have very exciting news yet to be confirmed, and loads of trips and places to go if I am lucky enough. I'll try and keep you all informed about all this I'm going to be a part of, so that you can join me in my adventures!

Anyway, lets get into it. 

As you might (or might not) be aware of, last week was the beginning of London's Fashion Week.

If you don't know what a fashion week is;a fashion week is a fashion industry event, lasting approximately one week, which allows fashion designers, brands or "houses" to display their latest collections in runway shows and buyers and the media to take a look at the latest trends. Most importantly, these events let the industry know what's "in" and what's "out" for the season.

I obviously didn't get to go to the fashion week, but I did followed it on twitter and on its webpage (http://www.londonfashionweek.co.uk/), so I can bring you a little bit of the advances for the Spring-Summer 2014 season. 

• Pastel Colors 

For the first time in a while, pastel colors and bright colors are in for the colder months. It is true it is difficult to make the change from the dark colors of winter to the bright ones of spring, so we can always combine them with other accessories to make the transaction less showy. 

• Cropped Tops

Just like last season, crop tops are a hot in all the runways for the next season. They always combine them with high-waisted bottoms. A must have in your wardrobe. 

• Prints
  

From animal to floral, from geometrical shapes to lines, the prints are also a very significative part of this season. Not very easy to combine, perfect when combined properly.

• Layering

Layering is going to be an essential as there are going to be a lot of clothes made of Mesh. It is the perfect chance to let your imagination fly away and try with the same piece of clothes loads of different combinations!

• Trench Coats

From fitted to oversized, this season we're going to be seeing loads of trenches. You can use your winter one or other season's, though this season's are going to be slightly more oversized than usual. Your perfect companion for your days out. 

• Wide Trousers

They are back this season! For all of you trouser lovers, this is your perfect chance to go with the fashion tide. They are loose combined with fitted tops. Great, perfect, and comfy, which is obviously a plus. 

• Skirts
  

Another must in this season that you should start wearing from now. This year, we're going to see loads of skirts and dresses, a lot high-waisted combined with cropped tops, others go down your knee... They're going to be a must in your wardrobe. 

• Black and White

Two colors seen together in many collections. Easy to combine, and easy to make the transaction from winter to spring. You can start wearing black and white things from now. They are not very risky colors, so I think everyone should feel comfortable with them. 

And these are basically the trends for this new season. 

Lots of Love

Fashionariol

HOW TO BUY ON SALES

Sales are starting all over the world, and that only means one thing: Shopping. 

The thing about sales is that as everything is half price or so, you end up buying loads of thing you don't need at all or that you think you'll need but end up in the back of your wardrobe. That's happened to me as to many others before myself. 

So, if you don't want to go shopping and end up buying useless things, read my recommendations below.

• PLAN IT OUT

Make a list of what  you want to buy and what you might need.

• LOOK AHEAD

As the autumn-winter season is finishing, you won't need to buy jumpers and cozy things; you'll have to think of the next season and try to get as many clothing items that you could wear in spring as you can. 

• MAKE A BUDGET

Think of how much money you want to spend and try not to get too over that quantity. 

• COMPARE MODELS

It is something I started to do relatively recently and it has helped me a lot. Basically, it consists on buying the things you are most in love with and those who you are not too sure about put them on reserve, so that you can go and look in other shops with more budget and maybe find something better, or return to that first shop and buying that item you weren't too sure about if you still have money left. 

• DON'T BUY ANYTHING FOR BUYING SOMETHING

If you don't need it, don't buy it. Even if it is very difficult and hard to resist the temptation, once you've fought it you will feel better and you will have your wardrobe full of things you do use.  

And that's it basically. 

I hope you enjoyed it and also, I hope it has helped you a little bit. 

Comment below some of the tricks  you have for sale-shopping. 

Lots of Love, 

FASHION AL

LIP CARE FOR WINTER

Winter is the time when our lips get very dry due to the cold and wet weather. 

To avoid having them with blisters and cracks, I always do the following things at night before going to bed. 

First, I apply a little bit of body milk or body butter. I know this might sound quite odd and strange, but lots of pharmacists recommend it and I can assure you that it does make your lips be more hydrated. It can be very beneficial for you if you do it properly and you don't over apply it body milk to your lips. 

The one I usually use is this one from L'Occitane. It smells really good and even though it is not a cheap purchase, it is fantastic for nourishing not only your lips, but also your skin, as as a body lotion, that is its main feature. 

After applying the body milk and letting it dry, I then wash my face and do my facial treatment, wash my teeth and lastly I apply lip butter to them. 

The one I use is also from L'Occitane, and it is great. I've had it for almost a year and a half and I still have some left. It lasts a lot and it is the best lip butter I've ever tried. Its price is not the lowest you can find, but it is definitely worth it. 

Now, even if you don't apply the body milk, with just applying the lip butter you'll have perfect nourished lips this winter. 

Lots of love, 

FASHION AL

I'M KIND OF ADDICTED

MY GUILTY PLEASURE

I've got this little obsession with ice-creams. 

I've loved them for as long as I can recall. 

This year in particular, I've been the most lucky girl in the world. 

It turned out that my favorite ice-cream shop opened a parlour in my town centre. 

