Life's a Debate: A herd of... crocodiles?

Now let me just begin by saying that the above title does not mean I believe a group of crocodiles is a herd. I know for a fact that is either a congregation or a float(Ha!). But that is besides the point of this post as you will soon see.That being said, I can now introduce the topic.

Well, one day as I sailed through cyberspace (much better than "surfing" because you can multi-task darling...lol) I stumbled upon the headline "Hermes Breeds Own Crocs to Meet Bag Demand" on Reuters.com and was instantly repulsed. Yet, I read on and, as I suspected, the article told me all about Hermes's then recent decision to breed its own crocodiles on its own farms. At first, I was appalled. What kind of world allows and even encourages animals to be reared just so that they can be killed and their skin used to create a bag! And by maintaining farms in order to meet this demand isn't Hermes enabling the current situation? After all, the best way to solve the problem of excess demand would be to stop demand, wouldn't it?

But one can't only look at it that way. After all, Hermes is at least making an effort. According to Paul Thomas, Hermes is willing to run its own farms despite the fact that crocodile rearing is capital intensive and generally expensive (each crocodile has to be kept separately and even then a third of them may die in the rearing process). This should decrease the amount of wild crocodiles hunted and killed for their skin, especially considering the fact that it take 3-4 crocodiles to make each bag. Apart from that, they do have a responsibility to their customers especially if they want to maintain brand loyalty. It's all very complicated.

This is a topic I've wanted to write about ever since I heard about it but I wanted to wait for a followership first because of the nature of the post. It's a little food for thought.

Love you all and Stay Inspired,

Aury

P.S. So tell me what you think. Is Hermes's decision pro- or against crocodile survival? Are organizations like PETA and other animal rights centered groups being to hard on them? Or do u think that the only real way to make a difference would be by switching from real to faux? Feel Free to comment below.

How to Rock: Ankle Cuff Heels

These shoes are hot, sexy and have totally made my transition to fall fashion a lot more exciting. Since one of the major themes of the Fall/Winter 2009 season is the strong shoulder trend of the 80s, for balance to be maintained, it follows that strong shoes like the Ankle Cuff Heel must also come into play. I must confess that at first I didn't really like this trend. I thought that the shoes were a bit strange and indecisive. I mean it looked like a cross between a heel and a boot! But once I laid my eyes on the gorgeous chocolate brown Qupids(via en ala mode on the left I was converted. They are made out of faux croco-leather, and are absolutely fabulous.


Now we've seen it. We love it. How do we rock it?



Well, I've been thinking and I have come up with three major ways to rock these heels:


1. Biker Chic: Definitely one of the most obvious ways to rock this look is in a biker chic fashion. The strong edgy aura given off by the cuff of the darker shoes definitely coincides with the total edginess of biker chic. Just thrown in a studded bracelet, some leather and metallic jewelry (all popular pieces right now) and you can totally chanel your inner badass.






2. Eighties Revolution: Another way to rock Ankle Cuff heels would be to incorporate it into an 80s- inspired ensemble. Since 80s fashion is going to be a major theme in fall, why not don a strong-shouldered blazer, with a pair of dark skinny jeans and complete it with some gorgeous ankle cuff heels? That way you embody the best of the 80s.






3. Sweet vs Edge: In fashion, the best outfits are made up of pieces that either complement or contrast each other.So a good way to rock the ankle cuff would be by contrasting it with, a truly feminine outfit. Think cute LBD with lace details and sexy black ankle cuffs.




Warnings and Words of Advice:

• The cuffs on these heels tend to emphasize the size of the ankle so if your ankles are on the thick side the best way to wear these would be by teaming them with leggings or fishnets to make your ankles appear slimmer.



• Finally, since the shoes are usually statement pieces, the best way to rock them is by working with them and using them to step up your outfit.
  

Love You all and Stay Inspired,
Aury

P.S. So tell me. What do you think of these shoes? Is this a trend you would try? How would you rock it? Feel free to comment below.

(Photos from polyvore.com and En ala mode.com)

Trendlight: Asian Fusion

Its that strange time of year again. That lingering time, when all the summer clothes are being cleared out to make space for the autumn/winter lines and almost all the fashion blogs and websites start talking obsessively about the up and coming trends for fall. I mean, I'm all for moving forward in life, but for the fact it is still Technically Summer, I'm not quite ready to jump right into the trends for fall yet. Sorry.


