Just before my dream

Came back from the friendly neighborhood bar and barely had the energy to take pictures, but I wanted you to see how I wore my new skirt.

Bubble hem skirt, H&M. Black wrap-around top, ZARA. Grey wedges, ZARA. Striped scarf, BERSHKA. Black leather obi belt, some shop in Volos. Multicoloured bead necklace, handmade jewelery shop in Samos. Silver hoop earrings, gift from my sister.

Windy but sunny

Not much to say. Just enjoying the spring sun and being back home. Our veranda is in serious need of some work. But it just falls apart every winter anyway, because of the sea salt the wind brings in. The pictures are from yesterday, just after I got off the ship and had breakfast with the parents at home. For travelling by ship for 11 gruesome hours, I wore a green Nike t-shirt, a cream Bershka cardi and my favourite black skirt, made from a Bershka dress. I have to tell you here, feel so much more comfortable traveling in a skirt instead of jeans. As long as it's not too short or too tight - which almost none of my skirts is anyway - it's perfect for hours of sitting down in a seat, reading or napping. Nothing to feel constrained in, just warm and snugly.
That's all for now.
Oh, and Frida the Siamese cat says hi.

Girly girl

New underwear is always one of my favourite spring purchases. And I'm talking about seriously girly, overly silly, disgustingly cute underwear. In this case, one sushi-themed three-pack, one princess-themed three-pack and one strawberry printed boxer brief, all from Oysho. Can't get any girlier than that.

On other news, I am currently back home in Samos island to spend the Greek Easter holidays with the family. But you know me, I'm blog-addicted, so posting will go on as usual. Plus the occasional cat photo.

H&M, once again

I was somewhat starting to feel deprived of nice swedish fashion those last few months. You know, the H&M kind. The December events here in Greece had left both the Stadiou and Ermou H&M stores destroyed. Having learned later on that they were both not destined to re-open, you understand why I was starting to get anxious. Had the big heads at the H&M headquarters in Sweden decided we are not worthy of a new store? Were we doomed?
But alas, strolling on Ermou one day back in March, I spotted the familiar two-letter-and-ampercent red logo. On a construction site, nevertheless, but there it was.
And stating April 9th as the opening date.

And what a happy day the 9th of April was! (Actually, I was there the day before, for the press party, but let's pretend it was the opening day, ok?) I started my mission by systematically scouring all three women's fashion floors to gather my prey. First impression: It carries the cosmetics line! Not so sure of the quality, but oh-so-cute packaging. Go for the make-up bags, I say. As for the actual clothes, t also looks like it stocks more of the sophisticated and better quality collections and less of the cheapo, multi-coloured stuff I was sick of seeing at the previous Stadiou flagship store. A good change.

Straight to the fitting rooms. Nice and roomy, as always.

My prey lies there, waiting for me to devour it.

A very nicely fitting blue dress, unfortunately made of 100% polyester, therefore not a wise choice for Greek summer weather.
Rejected.

A black tulip skirt in nice thick cotton, comes with its own fabric belt to tie up as a ribbon. And a cream high-waist full skirt with a balloon hem. Both in my closet as we speak.

Well, the skirts were not the only things I bought. I also got a pair of greenish brown linen high-rise pants, which - trust me - look much better than they sound, and two dresses. Two extremely cute dresses, with boned bodices and Grease-style full skirts. One in pale yellow and one in light brown with small pink polka dots. Polka dots! Did I mention they are cute? Photos to come soon...

SMALL UPDATE: Reader Staraki asked to know what I'm wearing in the first pics, so I thought I'll just reply here, in case anyone else is interested. I'm wearing the Mango skirt and cardi outfit I posted back here, but instead of the grey skirt, I'm wearing the same one in blue, as seen here. Hope I helped!

You CAN touch this

You CAN touch harem pants. And why shouldn't you? If done right, harem pants can be quite stylish. Not to mention damn comfortable.