It is not just any ice-cream, it is Homemade Italian Ice-cream, meaning that if you buy a strawberry one, it will taste as strawberries, not as a chemical and artificial mixture of products with strawberry flavor. 

This shop (Via Venetto) has any kind of ice-cream flavor you can think of, from Kinder to Ferrero Rocher, from Mango to Pineapple... They are even thinking of making a pumpkin pie one for autumn and maybe a chestnut-flavored one as well (weird, I know). And they taste amazing (I don't know about the pumpkin and chestnut though). 

My and my best friend's ice-creams.
Left: my pineapple and lemon ice-cream
Right: her mango and catalan cream ice-cream

I feel guilty about this, because I have an ice-cream from there as often as I can (maybe once a week or every two weeks). It is not a very healthy habit, but it is the most delicious one, I can assure you.  

Lots of Love, 

FASHION AL <3

REVENGE WEARS PRADA - BOOK REVIEW

REVENGE WEARS PRADA BOOK REVIEW

This is one of the latest books I've read and I absolutely loved it. 

"Revenge Wears Prada" is a sequel for "Devil Wears Prada", which I fell in love with. I read the book and watched the film over and over again. I think I am never going to get bored of it. 

I think I loved the film so much because of the fashion they showed and that inside look to the fashion world and to the editing and business world they gave us. I've always loved those things, to be honest. The film also had really funny parts and one character in particular made me love the film even more (Nigel, played by Stanley Tucci). 

So when I found out they have released a sequel to that story, I was a little bit shocked at first, as I thought that the first one ended perfectly and needn't have a sequel at all. Nevertheless, I could do nothing more than go to my bookshop and buy the book. I had to wait for quite a long time to get it, but when I finally did, I could not be any happier. 

I am not going to do a spoiler of the book, but I can honestly and proudly say that I loved every single word of it, thing I fairly didn't expect. 

It is a continuation to Andy's life and what is going on with her after ten years of non-working for Miranda Priestly. 

Once again, the way that it is written and the way everything is pictured in a couple of words is amazing.

The story is a very intense one. It has troubles and surprises from the first page. It has moments that made me shout to the characters and moments where the only thing I wanted to do was to throw the book through the window.

A curious thing I thought I'd share with you is that it is believed that the writer (Lauren Weisberger) based her character Miranda Priestly in Anna Wintour (English editor-in-chief of American Vogue). Rumor has it...

Left: Anna Wintour
Right: Meryl Streep as Miranda Priesty

I loved it to be honest. I savored every single page, every single sentence, every single word from the book. 

I do not really know the writer, as "Devil Wears Prada" and "Revenge Wears Prada" are her only books I've read; but I am really looking forward to change that and see if she can join my "favorite writer" list.

Lauren Weisberger

They both are books I recommend you, and I encourage you to go and, at least, watch the first film (in which Anna Hathaway and Meryl Streep play the main characters)

Anna Hathaway (Andy) and Meryl Streep (Miranda) in "Devil Wears Prada"

I've read an article on the internet concerning a probable sequel to the film. Nothing's certain yet, but I'd like that rumor to become a truth. 

Lots of Love, 

FASHION AL <3

BRAIDS EVERYWHERE.

BRAIDS FOR A LITTLE TOUCH

I just wanted to show you guys the result of my efforts to make an original hairstyle with just the help of a braid. 

This technique can be used with every single hairstyle. You can improve it by just adding that simple detail. Plus, this season in particular, braids with every single coiffure are trending.

What do you guys think of what I did? 

Hope you all like it and try to do it :)

Here, I leave you some examples taken from Google, We Heart It and Twitter that maybe could help and encourage you to give braids a try. 

I know they are very professional, but you don't have to copy them (it's almost impossible; believe me, I've tried), you just have to get some ideas from them. Maybe mixing some of the models could help you make a very original hairstyle in the end. 

So, I encourage you guys to try and have the courage to add a little touch to your everyday hairstyle. 

Lots of Love, 

FASHION AL <3

CHERRY AUTUMN

CHERRY PURCHASE FOR A CHERRY AUTUMN

Hello everyone once again. 

It's been a long time since I wanted to buy a new lipstick to add to my collection; because I don't have that much shades or colours, and... to be honest, it can't really be considered a collection. 

I was looking for a red shade, one which wasn't too strong, as I don't like flashy colours on my lips. 

Today, I've been lucky enough to be able to go shopping with my granny and to visit my favourite high street. 

I went in and the assistant helped me finding what I was looking for. 

After trying loads of shades (I think they were 12 or so), I finally found what I was dreading to have. THE PERFECT LIPSTICK. 

It is from CLARINS PARIS, number 13 in Cherry. 

You might be asking yourselves why is it the PERFECT lipstick [if not I'll tell you anyway :)]. It is not a very strong lipstick; it is red, but its really moderate, not an excessively showy one. It is also glittery, it smells really good and it is supposed to last for a very long time. 

Today is the first day I wear it, and I have to say that I am already in love with it. 

It wasn't a cheap purchase, I have to admit that. It was not the most expensive one either, but still... I think it is worth the price, and that you'll see it in my future favourite videos. 

Lots of love

FASHION AL <3