La Summer Awakening

Last couple of days I have started to implement some changes in my life which I have been procrastinating for so long with an excuses like getting over bad relationship, overload at work..yada yada...

Now, I got promoted at work, I got used to living in Europe again and have so many amazing friends - seems like a great start! This time of change totally fits the waking up, new beginning, falling in love summer season opening mood.

 I met some pretty impressive people during my football Cup weekend in Geneva who's life experiences and their active, positive, metropolitan spirit and lifestyles inspired me to continue my plans and maintain fearless attitude I always had but neglected for a while.

 Some of my summer resolutions are:

1. Learn French (aka book Vacation in Paris)

2. Get a pink car & a bicycle (white seats and shoe space in it are a necessity)

3. Start training for a marathon (God help me)

4. Stay true to myself (no matter the heartbreak)

5. Touch the rainbow :)

 I am sure that as always my resolutions will have their good and their bad days, but I won't know until I try.

Xoxo,

    Kat

"You have brains in your head.

You have feet in your shoes.

You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.

You're on your own.

And you know what you know.

You are the guy who'll decide where to go."

~Dr. Seuss ~

La Score

         

            Football fever is on! It is all about the World Cup!  Shakira sings about it, all media channels are totally swamped with it and for most of the men in the world life has frozen for these couple of weeks, and they are hypnotized by their TV boxes at home, computer screens at work and the smart phones on the way between the two. When poked they always answer with aha, ok, sure, I will, aha...so this might be the time ladies to get some answers/promises out of them ;)

      My company has organized a World Cup of our own in Geneva - P&G World Cup where I was also (bad idea) member of my regional team. The weather in Geneva was extremely cold; I stayed with some friends and met so many smart an extremely inspiring and successful people as one of my Slovenian colleagues, Brazilian women named Chris, German guy Daniel and even one cute Slovakian guy ;)

    We didn't play so well, I was a goalie and was very worried about playing outdoors, thankfully they gave me gloves - surely to protect my French manicured nails, I had a pink bow to match my pink jersey, sun screen was a necessity naturally as well as a lip gloss with sun protection as the sun is dangerous and can cause wrinkles and all. 

 

  

Other than playing we also partied hard with an awesome band and met some fabulous people from all over the world. Our Geneva office is very impressive and it was a pure pleasure to work there having each of the mornings start with Skinny Coconut Starbucks late and a croissant.

  This trip was really inspiring for me, after some time I could see some things more clearly. I decided to more bravely and promptly pursue some things I have been procrastinating such as the sports, dance, passion for fashion, creative expression and try to love again which I think I deserve and have been missing.

  Funny the way it is, at the same time I am back to becoming positive, creative, silly, brave and naive self I always used to be I got the email from my ex boyfriend which brought back some painful memories, but also I was very calm knowing he was ok, because no matter what happened between us, I still want all the best for him, although it seems he never really was the one for me...no matter how perfect we felt to be for each other.

   Looks like I soccer punched the feelings out of me in my pink goalie jersey on a soccer field somewhere in Geneva. After all, I am proud for I have tried and I have given my all, never gave up, fought for who I loved and after all forgave and wish him all the best. 

Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear.

Ambrose Redmoon

Dreft Fashion Week Zagreb FW 2010/11. - part #1

     I have been slaking big time with writing fresh posts and I have terribly good excuse for it! Last couple of days I have been involved with organizing Dreft Fashion Week Zagreb, as a representative of main partner - Dreft. This year's key message was : Fashion Always returns. Take care of your clothes. 

        And I do, I am still mourning after my tragically shrunk and destroyed double threaded black cashmere Ralph Lauren sweater - RIP cashmere sweater - you shall never be forgotten!

Not to blow my own horn, but this year's event was fabulous! The organizer took the challenge to make bigger, better and more sophisticated fashion week without much yellow press with absolute focus on fashion and she did a marvelous job! 

Selected got the invite to see this year's shows on 40 m long white runway. Outside of the tent guests could preview the collections on touch screens and take their picture in one of the dresses via augmented reality tool and send it to their email. Also, fashion cookies, cupcakes from "Fancy Cakes" and green Dreft cocktails were served on ice during show breaks.

   Of course, there is still much room for improvement, but knowing that we are together working on resurrecting local textile industry and supporting the education and development of young designer talent is very exciting and rewarding. 

Last night coming from the last day of fashion shows I could not wait to come home and finally write a post about it! With my head still spinning under the impression of gorgeous Manolos and fabulous Bodyamr pieces who's show closed Dreft Fashion Week I ran home to draft a report to the brand and to start posting the pictures of my favorite pieces. 

My absolute favorites in terms of complete collections were:

Pop Art inspired band brand The Rodnik Band  - this singing trio pulled the inspiration out of modern art particularly Pop Art movement and work of Marcel Duchamp. They have shown extremely unique, wearable and affordable collection - they sold the most of it on the day of the show in the back stage. Artistic and with business sense! Marry me guys!

Bodyamr was absolutely perfect showing gorgeously tailored bold 80s inspired but timeless pieces. Models channeled strong; confident, stylish and sexy women. Positive energy, luxury and girl power was so strong, you could almost taste it during the show. Very motivating.

Mauro Gasperi  did classic Italian tailored wear inspired by 40s and 80s mix. His collection was so practical and beautiful it will fly of the shelves.

Marko Mitanovski known as a designer who designed those famous Lady Gaga glows is often compared with recently deceased world favorite coutourist and fashions bad boy Alex McQueen. I think such comparison is very premature and invalid. 

Marko is undaubted fully extremely talented designer with bright future with already noticeable diva attitude to say the least, but he is still to prove that he is not a one hit wonder. He needs to start to think "sell" as he apparently understands "promote".

Louis de Gama is a frequent guest at Dreft Fashion Week Zagreb. This year he has shown 40 pieces! Louis, we do remember these exact ones from last year :) I guess he took more new pieces to show as he went to do a show in Africa. It is never good to sit at the two chairs at the same time Louis. Croatian women like the latest and the greatest!

    

Part #2 coming next, second post will be about young Croatian designers. Stay tuned!

Xoxo,

               Kat

"You don't learn style from watching people on a runway. Fashion happens every morning when you wake up. "

~Shalom Harlow ~

A pencil skirt flirt

  Pencil skirt is like a bottled water lovelies! It's a basic piece that never goes out of fashion, details are added or removed but the base stays the same. It is a slim fitting skirt with a straight and narrow cut. Generally the hem falls to, or just below, the knee and is tailored for a close fit. It's name comes from its shape: long and slim.


 It was the French designer Christian Dior who introduced the pencil skirt in the late 1940s,using the term H-line to describe its shape. It quickly became very popular, particularly for office wear.


Pencil skirt has been a staple in a closet of all fashionistas world wide. It is trendy, sexy, professional and versatile enough to be worn different ways 24-7 year around, it is universal, age proof and size proof, perfect piece to invest in. You can find some inspirational pieces bellow! Wear it your way!

Pauw cotton skirt

Rick Owens

Labour of Love

Jane Norman

Traidemade

Dries Van Noten

Vivienne Westwood

Jane Norman

Antonio Berardi

Zac Posen

McQ 

Mini Market

Vivienne Westwood

Loeffler Randall

Karen Miller

 Xoxo,

  Kat

"But it is possible for a woman to be elegant without spending very much money on her clothes, if she follows the basic rules of Fashion and is careful to choose the clothes that suit her personality."

~Dior~