Talking of ankle cuffs and stripper heels
Pleaser USA
Right after experimenting with ankle cuffs yesterday, I was browsing the Pleaser website for mindblowingly tall stripper boots, and found these dahlings. Pretty perfect if you ask me. I especially love the ones with the straps!
Remember Karla’s stripper boots? Awesome, right?
I love the pair with the buckles the most.
Cuffed
Ankle boots: Guess, Cuff: Supernova
This one spiked cuff was kind of too large for my wrist, so I experimented with wearing it around my ankle. It was still way too tight to be comfortable, but it has inspired me to find more men’s leather cuffs to wear as a odd ankle strap. A large silver bangle (the type that was fashionable to wear around the upper arm in the late 90’s) would work too..
This look would probably work better with pumps and strappy sandals rather than booties, but a girl gotta work with what she has at hand, right?
Like 90’s
Vogue US , from 1990 or 1991, not quite sure. Source: The Fashion Spot
Let’s play a game, and count how many items from this editorial we’d wear today. Let me start: The leather catsuit, the biker boots, the leather schoolgirl skirt, most of the biker jackets, the Chanel cuffs, the belts, the necklaces and the skinny jeans.
Should I?
From Gina Tricot.
Pros: No one in Germany will have those
Cons: Everyone in Scandinavia will have those
I already have a pair of “dressy” drop crotch pants, but I feel I need a more casual pair, in a soft material. And possibly in a pale fabric, for the summer. I love the darker pink shade. Or should I get a black pair?
Also craving: A nude, soft, drapey, casual jumpsuit. For everyday use with docs or strappy shoes.
Those who ask get answers
Edie Sedgwick
I tried to make a video with my answers yesterday, but the webcam refused to work. Oh well. Here you go.
Dream holiday?
Umm, just right now, anywhere warm would do. Australia, Egypt, Dubai, California.. The typical beach holiday in other words. In the summer: NYC, Paris and Barcelona, more of a metropolitan shop-till-you-drop thing.
Taste in guys?
Oh, the skinny, dark haired indie rock musicians, in their skinny jeans and cardigans and converse sneakers. (Umm, the boyfriend has zero taste in music, and dresses in whatever I force him to buy. But there is a difference between fantasy and reality, right?)
Favourite pair of shoes you own?
Ahh, no idea – I love my turqoise Topshop strappy heels, but they don’t get worn too often, and my Guess booties, and my three pairs of Docs. I also have a studded pair of Guess strappy heels, which I will love to wear in the summer. However, the one pair which is most comfortable, goes with everything and hence gets the most wear are my Din Sko booties.
Favourite holiday you have been on? (You can see what´s on my mind right now.. lol)
Not exactly a holiday, since it was supposed to be educational, but a trip to Dublin in 2006. It was.. hot.
Most annoying tv personality?
TV reality shows annoy me, period, so I don’t watch them. Most Norwegian reporters piss me off though – talk about terrible journalism!
Most overrated designer in your opinion?
Not really a designer, but Ed Hardy is the one brand that should be collected on one huge bonfire and burnt. So tacky, I cannot believe people wear it. Oh, and Juicy Couture (once again, no designer).
What ONE item of clothing that you own would you save if you had to get rid of everything else?
I would like to remind you that we have decency laws, honey, so me running around in ONE item of clothing would be.. fun. Umm, in the winter I guess my Valentino coat – it is the most expensive item of clothing I own, it keeps me warm. For summer, my Day Birger et Mikkelsen dress.
Who’s your favorite designer?
Of the ones active today: Marc Jacobs, Karl Lagerfeld, Stella McCartney Alex Wang and John Galliano
Of the past: Hubert Givenchy, Valentino and Coco Chanel
What do you do for a living?
I’m a full time student. I get about 2000 Euros in scholarship each term, as long as I just bother to pass my exams, and then I get support from my parents, and I have a little money in savings especially for my education. So I get along.
Dream job?
Neurologist, I would make the perfect cynical doctor à là House. If that doesn’t work out, something within the law profession – a judge would be really fun.
