a true russian new year's eve

It's Dec. 31, and there is a blizzard outside my window. Providence has about 6 inches so far, in just three hours. The snow is gorgeous, and transports me to my childhood winters and New Year's Eves in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Since there were no religious holidays under the Soviet regime, I grew up celebrating New Year's Eve as Christmas is celebrated in the U.S. We had a New Year's tree, and Santa Claus came, but he was called Grandpa Frost. He also drove a sleigh, but Rudolph wasn't at the lead. Everyone got one present from Grandpa Frost. And it was incredibly special and magical. I usually got a yellow teddy bear. This is because I lost my yellow teddy bear every year. How did Grandpa Frost know that I lost mine again?

A few days before New Year's, my family gathered at my grandmother's house. She was born on December 24th, and it was a joint celebration of her birthday and the upcoming New Year. Here she is under the New Year's tree, a Russian princess.
And here is her legendary table setting for twenty two guests:
Since my family is technically Jewish, we have not had a tree since arriving in the U.S. I miss its piny aroma permeating the rooms, though I don't miss the dried up needles that ended up in everything for months long after the holidays.

Outside my window the view gets whiter and whiter. Happy New Year, grandma.

Look of the moment

cont. on from look of the week!

Loving this combination of rock chic leather jacket, bright coloured dress, skinny belt, two toned tie up heels and if I'm right, a black Hermès Birkin.

elle uk streetstyle

The look recreated: 1. Tracy Reese dress 2.Topshop Long Sleeve 3. Oasis Fur collar coat 4. Aldo shoes 5. Fendi Large leather tote ( on sale! much cheaper than the Birkin at least!) 6. Urban Outfitters Patent Belt

The same look but adjusted for the evening: 1. Topshop Leather Swing Jacket 2. Vanessa Bruno Athé dress 3. Alexis Bittar earrings 4. French Connection Sequin Belt to sparkle up the outfit! 5. Chloé leather clutch 6. Dune black patent boots

How about this rock chic look for the New Year's Eve party?

Since I've got some exams to do in 2 weeks - lots of revising to do :( , I won't be posting as frequent as before, it'll probably be every other day :)

All these beautiful dresses

are on sale! Can you believe it? I'm so excited about the sales this year, January is the month where my bank balance is at its lowest! So many bargains so little time ;)

I love the delicate embroideries on this gorgeous Marchesa black and white cocktail dress...

and how elegant is this Chloé gown, the yellow silk is so romantic and I can so imagine it on the red carpet!

Also loving this chic dress by Fendi, the silk is so lush and I love the cute bow belt touch!

don't forget this Moschino's strapless cocktail dress, the ruffled bustier and a flash of crimson at the waist is so elegant and adds a dash of colour!

(images from NET-A-PORTER.com )

a merry merry

Every year I celebrate Christmas at my friends' Matthew and Agnethe's house. It is my home away from home. This year Agnethe set the table with some of my ceramic pieces. The bowls for the soup (which I was supposed to make, but got stuck in traffic instead) and the white goblets which double up as vases looked beautiful on the festive tablecloth. It was an evening filled with delicious food, great conversation and inspiring company.

I ended up making the soup the following day, it is a Japanese sweet potato soup with mushrooms. I puree it so all the flavors truly get to know each other.

Asya's Japanese sweet potato with mushrooms soup:
3 large Japanese sweet potatoes (they are white, and not super sweet)
1 large onion, sliced
1 lb of crimini mushrooms, sliced
2 liters of veggie stock
2 cloves garlic, diced into small pieces
salt and pepper to taste

1. Saute the garlic in some olive oil in a large soup pot until the garlic is slightly brown. Add the onions and continue to saute until the onions are translucent and begin to brown.

2. Add the mushrooms, stir in with the onions, cover the pot and let cook until the mushrooms are soft.

3. Add the veggie stock and the potatoes, peeled and cut up into small pieces for faster cooking. Cook everything until the potatoes are soft.

4. Mash the potatoes slightly, then puree either with a hand blender or in a standing blender. Add salt and pepper to taste. I leave the soup a little bit chunky for texture. This soup is hearty and makes a great meal when served with bread. It is even tastier the second day. You can also freeze it.

NEW YEAR PARTY STYLE GUIDE - must haves

New Year is all about dressing up and having fun. These are five party must haves to GET READY FOR THE BASH.

