SIS beauty awards 2011.

Like any year, 2011 has been eventful and happening in both the fashion industry and the beauty industry. Heightened technology and scientific research has promised revolutionary products. Everything in the fashion & beauty industry seems to be accelerating; seasons are flying in and out the door with "Cruise" and "Pre-Fall" intervals, and cosmetic brands are featuring celebrity collaborations at an unstoppable rate. With limited edition products that are gone before you know it (my favourite Buxom lipgloss stopped selling in Singapore, Mom and I were devastated!), and high demand resulting in everything being whisked off the shelves in record time, it's easy to hunt around and find a beauty essential that works for you, but it can be tough to hold onto it. 

This is a lineup of my all-time favourite beauty essentials that haven't (yet) pulled a disappearing act on me, so I guess you could say they're kind of "classics" that are here to stay. 

Best Foundation

Best Deodorant

Best Hair Product

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Best Fragrance

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Best Moisturizer

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Best Mascara 

Best Shower Gel

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Best Eyeliner & Honorable Mention

What are your all-time favourite beauty products?

10QQ and a giveaway!

After spending a while turning over some new blogging concepts in my mind, I decided that a regular type of feature on my blog would be a good way to maintain consistency, as well as ensure a variety of content is available on Seven Inch Stilettos. I'm definitely one for listening to the opinions of others, so every few months from now on I'll do an extra-long post and include a "10 Quick Questions" interview with a different blogger each time. These questions will usually be snappy and straightforward so you guys can get an insight into the life of another blogger through a viewpoint other than exclusively fashion. 
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Today, I'm speaking to Gracie Molan of Moda De La Mode Blog and Magazine, who is currently situated in London.
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1) Favourite Designer: Katrina Ferrari. Her designs are elegant and use a variety of fabrics to create ethereal garments that verge on the gothic side of fashion.
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2) Two things on your bedside table right now: I've always got a notebook on my bedside table so I can jot down any thoughts I have before bed. I also have a dish where I put any jewelry I've been wearing.
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3) One makeup item you can't live without: Lip balm, I take it everywhere.
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4) One word to describe your personal style: Elegant.
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5) Something that's always in your fridge: Chocolate; it's the perfect treat after a long week of work!
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6) A band/artist you can't stand: The Wanted. "Manufactured Boy Band" sums them up perfectly, although I know many people like them.
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7) Top of your wish list right now: Photography/Technology lessons so I can become a blogging pro!
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8) Something you think is totally overrated: Apple Macs; give me a PC any day.
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9) Three things that are always in your bag: Phone, Keys, Money- All of life's essentials!
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10) Celebrity crush: ...That would be telling!

(from left to right): Fluff Passport Holder, Freedom by Topshop Gold Leaf Earrings, Formula 10.06 Mud Mask, Topshop Nail Polish in "Cloak and Dagger," Topshop woolly winter socks, Fluff Stiletto Luggage Tag
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Want to stand a chance to win these six items (collectively worth over US$50) from Seven Inch Stilettos' first giveaway, in honour of 400+ followers and 40,000+ pageviews?


All you've got to do to enter is:

• Follow us on Bloglovin'
• Follow us on Twitter
• "Like" our page on Facebook
• And leave a comment saying you did all three, along with your Twitter/Facebook usernames AND your email!

For extra entries (which EACH require a different comment):

• Tweet about Seven Inch Stilettos and this giveaway (@VeenaMcCoole)
• "Share" Seven Inch Stilettos on Facebook/promote our page on your blog page

The giveaway is open internationally, the deadline is January 20th, and the winner will be selected via an online random number generator and will be notified through email! Remember to read all instructions carefully and include all necessary information in your comment, and good luck to everyone!

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harper's bazaar fashion film festival.

