All Black...

Back on the bloggersphere after an amazing month of travelling to Japan and Cuba (lets not forget I live in-between London and Paris!) so I am so happy to actually be settling back to some normality and putting this blog post up!

Let's be honest this look is still relevant to the weather because it has just been so shit! I am praying this good weather sticks around now. At least give us the chance to put these long coats away?! Anyway, that's my quintessential English weather moment over…lets focus on the fact I am so massively, totally, utterly madly in love with Gucci. 

Since the moment Alessandro showed his first show (This time last year) I have been on the Gucci change to greatness train. It went from love to a pure and utter obsession, I now stalk the website for brand new updates and pre orders (yes even the pre-orders are hard to get hold of!) I must admit my passion to stay ahead of the Gucci pack has been on top form. I don't brag when I say I literally had no doubts this would be a fashion revolution. When I bought my Dionysus bag (in a non printed GG because I knew that it would be harder to get hold of rather than the GG which would be a constant in the gucci collection, and it has been.) no one wanted to know, everyone said it was nice but just a phase, roll on a year later and they are in constant demand, sold out and released in alternative sizes and colours. I should also mention how EVERY "IT" blogger has it because another blogger bought it but of course the reasoning would never ever be inner circle competition at all *insert eye roll here*. Back to the shoes...I adore these shoes so bloody much. They are beyond comfortable and the details make me swoon. That is what I love about Gucci, the attention to details and the ability to differ itself from the rest of the fashion pack. It truly follows no trend but the passion and love of art. I would love to absorb myself in Alessandro Michele head! Since buying these I have worn them so much the leather have soften. These look great with dresses and jeans and can definitely be dressed up or down. 

Oh and this is howI maximise my Gucci buys- I use the ribbon as a chocker! I am currently obsessed with chokers all over again. According to my mother she's having major flash backs to my Buffy phase (I would like to note I still take tips from Buffy! She rocked a camisole!). All I am gonna say is, give me more chokers and my Dior sunnies this summer!

Gucci loving over (it truly never is over!), you all know I like my quirky pieces to be the stand out piece, I think the details lie in accessories. I do however make sure I buy key essential pieces now like this polka dot shirt from New Look. I bought this originally in burgundy, then this black then grey. Yep, I love it, before i went crazy with the other colours, I did test the burgundy out (wear, wash and wear again) and it passed. I use to spend too much money on fast fashion and constantly use to moan to my mum about not having enough for designer pieces I wanted. I have learned from my job and experience it isn't about the quantity of your wardrobe but the quality. Something I live by now, that doesn't mean high street is out of the equation. No. You just have to be savvy and know what trend you will hold on to past the actual trends sell by date. I.e Polka dot shirts! 

I definitely apply my essential buys to my jeans. Everyone who knows me knows I have the biggest weakness for denim. If I had it my way this blog would be named "Diary of a double denim queen" but that would get boring quite quickly. I swear by Topshop Joni jeans. I have had cheap jeans and expensive jeans. I do love current elliot jeans and Frame, but Topshop is my ultimate go to. I have had so many issues with jeans, for some reasons MOST hight street stores seem to believe the bigger the waist the fatter the legs…hmmm! Thanks Topshop for the best jeans!

This Chanel is beyond cute and amazing. This was one of my christmas presents from the cruise collection. This is such a cute and boxy shape, and it fits so so much in. The chain is actually grosgrain rather than leather so I like to treat this little lambskin beauty safe!

Coat- Topshop

Top- New Look

Jeans- Topshop

Handbag- Chanel

Shoes- Gucci

Necklace- Louis Vuitton

Choker- Gucci Ribbon 

Sunglasses- Dior SOReal

Scarf- Louis Vuitton

Thanks for reading!

X

Bisous

X 

Nadia 

X 

Punky Ballerina

I do not at all claim to be "out the fashion box" or a complete and utter fashionista. But...I fall head over heel for some quirky ass shoes. I like to think of it as my thing. I love wearing a basic outfit (honestly 90% of my wardrobe is an ode to Billy Joel and Bruce Springsteen) with quirky pieces. Shoes are as you all know my ULTIMATE weakness. Shoes have a hotline to my credit card. Even my dad takes note on what shoes I wear home when I'm visiting. I love shoes. I usually don't fall for the typical Louboutin (not that there is anything wrong with them) it's not my pace or style, for me it has lost that quirky aspect, it's fallen into the commercial bracket. I love when my friends call my shoes ugly makes me feel I have achieved something great because I know our tastes differ (there are rare occasions all my friends love my shoes. That's a day our hormones aline)

