Uncover your Space

Lights, camera… action! One of my favourite room accessories of late is the vintage camera. It’s the perfect accent because I love photography and have a strong affinity for all things vintage. Including pieces that reflect your personal interests is a key ingredient when decorating your home. In my case, that ingredient is a classic camera.

You can find vintage cameras a variety of places: your local flea market, antique marts, or even your grandparent’s closet. I usually find the best ones at flea markets or a local antique shop called Wertz Brothers.

You may be wondering how to include non-traditional décor items, such as a vintage camera, into your living space… It’s simple: give it a chore. Personally, I like to use mine as bookends on my shelves.

Another idea is to use one as a paperweight on your desk. If you’re really into photography, this is also a lovely way to present a collection of vintage cameras. Or, you can group it with a few other decorative items as shown in the photo below.

Vintage cameras are generally inexpensive and they’re an easy way to add a little character to an otherwise empty space. Whether it’s an artifact from a recent trip, an instrument or in this case, a vintage camera, mixing unusual items (specific to you) into your home adds a nice personal touch.



What unconventional room accessory defines you?


Saskia XO

Mani Monday!

Morning bloggers! Here's a special little something to help kick of that fun and fantastic new week!!! :D

There’s nothing more decadent than the Art Deco era so it was really exciting to translate that concept using black + gold on your nails. Scalloped edges are a major factor in deco designs and create a very feminine feel. This is actually really simple to do but you’ll want to prep your nails with a neutral base colour first.

Tools: round-tipped brush (I have got this one from our local art store), black + gold polishes, clear top coat

Instructions:
1. Make small puddles of the black + gold polishes onto an artist’s palette or a surface that you can dispose after (a business card works great!).
2. Determine how many scallops cover your nail area, depending on the width of your brush. Here we started with the gold shade. If you’re going to use other colours, start with the lighter shade. Since the tip is rounded, plact the bristles where you want the column to be and drag the brush to the end of your nail. Repeat to create the other columns.
3. Repeat with the black polish.

Don’t forget your top coat!

Have an amazing week! Happy working!

Saskia XO

Sheer Brilliance

 

A look from Chloe Spring/Summer 2011

Get inspired by light, gossamer layers, now more than ever as the season of regenerating is well and truely on its way! Following LFW and NYF, the layered look is becoming more and more pronounced. I particularly love the sheer maxi skirt trend seen on the Spring/Summer 2012 runways, everywhere from Rag & Bone to Givenchy.


The sheer maxi skirt maintains a mysteriousness that is subtly sexy yet modest. And it’s ideal for spring since you can layer mini skirts under or chunky knits over.

I suggest pulling this inspired look together by pairing a long sheer maxi skirt with a fitted tank and a medium-thick braided belt. The belt will give this outfit a more polished look, which is perfect for a weekend brunch date.

What do you think about the sheer maxi skirt craze?

Saskia XO

I Want to Sleep in All of These Places!

Hi lovies,
So I was just on Pinterest and saw this one pinboard called Dream Places & Spaces and it consisted of incredible images of relaxing places. After this exhausting week, I would love nothing more than a getaway to one of these amazing sanctions of serenity......

   



























Which one would be your perfect place of serenity?

Saskia XO

Friday Favourites!

TGIF! I hope everyone had an amazing fashion week and will have a stunning weekend!
As usual here are just a few mementums that have inspired me this week....especially with all this sun! Enjoy!

Favourite Look (Lindsey Wixon at Jason Wu S/S 2012):




Favourite Couch:





Favourite Words of Wisdom:




Favourite Treat:





Favourite Manicure:




Favourite Laugh




What has inspired you this week?
Please share by dropping a comment!

