From the Dominican Republic with love

My dear online universe, I'm alive! 

It may seem that I have completely forgotten you, which is not entirely true. I was just busy living my life lately, rather than writing about it. Unfortunately, my recent adventures have finally come to an end. So here I am, pretending to enjoy the heat that has finally hit my country, and attempting to organize my thoughts into a decent article. 

The last month included a few take offs and landings and I finally managed to cross the Atlantic for the very first time. It may not seem like such a big deal to normal people but surviving a 10-hour flight seems like quite the achievement for a seriously nervous flyer (aka me).

Punta Cana Airport

Flying for what seemed like ages was absolutely justified on my very first morning in Punta Cana. I managed to get up a 5 am (not a big achievement, considering I was jet lagged anyway) and caught the Dominican sunrise. To be honest, this is quite something, since I'm normally busy sleeping or partying at this ungodly hour. Therefore, due to the lack of many comparisons, the sunrise at Playa de Arena Gorda seemed magnificent, at least to me.

Lonely footsteps

 Having the beach all to myself was another perk. I walked for miles and the only sign of human presence were my lonely footsteps in the sand (for the sake of writing I'll pretend I didn't notice the massive resorts that are stretching along the coast). It was another one of my spiritual moments: being alone yet not lonely, feeling connected to nature, looking at the ocean and thinking that everything familiar is all the way across it.

 This blog was supposed to be about fashion, it turned to be with no direction whatsoever. Oh well (again)...

I packed so lightly for this trip, I fitted almost everything in my cabin-size suitcase. After all, how much space do bathing suits and sunglasses take. I think I did enjoy a fashionable moment though, as I got to wear my fairytale-esque Maje dress for the very first time. 

I paired it with my Alexander McQueen shoes, which I've been wearing so much, I think they may have gotten a vintage quality to them. 

The more I travel, my curiosity towards otherness grows stronger. All-inclusive-tourist sounds almost like a dirty word to me, so I tried to avoid falling into the stereotype although I did stay at an all inclusive hotel. I'm happy I met some lovely local people and took interest in their lives. The children from the video bellow were my favorite thing out of the whole trip. I thought that the 10 dollars I gave them were the best spent money ever, only to find out later that they have a "jefe" who takes virtually all they make. Silly me. Oh well...

Beach essentials

breakfast for champions

Before I knew it, it was time to go. After all, what are 12 days in paradise. I was splashing in the Carribean sea and a few hours later I was over the Atlantic, experiencing some major turbulence. On my way to the airport it occurred to me that wherever we go, we leave a little bit of our hearts and we take a little bit with us. Every trip changes us, and hopefully, when we come home, we are a better version of our old selves. 

x

Neon trend 2014

Love it or hate it, neon has emerged back from the 80s and appears to have settled permanently in our wardrobes. Thinking Hollywood, dodgy party hotels and bohemian night seekers? Well, not exactly. The new trend has transcended its roots. It is all over the runways and more importantly – outside them. It's fresh and sophisticated with an almost futuristic appeal.

Experimenting with neon is a sign of character – it takes guts to wear something that screams LOOK-AT-ME! In this sense, the trend is a symbol of female empowerment. Many of us are shy when it comes to colors but our favorite celebrities from Jessica Alba, to Lupita Nyong'o and Alessandra Ambrosio are rocking the neon trend. It reminds us that we can make a fashion statement and have a little fun in the process.

If you haven't done so during the past seasons, it's a good time to invest in neon anything – from clothing, to shoes, bags or simply nail polish. You can ride the trend in many different ways: you can go flashy or ladylike. Neon is subject to personal interpretation but it's essential to be served in just the right amount. You may want to avoid too literal interpretations of the 80s, or causing nausea to your companions with a head-to-toe look. If it has to be head to toe, opt for monochrome or some smart color-blocking. As usual, less is more. Balance your neon pieces with neutrals. Use a splash of neon as your statement piece and go ladylike in the rest of your outfit. Instead of being too literal and opting for a tight jeans combo, go for a classic tailored silhouette.

Whether you'll opt for a bright beanie or you'll brave a fluorescent gown, enjoy the neon ride!

x

RIP Frankie Knuckles

It is a sad day today. I just learned of Frankie Knuckles' passing.

To those of you who've never heard of him, he was considered the Godfather of House Music and played a major role in the development of the genre. Needless to say, his creative efforts helped lay the foundation for a movement that expands beyond music today - it is a lifestyle. 

Having grown up with electronic music, I can't go untouched by the news of his untimely death. I am sad because he was among the iconic figures of a genre, which is becoming way too commercialized nowadays and loosing its underground appeal. I am also grateful to him. Mr Knuckles, thank you for Your Love. Thank you for dedicating your four decades long career to changing the face of dance music. Frankly, this person has been hugely influential for entire generations in general and myself in particular. I would not have been the person I am today if it wasn't for my musical preferences. So thank you, RIP and I hope that your legacy will withstand the destructive powers of commercialism.

The quick getaway

Living in Bulgaria has its perks, namely - wonderful Greece is just a few hours away. It's scientifically proven 

that a little change in scenery never hurt anyone so I packed my favorite blazer and headed to Greece for some ouzo, tzatziki and quality sea food. 

