Memoirs of a Geisha

The heart dies a slow death. Shedding each hope like leaves, until one day there are none. No hopes. Nothing remains.

Today I watched one of my all time favourite movies, The Memoirs of a Geisha. No, I have not read the book, and yes, I hear it is better, but I still love this movie for so many reasons. I find it so inspirational in the sense that someone so young can dream a dream so big, and aspire to live a life that in her time was a fairytale. For me, this movie is a clear example that we directly influence our destiny by the choices that we make. But our course may also be drastically altered by outside forces. A life can be moved in a new direction by a person, a word, a thought, or a deed. Some of these occurrences are very profound and sobering but most of them are trivial and ephemeral. Like a pebble thrown into a pond, a small thing sends out many ripples.



The Memoirs of a Geisha is a movie that overflows with many magical moments, but the most magical moment, comes when a little girl meets a man whose kindness proves to be life transforming. For this little girl, this act comes at a time when she is feeling lonely, hopeless, and helpless. The man's unexpected care becomes a gift of hope and new direction.

So, as inspired as I am feeling in this moment, I would like to share with you some beautiful Kimono inspired bridal couture by Culture Bridal Couture.

Have a beautiful Sunday.

Kisses*

Brett

The ONE Hundred... items 10 - 13

So I'm back on track with Nina Garcias "The ONE Hundred". It's about time - right!? Today I will be taking you through items 10 - 13, which alphabetically brings B to a close.

So here goes..Every STYLISH woman MUST own...

#10 Black Opaque Tights


Yes yes yes. I absolutely believe that every woman (whether she considers herself stylish or not) should own black opaque tights. These can simply complete a look. Nina suggests wearing black tights with black suede boots or a black heel so �the eye sees one long, sleek line�. Also, make sure to buy black opaque tights that you cant see through. If it starts to look blotchy- throw them out. Another thing, they aren�t pants!!!

One more item I can tick off my list!!! Yay I'm getting there, are you?

 
#11 Blazer


I can tell you already that I do not own a tailored blazer. But I�ll tell you this, I will soon!

Nina says the key to the blazer is to make sure each element is tailored for you! And here�s how:

Buttons: Real button-holes people, no fakes! It�s a sign of quality.
Sleeves: Sleeves should fall at the heel of your hand. It�s timeless & classic.
Shoulders: Straight & crisp ladies! Also, the seam where the arm & body meet should be at the edge ofyour shoulder.
The Front: The front of your blazer should lie smooth when buttoned - no bumps or bulges please.
Length: It�s all up to you, but the classic length falls at the hip.

Sounds good right!

#12 Boyfriend Cardigan

I love the idea of a woman slipping into her man�s clothes. Tres sexy! So you can imagine that this is right up my alley! I don�t have anyone to steal it from, but I will definitely be finding myself one in the men's department.

According to Nina, the best version of the Boyfriend Cardigan has 4 buttons, & 2 pockets on the front. Nina suggests wearing it with a tank top & belting it. Chic, yes!!

Love this Isabella Oliver cardigan!!!

#13  Brooch

Whenever I think of brooches, I see an older, sophisticated woman, so I'm honestly not all that keen on this item. Am I the only one???

Anyway, Nina too acknowledges the stereotypical association of brooches with grandmothers & aunts. However, she reckons a brooch can be used to add some spunk to the simplest of looks. And I'm sure they can. Wearing brooches in your hair, on a hat, and especially on your clothing could just take you from drab to fab! I like the idea of wearing brooch on a simple white T. Now that's fab!!!

Keep coming back to Fashion by Brett Robson to see the rest of Nina's list of chic must-haves!!

Kisses*

The ONE Hundred...items 3 - 4

Ladies, if you haven't been taking notes, I suggest you start. This list is going to change the way you think about style, and more importantly, it will change how you shop. Today, I will be finishing off A on our list, with items 3-4. Here goes!!!

Every stylish woman MUST own the following items...

#3 Ankle Bootie

A bit of history dear friends: the bootie was first worn with skirts & dresses when designers paraded them down the runways in the 80's. Interesting fact. Yes. Especially if you are like me, who thought that's they way it's always been done. lol. Well, according to Nina, if you decide to pair your bootie with pants, be sure to keep the colour of your pants & bootie the same. However, if you decide to opt for a miniskirt-bootie combo, your best bet is to wear opaque tights. Couldn't agree more.

