Should You Dress Your Dog?

Fashion trickles down onto everything. Whether we like it or not, trends drive how we behave and the lifestyles we choose. In recent years there’s been a huge shift on how dogs are considered within the household, in many ways this evolution being for the better. The majority of people that have a dog will have the animal sleep under the same roof. Most people will even spend a good amount of money in accessories such as plush bedding and interactive toys to keep their furry friend happy. A lot of dog owners choose only dog-friendly holidays, where they can share their time off with their pets.

And now, we have actual dog fashion, as in clothing brands that are marketed towards dogs and owners who will buy a collar with a certain print, or a jumper with a colourful pattern. When it comes to dressing up your dog, I cannot help but feel like there is an invisible line, in which you go from “dog owner who wants to keep their dog warm” to “crazy dog-person who dresses their chihuahua in a tutu and tiara”.

I really got into dog fashion when I adopted my best friend, Nero, more than 7 years ago. I remember being so excited about my little companion that I bough him a camo-tee with “Action Pup” written on the back. To me, this was treading the very thin line between funny and ridiculous. A year later, I pushed the envelope a tad further… with a Yankees sweater.

I’d like to say no humans were harmed in this photoshoot, but Nero was pretty miffed at me

The fact that Nero would walk sideways, à la crab, every time he wore the sweater was a dead giveaway: what I found cute meant nothing to my dog.

There are ways of dressing up your dog, in the same way as there are many different reasons to do so. Sometimes it’s not about aesthetics. Any dog expert or veterinarian will tell you that certain smaller breeds, with short or barely any hair, do require an extra layer of warmth during the colder months. Greyhounds have such delicate thin skins that it’s advised they wear a coat if they are going to engage in play with other dogs.

I’m a firm believer of “to each his own”. If for you happiness comes from dressing up your dog in skirts, tees and beanies, go ahead. I do however wonder how these animals actually feel about it. Some owners will swear their dogs love to don some Santa shorts and a hat every Christmas and who am I to refute that?

Due to the fact that Nero is small and pretty thin on the furry side, decent canine attire is something I’ve learnt to look out for. Being a dachshund mix, he is fussy as hell and will refuse to walk in anything with sleeves or hoodies. I couldn’t have been happier when, more than a year ago, I found a brand that hits the nail on the head with regards dog fashion, Pepito & Co.

Their garments are very wearable and easy to clean, even catered for fussy dogs, as Celia, the lovely designer behind the brand, once told me. Their rescued dachshund Pepe, doesn’t enjoy garments with sleeves. So everything that is manufactured has to be canine-approved, otherwise it’s discarded. Celia and her partner Rubén are continuously inspired by their beloved dogs: Blondie and Pepe, and now, wonderfully sassy Conchita. Pepito & Co products can be bought via their online store and, recently via HOUNDWORTHY in the UK.

Yes, I’m a sucker for cute things, so it’s no surprise that when I found another sausage in need of a home, I adopted said wiener. I bought him his own Pepito & Co collar because I felt he deserved his own stars. I’m hoping one day I’ll be able to afford one of the travel bags by Pepito & Co, they are ridiculously cool-looking, and, I said I’m a sucker, didn’t I?

Jarvis giving good face with the 2013 Americana collar, part of a limited edition

I can’t help loving my dogs as much as I do. I honestly don’t make them wear anything they are not comfortable with …anymore. Having a dog is a massive change in lifestyle and I, for one, am happy to see cute accessories aimed at making my life easier and my dogs happier. I don’t know if I will ever be OK with dogs being dressed up as princesses or pirates. This is the thing about trends, they end up permeating everything. If it makes you smile and you are 100% convinced your dog wags its tail happily every time the superman suit comes out, it’s not the worst you can do. You could be one of those people who buys a dog of a fashionable breed to then abandon it when things get tough. For that, personally, I have zero tolerance.

Pictures: Fashion Limbo via @sausagemafia on Instagram,  Santos Román por Pepito & Co

Does anyone actually care about sweatshops?

A year ago, a Bangladesh clothing factory collapsed, killing 1,129 people. I write this number** but I still barely believe it: one-thousand-one-hundred and twenty-nine human beings died while creating garments for Benetton, Mango, Primark, El Corte Inglés and many other brands: tops, dresses, coats, clothing we get for, really, very little money.

At the time there was so much written about it, petitions pushed forward,  many brands signed pledges to strive to improve workers’ conditions, to ensure every person involved in the process of creating a garment could work in complete safety and for a fair pay.