1. DRESS 2. JEWELLERY 3. HEELS 4. HAIRCUT 5. CLUTCH

Read on.....

1. DRESS IT UP
Elegant and feminine, DRESS is a MUST-HAVE for this NEW YEAR PARTY. A fabulous dress will make you feel a million dollars instantly. So add glamous and sophistication to your special occassion dressing with YOUR DRESS.
Styles you can wear:
- Look out for shape and opulence in fabulous jewel-encrusted satin and silk dresses or cascading frilled one-shoulder numbers.
- For a more girly and glamorous look pick cocktail dresses or prom dresses, they are especially popular with the younger party-goers.

Black is always glitzy, but Look out for colours for this new year eve - purple, yellow, silver, red (is the new black this season), blue, gold and their variations.

Below are some Hot Dresses for New Year Party

- One-shouldered Dress
These dresses are one of they key trends this season and was a favourite on runway with Lanvin, Valentino, Missoni. This style works well with women of all sizes and are flattering on both petite and plus sized women.
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ASOS Satin One-shoulder Pleat Dress

This dress will emphasize your figure. Don’t forget about accessories: earrings, bracelet, cocktail ring and clutch and choose comfortable and right colour heels.
Stockist: ASOS; Price: £37.20
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- Halter Dress
Halter is one of the most flattering style. Pick a dress in halter for turning heads.

BCBGMAXAZRIA Satin Halter Tiered Dress

This dress is sophistication to the max and I just adore the satin fabric and ribbon layered style which makes it that extra bit special. Echoing Herve Leger's signature bandage dress, at $200 it for sure would make a statement on the NYE. This halter number will look stunning teamed with a smart clutch with matching shoes (in colour) and chandelier earrings.

A similar styled dress is also available at Lipsy for £34.25, click here to view and buy.

- Lace
Lace is very popular and is the one of the hottest trends of this season. The age of romance comes alive in a lovely silhouette and delicate lace.

The Black and Gold Lace Dress is perfect for the New Year Evening, whether you're going for a dinner party or clubbing. Accessorize it with gold earrings and bracelet and a nice pair of gold stillettos to make a glamorous entry.
Stockist: ASOS; Price: £28

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L- Lace Dress from Forever New; R- Lace Corsage Dress from Oasis

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Forever New: Lace and Ruffle are the trend this season, they look feminine and flirty. This style works best on skinny girls. The Victorian lace rufle detail dress from Forever New will make all the heads turn to you.
Stockist: Forever New available in Australia and India (Mumbai, Bangalore and Ludhiana).

Oasis: So romantic, black colour in lace. I think you'll look absolutely fabulous in thuis strapless dress. Click here to buy Oasis Lace Corsage Dress
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- Tafetta Dress

Glamour at its best: iridescent taffeta finds itself in a flattering silhouette with soft pleats and a cinched waist.
Stockist: Banana Republic; Price: $99.99

Whatever you wear, make sure you have a great one!


2. JEWELLERY THAT ROCKS
Bling on, jewellery is a must – add chunky metallic and jewelled cuffs, chandelier earrings and droplet necklaces (though not all at once – less is more).


3. HIP HEELS
High enough to make a statement but comfortable enough to party all-night the choice of shoe is crucial. Choose platform stilletos for a sleek sexy look and they would be comfortable .


4. LET YOUR HAIR DOWN
Complete your party look by letting your hair down. So what is the difference between party hairstyles and other formal hairstyles? Party hairdos are generally a little more cute and fun, a little less serious and formal.

Blow-dry them to get flirty waves or thick bangs. If you are looking for a significant change in your look, go for a bang or fringes, the hottest this season are long thick bangs that go passed the eye brows.
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Ashlee Simpson and Sarah Michelle Giller in bangs

Bangs - they're in and they look hot. Long, sideswept bangs, heavy curtains of bangs....there's no hotter trend right now.

Choose from side sweeping bangs (like Mughdha Godse, below), straight bangs (like Sarah Michelle Giller above or Ira Dubey below), wavy bangs, choppy bangs or heavy bangs with layered hair (like Ashlee Simpson, above). Check with your hair stylist what kind of bangs will suit your face shape the best.

