DELPHINE DELAFON HANDBAGS

Delphine Delafon, a French-American designer, launched her Parisian namesake brand in 2011. The brand features one signature model, the bucket bag, available for custom manufacture in any variety of leather and colour combination your imagination can conceive. Each bag is dreamt-up, drawn, and meticulously fashioned in respect to traditional craftsmanship, i.e. handmade by Delafon in her Paris workshop.
New collections are born of the Seasons and the gleaned materials : 3 sizes, 3 chains, boundless materials but only 1 signed and numbered grommet.

LAURENCE DECADE SHOES

On a trip to Paris some time ago, I was amazed by Laurence Decade boutique from the quality of Laurence Decade shoes and the variety of different styles of the shoes. The collection is really fantastic and it is like a sculpture on every pair.
The Fall-Winter 2012-2013 collection plays extremes with tomboy and girly looks, nude and smokey grey colors, extra flat or vertiginous curves, matt or mirror effects...
Over the knee bikers, icy loafers, poetic ballerinas, pop brogues, punk stilletosare the major guests of the season, for an intense, chic and dreamy collection.
And always, on every right heel, a metalic beauty spot, signature of the designer.

WHERE TO GO IN THE MONTH OF JUNE

Making the start of summer in the nothern hemisphere, June brings sunny weather and longer days. This is a good time to explore Europe and the USA, with natural beauty in abundance. 
Winter is starting in the southern hemisphere and the cooler weather makes this ideal for a visit to Australia's Nothern Territory, which can be unebearably hot for much of the year, and Machu Picchu, where the cooler weather is great for hiking.
The Middle East and North Africa are too hot to visit as are many parts of Asia-particularly the Indian subcontinent and southeast-although if you stick to the beach resorts, there should be a cooling sea breeze.
Below, you will find the best destinations to visit in the month of June.
1. BARCELONA, SPAIN, EUROPE.
Top destination for great culture, nightlife and beaches. Something for everyone-art and architecture (Gaudi, Picasso, Miro), shopping and nightlife and, when that gets too much, beaches to relax on.
2. MONTREAL, CANADA, NORTH AMERICA.
Check out the largest jazz festival in the world. Enjoy summer in this multi-cultural city as it literally jumps with jazz from around the world. Plus it's easy to get out and about in the countryside.
3. GREEK ISLANDS, GREECE, EUROPE.
Make your own Odyssey on an island-hoping holiday. Many hundreds of islands dot the seas around mainland Greece, and there is an extensive ferry network so you can always find a quiet spot.
4. MAURITIOUS, INDIAN OCEAN.
Stay at a luxury resort on a coral-fringed coastline. Luxury resorts at good prices, not that cost matters as you drift slowly through the colour-filled sea, or lie on white sand as soft as talc.
5. ROME, ITALY, EUROPE
One of the most beautiful and romantic places in the world. There is so much history here it is amazing- it is everywhere you look. On top of this visual feast, you must enjoy the food, shopping and style.

10 RESOLUTIONS WE WISH OTHER PEOPLE WOULD MAKE

1. From your boss:
"I promise, no more 6p.m meetings unless I'm serving wine and cheese."
2. From Mark Zuckerberg: "Gotta spread some wealth around. Want a California Closet and some shoes to go in it?"
3. From RPatz, Johnny Depp, Scott Speedman, Jake G., and Mark Sanchez:"That's it. From now on, I'm only dating noncelebrities."
4. From your cubermate:"The sardines-for-lunch thing is over!"
5. From every man at any bar ever:"I will never order you a Leg Spreader, a Mountain Dew Me, or a Slippery Nipple again."
6. From Don Draper:"I'm going to move up production so we're back on TV faster. I miss you too."
7. From your best friend:"Fine. I'll start eating white foods again. I have been a bitch."
8. From the IT department at work:"We'll try harder not to make you feel studid. But just restart, OK?"
9. From your guy:"You know, that cat really is sweet."
10. From your waiter this evening:"My name is Chad. But why burden you with that?"

HOW TO BE REAL, BE COOL AND...EXPRESS YOURSELF!

Steve Jobs said it best:"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life".
Ready?
The following how-tos will help you be yourself everywhere!
Lesson No.1:
Being yourself does not mean being bitchy.
A lot of self-expression these days seems to be about cutting other people down to build yourself up. Yes, our "inner awful" can be really funny. But in truth, being original and being kind aren't mutual exclusive.
Lesson No.2
You can drop the "I don't care what you think" attitude.
Self-expression means letting go of the "comparathon"-the process of constantly judging yourself by other people's standards. Having said that, if you think being confident requires not giving a flying WTF how other people respond to you, it is time to get real: You do care and always will. And aknowledgeing pain and humility when people hurt you is actually one of the most powerful forms of self-expression out there.
Lesson No.3
Forget about having to love every little thing about yourself.
Experts often talk about self-acceptance as key to self-expression. And sure, we should love ourselves. But do we really have to love everything about ourselves? As is? Right now? We are not going to be happier or more succesful just by saying" Hey, I am OK, you are OK, it's all OK". We are going to be complacent. Striving to be better is part of our DNA.
Lesson No.4
One last point: Expressing yourself doesn't mean sharing every morsel of personal minutiae with the universe. (So think twice before you Facebook or Instagram your innermost secrets.) Instead, share with your mom. Or your soul sisters. Or even better, your diary, which is sacred and private. Because sometimes expressing yourself is most awesome when it's just for you.

