Adventures of Barbarella

Attention

Very Important Sweatshirt.

 

And the Christmas sales start...

I popped into a couple of places and picked up a few functional presents for me..nothing crazy, just the kind of basics I pick up on the sales..pair of shoes, a shirt, black jumper.

This tee, because it was made for me:

Versace for H&M: Shopping and a massive amount of pictures

Two days: Two crimson jeans

I LOVE this color

Ibiza: August Favourites

The FOOD! This is what life is made of..

The shorts and the white shirts

Shirt is a silk top from Zara, very similar to my Theory one in weight/texture but with long sleeves which looks very pirate-like, which I enjoy. Pirates = sexy.
Siwy shorts.
Belt is from John Lewis I don't believe it has a brand, i got it because the price was great and I loved the leopard. The buckle was a glaring shiny yellow gold colour originally, so I changed it into this pretty matte rose gold. I basically threw some oven cleaner and vinegar on it and scrubbed away. I'm happy it turned out so well; it could have been a disaster. I hate shiny gold hardware, it makes everything look so cheap. Someone should inform Tod's.

Short coat from h&m that I got a couple of weeks ago and I haven't worn until now because I wanted to change the buttons. In my peregrinations to Liberty I eventually found some big shiny beautiful buttons.

I'm pretty sure this coat is inspired on a Stella McCartney one that I've seen afterwards and that looks just like it. This one caught my attention because of the weight, it moves really nicely, it's the viscose. I hadn't been to h&m in ages! The atmosphere always puts me off..clothes in piles...it hurts me to see clothes in piles. But they had some cool stuff.

I go through stages with these "trendy" chain stores. Right now I feel like Topshop is soo overpriced and the quality so lacking. Last time I went there I couldn't find a beaded top that wasn't broken, and they were like 80 pounds. I might aswell go to Antik Batik. (Also why is everything mustard coloured??) For me, affordable is 30 pounds or less. Anything over that, unless the quality is good, is just false economy. If you think about it, these companies wouldn't be so rich if the cost wasn't ridiculously low compared to the benefits.

Another Summer trench no brainer

Yes, cut-off jeans look kind of weird between the legs, I've noticed.

Jill Sander sunglasses
Monica Vinader earrings
Aquascutum Trench
Sweaty Betty tank top
Siwy shorts
Repetto Shoes. These have become my FAVOURITE thing. They are so comfortable. It's incredible.
Chloe bag. This is (shhh...) new. It was singing "take me take me" as most cute little handbags do. Sneaky. And the sales assistant was so charming we spoke for like 15 minutes about latin roots of words. Hey, roots of words is an exciting topic.

The 54cm waist trousers: Herve Leger

I hate writing descriptive titles but for the purpose of google search i do...I know how irritating it is for me to never find what I'm looking for because the title is so poetic.

As you might have heard, I have a really big issue with waists. Nothing is ever produced smaller than a 62cm (66 being the "average" for the smallest clothing size, in my experience. Which is crazy). Not good enough.

Well well look what I found. Female clothes with a female shape! A rarity. These pants are 55cm on the waist laid flat, though they do stretch of course, they have stretchy bandages in the corset area. I can pull in my tummy to 55 but rest assured I don't walk around that way, and these are super comfortable. They also have enough space for my bottom! Incredible.

The moment you try clothes that have a good fit, you realise just how unflattering 99% of the clothes you own are. They become totally irrelevant. I have to keep reminding myself of this. I should never have to "think" about what I'm  trying on. When it's a wow, it's immediately obvious. Everything else is not worth the wardrobe space, period.

Having said this, it's a good idea to steer clear of things you could never in a million years afford- because well-fitting clothes are dangerously persuasive.


QUOTE OF THE DAY

- Look at these! These actually FIT me! isn't that amazing. Just out of this world
- Yea. You know I bet there's a lot of women who don't find clothes in their waist size. You could be the ambassador for those women
- What do you mean. Of course I am the ambassador for those women. I'm gonna write about this right away, we're gonna write a manifesto






Aren't they wonderful! They make me look like a mermaid. (If there's one thing you always want to look like, like a mermaid is it)

PS- No, I don't plan to wear them with a ribbed tank top.

I picked up some flowers

They had been overlooked all season and needed a good home.

And then, because it is always best to invest in property and encouraged by my main partner in crime who found it absolutely necessary, I got a CASTLE!!!



One can always tell when she's found a good pied a terre. And check out who's in the tower! ME! how cute is that!

They're both collectors items from Lulu Guinness. A girl needs little else than flowers and a castle.

Unless of course she doesn't own a fan. And I didn't, which was tragic really.




