*you're cordially invited...

***

One thing that I am most certainly going to miss about England is the tea!...

 

“Tea is liquid wisdom” -Anonymous

[mhmm]

 I'm a self confessed addict...drinking up to four cups a day... [you can bet half my suitcase was filled with PG Tips]

...so why not share the love with you guys?!

soooo I'm hosting a tea party! *fanfare* and you're all invited!

Traditional English tea....sandwiches, scones and sugar cubes #ohmy

...all online of course...haha what did you expect??

“There is no trouble so great or grave that cannot be much diminished by a nice cup of tea.” -Bernard-Paul Heroux

 

“Tea is drunk to forget the din of the world” -T'ien Yiheng
 

“If man has no tea in him, he is incapable of understanding truth and beauty” -Japanese Proverb

“Tea to the English is really a picnic indoors” -Alice Walker

  
 Anyways, no elbows on the table! *dabs corners of mouth with napkin*

Drink up!
xx

***

*fabulous London.

***

“If London is a watercolor, New York is an oil painting.” ― Peter Shaffer

[...different; not better, not worse]

The time has come for me to say goodbye to this wonderful country and return to the States.

But don't worry kiddies, I'll still be posting about the numerous English models and fashion icons that I haven't gotten to and my experiences in the UK and over on the continent! [still didn't do a post about Paris...and now I have to do one about Belgium!! #fallingbehind]

How about a 'see-you-soon' present to cheer myself you up?

'Fabulous London.' ft. Bonnie Chen. Harper's Bazaar China. July 2012.

Just think, while I'm stuffing choccies in my carry-on and getting searched at customs, you get to enjoy some fun and ferocious 'English' pretty...

...sigh..I miss it already.

Life is a journey, and I must remember that it may be one that I am not entirely in control of; just gotta enjoy whatever experiences are thrown at me, ya dig?

Am I sad that I'm leaving? Yes. But, I'm also excited to move on and continue growing and anxious for what experiences 2013 will bring. And of course I'll definitely be back...[maybe sooner than I know?? hehe.]

So, goodbye to 'The Swinging City' and hello to 'The Big Apple.'

Wish me luck kiddies!
xx

***

*explore.dream.discover.

***

hmm..*sips tea*...

I'm neglecting you again, aren't I?

Lo siento kiddies... spent the weekend in Bristol by the cousin. It was interesting to say the least...haha...

...and other than the wonderful Trini food my cousin cooked, she is super inspirational...following her own dreams and goals..

Sigh. But being on a 3 hour coach..and having to pack and unpack just reminded me of how many hours in these past six months I've been in transit...

...with more traveling coming soon! Haha....

Anyways, being a blog about finding inspiration in constant uprooting, here's some nomadic pretty to start off your day..

"Trail Blazers": Daria Werbowy and Lily Donaldson in Cuzco, Peru by Mario Testino for Vogue UK. March 2008.

“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” – St. Augustine

“There are no foreign lands. It is the traveler only who is foreign.” – Robert Louis Stevenson
 

“A journey is like marriage. The certain way to be wrong is to think you control it.” – John Steinbeck

“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” – Henry Miller

“Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.” – Miriam Beard

Sometimes I find myself complaining that world travel isn't as glamorous as it's cracked up to be, having to live out of a suitcase and slum it out sometimes [and look like a hot mess toting heavy suitcases through New York City]...but honestly, it's worth it...

Maybe I'm being totally existential right now, [blame the impending return to the US] but the experiences that I have had in the past few months are ...I dunno.. live-changing, priceless, once-in-a-lifetime...and have certainly impacted me and inspired me in ways I could never have imagined *tear* ...cliché, I know.

And, while I am somewhat excited to return to the States, I will definitely, DEFINITELY miss this gloriously cultural country... [and, of course, will be back!]

ah well.. "The only thing constant is change..."...a concept that I am slowly understanding...but, as one very amazing friend rightfully said, it's not the end..just a new chapter...something new to get used to...to keep me on my toes...life does that...

...and hopefully I look amaze doing it! Ha!
xx

***

*romeo, romeo...wherefore art thou romeo...

