at one with nature

blouse Topshop; shorts Aspesi

Birds, they fly through the light peaceful air,

singing songs of serenity
one moment perched on a blossoming branch,
next visiting here and there

Hi there ladybird, wondering along my finger,
with your presence that's always pleasing
a charming combination of red and black,
how I could I be disgusted by your linger?

Good afternoon, butterflies, socialising amongst the flowers,
your wings are like works of art
A pretty feature under the clear blue sky,
I could sit with you all for hours

Ah Spring and Summer, don't you just love them? Equally as charming are statement accessories full of character and colour. You can always count on Tatty Devine for super fun jewellery and their Spring Summer collection is no exception. I believe they have captured the essence of that time of the year well and I can't think of anything better than a lady bird permanently attached to my finger.

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oh look, it's me!

As I woke up yesterday to bright early morning sunshine illuminating my bedroom with its amiable optimism, I couldn't help but smile and, as it kept me company on my train journey into London and followed me as I (finally) explored my first-choice university, I couldn't help but get excited about starting uni life in September as there seemed to be this air of positivity surrounding it and my day. The weather's a funny old thing. However, presuming my exams go well and I do go to LCC, I'm incredibly worried about how I'm supposed to survive financially living in London. SO, if anybody would like to give me a job in advance, it would be more than appreciated ;-) (no, I'm serious)

Regarding the photos above, I felt very much at home wondering amongst the daffodils of St. James's Park in a cheery yellow blouse and it was nice to be able to finally wear the denim jacket I brought in the Asos sales after Christmas.

Also, I've updated the 'let's get active' section on Yummy Like Cake. I didn't want to do it as a published post because I understand a lot of you probably don't care but if you do want to read a fairly bias account of the Monte Carlo Masters (tennis) with me pretending to know what I'm talking about but would probably be looked down upon with disgust from the likes of atpworldtour.com and BBC Sport then click here.

I hope you all had a lovely week!! x

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Coachellalala

Top Etsy; Shorts Alexander Wang; DIY daisy chain belt; Boots Modern Vice Jetts; Necklace Forever 21; Bracelets Joya/ Sundance; Bag Ralph Lauren; Sunglasses Sheriff & Cherry

If Glastonbury is the king of festivals then Coachella is the queen. Set in a beautiful location surrounded by mountains and Californian palm trees, full of glamour and the 'coolest' of people and always, always consisting of an incredible lineup, it is no wonder that it's all repeated the following weekend in order to make sure people don't feel left out. I'm not going. Oh a girl can dream. But I can sit in my living room and put together a Coachella-inspired moodboard and an imaginary outfit which would be worn whilst dancing around to Blur so I guess I'm not missing out on much.

I tried not to make it as cliche as possible but boho-chic, sun-kissed beauty and lots and lots of rock 'n' roll is all that I can picture when thinking of the festival and therefore it had to be transferred onto the pictures below and the outfit above.

All photos taken from Pinterest, Tumblr, Weheartit, Asos Marketplace

MBFWA: Camilla
Coincidentally, Camilla's latest collection showcased in Sydney this week could not be more suited for this occasion. Bohemian prints and exotic colours danced within the floaty maxi-skirts, dresses and loose-fitted tops, while positively embracing hippy life. The accessorising  of a crown and bowler hat only made me further wish that it was possible to whisk Camilla Frank's creations off to Indio with me right this moment.

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eye eye, captain

Sweater Kenzo; Trousers Joseph; Bracelet Sydney Evan; Ring Shine; Boots Missguided

I spy with my little eye something beginning with...
There is always something by Kenzo placed towards the top of imaginary wishlist. Whether it's shoes, cap, or an item of clothing, it always seems to appeal to me. For autumn winter 2013, Carol Lim and Humberto Leon are once again the force behind a statement sweater that's distinctive at first glimpse (or capture from street style photographers...) and this time has the capability of warding off malevolent spirits. Does anybody remember Alexa Chung's evil eye nails? That's the first thing that sprung into my mind when revisiting the sweater and then I thought "hey, let's hunt out some jewellery to match"...

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dungarees, spring-style

Right, I give in. I can't resist it any longer. I know it's still freezing cold, there's still flurries of snow outside and I'm still indulging in too many hot chocolates with whipped cream but it is supposed to be Spring and my mind has firmly switched to Spring mode, which means I can't help but fantasize about pretty pastel clothing, bike rides beside smiling daffodils and SUNSHINE.

