Wednesday 27 May 2015

Minimalist Paradise: Serafin Andrzejak AW15 Review

After recently debuting his AW15 collection in Poland, I just had to review this collection after Caption PR sent me over Serafin Andrzejak's amazing lookbook. 

Immediately, the continuity in his work captivated me as I was so impressed at how he was able to take one uniform colour & create so many beautiful designs, often changing simple things along the way, yet it made a huge, huge difference.

Reading more about him, I realised that his trademark is in fact combining classical elegance with distinctive blacks so it's no surprise that this collection shows off this talent so much...

5 Favourites Explained

Keeping the styles of the shoes and socks the same ensured that all the focus were on the pieces themselves which is great and key within minimalist fashion. The slicked back hair also looks fabulous & classy. I give props to hair & makeup because I think it works phenomenally well with the aesthetic of this collection, especially with the dark smoky eyes & nude lips to add to the edginess.

This look below is absolutely stunning. I truly think that exposed shoulders is the new exposed midriff & works 10x better at flaunting femininity... it's something about baring them that compliments the silhouette so nicely and makes up for no cleavage on show either. That's another thing I like with this collection... perhaps its because Serafin designs unisex that this collection finds a balance between feminine and masculine on the woman. There are no revealing looks but that doesn't make this a conservative line at all, it's edgy & out there but also effortless.

Am I a huge fan of the socks vibe with this dress? No, but I can see why the footwear is kept the same so I'm willing to go along with it...


Below I think its one of my favourite pieces. The textures remind me of Alexander Wang somewhat. This coat is a statement piece but it's not a striking plum or an Hermès-esque tan colour that you may expect for winter... I think people have forgotten that black will always win & triumph over all, it's not boring by far and if you think about it, black styles will transcend time & trends over pops of colour, guaranteed.  

The sports-luxe look is amazing and it compliments the model so well. I can imagine this would be an amazing coat for AW to slim you down, keep you warm & give you that fierce 'look at me' vibe because those silvery-grey panels bring it all the way to life.


I really love the following frayed boucle type of jumper in the grey because it's practical for the season, yet it beats the standard knitted jumper and looks distressed, keeping with the unconventional theme of the collection.


I just adore this dress, I really do. I'm beginning to really see the value of minimalist fashion now and I suddenly want to change the vibe of my wardrobe & get some really simple black dresses because of it. This crossover bodice is such a classy touch to the dress but spices it up from being overshadowed in a party... I mean you will undoubtedly still make a statement wearing this but its not overly loud or bold. Sometimes it truly is about the details and I think that this collection is monumental in proving that.


Finally I loved the look below because I'd expect it to stay structured and fitted all the way to the hem but instead it flares out and defies expectations. I think the new thing is to make coats the statement piece as opposed to the dress underneath & especially in AW, when you're out you're bound to be seen wearing a coat so you might as well make that capture some attention and this definitely will with its coat-dress flow. The centred gold zip is especially beautiful and something I really pay attention to with items... even a well-placed and well-coloured zip can really transform a garment.


Overall, I really enjoyed reviewing this collection and it opened my eyes to the beauty of minimalism within fashion. Sometimes it's not all about being loud & bold... often you can capture more attention just by wearing subtler looks, especially to the well-trained fashion eye. I look forward to seeing more from Serafin & will definitely keep you all updated!

Sunday 24 May 2015

Your Invite: Sulakshana Monga Hosts Exclusive UK Trunk Show!

Stalwart of India’s high fashion landscape, celebrated couture designer, Sulakshana Monga, will be arriving in the UK to host a three-day trunk show of the latest bridal and cocktail wear collection by her sought after label, Soltee by Sulakshana Monga.

Find your exclusive invitation below & be sure to RSVP if you want to attend & meet a legend in the Indian fashion world...


She's won several prestigious awards and continually produces elegant designs that transcend seasonal trends and phases. Rest assured, any piece you buy now will still be 'in' years down the line, making her an exceptionally unique designer.

