Outwear Wishlist - a lover of coats

I’m going to be frank here. Among the few reason I like winter the layering factor and all the cute outwear I get to wear are key. I’m the girl that always thinks “Oh crap, not this shit again!” once faced with the winter wonderland everybody seems to love so much.

And I really, really don’t like winter at all. It’s uncomfortable and so cold you can’t get warm even if you wear a polar bear around your neck at all times. Not to mention the slippery factor – all that ice is a permanent accident waiting to happen. I would fast forward it entirely if possible.

 

The bright light at the end of the white, freezing tunnel is my long love affair with winter coats, jackets and wraps.

Despite the cold, I do enjoy getting to wear all my jackets, trenches and parkas as much as I want. I do find some small satisfaction in the fact that if I really have to freeze my ass off, I can, at least, do it in style.

Some of my favorite outwear pieces: leather jacket, yellow embossed trench, fabric roses bolero, brown fur and leather jacket

Right about now I feel an itch to add some more outwear pieces to my collection and I start hunting to take the edge off.

First on my list is something sporty chic to either go with casual looks or contrast with really feminine outfits. I like a few models from Lole that I think would make everything better on my daily trips to work when all I can think of is: Why God, why me? 

 

 I would also really, really like to have something like this. Looks awesome!!!

 

I've also been looking for the perfect black and white geometrical print coat. Of course, the greatest find would be a long, bubblegum pink coat to sweeten the cold winter days.

But I do have to give winter credit this year: it didn’t snow yet, the temperature were kind of bearable and hopefully until it shows it’s true face again, because you know it will, I will manage to get my hands on some goodies to make the cold go away.

In the meantime, let’s hope for unnatural warm weather so I can go on living peacefully.

How's your coat game? Do you like winter?

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Pastel pink hair – Sakura backdrop

These are probably the most unusual photos I have ever taken. I always wanted to try a colorful wig on, so when I had the opportunity, I chose one in pastel pink. I tried a dramatic, Arabian inspired eye makeup for the sake of contrast, but looking back, it probably wasn’t the best decision. The outfit however, I feel, works well with everything.

 Since the price was very low and the wig was synthetic, I didn’t really expect that much.

Once I got it, I was very surprised the hair looked very “real”, especially considering the color I chose. You know I have a few sets of natural hair extensions so I was able to make an informed comparison. The hair strands on this wig mimic the way natural hair looks very well and it doesn’t have the fake synthetic shine these type of wigs usually do. It does have plenty of hair, but it gets a bit thinner toward the ends which actually helps with the natural look too.

On the other hand, the wig cap is made for Asiatic heads so it was a real struggle to fit it on my medium sized, European head. If I want to suffer like that, I can always try to put my skinny jeans on, thank you very much! 

 
It has and adjustable strap at the back that I didn’t need for obvious reasons. Good thing the cap was elastic; otherwise I couldn’t have worn it. The hair tangles a lot, so don’t throw it in a heap in a corner because it’s going to be very hard to get it back to the way it first looked. Trying to brush it, will affect the pretty loose curls the wigs comes with. Brushing will also result in a lot of shedding as I learned the hard way. Instead, you can gently comb it with your fingers to get it the shape you want.

Although having a bang doesn’t really suit me, I went for a wig that has one because I thought it would be easier to hide my hair line behind it. And I was right about that. Still, it’s pretty hard to style, but not impossible with a little bit of patience. As you can see, I tried three different styles: a side ponytail, a cute bun and just leaving the wig as it was without attempting anything crazy. You can’t really wear your hair up with this wig, but “low hanging” hairstyles can be achieved.

Weighting the pro and cons, this is my verdict regarding this wig: Considering how cheap it is, I would definitely recommend it. It’s great for photo-shoots and themed parties, cosplay, Halloween and even a festival or concert (but you’ll have to make sure and secure it on your head the best way you can).

The necklace is from the same store and it’s incredibly cute and well made – I don’t have anything negative to say about it. I loved the color combination when I first saw it and it does look exactly the same or even better in reality.

Disclaimer – The wig and necklace were sent to me as a gift. This is my honest, unbiased opinion about them.

gifs: 1, 2

 Please let me know if you like Sara’s edit for this photos – she said they needed a Sakura inspired background and I can’t disagree. 

 I’m wearing:

pink wig / peruca - here

necklace / colier - here

  dress, belt / rochie, curea - vintage

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Pin up look using a 50s style little black dress

I was thinking that I should really drive my incipient hoarding tendencies into something more constructive for my wardrobe. Maybe instead of hundreds of rings and really, really impractical shoes, I should start building a great collection of little black dresses.

For someone with so many clothes, I have very few of those. And the one I’m wearing in this photos is the most recent addition to the madness that is my closet.

I just got it from an alternative clothing store from UK that’s technically specialized in Gothic clothing, but has so much amazing stuff, it was hard to choose just one dress. Well, I did get a blue hair dye too – I’m planning something epic for my hair – DIY article coming soon.

I think this dress might just be the perfect casual little black dress for summer. It’s 98% cotton, very airy and has the most adorable details: slightly puffy shoulders, a true sweetheart neckline, 3/4 quarter sleeves, a bow detail at the back and a classic 50s silhouette with a fitted waist and flared skirt. Scored!!!

The moment I got the package (it arrived in about a week), I could hear this dress begging for a pin up look and I like to listen when my clothes talk to me.:)))) Besides, it’s been a while since I channeled my inner pin up, so here I am: hair scarf and bold lipstick included.