So as the story of my life goes...The SS16 Miu Miu show blew me away as usual. What blew me away were the ballerinas, soft satin meets aggressive black straps with one gingham and one black wrap-round ribbon. Swoon. So this is how a serial runway obsessive works...you add the picture to a special folder of the season pieces you want, you go into the store and harass your favourite sales assistant until they tell you they've only just got the buying book and that your name is added to the size list and you'll get the call when they come in. You walk past your favourite stores religiously and also as it is on the road you work on...panic because they're in the store window but no one has contacted you and then your mind goes into complete overdrive and you sob because you think they've forgotten your obsessive compulsive stalker face but in reality the Visual team are just doing their job and getting your attention. Cue a sea of online websites selling what you want and selling out within hours before you see your emails, you return to the boutique who at this point think you're insane but kinda cute too but they only have the satin version which make you look like you have a serious case of boat feet (never ever EVER take the judgement of others, if you feel your feet look big, you make the decision), everyone you message a picture to tells you you're being a dick because they're ugly, but in your heart you know they're wrong they just haven't seen the leather versions, you later remember that you really don't care if your friends don't like them.(Dear friends I love and value your opinions more than you know. No shade just pure love) its your money. You don't buy the satin because in all honesty desperation is not our middle name...perfection is. Doubt sits in your mind...due to asking people what they think...then that moment you see what you knew was right.....and it's love. pure addictive love. The right size, right colour, right material and overall you know you will eat like a bird just to sleep in them. 

My process.

Welcome to my world.

So...this is exactly how it went when I bought my Gucci Dionysus bag. Everyone hated it out of my friends, Gucci is still regarded Chavy by people who have their head stuck in the wrong time frame...let's move along with the times Alessandro is here. Although I am happy if the commercial buyers of this world are still scared of a little GG action...it's retro, no one is expecting you to walk out the house a la Daniella Westbrook style. Subtle is key. I do not deny that I couldn't agree with Gucci pre Michele, I had bought the odd few bags before this (my soho disco and my lady web) under the sheer fact I knew Alessandro had his hands all over these, the pre AM was not my cuppa. Frieda had taken the brand to a stagnant point of bronze boredom, Alessandro literally blossomed like the floral arrangements on the two-piece suits. Now this is what I want. I live my life searching for the perfect vintage rings, the perfect vintage style tops. and lets not forget who doesn't want to walk around in fur slip ons? If you don't then you seriously don't know what you're missing and I suggest continuing that love affair for Louboutin….

Thanks for reading.

X

Bisous

X

Monogrmmed Perfection

Who doesn't love Monogrammed pieces? I sure as hell do. It kinda makes a piece a little more personal and forever. That's what I have always felt about monogrammed pieces.

When I first saw the Burberry show in September last year, I like the rest of the world fell in love with the monogrammed nylon back packs. Cute and lightweight...winning combination. I wasn't going to purchase the bag because I am lucky to have Two Chanel backpacks (Burgundy leather and my graffiti one) so I didn't feel the need to add another to my collection, despite it being so cute. Enter London Fashion Week and seeing everyone cool totting one around, monogrammed and plain! I stood my ground and said no despite walking in with work colleagues who ordered theirs. I felt a little left out but I knew it was best.

So a week after minor sobbing over me being sensible...My best friend Gaspard told me to pick up his Burberry order before heading to Paris for PFW. I sighed, I huffed, listened to a lecture on how he ALWAYS picks me up in Paris, then I went to get it.

He only went and ordered it for me!!!!! Cue the gushing, blushing and squealing in the middle of Regent Street Burberry. The box was HUGE for what was inside and the sales assistant nearly made me go on the Eurostar carrying a giant box until I convinced him it would indeed fit in a carrier bag. I must add, I was so blindsided by this, my wonderful friend Gaspard is beyond the perfect human and never asks for anything off me but my friendship. Apparently this is our 4 year anniversary present. I'll accept it as a "thanks for being my mate" present and shall continue to extort luxury items off him to pay for my friendship (I am laughing very hard as I write this...I am humble and pretty sure I am the craziest person to befriend!).

Just look at the details!

What do you guys thinks?

Thanks for reading 

X

Bisous

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Vuitton Vibes

I am very lucky when it comes to my work attire, I get to wear almost anything I want from jeans to trainers, I'm in them all week so I never really have a "off duty" look. I usually dress for my mood and comfort, one day I can be in leather pants, another is a cheeky legging day or a dress, jogger days are kept for my hangover days! 

This is usually one of my more relax looks wearing my Parka. 

I have had this Burberry Parker for 4 years now. I was so lucky with this purchase as I found it in Bicester Village for a shocking £150 from £900!!!! The quality of this coat has maintained from the day I bought it. It is my go to coat for those wet and grim, as is this amazing cable knit Monki jumper. Monki had some lovey knitwear pieces this winter season, I was lucky to enough to stock up on them during the sale (thanks late winter!)

I had these Louis Vuitton Palm Canyon boots for Christmas. These were on my wishlist from the moment the cruise collection was shown in Palm Springs (Bob Hopes incredible house to be exact.) My love affair with the new LV is well documented among my friends. What can I say, I hero worship Nicolas Ghesquiere. 

In the space of two months I have added two Givenchy bags to my collection. This wasn't intentional. I found my floral Pandora in the Harrods sale for £250. Bargain I know! But I knew I wanted to add a Antigona to my collection last year after seeing my best friend Marie with a dark red mini. I have a weakness for grey bags, but I am fussy over leathers and this is just the perfect tone and a grained leather. It is deceptively big, it fits more or less my everyday needs including my kindle.

