Edith Pilaf, 1946
Marion Cotillard as Edith Piaf, 2007.
Tuesday, 13 April 2010
Sunday, 11 April 2010
Way-back Machine.
Hello everyone,
This is my outfit for today. I'm pretty proud of myself for being so gutsy (and for mixing patterns and prints).
Here we go...
Borrowed a top that my mom wore when she was a teen (total vintage points!). Nice butterfly sleeves and print. Love the v-neck:
Paired with a simple pair of light wash denim shorts:
Worn with anciently old turquoise paisley Keds. I hate polka-dots, but I guess I just have to deal:
Also wore my beloved, trusty, homemade daisy ring. Paired with hot pink (?) nail polish:
Peace out.
-adrienne.
This is my outfit for today. I'm pretty proud of myself for being so gutsy (and for mixing patterns and prints).
Here we go...
Borrowed a top that my mom wore when she was a teen (total vintage points!). Nice butterfly sleeves and print. Love the v-neck:
Paired with a simple pair of light wash denim shorts:
Worn with anciently old turquoise paisley Keds. I hate polka-dots, but I guess I just have to deal:
Also wore my beloved, trusty, homemade daisy ring. Paired with hot pink (?) nail polish:
Peace out.
-adrienne.
Sunday, 4 April 2010
Tien Mu Flea Market!
hello everyone!
I have an exciting post tonight that will most likely stun most of you. Keep in mind, it will be a very wordy post, so bear with me. If you aren't interested in reading about my experience, you can skip to the part (or "haul" if you would like to call it) of pictures.
Tonight, I went to the Tien Mu Square Flea Market. This flea market only seems to run on weekend evenings (so Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights) so if you were to look for it, it most likely won't be there. However, seeing that today was a Sunday and I don't have school tomorrow, I grabbed the opportunity to go.
I've been to the Tien Mu Flea Market so many times and have picked up a few tidbits here and there for amazing prices, so I rarely go home empty handed. The Market is split into two sections: second-hand goods and homemade goods (think knitted hats, homemade jewelery, etc). I opt to shop the second-hand goods first, but I do go over to the homemade goods if I have the time. Don't get me wrong, homemade items are very unique, but at the Market, they are extremely overpriced (and if you don't know Taipei, there are homemade things everywhere).
Some people may be wondering how I can cope with using someone's used items. When shopping at flea markets, I keep myself open minded. I tend to only be accessories such as bracelets or small jewelery pieces since they are much more sanitary (for the clean freaks like me out there) and are usually the most unique pieces. I know that people do sell cosmetics (such as MAC) at an INSANELY low price. I've seen lipglosses still in their boxes sold for under 100 NT before. It's crazy and VERY tempting, but who knows where they have been or whose used them before? It is by far NOT sanitary, and I do not recommend anyone buying cosmetics in flea markets.
As for clothing, I tend to base my decisions on the seller. I know how biast that sounds but it really does make a difference. However, I hardly purchase clothing from flea markets.
Anyways, I know most of you are dying to see what I got, so here we go!
First off, we stopped at a lovely lady's spread of items. What I picked up here was a nice beaded candle motive. I really can't get enough of these types of things. Even though it is used to house candles (tea candles, to be particular), I have stuck some fake flower pens into it :) I have to admit it looks pretty nice. We bartered with the lady and knocked it from the original price of 100 NT ($3.10 US Dollars) to about 40 NT ($1.25 US Dollars) Here are some photos of it:
Next we stopped at a spread that sold manly household items, such as vases, bowls/plates, etc. It was rather surprising to discover a vintage Beatles poster. The poster itself is actually kept in rather nice condition, and there is a date on the back written in pencil (1983). Ehhh, it's sort of the wrong era to be holding a Beatles poster, but I love it all the same. Here is the photo of it:
I have an exciting post tonight that will most likely stun most of you. Keep in mind, it will be a very wordy post, so bear with me. If you aren't interested in reading about my experience, you can skip to the part (or "haul" if you would like to call it) of pictures.
Tonight, I went to the Tien Mu Square Flea Market. This flea market only seems to run on weekend evenings (so Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights) so if you were to look for it, it most likely won't be there. However, seeing that today was a Sunday and I don't have school tomorrow, I grabbed the opportunity to go.
