Punk fairies and fluid 70s for Spring 2008?

Posted on by cheryl
Alright, I’m a slow starter. Always have been. I need time to warm up to new ideas. And at first glance now at the Spring 2008 Prada runway – I’m less than bowled over by Miuccia’s new collection.

I’ve tried all my life – literally – to run away from the 70s era. I was born then.

I’m so done with the fashion of that time. So imagine my horror when one of my favourite designers, Prada, pulls out the wide leg 70s pants! Worse still, it’s back – in floaty material! I can already imagine the cheap synthetic copies that will be out in the stores next spring. *CRINGE!*

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Daiane Conterato. Photo: Marcio Madeira

Continue reading “Punk fairies and fluid 70s for Spring 2008?” →

London, June 2007

Posted on by cheryl
In June 2007 I spent a few days in London in a combined business and pleasure trip. It was almost a decade since I was there last, at that time with my parents. This time I could steer my steps better and of course went directly for the fashion districts and also to seek out any and all interesting exhibitions going on. And of course food.

Chinatown

The arrival to London from Landvetter, Gothenburg was early and after checking into the hotel, we (JE and I) explored the London Chinatown, near Leicester Square.

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Gerrard Street, the central street in London’s Chinatown.
Isn’t it strange how Chinatowns are always crowded?
Text & Photo © JE Nilsson, CM Cordeiro-Nilsson 2007

We came across a bakery that I had to go in because it reminded me so much of the neighborhood bakeries back in Singapore. Continue reading “London, June 2007” →

A yellow gold and yellow sapphire brooch / pin.

Posted on by cheryl
A yellow gold and yellow sapphire brooch / pin in the form of a teddy bear.

‘DeBear’ in gold.

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Pictures taken in natural daylight.

A teddy bear brooch and pendant set in 18k yellow gold with brilliant cut yellow sapphires of varying shades of yellow. The sapphires weighing ca. 4.30 ct in total. Blue sapphire and onyx details. Pavé set. Measures c. 30 x 25 mm.

Autumn 2007 – Wrap it with a belt!

Posted on by cheryl
If you’re on a budget and you’re wondering what to invest in this autumn, not wanting to buy too many new items to your wardrobe, then the belt might be an accessory to consider.

I walked away from my trip to London a few weeks ago with only ONE purchase. A cream patent leather L.K. Bennett belt which I bought from the store down Bond Street.

Belts have the ability to transform a look from simple to something more glamourous, depending on the kind of belt you use. And for a small amount of money (a belt would certainly cost less than an entire new outfit), the nipped in waist also transforms your silhouette, so you will have a different look with and without just the belt.

Here, I’ll show you how to really stretch your dollar and put that one accessory to good use or overuse. And I’m going to do that with the L.K. Bennett belt I purchased two weeks ago that looks like this:
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I’m wearing it with a black knit top (French make) and vintage wool skirt (Japanese make) ensemble in the picture above.
Continue reading “Autumn 2007 – Wrap it with a belt!” →

Size zero and BMI below 18.5

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There’s been a hot debate about size zero models and underweight models for some months now. A topic that heated up again with London’s fashion week kicking off earlier this month, as reported in London’s Daily Mail.

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Lily Cole is one of the size zero models today. Picture from London’s Daily Mail.

While I think this debate has done good, I think it’s important for people not to simply jump onto the band wagon with this thought altogether and swing too far out with the pendulum on this debate, without considering the other perspective – those who are genetically thin and underweight, with BMI lower than 18.5.

I say this because I myself speak from a 1.65m frame with a 17 BMI, which is considered way underweight. A search on the internet for “Kate Moss + BMI” will render everything from 15 BMI to 17 BMI. Point is, she is still underweight. But since my BMI is 17, would that not put me in that range and thus under scrutiny and criticism since I do now and again, appear in the media and that would mean that I’m a poor / negative role model for young teenage girls?

Well, I’ve actually put on weight since I was 16 where I was 1.65m and weighed 41 kg. An improvement I would say.

And looking at things from my point of view, I would say this entire debate is unfair to persons such as myself. It lands us in hot water for something that is genetic and it gives society something easy to blame, rather than do that research and publish more on genetic thinness. Now that would cost some institutions a lot of time and money wouldn’t it? So it’s much easier to point to a few prominent research already done and a few models who have died on the catwalks and say – out with size zero, out with being thin!

Besides which, research that goes against the grain most often escape funding. I can imagine the answer and gaffaws from the board of directors of some research institute if I said I had a proposal to prove that being thin is not necessarily unhealthy when every other research points in the opposite direction.

But do I have any health problems? Not thus far. Cholesterol levels and blood sugar levels were healthy at my last annual checkup.

So what’s missing in this debate? I think the word local.
Continue reading “Size zero and BMI below 18.5” →

V&A London – The golden age of couture …

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In an article called Modets guldålder i focus, the Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter today announced that the Victoria & Albert (V&A) Museum in London will open their exhibition on fifties couture this weekend, entitled “The golden age of couture. Paris and London 1947 – 1957”.

The post war years of the 1950s presented an opportunity for women to get out of the factories and back to their domain of family and home. It was an era that celebrated the woman and her femininity, affording her time and luxury to be beautiful again. One can expect this exhibition to showcase some excellent collections from leading designers of the time and should therefore not be missed. Continue reading “V&A London – The golden age of couture …” →