"Oh em gee, she's fooling around with paint!"

By Neslihan

Hello there crazies,

I felt a little bored yesterday and had the uncontrollable urge to play with paint. It's funny how something stupid can immediately beam you  to a certain phrase in your life. And yes, I'm talking about my years as a 10 or 11-year-old. You know, that period during which you think you know everything but the scariest things still have to come, along with puberty. You're exploring everything, clothing, music and even the internet. Dressing dolls and feeling like Tim Gunn. Oh, the good ol' times. Seeing a couple of pieces on the catwalk also evoked that nostalgic feeling. Christopher kane played with shiny metalics for his last s/s collection and also made some flower collages, which reminded me of my own fashion collages. When we moved to an unparticular middle of nowhere, I felt alone and bored. So, I had to find some kind of way to amuse myself. I started to collect gossip magazines (the only magazines in our house back then) and ripped the last style pages out of it and started to cut and paste images on a white sheet of paper. I'd write titles with coloured glitter pens and one day, those titles became full articles. One page became many and this way, I'd create my own fashion magazine without stupid advertisings. I'd give my magazines names but don't ask me which because the only name I can remember is 'Heirs'. Don't ask me why either. As I became older though, I discovered fashion magazines and started collecting them without ripping pages out of it. Because I knew every edition of Vogue or L'officiel was a holy beacon of inspiration that had cost its creators blood, sweat, tears and uncountable hours of overtime work. You don't start to cut in the bible, do you? One day making childish fashion magazines wasn't enough though, so I had to find some other way to temper my fashion hunger. That way was blogging. I started blogging on netlog and later on facebook. Then on weblog, to eventually start a blog on blogger. That's the little journey I've made so far. Coming back on the pictures below: they're from various collections. I've picked the ones of which I thought they'd be interesting to accompany my writing. Scroll down for more information.

I am so in love with this cute, little clutch. It looks like it's a picture from some biology textbook. Very nostalgia-proof. Christopher Kane (s/s 2012 RTW)

Riccardo Tisci really is one of the last masters of sheer haute couture. His s/s 2012 HC collection for Givenchy was memorable. Certainly the first two dresses. I wouldn't call it spring/summer though because the heavy colours and fabrics scream fall/winter. It were not the clothes though that held my attention. No, this time it were the accessories. What about this amazing nosering?

I thought this was a funny way to tell the person next to you to shut the hell up. Marc by Marc Jacobs

Two rules when buying a bag: 

1. Big enough to hide my junk.
2. Aesthetically interesting to look at.

Conclusion: this Lacoste bag has it all.

If I want to be amazed, repulsed or happy I turn to Martin. He knows how to awake those feelings all at once. Those shoes above really remind me of a friend's transparant raincoat from back then. Maison Martin Margiela s/s 2012 RTW

Do you remember yourself painting when you were little. You'd mingle the blues and the reds and the yellows, really thinking those colours went well together. You'd finish your painting and your mum or dad would call it an artwork and hang it on their wall or freezer. Well, that's what Junya Watanabe's model reminded me of. Green painted gummy hair + bitchy face = Junya Watanabe s/s 2012 RTW

Make up your mind

By Neslihan
Fashion is about extremes. You wake up and being a good girls is en vogue. You go to bed certainly noticing that bad is the new good. Fashion is constantly in motion and so is beauty. Lara Stone is being praised for her voluptuous body in 'Vogue Paris' while 'W' is screaming that Freja Beha Erichsen is the norm. Even fashion people do not agree on a certain level, which makes fashion a fickle industry. Fashion though is so much more than just an industry. It's a factory of handcrafted dreams. Note the contradiction. Yes, fashion is about mind blowing contradictions. That's also what I noticed when comparing the two pictures below. The first one is a shot from Anna Sui's f/w 2012-2013 show while the other one is from Givenchy's last s/s collection. Both have an incredible similarity: the make-up. The models have this cute little dot right under their lower lashes but they're both still very different. While Anna Sui's model looks like this amazing rock chick, Riccardo Tisci wanted his models to look like angels of the ocean. His models have this shiny, silver tear which makes the look  even more poetic. Which one do you prefere?

Pictures: Vogue.fr

Tommy helps the poor

By Neslihan
I've always believed in being yourself. It's important to stay true to who you are. Certainly when you own a blog. It's about stating your opinion but also leaving some space for other point of views. So, when I stumbled into Tommy Hilfiger adds for their Millennium Promise Collection I was highly skeptical. This collection is inspired by African prints and the full profit of it goes to the 'Millennium Villages Project' in Africa. When charity oriented organizations state things like this I always get critical and wonder which share of it truly goes to that good cause. Because we donate our money in order to help people in need not knowing what happens with it. In lots of cases a small part really goes to that cause because those organizations have employees and shipping costs. So, what really is left is only a fraction of the totality of this huge sum. And of course it's logical that they too have their own costs but this whole charity thing is one big, black blur to me.