I don't own a bootie, yet. I've always opted for pumps, but I see now that this could be a great alternative. Also, as Nina says, it's a good way to mix masculine & feminine elements; which is something I never do. So this should really be interesting to try.

This YSL lambskin bootie is very sexy!!

#4 Aviators

Couldn't agree more with Nina on this one. I think aviators are hottt!!! And more importantly, they look good on most people. I too think of Kate Hudson in the movie Almost Famous when I see a great pair of aviator sunglasses. Or better yet, yummy Leonardo Di Caprio in The Aviator. As Nina says, these sunglasses really do bring out the cool factor in everyone. I think that no matter what you're wearing, if you put on a pair of aviators you just look so effortlessly cool. I have a super cute silver pair, but I think I should invest in a gold/brown pair too. It just seems that much more classic.


Nina's tips for buying a pair of aviator sunglasses:
-Try a vintage version, the more history the better.
-Go for a pair with rims that are a matte tone of gold or silver.

Love this classic Ray Ban aviator. Fab!!!

Hope you have enjoyed this installment of my countdown of Nina Garcia's The ONE Hundred.

Kisses*?

?

The ONE Hundred..items 1 - 2

So I have been browsing through my copy of �The One Hundred� and it�s been frustrating because I haven�t actually read for no.1 you know. It�s bits & bobs, which is ok, but really doesn�t help my goal to blog about the book & let you know what Nina Garcia�s top 100 items every stylish women should own are.

Well, you�ll be glad to know that I am finally getting a chance to go from no.1. I am going to go through items as in the book, alphabetically + numbered. Today I will take you through A, items 1-2. Here goes!!!



Every stylish woman must own the following items...

#1. A-Line Dress


In case you didn�t know, an A-line dress is a dress that is �narrower at the top, & flares out gently towards the bottom� . Yes, it totally resembles the letter A..duh that's where it gets its name from.

I totally agree with Nina on this one. Every woman should have an A-line dress. As Nina says, you�ll look good on your best days, and just as good on your worst days. We all have days where we don�t feel our best, and this is the dress that�ll lie to the world! And as Nina says, black is best! It�s classic and timeless. Wear your A-line all year round. In summer pair it up with sandals or a pair of pumps. And in Winter, you can wear knee high boots and tights. Sounds good, right?

Ok, so now that I�ve sold you on the A-Line Dress, guess what, I don�t own one. Yes its true. But I am definitely going out and getting one. I�ve always like them, but never actually purchased one. I will post some pics of me in my A-line when I find the right one for me.

I love Blake Lively in this Michael Kors A-Line.

#2. Animal Print

I love me some animal print. It�s always a nice addition to most looks. Adds alil fun to everything - in my opinion lol. According to Nina, an animal print accessory is an opportunity to be daring, but a full on leopard print dress says Im a force to be reckoned with. Agree? I do. Wearing an accessory is a little wild, but wearing a dress or even a jacket is a whole different ball game. Its more daring, dangerous, sexy even. But just remember to keep it simple. The last thing you want to do is wear leopard from head-to-toe. Not cool. Pair your print with neutrals like black, white, camel, khaki etc. You�ll look chic and absolutely fabulous!!

Ok so we know I love animal prints. So you must know that I own multiple animal print items. I have everything: a dress, a skirt, a clutch, a scarf, shoes etc. But don�t worry, I never wear them together.

Be on the look out for my next post on items every stylish woman should own.

Hope you have enjoyed the first installment.

Kisses*

FAB Book: The One Hundred

I am super excited to have just purchased a copy of Project Runway judge, Nina Garcia's book: The One Hundred: A Guide To The Pieces Every Stylish Woman Must Own. I have made the decision not to buy anything until I have started reading this book.

I have only read the Author's Note, but I do promise to read & blog as I go along. It's a plan right? Anyhoo, I love this quote by madam Garcia "Style is a deeply personal expression of who you are, and every time you dress, you are asserting a part of yourself." I love this quote because it's so true. When I get dressed, it according to the way I'm felling at that moment. And even when I have planned a look well in advance, I often change it up at the last minute because it doesn't match the way I'm feeling at that moment. Also, too often, people think that just because something looks good on the next person, it's going to look good on them. And sometimes it does look good. BUT, just because it looks good, doesn't mean it suits your personality. Get it? Anyway, I look forward to this read, I promise to be honest about my thoughts on the book. I'm excited!!!

Kisses*