You may be aware that dungarees are very much an 'in' thing at the moment but I love the short style ones (i.e. legs not down to ankles) and always have done. To me they are a cute young girl who loves hyper actively exploring and climbing trees; they are that female who's still stuck in the 90's, wearing her's over over-worn Breton stripes or full on edginess; they are definitely not burly men hard at work. I also think they are perfect attire for Spring and would look flattering with a pair of blossoming A-Morir sunglasses or delicate hues.

Whilst looking through Anrealage's Fall 2013 collection (showcased at Tokyo fashion week earlier this week) for a second time, I realised that this is the same Japanese brand that I mentioned back in October. Although this collection is less rave and more granny mixed with school girl, (A bit of a juxtaposition but, hey, this is Japan and there's a first for everything here) it's clear that Kunihiko Morinaga loves playing with light. What's captivating this time is the way that the clothing, made from fabric covered in photochromic dye, transform from a wintery (almost bland) white into powerful pastels as shown below in no time at all when exposed to intense light. Wouldn't it be wonderful if the weather here in England could transform that drastically? Because I'd think we'd all like that very much.

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Valentino AW13

To me, Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccoli have designed-up the perfect Valentino woman. She's the epitome of Italian beauty; elegant and tasteful with pleasing character. She wonders down the cultured side-streets,passing flourishing flowers that beautify the pathway like an afternoon rainbow captivating eyes with its blend of dreamy colours. She's filled with classic aesthetics but mixes her traditional artiness with fresh modernity and there's always pride in her appearance- whether that be her neatly plaited hair or the numerous feminine dresses layered over pristine shirts.

My shamefully appallingly edited pictures are back! (let's just say it adds a 'personal' touch to these posts) But it really had to be done. As I was scrolling through Valentino's autumn winter collection for the first time, I knew immediately it was probably my favourite from the fashion weeks. There's a graceful charm surrounding it which makes the dresses all the more desirable and, to put it simply, contains pretty much everything I look for in clothing. The only downside (apart from the price, of course) is I'm becoming even more jealous of my bro and mum's weekend to Venice in the next couple of months because wearing something similar to this while floating peacefully down the river before a meal of authentic Italian food would be perfetto, no?

all photos taken from style.com and vogue.com

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print galore

Let's go on a journey. A journey lead by OTT prints, vivacious colours and fashion week frenzy.
We begin in the present day, in an age where lipstick is a necessity for young women everywhere. So much so that it's no longer just an item for your lips, oh no, thanks to Holly Fulton and her exciting, innovative prints, lipstick now has the ability to beautify shirts, jackets, dresses, even trousers.

We then revert back to pop art. To a period of POW explosions and in-your-face boldness. Having spent eight years away from the runway, Tom Ford certainly made his return with a bang- grabbing my attention with the lively patterns or, in particular, the gold, gleaming hoodie which combines casualness with glamour and some kind of tiger-like print. BOOM.

But if we are going back in time we might as well pay a visit to the hippy era and transport ourselves into a psychedelic, hallucinatory whirlpool of positivity. It may be winter but one would never believe it  if meeting with these eccentric characters from Iceberg.
When looking through the collections during fashion month, there are always two kinds which I'm drawn to. The ones that I scroll through and continuously find myself saying the words 'oh my god, I want that' because everything is so perfect and well-suited for a place in my imaginary wardrobe and then the ones that are more artistic and just fun to look at. These fall into the latter and although 'prints' are something you see time and time again I believe they can never get boring because they can constantly be reinvented into something unique, as Holly Fulton has confidently proven.

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camouflage.

AW13

Oh look, another Topshop camouflage jacket. YAWN.
Camo is becoming a bit of a mundane sight these days but if there's one designer who has the ability to revitalise the print into something exciting then it's Christopher Kane. Alongside the scraggly fabrics, the beaded embellishments and the structured, wire-like detailing was camouflage in a fresh powerful blue and flattening metallics. Yup, once again Christopher's clothing has captured my heart.