However, it only takes a short look into the fashion industry to realise that, this is not something that is easily done by brands – it takes a lot of money, time and ultimately, will. More importantly, if the customer expects to pay a tenner, five dollars or euros for a t-shirt, then the conditions in which the garment is produced are going to be extremely cheap, quite basic, and with pretty slim safety checks.

So, have my shopping habits changed since the Rana Plaza disaster? Do I shop and if so, am I willing to pay more for clothing that’s not made in sweatshops?

As a freelancer, at this moment in time cash is pretty limited, so you could say I’m the perfect consumer for low-cost brands. Whenever I get some money, I could easily walk into H&M, or Primark, and score an outfit for less than 20 euro. Get a fashion fix, think nought of the consequences.

I love fashion, and I used to fantasise about having a HUGE wardrobe. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t genuinely curious about the latest Topshop collection, or that I don’t get excited when I hear of H&M designer collaborations, but lately, there is a little voice inside of me that tells me that this wouldn’t be right.

This year I decided to stop eating meat, I did so because I feel strongly about animal rights, and because I believe there is an excess of meat in supermarkets. Too much waste, too many animals kept in horrible conditions, and way too many chemicals injected in what’s supposed to be our food. I’m tackling my fashionista habits in the same manner: I have stopped going shopping. I unsubscribed from Topshop newsletters, “unliked” Facebook pages by Zara, Mango and H&M, deleted their Apps from my phone, and I avoid the areas in Barcelona in which these stores are located.

So, while I’m not  boycotting brands per se – which, maybe, could be the only way forward -, I have began to shop differently, driving my attention away from these major labels.

I believe there is no denying we buy way too many clothes, there are countless amounts of brand new garments that don’t even make it to the shops. A contact at H&M once told me that from the Martin Margiela collaboration for H&M, certain stores received an excess of stock, with dozens of boxes left unopened. This is the product of hours of underpaid work in a factory: waste.

So, how do I go about finding cheap fashion? Currently I’m focusing on several alternatives: charity shops, Ebay, and vintage stores. Recycling has never been easier, and with more and more websites like Vestiaire Collective to do so, it’s become a lot of fun, and for some, the only way to shop. It’s kinder to the environment and goes against the main point of fast fashion: we don’t just throw it away, we give it further life. I recently scored a Zara leopard print coat via Ebay. I could have bought any of the replicas the brand has produced since, but I decided second-hand (and cheap) was the only way to justify the purchase.

This post is not written with the intention of tooting my own horn. I simply wanted to give my own take on the video above. I could do more, and sometimes it’s hard to resist the power of shopping therapy. I also understand that not everyone is prepared to shop differently. Maybe it needs to be a combined effort: our responsibility as consumers to drive sales of ethically sourced fashion, and of the brands with the most money and influence to find a way to really and truthfully change the way they do business.

After the Rana Plaza disaster, brands like Zara, Topshop and H&M continue to enjoy successful sales and huge profits. Their Apps are still downloaded, their Facebook and Twitter accounts attract hundreds of thousands of followers. H&M has developed their eco-friendly line further, but it’s a small side of their business. Most of their stock is still produced in “questionable” factories in Asia. Whether they can actually control what goes on at the end of the production line, remains to be seen.

Am I a dreamer? Should I be doing even more? Does anyone actually care about where our clothes come from? Do you ever think about sweatshops? Do let me know, on the comments below, or via Twitter, I’m always up for a friendly discussion 😉

Picture: Fashion Limbo

*Further reading: thanks to blogger and stylist Arash Mazinani for directing me to this:
“Why do we need a Fashion Revolution” by fashionrevolution.org. Worth checking out, they are organising an awareness day, on April 24th 2014, to get consumers to ask brands where their clothes come from. More info via their website and Twitter @Fash_Rev.

**Regarding the Rana Plaza death toll, 1,129 is the number on Wikipedia, while other sources claim it has gone up to 1,133.

6 beauty products I keep going back to

This is a post about certain beauty products I would buy in bulk if I could. Little fixes that I always stock up on whenever there’s a promotion. They work, and have changed my skin for the better.

It took me a few years to realise just how picky my skin could be. I never experienced acne as a teenager, but in my late twenties, it became a constant war, with visits to expensive dermatologists that served of very little, – not that I wouldn’t recommend going to one, I just didn’t find the right person to deal with my skin – years of scrubbing, using harsh chemicals and, ultimately, treating my skin really badly. It ended up being oily in some areas, yet extremely dry, dehydrated and flaky in others. With regards to what has worked in my case, it’s mostly down to gentle thorough cleansing, the right face cream and make up.