 

Coat- Burberry

Jumper- Monki

Jeans- Topshop Joni's

Boots- Louis Vuitton

Bag- Givenchy Antigona 

Rings- Gucci

Necklace- Louis Vuitton

Hat- Gucci

Bisous 

x

Nadia 

Chanel Coco Handle

Evening guys!

Ah so there is a little story behind the new addition to my bag collection. Back in July I purchased the reintroduced (slightly re-modified for a modern touch) Chanel Coco Handle in navy with a burgundy Lizard handle. I know the HOLY GRAIL. It was love at first sight when I saw the model before it hit the shop floor and my heart sank even more when it was in my hands. It came in different variations, but for me the stand out was the Bordeaux with Navy and Bordeaux with Grey body. The grey sold super fast (the price point was a reasonable (when you take in that exotic leather is being used) £2100, the no lizard handle were £1890) so I jumped in. 

Sadly when I got home I started to panic. I am not one for exotics even if it is just a little splash for the long haul, but mostly my amazing (and fountain of knowledge) best friend Doreen told me I would struggle to use the handle because the moisture of my hand would deteriorate the lizard…not sexy at all having a bag that peels on the tube. I had a flash back of my training with exotics and kicked myself. So it went back the following day. I went in hoping to find the plain leather handle but that the thing with Chanel and a bag that is so cute and so vintage looking, it is going to fly off the shelf. Also with the strong presence of Instagram it seems it was a hot commodity in bag circles. Something I really didn't realise and don't tend to pay attention to (sidebar this is not a sly dig, I genuinely work from my gut and heart, not what is hot right now). So that was July and look how beautiful she was…

She went back, the bag sold out and if you were lucky and in the right Chanel at the right time you may have got your hands on one in-between July and now. Unfortunately I wasn't, nor was I actively going in and asking the girls. I am all about finding things fluidly and not looking desperate (another disclaimer: I don't think people are desperate but I have seen the effects of a MUST HAVE item and I never ever want to be one of those women. Patience is key.)

Cut back to a month ago when Act 1 of Spring/Summer landed. I knew this little bad boy was on the horizon again, but I was facing some serious dilemmas between the Coco come back and the Denim Reissue. I have a weakness for denim as you should all know. I told myself and the guys in Chanel if it was meant to be I would take the Coco, if not the reissue. Well it was meant to be…that's for sure! 

I really wanted the navy, and it was the navy that was available (I had before seeing this colour come across the medium in orange, black and beige but declined all. I believe you should never settle, especially with Chanel). I love this bag, it is so light, a little quirky and vintage but yet a firm classic. I know I'll get a lot of wear out of this. Now you're probably thinking "She's had that for a month and hasn't used it" Yes…I abstained, I obviously checked when I got home that everything was ok with the bag but it went back in the box purely because I can be well behaved and not need to used a bag straight away, also it does not help having creepy stalkers :(

So the long story is over and here she is…

Bisous 

X

Nadia 

Love Is In The Air

Ah, as I upload this post I am sitting in my office in Paris the city of love preparing for the Chanel couture show tomorrow! I am so excited, I love Haute Fouture so much. The details, the craft and the general attitude completely blows me away, so much so I actually don't mind working until 1 in the morning! We are afterall in the City of Love and Light. 

As a lot of you know, Paris is quite literally my second home. I've just moved into my own flat which is quite possibly a dream come true. I don't usually talk about these things as that's how I was raised to do things for yourself and not essentially "brag". So this has been my own little secret shared with my closest friends and close family. I've been working on it since late September. Everything is grey and white or marbled! All my marble is from Pakistan too! I'm all moved in and so content,  So you can see I don't just love Paris for its wonderful fashion and brands! 

So with all this love in the air it's only apt that I share one of the best brands in Paris, Diptyque, new collaboration with the wonderful Olympia Le-Tan. The collaboration is to celebrate Valentine's Day, just check out the packaging. The collection has the limited Rose and Violet candles in small and large, along with a solid perfume (I have been using this non stop for the last 2 weeks!). The brand has repackaged the Rose range to fit in with the collaboration. The packaging is so Olympia, when I first saw it my ovaries exploded with excitement!

I'm so happy these two French houses have collaborated, I think it is a match made in heaven. If you don't know who Olympia is, she is the woman who made it cool to carry a bag that is shaped and designed (handcrafted) as a book with your favourite book cover. From Disney to the classics (I still have my eyes on the Dracula clutch) you can carry your book clutch with pride and look like the chicest woman on the red carpet. Afterall it was Natalie Portman who elevated Le-Tans brand to the super level. The clutches start at £1050. You can contact for bespoke but you can also find the seasonal book clutches on The Outnet For half the price. Hence if you you adore the handmade craftmanship of Olympia but don't have the budget, this collaboration hits all the spots.

The smell of the candle is just dreamy. It is a wonderful combination, and if you have a Dyptique candle you'll know that they do burn well and are well worth the money. A little tip, Dyptique is cheaper in Paris (considerably) and they also participate in the 10% days in Harrods. 

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