So what's a girl to do, if you're not quite ready to turn in your colourful tops and shorts for your wellies and trenches yet?Well one You could try out this late summer trend dubbed Asian Fusion.


This trend has been popping up in small doses around Europe since the beginning, but even more so now that people are growing tired of the Bohemian vibe. The trend mostly consists of using Asian inspired fabrics with lovely rich colours and prints on satin, to create beautiful dresses and tops, that are quite flattering to most figures. Most of them make absolutely gorgeous "night out" dresses and fabulously sexy tops. Another plus for this trend is the simple fact that it is not overworn so you won't feel like you look like everyone else on the street. Luckily, stores like Yendi, Tally Weijl, C&A and online stores like Oli.co.uk and Metrostyle.com still have some of these clothes in stock.



My friends and I discovered the potential of this look while hunting through various shops on our high street in search of inspiration. We agreed that we needed something different but still in season enough to help us transition into fall too and we believe this is it. This is definitely a lovely trend well worth picking up on, especially if you are one of the lucky few still peacefully relaxing somewhere on holiday. But even if you aren't a little change never hurt anybody.



Love you all and Stay Inspired,

Aury



P.S. So what do you think? Would you rock this look? Have you rocked it already? And do you think it can bridge the gap between summer and fall? feel free to let me know in the comments below.

(Photos- Top right- Metrostyle.com, Bottom left- Oli.co.uk via Polyvore)

Love&Relationships: On this Love

So here it is guys, my first love and relationships article.

Don't laugh or make stupid kissy faces. :)

Ever since I left my homebase, Switzerland, for a month's stay in Northern Ireland, I have felt more than a little lost. This is because, I had to leave a very important part of me there. My bf, the most amazing guy in the world, has been more than just a boyfriend, he has been my best and closest friend practically since I met him. I tell him things that I can tell no one else, because I know he won't judge me, or worse laugh. He has supported me through some very difficult times in the past year and somehow had the strength to not run away from it.

Unfortunately, I began to take him for granted, and therefore did not really prepare myself emotionally for our first big split.

As soon as it dawned on me that I wouldn't see him, or be able to reach him at moment's notice, for a whole month I broke down in tears. The pain was overwhelming and I begged God to take it away. In order to distract me from the pain, I began to go through the songs on my iTouch (Music is my best form of therapy) and stumbled upon "This Love " by The Veronicas. ( I have placed the video and the lyrics in the inspiration section below the post).

At first, the song only made me cry harder because it was echoing all that I was feeling. However, as the song's tempo became more upbeat and the lyrics started showing a willingness to fight for the relationship despite what the couple may face, I began to cheer up. The tears stopped flowing and a spirit of hope and courage filled me. I'm not saying, I was immediately healed but over the next few days, whenever I felt blue and full of despair, I would play this song to remind me to hold on. Once again, music had helped me in one of my emotional battles.

Over the next couple of weeks, I'm going to be releasing a couple of posts on my favorite "music therapy" songs. I strongly believe that it is a great way of expressing yourself and letting loose your emotions, even if the songs aren't yours. Also, it is a lot less expensive than retail therapy...lol. Hopefully, these lists will help you to and inspire you in making your own.

Love you all and Stay inspired,

Aury

P.S. Do you have songs that you play when you are feeling a certain way? What songs are they? Let me know in your comments below

Trendlight: The Longchamp "IT" Bag

Caught up in the midst of the crazy whirlwind that is my life in the past week , somehow I have been able to spot an astonishingly hot new trend on the streets of Europe: The Longchamp "IT" Bag. At the beginning of the summer season, when some of my friends obtained and presented these bags to me, claiming it to be the next big thing, it took all of my willpower to not laugh at the idea. I mean, aside from its extremely portable nature, there seemed to be nothing vaguely fabulous about this bag. So you can imagine my Immense Shock, when I realised that not only was this bag a hit, its popularity level has risen to such dizzying heights that even I recently found myself in a Buzzano store, admiring one of these bags in a light blue. Quickly coming to my senses, I hurried out of the store before any of my friends spotted me.