***

This week's theme seems to be kiddy-related [real kiddy..not you kiddies] so why not feature buzz-worthy child of the hour...

...anyone recognize him??

...

No?

Well maybe you know his parents...

...umm ya..be jealous...

If any of you guessed Romeo Beckham, you were right...now pat yourself on the back and award yourself 100 points...

The ten year old [and second child of genetically superior Posh+Becks] has been causing a stir in the fashion world for becoming one of the faces of the new Burberry SS13 campaign, alongside fellow Brits Charlotte Wiggins and Alex Dunstan.

Top male model David Gandy praised miniBecks, claiming that he's a natural and is clearly enjoying himself, while Burberry's chief creative officer even stated that he was a joy to work with and that his fun and upbeat spirit clearly represents the collection and is evident in the photos.

I'd have to agree! He fits right in!

And if those pictures weren't enough, here's a video preview of the campaign to see just what a ball of energy Romeo was on set.
..ok..now where can I get one? haha...

***

*Happy New Year.

***

It's 2013 kiddies! [for me at least..haha]

Well, it's just after 1am here in London..and I could think of no one better to usher in the New Year with.

So....

Happy New Year kiddies! Hope 2013 is all that you guys want it to be and so much more!

I'm sure all you guys are partying it up, surrounded by loved ones and alcohol...keeping it safe [and PG] of course..maybe even setting up your fireworks or getting ready for your midnight kiss..haha...

..well...clearly I'm not..haha..

However, whenever you do decide to stumble in...or wake up with your hangover ^_^...there'll be some New Years Pretty waiting for you...my treat!...courtesy Dolce&Gabbana [so I guess their treat really...haha]

Dolce&Gabbana SS13 NYE Lookbook.

Enjoy!

light+love.
xx

***

*merry christmas

***

It's Christmastime kiddies!

Between all the prezzie wrapping, baking and wine drinking, it's been hard to find time to keep you all updated with your doses of fashion pretties.

I'll make it up to you, I promise!

But for now, here's to you and yours; wishing you all health, happiness and love this season and for the New Year!

Festive-realness pretty!

Keep it classy kids! And most importantly safe!

***

*more posh than you can bear

***

Haha. Surprise kiddies!

Seeing as how it is December and I am in a giving mood [and I did have a ton of Vicky B pics left over], your daily pretty and inspirational quotes for the day are courtesy Mrs. Becks.

Enjoy!

“If you haven't got it. Fake it! Too short? Wear big high heels, but do practice walking!”

“I don't know much about football. I know what a goal is, which is surely the main thing about football.”

“If I set my mind to something I do it. My biggest wish for all of us is that we are happy, successful, and that we stay true to ourselves.”

Inspiring words and breathtaking pictures, wouldn't you agree?

*** 

*Target_: Victoria Beckham

***

It's been a while since I've done a 'Target' post although this one's been in the making for quite some time now. However, with such a high profile, and incredibly talented, celebrity such as Mrs. Beckham, it's been quite the task;
a) sorting through the mass amount of pics I've collected, and
b) creating the collages.

First on the agenda, some brief background info! [although most of you probably know these]:
*Career beginnings as 'Posh Spice' of the Spice Girls, an early indicator of an interest in fashion.

*Married David Beckham in 1999 and been popping out babies ever since. The couple has four children; three sons and a daughter.

*Ventured into the fashion world, firstly as a model for London Fashion Week in 2000, and brand ambassador for Dolce and Gabbana in 2003, before launching her denim line "dvb Style" in 2006.

*Debuted her first collection at New York Fashion Week in 2008 to enormously positive reviews.

*Has been the face of Rocawear 2003, Marc Jacobs SS2008, Armani 2009 [with husband David Beckham].

*Has graced the cover of Vogue a total of 6 times.

*Winner of Designer Brand of the Year at the British Fashion Awards in 2011

Her style, now described as confidently simple and timeless, which often shows through in her own personal style,  hasn't always been as, how should I say, refined. *see below*

However, she quickly rediscovered the 'posh' aspect that brought her fame, and has since become quite the style icon. In fact, I don't know what she's most known for; her role as a member of the Spice Girls,a footballer's wife, fashion icon or designer.