This is the way the dress was styled on the site and I like it a lot. I have to find a petticoat and try this version as well. As you can see it would be longer for somebody that's not as tall as I am, but other than that is supper flattering for any silhouette and height. I think it would look nice for plus size girls as well - it just has that cut that looks amazing on anyone.

And then there’s the statement necklace – I love myself some serious rhinestone action resting on my boobs. It was sent to me by a German online store called Happiness Boutique and it’s glorious. I absolutely love the mix of silver chains and clear rhinestones and how long it is. They have amazing customer care, free shipping worldwide and the necklace came very fast and nicely packaged. If you’re ordering from Europe, you won’t have to deal with the custom and they also have a customer reward program that you can take advantage of.

This time I didn't went with the classic red lipstick - a staple for pinup makeup. Instead  I chose a dark plum (it's from Dior - color 862, Hypnotic Red).

How big is your little black dresses' collection? Do you stack up on anything else?

I’m wearing:

pumps, epic belt / pantofi, curea - Asos

little black dress / rochie neagra - Kate's Clothing

heart bag, head scarf / geanta, esarfa par - random brand

statement necklace / colier statement - Happiness Boutique

lipstick / ruj - Dior Haute Couleur Voluptuous, no.862 Hypnotic Red

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Prolong the Life of your Pearls: How to Properly Care for Pearl Jewelry

You all know I’m crazy about jewelry and I’m always fixated on something in particular, right? Well, my latest obsession are pearl jewelry of any kind. Lately I’ve been into everything classic and pearls are just so timeless and elegant (simple pieces like these here too - https://www.lagunapearl.com).

That’s why I’ve been digging everywhere for them and I was lucky enough to find quite a few vintage piece that are really beautiful. But only a few weeks ago I really hit the motherload and I got my hands on 4 stunning pearl jewelry items that are the real deal: two necklaces, a brooch and a bracelet. Don't need to tell you how excited I am about that.

They were just delivered and they don't disappoint, but I really have to clean them up since they are a bit dusty - to say the least. I know that caring for your pearl jewelry is very important in order to preserve them for years and I plan to transform these into some kind of family heirlooms. 

I don’t want to be one of those people that ignore taking care of their jewelry and end up destroying them forever. That’s why I started doing some serious research on the subject and I’m going to show you the result once I’m done with them. 

I read that overlooking the cleaning of you pear jewelry will not only affect the way they look, but also diminish their lifespan and we don’t want that, do we?

After shifting through a lot of information, I think I found the most relevant caring and cleaning tips that will keep your pearls looking amazing for generations to come:

• Pearls should be kept in a safe place away from extreme cold or warmth. You can wear them with other jewelry, but don’t store them in a shared box because they scratch easily. Put them away in a separate box with a soft, pillowy interior or just wrap them in linen.
• Make sure the pearl necklaces are untangled and laid flat in their casing to avoid the pearls rubbing against each other
• Don’t wrap your pearls in a plastic bag – they need contact with moisture to maintain their luster and thickness
• Only use cleaners and solutions that are specially meant for pearl jewelry. Most cleaners are way too rough and coarse for pearls and, instead of helping, will only damage them
• The thought of using clothes or dish detergents, bleach of any kind, cleaners containing ammonia, powder cleaners or even baking soda, shouldn’t even cross your mind
• You can use warm water and soap to clean them, but stay away from the toothbrush or any abrasive pads. Instead, wipe them out with a clean and soft fabric that can be either slightly damp or dry. If you used water, make sure the pearls are dry before you deposit them safely. A final wipe with a delicate cotton towel will do the job.
• Using just a bit of olive oil on the fabric you clean them with, will help your pearls keep their shine
• Be careful not to wet the pearls' string. If you do, make sure it’s dry before wearing them, otherwise it’s going to stretch and gather dirt that’s not going to be easy to get rid of without replacing it all together
• Believe it or not, acetone can be used to remove stains from pearls so you can do that with your acetone nail polish remover
• Pearl earrings should be laid flat after cleaning on a soft cloth and not hanged to dry
• Pearl jewelry should not, under any circumstances, be steam cleaned.
• If you’re thinking about using an an ultrasonic cleaner on the pearls, don’t!
• Don’t wear the pearls while applying perfume, lotion or moisturizing cream. They shouldn’t come in contact with substances that can damage their luster and color.
• Avoid wearing your pearl jewelry over clothes made out of harsh fabrics: rough wool, other accessories made of metal or wood layered in a way that can scratch the pearls
• Don’t bathe, shower or swim with your pearls on
• Have your pearl necklaces restrung by someone who knows what he’s doing once in a while (especially if you wear them all the time). 

Once your jewelry it’s clean, you can work on maintaining it that way. Wiping the pearls with a chamois or soft cloth every time you take them off after wearing them it’s a great idea. This way you will avoid dirt and debris building up and also remove any perspiration that might have gotten in contact with them from your skin. Perspiration is more or less acidic and can affect the nacre coating (natural luster) of your pearls.

If you think you won’t be able to clean them properly because they’re in such a bad shape, you can always take them to a professional jeweler to do it for you. If you do have a special solution created to clean pearls you will manage for sure. Don’t forget to dry them off after cleaning by laying them flat on a slightly damp towel – once that is dry, your pearls should be dry too.

I hope this article was helpful because that pretty much all the useful advice I could gather from around the web.

Photos and gifs:1, 2

How do you feel about pearl and jewelry in general?

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