Hysteria X H&M

There is a reason why you didn't see me talking about this BALMAIN X H&M craziness, I sensed that something like this would happen and the truth is that I'm over these collaborations.

Last year I experienced in first hand how unglamorous and truly pathetic this type of hysteria can be with the ALEXANDER X H&M collection. Let's get something clear, I LOVE BALMAIN and owning their iconic leather jacket is on my fashion bucket list for a long time, so I'm not complaining just because I didn't love this collaboration, I'm just having problems with these launches and the madness around them.

When these luxury brands work with H&M the consumer of fast fashion gets access to a world of glamour, status and exclusivity that is normaly out of their reach so it's understandable that the demand for these items is so massive. The problem arises when the frenzy around these collections gets so uncontrollable that all the glamour goes down the drain in the moment the doors open on launch day. People sleeping on the streets, running like zombies were after them, knocking hangers and pulling clothes, websites crashing and infuriated customers that couldn't get their hands on a single item from the exclusive collection, this is not cool - I repeat - NOT COOL.

If you go trough all of this to buy a dress and a t-shirt, or a pair of heels, where is the status associated with the french house of BALMAIN? I'll tell you, on the floor, just like your dignity. I, for once, value the whole experience of acquiring a special item, it stays with me and I remember it when I wear it. I don't want to remember how I knocked some girl to get the last Small size of that tailored blazer, or how I crawled on the floor to pick up that 400€ dress that fell out of the hanger with the frenzy.

When it comes to luxury it's not just about the design, the qualities of the clothes/accessories, it's about the experience you have from the moment you enter the store to the moment that you leave it with that beautiful bag that you regard as piece of estate.

I loved this collection, it was one of the best so far in terms of quality and design, although there was nothing new just just an adaptation of statements pieces from Rousteings BALMAIN, so you had good return for you money but there are somethings that we shouldn't do for fashion... unless it's Miu Miu then I'm all in.

12/12

BERSHKA

I need this in my life, a reddish faux fur coat is essencial to survive winter night-outs in style.

Is there a "black-rehab" outhere?

Shirts, Knit vest, Boots, Jumpsuit from ZARA

Lipstick - "dark side" from M.A.C

Bronzer from CHANEL

The past couple of weeks my purchases have all been black dark grey. They should send me to the "black-rehab" but I'll problably end up going back to black, get it?

Cover

Harper's Bazaar Spain

November 2015

Aymeline Valade by Thomas Whiteside

I had to buy this month's HB, there is something about this cover I love. She has the most feminine pant suit on but she looks just as tough as if she had on a black leather suit.

Trending

Last winter I was all about big chunky knits but this time around I'm investing in the opposite trend, the skinny turtleneck. I'll still wear my big, fluffy knits but I can't wait to style some outfits with this wardrobe staple.

 I'm starting with this basic neoprene knit from Zara.

The future of fashion

Lately Youtube has been my choice of entertainment, I keep forgetting to check out blogs or websites and even magazines seem to be missing something. The British Vogue Channel on Youtube is one of my favorite channels, it has very interesting content. It's casual and light but recently they started uploading a documentary series called "The Future of Fashion" presented by Alexa Chung that explores various themes related to the state of fashion.

Alexa talks with designers, fashion students, journalists and others with her cool raspy voice with a sensability that shows that she trully understands the depths of fashion, she transcends the futile and narcissistic stereotypes typically associated with it.

The series has six episodes with the following themes: "How to break into the industry", "How to become a fashion designer", "Positive body image and diversity", "How to become a fashion buyer and what is a trend", "How Social Change Can Help the Fashion Industry Progress" and, last but not least, "Instagram & Social Media at Balmain with Olivier Rousteing".

Check out the episodes, they are really short so you won't get bored!

I can tell you that one of my favorite moments is when Olivier Rousteing tells the story of how he finally got the impulse to start pursuing his dream of working in fashion, it happened in Law school of all places, you can see why this is one my favorite moments of the series.
Like him, I always loved fashion, clothes, magazines, sketching but I never imagined that I could work in fashion, very rarely you think of fashion as a professional goal. I sometimes doubt myself because I think of how, in all these years, it never crossed my mind to follow this route until I was so far ahead in law, could this mean that maybe I wasn't meant to have a career in fashion? Well, if Olivier once was in the same position and now is head designer for Balmain I can rest all my doubts.

I'm having...

Bra    /    OYSHO

Boots    /    ZARA

Shimmer Brick in Pink Quartz    /    BOBBI BROWN

Lip Gloss in Chelsea Girls    /    NARS

Jumper    /    ZARA

Slimane's princesses

e

C.C.O

Current Color Obsessions

 Christian Dior Vernis à Ongles - Junon 494

Zara - everything else 

Essie - Leggy legend

Zara - everything else

Shameless

This little egg shaped sponge is a shameless purchase I've made this week. I'm still processing the money I spent on this Beauty Blender. It's an obsession that came from watching far too many beauty vlogs but the truth is that this little sponge is as good as the hype around it suggests. You just have to follow the instructions:

1. Soak in water until it expands to twice its size

2. Squeeze out all the water with your hand and then a towel and...

It's ready to use!

You can find so many tutorials on how to apply foundation, concealer or any other cream products with this baby. What you get with the beauty blender that I feel you don't get with any foundation brushes is that radiant, healthy glow that your skin should have, thus making the results more natural. I often feel that after applying foundation my skin feels dull and heavy, even with the lightest foundation, with the beauty blender you just feel like your skin is brand new and free of products.

Can you get the same results with other blending sponges? (like this one or this one) Perhaps you can, but everyone raves about the beauty blender when compared with other sponges that's why I decided to try it. Now that I made the investment and got great results I can try and find a dupe that satisfies me just as much, if I find it I'll tell you.

