Christmas Decor: Part 1

Christmas is nearly here! One favourite holidays of the year and this year I will be spending it at home in England. Last year was spent in Hong Kong  and it was such an eye opener for me. To kick start the festive celebrations I have been doing some DIY decorating. Nearly everything here is vintage and recycled...   Let's all try to Planet Earth Friendly this Christmas! This year I seem to have gone for a rather masculine, rustic and tonal style for some reason...but so far I'm liking it! Let the Christmas count down begin!

Vintage Christmas tree baubles... don't they look delicious?

DIY advent calendar made from vintage tins.

Vintage brooches... per

fect little stocking fillers!

Present for a gentleman in the making

DIY xmas tree... perfect for a those with a smaller home or on a budget! 

Recycled light bulbs as decorations. 

Old crystals, hand made hearts and old lights make an unexpected

excellent festive display...

The most simple way of gift wrapping without wasting too much paper...Let's do our bit for Planet Earth right?

Rubber Duck Dog

The rubber duck has taken over HONG KONG! Both children and adults have gone crazy over this giant friend.

So what does Hofman's Rubber Duck mean to you? Has it bought back nostalgic memories of childhood toys? Is it purely a money making piece of art?  Has it reminded you of the morals behind the story of the 'Ugly Duckling'? Or does it bring out the ironic contradiction of such innocence against the back drop of the busy concrete jungle? To me, it's escapism. The Rubber Duck let's you momentarily escape the busy city and enter a world of play and nonsense. After all, life doesn't always have to be so serious. 

Seeing photos of this rubber duck reminded me of my dear Ponyo and her mini rubber duck friends. After a trip to Tai Yeun street last year i bought back a bag of these mini ducks to my dog and she instantly fell in love with them!  I am sure you have seen the photo's of the giant Rubber duck everywhere, so let's not bore you with the same image...and so, this is my version of the Rubber Duck.  Hehehe

Cuddles with her little ducklings. Ponyo absolutely loves every one of her little friends, hugging one after another and makes sure that all 30 of them are taken back to her bed at the end of the day. CUTE! 

Red Hot Florals

The weather in UK is still falling behind. The trees are still bare, flowers are still sleeping, nature seems to be a little lazy this year. It's already May but the temperature reminds me of winter in Hong Kong. To bring myself a little closer to Summer I decided to bring florals to my clothes. Modelling is my 6ft tall friend Ailsa, the sailor girl with the never ending legs! It also happens to be her Birthday today. Happy Birthday my dear friend of 13 years! You are beautiful inside and out and certainly one of the most wonderfully weird people i know! Please don't ever change yourself for anyone!

Barcelona in....Muted

Although Barcelona is a vibrant city, there is a much gentler side to the city than you would expect. The city is full of art, music, history and culture. Take a stroll down Barri Gotic to absorb the beauty of all the historical buildings. Enjoy the interesting bric-a-brac at the local market, but make sure to haggle as things are very over priced! For classical music lovers, a visit to Musica Casa Beethoven is a must. The shop is filled with music scores from wall to wall. For a Beethoven fan like me, it was pure heaven!

Oversize Retro Hairstyle!

It's the weekend and time to play! The sun is finally shining through, Spring is fast approaching! This sudden change of weather has inspired me to be a little more playful with my look today. With lazy unwashed hair, what's better than tying it all up in an oversize messy bun. My hair is only a little longer than shoulder length, but i managed to make it look like Bridgette Bardot's beehive with a little help of a comb, hair pins, firm hold hairspray and a 'hair doughnut' made from a pair of old stockings. A video of this finished look will soon follow, but for now, I will enjoy my finished for the rest of the day. A vintage silk scarf tied around the bun, secured with pins finished off the look to perfection. 

I feel rather Pin-Up girl style today actually.... glamorous, kooky and a little over the top...

The Breton Top

It's finally starting to feel a little like spring over in England! I really do hope the snow is gone for good! It is finally time to transit my winter wardrobe into something more playful and fresh. One of my favourite wardrobe piece to wearing during this tricky transition period is the classic Breton top. Pair it with simple skinny jeans and ballet pumps, this look never goes out of style.

The Breton top originated from the Brittany Navy uniform, where people believed that by wearing this distinctive pattern, sailors could be easily spotted in the waves. The Breton top was made famous by Coco Chanel's Nautical collection in 1917 and since then it has become a staple in every girl's wardrobe. Chanel had changed the history of women's clothing, where clothes had previously been heavily fitted and restricted. She gave women a sense of freedom and empowerment to be able to dress the way men did. 

Fans of the Breton top include Audrey Hepburn, Pablo Picasso, James Dean and many more...

This is my version of the Breton top i bought a few seasons back. This adorable Sonia Rykiel cotton top simply goes with everything. It's effortless chic. The cute detachable Eiffel Tower neck piece gives this classic top a little edge and makes it ever more Parisian.  OOo la la.....

Ready for the Sunshine!

DIY Shades for the sunny weather ahead....in.... BARCELONA!

Ready for my city break next week.... Seriously can't wait!

Heavily embellished shades have been spotted in S/S catwalks everywhere, so i decided to make my own 'Budget' version with by using some vintage/ old sunglasses, earrings, beads, Swaroski crystals and even nail polish... all held together by some super glue. 

This DIY session was actually really fun and trying on the end products made me laugh quite hard. Sometimes we just can't take life so serious!

School Boy Fashion

This half term holiday my cousin Henry came up to stay with us. Every time he visits, his dear older cousin (me!) always uses him as a 'playdoll' for her latest looks or creations. Since it was the weekend and being inspired by my new school desk, i decided to put together a little vintage school boy look. It sure made him look years younger.. thus making me feel years older! Though he might not look too impressed... i'm sure deep down he loved it! Bring back cute school boys please!

Hollister Shirt

Vintage Bow Tie

Vintage Boater Hat

Jacket TopMan

Disney Couture Jewellery

When you wish upon a star... For Disney fans out there... you should already be familiar with 'Disney Couture' line of accessories. After tidying up my jewellery box, i came across some of my adorable disney charms. I totally forgot about them...some still had tags! These adorable and affordable accessories are just so sweet, it will make any outfit magical! Childish? Maybe... but fun factor?... 10/10!

I'm not sure where you can buy them in Hong Kong, but i know this site delivers worldwide:

http://www.zentosa.com/designer/disney-couture?p=4

My Bling Bling Box

After a long day out the house i can finally finish this post. Had a lazy day yesterday and decided to find a use for one of my sewing boxes that have been lying around my room for too long. I found this pretty wooden box at a local market last year and just fell inlove with it straight away. I've actually used it as a 'handbag' once on a nice summer day. I've finally decide to store all my beloved vintage, new and old accessories inside. I decided to split the box into two separate styles... one is the 'Angel' side, with pretty pearls and flowers and the other is a bit Rock and Roll... little harder and slightly gothic. It's like the Ying and Yang of Bling Bling.  Some might think this box reflects me quite well... total split personality! Haha...