Showing posts with label Designer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Designer. Show all posts
Peter Carl Fabergé is renowned for his collection of Imperial Easter Eggs. A collection of 50 stunning eggs made with incredible craftsmanship that can fetch an eye wateringly obscene amount when sold. But there’s more to the goldsmith than his collection of egg-shaped gifts made for Russian royalty.
The Victoria and Albert museum (V&A) are currently running Fabergé in London: Romance to Revolution, an exhibition exploring the man behind the internally recognised brand symbolising luxury, elegance and fine Russian craftsmanship. It focuses mainly on the relationship the brand had with London, when it opened (I believe) the only store outside of Russia in 1903.
I wouldn’t say I’m a fan of Fabergé, far from it, but I have been intrigued as to why a simple statue could fetch a cool £3 million at an auction. If you’re looking for an artistic review of Fabergé, this is probably the wrong place but I will give you my honest review of the exhibition and my thoughts around the firm.
Inside the exhibition
The exhibition itself was very interesting. It told the story and history of the man himself and the about the brand. It explained the relationship it had with London and it’s very royal customer base. You weren’t allowed to take any photographs in the exhibit but that makes sense with how valuable the items were.
And there were A LOT of them! It gave you a good feel of the firm and the type of pieces they created.
Items made by Fabergé combined fiercely expensive jewels and stones with less expensive materials such as enamel (a technique fusing metal and glass).
Items made by Fabergé combined fiercely expensive jewels and stones with less expensive materials such as enamel (a technique fusing metal and glass).
Fabergé was a brand clearly designed and catering for the wealthiest who could afford the simplest of items but had plenty of money to afford an extravagant version. A lot of his clientele were royalty in some form- you’d have to be to afford the price in that era. A crystal Coronation vase was purchased for £430 which is worth about £4.8 million today. Similarly, a collection of silver bowls indented with a design cost the owner £250 but it now worth about £3.8 million today.
With that said that, the exhibition displayed an equal amounts of purely decorative extravagance alongside utilitarian items including a boot lace hook that had been used so many times, the firm had to re-enamel the handle. There were many cigarette cases that looked somewhat ‘average’ but was made from enamel and had a thin stream of delicate tiny demands flowing through.
Fabergé also made a lot of animal figurines for the royal family. The placard explained some of them had been made purely for its artistic value than anything else. While I’m not entirely sure I can appreciate the value of a French bulldog made from Bowenite with diamond eyes, the level of detail was impeccable. You could pick out every hair and wrinkle on the dog, something that is not easy to do when you're carving stone. My favourite figurine on display was a snail. It was smaller than my fingernail but my oh my was the level of detail outstanding.
I made reference to the Imperial Easter eggs at the beginning and it wouldn’t be a good exhibition if they didn’t exhibit any. Right at the end, you can see some of the eggs from the most popular and memorable Fabergé collection up close. These can fetch a staggering amount at an auction — one estimated to be worth $33 million — but the story behind the one-of-a-kind collection is a sweet romantic tale.
In 1885, Russian Emperor Alexander III asked Fabergé to make an Imperial Easter egg for his wife Empress Maria Feodorvna. A unique egg was then gifted every year marking an occasion in the family. Their son Nicolas II carried on the tradition following his father’s death.
I don’t think a picture could ever do the Egg justice. It’s something you have to see in person to fully understand what makes them so precious and more than a one of a kind item. To see the individual brick markings on the Moscow Kremlin Egg or the fragility of the hundreds of minuscule diamonds, rubies, emeralds, sapphires on the Mosaic Egg could not be captured in a photograph.
Final Thoughts
The exhibition was fascinating. It was very informative but on a subject I think you’d need to have known a little about and have an interest in. I made use of my V&A Under 26 membership so it was free for me. At £20 a ticket, I feel you’re going to a bit bored if you’re not intrigued by who Fabergé was or if you don’t have an interest in jewelled items.
Love, Aoife xo
Peter Carl Fabergé is renowned for his collection of Imperial Easter Eggs. A collection of 50 stunning eggs made with incredible craftsmanship that can fetch an eye wateringly obscene amount when sold. But there’s more to the goldsmith than his collection of egg-shaped gifts made for Russian royalty.
