Pure beauty talk with… Abigail O’Neill

There are quite a few things that are absolutely fascinating about Abigail O’Neill. First of all, the beautiful Australian broke the age-related stereotypes associated with modelling by staring her successful career at the age of 32. She is a gorgeous loving (and loved) wife and mother of three teenagers, though she looks more like their sister (for a visual proof, you get a wrinkle-free skin and a figure any 18-year old would envy for).

If this isn’t enough, Abigail showed the healthy side of modelling by establishing herself as an extraordinary raw food chef and an author of Model Chocolate, a book full of mouth watering, scrumptious, raw, sugar-, diary- and gluten-free chocolate recipes that can take you from breakfast to dinner and a few nourishing treats you can use for your skin.

As somebody who not only believes in chocolate and its goodness, but also “nutrition, exercise, water, sunlight, temperance (or balance), fresh air, rest, & trust” as the essential steps to health and wellbeing, Abigail got to my list of most inspirational and beautiful women before I knew it and I am incredibly excited to have her here.

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What does beauty mean to you? 

I love a beautiful smile, it transcends age and crosses all barriers. Another thing for me which defines beauty is freedom of spirit; the ability to love, laugh and express a genuine admiration for the beauty in others.  

A lot of girls tend to compare themselves to the models they see in fashion magazines and, as a result, dislike their own appearance. Is there a way for them to learn to love and accept their body the way it is, to feel beautiful in their own skin? 

A great big YES!! To anyone who feels like this right now, reading this, I'd say please focus on making yourself feel energised, nourished, blessed. It might sound cliché, but true beauty really does come from within. A picture won't always capture that. To capture an image of beauty which really 'shines' through (I'm speaking of modelling in front of the camera) I know I personally feel so much more effortless in shaping 'that moment' when I feel great. Exercise, time out, and nutritious food works wonders! 

What do you do to be camera-ready at all times? 

I enjoy a lot of raw food daily, which keeps me hydrated and helps make my skin glow. My daily raw cacao treats (from my book - Model Chocolate) are essentials for me, they give me extra energy and antioxidants which rejuvenate my skin. I also surf regularly, take brisk walks and do yoga. How does your diet help you achieve it? I would say diet is No 1 when it comes to keeping me looking at my best. I've practiced this style of organic living/mostly raw vegan eating for about 20 years now and always receive flattering comments on how young I look. Is it more about exercise or any other beauty/fitness regimes?) I love to smother my skin with my cacao face mask (also in the book) after a long day of shooting, it really works a treat and smells delicious too! 

Abigail with her daughter Charlotte

Have you always been interested in healthy eating? Has it been a transition or a way of life from the very beginning?

Yes! From since I was about 13 years old, I loved reading health books, and actually 'took over' my mums kitchen! That was the best way to learn.

Would you agree with La Rochefoucauld that “to eat intelligently is an art”? 

Totally - love that one! One of my quotes from my book Model Chocolate is similar, it says:

“ENCHANT, STAY BEAUTIFUL AND GRACEFUL, BUT DO THIS, EAT WELL. BRING THE SAME CONSIDERATION TO THE PREPARATION OF YOUR FOOD AS YOU DEVOTE TO YOUR APPEARANCE. LET YOUR DINNER BE A POEM, LIKE YOUR DRESS.”

Charles Pierre Monselet

Model Chocolate by Abigail O’Neill

In your fabulous book you say that chocolate is what “transforms the way you feel about food forever”.  How does the chocolate affect our mind and diet? 

The style of chocolate in my book is revolutionary, until it becomes mainstream, which is what I want - it will continue to change and challenge the way people think about healthy food. Model Chocolate tastes so great, and is as good for you as it tastes, perfect for anyone wanting to look and feel their very best.

 

Eco-block – see recipe below

Are there any recipes you’ve created that you like the most or eat most often? 

I can't live without my Hit the Spot Hot Cacao in Winter, along with the Goji Ginger Healer, which tastes AMAZING and helps keep me well. I use my 'Classic Dark' raw chocolate all the time, and at the moment enjoying lots of Nibana Soft Serve (a raw vegan ice cream made with bananas and cacao nibs) for breakfast. The Love Me Bittersweet Pie is world famous, and another of my personal favourites. 

Can you share one of your delicious ideas with us, please? Love to! Why not try my Ecoblock recipe! It's like a cross between a coconut chocolate slice, and fruit and nut chocolate, raw and economical to make - so perfect for sharing with friends.  

Do you have any other tips for looking beautiful and feeling great? Lots! I love to share pictures of my organic lifestyle and tips on Instagram and blog, love to see you there! 

ECO BLOCK

This is the economical way I made chocolate for years, except I used carob powder in place of cacao. Whenever I made it, someone always asked me for the recipe. Look for the 'blocks' of creamed coconut in a cardboard package such as Royals. The jars of creamed coconut are more expensive, not necessary for this recipe.

200g creamed coconut or concentrate, chopped 

2 big tablespoons raw honey

¼ teaspoon vanilla powder

1 big tablespoon raw nut butter of choice

½ cup chopped raw brazil nuts

½ cup mixed sultanas, currants and raisins or dried cherries

Pinch fine sea salt

⅓ cup raw cacao/organic cocoa powder  

Place creamed coconut into a glass bowl to melt over a larger bowl of boiling water. Remove from heat adding all other ingredients and mix gently until combined. Scrape out onto a lined tray or chocolate mould and set in the fridge.

10 minutes to prepare, 10 minutes to set. Makes a massive family-sized block. 

Super Tip: to make this nut free, substitute raw organic coconut oil in place of nut butter and omit brazil nuts. 

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Thank you to Abigail, Rhiannon and BleachPR for the support, interview and images.

