The Spring Essentials

Photogenic people are lucky to always look good on pictures while the rest of us have to try to look good "naturally"... at the 100th attempt. Thank god we have digital cameras and you never got to see the discarded pictures! In fact, it crossed my mind as to whether I need to always appear good on the pictures. I am not a model and will never be. I do shoots just to show my outfits. So yes, let's focus on the outfit. The Gant shirt and Zara 3cm height platform sneakers are going to be my essentials this season. A man causal chic shirt is just right for daily wear. Last Saturday, Andrea and the Gant store's team warmly welcomed to look at their new collection and also the upcoming one for Fall/Winter. Gant has maintained its "preppy" style since 1949 but yet manages to evolve and keep it relevant with the times.

I also want to share a "sad" news in the life of a University student. My exams are coming very soon and I will have to concentrate on my studies. So, do expect a drastic slowdown (to even a stop) in activity on my blog. However, I have lots of projects for this summer and can't wait to talk about them!

Wearing: Gant/Men' Shirt, Zara/Skirt & Shoes, Miu Miu/Sunglasses

A Salsa Sunday

It is really difficult decide how to dress up for the day with the wild swings in weather. You gear yourself up for the chilly rain in the morning, and then the sun wakes up belatedly in the afternoon to raise the temperature by 10 degrees. So it was a welcome relief to have a "proper" spring last Sunday. I seized the opportunity to do a shoot with my new shape-up jean from the Portugese brand, Salsa. I love the pattern and they are very comfortable. As the fit is not too skinny, I wore my Guiseppe Zanotti heels to get a more elongated look. I accessorized it with my clutch from the H&M Conscious collection. 

 I am also participating in the Salsa contest where I need your votes to win a trip to Dubai with their team! Please like my look on their Facebook page. Thank you so much for your great support!

Wearing: Salsa/Jean & Top, Guiseppe Zanotti/Heels, H&M Conscious Collection/Clutch, Alexander McQueen/Bangle, Rita & Zia/Bracelet, Tenebris/Ring

Boucheron at Baselworld

In the short free time between the Swarovski's presentation and dinner, I went over to take a sneek preview of Boucheron's new collection. Their chic all-white booth exuded a calm and dreamy atmosphere. I was received by Laura who set out to explain the spirit of the brand. 

I was first shown their latest creation, Epure, a refreshing antithesis in the world of complication watches. As the name suggests, Epure expresses its sophistication through the ultra-craftsmanship of its pure and refined lines. As if to remind us of the priorities in life, the back of the watch is engraved with the statement: "Je ne sonne que les heures heureuses". 

We moved on to the high-jewelry timepieces featuring intricate leaves and flowers in white gold and set with diamonds on the polished hematite dial. If you think this is dazzling, wait till you see the Khépri à Secret. It is a jewel taking the form of a beetle about 3cm in size. When you press its head (in the guise of a blue sapphire cabochon) the wings gently spread apart to reveal the diamond-encrusted watch beneath. It is simply breathtaking when you least expect it. Perhaps we should have guessed it from its poetic name. Khépri is associated in Egyptian mythology with the sun and rebirth, and is often represented by a beetle. 

We ended the visit in the saloon to see the pieces close-up and even to try them on. It was a magical moment. Thank you Boucheron!

Baselworld with Swarovski

If you follow me on Instagram, you might have seen that Swarovski invited me last Wednesday to discover their new collection. As a first time visitor to the Baselworld fair, I was impressed by the new and huge Messe Basel building. From the entrance, we were guided to the sparkling (what else!) booth of Swarovski. No less, it was Nathalie Colin the creative director who presented the creations.

Paradoxically, my eyes had trouble focusing on the magnificient pieces as it was sparkling everywhere, including the crystal walls! Still, I found myself falling for their collaboration necklaces with Shourouk. We were first introduced to the massive black one that Nathalie herself was wearing. It did make a strong statement with her simple look. After the presentation of the new pieces, we could try on the ones displayed in the room. I spotted a discreet pink necklace also of the Shourouk collaboration collection. Once I tried it on, I could hardly get myself to let go of it. So it will be a long wait till Fall when they release it to the shops. I took several close-up pictures to show you the different facets of the necklace. My attention was also caught by the metal-look bracelets.

I was flattered to talk with Nathalie who shared her thoughts behind the creations. She told us about her book who teach one how to add jewelry to any outfit. She also revealed some product details, such as why leather is added behind a necklace to prevent it from being caught in the thread of one's clothes.

Before moving out to a restaurant for dinner, we had some time on our own to explore Baselworld. So I took up Boucheron's invitation to come by to see them. I will tell you more about that visit in my next post. I thank the Swarovski team for a wonderful afternoon and evening in Basel.

Wearing: Zara/Skirt & Heels, Vintage/Shirt, Mango/Blazer, 3.1 Phillip Lim/Pashli Satchel, Swarovski/Jewelry

Pictures taken by Oliver Oettli, Allegra Zerz and myself