Lush has been a massive discovery to me. Angels on Bare Skin (Piel de Angel in the picture) is a fantastic cleanser I use twice daily with the hot cloth cleansing method (see Sali Hughes for this). It provides very gentle exfoliating, and cleanses without stripping your skin of very necessary oils. It smells like heaven: almond, lavender, chamomile. Then there’s Vanishing Cream, a light, über soft face cream with Witch Hazel extract (a natural antibacterial) and dashes of lavender, rose, grapeseed oil, honey and lindseed infusion. Both these products have done wonders for my skin, which at present, is perfectly clear and extremely healthy.

For when I need an extra pick-me up with my skin, I have Kiehl’s and it’s actually amazing Midnight Recovery Concentrate.

The first time I heard of this product I thought it was the result of an effective marketing campaign, and possibly a fad. However, even with the expensive pricetag (around €40 on my side) I decided to give it a go and Oh-My-Dior was I impressed. Every time I use it (after cleansing my skin, before applying my night cream) the morning after my skin looks plump and bright, as if I’ve slept for 10 hours. It’s basically beauty-sleep in a teeny weeny bottle. I only apply a couple of drops on my forehead, and around my eyes and cheeks. For me, it works, brilliantly.

With regards to make up, with my unruly and over-sensitive skin, most foundations would clog up my pores, and wearing anything for long hours became a no-no. That is until I came across bareMinerals.

Their Matte SPF15 Foundation agrees with my skin. It’s light, easy to apply – just make sure you invest in a good brush, specific for mineral powder -. If I feel like it, and need it for extra coverage, I grab my Mac concealer to camouflage any imperfections, and finish off with Mineral Veil also by bareMinerals.

Another miracle product comes in the form of a primer, by Urban Decay.

Their Eyeshadow Primer Potion comes in handy with my eye-liner addiction. I normally go for the original shade, and it’s simply brilliant. If I want eye make-up that stays in its place, all day, rain or shine, this is the product I go for.

Last but not least, my favourite lip balm, discovered via a goodie-bag, it has to be Carmex.

I would be lost without my daily dose of Carmex lip balm. Oh how many times have I ran through Gatwick airport in search of this little pot of subtle magic. It’s extremely pleasurable to wear. Works great when applied in a tiny amount (dab a tissue on your lips to remove excess) as a base for red lipstick.

And that’s it. These are the products I go back to, over and over. Tears will fall the day any of these go out of production, so I welcome any suggestions on your own favourites.

x

Pictures: Fashion Limbo

Daft Punk and Zara know how to get it right

Just a quick post while I listen to Daft Punk’s new album – if you haven’t heard it yet, head over to iTunes to check it out for free, streaming for a limited time only – and the rain outside. It’s pouring, and this is something that’s been happening quite a lot in Barcelona recently. Back to the music side of things, the french duo’s new offering is pretty cool. Some love it, some are a tad “meh” about it. Some are calling it pretentious, others genius. I personally like it a lot. It’s not Aerodynamic, or Robot Rock, but that’s good. It’s different, it’s not about electronic music but “traditional” instruments. There are plenty of cool beats with a clear disco vibe, and some extremely dramatic lyrics and musical climaxes, adding a good dose of madness during certain key moments – tracks 3 and the last one especially. I’m loving the free streaming and cannot wait until it’s actually released (May 20th)

With regards to the fashion side of things, as of lately I’m questioning my own personal shopping habits. Many a times I have voiced my concern – to whoever is bored enough to listen to it – about the fact that Spanish shopping streets are Inditex-dominated, with more Zara than Starbucks, Pull & Bear in every corner, Bershka too, plus a few other “meh” brands. I cannot ignore how savvy the people behind Zara are at choosing their merchandise. In my opinion, their designs are the coolest by far, and as much as I want to start buying differently, locally or through the internet, it was especially hard to avoid falling head-over-heels for a gorgeous jacket. It’s from their SS13 collection, a bestseller, and I got is as a gift from someone who loves me very much.

I’m unashamedly wearing it over everything: leggings and shirts, a LBD, boyfriend and skinny jeans, and I have a cute white dress that I believe will look even better paired with this pretty varsity jacket.

Anyway, that’s it for now. Next week is the Primavera Sound festival here in Barcelona, and I cannot wait to see Blur, Solange, Nick Cave and the Black Seeds, Hot Chip and more… I just hope my back injury cooperates and I will be able to enjoy the weekend as much as want to.

So, back to the music, do you like Daft Punk’s Random Access Memories as much as I do?

