Outfit ideas - golden beige

I must confess I've never been a big fan of Chanel. Every time I gave in to the general adoration of the brand and went through Net-a-Porter, Shopbop and so on, I ended up realizing there's nothing under the double C label that I'd like. While the true Chanel-girlz go like AAAH! in excitement at the sight of pearls and tweed, I turn around and walk away in the heavy-metal direction. It's not that I hate Chanel's style, I guess it's just not me. What surprises and amuses me is the fanatism that surrounds this brand, while they just keep making the same pearls and tweed over and over again every season. Oh, and quilted bags.

Outfit ideas - jeans or skirt

I wore this outfit twice to work in the last weeks - one with skinnies and one with a skirt.

This varsity jacket I got on last year's sale at Asos, but wore it only once. "Why?!" I asked myself when I found it in the depth of my closet. I had to wear it, it's a perfect jacket for the Dutch sometimes warm, sometimes cold summer. With skinnies I wore pointed toe Mango pumps, but with skirt they would look too girly and office-related, so I wore the Ash Jalouse booties instead. What do you like more?

Outfit - camo biker

Another outfit where I wear my favorite items at the moment - Zara biker jacket and camouflage skinnies and Sacha studded booties. Add an Alexander Wang PVC Rocco bag to it - and you're set.
I secretly hope the military fashion never goes away. On the other hand, if it does - I will be the only one still wearing it.
Just as with the biker-rocker studded-spiked leather, which is like my middle name by now. So totally me.

Spend or Save? Isabel Marant vs Zara

Ok, so we all are crazy about Isabel Marant creations. And most of us cannot really afford it. Think of the famous Perkins sneaker wedges, Cleane leopard ankle booties, and the amazing western booties to their range? So what do you do if your really, really want a particular IM pair of shoes but your bank account doesn't? 
You wait for sale. or a knock-off.
On one hand, when I see high street brands copy famous designers, I get a bit angry. People were working their ass off and then someone jumps in and simply steal copy get inspired by their creation?
On the other hand, isn't it great? Finally a chance to wear the amazing shoes for a reasonable price!

The only problem is that most of the time the knock-offs are.. well, knock offs. They often give the feeling that something is missing. Something is not right. Like with this Zara boots, clearly inspired by Isabel Marant booties. 

They do have the western vibe, the left pair is even pretty cute, but the most important details that make IM boots so unique are missing. The heel is wrong (not gentle and not chunky, just plain), the shaft is wrong (too tight), the toe is wrong (not pointy enough), the pattern is wrong (tacky? right pair is just.. too freakin' much).  

This makes me wonder - why do brands who copy other's designs leave out the essential parts? I mean I know that if you want to use someone else's design without visiting courtroom, you need to change 3 or 4 details (correct me if I'm wrong). But why to correct the winning details?? Leave them and change something else! Don't leave us, the hard working girls with knock offs that are " not exactly the original.. and not in a good way".

What do you think? Do you like Zara western booties? Would you buy them?
To tell the truth, I'm looking at the left pair.. never mind the too-tight shaft.

Links a la Mode - August 9th roundup

This week I decided to start participating in the amazing initiative of the girls at IFB called Links à la Mode.
The idea is to share a post that you think is the best of what you posted lately and the 20 best links are chosen among the participants . 
And guess what? 

I was included in this week's roundup! Me=happy))

Edited by: Taylor Davies
This week’s link round up is full of shopping and outfit inspiration – it seems like the community is in a very fashionable mood of late (not that you aren’t always!). Some of you are looking forward to fall, some are building your wardrobe of essentials and some are exploring shopping on a budget when you’re curvy. We also had some great submissions from some menswear bloggers in our community – it’s an all-around win!

LINKS À LA MODE: THE IFB WEEKLY ROUND UP: AUGUST 9TH

• Best of BKLYN: How To Shop Realistically
• Bowtie Diary: Borrowed From Grandparents
• Coach Closet: How To Get Away With Wearing Shorts To Work
• Dress Code: High Fashion: Call of the Wild
• Elegant Idiosyncrasy: Your Effervescence So Enchantingly
• Rock My Heels: Tie Dye and Leather
• Good Bad & Fab: The Transformative Power of Key Accessories
• Glamour & Gourmet: Summer To Fall // Brights Meet Autumnal Hues
• Happy. Pretty. Sweet.: Building A Capsule Wardrobe
• My Fashion Wishlist: The Big New Jewelery Trend – Above Knuckle Rings
• My Vintage Curves: Wear Your Personality
• Phiphi’s Blog: The Blues
• Seersucker + Saddles: The Tweed
• Shapely Chic Sheri: Shopping While Shapely – Touring NYC
• Stephanie Sturtida: Paint Day
• Style Inked: Office “Western” Wardrobe Essentials
• Sugar & Spice: 5 Things To Do Now That The Olympics Are Over
• The Style Examiner: Matinique Menswear – Addressing the Challenge of Shopping for Summer Clothes in August
• The Sweetly Sour: Sweet Designers – A Lee + Vee Lee
• Weston Jaeger Style: House Style (Jean Paul Gaultier Exhibit)