Mughdha Godse

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Ira Dubey

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5. CLUTCH
Clutches are a quick, one-accessory way to make your outfit pop. Oversized Clutches are hot and will give some extra space for all your goodies.


Related Posts and Articles:
Oversized Clutches
Ten Best Perfumes For Winter
FASHION’S HOT TRENDS
Avoiding fashion no-no’s on New Year’s Eve

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Merry Christmas!

This is probably going to be my last post before Christmas so I just wanted to say a Merry Christmas to everyone! Hope you will all have a wonderful time!

I wish this every year and nothing is changed, I still wish it could snow around Christmas, doesn't look like it's going to happen since today was like 10C!

BayRoadPhoto/Laura

aaross

Also loving these indoor evening wreaths at the moment!

erinlandrews (note the cute puppy on the side!)

cdc_bloke

megpi

I went to the new shopping centre in a nearby city today (Cabot Circus in Bristol), it was a successful and not so sucessful trip. It was a huge success as I have been looking for a new coat for ages and I bought two today! ( used a gift card for one of them so I ended up with two coats while really only paid for one!)

It wasn't so successful in the way of the main point of going shopping today was to buy my boyfriend a present, I bought everyone else's 3 weeks ago and Jeremy so far has no presents, not even a card! Guys are just so hard to buy, especially J has very specific tastes & while DVDs and books are always welcome, he gets all that from his family. So the hunt goes on, wish me luck as I'm heading into town centre tomorrow to keep searching!

What did you buy for your hubby/boyfriend or guys in your family this Christmas? Any ideas are most welcome!

Last Minute Gift Ideas

or more correctly "Things I would LOVE to Find In My Stocking!"
Chloe Eau de Parfum Gift Set - Ok, this might not fit in a stocking but I just LOVE how elegant and retro the bottles are!

Mulberry heart shaped keyrings - it takes me ages everytime to find my keys in my bag so hopefully with a big keyring I would be able to find them more easily! The fact they're so pretty helps too ;)

Gucci heart-shaped coin purse - A lot more afforable than many other Gucci items, aren't they just the sweetest thing?

Lulu Guinness Zig Zag Print Mini Frame Purse - Vintage with a little twist?

Anya Hindmarch Lloyd key pouch - I just LOVE the colour & its simple design!

Realistically what are the changes of me getting these gorgeous items? None, but a girl can dream ;)

things made by hand

I just read such a good story in the NYTimes. It is about a small print shop in Dumbo, Brooklyn. The 26-year-old printing company had won the bid to produce one million gold-and-black engraved invitations for the inauguration of Barack Obama. The 20 workers are working 20-hour days in two shifts to be able to deliver the invites on time. I love this quote from the owner: “This is a real economy,” Mr. Donnelly said of the printing business. “This is not that bogus economy of Wall Street. This country used to manufacture things.”

Trend Watch - Oversized Clutches

bigger, better

The OVERSIZED CLUTCH was the hottest accessory last year with many celebrities (Victoria Beckham, Lindsay lohan, Mary-Kate Olsen, Sarah Jessica Parket) sporting the style generously and IT IS STILL A HOT FASHION TREND. "I think it's so chic and glamorous. I love it for day; I love it for night", stylist Nicole Chavez says. They're an instant way to bring an outfit up to date.
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Victoria Beckham carrying Jimmy Choo Clutch (left) and Hermes Baccara Clutch at Oscar De La Renta Spring Show 2008 (right)

Victoria Beckham is carrying Jimmy Choo's Marin Oversized Bad, buy from net-a-porter.com for $1,250 or jimmychoo.com for £637.
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Ashlee Simpson (left) and Katherine McPhee (right)

Gwen Stefani carrying L.A.M.B convertible oversized clutch

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The oversized clutch has ample space for all your essentials but doesn't lead to lugging shoulder-killing loads around. As well as being elegant to look at themselves, the oversized clutch bag forces you to carry yourself more elegantly too, rather than hunching up under a heavy shoulder bag. It's been spotted all over the runway from Bottega Veneta and Lanvin to Missoni.

The best part of carrying the overnight clutch is that it gives you freedom to carry something fashionable and chic while being able to carry everything you need with ease.