THE 5 BIG RULES OF STYLE SELF-EXPRESSION

Clothes show who you are on a daily basis. So, how to make them say the right thing? Like this:
1. MAKE EVERY OUTFIT A "YOU OUTFIT.
Your closet should be stocked with things that express your personality. But that means big or small touches, depending on your plans or any given day. Love feeling bold in neon green? Go ahead and buy that crazy-bright shirtdress, but also have a green bangle or a scarf on hand for those days (job interview, brunch with the not-yet-in-laws) when a smaller dose is more appropriate.
2. MIX YOUR PERSONALITIES.
Going straight-up 100 percent power broker (or 100 percent anything head to toe) can come across a little costumey. But a power broker pencil skirt with earthy-girl turquoise earrings you got at a street fair in college? Nice
3. BUY FOR THE BODY YOU HAVE
Not for the one you had at 16 or the one you dream of strutting around in eventually. That girl can buy her own clothes. You deserve yours!
4. EVOLVE...
What's so "you" will, and should, change from year to year and even from day to day. General rule: Spend more money on the classics-great jeans, perfect black pants, a cashmere cardigan-and look for deals on the trendier stuff that's calling you right this minute.
5. ...BUT ALWAYS HONOR YOUR CORE STYLE.
How do you know whether you have one? You'll keep bringing home new clothes that you realize are very much like the ones you already own. (Oops!Skinny jeans again.) This is not a bad thing! 
Wear them proudly, consistently, and mixed endlessly with your one-season. 






wonders.

7 WAYS TO STREAMLINE YOUR MORNING!

Save time-and stress less-with the following easy tips:
1. ANSWER E-MAILS AT THE OFFICE.
Starting off your day glued to your laptop or phone can tie you up at home. If you do have to respond to urgent e-mails, carve out a certain amount of time for them, and do not get distracted by junk emails.
2. TRY DRY SHAMPOO.
It is quick and help maintain the health of your hair. Daily washing causes your scalp to produce more oil. Applying a dry product refreshes your stands between washes.
3. HAVE A FEW GO-TO OUTFIT OPTIONS READY.
Always keep several clean, wrinkle-free options in your closet. Having a pressed blouse or sheath on reserve saves time when you can't figure out what to wear.
4. KEEP YOUR ALARM CLOCK AT A DISTANCE.
Whether you use a clock or your cell phone, place it across the room. You are more likely to wake up when you have to physically get yourself out of bed. Plus, hitting 'snooze' too often results in a shortened, disrupted sleep cycle.
5. USE YOUR SHOWER TO STEAM.
This trick is reat for travel or everyday as a quick alternative to an iron. Wrinkle-releaser sprays are also helpful when you are in a bind.
6. PREP YOUR BLENDER.
Put ingredients in the blender jar the night before and stick it in te fridge. This way, in the morning, you just have to blend and go.
7. GO FOR ALL-IN-ONE BEAUTY PRODUCT.
They are a good way to speed up your beauty routine. For example BB creams can replace your primer, foundation, moisturizer and sunscreen-the added SPF is of course my favorite bonus!
Yours,
Angela

10 EASY WAYS TO ...LOOK A SIZE SMALLER!

Whatever your shape, these quick tips and styling tricks will help you create a slimmer, trimmer figure-instantly!
1. CHOOSE FITTED PIECES.
Oversize or baggy pieces often make you appear bigger than you actually are, while superfitted styles can emphasize trouble spots. Tailored body-skimming pieces tend to give the leanest look.
2. SKIP THE PLEATS.
The folded fabric can create unwanted bulk. Stick to pants ans skirts with a flat front if you want to seem slimmer.
3. LOOK FOR VERTICAL DETAILS.
Stripes, seaming and other vertical elements elongate you, while horizontal ones can make you look wider.
4. STICK TO STRUCTURED FABRICS.
Materials like cotton and polyester with no more than 2% spandex will help give you the smoothest silhouette. Avoid superstretchy or thin fabric-they show everything.
5. STAND UP STRAIGHT.
Good posture not only makes you seem taller and leaner, it also makes your clothes fit and look better!
6. GO FOR COOL NECKLINES.
An asymmetrical style or one with a fun collar bring the eye up to your face-which flatters absolutely everyone!
7. KEEP PROPORTIONS IN CHECK.
A flowy top with baggy pants can make you look bigger. The same goes for wearing tight tops and pants together. Strike a balance bt pairing slouchier styles with more body-consious pieces.
8. PICK YOUR PRINTS WISELY.
Smaller, all-over patterns are a great way to camouflage a certain part of your figure, while big, bold prints will help bring attention to a fave asset.
9. USE COLOR TO YOUR ADVANTAGE.
A bright shade on the smallest part of your body instantly draws the eye.
10. CHECK WHERE YOUR TOP&PANTS MEET.
Anything that cuts you off at the fullest part of your hips will widen you. For the slimmest effect, choose shirts that hit at or just below your natural waist.