Saskia XO

Rock The Turtleneck

Turtlenecks may have gotten a bad rap over the years (don't we all have a childhood memory that involves arguing with our mom about wearing one?) — but if we've learned anything from designers like Rachel Comey, BCBG Max Azria, and Altuzarra plus celebs like Steve Jobs and Sharon Stone, it's that the once-dorky staple is making a very stylish comeback. Whether you opt for a chunky oversize knit, or layer a slim-fitting piece under your warm-weather fare, there are multiple ways to try this trend for Fall. Click through to see and shop five cool, modern ways to wear the classic staple.
Add luxe layers.Start with wide-legged jeans, and layer up with a fitted white turtleneck and a cropped faux fur vest, then add a pendant necklace and platform loafers.






Make a statement.Yes, you can still rock a statement necklace even if your neck isn't exposed; chunkier pieces look cool and modern when worn over your turtleneck, especially with a slightly edgy pleated leather skirt and black ankle boots.




Get "layered" away.Turtlenecks not only make it possible for you to continue wearing your Summer favourites throughout the Fall, but they can also put a totally new spin on an existing piece. Layer a girlie printed tank dress over a solid turtleneck, then load up on cold-weather staples like tights and a knit hat.




Do geek chic.A thick, chunky turtleneck is perfect for those chilly days lounging at home or running weekend errands. We love this nubby cashmere piece, and the pleated trousers add a relaxed yet polished vibe. Add smoking flats and geek-chic glasses for the perfect casual-cool ensemble.




Mix and match.Want to add some pop to a wool turtleneck dress? Sparkly statement earrings look great, and will draw even more attention to the chicness of the neckline. Finish the look with a bright envelope clutch and a pair of party-ready ankle booties.



Which look is your favourite?

Saskia XO

Happy Pancake Day!

Rejoice fellow blogers, the day that liberates overeating is here for another year; HAPPY PANCAKE DAY!


However, as we all know....Pancake Day ( also known as Shrove Tuesday) is the last day before the period which Christians call Lent. So it is an excuse to use up all your yummy ingredients!
As a fellow fan of the celebration, I have typed up a recipe that is both yummy and nutritious:

Method

1. To make the strawberries in wine, heat the wine, vanilla and sugar in a large pan until the sugar has dissolved. Bring the liquid to the boil, then take off the heat. Drop in the strawberries, cover with a lid and leave the fruit to steep until cool.
2. For the griddle cakes, sift the flour, cinnamon, baking powder and a pinch of salt into a large bowl. Stir in the sugar. Make a well in the mix and tip in the egg, lemon juice and milk to make a batter. Add the sliced strawberries to the mix.
3. Heat a non-stick frying pan and add a little salted butter. Add spoonfuls of the batter to the pan to make small, thick pancakes. Cook over a medium heat until bubbles start to appear on the surface of the griddle cakes - about 2 or 3 minutes. Flip over and continue to cook for another 2-3 minutes. If cooking in batches, keep the cooked ones warm in a low oven while you finish the rest.
4. Serve the griddle cakes warm with the wine-steeped strawberries. 

 

PER SERVING

322 kcalories, protein 7g, carbohydrate 57.7g, fat 6.8 g, saturated fat 3.4g, fibre 2.5g, salt 0.64 g


Enjoy! And post all your pictures below- winner will get a mention :O (yes!)



What's your favourite pancake topping?




Saskia XO

CATWALK REPORT/ DAY 4

LFW ended with an every enchanting explosion of colour, street style and pure fashion 'jeanius'....scroll down to take a peek at the highlights of its amazing occurance; it was once again, a phenomenal success!

Which was your favourite CATWALK DAY?

Saskia XO

CATWALK REPORT/ DAY 3

Day 3 of LFW saw four A/W 12 Catwalk shows: Mulberry, Marios Schwab, JW Anderson and Unique (Topshop). This post is inspired by the hustle and bustle of the events!

