Within Vintage

People who read Instant Flowers might have seen this video already. One of these girls, the gorgeous tall one with the gamine haircut, is my niece. Even better,  she's the best niece you could ever wish for, the kind that loves scouring the streets of Amsterdam with you in search of the perfect little coffee bar. When she showed me this video, I figured: why not plug her latest endeavour on my lil' blog here as well?

My niece and her friends set up their online shop Within Vintage last year and I'm dead serious when I say that they sell some really great stuff. This lookbook video, made by Manon of Instant Flowers, pretty much sums it up: the cutest group of friends you've ever seen, the perfect soundtrack and and the coolest stock of vintage shorts, sweaters and loads more. Like the Within Vintage Facebook page for more information and spread the love - x

Aubin & Wills

Aubin & Wills Spring 2012 from Aubin & Wills on Vimeo.

Today I took my final exam, which was French Lit, and now I'm ready to do absolutely nothing but read, sleep and bake for an entire week. And of course most importantly, blog! Updating just for the sake of updating seems pretty redundant when you don't really have anything to share but now that I have nothing but time on my hands this is too lovely not to share.

When I was fifteen, I used to be in awe of Irina Lazareanu (and if I'm being honest, her hair). She's absolutely stunning and 'hors catégorié' in a way. Maybe it's all the French Lit still stuck in my head at the moment but she always seemed more than a model to me. 

She is featured in the Spring campaign of Aubin & Wills alongside Alex James. Irina Lazareanu + London + reto filter = I'm in. I don't know Aubin & Wills that well but the clothes are right up my alley. Honestly, so many new things have been added to my never-ending wishlist.

And I sort of miss London. Like a real tiny little ache in my heart. But I'm heading to Amsterdam tomorrow so all's well. Lots of love  - x

Whistles

Whistles sort of reminds me of Madewell, albeit the more British version. Correct me if I'm wrong but for me the analogy is as follows: slightly overpriced (or over my budget) good quality shirts, dresses and coats Yours Truly would die for. To be honest, I have never visited a Whistles store whenever I was in London so I can't really back that one up with a pinky swear. When I spotted this video for their A/W collection I quickly did the maths: hauntingly beautiful scenery + clothes to lust after and decided I had to share it with you guys. Enjoy! 

Sessùn AW10 Lookbook

I've been sort of MIA lately but hey, here's a little update. I've been window shopping a lot lately, making little lists in my head of how many dresses, shoes, wonderful knits and coats I can afford when my paycheck arrives. I have such a list for ASOS, Topshop, Zara. My dream purchases are this too amazing for words coat by Isabel Marant and a pair of suede boots by Madewell. 

But, moving along to the point! Today I went for a short window shopping session with my little sister and I spotted the new Sessùn collection at Cream. Although it's usually not entirely my cup of tea, Sessùn always has a very lovely and affordable - well, not in my budget but everything's relative, right - collection. Especially they seem to be spot on when it comes to this fall's trends. You could basically buy your entire fall wardrobe at their store. I might have to add a new wish list to my imaginary catalogue of wishlists..

Yesterday I finished working. My colleague Frank was also going on summer leave, so he brought along a bottle of champagne to celebrate his and my last day at the office. We all drank the champagne from paper cup - hey, Death Cab song reference - and had an allround great time. I have said it before but these people, so different on so many levels, were some of the most lovely people I've ever had the privilege to associate with and I will miss them dearly. 

Tonight I'm going to see Inception, is it as good as people say it is? Let's hope so!

I hope that you will too have a lovely Saturday evening!

The wearer can feel both beautiful and proud. This is the modern luxury: ecoluxury

 

In January, a local magazine did a feature on the Swedish designer Camilla Norrback, the Queen of ecoluxury. I had never heard about her or her designs but the looks that were featured definitely got me hooked. Her philosophy is simple: the production of organic and recycled enviromentally friendly materials under proper working conditions resulting in sustainable and wearable (non-hippielike) clothes. The designs aren't earth-shattering on their own but the little details and the quality you get by buying one of them are. Her designs aren't one hundred percent ecofriendly but as she points out herself, it's still a learning process and she constantly trying to improve the production process even further.

By a stroke of luck, one of the stockists listed, Maaike Kleedt is only a two-minute walk from my house. One day in February I was riding my bike after school and passed Maaike. And damn, I must have almost caused a traffic collision when I saw Norrback's collection hanging in the window, I was so excited.  Initially I only got the blue striped dress (with the amazing detailing on the back, those buttons!) but I had to have those gorgeous wedges in the blue version. Maaike, the owner of the shop, is just about the nicest person ever in history (and that's a fact), for she ordered them especially for me.

Camilla Norrback is definitely way, and I mean way, over my budget but looking back, broke and on a shopping ban for the next couple of months, it was totally worth it. I now have two great pieces hanging (and standing) in my closet for many more years to come.

Picture credit: areyouswedish.com