Although the term "festival" doesn't exactly describe the four-day movie marathon held by Harper's Bazaar Singapore, it was certainly a very enjoyable experience. From October 26-30, a total of 10 fashion films were showcased around theatres in Singapore. Now we're not talking about anything mainstream, so forget "The Devil Wears Prada" and "The September Issue." All the films were shown only once or twice, making this experience even more special and exclusive. Unfortunately, I was only able to attend one of these movie-screenings; a homegrown, privately produced set of footage called "Signe Chanel." 


Signe Chanel is only one of writer/director Loic Prigent's many achievements. In fact, most of the other films in the Festival were created and produced by him, such as "The Day Before" series, which provide a compact insight into the dynamic world and artistic process of a designer and his brand; one day before a big fashion show. Loic Prigent's work is so artisanal and poignant, and the innocence of a small camera crew and simple graphics adds such charm to his short films. He has an extraordinary talent for capturing the lives of designers at work through his lens, as well as subtly hinting the brutal honesty of what really goes on underneath the glamour and sterility of the catwalk. Some of Prigent's other films include "The Day Before" of Donatella Versace, Alexander Wang, Jean Paul Gaultier and Proenza Schouler, as well as a seperate documentary about Marc Jacobs, the first American director at Louis Vuitton.

Signe Chanel was the most interesting, enthralling movie. There was no storyline; it was so beautifully unstructured that it almost seemed to wander around and loiter here and there, moseying through the intricate world of a Haute Couture House. It illustrated Chanel's perfect preservation of their heritage and of their age-old traditions with such stunning simplicity, and I can't tell you how much my heart melted to see the plump french seamstresses singing and busying themselves in their attic workshop in France, the place they've called home for decades. It was thoroughly refreshing to see the world's most exclusive, beautiful clothing coming to life in the caring hands of talented individuals, as opposed to being replicated thousands of times by machines, packed up and shipped to all corners of the world. 


As much as the movie touched me with it's primitive nature and abundance of creativity, it also demonstrated the stark contrast between the limited, rural production of the clothing, and the fast-paced, glittering craziness of the fashion industry. I found it very hard to believe that the Karl Lagerfeld who sat down in the workshops and advised the seamstresses is the same person who frequently flocks back to his front row perch at every fashion show you can possibly name. Although he is by all means a creative genius, he's much too reserved and secretive for my liking, much like Anna Wintour. Well, you know what they say about the true artists of our world: they're all tortured souls.


Much love, pumpkins.

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nylon is coming to singapore!

You can't even begin to describe the rush of excitement I got when I came across the NylonSG Facebook Page today. One of my favourite magazines is finally coming to Singapore and I am running around my bedroom in circles, unable to contain my sheer, juvenile excitement.

There's something so refreshing about Nylon magazine; and I can't really pinpoint it, to be honest. Maybe it's the fact that it's the only magazine which sticks out obnoxiously in my pile of monthly reads (TeenVogue, InStyle, Seventeen, Vogue), simply because of it's adorable, awkward square-ish shape. Or maybe it's the super talented layout team; the brains behind the cute typewriter fonts and trademark neon colour scheme which never fail to captivate me almost as much as the content itself. Whatever it is, Nylon magazine is truly a breath of fresh air, and I highly recommend it to anyone in search of a holistic, "alternative" read.

I'm not going to make a superficial judgement and say that Nylon is an "indie" magazine; but it's certainly teeming with substance and energetic content that one could never find between the dormant pages of a stereotypical, "fashion 101" magazine like Vogue (no offense Anna Wintour, I still love you!). Yes, Nylon is a fashion magazine, but it's not fanatically obsessed with documenting every pin-drop in the industry. It's able to convey a healthy, exciting dose of fashion each month, without "fangirling" about it. Nylon has the stellar, rare quality of being able to branch out into other fields of creativity such as music, literature, architecture and celebrities without straying too far from it's core image of being "that super cool magazine that no one really knows about."

Just as you'd find a copy of Us Weekly in the hands of a blonde babe, and an issue of Vogue tucked into the briefcase of a woman clacking around in stilettos, you'd probably find Nylon tucked under the arm of budding musician in a technicolor scarf, or in my case; in the hopeful hands of a teenager who's had enough of the mainstream.