Nighttime photography
Blazer, cigarette trousers and plimsoles: H&M, Tank and circle scarf: American Apparel, Hat: Hutbusch, Bag: Iris Horbach, Watch: Pilgrim, Studded bracelet: Supernova +++ Raybans during the day
Dressed down the “suit” with canvas sneakers and a loose tank. I love American Apparel everything, so soft, and the perfect loose fit. I didn’t manage to have pics of me taken during the day, so we tried to do it in the dark, against the city lights. Gotta play a little more with such pictures for occasions to come.
Inspiring me right now
A loose shirt worn as a dress, loads of bling, a zippered assymetrical sweat and biker boots or chucks. Hmm, looks familiar. From Miss Selfridge, Luella S/S 2009, Converse and Frye .
I want this girls collection of grafic tees, combat boots, jewelery and ripped/shredded everything. Also wouldn’t say no to the rocker attitude and the looks. I have an obsession with long, dark messy hair and pale skin right now. Possibly more of a winter inspiration, but I’m not ready to trade in my bad gal chic for the silk and pastel clad lady just yet.
Looking forward to the new episode tomorrow, which I am naturally going to illegally download as soon as it comes out. I love Skins!
OMIIGAWD
I’m absolutely in love with the new Doc Marten pastel boots, especially the pale pink ones. I need those so badly, and I regret not getting a grey pair a couple of weeks ago, when I had the chance to charge them on daddy. Ah, I would feel like the perfectly spoiled rebel princess when wearing those! Oh, and I need the floral ones as well, they match a skirt I own. 90’s at their best.
Available from Topshop, Urban Outfitters or your local punk store.
It’s not all about the clothes
My favourite summer accessories: If only I was a little richer.
Oh yes, I’m all into brights and nudes right now. I almost have enough black in my wardrobe.
Source: Elle UK
Time to pretend
Zara drop crotch pants, American Apparel “The summer shirt” deep v-neck tee, Old tartan cropped blazer, Hutbusch bowler hat, Docs, Iris Horbach bag, David Aubrey earrings and necklace and Hultquist pendant
Pics from some days ago. Sorry for the horrid lighting – a good camera is still not allmighty, you see.
This pic was taken in a McDonald’s in Oslo, of all places. To our excuse, me and my friend bought sandwiches at the United Bakeries cafe, which was closing, and the McDonald’s was the nearest place one could sit down: yes, it meant we had to deal with hoards of eight-graders dealing with their middle school intrigues and blossoming sexuality, but it was cold outside.
I hear, chipped nail polish is so in vogue..
Ask me intimate and shocking questions
Gorgeous Natalia Vodianova. From style.com.
I know it is pretty usual for only 1% of the visitors to comment on a blog. I’m not complaining, since blogging is not only about getting comments, and like.. I’m not an attention whore, am I? (Actually, I am.) But comments are fun, nice and ugly ones alike. So I decided to make sure anyone visiting my blog can NOT avoid commenting, since the first thing the person sees when entering the blog is this big fat Q&A post.
Plus I actually think that I am an incredibly interesting person. Just kidding. No, not really.
Since this is a style and fashion blog, it would be best if most questions are concerning that topic, but I will not refuse to answer more personal questions as long as they’re not rediculous or are asking for my pin codes or something.
So keep it coming people! You’re awesome.
Barefoot
H&M cigarette trousers, Bik Bok zipper print tank, Vintage shawl, Chanel sunnies, the usual crap on my arms, Hultquist pendant +++ my usual Guess high heeled booties and the bag.
I was kind of way too exhausted to take proper outfit pics outside and stuff, or you know, just sit up straight for that matter, so here are some self-timer pics. It’s the outfit you want to see anyways, right?
Take a look at my hair. THIS is the reason one should leave haircuts to professionals. Thank god it.. grows.
Split personality anyone?
Anyone who has ever thought of why my blog is called “La Belle et la It Girl”, raise your arm. Anyone? Thought so.
Let me break it down for you, dahlings.
Warning for the low IQ crowd (not that I think it applies to my lovely readers): These definitions are truly my own analysis of my fashion personality, and in no way taken out of a dictionary.
