Bank Holiday Haul Part 1 X

This bank holiday Sunday caused for less wishing and more shopping, so this weekend I decided to shop from a brand on a previous Sunday Lust List.  

I have been after some contrast seam dotted tights for a while now and so these faux vintage retro tights from What Katie Did were the perfect match. The 50's pin-up style details on the tights really bring your vintage outfit to life. They are 74% Nylon and come beautifully gift wrapped. 

£9.50

I also ordered a lipstick from Besame Cosmetics. You can find this brand on the What Katie Did Website. The Lipstick comes in a 40's reproduction gold plated decorative case and if you pay full price you get a velvet pouch to keep it in. I love that Besame recreate lipstick in the shades of Hollywood starlets and the lipstick leaves a semi-matt finish, that provides a full coverage in just one coat and feels light enough to wear to work. I went for the Dusty Rose shade so that I could wear it to work, although I am wishing I had ordered the Besame Red shade as well! I worked a 9 hour shift yesterday and I only needed to reapply once which I thought was pretty good seen as I am constantly talking to customers for hours. The shades vary in price. The red shades are around £22 as these are probably the most popular and the other shades are around £9.50. I got mine for £5 because it didn't come with a box or velvet pouch  which is great value for money if you are on a budget like me and can't justify spending £22 on a lipstick! 

Dusty Rose

Gold Plated Bullet Case

Dusty Rose - £5 (Not boxed) £10 (full-price)

Bank Holiday Haul part 2 will be posted shortly after I have taken some decent pictures!

Kimberly X

Lingerie from Christian Dior

Following my recent blog about Dior S/S13, I decided to make a quick post with some images I found on a blog of lingerie by Christian Dior. Dior heavily influenced the style of the 50's, creating a feminine silhouette and I think these images represent that. Enjoy! 

Images found on this blog: http://lovefrombryony.wordpress.com/2011/08/31/christian-dior-lingerie/

Kimberly X

Dior PFW13

The Original Dior shop in Paris

It's taken me a while to get around to writing this post, and I am a very behind by writing about Paris Fashion Week 2013 now! But as I missed a few Sunday posts by being completely snowed under with uni work I have decided to sit down and write two today (cheating a little bit, I know). This February I took a trip to Paris with some friends in the hope we might weasel our way into Paris fashion week. Greeted by the bitchiest door man, we pretty much failed at the first hurdle! Apparently "that doesn't happen in Paris darling....You should try a different city..." So instead we decided to visit the original Dior shop, I couldn't take pictures inside unfortunately but the shop was amazing! It was like walking through a boutique apartment, with plush carpets and mirrored walls. Each room had a different range of products. I loved the fragrance room, my favourite perfume being Miss Dior I instantly fell in love with this room. 

Well, today I won £4 on a scratch card!! (I never win anything!) So I will spend my winnings on more scratch cards in the hope I win enough to shop at Dior, possible right? Well if I am so lucky then my Sunday lust list has to come right off of Dior's PFW 13 catwalk. 

The following images I took from Now Fashion, please visit their website for your fashion inspiration: http://nowfashion.com/21-01-2013-christian-dior-couture-spring-summer-2013-paris-show-3054.html

Christian Dior Coutre

21 Jan 2013

S/S 13 Paris

I love this silhouette 

I would wear this to my wedding I love it so much!

The next few images were taken from: http://www.fashionsalade.com/2013/01/fashion/christian-dior-runway-paris-fashion-week-haute-couture-ss13/attachment/christian-dior-runway-paris-fashion-week-haute-couture-springsummer-2013-5/

Yellow is one of the colours to be seen wearing this Summer

I love the use of the floral detail

Contrasting tights seem to be a French staple

Beautiful shades of blue

Kimberly X

Picnic Chic

Katie Spade

New York

I went for my first picnic of the Summer yesterday in a park in Cardiff. The sun was beautiful, even if it only lasted a couple hours at a time! But it got me thinking of a designer I came across on my trip to Washington, Katie Spade New York. There wasn't a dull colour in the shop, everything screamed Summer at me! Insect inspired jewellery twinkled from the shelves,  handbags with room especially for a bottle of rose wine and cocktail dresses that popped colour made for an entrancing shop. 