SPONSOR:  Shopbop : Tocca, Vanessa Mooney, Foley + Corinna, Clare Vivier, LAMB, SW3, NCbis, Vic Matie, R13 Jeans, Satchels & Duffels

If you would like to submit your link for next week’s Links à la Mode, please register first, then post your links HERE. The HTML code for this week will be found in the Links a la Mode group will be published later today. ~ Jennine

NEW SHOES nr 8 and 9 - H&M booties

The story of these shoes is long and complicated, so take a cup of tea, seat back and prepare for some reading. 
Here how it all happened..

Outfit - Pink Skull and Red Bow

- A bow?? on me?? wait wait wait.
Something in this picture doesn't make any sense.
But hang on there.. look, there's a skull! And Converse chucks! Pfew! I recognize myself now.
Because for a second I thought I got a twin sister who like to wear bows.
But anyway, now we're talking about it, what does this bag do on me? 
Didn't I always say I would never, never ever wear anything that has even a smallest bow on it??

NEW IN - Zara leather biker jacket

You already saw me wearing this leather biker jacket from Zaraprevious post.

This jacket is my new love after years of hopeless crush on the cropped sleeves darling below (see under the cut), that I somehow managed to miss twice - the original and the remake Zara made a year later.
So the only thing that was left for me is to do my best trying to find a replacement and sighing in envy every time I saw lucky girls posting outfits with my dream jacket.

Luckily this season Zara decided to relieve my suffering and made this perfect, perfect leather biker jacket!

Outfit - Tie Dye and Leather

I just couldn't wait to wear my new amazing DIY tie dye jeans, because they turned out far better than expected! I love the contrast and the enlongating effect that they have.

My first choice of outfit was what I pictured in my mind while we were working on these jeans - a rockish look with a lot of leather. Speaking of which - I love, love, love my new Zara leather biker jacket!! It's so perfect, I cannot even explain. So soft and comphy, so cool and beautiful!

I've been in raptures ever since I missed (twice!!) the previous ultra-popular Zara jacket with cropped sleeves , so this time I couldn't give this sweetheart a chance to escape! And now it's mine. Like, forevah.

DIY - Tie Dye jeans

I had a pair of H&M black skinnies lying around for ages, waiting to be tie dyed. I didn't want to follow the regular tie dye DIY tutorials of which you can find dozens online,  but to make something a bit different.
My boyfriend got all excited about the idea and came up with some valuable adjustments to the technology and the result is what you see!

Plus one

to me)))))))))))))

Outfit ideas - pink skirt, rabbit print

I 'm not a great skirts wearer to begin with. Not only that, but I also try to avoid anything that looks too girly like the plague. I look stupid in girly clothes. Besides, did you ever tried to climb a tree wearing something fluffy and with a lot of ribbons and lace? Oh well, maybe you're right, I don't climb trees anymore.. But I'm a Rammstein fan, after all!

Outfit ideas - white on denim

I love this mix of rock chiс, biker style, flag print and pointy wedges. Speaking of these Mango pointy wedges, they're among the most favorite shoes of mine at the moment. They don't look too heavy or too girlish, they have this perfect shape that makes me want to take photos of them again and again and again.

NEW IN Zara chain necklace

Isn't it the coolest, most powerful and rock-ish chain necklace you've seen lately?
Ok, maybe you've seen other cool, rock girl necklaces. But this one from Zara is certainly the HEAVIEST.
I love it despite the fact that it tries to strangle me every time I wear it.
I'm committed to suffer for fashion.

Shoes Review - Nowhere Sharp Shoe (Peek Shoe)

Remember my all-so-excited post about finally ordering the famous black Nowhere Peek Shoe from Nelly?
I have bad news and good news.
Bad new is I didn't get these shoes. Nelly sent me a wrong pair, which is by the way still in stock.
Good new is.. well, read on!