Fashion and Russia

taken from google images

The editor in chief of Interview Magazine Russia, Aliona Doletskaya talks to NOWNESS about her love of jam and the importance of high end fashion in a post-soviet society. She also talks about the new generation of Russians, without memory of the times that came before them, which are interpreting their countries strong culture in a new light and embracing life differently.



A Russian Interview on Nowness.com.

the smell of summer

This is the picture that will be adorning my fridge for the foreseeable future, or at least until the warmer weather returns. While temperatures in Cyprus plummet, my body and my brain are yearning for the summer months again; lazy saturday afternoons sprawled out on a sunlounger, painted toe nails, flip flops, denim shorts, lemonade, greek salad and hot crispy pitta bread, salt water hair, holidays in fishing villages and of course, a bronzed body. While i dont have any body hang ups to shout about, I want to be this girl in the quicksilver advert, effortlessly wearing a black string bikini and looking out to nothing.

For now its back to the christmas shopping.

Lighting up

Its safe to say christmas time in Cyprus is somewhat different to what London usually has to offer. Firstly the weather doesn't immediately conjure up ideas of a winter wonderland when the skies blue, the sun shines and closet we get to snow is right at the top of Troodos mountains. Although this year the cold weather thats already hit Cyprus has shocked my senses. Maybe its because my body totally acclimatised to average summer temperatures of 30 degrees well into September, but I feel VERY cold already.

And the christmas decorations around the streets here are a little lack luster for my liking. I wasn't expecting anything like Oxford Street scale decorations, but there is barely a whiff of christmas in the air and just a handful of lights adorning lamp posts.

And the christmas windows are nothing compared to London. I know in England we make a huge fuss about christmas and in some ways it has become all too commercial, but there is something about seeing Harrods in emblazoned with lights, or the creativity that unfolds to unveil Selfridges christmas windows that just screams CHRISTMAS to me. And don't even get me started about the John Lewis christmas adverts [thats for another post]

Just a few ideas for the Nicosia municipality......

Harrods

South Molton Street

Carnaby Street

Oxford Street

[images from google - various internet sites]

Oh how I wish to be in London at this time of year. Given the fact that I will be visiting London in late January, christmas will be a distant dream.....time to start saving the euros for christmas in London 2012.

Jump in

Winters hit Cyprus in the past few weeks and the temperatures have plummeted. Ok so its still averaging 18 degrees everyday but my body well and truly got used to +30 degrees and while the suns still shining, the air is fresh and cold and the mornings are crispy [almost frosty, but not quite]. And suddenly I realised I am not at all prepared for winter. As a former London girl you would have thought winter was the one month I was ready for when it comes to clothing........But over the past year I have accumulated more summer ware and somehow have nothing weather appropriate for this time of year.

I have never been a big fan of jumpers; i'm not sure if I have never liked them really or just never looked at them properly. Maybe it has something to do with being forced to wear a hideous jumper for school uniform for more than 5 years of my teenage life that has initiated this fear of jumpers into my brain. But that has all changed. All I want to wear recently is a nice warm, cosy jumper. And I have found my favourites....

Topshop 

Topshop

Zara

Mango

Mango

Zara

Pull & Bear

Home Time

in just over 9 weeks time I will be in London! Flights are booked. My mental shopping list has been written and my schedule will not doubt be planned by the minute in order to cram in everyone and everything I want to get done in a week in London. I CANT WAIT.

the big wide world

I firstly have to give credit to my boyfriend for finding this amazing video on Spray Beast. The whole idea of the universe sort of gives me the heebie jeebies a little bit to be honest; I dont like to think what's out there or more importantly who because it just freaks me out. But this time-lapse video, created by Michael Konig shows the world in a stunning light. Using a low light camera, the crew of the International Space Station took a series of photographs between August and October 2011 and the result is this stunning portrayal of the world we live on!



Earth | Time Lapse View from Space, Fly Over | NASA, ISS from Michael König on Vimeo.
Time lapse sequences of photographs taken by the crew of expeditions
28 & 29 onboard the International Space Station from August to October,
2011, who to my knowledge shot these pictures at an altitude of around 350 km.
All credit goes to them. I intend to upload a FullHD-version presently.