I've been to the Tien Mu Flea Market so many times and have picked up a few tidbits here and there for amazing prices, so I rarely go home empty handed. The Market is split into two sections: second-hand goods and homemade goods (think knitted hats, homemade jewelery, etc). I opt to shop the second-hand goods first, but I do go over to the homemade goods if I have the time. Don't get me wrong, homemade items are very unique, but at the Market, they are extremely overpriced (and if you don't know Taipei, there are homemade things everywhere).
Some people may be wondering how I can cope with using someone's used items. When shopping at flea markets, I keep myself open minded. I tend to only be accessories such as bracelets or small jewelery pieces since they are much more sanitary (for the clean freaks like me out there) and are usually the most unique pieces. I know that people do sell cosmetics (such as MAC) at an INSANELY low price. I've seen lipglosses still in their boxes sold for under 100 NT before. It's crazy and VERY tempting, but who knows where they have been or whose used them before? It is by far NOT sanitary, and I do not recommend anyone buying cosmetics in flea markets.
As for clothing, I tend to base my decisions on the seller. I know how biast that sounds but it really does make a difference. However, I hardly purchase clothing from flea markets.
Anyways, I know most of you are dying to see what I got, so here we go!
First off, we stopped at a lovely lady's spread of items. What I picked up here was a nice beaded candle motive. I really can't get enough of these types of things. Even though it is used to house candles (tea candles, to be particular), I have stuck some fake flower pens into it :) I have to admit it looks pretty nice. We bartered with the lady and knocked it from the original price of 100 NT ($3.10 US Dollars) to about 40 NT ($1.25 US Dollars) Here are some photos of it:
Next we stopped at a spread that sold manly household items, such as vases, bowls/plates, etc. It was rather surprising to discover a vintage Beatles poster. The poster itself is actually kept in rather nice condition, and there is a date on the back written in pencil (1983). Ehhh, it's sort of the wrong era to be holding a Beatles poster, but I love it all the same. Here is the photo of it:
Finally, we stopped a nice lady in her early 20's who was selling mainly slightly more expensive items. I was just about to pass her spread when I came across a Marc by Marc Jacobs bag. MBMJ is an adorable range of items (and Marc Jacob's fusion line, in case you didn't know). THE BAG WAS ADORABLE. She told me that she was selling it for 3000 NT ($95 US Dollars) and that when she bought it last winter, it was 10,000ish NT (around $300 US Dollars). The quality was amazing, and she claimed to have only used it once and thought it was too large. We eventually bargained it down to a reasonable 2300 NT ($72 US Dollars), and I got it! Here are some photos:
Alright, well that's it for this post. Let me just emphasize again that flea market shopping and second-hand shopping is incredibly fun and can bring out treasures in another man's trash (nice use of wisdom, eh?) As long as you develop good instincts, flea market shopping won't seem dangers or shady ever again!
Alright, well that's it for this post. Let me just emphasize again that flea market shopping and second-hand shopping is incredibly fun and can bring out treasures in another man's trash (nice use of wisdom, eh?) As long as you develop good instincts, flea market shopping won't seem dangers or shady ever again!
-adrienne.
Saturday, 3 April 2010
Be Italian.
hello everyone,
Sorry for the cliché title, I really needed to do it :) Today I was at Sogo Department Store in Tien Mu. I had a steep craving for pasta, clamari, and, oddly, bleu cheese pizza (we'll get to that later). What we ended up eating was Capricciosa, a Japanese-ended Italian restaurant. The vibe of the place is pretty rustic, but the mood gets slightly blurred with the constant blast of Ke$ha and cheesy American pop music. (think Justin Bieber and bad rap music) Anyways, here is a photo of the interior:
I like open kitchens and seeing all the chefs prepping and well, cooking, to put it bluntly.
Enough of talking, here are the photos from lunch:
Just in case any of you were wondering, the pizza was a Quatro Formagio (four cheeses, including my absolute favorite: bleu cheese) and the pasta was with a garlic/olive sauce. The green bottle was a spicy olive oil mixture that went amazingly with the pizza.
We also had a honey cremé brûlée type dessert, which wasn't all that great, so I didn't really eat much of it.
Also, happy Easter Sunday everyone! I hope your day is blessed and filled with joy!
-adrienne.