Now don't get me wrong. A regular traveller like myself can definitely see a lot of potential in this bag practicality- wise. It can be carried in at least 2 different ways because of its ability to fold up into a fraction of its regular size, which makes it easy to travel with as it takes up less space. Also, since it has little or no compartments in the actual bag it has a lot more space for you to pack the whole world and the moon, if you so desire. But style-wise it seems a little bland to me. I just don't see enough going on in it by way texture and colour. And the fact that I'm seeing it everywhere (and I do mean everywhere- see left), may just be putting me off it.

But who knows, I'm probably biased (I am totally in love with leather bags and so probably shouldn't judge any other kind). Some people have even found a way to work around the lack of texture and colour by using it as a blank canvas and customising it with stick-studs and pins.

If you feel like this is a must-have bag for you, there a few things you should know. First of all, for those of you who aren't aware, Longchamp is a high-end designer label, which means each bag carries a huge price tag depending on the size. Generally, if you are a college student like me this may be a bit too expensive for you (unless its your splurge item of the moment). If it is too expensive for you , I have seen a few similar versions done by labels like C&A with more affordable price tags. Also , if you are going to get the original and want to customise it, please don't do anything too outlandish that you'll regret. The bag is too expensive for you to over-customise it to the point it becomes unwearable in any other season. Finally and most importantly I believe, if you don't like it Don't Buy It. Even if all the people you know have it, it just is not worth it to buy something that does not reflect you.

Love you all and Stay Inspired,

Aury

P.S. So tell me, have you fallen in love with this trend? Does this bag call your name or do you belong to the camp of "I just Don't get it " too? You can give your response in the comments below.

Photo Credit: All photos from Creative Commons

How to have a fab (low cost) Holiday by Bringing the Resort to You

Its officially summer for almost everybody and here in Geneva people have already begun to head out to their various vacation hotspots. Unfortunately, times are hard and not everyone can jet off to some fabulous exotic beach for the summer. And even if you do get to go somewhere for the summer, chances are there are gonna be days that you are at lost for what to do. So with this in mind I've come up with a few ways of battling the boring summer blues.

• Create your own personal getaway: If you've been blessed with loads of sun but no beach or pool for miles get a beach blanket, towel or lawn chair, some shade and a good read and go out. Even though its just the park or even your own yard, getting out and getting fresh air instantly releases feel-good hormones, not to mention the fact that any kind of fresh air is good for you. When I do this in my yard I usually go the whole nine yards: bikini, large sun hat, a pair of sunglasses and a cool drink but if you are going to be in public and don't want to seem too odd here are some outfit ideas below:
  






• Curl up with a good book/zine and get cosy: Feed your mind! The right book can give a previously dull holiday an instant makeover. Novels and magazines are more acessible and portable than good tv and therefore are generally in high demand this season. You can take them to the park, to a café , to the beach or even to your front yard. And on a rainy day, you can just curl up on your couch (or hotel bed) with it and continue your vacation fun from the comfort of your space. Some of the books I've been loving this summer are:
  

1. Princess Diaries: After Eight, To the Nines and Ten out of Ten by Meg Cabot
2. Chasing Harry Winston by Lauren Weisberger
3. Tuesday's Child by Louise Bagshawe
4. Revenge of The Wedding Planner by Sharon Owens
5. What You Wear Can Change Your Life by Trinny and Susannah
   

Numbers 1 through 4 lists books that are generally happy go-lucky, romantic comic yet totally engaging novels. Book 5 is an interesting look into the fashion forward minds of Trinny and Susannah of the show What Not to Wear. Although the book doesn't really focus on the adolescent/young adult demographic it does give a lot of basic style advice that can be applied to females of all ages. Personally, its one of my favorite style books because its written in a witty tone that screams Trinny and Susannah. All in all, these books are light-hearted and fun, which makes them perfect for a bright summer day.

• Get out and hit the town: Go to places that you've never been before: Cute, little hidden shops and tourists sites and parks. A lot of people never really see the place that they live in because of the hectic nature of everyday life. Now its summer, you can actually take out the time to see it.
  