So, you can probably guess my thoughts on this collection. I think it's wonderful that lots of fashion companies care about global problems like those concerning our environment but also poverty. These companies already have a public and fame so it's easier to reach people. Still I felt something wasn't right. I surfed a bit on the web and found out that every single penny of income would go to MVP. I was amazed, I mean do people (read mega brands) like that exist? Or am I just too pesimistic to think that wealthy companies really are willing to help the less lucky in our world? Or are organizations like this one too idealistic? What's wrong with that? As long as they're realistic, everything's still ok, right? And you have to start somewhere. You can't have it all at once. It's about work, hard work.

But let's take a look at the clothing. I've never been quite fond of Tommy Hilfiger. It's really preppy, totally not my style either. The soft pinks, greens and blues are so in contradiction with my own taste. This collection though is nice. I mean, I wouldn't wear the whole collection but there are three pieces I'd definitely wear: the two tees and the last shorts. And ok, I'd give the dress a shot but that's about it. You either like their charity collection or don't.

And I know, me sitting here, writing about it in my comfortable chair, doesn't exactly make me a hero. But I'm always way too skeptical to donate money to organizations but -this is going to sound extremely stupid, I know- I do buy clothing from Anti-Aids collections like those from H&M's. I don't do it because I want to support the organization to be honest, I just like the clothes. So, the risk with collections is that people often forget or do not know what the concept is. As for myself I still have to find a way to be involved and more conscious about Third World problems. The clock keeps ticking.

 More info at http://be.tommy.com/hilfiger/millennium-promise,nl_BE,pg.html.

And if I share with you my story, would you share your 2.55 with me?

"Oh, those plastic flowers!" she screamed with disgust as she was strolling through the mall. Even the escalators were decorated with plastic flora. She looked at the passengers with huge disgrace. All she could think was: no, wearing light blue jeans with a barbie pink tee is not ok. She looked at the older lady, who was coming closer with every step. She was wearing a straight grey dress. Classic but tasteful. She had a hard look in her eyes. As if she was registering every person who stood there. She was carrying a divine handbag, black leather, gold chain and the double c marked logo. No, she wasn't daydreaming, it was a 2.55 indeed. Perfectly stitched soft, black leather with the most amazing feel to it. The woman carried it with great pride. She looked as if she could handle the world. She came closer and walked by without even looking at her.

There she stood wondering how it would feel if she ever had this box in her hands. She'd know what was in it and how it looked like but she'd still be excited. And the excitement would multiply with every gesture she'd make. Firsty she'd remove the shiny white ribbon. Then she'd open the box and see that the bag was carefully wrapped in white paper. She'd also notice the white flowers that were spread in the box. She'd touch the paper and gently move it aside. She would take the bag out of its 'package' and smell the leather. She would inhale class and exhale style.

Then suddenly a girl walked by wearing Uggs and a pair of hotpants. And instantly she was beamed back into reality. She stared at her Ugg(lie)s and almost wanted to vomit. This reality was too real, too ordinary, too depressing. She looked around and the fake flowers, chubby girls in tight T-shirts, boys wearing their pants in their socks were still there. And she wondered when she would be gone.

* I don't own the picture

Organic delights - H&M Concsious Collection

By Neslihan

This will be a quick one! As you all probably know already, I'm very much in love with H&M's Conscious Collections. They always look so splendid, so romantic and hip. The most important thing actually is the fact that the collection is produced with organic fabrics like 100 % biological cotton or recycled fabrics. And it's so affordable and tell me, respecting Mother Nature by buying clothes from this collection, is there something any more genius? This was a rhetorical question. What's new though is the Exclusive Conscious Collection. It's a collection with more expensive eveningwear. Lots of dresses screaming to be worn at a party. So, whatcha waiting for?

My favourites

1

2

3

4

5

5b

6

7

Prices:

1)Taupe/Purple dress with a split 199 Euro

2)Bombastic, sculptural layerd dress 349 Euro

3)Neon greenish dress with surprise back 69.95 Euro

4)3D-flowered purple dress 59.95 Euro

5)Bright blue suit blazer 59.95 Euro

5b)Bright blue suit shorts 24.95 Euro

6)Poppy pink top 19.95 Euro

7)Mary Katrantzou-like flowered top 59.95 Euro (there's also a dress to match)

PS. This collection is only findable in the selected stores.