I've always been a fan of American Nylon, here's the cover of their November 2011 issue with Rachel Bilson.

Twitter: @NylonSG

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/nylonsg

Website: http://www.nylon.com.sg/

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pussybow!

vintage pussybow blouse (purchased in ireland)

high waisted jeans - topshop

court shoes - vintage salvatore ferragamo

Pussybow.

I'm sorry but how great is that word?! This is so random but I think "pussybow" is such a fun word to say. I like the structure of it, too. Two words squished into one. 

Anyway, those are a few quick snaps of an outfit that I was able to pull together in no time. I thought those gorgeous high waisted jeans would give my beloved vintage blouse an updated, edgy look. I would've worn my Doc Martens like I do in almost every outfit post, but I felt that the femininity and classiness of the pussybow blouse needed to be recognized and emphasized, and the smart Ferragamo shoes seemed to be the perfect match.

I'm all up for the weird and wonderful fashion "concoctions" of legends like Alexander McQueen, however I find that in my circumstances especially, it's important to make your style "wearable." You can't succeed as a fourteen year old living in the city if you're going to strut around in seven inch stilettos (pardon the pun) and wear obnoxiously large items on your head, because everyone will think you're an idiot, and chances are you'll probably look like one when the time comes for you to sprint to catch that bus. 

Individuality is great and I'd love to have the guts to pull off half the stuff that Tavi does, but at the end of the day I'm still a student. Yes, I may have one or two (or three, or four) quirky, wacky pieces in my wardrobe, but that doesn't mean I have to wear them altogether for maximum impact (Less is More!). I should be comfortable (hence the floaty blouse), I should look my age (hence the jeans and not that ankle length skirt made out of a tablecloth), and I shouldn't have to be tripping over in my heels and constantly readjusting my... makeshift floral chiffon turban, in the name of style.

And oh my goodness I like died when I reached 400 followers. *insert piercing teenage girl scream* *insert happy dance* I love you all immensely. MWAH.


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xoxo, gossip girl.

I can't believe I just started watching this show, seriously, I've missed out on SO much.

After torrenting the first four seasons in an attempt to get myself hooked on something other than Pretty Little Liars, I'm halfway through the first season and I think I'm enjoying myself far too much. I'm so wrapped up in the decadent lives of Blair Waldorf and Serena Van Der Woodsen, and watching them strut on the streets of New York in their finery only fuels my desire to pack my bags and live life in the city that never sleeps. 

Sources: here, here, and here.

Call me stupid, but I've been visualizing what my life would be like if I was in the shoes of someone as spectacularly rich and honoured as Blair Waldorf. It would definitely be enjoyable; brunches in expensive hotels, racks of designer clothing, the hottest boyfriend ever. However, after some time I realized how materialistic and superficial that sort of life is, and how unsuited I am to that lifestyle. I'm a city girl by all means and I'm a very privileged person, but nothing ever weighs up to the simple pleasures in life, in my opinion. A balmy Sunday sail, rainy days, friday nights, writing poetry, playing the ukulele, dancing for hours, family time; those things will forever mean the most to me. It seems that when you've got as much as these girls do, it's harder and harder to find true happiness. 

And here's the ultimate question that I've been asking myself and everyone else: Who's prettier? Blair or Serena?
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Personally, I think Blair is SO much prettier than Serena. All my friends disagree, but Leighton Meester is the most stunning girl ever and I love her dewy skin, warm smile and chocolate colored tresses. 
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The amount of bitching, gossip and scandalous action that happens on this show is incredulous yet expected, and it's what makes the show so juicy. After all, underneath their designer clothes and expensive jewels, they're just a bunch of high school kids like us.
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What do you think of Gossip Girl?


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oh, freja.

This post is dedicated to my absolute favourite supermodel ever. 
Freja Beha Erichsen has been on the continual rise to epic fame, and she's definitely not stopping yet. With her shockingly bold features and immense versatility, it's no surprise she's graced countless covers of top-notch magazines and editorials, as well as been photographed by the best names in the industry (cough Mario Testino). 


