Blue on blue on blue

You know I am not one to shy away from bold contrasts but sometimes it is ok to go more subtle. If you are in a mood to create a look with a soft colour palette you can always combine different tones of the same hue just like I did in this look by playing with different shades of blue. The result is very harmonious yet not boring. 

When I bought this dress back in February on sale I didn't really think through the fact that the low back cut and the high front slit would be elements that would make me insecure about using it on its own. Neither had I realised how easily the fabric wrinkles. However I still like it so I had to find a way to be able to use it and I am quite pleased with the effect that it gives as a top layer. That doesn't really solve the wrinkling problem but I have decided just to ignore it and accept the fact that it will never look perfect. Who wants to look perfect anyway? 

• Light blue dress with frill hem: ZARA
• Black t-shirt: H&M
• Crop jeans: LEVI'S
• Leather sandals with cobalt blue fringe: LIZA'S LITTLE THINGS
• Stud necklace: SFERA
• Blue hobo bag: MARC JACOBS
• Light blue sunglasses: MINKPINK

Bunny heart

Before flying back home, I had the opportunity to spend a day in Finland's capital, Helsinki. I had forgotten how although relatively small compared to Athens and Monterrey where I have spent most of my life, it is great city full of life. Of course I couldn't resist doing some shopping surrounded by so many options. I visited Stockmann, a very important department store in Scandinavia where a lot of important brands can be found. And what a great coincidence, there was a mid-season sale so it made it even harder to resist. 

I was going around the shoes department (I know I have a serious addiction :s) and there they were: these super cool bunny fuchsia sneakers, 40% off in my size waiting for someone to snatch them. I took it as a sign that it was fate to have them so after thinking about it for a minute I was at the register paying for them. 

• Black slip dress/black t-shirt: H&M
• Fuchsia bunny sneakers: MINNA PARIKKA
• Fuchsia Selma bag: MICHAEL KORS
• Black heart necklace: MOSSIMO

Pleats and patches

I don't know why but as far as I can remember I have always considered pleats to be elegant so now that they have been on trend I just can't resist so when I saw this skirt with sparkle half price I had to take it home with me.  In order to create a casual look I decided to combine it with my denim jacket. You have seen the jacket here on the blog many times but it has been renewed. In my latest trip to Mexico City, I came across this cool unicorn, POW and ice cream patches and I thought they would make a great addition to my jacket. What do you think? 

• Black tank top: H&M
• Denim jacket: ASOS CURVE
• Black, silver and light blue pleated skirt/black pointy flats with studs: ZARA
• Multicoloured striped handbag: KATE SPADE NEW YORK
• Silver eyelashes earrings: THE CRAV CONCEPT

Black and jewels

On Monday it was my birthday and although people in general might get depressed about getting older, I was too busy participating in a lot of festivities in my honour to even think about it :) So I received a lot of love, wishes and presents and many of my presents are wearable so you will be seeing them on the blog in the near future. 

In order to complement my almost all-black look I decided to use this beautiful and interesting pair of earrings along with the cute and discreet bracelet, both gifts I was given from dear friends. I can't believe how much my perception of jewellery has changed with age. My collection keeps getting bigger and I really take them into account in order to create an outfit. I still haven't started investing in expensive pieces, I just like things that have a certain something and will give a cool touch to my look. 

• Black top with studs: H&M
• Black pleated trousers/black pointy flats with studs: ZARA
• Purple Lil Ukita bag: MARC JACOBS
• Earrings: SACROSANTA
• Tassel bracelet: no brand

Fur and frill

I really like black because it is classic and appropriate for anything but I need bright colours in my life as well, especially on gloomy days like today, so it was about time I brought this light blue dress into action. I bought it during sale season and I have been waiting for the weather to get warmer in order to use it but now that it seems to have taken a turn towards winter again, I decided that with some layering it would be ideal for taking away the cloudy days blues. 

And to take it a step further instead of my typical big bag for everyday use, I decided to use my furry clutch bag. The good thing is that it is big enough to carry everything I might need and it is just adorable :)

• Black short-sleeved turtleneck top: H&M
• Light blue dress with frill/ furry clutch: ZARA
• Black wet looking leggings/black biker jacket: NEW LOOK INSPIRE
• Black ankle boots: ASOS 

Non-boring basic

When you think of black trousers it is very probable that your mind goes directly to very classic, basic, workwear. But I have proof that they don't have to be boring! I found the perfect basic but a lot more interesting: this great pleated pair during sale season for just 199 pesos. They look cool, they are super comfortable and you can wear them to go to work like I did combining them with a classic striped sweater and flats, or for a more formal occasion combining them with heels and a nice top. Red lips are optional but they always look feminine from day to night :)

• Black and white striped sweater/black pleated trousers/burgundy ballet flats with straps and studs: ZARA
• Black trench coat: H&M
• Burgundy cross body saddle bag: PATRICK COX
• Clear lens glasses: ALDO
• Silver charm bracelet: PANDORA 

