Printing Dresses

Posted on January 31, 2013 by dressingfordinner

When my techiest friend Chris told me about two 3D-printed dresses being showcased at this year’s Paris Fashion Week, I couldn’t believe it. With recent talks of 3D-printed meat, of course it was only going to be a matter of time, but already? Could it be…?

He was right. The two extraordinary outfits were included by Dutch designer Iris van Herpen in her Haute Couture show ‘Voltage’. The first piece was made of a metallic-look, encrusted skirt and a cape, which were created with the artist, architect, designer and Professor Neri Oxman from MIT’s Media Lab and printed by Stratasys using their unique Objet Connex. According to the designer, she decided to collaborate with Oxman after seeing her ‘Imaginary Beings: Mythologies of the Not Yet’ collection 3D-printed and exhibited at the Centre Pompidou last spring. Oxman explains that, as opposed to the previous printed pieces, “for this collection it was important to think not only about forms and materials, but also movement and wearability. This inspired us to design algorithms that could map physical movements and material behaviour to geometrical form and morphological variation in a seamless and continuous wearable surface. This allowed both hard and soft materials to be incorporated within the design, crucial to the movement and texture of the piece. The ability to vary softness and elasticity inspired us to design a “second skin” for the body acting as armour-in-motion; in this way we were able to design not only the garment’s form but also its motion,” explains Oxman. “The incredible possibilities afforded by these new technologies allowed us to reinterpret the tradition of couture as “tech-couture” where delicate hand-made embroidery and needlework is replaced by code”.

Source: http://www.3ders.org/

Source: http://www.3ders.org/

The second outfit was a very intricate, stunning black mini dress (which I’d love to wear!) designed with Austrian architect Julia Koerner and 3D-printed by Materialise, a Belgian-based pioneer in Additive Manufacturing software and solutions. Van Herpen, Koerner and Materialise carried out incessant 3D testing, proving that when fashion and high technology meet, normal rules don’t always apply. An experimental new material was finally utilised on this dress to create a flexible, soft and highly complex piece. The only way to achieve the piece’s intricate lace-like texture was to create it with precision by lasers. Julia Koerner explains, “The architectural structure of the dress aims to superimpose multiple layers of thin woven lines which animate the body in an organic way. New possibilities arise such as eliminating seams and cuts where they are usually placed in couture”.

Source: http://www.3ders.org/

About her creations, Van Herpen said: “I feel it’s important that fashion can be about much more than consumerism, but also about new beginnings and self-expression, so my work very much comes from abstract ideas and using new techniques, not the re-invention of old ideas. I find the process of 3D printing fascinating because I believe it will only be a matter of time before we see the clothing we wear today produced with this technology, and it’s because it’s such a different way of manufacturing, adding layer-by-layer, it will be a great source of inspiration for new ideas”.

Source: http://www.3ders.org/

The whole of this 11-piece collection, however, is incredible. Its main concept is to explore the electricity of the body, and the reviews of her show were raving about the wonderful spectacle that unfolded before the attendees’ eyes. From the designer’s website: “Experimenting with its use in the field of creation, this collection seeks to portray its tangible movement and power. This ability of light and electricity to change states and bodies is reproduced using the most innovative technologies. Described as an alchemist approach to fashion, Van Herpen’s designs perpetually embrace new collaborations with artists, architects and researchers. As part of the show she collaborated with New Zealand artist Carlos Van Camp, echoing his notion of controlling high voltage electricity and its interaction with the human body. Van Camp experiments with three million volts running through bodies”.

Iris Van Herpen graduated from the Artez Institute of Arts in Arnhem, Netherlands in 2006 and, soon after, began her career as an intern with Alexander McQueen, before launching her eponymous brand in 2007. Her unique and avant-garde sense of style has drawn attention from the most sought-out publications in the industry. Iris’ recognition reached its climax in 2011 when she became a member of the exclusive French Trade Association of Haute Couture (Chambre Syndical de la Haute Couture). She developed her personal signature and style by focusing on craftsmanships involving a high level of handwork and demiurgic techniques. Her style combines creative inspirations in design with innovative constituents. Iris uses a combination of materials such as polyamide, metal, leathers, acrylic and synthetic yarns, which guarantees an astonishing visual impact. Iris considers fashion as a form of self-expression and her research is applied to the possibilities of fashion’s future.

