Tuesday 30 September 2008

Athens Fashion Week is coming

Chances are most of you never heard of Athens Fashion Week before. And some of you that may have, probably weren't very impressed by it. I know I wasn't. Until last year it used to be held in Zappeion, a nice neoclassical building in the middle of the National Gardens, and that was pretty much the exciting part. Don't get me wrong, people were trying, but it just wasn't happening. That is, until this year! Athens Fashion Week will be held 6-10 October in the Athens Technopolis, an old gas factory building complex in downtown Athens that has been transformed into an artsy concert/exhibition/festival venue. Why didn't they think about it before?The most exciting thing is that the City of Athens is looking to make Fashion Week more of a cultural event for everyone and not just the fashion insiders, so apart from the shows, there will also be concerts, fashion-related film projections, workshops and a retrospective exhibition by Jean Charles de Castelbajac, who is also the guest art director. Non-greek designers will be showing as well, Marios Schwab among them! The line up is this:
  • ANGELOS BRATIS
  • ANDRIA
  • ASLANIS
  • CHARA LEBESSI
  • CHRISTOFOROS KOTENTOS
  • CHRISTOS COSTARELLOS
  • COSTAS FALIAKOS
  • DEUX HOMMES
  • DIMITRIS DASSIOS
  • FILEP MOTWARY
  • FRIDA KARADIMA
  • KATERINALEXANDRAKI
  • KATERINA KAROUSSOS
  • KATHY HEYNDELS
  • MAKIS TSELIOS
  • MARIA MASTORI
  • MIRO
  • NIKOS-TAKIS
  • PARTHENIS
  • SIMEONI
  • SMARAGDI
  • VASSILIS ZOULIAS
  • VELOUDAKIS
  • VICTORIA KYRIAKIDES
  • VRETTOS VRETTAKOS
  • YIANNOS XENIS
  • YIORGOS ELEFTHERIADES
Non-greek designers:
  • AF VANDEVORST
  • MARIOS SCHWAB
  • CASSETTE PLAYA
  • JUUN J
  • CUSTO BARCELONA
  • AFRODITI HERA
  • ELENA STRONGYLIOTOU
  • COLLAGE SOCIAL
I managed to get hold of the schedule and venue map, so click on the images to see:For more information, the so-called official fashion week site is here, but I wouldn't recommend it as it seems to be more of the production company's website that the actual fashion week one. If you are on Facebook check out the Athens Fashion Week fan page. This actually has some pictures that might be helpful (it's where I got the map from). Those who speak greek can get their fix on ALL the info concerning Athens Fashion Week on the official City of Athens website here. For those interested in EVEN MORE information, I already asked the PR company that represents Athens Fashion Week to send me the press release in english and they kindly obliged. The actual press release is too long to publish it here, but whoever is interested, leave me a message and I can forward it to you.

Monday 29 September 2008

Splish splash, I was giving my shoes a bath

...and I hope they will forgive me for it! I know that washing leather shoes using bubble bath gel goes against everything we ever learned, next to "don't dry your cat in the microwave" or "don't use the hair dryer in the bathtub", but it was a risk worth taking. You see, these aren't any ordinary shoes. They have graduated to favorite-shoe status in the category of ballerina flats for a while now and have suffered the consequences that go with the title: Battered and filthy, they would be either ruined by this ordeal and die a glorious bubblebath-smelling death OR they would be raised from the dead and grace me with their presence a few more months. Now that I think about it, I really should to do a post about getting too sentimentally attached to shoes that should have been thrown out long ago... Yes, there are more of that kind in my shoe-self. But I love the little bastards!

Friday 26 September 2008

Links à la Mode : September 25th


As a proud member of Independent Fashion Bloggers, for once again, I give you this week's official links:

Thursday 25 September 2008

Prada a luxury? I don't think so.

Coco Chanel once said - amongst other wise words - that "Luxury must be comfortable, otherwise it is not luxury." These words sprung in mind this morning as I started reading the reports from Milan's runways. There are videos and pictures all over the place of poor models wobbling and falling flat on their vertigo-inducing high heels at Prada. See for yourself here, here and here. My opinion is it's not funny. It's plain ridiculous! Fashion is supposed to make women feel beautiful, confident and relatively comfortable. Not intimidated! Some reports even mention that models were crying backstage before the show, as they were too scared to walk. I won't even try to comment on the "primitive woman obsessed with gold" theme of the collection. What happened to you Miuccia? Are you so absorbed in your architecture and art projects that you reached the point where you see fashion as a game? Don't you have any respect for women who used to admire your work? For the record, Miuccia defended herself saying it was the weird satin socks the models had to wear with the sandals that made them slippery and that the shoes may have indeed been too high and that this will be fixed before they hit the stores. Well, to answer the first lame excuse, that's what friggin' rehearsals are for! As for the second, too late now Miuccia. Trust is ruined.