MULBERRY
Wow, Mulberry is good at branding. … + expandAt 7am yesterday, it tweeted the news that songstress of the moment Lana Del Rey, the muse for its new Del Rey bag, was turning up to the show at 10am. Within an hour, it went viral. Nice move. Once we battled our way past hundreds of gold Mulberry balloons, we spotted Azealia Banks, Elizabeth Olsen and Michelle Williams on the frow, too. By 11am, Mulberry was the number-one trending topic on Twitter. Job done. The clothes are almost incidental to the publicity-inducing sideshow, but adorable all the same. The show was inspired by children’s book Where The Wild Things Are and English boarding school-style japes. Cue statement outerwear par excellence. Silken shearling yeti coats came in caramel and rich oak, layered over chunky knits and below-the-knee schoolgirlish skirts in lace and floral panels. I adored the giant, thickly textured knit scarves, Inuit hats, quilted floral parkas and bomber jackets in autumnal shades. The Del Rey bag was, like the singer, darn cute, too.
  


MARIOS SCHWAB
Until yesterday, I’d never been to a show inspired by a single piece of music. Marios Schwab was so taken with the Adagietto from Mahler’s Symphony No 5 that he created a collection worthy of clothing a modern-day Marlene Dietrich for her entire life, from walks in the park to business lunches, formal evenings and red-carpet engagements. With Hitchcockian drama and mystery, the Schwab woman emerged in precisely cut, form-fitting cocktail dresses with Spirograph bodice detailing, topped with a wide-brimmed hat, or a slim chocolate-brown satin trouser suit. The hourglass-shaped coats with sculpted leather arms looked to be made of shaved fur in green or pale yellow; this turned out to be alpaca from renowned teddy-bear maker Steiff. Schwab said the Mahler piece instigated “a desire to construct the wardrobe of the ultimate seductive, mysterious woman, someone to admire from afar”. He then read Dietrich’s biography en route to LA, and the creative impulse was complete. Ms Dietrich would surely have ordered every piece.

  


JW ANDERSON
You know you’ve arrived on the London Fashion Week scene, when fashion kids are queuing outside your venue two hours before the start time in the freezing cold, and senior international editors are hustling to their front-row seats. So it is with Mr Anderson, the cult NEWGEN kid on the schedule whose womenswear sales quadrupled since last September. He’s got his look sussed; its clunky geek chic for cool girls who like their fashion to be quirkily elegant, rather than elegantly beautiful. His offering for A/W 12 is what he is calling “ugly beautiful” and “monolithic” – ie, looks comprising one or, at most, two fashion items. Indeed, the key show look for me was a toss-up between a waffly fisherman’s knit in mustard worn with a grey and black plaid below- the-knee skirt, and a full-length white patent-leather coat with a white padded skirt panel. Not your usual fashion offering, but I promise: Jonathan Anderson’s jumpers – he also sent out plaid and chequerboard tinsel ones – are already top of many wish lists for next season.
   

UNIQUE
Topshop, j’adore! Not only do you feed hungry fashionistas at your show venue, you also serve up great fashion we want to wear immediately. Yesterday’s show being a case in point. In a move away from the faddish S/S 12 collection, the design team, including Emma Farrow, with the guiding hand of Creative Director Kate Phelan, delivered straight-up future-fashion staples everyone wanted on sight. Cleverly, team Unique began the collection by thinking about their most desired everyday utility fashion pieces – these were kilts, sweaters, boiler suits, party dresses, army shirts and army boots – and then created their ideal versions for A/W 12. This startlingly simple approach resulted in a show of fashion hits. In no particular order, my top 10 are: a stunning olive-green army greatcoat; khaki wide- leg leather trousers; a long front-split kilt in burgundy with a black leather panel at the hem; a black jumper with red crosses; a grey flannel and cotton khaki shirt dress; olive army boots and... oh no, I’ve run out of space!

  


Which collection was your favourite?

Saskia XO

CATWALK REPORT/ DAY 2

As London Fashion Week looms into its second day, seven new A/W Fashion Shows were also entailed....

The First Show was Daks:

The Second Show was Clements Ribeiro:

The Third Show was Jasper Conran:

The Fourth Show was J.JS Lee:

The Fith Show was Simone Rocha:

The Sixth Show was Aquascutum:

The Seventh Show was House of Holland (my fav ;D)

Check out the videos to see which your favourite show was!