Sorry for the cliché title, I really needed to do it :) Today I was at Sogo Department Store in Tien Mu. I had a steep craving for pasta, clamari, and, oddly, bleu cheese pizza (we'll get to that later). What we ended up eating was Capricciosa, a Japanese-ended Italian restaurant. The vibe of the place is pretty rustic, but the mood gets slightly blurred with the constant blast of Ke$ha and cheesy American pop music. (think Justin Bieber and bad rap music) Anyways, here is a photo of the interior:
I like open kitchens and seeing all the chefs prepping and well, cooking, to put it bluntly.
Enough of talking, here are the photos from lunch:
Just in case any of you were wondering, the pizza was a Quatro Formagio (four cheeses, including my absolute favorite: bleu cheese) and the pasta was with a garlic/olive sauce. The green bottle was a spicy olive oil mixture that went amazingly with the pizza.
We also had a honey cremé brûlée type dessert, which wasn't all that great, so I didn't really eat much of it.
Also, happy Easter Sunday everyone! I hope your day is blessed and filled with joy!
-adrienne.
Cath Kidston.
hello everyone,
Today we have a post dedicated soley on my current obsession: Cath Kidston. I don't know what screams to me from their products: the amazing array of oilcloth totes and accessories or the gorgeous vintage rose-spray prints. I'm very excited to show you all what I got (*screams*) so...
Here we go!
First off, I would like to introduce the brand to everyone. Cath Kidston was first opened in 1993 in a tiny store in London's Holland Park. Kidston began with selling vintage inspired fabrics and wallpapers, and soon gained enough namesake to start designing what she is most well known for now: oilcloth items. The brand is now a cult favorite, and has branched all the way to Ireland and is praised immensely in Japan.
Now on to the more exciting portion... today I braved the rain and headed over to Taipei's only Cath Kidston store (mind me, there are a couple of stands in department stores, Eslite bookstore, etc but this is the only actualy STORE I've seen around the area). Here is a picture of the store:
I couldn't snap any shots inside the actual store itself, but I can assure you that it is gorgeous (and complete with vintage Singer sewing machine). The lovely sales ladies helped me to find a suitable-priced bag that would be convenient for everyday use. What I decided to get was this amazing find:
The inside is absolutely amazing (I need a bag with lots of pockets since I am a sadistically neat neat freak). There's a pocket for my iPhone, my planner (which is roughly the same size as the bag), and a ton of other random tidbits. Here is a look at the inside:
Mind you, it wasn't the famous Cath Kidston oilcloth, and the size isn't exactly Kidston conventional either, but I am still falling head over heels for it. The reason that I purchased this one was due to a) the affordable-under-2000 NT-price tag. b) the freebies it comes with (more on that later). and c) the pockets inside and the overall print of the bag.
The bag was a BARGAIN. It was originally marked at 1800 NT and was marked down to 1260 NT with a 30% discount. Plus, it included a zany and adorable mirror and a slightly random matching tissue holder (?) . The mirror is adorable and I just recently lost mine, so this replacement definitely makes me pleased. Here is a picture of the mirror and the *slightly* random tissue holder:
As a little thank you, the lovely sales lady gave me their new Spring/Summer '10 catalog and that made me super excited. However, the text was entirely in Japanese resulting in a rather irritated Adrienne....but I'm enjoying the pictures anyway.
I'm rather pleased with all of my purchases and I am definitely repurchasing something from the Cath Kidston range soon!
Have a beautiful week and a wonderful and blessed Easter!
-adrienne.
I couldn't snap any shots inside the actual store itself, but I can assure you that it is gorgeous (and complete with vintage Singer sewing machine). The lovely sales ladies helped me to find a suitable-priced bag that would be convenient for everyday use. What I decided to get was this amazing find:
The inside is absolutely amazing (I need a bag with lots of pockets since I am a sadistically neat neat freak). There's a pocket for my iPhone, my planner (which is roughly the same size as the bag), and a ton of other random tidbits. Here is a look at the inside:
Mind you, it wasn't the famous Cath Kidston oilcloth, and the size isn't exactly Kidston conventional either, but I am still falling head over heels for it. The reason that I purchased this one was due to a) the affordable-under-2000 NT-price tag. b) the freebies it comes with (more on that later). and c) the pockets inside and the overall print of the bag.
