//OOTD: 23/07/13 Urban Winter

beanie - CottonOn | anorak - CottonOn | shirt - Banana Republic 

| shoes - Converse | necklace - eBay

My first OOTD, woo! Bear with me, I will try to improve the quality of these :-)
Please drop a comment below with any suggestions or comments!

//health - GREEN TEA

We all know that drinking water is good for you, but plain old water does get a bit dull after awhile. Instead of shamefully reverting back to soft drinks, try Green Tea!

Here are some reasons why:

• Helps Weight Loss: Green Tea contains antioxidants, called Catechins, which increases the rate of your metabolism - meaning you burn calories quicker. It also reduces your bad cholesterol levels.
• Healthy Skin: It minimizes the appearance of wrinkles and aging. Also, don't throw away your tea bags straight after drinking! Freeze them and place them over your eyes. They make your eyes feel refreshed and help with reducing puffiness.
• Relieves Stress and Energizes: Green Tea contains less caffeine than most types of Coffee, so you can enjoy more of it before bed.
• Boosts Immune System: Catechins are great antibacterial and antiviral agents. Drinking it in Winter will warm you up and stop that potential cold from coming on!
• Fights Cancer: Green Tea fights the free radicals in your body which harm your DNA and increase the risk of cancer.

Green Tea is affordable and available at many supermarkets. It can come in tea bags, tea leaves or pre-ready drinks. Personally, I would stick to tea bags and tea leaves as many pre-ready drinks have added sugar and flavouring.

Happy Drinking!

11/07/13 - TODAY'S AFFIRMATION

//trend - THE BOYFRIEND JEAN

For years we've seen the skinny jean, although it's a classic style - that leg hugging silhouette does get boring after awhile. Now there's the Boyfriend Jean, a comfier (...gone are the woes of too tight skinny jeans), baggier and often more distressed version of jean. The Boyfriend Jean is so effortlessly chic. It can be easily dressed up or down, and paired to make a whole range of outfits - very versatile!

One thing I have noticed though, I haven't actually seen a black BF jean... let alone, in other colours or prints.
Do you guys think that these options will become available in the future? Should we just stick to the basics?

Tips:

• If possible, do try on the jeans before you buy them! Everyone has their own idea of the "perfect amount of bagginess." Finding the right fit is important, otherwise they can make your legs look shorter.
• If you're a bit hesitant to try out this trend, or just want to save some cash, try looking for a pair at the thrift store. You can then distress them however you like!

I've put together two quick sets to show you guys how to easily them up or down :-)

//trend - BOYFRIEND JEANS: dress it up by dan1elle 

structured, fitted pieces (e.g blazers, boxy bags) + heels + cat eyeliner/bold lip + voluminous buns/sleek pony tails

//trend - BOYFRIEND JEAN: dress it down by dan1elle

loose fitting tops + chunky shoes/sandals + beach waves/braids + vintage sunglasses + boater hats/beanies

*_*

"Hi, my name is Danielle and I have terrible time management and procrastination problems."

I am disappointed in myself! I really wanted to update this blog regularly but I found it difficult to do since school commitments kept me quite busy (probably because I had Facebook tabbed half of the time).

The only thing to do when you fail is to try again... So here I am.

Quick update:

• Nearly end of Term 1 school holidays, yeeeees!
• Flying to New York in 2 days, hell yeeeees!

I will try keep you guys updated with my trip, please let me know of any cool places to go or things to buy.


Definitely, talk to you soon ♥

DIY: Jeans to Shorts

This is a DIY classic - it's easy, quick and looks good (all the ingredients of a good DIY!)

    Materials:

•  Jeans: To transform into shorts. Try the DIY on an old pair first if you're a bit unsure!
•  Ready-made shorts: Find a pair that fit you well and that you like the style of.
•  Ruler
•  Scissors: Fabric scissors would obviously be the best, but I don't any. Regular scissors are a little bit                                  more difficult to cut with but totally usable.
•  Pencil: Pen, marker, chalk - whatever takes your fancy.