The Victoria and Albert museum (V&A) are currently running Fabergé in London: Romance to Revolution, an exhibition exploring the man behind the internally recognised brand symbolising luxury, elegance and fine Russian craftsmanship. It focuses mainly on the relationship the brand had with London, when it opened (I believe) the only store outside of Russia in 1903.
I wouldn’t say I’m a fan of Fabergé, far from it, but I have been intrigued as to why a simple statue could fetch a cool £3 million at an auction. If you’re looking for an artistic review of Fabergé, this is probably the wrong place but I will give you my honest review of the exhibition and my thoughts around the firm.
Inside the exhibition
The exhibition itself was very interesting. It told the story and history of the man himself and the about the brand. It explained the relationship it had with London and it’s very royal customer base. You weren’t allowed to take any photographs in the exhibit but that makes sense with how valuable the items were.
And there were A LOT of them! It gave you a good feel of the firm and the type of pieces they created.
Items made by Fabergé combined fiercely expensive jewels and stones with less expensive materials such as enamel (a technique fusing metal and glass).
Items made by Fabergé combined fiercely expensive jewels and stones with less expensive materials such as enamel (a technique fusing metal and glass).
Fabergé was a brand clearly designed and catering for the wealthiest who could afford the simplest of items but had plenty of money to afford an extravagant version. A lot of his clientele were royalty in some form- you’d have to be to afford the price in that era. A crystal Coronation vase was purchased for £430 which is worth about £4.8 million today. Similarly, a collection of silver bowls indented with a design cost the owner £250 but it now worth about £3.8 million today.
With that said that, the exhibition displayed an equal amounts of purely decorative extravagance alongside utilitarian items including a boot lace hook that had been used so many times, the firm had to re-enamel the handle. There were many cigarette cases that looked somewhat ‘average’ but was made from enamel and had a thin stream of delicate tiny demands flowing through.
Fabergé also made a lot of animal figurines for the royal family. The placard explained some of them had been made purely for its artistic value than anything else. While I’m not entirely sure I can appreciate the value of a French bulldog made from Bowenite with diamond eyes, the level of detail was impeccable. You could pick out every hair and wrinkle on the dog, something that is not easy to do when you're carving stone. My favourite figurine on display was a snail. It was smaller than my fingernail but my oh my was the level of detail outstanding.
I made reference to the Imperial Easter eggs at the beginning and it wouldn’t be a good exhibition if they didn’t exhibit any. Right at the end, you can see some of the eggs from the most popular and memorable Fabergé collection up close. These can fetch a staggering amount at an auction — one estimated to be worth $33 million — but the story behind the one-of-a-kind collection is a sweet romantic tale.
In 1885, Russian Emperor Alexander III asked Fabergé to make an Imperial Easter egg for his wife Empress Maria Feodorvna. A unique egg was then gifted every year marking an occasion in the family. Their son Nicolas II carried on the tradition following his father’s death.
I don’t think a picture could ever do the Egg justice. It’s something you have to see in person to fully understand what makes them so precious and more than a one of a kind item. To see the individual brick markings on the Moscow Kremlin Egg or the fragility of the hundreds of minuscule diamonds, rubies, emeralds, sapphires on the Mosaic Egg could not be captured in a photograph.
Final Thoughts
The exhibition was fascinating. It was very informative but on a subject I think you’d need to have known a little about and have an interest in. I made use of my V&A Under 26 membership so it was free for me. At £20 a ticket, I feel you’re going to a bit bored if you’re not intrigued by who Fabergé was or if you don’t have an interest in jewelled items.
Love, Aoife xo
I still have to pinch myself that I own these stunning shoes!
I'm the type of person that when I set myself a goal, I will do everything I possibly can to reach it. Around five years ago, in my first year of university, I made a promise to myself that when I graduated I was going to be wearing a pair of Jimmy Choo Lance heels. And I kept it.
I fell in love with these shoes when I first saw them in Fifty Shades Darker. And I know what you must be thinking but aside from me loving the design, I also loved what these represented. Throughout the films, Ana goes on a journey into womanhood. If you take her clothes from the first film as a shy, young college student and compare them to the second and third film, you see her transition into a more confident professional woman. I loved how the costume designer unraveled that on screen.