• Dive into the cultural tide pool: Visit museums, art galleries, photography and jewelwry exhibitions, and other cultural related stuff. These places can serve as huge sources of inspiration to anyone with an artistc nature including fashionistas. After visits, you can work on a holiday related inspiration book to pull you out of dull phases. Who knows, your next look could be found in a museum near you.
  

• Discover yourself with hobbies and internships: Summer is the perfect time to try your hand at new things, especially stuff that you may have develped an interest in but never really had time to pursue. Take me, for example, I took a digital photography course in school last semester and realized I really like photography. So this summer, I've been taking a summer course in photography for fun. And if you've been exploring the idea of working in the magazine industry, this could be a good time to gather experience. Of course, internships do need a lot of preparation time, organization planning in order to work, but most universities are willing to help with this process.

• Do random fun (and sometimes useful) stuff: have a barbeque with friends, do spa days, keep an eye out for free or really cheap festivals, concerts and parties. After all, this is the best time of year for such things and you would amazed by the number of parties and festivals you could find just by looking in the paper or online. And if you're anything like me and the idea of spicing your wardrobe or living space to reflect your style better excites you, this is totally the best time to do it.
  

• Volunteer your Time: Christmas isn't the only time of year people need your help. Instead of vegging out in front of the tv, why not play a part in making this world a better place. You could either work locally, at a nearby orphanage or humanitarian organisation, or you could decide to make a trip out of it and travel out to help people in other places. Either way, you can be ensured that it will definitely be an experience.

So, I really hope that the ideas in this post will add a little spice to your summer holidays. Have fun and Happy Summer!!

Love you all and Stay Inspired,

Aury


P.S. How are you spending your summer holidays? Are you gonna be travelling somewhere exotic or mostly sticking to your homebase? Feel Free to comment below...


Photo credit:All photos from flickr.com via CC

On the Runways: Boho Fabulous!

During Fashion Week for Spring 2009, the runways were filled with flowy skirts, tunic tops and floral prints in abundance, and soon Boho Chic returned to the stores in style. Stars from Sienna Miller to Kate Hudson have been sporting this gorgeous fun and flirty look this season in a sophisticated and stylish way. In fact this look has become so chic that the maxi dress, a staple piece in every bohemian's wardrobe, has become transformed into an elegant gown that can be worn to any high end event. If u don't believe me, above are some sample pieces from my set on polyvore.com that may change your mind. I know this gorgeous Giorgio Armani Dress definitely changed mine.

But Bohemian Chic is more than just a trend! Its a whole subculture with values and belief systems reflected by the clothes they wear. The Bohemian subculutre, as we know it today, is made up of creative, artsy and individualistic people who have strong opinions and beliefs that they stand up for. They are generally in touch with nature, life and freedom (particularly freedom of expression), and this characteristics are reflected in the way they dress. Whenever I think of the Bohemian sub-culture I think of people that are constantly inspired and strive for peace and contentment. Being creatively-inclined you can see why this totally appeals to me:)
I may give more info on how to live a bohemian- inspired lifestyle in a later article.

So...if you want to learn how to rock Boho-Chic right I've got 2 important tips for you. Important tip number 1:Its all about proportion. If the clothes have bright and bold colours stick to rustic gold and metallic jewelry or earthen pieces. If they are basic, simple or neutral then go crazy with bright and bold accessories.Important tip Number 2: There has to be balance in every outfit so if your wearing billowy peasant tops stick to skinnies on the bottom and if your wearing a long and flowy gypsy skirt balance it off with a cute tank or camisole on top. For more tips on wearing this style right go to http://www.apparelworld09.webs.com/
Finally,I don't know about you but I LOVE this style!Bohemian Chic speaks to the artist and trendsetter in me. It gives you the freedom to express yourself with colours, textures, fabrics and accessories. If you do the look just right you can come off looking like a work of art. Another reason I love this look is because, when done right, it is extremely forgiving. It can skim over your negatives and emphasize your positives depending on how you wear it. And the key to wearing it right, like all good styles, depends on your knowledge of your self, particularly your shape and colouring ( I will talk more about these in coming weeks).

Love you all and Stay inspired,

Aury

P.S. So what do u think about Boho-Chic? Have u rocked it this season or do u feel this is too much flower power for you? Feel free to tell me what you think in the comments below....