Following the Paris Fashion Week Show, the skirt and cape will be exhibited at MIT’s Media Lab.

An Evening with Marie Claire

Posted on January 28, 2013 by dressingfordinner

Through my full time job at PR Newswire, last week I was fortunate enough to be able to attend a brilliant event, called Meet the Media, where Trish Halpin and Justine Southall – Ed-in-Chief and Publishing Director at Marie Claire, respectively – held a very interesting presentation.

The venue was spectacular – we sat in the ballroom of the wondrous 8 Northumberland Avenue, a 17^th-century building which made me feel like I’d stepped back in time and was supposed to be wearing big puffy sleeves and a tight corset.

The presentation was shared between Trish and Justine, and they started off by giving a sense of who their reader is and an overview of the brand, consequently moving to suggestions for PR representatives on how and who to reach at Marie Claire.

Marie Claire, which celebrates its 25^th birthday this year, reaches 2.2 million women every month through their 16 platforms, and most of these readers tend to be successful, well-educated, assertive career women who are often the chief income earners. This kind of reader crucially identifies with, and self-expresses through, their interest in fashion and beauty.

Despite Marie Claire being such a huge brand, which includes a website, a mobile site, and Marie Claire Runway magazine and app just to name a few, their magazine is still at the core. And indeed, they are doing very well: out of the many stat sheets they showed us during their presentation, the one that captured my attention the most was their ABC performance for 2012 – the only one to outperform the market. I asked Trish why she thinks they are doing so well compared to all the other magazines and her answer was two-fold: partly, she answered, it was because they offer something unique: a combination of thought-provoking features and a huge volume of high-quality fashion and beauty content; but also, they felt that, for the asking price of £3.70, they needed to offer more, and last year decided to invest money despite the recession in order to make the book size bigger and improve the production.

With 1.4 million unique users, their website is also very impressive. Which begs the question: do they see that one day their online predominance could supersede their printed one? Justine answered by stating that she thinks there will always be a place for beautiful glossy print material in a luxury context. She did note that, as I mentioned in this post I wrote in November 2011, most online shops now are printing magazines, but she thinks this may be because the role of printed material is now changing and it is really exciting to see how it will develop.

Among Trish’s suggestions for PR agencies, the main ones were:

don’t cold call,
know what kind of product the magazine might go for, and
never underestimate the power of cake!

Think I’m on board with that one.

I loved how at Marie Claire they make a stand trying not to have many advertorials, as they are very keen to keep their brand integrity very clean. Trish also explained how they decide the themes issue by issue, around three months in advance, basing themselves firstly on the season and the various collections seen at fashion shows, and then moving from there.

I greatly enjoyed the whole event and even managed to have a little chit chat with Justine and Trish, it was a great thrill to be taught something new by such strong career women who have made it so successfully in the field I’d like to develop in.

Festive Beauty Tips*

Posted on December 21, 2012 by dressingfordinner

With Christmas and New Year’s just around the corner, the winter festive season is fast approaching. Here are my top tips to stay looking gorgeous and dazzle whether you are attending a Christmas party or just going out for drinks with friends.

Skin

Keep up with your skincare routine: wash and moisturise twice a day and do not forget the number one golden rule… Never sleep with your makeup on. I’m sure we have all been guilty of this beauty crime at some point but try to avoid it as it will do the skin no favours.

Flawless Base

To achieve a nice, bold look with this season’s colours, ensure that you a have a flawless base, as this will help draw attention to your eyes and lips. You can do this by using a foundation brush to apply foundation evenly across the face > Use your finger to apply some concealer under the eye. I would advise you use a concealer one or two shades lighter than your complexion to help hide dark circles > Once that is done, finish your base off with a sheer to loose powder for an effortless matte finish.