Saskia XO

CATWALK REPORT/ DAY 1

REJOICE fashionistas! The most amazing and prestigious event that is London Fashion Week (of course ;D), is here from 17th- 21st February 2012. As a result, everyday I will be posting videos from all of the fashion shows to tantalise your taste buds! So get ready for a fast paced and jam packed five-day-bonanza of fashion and everything else in between!


The first day saw nine phenomenal fashion shows......watch the videos for an exclusive view live from the event!


The First Show was Antoni & Alison:





The Second Show was Corrrie Nielsen:





The Third Show was Fyodor Golan:





The Fourth Show was Bora Aksu:





The Fifth Show was Maria Grachvogel:





The Sixth Show was Zoe Jordan:





The Seventh Show was Felder.Felder:





The Eighth Show was Jean-Pierre Braganza:





The Ninth Show was PPQ:





Which fashion show was your fav?


Saskia XO

How To Wear Winter Whites

We should no longer live by the no-white-after-Labour-Day rules — save for being a guest at your best friend's wedding, there really are no rules when it comes to wearing your white pieces. That said, there can be a little trepidation around wearing the colour during Winter — but I'm out to change all of that. With these five looks I'm embracing the hue on our denim, skirts, and dresses to refresh our everyday style. From a creamy boho maxi to a pair of ultra-chic white skinnies, click through to see and shop all the ways we're wearing white right now.

Contrast your basics..
A creamy mohair sweater has a quintessentially Winter feel. Contrast the cozy topper with slick leather pants and studded loafers, then add in a pair of pretty earrings for an everyday outfit with a little pizazz.

Theory Jaidyn Sweater ($168, originally $335), Sara Berman Skinny Leather Pants ($280), Thierry Lasry Hooky D-Frame Marbled Acetate Sunglasses ($375), Han Cholo Shadow Series Rose Plated Brass Medium Stud Earrings ($35),Asos Croc Embossed Leather Porfolio Clutch ($108), Steve Madden Melter Flats ($140)

Go boho... 
Craft a bohemian Winter look by pairing your furry vest with a long white maxi. Layer up with your favourite popover and style it out with a buttery bucket bag and easy ankle boots.

Etoile Isabel Marant Dory Cotton-Jersey Sweater ($320), Rachel Zoe Vanessa Silk Maxi Skirt ($605), J.Crew Tillary Bucket Bag ($198), N.Y.L.A. Women's Patrice Bootie ($90), Frolick Jewelry State Necklace ($56), Halston Heritage Faux Fur Vest ($150, originally $375)

Check out the Top 10 Celebrity Looks of the Week

Make a statement...
Give white denim cool-girl edge by pairing your seasonal pullover and jeans with biker boots and a statement satchel — don't forget your shades.

A.P.C. Crewneck Pocket Sweater ($275), Madewell Skinny Skinny White Wash Jeans ($99), Elizabeth and James Park Sunglasses ($155), DKNY Small Round Bracelet Watch ($135), Zara Tri-Combined City Bag ($90), Zara Flat Biker Boot ($159)

Add some edge...
Make your LWD Winter appropriate with a leather jacket and booties that speak to the season with luxe shearling lining.

Cacharel Sleeveless Dress With Pin Tuck Detail ($359), Topshop Traditional Biker Jacket ($300), J.Jill Solid Micro Tights ($13), By Malene Birger Gilsan Ankle Boots ($684), Nars Diamond Life Nail Polish ($28), Alexander Wang Marion Bag ($650)

Go white on white...
Don't be afraid to embrace white on white. A creamy sweater feels extra fresh against skinny white bottoms, standout jewels, and a pair of edgy ankle boots.

Zara Snakeskin Shopper ($50), 3.1 Phillip Lim Sweatshirt With Cut Off Sleeves ($350), Rag & Bone Skinny Jeans($176), See by Chloé Cutout Leather Ankle Boots ($365), Dannijo Ines Necklace ($395)

Which look is your favourite?

Saskia XO