A Dream Comes True: Marni For H&M!

If you have been following my blog, you might have noticed that I simply love the quirky style of Marni and I should thank this label for my obsession with costume jewelry, which is a fundamental element of the Marni look. So you cannot immagine my joy when I read about the upcoming capsule collection of Consuelo Castiglioni for H&M.

Only few pictures are available and you can barely see the clothes - which will be available in selected H&M stores and online as of 8 March - but I already know (very irrationally) that I want it all. Yep, cone-head hat included.

UPDATE - 30 November: I couldn't resist and I had to upload the video...The cone-head hat will be in good company with the silver pumps, the purple polka dot ensemble, printed dresses and multiple neck & arm candies...I love how Tim Blanks of Style.com explains Ms. Castiglioni's approach: "We are thinking designers who don't take the easy route, don't go towards a kind of graphic sexuality on things. She aims for a sort of sensuality of the mind". My mind is certainly in love with this label!

Images and vdeo sources: Style by Kling and YouTube

One Day In London

In the last seven years I spent so many hours on this Eurostar to London that I basically felt like Cary Grant in "Indiscreet" (I'm sure that the lovely Ada of Classiq, who knows a lot about classic movies and fashion, is familiar with this title). I felt very lucky to have the possibility of spending my life between Brussels and London: every week I could leave work and problems at Gare du Midi and enjoy two days in that fascinating city.

I miss London, a lot. So imagine my joy when I had the chance of a 24 hour visit, during which we did an 'amarcord' tour - I should probably say marathon... - of some of my favourite spots.

An Orange Day (And A Random Thought About The H&M Labels)

At the beginning of the season I was delighted to see a fashion focus on jumpers and I could not wait to get one in the trendy and warm mustard shade. However, during a recent 24 hour trip to London I saw this orange H&M sweater I could not resist: the fabric is super soft (80% angora) and the cut is very original as the back part is a little bit longer and rondish than the front.

COS black wool coat, H&M Trend orange angora jumper, YSL Muse bag
Etoile by Isabel Marant wool trousers, Church's black Meadle brogues

Being obsessed with the quality of fabrics, this was a pleasant surprise and I have to say that the H&M corner at Selfridges and the first floor of H&M in Oxford Street (the one very close to Selfridges) offer a collection - the one with the light pink label - with very cool designs and superior quality. Unfortunately it is not available in every H&M stores (I rarely see it in Brussels), but the difference between the pink and the usual white label collection is so evident that my advice is look for the pink one!

Nothing To Do This Sunday?

If the answer is yes and if you happen to be in Brussels this Sunday or Monday, you might be interested in this initiative by one of my favourite shops in the Dansaert area, Icon (5 Place du Nouveau Marché aux Grains). As I wrote in a previous post, in this store you can find French chic labels such as Vanessa Bruno and Isabel Marant, plus Acne, Band of Outsiders, and a lovely flower-shaped velvet sofa (see image below) where you can comfortably rest after the shopping spree.

Image source: Icon

Do I Look Like Chewbacca?

After the failure of my studded mission (yep, the ankle boots were sold out in less than 48 hours!), I still managed to get something from Zara. Sorry if I started with this weird question, but when I showed the Zara dress to my adorable husband he asked me if I was going to a Star Wars fan party. It is true that the fabric is quite 'hairy' and in my opinion the 'teddy bear' texture was the interesting feature of this tunic, which is an easy piece to style with a skinny belt and brogues to make it casual.

Zara grey dress, Zara basic stocking, Bensimon  black patent belt
 Meli' Melo' BB bag, Church's black Meadle brogues

Being a huge fan of Chewbacca and having a teenage crush for Luke Skywalker, I took it as a compliment even if I know that it was not meant to be...

STUDDED

I've been intrigued by the Zara People initiative thanks to which people can create streetstyle looks (wearing at least two items of the current FW collection) and the lucky ones get their pictures published on the website. There are some beautiful shots by famous and less famous fashion lovers, and this week a photo caught my attention, because of the studded biker boots...

I already tried to welcome some studs in my shoe wardrobe, but my husband locked its door so there was no way to welcome the Christian Loubutin's Pigalle Spike flats in. Should I try again with these Zara biker ankle boots?

Image source: Zara

A (Fashion) Midfall Night's Dream

Apologise for the lack of posting, but this period is so busy at work that I don't even have the time to think about my Christmas wish-list (something that I usually do well ahead of December). In any case, I did have time for some night blog-watching and when I saw this picture on The Man Repeller, I immediately thought that I wanted to know more about the beautiful skirt. Despite my resolution to wear high heels more often, I think that my feet would never survive more than a couple of hours in the sculptural shoes Leandra usually sports. But this skirt...

Thanks to her post from today I found out that it's from the urban chic New York label Tibi and, more importantly, that it is available online...

I'm becoming a huge fan of digital prints and I believe that the creative future of fashion will rely a lot on original printing tecniques and textures. While waiting for the Mary Katrantzou's capsule collection for Topshop, this skirt could make me so happy: I can perfectly picture myself wearing it with a soft dark grey half tucked-in jumper by day and with a silky sleeveless top by night...I hope that Father Christmas reads my blog...

Image source: The Man Repeller

Walking On The Bright Side

My only pair of Converse left me during Reading festival, so I've been looking for a casual pair of trainers for a while. And the lucky winners of a place in my shoe wardrobe are the Veja's SPMA in Anthracite. So environmentally friendly, so comfortable, so cool. Thank you to my mom for the great present!