I need hydration!

I have always been quite good about looking after my skin - exfoliating and moiturising religiously - mainly because I love moisturisers with a passion and the feeling of clean and cleansed skin makes me feel better. Since moving to Cyprus my routines have altered somewhat to accommodate my new weather conditions and eleviate the stress to my skin.

Summers in Cyprus are HOT and with shaving, sunshine, salty sea water and sand its not surprising my skin got very irritated this year. And now with shift of seasons, my skin is crying out for moisture and hydration as it battles with the sudden cold temperatures. Perfect excuse to find a new moisturiser correct!?

Which is where the Garnier Body Pot comes in.

Garnier was one of my favourite beauty brands when I was in England and I know they do their standard size moisturisers - but when I came across this Garnier ΕΝΤΑΤΙΚΗ ΕΝΥΔΑΤΩΣΗ [intensive hydration] Body Pot in the supermarket, I was a little bit excited. Id never seen it before in the UK and it is the perfect size to pop in my handbag, making this multi purpose cream easily accessible for a moisture top up for both hands and body.

This moisturiser has the perfect texture; thicker than a lotion but not as thick as a body butter and I love the indescribable smell it has [I really can't put my finger on it] that brings a feeling of comfort to my nostrils every time I open the lid.

I love Garnier products in general weather for hair care, face or body, due to their nice formulas, yummy smells and affordable pricetag, and this moisturiser is definitely a winner in my eyes. Lotions and potions come with a hefty price tag in Cyprus so you know what I'l be filling my suitcase with on my next visit to England!

what katie ate....

Food and photography - two of my favourite things! So when I stumbled across this beautiful blog my eyes immediately lit up. Katie Quinn Davies, originally from Ireland, is a freelance photographer based in Sydney. Her love of photography and food is evident in her images, which also show her expert eye for detail. Her style is "rustic" and the simplicity of her photographs allow the intricate nature of her subjects to emerge effortlessly.

I know I have a thing about food, but seriously, her food photography is stunning, showcasing her talents as a cook and a photographer and depicting food in a way the screams comfort and warmth. There is a homely feeling to her photographs and a familiarity - in the sense that what she is photographing is achievable. The texture and colour of each image invades your eyes and brings the food to life, so much so you can almost smell it. What Katie Ate, and internationally recognised blog is definitely worth a browse if you enjoy food or photography - one word of warning - don't view if your hungry!!

[photographs from whatkatieate.blogspot.com]

bedtime listening

I had 3 days off so today was always going to be a struggle. After one long, hectic and stressful day, I couldn't think of anything softer on the ears than this.

planning for Spring

While winter has hit Cyprus in the last few days, I have turned my attention to spring in an effort to get me through the next few months of doom and gloom. And im hoping and praying a little H&M pops up in Nicosia before Spring because I struggling without my weekly fix of affordable fashion. And when I saw these pictures of the Spring/Summer collection for 2012 on Fashionologie, my pining for warm, spring weather heightened.

The collection is beautiful; with an emphasis on simple and structured silhouettes and a fresh colour palette of whites and beige with pops of bright orange, lime green and violet adding zest to the collection.

Now, time to plan a trip home to London to stock up on H&M garments.

[pictures from H&M Spring/Summer 2012 Lookbook - from Fashionologie]

i heart florence

Florence Welch is one unstoppable women with one seriously astounding voice. As i've mentioned before since moving to Cyprus im one [sometimes two] steps behind UK related goings on; but it was only recently I heard a new gem of a song from Florence and the Machine, whilst listening to Radio 1. Obviously, it is another amazing offering from this modern mistress of music, which has been on repeat on my laptop ever since I discovered it.

it runs in the family

The Moss family is luckier than most when it comes to looks. The fresh faced half-sister of Kate Moss has recently emerged on the modeling scene and stolen the show with her pure skin and shiny locks. From the looks of her first modelling pictures, she will be standing on her own two fashion feet with no assistance from her big sister. But i'm sure having guidance from an industry expert wont hurt!

[photographs from fashionising.com]