Fan from El Havanico. It comes with instructions and they are so exquisite. (I came across the language of fans for the first time in my friend Sandra's blog and I found it so charming).

The following must be an error but it is very funny:

 

 

Sales: Continued

As you may have heard I have a great interest in luxury sales. They're fun and they save a lot of money. For one, I kind of like being able to walk around the store with a handful of shoes in my arms and then drop to the floor and try them on in the middle of a crowd. It's more relaxed and you can take iphone pictures of your feet and send them to your friends without some snotty sales assistant sitting next to you.

And when I say shoes I mean anything: ysl scarves, - oh how liberating to pick them all up and lock yourself up in a changing room when no one's looking, and reaaaally be able to go into a zen meditation state and consider whether it *speaks* to you or not. Handbags are another thing we should be allowed to try in changing rooms.

But without further ado:



How cute is this box??? I'll pay a 1000 dollars and my reign in the antartica for this box.

I've been sort of obsessed with these Lanvin booties ever since I saw them when they came out (I think I might have posted pictures here?), which was ages ago. I found them at 70% off today- I don't even know how that happened! They were sitting on a shelf, ignored by the other girls, whispering "Diana save me, I'm yours!". Very excited! Can you believe they even got me a new pair?? How on EARTH have these not sold? Sure, they were expensive but they are HOT. Can't wait to take them for a stroll.

As for these..these are not gonna walk anywhere! You'll see what I mean.




This is how they look on from my point of view:

Sexy, right? Sky high mules...not the best footwear for running around on cobblestones in rainy days like I do most of the time. I've been infatuated with them for so long..that for a mere 100 pounds. Well it would have been rude not to. I love mules, as impractical as they are.

Things they are good for:
- Making breakfast
- Lying by the pool
- Painting
- Getting a cab and going to see your boyfriend. Sitting down on his sofa/chair/toilet/lap.

And finally *drumroll*..I have this thing for leopard print scarves with purple/lavender patterns on them. I was obsessed with a fuchsia Cavalli one that I saw a while ago but I think it's gone because I didn't see it. I found this one, though, by Givenchy that I ADORE:







It's quite big but so fine, it works perfectly as a neck scarf. Rolls up to barely nothing! I can fit it in my fist.

Who else found good treasures?

Two things

I just love everything about these items. They're soft, smell delicious and are as simple and not ostentatious as a Fendi bag and a Balenciaga jacket can be.

Shall I tell the story? Yes! Love a shopping story. Well my ladies and lads, today "Selfridges Sale Starts" was jotted in my diary. I wasn't completely sure because I hadn't heard about it and there was no mention on the website but it tends to go along with the fashion houses presales- so ANY WAY. I had made sure I would be free so I headed down there, and sure enough, sales everywhere and hoards of asian women snatching everything in view. The whole YSL bags display was practically empty already (2pm I believe?) and there was a block-long queue outside Gucci. I had no intention of stopping at either brand so our tale continues.

Two black ballers kept me well away from Miu Miu and directed me to "the second queue", a type of disconnected labyrinth that you had to go to before getting shuffled through to the actual queue amidst the torrent of people. I got there, nothing exciting. I always assume, surely the girls working there take all the really good stuff before there's even customers.

Then I went over to all the usuals: Prada (sells out before the sales), Chanel (they don't even tell you what's on sale), Chloe...(2000 pounds brown fabric bag, anyone..? Good for the environment AND for the economy at the same time), Celine, too-good-for-sales-Balenciaga (not on sale), Lanvin (only fuchsia bags left), and finally Fendi. YSL was not a contestant because, as I said, someone hauled all their bags this morning.

Fendi- I like Fendi. It's so overdone it's kind of cool again. And I don't see very many pretentious hips wearing it (*cough cough* alexanderwangbags) which is always a plus. I absolutely love their quality, and I love the fact that I often see people carrying Fendi bags which are falling apart.

Wearing your clothes to death is the most elegant thing. The clothes are lived-in, they belong to you. I hate the wear once and trash habit. All the people I admire have one thing in common: I spot them with one same dress or one same bag for YEARS. I love that. I wish I would wear only one dress all the time, it's my ultimate aspiration.

I am getting distracted, I apologize. We were rambling about Fendi. I need to include good inspirational pictures right about now:

I love the Monaco family, so free spirited, so true to themselves, so natural.



I must have been fifteen when I saw that photo for the first time and saved it in my "tearsheets" folder. Laptop after laptop, the photo remains. Yes I'm kind of persistent. Maybe I was 20. Who keeps track of one's age anymore.

To resume.

