Boutiqueafterfive.com

We've moved!!!

2011-05-31T20:10:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone!

Boutiqueafterfive.com's blog has now moved to http://boutiqueafterfive.tumblr.com! Please visit us there! I feel a little rude directing you to a timblr blog on my blogspot page, but ah what's a girl to do?

You can also visit us on our facebook page - www.facebook.com.boutiqueafterfive - and of course, for all your shopping needs head to www.boutiqueafterfive.com.

Lots of love,
Shaan

Fuss-free flair

2011-01-16T07:29:00.000-08:00

Too lazy to layer? Well Spring 2011's jewellery offerings are classy, clean and uncluttered thanks to musician-stylist-artist-jewellery designer Pamela Love, brother-and-sister team Giles & Brother and NYC-based cult jewellery designer By Boe.

Love,
Shaan

Picture via refinery29.com

Sticking it to fashion

2010-12-24T00:54:00.000-08:00

It was inevitable. As the benefits of running barefoot were extolled (less impact, better motion control etc), the floodgates to create even less to put on your feet were opened. Forget Evo's barefoot running shoes and Vibram Five Fingers, Dutch designer Frieke Severs has come up with the ultimate assault on fashion footwear: Footstickers, "shoes" that stick to the bottom of your feet. And I thought we couldn't sink any lower after Crocs!

Shaan

Picture via wired.com

Flare Heaven

2010-12-07T04:44:00.000-08:00

Ah, I'm back on flares. I can't explain it. Well, I can try. They're uber stylish, instantly wearable and perfectly flattering. And, to me, the pair pictured here's faultless.

Shaan

Picture via The Sartorialist

I've been away for a while...

2010-12-07T03:03:00.000-08:00

Hi there, I've been away for a while and I'm sorry :( School, coupled with work, overwhelmed me for a little while. Then the exams came around and sheer panic set in, which didn't help matters much.
Thankfully, the exams are over now and I'm back at my laptop posting, for what I hope will be on a regular basis.

Thank you for bearing with me and still visiting.. I am looking forward to getting back to blogging, and hearing anything you might have to say - fashion-related or otherwise! :)

Love,
Shaan

I hang my head in shame!

2010-10-12T05:48:00.000-07:00

Ah, the title says it all... I have done a terrible job keeping the blog updated and I am well aware that my week of absence turned into five, or was it six? *Argh* I am so truly sorry.

Excuses aside (I started school part-time and between that and work I barely found time to sleep, let alone read and blog) I am back, at my laptop, ready to blog. I have so much to say!! Milan! London! New York! Paris! I'm starting slow though.. Am planning on easing myself back into blogging.. And I'd like to start with the women who stood out (in my mind) for all the right reasons at Paris Fashion Week.

The three I picked, I loved, for various reasons. Here they are (from the top):

Carine Roitfeld, editor of Paris Vogue, makes the top of my list for two reasons: Her gall for turning up to Roberto Cavalli's 40th Anniversary Party in Emilio Pucci and.. well of course, that slit! Ooh la la.. The heels may help, but the lady's got legs.

Next, Chuck's latest squeeze on Gossip Girl, Clemence Poesy, is impossibly chic in a black and white ensemble. In case you don't recognise her, she was in the Harry Potter movie, The Goblet of Fire, and is also the face of Chloe's eponymous fragrance. I love love love her outfit. She gets the I-just-threw-this-together look down pat perfectly. The French Alexa Chung? Perhaps..

French actress and model Lou Doillon, is elegant and fun at the same time. To be fair, this is Jane Birkin's daughter (after whom Hermes named and designed a handbag) so really, she's just got to be stylish doesn't she? It'd be embarrassing any other way..

Lots of love
Shaan

p.s: It's good to be back..

Pictures via look.co.uk, stylebistro.com, telegraph.co.uk

I'll be back!

2010-08-27T19:56:00.001-07:00

Hello hello, I'll be taking the tiniest of breaks this week and won't be posting on the blog next week. Work and school have gotten a little much and I need to get down and hit the books hard. But I'll be back the week after with more posts (notice how I keep silent on the quality of my posts).

Have a good weekend ahead!

Love Shaan

Is Be Stupid, Stupid?