Marble and stripes

As I have mentioned before, sales are the perfect opportunity to buy things that you weren't willing to pay for the original price before and although you run the risk that you won't find the piece anymore if you do, you can save up a lot. Take these mules as an example that I had been eyeing on Zara. I never found them on the local store that I frequently visit but I had seen them on the online store and I had been stocking them. They weren't extremely expensive (1199 pesos translating to 47 pounds, 55 euros, 59 dollars) but although I really like them they are not the kind of shoe that I will probably be wearing on a daily basis. I decided to wait for the sale and hope for the best. So as soon as the sale season started I checked the online store. Now they were half price but still I was not sure and I decided to wait for the second wave of discounts that I know Zara applies after a couple of weeks. So after waiting to see how much further the price would be reduced and hoping they would still have my size, finally I got online and saw that they were sold for 349 pesos (14 pounds, 16 euros, 17 dollars) and available in my size so I immediately added them on my shopping cart! 

That is probably what you can call a happy ending to a sales hunt ;)

• Marble print dress: TU TEXTIL
• Black and white stripes pointy heeled mules/black quilted bag: ZARA
• Black choker: A.T. CHOKERS
• Black sunglasses: CARRERA

Sequins and tassels

Sequins are the sort of embellishment that people usually use after the sun goes down and on formal occasions. However as unconventional as I am, the moment I saw this fabric I knew I wanted to have something made out of it and of course it wouldn't be a long skirt. So I thought a bomber jacket would be very cool as it is on trend, in its nature it is a quite casual piece but with the sequins it be dressed up or down, depending on the occasion and the mood. So say hello to my morning sequins and goodbye to the old-fashioned rules!

• Black dress with jersey top and leather skirt: ASOS CURVE
• Gold sequin bomber jacket: TU TEXTIL
• Black "Meow" flat shoes/black handbag with gold polka dots print: LOLY IN THE SKY
• Black long tassel earrings: THE CRAV CONCEPT
• Black sunglasses: CARRERA

Woven and hoops

Although I buy regularly new pieces for my closet and especially during this sale season I have gone a little wild (so many things coming up soon here on the blog for you to see...), I get attached to my belongings and I don't easily let them go. This denim jacket I have had for some time now, it is still in great condition and of course being a classic piece I haven't stopped using it. However I decided to give it a small update with some patches. They are very easy to apply (all you need is an iron!) and since they are on trend you can find them in many different stores. So if you have a jacket, shirt or even a pair of trousers that you are looking to revamp, patches are the way to go!

• Coral shirt dress/denim jacket: ASOS CURVE
• Black and beige woven pointy bluchers/black, white and tan colourblock handbag: ZARA
• Patches on the denim jacket: STRADIVARIUS
• Gold hoop earrings: LOLA LOLA
• Sunglasses: no brand

Pearl and pretzel

A blazer is an important piece for office looks but that doesn't mean that it has to be tailored, black and matching your trousers. Although I don't have to stick to a strict dress code at work and I have flexibility in what I can wear (therefore I do not own many blazers), I feel that it is worth having a few of them in your closet especially if they are versatile enough to be used on casual occasions. Even though I had not planned on buying a new one, I found this in the sale rack and I thought I would give it a shot. I had seen it when it was still full-price but my lack of urgency detained me from buying it. However finding it almost half price made me see it as an opportunity. I love the colour and the shape that are not the typical and the fabric is so soft!

• Light blue blazer: ZARA
• Black tank top: H&M
• Black skinny jeans: NEW LOOK INSPIRE
• Gold lace-up cutout oxfords: STEVE MADDEN
• Black handbag: DKNY
• Pearl ring: THE CRAV CONCEPT
• Gold pretzel necklace: LOLA LOLA
• Black sunglasses: CARRERA

Green and fuchsia

Sometimes you buy a garment and you love it so much that you would like to have it in any colour available since it is so comfortable. Some time ago I bought this black dress and I am very fond of it because the fabric feels good on my skin, it looks nice and it fits well. 

It also came in green but I thought it would be too much to buy both although the price was very affordable. However, on my sale shopping spree I happened to find the green dress available on my and half price so I decided it was a sign that I should take it home and let it live in the same closet with its sibling. 

• Fuchsia and blue colourblock coat: PRIMARK
• Green dress: ZARA
• Black tights: H&M
• Flat black ankle boots: PULL & BEAR
• Fuchsia Selma bag: MICHAEL KORS
• Fuchsia and black shoe print neckerchief: METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART 

Olive and sparkles

Consumer studies show that usually people buy more tops than bottoms such as trousers or skirts. I have come to realise that I am an unusual person since my closet has more bottoms and dresses than tops (to be honest, I have had other signs too. It isn't just the bottoms thing). I guess they catch my attention more easily and then at the end I just end up using the same basic tops over and over again. During my sale shopping spree in Zara I thought about how I could use some new tops. I didn't find many but I found this one in olive green with a very soft fabric, quite warm for colder days, simple enough to make a good match for skirts or trousers and cheap!

• Camel coat/black tights: H&M
• Olive green top/black leather biker boots: ZARA
• Black tulle skirt with gold sparkles: FOREVER 21 PLUS
• Embroidered choker: LOLKINA
• Green handbag: CAROLINA HERRERA