& Other Stories opens in Barcelona

Last night I braved the awful weather in Barcelona to attend the exclusive opening party for & Other Stories, the new store/brand to come out of the H&M dream factory. Despite the rain and cold wind, the fashionable people in Barcelona showed up to celebrate the designs and beauty products offered by the new brand to storm the retail front. Scroll down for pictures and my review of the entire experience.

To me, & Other Stories seems like a candy store for devoted followers of fashion. In terms of the Spanish market, many items would probably puzzle shoppers used to less riskier brands such as Zara or Mango, but if they are looking for the Scandinavian desing of COS, paired with the quirkyness of H&M’s most adventurous styles, then & Other Stories could be a lot of fun.

Things get even more exciting when it comes to their accessories collection. There is no room for boredom. Extremely covetable with shapes and colours that are unavoidably eye catching at times, in loud and vibrant shades, and on the other side of the spectrum, items that favour minimalistic lines. As I walked out of the underground floor dedicated solely to shoes, bags, shades and other tit bits, I couldn’t help but think to myself “well played, Stories, well played”.

I may have fallen for the burgundy/shiny pair above, and I may have or may have not bought them already

It was a fun event: great music, cool atmosphere, canapés and bubbles galore. The layout of the store meant there was space for a lot of people, waiters, photographers and shoppers.

The beauty section had me quite intrigued. I loved the packaging, very simple, effective and the colours in the nail bar were extremely attractive. I was gifted with the Moroccan Tea Body Mist, light and fresh, perfect for summer. I used it this morning, right after my shower, and, at almost 4pm, it’s still present, in a soft, subtle way.

My verdict on the brand? Honestly, I’m excited. It could be because I live in Spain, surrounded by the Inditex empire and quite fancied something different. The medium to high price tags – below COS but more expensive than H&M – may be a drawback, but it is an entire different shopping experience. The staff made sure we were treated superbly, but it remains to be seen whether they will always be as helpful. I couldn’t have had more fun at the shoe section, the girl giving me a hand was also dedicating herself to please several other customers around me, never ceasing to smile. The shoes are nicely packaged and they seem to be of good quality. The cosmetics appear to be more affordably priced. With regards to the clothing, again, I think time will tell whether & Other Stories manages to please initial customers and create a following like that of sister brand COS. Quality needs to exists with these higher prices.

Oh yes… I bought the shoes. It was a strong tie between these and their siblings in black, but I went for these burgundy beauties. The more I look at them, the more I like them. What do you think?

Is there an & Other Stories where you are? Or will you be shopping online? Do you think this could be a brand for you?

Pictures: Fashion Limbo

PS. Thanks to Santiago Asensio and the team behind Area CG for inviting me to the event xx

Mimi Scholer jewellery

I recently met German jewellery designer Mimi Scholer. She is based in Barcelona, in my neighbourhood, and if you want to read more about what she does you can do so in this month’s Miniguide, in an article by yours truly.

To find out where to shop for Mimi Scholer pieces and see more of her work, click here.

 Pictures: Fashion Limbo

Learning to knit with… oh, my hands!

Recently, I have been making some changes in my life to help me de-stress. Apart from baking like never before I was searching for something less complicated and messy. A hobby I could just pick up whenever I needed it, whether for 5 minutes or several hours, then move on to something else. Knitting had been in the back of my mind for a while, as it combines being creative with fashion: the more ambitious you become, the faster you can move from accessories like scarves and mittens to attempting bigger challenges like jumpers. However, I had two problems: zero patience… and the fact that I suck at knitting.

Last week I wrote a cover feature for Miniguide Barcelona, talking about knitting as a way to generate income, and the urban art known as yarnbombing. While doing the research for the article I came across Oh My Hands, who not only sell gorgeous scarves and merino wool, but also organise Barcelona-based workshops for yarn newbies like me. During said sessions they also serve tea and cake, so I really couldn’t resist when they invited me to join them some days ago.

If you’re not in Barcelona, you can shop online, either one of their gorgeous snoods, 100% merino wool, or a complete DIY set and follow their novice-friendly videos. Here are some pictures I took during the workshop.

Their wool is 100% merino wool, it comes from Portugal, feels extremely soft and doesn’t itch.

Me on the right, trying not to stab myself with the needles. I loved their glittery ends (Maria, thanks for taking the pic)

Freshly baked cake and tea, what’s not to like?

My verdict? I had a great time. With two hours we had enough time to learn the basics, practice a lot, share a few laughs and enjoy some freshly baked cake with tea. Their video tutorials, which were projected on the wall for further help, are very well filmed and easy to use from home. While you can’t expect leaving the workshop with your snood finished, it took a novice like me only 4 sessions of knitting at home, whilst I watched a movie, or relaxed for a couple of hours. I had to undo my work a couple of times, but the more you re-started it, the easier it got. I think, overall, it took me 5 hours to complete mine. It was surprisingly easy and extremely relaxing.