• Align your existing shorts with the jeans you're planning to DIY with to get an estimate of the length/shape you want.
• Draw a straight line (Tip: Make your line slightly diagonal, which will make the hem of your shorts slant upwards instead of just being horizontal. This provides a more flattering cut and elongates your legs) to mark off your desired length. 
• Draw a second straight line slightly below the first. This will give you room to make mistakes or extra fabric to distress/cuff. You can always cut your shorts shorter, but you can't really make them longer!
• Try them on to check the lines are where you want them to be.

•  Cut along the second line you drew for Step 1.
•  You don't have to cut incredibly neatly...I'll tell you why in Step 3

• Well done! You are now 'kind of done'.
• Now, you can cuff your shorts and keep the cuff in place by ironing/sewing the sides of the cuff
• You can also chuck them in the washing machine to give a frayed, distressed looking hem
• (You won't see the original cut if you cuff them/distress them, therefore you don't have to be super neat in Step 2.)
• Feel free to customize them even more... here are some ideas:
• Studding
• Bleaching/dyeing
• Lace/cloth appliques
• Distressing

I hope you enjoyed this super, easy DIY :-)

If you try it, please send me pictures or tell me how it goes! And feel free to ask me any questions.

Happy Valentine's Day ♥

I am so sorry guys, my time management skills completely suck so I haven't blogged much this week :(

I'm drowning in school and other commitments at the moment but I hope to have a new blog post up this weekend,
Thanks for understanding!
And I hope you all had a lovely Valentine's Day

♥ Danielle

Happy Chinese New Year 2013

source: http://www.activityvillage.co.uk

2013 is the Year of the Snake, so good luck to anyone with the same zodiac!

If you are a bit confused, click here.

Gifts for Her- Valentine's Day 2013

Please keep in mind that my suggestions reflect what I would like to receive/what I think others would like to receive, and it's for that reason I'm only going to be talking about gifts for females (sorry boys!)

Below are some ideas on what to get a special girl on Valentine's Day, regardless if she's your girlfriend, mother, best friend or even yourself. Girls, don't stress if you don't have a Valentine! The concept is kind of overrated anyway.. Why not be your own Valentine? After all, you know yourself better than anyone. Treat yourself!

*Please keep in mind that my suggestions reflect what I would like to receive/what I think others would like to receive, and it's for that reason I'm only going to be talking about gifts for females (sorry boys!)*

1. Books: This probably isn't a very common gift idea, but I think books can make a great gift. You could find a pretty looking book that is about something she likes but what about a book full of lovely poetry? That would be the sweetest thing! You could even add a few of your own poems, illustrations, photos etc. to make it a bit more personal. Speaking of photos, Photo albums are also good.

2. Fragrance: I've never met a girl who doesn't like smelling nice, something about a nice scent just makes you feel happier.The only difficulties with perfume is that everyone has different scents they like and dislike, and also that nice perfume can be pricey. So make sure you know what scents she likes, maybe even sneakily ask her just to be safe! Diffusers can be a easier option than perfume, since they all have classic scent combinations (with names you can understand, e.g What does a 'Wonderstruck', 'No. 5' or 'Red Door' even smell like?!).

3. Flowers: A classic Valentine's Day gift that you really can't go wrong with. I personally flowers are great, sure they're not really anything new but they're like the 'Chanel Little Black Jacket of Valentine's Day' presents. So a bouquet of her favourite flowers is a wonderful idea, simply go with roses if you don't know what her favourite flowers are! ;) I also think wildflower bouquets look super cute and give off a shabby chic/bohemian vibe.

4. Jewelry: Definitely on the more expensive side of things but it usually will give the 'wow factor'. For jewelry, I recommend going for simple pieces in higher quality materials. I really like Karen Walker jewelery (pictured) because many of her pieces are really simple but beautiful. The prices aren't too outrageous either, so do check it out!