Quite multifaceted wouldn't you say?

 These are just a few examples of her stunning outfits and style sense. Sharp, chic and always looking composed, what a fashionable turnaround from that previous set of images no?

Gorgeous no?

***

*RainyDay

***

Ew. It's been super rainy for the past few days here in England. And, if you think that's enough to get you depressed, imagine how I feel! As a result of the dreary weather, I have been perpetually lazy, curled up in bed, trying to stay warm. *insert massive hot chocolate craving here*

Naturally, I'm gonna turn this frown upside down, and blog about it!

So... *drum roll* wonderfully depressing rain editorials!

Haha, just kidding! They're inspiring, in their own way and, although I love the sun and warmth, coming from the Caribbean, these pictures make me want to get my brolly and a pair of rain boots and go splash in some puddles.

Enjoy!

Stylist Magazine. 2012. 'Purple Rain.'

“Life is like a rainbow. You need both the sun and the rain to make its colors appear.”

"I don't believe in pessimism. If something doesn't come up the way you want, forge ahead. If you think it's going to rain, it will." -Clint Eastwood 

Stylist Magazine. 2012. 'Purple Rain.'

"And when it rains on your parade, look up rather than down. Without the rain, there would be no rainbow."-Gilbert K. Chesterton

***

*Bath.

***

Morning all!

Sigh. Been slacking on my posts! This one has been two weeks in the making!

Exactly two Saturdays ago, I had the privilege of going to the city of Bath with my classmates.

A gorgeously romantic, Roman city, given it's name from the thermal spring baths that was used up to as early as 60 A.D!

L-R: Overhead of Royal Crescent+Circus. Bath Abbey. Pultney Bridge x2. Bath Abbey. Royal Circus.

Bath's got everything...from a rich history linked to Roman settlement and Jane Austen, to inspiring architecture [which includes an amazing cathedral and the famous Royal Crescent and Circus] to...*get ready for this* a fashion museum! Can you guess what my first stop was?

Even got to see a McQueen original, which was chosen as 'Dress of the Year' for 2011! #amaze

There's even the famous 'Pump Room' where a number of Jane Austen movies filmed scenes! It's open to the public for tea, just got to queue up [but obviously there's a long queue]. It's worth it though, most amazing tea I've had here in a stunningly gorgeous room. #classy

If you ever venture to England and you're searching for inspiration, Bath is definitely the place to provide it.An eclectic and modern mix of people in a beautifully historical city, what more could you ask for?!

I was obviously interested in the fashion, which the city seems to be a hub of, but if you like history or architecture, even Jane Austen novels, this is certainly a must see!

Breathtaking no? Must revisit!

*adds to bucket list*

***

*Style File: Karen Elson

***

Been a while since I did a 'Style File' post...soooo yay! More British models!

Today's focus is on Karen Elson, British model-turned-singer extraordinaire.

Known for:

*fiery red hair [dyed]
*minimal, shaved eyebrows
*shooting the cover of Italian Vogue w/ Steven Meisel on 18th birthday.
*walking Marc Jacobs 2006 F/W runway while pregnant
*marrying [although recently divorcing] Jack White of the White Stripes in a shaman officiated wedding in a canoe up the Amazon [with Meg White, Jack's ex-wife, as her maid-of-honor]

After a rough entry into the fashion world, being turned down by a number of jobs, most times without representation, Elson's edgy look quickly became popular in the Asian markets, which then in turn propelled her to global success. Definitely a testament as to how hard and non-linear the industry is!

She's a crazy girl with a striking look. Unlike Kate and Naomi, who probably do a lot more polished shoots, Ms. Elson definitely puts some weird and quirky fun into hers.

Should I let the pictures do the talking?

Needless to say, she's got a lot of shots that I really like...

Still lots of glam, no?

Haha. As close to a 'file' as you can get, ey? Short, sweet and lots of pictures.

