florabotanica for trampires

Absolutely awful ad for Balenciaga's new fragrance. It's not just that Kristen Steward cheated on Robert Pattinson and ripped apart a family, she is a terrible actress, has terrible style and just looks terrible generally. I have  no idea why Balenciaga would cast her, someone somewhere obviously had a momentary lapse in judgement - seems to be a popular course of action to take these days.

nicolas ghesquiere, the jedi

Isn't this just fabulous? Ghesquiere is the boss.

Harper Bazaar, May 2012

Image source: Balenciaga

with love from balenciaga, paris

I don't usually shop on holidays, because I'm a student and all my money I splurge on flights and accommodation.

But to celebrate graduation, I bought myself something that I've craved for a long time... the Balenciaga Giant Rose Gold Money in Rose Thulian from the new boutique on rue St Honore. The colour isn't that accurate in the photos, it is a lovely cherry red and I think it looks better with Rose Gold hardware, silver just looked too bling.

I just love the two-fold coins compartment, I like myself a roomy wallet.

balenciaga saint-honoré boutique, paris

I must admit that even though I LOVE Balenciaga (the first designer bag I ever saved up for and bought with my money is a second-hand 2007 teal Balenciaga City with gunmetal hardware, a limited edition for Nieman Marucs), I've never been to any of their boutiques. I'm not even embarrassed to confess that I find these shops exceedingly intimidating.

But then I saw these photos of their new boutique in on rue St-Honore in Paris, and I think I might swing by next weekend when I'm in town. I love the clashing colours and patterns, the way the lights are arranged makes it look the store is made up of different runways. It is a perfect reflection of Ghesquiere's modern and even futuristic design ethos. Models would be perfectly at home walking up and down the store in the Spring 2007 RTW collection, still one of my favourite shows to date.

Actually, I could picture myself looking there...

Source: Balenciaga