5. Candles: They add a touch of luxury and relaxation to the room. I adore candles, there is such a wide variety of candles these days. You can get so many different shapes, colours and fragrances - there is definitely one for everyone. They are a lovely decoration piece but are functional at the same time. And who doesn't like fire?

6. Chocolates: Okay, personally I don't know how I feel about this one.. I mean, chocolates are certainly delicious and another veteran Valentine's Day gift but they can kind of backfire too (well in my opinion). A lot of girls are conscious about their weight these days, I know I am one of them. I would probably devour the whole box in a matter of hours, I have no self control,...and then feel really guilty afterwards! So maybe a modest box of chocolates can accompany another gift, or just eat them with her haha.

7. Soft Toys: I miss receiving soft toys as a gift :'(. They are an adorable present, in my opinion. Soft toys give off a sentimental and some-what nostalgic feel. Also they won't wilt, get eaten, be used up etc. and will still  be there in a few years time and provide a fond memory, hopefully. It's undeniable that giant, human sized soft toys are wicked but the average teddy bear is still cute too. Many places also do personalized soft toys, which will add more sophistication to your humble soft toy.

8. DIY: The internet is crawling with Valentine's Day DIYs. I think a handmade gift is lovely, it can carry more emotions/memories than something store bought. If you lack in the craft skills department (like yours truly) you can combine a store bought gift with some simple DIY to make it more personalized or you could simply add a nice handwritten card.

 I hope I managed to give you all a bit of inspiration. Wishing you all a very happy Valentine's Day! ♥ ♥ ♥ 

Do you have a Valentine this year? Also, don't hesitate to contact me if you need any advice!

Valentine's Day Series - 2013

Love it or hate it, Valentine's Day is nearly upon us again!

With a week or so to go, I've decided to do a little series of posts in relation to the holiday.

Please excuse the slightly sickening amount of pink used in the graphic above.

DIY: Studded Yin Yang Pencil Case

The school holidays are now drawing to a close - Am I the only one who finds they get shorter with each passing year?

This year is going to be really different for me, as I am now a senior! New classes, new people, new uniform, new year, new pencil case.

The pencil cases in the stores I visited were either not very attractive, overpriced or both, so I decided to make my own!

Here is a really simple DIY to for a customizable pencil case (no sewing skills required!)

I used pyramid studs and a Yin Yang design but you can definitely change it up!

What you will need:

•  Any bag you wish to use as a pencil case ~ The one I used was originally a toiletries bag given out on Airplanes! I suggest you find a bag that can open/close securely... you do not want your stationery spilling everywhere
• Studs
• Fabric ~ I just cut some off an old t-shirt

Optional:

• Paint/Nail Polish ~ I painted some of my studs with lilac nail polish to make it more feminine.
• Glue/Needle + Thread ~ To further secure your design
• Other decorative items ~ e.g Lace, glitter, badges, beads, buttons

 Instructions:
This is actually such a simple DIY (I wouldn't have been able to do it otherwise haha).
Basically, draw your design on some fabric, cut it out, glue/sew it to your bag (optional)...Okay now for something a bit trickier, start studding around your design BUT make sure you are studding through some of the fabric as well as the bag, this is what attaches it to the bag! You don't have to stud all 4 prongs into the fabric, although this will make it more secure, personally I only out 1 prong through the fabric. If your bag has any unwanted logos, you may want to unstitch/cover them.

Voila! Add some more decorations if you wish and you are finished.

I hope you enjoyed my first DIY!

Side note: I was originally going to buy a yin yang applique off eBay but shipping would have taken too long (being the organised person that I am, I left this to a few days before the start of school) also the size of the applique may have been off and this saved me a few bucks so why not!

Polyvore's 'Ask Advice' :(

I'm really gutted that Polyvore has decided to shut down their Ask Advice forum. The forum allowed users to interact with each other, while giving and receiving (mostly) fashion advice. It was probably my favourite part of Polyvore :(


Polyvore has come to this decision "after realizing that [they] haven't been able to give that section of the site and its participants the attention or recognition they deserve.", read the full story on their blogpost.
In my opinion, the ask section was doing fine without recognition from Polyvore. The members ensured that everything went smoothly and that everyone had a good experience.