Source: tipsbucket.com

Source: beautyeditor.ca

Source: illamasqua.com

Dazzling Eyes

It’s the season for glitz and glamour so let your eyes do the talking when you step into that party. The easiest way to create dazzling eyes is to simply swap the black pencil bottom eyeliner for under eye shadows and coloured/glitter eye pencils. I would recommend trying some from Barry M. Barry M have a great range of metallic colours which are perfect for this season. If you prefer to use eye shadows Sleek also have a variety of different eye shadow palettes to choose from. For the eyelid try using a berry-coloured eye shadow with a hint of gold in the corner of the eye. And to finish use an ink (or pencil) eyeliner across you lash line for a perfect finish.

Source: barrym.com

Source: nihrida.com

Statement Lips

Say goodbye to the sensible nudes and flirty pinks we were wearing during spring and summer, it’s time to go for the sexy vampy lip. Simply go for a purple colour or a deep red. For a purple lip I suggest M.A.C Rebel lipstick and for the classic red lip try out M.A.C Ruby Woo as it’s very bold, rich with a matte finish. I think every make up-loving girl should have these two in their collection. You can also get the same shades for a cheaper price at Topshop or Rimmel.

Source: M•A•C

Source: rimmellondon.com

Source: specktra.net

Maintain the Look

My No.1 top tip to for maintaining your party makeup is to use a setting spray. I would recommend the All Nighter – Urban Decay setting spray. It’s weightless, seals in and sets makeup for up to 16hrs. It’s perfect for a night out as it minimises sweat. You can get this spray from Debenhams for £19. You wouldn’t want to spend half of your night touching up your makeup when you should be on the dance floor.

Source: Debenhams.com

*This article was written by the make up connoisseur and cosmetics fanatic Mariam Miiro. She is my go-to guru when it’s about eye-shadow palettes and all things beauty. Be sure to check out her new blog Sansha Gloss!

Dreyfus Café in Hackney – A Review

Posted on December 4, 2012 by dressingfordinner

Hackney is a great place to grab some Saturday breakfast, with so many choices and new cafés opening at the drop of a hat. A couple of weeks ago I decided to try the new café Dreyfus, in North Hackney, on the edges of Lower Clapton, as it looks very inviting from the outside and I live literally around the corner.

The airy two-room interior sits nestled in one of the corners that overlook the beautiful, late Georgian Clapton Square. The décor is relaxed and very cosy, with retro, framed posters all over the walls and a strong 1950s feel. My visit there was filled with sun shining through all the windows, which made the place even more welcoming and warm.

The menu nods to a slight American good-food trend and is largely destined for breakfast, brunch and lunch meals. It includes some classics – eggs Benedict, Florentine and Royale, muesli and full English; and some surprising options such as pancakes with Speculoos sauce – which, outside of Belgium, I’ve only ever seen in New York so far – pancakes with grilled bacon and maple syrup, and pastrami and sauerkraut on rye bread.

The great thing about ordering eggs here is that you don’t have to necessarily get two, which means that you can mix and match or, if like me, you find the cake counter too inviting to resist, you can just have one, and leave a little room for dessert.

Speaking of cake… their selection is very rich and inventive, and when faced with the impossible choice between Hungarian bread and butter pudding with a spongy meringue topping and white chocolate and orange cheesecake, the kind man behind the counter sensed the mild panic that took over me so he offered I’d have half a slice of each. “Can I really do that?!” They were both even better than I expected, but the cheesecake won my heart. Their cake and sweet bakery selection, however, is ever changing, so it is worth going back every now and again to try different desserts.

Other than that, I had an egg Florentine, which was spinach-rich and helped me feeling less guilty about my second “course”, and Rol had a full English – the sausages were very flavoursome and herby.

The only tiny teeny ickle downside about this great place is the wait. I think we had to wait about 25 minutes for our breakfast, which is not an eternity, but it feels worse than it is if you are borderline ravenous due to the previous night’s antics.

I am definitely looking forward to going back, as I am yet to try their Nordic meatballs with lingonberry and beetroot sauce.

If you are in Hackney, give this place a go, it won’t disappoint.

