Spring sunning in Karen Millen and Brazilian beachwear

Posted on by cheryl
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Warm cat in a green and teal sequined tunic from Karen Millen and under the tunic, a beaded orange bikini from OK Brazil.

The days are getting longer in the nordic region and at 10 deg C outdoors in the shade and slightly warmer under the sun, the season seems to promise some very good bikini and beach days up ahead. I got a ‘preview’ of the summer ahead today, the sun on my nose made me feel like a cat, warming and basking.
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Cufflinks – a perfectly smart finish

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Cufflinks in gold and white gold, set with mother of pearl and 2 brilliant cut diamonds, c. 0.10 cts. Stamped GD & Co (G Dahlgren & Co.), Malmö 1940, Sweden. These are to be auctioned this coming weekend, at W.A. Bolin.

In a crowded room to any formal event, one could well sweep over the hall and indulge in the general sight of people well dressed. But as the evening draws on and conversations are engaged, it is most often that one cannot help but notice details in a person’s dress. Women for example, might notice details in men’s dressing such as the colour of his tie as in contrast to his shirt, the cut of his jacket or the pockets on his coat, his tie pin if he’s wearing one and then most interestingly, his cufflinks. Every bit of clothing on a person contains information about personality, and a pair of cufflinks might just well tell if he has a sense of humour. Continue reading “Cufflinks – a perfectly smart finish” →

W.A. Bolin international spring auction 2008

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A diamond and pearl brooch in the form of a peacock, late 1800s. Picture: W.A. Bolin

Love jewellery? W.A. Bolin, Stockholm, Sweden, is having their international Spring auction on 20 April 2008. Established in 1791 in St Petersburg, W. A. Bolin has its history in Russia, where Bolin was then appointed jeweller to four Russian tsars and three Swedish kings, situated at Sturegatan in central Stockholm.

In the picture above, a 14 ct gold and silver peacock brooch, set with pearls, rubies, emeralds and old cut diamonds. It measures 4 x 6 cm and is from the late 1800s.

The Bolin auction catalogue is online and can be subscribed to via standard mail. Viewing in Stockholm begins today.

A cheese and wine dining

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Cheese and wine brunch setting

A selection of wine and cheese with bread

I think Asians generally have a different socialization towards diary products than Europeans – we just don’t consume diary products all that much. My idea of cheese when growing up in Singapore was hard Cheddar or pre-packed sliced cheese, the kind you toast on bread and little cubed cheese in various flavours, which I liked very much.

I also think my encounters with milk and cheese would be more numerous than my classmates’ experiences since most of their lunches as I recall consisted of spam and bread, hard boiled eggs and baked beans and Bovril sandwiches as the most mainstream. Continue reading “A cheese and wine dining” →

Laptop bags with feminine chic or a whole new laptop?

Posted on by cheryl
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The J’tote Afric laptop bag. Fits most 14″ Laptops. Weighs 2 lbs 15 oz and measures 10″H x 14.5″L x 5″W.

I’ve been in search for a laptop bag for about two years now, to not much avail. Admittedly, I shy away from the average laptop bag designs, which feels more catered to the urban warrior than runway chic (see Productdose below for a good review of urban warrior type laptop bags). There were none too many feminine versions of laptop bags to be found, but the ones found were quite luxe pretty. An alternative approach would be to go for an entirely new laptop, one of those I call latté tops, since they fit so nicely on the café table.

Avoiding the square shouldered and adrenaline pumped look of most laptop bags on the market, J’tote offers what I think are some very feminine and chic looking laptop bags for standard sized laptops. In sumptuous purple suede and bold floral print, their Afric laptop bag for example combines good design, function and style with multiple compartments for your laptop, laptop accessories, A4 sized documents, cell phone and D-rings for keys and wallets. Even the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet have noticed the problem and in their March 29 issue come up with a number of suggestions. Continue reading “Laptop bags with feminine chic or a whole new laptop?” →

Clean lines that seduce, with Nicole Miller

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Nicole Miller wedding dress in Princess silhouette

Nicole Miller wedding dress in Princess silhouette from her Bridal Collection

Time must be passing fast for all summer brides-to-be with the onset of spring. One of my American favourite designers for dresses in general is Nicole Miller, who has a fairly comprehensive collection that encompasses a gamut of occasions, including Nicole Miller Signature (red carpet looks), Nicole Miller Collection RTW, Nicole Miller Studio (everyday sportswear), a Bridal Collection and popular bridesmaids line. Nicole Miller also does bags, shoes and accessories to match that perfect dress. Continue reading “Clean lines that seduce, with Nicole Miller” →

Gianmarco Lorenzi – Wicked!

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Satin embroidered heels by Gianmarco Lorenzi

In line with the drive for RED this spring, I couldn’t help but notice these wicked Italian made, 11 cm stilettos by Gianmarco Lorenzi. One of my favourites for shoes, Gianmarco Lorenzi whose philosophy is always sexy, feminine and border pushing on fetish, is infamous for 12 – 14 cm heels even in their autumn / winter collections. Continue reading “Gianmarco Lorenzi – Wicked!” →

The Fabergé Coronation Egg, 1897

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The Coronation Egg, by Karl Fabergé, 1897

As a child, I remember having loads of fun painting Easter eggs. This activity was often followed by Easter egg hunts in the school gardens.

This Easter, I have on my mind a different kind of egg, one that is a little more luxurious and most impossible to find at an Easter egg hunt – the Fabergé Coronation Egg from 1897, which is one of my favourites of the 56 produced by Fabergé from 1885 to 1917.
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Feng Shui vogue for 2008

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  • White smocked cotton voile blouse with accents of red roses
  • Red tulip shorts, Patrizia Pepe
  • Limited edition Luella Gisele bag by Luella Bartley, in tangerine
  • C-buckle peep toe shoes with wooden stacked heels, Chloé
  • Seashell ear hoops in a golden hue

I’ve always been aware that colours, when it comes to wardrobe, can correlate to a person’s mood on a day to day basis. And in a broader influence, surrounding colours can lift moods or make people depressed. An individual’s personality can also be described in terms of colour. Most would understand the sentence, Meeting Alex changed her life, where she was a walking shade of grey before, she is today a myriad of pinks, greens and vermillion!
Continue reading “Feng Shui vogue for 2008” →