To learn more about Abigail and order her book (available in e-format and print edition), please visit Model Chocolate, read her story and follow via Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook

 

Photo source: c/o Abigail O’Neill & Bleach PR, photography: Damien Nikora, styling: Tamzen Holland Chalmers)

 

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Pure beauty talk with… Rose-Marie Swift

For me Rose-Marie Swift to beauty and make-up is like Donna Karan to fashion and clothes. Both know what women want and give it to them in the most natural, organic and beautiful way, kind to the skin and body whether it needs to be clothed or enhanced. What attracted me to Rose-Marie in a first place was her philosophy and knowledge about the skin and skincare products. It deeply resonated in me. For once I felt that there’s somebody out there who is looking for answers and information just like I did and, even better, has a solution that turned out to be my skin (and mind) saviour.

Asking Rose-Marie about an interview was a bold, very bold, move. She is a star known for her work with Saint Laurent, Louis Vuitton, Espirit, H&M (remember that ethereal Gisele’s Spring/Summer 2011 campaign? Yes, that’s her hands that created the look) Vogue, Harper’s, V, i-D, Pop and AnOther magazines just to name a few as well as the make-up artist most gorgeous girls like Doutzen, Gisele, Miranda and Julia Restoin-Roitfeld unconditionally trust their faces to. 

She is one of a kind and, just like most one of a kind people, tends to have a very busy schedule. Yet she replied to my email and generously gave me her time fitting the interview somewhere between Louis Vuitton Pre-Fall and working with Gisele, making me feel a little bit one of a kind, too.

This story is very close to my heart because I hope that the message that comes from a true expert like Rose-Marie will be heard and may actually change a few lives, faces and bodies in the process. I know that breaking the rules isn’t the simplest thing of all, but I do hope that her passion, knowledge and advice will make some to take the first step towards appreciating and understanding organic skin care and the skin we live in.

***

What does beauty mean to you?

Well, the old saying goes "beauty is in the eyes of the beholder" so in my opinion as the beholder, I see beautiful as someone with as healthy and glowing skin as possible. Beauty to me is looking healthy and happy, a glow to the skin and a twinkle in the eye.

What makes a face beautiful?

I have to admit I have a skin obsession, and to me it is all about the skin…nothing beats youthful, healthy, dewy skin. Knowing your face and not changing it through layers of makeup is also a quality that can't be beaten.

RMS Beauty was created to enhance the natural beauty - what is your philosophy when it comes to make-up, both the ritual and the products? 

After many years in the fashion and make-up industry, I’ve learned a lot about the impact of daily exposure to chemicals in beauty care products. I’ve seen what works and what doesn’t live up to its promises. I see the results of taking a quick-fix approach to looking good. I know first-hand the price our health can pay in the pursuit of beauty. I realized that what women need are skin care, colour cosmetics, toiletries that are as pure as possible, lines that create a solid foundation for anti-aging and long-term beauty.

Skin is a living organism. It breathes, interacts, and absorbs information from everything it encounters. It’s in constant communication with the environment. Without healthy skin, we are vulnerable to the effects of everything we encounter.

Unfortunately, most ingredients in skin products and cosmetics were approved by the FDA when it was widely believed that the skin acted as a barrier to the outside world, blocking out whatever was applied to it. We now know that whatever we put on the skin is absorbed into the bloodstream. You only need to look to medical patches, anti-smoking patches and hormone replacement patches for proof.

My background as an advocate for cleaner cosmetics came when my own health deteriorated years ago and thru my research I realized many of the chemicals that were in my body were also found thru out the beauty industry.

I started my site Beauty Truth in 2004 exposing some of the more serious chemicals in our cosmetics and through this I became very well versed on what chemicals make up our beauty products and the ramifications they can have long term. (I encourage you to read my site as I hope to have every single person open their minds to a new definition on cosmetics).

The site created a lot of press for me and the question asked over and over again by all my readers was.... what shall we use? I started studying ingredients labels in depth and the extent of the use of unregulated chemical ingredients. Sorry to inform you but the FDA does not regulate our beauty industry with the exception of synthetic colour. It is self regulated by the actual people that are adding all these ingredients and deeming them safe.

In fact, many ingredients are downright harmful. Some ingredients, like phthalates found in synthetic fragrances and nail polishes, are known to disrupt the hormone system, and are a factor in reproductive diseases and breast cancer. Sadly, the list of harmful ingredients in your personal care products is long – and we continue to use them daily. It begs the question: are short-term results now worth the risk of ugly health consequences later? 

Even the so-called natural lines which we are all led to believe are safe and clean are not by any means safe or clean. The word "natural" means absolutely nothing. There are no laws that either define or regulate its use. You are on your own to find beauty products (or food for that matter) that are actually formulated with natural ingredients. It all comes down to chemistry: when a raw material is processed for use in cosmetics or other beauty products, it typically undergoes a lengthy process.

I was surprised to learn that the majority of ingredients used for natural cosmetics are refined, bleached, clarified, deodorized, fractionated and heated to extreme temperatures. By some of this processing it means that they are not natural ingredients anymore – they are now equivalent to man-made chemicals.

Complicating matters more, the processes strip away all of the nutrients that make natural ingredients beneficial to skin and health. It is like taking one of the healthiest foods such as broccoli and putting it is a pressure cooker. It is now what I call "dead".... almost every beneficial enzyme, vitamin and antioxidant has literally been killed. That is why the concept of eating raw food has been making headlines with health advocates, nutritionists and celebrities.

I am honestly trying to educate every woman to be more aware of not just what they put on their skin but also what they put in their bodies. Your skin is a “mirror to your gut” so whatever is being put into the body is reflected in the skin. Eat healthy, eat wisely, and don't underestimate the power of clean water, fruits and vegetables. Living a healthy life is what gives us beautiful healthy glowing skin.

Do you have favourite or signature ingredients? Are there any substances, as natural as they might be, you’d never use in RMS Beauty line? 