Also showing their take on the trend was Marques Almeida whose denim engrossed collection, with rugged raw edges and carefree mentality, has supplied us with a grungy option courtesy of the oversized tees. So desirable. I am sorry if my blogging is quiet and irregular at the moment but I am without a laptop (TIP: Don't spill water over the keyboard) Please stay with me!!

AW13

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knit overload

There was once a time when knitting was seen as the work of the granny. When the image of knitting would be said granny sat contently in her living room, her hands moving fast and furiously as she produces a scarf, hat, maybe even a jumper that will be given as a gift and never worn. Knitting was laughed at by youngsters. It was a seen as a boring hobby for old people. Not cool. I'm eighteen and I'd love to start getting into knitting, especially when designers like Sid Bryan, Joe Bates and Cozette McCreery (the crew behind Sibling) bring out a fun, crazy side to knitting that's far from the stereotypical ideas of what knitwear involves.

Paired with sneakers, it's more youth than elderly and with the extreme thickness wrapped around the arms and neck, Sister by Sibling's autumn winter installment is a collection made for winter, not just a collection that will be labelled with the 'autumn winter' tag. Sure, many of the items are unlikely to be a real consumer hit but it looks exciting on the runway and I like that.

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#NYFW

A city dweller, an urban rambler

a lover of the lights, a lover of the sights

the buildings are her heartbeat, keeping her senses alive

the streets are her catwalk of which she owns with every stride

She is not troubled by a single thing, her attitude's calm and content

she's a skyscraper of style with a skyline of ambitions

strengthened by the inspiration from a land that never sleeps

I'd love my wardrobe to be filled with clothes from Rebecca Minkoff (above) and Rag and Bone (below) who have city style down to a tee. For days when 'dressing up' seems a chore and slipping on a pair of rugged jeans, a nonchalant form of knitwear and a slick jacket adorned with leather seems much more to your taste, these Fall collections could not be more fitting.

Having been a young child who enjoyed playing in mud, skateboarding and football as much as I did socialising with my Barbies, there are still moments in my life where I take delight in letting out my inner tomboy. Thankfully, with the help of these collections, if ever in doubt I know I can turn to Rebecca's and Rag and Bone's creations as the perfect source of inspiration.

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robot love

I've always perceived robots to be a fairly masculine style of species...until Patricia Chang's Spring Summer collection entered my life. She's a relatively new designer (by that I mean I am only aware of two collections) situated in the heart of New York and it was whilst scrolling through blogger Margaret Zhang's beautiful Instagram photos that I decided to check Chang out.

The pretty girlishness of the light dresses and skirts combined with the fun quirkiness of the robot motifs equals an excitable me. And please don't get me started on the jewellery. It was the only the other day when I was (perhaps randomly) searching for robot necklaces so imagine the delight when my eyes met these...

Now please excuse me while I lust over the above and dream-up a summer Central Park picnic with these robots in my company (an occasion which the collection is made for)

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one way trigger yo

I am not the owner of any of these photos; they were all were taken from Pinterest and Tumblr

Listening to 'One Way Trigger' and my insides tingle with excitement. The background sound is a bed of synthesising joy, animated and uplifting. (You could say it's reminiscent of Julian's solo stuff not the laid back, garage rock quality of 'Is This It'. Therefore it's engaging, new, EXCITING) The unfamiliar vocals at the start are intriguing and Julian's recognisable voice is as captivating and enticing as always. Some are going to hate it; Some are going to love it. I love it. And I love The Strokes. Amen.

Yes, when I heard the new single on Saturday naturally I was overjoyed. Above is some Strokesy/ Julian Casablancas inspiration, below is the song. Are you a lover or a hater?

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hooray for the weekend

RECIPE OF THE WEEK. I've thought maybe this could be a new feature for my blog as it is becoming part of my weekend routine to bake up some mini treats (partly due to the cupcake maker I unexpectedly received for Christmas) and I like to share them with you because, well, everyone likes cakes and stuff, right?

I understand that many hate bananas and if you are one of those many then I am sorry but this one's heavily banana based. It's an ideal breakfast cupcake as it's packed with healthy energy to hopefully help keep you feeling awake and active throughout the morning. It's also incredibly simple and quick to make! To do so, you will need...

• 2 bananas
• 1 egg
• 50g butter
• 50g brown sugar
• 65g wholemeal self raising flour

what to do...