Coming soon...

to my closet

ZARA

OMFG it's Chanel

I lost my freaking head and got this baby! I'm aware it's just a bronzer, I'm aware it's expensive, in fact I only bought it because I had a 20% off discount, I'm aware I can get the same effect with a thousand other products for 1/4 of the price, but.... In my defense, it's Chanel, it's so pretty, it smells so good, it's so pretty (again) and it has amazing reviews. 

Let's talk about this product, the description on the website says that 

"the velvety finish of this light cream-gel bronzer leaves your skin with a beautiful sun-kissed look. Wear it on its own to enhance your complexion, or for a hint of outdoors radiance, over or under your favorite CHANEL Foundation". 

It's a multifunctional product that you can use all over your face as a bronzing base for your make-up or that you can use as a bronzing/contouring cream. The color is universal, it works with pretty much every skin tone because it's super blendable.

Since it's a cream you should apply it with a buffing brush or a sponge. I decided to get this angled buffer brush from H&M and once again it was a good bet, the brush is really good and it cost only 7.99€. I still feel that I should get a beauty blender to apply this product just because it's so cute and pink, oh well...

Too soon?

Is it too soon for a christmas shopping list? It's never too soon if we're talking about the new collab between Mariah Carey and M.A.C, coming to U.S stores on Dec. 3. This is the first part of a full Mariah x MAC Beauty Icon collection coming in 2016. This champagne sparkling beauty must look so amazing with a smoky eye... Can't wait!

Straight off the runway

Coming soon..

an extensive post on the best shows and trends from every FW so far... 

Craving...

This week my cravings are all about make up. I've been obsessing over beauty youtubers, especially Kathleenlights. She's really funny and her tutorials and reviews are really good, she has an amazing make up collection.

Here are some products that I will purchase in the following weeks, they have to be mine!!

1. MAKE UP FOR EVER Ultra HD Foundation - I heard some amaaazing reviews about this foundation and I've tryed it out and it does seem to be perfect. It's not as heavy as the normal HD and it's not matte, it's very natural. It's a big investement but it will last almost all winter since I'm not a foundation addict.

2. REAL TECHNIQUES Setting Brush, a great little brush to set your concealer with some powder.

3. ZOEVA 105 Luxe Highlight, I can't believe I still don't have this brush, it will blend my highlighter like heaven.

4. SEPHORA Blush in N.º2 - So Shy, the perfect nude pink natural blush for everyday.

5. M.A.C Powder Blush in Peony Petal, it's a bright blue pink blush that intrigues me, the color is so diferent and I hope that applied very lightly it will make the perfect romantic make up look.

6. L'ORÉAL Le Blush Accord Perfect in Terre de Sienne, a warmer pink for winter.

7. BOBBI BROWN  Shimmer Brick Compact in Rose, this product is so beautiful and you can wear it like a blush or a highlighter, it's a best seller and I can see why.

New in...

H&M recently launched a new Beauty line that looks amazing. The first time I saw it was at the VFNO but there were so many people surrounding the make up displays that I decided to choose a less busy day to explore all the products, despite all the confusion I managed to fall in love with these two eye shadows. 

Sunday I returned to the store and purchased the two eyeshadows I loved and a crease blending brush that is smaller and denser than the one I have from Zoeva, it's perfect to define the crease and the quality seems really good. The eyeshadows are as good as they are beautiful, the pigmentation is really rich and the texture is very creamy. The blushes look beautiful but I'm still traumatized by H&M powder products from the previous beauty line, they gave me the worst rash and I'm not prone to that, hopefully they changed the formula.

 HIGH IMPACT EYE COLOUR

Ginger Snap  /  Urban Jungle

5 things

TOPSHOP

I'm not a huge Topshop buyer because there are types of clothes that I still prefer to try out before buying and for now Topshop is only available online in Portugal. You can't argue that they have some pretty awesome clothes and accessories. 

These are 5 things I would buy but there are like 500 more I would take home in a heart beat. The shirt has an amazing color and retro print, the bag is also a retro staple essencial for this season. The boots, well the boots are just a dream. They are Gucci inspired, like these one's from Zara, but I think this color makes them more special. This skirt is the perfect fit for those big, chunky sweaters. Finally,the trench is present in every fall collection from every brand, I already bought one from H&M and I love it but this faded yellow one should also live in my closet.

NYFW #Alexanderwang

Ten years have passed since the eternal kid started showing his work on the runways, season after season his brand grew and was consolidated, then he started to take other risks like being the head designer for the french powerhouse Balenciaga and designing a collection for a major high street brand, H&M for those hiding from the world.

Now he's taking another risk, the risk of not being able to deal with his dismissal from Balenciaga, I always felt that this venture wasn't meant to be, it felt unnatural, the Balenciaga brand and Alexander Wang were two opposites that didn't attract each other, the exception to the rule.

Well, let's not pitty Wang because as you can see from his SS16 collection, the kid is talented.
He can always surprise you and entice you to his state of mind, I immediately want to bring back all those clothes I had from the late 90's early 00's, from the patchwork leather and denim jacket, the white tees, the hip-hop references, the style mix-match with lace slip dresses paired with sneakers and bomber jackets.

It's all gonna be OK kid.

Cookies suck

Cookies can be bad for your health, all types of cookies, the ones that have chocolate chips and the ones on the internet that make you feel like you're being stalked by websites. The web cookies are bad for your health because they don't let you forget the things that you browse on shops and that you don't buy. This time I'm being followed by these beauties, the GOLDEN GOOSE sneakers.
I'm always browsing these sneakers in the hopes of finding good discounts because they are not on the cheap side.

You can find them here.