While having a conversation about models and the fashion industry with my friends, I was shocked to see some of my friends' surprised expressions when I instantly named Freja as one of my favourites. Names like Karlie Kloss and Miranda Kerr were very prominent in the discussion, and by no means was I surprised by this, but I wondered how in the world anyone could see straight through Freja's unusual, poignant beauty without doing a double take.


Whether she sports a mannish, streamlined suit with a thickly gelled updo or struts in a resort-style maxi and dewy makeup, the fact that she looks like she was born into everything she wears never fails to enthrall me. She's been all over the H&M advertisements here in Singapore (see below); don't you adore her sleek fringe? 

It's so nice to see supermodels smile in pictures too, sometimes I wonder if they really do enjoy their jobs, judging by the amount of sulky-faced pouts I see.


Thanks so much for all your continued support! 
Love you all muchly.
Sources are embedded as links somewhere in the text.

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it's too cold outside for angels to fly.

Oh my goodness. After a long night at a wicked Halloween party (Ellie and I went as St. Trinian's Girls!), I came home and logged on to my computer to find THIS. Teen Vogue has selected me out of hundreds of girls as the Snapshot Best Dressed Blogger of the Day for October 28th, and I couldn't be happier. This is such a massive honour, and I was so happy that they chose me! Check out the Snapshot Blog post here.

And to top it off, I also got a tweet from them! I was literally ecstatic.

Moving on.

I was lucky enough to be the winner of a giveaway! I was so ecstatic when this surprise arrived in the post; I eagerly ripped it open to find a gorgeous Juicy Couture charm necklace (AND A SHEET OF BUBBLEWRAP WHICH BROUGHT AN EQUALLY LARGE SMILE TO MY FACE AND KEPT ME BLISSFULLY OCCUPIED FOR THE SUBSEQUENT FIFTEEN MINUTES). Thanks so much for choosing me to be the winner of this gorgeous present, Alexa! Check out her blog here.

Although I have a pretty diverse taste in music, there are times when I fall too quickly in love with one song and won't stop listening to it for a hell of a long time (and even then, I don't get sick of it). This has happened with Slash's "Gotten," John Mayer's "Slow Dancing in a Burning Room," and now it's struck again with Ed Sheeran's "The A Team." I've been listening to "The A Team" on repeat for about two weeks (it's one of the most played songs on my iTunes already). I sing this in the shower, I play this on the ukulele, I sharpie my favourite lyrics on my leg in math class, I dedicate a blog post to one of the lyrics; you get the drift. Listen to it now!


What are your favourite songs and artists?

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chilly mornings, ragged androgyny and pumpkin soup.

I'm too lazy to credit these pictures, they're all from tumblr and therefore are the intellectual property of all hipsters present on the aforementioned site.

As I watch temperatures across the globe slowly creep down the thermostat, the rest of the world seems to be drifting into a dormant, chilled state. I feel so restless here in Singapore; it's monsoon (rainy) season and as the days drag on it's getting harder and harder to pretend like the rain slamming down on my roof is snow (or something equivalent to that exciting extent).

So, to compensate for my uncontrollable wanderlust which is only aggravated by this upcoming festive season, I have handpicked a few pictures off tumblr which best describe my awkward craving for freezing weather, woolly layers, ugg boots that bulge with fluff and steaming mugs of hot chocolate. Enjoy, my darlings.

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personal style?

Shirt: TopShop

Shorts/Belt: H&M

Bracelets/Bangles: Vintage

Necklace: Forever 21

Boots: Doc Martens

I wish I had something intelligent to say in this post, but I really don't. So hello my darling readers, and welcome to one of Veena's "philosophical" rambles that most often don't make an ounce of sense. I hope you'll stay a while.

Anyway, this is one of my absolute favourite outfits. It's the perfect summation of my "personal style," edgy, a little cluttered, and a touch androgynous; although in a perfect world I would be wearing about thirteen rings in this picture. 

