The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle

Please vote for this illustration here: http://www.nowness.com/day/2011/10/12/1671/drawing-inspiration-view-and-vote?submissionid=1009&submissionpage=3

Inspired  by a Haruki Murakami novel.

Browse the entries to NOWNESS’s latest reader competition, celebrating the highly anticipated English-language release of Haruki Murakami’s new novel 1Q84. Click on a thumbnail to view a full-size image, then vote for your favorites from the reader submitted designs illustrating the fantastical titles of the Japanese author’s bestselling novels. Readers are also encouraged to share the submissions they love via email, Facebook and Twitter. Submissions to the competition are now closed and entries can be voted on for one week until Tuesday, October 18.

Prada Sequin Dress

Prada Sequin Dress Fall 2011

Buzzzy Bee

Because I am busy with some drawing assigments I do not have time to do free work this week. Therefor I am posting some "oldies" for your enjoyment. Have a great weekend!

Hermès

The Kimono Jacket (from Harper's Bazaar - September 2011)
Jacket, knit, pants, bracelet and cuff by Hermès.
Vintage Sunglasses from Gramdma Takes a Trip

Solstice Scents Autumn Collection

I am a big fan of Solstice Scents perfumes. They are like a little journey to another place and time. I am always looking forward to finding out how they develope on my skin. I just can't stop sniffing my wrist when I am wearing their perfumes. They sell lots of other products as well, like houseperfume, soaps and bodybutters. Give them a try!

 Image inspired by Foxcroft perfume and Gucci

The new Autumn Collection by Solstice Scents has been released.
Because they all sounded great to me, I decided to order the sample pack first. This sample pack contains all 6 of their new Autumn Collection fragrances.

The package arrived quickly. It was filled with orange and black paper decorationstrips and little pumpkins in the box. So cute!

The perfumes:
Devil's Tongue
I personally love dark scents. I tend to prefer unisex or male perfumes to sweet feminine perfumes. So Devil's Tongue is perfect for me. It is a cyphre, which means it has fresh, green notes. I get a hint of oakmoss, patchouli, bergamot and labdanum. And there is definitely leather and tobacco there. Two ingredients I love in a perfume. I think this is a great blend, the notes work wonderful with eachother and the staying power is amazing. But I have found that all Solstice Scents perfumes have great staying power.
Bravo! A keeper!

Gehenna
Love, love, love! It is dark and intrigueing. Red musk is the dominant note. And I love it. I am a big musk fan. As a teenager I only wore White Musk (haha). This red musk is much more spicy and sensual. The Dragon's Blood is sweet and spicy and yes also mysterious and sensual. This is a very sexy perfume! Oh yes and there is a hint of smoke there as well. When this perfume dries down it turns more smooth and sweet, with hints of vanilla, sandalwood and patchouli.
Another new favourite!

Manor
I am starting to sound like a broken record. But I also love this new perfume. Woods, musk, incense (!!). It is sweet but with a minty note. This must be the Oud, a ceder/menthol like smell. Very nice. The dry down is wonderfully sweet with a smokey edge to it.
Great fragrance!

Thornwood Thicket
I started off thinking this was going to be the perfume I don't like. At first sniff I thought it was way too sweet. Too many sweet berries for my liking. But it dries down into something very interesting and surprising. A woodsy and golden rich smell takes over, the berries linger in the background. Not my favourite, but very good for daywear and when in a sweeter mood. Really nice.

Witch's Cottage
My first reaction was yuk, butter and sugar!. Lots of cacao and sheabutter. But after a while I started smelling herbs, spices, smoke and woods. It is too sweet and buttery for me. It makes my stomach a bit quiesy. But I never liked the smell of cacoabutter. It smells like salty caramel boiling on an open fire. Heavy and thick. However I do like the dry down smell of it. The incense and smoke come far more to the foreground.
I cannot make my mind up about this one. This is one of those journeys, it keeps changing. Not such a fan of the first steps in, but the dry down is quite delicious.

Foxcroft
This one is so interesting. This perfume smells like Fall. It truely does.
It smells like rain on stone and damp soil, you know that particular smell of the crips autumn air. 
I smell lots of ferns, wood and leaves, wet leaves. It smells like fresh air!
This perfumes embodies the feeling of things changing. An feeling of unexpected sharpness, a swift elation and a sense of sadness and departure.
The perfume slowly changes to a sweeter and more comforting scent.  There's a hint of smoke and I smell licorice and that salty caramel again, but now not as sweet as in Witch's Cottage.
Gorgeous!

Style Bubble

This is my illustration of Susie Lau, fashion blogger Style Bubble.
Been a fan for a long time. She just updated her blog with a new look and feel and I think it looks fabulous!

Check her guest editorship at Top Shop here.

Please vote for me

Ik heb op Fashionchick.nl meegedaan aan de Show your style contest en kan €500,- Zalando shopping money winnen. Like my style? Klik & stem! Jij kunt ook meedoen. Iedereen die meedoet krijgt een waardebon van €5,- te besteden bij Zalando (bij een besteding vanaf €50,-)
http://www.fashionchick.nl/showyourstyle/97/chacha-style.html?ref=31COTSZD5QK

Thank you!

Bottega Veneta Women's Fall-Winter 2011/2012

Tomas Meier's designs for the Bottega Veneta's Fall/Winter collection feature knee-length skirts, trim little cardigans, sleeveless shifts and sparkling jewelry. Exciting is that Maier used unexpected fabrics, like pilly wool or densly woven yarn. He was very adventurous with suface treatments, like tea-staining and real and virtual lace embellishments.

To quote Mr Maier: "Juxtaposing clean lines with elaborate surfaces, it aims not for balance but for a synthesis of unlike elements, with each refined piece of clothing and relaxed accessory containing within it a wealth of detail, technique, and embellishment". 

Well I simply love it.

And the black and white sketch:

 

The Sonia Rykiel Fall 2011

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this collection!
Super colours (mustard, winered, purple, greens, orange) and textures.

Warm, cosy and totally stylish.

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Fashionzenvintage online!

Yesterday Iris (Blogger FashionZen) launched her very own vintage webshop!! I designed her logo and header. Hope you like it!

www.fashionzenvintage.com

http://fashionzen.blogspot.com/

I love Iris' style and I love vintage clothes, so this is very dangerous for my bankaccount ;-)

Iris, all the best of luck! And thank you for your support!

Miu Miu

Okay so this isn't from the new collection, but I so love Miu Miu's 2010 Fall collection. It is very 1960's so still very much on trend (modtrend, colour, shiftdresses). 

I love BOWS! Everything is cooler with a bow. ;-)

I have entered in The Sketchbook Project 2012 (more info under the link). I will sometimes add some of those sketches to my blog.

Made this last week, inspired by all the rain this Summer. Fortunately this weekend has been sunny and wonderful! Finally!