My signature ingredient is my coconut oil. Coconut oil is one of the healthiest oils in the world, if not the healthiest. It contains none of the nasty chemicals that are in today’s makeup removers and skin cleansers. It has natural anti-fungal and antibacterial properties due to its lauric acid and caprylic acid content, which aids in cleaning the skin naturally. It is a known natural antioxidant that helps prevent free radical damage (premature aging) and contains high levels of vitamin E. When it is in its raw state, it is hands down the best oil out there, and the skin, eyelashes and hair all love it. This coconut oil is superior over any store bought cold-pressed coconut oil.

I also do not use any water in my products. Bacteria grows in water--not in oil--so avoiding water helps to eliminate added preservatives that are needed to keep bacteria at bay.

I also never use cheap unstable oils… I hate cheap oils that go rancid fast and cause oxidative stress on the skin. The beauty industry if full of them and many are found in the natural brands unfortunately.

What do women need to be aware of when choosing their cosmetics? What do we need to look out for when buying organic make-up to ensure that we get “the real thing’?

That is hard because unless you know the origin and processing practice of every ingredient you won't be able to find out. You have to literally find a brand that explains their ingredients (from origin, growing practices to processing), whom you know is trustworthy and has a great reputation for what they are doing. RMS Beauty fits that bill. It helps tremendously to start reading ingredient decks on the BACK of products and looking up some of these ingredients on a site called Cosmetic Database. They have done major testing on ingredients and list the toxicity levels of these ingredients making it easier to make wiser decisions when purchasing products. Tongue twisting words and that are hardly pronounceable are a red flag and most likely is a chemical.

Which one of RMS beauty products you would recommend as a first buy and why?

I would definitely suggest the Living Luminizer. It is an ultra-sheer, glowing luminizer with a satin-pearl finish that magically highlights the skin. This product is very unique to the beauty business and has become a celebrity favourite on both the red carpet and in the magazines. Its light-reflective, dewy glow cannot be compared and is the ultimate touch to add a youthful sheen to the skin. You will be instantly hooked when you hear how many people tell you how great your skin looks when using this product.

You are very particular about ingredients used in RMS beauty line. What about diet? Do you believe that “we are what we eat”?

Every woman needs to be more aware of not just what they put on their skin, but also what they put in their bodies. Your skin is a “mirror to your gut” so whatever is being put into the body is reflected in the skin.

Eat healthy and wisely, and don't ever underestimate the power of clean water, organic fruits and vegetables. Living a healthy life is what gives us beautiful, healthy and glowing skin. Makeup should enhance that beauty, not used to cover it up.

Raw, nutrient rich foods, probiotics, digestive enzymes, exercise and sleep all contribute to keeping the skin healthy and youthful and I try to live by that every day.

Avoid artificial sweeteners, sugar and soda pop like the plague.

What are your thoughts on beauty injections and dermatological treatments? What would you suggest to women who choose or need to have them as a follow-up remedy?

If people decide to do any skin procedures or peals etc. I have one life giving product for their healing process after... The RMS Beauty Oil.

And before you go... Are there any other (RMS) beauty tips you could share with us?

My beauty mantra is…… less is more.

Just as important as applying makeup it is also just as important taking it off as night. RMS Beauty Raw Coconut Cream beats anything out there and will remove every bit of makeup without wreaking havoc on your skin and lashes.

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Pure beauty talk with… Adriana Giotta

As I was preparing for my Pure Beauty week I wondered about the ways our mind works when it comes to understanding of beauty and the impact it can make on the way we choose to shape our life, habits and, lets face it, bodies. Naturally, I wanted to focus on the subject of psychology as a part of the series to address the healthy mind – healthy body link and also help some discover the answers they have been looking for.

I thought of Adriana Giotta, an international fashion model and founder of Role Model Living, from the start because I just felt that she would make the most perfect choice. A stunning, warm and intelligent woman, not only she experienced both sides of the fashion industry while working as a model for almost two decades, Adriana is also a qualified psychologist able to address all those emotions that can affect our mind when it comes to beauty and image, develop our true self, enjoy being unique and feel empowered by knowledge.

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What does beauty mean to you?

I believe beauty is essential in our lives. Nature is naturally beautiful; sitting watching a sunset on a beach will leave us in awe. Therefore it is good to surround ourselves with beauty. Human beings possess an objective inner standard of beauty, acquired by education or social custom, to which even geniuses such as Leonardo Da Vinci and Michelangelo referred. It includes elegance, grace, harmony in composition, consistency, poise, Vitruvian proportion and symmetry.


We also possess a subjective standard of beauty; such beauty is in the eye of the beholder: any child is beautiful to his or her mother, regardless of the way he or she looks.


Beauty is also an undying state of the self, as spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar explains impeccably: “The most good-looking, after some time don’t look so nice. It is not in the outer appearance, it is the spirit, the inner soul. Look at the spirit inside, there is inner beauty. That beauty of the spirit is undying. It increases day by day. It also increases with age. Wisdom and maturity bring so much beauty.

Beauty is not just some appearance. Similarly, ugliness is not out of appearance. Somebody may look very good with good makeup, but if their heart is very ugly and the mind is all twisted and full of negativity, however nice they may appear, their vibrations will tell you that they are not beautiful. So, it is the mind that makes one beautiful”.

What kind of impact, in your opinion, fashion has on our perception of beauty?

Fashion dictates a beauty standard that people are subliminally asked to adhere to, failing which they are labelled as inadequate. Hence people start feeling rejected and reject themselves falling into a vicious circle, often developing a psychological condition.

Unfortunately what fashion portrays as beautiful often isn’t, as it appears most of the time as forced, unnatural and frankly dysfunctional.

For example, ultra and unnaturally thin fashion models cannot be considered beautiful, yet nowadays, this has become the trend and people tend to conform, no matter how many starving diets it will imply. That said, we are witnessing an increase in eating disorders also due to the impact of media images on people: an eating disorder most of the time has its roots in the past and childhood of the individual but it can be triggered and offset much more easily through social pressures, a fertile ground for the development of the condition.