How Costume Designer Jenn Rogien Kept “Girls” Realistic

Posted on November 19, 2012 by dressingfordinner

Still riding that New York wave, I want to write about the New York fashion aesthetic of the HBO series Girls, which I watched just before it crossed the pond to the UK and reached the elitist channel of Sky Atlantic this October. Although I am not going to spoil any of the plot’s twists, I feel like there is something to be said about the realistic wardrobe of the four main characters – Hannah, Jessa, Marnie and Shoshanna. I recently read an interview with Girls’ costume designer Jenn Rogien by Fashion etc., in which she talked about why she decided to adopt a more realistic approach, rather than feed us with the umpteenth series of broke/average-salary people living it improbably large, only using taxis, and stacking Manolos in their cupboards as if they were cans of baked beans. Where the likes of Sex and the City, Friends, Seinfeld and How I Met Your Mother peddle a revisionist and, frankly, untrue image of the average New Yorker, Jenn Rogien rightly decided to focus mostly on more plausible Williamsburg vintage and thrift hotspots when putting together the wardrobe. Not only does Girls reflect the lives of a demographic that was virtually unexplored before – post-grad women in their mid-twenties still trying to figure out their lives, careers and relationships – it also echoes this realism within the mise-en-scène, for example showing Hannah on a subway train and on her bed with the same IKEA cushion I have at home, and I think the result is just right.

Marnie, Jessa, Hannah and Shoshanna. Source: HBO.

Rogien explained: “The show wasn’t about clothes. It’s about the girls, and they really wanted someone who could get on board with that and really get that they were trying to do these kind of crazy girls who aren’t necessarily all that put together. They wanted someone who would be able to translate that in a way that would aesthetically make sense and that would really support the comedy of the show… It’s a little offbeat, that’s probably the best word”.

Hannah. Source: HBO.

Jenn Rogien’s impressive resume includes TV series such as The Good Wife and Lipstick Jungle, where “everyone is incredibly dressed, and the accessories are perfect, and the shoes are expensive, and [they are] really high-end shows, but [Girls] is different from Lipstick Jungle: you don’t want everything perfectly curated. It’s actually just as hard to do messy as it is to do perfect”.

Jessa. Source: HBO.

Interestingly, despite Hannah, Jessa, Marnie and Shoshanna all sharing a very strong “Brooklyn-ness” about them, they all have very different tastes and styles. While Marnie is the only one with a well-paid job, and likes wearing more formal, grown-up outfits, Shoshanna opts for more colourful, modern pieces. Hannah’s style is definitely more ‘60s, including girly blouses, flippy skirts, cute dresses and flat brogues, and Jessa’s style (which is my favourite), is a combination of ‘70s, palazzo trousers and gorgeous kimonos paired with blood-red lipstick and soft chignons.

Marnie. Source: HBO.

Here’s how Rogien found most of the outfits used: “We actually talked a lot about that specifically with Marnie (Allison Williams) because she’s the one who sort of has this fancy job. We wanted her to look appropriate for the job, but we didn’t want to go to Bergdorf’s and buy her a Dior suit because it didn’t make sense for the character. That’s where we really relied on character and the actors to sort of feel it out as we were doing our fittings and see ‘You know this is a great piece but it’s way outside of what Marnie would be able to afford. Can we find it Loehmann’s? Can we find something similar from Lord & Taylor?’ We sort of skewed our shopping in that direction. ‘Is this realistic for the job that Marnie has? Is this realistic for Hannah, given that she doesn’t have a job?’ There were a lot of times when we would come to the conclusion that ‘Well, maybe her parents were helping her out when she was first trying to get a job.’ Marnie’s mum probably took her shopping when Marnie moved to the city and got this job because a lot of girls’ mums do. So we really tried to be as true to the spirit of characters as we could be in our shopping. If it seems right to go to Saks Fifth Avenue for some of the more special pieces, then that’s where we would go. If it seems more right to go to Atlantis Attic out in Williamsburg, we absolutely went out there. We were probably at Atlantic Attic and Beacon’s Closet for every episode because it’s the right stuff, that’s where those girls would go”.

Shoshanna. Source: HBO.

Girls is definitely a ground-breaking show and I cannot wait to watch the second series, which will launch in the US in January.

My Trip to New York 2

Posted on November 12, 2012 by dressingfordinner

Part 2 – The Fashion

In New York I had a great time finding shops I had previously heard about as well as stumbling into new places and walking in just to take a look and find unique pieces. Of course, I visited a huge amount of shops, but for the purposes of this blog I’ll try and keep my count down to the best four.