STYLING TIPS

I love mix and match kind of style. For this reason, below, I have collected some tips for those who are willing to look like Carrie Bradshaw and create their own fun mix!
1. Work different textures.
It gives your outfit amazing depth in real life. A simple way to do this is by wearing something matte with something shiny, like a knit cardigan over a sequined dress. It is an eye-catching combination that almost always works.
2. Try print-on-print.
It is one of my favorite looks! To get it right, make sure to keep it tonal or in the same color palette. Avoid wearing more than three patterns in multiple colors at once-it will look over the top.
3. Pair vintage and modern pieces.
Combine jewelry and clothing from different eras is a great way to give an outfit an individual look. There is an 80s influence in fashion right now, so mixing those items with a modern look feels unique. Mix 60s ans 70s pieces, like bauble necklaces and bell-bottom jeans from your mom's closet and wear them with trendier things.
4. Rock multiple colors at the same time.
Combining btight hues is such a great look-and with all the colorblocked items out there, it is really easy to do. If you are not used to wearing vibrant pieces, start slow: Just pair a colorful bag and shoes with a mostly neutral outfit.
5. Add a personal finishing touch
Finding a signature piece that identifies your look is important-it can be your grandmother's cameo, unique jewelry from a flea market or something you made.
6. Experiment with fashion.
Try adding one item to your look that is a little out of your comfort zone-like a neon tee, colored pants or an oversize statement necklace. Just go for it!
GOOD LUCK!!
Angela

&OTHER STORIES...

&Other Stories is a fashion brand offering women a wide range of shoes, bags, accessories, beauty and ready-to-wear to create their personal style, or story. 
The creative ateliers in Paris and Stockholm design diversified fashion collections with great attention to detail and quality at an affordable price. Today, a woman with a love for fashion creates her own style. She wears things that feel right to her and reflect her personality.
 & Other Stories is about bringing everything she can wear into one place, focusing on the whole look. Shoes, bags, jewellery, lingerie and beauty are key for styling and just as important as clothing. 
The collections are built around inspiring fashion stories. All the lines are diverse, ranging from masculine tailoring to feminine chic and designed to provide endless styling choices. Carefully selected materials are an important ingredient in every piece. & Other Stories aims to design lasting wardrobe treasures within a wide price range. Launch in stores and online during spring 2013 in selected European countries.

WHERE TO GO IN THE MONTH OF MAY

This is usually a pleasant month the whole world over. Winter hasn't yet hit the southern hemispere, while the north finally delivers on its spring promise and the weather is consistently better. 
The Mediterranean warms up enough to get in the water without too much fuss and flowers bloom in abundance; even the far reaches of nothern USA reach relatively comfortable temperatures. May Day was the traditional festival that marked the end of winter and beginning of summer. 
These days much of the world is more likely to celebrate May Day-1st May-not as the beginning of summer but as International Workers' Day. To help you choose, you will find below the best destinations to travel in the month of May:
1. PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC, EUROPE.
Musical city with a splendid array of beautiful buildings. Prague is a marvellous repository of Medieval, Baroque and Rennaisance buildings and in May these ring out with the sound of music.
2. BOSTON, USA, NORTH AMERICA. 
A pretty and historical centre good pubs and good food. Small and compact, Boston's historical centre is rich with Colonial history, fine Irish pubs and many examples of cultural and intellectual excellence.
3. BALI, INDONESIA, ASIA.
A deliciously relaxing spa break on this Indian Ocean jewel. With lush scenery, luxury spas ans soft-sand beaches in abundance, it is no surprise that this island paradise is a favorite of honeymooners.
4. NEW YORK CITY, USA, NORTH AMERICA.
Brash and exuberant, this is a city for modern lovers. Show your loved one you have your finger on the pulse in this cutting-edge city of fashion, culture and entertainment.
5. CRETE, GREECE, EUROPE.
Perfect time for a holiday on this beautiful island. Find your way around the maze-like ruins of the Palace of Knossos, or hike the Samarian Gorge and cool off in crystal clear seas.