When people start comparing themselves to media images, they end up disliking or criticizing themselves and feeling miserable and unhappy as a consequence, hence unattractive. An interior punishing dialogue begins and they can hit themselves metaphorically or even literally (a self harming practice is binge eating for example). It becomes a vicious circle.

As a psychologist and a model, do you think it is fair to blame fashion and models for the idea of perfection many women strive to achieve no matter what?

It is never only one culprit. The issue is multifactorial. We live in an overpopulated planet, in cities that most of the time look like concrete jungles. Competition is fierce. Society demands perfection, high performances. The obsession with perfection is a result of a competitive, overpopulated society, disconnected from Mother Nature; the offset of the obsession is clearly facilitated by air brushed images of models, actresses/actors, tv stars: images built for hours, or even days, by teams of professionals working to create a dream. Hair dressers, make up artists, stylists, photographers, lighting, locations, sets, art directors, post production labs, etc; these images are sold as the natural result of using ‘such and such’ product or wearing ‘such and such’ brand; Pure manipulation.

The truth is these images are built up, unreal and unnatural yet people want to achieve that “perfection” because no one tells them what happens back stage and because society makes them feel inadequate, alienated or rejected if they don’t. So people become ill, whether mentally, physically or both and even spiritually (because self un-acceptance creates a hole in our souls, an inner conflict) chasing the impossible.

People start hating themselves for not being like Mr. X or not looking like the Chanel, Dior, Prada - you name it - advertisement model (not knowing that these models are, on top of all the above, most of the times only 14/16 years old! How can a 40 year old lady who wishes to be “fashionable” identify with these ultra skinny 14/16 years old baby girls and stay sane?).

Ultimately the consumerist society is not interested in a world populated by happy and healthy people as these people wouldn’t consume as much and therefore spend as much; the consumerist machine would stop or at least slow down. Sad but true. We need to become aware of this to avoid the trap. Knowledge is half the solution, the rest is up to each one of us, to avoid actively falling into the trap.

Fashion models are partially responsible, because they send out dysfunctional images. But they are often totally unaware as they are too young and/or often manipulated themselves. They simply adjust to the fashion industry’s requests and they become victims themselves: victims of an illusion, of a dream, of their own vanity, victims of the industry. They are too young to be able to have a critical thought so they just get manipulated hugely. This is the truth.

The adults involved in the fashion business are to be held accountable: a lot of fashion designers, model agents, photographers, fashion editors, art directors, casting directors and of course media and advertising agencies. They create, approve of and/or request such images and set the standards. Recently I observed a similar trend in the acting, tv and music industry as well. Has it all been driven by the fashion industry? Quite possibly.

When I was modelling I was asked - not explicitly, but rather in an indirect way, in other words you just knew that either you conformed or you stopped working - to be non-humanly “perfect”, as in looking ultra thin, plastic and disinhibited. It was all about the body, the outer look. In fact I wasn’t allowed a brain, an opinion, a voice, a thought, a soul, a need. I was expected to be bionic. A robot. A species of machine. When conforming to that standard, models begin to send that very message out through media images, colluding with the system inadvertently. As a consequence people, the public, start to be moulded, by being exposed, over and over again, to such images.

It happens subliminally, unconsciously, slowly but surely, without being aware of it. That’s how we all get influenced on this planet. Advertising agencies spend a lot of time and effort using psychology to manipulate human minds and drive their behaviours towards the outcome they wish to obtain.

Are there any other triggers, physical, emotional or both, we need to be aware of?

The question is: what kind of perfection are we striving for? Who decides what is “beautiful” and what is “perfect”? What is really perfection? Is it just a look? Is it just another stereotype? For example the plastic, skinny, sexy, wealthy, successful career wonder woman, yummy mummy of 2 “perfect” children with an amazingly perfect husband, Posh and Becks style? What kind of perfection is that if in the end we are unhappy and depressed because to maintain that “perfect standard” we must spend 3 hours a day at the gym neglecting our children’s emotional needs as we are too busy, starving ourselves, going to the hair dresser for a couple of hours a week and to a plastic surgeon for some Botox every month or so and perhaps subject ourselves to a general anaesthesia for a blepharoplasty or a face lifting every once in a while to hide the sign of the times as we are ashamed of it? We need to wake up and become aware of the manipulation we are subjected to. We strive to a perfection that has nothing to do with the real meaning of it. Real perfection has nothing to do with a “standard”; “Real perfection is the nature of the enlightened one” as Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said. Lets embrace our souls and start a nourishing journey from within.

Is feeling "fat" or "ugly" really just about the body or comparing yourself to a picture in a magazine?

We feel “fat” and/or “ugly” when we are disconnected from our true self. When there is an imbalance or conflict within, it reflects on the outer look. On the skin, on the body. Not vice versa. Then we start gaining weight and as a result looking “ugly”. As a former international model I can guarantee you that even the most amazing looking girl can look “ugly” or unattractive if in a bad mood because she is not happy with herself. The secret is to feel good in ones own skin. And to do so we need to look after our inner world and inner child.

From a psychodynamic stand point, if someone has been loved in the right way as a child, from his/her main caregiver, in other words had a “good enough mother”, for example, most probably he/she will have learned to accept and love him/herself. We love ourselves in the same way we have been loved as children. In this instance, no matter how dysfunctional the media images, it will be more difficult for them to have a significant negative impact on us. If we had a difficult childhood/adolescence, we can transform the information we have learned and that acts us out through dysfunctional behaviour, such as self harming, with some good psychodynamic work and/or a spiritual path.

What about criticism? How to face it without letting the words affect our mind?