***

*Target_: Ellie Goulding

***

With her sophomore album just days from being released in the UK, I have decided to do a 'Target' post on none other than singer-songwriter Ellie Goulding.

Following in the footsteps of vocal powerhouse Adele, wining both the BBC's 'Sound of..' poll, as well as the Brit Award for 'Critics' Choice,' it somewhat surprises me that she is not just as globally successful.
However, Ms. Goulding has her loyal collection of fans, myself included, who probably have noticed a change in both her music and her look.

Beginning her career with more indie-pop type songs, Ellie definitely dressed the part, often wearing beanies and oxford shoes...looking very preppy and sophisticated. As her craft evolved, so too did her dress, which is quite understandable. After all, like music, fashion is also a creative outlet. She began dressing a little more edgy, even shaving one side of her head, dying her hair various colors..and even more recently, as seen at the iTunes festival, braided her hair!

 

I think that, like her music, her fashion has taken a darker turn; she's often seen wearing blacks and leathers now, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. It makes for a very striking look!

indie beginnings..

 I have tried to group her fashion phases into separate collages, but somewhere in the middle they start to blend... I'm sure though that you can mostly see her style evolution...and if you have trouble, just do what I did and look at her hair! haha...

grungy prep?

While maybe not necessarily a fashion icon here in the UK, and mostly favoring casual, comfortable clothing, she definitely takes some risks sometimes and has her fair share of hits and misses. But what I really admire is how cohesive her look is with her music. She does not look like she's trying to be anyone but herself, innocent and raw, and that is to be commended. I love how she can look so sweet and cute, but yet dark and mischievous at the same time.

...lots of blacks, no?

 If you want a description of her style, Ellie herself pretty much sums it up as she says, it's "...tomboyish. When I was younger, I had my lip pierced and I had black hair so I like Gothic crosses and grungy leather. But sometimes, I want to be girlie so I go for florals and pink. Maybe I've rebelled from my grunge phase and just want to be a Barbie now! Because one side of me wants to be this sophisticated London girl and the other side wants to be rebellious, especially on stage when I like the idea of being a rock star."

Check out her music kiddies. Album releases on the 8th!

***

*Style_File: Naomi Campbell

***

Not so much on the heels of the Kate Moss post comes this week's Style File on Naomi!

Another popular British model, [one of the few 'supermodels' actually,] who rose to prominence in the 90s.

Similarly to Kate, Naomi has suffered her fair share of scandal, but in true supermodel fashion has bounced back, making a stunning return to the fashion world.

And what a glorious return it has been with that stunning gait she has. 

*tries to be objective*.... ok but seriously... BEST. WALK. EVER. hands down. not even kidding.

If you haven't seen Naomi walk, you haven't lived. *heads to YouTube*

*...breathes life to clothes*

*...legs like a horse*

*...hips, hips hips*

Anyways, enough fawning. I'll let her portfolio do the talking.

Disclaimer: I was super inspired by her pics that I couldn't decide which ones to post. Decided to make two, one of her amaze color photos, and one of her B&W ones. Enjoy!

Plus... I mean community service in designer gowns...fabulousssssss! 

***

*Style_File: Kate Moss

***

I have always found it interesting that sometimes, those working within the fashion industry may not necessarily be the most stylish on their off days, often preferring 'function' [and comfort] to 'fashion.'

Take Kate Moss [although regarded by some as a Boho-chic icon] for example...

...but, I guess we all need a little breather every once in a while....

*insert breather here*

...oh, but when they work, they WERQ!

A classic beauty, with a gritty edge to it, Ms. Moss was one of the top models of the 90s, starting the model trend which became known as 'heroin-chic.'

 She marked the beginning of a shift in the modelling world to more skinny and waif type models, after the decade where models were powerful and strong women represented by favorites like Linda Evangelista, Cindy Crawford and Claudia Schiffer.

...stunning girl. Is it any wonder why she is deserving of the title 'supermodel?'

*refer to pictures* 

Didn't think so! :)

"It sounds really corny but I think that if you're beautiful inside it shows on the outside, for sure."- Kate Moss

***