What I love most about these shoes is the elegance and sophistication these shoes exude. The delicate thin straps wrap and curve around the foot. The arch lifts the foot. This is not your average strappy sandal. This could very easily be a very sexy shoe but I think it still carries a sense of innocence with it.
These shoes kept me going through the tougher times at uni and gave me something to look forward to. Some people buy themselves a Tiffany necklace or a Rolex watch to celebrate an achievement, I buy designer shoes.
Buying them was not an easy thing. I very almost missed out as they had gone on sale and practically sold out. I think Jimmy Choo have actually discontinued the style so I'm really happy to have got them when I did. I remember searching for them online in my size and coming up virtually empty handed. They’d sold out everywhere online and pretty much in all the available retailers in London and Birmingham. Except for one store. I rang the store when they opened the following morning and asked if they’d be able to put the shoes aside for me so I could collect them after work. They did and I collected them at the end of the day.
Considering I’d fallen more in love with these shoes through the images they had on the website, they were everything I thought they would be in real life. I feel like they are even better in person because you can feel the leather and craftsmanship that you can't feel online.
I feel so empowered wearing them and even more so, knowing how hard I worked during university. I think these would make the perfect date shoe and I'm excited to wear them again. As my first luxury designer purchase, I couldn't be more happier!
Love, Aoife xo
I still have to pinch myself that I own these stunning shoes!
I'm the type of person that when I set myself a goal, I will do everything I possibly can to reach it. Around five years ago, in my first year of university, I made a promise to myself that when I graduated I was going to be wearing a pair of Jimmy Choo Lance heels. And I kept it.
I fell in love with these shoes when I first saw them in Fifty Shades Darker. And I know what you must be thinking but aside from me loving the design, I also loved what these represented. Throughout the films, Ana goes on a journey into womanhood. If you take her clothes from the first film as a shy, young college student and compare them to the second and third film, you see her transition into a more confident professional woman. I loved how the costume designer unraveled that on screen.
What I love most about these shoes is the elegance and sophistication these shoes exude. The delicate thin straps wrap and curve around the foot. The arch lifts the foot. This is not your average strappy sandal. This could very easily be a very sexy shoe but I think it still carries a sense of innocence with it.
These shoes kept me going through the tougher times at uni and gave me something to look forward to. Some people buy themselves a Tiffany necklace or a Rolex watch to celebrate an achievement, I buy designer shoes.
Buying them was not an easy thing. I very almost missed out as they had gone on sale and practically sold out. I think Jimmy Choo have actually discontinued the style so I'm really happy to have got them when I did. I remember searching for them online in my size and coming up virtually empty handed. They’d sold out everywhere online and pretty much in all the available retailers in London and Birmingham. Except for one store. I rang the store when they opened the following morning and asked if they’d be able to put the shoes aside for me so I could collect them after work. They did and I collected them at the end of the day.
Considering I’d fallen more in love with these shoes through the images they had on the website, they were everything I thought they would be in real life. I feel like they are even better in person because you can feel the leather and craftsmanship that you can't feel online.
I feel so empowered wearing them and even more so, knowing how hard I worked during university. I think these would make the perfect date shoe and I'm excited to wear them again. As my first luxury designer purchase, I couldn't be more happier!
Love, Aoife xo
Sweedish high street retailer, H&M, has often collaborated with designers to release a limited edition capsule collection. Previous successful collaborations include Moschino, Erdem, Karl Lagerfeld and now Giambattista Valli. The Giambattista Valli X H&M collection features lots of stunning tulle dresses, blouses and also tights. With the collection's release date looming, I thought I'd share an unpublished blog post from last year featuring their GP & J Baker X H&M collection.
* * *
I hardly ever buy from limited-edition designer collections. Mainly because I don’t have the type of money to go around spending it like that. But…. I am learning that it’s okay to be a bit more spontaneous and fun with my choices when I shop. As long as my purchases aren’t totally impulsive and I know I’m going to wear it plenty of times.
It was back in the summer, while I was out shopping with my Mum and brother down Westfield when I walked past H&M and spotted a mannequin in the window wearing the cutest jumpsuit I had ever seen. So I went instore to have a proper look at it on the rail. I didn’t buy the jumpsuit on that day; I tried it on, fell in love and begrudgingly put it back. But I managed to track down the last one a week later. As the collection was limited edition, the jumpsuits had pretty much sold out except from a couple of size 4’s (US size 0) left.