We should never be the football of other people’s opinion. Full stop. Knowing this is enough. And then train accordingly: every time we catch ourselves being affected by other people’s opinion just become mindful and adjust accordingly. There are different types of criticism: the healthy criticism is a gift. We should see it this way. Drop the ego and just welcome constructive criticism. It will help us to become a better person. We have to be grateful to the person criticizing us as it took courage to do so. They could have just lied. Yet they chose to be truthful. When it is a destructive, unhealthy criticism we must learn to be indifferent. The nature of the mind is to cling onto the negative: we may receive 10 compliments and one criticism from that person and all we will remember is the criticism. Never mind, just know that this is the nature of the mind. This knowledge will help us to be indifferent to the negative criticism. Also knowing why the person is criticizing us: sometimes they are jealous or envious. Just look at them with a smile of compassion and move on. Accept yourself just the way you are and you will be safe. Fill your inner love void by loving and caring for your inner child.

Is there a simple but effective way to learn loving yourself the way you are? Any tips you could share?

It is a journey and there is no shortcut. We need to establish new and more functional habits therefore we must be consistent and persistent training every day, every moment, to establish the new habit. But this mustn’t frighten us: every journey starts from a first step. Awareness is the first and most important step. Being aware of the dynamic we are trapped into and being mindful about it. A spiritual path and meditation will help to connect with our abundant inner source.

A powerful exercise is to cherish our inner child, connecting with him/her: Every morning when waking up, first thing, let’s ask our inner child (you may look at your favourite picture of yourself when you were a little toddler or baby) “what do you need today to be happy and what can I do to make you feel happy, loved and safe?” Listen to the answer coming from within and please the requests; a simple but effective exercise. Be the one that loves and protect the little child you carry inside.

***

To learn more about Adriana, please visit Role Model Living and stay in touch via Twitter and Facebook

 

Photo source: Grazia Italy

 

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Fashioned by Love turns 3

When I think about creating my very first post for Fashioned by Love, I struggle, seriously struggle, to believe that it was three years ago. I still remember that day, I remember coming up with an idea of this blog and its name. I remember the blank page feeling, the nervousness and excitement of starting a new chapter of my life. If only I knew where my little blog would take me…

2013 was a difficult year for me. It started well and then suddenly collapsed in a manner of a card tower because the injury happened and balance was lost. The recovery took several  months and taught me to love flat shoes, maxi dresses and never make too many plans.

So, whilst the year didn’t go exactly as I envisioned, it had its moments of joy, pride and enjoyment, so I want to celebrate them fully (and the same way I did it last year).

In 2013 I wrote 270 posts, shared 52 Monday editorials and 100 stylish quotes.

Was nominated as one of the 10 best UK fashion blogs by Company magazine.

Received an invitation from Harper’s Bazaar for the private opening of the Self-Portraits exhibition created by the magazine and Viva London.

Interviewed gorgeous models Karlina Caune and Alexandra Egorova and British designers Liam Fahy and Kelly Love.

Created Fashioned by Love fashion weeks dedicated to Azzedine Alaia, Donna Karan and Calvin Klein.

Said Good-bye to Marc Jacobs era at Vuitton, Emma Hill – at Mulberry and welcomed back John Galliano.

Continued “5 dresses” with the LWD and lace and started new series of post to share my favourite Bag of the Month and Shoe stories as well as gorgeous collections from the past seasons that could only be described and remembered as Timeless Chic.

Created a few designer-inspired looks for less, from Lanvin and Nina Ricci to Louis Vuitton F/W 2013 and S/S 2005 as well as some random outfits for every occasions, from white jeans (including a budget version), flares and summer ideas to a 1920s evening ensemble…

Talked about spring crops, wearable blooms, leather, safari chic and pattern on pattern trends.

Dreamed of a white summer wardrobe and celebrated Christmas in every shade of blue, pink, white and black.

As the autumn approached, asked some fashion models about their season’s must-haves and showcasted some of the most beautiful grey, pink and camel coats to cocoon in as well as gorgeous leather jackets to be worn by the most stylish among us.

Reviewed some of my favourite fashion reads including The Empress’s New Clothes, Supermodels Diet Secrets (and later wrote about detox 1976-style), The world according to Karl, D.V., Allure and Chloe Attitudes.

And leant, once again, that fashion is such a wonderful, exciting and endlessly inspirational world that I will never be tired of.

Thank you for being with me today and always, for your comments and support! I hope to see you over and over again and give you something to enjoy every day as you stop by Fashioned by Love.

 

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Introducing: Kelly Love

Pocket Full O’ Posies maxi silk dress

I am a dreamer in disguise. I do my best to stay focused on real life and its ups and downs, but then comes a moment when a handful of rose petals or a gentle kiss of spring air on my cheek sends me into my happy place where dreams meet fashion and become a piece of wearable art.

The Pocket Full O’ Posies maxi was one of those moments. Made of delicate silk and inspired by childhood memories and lingerie, the dress oozed femininity and looked as if it captured the movement of cherry blossom and rose petals dancing to the Waltz of Flowers.

And so I fell in love with the dress and then – with Kelly, the designer who created it. I wanted to know more about her because everything this girl did so far has not just been dreamy, but literally fashioned by… Love.

Love… The name Kelly Love carries and the feeling she puts into every garment, from the moment she imagines it as a beautiful story to the final finishing touch. The grown-up fantasy, romance and edgy dreaminess are the essence of her collections and if these words touch something inside your soul, Kelly Love is the name you will need to remember and add to your style radar. She is definitely here to stay and give us a slice of a dream world, the world we could all be a part of.

 

WHO: Kelly Love, Australian-born London-based British fashion designer

WHAT: Beautiful clothes with romantic touch, simple silhouettes and exquisite prints

WHERE: View collections at Kelly Love official website, shop at YBD and stay in touch via Facebook and Twitter

WHY: Every piece in Kelly Love collection is crafted from luxurious fabrics with couture standards in mind and will definitely stand the test of time

LOOK FOR: Mohair Parisian sunrise coat, The Dream Weaver little black dress and The Idyllic Hour and Posies in my Pocket dresses.

Painters Palette Oversized Shirt Dress

Do you remember your very first encounter with fashion?