To be honest, I've never really understood the phrase "personal style," nor do I think I ever will, because sometimes what you wear is different from what you want to wear/like to wear, and that sort of contradicts the meaning of "personal style." I think it's stupid that people feel the need to categorize their taste and limit themselves by labelling a piece of clothing as "their style" or "not their style." Style should revolve around you, not the size of your hips/your ability to pull off daisy dukes. Style should make you smile and feel confident with who you are, so let yourself be happy with what you wear because style is an expression and extension of your personality. Anything can qualify as your "personal style" if you let it.

Moving on, YAAAAAAAY PHONE UPGRADE.

My early Christmas present has come my way, and I am overjoyed! (see before and after picture above). It's a huge upgrade from my previous Nokia, which was supposed to be temporary anyway, but oh my gosh I love my Blackberry 9780 (his name is Charlie by the way, I have a thing with naming my electronics), it's honestly the best thing ever. 

I'm definitely Team Blackberry as opposed to Team iPhone, what about you?

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good foundations.

Apologies for the lack of creative titles on my blog lately, my talent at choosing post titles is limited to alternating wordplay and song lyrics. I really should learn how to make my blog more appealing.
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Anyway, I thought I'd do a post on beauty, seeing as I haven't done one in ages. When us girls stroll through beauty halls in department stores, we're all attracted to different things. Some girls go crazy for vibrant palettes of glittery eyeshadows, and others go weak at the knees for perfume in elegantly shaped bottles. For me, the mere sight of a neat line of bottles in different shades of "human skin" is enough to have me jumping up and down.
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I've always really loved my foundations. Although foundation is almost always associated with heavy, mask-like makeup and those chavs who smother that stuff on like there's no tomorrow, I think a good foundation with correct methods of application can completely transform even the most problematic skin into something more lightweight, flawless and radiant.

        Sources: here, here, here and here.


1. Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse Foundation
This luscious, whipped concoction is an absolute delight. I wear this foundation everyday to school, and it has everything you need in a foundation: flawless coverage, easy application, a long-wear and a natural finish. I own about four different pots of this glorious stuff, and so should you.


2.Clinique Moisture Surge Tinted Moisturizer
To be honest, I've only ever used this once or twice from testers (which are a great way to try out different products without spending anything), and I love it! It's got a dense, glamorous coverage and it's packed with moisture you can feel. The pigments are really strong, so to me it's more of a thick liquid foundation than a moisturizer.


3. L'Oreal True Match Liquid Foundation
I love how versatile this product is. I've been able to wear this foundation to school as well as to a party; the coverage is super full, matte and even. I use my fingers, but you can use a wet makeup sponge applicator for a lush, glamorous coverage. I question how much skin can breathe when you're wearing this product, though.


4. Maybelline Clear Smooth Minerals Powder Foundation
I've never been a fan of loose powder/compact foundation, as I don't like that powdery dusty finish they both leave on your skin. However, this product is gorgeous for a light, natural look. The free kabuki brush that it comes with isn't great, so if you've got one, use a proper powder brush. 


What's your favourite foundation?

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i love love love tavi gevinson.

The more I think about it, the more convinced I am that Tavi Gevinson is just the coolest person in this entire world.


I absolutely adore everything about her; her wittily written blog, her new website RookieMag, her insane sense of style, and the fact that she doesn't give a shit about what people think of her. Honestly, you're not gonna find many fifteen year old girls with the confidence and attitude to pull of half the stuff Tavi struts. Her granny-chic style, her black lipstick and her quirky headpieces make me smile so much; it's so wonderfully refreshing to see someone my age emerging in the fashion industry who isn't a blonde, size 2 airhead wearing skimpy, "mainstream" clothing. In fact, now that I think about it, she is the entire opposite of mainstream. She's crazy about the Virgin Suicides, the Rocky Horror Picture Show, Grease, and anything old-style/retro. She looks like something the Salvation Army has puked on; IN A GOOD WAY. Tavi breaks just about every single style rule, but this kid is smart and she can justify herself. She has given so many amazing seminars, she is extremely well-spoken, and her influence on the industry is nothing short of mind blowing. She has a wealth of knowledge about the fashion industry that I could only dream of attaining, and she has such a wicked sense of humour which only enhances her flawless writing talent. 