Catbird

This is a lovely, dinky, homely jewellery shop in Williamsburg. Here I finally found a pinky ring that wouldn’t make me look like Del Boy from Only Fools and Horses. They have an incredible selection of once-in-a-lifetime pieces that will leave you marvelling at their cases and windows. With designers and brands such as Jacquie Aiche, Dream Collective and Marian Maurer, they sell an array of delicate objects, ranging from jewellery to beauty products, home ornaments, cards and cosmetics. Here’s what I bought:

My pinky ring.

Catbird.

Jewellery display.

Flying A

This SoHo store is the epitome of cool and Michael there was very kind, helpful and warm. What more could you want? Along with their own brand, they retail plenty of vintage piece and brands like American Vintage, Hope, Marimekko and Fjallraven, the result is an indie look with European names. Here I bought an amazing red vintage dress with a geometric little pattern that looks like polka dots from a distance. My dress was placed in a clever, red zip bag which I now use every single day to carry my packed lunch to the office.

Flying A.

A wonderful vintage dress with a floral upper half.

Assorted bracelets.

My dress.

The dress collar.

A gorgeous embroidered purse.

Scarves.

A big selection of men’s shirts.

Stella Dallas

Easily the best vintage shop I’ve ever visited. It is based on the edges of Greenwich Village retail ‘40s–‘60s clothing and, despite it being quite small, and with a dated décor of yellow walls and tatty shelves, I found four – 4! Different pieces here: a warm Norwegian jumper which I’ll have to defend against my boyfriend’s grubby mitts, a flattering dress, a beautiful burgundy beaded silk top and an amazing, gorgeous floor-length, ivory rayon bed dress that is bound to make history. It features rather wide, lacy shoulder straps which continue as a pattern in different inserts on the chest. Never seen such a charming, timeless piece of underwear like it, vintage or not. I had to have it!

Stella Dallas is a bit tucked away.

A delicate, beaded evening jacket.

A huge collection of fur coats.

Tokyo 7

I believe this is somewhat of an institution in the East Village. Tokyo 7 is a huge consignment store that sells all sorts of high-end designer names such as Emporio Armani, Prada and Marni, all at very sensible prices. I bought a near-to-new pair of black Vivienne Westwood ankle wellies, which I’ve already used three times since – I do live in London after all.

Picture from http://www.tokio7.net/index.html

My Trip to New York 1

Posted on November 9, 2012 by dressingfordinner

Part One – the Food

A few weeks ago, I returned from New York, where my friend Sara and I stayed in Brooklyn at Robin’s, the swellest girl in the whole city. It was my first time in the US, and, despite knowing that the Big Apple is not a true representation of the whole of the United States (just like London is not really synecdochic of the UK), being there highlighted how New York and London are so very different. Sure enough, Manhattan’s vibrant streets were heaving with people of all sorts of backgrounds and trades, buzzing with flickering lights beckoning passers-by, and steaming with an endless array of memorable scents, just like London’s Westend. But it made me realise that the British are a population of their own. With their self-pride, friendliness, exaggerated mannerisms, heartfelt involvement and loud enthusiasm when saying even the mildest of things, I would be more inclined to likening New Yorkers to the French or the Italians, rather than to their British counterparts. Of course it is not right to generalise to a smaller degree, such as saying whether I found one people more helpful in giving directions than the other, but I can definitely say that New York seemed to hum that little bit louder.

The food was outstanding, though that could have been that Sara and I were painstakingly selective when choosing where to have our next meal, but my favourite restaurants, which I would definitely recommend, were as follows:

Babbo

Not that it needs recommendation – this restaurant was the most up-market stop of the whole trip. Robin, Sara and I felt very much like grown-ups here, and despite only sharing a starter, a bottle of wine, a dessert, and only having a full primo (pasta main) each, we left feeling very full, which made this restaurant surprisingly affordable, particularly for its atmosphere and outstanding quality. The waiters were also impeccable – we were highly impressed by how they scooped up the crumbs from the tables making a spoon dance and glide on the tablecloth. The jewel-clad lady sitting next to us even commented on that little trick to the Jeeves-like waiter.