I remember when I was really little been in love with my mums slips and petticoats. The softness of the fabric, the pastel colours and the lace trim. I always thought it was lovely that women would wear something so pretty under their clothes even if no one would see it…

Have you ever thought of designing lingerie?

It is something I have considered and would love to have the chance to do some day. As this isn't an area of my expertise however, it would be great to collaborate with a lingerie company in the future. 

What inspired you to become a fashion designer?

I was working for a designer, Sin Nakamayal when I lived in Japan for a couple of years and loved the creativity of it. Sin was more of an artist who created conceptual pieces where as I knew I wanted to design clothes that were unique but also very wearable. The idea that you can come up with a concept and months later, what has been imagined becomes real is really exciting for me. There’s nothing better than seeing it all come to life.

Who are your main supporters?

My boyfriend supports me more than anyone. He does so much for the label & has always really believed in it. I’m very lucky though to have a very supportive family and group of friends + loyal stores who buy into each collection too.

What is your design philosophy?

Just to create clothes that are really unique but are also wearable. Clothes that make you feel special when you wear them & aren’t part of the “fast fashion” phenomenon. 

Flowers On My Doorstep silk blouse

How do you feel about trends?

I think when you’re working in the industry, trends can present themselves before you even realise it. Almost subconsciously. I definitely don’t aspire to work to trends but if something comes about that fits in with your label, then it’s a bonus as you’ll always get great press if you have some trend led pieces. I think people should only wear trends that actually suit their style and body shape & the same goes for my collections.

What do you enjoy the most about designing a new collection?

Just the creative process really. The creativity of building something from concept to completion. I love each step of the process but I think my favourite part after actually designing, is shooting the lookbook. That’s when the full story of what you’ve been working on for the last 6 months becomes something real. 

The Dream Weaver Little Black Dress

Your garments are always crafted from some of the most beautiful and luxurious fabrics - what influences your choice?

I started out working for a couture house so this has always influenced the standard that I work to. I look for a beautiful hand feel more than anything, something that feels really nice to wear. I’ve actually starting experimenting with some man-made fibers next season too as I would like the collection to be accessible and also easier to care for if it’s more of an everyday piece. For fabrics that aren’t printed, I always seem to be drawn to texture. 

There’s always a beautiful story, almost a fantasy, that accompanies the clothes... Is there a reason for that?

I’ve always loved writing, even before I started designing clothes so this is just a way for me to indulge in this love. These short stories also help me to picture the woman who is effectively the muse for the collection and allows me to imagine the end product. A lot of designers create mood boards which I do further down the line but the story is always the starting point. 

Would you consider writing a book one day? The one that makes a reader dream…

This isn't something I have thought about before... I have always thought there was a very strong link between my way of designing and creative writing though, as I hope to conjure up beautiful images from both, so never say never…

Who is a Kelly Love heroine? How would you describe a woman who wears your designs?

Someone who wants to stand out but in a subtle rather than obvious way. 

Parisian Sunrise Mohair Coat

If you could pick a piece from each of your collections, which ones would they be and why?

From SS12, I love the “Petals of the Rose Dress”. The print, drapes and length of the dress give a real wow factor and the detail in the print along with the silk is so beautiful when you see it in real life. I love the “Our Spirits are Free Blouse” from SS13. It’s such a simple blouse but the nude colour of the silk turned out so perfectly and the delicate French lace collar that was dyed navy is so pretty. From AW13, the “Parisian Sunrise Coat” is my favourite. This is quite a significant piece as I really enjoy designing outerwear which is becoming somewhat of a signature for the label, along with the printed pieces. I’m very excited about the outerwear that I am doing for AW14 – stay tuned.

Flowers and grandeur, your Autumn 2013 collection, is so dreamy and nostalgic... What was the starting point of it? Where did the inspiration come from?

AW13 was somewhat of a love story about a couple who lived in a bohemian neighbourhood in Paris a long time ago. The elderly people who still live there remember them as this really eccentric but beautifully polished couple who lived a charmed, extravagant lifestyle. There is always an element of darkness to these stories though and perhaps there was an underlying sadness beneath her beauty which makes the collections feel a little more fragile. To me these vulnerable aspects of a women’s personality are much more enchanting than the polished persona that she allows people to see, and it’s these ideas that always give my collections a delicate edge.

Flowers At Midnight Jeans

What is your ultimate aspiration?

To have a long standing business that is successful for years to come. This is what I love to do, so to spend a life time working in a profession that you truly want to wake up for is incredibly lucky. 

5 things about Kelly Love

One of your favourite quotes to live by... In the end we will only regret the chances we didn’t take.

Most favourite items in your wardrobe right now are… My Parisian Sunrise coat from AW13 and an embroidered peasant blouse I found in a vintage store 

Favourite dessert… Anything chocolate based… The chocolate fudge cake at The Wapping Project in London comes to mind – it’s phenomenal!

One of your guilty pleasures... The Great British Bake Off – it makes me truly happy when I watch it!

 

If you could be anywhere right now, where would you find yourself? Right where I am.

Photo source: c/o Kelly Love & Kelly Love Ltd.

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Introducing: Liam Fahy

If I had to choose just one word to describe London-based shoe designer Liam Fahy, I would call him “fascinating” because everything he does or says leaves me happily speechless. I’ve discovered him through Charlotte, an unfeasible love of mine… With Charlotte came a story about the intelligent, refined and one-of-a-kind man who makes some of the most beautiful and flawless shoes in the world.

***

First there was Yves Saint Laurent, then Azzedine Alaia, two legends who came out of Africa to change fashion history forever. Half a century later, just after Saint Laurent was honoured with a solo exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum or Art and a year before Alaia was awarded the Best Designer of the Year and Best collection of the Year at the Oscars de la Mode by the French Ministry of Culture, Liam Fahy was born in Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe.