The jumpsuit in question, which is adorable, is part of the GP & J Baker x H&M collection for SS18. The brand in collaboration with one of my favourite high street retailers is a wallpaper company who specialise in prints. So a lot of the pieces used their famous prints.
So yeah, I just wanted to share these cute pictures taken inside The Shop at Bluebird in Covent Garden just before my friend and I headed to an exclusive premiere of Crazy Rich Asians back in September. I’ve worn the jumpsuit a lot since then including to work (I was interning at Marie Claire) and to a friends birthday meal.
Love, Aoife xo
Sweedish high street retailer, H&M, has often collaborated with designers to release a limited edition capsule collection. Previous successful collaborations include Moschino, Erdem, Karl Lagerfeld and now Giambattista Valli. The Giambattista Valli X H&M collection features lots of stunning tulle dresses, blouses and also tights. With the collection's release date looming, I thought I'd share an unpublished blog post from last year featuring their GP & J Baker X H&M collection.
* * *
I hardly ever buy from limited-edition designer collections. Mainly because I don’t have the type of money to go around spending it like that. But…. I am learning that it’s okay to be a bit more spontaneous and fun with my choices when I shop. As long as my purchases aren’t totally impulsive and I know I’m going to wear it plenty of times.
It was back in the summer, while I was out shopping with my Mum and brother down Westfield when I walked past H&M and spotted a mannequin in the window wearing the cutest jumpsuit I had ever seen. So I went instore to have a proper look at it on the rail. I didn’t buy the jumpsuit on that day; I tried it on, fell in love and begrudgingly put it back. But I managed to track down the last one a week later. As the collection was limited edition, the jumpsuits had pretty much sold out except from a couple of size 4’s (US size 0) left.
The jumpsuit in question, which is adorable, is part of the GP & J Baker x H&M collection for SS18. The brand in collaboration with one of my favourite high street retailers is a wallpaper company who specialise in prints. So a lot of the pieces used their famous prints.
So yeah, I just wanted to share these cute pictures taken inside The Shop at Bluebird in Covent Garden just before my friend and I headed to an exclusive premiere of Crazy Rich Asians back in September. I’ve worn the jumpsuit a lot since then including to work (I was interning at Marie Claire) and to a friends birthday meal.
Love, Aoife xo
By now you must know I have an obsession with anything created by the great designers (Balenciaga, Dior, Alaïa, Lagerfeld). I also have a great sense for sniffing out fashion exhibitions around London. If you haven’t already, definitely check out my post on the current Dior exhibition at the V&A. It's on until September!
My latest find is Manolo Blahnik at The Wallace Collection or rather An Enquiring Mind: Manolo Blahnik. The name might sound familiar if you’re a fan of Sex and The City. When Carrie gets robbed at gunpoint, he takes her Manolos and Carrie is left screaming down a Manhattan backstreet, “He’s got my strappy sandals”. For those of you who don’t know what I’m talking about, Manolo Blahnik is a famous shoe designer. His styles are iconic and you can definitely spot a them from a mile away. They have a slight renaissance feel to them from the shape of the heel to the long pointed toe. The two not always mutually exclusive.
During my internship at The Times, I had the pleasure of holding a pair of Manolos. I was sorting out some returns in the fashion cupboard which happened to include two pairs of the most gorgeous shoes. I was in awe of the the craft of the shoe and the feel of the silk. I did have to compose myself a little bit.
During my internship at The Times, I had the pleasure of holding a pair of Manolos. I was sorting out some returns in the fashion cupboard which happened to include two pairs of the most gorgeous shoes. I was in awe of the the craft of the shoe and the feel of the silk. I did have to compose myself a little bit.
The Wallace Collection is located just off of Marylebone High street and is free entry. It is housed in Hertford House that was bequeathed to the nation by Lady Wallace in 1897. It’s essentially an art gallery featuring art from the 18th and 19th centuries and is a stunning place. I always thought The Wallace Collection was a prestigious stately home that you had to pay to get into. But that’s not the case at all. It’s prestigious in its own right due to the richness of the art and its decor. And, to reiterate, it’s free. Fun fact- FKA Twigs actually performed her latest single Cellophane one of the rooms.