Jacket, leather, I love leather and I love jackets. I love the aviator style and I hope from now on and for ever we have this huuuge selection of aviator everything, because I really, really appreciate that. Now, I don't want to look like I'm in costume.

Or do i?

Hmmm

No. But anything aviator/biker leather (or aviator/biker glasses) is a win for me. And oh the color! (I know I switch between British and American, I do it on purpose to give my readers and equal chance of complaining about my incorrect spelling) The rich, natural brown! Now that we all own 3.459.834.345 black leather jackets, what hope is there for us but to branch out to BROWN leather jackets!

YES!

Brown and black, together! That is such a fashion faux pas that I'm gonna enjoy faux passing.

I think that's all I wanted to say today. Google is being stupid and not showing me pictures of "70s actresses in camel brown aviator leather jackets", which would so nicely illustrate my speech. I need to go take a bath.

xxx

 

Diana

Today i got:

-Lilac hearts confetti
-Black ribbon (for ponytails. I have a vision)
-And a buddhist prayer deck because i'm a buddhist, i pray, and also i'm a sucker for decks

See even when you don't need anything you can find things that are essential to your life

That sounded like a buddhist fail.

EDIT: I've also gotten a theravada meditations book. I wanna shoot someone right now, but instead I'm gonna read this nice meditations book while his karma rots.

Sent from my iPhone

I may have been baaad

Miu Miu ankle boots

Sent from my iPhone

Choosing beachy kaftans

(not for me, but if i had infinite funds - you bet!)

Shopping for dad

I chose him four shirts. A white one, a purple striped one, a lilac one and a lavender one.

Sales Assistant: Madam are you sure he'll appreciate them all to be lavender?
Diana: I think he looks good in lavender.
Sales Assistant: Okay.

Sent from my iPhone

Christmas Presents!

I promised I'd make a post with all my presents...

Chanel Cristalle! from my mom. I loove this scent. I didn't realise I liked it so much..

strategically placed, now that i see the photo. yes my scent area is still christmas decorated. I think I'm gonna leave those confetti stars there forever

An infinity scarf from missoni



The tea set:



Topshop red flute dress (this was kind of a sales buy) It is HOT





I'm wearing it the next time i go out. Be it a gallery, a pub, a wedding or the cinema, i don't care!

These earrings from my aunt:



Super pretty, i can see these in Summer with white dresses

MUKS





These really surprised me..I wasn't planning to get some, but they are so svelte, for how furry they are..Really nice. And tall. I've worn them with skirts too, good super-cold-weather boot

A Ralph Lauren blouse that is amazing:



It even has some built-in cufflinks. How cute is that




And with the money that I got (never one to save :/) a mini Lanvin bag, but it's still not arrived!!! Will update this asap because it is the lovliest thing ever.

Le shopping

First things are dresses, both from Zara. They've made an outstanding collection this season, I was really impressed. Shame about the sizing, their smallest sizes are still way too big on me. I had to take in the waist on both. But I like them.

I wore this one yesterday to the Capital Rocks event, it came with a belt but it was very cheap-looking so I've been using it with a black d&g thin belt, or a Nogoy goldish one with ivory accents I have and that looks really pretty:



And I can't wait to wear this one:





And to finish, the much talked about, my new Sendra boots. Absolutely love them, I've been wanting one of these for so long. They're all hand crafted and look very unique. The quality is excellent. They're not cheap but they are the real deal:

And the sales start...Pt.1: Shoes

It is with much courage that I present you the beautiful things I've ended up with this week. The non-frivolous amongst us may insert this blog in their mental blacklist..now.

It all started with an innocent (read: machiavellic) invitation from Miu Miu to visit their private sale. I thought I'd see what they had, might as well get a discount.

Oh, never one to dissapoint, they had so many pretty platforms! Sadly (thanks goodness), none of their clogs were in my size. Or rather, I don't know what the hell they've done to sizing this season but they run awfully big.

Anyway, I couldn't decide between three pumps, nude, black, glittery, all too different to really be able to compare them or choose between them, as the girl who was helping me confirmed. The sales assistant (bless her, she was lovely) kept showing me more shoes and telling me how particularly pretty they looked on me. I am not one to purchase three pairs of shoes in one go, so I chose the first ones that had caught my attention and that were already firmly stuck in the NEED section of my brain, and went out to get some fresh air to think about the others!

These are them:


Perforated/studded nude patent platforms. I couldn't love them more, they are so sweet! They remind me of some marc jacobs sandals I have, and that I've worn to death.

