ZARA ONLINE SHOPPING IS HERE!

Swedish shoppers, rejoice!

BUDGET VS. LUXURY: PRETTY IN PINK

 With vibrant colors making a big return this Spring, it's no wonder Jil Sander has been on the lips of nearly every fashion blogger the past month or so. Raf Simmons sent a wave of rainbow colors down the S/S2011 catwalk for the house that Jil built.

One of my favorite pieces are these bright pink trousers, which you can find at NET-A-PORTER and will cost you a cool $595 (that's U.S. dollars).

Fabulous? Of course, but they are slightly out of my budget range at the moment. You know what else is fabulous? These awesome looking pants from ZARA that will only set you back around $60. 

The choice is yours.

Zara

Jil Sander

SAFARI TIME!

It's Saturday night and I'm about to head out the door. My friend is throwing a "safari" themed party and I'm super excited. I love dressing up, especially when I own a bazillian safari-style items.

I ended up throwing on a leopard Louis Vuitton scarf (but as a dress) and cinched it in with my vintage Moschino belt.

To take the outfit up a notch I painted leopard spots on my eyes, which actually wasn't too difficult. There are quite a few YouTube tutorials out there to help you if you want to try this look yourself.

I will upload an outfit picture tomorrow, so stay tuned and have a great weekend!

TOPSHOP EAGLE BELT

I've been trying (ridiculously hard, even) to not buy anything this month. However I can't help but check out my familiar web haunts to see what new things have come in. TOPSHOP in particular has been making it really difficult for me to stick by my new "no spending" mantra, as they've got tons of new and fabulous spring items (I've been eyeing those knitted/fringe cardigans for days now).

However when I came across this amazing belt I just couldn't help my self. This belt is just so my style. I love the vintage/rock and roll feel it has, and although I feel like I could have found something similar (and cheaper to boot) in a vintage shop, I just don't care.

Chocolate Leather Eagle Buckle, £32.00 from TOPSHOP

If you want one too then I'd probably hurry on over to the website as I have a feeling this won't be in stock for too long.

MATTE MANICURE

Image via The Cool Hunter

Love this. Will definitely be trying this new twist on the French manicure soon before Spring is here and pastel colors begin to rule my nail color palette once more.

THESE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS

So over the course of the last two months I've done quite a bit of shopping.
I just wanted to share a couple items that have made my life a little brighter since purchasing them.

The first item is this amazing sweater (jumper?) from the last Jeremy Scott x Adidas collaboration. I bought it in November from LUISAVIAROMA, which by the way has amazing customer service and I cannot recommend their online store enough. This item is sold-out pretty much everywhere, however I'm sure if you scour the internet long enough you may find one.

Anyway, I love the details and the sweater itself is ridiculously soft and comfy so I am so happy it's in my life.

Next up are a pair of shoes that I briefly talked about before going M.I.A. from the blogosphere. I didn't make it hard to guess which shoes I was talking about, but if you are still in the dark well then here they are.

Oh yes, they are most definitely Yves Saint Laurent Tribute boots. I picked them up during one of the after Thanksgiving sales (from Nordstrom) and I absolutely worship them.

Have I worn them yet? Nope. In fact, I have no idea how to walk in them without looking like a baby giraffe—ridiculously awkward. Of course, the weather in Sweden has also delayed any attempts to wear these beauties outside, so perhaps in Spring I will take them out for a spin.

Fingers crossed I don't fall over. Now on to not-so-fashiony things...

My wonderful MacBook Pro. I have been a Mac geek for about five years now and I wouldn't want it any other way. Previously I was on a regular MacBook—which gave me three blissfully trouble-free years. However she started struggling the last couple months because of all the programs/pictures/songs/etc that I had running and we both agreed that I needed more space. She is now enjoying the retired life in the drawer of my coffee table.

This last one probably seems kind of weird, but whatever.

Vitamins! I've been taking a one-a-day women's vitamin and a silica tablet and my skin looks freakin' ah-ma-zing! The purplish-blue bags under my eyes have slowly faded (I'm pretty sure they were there because of some kind of deficiency in my diet) and I seem to be "glowing."

The reason for the silica is that I've read it is very good for skin as well as hair and nails, and let me tell you, my nails need all the help they can get. I think it's still a little too early to tell if they are stronger but I will be sure to do an update at a later time with any results.

So there you have it, my favorite things right now. Happy Friday and have a great weekend!

I'M BAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK!

Miss me? Don't lie.

Stockholm Fashion Week ended yesterday, and one of the shows I took in was altewai.saome. I fell in love with their designs late last fall, so I was pretty excited to catch this show.

Overall I'm not really sure what to think about the designs. Some were beautiful, but I am probably one of the few who actually go to a fashion show looking for pieces I can actually wear. One thing is for certain though, I will not be sporting the ovenmitt-esq gloves that appeared to be adorned with computer circuit boards.

I'll leave you with some pictures. Gonna be totally straight with you, I need to work on my photography. Just because you own a DSLR does not mean you have instant photo-cred. Case in point—my pictures. Snapping models sashaying down the runway is serious business!

Anyway, looking forward to getting reacquainted with you all!

THINGS GET HECTIC QUICK

Beginning like—yesterday, my blog posts will be a little on the sporadic side. I've recently taken on more writing assignments with Runway Passport and we are currently moving into our new apartment, so my hours are kind of all over the place. Case in point, it is nearly two in the morning here in Stockholm and I've just now been able to get to my computer today. I've got some posts lined up so hopefully I can knock a couple out tomorrow morning for your reading pleasure.

In the mean time please bear with me, my lovely readers!

TTFN,

Andie

ZARA, CAN YOU HEAR ME?

Dear Zara,

I am a big fan, but have been feeling sort-of left out lately. I see you've opened online stores in over ten different European countries since September, but Sweden has not been one of them. I see you plan on expanding your online stores into the U.S.A., Canada and South Korea early next year, but still no sign of Sweden. This makes me sad.

I am a big fan, but it is a little difficult shopping in some of the Zara stores here in Stockholm. Most often it looks like a clothes grenade has gone off, leaving items strewn all over the place. I feel like I'm digging to China when I'm sifting through some of the tables that were (once upon a time) organized with items such as cardigans, pants, etc. I can never seem to find anything I want, and yet, I come to your website and am constantly ohhing and awwing over your lookbooks.

I am a big fan, so please consider opening an online store here soon.

A big fan,

Andie 

FRIVOLOUS PURCHASES

Just when I think I have my spending habits under control I go and do something silly—like buying 6-inch heels (hint #1) when it's been snowing in Stockholm for three days straight. No, I did not buy the Dany platforms, or the Litas either. This was a spur of the moment, not-thinking-of-the-repercussions-type of purchase.

Being that it was Black Friday yesterday, I guess the American in me just couldn't pass up a deal. So when I saw these particular ankle boots (hint #2) on sale I just couldn't say no. And you know what? I'm not sorry.

I have been in love with these "it" boots since I first saw them on the runway at Yves Saint Laurent back in 2008 (hint #3). Will I be able to walk in these? I don't even care. After all, according to the well-heeled Anna Dello Russo, 'tis the season to focus on your shoes, be they "sparkly, shiny, eccentric, metallic, decorative, precious, brocade, extravagant, colorful, magnificent, enchanting."

You get the picture.

Speaking of pictures, I'm going to hold-off on posting any until they arrive. I'm sure those of you that are a slave to fashion like myself already know which boots these are. Until then...

Happy shopping!