The exhibition is not separate from the main display but rather featured alongside it. It is mainly on the first floor (that’s the second floor to my US readers) and towards the back of the house. Underneath the paintings are little collections of three to four pairs of Manolo’s that are said to “juxtapose an icon from contemporary fashion with Wallace’s outstanding collection”. The shoes are displayed inside a glass covering which looks like the glass that covered the rose in Beauty and the Beast. The covering makes the shoes look enchanted, however, I felt like I couldn’t always see the true beauty of the shoe through the warped glass.
The exhibition encourages you to look at more than just shoes. The decor inside is stunning and you feel like you’ve stepped back in time. Since it’s located away from the main busy areas and not as well known as other galleries in London, there’s not a big crowd inside. This means you can enjoy the art without feeling like you have to move along quickly. I read an interview with Manolo Blahnik on The Guardian's website who mentioned that The Wallace Collection was very special to him and often inspired him. The exhibition definitely reflects his love for the gallery and this is shown through the careful placement of the shoes and how they don't take any attention away from the art.
I’d say it depends on the type of person you are and how interested in fashion you are in whether to go or not. The exhibition was more focused on the art inside the house as opposed to solely on the shoes. So, I’d say it was more for maturer audiences than a love-struck teen who wants to stare at the gorgeous shoes up close.
Love, Aoife xo
An Enquiring Mind: Manolo Blahnik at The Wallace Collection. Free Entry. On until 10th September.
Love, Aoife xo
An Enquiring Mind: Manolo Blahnik at The Wallace Collection. Free Entry. On until 10th September.
An Evening Of Art, History and Manolo Blahnik | An Enquiring Mind At The Wallace Collection
9 August 2019
By now you must know I have an obsession with anything created by the great designers (Balenciaga, Dior, Alaïa, Lagerfeld). I also have a great sense for sniffing out fashion exhibitions around London. If you haven’t already, definitely check out my post on the current Dior exhibition at the V&A. It's on until September!
My latest find is Manolo Blahnik at The Wallace Collection or rather An Enquiring Mind: Manolo Blahnik. The name might sound familiar if you’re a fan of Sex and The City. When Carrie gets robbed at gunpoint, he takes her Manolos and Carrie is left screaming down a Manhattan backstreet, “He’s got my strappy sandals”. For those of you who don’t know what I’m talking about, Manolo Blahnik is a famous shoe designer. His styles are iconic and you can definitely spot a them from a mile away. They have a slight renaissance feel to them from the shape of the heel to the long pointed toe. The two not always mutually exclusive.
During my internship at The Times, I had the pleasure of holding a pair of Manolos. I was sorting out some returns in the fashion cupboard which happened to include two pairs of the most gorgeous shoes. I was in awe of the the craft of the shoe and the feel of the silk. I did have to compose myself a little bit.
During my internship at The Times, I had the pleasure of holding a pair of Manolos. I was sorting out some returns in the fashion cupboard which happened to include two pairs of the most gorgeous shoes. I was in awe of the the craft of the shoe and the feel of the silk. I did have to compose myself a little bit.
The Wallace Collection is located just off of Marylebone High street and is free entry. It is housed in Hertford House that was bequeathed to the nation by Lady Wallace in 1897. It’s essentially an art gallery featuring art from the 18th and 19th centuries and is a stunning place. I always thought The Wallace Collection was a prestigious stately home that you had to pay to get into. But that’s not the case at all. It’s prestigious in its own right due to the richness of the art and its decor. And, to reiterate, it’s free. Fun fact- FKA Twigs actually performed her latest single Cellophane one of the rooms.
The exhibition is not separate from the main display but rather featured alongside it. It is mainly on the first floor (that’s the second floor to my US readers) and towards the back of the house. Underneath the paintings are little collections of three to four pairs of Manolo’s that are said to “juxtapose an icon from contemporary fashion with Wallace’s outstanding collection”. The shoes are displayed inside a glass covering which looks like the glass that covered the rose in Beauty and the Beast. The covering makes the shoes look enchanted, however, I felt like I couldn’t always see the true beauty of the shoe through the warped glass.