La Belle:
Styles to check out: Preppy upper class lady, English Rose, Victorian Goth
Loves classic cuts, and is truly a rules girl. Less is more for her. She just cannot own (or wish to own) enough pearls, Christian Louboutin stiletto pumps, silky, jewelcoloured and nude coctail dresses, impeccably cut suits, Burberry trenchcoats and sassy LBD’s. Her style icons include Audrey Hepburn, Jackie Kennedy and amongst the modern stars, Anne Hathaway. She believes in investing into quality, and wouldn’t hesitate spending hundreds of dollars on that perfect pair of black pumps or a Chanel 2.55. Her favourite labels include Valentino, Erin Fetherston, Calvin Klein, Chanel and Jil Sander, to name a few. However, she is not one to pass up a bit of sass and glamour, and can be frequently seen playing with lace, feathers and round, oversized sunnies. Red mani and impeccable make-up is mandatory. She prides herself in having (aquiring) university education and is not ashamed of being a geek or being able to play pieces from Tchaikovsky’s “Seasons” on the piano. Is generally trying to be nice to people, although it is really, REALLY hard at times.
La It Girl:
Styles to check out: Punk, Grunge and theatrical
Likes to think of herself as a free spirit and (Ohhh, the hated word) Indie, although not really an anti-establishment snob, and can enjoy a Starbucks drink like any other girl. The key lies in the experimentation, and this girl is ready to experiment with items not overworn with the masses, and is not particularly afraid of her ripped stockings making her look slutty, or the Docs looking too manly. She’s obsessed with independent labels that are not quite independent anymore, American Apparel and Alexander Wang to name a few, other loved labels include Balmain, Marc Jacobs and Rodarte, and also dabbles in (most often failed attempts at) DIY. Loves trashy 80’s glamour, leather and snakeskin, sequins and rhinestones, oversized shoulders and tight slutty skirts. Style icons include, but are not limited to: Edie Sedgwick, Lady Gaga and M.I.A. Loves british rock and electronica (I will not use the word indie, because it’s making me gag by now). Blogs (duh). Enjoys going out, no matter how trashy the club, because, if anything, one can always laugh at people. Is nice to people she genuinly admires and likes, and is guilty of being snotty to people who annoy the shit out of her, and trying to avoid them all together.
Oh yes, most of my stuff fits the.. It Girl variety. It’s just a lot easier to pull off on an everyday basis, while pretty coctail dresses and pearls are more of a going out thing to me. Oh yes, and the combination of giving a shit and not giving a shit is.. tiresome.
Okay, now that you see how scizofrenic (fuck, I’ll never manage to spell the damn word) my style is, no wonder I’m such an.. awesome person. Who wants to be normal anyways?
Black Rats
Sources: mycatwalk.com, net-a-porter, Kingdom of Style
Considering a DIY of an old pair of spandex leggings that are too large for me anyways. I guess that would require some long elastic thingys and lots of patience.
Contemplating..
Loubies, Marnis or Miu Mius? Or the navy pumps by Vivienne Westwood?
I am pretty torn between the navy Christian Louboutin platforms (although Loubs that aren’t stilettos seem almost blasphemic) and the navy and charcoal Marnis. Although there is a reasonable little voice in my head telling me to get the nude, classic Louboutins. Any other shoes I should check out?
By the way, keep in mind that the limit on my credit card is 500 Euros. Which is actually pretty good since I have no official income.
Gimme!
I am absolutely amazed by this skirt. Bandage, short, super-slutty-tight, blue sequins AND with an exposed zipper. I wouldn’t mind Elena Melnik’s body either. Hello, supermodel – diet!
How to dress stylishly when you have no clothes
Urban Outfitters oversized assymetric tank, layered over a Gina Tricot leotard, old leggings, H&M Blazer, H&M overknees scrunched at the ancles, Doc Martens, DIY beanie, Mulberry scarf, Iris Horbach bag, Bangle on my right hand is by Dyreberg&Kern, the studded cuff on my left hand is by Supernova in Göttingen, Pilgrim watch and David Aubrey earrings.
Obviously, there is always the “naked” option, however, it doesn’t work too well in the current weather. Soo..
- One is to wake up at noon, because one hates mornings. You know, how sleep is totally the time one is most creative or something.
- Realise you have to meet a friend in two hours. Also realise you have nothing to wear. Curse.