Take a look at some of her exquisite designs below...

Embellished works at India Couture Week 2014
With Ileana D’Cruz at India Couture Week 2014 
I can also reveal that I will be doing a one-on-one interview with the designer herself very soon so watch this space to find out more about this phenomenal woman. I'm thoroughly excited & hope to answer all your need-to-know questions :)

Monday 18 May 2015

Mink & Stone Review: Customised 'Doll Life' Bracelet

At the last Bloggers Love Hub event, I had the pleasure of being introduced to Mink & Stone who showed me their innovative concept up close and personal. Just by saying that I was into glam, statement pieces, a necklace was formed on an iPad within about a minute.

I was amazed at how quick the process was and how many different selections you could make. Immediately, I thought 'wow wouldn't this be a great gift idea?' Think about it, we all have someone who perhaps isn't the easiest to shop for and has their own taste so if you could personally design a piece for them, wouldn't that save us the hassle of fake smiles and thank yous?

I just had to try out Mink & Stone for myself. Initially, I was a bit concerned that the designs would turn out cheap looking because most of the customisable jewellery places I've found before are really quite basic. Perhaps you can add someone's name or something and that's about it... but not with Mink & Stone...


As you can see, this was my first creation... the 'Doll Life' bracelet. When starting the design process, I was amazed at how I could change the tiniest details such as the colour of the clasp. It truly is a unique and extensive design site like no other that I have come across. I based my design on a pre-existing look to save time but I changed around the beads and added some of my own ideas, especially the 'doll' part. 

The good thing is you can work according to your budget and needs. You can see how much each bead or ornament costs before adding it to your design so you can have an idea of how much you will spend. Also, I loved the sheer amount of beads available to me... literally so many colours and types of stone, I was very impressed. 


I was incredibly excited when Mink & Stone posted this picture before sending out my bracelet! It turned out absolutely beautifully and just what I wanted. What you design is what you will receive, nothing less and nothing more. Sometimes it can be a bit difficult to believe that you will receive the same product you are designing on a virtual platform but Mink & Stone came through with magnificent results. 


In terms of customer service, they were fantastic at replying to my emails quickly and providing a trustworthy service. I felt like I was put first as a customer which is very important, especially when you are dealing with a customisation site as you want everything to come out just as you'd like it too. 

When I got the package, my bracelet arrived in a convenient velvet pouch so I can store it safely, as well as a cute 'thank you' note!


Here's me wearing my design! It fit perfectly as there are lots of hooks so that's also one less thing to worry about. Overall, I would definitely recommend trying out Mink & Stone as I had no negatives about them at all. It's really great if you're tired of all the same old high-street jewellery lines or want to surprise someone with an extra-special treat with lots of thought put into it :)

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Tuesday 12 May 2015

Aashni + Co: MASSIVE Sample Sale (Manish Malhotra, Gaurav Gupta + More!)

Aashni + Co, the UK’s leading, Indian high fashion, multi-brand store, will be hosting its first ever Blowout Sample Sale this weekend!

If you have a wedding coming up or are looking for some extravagant pieces from India's top high-fashion designers, this is definitely the place to be! With up to a massive 70% off, you're bound to find some exquisite pieces at insanely discounted prices! 



Collections by India’s leading fashion designers such as Manish Malhotra, Tarun Tahiliani, Rohit Bal, Varun Bahl, Vineet Bahl, Anamika Khanna, Gaurav Gupta, Indian by Manish Arora, Anand Kabra, Marg by Soumitra and many more will be available on the day! Talk about being spoiled for choice...

Not convinced yet? Take a look at some of the stunning designs produced by just a few of the designers available to purchase from on the day... 

Unique, hybrid elegance at Anamika Khanna
Wild and colourful at Manish Arora
Classic and sophisticated at Manish Malhotra