His passion for creativity turned into a fruitful journey from the little snake farm at the Zimbabwean suburbs known for African stone sculptors, musicians, weavers and painters, to the Zimbezi river where the young art and psychology student lived with the Tonga Tribe, to England where Liam enrolled in a course of footwear design at the De Montfort University, to Italy where he won Lineapelle award in Milan and, finally, London where Liam received the Drapers designer of the year award and, after graduating with honours in 2006 and spending two years working with several multinational sports brands, became the first ever winner of the Fashion Fringe Shoes award judged by Manolo Blahnik, Colin McDowel and Rupert Sanderson.

The competition lead to the apprenticeship with Sanderson where the young designer was put to work all over the business, learning the secrets of the trade at Sanderson’s factory in Bologna and, three weeks later, London.

In 2010 he started his own brand of luxury footwear and produced Liam Fahy London Elegant Collectables range in 2011. Since then his elegant creations stole hearts of women around the Globe and have been featured on pages of Vogue, Elle, Harper’s Bazaar and Marie Claire.

In June 2013 Liam Fahy won the prestigious British Fashion Council NewGen S/S 2014 award.

His F/W 2014 collection will be available for preview at Somerset House from 13 to 17th September 2013 as a part of London fashion week.

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WHO: Liam Fahy, a multi-award winning shoe designer

WHAT: Gorgeous hand-made shoes that will make you feel beautiful.

WHERE: Visit liamfahy.com and follow via Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.

WHY: These shoes are timeless, elegant and crafted to perfection.

LOOK FOR: Charlotte, Brigitte, Adora, Becky soon to be joined by Maribel and Coco.

Brigitte, Spring/Summer 2013 

Christian Louboutin once said that shoes are a communication tool between people, men and women... What are your thoughts on this?

I agree, a good men’s shoe is something a guy would wear on a date with his perfect woman and a good woman’s shoe is one you would expect to see worn by your perfect lady.

What is your first memory of a beautiful shoe?

Probably my mother’s shoe closet. Very 80’s retro and piled up to my head, which isn’t that high for a 3 year old.

Do you remember the day you decided to become a designer? What influenced your choice?

I’ve wanted to be a designer for as long as I can remember although I almost chose to pursue behavioural psychology. The psychology in fashion has always fascinated me and influences most of how I work. It’s still a huge unexplored area.

What is the most challenging about playing the fashion game?

Luxury fashion is not a meritocracy like athletics or academia, it’s very much like popularist politics or pop music. Hype often overrides substance. The challenge is not to make any compromises in what you believe in.

How do you feel about trends?

I have to be aware of trends only to make sure I am not on-trend. I design each collection over a year in advance as it takes so long to manufacture, so if I were to be on-trend by the time the collection arrived in stores, it would be yesterdays news. I see trends as subject to what is called the ‘law of diffusion innovation” and therefore I have to be the one guy out of 100 who is off trend and weird to begin with.

What is more important to you - design process or result?

I see both as equally important. Many people think that design is just a measure of creativity, but unless the process allows for the design, the result may never happen. Each season I go to Italy with about 100 designs and by the end of the season, 6 months later, not a single shoe looks anything like the original drawing.

Where do you find inspiration?

I love cinema! I’m planning on making a small cinema room in my house one day complete with old cinema chairs and soft walls. Every collection to date has been based on a classic movie – film noir, Midnight train to Paris, African Queen etc.

Why do you think women adore shoes?

Because a good shoe makes a women look beautiful and every woman wants to look beautiful.

Charlotte, Becky, Brigitte, Lis, Anouk.... What was first - the shoes or the names?

All of the shoes are named after women I know. Charlotte was our first ever style and is found in every one of our collections.

And which lady is the leading one and why?

A gentleman never tells…

What makes your designs so desirable?

We use the same heel-maker as Chanel and Givenchy, the same tanneries as Louboutin and Blahnik, we even use the same box maker as Alaia. The average luxury shoe takes 4 hours to make while ours take 2 days and 25 people.

If a woman could only own one pair of shoes - which one should she choose?

The Charlotte or the Brigitte. We’ve scientifically designed them down to the millimeter to make them as sexy as possible. Each shoe had 10 trials before we got the pattern just right.

And what would be the worst footwear crime that a woman could commit?

MBT’s or Crocs. They’re like kryptonite to me.

Spring/Summer 2013

5 things about Liam Fahy:

Are you a perfectionist? Definitely

What is your greatest luxury? I enjoy the simple things. Anything extra is a bonus.

If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you find yourself? Zambezi river in Africa.

Do you have a favourite quote?

I have many, but right now I choose one from Confucius:

“Choose a job you love and you’ll never have to work a day in your life.”

First three things you think of when you wake up?

What’s the time (as I wake up when I want to but usually very early)

What’s happening BBC, Aljazeera and CNN

Cup of English tea

Coco, Fall/Winter 2014

Liam Fahy shoes are available at liamfahy.com and avenue32.com

Photo source: c/o Liam Fahy

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Karlina Caune: the story so far

When Karlina Caune smiles, it’s like honey being poured over your heart. Her beauty is mesmerising and the warmth she radiates melts you down to the core. Then, in a matter of minutes, she is on a runway – distant, mysterious, looking into your soul with her gorgeous sparkling eyes, teasing and seducing. Her exquisite beauty won hearts of the agents who chose Karlina for the Ford model competition, the judges who put gorgeous teen on the top of the pedestal and then – practically every fashion designer under the sun, from Sophie Buhai and Lisa Mayock of Vena Cava, Jenni Kayne, Behnaz Sarafpour, Mona Kowalska of A Détacher, Tory Burch and Georgina Chapman of Marchesa who booked the beautiful Latvian for their Fall 2010 shows to Stella McCartney, Tom Ford, Karl Lagerfeld, Peter Copping, Giambattista Valli, Jason Wu, Kinder Aggugini, Christopher Bailey, Donna Karan, Oscar de la Renta, Dolce & Gabbana, Marc Jacobs (for both Marc Jacobs and Louis Vuitton), Erdem, Emma Hill, Christopher Kane and many more. She walked for Chloe, Chanel, Mulberry, Etro, MaxMara, Versace, Blumarine, Marni, Missoni, Nina Ricci, Carve, Rochas, Sonia Rykiel, Vionnet, Roland Mouret, Burbery Prorsum, Carolina Herrera, Roberto Cavalli, graced pages of Vogue, W, Numero, Harper’s Bazaar, L’Officiel and Elle and became a face of Akris, Stella McCartney, Tom Ford, Just Cavalli, Rebecca Taylor, Strenesse Blue, Sportmax, Jil Sander and Givenchy.