They can look through you

By Neslihan

Hello there,

It's been a bit quiet around here but this blog post will change that fact. I won't share something fashiony today but it has to do with art. So back in September when Walter van Beirendonck, a Belgian fashion designer, (read) was editor for a day for a Belgian newspaper, I saw a photograph taken by Diane Arbus. And I was thrilled. Looking at this picture made me realise that I wasn't analysing the picture but the picture was analysing me. You get the inevitable impression that it just keeps staring at you. It's so freaky and so incredibly intense but also too beautiful and perfect to be true. It's so loud in all its serenity that it becomes really shocking. And for a certain moment I felt like I couldn't look away, it just holds your attention and makes you look at it every time again. Wikipedia describes Diane's work this way: "Diane Arbus was known for her photographs of outsiders and people on the fringes of society. " And I couldn't have said it better because it's so true. All though her work is about the so said 'outsiders' or weirdos, it's never her intention to ridiculise someone. She just makes you look at her photographs and look back and back and back...

Identical twins, Rossele, New Jersey, 1967 (the picture I'm talking about above)

Teenage couple on Hudson street, NYC, 1963

Girl sitting in bed with her boyfriend, NYC, 1966

Young Brooklyn family going for a Sunday outing, Brooklyn, 1966

Patriotic young man with a flag, NYC, 1967

Take a closer look

By Neslihan
Hi there fashion lover,
Sometimes fashion is about mixing the craziest things together. Brands of which you think, no I won't ever be able to combine this with another brand or prints that are just too fickle to wear with other prints. I somehow think that fashion isn't about dos and don'ts because these little rules truly make you unhappy. And they also limit your artistic fashion spirit which is- excusez le mot- a huge don't when it comes to expressing yourself through your outfits. You should know what goes great on you or what you really like and go for it. Of course this has to happen in some kind of sane way because without guidance we are savages in this enormous fashion jungle. The most horrible things could happen if you don't respect your body structure and above all your personal style. Yes, personal style to me is very important. It's an identity one should never desert or fake. You have to stick to your guts even though you get strange looks in the streets for the pair of shoes you wear or for your exentric glasses. Don't give a damn. Feel like everything is possible when you're standing in front of your wardrobe. It's such a liberating thought but it's of course more easilly said than done. Go for a couple of signature pieces like earrings or a scarf and try to put them together with those amazing pair of pants you bought earlier or the most incredible tee you ordered on the net. Don't wear what you're told to wear because that would be like changing your name because your friend doesn't like it. If there's one lesson I've learned up to now (read: my still juvenile age of 17) it's sticking to your style in whatever situation you are. Let that be a wise thought on this Sunday noon.
As for this blog post I assembled two of the most outspoken and controversial designers of our era. Those two names do not fit together, they're just too different for that. They're like water and fire, that's how dissimilar they are. The first detail pics are from Rei Kawakubo's (Comme des Garçons) RTW show for this season and the second group of pics belong to Roberto Cavalli's show. I know, I know, relax those eyebrows. Mister Cavalli is to be found one of the most tacky designers of all times if you group him up with Versace and Guess (is Guess a high fashion brand?) but Versace for H&M showed us that it's ok to be tacky once in awhile. And looking at his pictures it's the most mouth watering tackiness I've ever seen. I mean look at those animal prints mixed up with florals and goldy glitters. It's bombastic but I adore it! And let's not froget Kawakubo's Comme des Garçons show, pretty please! It was one hell of a collection. So sculptural, rough but also poetic at the same time. Kawakubo is one of those designers who doesn't give a flying f*ck about wearability. She puts the F to fashion and creates art with her collections. The crispy white dresses and those big flowers sewn onto the dresses were just memorable and will be used in lots of editorials of trendsetting magazines, that's for sure. The whole collection also reminded me of the edgier version of Marie Antoinette. It was a delightful freak show. Cheers to that!

Comme des Garçons

Roberto Cavalli

Veni, vidi, vici - London Vintage

By Neslihan
Hello to you all,
I'm back in my beloved Ghent and I must admit I'm very happy to be back. Even though London is an amazing, energetic and very inspiring city, it feels good to be back somewhere less busy. The city truly makes you go in overdrive but visiting Camden was the most amazing part of the whole trip. It's so alternative and you can find lots of original and great pieces there. It's also such a difference with the other places in the city. It feld like a haven of peace. My friends and I visited the vintage shops and also the accessory stalls that were there to find. I had this list of all the things I'd like to have and this list was long but I had to set my priorities so I've shortened the list to a maximum of 5 goods with shoes on top. You probably know already that I'm a sucker for a great pair of Dr. Martens and that was also what was on top of my list but the thing was I already had a pair. So, I had to go for some other pair and since I wanted to have creepers too, I bought creepers from Dr. Martens. The best of both worlds, innit? Another thing on this list was a great pair of vintage denim, 80's-inspired, high-waist shorts and I found them at Berty and Gery, the most amazing vintage shop I've visited so far. And the sales staff was also very friendly and helpful! A must go!
I've taken some pictures but they are not that sharp because there not taken with a fancy camera since I don't have one. So you'll have to stick to this.

Vintage galore

My buys

How is your Easter Break so far?

Love.