Akira - My Wedding Dress (Part Deux)

It's been a while since I promised a lovely reader that I'd post more shots of my wedding dress. I posted a few pictures in one of my first posts: Akira - My Wedding Dress, so here they are:

I cannot believe how relaxed I was on the day...

This was moments before I walked down the aisle...

Even on my wedding day I felt awkward in front of the camera...I'm just not photogenic, hope my dress is!

Trying hard not to laugh, as I'm feeling cheesy.

It is by absolute chance that my sisters' bridesmaids dresses matched the bottom of my dress. I had bought the BM dresses almost a year before I found this dress (2 months before my wedding, replacing the Monique L'Huillier 'Swan Lake' I had first bought as my wedding dress). Serendipity...

Shoe shot! My wedding shoes were Yves Saint Laurent Dada Semi-Wedges in Platino. My sisters' bridesmaid shoes were Franco Burrone, with removable Swarovski clips.

Recent Dries Van Noten outfits

Dries Van Noten has been my favourite designer for as long as I can remember.  His clothes speak of a timeless beauty, and evokes emotion in every piece, at least to me.  I find his pieces to be effortless and beautiful, even in the simplest piece, be it the cut or the fabric, he shows such attention to detail, and favours gorgeous prints & fabrics (often ethnic), colours, and layerings.  Stepping into his store in Paris transports you into an era gone-by, yet current, reflecting his designs.  It is the most beautiful store I have ever set foot in, so gorgeous with clothes displayed in an old bookstore full of character.  Dries Van Noten, how I love thee!  

Dress: Dries Van Noten beaded & sequined shirtdress

Jacket: Navy silk chiffon Claude Maus hoodie 

Shoes: Marni patent wedges

(click to view close up of the beading & sequencing)

(click to enlarge - isn't the hippo stool cute?)

Top: Silk Dries Van Noten top (for better runway pic click here) 

Shorts: Draped Garcons Comme Boy (don't think it's an actual brand, found this on ebay, and couldn't resist the draping on these shorts)

Shoes: Dior Extreme Pythons

Dress: Dries Van Noten floral dress

Shoes: Dior Extreme Pythons (was struggling to keep 'afloat' on the mulch)

(www.firstview.com)

Thought I'd include a better picture of the dress, as mine didn't do it justice

I'm a Genie in a Bottle - Harem Pants?

In my mind, the 'return of the Harem pants' started last year with Marc Jacobs' SS07 collection, and his billowy pants:

(www.style.com)

It seems this 'trend' was not as transient as most believed it would be, making more than one appearance in the 2008/2009 shows, including Phi, Michael Kors, Vera Wang, Max Azria, Giorgio Armani, and Diane Von Furstenberg (to name a few), each giving their own 'stamp' to this 'look':

(www.style.com)

As an admirer of all things drapey, I am drawn to its 'easy-factor', comfortable appearance, flowy & drapey nature.  I recently purchased a pair, hoping they would hide a multitude of sins, alas, I look nothing like Alexandra Elbim (pictured below in her YSL jumpsuit), and now wonder whether (like everything else) these pants only suit the long and lithe in figure:

(www.jakandjil.com)

I must point out that I definitely would NOT even contemplate attempting to pull off the 'drop-crotch' look, cool on some, just so not 'me'.  Once I get a better idea on how to take better pictures I will attempt an outfit shot.  I'd love to read your thoughts on 'drapey/harem' pants (not necessarily the drop-crotch ones)!

My Sass & Bide Harem Draped Pants 

Favourite Shopping Spots

Confucius say: "He who will not economize will have to agonize"

Favourite shopping spots:

Melbourne (AUS) - QV at Albert Coates Lane: Cactus Jam International (as well as on Glenferrie Rd., including the Vanessa Bruno store, Cose Ipanema, Zambesi, Belinda, Akira at GPO, Marais, Christine for accessories.

Sydney (AUS) - Poepke, The Corner Shop, Orson & Blake, Kirrily Johnston, Scanlan & Theodore, Akira, Vanessa Bruno, Robby Ingham.

Brisbane/Byron Bay (AUS) - Blonde Venus, Pompidou (Byron Bay).

Adelaide (AUS) - Platinum & Francesca (clothes), Bauhaus (jewellery).

London (UK) - Harvey Nichols, Selfridges, Liberty, Matches, Browns, little shops in Notting Hill, Convent Garden, Dover Street Markets, and all the 'big shots'.