So as I got out of the store to get some fresh air and ponder, I walked through Gina (strategically located next to miu miu), who was also having their sale today, as I had been dutily informed a week ago by mail. Oh, how I love Gina. How could I not go in! I got in the queue like a trooper braving the elements with other crazy women, and entered and stumbled right onto their Elvis style in my favourite color combo:

 
Mouthwatering, really! The crystals sparkle in a rainbow of colours. Champagne satin.

 
And THEN, I decided I might aswell get one other pair from Miu Miu in "basic" black:



Also perforated, 14cm high, they are effectively like designer stripper shoes, which we like.

And this is how one of my bags ended up after my adventures. I can spot rain, mud, and possibly soya sauce.



I'm off to have a well-deserved bath

"What clothes/accesories have you gotten recently? Can you post some pictures on your blog?" xx

These Shu Uemura Tokyo Odyssey lashes, that I plan to use for pictures:

A cashmere tracksuit. I'm not a tracksuit girl but it's okay if it's cashmere. Marks & Spencer. Very warm and cozy and necessary for our cold, cold winter. Last year I regretted not getting one; it's freezing at home in February, so now I'm ready for it and won't have to spend the majority of the time inside the bath.

My baths are quite a legend; I've watched movies in the bath, answered emails, written songs, made most of my phonecalls from the bath, had dinner...



This sheepskin jacket from Muuba. I love my furry leather jackets, I'm sure I've posted pictures of my Preen one before: Black suede, curly sheepskin/reversible very rock&roll, I got it a couple of years ago, it's super warm and I love it. This one is completely different: still warm/super soft, but also very light and more wearable. I managed to find a UK6 which runs very small.



This BCBG by Max Azria dress. I just thought this one was so fun with the flowers and it's really tight on the waist. I'm a size0, and I did take it in at the waist.

Yes that's my wardrobe. One needs tutus and feathery things and snake leather belts and felt headpieces and EVERYTHING!



This!! Beyond excited about this, I finally got a skull bracelet that I've been wanting for years and years, because my boyfriends are such enablers and one after the other reminded me that I "had to go to the Great Frog and get one". So I did, and it is so much more beautiful than I expected:



And I did show my mini christmas tree before but here it is again! In all it's mini glory.




Decorations include: A christmas tree cookie, a bird, a 60s hippie volswagen car, a ballerina, a gingerbread house and a bottle of chardonney. It's gonna be an ecclectic christmas.

Can't wait for the Winter Wonderland preview night in Hyde Park today. I am such a child. I am going to ride the carrousel and go ice skating and have candy apples mmmm : )

"Which clothes and shoes did you purchase recently?? did you already buy a winter coat and winter shoes? could you please upload some pics on your blog? that would be great =)) besitos"

xx here are my favourite things that I've gotten recently that I love for autumn:

A moschino furry jacket

  Black tops/turtlenecks...can't live without them



These miu miu sandals:  

  
 

I haven't bought any proper winter coats, I have a few already and I'm gonna stick to those for now; it's not even that cold yet and I never buy things ahead of time. Same for shoes. We'll see when the weather gets worse.

  
  

i might have succumbed to these..

shhhhhhh!

 

Look what came home with me this week...

Louis Vuitton Speedy 30! Will make a video on this one. I am so over trying to lug around beautiful leather bags across ever-snowing, ever-rainy London. Canvas it is.
 
 

 

 

pretty little things

 



  

Kate Moss Topshop/Liberty

I'm very fond of Liberty fabrics, and this is one of the Liberty collaborations. I think it's gorgeous. And a size 6 was perfect.

I got this

I needed this to go with my white tutu skirt.

And where am i wearing that outfit to? I have no idea.

i got new bedsheets!

FINALLY! cause buying bedsheets is never the priority. Blouses and earrings are the priority.



Almarie by Laura Ashley, they're frilly and girly. And yea that's as good as my bed-making gets.

That light on top of my pillow is a UFO. I took a closeup:

Thursday buys

Preen mongolian lamb/suede reversible biker jacket

This is the perfect glamour/rock mix, goes with everything and is super warm. on sale of course

I also got from the sales a few basic pieces i needed like black cashmere tops (I'm a big believer in black for everyday day time) including a sparkly one (picture below), and a Givenchy scarf from Liberty




At Fenwicks I found the prettiest hair crystals. I had been looking for hair crystals like these for months! all i could find were expensive, dirty, little dull things....These are actually beautiful, super sparkly and 30 pounds for a pack of 6.





Now that I have them I'm not sure what I wanted them for but, oh well

Nogoy belt

I got this:

at Liberty. If you're interested in these belts, check it out they have a few especially in Medium size. I happened to find an XS. I had seen this before, but it was just too expensive; I had already bought a black one at full price last year. Ended up really cheap. And in this purpley blue colour it's so retro and cool with black sweaters.