Picture source: http://adashofcinema.com/2012/08/22/around-town-babbo-new-york-city/

Picture source: http://ny.eater.com/places/babbo

Luke’s on the Upper West Side

This has to be my second favourite meal of the trip, simply because now, if I were ever allowed one last meal in my life, my choice would have shifted from Osso Buco to a mighty, mayo-free but butter-soaked lobster roll. The huge chunks of lobster are velvety and melt in your mouth faster than you can say “fishing lobsters in Maine”. This roll is unfussy, simple and doesn’t need anything else added. It’s perfect. Go have it.

Luke’s on the Upper West Side. Picture taken by Sara.

Lobster Roll

Katz’s Delicatessen

This classic sammich deli did not disappoint. The sharpness of the pickles and sauerkraut cut through the richness of the pastrami, and the wholeness of the rye bread binds everything together beautifully. Needless to say, our eyes were bigger than our stomachs, and in hindsight we should have just ordered one to share. After we were done with (half of our) platefuls, we both silently pretended we still had a good reason to sit there for a little longer, just because neither of us could even waddle. And no, I didn’t do a Meg Ryan impression, the place was so rammed and loud that nobody would’ve noticed, anyway.

Sara with two strangers.

What she’s having.

Shake Shack

Ooh that Shack-cago hot dog was excellent, and the curly fries were a bit different – was it maybe the first time I ever had curly fries? I think it might well have been.*

A collage of our Shake Shack experience made by Sara.

230 Fifth

We didn’t eat here, but I had a delicious Dirty Vodka Martini and the view from the rooftop was breath-taking. It was a sunny yet windy late afternoon, so they provided warm, hooded red capes for everyone. Doesn’t get much better than sipping a vodka drink in a dressing gown in front of a beautiful view – and nobody seemed to care! I really loved the vintage-like lanterns all around the rooftop.

Another cool collage made by Sara.

A small part of the view from the rooftop.

Beautiful lanterns.

Watch this space, as I am soon to post about the little fashion gems I found in New York.

*I have since discovered that what we ate were actually crinkle fries — goes to show…!

Colour Feature: Orange*

Posted on September 18, 2012 by dressingfordinner

Orange is the first colour I ever remember someone disliking. I was seven or eight, not yet into black, and I was surprised to hear my mother say she found orange-coloured things repulsive. I hadn’t imagined people could dislike colours. I mean, sure, it made a kind of sense: I certainly knew which foods I disliked, for example; it just hadn’t occurred to me that colours were up for discussion. I knew I liked tigers, and that they were mostly orange. It was an earthquake of a moment.

Balenciaga S/S ’12

My mother, like all mothers, was half-right. Orange mixes its messages. It’s both warning and invitation. It has connotations of illness, of plague, of those glistening little rainforest dart frogs that exude poisonous syrups – and yet think of apricots, the nudity of peaches, the juice of tangerines and of, well, oranges. It’s sweet, is what I’m getting at, with all the sin and danger that word implies.

NORDSTROM Herschel Supply Co. ‘Walton’ Duffel

But we’re talking blaze orange here. Saturated safety orange. The colour of road cones and the Plymouth Barracuda. The colour of easyJet aeroplanes and the mobile phone company. That bright, toxic, new-basketball orange. The shade of deer-can’t-see-it orange you’d find in a hunting store. It’s the colour of autumn, of change – halfway between the self-sure reds and yellows of this world, it’s the colour of construction, of caution on building sites. Primordial, volcanic. Of something not yet fully made-up. A Halloween melding of this world and the other.

ASOS Denim & Supply Ralph Waxed Jacket

It’s a colour that’s been creeping up slowly. Oriental. Creeping onto shoes and bags, Sartorialist posts, the floor of Prada’s Men’s Fall/Winter 2012. It demands attention and works well with black, white, or dark brown. With leather. With wool. It’s one of the few colours – purple’s another – that asks something of the wearer. It confers a kind of power, a double-edged radiance you would do well to respect, and, like Alice Walker says of purple, I think it pisses God off if you walk by it and don’t notice.

From The Sartorialist

Prada F/W ’12

Do not wear more than one orange item. That one thing should be protective or functional rather than decorative, i.e., a coat, a hat, a tie, or shoes/boots. Don’t wear it with green. Don’t wear bow-ties. Don’t live alone.