And despite this impressive CV, the girl I meet is the sweetest, down to earth, nature loving philosopher. She is constantly on the move, waking up and falling asleep on different continents, getting through the busy schedule and yet, when I ask for an interview, she finds time, generously shares some of her childhood photos and thanks me for the opportunity. And just like that, sentence by sentence, her story unfolds before my eyes…

Katrina (or Kate as her friends call her) was born in Riga, the capital of Latvia, but the family soon moved to Jelgava where the little girl and her three sisters grew up. “The town on the river” and the connecting link between Latvia and Lithuania, Jelgava was the best of both worlds, combining the history and nature with the buzz of the modern city.

Unlike many girls who dream of being on a runway, modelling wasn’t exactly on Katrina’s list until the day her phone rang. The agent who caught her off guard during the Youth Guard training, informed the girl that she was chosen for the Ford Model competition. It turned out that the girls cousin sent an application form for her and before she knew it, 15-year old Katrina Caune was whisked away to Sao Paolo and won the top prize. A few months later, she was booked for her first fashion shows and editorial, and became Karlina. Two years on, aged 17, the young model was signed up by Viva Model Management. From this moment her career took a very different and more serious course. In just two short years she made it to the top 50 models.

“Fashion business calls me by my other name. That’s kinda cool, because there're too many Kates and Katrinas, but I am the only KARLINA.”

What happened after the competition?

Not much. I was too young and it wasn’t my time yet, I travelled, did some jobs here and there, but nothing really at the same time.

Did you ever think of modelling before you got approached?

No, not at all. I kinda knew what modelling was, but never came to the point that I would be interested in taking part in it.  I guess, it just wasn’t at the top of my interest at that point.

What was the main reason to become a model?

I always liked jumping into new things. I guess, traveling the world and seeing what time brings you were the main things that excited me. As I like to say - never look back, just forward. Never say no, say - why not.

What did your parents say about your choice for a job?

My parents are really happy, because I am happy in my work. They always wanted me to do what I feel happy doing and I like, rather then pushing me into something fully opposite my interests.

“Family is my backbone and most important over everything. Without them, I am nothing.”

Who is your biggest fan?

My grandmother. She's been collecting every single magazine I've been in.

What do you like the most about being a model?

What I love the most is the gift of meeting new people and never sitting in one place, I always wanted a job where I can be in the movement. 

Where do you find the energy and how do you recharge?

I've been always a nature kid. I love nature and spending my time off work enjoying raw beauty. Big city rhythm is great for work and it inspires to move your ass and do something, yet its very exhausting, at least for me.

Models are constantly judged by other models, designers and public - how do you deal with that?

I don’t deal with the judgement of others, I just don’t care. I believe criticism is a good thing in correct amounts, but only if it comes from people who give it to you for unselfish reasons, like family.

You walked pretty much for every big designer - was there a show that felt like a career height?

There wasn't one particular show what felt like career height. It all came together, working with top designers, make up artists, hair stylists & biggest models in the business. Just being a part of it is amazing, if you think how many girls would kill for the possibility I have. Appreciate everything.

You also became a face of several big campaigns including Tom Ford, Stella McCartney and most recent Givenchy - how did you feel when you got chosen?

Very honoured, they could have any girl they want, but they picked me.

“Being a part of it is amazing. Appreciate everything.”

In just over two years you became one of the most sought after models - what do you think makes a model so successful?

Personality, self-esteem, being in the right place in the right time.

Do you believe there's an element of luck involved in the process?

I believe its pure luck.

Your perception of life sounds quite philosophical…

You are on the right track. I believe in karma and that everything what goes around must come around. I love reading post-war literature – it’s very deep and rough, but makes you understand and appreciate everything what comes your way.

What is the most important lesson about this profession and the industry you have leant so far?

You have to stand for and take care of yourself. If you won’t do that, no one will.

***

6 things about Karlina

Words that best describe you… Sarcastic, adventurous life-loving loner.

Who did you want to be when you were 5?

I don’t remember precisely, most probable a candy shop owner, fireman, princess, McGyver.

Favourite quote

Forget past indiscretions, and stolen possessions. You're high. In the cold light.

Favourite childhood memory

Cooking breakfast while my mum was still sleeping, and seeing that face expression when I announced  -  I cook, you clean. Priceless.

Favourite song/band

Another question on what I can not answer with a single answer, I love listening to good old Rolling Stones, Chilli Peppers and newer - Imagine Dragons, Coldplay, Kings of Leon.

Favourite dessert

Waffles! The thin and crispy ones my mummy makes!

 

Contact: Viva Model Management London / @VivaLondon_

 

Photo source: Chloe Fall 2013 backstage, childhood photos c/o Karlina Caune, Vogue UK October 2012 (photography: Boo George, styling: Charlotte Pilcher), Akris Campaign 2012 (photography: Karim Sadli, styling: Spela Lenarcic), Vogue Turkey August 2012 (photography: Jem Mitchell, styling: Konca Aykan), Vogue Paris September 2013 (photography: David Bellemere, styling: Capucine Safyurtlu), Chanel Resort 2013 backstage, Black No 19 2013 (photography: Michael Schwartz, styling: Aeri Yun), Elle France February 2012 (photography John Akehurst, make-up: Jurgen Braun, hair: Olivier Lebrun), backstage and runway photos via stylebistro.com and style.com.

 

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