My finished snood, in plush burgundy red

The big needles and thick yarn make it easy to knit, spot your mistakes, and simply unstitch everything if necessary. You quickly see that you are creating something, and for impatient, over-stressed souls like me, that is a huge plus.

If you’re in Barcelona, why not book one of these workshops, which are also available in english? If you are outside, they ship internationally, so you can purchase one of their snoods, made by hand, with luxurious merino wool, which is a treat. They look great worn over plaid shirts, leather jackets and t-shirts.

So, what do you think of my snood? I’m planning to make new items soon, knitting is addictive! What should I do next?

Pictures: Fashion Limbo

Oh My Hands can be reached via this link. Their website is in Spanish and English.

Winter windows – Barcelona

Fellow fashion blogger Jai’me Jan has quite the visually moving website, Boy Meets Fashion, where he frequently features amazing window displays in London. This has always inspired me to head to the streets, camera in tow, to photograph examples of Visual Merchandising that I find interesting. Just before street gardening and lightening, balconies and windows surrendered to Christmas madness, some stores in Barcelona’s Passeig de Gracia were looking like this:

Dolce & Gabbana

Louis Vuitton

Louis Vuitton detail

Emporio Armani

In my personal opinion, windows here in Barcelona are not as visually stunning as in London, but there are some efforts that are worth sharing with you all.

Have a great start to December xx

Pictures: Fashion Limbo

VV Vintage is live – shop ethically & creatively

It’s finally happening, VV Vintage is alive!! I can’t believe it was way back in 2009 when I first mentioned singer VV Brown’s online vintage store. She has now teamed with fashion girl and creative talent Lola Peach to re-launch VV Vintage as an online clothing store that is all about reinventing, recycling and getting your creative juices going.

So what does the press release say? “Focusing on the ethics of up cycling and sustainability within fashion alongside handpicked internationally sourced vintage pieces. Through working with new art, design and fashion talent VV Vintage is unique in being able to offer exclusive lines from these emerging talents as well as bespoke customized pieces. VV Brown, known for her unique and quirky sense of style, personally approves each item available on the site and is pro-active in seeking fresh exciting talent to work with”

What does Fashion Limbo say? To begin with, I want to make clear that this is NOT a sponsored post. I’m not getting paid to write about VV Vintage. I’m doing so because I see this as a truly exciting project. I believe in recycling, I believe the fashion industry can and should be more sustainable. I love originality, I think that the idea of wearing something unique, of good quality, and with ethical value is a yes, yes, yes. From what’s already online, I have fallen in love with an amazing navy blue coat with stunning leather lapels, and have my eye on a vibrant animal print jumper. With regards to full outfits, pictured below are three of my favourites.

To make this project even more amazing, VV Vintage is closely linked to Oxfam, and 10% of all its profits will go to charity. Together, Oxfam and VV Vintage will enable up and coming designers, fashion students and other emerging talents to design and customise pieces donated by Oxfam.

To top it all, there is a hot viral video, to help you get an idea of what VV Vintage is.

About VV Brown? Those of you who know me are probably are aware that I adore her music and have been admiring her creative talent since I first saw that amazing performance of Crying Blood on Jools Holland’s Later (switch to 480p to hear the music). She was been closely linked to fashion, modelling for Ashish at London Fashion Week, becoming the face of Marks & Spencer’s and has rocked the cover of numerous fashion many magazines such as Vogue.

There you have it, something truly exciting to start your Wednesday. To know more about VV Vintage and get involved, follow them on Twitter and Facebook.

What is your take? Do you do “reinvented” vintage? Would you buy something that had been up cycled?

Pictures: VV Vintage

What I Bought – vintage satchel

Ain’t nothing wrong with being a bag lady…that’s the message I got from ASOS Marketplace when I bagged this beauty.
Happy days. Buying vintage is not only fun, it’s kind to the planet and a great way of owning something truly unique.

I needed an everyday bag. Something pretty yet practical enough to carry my iPhone, my Alice in Wonderland notebook, my wallet, lip balm…need I go on? We all know how much we end up dragging around. I saw this chocolate brown satchel and it simply had to be mine. With plenty of pockets, zipped compartments and a comfy shoulder strap, this bag is going to be used a lot.

Obviously, I love it. The question is, how about you? Do you have a satchel? What type of bag do you favour?

Picture: Fashion Limbo