Budget Buys

1. Matt and Nat Japanese Paper Oversized Clutch for £50 now (earlier was £100), click here to buy

2. Suzy Smith Oversized Twist Lock Clutch for £25 now (earlier £39), click here to buy

3. Linea Satin Oversized Flap Over Frame Clutch for £48 from House of Fraser. Available in three colours - purple, black and silver. Our pick: Purple. Purple in satin looks very elegant and rich. Click here to buy.

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Q&A

What can I accessorize it with?
If you are a subtle dresser then you can let the oversized clutch be your main accessory. But if you love to accessorize then pile on the bangles so all the attention is drawn towards the bag.

I am petite, can I still carry an oversized clutch?
Petite girls don't need need to skip the trend. It will look great on you too.


So follow the lead of famous fashionistas and carry a clutch with space to spare.

Smart Tip: Invest in one with a detachable strap so it transforms into the next big thing - a sling bag.

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Related Posts:
Trend Watch: Tights in Colours
Celebrity Watch: Grey Moods and Black Magic
Shoe Trends this Season

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gleena studio

My studio is located in an old warehouse which has been converted to artists' space. I love the feeling of history in this building with its huge windows, high ceilings and gorgeous (and very worn) wooden floors. My view is of the rooftops of Pawtucket, and on a snowy day like today, the north light comes in soft and fluffy.

My studio is broken up into different areas to accommodate my process.

Shown above is my slip casting area. The original shapes I either throw on a wheel or carve out of plaster. I then make 3-10 molds from the original. I pour porcelain slip into the molds, aiming at a delicate thickness.

This is where I glaze the pieces after they have been bisque fired. I mix my own glazes, it gives me greater control over finish and color. I would like to experiment with some new glaze formulas over the next few months. Mixing glaze is like following a baking recipe. You can follow the formulas, but then add a little here, or subtract a little there to make it "taste" better. With my glazes I aim for a soft finish, something that will feel great to hold, and juicy color.

I also have a little space for finished product where customers can come and browse. It's the very beginnings of a "store". But one has to start somewhere.

Vintage Friday: Disco Light!

Well, not really a disco light but this gorgeous Patricia Urquiola Caboche suspension light's look is pure 1970s decadence! Imagine how good your New Year's Party would look with this hanging off your living room ceiling?

Happy Weekend everyone! Christmas is so close now!

(image from Panik Design)

Celebrity Watch

From the last month's celebrity watch, this time the (Bollywood) glitterati seem to have taken some style tips and have really worked hard on their wardrobe. Read on to see what I mean.

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Grey Moods and Black Magic
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Twinkle Khanna and Akshay Kumar at Indian Television Awards

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Twinkle is wearing a nice grey shift dress with hubby Akshay looking hot as ever in the black suit. Did they both just had a squabble? Looks like, with Akshay pulling her hand a bit hard and from that agitated look on Twinkle's face. But they definitely look good together. And we like Twinkle, she is only one of the few stylish gals in the industry. In fact she is featured in this month's ELLE (India) in the 50 most stylish list.

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L - Priyanka Chopra at Ayushi Mahajan Art Event ; R - Karisma Kapoor

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Who is carrying the look better, Karisma or Priyanka? I think both.

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Priyanka Chopra at a Medical Camp in Mumbai

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After a few fashion-fiascos Priyanka seems to be playing safe. Same style, pencil skirt with a girly blouse tucked-in, but in quick succession. I would say better to repeat the style than looking horrendous. Well Priyanka, experiment the next time, but please take a good stylist's advice.

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Victoria Beckham

Who do you like better, Bollywood girls Priyanka or Karisma in their skirts or Victoria in her calf-length dress (which at one glance looks like skirt and a blouse)?
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Preity Zinta (L) at 5th Dubai International Film Festival and (R) at a photocall in Dubai

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After a few misses Preity has come to her stylish sense once again. Cheers Preity, you're looking nice. The jacket in both the looks has been carried well. She has smartly created different looks with one piece of clothing. Girls take some tip.

Click here to read more on how to create different looks with one piece of clothing, without being caught wearing it again.

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L - Sienna Miller and R - Keira Knightley

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I like the monochromatic look of Sienna Miller, playing safe with the little black dress and this season's hot accessory 'tights'. While Keira Knightley has worked on this season's hottest trend 'lace' in a gothic-ish tiered dress. Like her shoes too.

Related Posts:

Celebrity Watch - November

Fashion Key Trends for Winter

Trend Watch - Tights in Colours

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