The exhibition encourages you to look at more than just shoes. The decor inside is stunning and you feel like you’ve stepped back in time. Since it’s located away from the main busy areas and not as well known as other galleries in London, there’s not a big crowd inside. This means you can enjoy the art without feeling like you have to move along quickly. I read an interview with Manolo Blahnik on The Guardian's website who mentioned that The Wallace Collection was very special to him and often inspired him. The exhibition definitely reflects his love for the gallery and this is shown through the careful placement of the shoes and how they don't take any attention away from the art.
I’d say it depends on the type of person you are and how interested in fashion you are in whether to go or not. The exhibition was more focused on the art inside the house as opposed to solely on the shoes. So, I’d say it was more for maturer audiences than a love-struck teen who wants to stare at the gorgeous shoes up close.
Love, Aoife xo
An Enquiring Mind: Manolo Blahnik at The Wallace Collection. Free Entry. On until 10th September.
Love, Aoife xo
An Enquiring Mind: Manolo Blahnik at The Wallace Collection. Free Entry. On until 10th September.
Is it just me who has a ridiculous amount of canvas bags at home? Apparently, I just go around picking them up. I even buy something or spend more just to have a branded canvas bag. Silly, I know. But who knew they were such a useful bag and one that somehow went with every outfit! I’ll even choose one over a £300 bag because it works with the outfit better and I can fit more stuff in it. So how did a branded canvas bag became the ultimate summer accessory?
Benefit, Ted Baker, Micheal Kors and the estate agent down my local high street; all of their canvas bags have found their way into my wardrobe and become a regular among my outfits. And I’m not even mad at it. It used to be fashion over practicality. That was until we realised we could have both. Not only are canvas bags gorgeous but they are so practical! They’re perfect for all my uni books, or my laptop when I go to the library, or when I go to the park and pop a blanket in it, or when… you get the gist.
There was a time when keyrings used to be the go-to souvenir. Then we realised we had more key rings than keys and they started to look a little tacky on the chain. Hence, a change in the go-to souvenir. The canvas bag. A bag with the printed logo of the brand you're now 'associated' with or a slogan from a recent exhibition. Those Dior canvas bags from the V&A exhibition are looking really nice. Although, at this point, it doesn’t matter where the bag came from because we’ll take one anyway. They’re even being gifted as presents!
A canvas bag is lightweight, can fold down to fit in another bag and can hold a lot of crap items. Thankfully, they're not as big as a tote bag so it’s not filled with quite as much crap. I love my tote but it's a wasteland at the bottom of it. The straps vary in thickness and sit comfortably on your shoulder. Of course, it needs to have substantial contents to make it sit right otherwise one strap will keep falling down. But just like with any bag, I don’t have a problem filling it up.
There are three bags that are in heavy rotation; BBC Radio 1, Marc Jacobs Daisy and The Penisulist. I use the Radio 1 cotton bag when I go to gigs because it's smaller and less bulky. The Marc Jacobs one, my friend won for me at a press event, I use as an overnight bag or when I go to the park. It's double lined with a satin-like material and feels quite thick. The Peninsulist bag is my favourite canvas bags and it goes everywhere with me! It's been to Milan, Cannes and Columbia Road Flower Market. It's made of thick cotton material and gets filled with my stuff for uni, groceries and stuff for the beach.
There are three bags that are in heavy rotation; BBC Radio 1, Marc Jacobs Daisy and The Penisulist. I use the Radio 1 cotton bag when I go to gigs because it's smaller and less bulky. The Marc Jacobs one, my friend won for me at a press event, I use as an overnight bag or when I go to the park. It's double lined with a satin-like material and feels quite thick. The Peninsulist bag is my favourite canvas bags and it goes everywhere with me! It's been to Milan, Cannes and Columbia Road Flower Market. It's made of thick cotton material and gets filled with my stuff for uni, groceries and stuff for the beach.
A canvas bag is a no-frills type bag and they come in really nice designs. Even if it is just a brand name. Or a pattern. My collection of canvas bags has reached peak heights. I have so many that I’m starting to give them away. I simply can’t cope with the bags spilling out of my wardrobe. So I'm blessing my friends with my random collection of canvas bags - think estate agent logos and ones picked up for free at random company stalls.
A canvas bag isn’t a bold bag and not being too heavy on the eye makes them perfect for the summer. And that's how the canvas bag became the ultimate fashion accessory.
