Weekend Inspiration #19 : Think Pink

"On Wednesdays we wear pink!" Pink has long been my favourite colour, and I'm sure many of you are been a huge fan of pink too. Since Mean Girls happened pink was strictly a Wednesday colour, but in the recent seasons there is now more reason to wear pink! Along with other gorgeous hues of blue and gold, Vogue has coined pink as one of the most desirable shades of the A/W 2013 season. The September issue of British Vogue has practically 12 whole pages as a tribute to the season's hottest shade (with Cara Delevingne in it)! However this latest obsession is not something new, as labels from Chanel and Miu Miu to Dior and Carven have featured the rosy hue in their Fall/Winter 2013-2014 collections. Colours ranging from vibrant vivacious pink to delicate baby-pink blushes were used, giving the season a sweet, whimsical and romantic feel. There's one shade for every girl, so take your pick and think pink!

What do you think of this rosy shade? Do you prefer blue or gold?

Weekend Inspiration #18 : I HEART NYC

New York City. The only three words in the world that would conjure up a tidal wave of glamorous pictures and give you a tingle of wanderlust down your spine. Contagious exciting vibes literally bounce off every awe-worthy photo of the City of Dreams, with its Starbucks coffee shops, yellow taxis, bright lights and busy New Yorkers.

New York has always been at the top of my travel Carpe Diem and my life would be complete if I ever get a chance to discover this amazing city. It has practically everything : classic musicals in Times Square; chic and upscale luxury boutiques (think Chanel, Tiffany's, Christian Louboutin, Prada and Jimmy Choo etc) in shopping districts like SoHo, Madison Avenue, Manhattan and Fifth Avenue; department stores and style emporiums in the likes of Bergdorf Goodman's, Saks Fifth Avenue, Barney's and Bloomingdale's; flea markets and delicious street fare in the streets; amazing flora in the form of Central Park (which turns into a winter wonderland in winter); utterly scrumptious signatures like New York-style cheesecake and pizza and a melting pot of other cuisines like Italian, Asian and Middle-Eastern as well as top-tier haute cuisine restaurants; not to mention the breathtaking paranorma of the New York city skyline.(That was a huge mouthful!)

 To me, New York is like the place to be for everyone : from the modern princess to the foodie, the arts and culture junkie to those who just want to soak up its magic. It's energetic, city-that-never-sleeps vibe really sets it apart from other major cities, where everything there is happening and there's always something interesting going on. It's a vibrant, brilliant mosaic of different cultures and personalities, filled with people from all walks of life and no matter who you are, you would definitely find something to fall in love with in New York.

"One belongs to New York instantly, one belongs to it as much in five minutes as in five years."- Tom Wolfe

"Cities have sexes: London is a man, Paris a woman, and New York a well-adjusted transsexual."- Angela Carter

"It is often said that New York is a city for only the very rich and the very poor. It is less often said that New York is also, at least for those of us who came there from somewhere else, a city for only the very young."- Joan Didion

"For me, New York is comfortable, not strange."- Karl Lagerfeld

"New York ladies all look immaculate." - Zac Posen

"I get out of the taxi and it’s probably the only city which in reality looks better than on the postcards, New York."- Milos Forman

"I go to Paris, I go to London, I go to Rome, and I always say, “There’s no place like New York. It’s the most exciting city in the world now. That’s the way it is. That’s it.” - Robert De Niro

"There’s something so romantic about being broke in New York. You gotta do it. You have to live there once without any money, and then you have to live there when you have money. Let me tell you, of the two, the latter is far better."- Amy Poehler

"I didn’t know the city at all, but I was so happy to be in New York I cried. I was so excited."- Greta Gerwig

"There is something in the New York air that makes sleep useless."- Simone Beauvoir



"When I’m in New York, I just want to walk down the street and feel this thing, like I’m in a movie." - Ryan Adams

What do you think about New York City? Where is your dream place to live?

 Charlotte

Weekend Inspiration #17 : Coco Chanel

“You live but once; you might as well be amusing.”- Coco Chanel

I've always had a thing for Chanel. I mean, who doesn't? It's one of the most iconic French fashion houses, and it's founder, the Grand Mademoiselle Gabrielle Bonheur "Coco" Chanel is lauded everywhere in the fashion world because of her ground breaking contributions. From the Chanel No.5 to the coveted 2.55 quilted flap bag, to the LBD and the classic Chanel suit, these les éléments éternels, as Karl Lagerfeld calls them, are symbols of Chanel which has endured the test of time since she opened the first Chanel boutique in 1910 on 21 rue Cambon. Just the word "Chanel" or the overlapping double-Cs speak volumes about Coco's timeless modernity, conjuring images of bold, yet understated and absolutely chic elegance.

So what made Chanel so unique? From the clothes she designed to the way she thought, she was utterly different from all the other designers of her time. Instead of focusing on tight corsets and maximalist togs, Mlle Chanel introduced frocks with simple, lean and clean lines, sweater dresses, collarless tweed jackets, jersey suit, wide-legged trousers and of course, the humble LBD which completely revolutionised the way women dressed. Other iconic objects synonymous with Chanel's creations include pearls, bags with chain straps, the camellia motif and tweed. Her clothes exuded a sense of restrained chic and class, capably mixing practical with luxe, boyishness with femininity (androgyny!), creating a powerful blend of styles which appeals to even the most stylish till today.

Her thoughts are also widely quoted in the fashion world. Just go to any notable style site and you would find a few of her many famous quotes including, “Fashion fades; only style remains the same”, “In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different”, “The most courageous act us to think for yourself. Aloud” and “A woman can be overdressed, never over elegant,". My all time favourite are "A girl must be two things : classy and fabulous" and "A girl should be two things : who and what she wants." Everytime I read these two quotes, I always feel empowered and oh-so-fabulous, like I can conquer the world right at that moment. Don't you love quotes like that?

Nowadays, Chanel's presence is still being strongly felt all around the world, from the uber luxe Chanel boutiques globally to the stunning gowns worn by celebrities on the red carpet. Karl Lagerfeld, who has helmed the label since 1983, has skilfully put a fresh and modern spin to iconic Chanel elements, creating covetable togs from cosmetics to accessories, haute joaillerie to haute couture, mostly in Coco's favourite shades of beige, white and black. An ode to Chanel's timelessness, vintage Chanel is still as treasured as Karl's modern creations, and it is not uncommon to spot classics such as the quilted Chanel 2.55 flap bag or tweed jackets given a 21st century upgrade in Chanel's latest collections.

Love Chanel by now? Here are some fun facts about the house :
1. The interlocking Cs were inspired by stained glass windows in an Aubazine chapel
2. Every Chanel No.5 bottle is sealed by hand with baudruchage (a fine membrane), pearl cotton thread and hot wax stamped with the interlocking C’s.
3. The lion became a symbol of Chanel as Coco was a Leo. It was also part of the decor in the fall 2012 couture show.
4. A gown from the haute couture 2006 collection took 1,500 hours to make.

"Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening."

What do you think of Chanel? Which icon do you love best? Which is your favourite luxury house?