- Consider wearing your PJ’s and just putting your Valentino coat and favourite booties on to glam it up. Look out of your window, and decide that you don’t want to ruin a 600 Euro coat just yet. Realise you have to build an outfit around.. wearing.. Docs. AGAIN.
- Get it into your head that you want to wear leggings. You haven’t brought any leggings with you. In fact, you only have five tops, three pairs of pants and a skirt to live on for the rest of the month. Curse again.
- Remember that you have a pair of stretched out spandex leggings hidden away somewhere in your closet. Go on to search through your closet, throwing all of your stuff on the floor, and uttering phrases a young lady never should be heard saying. Find nothing other than your old clothes from middle school. Say: “WTF was I thinking?!”
- Find the leggings in an underwear drawer. Call the idiot who has put them there every name possible. I mean, everyone knows that leggings are not underwear, but in fact a substitute for pants. Say it with me: “Leggings are pants!”
- While you were bombing your closet to pieces, you have probably also found a pair of overknee socks you thought you lost on your trip in the UK a year ago. Scrunch them over your leggings. On an overaccessorizing spree, pile ten different bangles on your dainty wrists.
- Head to your moms room in search of that oversized black shawl you remember her owning. Find out she too, has decided to wear it that day. Take her most expencive scarf as a revenge, planning to accidentally spill some coffee on it later. Ask yourself why anyone in their right mind, when they first decided to spend some hard earned money on a Mulberry scarf, would ever get it in the ugliest colours the world has ever seen.
- Voila! You look fucking awesome.
Can’t quite make-up my mind
After posting a set of positively gross pictures of me sans make up yesterday, I felt almost obligated to prove I actually own some (and also have a weird compulsion to go on and on about my make up routine). Plus, I know that when I can actually bother to do my make up, I look fucking awesome, and obviously, people would like to know how to look as good as me. (*wink wink*)
This is not everything I use at once, but rather the favourite items I rotate in my everyday use.
Face: I usually use a YSL mattifying primer, however, I find it is too drying for winter months, so I just use a good moisturiser instead. I use Chanel Teint Innocence foundation in Cameo (the lightest shade), since it hides the redness, without looking really mask like. Of concealers, I use YSL Touche Eclat under the eyes (I find it pretty hard to blend) and Origins “Quick, Hide!” everywhere else. The Origins concealer is pretty good, exept that even the lightest shade is too dark/yellow for my skin. I also have the Benefit realness of concealness kit, and I can say I love the highlighter (“Moonbeam”) and their lipplumper. The eyeshadow primer is also good for covering minor under eye circles, but the concealer is several shades too dark for me. On top of my foudation and concealer, I apply the Shiseido powder foundation in colour “Natural Light Ivory” with a large brush. That way, I get some extra coverage without it being too heavy. If I feel like I need it, I’ll add some blush, usually by The Body Shop in “Desert Rose”.
Eyes: I fill out my eyebrows with the Isa Dora eyebrow pencil in the light brown shade, it seems to work for me. If I’m using eyeshadow, I apply primer on my lids first, to avoid greasy colour streaks in the crease at the end of the day. My absolute favourite is the Urban Decay Primer Potion I got in Oxford, I think ASOS carries it too. For a natural look, I use the Chanel “Beiges Velours” four eyeshadow set, and for a slightly more accentuated eye, M.A.C in “Scene”, which is the most perfect matte grey shade ever. I also love the dramatic eyeliner look, I either use Dior Style Liner in black, or M.A.C “Macroviolet” gel eyeliner. And the best mascara I have tried so far is Lancome L’Extreme, I apply it over Estee Lauder Lash Primer Plus, and curl my lashes with a heated eyelash curler by Model Co (Not awesome, but it doesn’t damage my lashes the way the mechanical eyelash curlers do). Oh, and I use a white eyeliner on the inner lash line to brighten my eyes up, it’s by L’Oreal, but it makes my eyes red, so probably not perfect. I have not had any luck with L’Oreal’s products.
Lips: I love, love, love lipstick. I use M.A.C “Angel” and Chanel “Charisma” (the top two in the photo) for a subtle look, and a red one from YSL and “Kirsch” and “Lustering” from M.A.C for a more dramatic look. To keep the things from bleeding all over my face, I use primers (the Benefit one or Prep+Prime from M.A.C, I love the one from Benefit a little more) and line my lips with a lipliner that matches the shade of the lippy (Clinique and Guerlain have good ones).