Tuesday 23 September 2008

Back from a trip...

...and I am so tired! I woke up at 7 am (NOT my usual alarm clock setting), just after 3 hours of sleep, and got in a bus to Thessaloniki to see my parents who were in the city for a day. After drinking an iced coffee in an outdoor cafe by the sea, my mum, my aunt and me started planning our shopping strategy. I got a black knit dress from ZARA, a pair of ballet flats and a pair of trainers from Pull and Bear (pictures of all these tomorrow), but most importantly I got presents! My aunt gave me this gorgeous necklace and the amazing bracelet beneath it, both from Massimo Dutti, as late presents for my August birthday, and my mum bought me this pretty-yet-fierce bow ring with black crystals from Accessorize. Just because I'm her daughter. Love you mum!

Monday 22 September 2008

Shoelution

MDF boards


toilet paper cardboard cylinders


a mess of shoes


all the components


it has begun


almost there


finished!

Sunday 21 September 2008

New theory and bangle

New Theory: The wider your skirt hem, the thinner your legs look.New bangle: Pink real leather bangle, bought for 9 euros. Bargain!

Saturday 20 September 2008

Links à la Mode : September 18th

As a proud member of Independent Fashion Bloggers, I give you this week's links:

Friday 19 September 2008

In the elevator

I just discovered that my elevator is perfect for outfit pictures. Nice light and a large mirror. Shame for the lack of shoes, though. And you can also see my keys dangling from my right hand, plush donkey included.
***EDIT*** I just realised that in my sleepy, slightly drunk state last night, I forgot to post the outfit details: khaki tiered dress and long gray cardigan by Bershka, leather khaki bag by Accessorize Boutique, the belt is my mother's when she was my age (could count as vintage?) and the scarf... I don't remember.

Wednesday 17 September 2008

Winter shopping starts here

Here are the pictures from yesterday's shopping spree, as promised to you all, and my sister in particular, so she can pick out whatever she likes and I can go back and buy it for her. Did I mention that she finds shopping extremely boring and I have to buy stuff for her so she won't end up naked? Yes. All stuff from Bershka.Dear sis, this is the black coat that I mentioned on the phone. I think it will look quite good on you, because the small was kinda tight on me, so on your skinny ass it will look perfect. 55.90 euros
This gray one looks less sporty and more grown-up compared to the black one. It's a bit more expensive at 69.90 euros, though.
There's another catch too. I loved it fully buttoned up, but I kinda hated the way its lapels fell down when unbuttoned. But it's your call. From what you told me, I think I would get you this one, and if it doesn't fit, I'll keep it myself.
As for me, I also tried on this dress, which I didn't get because the material was really itchy, and this gray top, which I did get, because it looked awesome and was only 7.95 euros.
I also loved this gray felt jacket, but I had to restrain myself. I have it on hold, while I think maturely how perfect it is and how much I reaaaaaally need it.
But all this restraining is tough, so I gave in and bought this one. It's plaid. Everyone needs something plaid this season, right?
But, if plaid ain't your thing, there are also stripes. Colourful stripes hidden in the inside. It's inhuman even to try and resist.

Shopping at Mango

What is it with Mango's fitting rooms that make me go all black and white and high contrast on them? I did a bit of shopping today. Well, a lot of it, actually. It was supposed to be for my sister, but who I am fooling? Got lots of stuff! More photos coming...

Tomboy and loving it

Don't be fooled by the pink background. Tonight I had the absolute lad's evening. Panathinaikos got its ass kicked by Inter in a Champions League game. For those who don't get it, I watched a football game (soccer for the brits out there) along with two guy friends in an outdoors café, while drinking beer. Then we met two more friends and had some junk food. Simple, yet perfect. I was dressed exactly the way I was in the morning, when I got out of the house in a hurry to pay some bills. Brown flats, blue shorts, boys' t-shirt from Zara and hair in a ponytail. When it got cold, I grabbed the gray cardigan I keep in the car and I wore my glasses to see the screen better. I think I looked like an akward 15-year-old. It was a fun night.

Monday 15 September 2008

Falling Runway Models


You know what they say: It's not how many times you fall that matters, it's how many time you get back up.