Love, Aoife xo
Is it just me who has a ridiculous amount of canvas bags at home? Apparently, I just go around picking them up. I even buy something or spend more just to have a branded canvas bag. Silly, I know. But who knew they were such a useful bag and one that somehow went with every outfit! I’ll even choose one over a £300 bag because it works with the outfit better and I can fit more stuff in it. So how did a branded canvas bag became the ultimate summer accessory?
Benefit, Ted Baker, Micheal Kors and the estate agent down my local high street; all of their canvas bags have found their way into my wardrobe and become a regular among my outfits. And I’m not even mad at it. It used to be fashion over practicality. That was until we realised we could have both. Not only are canvas bags gorgeous but they are so practical! They’re perfect for all my uni books, or my laptop when I go to the library, or when I go to the park and pop a blanket in it, or when… you get the gist.
There was a time when keyrings used to be the go-to souvenir. Then we realised we had more key rings than keys and they started to look a little tacky on the chain. Hence, a change in the go-to souvenir. The canvas bag. A bag with the printed logo of the brand you're now 'associated' with or a slogan from a recent exhibition. Those Dior canvas bags from the V&A exhibition are looking really nice. Although, at this point, it doesn’t matter where the bag came from because we’ll take one anyway. They’re even being gifted as presents!
A canvas bag is lightweight, can fold down to fit in another bag and can hold a lot of crap items. Thankfully, they're not as big as a tote bag so it’s not filled with quite as much crap. I love my tote but it's a wasteland at the bottom of it. The straps vary in thickness and sit comfortably on your shoulder. Of course, it needs to have substantial contents to make it sit right otherwise one strap will keep falling down. But just like with any bag, I don’t have a problem filling it up.
There are three bags that are in heavy rotation; BBC Radio 1, Marc Jacobs Daisy and The Penisulist. I use the Radio 1 cotton bag when I go to gigs because it's smaller and less bulky. The Marc Jacobs one, my friend won for me at a press event, I use as an overnight bag or when I go to the park. It's double lined with a satin-like material and feels quite thick. The Peninsulist bag is my favourite canvas bags and it goes everywhere with me! It's been to Milan, Cannes and Columbia Road Flower Market. It's made of thick cotton material and gets filled with my stuff for uni, groceries and stuff for the beach.
There are three bags that are in heavy rotation; BBC Radio 1, Marc Jacobs Daisy and The Penisulist. I use the Radio 1 cotton bag when I go to gigs because it's smaller and less bulky. The Marc Jacobs one, my friend won for me at a press event, I use as an overnight bag or when I go to the park. It's double lined with a satin-like material and feels quite thick. The Peninsulist bag is my favourite canvas bags and it goes everywhere with me! It's been to Milan, Cannes and Columbia Road Flower Market. It's made of thick cotton material and gets filled with my stuff for uni, groceries and stuff for the beach.
A canvas bag is a no-frills type bag and they come in really nice designs. Even if it is just a brand name. Or a pattern. My collection of canvas bags has reached peak heights. I have so many that I’m starting to give them away. I simply can’t cope with the bags spilling out of my wardrobe. So I'm blessing my friends with my random collection of canvas bags - think estate agent logos and ones picked up for free at random company stalls.
A canvas bag isn’t a bold bag and not being too heavy on the eye makes them perfect for the summer. And that's how the canvas bag became the ultimate fashion accessory.
Love, Aoife xo
My friend once told me that in France a Mother will take her daughter to a perfume shop when she turns a certain age. There she would choose a perfume that would become her ‘scent’. It was like a coming of age event. I have no clue how much of that is true or whether I’m getting mixed up with another country but I like to think so much of it is true. The idea that a scent, personalised to you, is made when you were younger and something you carry through in life.
Everyone has a different relationship with scent and different scents hold different memories. In the past, I never took much consideration and attention to the perfumes I would use. However, that all changed a few years ago when I finally had the money and learnt how important a good perfume can be. And so, my coming of age story began.
For me, I associate scents with different outfits and places. I choose one depending on what I'm wearing and how I feel in it. Summer is my favourite season; the lovely sunny weather, the relaxing feeling that takes over and eating al fresco every night. The perfumes I wear during the summer season are generally light, floral and a little sweet.
