"Sketches for my sweetheart the drunk"

During the holidays I've been working on a few sketches and I want to share them with you. They are mainly clothes I am planning to sew in the future.

Opinions -of any kind- are more than welcomed.

Song: Red right hand - Nick Cave

PS, Happy New Year. Back with posts 2nd january.

1st Anniversary

Same day last year, I wrote my first post in this blog. They say time flies when you are having fun, and this is the case. The experience couldn't have been any better. This blog has given me more than expected: lots of knowledge, nice comments and a feeling of connection between me and lots of different people and cultures all around the world. They sure worth all the effort and time I put on this blog.

To celebrate, I am opening Allure en Español: same content, different language. I recently realised how many Spanish speakers approach this blog, and I want to thank them writing in my beautiful mother language.

Song: When I'm sixty-four - The Beatles.

Maria La Rosa

One of the most dreaded Christmas gifts are stockings, but the truth is one never gets tired of cashmere pieces ...

and silk socks. Especially if they are from Maria La Rosa.


Song: Bubble Toes - Jack Johnson

The one to watch

As soon as I discovered RosenMunns clothes I fell in love with them. The artists behind the label are Sydney Rose and Ashley Munns, whose first collection is already causing stir among lots of fashionistas.

Their first contribution to the industry is full of 90's inspired and body conscious pieces in a flattering range of colours such as nude or black.

Song: Losing my religion - R.E.M.

A week of music

This past week has been particularly musical. Since mi iPod mini had died a few months ago, I bought a new one. But I'm not complaining, because it's way better than the old one.

Then my uni friends gave me the book "1001 Albums you must hear before you die". For now, I have a love/hate relationship with it. The book has, in my opinion, huge mistakes like "Baby One More Time" by Britney Spears, or Justin Timberlake's "Justified".

On the other hand it's a good reference book. I was pleasantly surprised to see they included "Kimono my house" by Sparks or three Tim Buckley albums.

And finally a new Morrissey greatest hits album will be out on February 4Th including two new songs: the first single "That's how people grow up" and "All you need is me".

The Mancunian is also working on a studio album supposedly to be out next Autumn.

Song: Let me kiss you - Morrissey

Lou Doillon pour La Redoute

Those of you who read this blog on a regular basis, might remember I did a post about the collection Lou Doillon designed for Lee Cooper some months ago.

This time she has collaborated with the catalogue-shop La Redoute. I am, somehow disappointed with this new line. Everything looks cheap and I highly doubt she would wear it herself -except maybe for the red velvet tailcoat-.

Song: No surprises - Radiohead.

Arden Wohl

Arden Wohl- and her ubiquitous headbands- are well known at Manhattan's scene. She is a beginner filmmaker, who carries her particular and quirky style to all the parties and fashion weeks you can imagine with a surprising ease.

Could she possibly be a deserving successor of Chloë Sevigny? Or is Chloë setting very high standards?

You can watch her first short film here.

Song: Ziggy Stardust - David Bowie

"A woman with good shoes is never ugly"

In 1957, Coco Chanel created the legend that is the two-tone shoe. The purpose of the black toe was to avoid stains, while the nude leather elongated the legs. Inside the pump Coco placed an elastic to make the shoe more comfortable and give the wearer more freedom of movement.

Some of you might think you must be crazy to pay such a big sum of money for a pair of flats, but I don't, because I basically live in flats. For me, a pair of cap toe Chanel's would be an investment.

For those who are not willing to pay full price, French Sole sells a great alternative .

Song: Dancing shoes-Artic Monkeys

Camille Claudel

Camille Claudel was born in France in 1864. At a tender age, she started to study sculpture at Academie Colarossi, until a middle-aged Rodin saw her work and admitted her as one of his pupils. This way, she became his muse and lover.

After an unwanted abortion and Rodin's refusal to leave his long time partner Rose Beuret, their relationship came to an end. The deep Sorrow caused by the unrequited love, induced her to a mental illness dying in 1943 after having spent 30 years in psychiatric hospitals.

Many of her works were wrongly attributed to Rodin.

Clotho

L'Âge mûr

La Vague

Sakountala

Song: Wake up alone - Amy Winehouse

Kaviar Gauche

In November 2003 after graduating at Esmod Berlin and working for Vivienne Westwood, the duo formed by Johanna Kühl and Alexandra Fischer-Roehler launched their own clothing and accessories label: Kaviar Gauche. Their collections are feminine; the perfect combination of layers and materials resulting in sophisticated yet avant garde clothes.

This is what they said about the next Spring/Summer collection "It's called Pixelromance, and we took inspiration from the opposing themes of nature and technique. The natural side is reflected through elements like scales and flowers, while the technical side comes through in pixels and mirrors," says Kuhl.

Credit to: refinery29

Song: People are strange - The Doors

Cat eyes

Looking for a special make-up to wear during New Year's Eve, I found a video explaining very well how to apply the different eyeliners: pencil, cream/gel and liquid. The user is MichellePhan, she always uploads great videos.

"I'm saving all my secrets for a deaf man"

Why fashion insisted me to write 7 random facts about me. Some of you have tagged me before and I rejected it, but this time, I couldn't scape.

1.- I finally chopped my hair off. And I'm so happy with it, I doubt I let it grow longer anymore.

2.-I am an atheist.

3.-I don't really know how to say this in English, but I can turn my elbow the other way round.

