Aldo spring 2011 shoes & accessories lookbook

I already once mentioned how I miss ALDO shops - they have them in Kyiv, where I used to live, but not in Greece where I am now. I know I can still shop online, but it's not the same. I like to try things on - especially when it comes to shoes, and most of all I just like being at an Aldo store - especially a big one, where you can find dozens of delicious-looking pairs -from latest arrivals to last season's leftovers with great deals on them plus bags, purses, sunglasses etc. For the time being, however, all I can do is enjoy those pics from the latest ad campaign for ALDO's spring/summer 2011 collection of shoes and accessories: adore those crazy platforms and colourful clutches.

Can't wait to "Sucker Punch"!

I know I posted about this film already, but all those teaser-promotions - featurettes, new stills and other news bits that keep coming up - make me seriously look forward to this! Anyway"SUCKER PUNCH" is opening in just a week in the U.S. which means we're about to get some proper reviews. Of course there is every chance that the film's gonna suck despite awesome pics and trailers, but I sure hope it won't or if it does - not completely. I love girl power films, and a movie starring a character that looks like a porn-schoolgirl-meets-Black-Mamba plus a gang of S&M fetishist's wet dreams/killer warrior chicks, altogether doing an incredible amount of ass kicking - can't be all bad! In the worst case it should make an awesome piece of cyberpunk trash.

And they have JON HAMM in it too! Definitely, can't be bad...

My new love - French Vogue

It so happened that I never actually bought FRENCH VOGUE before. I have two excuses: 1) I lived all my life (until last summer) in Kyiv, Ukraine, where such a magazine was hard to find and if found - probably way overpriced; 2) I was doing French lessons back in high school and have forgotten a lot since then - so usually prefer English publications.

But having flapped through my first ever French edition (namely March 2011) just yesterday, I can say it certainly won't be my last (and helping me refresh my French is not the only reason). From the EMMANUELLE-inspired cover to DALII-esque jewellery photo shoot inside - the whole mag is extremely arty, provocative and conceptual but somehow playful and grounded at the same time. It seems to be targeted at an intelligent fashionista rather than a label-crazed shopaholic. In short Vogue Paris still keeps up the image of French capital as the most fashionable, sexy and classiest city as seen in the romantic movies - even if it's not entirely true anymore. It's a pleasant "fantaisie" you can live through magazine's pages.

Best place to shop for foreign magazines in Athens

I can't believe I have been in ATHENS since July and discovered this store only now! And it's not like it's hidden away or anything: it's located right at Omonia square! Actually rode by it on my man's motorbike a few times - but always forgot to remember to check it out. Anyway, from now on INTERNATIONAL PRESS/BOOKS (73 Panepistimiou, 210-3210989) is my top location to browse magazines from all over Europe, USA and beyond. I mean, those guys pretty much have it all (probably several hundreds of mags) and prices are more reasonable than at the kiosks at Syntagma where I occasionally used to pick up Vogue and Empire. They also have a limited selection of books in English, for some of which I will probably come back.

Naturally, I simply couldn't walk out of this "candy store" of mags empty handed. So I got this FRENCH VOGUE (March 2011 edition, Euro 7.50). It's the first time ever I bought the French one and it's great, so more on this gorgeous edition in next post!

Versatile Blogger Award

As I checked my email this morning I discovered a great surprise was waiting for me! Sweet Wendy Eustache from A Flair For Fashion blog awarded me the VERSATILE BLOGGER AWARD. Wow, isn't it nice when someone recognizes the work you're doing - especially if your blog is still quite fresh with just a few readers so far? And I think Versatile Blogger Award is simply a great way to spread the love about yours and other great blogs in such a simple, reciprocal manner.

So with pleasure I comply with the rules of the Award which are as follows:

1. Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to them in your post.

2. Tell us 7 things about yourself.

3. Award 7 recently discovered new bloggers.

4.Contact these bloggers and let them know they've received this award.

7 THINGS ABOUT ME

1. I'm a journalist and writer from Kyiv, Ukraine, currently residing in Athens, Greece.

2. My approach to fashion is mostly practical: I get inspired by top designers, and then recreate pieces I like with help of inexpensive brands, outlets and second hand/vintage shops.

3. I love movies as well as fashion and often mix up those two in my blog posts.

4. I prefer jeans to all other kinds of pants (for perfect fit), dresses to skirts (somehow never had much luck with skirts) and adore shorts above all.

5. I love beautiful high-heeled shoes (the more original the better) on other people, but still haven't learned to wear them myself (they give me fear of falling)

6. I hate logo prints, which include the cult Louis Vuitton bags and other accessories. Sorry to all the fans, but I find them tacky and don't like to walk around "covered" in labels.

7. Fashion for me is not an obsession but an inspiration and self-expression.

And the award goes too...:

1. Jewls and Liza at http://iliveforit.blogspot.com

2. Cara at http://www.afashionloveaffair.com

3. Jennifer Louise at http://jenniferlouiseloves.blogspot.com

4. Lopi at http://fashionarchitect.blogspot.com

5. Caramellitsa at http://caramellitsa.blogspot.com

6. Efenes at http://efenes.blogspot.com

7. Zoe. K. at http://stripes-buttons.blogspot.com

Now time to inform the lucky winners!

Top 20 visions of spring from fashion ad campaigns

Looking at all those gorgeous designer brand ads in British VOGUE, I thought it would be nice to collect them all in one place - since together they will make a pretty good spring fashion lookbook and provide plenty of inspirations for my outfits. So there you have it - my top 20 spring fashion advertisement looks.