Here are my top three perfumes for this summer:
Gucci Bloom
This perfume is very special to me and is my favourite one. The scent unravels as you wear it and each time you smell it, you get hints of something else. It contains base notes of natural tuberose and heart notes of Jasmine Bud. The beautiful Dakota Johnson is the face of it, who I absolutely adore, and she put us on to the good stuff. I don't know if it's just me but reading the descriptions of this perfume and the ideas behind it, make me fall more in love with it.
Burberry Her
I received this perfume as a Christmas gift and at first, I wasn't sure as I'm not a big fan of sweet smelling perfumes but it's growing on me. Her is sweet smelling but not overpowering, giving it a classy, elegant edge. The smell reminds me of youth and freedom so I usually pair it with light, fun outfits.
Stradivarius Pretty Blossom
I LOVE scents that smell edible. Pretty Blossom has a subtle hint of chocolate which makes it a mouthwatering scent. It’s doesn't have one domineering scent but rather a mixture of subtle smells. Compared to the others on my list, this is from a high street brand and costs £15. It's really good quality and the scent lingers all day.
Victoria Secret Body Sprays are a must have in any wardrobe and I use mine every day. I picked up the scent Wild Flower last year and it smells of coconuts and hot sunny days. I'm don't actually like the taste of coconuts but I love the smell of them. Coconut smelling perfumes are perfect for the summer as the scent is a summer staple.
I also have a billion little perfume samples sitting in a drawer and so here are a couple of extra favourites that are perfect for summer: Givenchy’s L'Interdit and Emporio Armani’s Stronger With You. Elie Saab's Girl of Now has a hint of almond which is perfect for a lush Summer’s day.
What’s your favourite perfume?
Love, Aoife xo
My friend once told me that in France a Mother will take her daughter to a perfume shop when she turns a certain age. There she would choose a perfume that would become her ‘scent’. It was like a coming of age event. I have no clue how much of that is true or whether I’m getting mixed up with another country but I like to think so much of it is true. The idea that a scent, personalised to you, is made when you were younger and something you carry through in life.
Everyone has a different relationship with scent and different scents hold different memories. In the past, I never took much consideration and attention to the perfumes I would use. However, that all changed a few years ago when I finally had the money and learnt how important a good perfume can be. And so, my coming of age story began.
For me, I associate scents with different outfits and places. I choose one depending on what I'm wearing and how I feel in it. Summer is my favourite season; the lovely sunny weather, the relaxing feeling that takes over and eating al fresco every night. The perfumes I wear during the summer season are generally light, floral and a little sweet.
Here are my top three perfumes for this summer:
Gucci Bloom
This perfume is very special to me and is my favourite one. The scent unravels as you wear it and each time you smell it, you get hints of something else. It contains base notes of natural tuberose and heart notes of Jasmine Bud. The beautiful Dakota Johnson is the face of it, who I absolutely adore, and she put us on to the good stuff. I don't know if it's just me but reading the descriptions of this perfume and the ideas behind it, make me fall more in love with it.
Burberry Her
I received this perfume as a Christmas gift and at first, I wasn't sure as I'm not a big fan of sweet smelling perfumes but it's growing on me. Her is sweet smelling but not overpowering, giving it a classy, elegant edge. The smell reminds me of youth and freedom so I usually pair it with light, fun outfits.
Stradivarius Pretty Blossom
I LOVE scents that smell edible. Pretty Blossom has a subtle hint of chocolate which makes it a mouthwatering scent. It’s doesn't have one domineering scent but rather a mixture of subtle smells. Compared to the others on my list, this is from a high street brand and costs £15. It's really good quality and the scent lingers all day.
Victoria Secret Body Sprays are a must have in any wardrobe and I use mine every day. I picked up the scent Wild Flower last year and it smells of coconuts and hot sunny days. I'm don't actually like the taste of coconuts but I love the smell of them. Coconut smelling perfumes are perfect for the summer as the scent is a summer staple.
I also have a billion little perfume samples sitting in a drawer and so here are a couple of extra favourites that are perfect for summer: Givenchy’s L'Interdit and Emporio Armani’s Stronger With You. Elie Saab's Girl of Now has a hint of almond which is perfect for a lush Summer’s day.
What’s your favourite perfume?
Love, Aoife xo
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Social Icons