A very quick post today to remind you of an upcoming fashion week, so leave a few minutes in your schedule next week to come and read my (very long) posts…
Wishing you a wonderful weekend!
Always yours,
Photo source: Free People September 2012 lookbook
I don’t think I need to explain why these boots are a constant sell-out and owned by everyone who loves walking in style. Even if you don’t wear them yourself, you would have seen them or heard or them or would think of buying a pair at some point.
Now you can have them. As a gift.
Bernard Boutique, a destination known for their collection of modern classics, has recently launched a competition offering a pair of black Acne Pistol Short boots as a prize. For your chance to win the fab pair, follow this link, “like” Bernard Boutique on Facebook and enter your details.
The competition will close at 9pm on Friday 7 September 2012 and the winner will be contacted via email on Monday 10 September 2012.
Good luck!
Photo source: fashionising.com
“A new dress doesn’t get you anywhere; it’s the life you are living in the dress, and the sort of life you had lived before, and what you will do in it later.”
Diana Vreeland
Photo source: Vogue Germany October 2006
As I’ve admitted before, Victoria Beckham’s Autumn/Winter 2012-13 ready-to-wear collection was one of my favourite. The silhouettes and colours really hit all the right notes in me. The only tiny teeny problem was a four-digit number on a price tag attached to every dress, so I had to do a bit of browsing to come up with my own outfit for less. Here’s the final version made entirely of the high street clothes and accessories. I chose a tote-style bag for practical reasons – you can wear it on your shoulder or fold in half and carry in your hand with a chain wrapped around the wrist like an accessory of its own. I added the aviators because Victoria loves her sunglasses and so do I and those shades seemed appropriate for this outfit. The only luxury item is an YSL lipstick because it’s just too irresistible. What do you think?
Click to shop: Dress by Mango (£22.99), double-buckle leather belt by Jaeger (£30), wool cable-knit socks at ASOS (£6.00), Bailly ankle boots by Reiss (£195), aviator sunglasses by Oasis (£8.00), lipstick YSL Rouge Volupte #201 Red Muse at Sephora and Harrods (£23.50), snakeskin print tote bag by River Island (£40)
Photo source: elle.com
Although she is still well-known in America, on this side of the Atlantic many seem to have forgotten about Valeria Mazza, the Argentinian model who walked down the catwalk together with Linda, Naomi, Claudia and Cindy, was one of the original Versace girls, graced covers of fashion magazines, starred in campaigns of the biggest fashion houses and was Valentino’s muse.
The blue-eyed girl was born in 1972, in Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina. When she was 14, a friend of the family helped Valeria get her first modelling job. The very first fashion show took place in Paraná, her home city.
After finishing high school Valeria moved to Buenos Aires to study Occupational Therapy. Since she was a teen, the girl made it her mission to help people with disabilities, so her choice of study course didn’t surprise anyone.
While studying Valeria and working as a volunteer, she continued modelling. Her first job was for Caro Cuore, a Buenos Aires-based company.
In 1992 Valeria moved to the States, but spent a lot of time travelling to Milan and Paris where she worked for Armani, Valentino, Dolce&Gabbana, Dior, Versace, Ralph Lauren and Ferre.
In 1995 Valeria was discovered by Paul Marciano and became a new face of Guess.
More campaigns followed… Versace, Donna Karan, Caractere, Escada, Halston and Chanel – a supermodel-worthy list, indeed.
No matter how busy she was, Valeria never stopped helping Special Olympics organisation and in 1993 was appointed its international Ambassador.
In 1996 the Sunday Times and El Mundo papers conducted a survey among their readers in order to select the one hundred 20th century most important women. There were only two models in the final list: Valeria Mazza and Claudia Schiffer.
In the same year she appeared on a cover of Sports Illustrated alongside Tyra Banks and continued building her impressive modelling portfolio working for Elle, Vogue, Cosmopolitan and Glamour as well as many Latin American glossies.
In 1998 Valeria Mazza met her future husband, Alejandro Gravier. They married on 9 May and welcomed their first new born, Balthazar, in 1999. Since then Valeria gave birth to three more beutiful children, two boys, Tiziano and Benicio and a girl, Taina.
Soon after the wedding Valeria and her husband as she were honoured with an invitation to the Vatican. The model attended a ceremony on the occasion of the first year of Mother Teresa of Calcutta’s death. Valeria and her husband met John Paul II during this ceremony. She then became the first model that the Pope received officially. In 2006 Valeria and her family travelled back to Vatican for the second visit. On this occasion, the Pope Benedict XVI received her and her family in a private audience.
Her family life didn’t stop Valeria from modelling. She appeared in more than 350 magazine covers worldwide, starred in more than 30 TV ads of Lux, San Pellegrino, Villavicencio, Pepsi and Falabella, among others. She also made a few TV appearances including MTV Latin America, Domenica In, San Remo’s Festival, Scommettiamo Che? and Come Sorelle in Italy and Esta noche invito yo, her own show in Latin America.
In addition to modelling Valeria developed her own make up line, VM Beauty, which includes perfumes, lotions and make up and became a columnist for Viva magazine.
In 2007 she flew to Milan to take part in a fashion show against anorexia organised by National Chamber of Fashion. After the show 30 models including Valeria Mazza received the “Giusto Equilibrio” (Exact Balance) award, because she is considered a reference of beauty and health in the fashion world.
Photo source: ?, Versace Atelier Spring/Summer 1996 campaign, Giorgio Grati 1996 campaign, Guess 1996 campaign, Halston campaign, Versace 1996 campaign, Escada Sport campaign, Cosmopolitan UK July 2000, Elle Mexico June 2010
Reference: valeriamazza.com.ar
Soft and feminine, a little bit Brigitte Bardot inspired story from the February issue of Vogue Italia 1997 featuring Valeria Mazza styled by Anna Dello Russo and photographed by Walter Chin. I noticed that Valeria’s photo last week didn’t get any comments. Claudia stole all the attention and Valeria was left out, which was a bit unfair. To fix that, I will tell you more about this gorgeous model tomorrow.
Photo source: Vogue Italia February 1997
I thought what could be better to celebrate Coco Chanel’s birthday than sharing a recent editorial from French Elle show casting one of the most iconic Chanel items, the little white jacket, styled five ways. Aren’t little finishing touches, ingenious layering and ideas just fab? It’s such a cool mix of chic, modern, sexy and relaxed!
For more things Chanel including stories and quotes, read my Fashion Week posts by following this link.
Photo source: Elle France August 2012