The bag was a BARGAIN. It was originally marked at 1800 NT and was marked down to 1260 NT with a 30% discount. Plus, it included a zany and adorable mirror and a slightly random matching tissue holder (?) . The mirror is adorable and I just recently lost mine, so this replacement definitely makes me pleased. Here is a picture of the mirror and the *slightly* random tissue holder:
As a little thank you, the lovely sales lady gave me their new Spring/Summer '10 catalog and that made me super excited. However, the text was entirely in Japanese resulting in a rather irritated Adrienne....but I'm enjoying the pictures anyway.
I'm rather pleased with all of my purchases and I am definitely repurchasing something from the Cath Kidston range soon!
Have a beautiful week and a wonderful and blessed Easter!
-adrienne.
Thursday, 1 April 2010
Headbands.
I'm wearing a blue Pansy head band I made. Made from felt, I hand-sewed it.
Yeah, closeups are fun.
Contact me at: coutureprincess95@gmail.com if you want one... we can barter prices later.
-adrienne.
Friday, 26 March 2010
House of Jewels.
Hello everybody,
Here is something I pride myself with (a lot, actually): my jewelry collection.
Here we go...
I hang all necklaces and rings on this small white tree. I was actually inspired by a tree I saw at VVG Bon Bon (local restaurat), where they hung candy boxes from a huge tree. Don't have a picture on me, I'm afraid.
RINGS (all designed and made by yours truly, adrienne)
This lovely daisy ring is made from an old button (actually all my rings are). This one is my favorite, by far.
Gosh, I love this one aswell...this button is actually my grandma's, but it's a spare, so no harm done.
I wear this one only on weekends since it's rather large in diameter. This one has three buttons glued on top of each other.
This one is by far not my favorite. I painted the center with yellow nail polish and coated the petal beads with a pearlecent one, but the result wasn't so satisfactory... trial and error I guess?
This one reminds me of a pacifier, don't know why? Two buttons and a pearl bead.
NECKLACES (none made by me :D)
A nice fake sapphire suspended with two crownings. Wear this all the time.
A mid-length with a stale colored owl pendant. I love owl necklaces :)
A cheapie from Forever 21 years ago. Love it to death though!
A cubes "A" necklace fom Club Monaco (again, YEARS ago). I lost it twice (once in Las Vegas, once in 5th grade). My lucky necklace, I guess?
A silver heart and a 24 k gold heart from Tiffany & Co. From my friend Connie :)
A cross my Dad bought me for
my baptism three years ago. I wear this 24/7.
My Juicy Couture "recycle heart" necklace. It has arrows like a recycle sign!
That's it for now. This is by far NOT my whole collection, I would have a 20 page long post if I were to show you all of them!
-adrienne.
Here is something I pride myself with (a lot, actually): my jewelry collection.
Here we go...
I hang all necklaces and rings on this small white tree. I was actually inspired by a tree I saw at VVG Bon Bon (local restaurat), where they hung candy boxes from a huge tree. Don't have a picture on me, I'm afraid.
RINGS (all designed and made by yours truly, adrienne)
This lovely daisy ring is made from an old button (actually all my rings are). This one is my favorite, by far.
Gosh, I love this one aswell...this button is actually my grandma's, but it's a spare, so no harm done.
I wear this one only on weekends since it's rather large in diameter. This one has three buttons glued on top of each other.
This one is by far not my favorite. I painted the center with yellow nail polish and coated the petal beads with a pearlecent one, but the result wasn't so satisfactory... trial and error I guess?
This one reminds me of a pacifier, don't know why? Two buttons and a pearl bead.
NECKLACES (none made by me :D)
A nice fake sapphire suspended with two crownings. Wear this all the time.
A mid-length with a stale colored owl pendant. I love owl necklaces :)
A cheapie from Forever 21 years ago. Love it to death though!
A cubes "A" necklace fom Club Monaco (again, YEARS ago). I lost it twice (once in Las Vegas, once in 5th grade). My lucky necklace, I guess?
A silver heart and a 24 k gold heart from Tiffany & Co. From my friend Connie :)
A cross my Dad bought me for
my baptism three years ago. I wear this 24/7.
My Juicy Couture "recycle heart" necklace. It has arrows like a recycle sign!
That's it for now. This is by far NOT my whole collection, I would have a 20 page long post if I were to show you all of them!
-adrienne.
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