Hundreds of users disagree with Polyvore's decision (look at the comments on their blogpost) but it does not look like they will be changing their minds.

I hope that there will be a similar forum available to us one day but I'll really miss this one!


What are your thoughts on this and do you know of any substitutes for the advice forum?

Clueless on what to wear? As if!

Hey everyone! Since I'm still on holiday at the moment, I pretty much just sit around, eat and watch tv shows/movies online... not for long though.... I start my first job soon!

Anyway, one of my favourite films has to be Clueless - I would say it's a teen girl chick flick with slightly less cliches and a better plot compared to some of the movies in cinemas today. So definitely watch it if you have the chance!

I was also inspired by the fashion in this movie - and I'm not alone, Wildfox's Spring 2013 Lookbook is  inspired by Clueless too.

Photo: Wildfox

Clueless showcased a lot of the best fashions present in the 90's; Crop tops, A-Line Skirts, Hats, Long socks etc. The main characters, Cher, Dionne & Tai all incorporated a unique personal style into their outfits.
Cher's style is more on the preppier side: Argyle, blazers, button ups, berets, simple silhouettes
While Di has a bolder fashion sense: Mixing bold colours/prints, fabulous hats and her hair + nose ring is so cool!
Before her makeover, Tai's heavily influenced by the 'grunge scene': Plaid, loose fitting garments, denim, dark colours

I decided to create a set on Polyvore inspired by Clueless. The outfits are reminiscent of the 90's fashion in the film but have been modified to fit today's fashion too :-)

Click the image to be directed to the price and availability of each item in the set

Can you guess which outfit pays tribute to which girl in Clueless? ...Really difficult... As if!

 Do you like this movie? What are some other good movies you recommend to watch?

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Trend Throwback 2012

an appreciation post for some of my favourite fashion trends of 2012

Lipsy chiffon blouse, 39 NZD / Oasis peplum skirt, 39 NZD / Peplum jacket, 565 NZD 

From bold and structured to soft and elegant, peplum came in many forms during 2012. It was featured on tops, skirts, dresses and even jackets. You were able to purchase simple peplum pieces as well as luxurious and edgy pieces featuring fantastical prints and textures, e.g leather.

Givenchy print dress, 1,920 NZD / Slim fit pants, 31 NZD / Stella McCartney Floral Blazer, 1,925 NZD 

Prints were everywhere! Last year, they were busier and bolder than ever - there were no rules. We had the classic prints such as floral but also new and quirky prints such as futuristic and reflective. 



 IRO leather biker jacket, 1,215 NZD / NARS Cosmetics lip makeup, 29 NZD / Alexander Wang leather high heels, 425 NZD

 A luxurious and vampy colour with a very fitting name - Oxblood. It was one of Fall 2012's hottest colour trends, it dominated the runways. My personal favourites were the use of this beautiful colour on leather pieces and in lipstick.

Leather messenger bag, 125 NZD / Comptoir Des Cotonniers neon top, 175 NZD / ORLY neon nail polish, 10 NZD
 Beautifully obnoxious... how is it even possible? Neon might not have been a trend for the faint hearted but it definitely captured many hearts during 2012. In my opinion, it was best worn in small doses and through simple silhouettes. Therefore it was really neon accessories that stole the show!

Oasis sleeveless dress, 100 NZD / Prada eyewear, 355 NZD / Warehouse, 33 NZD  

  This decorative trend showcased ornate swirls and brocade patterns, and was mainly featured in Fall. Baroque pieces often used the colours gold and black but then ventured out to various metallics and other rich colours - even florals. Baroque allowed for a marriage between art and marriage

So that was a look back at some of my favourite trends during 2012, I hope you enjoyed this post!

What were your favourite trends of 2012?

I hope you all had a wonderful New Years,

Danielle.