The ghost of Raf

Pretty sure that the ghosts that workers say haunt the Christian Dior Atelier have a new friend, the ghost of Raf.
His spirit is still very much present in the collection presented by the young team of designers, a collective effort that felt cohesive. I liked the collection but I ended up feeling that something was missing, can you make a couture collection without a ball gown or a statement piece of some kind? Shouldn't these collections make you dream?

CHRISTIAN DIOR

The death of artistry?

I picked up the December issue ofVogue Portugal and I was immediatly grabbed by the Editorial note from Paula Mateus, editor-in-chief. She talks about the latest news about the exodus of criative directors Albert Elbaz (Lanvin) and Raf Simmons (Christian Dior).
The motive for these unexpected exits? The fast fast pace of fashion nowadays. This made me think about the fast, fast pace of life in general, wich I'm absolutly feeling in the past six months, but let's return to fashion. What I felt was really ironic was the use of the expression "fast fashion" alongside the name of two of the most revered fashion houses and their respective designers.

Raf Simmons talked about this subject in a recent interview he gave System Magazine, before he anounced his departure from his two year job at Dior. Well, what Raf says is baffling, he talks about the difficult crative timings he has during the season, he says:

 "Tokyo was also done in three weeks. Actually everything is done in three weeks, maximum five. And when I think back to the first couture show for Dior, in July 2012, I was concerned because we only had eight weeks."

If you watched the amazing documentary "Dior and I" then you saw the struggle of developing ideas and concepts for a collection and producing the clothes in a such a tight schedule. Now Raf tell us that those 8 weeks were actually the longest he had to develop his ideas for Dior, we can see how this was a recipe for disaster.

This fast pace burns out criativity, destroyes the potential of these talented designers and it will eventually kill the soul of these fashion houses. We shouldn't strangle the potential of these brilliant minds, give them space, give them time and we'll have magic. This fleeting pace only works for true "fast fashion" brands where, most of the times, numbers surpasse the concern for originality, vision, and artistry. If the historic fashion houses are using the same method as these major fashion distribution groups, that are all about profits, then how can you preserve the artistry? I hope they find a way.

C.C.O

Current Color Obsessions

 Christian Dior Vernis à Ongles - Junon 494

Zara - everything else 

Essie - Leggy legend

Zara - everything else

FW Couture 2015

Couture week has started and ended...  These shows are always a sight for sore eyes. Dior, Valentino and Gianbattista Valli manage to touch my heart in all the right places every single time. 

Christian Dior

Valentino

Gianbattista Valli

PFW in a nutshell... #2

Chanel

Well Chanel is Chanel. They know how to put up a show and how to make sure they end up on every social network website but almost every time the clothes are not the center of atention, at least not for me.
You end up focusing yout attention on the set, the theme of the show, the Kendalls and Caras walking the runway, the front row and the mystical figure that is Karl Lagerfeld. You could argue that Alexander McQueen did the same thing, he would put on a show that would almost overshadow the collection but the truth is that this was never the case. You would always end up talking about the styling of the models, the fabrics and the construction of the clothes. In my opinion the "formula" has to be rethinked, it's getting old...

Christian Dior

The french "power-house" is in full power. the fashion world is in awe of the thigh-high vinyl boots that made their first appearance in the couture collection. Raf Simons explored the animal print and dissected it until it became so abstract that I almost missed it. This "Simmons / Dior Era" breeds excitement and a sense of freshness that has atracted my attention.

Givenchy

This is a dark, romantic, melancholic collection, or at least thats how I feel abou it. The blacks, the heavy feeling that velvet brings to the table and the beautiful, exotic, amazing face adornments.

Isabel Marant

I could talk about the ethnic prints, the high high waisted pants, the chiffon dresses paired with black heavy leather belts and boots or I could just say that Isabel Marants never disappoints the fashionistas of this world and always makes us wonder if we should spend our entire wage in a pair of boots.

Kenzo

Kenzo giving street cred to all the fashion lovers out there. Their clothes really fit that urban lifestyle and they continue to bet on the sportsware trend mixed with oriental inpired prints and silhouettes.

Zadig&Voltaire

This is the brand you have to revere if you're a "rock chick" or a "Kate Moss wannabe". I have to admiti that Zadig&Voltaires aesthetic has a very special space in my heart and I'm really sweet for this collection. 

baby steps, baby steps...

Slowly but steady... cresce a minha vontade de investir em maquilhagem. Nunca fui de me preocupar com a qualidade dos produtos nem com a quantidade. Um blush, um rimel, uma base, um pó bronzeador e já estava... Agora a conversa é outra, não posso dizer que o nível de desejo se aproxime do que nutro por um par de sapatos mas já se vê qualquer coisa. Os meus critérios no momento da escolha dos produtos também revelam ainda alguma inexperiência, são um misto da ponderação preço, cor, aspecto da embalagem!!! (benefit aqui ganha muitos pontos) e pouco mais... 

Estou seriamente tentada em comprar o novo livro da Inês Franco para ver se começo a levar este assunto mais a sério. Nunca senti dificuldade nenhuma em maquilhar-me e alcançar o resultado desejado mas gostava de aperfeiçoar algumas técnicas por exemplo, a aplicação do iluminador e contorno do rosto. 

Estes são os produtos a que recorro na minha rotina diária. A mais recente descoberta foram as sombras da NAKED. Estou rendida... São os tons perfeitos para o dia-a-dia e são completamente matte, o que não é fácil encontrar. 

As próximas aquisições já estão pensadas, slowly but steady...

Palette NAKED Basics

Rimmel "They´re Real!" da Benefit

Kit "How to look your best - Light" da Benefit

Blush "Pink kiss"- Estée Lauder 

Base "affinitone - golden beige" da Maybelline

Pó bronzeador "Aruba" da Sephora

Batom Color Riche Collection Exclusive Pure Red Julianne Moore da L'Oréal

Batom KIKO 915

Batom hidratante CARMEX

Batom hidratante NEUTROGENA

Batom hidratante "Honey and Milk" LABELLO 

Batom "Chuby Stick - Pudgy Peony" da CLINIQUE 

Batom "Rouge Dior - 671 Deauville da DIOR

Batom "Styled in Sepia" da MAC

Batom "Blackberry" da Bobbi Brown

Kit "Go tropical Coral" da Benefit

Iluminador "What's up!" da Benefit

Let Me Kiss You



Agent Provocateur Soiree - Lingerie
Eberjey - playsuit
Dolce & Gabbana - Bodysuit
Charlote Olympia - Pumps



  

Christian Louboutin - "So Kate" Pumps
Agent Provocateur - Lingerie
Stella Mccartney - Chemise
Eugenia Kim - Headband
Christian Dior - Batom

 

Intimissimi e Agent Provocateur - Lingerie
Saint laurent - Pumps
M.A.C - Batom "nude"