Matthew Williamson beaded zig zag wool skirt

I saw this in Selfridges and oh my god it's soo pretty. So much prettier than in that awful mannequin. It's really sparkly and it feels like cashmere. Plus it was at 50% off!

What Katie Did bespoke mini corset

How cute is this???

I ordered this little pink thing a few weeks ago. It's usually available in black and I'm not sure if any other colours...But you can order them to be made in any of the fabrics that What Katie Did has in stock. This one would be the peach satin and it goes with their peach satin line of underwear. It is small but it really IS a corset! I have it in 18" (I'm 22" natural waist) it is gored, and it is fabulous.

Sonia Rykiel, well done Sonia

I've been in love with this dreamy pink shirt for ever, I saw it in a magazine, then online in the US, tried to find it everywhere, I did not...

Today I saw it in Harrods at 30% off!

Yesss

This has to be the prettiest piece of clothing ever. I am never wearing anything else, ever again.

Celine Robert hat

small lampshade hat from Fortnum & Mason! This is my favorite shape for a hat. Small lampshade. Very 50s.

Liberty preview sale: Vivienne Westwood jewellery

I was sucked into the 15% off this evening where addicted shoppers like myself got fed mince pies and champagne. I wasn't going to go, but I happened to be around because I had to go to see some friends play at the ice bar. This was me when I went out:




Yes I'm wearing my favorite hat : ) On lips it's Frivolous Pink (YSL Rouge Volupte #19) that looks completely different (and much better) now that I haven't got a tan.

I wasn't planning to get anything at this "event" but between canape and canape I spotted these cute Vivienne Westwood studs. And I love Vivienne as a person I think she's wonderfully eccentric, I've been wanting to like something from her line for a while. I always buy clothes and accesories from designer houses that I personally like or agree with. It makes me so much happier.

I also bought the Laura Mercier foil eyeshadow Silver and a lipstick in Rose. I'm wearing both in the picture; V.I.P Silver is a finely glittery silver eyeshadow that you can apply as a wet-lid effect wash or as a full-on silver metallic. Rose is quite a light, natural pinky/peachy/rosey color. It doesn't differ from my natural color too much, just makes it look "clean". I'm big on natural lips at the moment so I like it.

Below VIP Silver foiled (used with a damp brush) with a naked eye:



And a better picture of Rose lipstick:

Grey Agatha gemstone and silver earrings

Got these at Harvey Nichols. They came in a pretty dark blue box that says Talisman Gallery. Looove them!

Gratuitous poser shot

pretty cup i picked up at Selfridges

who knew they had so many cute homeware pieces?? i got stuck in their lower ground floor for hours

 

Prada blue velvet sparkly mary janes

Friday Finds

This little bayswater is super chic

And I've finally caved and got the Philosykos Voyage. It includes 3 vials so the price is really not that bad, and it's my go-to summer scent.

Gina platform leopard pumps 50% off!

Scoooooore

I love Gina platforms, they weigh next to nothing and they hold the foot so comfortably

Today I went to YSL Rive Gauche and Fendi : )

I love going to the flagship stores versus department stores because, first of all the selection is greater, and second the service and the shopping bags are a different story. I got THREE gorgeous hunks helping me at YSL. One holding my coffee, one holding my bag, and the other "processing my credit card".

And the sales begin

Just when I'm panicking because I don't have any shoes (as always), the shoes were on sale in Selfridges already! I came back with two huge boxes.

Prada sequined retro pumps. Love everything about these, from the sparkle to the squared open toe.

Marni platforms. I loove these. Plus they're really tall.

There are still a ton of fantastic shoes left so head over before they're gone

Jimmy Choo slingbacks

boring, right? but i had to have ones. It's printed patent so it looks vintage, it's really cool (Jimmy Choo printed patent stilettos, black)

White Gloves

I adore these wrist length white gloves. I've been looking for some simple, milky white gloves in soft nappa, and finally found them -where else- at the Burlington Arcade in Piccadilly in a lovely italian shop that opened quite recently.. White gloves, and gloves in general are going to be huge in a bit.

Pretty new shoes

latest addition to my bookshelf

Sits so nicely in front of the yoga books next to the makeup and jewlery. I'm such an intellectual

 

we like

Nogoy belt from Liberty

welcome to the family, Argent GSH Day

isn't she goooooorgeous.

bam

Balenciaga

i look scary today. As for walking in those shoes? you don't.

this is getting ridiculous

my shopping bags no longer fit into the trash, or into each other! someone, shut down harvey nichols.