Sao Paulo (BRA)- Morumbi Shopping, Daslu, Osklen, Agua de Cheiro.

Cyberspace: I could be here forever, top 3: net-a-porter, brownsfashion, matchesfashion.

Drape me up, drape me down

Rachel Roy Layla dress

Sportsgirl silk chiffon embroidered shrug

Dior Extreme Pythons in Brown heels (will have to post better pictures of these shoes, they deserve a post on their own!)

PS. I warned you I'm not at all photogenic! Please excuse the horrible hair, it was in a messy bun which fell apart seconds before the picture was taken.

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I simply adore draped pieces, and have done so for as long as I can remember.  I love how the fabric drapes and flows with your body, exuding effortless glamour; and especially the fact that one needn't be tall nor slim to carry it off (I am neither), flattering any shape or size.

East meets West with Dries Van Noten

I apologise for the terribly botched up polyvore picture (as you can probably tell, it's my first go, and I have yet to learn how to use it).  I was trying to hide the fact that my picture itself is pretty bad.  I hope I can 'upgrade' this photo soon.

I LOVE these Dries Van Noten shoes!  Dries Van Noten is one of my favourite designers, for both his amazing clothes AND shoes, but that's another post altogether, as is my love for kimonos.

Outfit: Vintage silk Haori Kimono, Burberry patent quilted belt, DVN shoes.

(www.style.com)

Dries Van Noten SS07

Close-up photo of the Dries Van Noten shoes

Guess which designer?

(www.style.com)

Max Azria New York Fashion SS 2009

As mentioned in a previous post, I absolutely love the Greek Goddess look, and have grown accustomed to seeing it be done beautifully by designers such as Lanvin, Donna Karan, Hermes, and Bottega Veneta.  I was pleasantly surprised to see Max Azria's latest collection at the New York Fashion Week, which featured gorgeous fluid jerseys in a lovely soft palette, beautifully draped, yet effortless.  Sure hope I manage to get my hands on some of it!  Oh, and before I forget, look at that last pair of shoes!  Reminiscent of Martin Margiela's cuff-boot-sandal, I'm in love!

Some of my favourite recent 'Grecian Goddess' looks:

(all photos by www.style.com)

From left to right (top row down): Hermes, Bottega Veneta, Hermes, Lanvin, Alberta Ferretti and Bottega Veneta again.

Recent Buys: Chloe, Dries Van Noten & Rachel Roy

"Anyone who lives within their means suffers from a lack of imagination" (Oscar Wilde)

Chloe
Pom Pom dress

(www.style.com)

Dries Van Noten
DVN silk top (love the oriental feel to this blouse, years ago I bought a piece of kimono fabric that is SO similar to this)

(www.firstview.com)

Rachel Roy
Pleated silk top

(www.firstview.com)

Rachel Roy
'Layla' strapless dress in a gorgeous soft yellow (as I posted previously, I absolutely love gorgeous drapey pieces such as this one)

Who IS Brigadeiro?

"Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening". (Coco Chanel)

Coffee hubby made me.

London (UK) - Rio de Janeiro (Brasil) - Sao Jose dos Campos (SP - Brasil) - Los Angeles (USA)- Cambridge (UK) - ADL (Australia)

My Top 3:

Favourite looks: Asian/Oriental (especially kimonos, LOVE them!), Drapey/Grecian (love, love, love) and Nautical.

Favourite designers/labels: Dries Van Noten, Akira Isogawa, ooh...hard to pick a 3rd as I have so many and haven't figured out their 'ranking'...(Stella McCartney, Lanvin, Olivier Theyskens, Nicolas Ghesquiere, Chloe (but only in the Stella & Phoebe Philo days), Rodarte, Roksanda Illincic, Burberry Prorsum (especially Christopher Bailey's Spring 2005 collection), Bottega Veneta (divine), Vanessa Bruno) hm...I'll be here forever.

Fashion dislikes:  These may look gorgeous on others, but on me you will never see:  animal prints, fluoro colours (not even back in the 80's), and obvious logos/branding (once again, just not me).

Anyway, this is probably going to be the briefest of intro's, but there's no point boring the 1-2 people that'll read this. In a nutshell, I agree with Coco Chanel's quote above, and find beauty and fashion in everything we see, and absolutely LOVE it!