2010-08-25T08:31:00.000-07:00

I'm a little late on this one.. but I've just discovered the "Be Stupid" Diesel ads that were launched at the beginning of the year. I was wowed at first. The ads are edgy and youthful (ah sweet, sweet youth) combined with the requisite shock factor, but then that wore off, and I was just underwhelmed. Incredibly underwhelmed. And now I just think the whole campaign's pretty stupid, and um, not all that clever?

Interestingly, the UK's Standard Advertising Authorities actually banned the ads in poster or billboard form - the ads were blasted for being indecent and encouraging anti-social behaviour - but the ads picked up the Grand Prix Lion in the outdoor category at the Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival (the advertising world's equivalent to the Academy Awards). Perhaps I'm missing something?

I've put up a few of the (less offensive) ads.. What do you think?

Ah.. the irony isn't lost on me that as unimpressed as I say I am, I'm talking/blogging about the ads. And I suppose that was the whole point.. To mix things up a little, stir a little tension, generate a little talk. Point to Diesel.

Shaan

Photos via fashionising.com

The dark side

2010-08-19T07:14:00.000-07:00

Scarlett Johansson's lips take centrestage in her latest advertising campaign for Dolce & Gabbana. In stark contrast to the Marilyn Monroe vibe she's been channeling for the Italian style duo (this is her 3rd advertising campaign for them), the actress goes edgy and experimental with her glossy black lips. Lace up leather shorts and a leopard-print sheet complete her goth/vampish/bondage chic look (I'm attemting to cover all my bases, can you tell?).

I like it. Even if I did have trouble recognising her.. but I suppose I should blame the heavy-handed arirbrushing for that. What do you think?

Picture via graziadaily.co.uk

Stand by your flares

2010-08-19T07:05:00.000-07:00

Apparently, Maggie Gyllenhall's bringing flares back. Lets put aside the embarrassing fact that I never accepted they were out of fashion and focus on the pure joy I feel at the sight of Maggie embracing the Fall 2010 trend. I don't care about the people who say the flared pant has been done to death. It works! So well! Let it be!

Granted, I'm not a skinny jeans kind of girl. My hips get in the way. And I believe three-quarter pants were a cruel addition to the world of fashion, designed for the sole purpose of making me feel bad. Fitted jeans, sitting snugly on my hips, that fan out to create the illusion that my legs go on forever are the only sane choice. Oh dear, have I said too much?

Pictures via nymag.com

Short Stuff

2010-08-06T09:03:00.000-07:00

I love Emma Worthington's new pixie cut! Frankly, I love her just for having the chops (no pun intended) to do it! Other celebrities who've successfully pulled off short crops include Cate Blanchett and Hayden Panettiere. A part of me wants to run to the hairdresser and do the same.. But no, no... must not be rash. Must. Exercise. Restraint.

Shaan

Photos via ny.dailynews, starpulse.com, stylist.com

You are the chosen one.. dun dun dun

2010-08-06T08:50:00.000-07:00

It's a tenuous link to fashion here but forgive me! It's Kanye West. He's on Twitter. And I'm having a little trouble believing it myself, but the rapper who's finally apologised for ruining Taylor Swift's big night at the VMAs, may just convince me to finally jump on the Twitter bandwagon. He's hilarious.

He jogs in Lanvin, has the happy problem of trying on 11 YSL suits, wears Chanel dinner jackets with his jeans in the morning, shuffles around in Dries Van Noten shoes, and these are just the fashion-related tweets. My personal favourite tweet? "I love me", because that's all he needs to say. Hear him loud. Hear him proud.

p.s: Ah another favourite: "oh nooo..it is waaay to bright outside! These sunglasses just saved my life"

Shaan

Photo via finebeats.com

Vera strikes again

2010-08-06T07:46:00.000-07:00

As you're probably well aware of by now, Chelsea Clinton got married last weekend in, yes, you guessed it, Vera Wang. And the former First Daughter didn't settle for just one Vera Wang (why would she?!) Chelsea changed to a Grecian-inspired gown with a black ribbon belt and criss-cross back for her reception. (Unfortunately, I don't have a picture of the second gown. I've searched high and low but ah, no luck).