I wonder how it feels to be friends with your favourite designers, how it feels to know that Alexa Chung, Lady Gaga and Karl Lagerfeld are frequent readers of your blog and refer to you as "the next Anna Wintour." Jesus Christ, this girl has the world at her witty little fingertips. Which are probably covered in paint and glue from another room redecoration.


Click here for Tavi's presentation about Generation Y and be prepared to have your mind seriously blown.
What do you think of Tavi Gevinson?

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fall: denim & nude.

Fall has always struck me as being the most beautiful time of year. So many new colors seem to squeeze their way onto Nature's paint palette, from the subtle reddish glow of the leaves to the intensity of the sky, streaked heavily with luminous, fiery hues. It's also a great time of year because the weather isn't too unforgiving yet, so you can still flaunt your Fall wardrobe pieces without worrying about bulging thermal layers, goosebumps, and those unsightly earmuff/balaclava things.


To me, Fall is also the most polished month of the year in terms of style; it's the time when preppy trenches and chocolate-colored boots make their long awaited debut after hibernating for a year. Although I do love the rawness of the loose tribal cardies and moccasins you see in many Fall collections, I think a more put-together look such as the ones above in "Denim and Nude" tend to work better. I adore the combination of Denim and Nude because of how seamless it looks. The deep, prussian-blue shade of denim against the rich consistency of camel-colored leather. Your favorite acid-wash, faded cut-offs teamed with that beige boyfriend knit. Sound good? Yeah, thought so. And as Stella McCartney said, "there is something so sensual about nude with denim." It's classy, chic, and won't leave you freezing your ass off on a cold day either. 


Oh yeah and guys, like my Facebook page here and I'll love you forever. I'm serious.

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spring 2012 roundup.

The Spring Ready-To-Wear collections are officially out, and I’ve pored eagerly through as many shows as I can stomach. The plethora of fresh spring colors and exciting new trends that each designer exuded with a different twist was truly astounding. The season of Spring is such a wonderful, refreshing change in the fashion world; it’s the long-awaited beginning of flouncy skirts, and the due farewell to thick, heavy winter layers. And you'll be glad to know I’ve graduated from the generic Spring connotations of florals and pastels. Spring in my eyes is now more of an explosion of seething color and graphic, linear dimensions, and this Spring, nobody encompasses that better than Marc Jacobs' widely successful diffusion line: Marc by Marc Jacobs.

I adore the way Marc Jacobs is able to infuse bursts of fun, almost juvenile aspects of fashion into his clothing, while maintaining a polished, put-together look that is signature to his name. He has an amazing eye for color too, and the zingy vermillion hue that's woven through this entire collection couldn't be more... Spring-y. This collection was the perfect combination of loud colors (a la Skittles), interesting necklines and hemlines, androgynous chic and of course, the signature Marc Jacobs preppy flair, that each model is undoubtedly drenched in.

Another brand that never fails to completely blow me way is 3.1 Phillip Lim. I just can't get enough of the preppiness of this brand and how well it complements the season. I'm drooling over all the sportswear-chic looks, the tailored pants, and how almost everything looks like it's been soaked in a bucket of tippex (correction fluid used at school and sniffed by the rebels, in case you ask). The stripes, the mild pastel colors and the light summer fabrics make this collection one to die for.

And here's one last set of my favourite looks from a brand I've never really looked into; J Mendel.
I adore their immaculate use of texture and how soft, wispy day-dresses can add a feminine elegance to a rigid arrangement of electrified color. Some of their prints were really interesting and mosaic-y, and I love the elegance that's just piled on to every look.


And that piece on the far left comprised of a pant-leg and a skirt? Now that's ingenious Spring design for you right there; plain and simple.

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