4.-If they finally give me the Erasmus scholarship (fingers crossed), next year I'll be moving to Rennes, France.

5.- I'm very absent-minded, and I always forget things. Once, I got up at 2 o'clock in the morning, got dressed and went to the kitchen to have breakfast. Fortunately, my father stopped me in time, and told me to go back to bed.

6.- At times, I sleepwalk and sleep talk. Which is somehow connected with the previous fact.

7.- I have a sister and a brother, both older than me. But I wasn't a spoilt child, I swear!

Song: A rush of blood to the head-Coldplay

The return of the Barbour

When you see two of the coolest girls in the planet wearing the same jacket, you start thinking why on earth you don't have it yet. The jacket is the Barbour, and those girls are Ashley Olsen and Alexa Chung.

I used to wear my wax cotton Barbour all the time during my preadolescence. I still can remember its strong odour, the corduroy collar and the warm tartan lining.

I stopped wearing it because it made me feel so posh at the time. But now, I realise it can look cool with the right clothes. The best thing is they last decades and can save you from many downpours.

Thanks to Stevie from Discotheque Confusion for her useful help.


Song: Rain - The Beatles

Muchachada Nui

Muchachada Nui is a comedy sketch show with the most surrealistic humour you will ever see. There is a section called Celebrities where each week, Joaquín Reyes impersonates a famous character: from Uri Geller in a hardware store, to Courtney Love, Macaulay Culkin, Bono, Mahmud Ahmadineyad or Paris Hilton.

A few weeks ago, John Galliano was featured. Even if you don't speak a word of Spanish you should watch the clip a bit, because the resemblance is hilarious.

In the final sketch John Galliano begs Doraemon to stay young forever while his portrait would feel the effects of time and life. The end was a little bit different from The Picture of Dorian Gray, though.

Karl Lagerfeld sketch.

The problem is they have a small audience following them and the show might not be aired anymore. So please, if you have access to the Spanish channel 2, watch them every Wednesday at 11:30 p.m.

Hats galore

Hats are definitely IN. We saw them in that virtual world, called runway, and they are now hitting the streets.

I always avoid wearing things that keeps people's attention. But today, I realise -yeah, I am a bit retarded- people is going to look at you anyway. I was walking through a corridor at the uni, when a girl saw me, whispered something to her friend and afterwards the both of them were staring at me. I gave them the worst of my looks and walked away in embarrasment.

Later on, I remembered all the beautiful fedoras and cocktail hats I'd came upon at Urban Outfitters' web but was afraid to buy. So I've just decided my New Years' resolution is to forget what people can think about me, be more free and true to myself, and wear hats.

Song: Consider - Girl in a coma

Anica Boutique

Browsing the net I found the gem that is Anica Boutique, a San Francisco-based shop selling lots of avant-garde designers clothes, and also vintage (only at the store). I am a fan of emerging designers clothes because they have the advantage of quality and trendiness, all at good prices.

The way they present their clothes at Anica's boutique is so appealing, featuring models with Heidi braids and cat masks. Some big on-line stores should take note (cough... net-a-porter... cough).

Leyendecker leggings

Sunner Plunge Pleat Dress


H. Fredriksson Ribbon top and RosenMunns Cousin Larry skirt.

Vena Cava Hunter blouse.

Rory Beca Francis top.

RosenMunns Apache Junction top.

Song: While you were sleeping - Elvis Perkins

Girls with Allure: Trini

At last another issue of Girls with Allure is out. I am going to maintain, more or less, the questionnaire in all the interviews.

This time I had the pleasure to interview Trini. In her early twenties, she's already a fashion designer and has recently moved from her home country, Chile to Madrid.

Style. "My style is just plain me. An extension of who i am. I don't think it can be defined.I'm influenced on certain decades in fashion, 60s and 70s but really I don't think in anything else. I dress according to my mood and definitely in what i have to do in my day. "

Who are your favourite designers?

"Luella Bartley, Phillip Lim and Yvan Mispelaere."

Predict a trend for next season. What will be wearing in four months?

"For spring i think we will be full of little flowery print dresses,which i personally adore. "

A book, a film, and a song:

"Chanel: Her style and her life by Janet Wallach.

La finestra di fronte .

After hours - The Velvet Underground."

Fetish: "Hats and shoes. I collect them."

As a designer, what is your reaction at the raise of celebrities turned into "designers"?

"Well it just lets you know anyone can "design" know a days. Anyone who is in the media at least.Some do it good but mostly don't. Perfect example of who don't J-LO,Gwen Stefani, or Beyonce. They design trashy clothes and are not by any chance at the level of designers who did study the matter at college. It just shows."

What is, in your opinion, the best garment ever designed? "Pants/shorts for women!"

Which beauty product you can't live without? "Red nail polish."

Do you see a big difference between the way people dress in Spain, and your home country?

"Yes, here people are more into fashion. They are more concerned of details and accessories. Men specially. "

What does elegance mean? "Refined. Audrey Hepburn."

Song: After hours - The Velvet Underground.

"The streets that Lola played"

The Clothes Horse reminded me with her outfit (grandad cardigan+ shirt dress+socks) how great was the Jasper and Zippora Seven + King and Justine Crawford editorial in the last Vogue Paris. Definitely my favourite from the November issue.

Now that I have left my teens, I regard them with sweetness, but living them was hell. Is it just me or do you feel the same?

Song: Yard of Blonde Girls - Micah P. Hinson covers Jeff Buckley.