Chelsea wasn't the only one getting wed in Wang. A very pregnant Alicia Keys picked a Grecian-inspired Vera Wang gown when she made things official with music producer Swiss Beatz last weekend. And they join a long list of celebrities who've picked Vera Wang for their walks down the aisle, including Jennife Lopez, Mariah Carey, Jessica Simpson and Victoria Beckham.

So what is it about Vera Wang? Her pedigree's certainly impressive - she spent 16 years at Vogue where she was senior fashion editor before leaving (after she was turned down for the position of editor-in-chief) to join Ralph Lauren. Wang knows her fashion. And it's clear in her dresses, which have just the right amount of detail - ruched bodices, drapes, swirls of tulle - to turn them from pretty to gorgeous. Perhaps, more importantly, Wang has taste. Oodles of taste. Her gowns aren't just beautiful, they're always tasteful. And never too much. So the focus is always on the bride, and never just her dress.

Shaan

Photos via celebglitz.com, people.com, davidbeckham.fans-online.com, popcrunch.com

Victoria Still In Vogue

2010-07-29T06:49:00.000-07:00

Victoria Beckham, the former Spice Girl now a fashion designer to celebrities, has earned her fifth Vogue cover for the the Turkish edition ofthe magazine. Victoria was shot by German photographer Ellen Von Unwerth who's also found success in a second career (she was a fashion model first for 10 years).

Here's a look back at Victoria in and on Vogue. She's previously appeared on the covers of the British, Indian, Russian and American editions of the magazine.

Well, she's certainly gorgeous isn't she? Dammit.

Pictures via vogue.com

Shaan

Painting The Town Red

2010-07-29T05:31:00.000-07:00

I'm loving the recent trend of red on the red carpets. Too much you say? Never.

Jessica Biel wowed in a Giambattista Valli gown at the A-Team premiere in London while Jessica Alba opted for a Valentino dress in a more demure shade at a bash honouring the designer in Versailles, France. Angelina Jolie was a visual treat in a crimson Versace gown at the Salt premiere in Moscow, and Ashley Greene, also in Versace, shone at the ESPY Awards in LA, California.

Pictures via latimes.com, glamour.com and metro.co.uk

Shaan

Going Green

2010-07-21T08:11:00.000-07:00

Green, in all its shades, played a big role at the Fall 2010 shows in Paris. I love the fresh look, although I'll probably ease myself into the colour trend with accessories first. What do you think?

Shaan

Pictures via Second City Style

Foxy Flats

2010-07-21T07:30:00.000-07:00

My new favourite thing in fashion is embellished flat sandals which can add instant glamour to an outfit. Aren't these gorgeous?

Shaan

Pictures via polyvore.com

DIY Never Looked This Good

2010-07-21T06:33:00.000-07:00

Erica Domesek from P.S. - I Made This has the perfect solution for those of you sitting on stacks of glossy magazines. Put those pages to good use and create your own "gem stone" ear rings. The picture above's of Erica's inspiration and her finished product. To see how she achieved this, check out http://psimadethis.com/post/836414534/diamonds-may-be-a-girls-best-friend-however-ive

The best part? It's simple enough for craft-challenged individuals (like me) :)

Shaan

Picture via Refinery 29

White Weddings

2010-07-15T06:01:00.000-07:00

Planning a casual beach or garden wedding? These beautiful white dresses from Faviana sport a modern twist with ruffles and sexy lacy backs.

Shaan

Hello Scala!

2010-06-24T19:06:00.000-07:00

We're very excited to have added American eveningwear line Scala to Boutiqueafterfive.com! Head over to our website to check out the full range.

Shaan

One day I will be this stylish...

2010-06-23T05:53:00.000-07:00

Don't these lovely ladies epitomise daytime chic? Am especially loving the balloon sleeves on that yellow top! :)

Shaan

Pictures via Garance Dore

OFFICIALLY OPEN!

2010-06-14T06:54:00.001-07:00

Hi guys, yes, it's official. We've opened our "doors"! You can visit us at http://www.boutiqueafterfive.com/ and join our Facebook group for updates, or to simply lend support.

We've got a range of dresses from designers in the US and Australia and jewelery from the UK and Australia in store now. So have a look around and feel free to get in touch with us if you have any queries.

Happy shopping!

Shaan