To say that fashion is a big part of my life is an understatement. I work in fashion and feel like 90% of my interests have to do with fashion. I live fashion, I breathe fashion – yes, it’s a huge and desperate cliche but there’s no other way to put it. One of the things I love about it is that it can be a big part of our lives, travels and memories, and sometimes even make things just a little better.
So I think this little outfit of mine will be an outfit to remember, as it will serve as a reminder of a pretty special day…
I’m not going to lie, I was a little scared throughout 2016 about turning 30. But guess what, I survived and am yet to go insane. I still have a lot I want to accomplish, but have finally realised 30 is not a deadline – in fact, it’s not about any age, it’s simply about never giving up and always bettering yourself, whether you’re 21 or 50.
Also, if you’re a little scared of something, why not dress well for it?
So like I have done for the past few years, I dressed up for my Birthday because any reason is good enough for me to dress up. And as I always like to make an effort on my Birthday, I wouldn’t say I treated this Birthday any differently, other than perhaps wanting to look that extra bit special.
And this is where this dress comes in. I loved it from the minute I laid eyes on it, as it reminded me ever so slightly of Self Portrait’s amazing pieces. But thankfully, the price tag is a lot more purse-friendly, as it’s by Italian brand Relish. I managed to get my hands on a sample, so it was even cheaper than the final version, which will be out soon as it’s from the brand’s Spring/Summer 2017 collection.
This dress has made me fall in love all over again with lace, skater shapes and especially the shade that is electric blue, it’s definitely one of my favourite colours. And yes, I’m pretty pleased about the fact that its brightness complemented the Venetian island of Burano’s beautifully coloured houses so perfectly…
Dress, Relish. Earrings, I-am. Bracelet, Accessorize. Ring, from Hong Kong. Bag, Miu Miu. Shoes, Valentino. Trench coat (seen below), Silvian Heach. Hat (seen below), Primark. Scarf (seen below), from my mum.
“Miu Miu, meet Valentino“… if there’s one good thing about turning 30, it’s that you can totally get away with spoiling yourself. I not only got to visit and fall in love with Venice, but also got to walk around in a beautiful pair of heels – and as I’m not a heel-wearer, I’m proud I lasted a hole day in them.
I’d been thinking about treating myself to a pair of these beauties for a few months, and ended up getting them a few weeks before my birthday. They butchered my bank account but I am obsessed with them – I’ve barely worn them and yet all I want to do is wear them every day. So not a possibility when doing a 9 to 5, Monday to Friday job in a freezing cold London with a long commute… but it’s nice to know that they’re there, patiently waiting for me. I don’t think I’ll ever tire of the beautiful taupe pink shade, which (sort of) works with my old Miu Miu bag (she’ll be 9 this year!). I didn’t actually buy these Valentino shoes thinking that I’d wear them with this bag, but it’s good to know that the two most expensive items in my wardrobe can work together.
This “accessory” just had to get in one of the pictures! Just before hopping onto the island of Burano I bought this beautiful glass flower in its neighbour island Murano, which is famous for glass blowing.
Also, I found my dream home in Burano…
As you may have guessed by the nude tights, shoes and pictures of me prancing around just in a dress, we were lucky with the weather – but it wasn’t boiling either and a little extra warmth did come in handy. It came in the form of this trench coat by Silvian Heach that I love, my mum’s bright blue scarf and Primark hat.
Oh you know, it’s just me casually taking pictures with my new Olympus, which was definitely the best tech addition to my life in 2016.
In all honesty, I probably could have been wearing a sack of potatoes and I would have been just as happy spending my Birthday in Murano. But then again, what I wore makes the memory all the more magical.