Brioni F/W ’12

*This article was written by my friend and colleague Sam Eckett, press release editor and writer with a unique sense of style and a passion for all things beautiful.

How to Pack for a Beach Holiday – Go and Fetch Some Sunshine

Posted on August 24, 2012 by dressingfordinner

Hey, I’m back!

I am very sorry for having been away for so long, but my schedule has been incredibly busy with that internship I mentioned here. But I’m free again now, so hopefully I should be able to keep you updated more often.

I am not going to get too comfy on this armchair, however, as I am soon to set off for the sandy, sun-kissed shores of Sardinia. With this in mind, I decided to write a post about what to pack on a late summer holiday.

First off: the luggage. If you are away for up to a week, there is no need to have a suitcase to check in. It is going to slow down your arrival and, needless to say, make your travel to and from the airport a lot harder. Get yourself a wheelie bag and a small purse to carry phone, earphones, passport + boarding pass and wallet, so that you’ll be able to fit it into the hand luggage, if needs be. Italian brands Carpisa and United Colors of Benetton are affordable yet very durable.

United Colours of Benetton. The smallest one is the perfect size for a week’s worth of summer clothes.

Carpisa. If you prefer a hardware design, this will be ideal.

Both of these cabin-size bags are soft, which helps with the suitcase stacking, light, durable and have plenty of outside pockets for your book, iPad and camera.

Make sure you pack versatile clothes that can be dressed up or down. A good way to achieve this is to lay your outfits on your bed as you plan them day by day, which helps make matchable clothes stand out. Remember you only have a limited space in your bag so limit shoes to a pair of comfortable sandals to walk around pebbled alleys (which you will probably wear on the plane), a pair of flip flops for the beach and a pair of heels for the evening. With heels, the easier to slip off the better, in case you end up at a bar on a beach, so avoid multiple straps and laces.

Kurt Geiger. Easy chic daily sandals – currently on sale!

Miss Trish flip flops.

Developpa Louboutin. These hot wedges have a zip at the back for better wearability.

Make sure to bring a light-weight blazer to wear on the plane to fend off that freezing air con, which can also be used in the evenings when out. Little breezy dresses and short playsuits are great choices to minimise packing and adapt from day- to eveningwear.

L’Agence little white dress. A great day piece, match this buttoned-up dress with a black blazer and the above Louboutins for a clean-cut and trendy evening outfit.

Equipment playsuit. Black on yellow is a trend that has been with us from Spring ’12 thanks to Yigal Azrouël, Monique Lhuillier and Oscar de la Renta, and looks lovely on this flowery playsuit.

Don’t forget to pack a canvas, foldable beach bag!

Missoni canvas bag. Very colourful and summery.

Finally, pack as many bikinis as you like, they’re only tiny and it’s nice to show off different models when going back to the beach every day.

This Mara Hoffman bikini is one of my favourites for a bunch of reasons, but mostly because it channels the ‘90s trend and has a flattering bralette-shaped top which makes everything stay put and gives it a trendy finish at the back.

Mara Hoffman bikini. This bralette design is unusual and original.

Cold Summer Outfit

Posted on June 13, 2012 by dressingfordinner

Believe it or not, being Italian, one of the reasons why I decided to move to the UK was the climate. I never really liked excessively hot weather and where I’m from, that’s what you get from mid-June to early August. I always loved the British summer, with a gentle breeze, a shy sun and the occasional need of a light cardigan.

All this was true until last year. This year, things have changed. We saw one week of scorching heat at the end of May and then back to 10°C, rain and gusts of ice-cold wind. Which means that the sunglasses in my handbag looking at me with hopeful little eyes are completely redundant, just like all my sandals, floaty dresses and summery hats in my room.

To try to raise the morale in my wardrobe, I decided to keep warm while wearing summery colours. So here’s what I put together.

Dust pink silk shirt and cashmere and lace cropped jumper from Italy, pink gold necklace and pendants from Braï Jewellery, leather-look leggings from ebay, pastel-green Superga plimsolls, beige trench coat from Banana Republic and Classic Q Hillier Hobo bag Marc by Marc Jacobs in black with golden hardware.

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