• Preheat the oven to 180
• Mash one banana and the egg together. (I did this in a mixer and then poured it into a bowl)
• In a larger bowl, beat together the butter and sugar
• Add the banana mixture and then fold in your flour
• Finally, divide into cases and bake for 15-20 minutes. I placed a slice of banana on top of mine, as you can see 

As it's the weekend, I'd like to leave you with this thought: wouldn't it be wonderful to spend the week as a princess, living in these dresses from the Valentino spring 2013 couture collection? luxuriant, exquisite, dainty... wouldn't it be a dream?

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Christian Dior Spring 2013 Couture

She entered a pastoral setting abundant with blossoming trees,

an elegant ambiance and radiant leaves,
wearing a graceful dress flowing down to her knees

The conversation was courteous, cheerful and flowing,
prettily dressed people were coming and going,

the pleasant summer memories continuously growing

it was a garden party and one worth knowing

Christian Dior's spring couture collection is rich with florals and an appealing formality which is found in the feminine dresses and slim leg tailored trousers paired with dainty tight-fitted tops. While reading Christian Dior's autobiography during a summer break, Raf Simons discovered their shared love of the countryside, gardens and flowers, and this is reflected in the clothing. With the help of the flourished green shrubs arranged on the runway in a maze-like fashion, we were transported into a scene just like the ones adored by Simons and Dior themselves. It's Wednesday and I need some midweek loving; I think this has done the duty of filling me with affectionate contentment. How about you?

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Kenzo aw13 mens

ATTENTION NIRVANA FANS: Yes, I am very aware that the lyrics are 'on a plain' but whilst writing this post I could not get the song out of my head and thought it only fitting to change the spelling for the purpose of it making sense.

Sat on a plane, far away from the liveliness of everyday life,

your destination calling, your previous abode waving goodbye

the sky is a sea of serenity,

the cumulus gatherings are cushions of hush

there's a sense of invincibility when distant from the ground,

 a sense of freedom when flying around.

Ever since Humberto Leon and Carol Lim replaced Kenzo Takada as creative directors, I have fallen more in love with the brand. Not that there wasn't anything wrong with the founder and fundamental force behind the clothes' identity but ever since the takeover there's been a surge of energy and fun creativeness that never fails to catch my eye.

For Fall they were inspired by endless trips on aeroplanes and staring out of windows at the continuous sights of blue and clouds. This comes across flawlessly in the prints covering jackets and the fluffy fabrics.
The collection continues with trademark Kenzo-style patterns found on the likes of trousers (paired with a toned down blazer for an effortlessly stylish look) and bold colours such as the shock of pink. And, of course, the occurrence of a tiger sweater.

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g'day

Prada resort 2013, Helmut Lang ss13, Missoni ss13, Helmut Lang ss13, Lacoste ss13

Yay the Australian Open is underway! It's a shame Rafael Nadal is not competing (I was so unbelievably excited about his return like many others were) but let's all pray for him that he will be back fit and fighting soon! As I understand tennis is probably not an interest of many of you, I thought I'd keep with the theme by messily putting together a selection of sport inspired clothing by designers for this year, including Prada's combination of Bjorn Borg headbands and neat polo style shirts and Missoni's goggles and glistening zip-up jacket.

While I am sat in the heart of the UK where it's misty, cold and snowy, I imagine being in sunny Melbourne wearing shorts (sequin Karl) and crop top, Thierry Lasry sunglasses and comfy shoes; getting into the Aussie spirit with the Bondi Beach bracelet (different city but whatevs) and keeping my daily belongings safe in a fetching Marc Jacobs backpack. Oh what a life.

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snow walk

This bracelet's entitled 'snow angel' and I made it one evening before Christmas with snowy scenery in mind. When waking up this morning to the sight of snow covered trees and a blanket of white thrown over the garden, I knew it was the perfect opportunity to photograph it. Afterwards, I wondered around my village while enjoying the sound of the crunching beneath my feet and sight of flakes falling in my steps. I took some photos so cue frozen ponds and the return of Rudolph. (It may also be worth noting that there is now loads more snow since these were taken)

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Christopher Kane Pre-Fall 2013