Katie Spade's fresh S/S 13 range has got me lusting after bright statement jewellery and what i'm going to call picnic chic this Sunday. 

Too see all that Katie Spade has to offer please visit: http://www.katespade.com/

$238

Picnic Perfection
$268 - $98

I just love these picnic basket style tote bags! Carrying your chosen alcohol beverage has never been made more classy, fashionable and convenient before. With this quirky head turning design no one would even notice that your actually carrying £3.50 Sainsbury's basics Rose ...

Bright Retro Styled Belts
$128 - $88 - $128

Give your Summer dress a refreshing retro twist with these colourful belts.

Gingham print dress ideal for a picnic in the park!
$428

Picnic Basket Lockett
$98

Insect earrings
$58

Bright statement necklace
$198

$128 - $78

Really want this whole range of statement jewellery. So many fresh colours to choose from, I would love to stock these beauties in Letters to Marilyn Boutique!  

Keep your cool in these 50's style shades
$138

Quirky shoulder bags to make a statement at college/university
$248

Have been informed by a friend that Katie Spade New York can also be found in Covent Garden London!

Kimberly X

Pretty People Vintage

I was a little disappointed by the shopping in Washington D.C. Nothing really wowed me, and everything was extremely expensive! However I happened to stumble across this boutique: Pretty People Vintage (Please visit: http://www.prettypeoplevintage.com/) Situated in Old Town Alexandria, Washington.

With new collections at the front of the shop in fresh spring/summer colours and a wide variety of vintage goodies in the back, this boutique was the perfect combination of vintage and modern styling. 

Shop assistants were very friendly and helpful and really knew their stuff when asked about their vintage stock. 

The shop was decorated with pictures in delicate antique style frames and cute ornaments. 

The shop is very laid back, trendy and bohemian. The vintage stock is all of good quality and very affordable. The good news is that if your from the UK you can shop vintage items from Pretty People from this web address: http://www.etsy.com/shop/shopprettypeople 

I fell in love with this 50's hand bag pictured below. It was in such great condition and the detail was stunning. It was at a brilliant price at $65.

1950's

Kimberly X

The Mansion on O Street

Where I Stayed 

I have just spent the weekend in the Mansion on O Street in Washington D.C.  (Please visit: http://www.omansion.com/) 

The Mansion on O Street is no ordinary hotel as you will find from my photographs. The hotel is unique for many reasons. Every room can hold your attention, there is not a clear spot that will allow your mind to wonder. 90% Of what is found in the hotel has been generously donated by guests and everything you see can be bought. The hotel is full of unique and interesting finds, I think its a brilliant idea to allow guests to be able to take a piece of this extraordinary hotel home with them or be able to add to its magnificence by donating. 

The hotel owners are very friendly and always around to talk too. They allow guests to venture into the hotel and nosey around the many rooms. The mansion holds many secret doors to guest rooms and hidden parts to the hotel. Anything can be a door from closets and bookcases to mirrors. The hotel feels alive with creativity and history. Every room can inspire, by the way it is decorated or by the contrasting art work and  furniture. 

I felt like Alice in wonderland  squeezing behind mirrors into narrow hall ways filled with strange and wonderful paintings that led to rooms behind bookcases and trinkets from every decade. 

The mansion lends an experience that others can not, it brings out your childish curiosities and touches the imaginative Alice within us all.  

The Room I stayed in with the comfiest bed ever!

A friend I made at the bar

Dog themed wallpaper in my bedroom

One of many secret doors

One of my favourite rooms in the hotel.

A Mirror or a Door?

Musical Poos

I just love this wardrobe!

Creepy toys hide amongst antique ornaments and a vast collection of guitars.