Just some things to keep in mind, always in my humble opinion:

1. The longer they are, the better. Most harem styles are cropped and reach mid-calf. Look for harem pants that skim your ankles, for a more flattering look.
2. Harem style doesn't necessarily mean looking like you pooped in your pants. Try to find a style where the crotch *slightly" dropped . A crotch that reaches your knees can't possibly be a flattering look.
3. Keep them black, grey or any other darkish, neutral colour. Harem pants in bright orange is just looking for trouble.
4. Adding a belt will help make them look a bit more trouser-like.
   

Black harem pants, PULL&BEAR. Grey t-shirt, ZARA. Grey scarf, ZARA. Mustard-yellow cardigan, PULL&BEAR. Belt, ZARA. Bead necklace, H&M. Purple flats, OYSHO.

Fashion Architect is 1 year old

It's been a truly amazing year. So many happy moments I had and great friends I made because of this blog. If you are curious to see how it all started, now is the time to snoop around and read my first post. Or my archives in general. I contemplated doing a list of my favourite posts so far, but it just seemed too much. However, if you would like me to post something like that or anything else for that matter, don't hesitate and leave me a comment. I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Enjoy and here's to another wonderful year ahead!

Would you like to win this?

My work blog ermou mag is having an Easter contest and the prize is this gorgeous handmade flower brooch by Greek jewelery designer Lily Fragaki. To enter the contest, go to the post over at ermou mag and leave a comment with a picture of your latest/favourite spring purchase so far, with a description of what you think your style is going to be this summer.
Boss Vicky says international readers are eligible too.
Start commenting here!

Breaking news

To all Athens-based fashionistas:

Sprider stores are giving out 25% off coupons, to be used only in their two Ermou stores until Saturday. I was handed mine in Panepistimio metro station. If you happen to be downtown, look out for them!

The blogger's sister

Just as I was photographing my latest purchase, an eye-print t-shirt from Stradivarius, my dear sister decided to jump into the fun and show her own new acquisitions.


Sister models her new cream canvas bag and emerald silk scarf from Achilleas Accessories. According to her, she got the bag because it fits a standard-size A4 file and she just needed a new bag for summer and the scarf because she liked the colour. Good enough reasons, I say. Let's hear it for the sister!

First blister of the season

Ok, I did it again. I shopped. Last Thursday I found myself in the Ermou st. Camper Shop and I bought a pair of sandals. Cute, edgy, mouthwatering, grey-and-lime-yellow sandals with a wooden wedge. The weather was so nice and warm, I decided to put them on as soon as I returned to the office. Alas, it was my first day without socks or tights and my feet weren't used to the friction. Poor feet, so much pain, so many horrible blisters!



So, I think these pictures of me sporting a dress with trainers on Friday, don't need much expaining. My Pull&Bear blue sneackers were the only shoes I could wear without screaming in agony. Fashion and suffering, two words that get paired quite often.

Things one does for love

For example, miss a Vivienne Westwood show. And an open forum, where Dimosthenis Davvetas (professor of Aesthetics and Philosophy, Ecole d'Arts et de Communications, Paris) would talk on the subject of Fashion, Art & Culture. Instead I chose to take a 4-hour bus ride to Volos to spend the weekend with my boyfriend.

Oh, the things we do for love...

P.S. Do read Clementine Merloy's coverage of the event and see for yourselves.

Time lapse

I'm afraid life is moving much faster than I'm able to blog. My dear reader Jo asked me to show my fashion week outfits. And the thing is, I've had these pictures since last Friday and I haven't been able to post them. That's a week ago! Anyway, this is what I wore last Friday to work and then straight to the first day of Fashion Week Athens.





Charcoal flower-print dress, BERSHKA. Dove-grey cardigan, MARKS & SPENCER. Teal tights, CALZEDONIA. Brown boots, INCI. Black skirt peeking from under the dress, BERSHKA.

That's right, I wore a skirt under my dress. It's a great way to add some length to it, now that after several washes it's starting to look a bit inappropriate short. It also adds extra warmth, not that this is relevant now that the weather is getting all summery. But quite an awesome trick for wintertime!