I LOVE CHRISTOPHER KANE. Have I ever mentioned that? I have always had a lustful attraction to his clothing (made more so by the galaxy-themed 2011 resort) and the sight of a new collection would fill me with excitable glee. Just last month I thought this allurement was finally dying down but as I wondered around Liberty department store forming an imaginary wish-list in my mind, I caught sight of the red and grey leopard print biker and in a unstoppable manner dashed over to touch it as though it was some kind of treasured possession that nobody else should be allowed to get their hands on but me. A friendly sales assistant came over and asked if I needed any help. When I replied "no thank you, I'm just browsing" she then offered me 10% discount. Sigh. Not any 10% discount will supply me with enough money to own a current piece of Christoper Kane clothing. And alas, it appears this weird fetish isn't going to die down any time soon as the Pre-fall collection is far too appealing.

I can picture myself wearing the dresses to non-existent events, the jumper on days out with friends, the shorts on summer strolls and the coats on a snowy winter's day. He has revisited previous prints and shapes and combined all fabulous aspects into one collection and there is even the occurrence of Swarovski crystal necklaces adding an extra special touch. Seriously, what is not to love?

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Spring Summer menswear. Say hello to LF Markey

trousers: costume national; tops from top to bottom: bottega vaneta, dsquared2, versace; outfits from left to right: bottega vaneta, salvatore ferragamo, dries van noten; all three blazers: salvatore ferragamo; trousers and bag: costume national; shoes from left to right: dsquared2, emporio armani

New year, new beginnings, new resolutions. Whether the start of January sees you commencing the process of achieving your year's goals (and trying not to let the novelty wear off leaving your aims demolished) or you're just taking each day as it comes like it's nothing special, why not use this moment to open your wardrobe and take a detailed look at your clothes? One's choice of outfit can usually tell a lot about their personality. The more outlandish the clothing commonly means the more creative and extrovert the wearer is and a refined suit with polished, well-kept shoes tends to represent the sophistication of its owner. I know from experience that many males tend to shy away from wearing something too eye-catching in fear of attracting negative attention or exercising the connotations of being gay (although why should that be anything to be ashamed of?) but creating a bit of life to an outfit does not necessarily mean buying the most peculiar thing you can find or dressing beyond your comfort zone. It can merely mean adding a small unexpected splash of colour or an animated print. 

While many designers supplied us with a variety of bold designs for Spring Summer '13 (from Costume National's striped trousers and Salvatore Ferragamo's watercolour blazers to the more subtle yet effective leopard print shoes courtesy of Dsqaured2 and Emporio Armani), If there is one designer who has recently informed us on how character can be brought to an outfit in the most effortless of ways then it's Louise Markey,  founder and creative force behind the brand LF Markey. Australian born, she studied at London's Central Saint Martins graduating in 2008- the same year she made her catwalk debut, came runner-up at the Fashion Fringe Festival and launched her much-loved shirt line. Yes, shirts.  The friendly component to everybody's wardrobe. Work, night out, first date, funeral: there is undoubtedly a shirt for every occurrence and Markey's comfortable, minimalistic creations in bold colours and shapes means they are perfect for the occasion of more lively dressing.

Her Spring Summer 2013 collection, showcased at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia in Sydney as part of the New Generation crew, involves monochrome Aztec patterns and denim shirts covered nonchalantly in darkened polka dots- playful but by no means in-your-face. Given that there is a segment on her website's blog dedicated to 'the great shirt wearers of our time', it is no wonder she has the ability to produce versatile,  fun-looking garments and if this year you decide you are one of those who feels they should add character to their outfits then turning to LF Markey only seems natural.

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feeling blue.

Proenza Schouler/ DKNY/ Missoni/ Missoni/ Opening Ceremony/ 3.1 Phillip Lim/ 3.1 Phillip Lim/ Pringle of Scotland

Blue is the colour of peace. It's the colour of freedom, the colour of strength, and the colour of new beginnings. Blue is the colour of optimism. It's the colour of loyalty, the colour of protection and the colour of relaxation. Blue is the colour of summer time. It's clear skies, sparkling seas, and pleasantly scented flowers. It's also, quite possibly, my favourite colour and one which stood out appealingly in the pre-fall collections. Whether metallic and intergalactic, a bold spread fine silk or included for added character, it's a hue like the above which deserves a place in your (or especially my) wardrobe for a variety of occasions.

Feeling inspired, I incorporated it into a handmade bracelet, as shown below.

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