Other useful little things: Most of my brushes are from The Body Shop, they are the best you can get at that price. I also use the Vitry tweezer to pick a couple of stray hairs, as we don’t have the awesome Tweezerman products in Europe. Chanel base coat plus Essie quick drying top coat means any nailpolish is made awesome. My little magic potion is the Eight Hour Cream (of course, in the little cute limited edition jar), I use it on everything from hands, dry skin patches and sore lips, to keep eyebrows in place or mix with make up to make it blend better. And my very much favourite perfume is Burberry Beat.
Overaccessorized
American Apparel tank, Bik Bok skinnies, Guess booties, Hutbusch bowler, Pilgrim watch, Supernova studded cuff, Bijou Brigitte rings
As much as I think it’s fun to see other people dress up even at home, I don’t do it. The thought of making my nice clothes dirty when no one can see them anyways just isn’t justifiable to me, so I usually stay in sweats (although clean, nice and matching sweats).
However, today I felt like experimenting a bit, my aim being to try and pull off the minimal jeans and tank top look. I am no minimalist when it comes to fashion, I love patterns, colours and having ten different layers in one outfit. So after getting into black skinnies and a white tank top, I headed straight for my accessories. This is nothing revolutionary, but I like the look, and it works for the mornings where you wake up ten minutes before you need to leave home.
Oh, and I found a pretty perfect bra today among my old clothes: sheer, black, soft cups. Perfect under sheer stuff, with other words. I will console myself with it while dreaming of the infamous Alexander Wang bra. Oh, and I need a tripod. I’m tired of pictures with my head, feet or other body parts cut off, and honestely, balancing a six hundred euro camera on a pile of boxes is NOT fun.
Some of you might remember the old closet behind me from my old norwegian blog, before I moved to Germany. Ahh, no place like home!
Accessories can like, make an outfit go from blah to wow.. Or something.
As much as I hate style advice given by mediocre, celebrity-focused womens magazines and sexually frustrated mid-life-crisis women who advocate looking “stylish and fabulous” in bootcut jeans and A-line skirts (Hides your fat butt? Possibly. Deathly boring? Definetely. I much rather enjoy seeing a fifty year old lady who has stuck to the biker punk style of her youth AND has an awesome taste in music!), I love accessories, so this is one tip I reluctantly agree with.
Wow, that was one long sentence up there.
Dyreberg&Kern bangle, Studded cuffs from an awesome alternative store in Göttingen, also where I bought all three pairs of my Docs, it’s called Supernova, and a skinny studded bracelet from Bijou Brigitte, Pilgrim watch, Leaf/feather/something earrings from David Audrey, and Buddha earrings from Excel, giant cuff from Urban Outfitters, Hultquist pendant (consider getting a chunky, longer chain for this one to replace the leather straps), David Audrey fish necklace. Sunnies from Chanel and Ray Ban.
Some conclusions from looking at the small part of my jewelery and sunnies collection. The stuff that came with me from Göttingen to Oslo. Basically the newest or the pricier pieces.
- Jewelery makes for great decoration, together with some small figurines I keep getting for christmas from “almost relatives”. I know they’re buying them at the toy shelf in the local supermarket, but it’s the thought that counts, right?
- I’d go against the general trend, and say I love gold (and bronze and copper) more than silver. It just looks a lot better on me, might be due to the pale skin and strawberry blonde hair (I will eat my entire shoe collection before calling my hair “red”). Silver is great too though, especially on vintage pieces.
- I’m addicted to spikes, huge cuffs and large earrings. On the contrary, I seem to be going for the smaller, daintier necklaces after the heavy multichain overload of the winter season. Possibly because I haven’t managed to find the statement necklaces I quite loved in the somewhat reasonable price range.
- I love round sunnies, although I really wanted the two-tone Chanel pair. I ended up with my tortoise pair instead. Oh and I’ll never give up on the Ray Ban style.
- The one thing you should NEVER do while being bored is to decide to trim your hair to make it look more like the straight bob your trying to grow it out into. I ended up with some resemblance of the Eton cut Agyness sported last fall.. Exept not as rad.