Lately I'm into rock-and-roll mood, rocking the androgyny trend (in my opinion). I may have been a little out of place in sunny Greece but I feel extremely comfortable in my skinny jeans and boxy t-shirt. I added a pop of color with my favorite Illesteva sunglasses and Mulberry bag, just to balance an otherwise uninspiring look. 

This Maje blazer, by the way, is my favorite recent discovery, I know I'm getting repetitive but I rarely go out without it. In my opinion, any outfit can be salvaged adding a great blazer and cool shoes.

x

Malaysia's 777 gone missing

Aviation safety is not a usual topic on my blog but the news of Malaysia's 777 disappearing on route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing is beyond belief and deeply unsettling. 

Being a nervous flyer myself, I am constantly following statistics about safety records of different airliners. The 777 was on the verge of replacing the increasingly outdated 747 Jumbo jet as the "queen of the skies". Since it first came out in 1995, the 777 enjoyed 19 years without serious accident. The spotless record ended with an Asiana Airlines flight crashing at San Francisco airport, causing the tragic death of 3 passengers.

The disappearance of flight MH370, operated by Malaysia Airlines puts things in a whole new perspective. My prayers are with everyone on board, however there have been 10 hours since traffic control lost contact with the crew and the chances of everyone landing safely get slimmer with each passing moment. 

The loss of the 777 is deeply unsettling because years of clean record served to convince travelers that perhaps we can have infallible aircraft. Each time I board a plane, I am terrified but a tiny voice in my head tells me that with national carriers operating state-of-the-art planes, it is safer to fly than to walk down the street, literally. With the loss of flight MH370 this voice will sound a lot less believable. I am a reasonable person, I can grasp the concept that a single accident doesn't really alter the fact that air travel is the safest type of transportation.

I think that perhaps people's natural fear of flying is rooted in evolution. We have been around for thousands of years yet it wasn't until 1903 when the Wright Brothers took off and then 5 more decades until the boom of general aviation. Self-preservation is the ultimate concern of our brain, which hasn't had enough time to adjust to the new developments in technology. Hence - we are naturally terrified each time we loose ground under our feet. 

However, total loss of aircraft has been an increasingly rare occurrence. We quickly got used to the comfortable safety record. This explains all the buzz around the crash of Air France Flight 447 over the Atlantic and now this. Because these are a testament that even national carriers operating the safest planes on earth are not fool proof. And we don't like that. 

We don't like it, because each of us has to endure several flights per year and once you get on board, anything can happen. Even if it happens once in a million. 

x

Maje obsession

It's been some time since my last post. Not that anyone has really missed me but I feel guilty for abandoning my little online universe. Today I had a sudden influx of inspiration because, being a mommy's girl, I got a gorgeous present from my gorgeous mother - this dreamy Maje dress: 

This got me thinking that for a few years now, les creations de la maison are on top of my wish list. This Parisian brand is the epitome of affordable luxury: impeccable materials and craftsmanship at a price that won't exceed your monthly rent. Obviously, the likes of Givenchy or Dior occupy a whole different universe. However, this universe, as glamorous as it is, is out of reach for most of us, petty mortals. Furthermore, I don't really see the point of owning many Dior dresses, unless you are Ivanka Trump or a Hollywood starlet. Maje has found the perfect balance between luxury and reality and just seeing their stores excites me. 

We occupy an imperfect world and I certainly won't be the person to remedy society's shortcomings, but I have started despising the idea that clothes need to be super expensive to be fabulous. Somehow I can't justify dropping some 1000 dollars on a dress, even if a red carpet worthy one, unless you are actually going to a red carpet event. Call me a geek. 

I can't wait to slip into my gorgeous new dress and to feel extra fabulous. 

x

Next LFW Outfit Competition

The anticipation for London Fashion Week  is full on and I bet that fashionistas everywhere are waiting anxiously just like a 5-year old waits for Christmas. As much as I look forward to the runway shows, I am even more curious about what's happening outside: being a sucker for street style, I can't wait to see what our favorite it girls have prepared for us - mortals.

For a while now I have been a lurker on the Next Blogger Network without actually submitting a post. While browsing their noticeboard today, I stumbled upon this outfit competition and thought that composing an outfit for LFW is an excellent way to spend my otherwise uneventful evening. This is a brilliant initiative and a great way to test my development as a blogger because, let's face it, bloggers today are a major influence on trends. 

Soon I was all over their website, looking for something front row worthy: eye catching yet not too over the top. I started browsing the massive collection of dresses but I finally decided to go for separates because they leave more room for creativity. 

I decided to center the outfit around the skirt - that would be my statement piece. I went for a midi leather skirt since this hemline seems to have settled permanently in our wardrobes and the leather immediately adds toughness and edge to the look. I kept the accessorizing to a minimum to let the gorgeous shirt do all the work. The print just happened to be one with hearts - in line with the St Valentine's hype. 

Without further ado, here is my selection from Next:

I chose a cross body bag to add playfulness to an otherwise a little severe silhouette. It took me some time to compose this outfit but I ended up loving it so much, I think I'll just order it. I may not be attending the Fashion Week, but I'll find a worthy venue. 

Outfit: 
skirt - Oasis Black High Waist Leather
shirt 
shoes
watch - Fossil Rose Gold Sports Watch
bangles -  DKNY Multi Bangles Three Pack
bag - Raspberry mini cross body bag
sunnies - Ray Ban
perfume - Issey Miyake

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