Sunday 14 September 2008

Mustard





It's fun yet serious, colorful and joy-inducing but not too loud. Mustard is one of my favourite colours to wear and accessorize with. It also looks like it's going to be quite big this season, as seen in Sart's photos at NYFW. I also happened to stumble upon Michael Kors' guide on how to wear different shades of mustard. I hope all this mustard hype means that lots of wonderful stuff in all shades of mustard will show up in stores. Until then I am quietly wishing for American Apparel's famous in the fashion-blogging-world mustard skirt...


...and getting my need-now mustard fix by digging out my Pull and Bear mustard cardigan that magically goes with everything I own:
***UPDATE***
I remembered that I also had this picture of Mandy Moore wearing a mustard cardigan exactly like mine, and I had to share:

Shirtdresses are fun!

Last night I went to the movies to see You don't mess with the Zohan staring Adam Sandler and Emmanuelle Chriqui. It was good for an american comedy, but it got kinda boring after the first 45 minutes. At least Emmanuelle's character was stunning and had a great sense of style, and that was what kept me awake. Take my advice and wait for the DVD. Anyway, this is what I wore:
stripy shirt dress from Mango, worn NOT with these

Zara rope wedges, as I'd like too, but with these
Marks & Spencer mini-wedges, because I had to drive, and alsothese crown-shaped pendant and ring, which I am obsessed with
(Sal, I know you are too)

Wednesday 10 September 2008

Spaniards do it better

For the past centuries, Italy has been considered the leader in quality shoe design and manufacturing. A tag stating Made in Italy is always a quality proof. Although all those years italian craftsmanship never failed to produce little leather works of art, Spain is definitely taking the lead in the design aspect, incorporating new materials in more up-to-date styles.
My favourite shoe designer, Chie Mihara, was actually born of Japanese parents in Brasil, but her company is based in Spain, where all of the above beauties were created, with sole purpose to come and find me and live with me happily ever after. In my humble opinion, she makes the ultimate round-toe maryjanes and pumps, complete with an anatomic foot bed insole. Her shoes are rather expensive, but I prefer to treat my feet with one of her masterpieces than three pairs of Zara pumps that will kill my feet.

Another personal spanish design staple is Camper. The brand needs no further introduction, everyone knows about the quirky shoes that were actually made to walk in. That is, walk a lot in. I won't lie, many of their designs are a bit rough and not exactly lady-like, but amongst these there are some real gems waiting to be discovered. My collection was recently updated with the above three pairs, bought from Camper's online shop on sale.

And this is my most recent shoe discovery (read purchase) of spanish design. Vialis is less famous than Camper and in the price range of Chie Mihara, but of the same concept: modern design, great quality, really comfortable shoes. I was eyeing up those for two months now, and when they reached their final sale price, I snatched them. I am now officialy a shoeaholic and I am putting myself on a shoe ban for the next two months. Unless I take a trip to Spain...

Tuesday 9 September 2008

Victoria cuts it and Keira doesn't eat much


sources: popsugar and socialitelife

Personally, I think short hair suits Victoria, but I never thought of the gamine cut as feminine enough. Maybe I'm just too attached to my own long mane. Only the thought of going that short makes me hyperventilate. And, Keira... She has been this thin for so long I almost believe her when she protests that she is naturally that thin. She is never photographed drunk or dissorderly and looks borderline healthy most of the time. But then - as the article where I sourced the picture notes - in Bend It Like Beckham she had a completely different body. What's the story here?

Just hair

In the past few days I stumbled upon two different blog posts concerning hair and ways of managing them. On the first one, Sal shared both her love and her hate for her long, healthy, beautifully curly hair and the way they send shivers down her spine during the summer months. And while reading the second one, I remembered that the signon isn't just a cool french word - it's a shotcut to being chic in the form of a hairstyle. Not that I ever forgot about it. I've been wearing my hair up most of the time ever since junior high, when my friend Angela showed me how to do it using a pen or a pencil. It's easy, fast and doesn't require a mirror. If done right, it can look quite stylish. It gets all that hair out of my neck when it's hot or windy. And to put it more bluntly, I can't be bothered with anything more complicated than that.

Monday 8 September 2008

Opportunity hit me at Pull and Bear

Don't you just love it when you see beauty where no one else does? That is exactly what happened with this dress. It's easy to wear, fits me perfectly, it's definitely cute and was waiting for me to see all of these qualities at the sales rack at Pull and Bear in Ermou st. in Athens, where I bought it for only 5 euros. Now, that's a good deal. Hint for my dear athenian readers: there were about two or three more left in size small. Run!
Oh, and excuse my moody face in the picture on the left. I'm not grumpy, I just don't have someone to take my pictures and I'm always worried how the self-shooting will turn out.